Oscar Valladares 2012 Maduro Short Robusto Pairing

2012 Maduro Short Robusto By Oscar Valladares. The Maduro Short Robusto features a premium blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler leaves. A Cigar with a Honduran binder and a dark oily Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper. It is a medium-strength cigar full of savoury and cocoa flavours. There are also hints of baking spice and nutty tastes.

Oscar Valladares launched the entire 2012 line to celebrate five years of crafting some of the world's best boutique cigars.

2012 Maduro Short Robusto by Oscar

The series is a top-quality blend of long-filler tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua.

Gauge 50

Size (mm) 101

Shape: Parejo / Box Pressed

Strength: Medium-Full

Binder: Honduras

Wrapper: San Andrés Maduro

Wrapper: Color Maduro

Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua

The Oscar 2012 Maduro Short Robusto is a box-pressed, medium to full-strength Robusto expertly handmade at Valladares' factory in Honduras.

We recently paired a few Oscar cigars. The Oscar story is similar to the previous post, although interesting detail pops up with every read.

The Oscar Valladares story

You say yes when your boss asks you if you can drive a tourist bus. Because Oscar is a can-do guy. The yes attitude led to many more opportunities and unexpectedly moved him into the cigar Industry. Everyone starts as a novice. But if you have passion and a desire to learn, you can learn to make cigars.

The "yes" mindset moved Oscar into the world of premium cigars.

On a ride through Danli, Honduras, Oscar's passengers included Cigar Aficionado Hall of Famer Rocky Patel, his cousin and Vice President of Operations, Nimish "Nimmy D" Desai and master blender Erik Espinosa.

One cigar tour led to another. Then onto distributing Rocky Patel Cigars and working quality control for Rocky Patel. From growing and fermenting Tobacco to blending leaves and rolling cigars, Oscar took it all in.

Always learning.

Always questioning.

By 2012, Oscar set his sights on his Honduran cigar factory. Nine years later, Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Company celebrates seven cigar brands.

Two rollers that led to Millions

Oscar's cigar business started in a small office with two people. Two people rolled cigars on a small table. In 2012, the company rolled out 27,000 cigars. In 2020, Oscar employed nearly 600 people who rolled 3.5 million cigars.

The first Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co brand started in 2012. Oscar created a unique end-of-the-world cigar blend. Oscar named the brand after the Ancient Mayans, who were indigenous to Central America. The Mayans predicted that the world would end on December 21, 2012.

Each box included a bonus cigar wrapped in a tobacco leaf as a homage to rustic Mayan cigars.

Early in Oscar's career, he had the pleasure of meeting the late godfather of Cuban Tobacco.

Alejandro Robaina

Alejandro told Oscar the following:

"Tobacco is generous. You have to touch it, give it love, and if you do that, it gives you love back."

Oscar Valladares start in the cigar business.

Oscar Valladares recently moved his production into the old Oliva factory in Danlí, Honduras. Expansion happened quick for Oscar. A new place to expand.

"Sometimes I wake up and wonder if it's all for real."

Oscar

Oscar Valladares made his mark on a highly competitive market with his Leaf by Oscar line.

Oscar lived in Tegucigalpa, and I worked in the tourism industry. He rented cars, booked hotels, and made things happen for tourists. It all started when he agreed to drive around some American visitors to Honduras for five days. On a specific day, all the drivers were out. The manager asked Oscar to pick up a small group at the airport and look after them for a few days.

Before that day, Oscar never drove a bus. He did office work and craved more excitement. He said yes.

Oscar started driving the bus on narrow roads, improving his bus driving skills on challenging roads.

One person in the group turned out to be Rocky Patel. Rocky planned to make more trips to Danli, and Oscar stepped in. Oscar formed a good relationship with Rocky, who smoked cigars on the trip. Oscar had his first taste of cigars with Rocky Patel. With trial and testing, Oscar's palate changed and developed. He started identifying sweeter and milder-tasting leaves. Rocky recognized a refined palate in Oscar.

Oscar and Rocky Patel

Two years later, Rocky offered Oscar a full-time job. Oscar declined. He didn't want to work in one place. The following year, Rocky asked again and got the same answer. Rocky asked again, but Oscar declined again. But then Oscar's girlfriend became pregnant, and he accepted a job with Rocky Patel.

Oscar learned all he could,

And then left Rocky Patel cigars to start his brand.

The Start of Oscar Valladares Cigars in Honduras

Oscar started by distributing Rocky Patel cigars in Honduras. He drove around selling to bars and restaurants. Oscar then bought a few humidors and placed them in bars, restaurants and gas stations. Sales improved. He hosted a few small events. People smoked cigars and loved them, but no one bought them.

