Joya del Jefe Centennial Reserve

Now run by Gilberto Oliva, Tabacalera Oliva is a family business that has passed through five generations. Gilberto was born in Cuba (across the street from the Hoya de Monterrey plantation no less), so you can bet he knows a thing or two about tobacco. Once Castro came into power, the family moved to Nicaragua, where they were once again forced to move in 1979 because of the revolution. Six years ago he moved back to Nicaragua and is producing some of the best lines around. The Joya del Jefe Centennial Reserve is one line from Gilberto that we fell in love with. Yummy, yummy, yummy. At first we all wanted to eat this cigar since it looks like a cigar shaped chocolate, but when we all realized it was actually made from tobacco and not chocolate, the drool started running down our chins. A box-pressed gem with a beautiful Cameroon wrapper and all Nicaraguan long filler, the wrapper is a joy to touch and the flavors from each puff scream espresso bean and cocoa. Smoke this one with a porter or stout.