r3db4r0n
BoM Jan '11
It has been some time since my last review fathers day I believe and in the back of my mind Ive toiled with the idea of which cigar I should review next. Thanks to Excel (Whodeeni) as part of the BBE III raffle winnings, I recently received a Joya De Nicaragua Antano 1970 Churchill a line of cigars Ive not yet had the joy of trying, after opening this it was immediately clear to me what had to be done.
Ive never been overly partial to the Churchill size myself, having always preferred a Lancero probably because of the wrapper/binder/filler ratio - or perhaps a Robusto to the larger vitolas. At 6 7/8 x 48, this JDN is large enough to impress, but not so much that it might overwhelm the smoker and detract from the experience as a whole.
Admittedly, the Antano carries with it a alluring quality that stems from its richly coloured reddish brown Colorado wrapper (Nicaraguan Corojo). A deep oil sheen overshadows minor blemishes that are apparent on the body of the cigar during closer inspection, the veining also appears to be moderate, although nothing I would be concerned about. Overall, this cigar seems to be constructed well: the filler has the particular give I look for, the seams a joined well, however the cap seems to a little looser than Im accustomed to, though this is but a minor aesthetic inconvenience.
Pre Light : Despite its somewhat questionable appearance, the cap comes off cleanly and without issue. The draw the cut produces is smooth and carries notes of white pepper that settle gently on the back of the palate, coupled with notes of mild tobacco. Fragrances from the body and foot are slightly milder, consisting of cedar, barnyard nuances and mild tobacco as well.
Lighting: Moving to the light, the foot takes longer than I had expected to
toast, although it lights without inconvenience. Sweet tobacco and floral notes immediately permeate the palate and are quickly followed by a toasty spice. The ambient burn is notable, exuding generous plumes of smoke which carry vanilla and cinnamon fragrances to the nose along with a light spice.
First third: Needing only 10 minutes to progress through the first inch of
the burn, a change is already perceptible in the draw. Interestingly, the cinnamon and vanilla fragrances that were present in the ambient burn have now taken the place of the floral notes on the light. White pepper is still present on the finish, however toasty nuance previously detectable on the light is not. The retro-hale is packing a quite punch early on in this cigar - fragrances of toasted almond and a strong lingering spice dominate firmly at the end of the first. Unfortunately, while the draw produced great flavour and copious amounts of smoke, the burn is quite disappointing. Exceptionally uneven and requiring considerable touch up, there is almost an inch difference in the edge. However, it is worth noting that after a touch up the burn held for almost two inches before dropping.
Second Third: Despite the difficulties experienced with the burn, this cigar continues to make good headway in the area of flavour, deepening quite a bit. Vanilla and cinnamon have nearly died away from the draw, however the latter is still somewhat detectable. Spice has become considerably more prominent along with some leather. Taking in the expelled smoke, the retro-hale continues to become darker. Almond though previously present has become considerably more prominent and is joined now by notes of oak with a very leathery finish, though absent of spice. In contrast the burn has improved greatly, while not razor sharp, the edge maintains relatively even while holding ash for an inch and a half.
Final third: A great example of spice bomb, the finish only adds to the deep, ominous air of this JDN. Shortly into the finale, the previously dominant almond dropped from the flavour profile unexpectedly, leaving previous undertones of leathery oak and spice to take its place. Amazing, the cinnamon that has been present throughout still hangs out on the palate as the draw is taken in. Shadowing the draw, almond has also dropped from the retro-hale, again leaving oak and spice as the only perceptible notes. The burn seems to be continually improving over the life of the cigar, becoming sharper and more even as it progresses towards the finish, however, the ash only holds between a quarter and a half inch before dying out.
Final thoughts: This cigar was consistent and built in strength progressively with each third towards a strong and spicy finish, however, while I was aware of the spicy reputation that particular line of cigars held, I had not been prepared for wide array of fragrances and flavours this cigar would produce. I was particularly impressed by cinnamon and vanilla floral notes, which stated off as fragrances detectable in the ambient burn and proceeded to make a wonderful transition into the flavour profile, something Ive never experienced before. Despite some relatively serious burn issues I experienced in the first third, only one touch up was needed and the burn seemed to improve continually over time thereafter. If given the chance to smoke another one of these, I would not hesitate without question.
