Charter Oak CT Shade cigars feature a silky CT Shade wrapper, a Sumatran binder, and Nicaraguan fillers, resulting in a beautifully balanced, mild-to-medium-bodied smoke. The blend elicits a creamy flavor accented with chocolate, and hints of roasted nuts and pepper, earning an impressive 93-point rating from Cigar Aficionado, which noted "Rich woods and complex herbs set the tone for this attractive robusto. Each puff leaves impressions of oaky vanilla, spearmint and caraway seeds along with floral notes and a cashew nuttiness." Charter Oak honors the rich history of the legendary Charter Oak tree, where Native Americans cultivated tobacco and gathered in council beneath its massive branches before Dutch settlers arrived on American shores. The cigars hail from the same fertile Connecticut River Valley where founder Nicholas Melillo was born and raised, representing a deeply personal tribute rooted in generations of cigar smoking tradition passed down from his grandfather, a WWII veteran who was a longtime Connecticut tobacco aficionado. Each cigar is expertly constructed at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua, one of the highest-quality cigar factories on the planet. Master blender Nicholas Melillo describes the smoking experience as "a wonderfully creamy smoke with notes of vanilla, nuts, and a hint of spice." The line has been proclaimed a #1 best value cigar by Cigar Aficionado, with the Rothschild size leading their annual Best Buy list with a 93-point score. The cigars are packaged in beautiful wooden boxes with the Charter Oak tree design carved onto the lid, with cigars sitting in two rows of 10.