It’s a real pleasure to kick off this long-anticipated mini-series dedicated to Curivari cigars. A few weeks back, I teased the Curivari Buenaventura sampler on social media – and now it’s time to light up the first one. Today’s review: the Curivari Buenaventura D7.
A quick note
Before we get into the review, a quick note. This post marks the beginning of the English-language edition of Polski Aficionado. Over the years, we’ve received messages from fellow cigar lovers across the globe who – up until now – had to rely on Google Translate to make sense of our content.
So, here we are. Writing in English. We’re not native speakers, and yes – there will be mistakes. Probably plenty of them. But we hope you’ll forgive the occasional clumsy phrase and focus on what matters: the cigars.
Now back to the story.
I first stumbled upon Curivari – as it often happens – by accident. Scrolling through social media, I kept seeing mentions of the brand pop up. And like any aficionado knows, there are always new names to discover- brands you’ve never heard of, cigars that haven’t reached your part of the world. Honestly, I doubt I’ll ever be able to say I’ve tried them all. Especially when it comes to sticks that aren’t readily available here in Poland.
When I first came across the name Curivari, I remember seeing an avalanche of positive feedback. Cigar smokers were raving about the flavor and the price-to-quality ratio, which apparently punched way above its weight. Curious, I did some digging – and as it turns out, most of their blends are made with Nicaraguan tobacco. Budget-friendly brand? Check. Nicaraguan leaf? Double check. So far, so good! Except for one thing: availability in Poland. Well… not so good. But as the old-timers say: where there’s a will, there’s a way. It took a little longer than grabbing something off the shelf, but that’s okay – patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to cigars you’ve been meaning to try for ages.
A few words about Curivari
Curivari is what you’d call a boutique cigar brand. And I love that term – especially when it comes to cigars. Cigars, by their very nature, are already a niche. So calling a cigar brand “boutique” is like saying it’s a niche within a niche. And honestly? That makes it even more interesting.
What might surprise some is that Curivari isn’t available here in Poland, even though it’s a European brand. It was founded in 2003 by Andreas Throuvalas, a Greek entrepreneur and former cigar retailer who one day decided to make his own cigars. Not just import them. Not just rebrand them. Actually blend them. And yes – he’s the master blender too. Can it be done? Apparently, yes.
Curivari draws inspiration from the birthplace of cigar culture – Cuba. Aladino uses Cuban-seed tobacco grown in Nicaraguan soil, with leaf sourced from the country’s most prized regions: Jalapa, Estelí, and Condega. The overall philosophy of the brand merges European sensibility with Nicaraguan craftsmanship, and the results speak for themselves. The Buenaventura line came later, in 2012, which makes sense if you consider that Curivari entered the U.S. market in 2010. And once you’re in the American market, well – you adapt. In the States, there’s a whole culture of pretending your cigar has at least some connection to Cuba – since Cubans are off-limits there. Look at My Father buying up the rights to Fonseca, or all those brand stories that somehow trace lineage back to Havana. Americans love that stuff – and it sells.
One thing I personally appreciate about Curivari is how some of their other lines nod directly to the founder’s Greek heritage. Names like Achilles and Socrates are more than just catchy – they’re a subtle way of planting a personal flag on the brand. It’s that little touch of identity that reminds you this isn’t a factory with a logo – it’s a vision with a name behind it.
Curivari Buenaventura D7
Back to the review. Buenaventura isn’t just a cigar – it’s a whole sub-brand within the Curivari portfolio, with multiple vitolas and and a large community of their lovers. I happen to have five different vitolas from the line, all part of a beautifully presented Buenaventura sampler I recently picked up.
Now, the cigar I’ll be reviewing today?
I didn’t give it much thought – I just reached for the first one that caught my eye.. I didn’t overthink it – I just grabbed the first one I saw and decided: yep, today’s your day. Was it the best way to choose the first stick from the bunch? Not sure. But first impressions matter, and this one’s about to set the tone for the rest. No pressure, D. Here’s something worth noting – actually, it’s crucial if you’re wondering about build quality or consistency: Buenaventura cigars are rolled at the Plasencia factory. Yes, that Plasencia. Which says a lot – especially if you’re raising an eyebrow at the word budget-friendly.
The entire line is made using 100% Nicaraguan tobacco, and the Dimensiones (D) series includes the following formats:
- D4 – Robusto Gordo (4″ x 58),
- D7 – Robusto (5 1/2″ x 52),
- D6 – Toro (6″ x 54),
- D8 – Churchill (7″ x 50).
