Review by Jim Scarbrough

6/26/09

For this review, rather than review a cigar, or even a line, I thought I would cover J.C. Newman Cigar Co.'s “The Cigar Connoisseur Club”, which includes 4 Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino Sungrown cigars in the membership package.  For anyone not familiar with J.C. Newman, they own the Cuesta-Rey, La Unica, Diamond Crown, and the new El Baton brands.

La Unica has been noted by many reviewers as their favorite bundle cigar, rivaling some premiums for taste and quality.  Diamond Crown and the MAXIMUS line are considered among the finest super-premium brands.  El Baton received a 90 rating in the latest issue of We're Too Good for You magazine (aka Cigar Aficionado).  Cuesta-Rey is by far their best known line, however, and is available in Centro Fino Sungrown and Centenario (Conneticut Shade or maduro wrapper) versions.

The Centro Fino Sungrown is fashioned with a sun grown (duh) Sumatra seed wrapper grown in Ecuador and binder and filler of Dominican origin.  Manufactured for JCN by the Fuente family, it comes as no surprise that the CFSs have a flavor reminiscent of some of the higher end Fuente lines.  Having smoked several sizes, they tend to be medium or medium-full bodied with a pleasant taste and aroma.  Slightly sweet with hints of spices fading in and out, the CFS is entertaining without being distracting.  It's an impressive premium cigar, usually available at reasonable prices.

A Centro Fino sampler of 4 vitolas (No. 60, No. 9, No. 1, and aluminum-tubed Captiva) is available on the intrawebz for $25 - $35.  Packed in an attractive mini version of the full size box, it would make an excellent gift, but I found the cigars to be too delicious to consider not smoking them myself.

What makes it an outstanding bargain is J.C. Newman's Connoisseur Club.  For only $18, you get the Centro Fino Sungrown sampler, an expensive looking golf shirt with a “Cuesta Rey Centro Fino Sungrown” logo prominently embroidered on the left breast, a copy of JCN's The Wrapper glossy magazine/newsletter, and a welcome letter with a thin plastic membership card bearing your name, membership number, and expiration date.  Despite the low price, JCN donates a portion of the proceeds to the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, helping children and families in the DR.  Anyone following the cigar industry is probably familiar with JCN's activism for cigar smoker's rights in the USA and their efforts to improve the quality of life for Dominicans.  Due to state attempts to squash smokers' rights, NY and CA residents cannot receive the cigars via mail.  There is a special membership package for residents living under either of those oppressive regimes.

You can get more info and join The Cigar Connoisseur Club at www.jcnewmancigarclub.com.  Even if you only want the cigars, you'd be hard pressed to find them for this price, even on auction sites.  Add in the shirt and helping a charitable cause and you're looking good and feeling good while you smoke them!