The Ultimate Guide to Nub Cigars

Short, thick, and immediately recognizable is how I would describe myself, and I guess Nub cigars as well. Building their identity around an unusual approach to cigar blending, Nub aims to hit the cigar's "sweet spot" immediately at the beginning of the smoking experience. Instead of relying on a traditional format, Nub cigars combines its compact proportions with a lineup of flavors that range from creamy Connecticut blends to ligero-laden Cain cigars.

Before Nub was a recognizable name in cigar shops and humidors, it began as an experiment in Sam Leccia's garage.  While working as a sales rep for Oliva, Sam had an idea rooted in his own personal enjoyment of cigars: what if the developed flavor he associated with a cigar's sweet spot could be maintained from the beginning to the end of the smoke? Rather than contemplate the question, he rolled a prototype to test his theory. In a 2009 interview with Cigar Aficionado, he recalled, "I rolled Nub in my garage."

The resulting cigar directly challenged standard cigar proportions. Short in length but substantial in girth, even the Oliva family was questioning its potential. Raising concerns that the cigar would not be taken seriously due to its unusual shape, or that this was simply a fad that would fade, the Oliva's were hesistant to back such a project. Even Jose Oliva felt, that at best, the cigar would be capable of only winning over a small, specialized audience.

Taking a chance on something outside of the family's traditional approach, Nub was rolled at Oliva's TABOLISA factory in Esteli, Nicaragua and launched on April 1, 2008. With Sam Leccia taking the brand on the road, visiting cigar shops, conducting live rolling demonstrations, and becoming its public face. Those events allowed customers to interact with the person behind the concept and watch him practice the craft himself. The promotional campaign included cigar giveaways, trips to Nicaragua, and even a custom Mini Cooper convertible, a small iconic car that was chosen to reflect the cigar's identity.

Smokers’ response challenged the Oliva family’s early fears. In its 2010 profile of Oliva, Cigar Aficionado reported that Leccia had described Nub as a $10 million brand at the previous November’s Big Smoke event in Las Vegas. José Oliva also pointed to cigars of similar shapes and sizes appearing from other manufacturers as proof that the format had found an enthusiastic audience. What the family initially feared might be a passing fad had become a meaningful part of its business, with competing interpretations of the short, thick format reinforcing its place in the industry.

Although Nub's launch was well-received, the collaboration between Oliva and Leccia would not last. In 2010, Oliva announced that Sam Leccia would be departing the company. With Oliva confirming that he had no ownership stake in Nub or Cain, those brands stayed within the Oliva portfolio. 

In May of 2011, Leccia announced an independent venture and a new cigar called Debut, with plans for the Toraño Family Cigar Company to handle distribution. His return became embroiled in a contractual dispute when Oliva pursued legal action over a non-compete clause in Leccia's contract, and Leccia countersued. Debut never reached market. Sam's return was delayed until 2013, when he introduced Leccia Tobacco and its Black and White blends.

After Sam Leccia's departure, Nub and Cain continued under Oliva's Studio Tobac umbrella, giving the brands an established home within the company's experimental arm dedicated to developing new blends, exploring unconventional formats, and collaborating on limited releases.

Leccia's career continued beyond his own cigar blend. In 2019, he founded Stogiebird, a cigar subscription service that was built around his own personally curated selections, bringing his experience as a blender, cigar roller, and brand representative into another corner of the industry.

Part of Nub’s original 2008 release, Nub Connecticut features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper surrounding a Cameroon binder and Nicaraguan filler, according to the brand’s current specifications. Delivering natural sweetness and smooth, creamy smoke, this mild-to-medium-bodied blend emphasizes toasted notes, nuts, and cedar within Nub’s familiar short, stubby format.

The Nub Connecticut 460 earned an 89-point rating from Cigar Aficionado in 2013, adding critical recognition to its unconventional proportions. Years after its introduction, Connecticut remains part of the Nub lineup, offering a creamy, toasted expression of the brand’s original concept.

Available Vitolas:
Nub Connecticut 354 - 3.75 x 54
Nub Connecticut 358 - 3.75 x 58
Nub Connecticut 460 - 4 x 60
Nub Connecticut 464T - 4 x 64 (Torpedo)

Another member of Nub’s original 2008 lineup, Nub Cameroon pairs a Cameroon wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Hand-rolled by Oliva in Estelí, Nicaragua, the blend emphasizes earth, nuts, and cedar, with natural sweetness and touches of spice rounding out its character. Generally described as medium-bodied, it brings an earthy, nutty direction to the brand’s familiar short, thick format.

