More Reviews By Lindsay

It makes sense that a legendary brand creates something new for enthusiasts who prefer fuller-bodied blends like you and me. Enter 5 Vegas Nicaragua: made by AJ Fernandez in Estelí, this premium packs a balanced punch of spice, coffee bean, cedar, and a hint of sweetness. A cigar that smokes as good as it looks.

I always keep mellow premiums around, and 5 Vegas gold is a go-to blend. It smokes well, and looks good, too—a great gift option! With five-year-aged long-fillers, it's smooth, creamy, and contains notes of wood, nuts, and a bit of sugar and spice in-between. Perfect with Hudson Baby Bourbon before a hearty holiday meal.

A welcomed change of pace from other Joya lines, Cabinetta is yin/yang personified. Its double wrapper still allows for a distinct Nicaraguan profile to shine, and its '90' rating is not just for a pretty face, either. A V-Cut is recommended to amplify the subtle nuances of cocoa, earth, coffee, spice, and brown sugar throughout.

If you don't know by now, I love Pepín's handiwork. (As does Cigar Aficionado, who gave this blend a '93'.) This Nicaraguan puro made for Ashton is full-bodied with notes of spice, oak, leather, black cherry, and coffee. Watch out for slight hints of salt while smoking, however, as each instance signals a flavor transition.

When AJ was approached by Altadis' Grupo de Maestros to re-blend a classic, the result was a cigar rather befitting of today's audience. The Ecuador Sumatra wrapper brings out the nuttiness of the Corojo '99 binder, and a Criollo '98 plus Piloto Cubano filler yield plumes of nuanced smoke with a razor-sharp burn.

Many covet Cuban cigars, but I covet Nicaraguan made by Cuban ex-pats such as Jose Pepín García. '94' rated, this blend exemplifies excellence in quality, complexity, and delivery. A Cuban-seed Rosado wrapper plus Nicaraguan long-fillers equals full flavors of earth, leather, cashew, coffee bean, and an undertone of spice with a long, full finish.

Nicaraguan puros are some of my favorite cigars on the market, and the elegant look of this line extension exudes premium. A collaboration between AJ Fernandez and Rafael Nodal has resulted in notes of dark chocolate, espresso bean, dried berries, and cedar in a medium to full-bodied package. Supremely balanced.

Ave Maria is a classic, and is still one of my favorites. Nicaraguan fillers are wrapped up in an Ecuador Habano leaf, bringing in rich notes of leather and cedar, along with hints of earth. Certainly strong enough for a warrior, its smoothness is heavenly, and is an experience all can truly enjoy.