When I was putting together my list of top cigars of the year I felt guilty that I chose to pass on these and didn’t smoke one for consideration. So for the second time in a week I am doing a review based on one cigar.

The Rocky Patel 50th is a limited edition cigar that celebrates the 50th birthday of this cigar icon. Available in 3 sizes; Robusto, Toro and Torpedo wtih each size limited to 2000 boxes.

Cigar: Rocky Patel 50th
Size: Torpedo
Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 1

Appearance and Construction: With the packaging mentioned above I’ll focus on the torpedo itself. There stick has a slight box press to it with a gorgeous oily wrapper that is absolutely flawless. The roll of the cigar is seamless and is easily one of the best looking torpedo smokes I have ever seen. In the hand the cigar almost feels like there is air between the wrapper and filler. I liken it to the feeling of bubble wrap. The Rocky Patel 50th uses a dual band system with the colors of orange, silver, bronze and black.

Flavor & Notes: The cold draw reminds me of lucky charms marshmellows, while the foot of the cigar has a nose reminiscent of a slight spice and floral notes. Once the stick was lit with a soft flame lighter I was impressed with the complexity of the cigar. Some notes of wood, leather, and coffee were instantly identifiable. Through the nose the smoke had a slight spice and some floral hints. Despite the hint of floral it was obvious this was one of the strong cigars in the Rocky portfolio. As I worked my way into the first third the floral notes quickly faded and the focal point was very nutty. As the second third of the smoke was breached the cigar took on a complexity of wood with and underlying sweetness similar to the cold draw of the stick. The final third of the cigar remains woody with notes that reminded me of a peaty scotch. The stick had a nice oak like finish that lingered.

Smoking Characteristics: The burn of the cigar started extremely lopsided and I was worried I would have a canoe on my hands but the cigar corrected it self and was burning perfectly 1.5″ into the stick. The dark brindle like ash was solid and held on well. The draw of cigar was a bit loose and smoked a bit fast. The aroma of the cigar was enjoyable and added to the experience.

Conclusion: The $30 price tag in New York translates to $22 or so in a state with no tobacco tax. So the question is, does the cigar smoke like one with the attached price tag. The answer is no. The cigar however is very good, and if it had a normal price tag I would smoke it regularly. However the flashy presentation appears to have been part of the reason for the hefty cost.

Rating: 90
Price: $22.00

The cigar is made in the Dominican Republic for Crowned Heads under the watchful eye of EPC Cigars at Tabacalera LaAlianza. Ernesto Perez Carrillo has seen a lot of success, fast since he began he own label after a similar buyout but the Scandinavian Tobacco Group. One can say this was a match made in heaven as both have a similar past.

The cigar is available in four sizes, Corona Gorda (5 5/8” x 46); Robusto (5” x 50); Sublime (6” x 54); and Piramide (6 1/8” x 52). The suggested retail before local taxes is $6.95 to $8.65 per cigar.

Cigar: Four Kicks
Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium-Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Four Kicks by Crowned Heads

Appearance and Construction: The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper on the Four Kicks feels a bit coarse with a few veins present although none of them stand out too much. There are some oils present and the roll of the cigar is perfect right down to the cap. The foot is well packed, with a nice dark tobacco bunching which is dead center. There is a nice weight to the stick with no soft spots. The band uses red and gold and it reminds me a lot of the Saint Luis Rey band is tapered on one end which makes it real easy to remove when the time comes.

Four Kicks Foot

Flavor & Notes: Once I clipped the cigar I took a cold draw from the Four Kicks by Crowned Heads and was treated to notes of earth and nuts. The foot of the cigar had a wonderful sweet molasses to the nose. A classic pre-light experience if you ask me. Once the cigar was lit, there was some subtle spices, citrus bordering on lemon extract, and a wonderful sweetness. As we progressed into the first third there was a nice citrus note that was dominant for the first inch or so before submitting to notes of wood, and molasses.  As I smoked the second third of the cigar I noticed the pepper slightly more than in the first third especially through the nose. The wood notes became the focal point with a sweet finish that continued to remind me of molasses. The last third of the cigar gets a bit heavier in body and turns it up a notch in strength. The wood notes become a well defined oak, some leather notes come into the mix but the finish of the cigar holds on to the sweetness that was the dominant note throughout the cigar.

