Cigar Aficionado

Nat Sherman has announced the newest addition to its growing cigar portfolio: Sterling.

Featuring an all-Dominican binder and filler, Nat Sherman Sterling is covered by Connecticut wrapper leaf grown in Ecuador. According to the company, some of the tobaccos inside the new Sterling have been aged up to ten years. As with Nat Sherman's other recently released cigars, Sterling will be rolled at MATASA, the Santiago, Dominican Republic, factory run by Manuel Quesada and his family.

"We were able to combine several Dominican fillers that span ten years in age, and across the many terroirs of the country," said Michael Herklots, executive director of retail and brand development. "The age and origin, paired with the leaf position and obviously seed variety, allowed us to build a rich, full body, with a perfect burn, long finish and deep complexity of flavors."

Sterling, which will debut at next week's International Cigar & Pipe Retailer trade show and start shipping at the end of July, will come in four vitolas: Perlas, a 4 inch by 40 ring gauge cigar; Marevas, 5 by 42; Dalias, 6 1/4 by 43; and Corona Gorda, 5 3/4 by 46. The cigars range in price from $9 to $15. Each of the sizes will be tied in wheels of 25 cigars and packed in slide-top cabinet boxes made of okoume wood. The cigars will also not be individually wrapped in cellophane.

According to Herklots, Sterling's packaging was chosen specifically for cigar enthusiasts who wish to collect and age the product. The wheel configuration, he says, encourages the flavor of the cigars to marry while the odorless okoume wood removes any chance of cedar wood overpowering the cigar's flavor and aroma.

Nat Sherman has enjoyed much success since the company began to refocus its commitment to its cigar offerings two years ago. Nat Sherman's Timeless Collection No. 2 cigar received a 93-point rating from Cigar Aficionado, and the cigar was named the No. 10 best cigar of 2012.