Cigar Review: Joya de Nicaragua Antano

Hello cigar smokers,
Today I'm smoking an old favorite of many, the Joya de Nicaragua Antano series. These cigars became a classic after the Cuban embargo, back then Nicaragua was not a big cigar producer, so in a way these cigars put Nicaragua on the map for cigar makers and connoisseurs alike. Joya De Nicaragua translates to "The Jewel of Nicaragua" and this cigar is a Nicaraguan puro, all the leaves in this blend come from Nicaragua. The Antano comes in boxes of 20, with the flagship tobacco leaf logo centered in the box. In the many boxes of these cigars I've seen the wrappers are all generally uniform and loose wrappers or cracked leaves are a rare occurrence in what I've seen. Recently the Antano has also started coming in cellophane wrappers, and I haven't seen an ugly or cracked wrapper since. Joya de Nicaragua is distributed in the US by Drew Estate, and they've been breathing new life into the brand with new blends, but the Antano is as consistently good as it's always been.

These cigars are definitely a full body smoke. It is a 5/5 on our strength ranking system, but the smoothness of the blend doesn't make it necessarily feel like a 5/5. From the first light up it gives a strong draw and robust flavor that gradually gets stronger and finishes strong. This size, the Consul, is a 4 1/2 by 52 ring gauge Robusto and I think it's one of the best sizes to enjoy a strong blended cigar in.  I recommend this cigar to people who want to try full bodied cigars, fans of Nicaraguan tobacco, or as a last cigar of the day to cap off a multiple cigar day. A full bodied cigar such like this I think goes best with full bodied spirits. Red wine or Port is my go-to pairing for this cigar, but whiskeys are another excellent choice. There's a reason Joya de Nicaragua has staying power in the cigar business and I these are an excellent introduction to the world of Nicaraguan tobacco.

Macanudo Gold Label Capa Especial

Hello Cigar smokers,
Today I've selected a special cigar to share with you all, the Macanudo Gold Label. Capa Especial is Spanish for "Special wrapper" and this cigar does have a special wrapper. The wrapper is a Connecticut Shade from the first priming of the plant, which means it was harvested first off the plant and got less sunlight that the other leaves. Tobacco is harvested in segments from bottom to top, so the bottom most leaves get the least sunlight and are the thinnest. Tobaccos that come off of the first primings give a very mild body and a smooth flavor, and the veins in the leaves are much smaller than the leaves that come higher off the plant. Working within the confines of low priming tobaccos, Macanudo made a very decadent, good tasting blend using exclusively leaves that come off the lower primings of the plant. This cigar is a 2/5 on our strength scale.

This Cigar's dimensions are very similar to the Montecristo No 2 Torpedo, it's a pretty fat figurado that goes to a 54 ring gauge at the foot. From the initial light up this cigar draws well and easy, and the flavor starts off very mild. As the cigar progresses it doesn't become stronger, but it becomes much less one dimensional, the different flavors work together nicely in this blend without being a strong, or even a medium bodied cigar. It's not very often that I find a cigar that is mild that also features a complex blend with a strong finish. This cigar is sure to wow the casual Macanudo smoker, anybody who prefers mild, Connecticut shade cigars, or people who can't believe how much flavor this mild cigar brings. In my mind this is a perfect Memorial Day stogie to enjoy with any drink.

Cigar Review: Padron 2000 Natural Wrapper

Hello cigar smokers,
Today I'm smoking a Padron 2000 in the natural wrapper, and what a treat I have here. The line of Padron cigars that end in numbers are their lowest priced option, and give a big flavor for the price. Padron does not make a bad cigar, and I would consider them the most consistent cigar maker in Nicaragua. These cigars come in boxes of 26 and they're slightly pressed in cellophane, which differs from the higher end Padron's which don't come in plastic. The box these cigars come in is understated and kind of plain, and it only comes with one small band that says Padron on it. It can be easy to miss these cigars on the shelf, but they are well worth grabbing when you see them. This cigar is a 3/5 strength rating.

This line of Padron's come in both Natural and Maduro wrappers and each offers a different flavor. The 2000 in a Natural wrapper gives a medium flavor, but it is smooth unlike a lot of Nicaraguan puros on the market. The draw is effortless from the initial light up, just like you can expect from any Padron product. I picked the 2000 in a Natural wrapper because of the hot weather we've been having, I tend not to smoke Maduro's or insanely full bodied cigars on a hot day. I notice that cigars feel heavier than they are on a hot day, which makes the medium body of the Padron 2000 more than adequate on a 90+ degree day. 