Oscar's determination led to better sales. He impressed Rocky Patel and received distribution right for the whole Central American market. Oscar took on a business partner in 2011. It failed. He moved back to Tegucigalpa because he was broke.

That's when Bayron called.

Oscar Valladares and Bayron Cigar partnership

"I grew up around tobacco and have worked with it for 22 years." Bayron Duarte had about 20 years of experience, having worked for both General Cigars and Oliva.

The cigar world has many stories. One story is about Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co, established in 2012. A cigar company by Oscar Valladares, his brother Hector and Bayron Duarte. The story starts in Danli, Honduras, with a table and two people.

The pair first met when Valladares started driving the bus for Rocky Patel.

Today Bayron works in the factory seven days a week. Oscar tells the story of how Bayron once called him at 3 am to come to test a new blend.

Bayron Duarte grew up around the Padrón family and started working in Tobacco when he was 12. Bayron was a production manager for Oliva when a group from Canada was looking for a factory to produce one million cigars. He and some friends set up a factory. He began constructing the factory and then moved on to bunching and quality supervising.

But both were broke. The Canadians paid for 25,000 sticks and then disappeared for two years. So Bayron was broke, too, and his partners wanted to sell. Bayron then called Oscar.

Oscar called his brother to ask for a loan. At first, Oscar's brother said he didn't have that kind of money. His brother mortgaged his house. He said to Oscar, "My wife will kill me."

After that, it was mostly uphill. The company started by doing 24 boxes in 2012, using only Tobacco grown in Mayan areas.

Leaf Cigars by Oscar

That's when Leaf & Bean owner Jim Robinson called oscar. Jim liked Oscar's cigars and wanted to be the first shop in the US to sell the cigars.

Jim asked Oscar to make a house blend called Leaf & Bean by Oscar. Oscar's name went onto the house blend cigars. Jim insisted. He said it would make the customers relate to the cigars when they visit Honduras. He bought thirty boxes.

Jim Robinson ordered 5,000 and took 1,000 with him, giving all his visitors 100 cigars each. After a week, he asked Oscar to send the remaining 4,000 cigars because he had sold out. People loved the packaging.

Instead of Cellophane, the Cigar has a tobacco leaf wrapper.

Bayron and Oscar had come up with this idea for the Cigar that stood out in the 2012 box. They asked Jim if he wanted it, and he said yes.

"A tobacco leaf preserves the flavour better than plastic," Duarte explains. "

It is more natural and in the spirit of the Mayans. It's rustic." Robinson ordered more and more. Oscar and Bayron went fast from one roller and one buncher to 25 employees.

They moved the factory from a private house to a bigger place. His cigars started gaining attention on social media, and other shops began contacting Jim Robinson to sell Leaf & Bean by Oscar.

Oscar didn't want to sell cigars with a shop's name, so he changed the name to Leaf by Oscar.

Jim opened 100 news accounts in the USA in three months. Oscar's company moved twice and settled in the old Oliva factory in January 2015. Today, the cigars are available in 1,000 shops across the USA and a few countries in Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and South Africa.

Oscar's branding and Cigar's

"I like every cigar to have its story," explains Oscar.

The first cigars boxes contained a single cigar in the middle of every box to make it stand out. According to the Mayan tradition, the world was going to end on December 21, 2012. Your last Cigar or a celebration of new beginnings.

Oscar now owns two cigar shops. A small one in Tegucigalpa and one with the only lounge in the country in San Pedro Sula.

Overall, it's been an intense ride. But looking back, Oscar is happy about the ups and downs.

Oscar Valladares has found the sweet spot between branding and great smokes with a distribution centre in Houston in the US and a European office in Hechingen, Germany.

"Being broke can bring out the best in you. If I'd had money then, I probably would have made some fancy packaging, like everyone else." Oscar

The idea is to be different. The leaf by Oscar is different.

Oscar's cigars pay homage to the Mayan Empire in Copan.

A pairing of South African red wine and an Oscar Maduro Short Robusto Cigar.

Darling Cellars Wine

The Farm

Darling Cellars is on the cool west coast of South Africa on the R315 between Malmesbury and Darling. It is approximately one hour from Cape Town and fifteen kilometres from the coastline.

1996 heralded a new era for the region of Darling with the establishment of the private cellar: Darling Cellars (Pty) Limited.

The region has unique terroir with a focus on producing regional and authentic varietal wines.

Twenty shareholders have grapes from ±1300ha, averaging 6 to 8 tons per hectare.

The cool and temperate West Coast climate lends itself to various micro- and meso-climates. Paired with the different soil types, it leads to unique grapes, which we guide into even more unique wines.

Approximately 95% of all the vineyards don't receive irrigation. It is dry land with bush vines.

