Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro review

Some cigars make an impression before the flavor ever reaches your palate. The Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro is one of them. Wrapped not in cellophane but in a separate tobacco leaf that you peel away like a package, this cigar turns the simple act of preparing to smoke into something of a ritual. And once you get past the presentation, what is underneath delivers an incredible amount of cigar for the money.

Table of Contents

Construction of the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro

The cigar arrives firm and even, a touch harder in the hand than most cigars I pick up, with a silky oiliness to the wrapper. Before you reach that wrapper, though, there is the outer leaf to deal with. Each Leaf by Oscar is wound in a separate tobacco leaf that you unwrap like a package before lighting. It is a genuinely unique presentation, and unwrapping it is half the fun. The band itself adds to the character, with a design that calls old Viking motifs to mind. Between the leaf wrapping and the band, this is one of the most distinctive cigars to hold before you have even cut it.

Band Impression

The band’s design brings old Viking motifs to mind, which suits the rustic, hand-built character of the cigar. Combined with the outer tobacco leaf wrapping, the whole package signals that this is something made by hand with intention, not stamped out on a line. It is presentation with personality.

Size of the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro

Length: 6 inches (152 mm)
Ring Gauge: 52 (20.6 mm)
Format: Toro

A Toro at 152 mm with a 52 ring gauge, built for a long and relaxed 90-minute smoke.

Blend of the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro

The Leaf by Oscar Connecticut is handmade in Danlí, Honduras, by Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co. There is some disagreement online about the wrapper. Oscar Valladares lists it as Honduran, while a number of retailers describe it as an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade. In the interest of accuracy I am going with the manufacturer’s own listing, while noting the discrepancy openly.

Wrapper: Honduran Connecticut (Oscar Valladares lists this as Honduran; some retailers list it as Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade)
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran

Scent and Cold Draw of the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro

Before lighting, the wrapper gave off a sweet fruitiness. The foot offered cedar and a light hay.

The cold draw was the surprise. An incredibly sweet fruitiness and a light cedar, carried on a texture that was, remarkably, already creamy and buttery before the cigar was even lit. That kind of texture on a cold draw is something I rarely come across.

1/3 — Let’s Light Up the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro

The first third opened with a creamy and buttery texture at the same time, smooth and rich on the palate.

The flavors I felt in the first third were a sweet fruitiness that reminded me of fruit salad with a light honeydew melon sweetness, cedar, honey without the classic honey sweetness, cashew nuts, and a general woodiness. Underneath came a very light pepperiness, a light carbonation, a very light vanilla bean, a very light lime, and light dried herbs.

The fruit salad and honeydew melon character is what made the first third stand out. It is a bright, sweet, almost juicy quality that you do not often find in a Connecticut, and it set the tone for a cigar that is full of small surprises.

The retrohale in the first third was smooth. Cedar with a very light pepperiness.

2/3 — The Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro Builds

The texture stayed creamy through the second third. The profile shifted toward darker, richer territory.

The flavors I felt in the second third were woodiness, herbs, a honey-like sweetness, leather, and florality. Underneath came a light espresso, a light liquorice, a light fruitiness toward dark berries, a light general spice, and a light citrus.

The cigar moved from the bright fruit of the first third into something more grounded here, with leather and espresso giving it weight while the honey sweetness kept it from turning too serious. The dark berry note added depth.

The retrohale in the second third was smooth. Cedar.

3/3 — Let’s See How the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro Finishes

The texture became creamier and a little richer with a buttery suggestion in the final third.

The flavors I felt in the final third were hay, herbs, leather, earthiness, espresso with a touch of brown sugar, green tea, a woodiness with a suggestion of cedar, and more hay. Underneath came a light general spice, a light honey-like sweetness, a light saltiness, a very light old-fashioned cola caramel, a very light citrus peel, and light tangy berries.

