The J.C. Newman El Baton Belicoso is made by Americas oldest family-owned premium cigar maker, J.C. Newman. The cigar is manufactured in Nicaragua’s second largest cigar factory, J.C. Newman PENSA. El Baton was first manufactured in 1914 in Cleveland as a Cuban puro 10-cent cigar. In 2008 it was reintroduced as a Nicaraguan puro.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: J.C. Newman El Baton Belicoso
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 5×56
Blind Review notes: JC Newman El Baton Belicoso
Appearance & Construction
The cigar is a nice stout belicoso that feels nicely compiled but a little soft to the touch. It has a good weight in hand and bears a gorgeous striated chocolate hued wrapper. The cigars body smells like honey, while the foot smells like honey and oats.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The cold draw could be looser. I can make out cedar, cocoa powder, and spice on the backend. The first puff is sweet cedar with wood and pepper on the retro. The cigar progresses to a sweet and spicy profile which is identical to mesquite BBQ. Obviously pepper on the backend. Heat maintenance could fare better. The burn line is HOT! Lots of smoke production. Nice sturdy ash. So far a very savory smoke.
Second third is sweet and leathery on the palate and retrohale. The cigar still burns a little too hot. Ash build up is becoming a little brittle. Smoke production is great. The cigar is a slow burner, but not in a good way. The wrapper is oily, and though it burn hot, it fails to catch on the draw. The cigar needs a few licks from my torch lighter to get moving again.
Last third transitions to a nutty and woody experience. The cigar cools down a little bit. The retrohale is spicy graham cracker. Still fantastic smoke production. The cigar keeps going out.
Conclusion
In conclusion , The JC Newman El Baton Belicoso was a very mild strength / full body flavor experience with nice transitons. However, the final score reflects how hard the dang cigar was to keep lit.
The Amendola NYC Series “The Blade” is made at NYC’s oldest running cigar manufacturer, Martinez Cigars, for the Amendola Family Cigar Co. The cigar is actually part of a duel release. The other cigar is called “The Bat.” They are both named after the weapons used in West Side Story. If you buy a box of these cigars, you will get 10 of each of the blends to experience.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Amendola NYC Series The Blade
Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Dominican Republic and Nicaragua
Size: 6 x 52
Blind Review Notes: Amendola NYC Series Blade
Appearance & Construction
The cigar appears to be a rustic crude and tooth looking pyramid tapered cigar. The body smells like new leather gloves, while the foot smells like cedar. The cigar is loosely packed with an even feel.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The cigar has a loose cold draw with leather and spicy pepper on the breath.
First puff is raisins, toast, leather, and pepper. Leather cedar aroma is in the air. Fantastic smoke production. Cigar develops salty and briny nuances with a bold body feel. Very grippy on the tongue. There is also a toasted marshmallow nuance that makes a cameo every now and then. The retro hale is hot and leathery. Flaky ash build up. Slow burn, but doesn’t burn cool.
Second third is a full body experience of bonfires and leather. Its hot and smoky on palate with spice and savory notes on the backend. Stellar smoke production. The cigar could still burn cooler. Ash looks frail. Develops a chocolate cake nuance for much needed sweetness. I also begin to feel some nicotine strength even after eating a big meal. Aromas of chocolate, cedar, and leather in the air.
Last third sees no major changes or transitions. The flavor profile sort of mellows out to be honest. The heat maintenance is finally at a normal level and smoke production is still hefty. Ash is super flaky. Cigar does need a touch up, before it starts to go out. Disappointing, because the construction has been pretty good up until now. Cigar ends the same way it began- BOLD!
Conclusion
The Amendola NYC Series “The Blade” was a medium strength/full body smoke with a bold flavor. The vitola was also very enjoyable with decent construction. Though I didn’t find the experience jaw-dropping. I would have no problem suggesting you give the Amendola NYC Series “The Blade,” a try.
CigarPage.Com’s Free Will Robusto is made for Cigarpage.com by Oliva Cigars. Yes, the same makers of the Melanio V’s you have come to love and celebrate. CigarPage.Com’s Free Will Robusto is a triple habano cigar whose uniqueness comes from the center cut condega leaf used in the blend. This “centro fino” leaf is supposed to hold both the max sugar and nicotine content because of the time window it is harvested in. CigarPage.Com’s Free Will is considered a limited cigar because these filler leaves account for only ” 0.8% of Oliva’s total filler harvest annually.” There were only 125,000 of these cigars made.
