Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut / Binder: Nicaragua / Filler: Nicaragua

Vitola: Robusto / Size: 5 x 52

Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A. / Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Raisins, slight pepper, minerality, rust, BBQ potato chips

Molasses, sugar cookies, natural tobacco, raisins, plums, and cedar.

Raisins, light cedar, minerality, saltiness. Well-balanced with sweet and savory notes.

A beautiful Connecticut with only a couple of sun spots. Light and airy with an open draw, almost reminding me of the draw from a Padron. Usually, I am not a fan of Connecticut shade cigars and often feel obligated to smoke them in the morning due to how I've been indoctrinated to believe that Connecticut shade wrappers are the "proper" breakfast blend. With that being said, I am enjoying this stick much more than other Connecticut shade cigars that I have smoked. The first third opens up with abundant smoke production, offering floral notes, hints of graham cracker, a slight creaminess, and pepper on the retrohale.

Nicotine strength slightly increases from the first third and the aroma consists of cardboard and roasted peanuts. Floral notes remain into the second third, now accompanied by notes of cedar, hints of cinnamon, and BBQ potato chips. Spice and pepper slightly ramp up on the retrohale and the ash is still holding on strong.

Creamy, cashew, light minerality, and mild tannins. Intensity of flavor is fading but graham cracker, BBQ potato chips, cedar, and light minerality continue to push through the creamy smoke. Oh no! What is happening?! Am I losing my fidelity to my maduro love!?! Likely not, but I'm quite sure this is the first box-worthy Connecticut shade I have ever had.

The reviewing process at Cigar Public ensures that each cigar is reviewed blindly. This cigar was sent without any bands and without any information about the cigar. Cigar Public does not attempt to influence or alter any scores given by any of our reviewers.

 

Will Linger

To me, cigars are about having a deep curiosity of the history of those who provide cigars to the world, which is a history filled with complexity and beauty. Comparing notes on those stories is the point, preserved for who’ll come next. I simply can’t get enough of that. Otherwise, I’m a common man.