Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT Gran Consul is dark tan with a hint of green and carries some lightly raised, knotty veins. The seams are smooth and the tapered head is well finished. There are two bands, with the primary designed to look like two bands and carries a red and shiny gold color combination. The upper portion is the traditional Antaño design, while the lower denotes the line. The foot band is a slightly darker red with dull gold which is a bit of a mismatch from the other band, and denotes the Club de Amigos. The aroma from the wrapper is sweet construction paper while the foot brings cedar, stewed fruit and some spice. The pre-light draw brings paper, sweet floral notes along with some spice and a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar, earth, bold black pepper and some cinnamon. At a quarter inch in, the black pepper settles down. At a half inch in, a light creaminess pairs with the toasted cedar and earth, while the cinnamon has departed and the black pepper has mellowed. The retrohale is lightly creamy toasted cedar and earth along with some black pepper. At an inch in, the creaminess becomes pretty faint. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is a bit ahead of the earth and each carry a faint creaminess, while the black pepper is just behind the middle of the profile. The strength was right at medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a bit of construction paper joins the profile. At a half inch in, the earth increases a bit. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and some construction paper. At an inch in, the construction paper picks up a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with the black pepper in the middle of the profile and the construction paper just behind. The strength remained at medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the construction paper bumps up to become even with the black pepper in the middle of the profile. At a half inch in, the toast level increases a bit. The retrohale remains toasted cedar, earth and some construction paper. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with black pepper and construction paper in the middle of the profile. The strength remained at medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy through the first half of the cigar, but always self corrected. The ash held on through the middle of the cigar and then again until the end.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar, earth, bold black pepper and some cinnamon. Some creaminess joined in and the cinnamon departed and the pepper mellowed. Later, the creaminess became pretty faint. The second third saw some construction paper join in and the earth increased a bit. Later, the construction paper increased a bit. The final third saw the construction paper become even with the black pepper in the middle of the profile and the toast level increased a bit. The Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT Gran Consul had a nice start, with a good combination of flavors. It took a step down in the second third as the construction paper joined in and the creaminess faded out. It remained that way for the remainder of the cigar. While this isn’t my favorite vitola in the line, it was still fairly interesting. I don’t necessarily see myself coming back to this, but for those that enjoy large ring gauge cigars, it’s something to consider.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$1.83

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT Gran Consul