As part of its 50 year celabration, Joya de Nicaragua released a special size of its Antaño Gran Reserva for TAA Tobabonists, Presidente. This vitola is only available at The Tobacconist Association of America (TAA) retail.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
This is the favorite vitola of Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca, a 6 3/4 x 50 box press.. The cigar is blended of 100% Nicaraguan tobacco that has been aged for 5 years. The Antaño Gran Reserva Presidente made it’s debut TAA 50th Anniversary Convention, held from April 29-May 3 of 2018 in the Dominican Republic. They carry an MSRP of $12.50/cigar. The 20-count boxes started shipping in May of 2018.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6 3/4″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Juan Martinez
Number of reviewers: 5 – Ryan H.(Ryan H.) John A.(Bostoneo) Mickey T.(irratebass) Isaac M.(The Nothing) Dave W. (mdwest)
Price: $12.50
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: June 2018
Contributed by: Joya de Nicaragua
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 89
“Box pressed 6 3/4 x46 wrapper looks very nice the veins have been rolled flat. You can see the seams only because the wrapper is thick.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Aroma: 90
“The pre-light aroma is full of hay and leather notes” –Dave W. (mdwest)
First Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Lot of milk chocolate with sweet coffee flavors start out and pretty much stay the course in the first third. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“This cigar started off with a damp, earthy flavor and ripe tobacco. Lights up with damp earth and tobacco. Cumin became more pronounced in the earthy notes as the cigar moved on and leather flavors were also found on the palate. ” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)
Second Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Round two starts off with toast and spices. Soft chewy bread notes mellow out the profile with light spices fading in and out. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
“As the cigar burned slowly, it was easy to noticed the changes in the second third without looking how far the cigar had burned. Leather notes faded away and were replaced with oak. Cumin and earth had remained and made a nice flavor combination. ” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)
Final Third
Flavor: 85
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The final portion begins with slightly sweet caramel, cedar while a large amount of saltiness begins to develop and build in intensity that lingers around until the very end. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
“As the cigar begins it’s demise the old familiar sweet tobacco with wood that I am used to with other cigars arrives. The minty/wintergreen flavor is only happening on the retro now. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 89
“The draw was probably the best thing about this cigar. It offered just enough resistance to make the stick easy to smoke. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)
Burn: 91
“Needed one correction but performed very well.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Construction: 91
“Obviously a pretty well rolled cigar. It gave me zero performance problems from beginning until end. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 88
“Profile was just not great, it was quite boring. It was very consistent. Just not my thang.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
” Overall this was a fair Cigar with not many frills. The first third was my favorite, however the rest of the Cigar was fairly straightforward in regards to the flavor profile which was not very complex and left me yearning for more. Give it a shot and see what you think, it wasn’t bad but not anything to write home about. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
“This was an interesting cigar. It was about medium in strength, but it didn’t have the classic wood, nuts, coffee, leather flavors that I am more familiar with. Instead I got this minty or wintergreen flavor, which wasn’t a bad thing at all it was just surprising is all. I highly recommend you trying this cigar for something really different. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“This was one long burning cigar. One of the longest, time-wise, I’ve had lasting nearly two-and-a-half hours. Ultimately I would prefer this in a shorter cigar, that would burn quicker, provided it brought the same flavors and transitions. In this big of a cigar, I found myself getting bored with the cigar from time to time, just waiting for a change in action. ” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)
“This one just never got there for me. I couldnt find any distinguishable flavors no matter how hard I concentrated. Perhaps I just got a dud. I’d be willing to give the stick another try sometime in the future, but this first experience wasnt go great for me. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
Blind Cigar Review: Joya de Nicaragua | Antaño Gran Reserva TAA Presidente
Overall Score – 89 – Good
Blind Cigar Review: Joya de Nicaragua | Antaño Gran Reserva TAA Presidente
Summary
"This was an interesting cigar. It was about medium in strength, but it didn't have the classic wood, nuts, coffee, leather flavors that I am more familiar with. Instead I got this minty or wintergreen flavor, which wasn't a bad thing at all it was just surprising is all. I highly recommend you trying this cigar for something really different. " -Mickey T. (irratebass)
