Oliva Serie G Churchill

January 23rd, 2022: Delicious, smooth, rich cigar with a remarkable long finish and creeping increase of strength in the final third. 

Appearance and Construction: This is a very well made cigar with a mottled light brown wrapper. According to Neptune the cigar is box pressed, 7 x 50 and mild. Mine was not box pressed and anything but mild. The box contains the inscription, "Aged Cameroon". According to Neptune, the wrapper is from the Cameroon. The binder and the filler are Nicaraguan. 

My cigars were a bit squishy upon arrival. I opened the lid of the box and let them dry out. But I couldn't resist trying one. 

First Puff: The first few puffs were spicy and full bodied, foretelling a cigar. Spiciness abated after a few minutes to reveal the dominant profile of the cigar.

Draw and Burn: Draw was a bit resistant until the final third, but manageable. Burn was razor sharp, despite the cigar being squishy.

Flavour and Complexity: Flavour was rich and complex, very much the Nicaraguan puro flavour. I'm not sure if I'd be able to identify the Cameroon wrapper in a blind tasting. Indeed, I would find it difficult to distinguish the O from G. 

Body: Body started medium in the first third and gradually built up to a powerful full body at the end.

Strength: Quite manageable during the first two thirds, but when I awoke at 1am, after dreaming of having to finish painting a house before getting to the airport in two hours, I knew that the final third of this cigar had provided quite a kick of strength at the end.  

Finish and Aftertaste: The finish on this cigar was remarkable: very long, full bodied and lingering, very rich, very smooth with only a hint of bitterness.

Aroma: Aroma was rich and complex. 

Ash: Ash was light. I didn't trust it for more than 15 minutes per ashing and once I got a tummy-full, despite my caution.

Balance and Consistency: Excellent balance and consistently tasty. Strength might have been a bit much at the end. But I didn't really notice it (until I awoke from a dream). On reflection it might have been wise to leave a longer nub.

Time smoke: 95 minutes

Overall: This was a wonderfully balanced, rich, complex cigar with an excellent aroma, perfect burn and a very fine, long finish. Very satisfying. 

At the one hour mark: note the razor sharp burn.

February 23rd, 2022: A substantial cigar which began mild to medium and ended full bodied with a bit of strength in the second half. Flavour had a little bitterness, not unpleasant, but suggested that perhaps a little ageing might add complexity. The second half of the cigar was particularly satisfying as strength increased to 'quite strong but not overwhelming'. No vivid dreams. Aroma was deep and rich. Burn was perfect, draw a bit resistant but quite acceptable. This cigar smoked much faster than the first dip into the box. 80 minutes. Quite satisfying and good to the nub.

Perfect burn. Good to the nub.

February 23rd, 2022. Light in the hand and lightly packed. The pre-light aroma was sweet like dried apple. The Cameroon flavour had a distinct woody, spicy aspect. The cigar was a straight medium throughout. There was no great increase in strength or body. Burn required a couple of touch ups but the cigar was easy to draw and good to the nub. Around 75 minutes. Quite satisfying.

May 25th, 2022: Much the same as the cigar above. Lightly packed but I eked out 90 minutes from this cigar. Cameroon flavour was pronounced and tasty. Aroma was rich and the aftertaste was spicy and lingered. There was a slight increase in flavour/body around the second half, making the cigar more delicious. 90 minutes. Burn and draw were fine. Delicious to the nub. Satisfying. 

August 15th, 2022: Lightly packed and fast burning with easy draw and perfect burn. Flavour was pleasant with a good, rich aftertaste. Aroma was quite pronounced and fragrant. No strength. The cigar barely lasted 70 minutes: pleasant but not quite satisfying. 

Tasty, easy draw, rich aroma, mild to medium body, but too burned too fast.

December 26th, 2022: Much the same as the previous cigar in August: mild to medium bodied, distinctive Cameroon nutty, earthiness, easy draw but erratic burn, pleasant aroma, reasonable finish/aftertaste. 80 minutes. A pleasant puff.  

