Cigar enthusiasts had been familiar with the Cuesta-Rey brand from J.C. Newman for some time, but it wasn’t until 2023 that the company provided added context to the century-old marca. Angel LaMadrid Cuesta and Peregrino Rey began rolling cigars in 1884, setting up shop in Tampa’s famed Ybor City, where J.C. Newman Cigar Co. resides today. Cuesta-Rey’s cigars were known for their clear Havana craftsmanship, and were eventually recognized as the official cigar of King Alfonso XIII, who ruled Spain from 1886 to 1931.
With the Angel Cuesta cigar, J.C. Newman pays tribute to the eponymous founding member, featuring packaging and design cues that closely resemble Cuesta’s century-old brand for King Alfonso XIII (as evidenced by the crowned “A” and “XIII” subtext on the cigar’s band). While the modern rendition forgoes clear Havana tobacco (Cuban leaves imported into the US), it has been positioned as an ultra-premium offering fitting of the brand’s royal history. This includes an Ecuadorian Havana rosado wrapper and aged binder/filler tobaccos from three continents, being finished with a pigtail cap. The cigars are rolled at the Newmans’ recently renovated El Reloj factory in historic Ybor City, with a team of only two rollers handling the entirety of production—being capped at no more than 150 cigars per day.
From the packaging/presentation to the smoking experience itself, the cigars imbue an air of luxury. A sturdy construction gives way to a classic, Cubanesque profile, being salty on the lips and lightly spicy through the retrohale. Spicy-sweet cinnamon bears candy keep your attention from the start, while a solid core of roasted nuts, musty cedar, and aromatic cabinet spices provide the nuanced complexity expected from the cigar’s impressive pedigree.
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Angel Cuesta Breakdown
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado
- Binder: Undisclosed
- Filler: Undisclosed
- Factory: El Reloj (USA)
- Production: Small Batch / Regular Production
- Vitolas: 3
- Price: $18.00–$22.00 (MSRP)
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