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Aladino "85 Aniversario Reserva"

Global Premium Cigars "1502 Nicaragua"

Cavalier Genève "White Series"

Initial Smoke

Farmhouse, hay, soil, and yet another smack of spicy Spanish cedar are the first flavors to be tasted, all of which are medium-full in presence. Retrohales may closely mirror these tasting notes, but they quickly become fruity, as dehydrated pineapple and mango meld into one. Macadamia nuts are also put into play right away, forming an oily, creamy, salty taste that bounces beautifully off those buttermilk biscuit/pancake batter notes. The draw is right where I like it courtesy of a straight cut, and the body to the smoke is already aiming for medium thanks in part to its oilier nature.

1st Half

By the time the first third hits its stride, bigger nut notes have forced out much of that farmhouse hay and soil, with sappy cedar being the only initial top note still sticking around. There's a perfectly balanced spice-to-sweetness level, and the flavor of sweet cream rules the roost. Slowly growing oilier and heavier in body and flavor, the transition over to the second third is a gradual shift, and a really delicious one at that.

Although the cigar flavor profile primarily stays cedar-centered and roasted macadamia nut aligned, light notes of sliced European pear, lightly toasted hardwood, and sweet cream come forth in the second third. There's some peppercorn tickling the nose now when you retrohale, and while the body has grown to a heavier kind of medium, there isn't anything off-kilter within the smoke. In fact, the heavier texture gives you an even greater chance to assess and dissect what is being detected, if that's something you are into, of course. 

2nd Half

Although there isn't much of a shift in flavors or aromas for the majority of the second third, approaching the final third does provide some different tastes, as well as some amplification of what already exists. The same can be said for the body of the smoke, which is stretching for medium-full by now, and it feels perfectly fitted to the cigar flavor profiles we are about to discuss. 

But instead of getting stronger or spicier, this shade-grown smoke gets a dash more delicate, with a stunning array of baking spices, lighter mixed nut flavors, and the slightest whiff of hickory smoke. Retrohales are no longer spicy, and the whole blend feels like it is going to sail off into the sunset abreast a wave of creamy bliss. 

Parting Puffs

Sweet cream may keep on rolling in parting puffs, but it's heavier and fattier now, and with the taste of vanilla bean on the back end, you may find yourself smacking your lips in satisfaction. The smoke is still very nutty and slightly salty, with stronger hardwood and hickory flavors drowning out any of that spicy, sappy cedar. A balanced bitterness from a blast of medium-roast coffee shows itself for just a brief moment at the very end of the cigar, leaving you with a nice acidic finish that has a tease of resin from the tobacco leaves that have just been burned.  

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

A touch of ash flake in the final third was the only thing I noticed in my review cigar that could be labeled as "unfavorable," which says a hell of a lot about the construction quality of this blend. In fact, I can only recall doing one touch-up on any of the samples that were sent to me, so JDN continues to be on its production A-game with this one. I also find the draw to be perfect on this toro vitola, regardless of whether it gets a guillotine cut, a punch, or a V-cut. 

But it's that smoke that really steals the show, which starts off right at medium from first light, and slowly grows to medium-full as you burn down the barrel. Speaking of slow, this blend tends to have a fairly leisurely burn rate, with smoke times on a toro typically topping two hours or more. It also refuses to overheat even when puffed with gusto, so don't be afraid to hit this one hard if you like producing large amounts of smoke.

Final Thoughts

If you've gotten this far, you probably are fully aware of the fact that I dig this cigar for a host of different reasons. Combustion, build quality, unlit appearance, aromatics, smoke textures, burn rates, and all of the flavors that were just discussed all make the Antaño CT from Joya de Nicaragua a real winner. It's also spicy where it needs to be, wood-like when it feels the time is right, and always handles itself in a dignified manner regardless of how hard you puff.

Another intriguing attribute of this blend is that unlike so many other Connecticut shade smokes, it isn't a total cinnamon bomb. If there is any of the stuff, it's just the lightest touch mixed in with those baking spices found in the second half, and even then it is more of a spiciness than a flavor. 

As a fan of richer, creamier, heavier cigars with a bit of backbone, I like how this stick starts you off with a medium amount of body, and doesn't let off the gas until you call it quits. If anything, the smoke only grows in weight as you burn your way southward, making this a far more buttery blend than what one might expect at first glance. This may not be what some smokers are after in a lightly wrapped cigar, but for those of us who are into these sorts of textures, this breakfast blend is here to bring the goods. Speaking of which, where did I put that cream danish...