June 24th, 2023: Again, much the same as previous: mild to medium, lightly packed, irregular burn self-corrected. Probably only 70 minutes. Not as complex and satisfying as the O but quite pleasant.

August 2023: I smoked two of these. Both were consistently delicious and complex, medium bodied throughout, drew and burned well despite the light packing and had fragrant aromas.  Each smoked for about 70 minutes. Quite satisfying.

February 10th, 2024: Smooth, cool, easy draw, mild to medium body. Quite tasty in the final third but not as much body and flavour as the Cameroon Nub 460. 70 minutes, or just under and quite satisfying.

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Toro and Robusto

I bought two boxes, one robusto and one toro, which I shared with a friend. Both the robusto and the toro have a similar profile, the toro lasted ten or twenty minutes longer than the robusto.

January 11th, 2022 - Toro: This is a 6 x 54 Nicaraguan binder and filler with a US Connecticut broadleaf wrapper from the My Father group. The first thing I noticed about the cigar was a yellowish cellophane wrapper. That suggested that the cigars had aged more than a year. Indeed, upon first light, it was apparent that this was a well aged cigar with a very deep, smooth, dark flavour and a very refined, intense aroma.

Appearance and Construction: The cigar is well made. It's quite heavy in the hand. The wrapper is dark, almost maduro.

US Connecticut broadleaf wrapper

First Puff: A very encouraging first few puffs, full of flavour and spice. 

Draw and Burn: Draw was a little tight, but not plugged. Burn was acceptable throughout. Perhaps one or two minor touch ups. 

Flavour and Complexity: The flavour was a deep, dark roast. Not much spice after the first few puffs. One of my friends at the dinner table commented that it tasted like a maduro. 'Almost'. There wasn't the leatheriness of a maduro. Neptune describes the wrapper as maduro. So maybe it is a maduro cigar. In any event, the flavour was consistently rich and complex; perhaps a little dirt in the second half.

Body: Full body throughout.

Strength: I didn't detect much strength, but my friend, smoking the same cigar, started to feel a bit of a kick towards the beginning of the final third and left the cigar before the nub. (I usually have to tell him to put out a cigar before his fingers burn. So this speaks of a bit of strength.)

Finish and Aftertaste: Finish was long and clean enough, despite the dirty slightly aftertaste around the middle of the cigar. The next day I could barely taste any residue. 

Aroma: Rich and satisfying, deep and complex.

Ash: Half an hour per ashing. 

Balance and Consistency: Very balanced flavour, body and strength profile. Consistently good. Perhaps a little fading of flavour close to the end. But still enjoyable to the nub. 

Time smoke: 90 to 100 minutes. I think my friend lingered 105 minutes on his.

Overall: Very satisfying dark roasted flavour, slow burn, plenty of flavour even without billows of smoke. The only defect was a slightly resistant draw. But this did not affect overall enjoyment. 

Very satisfying first dip into the box.

January 15th, 2022 - Robusto: Almost identical to the Toro in every way: slow burn, dark roast, very balanced and complex. Delightfully deep aroma. 80 minutes. One difference I noted was that the cellophane of the robusto was not yellow with age. Nonetheless, flavour was rich and complex. Very satisfying.

February 7th, 2022 - Toro. This one was slightly plugged. Draw was difficult to the end. Flavour was good, as described above: dark roast, quite a bit of ligero, pepper dominated the beginning of the final third then dissipated. But the full measure of flavour was difficult to extract from the cigar, due to the dreadfully tight draw. Finish was long and quite dirty. I could taste it the next day, although it was attenuated and not unpleasant. I think we'll write this one off to the luck of the draw, pun unintended. 85 minutes. Not satisfying.

March 5th, 2022 - Robusto. The first puff gave a wonderfully rich and complex blast of flavour, which continued, full bodied but smooth and spicy throughout. Burn and draw were fine, although burn was a little fast. Around 65 minutes. The cigar also became quite hot in the second half. Overall flavour, body and strength were quite well balanced. Quite satisfying.

At the one hour mark: only a few more minutes remaining

April 6th, 2022: Toro: Draw was a bit resistant but not plugged: it took several puffs to generate a good plume. Burn was perfect. Aroma was rich 

and satisfying.

