Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Serie B
Oh baby!
The maker of Joya de Nicaragua Antanos is Alejandro Martinez-Cuenca - close your eyes and picture the Dos Equis beer, most-interesting-man-in-the-world guy....that's basically him. His Joya de Nicaragua has been a national treasure in Nicaragua for decades now but it's the Antanos blend specifically, with its butt-kicking strength and complexity, that is clearly the bright firefly in the Joya de Nicaragua jar.
That's why Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Serie B is so interesting. I don't want to call it an Antanos 2nd exactly because that's only partially true. The filler blend is slightly different, made with a bold combination of Cuban-seed Criollo long-fillers from Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa valleys of Nicaragua. The wrapper however is the same as Antanos - a beautiful Nicaraguan-grown Colorado shade leaf. The combination delivers a smoke that's deep and dense with a robust array of earthy, Cuban-esque qualities....bold to the core but well-balanced. Thick chewy layers of flavor coat the palate with each puff as hearty spices fill the nostrils and blanket the taste buds during the exhale. The full-bodied crescendo will have you reaching for another just as you nub the last. And at this price, lighting up another is easily justifiable.
The maker of Joya de Nicaragua Antanos is Alejandro Martinez-Cuenca - close your eyes and picture the Dos Equis beer, most-interesting-man-in-the-world guy....that's basically him. His Joya de Nicaragua has been a national treasure in Nicaragua for decades now but it's the Antanos blend specifically, with its butt-kicking strength and complexity, that is clearly the bright firefly in the Joya de Nicaragua jar.
That's why Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Serie B is so interesting. I don't want to call it an Antanos 2nd exactly because that's only partially true. The filler blend is slightly different, made with a bold combination of Cuban-seed Criollo long-fillers from Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa valleys of Nicaragua. The wrapper however is the same as Antanos - a beautiful Nicaraguan-grown Colorado shade leaf. The combination delivers a smoke that's deep and dense with a robust array of earthy, Cuban-esque qualities....bold to the core but well-balanced. Thick chewy layers of flavor coat the palate with each puff as hearty spices fill the nostrils and blanket the taste buds during the exhale. The full-bodied crescendo will have you reaching for another just as you nub the last. And at this price, lighting up another is easily justifiable.