Author: billykartwheels

Joya Silver From Joya De Nicaragua: Joya Series Part 2 of 5
Joya Silver

I will have to say that the Joya Silver is definitely the second best cigar I enjoy smoking within the JDN line of cigars. When JDN released Joya Silver back in 2018 at the IPCPR Trade Show; I was working at another cigar shop (different than the one I am currently working at now) there was certainly a buzz going around about Joya Silver. There was a sense of anticipation; a build up; ready for it to come in and hit the shelves so all who had heard about it can give it a try. I was already a huge JDN fan and after hearing that the launch of Joya Siler was part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebration the excitement grew more. Side note; I do find it rather amusing that “WE” as cigar smokers will get totally excited, enthused, like a child waiting to open up presents on Christmas day for a particular cigar to come out. Well, with a box press shape and a dark Ecuadorian Oscuro wrapper, who wouldn’t get excited. 

I must say I have enjoyed this cigar EVERY time I have sparked one up since its release date. I do recall asking myself “why don’t I have this cigar more often?” after every time I’ve ended a Joya Silver. I have certainly not smoked this cigar as often as I would like to (which might change after today) because sometimes all it takes is “lighting” the flame to start a cigar to bring back the memories, and realizing what you’ve been missing. In my opinion it truly is an affordable cigar with all the right profiles I enjoy with complexity, medium to full body strength and an exceptional flavor. It’s not a question of why, but why not enjoy this cigar on a regular basis. Speaking of exceptional flavor, let’s get into the review. 

Joya Silver has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a San Andres Mexican Binder, along with Nicaraguan fillers the taste really shines through during the pre-light/cold draw experience. The cold draw delivered some earth, floral, cedar, dark chocolate covered cherries, and almost a hint of molasses crossed with some black currant (cassis). It has a real Nicaraguan richness to the cigar that gets your palate salivating for the light up. 

Upon lighting up; there is a burst of black cherry and black pepper that hits you, woke me up in a sense, to embark on the journey of this great cigar. As I continued on the first 1/3rd of this cigar that smack of black pepper and black cherry intensity calmed down and settled into some nice dark chocolate, little cedar, cassis, while that black pepper and cherry was still hanging around. the burn was very consistent, had a smooth draw, burrows of smoke, and the profiles continue to impress. As I continued, there is a creaminess that settles things down a bit, not to say the profiles get diminished in anyway, it’s almost like comparing a peanut butter and sandwich separately; both are good on their own yet when combined together there is that smooth richness/creaminess of flavor that happens while you enjoy. So, that’s kind of what’s going on for me. As I continued smoking into the second third, all the flavors were great yet mixed together there was a “creaminess” that helped tie it all together. 

It’s interesting (in some ways) that each time I’ve enjoyed a Joya Silver there’s always something new I pick up OR a profile that REALLY shines through above the others. In this case a bakers spice really stands out during this second third. Nutmeg, allspice, ginger, clove and toasted cinnamon come to my palate with of course some dark chocolate churning to a semi sweet bakers chocolate while that black cherry is still dancing in the background. The black pepper asked white pepper to join the party. As I transitioned into the last third of Joya Silver some rich earthy notes came through along with some molasses. 

Burning up the last third of Joya Silver most of the profiles stay the same and swirl around from the front to the back of the palate. It was hard to put down because the taste is so good you want to keep puffing yet you want to enjoy it FULLY without getting the cigar to hot. From start to finish the burn was smooth and no issues whatsoever. Black pepper seemed to have dropped the white pepper (must of not been a good dancer) because there was a rich molasses, black pepper, and dark almost a caramelized cherry that came through within the last third. Not over powering or over baring, just real rich aaaaand delicious! 

Now, was I getting all of these profiles from when I smoked Joya Silver for the very first time? Honestly probably not; but I know I enjoyed every puff and certainly enjoyed it all of the other times I had moments with Joya Silver. This session in particular deepened my appreciation for Joya Silver, like most of the cigars I get a chance to review, but for the Joya Silver it has filled the spot of the “everyday” kind of cigar I have been looking for. When you work in a cigar shop I guess ANY cigar can be your “everyday” smoke yet Joya Silver hit’s ALL of the right notes for me and it’s not that I’m not going to smoke anything else during the day BUT I can certainly incorporate the Joya Silver as one that I WILL enjoy more often than just once in awhile. 

I rate this cigar 4.5 out of 5 pints and with a price tag like this YOU too could incorporate the Joya Silver into your wheel house of everyday smokes. Joya Silver comes in boxes of 20 with sizes that consist of Ultra (6 ¼ x 46) $6.30, Toro (6×52) $7.80, Corona (5 ¼ x42) $6.30, and Robusto (5×50) $7.10. If you’ve had one then you know, if you haven’t had one then I would strongly suggest you trying one; at those prices, again, not why but WHY NOT?? Cheers and enjoy!