Flavour was a very balanced, complex, mellow, dark roast with spice and body building in the final third. No overwhelming strength. Everything was well balanced. Similar to the Joya Black, but with more complexity. 90 minutes. Very satisfying. 

May 18th, 2022: Robusto: A bit thin on flavour on lighting, but the complexity of the cigar soon manifested. There was a certain sweetness along with the dark roast, espresso, flavour; but without any spice or bite. The texture of the smoke was creamy-smooth and medium to full body. The aftertaste was lingering and intense. Construction was a bit wonky, with dips in the surface. But burn and draw were perfect throughout. The cigar lasted just under 80 minutes. Satisfying. 

July 3rd, 2022, Robusto: Plaka, Naxos: quite windy, but this cigar nonetheless delivered good flavour, balance and complexity with a medium body for the first two thirds, after which it became a bit bitter and vegetal. Satisfying, around 70 minutes.

December 24th, 2022, Toro: Medium bodied with a pleasant dark roast flavour. Aftertaste came and went. When it was present, aftertaste made the cigar. Burn was irregular, requiring a few touch ups. Around 90 minutes. Quite satisfying

A pleasant chomp, despite the uneven burn

. 

July 6th, 2023: Robusto Almost delicious! Many nice flavours with smooth chocolate and light roast coffee in a medium body; smooth, easy to draw, pleasant aroma but nothing rich. The cigar delivered a pleasant degree of complexity, but not very deep. Around 70 minutes and quite a pleasant puff.

November 30th, 2023: Robusto. Much the same as the previous, however the second third was the best, with a very smooth maduro flavour and cool smoke, due to quite a tight pack. Not much aroma. Tasty long finish, but a bit woody. Good to the nub. Around 70 minutes.  

Oliva Serie O Torpedo

Of the three cigars I have smoked so far, two were tasty, mild to medium with little strength and fast burning. The other one, which I smoked first, was full bodied with quite a kick

1. December 23rd, 2021: This is a 6 x 52 Nicaraguan puro torpedo. It was a delicious cigar with a cocoa milk flavour, like a cup of hot chocolate. It started with a nice, zesty, full bodied complexity, settled down to a medium bodied and mellow profile. In the second half spice and strength pushed the cigar up to full body. The final inch delivered a nicotine kick for which I was not prepared.

It is highly recommended by aficionados on Neptune. Here is a persuasive review:

Appearance and Construction: A dark brown, smooth, matt wrapper, not oily. This is a Nicaraguan puro. According to JR Cigars the tobacco comes from Esteli, Jalapa and Condega. But there is no indication of proportions. 

First Puff: Surprisingly full bodied, peppery with a bit of strength for about one cm to an inch before the profile became mellow. This first inch was one of the most enjoyable parts of the cigar, reminiscent of a fine Cuban in balance and intensity.

Draw and Burn: Easy draw and near perfect burn throughout.

Flavour and Complexity: The flavour in the first inch was rich, smooth, complex, and spicy, like a very good Cuban. After about an inch until around the middle, the cigar became more like hot chocolate without any spice. It was still very tasty and complex. Then in the second half, pepper returned and flavour intensified.

Body: Body started full, diminished to medium until around the second half at which point it kept building to full. 

Strength: There was a little strength in the first inch, none in the remainder of the first half and then a steady increase in the second half. At first, the strength was quite balanced and an enjoyable complement to the flavour. But as I reached the nub it hit me. I could feel the sweat emerging. Too late. I had already put out the cigar. I staggered to the fridge, poured a large glass of cold water and then went to my room, where I felt quite dizzy and woozy. Sleep that night was fitful and dreams vivid.

The strength kick at the end is surprising. Here's a quote from Neptune which claims that 'the strength won't spook anyone'.

Finish and Aftertaste: Finish was long and complex. Aftertaste was clean until the final inch or two, at which point it became a bit tarry. I could still taste the tarriness the next day.

Aroma:  Aroma was subtle but complex; very fine. 

Ash: Ash held on well for 23 minutes. Then it dropped all over me. After that I ashed every ten or twenty minutes.

