Santa Damiana is celebrating its 30th birthday. Many of us dread the day when the big three appears on our birthday cake and would rather celebrate the day alone, head under the covers. 

For a cigar brand, however, the big 30 is a truly special event. That’s because new brands enter the fast-moving cigar market every day, but most disappear again within six months or else eke out a sad existence in the dark corners of the humidors of this world. A 30-year success story can only be written by someone who makes every cigar with the very greatest attention to detail. So the question is not whether to celebrate this momentous occasion: it’s a question of how. 

Santa Damiana delights us with an attractive sampler box that includes three cigars. Each of these three vitolas represents a decade of Santa Damiana’s history. 

The first decade brings us an elegant "Mareva Gruesa" for that sweet moment of pleasure in between other things.

The next decade is encapsulated in a "Robusto Extra". 

And last but not least, the Santa Damiana 30 Aniversario Sampler contains a stately "Gran Toro", finished with a wonderful pigtail cap. This cigar’s blend is just a tad stronger than the classic line. It starts with well-defined roasted aromas and a sweet reminiscence of fresh cedar. It then develops over time to produce a finely balanced aroma of cocoa, ripe fruits and sweet molasses. 

Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic | Nicaragua
Strength: 2.5 out of 5