I’m going to lead off with the usual reminder to head on over to http://cigarrights.org/fda-response.php and make sure you make an educated comment on the FDA deeming document. This is scary stuff, folks. Nuff said. I also wanted to make a bit of a policy statement. Rest assured that when I receive products they are either for evaluation or for contest prizes. At no time will I ever sell, raffle, or otherwise profit from any items I receive from vendors or manufacturers. I feel that the purpose of these items being in my possession is for the promotion of said products. If you’ve been reading long, you’ve seen me pass along my good fortune more times than not. Stay tuned for a contest coming soon, it’s been a while since I had one and I have some cigars I want to share. Enough ranting for now, lets talk cigars!
Sunday I decided to celebrate Mother’s Day with my last Joya de Nicaragua Quatro Cinco.We had the kids over, then did some running around, so I was ready to relax with a really nice cigar. As you might recall, this cigar celebrates 45 years of the Joya de Nicaragua factory in Esteli, a factory I’ve had the privilege to visit twice and is one of my favorites. I can’t think of a cigar from that factory that I don’t enjoy. This is the top of the line smoke and is really quite tasty. It’s smoother and more refined than the excellent Antaño Dark Corojo and 1970s. I love both of those, but the Quatro Cinco really takes it up a notch in flavor and sophistication. This is a wonderful treat. It’s only available in one vitola, a 6″ x 54 slightly pressed toro with a dark and oily wrapper with filers aged in oak barrels and even some 5 year old ligero. The burn was perfect and it was a terribly satisfying cigar from start to finish. These are pricey, in the $12 range, but certainly worth a try if you like big, bold Nicaraguan flavor. I can’t wait to see what they do in five years if they put this much love and effort into a 45th anniversary cigar! Thanks to JB at DE for sending this to me last year.
Monday I revisited the Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva Maduro Corona Extra. I got a late start, so the smaller 5” x 46 size worked well with my schedule. This has been in the humidor since last October or November and came from the folks at Casa Fernandez. This is a Nicaraguan puro rolled in Miami, with Aganorsa tobacco grown in the three growing regions, Jalapa, Condega and Esteli. The size is really nice, it’s a little bigger than a corona, and smaller than a robusto. It smoked for over an hour though, and was very flavorful. I have enjoyed the cigars I’ve smoked from Casa Fernandez, I just don’t seem to see them around much. I think I like the Aganorsa Maduro the best, it’s like a chocolate bar. I’ve got to dig around and see if I can find one in the humidors.
Last night I smoked the new Nomad Connecticut Fuerte from Fred Rewey’s Nomad Cigar Co. This one came in a goodie bag from Gary Griffith of The House of Emilio which distributes the brand. The tag line “Not you father’s Connecticut cigar” is a little over used, but in this case, the cigar has some horsepower. I really enjoyed the contrast of the spice and relative strength of the filler with the creamy and slightly bitterness of the wrapper. I appreciate the Connecticut wrapper on a cigar, but it’s not one I reach for first, probably because I worry that the cigar will be too mild for my tastes. This one has enough flavor and strength to be satisfying at any time of the day. In the Nomad portfolio, while the original Dominican line is good, and the Nicaraguan blends are really good, this one is my new favorite of the line. It’s different from anything else out there. I liked it.
That’s it for now. I’ll work on putting a contest together, I already have a pretty good selection set aside from various vendors and my own humidors. It may not be Twelve Days of Giveaways spectacular, but it’ll be worthwhile.
Until the next time,
CigarCraig
Great reviews. The JdN have become some of my favorite and I am actually waiting to try the Rosalone that you suggested a little while back. Look forward to the giveaway since you always have great stuff. Looks like it was a good week in the cigar world.
I’ve got to get my hands on that Nomad. I’ve heard such great things about it.
It’s also great to see you take a stand against those bloggers who use the products sent to them for their personal gain. It makes the cigar blogging community look like a bunch of weasels, when the vast majority are absolutely not.
The first JdN cigar that I smoked was gifted to me by a friend in Phoenix. It was a 1970 Antono and before I had finished it, I had vertigo and the hiccups. I learned quickly not to smoke a cigar on an empty stomach !!! Since then, I’ve had quite a few more and find them to be one of the most flavorful Nicaraguans on the market. I smoked one of the Quatro Cincos and found that, while very good, it just did not have the kick that the 1970 had. Flavorwise, the Quatro Cinco probably topped the 1970; but it just didn’t have the legs that the 1970 had.
The greed of some people never ceases to amaze me. To think that some people who are in the business of reviewing cigars would use the samples provided to them for personal gain is unconscionable. You are to be commended for continuing to take the high road.
Thanks, as always, for some excellent cigar advice, and thanks for keeping the issue of FDAs cigar regulations on the front burner. We cannot ease up, especially now. We are running out of time.
Once again the man of few words in a review says a lot! I was not terribly impressed with my first Casa Fernandez having gotten one of dubious quality that burned like a bunch of yard waste wrapped in newspaper. I’ll chalk that up to an anomalous rolling event. The others however are even more desirable now reading your impressions. I am particularly interested to try that Nomad cigar already being a fan of that profile.Thanks for the great review Mr. Craig and the news of an upcoming contest.
Hey Craig! Another set of short-but-sweet reviews!! I like the JDN line so will have to try to find some Quatro Cincos. Take care!
Nice job on what seemed to be a relaxing week!