Christmas 2016 is behind us and we now we look forward to the end of 2016. My little lounge pup, Ziggy, awoke me early today as the sun was rising, so I chose to start another vacation day with a Guayacan Rojas Reserve Connecticut. The birds have not woken up yet but here I am living the dream, watching the grass grow and getting ready to fire up this fine specimen of a cigar that has been resting for 5 months calling my name.
Guayacan Rojas Reserve Connecticut
The Guayacan Rojas Reserve Connecticut is an extension to Noel Rojas’ Guayacan Rojas Reserve line that he introduced in 2015. The Connecticut variety was presented at this years IPCPR and is available in two vitolas each packaged in 20-count boxes.
- Robusto (5 x 50) MSRP $6.50
- Toro (6 x 52) MSRP $6.75
Produced at Tabacalera NOA in Esteli, Nicaraugua, the Guayacan Rojas Reserve Connecticut is one of the many brands that this new factory is rolling out. NOA stands for New Order of the Ages and it represents the partnership between Noel Rojas from Guayacan and Renegade Cigars owner Brandon Hayes. The factory opened in January of 2016 and has been producing some of the finest boutique brands including, Ezra Zion, Que Vida, Jas Sum Kral, and Ohana. You can read more about Tabacalera NOA on their website. One of the interesting points mentioned on their site is the short history of Noel Rojas himself, an up and coming cigar man.
“A native of Cuba who emigrated to the United States in 2007, Rojas has been farming tobacco since the age of 9, and has achieved numerous successes including the 2015 release of his highly in-demand Rojas Reserva cigars. At 34, Rojas is on a trajectory to make him an industry leader in coming years. He is a firm believer in the start-to-finish approach of farming, blending and manufacturing – a holistic approach eschewed by most notable cigar brands.”
The Guayacan Rojas Reserve Connecticut blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder – Jalapa Corojo 99
- Filler – Jalapa Corojo 2006, Condega Criollo 98, Nicaragua and Dominican Habano
For this review I sampled the Guayacan Rojas Reserve Connecticut Toro
Cigar Review Notes
- Smooth tan wrapper – practically veinless
- Sweet hay on foot, not much along the barrel
- Good draw with notes of earth and butter
- First puffs entice the palate with a touch of pepper and spice to start
- A slight Connecticut bitterness forms an undertone to the profile
- White ash with a solid quality
- The smoke is full and creamy with a cinnamon aroma
- Dry fruit breaks in with a sprinkle of sweetness
- Sweetness builds with a nut developing
- The burn is a little wavy but does require a touchup
- The nut develops nicely into the second third
- Dry fruit keeps dancing in with the nut
- Spice and a hint of pepper enters in the final third providing a robust flavor mix with the nut and fruit
- Strength is medium
- Total smoking time was around one hour
Overall the Guayacan Rojas Reserve Connecticut was a fine example of a robust Connecticut wrapped cigar with a bold interior of fillers and binder. Though not an overly complex smoke, it had enticing flavor notes throughout.It was a perfect cigar to start the day. It certainly will pair well with that morning cup of joe.
Guayacan Rojas Reserve Connecticut