Wrapper –  Ecuadorian Habano

Binder – Mexican San Andres

Filler – Nicaraguan

Website: www.Joyacigars.com

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 pints

  • William O’Connor, AKA Billy Kartwheels, is the Co-Captian of the Distinguished Ruffians NY Chapter. Billy has had an interesting life, going through college, being in the Navy and living on a submarine, he has visited 48 states (hitchhiking through 35) of them and even lived in a Hare Krishna monastery for some time. After having numerous brushes with death durring his travels he has decided it was best to take it easy and appreciate life to its fullest all while smoking a cigar at the same time. 

Joya Antaño CT: Joya Series Part 1 of 5
Joya Antaño CT

We are about to embark on a journey. A journey that will educate you, a journey that will possibly send you cigar shopping at your local brick and mortar or perhaps shop online for the cigars that Joya de Nicaragua has to offer. It’s certainly a “family” of cigars that have always steered me right. Just like when I am working at Ed Leez tobacco here in Albany, NY, [shameless plug but we’ll allow it] I introduce fellow cigar enthusiasts to something new or different, or even guiding a new cigar smoker, there are 3 top cigars (from a mild stand point) that I choose to show and the Antaño CT is right at the top of my list. Now, I can talk about ALL of the cigars that JDN has to offer, in fact; that’s exactly my intent for the next several reviews. Some you may have had, some you may have not and others, there might be a chance, you didn’t know about. To kick things off with I’m going to start with the Antaño CT. Let’s get into it! 

The Antaño CT was introduced to the market back in 2019 at the IPCPR Trade Show. With its Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper and a Nicaraguan binder & filler this is not your typical mild cigar. Very bold in flavor it’s s damn near a flawless cigar from start to finish. Being that JDN had been established since 1968 they have had many of years to perfect some really good tasting cigars. As for the Antaño CT it has a silky smooth wrapper; almost a butterscotch look to it and to quote the JDN website “It may seem tamer than its bolder predecessors. Don’t be fooled, Antaño CT is a masterful and paradoxical blend of what a cigar with attitude can look like. A cigar that defies expectations; a smoke for those with defying souls.” So without further ado let’s cut, light, sit back, relax, and enjoy! 

As I usually do pre-light I take a couple of cold draws and was picking up some cedar, earthy wood, rich soil, and floral notes. Usually the rich soil flavor of a cigar I do not notice but perhaps because of the rich volcanic soil JDN grows their tobacco in there is a subtle hint of that richness during a couple of cold draws. Onward to the lighting up! 

Right off the first puff I immediately pick up some black pepper, wood, citrus and cream. As I continue into the first third the pepper calms down yet that cream and citrus with a hint of floral emerges victorious as the journey continues. Black pepper still hangs around but it’s subtle and graces your palate with a nice balance of profiles. Cedar, toasted almonds and a soft essence of cinnamon join the party. 

Smoking into my second third the profiles are certainly swirling around like being spun on a dance floor. The profiles dance forward, backward, sideways, and every which way. All staying consistent and switching partners along the way. You’ll get some in the front and then they will go in the back but all in harmony as the dosey doe continues to bring joy to my palate. The citrus and cream notes really tie this square dance all together.

Ready to finish this dance party heading into the last third the wood, cream, a slight taste of Cinnamon, toasted Almonds and citrus, hang strong as I enter that last third the black pepper starts to really come through yet the balance really happens when that soft white pepper joins the black pepper. It’s not POW in your face or harsh, it’s this perfect balance of peppers that hit me. That deep rich spice of black pepper yet that soft creamy touch of the white pepper subdue the black pepper so it doesn’t smack you to harshly. 

The burn is absolutely outstanding and stayed consistent all the way through. The strength of the Antaño CT is truly a mild to medium cigar yet for most of us full body smokers out there; Mild with a ton of flavor! A perfect sequential dance that leaves the palate wanting more! 

The Antano CT is available in four sizes and each presented in 20 count boxes. Robusto: (5×52) $8.45 MSRP, Corona Gorda: (5 ¼ x46) $8.00 MSRP, Toro; (6×52) $9.70 MSRP, also the size I smoked, and Belicoso: (6×54) $9.90 MSRP. So there you have it folks the first review of the JDN line of cigars with more to come. So stay tuned to the IG posts on when our Distinguished Ruffian Website will be posting the next review. Certainly a very HIGHLY recommended cigar for you to try and have again; a 5 out of 5 pints for me! Until next time STAY SMOKEY everyone!!