The espresso with brown sugar and the old-fashioned cola caramel gave the final third a sweet, almost dessert-like depth, while the green tea and earthiness kept it grounded. For a cigar at this price, the range of flavors arriving in the final third is impressive.

The retrohale in the final third was smooth. Cedar with a light pepperiness.

After Taste

The aftertaste lingered with a light hay and light walnuts. A gentle and clean close.

Smoke Time

Approximately 90 minutes from lighting to the final puffs.

Draw

The one small drawback. The draw was a little tighter than I would have liked throughout the smoke. It never closed up entirely and the cigar smoked fine, but a slightly more open draw would have made the experience even better.

Burn Quality

Even and steady throughout. No touch-ups were needed, and the burn line stayed clean across the full 90 minutes.

Body of the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro

Mild on the border of medium. This is an approachable cigar that builds gently without ever pushing into stronger territory, which makes it a good option for a relaxed smoke or for someone earlier in their cigar journey. If you are still learning how to read cigar body and what it means for your experience, our guide to cigar sizes and their impact covers it in full.

Price of the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro

The Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro has an average single price of around $11-12 per cigar. For that price you get a 90-minute smoke, a flavor profile that runs from fruit salad to espresso and cola caramel, and a presentation unlike anything else on the shelf. You get an incredible amount of cigar for the money. It belongs on any honest list of the best cigars for the money.

Conclusion

The Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro is a cigar that delivers far more than its price suggests.

It starts with the presentation. Unwrapping the outer tobacco leaf like a package, and that Viking-inspired band, make this a cigar with character before you have even lit it. But the smoke backs up the theatrics. The first third opens with a bright fruit salad and honeydew sweetness, the second builds into leather, espresso, and dark berries, and the final third closes with espresso, brown sugar, green tea, and a touch of cola caramel. That is a lot of range for a mild-to-medium cigar at this price. The complexity here is what sets it apart. You do not often find this many distinct, evolving flavors in an easygoing Connecticut, and the profile keeps developing from first light to final puff.

If I compare price versus quality versus flavor, you get an incredible amount of cigar for the money with the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro. The only real drawback was a draw that ran slightly tighter than ideal. Beyond that, this is a characterful, flavorful, and genuinely fun cigar that punches well above its modest price.

Worth your time, and worth keeping a few in the humidor.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro

Is the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro worth buying?

Yes. At around $11-12 per cigar, it offers a complex, flavorful 90-minute smoke and one of the most unique presentations on the market. You get an incredible amount of cigar for the money.

What does the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro taste like?

It opens with a sweet fruit salad and honeydew melon character, cedar, honey, cashew nuts, and woodiness. The second third brings leather, espresso, dark berries, liquorice, and florality. The final third closes with espresso and brown sugar, green tea, earthiness, cola caramel, and tangy berries. The aftertaste lingers with light hay and walnuts.

Why is Leaf by Oscar wrapped in a tobacco leaf?

Instead of cellophane, each Leaf by Oscar cigar is wrapped in a separate tobacco leaf that you peel away before lighting. It is a signature presentation that fits the cigar’s name and gives the brand its instantly recognizable, unwrap-it-like-a-package character.

How strong is the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro?

Mild on the border of medium. An approachable, easygoing smoke that never pushes into stronger territory.

How long does the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro smoke?

Approximately 90 minutes at a comfortable pace.

What tobacco is in the Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro?

Oscar Valladares lists it as a Honduran wrapper over Honduran binder and filler, handmade in Danlí, Honduras. Some retailers describe the wrapper as an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade.

The Leaf by Oscar Connecticut Toro was purchased independently. No compensation was received for this review. At VDG Cigars, no cigar is reviewed because of who makes it or who asked. Only because it deserves to be.

About the author: Peter Stefanic is the editor of VDG Cigars and a certified cigar sommelier. He has personally reviewed a wide range of cigars and conducted exclusive interviews with brand owners and master blenders across the industry. Every cigar he reviews is smoked in full and assessed on its own merits. Read more about him here.