Despot Cigars from Serbia
Despot – and it's not just the name that's unusual. The brand doesn't come from one of the traditional tobacco-producing countries, but from Serbia. This is where brothers Jovan and Ugljesa Despot run a cigar shop, so creating their own brand was a natural next step.
The cigars aren't rolled in the Balkans, but in Estelí. Two lines come to us from the tobacco capital of Nicaragua, each named after the first initial of one of the two founders.
Belgrade, Estelí and the Despot Story
The story of Despot connects Belgrade with Estelí. The business is based in Serbia, while the cigars are made in Nicaragua. The brothers grew up around their father's business, joined the company after completing their studies and went on to develop their own cigar brand. Rather than relying on folklore, they focus on classic formats, excellent blends and hand craftsmanship.
We first came across the brand at the Cigar Smoking World Championship 2023 in Split. That's where we got talking to the founders. When we met again at the same event in Dubrovnik the following year, they had also secured a distributor for the German market.
Despot J-Serie and U-Serie
As mentioned, Despot is represented in our range by two distinctly different series. The J-Serie features Ecuadorian H-2000 tobacco for both the wrapper and binder, along with a filler blend from Nicaragua and the USA, including Estelí, Jalapa, Seco and Viso tobaccos. Its character is defined by notes of wood, leather, walnut and caramel-like sweetness. The U-Serie also uses Ecuadorian tobacco for both the wrapper and binder, but offers a rounder, creamier profile with notes of coffee, leather and almond.
Flavor Profile and Character of Despot Cigars
Despot isn't a heritage brand in the traditional sense, but a young family-owned brand that combines the vision of two European cigar enthusiasts with Nicaraguan cigar craftsmanship. J offers a spicier profile with woody and leathery notes, while U delivers a creamier, more approachable smoking experience.