Wrapper –   Ecuadorian Connecticut shade

Binder – Nicaraguan

Filler – Nicaraguan

Website: www.Joyacigars.com

Rating: 5 out of 5 pints

  • William O’Connor, AKA Billy Kartwheels, is the Co-Captian of the Distinguished Ruffians NY Chapter. Billy has had an interesting life, going through college, being in the Navy and living on a submarine, he has visited 48 states (hitchhiking through 35) of them and even lived in a Hare Krishna monastery for some time. After having numerous brushes with death durring his travels he has decided it was best to take it easy and appreciate life to its fullest all while smoking a cigar at the same time. 

Menelik by Foundation Cigars
The Menelik Foundation Cigars

Here is a cigar that certainly ranks in my top ten of all time. Being introduced to Foundation Cigars years ago, I had no idea that years later I would, not only appreciate Foundation Cigars, but be able to actually meet Nick Melillo at TPE20 and fully embrace the quality of some top notch tobacco within the industry. 

The Menelik is offered in only one size (4 ½ x 52). It has Nicaraguan tobacco filler and binder with a San Andres wrapper, and to top it off The Menelik includes TABSA’S (Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A.) signature Aganorsa Leaf tobacco. 

Back in 2017, Foundation Cigar Company added an event-only cigar known as the Menelik. After two years, Nick Melillo made a decision to bring The Menelik in as a limited production line and the cigar was showcased at the 2019 IPCPR Trade show. For those that are reading this article and don’t know what cigars are within foundation Cigars then I’ll share with you a little background on when Foundation Cigar Company launched. First was, The El Gueguense (The Wise Man), and The Tabernacle. The Tabernacle pays homage to the resting place for the Ark of the Covenant, which is said to be in a wooden chest containing two stone tablets representing the Ten Commandments. The Tabernacle is said to have been dismantled and superseded by King Solomon. Today the country of Ethiopia claims to be home of the Ark of Covenant. It turns out that Menelik was an ancient emperor of Ethiopia and is said to be the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Menelik was also known as Ibn al-Hakim which translates into “Son of the Wise Man” – thus the tie-ins to both cigars. Also included within the Foundation Cigar Company are the Charter Oak, The Upsetters, and Highclere Castle. 

Now you’ve had a little from the past – now for some of the present. I’m about to cold draw and light this amazingly crafted cigar! This cigar does have a pig tail yet I did decide to straight cut it. First tasting notes that come to mind upon taking a few cold draws are chocolate, spice, and some deep rich earthy sweet notes, all of which get the palate salivating and ready for light up! 

Right from the first light I’m getting some red pepper dusted with cocoa powder with a hint of molasses and a sweetness of black cherry kind of comes through. Going right into the first third that spicy red pepper note dissipates while a velvety smooth chocolate and molasses stays strong on the palate. The burn stays slow and consistent, can’t help but feel like I’m having a sweet n savory treat. The Menelik has some deep rooted earthy spicy chocolaty notes with that dark cherry covered in maple and molasses. 

Smoking into the next third of The Menelik some light toasted nuttiness comes through with that sweetness still hanging around although, that dark cherry profile went away and moved into a hint of blackberry with molasses still lingering. Acknowledging the perfect balance between the earthy and sweetness of The Menelik. Chocolate still hanging strong and not just traditional Hershey chocolate but we are talkin layers of richness with that velvety Dove chocolate profile. Smoking into the last third not much has changed in profile. Twists & turns of maybe certain profiles rotate from the front of the palate to the back of the palate and vise versa but overall the balance between everything certainly brings a lot of joy during the journey of smoking The Menelik. With a price tag of only $13.00 (unless you’re in N.Y. or CA then the price tag goes UP) this is a cigar that I will smoke again and again; over and over; when I see them ANYWHERE there is no doubt without question or hesitation I will purchase as much as I can. Again, they are a limited production so when you do get a chance to see them whether individually or a box of 12 it’s certainly a must buy! For me a 5 out of 5 pints ALL THE WAY!!! Hope you get to enjoy one of these spectacular, perfectly balanced, well crafted cigar!

Wrapper –  San Andres Mexico

Binder – Corojo 99 Jalapa

Filler – Esteli, Condega, Jalapa

Website: www.Foundationcigarcompany.com

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 pints.

  • William O’Connor, AKA Billy Kartwheels, is the Co-Captian of the Distinguished Ruffians NY Chapter. Billy has had an interesting life, going through college, being in the Navy and living on a submarine, he has visited 48 states (hitchhiking through 35) of them and even lived in a Hare Krishna monastery for some time. After having numerous brushes with death durring his travels he has decided it was best to take it easy and appreciate life to its fullest all while smoking a cigar at the same time.