Four Kicks First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: Does it get any better than the construction of cigars coming out of Tabacalera LaAlianza? The cigar had a perfect draw with a slight resistance the way it should be. The cigar also had a perfect burn. This doesn’t mean it was always razor-sharp but it always self corrected when it got slightly off-center. The solid ash was light in color and held for half the cigar. The aroma of the smoke complimented the notes which helped make this an easy cigar to dissect. .

Four Kicks Second 3rd

Conclusion: One can’t help but compare cigars. It is human nature, to see how they compare to another. I happily state this cigar stands on its own. There is no hint of CAO and there is no hint of EPC. The cigar has it’s own identity and that is of a cigar that is simply incredible. It easily falls into my top 5 of the year and I will smoke it again when it is time to figure out Cigar of the Year. The cigar which is limited to 30,000 in the first release is only available at 66 retailers, and that makes tracking them down a bit difficult. I managed to get mine from Buckhead Cigars. The effort is worthwhile, because this cigar definitely lives up to the hype.

Four Kicks Last 3rd

Rating: 95
Price: $7.50 (Approximate)

Leave a comment below to win a baseball cap of the Crowned Heads logo. Deadline to enter is 1 pm Eastern Time Thanksgiving Day. Winner to be announced on Black Friday.

According to Atlantic Cigar, “Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial is a limited edition cigar released yearly and truly a treat with only 30,000 cigars produced with a different size created each year. This complex blend of Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos with a specially fermented Jalapa Valley ligero held together by a Nicaraguan binder. The cigar is then finished with high priming San Andres maduro wrapper grown in the fertile San Andres valley in Mexico. Packaged in boxes of 10 Toro (6 x 50) cigars these limited production cigars will not last long so grab a box before they are gone for good.”

Cigar: Oliva V Maduro
Size: 6 x 50 (Toro)
Wrapper: San Andreas Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium-Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 4

Oliva V Maduro 2011

Appearance and Construction: When I got an email from one of my shops that they got the 2011 V Maduro in I just shrugged my shoulders. When I made it into the shop and saw it wasn’t a torpedo I picked up a box and a few singles. The draw issues that plagued the last few years as a torpedo did not follow through in the toro. The V Maduro features an oily San Andres Maduro that is flawless. The cigar is rolled to perfection with a nice weight to it, and no soft spots. The band is your typical Oliva V, however, to the left of the logo on the side is the word maduro.

Oliva V Maduro 2011 Foot

Flavor & Notes: The cold draw of the cigar is earthy with a slight saltiness and chocolate while the foot serves up some earth to the nose.  Once the cigar is lit there is  aburst of leather notes that slowly fade revealing a sweetness. As we progress past that first 1/2″ the first third develops into a complex smoke. The leather notes are gone and have been replaced by earth which is joined by dark chocolate (slightly bitter), and strong espresso. As I breach the second third of the cigar, the coffee notes are dominant that they almost overwhelm what else the cigar has to offer. The dark chocolate notes are a bit more refined and less bitter, while some spice picks up especially through the nose which caused my eyes to water. The last third of the cigar becomes nutty with the occasional floral note gone is the spice and chocolate. There is some earth and espresso on the short finish.

Oliva V Maduro 2011 First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: After a couple of years with difficult draws the issue has been resolved and kudos to Oliva for getting away from the torpedo/belicoso format. The cigar has a nice burn to it and a solid ash that was medium gray in color that holds for a third of the cigar at a time.

Oliva V Maduro 2011 Second 3rd

Conclusion: With 2008 a distant memory, and the disappointment of the earlier years, the 2011 really stands outs. Complex and enjoyable the Oliva V Maduro delivers and brings a renewed interest in the limited edition annual release. Definitely worthy of a box purchase or two. One to smoke now, and one to sit on and age.