The vines grow as close to what nature intended for grapes to be. These varying factors result in wines that are true to the terroir.

The process continues in the cellar with some of the industry's most modern and up-to-date winemaking equipment.

The winery has a contemporary bottling line, new presses and uses barrel maturation.

The modern cellar, a new grape off-loading system and the continued replanting of vineyards contribute to our advances in contemporary winemaking.

It is a renowned farming area to fatten cattle. The cattle graze on large plains of natural grass. The conventional produce was game, salt and butter.

These days plenty of businesses thrive in Darling. Wine, dairy, baskets, olives, sand and water are some industries that make Darling tick along with tourism.

Wine Ranges:

Amphora

Hannula is the San (Bushman). The word means the gathering of good fortune through living in sustainable harmony with nature. The San people were the indigenous tribe that first walked the hills of Darling.

It is wine made in an Amphora clay pot, taking winemaking back to its roots. Unfiltered and unrefined.

Old Bush Vine Range

Darling Cellars Old Bush Vine comes from specific old bush vines selected for unique terroir flavours. These are vineyards planted in the best terroir for the particular varietal.

The winemaker separates the grapes in the cellar to preserve their natural quality and uniqueness. Then the team monitors each vineyard to determine the best harvest time and date for the bush vines.

The Heritage Collection:

The four different wines in this range pay tribute to the heritage of the little town of Darling:

Sir Charles Darling

Bordeaux Blend:

Borrowing its name from the Governor of the Cape Colony, who also lent his name to the town of Darling. The maiden vintage blended 4 of the traditional red Bordeaux varietals. The Bordeaux blend pays homage to a great proponent of human rights.

Lady Ann Darling

A wine named after Lady Ann Darling, the wife of Sir Charles Henry Darling, Governor of the Cape Colony, in 1851. That is also the name of the picturesque town of Darling.

The Old Grain Silo

The region is synonymous with grain production since 300 years ago. The old silos still dot the landscape showing proof of the farming heritage. Nowadays, vineyards grow alongside golden wheat fields.

A blend of Shiraz and Pinotage, the wine distinctly reflects Darling's diversity and pays tribute to that heritage.

Lime Kilns

White Blend:

A stunning blend of old vine Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Chardonnay.

The wine ferments and matures in barrels to add complexity and structure.

Méthode Cap Classic

Made traditionally by fermenting the wine in a bottle. Darling Cellars produces a Blanc de Blanc, Brut Rosé and Demi-Sec and an Old Bush Vines Brut.

Darling Cellars Gustus range

The Gustus range comes from site-specific vineyards selected for their prominent terroir flavours. The vineyards grow in the best terroir for the particular varietal.

After harvest, the team evaluates the grapes before vinification and after fermentation. Regular evaluation of the wine also ensures the bottling of only the best wine under the GUSTUS label.

Winemakers Selection:

The cellar created standalone premium wines to showcase the diversity of Darling Cellars and the Darling region.

Darling Cellars Reserve range

The core of Darling Cellars.

Varietal wines are fruity, accessible and of excellent value. Easy wines with complexity to enjoy.

The individual wines in the Darling Cellars Reserve range originate from a specific selection of grapes. The grapes display bouquets of some key characteristics of the unique terroir. It is true varietal fruit-driven quality with every sip.

The grapes for this range come from vineyards in the Darling Hills and surrounding foothills. The wood ageing is subtle. That helps to give subtle complexity to support the soft tannins and rich fruit tastes in the wines.

DC Classic range

Fun, easy drinking, wine.

Grapes selected for their fruit and ripeness make it a range that fulfils the need for an uncomplicated, accessible wine fit for anyone.

Fresh, vibrant, clean and fruity.

Wild Flower range:

The little town of Darling is the entrance to the flower portal of the West Coast.

A Muscadel, Cape Ruby, Jeripigo and Sparkling Grape Juice found their mark in this range.

DC De-Alcoholised Range:

This is a range of low-calorie and vegan-friendly, de-alcoholized wines. They differ from other 'wine alternatives', such as alcohol-free or light wine.

It starts the same as regular wine. Then the winemaker extracts the alcohol using clever technology to preserve the wine's origins.

Low-alcohol wine should still reflect the grape, the vineyard and the terroir.

2L Bag in Box

Four different award-winning wines in a new format:

A slimline 2L BiB (Bag in Box) The attractive-looking slimline boxes fit into the fridge door.

The air-tight seal between the tap and bag helps to store wine in a box for weeks without affecting the taste.

Values, Ideas, and Look & Feel

Creating an identity stretches further than a brand and logo. It encompasses a certain look and feels about the cellar, wine, label and bottle.

