Back in 2015 we had the pleasure of introducing our readers to a new cigar brand – Yayabo Cigars. This was a brand unheard of by my readers and most of the cigar community. Their inaugural cigar made our top 25 boutique cigar list for that year. In 2016, the company propelled itself and delivered a number of additional blends and one of those – the Cirion – was awarded the #1 boutique cigar for 2016. Of course the family behind these cigars are not new to the cigar business, they were born in Cuba and immigrated to Nicaragua where they farmed tobacco for years. Diany Perez and her husband Alex Basulto know tobacco, that is without question. In three short years they have also shown they know how to produce fantastic cigars. I am yet to meet someone who I have shared their craft with, that did not ask where they can get a Yayabo cigar after.
If you ask Diany what her favorite is, she will tell you it is the Dona Diana, it is her personal blend and has her name on it. Well, family being what family is, Alex decided he needed to have his personal blend and this year, at the IPCPR, Yayabo Cigars introduced the Yayabo Admiral, the 4th blend in the company’s lineup. Now before we get to far into this article, I will say with all transparency, Yayabo Cigars is a sponsor of Stogie Press, and I am proud to have them. My local shop here in town. Paradise Cigarz, now carries them and Brook, the owner, has told me they are one of the best sellers on the shelf. So I know it is not just me or my associates, the cigars speak for themselves.
Today I would like to take the time to introduce you to the Yayabo Admiral cigar. This is a cigar I have smoked a lot of and personally enjoy.
The Yayabo Admiral
The Admiral incorporates premium binder and filler leaf that has been processed and aged for 4 years and harvested directly from the Yayabo farm lands in Nicaragua.
The complete full body blend is described as:
- Wrapper: Select Habano Ecuador
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Binder: Nicaragua
The Yayabo Admiral is available in 3 box pressed vitolas and comes packaged in 20 -count boxes:
- Churchill (7 x 50) -MSRP $12.36
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $12.08
- Toro (6 x 50) – MSRP $12.26
I don’t normally describe the boxes for cigars, but in this case I have to. The box for The Admiral is a gloss white lacquered box with the Yayabo Series 04 logo centered.
Just looking at this box you are drawn to this cigar. There is a beautiful quote written in it that sums up the journey of all cigar brand owners:
“We all have the spirit of adventure… Unleash it”
Hang out with me as I unleash the adventure of the Yayabo Series 04 – The Admiral. I shared some of these with my friends and associates and so far my associate Zach Riley has also provided his notes, which I will include in this article. For this review both Zach and I sampled the Admiral Churchill vitola.
Pre-Light Examination
When you look at the Yayabo Admiral there are a few noticeable characteristics that catch your eye. First is the shape of the cigar. It is a flat box pressed cigar. The width is much greater than the height and not like most box pressed cigars you have seen. The wrapper is milk chocolate-brown in color with a light tooth running through it. There are no discernible veins and it is finished with an expertly applied triple cap.
The two bands on this are just as eye-catching, with a deep royal blue and silver motif. The primary band declares this as the Yayabo Series 04 (the 4th cigar in the Yayabo lineup) and includes and silver anchor on a blue background encircled with bronze rope. The secondary band is directly below and identifies the cigar as The Admiral. Both bands are expertly die cut and fit perfectly together like jig saw pieces. There is a lot of pride in the presentation.
The pre-light aromas on The Admiral are as enticing as the look of the cigar and its presentation. There is a spicy fermented leaf aroma along the well aged wrapper and the foot exudes notes of chocolate, cut hay, and pepper.
The best way to open this cigar is with a double blade cutter or a V-cut. I used the double blade method. The cold draw presented a slight black pepper note that grew the more you puff on it and also notes of cocoa and hazelnut. I suppose you could say the increase in pepper is like having the wind in the sails as you launch your boat.
Now that we have set out to sail this boat, it was time to fire it up and go on an adventurous journey.
Boston Jimmie’s Cigar Review Notes
Yayabo Admiral
Yayabo Admiral
Yayabo Admiral
Yayabo Admiral
Yayabo Admiral
Yayabo Admiral
Yayabo Admiral
Yayabo Admiral
- Nice dose of black pepper on retro to start
- Pepper fades back after an inch of solid light grey ash
- Cinnamon spice and earth components add to the profile
- Ash fell after 2 inches and revealed a flat and well centered burn cone
- Dark chocolate and citrus peel approaching the secondary band
- Spicy nut aroma fills the air in the lounge
- As I remove the secondary band, things smooth out – as if the seas calmed and smooth sailing
- A sweet caramel and cream profile fills the palate
- Spice picks up near the primary band
- Decent oiling on the wrapper
- Strength creeps up – so much for calm seas !
- Retro-hale spice smooths out again
- Coffee notes enter with a background of citrus
- Burn is awesome – the ash has been solid throughout the burn
- A delicate sweetness enters after removing the primary band
- Aroma has shifted to more of a sweet syrup
- A delicious almond graces the palate as it enters the final third
- Strength and spice ratchets up again in the end
- Medium Plus in strength
- Total Smoking Time was one hour and 10 minutes
Overall, the Yayabo Admiral, was a quite the ride as it traveled a wave of flavors from foot to nub. Starting with rich doses of black pepper, cinnamon and earth before cruising along with dark chocolate, citrus, caramel and cream. It finishes with a definite increase in strength and a fine balance of sweetness, spice, and nut. I have paired this with both an aged dark rum and a highland single malt, both of which went well with the complex profile enhancing the flavor nuances.
Now let’s see what Zach has to say.
Zach Riley’s Cigar Review Notes
Cold Draw: I’m getting some wood, earth, and a light spice on the cold draw. Really excited for the light up.
First third: At the light on the inhale I’m getting a really full flavor of black pepper and an oak flavor on the under tone. Really interesting combination. Through the nose the black pepper is very strong and I’m also getting a cedar flavor rather than the wood fired oak I was getting on the inhale. Smoke output is great, the flavor covers the whole mouth, and the aroma is very thick and robust.
Second third: I’m into the swing of things now. The second third went to a really light white pepper spice with some seriously heavy cream going on in the inhale process. Through the nose I am getting a caramel note, white pepper, and some coffee undertones. Still burning wonderfully, great aroma, and wonderful complexity.
Final third/Finish: The final third pumped back up in strength similar to the beginning, but not as intense. The notes that I got were a white pepper spice, a citrus flavor, and on the back end I got a nutty flavor. Through the nose I got a hay like flavor, white pepper, but more intensified, and a light sweetness on the back end.
Overview: This was my first experience with this company. Jim sent me this smoke and really wanted my notes on it, so I certainly obliged. I really enjoyed smoking the Yayabo Admiral cigar. The construction was stupendous, the flavors were very tasty, and it had a wonderful aroma throughout the entire burn from start to finish. If you’ve never tried anything from this great company you certainly should. I hope you enjoyed this edition of a review from me, Zach Riley, and stay tuned for more in the future!
Experience Yayabo Cigars Saturday December 9
Yayabo Cigars is a sponsor of Stogie Press but in no way has that impacted the review. I would like to mention however, if you are in the Central Florida area this coming Saturday, December 9th, Yayabo Cigars will be sponsoring the Paradise Cigarz 7th Anniversary party from 4 – 9PM in Rockledge, FL. If you have not experienced a Yayabo yet come on out. Of course if you have experienced the Yayabo brand, you know I will see you there as there will be great specials and prizes throughout the day. Diany and Alex will both be there, flying in from Esteli, Nicaragua just for the event.