Description
Vault Cigars Series 1
Size: Varies (Series 1 selection)
Vitola: Toro / Robusto (depending on release)
Wrapper: Undisclosed (Vault-aged, Honduran origin)
Binder: Honduran
Fillers: Honduran (Raíces Cubanas-aged selection)
Flavor Notes: Cashew butter, vanilla custard, powdered sugar, candied nuts, crème brûlée, leather, florals, Italian herbs, caramel, lemon, pepper
Pairing Notes: Crème brûlée, vanilla custard, vanilla Oreos, white tea, wheat beer, Islay Scotch, brandy, aged rum, vanilla coffee
Manufacturer: Raíces Cubanas (Hugo Sanchez, Honduras)
Privada Storytelling
Vault Cigars Series 1 represents a rare moment in cigar history. Straight from the famed Raíces Cubanas factory in Honduras, these cigars were never supposed to see the light of day. They were the forgotten batches—the unpaid-for, the misplaced, the sleeping vampires of a legendary factory. When Privada was given access to raid these vaults, the result was nothing short of magic.
Raíces Cubanas, helmed by Hugo Sanchez, has been crafting cigars in the Cuban tradition for over 25 years. This is the same factory behind some of the best work for Padilla, Viaje, Alec Bradley, and Illusione. Their vaults, however, held something even more special: cigars left behind to age, resting for years in factory conditions that accelerate maturity far beyond what’s possible stateside.
With Series 1, members gain access to flavors that may never be replicated. Vanilla custard, crème brûlée sweetness, candied nuts, and white pepper florals—flavors that rival the finest cigars in the world, and perhaps outdo them. This is not just a release; it’s a chance to taste what happens when time, tradition, and serendipity collide.
Flavor Journey
First Third: Begins with subtle cashew butter, salt, and floral notes. White pepper ramps up quickly as the flavor expands into vanilla custard, powdered sugar, and candied nuts. Retrohale is leather, salt, full white pepper, and florals—an immediate standout.
Second Third: Vanilla custard evolves into crème brûlée, with caramelized sweetness balanced by white pepper and floral umami. Retrohale introduces Italian herbs, tying sweetness with savory depth. Smoke is powdery, creamy, and dessert-like.
Final Third: Body intensifies as sweetness, tang, leather, and floral notes merge. Lemon zest, pepper, and oak enter the profile, creating a finish reminiscent of a well-aged Opus X on its best day. Sweet, tangy, salty, and floral—this cigar ends with a climactic flourish.
Why It Belongs in Privada
Privada is about uncovering what the rest of the industry overlooks, and Vault Cigars Series 1 is the epitome of that mission. These cigars were literally locked away, forgotten until Privada opened the doors. The result is a profile so unique, so luxuriously sweet and floral, that it may never exist again. Only Privada members will taste this moment in history—making Series 1 not just a cigar, but a discovery.