The American — Heritage & History

The American is not a single-origin brand but a deliberate collision of two cigar capitals: Tampa's historic Ybor City and Estelí, Nicaragua. Its most distinctive expression, the Maduro Robusto, is rolled at J.C. Newman's El Reloj factory—the last remaining cigar factory in Tampa's Ybor City—using a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper grown in the USA. Meanwhile, the Natural Toro and Lancero are produced at the TABSA factory in Estelí (Drew Estate's facility), and the Corona is made at the Joya de Nicaragua factory. This split production is the brand's founding gambit: to unite the pre-embargo Tampa tradition of hand-rolled Broadleaf with the modern Nicaraguan leaf profile. The American's Churchill and Torpedo, both Medium-Full, showcase how the brand adapts its core blend across factories without losing a recognizable house style. By refusing to anchor itself to one floor, The American became a rare example of a brand defined by geography—two geographies, actually—rather than a single master blender's signature.

Blending Philosophy

The American's blending approach is defined by its wrappers. The brand leans heavily on Connecticut Broadleaf—in Natural, Maduro, and USA-grown forms—paired with Nicaraguan fillers from Estelí. This is not a subtle balancing act; it is a deliberate use of Broadleaf's earthy, slightly sweet character to frame the pepper and cedar of Nicaraguan tobacco. The Maduro Robusto and Toro use Broadleaf Maduro to push dark cocoa and leather to the front, while the Natural Toro and Corona, wrapped in Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade, soften the profile into mild-medium territory with cream and mild spice. The Lancero, rolled at TABSA, is the brand's most precise expression—a narrow ring gauge that forces the blender to rely on filler quality rather than wrapper dominance. Construction standards vary by factory, but the brand consistently favors a firm draw and a straight burn, even in the 38-ring Lancero.

Flavor Profile

Across the range, The American delivers a core of cedar and leather, with the wrapper determining the intensity. The Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro lines—Maduro Robusto, Toro, and Torpedo—open with dark cocoa, dried fruit, and a touch of black coffee, building to a medium-full body with white pepper on the retrohale. The Natural Toro and Corona, using Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade, are milder: cream, light cedar, and a faint nuttiness, with only a whisper of pepper. The Lancero, also Broadleaf-wrapped, sharpens the profile—more cedar and white pepper, less cocoa, with a longer, drier finish. The Churchill and Gran Toro sit in the middle, balancing the earthy Broadleaf sweetness with a brighter, almost floral note. Smokers should expect a consistent thread of wood and earth, but the strength swings from mild-medium in the Corona to full in the Belicoso, which is the brand's most concentrated, pepper-forward blend.

Best for Beginners

Start with the Natural Toro. At $12–$16, it's mid-range, and its Medium strength won't overwhelm. Wrapped in Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade, it delivers cream, light cedar, and a touch of sweetness, with none of the dark cocoa or pepper found in the Maduro lines. Expect a 60–75 minute smoke that builds gently, making it an ideal introduction to The American's house style without the Broadleaf intensity.

The American Cigar Lineup

Explore 12 The American cigars in the AshMap encyclopedia:

  • Belicoso — Belicoso, Full · $18–$22 per cigar
  • Churchill — Churchill, Medium-Full · $18–$22 per cigar
  • Corona — Corona, Mild-Medium · $10–$14 per cigar
  • Gran Toro — Toro, Medium-Full · $14–$18 per cigar
  • Lancero — Lancero, Medium-Full · $18–$24 per cigar
  • Lonsdale — Lonsdale, Medium-Full · $12–$16 per cigar
  • Maduro Robusto — Robusto, Medium-Full · $12–$16 per cigar
  • Natural Toro — Toro, Medium · $12–$16 per cigar
  • Petit Corona — Petit Corona, Medium-Full · $9–$12 per cigar
  • Robusto — Robusto, Medium-Full · $12–$16 per cigar
  • Toro — Toro, Medium-Full · $12–$16 per cigar
  • Torpedo — Torpedo, Medium-Full · $12–$16 per cigar

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are The American cigars made?

Production is split across three factories: the Maduro Robusto, Natural Toro, and several others are rolled at J.C. Newman's El Reloj factory in Tampa, Florida—the last remaining cigar factory in Ybor City. The Lancero and some other lines come from the TABSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua (Drew Estate's facility), while the Corona is made at the Joya de Nicaragua factory, also in Estelí.

What is The American known for?

The American is known for its unusual dual-heritage production—using both Tampa's historic Broadleaf rolling tradition and Nicaragua's modern leaf profile. The Maduro Robusto, rolled at El Reloj, is a signature expression of Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro, while the Lancero from TABSA showcases a more precise, narrow-ring-gauge take on the same style.

Are The American cigars strong?

The strength range spans from Mild-Medium to Full. The Corona is Mild-Medium, the Natural Toro is Medium, and most of the lineup—Churchill, Gran Toro, Lancero, Lonsdale, Maduro Robusto, Petit Corona, Robusto, Toro, Torpedo—sits at Medium-Full. The Belicoso is the only Full-strength cigar in the range.

What is the best The American cigar for beginners?

The Natural Toro is the best entry point. Its Medium strength and Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper deliver a mild, creamy smoke with light cedar and no harsh pepper. At $12–$16, it's also one of the more affordable options, and its 6x52 size gives a forgiving, slow burn that's easy to pace.

How much do The American cigars cost?

Prices range from $9–$12 for the Petit Corona up to $18–$24 for the Lancero. Most of the core lineup—Robusto, Toro, Natural Toro, Maduro Robusto, Lonsdale, Torpedo, Gran Toro—sits in the $12–$18 range. The Belicoso and Churchill are $18–$22, and the Corona is $10–$14.

What wrapper does The American use?

The brand uses a variety of wrappers, primarily Connecticut Broadleaf in several forms: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro, Connecticut Broadleaf Natural (USA), and Connecticut Broadleaf (USA). Some lines also use Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro, and the Natural Toro and Corona use Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade. The Maduro Robusto specifically uses Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro.

Are The American cigars Cuban?

No. The American cigars are made in Nicaragua and the USA. Specifically, they are produced at the TABSA factory (Drew Estate) in Estelí, Nicaragua; the Joya de Nicaragua factory in Estelí; and J.C. Newman's El Reloj factory in Tampa, Florida—the last remaining cigar factory in Ybor City. They contain no Cuban tobacco.

Where can I buy The American cigars?

The American cigars are typically sold through premium cigar retailers, both brick-and-mortar and online. Given the $9–$24 price point, they are positioned as a boutique brand, so check with specialist shops that carry J.C. Newman or Drew Estate products. Some lines may be exclusive to certain retailers, so it's worth calling ahead or checking online stockists.