Vegueros Centrogordos Cuban Cigars (Single Cuban Cigar)

• Length: 100mm
• Gauge: 54
• Flavour: Medium-Full
• Wrapper: Habano
• Filler: Vuelta Abajo
• Hand Rolled
• Long Filler
• Cuban Cigars

Vegueros CentroGordos – Hand-Rolled Cuban Cigar (Single Loose Cigar)

There's a particular charm to a cigar that looks as though somebody has taken a perfectly respectable Robusto and shortened it with a ruler. The Vegueros CentroGordos measures just 100mm long, yet carries a substantial 54 ring gauge. It's a compact little Cuban with plenty of tobacco packed into its rather stocky proportions.

The name Vegueros is worth understanding. In Cuba, a veguero is a tobacco farmer, one of the people responsible for cultivating the leaves that eventually find their way into the country's famous cigars. It's a fitting name for a brand whose identity has always been closely connected to the tobacco-growing traditions of Pinar del Río.

Vegueros first appeared in the 1990s, with production historically associated with the Francisco Donati factory in Pinar del Río. The brand was subsequently relaunched in 2013, introducing a more contemporary selection of sizes and distinctive metal-tin packaging.

The CentroGordos belongs to that modern chapter of the brand's history. Its short, broad format reflects the growing popularity of substantial ring gauges, although the modest length makes it quite different from the enormous cigars that seem to occupy an increasing amount of humidor space.

At 100mm by 54 ring gauge, it's a cigar that certainly knows how to make the most of its dimensions.

The blend is medium-to-full strength, made entirely from Cuban tobacco using traditional long-filler construction. Its character is commonly associated with earthy notes, cedar, roasted coffee and peppery spice, accompanied by the natural sweetness of well-cured tobacco.

Vegueros has traditionally occupied an interesting position among Cuban cigar brands. Its agricultural identity and straightforward presentation distinguish it from some of the more ceremonious names in the Habanos portfolio. There's an emphasis on the tobacco-growing heritage behind the finished cigar, which I rather appreciate.

The CentroGordos itself is attractively presented. Its warm brown wrapper has the natural texture and fine veins of Cuban tobacco leaf, while the distinctive band combines white, black and green with a geometric emblem. The name Vegueros appears prominently across the centre, accompanied by the Pinar del Río designation.

The cigar's broad diameter is particularly noticeable in the hand. Although shorter than a conventional Robusto, the 54 ring gauge gives it a substantial feel, and the relatively compact length makes it a distinctive addition to the Cuban cigar selection.

Originally supplied in metal tins of sixteen, the CentroGordos is offered here as a single loose cigar, providing an opportunity to explore the blend individually.

I've always liked the idea of a cigar brand honouring the farmers who grow its tobacco. It's easy to become absorbed in discussions about factories, rollers and elaborate presentation boxes, but none of those would amount to much if somebody hadn't spent months tending the plants in the first place.

The CentroGordos is a fine reminder of that connection. Short, broad and unmistakably Cuban, it has the appearance of a cigar that intends to get straight down to business.

Rather like a Yorkshireman who's been told the meeting includes a free lunch.