Buenaventura Favoritos Red Nicaragua – Cigar Review
Reviewed by Bourbon and Cigars Blackpool | May 2026
Nicaragua has earned its place at the top table of premium cigar production, and the Buenaventura Favoritos Red is a confident reminder of why. A true puro — every leaf from wrapper to filler grown on Nicaraguan soil — this 5" x 50 robusto is a cigar that speaks with authority from the first draw. It is not a cigar that whispers. It is one that tells you exactly where it's from and what it stands for.
Appearance & Construction
The Jalapa-grown Nicaraguan wrapper presents a deep Colorado hue — silky, oily, and visually commanding. Seams are tight and well-pressed, the cap is cleanly applied, and the foot reveals a dense, even filler pack. There are no soft spots, no lumps, no imperfections. This is a cigar built with confidence and rolled with care.
Pre-Light Aroma
The cold draw opens with rich dark earth, cedar, and a faint natural sweetness — classic Nicaraguan terroir. The foot offers roasted coffee, leather, and a hint of dried herb. The retrohale on the cold draw alone signals complexity ahead.
The Smoke — Across Three Thirds
First Third
The Favoritos Red opens with a firm, spicy entry — black pepper and cedar lead, underpinned by a roasted coffee note that grounds the profile. Strength is medium-full from the outset, but the body is smooth and the draw effortless. The burn line is razor-sharp, producing a firm, light grey ash.
Second Third
Complexity builds as the cigar settles. The pepper softens slightly, allowing dark earth and leather to emerge alongside a persistent roasted coffee backbone. A whisper of natural sweetness — almost cocoa-like — weaves through the mid-section, adding balance and depth. The ash holds well past an inch, a testament to the construction quality.
Final Third
The Favoritos Red finishes with conviction. Strength climbs to full-bodied, with toasted oak, dark espresso, and a long, peppery finish that lingers well after the final puff. There is no harshness — just a clean, satisfying conclusion to a well-structured smoke. Total smoking time: approximately 60–75 minutes.
Points Scoring
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | 93/100 | Deep Colorado wrapper, oily sheen, excellent presentation |
| Construction | 94/100 | Tight roll, even burn, firm ash — no faults |
| Flavour Profile | 92/100 | Cedar, dark earth, roasted coffee, leather — classic Nicaraguan puro |
| Complexity | 90/100 | Evolves well across all three thirds with good transition |
| Value | 95/100 | Exceptional quality at the price point — outstanding value |
Overall Score: 93/100 — Excellent
The Buenaventura Favoritos Red punches well above its price point. For a full-bodied Nicaraguan puro with this level of construction and flavour complexity, it represents one of the best value propositions in our range.
Recommended Pairings from Our Sample Range
The Favoritos Red's bold, earthy, spice-forward profile calls for pairings with enough character to stand alongside it — but with complementary sweetness or fruit to balance the pepper and earth.
🥃 Whiskey Pairings
Maker's Mark Bourbon – 45% ABV | 30ml Sample
Maker's Mark's signature wheat-forward softness — caramel, vanilla, and a gentle spice — provides a beautifully smooth counterpoint to the Favoritos Red's bold pepper and earth. A crowd-pleasing pairing that works from the first third to the last.
Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Select – Bar Pick | 45% ABV | 30ml Sample
Our own bar pick from Buffalo Trace brings rich caramel, toasted oak, and a long vanilla finish that mirrors the cigar's roasted coffee and cedar notes. A natural pairing — two bold, confident expressions from their respective worlds.
Redemption Rum Cask Finish Rye Whiskey – 47% ABV | 30ml Sample
A rye finished in rum casks — the bridge between both pairing categories. The spicy rye backbone echoes the Favoritos Red's pepper-forward profile, while the rum cask finish adds tropical sweetness and dried fruit that lifts the pairing beautifully.
🍹 Rum Pairings
Jung & Wulff Rum Guyana – 43% ABV | 30ml Sample
Demerara richness — molasses, dark sugar, and tropical fruit — pairs magnificently with the Favoritos Red's earthy, full-bodied profile. The Guyanese character adds depth without competing, making this one of the most harmonious pairings in our range.
Brugal 1888 Doblemente Añejado – 40% ABV | 30ml Sample
Double-aged in American and European oak, Brugal 1888 brings dried fruit, vanilla, and refined sweetness that softens the Favoritos Red's spice and lets the leather and earth notes shine. An elegant, considered pairing.
Myer's Jamaican Dark Rum – 40% ABV | 30ml Sample
Myer's bold, molasses-heavy Jamaican character is a bold choice alongside a bold cigar — and it works. The rum's dark sugar and tropical funk amplify the Favoritos Red's earthiness and add a layer of exotic complexity. For those who like their pairings unapologetic.
Final Verdict
The Buenaventura Favoritos Red Nicaragua is a cigar that earns its reputation through substance, not spectacle. Bold, earthy, and spice-forward, it is a genuine Nicaraguan puro that delivers complexity and construction quality at a price that makes it an easy recommendation. At £14.95 per cigar (or £259.00 for a box of 20), it is one of the most compelling value propositions in our range.
Set aside an hour, choose a rum or bourbon with enough character to keep pace, and let Nicaragua do the talking.
Available now at Bourbon and Cigars Blackpool — single cigars and boxes of 20 in stock.