Cigar Aficionado

A new Onyx that’s rolled by A.J. Fernandez in Nicaragua will start showing up in stores in August, and it may very well be the strongest Onyx to date.

When Onyx Reserve was introduced to the world, it was a Dominican cigar, and one well-received by the cigar community, with the Onyx Reserve Mini Belicoso scoring 94 points in a 2001 Cigar Insider blind tasting. Covered in a maduro Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, the smoke showed loads of character and, like most cigars at that time, leaned more towards the milder side.

The new Onyx Bold Nicaragua breathes new life into the brand with an amped-up blend that’s more in line with today’s palate. The cigar is rolled with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos and is covered in a dark, San Andrés Mexican wrapper that Altadis says has been aged for four years.

Onyx Bold Nicaragua will come in three sizes: a 6 inch by 54 ring gauge Toro ($9.25); 5 by 50 Robusto ($8.90); and a 6 by 60 Magnum ($9.80). The cigars will be packed in 20-count boxes.

This is not the first established brand that Tabacalera USA/Altadis has looked to revitalize. Earlier this year, the company announced Henry Clay War Hawk Rebellious, which itself was a follow-up to Henry Clay War Hawk. And last year, the company also worked with Fernandez to craft Trinidad Espiritu. It also won’t be the last.

“Our intention is to continue with Saint Luis Rey, Troya, Por Larrañaga and others,” said Rafael Nodal, head of product capability at Tabacalera USA.