J.C. Newman Angel Cuesta Salomones – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

J.C. Newman Cigar Co. first showed off the Angel Cuesta line at the 2022 PCA trade show, but the line didn't officially launch until April of this year. Only two rollers are producing Angel Cuesta cigars at the El Reloj factory, and at a pace of 150 per day. Because of this, Angel Cuesta cigars are limited 25 TAA retailers. The company says they anticipate a release to additional premium cigar retailers across the United States twice a year. They are also available to those visiting J.C. Newman's Factory Store at its El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa.

The J.C. Newman Angel Cuesta were first sold a century ago and are named after Angel LaMadrid Cuesta, one of the founders of the storied Cuesta-Rey cigar brand. These cigars were the official cigar of King Alfonso XIII, who ruled Spain from 1886 to 1931.

Angel Cuesta cigars are rolled in The American Room at J.C. Newman's El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa, Florida. The blend uses an Ecuadorian Havana Rosado wrapper with binder and fillers from three continents. They are rolled in three sizes all with pigtail cap and come in cabinets of 20 cigars: Doble Robusto – 5.5” x 56 MSRP $18.00, Doble Toro – 6.25” x 52 MSRP $19.00, and Salomones – 7.25” x 57 MSRP $22.00.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Salomon
Length: 7 1/4″
Ring Gauge: 57
Country of Origin: U.S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Factory: El Reloj
Blender: Undisclosed
Number of reviewers: 5 – Sean F. (fullermaine) Chris M. (Chris) Noah S. (Noah) Randy B. (randobush) Angel M. (Angel)
Price: $22.00
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: April 2023
Contributed by: J.C. Newman

Initial Impressions – J.C. Newman Angel Cuesta Salomones

Appearance: 94

“Every once in awhile I come across a cigar that exhibits such raw and natural beauty that it doesn't need a band to stand out amongst thousands of others on the shelf. In fact, slapping a band around it would be a damn shame. This cigar happens to be one of those specimens. This perfecto is absolutely gorgeous but in a raw sort of way. A light to medium brown wrapper that is thin, delicate, shiny, and silky smooth to the touch immediately catches my eye. Slight mottling that is both inconsistent in coverage and in color offers up some contrast to the rich backdrop. Several spots on the delicately thin wrapper have begun flaking and I am hopeful that they won't evolve into any burn issues. It just so happens that the Perfecto is hands down my favorite vitola as well. Can you tell I am ecstatic to devour this beauty? ” –Noah S. (Noah)

Aroma: 94

“Not much aroma is being picked up on the wrapper. There is a slight amount of sweet tobacco and musty hay, but nothing very strong. This cigar has a closed foot so nothing really coming out of the foot.” –Angel M. (Angel)

First Third

Flavor: 94
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Light-Medium

“The cigar has a good hand feel. The smoke output is relatively generous, while the draw has just about the right amount of resistance. The flavors are mild-medium, with detectable notes of toffee, graham cracker, salted butter, and baking spice. Had to level out a wonky burn one inch in, but performance was not affected. Retrohale is smooth.” –Randy B. (randobush)

“It's a very pleasant start with a very well-balanced mix of cream, Biscoff, and cedar up top. The cinnamon from the Biscoff note is also joined by a mild cayenne heat. There is a light coffee note on the background and through the finish once it opens up. The Biscoff note shifts to pastry dough with a bit of cinnamon around an inch in. Cedar picks up around the same time.” –Chris M. (Chris)

Second Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“In the second third vanilla came to the forefront with the nuttiness and leather moving to the background. The pepper is gone altogether from the picture. The cigar texture got even smoother and still remains very cool in temperature. The cigar is very good so far.” –Angel M. (Angel)

“Pastry dough and a creamy, earthy coffee lead. Dusty cedar at a moderate level, with cinnamon, and now a white pepper, floating around the background. An occasional burst of honey sweetness adds a little excitement to this section, while some of the initial flavors have gone a little flat. Light citrus with the cedar passing the midpoint. Creeping up to the final third pastry dough reminds me more of a whole wheat bread occasionally.” –Chris M. (Chris)

Final Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Leather notes are still lingering and mixing with notes of peanut and leather.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

“Everything in the final third still remains the same with prominent vanilla a little leather on the background and some nuttiness. Smoke in the final third still remains very smooth and cool in temperature. All in all, this is turned out to be a very good cigar on the mild side.” –Angel M. (Angel)

Overall Impressions – J.C. Newman Angel Cuesta Salomones

Draw: 95

“Perfect draw, plenty of smoke output with an excellent resistance. ” –Angel M. (Angel)

Burn: 86

“Even to uneven burn, depending on which portion of the cigar I was at. Minor touch-up was needed.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

Construction: 90

“Very good construction, everything helps together very nicely. There were a couple of times where the seams which looked like they wanted to come apart, but they did stay intact.” –Angel M. (Angel)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 91

“With its veiny construction and appearance, the pleasure of smoking this cigar was a delight. With each puff, different notes came through. Notes of black pepper, salt, leather, and peanut. A nice long, relaxing cigar that I'd love to have in my humidor.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

“This one really grabbed me to start. It's a shame that some of the initial flavors lost their oomph or died out completely. Though I felt that it kind of devolved past the first third, it didn't go so far off the rails to make it a poor experience. The flavors stayed solid enough, with sensible transitions. I just became a little bored with it by the end.” –Chris M. (Chris)

“Reviews such as this one are difficult to write as this cigar presented a tremendous amount of promise and no doubt I was beyond excited to give it a try. Prior to the draw and burn issues I encountered at the end of the first third, the flavors were everything I was hoping for in this perfecto. A well-rounded abundance of flavors greeted me that were rich, smooth, and balanced. Unfortunately, the remainder of the smoking experience proved to be a reminder that cigars are a handmade product and every once in a while you will find a bad egg in the bunch. As a seasoned cigar smoker, I can overlook a minor burn issue or a draw that requires more than a desired effort to peacefully enjoy a smoke. Despite numerous efforts to fix the draw issues just to get a mouthful of smoke I eventually had to throw in the towel on this cigar and I was unable to properly experience the final two-thirds. I am however anxious for the reveal as I would definitely like to give it another shot in hopes that my initial experience was a total fluke.” –Noah S. (Noah)

“This cigar was so not in my wheelhouse that I am afraid I am not giving it a fair shake. No transitions in the first and second third with flavors of toffee, baking spice, & salted butter, although flavorful, just did not hold my interest. Again, this was not a bad cigar, it just wasn't for my palate.” –Randy B. (randobush)

“Overall, I feel this was an excellent cigar, although on the mild side, the flavor combinations which stayed the same, but transitioned in dominance from third to third, made for an interesting cigar. The silky smooth texture and cool temperature allowed me to take this all the way down to a nub. Although it was a long smoke due to the size, I would definitely consider putting this in my rotation, and I am curious to see what this turns out to be.” –Angel M. (Angel)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 76

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

J.C. Newman Angel Cuesta Salomones – Blind Cigar Review