JR Ultimate 50th Anniversary – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

JR Cigar spent 2021 celebrating their 50th Anniversary. One of their cigars released to celebrate this milestone was the JR Ultimate 50th Anniversary, a special version of their most popular house blend, JR Ultimate. For this new version they collaborated with none other than AJ Fernandez to blend and roll the cigar.

The original JR Ultimate was released nearly 40 years ago and is one of the most popular house blends in the country. While the regular production line is considered a budget line, the JR Ultimate 50th Anniversary is more special, and thus considered a premium cigar.

JR Ultimate 50th Anniversary is of course rolled at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. The blend uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, San Andrés binder, and aged Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. It is packaged in 10-count boxes and comes in just one size, a 6 x 54 Toro. This limited run will not be made again. Each cigar costs $9.99.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Mexican San Andrés
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: AJ Fernandez
Number of reviewers: 4 – Sean F. (fullermaine) Matt Cade (CadeTNCC) Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard) Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
Price: $9.99
Age: 8 Months
Release Date: June 2021
Contributed by: JR Cigars

Initial Impressions – JR Ultimate 50th Anniversary

Appearance: 91

“The attractive, dark brown cigar features some surface oils, a nicely applied cap, and there’s just the right amount of give when gently squeezed between two fingers.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)

Aroma: 93

“There’s a very strong earthy aroma pouring off the cigar and just a slight sense of sugary sweetness when sniffing the foot of the cigar directly.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)

First Third

Flavor: 88
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The cold draw reveals very little but upon torching the foot that earthiness that was hinted at prelight comes through loud and clear via the draw and it’s joined by a generic woodsy flavor. There’s medium-strength black pepper on the retrohale and combined with the other full flavors present this all makes for a very bold beginning to this smoking experience. At about the one-inch mark, a crisp mineral component arises through the nose and lessens the pepper spice almost immediately. So far this is cigar is leaving my palate extremely dry, so I suggest having a beverage handy.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)

“The opening of this blend surprised me with a strong sweet floral taste. It reminded me of a sweet rose tea. Slowly a musky flavor entered kind of confusing my palate a bit but was still enjoyable.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)

Second Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The leather notes remain and mix in with notes of grass.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

“The musky flavor remains strong in the second third as a transition to a slight earthiness begins. It’s as though the floral flavors have moved to more deep herbal notes. A slight sweetness remains but it is much subtler.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)

Final Third

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

“Thankfully a sense of rich black coffee peaks its head in at the beginning of the final third and I welcome it with open arms as it smooths out the overall profile quite a bit. The coffee note plays very nicely with retro’s mineral especially. Construction has been great up to this point in all areas so no complaints on that front whatsoever. With about an inch to go, a slight orange zest note begins to develop and I regret that it didn’t show up far earlier as it provides a pleasant contrast to the stronger baseline flavors experienced so far…” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)

“Just a mild hint of nutty bitterness coming through. Once mellowed out, nice hint of almond comes through.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

Overall Impressions – JR Ultimate 50th Anniversary

Draw: 96

“The draw was open and easy for the entire cigar.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)

Burn: 95

“The burn was great from start to finish.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)

Construction: 91

“No faults or issues with this cigar. A beautiful pleasure stick.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

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

“A nice after-lunch cigar. Notes of maple, sweet bread, fruit, leather, and almond make this a well-balanced cigar. A cigar I’d look for again and add to my humidor.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

“This is an extremely full-bodied cigar with core flavors of earth and wood. When the initial pepper spice was joined by some mineral early on things calmed down a bit, I only wish that the addition of coffee and orange zest that appeared in the final third had arrived earlier in the smoking experience as they added some complexity and balance to the cigar that I felt was needed. As far as pairings are concerned, I highly recommend a bourbon that has a natural touch of sweetness to it.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)

“Pretty decent cigar, lots of wood and black pepper. Overall a solid smoke.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

“This was an interesting blend and not at all what I expected from the look or smell. It was almost like a journey through kinds of tea. A sweet floral start, a more herbal middle, and a deep earthy and smoky finish. It’s not something I would smoke every day but I would certainly go back to it every so often for its unique flavor profile.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 111

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

JR Ultimate 50th Anniversary – Blind Cigar Review