Blind Review: Free Will by Oliva Cigars / Cigar Page
Appearance & Construction
The cigar is a rustic, veiny, tough looking robusto. It is packed very well with a good weight in hand and a double cap. The body and foot smell sweet and perfumey.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The cold draw is perfect with cedar and cologne on the breath. First puff is savory, sweet and spicy with tons of smoke production. Cedar and cocoa aroma off the foot. The retrohale is toasty and briny. There is a Nilla Wafer sweetness contrasting more meaty steak notes, leaving any pepper nuances far on the backend. First third is harmonious. Nice ash build up. The burn line stays cool.
Second third is still very rich and robust without being overwhelming. The boldness of the first third has actually calmed down a little, but is still very savory and sweet. Any pepper is completely gone and lends more to a toasted bread. Burn line is a little uneven, but self corrects. The smoke stays cool and I can puff away at convenience. The cigar is actually turning out to be quite the slow burner. The retrohale is herbaceous to say the least. Almost like a breakfast tea. There are some last nuances that offer up great transitions of wood and cocoa powder.
Last third is just as enjoyable as the first two. A melding of all the previous flavors are now present. Even the retrohale syncs up. The cigar is woody, earthy, savory, briny, salty/sweet, and very herbal. The smoke can dry your mouth out at times, so just stay hydrated. Smoke production, ash build up, and heat maintenance remain superb.
Conclusion
CigarPage.com’s Free Will Robusto was a very enjoyable medium strength, but full body experience bursting with flavor and even some nuance. For fans of Indonesian tobacco that smoke Ashton VSG’s or anything Kristoff makes with an Indonesian binder, you may want to give CigarPage.com’s Free Will Robusto a try. Though there is no Indonesian tobacco in the blend, the flavor profile is sure to match up to what your accustomed to. Also, for any fans of Perdomo’s sun grown wrapped cigars or Aganorsa’s Lunatic “Hombre Libre” blend , CigarPage.com’s Free Will Robusto will also be something you may want to try. The triple habano combination is a winner for sure.
The Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno L’Ambassadeur is made in Nicaragua by Joya de Nicaragua. Joya de Nicaragua, S.A., established in 1968, is the oldest brand of cigars made in Nicaragua. The Número Uno L’Ambassadeur was previously unavailable for public consumption, rumored to only be blended and presented as a diplomatic gift to visiting dignitaries and heads of state.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno L’Ambassadeur
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 6 5/8 x 44
Blind Review: Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno L’Ambassadeur
Appearance & Construction
The cigar is a traditional panatella size with a good weight. The body feels decently packed. The wrapper is silky smooth and caramel in color. The body and foot of the cigar have a pleasant sweet cedar aroma. The cigar is double capped with a pig tail on top.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The cold draw has some resistance but none the less is beautiful on the breath- sweet cedar, fresh leather, honey and some dankness. There is even a hint of something that reminds of the ocean or the beach.
First puff is tangy and spicy but on the lighter end of things. The aroma coming from the smoke is fruity. The retrohale shares some of the same initial flavor notes, with the addition of popcorn. As the first third progresses the flavor profile is dominated by pencil shavings, white pepper, and again, popcorn. For a smaller ring gauged cigar, I’m very impressed with the heat maintenance. The burn line stays cool allowing me the liberty to puff away. Anyway, the tighter draw has required I double puff on my draws. The ash build up however looks brittle.
Upon entering the second third, the cigar proves to be a slow burner. The flavors are also mellowing out. The body of the smoke has transitioned to a cream. Still lots of pencil shavings and spice on the retrohale. Good heat maintenance despite still having to employ a double puff on every draw. The ash still looks concerningly brittle. It does come crashing down at some point. Though the cigar up to this point has been pretty predictable with few transitions, there does seem to be a faint molasses nuance creeping in and out at times.
