Cigars

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. 

The Pope Of Greenwich Village 2022
The Pope Of Greenwich Village

Drew Estate’s Pope of Greenwich Village will soon be available again as part of Smoke Inn’s famed Micro Blend Series. The 2022 launch of the limited-edition cigars will be available in late July exclusively at Smoke Inn.

A collection of rare, small batch cigars, Smoke Inn’s Micro Blend Series is a collaboration between some of the premium cigar industry’s top companies and Smoke Inn’s owner, Abe Dababneh. The Pope of Greenwich Village, named to honor one of Drew Estate Founder and President Jonathan Drew’s favorite movies, debuted in 2015 as the tenth Micro Blend Series. Smoke Inn and Drew Estate resurrected The Pope of Greenwich Village in 2021 and it once again quickly sold out.

“The Pope of Greenwich Village has been a customer favorite every time we’ve offered it,” says Dababneh. “Working closely with Drew Estate’s Master Blender, Willy Herrera, we found the perfect blend that celebrates the Micro Blend Series and is a truly exceptional masterpiece. The Pope is definitely one of our most popular Micro Blend Series cigars.”

The thinnest cigar in the Micro Blend Series, the Pope of Greenwich Village is a Short Lancero (6 x 40) that offers a fat, flavorful smoking experience. Featuring a dark and oily Mexican San Andres wrapper, a Connecticut Stalk-Cut Habano binder and Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos, The Pope of Greenwich Village is full-bodied with notes of dark chocolate, earth, meat and a touch of spice. The 2022 The Pope of Greenwich Village features new packaging, wrapped in 10-count red craft paper bundle with a graceful urban bird…aka a pigeon…on the package.

“The Pope of Greenwich Village is a 1984 cult classic movie that inspired our cult classic cigar,” says Drew. “It is a satirical dark comedy crime film that deals with taboo subjects– including death, murder, crime, suicide and war–that struck a cord with both Abe and I. Without a shadow of a doubt anyone who smokes this cigar while watching the film will travel back to Greenwich Village of the time period. Please be advised!!!”

Only 800 10-count soft packs of The Pope of Greenwich Village will be available beginning in late July. With an MSRP of $99.99/10-count pack or $9.99/cigar. The Pope of Greenwich Village will be sold exclusively at smokeinn.com starting Wednesday July 27th at 12pm EST with a virtual broadcast live at 8pm EST on Friday July 29th.

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.