Oliva V Maduro 2011 Last 3rd

Rating: 92
Price: $9.00 / $81.00 a box of 10 @ Atlanic Cigars

The result is a cigar can basically be called the half-brother to the Liga Privada line. Will the cigar become the black sheep of the family or will it be widely accepted. That is the question that can only be answered over time. But here is my opinion none the less.

The Undercrown is available in 5 sizes, Robusto 5 x 50 ($7.45 MSRP); Gran Toro 6 x 52 ($7.95 MSRP); Belicoso 6 x 52 ($8.45 MSRP); Corona Doble 7 x 54 ($8.95 MSRP) and Gordito 6 x 60 ($9.95 MSRP).

Cigar: Undercrown
Size: 5 x 50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: San Andreas Otapan Negro Último Corte
Binder: T52 Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Habano
Filler: Select Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Cuban Seed
Strength: Medium-Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 5

Undercrown

Appearance and Construction: The wrapper from Mexico called “Otapan” is the name of the tobacco field on which it is grown and “Último Corte” translates to “last cut”; which refers to the harvesting was intentionally delayed by 4+ weeks to allow for additional field and sun time resulting in a higher natural sugar content and a richer, creamier flavor. The result is a dark maduro with minimal veins and an abundance of oils. In the hand the cigar has a nice weight to it, with no soft spots and it feels like velvet under the fingers. The band is blue and gold with the Liga logo with a crown underneath it.

Undercrown Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the of Undercrown serves up some spices to the nose and is slightly floral. The cold draw of the cigar reminds me of paprika and earth. Once the cigar is lit a nice sugar like sweetness that compliments notes of coffee and cedar. As we move into the first third the sweetness remains in the background while the notes of coffee and cedar are joined by the occasional leather. As the cigar moves into the second third the cedar begins to dominate and the sweetness becomes a bit more cocoa like with coffee on the finish. The last third picks up some nuts, of the roasted variety and the coffer remains. The sweetness is gone, and is replaced with the first presence of a slight spice with a leathery finish.

Undercrown First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: The amount of smoke that comes off this cigar is incredible or insane. Take your pick. A lot of times when I write a review I will smoke the cigar and compare it with the notes of cigars I smoked earlier. With the stick resting between my lips I had to put it down because I couldn’t see past the smoke coming from the cigar. The burn of the cigar is fairly crisp with a nice firm almost white colored ash. The aroma of the cigar is a bit funky at times as it reminds me of the wick from a candle after it has been blow out. Despite the massive smoke production the cigar burns slow and cool.

Undercrown Second 3rd

Conclusion: The Undercrown has some similarities to the Liga Privada, but it is definitely more like a distant cousin then a half-brother. The cigar lacks the strength, and power of the No. 9 and the smooth taste of the T-52. Does this mean it is a bad cigar, hell no. You just can’t go into it expecting the aforementioned cigars. It is more mild, and lacks the spice. It does however have a nice complexity although it is a tad rough around the edges. I will be buying a box of these to keep on hand.

Undercrown Last 3rd

Rating: 90
Price: $7.45 / $167.95 a Box @ Bonita Smoke Shop

According to UpDown Cigar (one of the retailers selling this smoke),

The first exclusive Tatuaje cigar for the Tobacconist’s Association of America, Pete Johnson only made 1,500 boxes total for only a handful of cigar stores. A beautiful U.S.A. grown Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is left with a shaggy foot and wrapped over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Boxed pressed at 5 5/8″ by 54, the flavor has plenty of typical Tatuaje spice but is complimented by a rich sweetness from the wrapper. They smoke great now, and will age beautifully.

Here is our take on the latest from Pete Johnson…

Cigar: TAA 2011 Exclusive by Tatuaje
Size: 5 5/8 x 54
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

Tatauje TAA 2011

Appearance and Construction: The TAA Exclusive Tatuajue is a box pressed and is very square. The cigar has one medium-sized vein and the roll is a bit porous on the sample I am using to write my review. On the first cigar I smoked I only jotted down the notes of the smoke, so I can’t compare it to others. The foot of the cigar is closed, and under the fingers there cigar is smooth almost having a vinyl like feel to it. There are a few soft spots on the top side of the smoke, but the cigar does have a nice weight to it. The band off the cigar has the TAA logo and like other exclusive Series Tatuaje cigars, the band reminds me of the belt from the movie Rocky.