Balance and Consistency: There were two transitions: after the first inch and after the first half. The cigar was balanced and consistently good until I put it out, at which point I suffered from too much nicotine. So, too strong in the final third. 

Time smoke: 95 minutes. I would have been wise to have left it ten minutes earlier. But it's difficult to leave the nub when it's so tasty.

Overall: This was a delicious cigar. I wasn't expecting such a rich, complex profile. Nor was I expecting the kick of strength at the end. I was expecting a much milder cigar than the Serie V after having read a few comments on Neptune, preferring the V to the O. In fact, I didn't find that much difference between the V and O. O certainly is not inferior to V in body, flavour or strength. I need to revisit the V to make a better comparison. 

But for the nicotine kick at the end, very satisfying. 

At the one hour mark: still another 35 minutes left. However, I would have been wise to leave the cigar a bit earlier and avoid the nicotine kick at the nub. 

2. January 3rd, 2022: Not as rich, intense and complex as the previous sample. There was no intense first inch, nor was there any spice or pepper. This cigar was more like the middle section of the first cigar: smooth, mellow and medium bodied at most. There was no strength to speak of. It was also quite fast burning, barely stretching to 70 minutes, compared with 95 minutes of the previous. Aroma was transient and subtle, but quite rich. Overall pleasant to quite satisfying.

3. January 31st, 2022: This cigar resembled no.2, above: very pleasant medium roast flavour but mild to medium body, not much aftertaste or finish, fast burning, very little aroma, no strength. This cigar was perhaps faster burning than no.2. Total smoking time was about 60 minutes, similar to a robusto. Overall pleasant, but not satisfying. There certainly was complexity in the flavour.  But overall it was a little too light. A little more body and burn time would have been more satisfying.

Fast burner: quite tasty but lasted barely 60 minutes. For a 6x52 that's a bit disappointing.

4. February 11th, 2023: Quite light in the hand and fast burning but I managed to eke out almost 70 minutes. Flavour was a delicious medium roast with a nice chocolately aftertaste. Body was medium throughout. There was no strength to speak of. Overall, this was a well balanced, complex, rich, tasty, medium bodied cigar. The fact that it burned quickly goes to show that size doesn't necessarily correlate with burn time. I've had many a robusto that lasts as long. Nonetheless, it was most enjoyable. Very satisfying.

5. July 1st, 2023: Another excellent example of the blend. All of the previous comments apply to this cigar: light in the hand, fast burning, a bit uneven but self-correcting, excellent medium body throughout, with rich chocolatey flavour, and a little pepper developing in the final third. 75 minutes and very satisfying.

September 2nd, 2023: A delicious example of the blend, this one reached full body in the final third and lasted more than 90 minutes. Very satisfying.

February 29th, 2024: Only a few of these morsels left in the box. What a tasty cigar. Very smooth and balanced, medium plus body, delicious lingering after taste. Good to the nub at 90 minutes. Very satisfying.  

AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Connecticut Torpedo

December 20th, 2021: This cigar is a 6.5 x 52 torpedo with Connecticut wrapper and multinational binder and filler.

This was the first time that I had tried a Connecticut wrapper. I was curious to try this category of cigar, but reluctant and put off the decision to order for months. Most reviews dismiss the blends as being mild and lacking flavour. I was finally persuaded to take the plunge after reading this review on Neptune. 

:

I wasn't disappointed.

Appearance and Construction:  This is a very attractive golden brown cigar. The torpedo is especially stylish. The gold and brown label complement the stylish package. 

The cigar is light in the hand. This was reflected in the fast burn time. 

Quite a beautiful cigar with colour coordinated bands.

According to Neptune, the cigar is quite a multinational concoction. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Connecticut, binder is Honduran and the filler is Nicaraguan and Dominican. 

First Puff: The first puff was quite spicy, medium bodied, with a surprising amount of flavour and complexity.

Draw and Burn: Draw was easy, with no resistance. Burn was almost perfect throughout but faster than I would have preferred.

