Atabey Cigars Guide
Posted on June 24 2025
Quick Summary: Atabey Cigars Guide
- Ultra-Premium Line: Created by Nelson Alfonso (Selected Tobacco) and aged five years in Spanish cedar & French-oak rooms.
- Wrapper: Undisclosed (widely believed Ecuador Connecticut Shade) over a proprietary long-filler core.
- Strength: Mild-to-Medium—flavorful without heavy nicotine punch.
- Key Vitolas: Hechizos 4×40 · Brujos 5×52 · Ritos 6⅛×55 · Spiritus 7½×40 · Dioses 8×50.
- Price (Robusto-sized): $23 – $38 per stick; 25-count boxes run $575 – $825.
Who Makes Atabey—And Why Is It So Exclusive?
Atabey is crafted by Selected Tobacco, the boutique house led by Cuban designer Nelson Alfonso (art director behind Cohiba Behike). Rolled in a small Costa Rican factory with a proprietary blend, every cigar then rests five years in climate-controlled cedar-and-oak chambers. Humidity and airflow are reset roughly every two weeks to “cleanse” the leaf and polish harsh edges.
How Do the Atabey Vitolas Differ?
Unlike most brands, Atabey changes only size—never the listed blend. Each format alters combustion speed, concentrating or stretching the line’s creamy honey-almond profile.
| Vitola | Size (in) | Body | Smoke Time* | Flavor Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hechizos | 4 × 40 | Mild-Medium | 25 min | Sweet Cream • Shortbread |
| Brujos | 5 × 52 | Mild-Medium | 40 min | Cream • White Pepper • Honey |
| Ritos | 6⅛ × 55 | Medium | 70 min | Honey • Almond • Light Spice |
| Spiritus | 7½ × 40 Lancero | Mild-Medium | 80 min | Vanilla • Cedar • Citrus Zest |
| Dioses | 8 × 50 Churchill | Medium | 95 min | Toast • Floral • Caramel |
*Average smoke times at a moderate pace.
Shop the Complete Atabey Lineup.
Is Atabey Really “Cuban-Like”?
Reviewers often note Cohiba-esque cream and subtle tropical fruit—minus Cuba’s occasional draw inconsistencies. The low-nicotine wrapper keeps strength refined, while long aging yields an exceptionally clean finish.
What Drives Atabey Pricing?
Micro-batch production, five-year aging, and luxury porcelain jars or piano-lacquer boxes elevate cost. Expect $23 – $38 per stick—on par with Padron 50th or Davidoff limiteds.
Pairing Recommendations
- Hechizos 4×40 • Brut Champagne — bubbles lift cream and almond.
- Brujos 5×52 • Japanese Highball — crisp malt accents shortbread.
- Ritos 6⅛×55 • Single-barrel rum — honey mirrors raw sugarcane.
- Spiritus Lancero • Earl Grey tea — bergamot echoes citrus note.
- Dioses Churchill • Speyside Scotch — vanilla and light oak align.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Atabey cigars flavored or infused?
No. Flavors come solely from long-aged tobaccos—there is zero artificial infusion.
Where are Atabey cigars rolled?
In Tobacos de Costa Rica, a boutique factory owned by Selected Tobacco; final aging occurs in Spain-cedar and French-oak rooms.
How should I store Atabey cigars?
Maintain 65 % RH to preserve the delicate Connecticut-shade wrapper; higher humidity can swell or split the thin leaf.
Do Atabey cigars benefit from further home aging?
Yes—an extra 12–24 months deepens caramel and biscuit notes while keeping strength mild.
For more ultra-premium insights, explore our Davidoff Cigars Guide or read the upcoming Atabey Ritos Review.
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