Cigar Review: Cumpay Short (Maya Selva Cigars)

In 1999, Maya Selva Cigars released their first Nicaraguan focused cigar called Cumpay. It was released to the European market, and if you look at a lot of releases that go to Europe from Central America, it makes sense. It is not what a lot of Americans think of when they smoke a Nicaraguan puro, and that is because I think it is a better version of what a lot of Americans think Nicaraguan puros should smoke like. You see this with releases like Epernay, ~eccj~, Davidoff Nicaragua, and a few others I can't name off the top of my head, and they are more balanced overall. They are not juggernauts with strength and body, but more have a strength and body that compliments the flavors of the tobacco. What makes Cumpay so special though, is that it is a Nicaraguan puro that was probably 8 to 15 years ahead of its time, that is if you released it in North America. With the success of the other brands I listed, I thought it was important to make a return to the Cumpay line, and what an appropriate time as they are celebrating their 20th Anniversary. With all of that being said, let's take a look at the Cumpay Short.  


A Nicaraguan puro, Cumpay is made in Honduras at Tabacos del Oriente that is run by the Plasencia Family. The cigar comes with a Habano seed wrapper from Jalapa, Nicaragua, and underneath that is a Habano seed binder from Esteli. The filler is composed of tobacco from two regions, and they are the regions of Jalapa and Ometepe, both known for being flavorful tobacco. The Short vitola, which is what I am smoking, measures 4" with a 46 ring gauge, and it is a terrific size. This is my definition of a petit robusto, and this is what I would smoke a majority of the time if it was around more. The cigar has a lovely wrapper that is a light Colorado coloring, and it is smooth with few veins present at all. The construction shows firmness throughout, and it has an aroma of nuts, tobacco, warm spices, and citrus qualities. 

The first half opens up by showing some nice warm spice notes, but it is accompanied by some creamy qualities with some toast and nutty qualities. There are some soft citrus flavors present as well, and it has a unique earthy quality that is also present and dry, balancing out the prominent flavors. It is a balanced smoke, and it is a cigar that is great for morning, afternoon, or evening. The construction is absolutely perfect on the cigar and it is showing a razor sharp burn line with a white ash on the end. It has touches of light gray present as well, and it has a cool draw with a nice bit of smoke being produced on each draw. I would say that it is smoking around a medium level in terms of body, and the strength is there as well. A great short smoke, I am digging the first half of this cigar and look forward to the second half.

As I enter the second half of the cigar, I find that it has continued to show growth as a blend, but remain balanced throughout. I am getting a nice earth, toast, nutty and creamy flavor profile, and it has a nice spice level that is showing some pepper and cinnamon notes. There are touches of citrus qualities present as well, and it is very enjoyable. The construction remains perfect in the second half of the cigar and it is showing a razor sharp burn line with a light charcoal colored ash on the end. The ash is holding on firmly and it looks great against the lighter wrapper. The draw is smooth and cool, and it is giving off a nice bit of smoke with each puff. I would classify the the strength and body as being medium overall, and it is a balanced cigar in that sense and it makes it very approachable to a lot of smokers. Overall, it is a flavor focused cigar, and that is where I want my cigars to take me all of the time.

Cumpay is a terrific line and is really a line that was ahead of its time. This is a true Nicaraguan puro, but it does not have that Nicaraguan vibe that a lot of puros were showing that were introduced from 2003 onwards. In some ways, this is is similar to what Davidoff has done with the Nicaragua, but it is a blend that was out long before that. This is a Nicaraguan puro that is very European friendly, and that is why I enjoy it so much. The flavors are complex and unique, and the cigar overall shows balance and complexity. There is not an abundance of transitioning, but for being a short smoke like this I am okay with that. The construction is absolutely perfect and it smoked cool from beginning to end with no worries. I believe this cigar would do well with any smoker, and while it may not be a particular person's cup of tea, it would be hard for them to say it was a bad cigar. Overall, I give the smoke a solid 90 rating, and it is a size that I am a fan of on a personal level.



*cigars for this assessment were provided to me by Maya Selva Cigars.