Flavour and Complexity: Flavour was a sweet, light roast with mild versions of some of the flavour of the Enclave blend. The intense, spicy, initial full bodied flavour dissipated a bit after the first inch, but flavour was still complex enough to be enjoyable. It reminded me somewhat of the fake Cohiba I reviewed a few months ago (which was quite enjoyable).

Body: Body was mostly medium with an occasional dip into mild around the middle. 

Strength: There was a bit of strength, but nothing overwhelming. 

Finish and Aftertaste: Finish was medium and the aftertaste was quite complex. 

Aroma: Aroma was excellent, rich and intense; similar to the Pinar del Rio Cuban aroma.  

Ash: Ash held on valiantly for more than 20 minutes, but given the light packing of the cigar, I didn't want to tempt fate. 

Balance and Consistency: Excellent balance of complex flavours, medium body, intense aroma and mild strength. The cigar was almost consistently good: there was a weak patch in the middle.  

Time smoke: Barely 75 minutes. For a torpedo that was disappointing. The cigar was a fast burner. The mild patch in the middle section made for faster puffing.

At the one hour mark.

 

Overall: A very pleasant and quite satisfying cigar.
It is clearly a blend that stands out from other non-Cubans. The flavour was sufficiently complex and body was adequate to make the cigar enjoyable from start to finish, as can be seen from the nub. My only regret was the fast burn. And extra ten or twenty minutes would have been more satisfying.

Good to the nub

January 12th, 2022: This cigar seemed to be a bit fuller in body and stronger than the previous cigar. It also burned slower. It was surprisingly delicious throughout: sweet cocoa with a little pepper. There was only a brief moment when flavour dissipated, but it intensified after the second half. There was also a pleasant frisson of strength towards the end. The cigar lasted around 90 minutes, whereas the previous cigar barely made 75 minutes. Draw was easy and burn was good. The only issue was a spot of glue connecting the band to the wrapper. On removing the band a chunk of the wrapper dislodged, revealing how delicate and tender the Connecticut wrapper is. Overall, very satisfying.

The band took off a chunk of wrapper

January 27th, 2022: This one was milder than the last, resembling more the cigar of December 2021. It also burned faster, barely reaching 80 minutes - more like 75 minutes. There was some strength in the second half. But body was lacking. Flavour was much the same as the January 12th sample, but toned down and without much spice. I'll be interested to try more and find out whether the more full bodied cigar of January 12th was the rule or an anomaly.  77 minutes. Pleasant, but not very satisfying. 

March 31st, 2022: Excellent long finish, easy draw, medium body, quite rich and complex flavour reminiscent of Pinar del Rio both in flavour and aroma. Much better than the previous cigar of January 27th. Quite satisfying. 78 minutes.

May 12th, 2022: Light in the hand and spicy pre-light aroma. I think 'barely 75 minutes' is the norm for this lightly packed, easy drawing cigar. Flavour and aroma were quite pleasant: there was still an element of complexity about the cigar. Altogether, quite balanced and satisfying, if a less than medium bodied cigar is required. 

June 12th, 2022: Much the same as the reviews above. This is a very tasty mild to medium bodied cigar with flavour and aroma resembling the mild Cuban from Pinar del Rio. As with the cigar of January 12th, a spot of wrapper came off with the band. There was also a nice, but gentle, boost of strength towards the end of the cigar, making a very pleasant conclusion. As with the other samples, the cigar lasted around 75 minutes. Very satisfying in complexity and balance, despite the mildness. 

August 3rd, 2022: This one was a bit of a fluff: fast burning, it lasted a mere 55 minutes and lacked body and offering no boost of strength at the end.  Not satisfying.

August 25th, 2022: An excellent example of the blend. Flavour was rich and complex while maintaining the mild to medium body - perhaps medium plus - towards the end. Aroma was also rich and satisfying. Aftertaste was sweet and spicy. There was a pleasant complement of strength in the final third. Draw and burn were perfect. 90 minutes and very satsifying. 

November 3rd, 2022: The first from a new box. It was excellent, like those of the previous box. Smooth, medium bodied, sufficiently complex, nothing overwhelming, a bit tight on the draw, but otherwise, very satisfying 80 minutes.

