I’ve noticed a landslide of quality mellow bodied cigars hitting our docks as of late. As a result, almost everything that I’ve been smoking these days has been lighter than the norm. Since I’ve made my way through most of the new product, I’ve decided to treat myself to one of the strongest cigars I’ve ever had. The Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970, a 90+ rated firecracker that’s been named one of the top 5 cigars in the world by the Robb Report.

Examining this cigar alone is enough to make you weak in the knees, especially the Gran Consul. Pick it up and see for yourself. It’s thick, dense and hosts a sizable portion of ligero. Look at the foot: you see that black tobacco? That’s ligero – AKA tobacco Novocain. The reddish Nicaraguan sun-grown wrapper makes this chunky robusto look and smell like an Ashton VSG on steroids. The abundance of ligero lends a peppery tinge to the pre-light aroma, which is subtle but nice. After a few minutes of preparation, including a bite to eat, it’s time to step up to the plate and get-gettin’ with this powerhouse. The initial draw requires a little effort and as expected the flavor is peppery off the start. Just as the spiciness begins to fade, the draw opens up a bit, allowing me to truly appreciate the fine qualities of this cigar. The Nicaraguan fillers are rich and smooth with hints of wood. The Nicaraguan-grown Ecuadorian wrapper offers the slightest bit of sweetness that’s easy to miss due to its robust, leathery profile. About 2/3 of the way through, I realize that the hidden power of this cigar has snuck up on me once again, and decide to put my double espresso aside for a bit. There’s no doubt the Antaño is strong. Even those that enjoy the strongest of cigars on a regular basis cannot deny its strength. But the lively taste is so involved it’s hard to focus on anything but the wealth of unique, interesting flavors. And last but not least, the thick ring gauge burns slow and cool, providing maximum time to appreciate the work put into the cigar. All this for just $3 a stick. Yeah, Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 definitely scores big in my book.