This blend offers complexity that is greater than you would expect for the price, each third or so of the cigar adds a little flavor to the wrinkle. Overall I am very happy with this cigar, or any cigar from Padron. I recommend this cigar to anybody who prefers medium bodied cigars, fans of Padron that can't always smoke the expensive 1964 and 1926 blends, or a full bodied cigar smoker that wants something a little less intense. 

Cigar review: Cusano 18th Anniversary Double Connecticut Robusto

Hello cigar smokers,
Today I felt like an easy going cigar, so I reached for a Cusano 18th Anniversary Double Connecticut in a Robusto size. I don't normally go for Connecticut cigars, but sometimes nothing hits the spot like a good, mild cigar. These Cusano's are a good change of pace from a Montecristo, Macanudo, or other household name cigar. For the 18th Anniversary of the Cusano brand they released a blend that features a Connecticut Shade wrapper and binder leaf, both harvested in 1997 and aged for 18 years. The filler tobaccos are all Dominican with vintages between 1985 and 1999. These cigars come packed in boxes of 18 and on the inside of the lid is a list invoicing the vintages of the tobaccos featured in this cigar. This cigar is a 2/5 on the strength spectrum.

A Connecticut Shade wrapper aged this long is an anomaly, as Connecticut wrappers are very easy going cigars that don't need much age to develop. Connecticut shade is a much less oily wrapper than darker, heavier leaves, so the flavor does not change as much over time as a tobacco leaf with more oils in it. While some may call 18 years of age on a Connecticut Shade wrapper excessive, I think it works pretty well with this blend. It starts off to a good flavor and draw. I think Connecticut Shade wrappers sometimes start slow, as in the flavor is weak and takes a while into the cigar to progress into a satisfying flavor. Other Connecticut Shade cigars taste a little "green" to me, and by that I mean the wrapper is a little sour or bitter, which indicates a leaf that was rushed along a little bit in the aging process. With a leaf harvested in 1997 those are not an issue for this Cusano, it lights up to a satisfying Connecticut Shade flavor, and maintains it throughout the cigar. While this blend doesn't offer very complex flavors, it gives me exactly what I want out of a mild cigar. I go back and forth between this cigar and the AVO Classic when I'm in the mood for an easy going cigar. I recommend this cigar to anybody who enjoys the AVO Classic, people who prefer Connecticut Shade cigars and want to try something new, or to anybody who wants a mild cigar.

Cigar Review: AVO Classic No 2 Toro

Hello Cigar Smokers,
Today I'm smoking one of my all time favorite daytime cigars, the AVO Classic No 2 Toro. These cigars are made under authority of Davidoff in their Dominican Republic rolling factory. The wrapper leaf is a Connecticut strain grown in Ecuador, these get more sunlight than a typical Connecticut wrapper, so it has less of a blonde color than other Connecticut strain tobacco leaves. The binder and filler leaves are all Dominican. The proprietor of the brand, Avo Uvezian, is a world-renowned composer and pianist that went into the cigar business in the 1980's. These cigars are subtly themed around music, the AVO logo is centered around a music staff with notes inlaid on the box. The strength rating of this cigar is a 2/5.

These cigars are well made and uniform, Davidoff and all of it's brands are good when it comes to quality control. I've never seen an ugly or poorly made AVO cigar and I doubt I'll see one, they have been in production for a long time and have a long standing reputation. They cut easily and light even easier, from the initial light up you are greeted with a pleasant mild aroma and flavor. What I really enjoy about the AVO Classic line is that they don't change in flavor throughout. From the first half inch to the last half inch the flavor doesn't change. The AVO Classic is special to me because it was the very first cigar that I smoked and it instantly made me a cigar lover. I recommend this cigar to all beginners, people who want a daytime cigar, or anybody really that's in the mood for an easy going cigar. It pairs well with any drink, from malt liquor to single malt scotch. I like my cigars much more full bodied nowadays, however I don't forget the AVO Classic line, I keep some in my own humidor at all times, it definitely makes a great Friday cigar!