Tatauje TAA 2011 Foot

Flavor & Notes: The cigar has a wonderfully sweet nose to it that borders on milk chocolate with a dose of earth thrown in. Once the cap is clipped the cold draw serves up some more sweetness with a bit of leather in the mix. Once the cigar is lit a nice spice quickly develops with an underlying sweetness and cedar. Working into the first third of the smoke the spice remains and is the focal point, but there is also a nice coffee note and some leather especially on the finish. As we enter the second third, a sweetness begins to take over of the Tatuaje TAA 2011 on the draw, but the finish remains leathery. The last third of the cigar the spice and strength kicked it up a notch with a nice woody finish.

Tatauje TAA 2011 First Third

Smoking Characteristics: The Tatuaje TAA 2011 Exclusive burned pretty fast for me lasting just over an hour, and I am generally a slow smoker. The draw of the cigar was a bit on the loose side with a straight cut, so I would suggest going with a punch cut if you smoke one of these. The ash of the cigar was a medium gray and held on for a bit less than a quarter of the stick before falling off into my lap. The aroma of the cigar was a bit woody and it was a major league smoke producer.

Tatauje TAA 2011 Second Third

Conclusion: When I smoked this cigar I couldn’t get over how much this reminded me of the Barclay Rex 100th Anniversary stick. Pete has stated this cigar is a take on that cigar and the Pork Tenderloin. To me it reminds me of the Barclay with some extra ligero in the mix. The cigar is rich and powerful with the nicotine catching up on me in the last third. The cigars aren’t too difficult to track down and if you like the full-bodied this on is for you.

Tatauje TAA 2011 Last Third

Rating: 90
Price: $11.00

The Cameroon is offered as a Robusto (5.5 x 50 – $7.55); Toro (6.5 x 52 – ); Torpedo (6.25 x 52- ); Churchill (7 x 48 – $8.55) and a Sixty (6 x 60- $8.55). According to Atlantic Cigar who is an advertiser on this site,

The Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 blend has been in the works for many years now. Rocky has always wanted to use a Cameroon wrapper on one of his cigars lines… so here it is. For nearly the last decade Rocky Patel has been carefully selecting and amassing only the finest grade ‘A’ Cameroon wrapper leaf in hopes of one day launching a Cameroon wrapper cigar. The result is a sweet and spicy medium bodied cigar that’s well balanced and delivers a refined clean flavor and smoothness. The blend is comprised of a Nicaraguan binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers finished in the finest Cameroon wrapper that Rocky could get his hands on.

Cigar: Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon
Size: 5.5 x 50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon

Appearance and Construction: The Cameroon wrapper of the Vintage 2003 is glistening with essential oils. Upon close examination there are some imperfections in the wrapper with some color discrepancies especially near the cap of the cigar that I would compare to the bruising of some fruit. The cigar is rolled to perfection and in the hand it feels a very smooth like enamel. There is a hefty weight to cigar and examination of the foot shows a nice variation tobacco in the filler. The dual band is a gorgeous royal blue with white text. The first denotes Rocky Patel while the second denotes Vintage 2003 Cameroon.

Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon - Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the cigar has a nose of wheat and cookies baking at Christmas time. The cold draw is sweet, but it reminds of holiday cookies as well. I love when I get a cigar that triggers such a vivid image such as this. I used my Xikar soft flame lighter to spark the Vintage 2003 Cameroon up and was treated to notes of caramel sweetness which makes sense since Christmas cookies use caramel coloring. As we worked into the first third of the cigar some notes of wood began to develop, but the aroma is what really held my attention. Not to be a dead horse, but it reminded of the kitchen when my friends mom was baking, your guessed it, Christmas cookies. In the second third of the cigar the caramel was the primary note, however in the background there was some coffee and leather added to the mix. The last third of the cigar there is an aroma that is nutty that compliments the cigar which has developed a nice vanilla bean note. The finish was a little short with a nice sweetness about it.

Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon - First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: What a great ash on the Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon, it held on for half the stick at a time, which was pretty damn impressive. The burn was iconic, and the draw was perfect. Just a really well constructed cigar, one of the best I ever had the joy of smoking. As stated in the last section the aroma of the cigar was even more delicious than the smoke itself. It complimented things so well and really filled the room.

Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon - Second 3rd

Conclusion: I was really impressed with the Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon to the point where I might call it the best Cameroon I ever smoked. There was a nice subtle complexity to it and the cigar performed well. The price is right, and it has sparked a renewed interest to me in the brand.

Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon - Last 3rd

Rating: 94
Price: $134.95 / Box of 20 or $6.80 a stick at Atlantic Cigar

Design personalized gifts at Zazzle.

The cigars will come in 21 count boxes in a 5 x 56 Robusto, 6 1/8 x 52 Torpedo, 7 x 47 Churchill and a 6 x 60 referred to as the BFC. MSRP on all sizes is between $4.95 and $5.50. The sticks feature an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

Cigar: Loyal
Size: 5 x 56 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Torano Loyal

Appearance and Construction: While not a fan of a 60 ring cigar, the 56 ring over-sized Robusto might turn out to be ok. The Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper has a nice amount of oils and tooth while not having any major veins. The cigar is as firm as they come and finding a soft spot in impossible. Finding flaws in the roll is very possible. The roll is porous in spots, and the cap is poorly  applied, but thankfully 9 times out of 10 these turn out to be purely aesthetic. I assume this is more common in cigars that are less expensive due to the lower level rollers used to make them. The band denotes Loyal in silver over burgundy, while Torano is in silver over black.

Torano Loyal - Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the cigar offers a delicious mix of cedar, mocha and earth which is simply outstanding.  The cold draw serves up some earthy notes over a base of oats. Once the cigar is lit there are some initial notes of spice, and earth. As we continue into the first third of the cigar, the Nicaraguan spice begins to shine through as the cigar takes on some sweet notes in the background. The second third of the cigar becomes ultra smooth and the spice mellows considerably. The notes on the second third are a mix of leather, and wood with a hint of mocha on the finish. The last third the cedar remains constant, as some nuts join the mix with a slightly leather-like finish.

Torano Loyal - First Third

Smoking Characteristics: The Carlos Torano Loyal is a slow burning cigar with a solid burn line. The medium gray ash held on strong for about a third of the cigar at a time. The draw was perfect, and the rich voluptuous  smoke-filled the room with a nice aroma. The imperfections of the roll of the cigar had no bearing on the enjoyment of the cigar.

Torano Loyal - Second Third

Conclusion: I look at the cigars in a humidor as two schools of though. There are your traditional cigars that cater to the old school smokers, while the others cater to the new school cigar connoisseurs. The Loyal reward those in the traditional camp with a cigar that is well-rounded, flavorful, and enjoyable from first light to last puff. Even if you are a new school tobacco lover, the Loyal is a nice example a classic cigar.

Torano Loyal - Last Third

Rating: 90
Price: $92.95 a box/ $4.46 each @ Atlantic Cigars

He began the process with Olancho San Agustin wrapper tobacco from the proprietary 2008 crop. Ideal climatic conditions that year led to the expression of essential oils on the leaf. When processed, the natural oils contribute to the cigar’s uniquely robust, earthy flavor and full-bodied aroma.

To achieve its uniquely balanced, medium-bodied taste, Rick and his team have punctuated the flavorful OSA wrapper with a hearty Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler.  The result is a provocative taste that celebrates the nuances of Olancho San Agustin tobacco.

The cigar will be available in 25 count boxes in 3 sizes.

• Lot 50 (5 x 50/$5.75 MSRP)
• Lot 54 (6 x 54/$6.25 MSRP)
• Lot 58 (6.5 x 58/$6.75 MSRP)

So the question remains, how do these smoke?