The final third becomes a little spicier, but also a little sweeter. Ash build-up could still be a little firmer, but the construction has been spot-on to say the least. No touch ups or heat maintenance issues. Pencil shavings are still the dominant flavor note, accompanied by fruit and floral notes on the backend as well as the retrohale. There’s also a confectionary note that shines through at times as well.
Conclusion
The Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno L’Ambassadeur was a great slow burner of a cigar. Steady and true are two great words to describe this smoking experience. The cigar would have scored higher if the draw had less resistance. The Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno L’Ambassadeur is a cigar I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoyed the Southern Draw “Rose of Sharon” or any of the Connecticut Shade offerings from Perdomo. They are very similar in flavor profile.
Dias de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a holiday that traditionally celebrates the remembrance of deceased friends and families. This holiday is widely celebrated in Mexico and among people of Mexican heritage. Unlike his usual music theme cigars, Jon Huber, the co-founder of Crowned Heads Cigars, started a series based on this holiday: Las Calaveras.
In 2014, Las Calaveras got released to the world. The name translates to “the Skull,”: which is one of the main components of Dias de los Muertos (the other two components are ofrendas (alter) and marigold flowers). And this cigar is meant to commemorate the memories of the people who had passed away the year before.
Like its predecessor, the 2022 release has four different vitolas, three of which come in a box of 24. And you can only obtain the 4th vitola, a petite lancero, in their exclusive sampler pack that includes one of each size.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Crowned Heads las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2022
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: LC52 (5″x52)
Appearance & Construction
This cigar has a color tone of light roast coffee beans. The wrapper feels like the back side of leather: soft and lumpy. I see two veins spreading themselves throughout the cigar. I slightly squeeze the cigar between my fingers, and it’s proportionally filled from cap to foot. So far, I am very impressed with the construction.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
The wrapper gives off a familiar scent of vanilla and sunflower seeds. On the foot of the cigar, I get sweet hay and a hint of spice. I used my Xikar XO cutter to slice off the cap and continued with a cold draw. I get mint, herbs, and slight bitterness. The cold draw reminds me of a Chinese herbal shop in Chinatown.
I take out my trusty Visol Dual-jet light to light the cigar. I take my first puff as soon as the foot becomes bright red. Unlike the scent I got from the wrapper and the cold draw, the flavors are bland with creamy oats, oak, and red pepper spice. Thank god I did not give up on this; half an inch in, I get simple syrup sweetness which carries onto the finish alongside pepper spice. I retrohale the next puff, and it is simple yet delightful with hints of sweet hay, cedarwood, and ample white pepper spice.
Overlooking the first few puffs, I am enjoying this cigar. The construction is on point as well. The burn line is straight, and the airflow is 7 out of 10, which is perfect restrictiveness for me. It produces a plethora of smoke. And the ash held on past the one-inch mark.
There isn’t much change in the second-third portion of the cigar. I still get creamy oats, oakwood, simple syrup, and pepper spice. With the next retrohale the intensity of white pepper spice increased and made me sneeze several times. Those who know me know that I usually look for the complexity and nuances in flavor notes; yet for this cigar, I find comfort and enjoyment in the consistency. However, one thing I want to point out is that this cigar is drying my mouth out.
As if the cigar heard what I was thinking, there was a shift in the profile, and it gave me a jolt of excitement. The smoke is silky, and I taste roasted peanuts, syrup, and cedarwood. The spice is completely gone on the palate. On the retrohale, I get maple syrup, hay, and red pepper spice. My final note is that this cigar produces an abundance of smoke to my final puff.
Conclusion
The lesson for today is to never judge a book by its cover. Or, in my case, never judge a cigar by its initial puffs. The Crowned Heads las Calaveras 2022 was a breath of fresh air compared to the profiles I usually seek out. I was enveloped in sweet syrup, creamy oats, oakwood, and pepper spice. The constant warm and earthy profile was my anchor to this reality while slowly drifting off into a meditative state. Yes, I was THAT relaxed.
I was pleasantly surprised by Las Calaveras 2022. Because I tried this cigar when it first came out around the end of Summer, and it was a different experience. And this is the perfect example of giving a cigar another chance, and if it wasn’t for the blind review, who knows if I would ever pick up another one of the 2022 releases.