March 25th, 2023: Yum, yum! This was a very delicious cigar, medium bodied throughout with a lovely mild spicy tang. Draw and burn were perfect. Aroma was quite pleasant. Very satisfying and 90 minutes.

Delicious to the nub

June 10th, 2023: Quite a substantial stogie, despite its Connecticut wrapper. Medium body from the start, perfect burn and quite a bit of strength towards the end. Very satisfying at 80 minutes.

October 21st, 2023: Good, medium bodied cigar, with excellent burn. No strength build up with this one. Good to the nub.

Cain Sun Grown 550

1 and 2. December 16th, 2021: This is the second foray into the the Cain 550 series, which, at 5.75inches x 50, is a slightly longer robusto and boasts the descriptor, "Straight Ligero". There are five blends in the series. The black label corresponds to the 'Habano' blend, which has the same 25/27/30% blend of ligero as the Sun Grown.

The first variety that I tried was the Cain F 550. F is for fuerte, 'strong'. In fact it was so strong that the final third provided a stout kick in the gut and left me staggering to my room. The Sun Grown contains a different blend of Ligero but using tobacco from the same three regions of Nicaragua: Esteli, Condega and Jalapa. The combinations are printed on the box label.

As you can see from the box labels, the Sun Grown has a little more than 20% less Esteli than the red Fuerte, and around 20% more Jalapa. One would be forgiven for imagining that such modest differences would have a minimal effect. The reality, from two samples was quite surprising. The Sun Grown was much milder, ranging from mild to medium body and having no discernible strength. Flavour and body increased in the second third, but strength did not appear. Overall it was quite a mellow and pleasant 80 minutes smoke.

Appearance and Construction: The cigar appeared much like its Fuerte cousin: slender, dull, light brown wrapper. It is a Nicaraguan puro, with 82% ligero leaf from three regions, as shown in the photograph above.

First Puff: Mild and mellow - a strong contrast with the Fuerte, which was chokingly strong upon first puff.

Draw and Burn: A little resistance in the draw. Burn was wavy but self correcting and razor sharp at the end.

Flavour and Complexity: Flavour was a mild, mellow, cocoa which increased in intensity in the second and final thirds.  Towards the end of the first third there was a hint of bitterness. But that soon subsided. There was a hint of spice in the final third.  

Body: The first third was mild and mellow. Body increased markedly in the second third. However it never reached full body. At most it was medium plus.

Strength: No strength to speak of. Strength was quite mild throughout.

Finish and Aftertaste: Short finish during the first third but a much longer finish in the second third. Aftertaste was slightly bitter, but quite interesting.

Aroma: Very little aroma to speak of; at best, an occasional whiff. This was the most disappointing feature of the cigar.

Ash: Quite firm. I let the first ash drop at 25 minutes.

Balance and Consistency: A fine balance of flavour and body all around the medium level. There was no unbalanced strength, as with the Fuerte cousin.

Time smoke: 80 minutes to the nub.

At just over 80 minutes it was time to put this cigar out.

Overall: Quite satisfying. I was pleasantly relieved to find that strength was not overwhelming, unlike the first (but not the second) Fuerte that I tried. Aroma could have been a little more prominent. But the overall medium body profile and mellow flavour sustained interest.

3. January 24th, 2022: A solid medium body throughout. No overwhelming strength. Flavour was rich, with a little bitterness, but actually the bitterness added to the complexity of the flavour profile. It wasn't a detraction. Aroma was fleeting at best.  This cigar doesn't trade on its aroma. Draw and burn perfect. 75 minutes. Satisfying. 

4. February 16th, 2022: This cigar was hard as a rock, but there was no sign of cracking or exfoliation. Flavour was complex and tasty, a bit like cocoa powder but without bitterness. There was no spice or pepper, despite the ligero content, except a touch of spice in the final third. Aroma was fleeting, but quite rich and mellow. Body was medium. Strength was not prominent. Draw was a bit resistant, but not excessively so. Burn was close to sharp. Overall, this was a very smooth and rich cigar with great balance. 105 minutes. Very satisfying.