Cigar: CAO OSA Sol
Size: 5 x 50 (Lot 50/Robusto)
Wrapper: Olancho San Agustin (Honduras)
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 5

CAO OSA Sol

Appearance and Construction: The wrapper of the CAO OSA Sol has a brindle like appearance with some symmetrical variations of color on the leaf. There are some oils present on this cigar that has it’s fair share of ultra thin veins. In the hand the CAO OSA Sol has the feeling of rawhide between the fingers as we search for sport spots in the bunching of tobacco and roll of the cigar. The result was none to be found and the foot is well packed. The band of the cigar means nothing in the smoking of the cigar, but it can play a part in the first time a consumer picks up a smoke. With that said and done, I love the band of the cigar, specifically the wavy lime green storm symbol.

CAO OSA Sol - Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the cigar reminds me of the sweetness from a marshmallow and some wood, in fact it takes me back to camping and roasting marshmallows over an open fire. The draw of the cigar is primarily earthy with some wood added to the mix. Once the cigar is lit a slight sweetness mixed in with some distinct notes of wood. In the second third of the cigar there are some notes of citrus that join the mix which is mostly earth and wood. The last third becomes heavy on the earth with some pepper and wood through the nose. The finish was just light being not too short nor too long.

CAO OSA Sol - First Third

Smoking Characteristics: When smoking the CAO OSA Sol the one thing I noticed the most was how dense the smoke was and the cigar became. The cigar seemed to get heavier as it went on. Thankfully it didn’t become wet. The smoking time was 90 minutes and the burn of the cigar was ideal. The salt and pepper ash on the review stick didn’t hold more than an inch at the time, but i was in a pretty intense phone call at the time waving my hands all over the place. The aroma of the cigar was woody and enjoyable.

CAO OSA Sol - Second Third

Conclusion: It’s funny how the loyalty of a brand can really alter the opinion of a cigar. I know a few retailers who were trashing this cigar before samples were even available out of loyalty to the brand under its old owners. The most important thing when trying a new cigar is to keep an open mind. The CAO OSA Sol reminds me of nothing in the current portfolio, which I think is a good thing. Is it the best cigar in the CAO catalog, no. Is it the worst, definitely not. The result is a cigar that was very enjoyable at the right price that I will smoke again.

CAO OSA Sol - Last Third

Rating: 89
Price: $5.75

Blanco, age 61, is a cigar expert held in high esteem throughout the industry who is known for being simultaneously outspoken and gregarious. Cigars and tobacco have always been part of his life. As a youth he was tasked with sorting tobacco from his father’s farm and began regularly smoking cigars at the age of 16. He was hired by Empresa León Jimenes CxA in 1982 and spent 18 years in its core beer and cigarette divisions. In 1999, due to his passion for cigars, he was promoted into their historic cigar company, La Aurora S.A. Utilizing tobaccos from many nations, he was instrumental in the development of new products such as the 100 Años, Aurora 107 and 1495 Series. He also served as the public representative for the company and is heralded for his tobacco blending and tasting seminars until his retirement from the company in June 2011. Guillermo León, the owner of La Aurora, credited Blanco for being a big part of the company’s success in a statement to Cigar Aficionado.

In comment to why he decided to accept the position at JDN, Blanco states, “Joining Joya De Nicaragua allows me to do what I love and feel passionate for: working with tobacco. It is a choice that I feel very happy about and makes me look into the future with great enthusiasm. Joya De Nicaragua is in my opinion an honorable company with strong tradition and history, which I value highly. Furthermore, it will be a great honor to work with my dear friend Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuenca. In this company I  visualize growth, creativity and overall great potential.”

Of Blanco says Dr. Martinez Cuenca, “Welcoming Jose Blanco as Senior VP of Joya de Nicaragua is a profound honor and pleasure for me. Jose will bring new blood and  fresh ideas to our legendary company that will allow us to expand our lines of production. His experience in blending and marketing will complement our own efforts and
will undoubtedly result in a great contribution to the development and growth of Joya de Nicaragua in both the US and worldwide markets.”

“I have always respected Jose,” states Steve Saka, President of Drew Estate, “He is one of the few guys in our business that will tell you what he really thinks. I like that in an  individual, plus he is as crazy about cigars and tobacco as I am. He is a total cigar geek so I am really looking forward to having the opportunity to work with him to grow the love for Joya de Nicaragua. He is going to be a great fit.”

