Pre-light Experience

The cigar has a soft box press and the wrapper is medium brown with a bit of a red hue to it. There are a couple of slightly raised veins and then a network of very fine veins. The seams are smooth and hardly detectable. The head is finished off with a triple cap where the bottom cap is slightly lifting. There are two bands with the first being the traditional band for the Antano line. The secondary band uses the same color combination and denotes the Gran Reserva designation as well as being a TAA cigar. The aroma from the wrapper is a very creamy leather with a faint barnyard. The foot brings a floral aroma along with a grassy hay note. The pre-light draw presents more of the floral note that I got from the foot aroma.

Pre-light Experience

The Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva Presidente is a monster 6.75 x 50 cigar. Wrapper is darker brown (Colorado Maduro). Construction and feel is great as veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and a thick triple cap. Aromas from the wrapper give wet earth, barnyard and cedar. Aromas from the foot give naturally sweet roasted nuts, black pepper and cedar. Cold draw tells rich nuttiness, bread and cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of wood and floral notes along with a very mild black pepper in the background. At an inch in, the black pepper picks up as the wood, floral notes and pepper are all at equal levels. The retrohale consists of the wood and floral notes. At an inch and a half, the wood takes on a slight char. As the third comes to a close, a slight cream joins the mix of charred wood, floral notes and mild black pepper which has receded into the background again. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

The first third delivers a flavor profile initially centered around earth with a slightly gritty earth and minerals. With roughly an inch in, the flavor profile opens up to give dry red pepper and cocoa. Retrohaling brings out the dry red pepper and minerals in bigger doses. The finish is medium in length with a palate coating dry wood and dry red pepper on the back end. Strength is in between medium to medium-full. Body is a consistent medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the charred wood is up front with the floral notes slightly behind and the cream and black pepper in the background. At an inch in, the floral note fades back a bit as the charred wood is up front. The cream has dropped out and the black pepper is very faint. At an inch and a half, a faint cream rejoins the profile. As the third comes to a close, the charred wood remains up front with floral notes and cream as supporting notes. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Second Third

The second third mimics the first third as the profile continues to be slightly gritty earth, minerals, dry red pepper and cocoa. The finish has less pepper lingering but still the same amount of dry wood. Strength is still a tad above medium and body medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the profile is primarily charred wood with a bit of a floral note in the background. At an inch in, the char begins to increase. The retrohale is maintaining the combination of wood and floral notes. The cigar maintains this profile as it comes to a close. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

The final third has no changes, still creating a medium to medium-full strength, medium bodied flavor profile of slightly gritty earth, minerals, dry red pepper and cocoa.

Burn

The burn was a bit wonky the entire way and I had to do two pretty significant touch-ups to keep things on track. The ash held on in two inch increments.

Burn

The burn overall was very good. Only downsides was a major touch-up within the first third and somewhat of an uneven burn. Positives were a cool burning temperature, 1.5 inch ash retention and tight ashes.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

Floral notes are something not everyone likes in a cigar, but I do and this cigar provided plenty of that. Wood was the other primary flavor component along with some black pepper and cream. Construction could have been better and has been on some of the other samples I’ve smoked. In having reviewed the Belicoso previously, it didn’t present the floral notes, so this vitola provides a unique experience. They are both equally as good, so it comes down to your flavor preference. The size of this cigar provides a long smoking time which in itself provides value. I would have no problem smoking more of these when I have the time to sit down and enjoy the flavors it offers.

Draw

The draw was perfect. Just the right amount of air flow.

Overall

The Presidente format of the Antaño Gran Reserva, like the Belicoso, is a tasty cigar. Consistent flavors of slightly gritty earth, minerals, dry red pepper and cocoa were pretty straight forward and delicious. For such a big cigar, I would have appreciated more transitions. Reading through my notes of the Belicoso, this format also was less nuanced, in which I wish it had more of. The good part is, the Presidente from start to finish was a good and consistent profile that will make the 2.5 hours of smoking time go by before you know it.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.47

Cost/Point

$1.93

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.07

Cost/Point

$1.77

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva Presidente