JC Newman’s history dates back to before the start of the 20th century and, despite many challenges faced over the years, JC Newman Cigar Company is the longest operating cigar company in the United States and the last cigar manufacturer in Ybor City. Ybor City is a historic district in Tampa, Florida that once outproduced Cuba in cigar production. With the latest FDA regulations, one has to wonder how much longer a U.S. based manufacturer can survive. Enough with the doom and gloom and onto the review of the JC Newman Cigar Company Quorum Maduro.

Quorum, a value-priced option from JC Newman, expanded in 2015 with a maduro version. Three wrapper options are now available in the Quorum line including Ecuadorian Shade, Ecuadorian Sun Grow, and Nicaraguan Maduro. Produced at the Torano factory in Nicaragua, the Maduro version has several vitola choices: Corona (5 1/2 by 43), Robusto (4 3/4 by 50), Toro (6 by 50), Torpedo (6 by 52), Churchill (7 by 48), and Gordo (6 by 60).

THE FACTS

Price: $2.70 per cigar | $54.80 per bundle of 20
Vitola: Churchill
Size: 7 by 48
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 25 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The Quorum Maduro has a rugged, dark brown Nicaraguan Habano Maduro wrapper. The leaf is full of tiny, web-like veins and one medium-sized vein that runs the length of the cigar. There are bumps all over the place on this wrapper that has an oily glisten, but feels dry to the fingers.

Bringing the cigar to my nose, I am met with a big aroma of topsoil. More of that dirt/earth smell comes across on the foot of the cigar, as well cedar and black pepper. A shallow cut through the double cap open up a draw with just a hair more resistance than preferred. Much of the aroma transfers into the cold draw with an added richness.

FIRST THIRD

The Quorum Maduro opens with a mild profile of pencil shavings, earth, and a yeasty sweetness as a mild spice heat is felt in the back of the throat. Just over an inch into this Nicaraguan puro and the flavors and spice move up in intensity, while a pepper and salty flavor enter the profile. The cigar is burning well with really no issue and a very satisfying amount of smoke is being produced.

MIDDLE THIRD

The flavors are now between mild and medium with the earth and a new found coffee moving to the front of the profile. Also, the yeast-like sweetness has diminished, while a club soda fizz-like sensation is now felt in the mouth. A couple of times through this third, the burn wandered off track, but quickly corrected itself.

FINAL THIRD

The flavors remain consistent with the prior third with an added char as I pull into the last third of Quorum Maduro. The char is working well with the profile and is not off-putting. As the smoke is passed through the sinuses, the pepper spice and saltiness are accentuated and adds an edginess to this rather straight forward smoke. The cigar has burned evenly through the final third as a layered, light gray ash is being formed. 

WRAP-UP

There is not a whole lot to this cigar other than a consistent mild to medium profile that shows some darker flavors and spice. The sweetness in the first third was a pleasant touch, but, even when it exited, the flavors remained fairly balanced. For under $3.00 per cigar, the Quorum Maduro could easily be a morning stick that would pair well with a cup of coffee. And one that wouldn’t break the bank at that.