At the one hour mark: very slow burning; 105 minutes in total, remarkable for a 5.5 x 50.

5. March 28th, 2022: Smooth and tasty, but started quite mild, before building up to a medium body. No spice or pepper. Very clean finish. Burn and draw were perfect. 85 minutes. Quite satisfying. 

6. August 10th, 2022: Much the same as the March sample: started a bit mild and boring but after an inch, complex, balanced, medium body, rich flavour. Once flavour and body improved the cigar maintained its quality to the nub. Quite delicious. The only negative point was aroma, which was quite mild. 

110 minutes. Good to the nub. Very satisfying.

7. November 7th, 2022: Much the same flavour and body profile as above. However, the cigar cracked, but without hindering burn. No pepper. The cigar reminded me more of a Cameroon wrapper, but it's straight Nicaraguan. 80 minutes. Quite satisfying.

8. July 15th, 2023: This was a delicious cigar. It started a bit bitter but soon mellowed out. Flavour was a complex and interesting mixture of cocoa and various vegetal qualities. Burn was even but draw was slightly tight. Aroma was fleeting but quite rich and powerful when it appeared. Body hovered around medium throughout and strength was not a problem. Altogether very satisfying, albeit only 60 minutes.

October 2nd, 2023: This cigar started off promisingly, but was difficult to draw until around the start of the second half. Once it opened up, the cigar was delicious: medium bodied, rich and intense with good aroma. Just goes to show how construction correlates with flavour. 

Joya de Nicaragua Black Toro

December 1st, 2021: The Toro is the second vitola in the Black series that I have tried. The first was the Double Robusto which suffered from burn and draw issues, despite its promising flavour profile. The first Toro that I tried was much improved. There were minor burn issues but they were manageable.  

Appearance and Construction: 6x52, Mexican San Andres Wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and wrapper. An elegant cigar. The wrapper is by no means black; rather, it is a deep brown with a little mottling, suggesting a bit of age. The cigar was firm and well packed, perhaps too well packed as draw was difficult at times. But the dense construction produced a rich flavour. 

First Puff: Smooth

Draw and Burn: Draw and burn were much improved over the Red and Black Double Robusto, but there were still issues. Draw was quite resistant. The cigar went out once after a modest interval and a minor touch up was required. But overall, these were minor detractions.

Flavour and Complexity: Flavour was a dark roast with a little sweetness of dried apricot, as found in the Antano, and a little dirt (otherwise known as 'earthiness'). Complexity was good: flavours melded well.

Body: Medium throughout

Strength: Medium. No zing.

Finish and Aftertaste: Excellent long finish. This was one of the most outstanding qualities. The aftertaste lingered pleasantly, allowing for generous pauses.

Aroma: Deep and rich

Ash: A pleasant pepper and salt ash which held on well for twenty minutes per ashing.

At the 25 minute mark.

Balance and Consistency: Well balanced complex flavours, medium strength and body. No transitions, but consistently smooth and delicious.

Time smoke: 90 minutes

Overall: A substantial cigar with nice balance, complexity. Quite satisfying.

March 11th 2022: This cigar began as a pleasant puffer. It was mild to medium bodied with a smooth, fruity, dark roast flavour, much as described above. Finish was fairly durable. However, flavour in the final third almost vanished. At best it was mild and vegetal. Draw was good. Burn was fair: there was a long, unburnt, wave which left a spot of unburnt wrapper. But there was no plugging. Overall, quite pleasant. Around 80 minutes. 

A pleasant puff

March 23, 2024: This one was delicious to the nub: medium body, good draw, complex and balanced. Maybe it only needed a couple of years aging. I bought these at around $110 per box. now they're around $160. However good they might be after aging, they're not that good and not sufficiently consistent to buy another box. Nonetheless, I have a few more and I'm keen to see whether the others live up to the quality of the present cigar. 90 minutes and very satisfying.
 

Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Belicoso

November 28, 2021: This cigar is a 6 x 54 belicoso. It's a Nicaraguan puro. It looks identical to its elder cousin, the Gran Reserva Belicoso, which I reviewed last week and the Churchill 1970, which I reviewed a month or two ago. I was very interested to compare them. The Gran Reserva is supposedly aged five years. 