Passion is essential for this whole concept to work and is a trait at Darling Cellars. Wines that stay true to the unique terroir of the West Coast, Darling district and varietal characteristics. The wines offer a quality-price ratio unequalled in the South African trade.

The Cellar Master summarises it well: "What nature gives us each year; we try and get into the bottle with passion and honour."

Darling Cellars Eveningstar Cinsault 2018

Tasting Notes

Spice

Red pepper

Fresh red fruit

Chocolate mocha and candy floss.

A drinkable red. A true reflection of the Darling area magic.

Blend Information

Cinsault

In The Vineyard

Deep, decomposed granite soils on the slopes of the Darling Hills. The vines get a cooling effect from the Atlantic Ocean on warm afternoons.

Vineyard type: Bush Vine, dry land

Yield: 3 -7 t/ha

About The Harvest

Balling at Harvest: 23-24°B

In The Cellar

Crush and destalk,

Fifteen days of fermentation at 20-30°C on the skin.

Pressed at 5-10°B. A part of the wine spends 8-12 months on staves,

And to add complexity and layers, it is a blended wine with other components.

The recent demarcation of the Darling district has focused on terroir and varietal-specific wines at Darling Cellars.

99% dry land vineyards and almost the same percentage as bush vines.

It is as close to what nature intended for grapes to be as you can get. The cool and temperate West Coast climate lends itself to a different micro- and mesoclimate. That leads to unique grapes, wines, and different soil types.

Oscar Valladares 2012 Maduro Short Robusto cigar pairing

Cigar Appearance

The smooth short Maduro Robusto wrapper is dark brown with an oily sheen. The wrapper is a colour combination of oily espresso beans and medium brown.

Faint tight Seams.

It is a pretty smooth wrapper with a sharp box pressed shape Cigar.

The Cigar has a rounded cap at the top.

Oscar Valladares 2012 Maduro Short Robusto Dry Aroma

Spice

Cocoa

Earthy Moisture

Meaty and Herbal

Sweet and spicy Tobacco aroma

Oscar Valladares 2012 Maduro Short Robusto Dry Draw

Firm but smooth draw from a V cut

Loads of spice

Hints of chilly spice

Mild meaty and herbal tastes

Hints of sweetness with cocoa

Oscar Valladares 2012 Maduro Short Robusto First Puff

First puff with the Darling Cellars Eveningstar Cinsault 2018

Solid construction with firm but smooth resistance on each puff.

The Cigar begins with a big punch. It has blended chocolate elements with subtle red pepper spice. Complex and flavorful.

The Cigar and cooled red wine blend spice and prominent hints of cocoa.

The pairing delivers hints of melted dark chocolate sweetness.

The Maduro smokes smooth and slow. The warm Tobacco releases mild spice with a creamy smoking finish.

Then, add something cold.

Guinness and the Oscar 2012 Maduro Short Robusto

Guinness Taste:

Guinness has a malty sweetness and a hoppy bitterness, with notes of coffee and chocolate. It has a sweet nose, with hints of malt breaking through, and its palate is smooth, creamy, and balanced.

Rich, smooth and creamy

The black Guinness beer creamy finish is cold and super enjoyable with the Maduro cocoa, spice and creamy flavours.

I love beer, especially on these heatwave days.

Although to me, Guinness is a winter beer, the cold Guinness and oily creamy Maduro paired brilliant together.

Darling Cellars Eveningstar Cinsault 2018

Darling Cellars Eveningstar Cinsault 2018 Aroma

Earthy

Light Spice

Spiced meat

Fresh-picked red grapes

Oaky and matured scents

Darling Cellars Eveningstar Cinsault 2018 Taste

I cooled the red wine in the fridge.

In the current heatwave, red wine could be too bold. But the cool Cinsault fragrant fruity flavours made for a perfect pairing with the Oscar Maduro short Robusto Cigar.

It is a very easy light drinking red wine.

It drinks dry but juicy. The Cinsault spice and cocoa pair exceptional with the Oscar Short Maduro.

Oscar Valladares 2012 Maduro Short Robusto and Wine Pairing Conclusion

The Short Maduro Robusto is a small size cigar. Each puff delivers loads of flavour. The Cigar finishes quick. It is a fast smoke.

But the small-sized Maduro Cigar delivers loads of subtle spice and cocoa with a creamy finish.

A light cocoa taste adds some rich sweetness.

The black and red pepper remains in the background.

The overall experience is a sweet and creamy Maduro smoke.

A pairing of silky smooth juicy wine-infused dark chocolate flavours.

Punchy flavours.

Punchy full flavoured Short Robusto Cigar

To smoke the Oscar Maduro Short Robusto visit Pedro Portia or the website.

Oscar Valladares 2012 Maduro Short Robusto