The Nub Cameroon 358 earned a 92-point rating and ranked No. 23 in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of 2015.

Available Vitolas:
Nub Cameroon 460 - 4 x 60
Nub Cameroon 460 Tubo - 4 x 60 (Tubed)
Nub Cameroon 464T - 4 x 64 (Torpedo)
Nub Cameroon 466 BPT - 4 x 66 (Box Pressed Torpedo)

Nub Habano features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper surrounding an Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan filler, according to the brand’s current specifications. Delivering cedar and spice alongside notes of earth, leather, and pepper, this medium-to-full-bodied blend brings a richer, spicier expression to Nub’s short, thick lineup. Despite its compact proportions, the brand describes a smoking experience that can last an hour or more.

The Nub Habano 460 earned an 89-point rating from Cigar Aficionado in April 2009, followed by another 89-point rating for the 460 Tubo in April 2012, adding critical recognition to the blend’s early history.

Available Vitolas:
Nub Habano 358 - 3.75 x 58
Nub Habano 460 Tubo - 4 x 60 (Tubed)
Nub Habano 464T - 4 x 64T (Torpedo)
Nub Habano 466 - 4 x 66
Nub Habano 460 - 4 x 60

Joining the lineup in 2009, Nub Maduro expanded the brand’s short, thick concept with a darker expression centered on roasted coffee and chocolate. According to Nub’s current specifications, the blend features a Mexican Maduro wrapper surrounding Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Generally described as medium to full-bodied, it offers an earthy profile with natural sweetness and touches of spice.

Earlier reviews identified its wrapper as Brazilian Maduro, including the Nub Maduro 460 that earned 90 points from Cigar Aficionado in August 2013. That recognition marked another milestone for the growing Nub lineup, giving its Maduro offering a distinction of its own.

Available Vitolas:
Nub Maduro 460 - 4 x 60
Nub Maduro 460 Tubo - 4 x 60 (Tubed)
Nub Maduro 464T - 4 x 64 (Torpedo)

Considered the stronger Cain Nub option, Cain Nub F uses a higher proportion of Estelí ligero. Triple fermentation helps temper the tobacco’s harshness, creating a smoother smoking experience while preserving the blend’s bold character and concentrated flavor. According to Nub’s current specifications, Nicaraguan filler sits beneath an Ecuadorian binder and Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, delivering a full-bodied smoking experience.

The Cain Nub F 460 earned a 90-point rating from Cigar Aficionado in August 2014. The publication highlighted its dense, hearty smoke and notes of earth, coffee bean, and leather, followed by a finish hinting at dried cherry.

Available Vitolas:
Cain F Nub 460 - 4 x 60

Receiving an 88 point rating in 2015 and 2023 from Cigar Aficionado, the Cain Habano 460 is a medium strength cigar with notes of earth, red pepper, coffee, leather, and wood. Producing rich velvety smoke, the short stubby Nub allows the Cain ligero-forward blend to remain bold and offer full-bodied flavor and depth. 

Using a Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and binder with Nicaraguan ligero filler, this cigar is a powerhouse without sacrificing on flavor, producing thick smoke and offers at least an hour of smoking time.

Available Vitolas:
Cain Nub Habano 460 - 4 x 60

Wrapped in a dark chocolate colored wrapper, the Cain Nub Maduro combines the signature Cain ligero blend with the iconic Nub format. Calling upon a maduro wrapper from the US, an Ecuadorian binder, and Nicaraguan ligero filler, the Cain Nub Maduro is for those that like notes of espresso, cocoa, dark chocolate, and black pepper. Full-bodied in flavor and strength, the Cain Nub Maduro is rolled by Oliva, presenting flawless construction for flavorful enjoyment.

With no rankings by Cigar Aficionado, the Cain Nub Maduro has been rated by the staff at Holt's, achieving a solid 90 points.

Available Vitolas:
Cain Nub Maduro 460 - 4 x 60

Nub’s short, thick shape may be what first catches your attention, but there’s more to the brand than its dimensions. Oliva’s craftsmanship and a range of blends have given it staying power. From the original lineup to the stronger Cain offerings, Nub has built on a simple idea: a compact cigar can still deliver a satisfying smoke.