Appearance and Construction: The cigar is a well constructed, solid, belicoso. The wrapper is medium brown and mottled, suggesting a bit of ageing, albeit not as much as the Gran Reservo.

First Puff: Smooth

Draw and Burn: Draw was easy with no major resistance. Burn was fine; a minor wave at the end but no touch up required.

Flavour and Complexity: Flavour was similar to the Gran Reserva. The cigar had a very pleasant medium roast coffee with a dried fruit taste, like apricot. It was very pleasant. 

Body: Hovered around medium throughout. 

Strength: No strength to speak of. Standing up after 100 minutes I could feel some effects, so there was some strength, but nothing perceptible while smoking.  

Finish and Aftertaste: Finish was long and delicious. Aftertaste was clean and had the pleasant dried fruit quality. 

Aroma: Deep and rich. Very pleasant.

Ash: held on nicely for 30 minutes per ashing.

After one hour.

Balance and Consistency: Consistently good. No transitions, unlike the Gran Reserva which started mild and ended more intense. But flavour, body and strength were perfectly balanced throughout. 

Time smoke: 100 minutes. Difficult to let it go.

After 95 minutes. So tasty that I was reluctant to let the cigar go.

Overall: "Balance" is the word that comes to mind. Flavour, body and strength all fitted together very well. The citrus 'twang' was an interesting flavour component. The cigar was consistently good. It burned and drew without issue. Very satisfying. 

January 9th, 2022: This was a dud. Plugged throughout. I kept struggling with the draw hoping that I would pass the knot. But there was no knot; the cigar was badly rolled throughout. My friend, smoking another sample from the box, had no such problem. His cigar burned perfectly and he reported that it was very nice. These things happen. But Joya seems to have this issue more than others: Red, Black, both boxes have these badly rolled cigars.

The tell-tale spike of a badly rolled cigar.

April 2nd, 2022: This cigar was very good. It made up for the dud of January 9th above. It was smooth, medium bodied during the first two thirds and built up to a nice level of strength in the final third. Flavour was cocoa and dried fruit. Aftertaste was clean but finish was medium at best. Draw was a little resistant: it took a few puffs to extract a good volume of smoke. Burn was fine. One of the most satisfying aspects of this cigar was the aroma: it was rich and prevalent. Balance, as discussed above, comes to mind: flavour, body, aroma, transition to greater strength. I eked almost 90 minutes to the nub. Very satisfying. 

May 22nd, 2022: This was an excellent example of the blend. Flavour started out mellow and mild to medium. Draw and burn were almost perfect. But the final third was the star. By a bit past the midpoint the cigar really shone: complexity, body and a bit of strength all increased to create a very satisfying package. 110 minutes to the nub. 

Excellent balance of body, flavour without too much strength in the final third.

August 13th, 2022. This was a dud. It was soft and squishy, despite being stored at 69% humidity. I assume that it was badly constructed. The spiked ash confirmed my suspicion. Flavour was dull and thin. Body was weak. Draw was difficult. By the end of the final third draw was almost plugged. I binned it. 

3rd April, 2023. I was not inspired to return to this brand after the previous construction issues. Hence the long interval. This cigar began with a difficult draw, but within a millimetre the cigar opened out and the first third was delicious with the sweet, fruity flavour, which I have described above. The second third became plugged again. Draw was difficult. The final third opened out, draw was easy and smoke was full, even though the cigar was squishy. Flavour returned and a bit of strength ensued. Altogether, around 90 minutes, with some interesting transitions and draw challenges. Quite satisfying.  

July 18th, 2023: This cigar was hard. It felt like it was over packed, but it drew quite nicely. The cigar started out quite pleasantly: good draw, fairly even burn, the typical fruity flavour, no spice or pepper. The final third was a disappointment. Flavour dissipated to a rather empty vegetal, much like the cigar of August 13th, 2022. I binned the cigar before the nub at around 65 minutes. Pleasant for the first two thirds, but not satisfying.