In 2010, to celebrate J.C.’s 135th birthday and our company’s 115th anniversary, Diamond Crown Julius Caeser was released. Diamond Crown Julius Caeser cigars are meticulously rolled by hand in small batches by Tabacalera A. Fuente in the Dominican Republic. As with all Diamond Crown cigars, Julius Caeser is held to the highest standard of quality control.
In 2024, the company added a new vitola to the Diamond Crown Julius Caeser line. Known as the Troublemaker, it is (5 3/4 x 52) soft perfecto packaged in leather boxes of 20 cigars. It has an MSRP of $17.00/cigar. I will also say, this perfecto reminds me a little like the new bats that are being used in MLB the way it flares up and then down gently at the foot.
Drew Newman, J.C. Newman’s fourth-generation owner stated:
“One of my longtime mentors is Rich Dolak, the vice president of operations at both J.C. Newman and Arturo Fuente. Since I was a teenager, I’ve sat in Rich’s office and listened to him teach me about the cigar business. Above Rich’s desk hangs a vintage poster with a unique cigar shape. Three years ago, I asked him, ‘Why can’t we roll a cigar like that?’
We call it ‘The Troublemaker’ because it was very difficult to make. Rich used a knife to shape a dowel to match the cigar shown in the poster above his desk. We then used that hand-carved dowel to create custom cigar molds for this special size. Because this cigar was such a pain to create, the factory has another name for it. As that name is not appropriate to print, it’s officially called ‘The Troublemaker.’”
The full blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Havana
- Binder – Dominican Republic
- Filler – Caribbean / S.A.
The particularly flavorful Ecuadorian Havana-seed wrapper combines with a smooth and robust blend of fine Central American tobaccos aged 5 years to give the Julius Caeser cigar its bold, rich, and distinctive flavor.
For this review, I sampled 3 of these which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The J.C. Newman Diamond Crown Julius Caeser Troublemaker sports a dark reddish-brownish wrapper that has some marbling throughout and decent oily sheen. The cigar is a beautifully constructed perfecto with excellent packing. a well applied triple cap completes the construction.
A single sky blue, gold, and purple band adorns the cigar. It is the standard Julius Caeser band with the image of Julius in the center along with golden coins and the Diamond Crown logo on the right.
Running the barrel along the nose I picked up sweet baking spices, cocoa, and earth with a touch of peppery spice off the foot.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and gave it some cold draw puffs that were spot on with restriction and offered notes of black pepper and caramel.
Using my dual flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of caramel and pepper notes to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this beauty to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- The initial draw offers smooth caramel and pepper notes to start the journey
- A solid white ash forms on top of a medium thick char line
- A touch of nutmeg enters after an inch of burn
- The draw delivers a medium volume of smoke to the palate
- Hint of wood joins the mix
- As the ash dropped, in a solid chunk, it revealed a flat but centered burn cone
- Mild sweet and spicy notes fill out the profile moving into the second third
- Smoke volume increases towards full
- The profile evolves well, offering rich espresso notes that add to the pleasure
- Spice notes are getting more savory, deep in the second third
- Earth notes grab some attention in the final
- Medium to full in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
The first draw of the J.C. Newman Diamond Crown Julius Caeser Troublemaker greets the palate with a smooth blend of rich caramel and a subtle hint of pepper, setting the stage for the experience. As the burn progresses, a delicate touch of nutmeg begins to emerge after about an inch, adding a pleasant layer of complexity. A whisper of wood joins the mix, deepening the flavor profile. Moving into the second third, the profile takes on mild sweet and spicy notes, which round out the overall experience. The smoke volume steadily increases, reaching a full-bodied richness. The flavor profile evolves beautifully, with bold espresso notes adding a layer of intrigue. By the second third, the spices take on a savory quality, intensifying as they blend seamlessly with the other flavors. In the final third, earthy undertones emerge, drawing attention and giving the cigar a grounded finish. This is certainly worth a box buy. I rate this a 95.
Point Deductions: (-1) Flat but Centered burn cone
Bonus Points: (+1) Very well Balanced across Multiple Samples; (+1) Box Buy
