Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Serie B

Oh baby!

The maker of Joya de Nicaragua Antanos is Alejandro Martinez-Cuenca - close your eyes and picture the Dos Equis beer, most-interesting-man-in-the-world guy....that's basically him. His Joya de Nicaragua has been a national treasure in Nicaragua for decades now but it's the Antanos blend specifically, with its butt-kicking strength and complexity, that is clearly the bright firefly in the Joya de Nicaragua jar.

That's why Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Serie B is so interesting. I don't want to call it an Antanos 2nd exactly because that's only partially true. The filler blend is slightly different, made with a bold combination of Cuban-seed Criollo long-fillers from Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa valleys of Nicaragua. The wrapper however is the same as Antanos - a beautiful Nicaraguan-grown Colorado shade leaf. The combination delivers a smoke that's deep and dense with a robust array of earthy, Cuban-esque qualities....bold to the core but well-balanced. Thick chewy layers of flavor coat the palate with each puff as hearty spices fill the nostrils and blanket the taste buds during the exhale. The full-bodied crescendo will have you reaching for another just as you nub the last. And at this price, lighting up another is easily justifiable.