Nat Cicco Cigars

Nat Cicco (pronounced “SEEK-oh”) is a storied American cigar brand originally founded in 1965 as the National Cigar Company, whose groundbreaking “Rejects” line pioneered the concept of bargain-priced, hand-rolled cigars marketed as factory seconds—a bold idea that shocked the industry and was soon imitated by competitors nationwide. After dominating the value cigar segment for over three decades, the brand was acquired in 2007 by Zander-Greg, Inc., a Pasadena, California-based importer and distributor led by President Arthur Berberian, who revitalized the lineup and expanded it from budget-friendly machine-bunched smokes into the premium and super-premium arena. All Nat Cicco premium cigars are now handcrafted in Nicaragua, with standout lines including the critically acclaimed Nat Cicco Aniversario 1965 Liga No. 4—a box-pressed, full-bodied cigar featuring an oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and long-fillers with notes of chocolate, earth, leather, and sweet cinnamon that earned a 93-point rating from Cigar Aficionado and was named the magazine’s #18 Cigar of the Year in 2018. The lineup also includes the Nat Cicco Casino Real, a full-bodied Ecuadorian Habano-wrapped smoke rated 92 points; the Nat Cicco HHB Gold in an Ecuadorian Habano Colorado Maduro wrapper and the HHB Classic in an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, both featuring signature closed-foot and curled-tip cap designs; and the Nat Cicco Elephant Ears, a medium-bodied Nicaraguan puro with a distinctive shaggy foot and naturally sweet profile accented by pepper and spice. From its revolutionary origins as a value brand to its current reputation for delivering exceptional premium cigars at accessible prices, Nat Cicco remains one of the cigar world’s best-kept secrets for enthusiasts seeking outstanding quality without the boutique price tag.