J.C. Newman is finally shipping Yagua, a resurrected from the 1940s Cuba that was shown of at the 2019 IPCPR trade show.
"So I must start off with this statement: I need to smoke this cigar again to get a true idea of what it is all about. That being said there are some high notes but that can not overcome the tight draw. This is the number one killer of any cigar for me. Disappointing..." -Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
"If you are a mild cigar smoker or even like something stronger I think you would enjoy this cigar. This was a sweet and creamy cigar with fruit notes. Great roasted flavor towards the end. I smoked this until it was burning my fingers with little to no harsh flavor whatsoever." -Jake P. (Jake P.)
J.C. Newman is relaunching their Perla del Mar line of cigars this week. The handmade cigars, rolled at J.C. Newman PENSA in Nicaragua were first released in 2012. This relaunch includes not only a new look, but new blends.
Havana Q is described as being a Cubanesque cigar and a cousin of the value-priced line Quorum. Havana Q is also a value line but comes in larger ring gauges than Quorum. They come in vacuum-sealed humi-bags of 20 and will be sold at brick and mortar shops including very small locations.
"Overall, this was an okay stick, however not something I myself would seek out. While it was fairly consistent in flavor, it did switch up things to a slight sweeter note on the second half. This would pair wonderfully with a port wine, porter & stout beer with its robust flavors and sweetness options they provide. Burn, construction and draw were spot on for this sample and couldn’t of asked for much better. If you like dark, char, and a bit of chocolate covered cherry sweetness, check out this blend for your enjoyment!" -John A. (Bostoneo)
"The aroma of berries and chocolate were very inviting and promising. However, upon lighting, the chocolate turned to a coffee flavor with hints of berries. It was a pleasant cigar int he beginning. As I approach the second third, the berries slowly diminished and the coffee flavor took over. The one plus was the pepper flavors that left a nice tingle on the lips. As time went on, the coffee turned bitter like the bottom of a pot that had been sitting on the burner far too long. Eventually I was left with a bitter taste with only the peppery tingle keeping me going. Not sure if I would want this one again." -Eric (smalls29)
"Overall this is a decent breakfast smoke with no true transitions. If you're looking for something to kill some time and not really looking for something complex. This is a nice smoke to pair with coffee. I prefer something with a little more character, even for my breakfast smoke. All in all, this is close but no cigar... Get it? Lol. -_-" -Jonathan R. (J.Lee)
"This was a fun cigar to smoke. From the unique shape to the sweet start and spicy finish. If the draw was perfect all the way through, it would be phenomenal. This is for sure one of the most enjoyable cigars I have smoked in quite some time, and I would recommend anyone try it." -Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
As a part of the restoration process for their El Reloj Cigar Factory in Tampa, J.C. Newman had to clear out almost 70 years' worth of items from the building. During this process, they uncovered some hidden gems, one of which was a trap door from the 1930s with a secret staircase that went from the General Managers' office down into the basement. It was used to hide when the Tampa Mafia would come through looking for payroll cash. Another item was J.C.'s (Julius Caesar's) travel trunk that accompanied him on his voyage from Hungary to Cleveland in 1889. One of the most interesting discoveries was a box stash of 10-year-old Brick House cigars tucked away in the basement years ago to age and wait for a special occasion to arise. To celebrate their 125th year, they are going to release them to the public by way of TAA retailers and named Brick House Beginnings.