Today, I’ll be diving into the Buenaventura D7, the robusto of the bunch. Let’s see what it brings to the table.
Some technical specs
The Buenaventura D7 comes in a slightly longer, slightly thicker box-pressed robusto format. One detail immediately caught my eye: despite the box press, the cap is rounded, not flat – a bit of an oddity that made me pause and take a second look. You don’t see that every day. Official specs list it at 5 1/2 inches long with a 52 ring gauge, though in the hand, it feels a touch more like a small Toro than a traditional Robusto. The wrapper is a shade darker than average – not quite Maduro territory, but heading in that direction. It’s a 100% Nicaraguan puro, rolled at the Plasencia factory, which speaks volumes about construction standards and consistency.
The cigar is finished with a simple, classic-looking band that strongly echoes the aesthetic of old Cuban labels. Clean print, nice embossing, quality paper – it may be understated, but it looks elegant and refined. There’s something about its minimalism that gives it quiet confidence.
The Cut
As soon as I pulled the cigar out of its cellophane, the aroma hit me right away – and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. My friends, sitting nearby, caught it too. Naturally, the first thing to do was take a long, deliberate sniff along the length of the cigar. And honestly? It smells fantastic. There’s a lovely sweetness layered with hay, floral notes, wood, and just a touch of earthiness. The foot leans a bit drier – less sweetness, more raw tobacco character. I went with a V-cut, and the draw turned out to be absolutely spot on.
From the first cold puff, I could tell this stick and I were off to a good start. Unlit, the flavor is smooth and well-balanced: cocoa, coffee, and a hint of wood, all wrapped in a soft, natural sweetness that beautifully ties it together. A promising prelude to the experience ahead.
The Light
I toasted the foot thoroughly with a jet flame lighter, then lit up with a few short, gentle puffs. After a quick rest to let the cigar settle, I dove in. Right from the start, I was greeted with those earthy and peppery notes so typical of Nicaraguan tobacco. I love that. Moments later, a wave of coffee came in, followed by hints of caramel and a touch of nuts rounding out the profile. As the burn progressed, the cigar began to lean more toward the dry side – earthiness growing deeper and more pronounced, especially in combination with the nuttiness. But even as the profile shifted, it never became flat-out dry. Cocoa, coffee, and those nutty undertones remained in the background, gently softening the bold, earthy core. By the final third, earth dominates, but not completely. There’s still balance. Still complexity. And most importantly: it’s delicious.
Strength & Body
I’d place the strength at medium to medium-full. For most of the smoking time, it leans solidly medium, with just a bit more punch kicking in toward the final third. That said, it’s easy to mistake the cigar’s rich flavor for power – there’s so much going on in the taste that it can feel bolder than it really is.
Aroma & Smoke
This cigar puts out thick, aromatic clouds – the kind that fill the room in the best possible way. The dominant note? Fresh-brewed coffee, with a layer of earthiness trailing just behind.
Construction & Burn
Construction was solid throughout. No relights. No corrections. Just smooth, reliable combustion that let me enjoy the moment uninterrupted. Now… the ash? That’s a different story. Let’s just say it had a mind of its own. Every single attempt to knock it off into the ashtray? Failed. It hit the floor every time. Thankfully, never on me. Which I appreciate. Mischievous, but not mean-spirited. The burn line was impressively even until the very end, where things started to drift slightly – nothing major, just a subtle reminder that even the best rollers can’t predict how every stick will behave all the way down.
Final Thoughts on the Curivari Buenaventura D7
My first encounter with the Buenaventura line turned out to be a real success. This cigar checks all the boxes for me: it delivers the kind of flavor profile I love, the draw is flawless, the burn is spot-on, and it produces clouds of rich, satisfying smoke. Honestly? I wish I had more. This blend hits right in my personal sweet spot—and I’m already looking forward to the next one in the sampler.
This cigar was purchased with my own funds.
If you enjoyed reading this, let me know! Drop a comment or share the post – every bit of support helps others discover my cigar reviews and smoking tips. If you prefer to listen, I co-host a podcast with Piotr Siwiński called „Spotkanie z Dymem” („A Meeting with Smoke”) – currently in Polish, though who knows what the future holds? You can also find me on Instagram, where I share a slice of my cigar life – and a bit more. I always welcome a good conversation. That’s how great connections start – and they often go far beyond just cigars.
Stay smoky!
Mateusz Krzywiecki, @mateusz.krzywiecki, Polski Aficionado, @polskiaficionado