Total smoking time was about an hour and a half
Cheers,
Shawn
Ive never been overly partial to the Churchill size myself, having always preferred a Lancero probably because of the wrapper/binder/filler ratio - or perhaps a Robusto to the larger vitolas. At 6 7/8 x 48, this JDN is large enough to impress, but not so much that it might overwhelm the smoker and detract from the experience as a whole.
Admittedly, the Antano carries with it a alluring quality that stems from its richly coloured reddish brown Colorado wrapper (Nicaraguan Corojo). A deep oil sheen overshadows minor blemishes that are apparent on the body of the cigar during closer inspection, the veining also appears to be moderate, although nothing I would be concerned about. Overall, this cigar seems to be constructed well: the filler has the particular give I look for, the seams a joined well, however the cap seems to a little looser than Im accustomed to, though this is but a minor aesthetic inconvenience.
Pre Light : Despite its somewhat questionable appearance, the cap comes off cleanly and without issue. The draw the cut produces is smooth and carries notes of white pepper that settle gently on the back of the palate, coupled with notes of mild tobacco. Fragrances from the body and foot are slightly milder, consisting of cedar, barnyard nuances and mild tobacco as well.
Lighting: Moving to the light, the foot takes longer than I had expected to
toast, although it lights without inconvenience. Sweet tobacco and floral notes immediately permeate the palate and are quickly followed by a toasty spice. The ambient burn is notable, exuding generous plumes of smoke which carry vanilla and cinnamon fragrances to the nose along with a light spice.
First third: Needing only 10 minutes to progress through the first inch of
the burn, a change is already perceptible in the draw. Interestingly, the cinnamon and vanilla fragrances that were present in the ambient burn have now taken the place of the floral notes on the light. White pepper is still present on the finish, however toasty nuance previously detectable on the light is not. The retro-hale is packing a quite punch early on in this cigar - fragrances of toasted almond and a strong lingering spice dominate firmly at the end of the first. Unfortunately, while the draw produced great flavour and copious amounts of smoke, the burn is quite disappointing. Exceptionally uneven and requiring considerable touch up, there is almost an inch difference in the edge. However, it is worth noting that after a touch up the burn held for almost two inches before dropping.
Second Third: Despite the difficulties experienced with the burn, this cigar continues to make good headway in the area of flavour, deepening quite a bit. Vanilla and cinnamon have nearly died away from the draw, however the latter is still somewhat detectable. Spice has become considerably more prominent along with some leather. Taking in the expelled smoke, the retro-hale continues to become darker. Almond though previously present has become considerably more prominent and is joined now by notes of oak with a very leathery finish, though absent of spice. In contrast the burn has improved greatly, while not razor sharp, the edge maintains relatively even while holding ash for an inch and a half.
Final third: A great example of spice bomb, the finish only adds to the deep, ominous air of this JDN. Shortly into the finale, the previously dominant almond dropped from the flavour profile unexpectedly, leaving previous undertones of leathery oak and spice to take its place. Amazing, the cinnamon that has been present throughout still hangs out on the palate as the draw is taken in. Shadowing the draw, almond has also dropped from the retro-hale, again leaving oak and spice as the only perceptible notes. The burn seems to be continually improving over the life of the cigar, becoming sharper and more even as it progresses towards the finish, however, the ash only holds between a quarter and a half inch before dying out.
Final thoughts: This cigar was consistent and built in strength progressively with each third towards a strong and spicy finish, however, while I was aware of the spicy reputation that particular line of cigars held, I had not been prepared for wide array of fragrances and flavours this cigar would produce. I was particularly impressed by cinnamon and vanilla floral notes, which stated off as fragrances detectable in the ambient burn and proceeded to make a wonderful transition into the flavour profile, something Ive never experienced before. Despite some relatively serious burn issues I experienced in the first third, only one touch up was needed and the burn seemed to improve continually over time thereafter. If given the chance to smoke another one of these, I would not hesitate without question.
Total smoking time was about an hour and a half
Cheers,
Shawn
