Under-the-Radar Cigar of the Year 2018 – Pier 28 Oscuro

Pier 28 Premium Cigars debuted in the summer of 2016, launching the Pier 28 Habano at the 2016 IPCPR trade show. The brand is the brainchild of Tim Wong, a veteran sales representative in the premium cigar industry. When Wong joined on as the West Coast Representative for Espinosa Premium Cigars (being based out of San Francisco), he began working with Espinosa’s associated La Zona factory in Nicaragua, formulating the Pier 28 brand.

Each year since 2016, Pier 28 has introduced a new cigar blend, patiently expanding the brand from a singular habano offering, to later include a maduro in 2017 and a Brazilian oscuro in 2018. Tim applies an appreciation for traditional cigar customs, as well as precise tobacco and vitola selections, effectively establishing Pier 28 as a connoisseur’s brand within the growing stable of La Zona-made products. This includes cabinet-style presentations within each 10-count box, as well as lancero, perfecto, and pigtail-capped lonsdale offerings throughout the Pier 28 lineup.

The 2018 addition to the collection is Pier 28 Oscuro—a Nicaraguan-based blend that is finished with a pristine, exceptionally toothy Brazilian Oscuro wrapper leaf. This leaf stands out for more than its appearance, having a brilliant aroma of dark cherries—verging on liqueur-like sweetness. Pier 28 Oscuro is medium-full in body (occasionally creeping into full territory), bringing classic flavors of black pepper, dark spice, clove, charred oak, and campfire. Pier 28 is growing on a word-of-mouth basis, with the majority of distribution residing in the California area. However, the cigars are becoming a popular choice in cult circles, and larger online retailers have begun to take notice, allowing enthusiasts across the country the chance to experience Pier 28 for the first time—though it surely won’t be the last.

Pier 28 Oscuro Breakdown

Short Link: