Tag Archives: J.C.Newman

by | February 24, 2021 · 9:04 pm

Perla Del Mar Corojo and a Diamond Crown Cigars

The  folks at J.C. Newman recently shared some cigars with me, so I figured I’d smoke some of them. I’ve been a fan of the budget-friendly Perla Del Mar line for a while, and I was quite curious to try the new Corojo they recently released. I can’t say that I’m overly enthralled with what they’ve done with the bands, I thought the old bands were pretty cool, and the new bands with just PDM in the middle bring to mind another brand, and I don’t find it as classy as the old ones. I get it if that’s not what they are going for and it’s none of my business really, and isn’t going to make me like the cigars any less. I looked in my local shop for the Corojo a few times over the last few weeks to no avail, and was thrilled when some showed up in my mailbox. These are made in J.C. Newnan’s PENSA factory in Nicaragua, with a Corojo wrapper, and Nicaraguan binder and fillers. I was fortunate to come in to possession of the Corona Gorda vitola, which would be my second choice after the Toro. After the Toro, I do like the 5½” x 46 size the best, I think. These are box pressed as well. This is a really tasty cigar, with a sweetness like I enjoy in the Sumatra wrapped cigars, with some nuts and leather as well. For about $6, you can hardly go wrong with this one, recommended.

 

The Diamond Crown is a sentimental favorite of mine.  Back in 1998 I was at a cigar event in Vegas that was hosted by, among other people, Steve Saka, before he was actually employed in the cigar industry. He was writing for a website called CigarNexus at the time, and it was a gathering of folks who contributed to the alt.smokers.cigars Usenet newsgroup. At the time, Diamond Crown was only available on the West Coast (Opus X was only available on the east coast), so it was a treat to get to smoke one. My wife and I smoked these large cigars, probably the 7½” x 54 No. 2 size, I don’t think it was the No. 1, but that was a long time ago and memory isn’t what it was. All of the cigars were 54 ring gauge, which was enormous at the time. I always remember this event when I  smoke a Diamond Crown. I admit that my preference is for the maduro or the Maximus nowadays, but the Diamond Crown remains a Connecticut Shade cigar that I can always smoke. I smoked the No. 7, a torpedo measuring 6¾” x 54 and found it to be medium bodied and delicious. It has a Connecticut grown shade wrapper, Dominican binder and five fillers from the Caribbean and Central America. It’s made at the Fuente factory in the Dominican Republic.It’s a flavorful cigar, with a nuttiness, and creamy coffee flavor. It’s certainly a great cigar, and will always be special to me. 

 

Thats all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

 

 

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by | August 19, 2020 · 8:25 pm

J.C. Newman’s Yagua and Viajante’s Sweet Grass Gringo Cigars

I’ve been hoping to try J.C. Newman’s new Yaguera since seeing several of my cigar media brethren posting videos opening the boxes of these unique cigars, and after posting their press release about this unique cigar last month.  This is a 6″ x 54 toro, my favored size, that comes in various shapes due to being rolled without molds, and wet backed in bundles and wrapped in palm leaves, so that the cigars assume strange shapes. I’m reminded of the old Henry Clay Brevas, or Brevas ala Conserva, maybe both, that were made this way, and were the same shapes, and, ironically, also had a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. My friend CigarProp Kevin was kind enough to send me a couple, and I couldn’t wait to smoke one! This is a terrific smoke, heavy and rich, not dissimilar from those Henry Clays I remember, but perhaps with more sweetness, and a more modern feel. This is a Nicaraguan cigar, without a doubt, and it smoked very well. it wasn’t pretty, it had no symmetry, might have been seven sided, with no two sides being the same, but it sure smoked well and I loved it. It’ll be on my list of cigars to acquire more of when I get the opportunity. Many thanks to Kevin for sharing this cigar with me.

 

If you are one who watched cigar videos on YouTube, and you aren’t watching Kevin’s I’d Tap That and Cigar Prop YouTube shows, you should subscribe and watch. He’s definitely one of the hot shows out there. He’s flirting with 4000 subscribers, if you aren’t one of them, please subscribe so he can hit that milestone and keep growing. Kevin has been a great friend of CigarCriag.com over the years, we’ve supported one another  in many projects and I consider him one of my great friends! 

 

One of the other cigars Kevin shared with me, and there were a bunch recently, was a cigar made by another guy with a popular video series, Viajante’s Stogie Road. From what I know, Kerr Viajante, which I believe is a pseudonym, started a vlog  chronicling his travels to cigar shops, then launched and ecommerce site selling boutique cigars, and developed his own brands with Dr. Gabby Kafie in Honduras. His latest cigar is the Sweet Grass Gringo, a barber pole with Connecticut Shade and Candela wrappers intertwined. I was intrigued. There’s a lot that could be off putting with this combination, especially if someone prefers dark, heavy cigars. The cigar is 6½” x 52, which is a nice size. Prelight has a distinct minty flavor on the head, very interesting. I’m not sure where that comes from. I didn’t find this cigar to be necessarily mild, more medium, which was a bit surprising, and it had a really refreshing, bright flavor. It wasn’t overly grassy, as one might expect, you could taste the candela and Connecticut Shade, but neither were overwhelming, they seemed to compliment one another well to make a smooth, well balanced cigar that was a really nice change of pace. I really enjoyed this cigar in a much different way than I enjoy a more full bodied cigar. It was still satisfying, and very clean on the palate. 

 

First few days on the new job are going well, I think this one might be a keeper! It’s been over two years since I worked a normal schedule, so I need to get used to that! It is only a three mile commute, so I don’t spend a lot of time in the car! That’s all for today, until then next time, 

 

CigarCraig 

 

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by | August 16, 2020 · 11:17 am

A Diamond Crown Maximus a Julius Caeser and Some Cigar Trivia

I’ve been celebrating this whole finding a new job thing pretty hard, smoking some good cigars while I still have the time! Starting tomorrow I’ll have to get back to my evening cigar walk routine, not that that is a bad thing! It’ll be nice to have a Monday to Friday, 8-4:30 gig again after over two years (between not having a job, and having a retail schedule with nights and weekends). I’m looking forward to settling into the routine! It’ll also be nice to have a roughly 7 minute commute! I love not having to waste a lot of time driving and wear and tear on vehicles, and since my car gets 38 mpg, and my bike gets about 55, I won’t be spending a lot on gas. So I’ve been smoking so great cigars, like I said. I started off with a Sin Compromiso that I had bought when we visited Best Cigar Pub in June. It was amazing, and a prelude to my appearance on The Retrohale podcast, where I smoked a Sobremesa Short Churchill with the guys. Give the show a listen, it’s a good time and I didn’t embarrass myself too much! 

 

I came across the J.C. Newman Julius Caeser Hail Caeser, the 6″ x 60 that they introduced a few years ago, whole poking around one of the better drawers in the wineador, and decided it would be a great celebration cigar. I’m so sad that this was the last one I had, because it was a wonderful cigar! I seem to forget how much I like this cigar until I smoke it, then I remember and wonder why I don’t keep more of these around. I think the only one I have left on hand is in a 2014 Toast Across America box that my daughter surprised me with for my birthday that year. I suppose the fact that I rarely drop upwards of $17 on a cigar plays into it, but I probably would for this cigar, heck, I did for the Sin Compromiso, and this is it’s equal.It’s rich, sweet and creamy, I’m a fan. I may have to treat myself to a few to have on hand. 

 

Smoking the Julius Caeser, and the barrage of Yagua news and pictures I’ve seen (I was hoping some would arrive before writing this, but they didn’t, more on those later, TY KS in advance), I felt compelled to smoke another top shelf J.C. Newman offering, the Diamond Crown Maximus Toro No. 4. I remember when Maximus was released about 15 years ago. I loved the Diamond Crown, but it was a little too mild for me (I still love it, I have to be in the right mood). I was thrilled when they came out with the MAximus because it was more full bodied, and this one has some oomph to it. It has a Sungrown Ecuador wrapper, which is funny because most of the tobacco growing regions in Ecuador are known for being predominantly cloud-covered. It’s a dark wrapper, oily, almost rustic, but beautiful with a lovely flavor. The cigar has a rich, dense smoke, with dark-roast coffee flavors, it‘s really a nice cigar, I put it in that “classic” category that I’d like to have a box in my humidor, up there with Fuente Don Carlos and Hemingway, Ashton VSG, etc. I know there’s a common thread there, but it’s funny that some of the cigars I consider humidor staples are Fuentes and Padrons. Anyway, I’d put a box of Maximus in my humidor in a heartbeat (and/or Julius Caeser!). You know how I like to pick on website feux pas, I think the last two sizes on their size chart are reversed, but I’m probably one of the few who would notice or care!

 

 

I’m going to wrap up with an interesting (to me, anyway) bit of trivia. I mentioned this to Dave Garofalo years ago, now that he has The Snack Authority podcast, maybe he might want to bring it up. If you’ve ever had an Avanti or Parodi cigar and seen the way they are packaged, in a cardboard tray wrapped in cello and thought it looked familiar, it’s because the Avanti/Parodi company actually bought that packaging machine from Tootsie Roll. The classic 2.25oz Tootsie Roll bar came packaged in the same cardboard tray and cello as the Avanti and Parodi cigars. By the way, you should avoid Tootsie Rolls if you have certain dental work, I learned that the hard way at an IPCPR in New Orleans a few years ago! Took a temporary crown right off! It’s the last Tootsie Roll I ever ate. Your bit of cigar trivia for the day. 

 

That’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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by | July 28, 2020 · 9:38 am

News: J.C. Newman Introduces New Cigar: Yagua

Here’s some news from J.C. Newman. I’m looking forward to trying this new, rustic cigar from their Nicaraguan factory. I love the size! 

 

J.C. Newman Introduces Yagua, A Cigar Recreated from the 1940s Cuba

 

J.C. Newman Cigar Co. introduces Yagua, a classic cigar from the tobacco fields of Cuba that the Newman family has recreated in Nicaragua. The Yagua story is one of Cuba from the 1940s. The cigar was inspired by J.C. Newman PENSA’s General Manager, Lazaro Lopez, who shared the following with Drew Newman (Fourth Generation Owner, J.C. Newman Cigar Company) over dinner in Esteli, Nicaragua last year:

 

“At our family farm, my grandfather would take fresh tobacco leaves from the curing barns and roll cigars without any molds or presses. In an attempt to give his cigars a traditional shape, he would tie a handful of them together using pieces of the Cuban royal palm tree, known as the yagua. When he was ready to enjoy his personal cigars, he untied the bundle. He loved how every cigar had its own unique shape. I still remember the rich aroma and taste of my grandfather’s cigars. Today, I’ve recreated Yagua, rolling them exactly how my grandfather did a century ago.”

 

 

“After hearing Lazaro describe the beautiful Yagua cigars he remembers from his youth in Cuba, I asked Lazaro if he could make this special cigar at our factory in Nicaragua,” said Drew Newman. “We are calling it Yagua, after the palm leaves that give the cigars their distinct shape.”

 

J.C. Newman is releasing 1,000 boxes of Yagua from its aging rooms this year. Each box features 20 cigars, which measure approximately 6×54.

 

“Because the cigars are pressed together and bound while they are still wet, each one has a slightly different shape. Each cigar is truly unique,” said Newman

 

Yagua will ship from El Reloj, the J.C. Newman Cigar Company factory in Tampa, FL beginning next week, and should arrive on select retailers’ shelves in early August.

 

About J.C. Newman Cigar Co.

Founded in 1895 by Julius Caeser Newman, J.C. Newman Cigar Company is the oldest family-owned premium cigar maker in America. J.C. Newman rolls its El Reloj, Factory Throwouts, and Trader Jacks cigars by hand-operated, vintage cigar machines at its historic cigar factory in Tampa, Florida. It also hand rolls its Brick House, Perla del Mar, El Baton, and Quorum cigars at the J.C. Newman PENSA cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. J.C. Newman’s Diamond Crown, MAXIMUS, Julius Caeser, and Black Diamond cigars are handmade by Tabacalera A. Fuente in the Dominican Republic. With its longtime partners the Fuente family, the Newmans founded the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, which supports low-income families in the Dominican Republic with education, health care, vocational training, and clean water.

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by | June 7, 2020 · 10:44 am

La Unica, Quorum and Brick House Cigars

I really would love to get down to Tampa in the near future to see what J.C. Newman is doing with the historic “El Reloj” factory there. They have been remodeling it in celebration of their 125th anniversary, and I imagine it’s going to be spectacular. I haven’t ever really been to Tampa, funny enough. It’s just such a weird time. Anyway, I smoked some of the more pedestrian of the J.C. Newman offerings lately, and I figured I’d discuss them here. Let’s start out with the Quorum. I’ve actually smoked a bunch of these maduro toros over the last few weeks and I have to be honest, they aren’t bad. They’ve all had pretty good construction and a nice mild to medium strength. These are made in J.C. Newman’s PENSA factory in Esteli, and run around $2.50 a cigar. I’ll be honest, I’ve avoided these for years figuring they were cheap and just not good, but I was wrong. They are inexpensive, but they are a tasty smoke. The Maduro has a Sumatra wrapper, Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan fillers, and has a bit of a meaty flavor, with a hint of sweetness. For what it is, it’s not a bad cigar at all. If I’m sitting down to relax with a cigar and I’m worried about the price, I’m probably spending a few dollars more for something else, but If I want a decent cigar to smoke while I’m doing something else, this isn’t a bad way to go. I really need to work on being less of a cigar snob.

 

La Unica is a brand that takes me back. This was probably the first premium cigar that was sold in a bundle. Of course, now it’s a boxed brand, but in the 80s and 90s it was in a bundle, and it wasn’t a particularly cheap bundle, but cheaper than box brands at the time. It was made by the Fuentes, and came/comes in Connecticut shade and Connecticut Broadleaf. Of course, 25 years ago when I smoked these, I preferred the maduro, and I probably still would, but I smoked the Connecticut Shade No. 400, the 4½” x 50 Rothschild this week, and I’ll be darned if it didn’t taste exactly like I remember them tasting 20+ years ago. I thought it was a very good tasting shade cigar, and shade cigars are usually my last choice. I recently listened to a certain podcast where the tasting panel didn’t particularly care for it, and I can’t agree with their assessment. I felt like it was a perfectly tasty cigar, and would and will smoke it again. Of course, I want to smoke the Maduro version now! Smoking the La Unica was a bit of a sentimental journey for me, it made me want to line up an Excalibur, a Don Carlos Robusto and maybe find a Canaria de Oro Rothschild.

 

Last night I felt like continuing with the J.C. Newman theme, and I really wanted to smoke a Diamond Crown, but I didn’t really feel like there was anything happening that was worth celebrating with a cigar like that. I know I’ve been smoking some great cigars here and there lately, but I still feel like I need something to go right in my world before I feel like I deserve to smoke a Diamond Crown. It’s a weird way to think. I might have to just grab one and take a walk today and get over it. Heck, there are other more expensive cigars I’ve smoked over the last several months that I didn’t “deserve”. Whatever. I did feel like I deserved a Brick House yesterday, and I found a Corona Larga. Brick House is one of the few brands where I’m not picky when it comes to wrapper, I enjoy all three equally. This one had the Ecuador Havana Seed wrapper, and is 6¼” x 46 with Nicaraguan binder and filler made in the same factory as the Quorum. The burn and draw on this cigar was perfect, as good I could expect from any Diamond Crown. Flat ember with all components burning at exactly the same rate, a miracle. The flavor is sweet and earthy tobacco, and it’s good. It’s a small ring gauge, so it requires a slow draw. The 60 ring Mighty Mighty is good too, and you can afford to puff on that a bit more aggressively, but this one requires some more finesse and patience when smoking. It still falls into the budget range, and is worth every penny. Good stuff.

 

Well, that’s about it for today, it looks like it’ll be a beautiful day. Whether you’re relaxing, getting some yard/house work done, or attending a local peaceful protest while observing the appropriate social distancing, I hope you enjoy a great cigar along the way! Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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