Jonathan Drew, Owner and Co-Founder of Drew Estate added this comment via an iPhone video, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure he knows all about cigars, but the thing I like best about Blanco is his accent. Sometimes it is Dominican, sometimes it is Bronx, but it is never one of those Dominican-Bronx accents.”

About JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A.
JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A., is a family owned, Nicaragua-based cigar factory that handcrafts traditional cigars for
the premium luxury cigar market. First opened in 1968, it is Nicaragua’s eldest factory in operation and home to
the legendary JOYA DE NICARAGUA® brand of cigars. JdN is regarded by many as the patriarch crafter of robust,
unique puro blends of locally grown black tobaccos. For more info, please visit www.joyadenicaragua.com.ni.
® JOYA DE NICARAGUA is a registered trademark of Joya de Nicaragua S.A. and/or affiliated companies.

Today’s smoke is the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition. According to Uptown Cigar Company,

With a total of only 3,700 boxes made, this is the first limited edition cigar made solely by Master Blender Jaime Garcia. A Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper from a lower priming, a Nicaraguan Pelo de Oro binder, and 2 Cuban-seed Nicaraguan leaves for the filler, this full bodied smoke has a similar taste to the original Jaime Garcia, except the cigar is MUCH richer and more refined in depth and flavor.

The cigars come 16 in a box, with a twist. The Broadleaf wrapper is on 15 of the sticks, while 1 features a Connecticut share which might be the wrapper used in 2012.

Cigar: Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011
Size: 6.5 x 52 (Toro)
Wrapper: Connecticut Brodleaf, Viso Priming.
Binder: Pelo de Oro (Nicaragua)
Filler: Nicaragua (Cuban Seed)
Strength: Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition

Appearance and Construction: The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011 wrapper has the appearance of rich chocolate. Slightly toothy, a few small veins and a fair amount of oils gives this cigar a classic appearance. Perhaps it is due to the lower priming, but this Connectict Broadleaf has a nice color about it, and it really stands out. The roll is perfect right down to the cap. In the hand, the cigar feels a little light although there are no soft spots on this stick. The foot does seem a bit loose compared to other cigars in the regular release. There is a dual band system in place, with the traditional band above a second one with denoting that this is a Limited Edition.

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the JG RE LE, has a sweet chocolate like aroma to the nose with a nice amount of Nicaraguan spice present as well. The cold draw had a slight hint of spice, but the focal point was a dried fruit like taste about it. Intriguing to say the least, but definitely enjoyable. When you light up a Garcia cigar you expect that trademark spice, and as repetitive as it is I find it to be enjoyable as well.  A sweetness developed about an inch into the stick that bordered on cinnamon and some anise. In the second third of the cigar, the complexity begins to show with some of the dried fruit we tasted on the cold draw. The focal point was a nice strong coffee of the Cuban variety with continued anise and the addition of some leather. The last third of the cigar was some continued coffee notes that took more of an espresso like taste, with some wood and leather. The finish was long and enjoyable leaving me wanting another.

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: The cigar had a nice crisp burn-line even though it burned at a slight angle. Could this have been user error, sure I guess. The medium gray ash held for about 1.5″ at a time, and the draw was perfect. The aroma of the cigar was enjoyable as the cigar produced an abundance of smoke. In the 1 hour and 30 minutes it took me to smoke this cigar it never went out once on me which is always a good thing.

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition Second 3rd

Conclusion: Limited Edition cigars how I love and hate thee. I love how companies put to use some of the limited quantity tobacco and make a really good cigar. I hate how the price makes these cigars over-priced in a tax burdened state like New York, where these were $22.00. I also dislike how I will like a cigar so much only to have it disappear off the market. I totally loved this cigar, and despite the price tag I do not feel like I was ripped off. Definitely box worthy in my eyes.

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition Last 3rd

Rating: 93
Price: $16.00 each, $230.99 a box @ Uptown Cigar Company