Quick Smoke: Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva Robusto Grande

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

Last summer, we reported that Joya de Nicaragua’s Antaño series would be expanding with a new line called Antaño Gran Reserva. The main difference between Antaño 1970 (a Nicaraguan puro featuring a Habano Criollo wrapper) and Antaño Gran Reserva is that the filler tobaccos on the latter have been aged for up to five years. I paid about $13 (including outlandish Chicago taxes) to take the Robusto Grande (5.5 x 52) for a test drive. In my book, this cigar exhibits an incredibly rich, balanced, full-bodied flavor with notes of dark cherry, espresso, black pepper, and roasted cashew. And, in typical Joya de Nicaragua fashion, it has superb construction. This is one you shouldn’t miss.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys