Wrapper: U.S.A. Connecticut Broadleaf (Under Fermented)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 54 Toro…sort of
Strength: Medium
Price: $10.00
Factory: J.C. Newman PENSA
My cigars received 4 months of naked humidor time.
The cigars are aged a year after rolling.
BACKGROUND:
From J.C. Newman:
“J.C. Newman Cigar Co. is reintroducing Yagua, a classic cigar from the tobacco fields of Cuba that the Newman family first recreated in Nicaragua last year. The Yagua story is one of Cuba from the 1940s. The cigar was inspired by J.C. Newman PENSA’s General Manager, Lazaro Lopez, who shared the following with Drew Newman (Fourth Generation Owner, J.C. Newman Cigar Company) over dinner in Estelí, Nicaragua in 2019:
‘At our family farm, my grandfather (Julius Newman) would take fresh tobacco leaves from the curing barns and roll cigars without any molds or presses. In an attempt to give his cigars a traditional shape, he would tie a handful of them together using pieces of the Cuban royal palm tree, known as the yagua. When he was ready to enjoy his personal cigars, he untied the bundle. He loved how every cigar had its own unique shape. I still remember the rich aroma and taste of my grandfather’s cigars. Today, I’ve recreated Yagua, rolling them exactly how my grandfather did a century ago.’
‘As the wrapper is not fully fermented, we age the cigars for a full year after they are rolled.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
The cigar is as light as a feather. If I removed the cigar band and threw it in the pool, there would be a reenactment of ‘Caddy Shack.’
It smells nice with notes of floral, milk chocolate, sweet ketchup, barnyard, and melted caramel.
The draw is semi-plugged, which also describes my lifestyle. I am afraid of poking it with my PerfecDraw as my first stick didn’t hold up to an insertion. I will massage it…something that would be applicable to my writing style. Cold draw flavors are potent: Spicy red pepper, root beer, candied pear, even more ketchup, popcorn, espresso, and dark chocolate.
Time to flash fire this beast.
Reported flavors are all over the place. This becomes merely a thumbs up or thumbs down appraisal.
A medium smile start. Not offensive like my early stab on receipt. I threw that one away. A few months has taken the sharp edges away. Subtle notes of cinnamon, Mexican mole sauce, red and black pepper, ginger, Ponzu sauce, cherry soda, and buttered mushroom.
Strength begins within the envelope of mild. A few minutes in, a gentle richness appears. It hints that something good might show its deformed cigar shape face. I can’t tell if this thing is a rhombus, a kite, or a parallelogram.
I’m so old that I remember taking some of my favorite albums to a guy who could make transfers to 8 track tapes. The guy charged $25 ($229 in 2025 dollars). I could only afford two tapes because I was still in college. In the 60’s, cassette tapes had cheap terrible sound. It would be years before quality would find its way to the commercial market. My guy asked if I wanted it also on 4 track tape, but I said nah, I want the good stuff.
I suddenly turn on a dime. Despite the myriads of flavors, the cigar is becoming kind of a drag. I don’t sense much happening. But it’s early.
After an unsatisfying stint at a local B&M, I sought opportunities elsewhere in town. Unfortunately, my rep as the bad boy of the cigar industry preceded me. I met with owners of two establishments. They made a point in telling me that their big shot employees had sommelier degrees. In both cases, I asked the fancy owners, “Then what are they doing working in your joint?” I got neither of the jobs.
Heat has plumped the cigar considerably. It is moving slower than a rise in the stock market. It sticks with mild strength at the two-inch mark. It needs some heft and respect.
I get it. This is a gimmick cigar. It’s a cool idea. And it does remind me of eras past. Most of the cigars my grandfather smoked were tasteless. There were no boutique blends. Cubans were unreachable after JFK took office. Gramps would take me for walks and by age 15, he stuck his cigars in my puss…and my downfall began. Good times.
My gramps was best friends with Julius C. Newman and sold the man’s cigars in his saloon in Cleveland. They went to temple together. And he brought him to visit us in Long Beach. I have home video. The death of Julius struck my gramps hard. He spoke kindly of him for the rest of his life.
Armin Kohn. 1965. He took me to Europe. The Colosseum. He was banging two elderly women at once on the tour. He was 69 years old. Damn, I was proud of him.
Early flavors have receded. The spiciness is relentless. There is a bready quality with a nice nuttiness and some tart citrus. But that richness feature I mentioned has faded. Cigarrus interruptus.
I make fun of drummer Stewart Copeland all the time. The man has always had a great sense of humor about himself, and he doesn’t mind. Besides, the disrespectful stories I recollect never include him as a bad guy. He was along for the ride like me and had no say in the direction of the band. I have a friend from the Netherlands that is affiliated with the band. He and I have communicated for over 20 years. He sent me the following email that describes how Curved Air put an ad in Record Mirror Magazine either just before I left the band or right after. It describes what I’ve told you a million times: the man got fired weekly because he didn’t play to the room or the song. He was Keith Moon on steroids. In addition to the email, he included a screenshot of the ad proving that CA was unhappy and took measures. Stew had the last laugh…his old bandmates are either dead or struggling to survive. So much for what smart people really know.
The first half went nowhere fast. Or slow because it took an hour. Zero transitions. Zero complexity. Near zero refinement. 100% boring. Oh, the shit I endure for you. This is exactly why I prefer to review only good doggie bones.
If the cigar doesn’t relax and open up soon, I’m calling it. My karma doesn’t deserve this.
It is possible that the cigar will do well with extended humidor time of a year, or several years…but it may be likely that the cigar will stay in the spotlight of being a gimmick and not see daylight. Fortunately, the cigar is not expensive. I would bring down the wrath of man if this was a $17 stick…raining holy hell.
Oh good…some harshness appears. And a mild bitterness. This girl really knows how to treat this man.
The cigar retreats to the land of flavorless. If the body of the cigar could overcompensate and show just a bit of refinement, this would be a good cigar.
OK. I’ve been punished for my sins. I genuflect a few times in front of my grandfather’s ashes and tip my hat.
I’d take a pass. I need to cleanse my palate with a Stulac cigar.
You can purchase the Yagua from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.
RATING: 85
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