Yagua Robusto | halfwheel

When J.C. Newman released its Yagua line in 2020, it eschewed one of the most staple parts of the cigarmaking process: using molds to shape the cigars to ensure about as perfect a cylinder as it could get.

The line was born out of a conversation with Lazaro Lopez, who manages the J.C. Newman PENSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Lopez was explaining how his grandfather used to make cigars in Cuba, specifically that rather than using cigar molds, his grandfather would roll cigars and then wrap them tightly in royal palm leaf to give them a shape. The end result was cigars that wouldn’t end up as perfect circles.

The company undertook the idea of concept, producing 6 x 54 toros, with a blend that uses a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers, with J.C. Newman adding that it specifically underferments the wrapper to help give the cigar some edge. This is yet another rarity in the cigarmaking process, at least when it comes to a company publicly disclosing such a technique.

The cigars quickly became noteworthy, showing up at retail stores in dark wooden boxes. Upon opening, the royal palm leaf is the next thing that is seen, with the cigars contained inside that leaf. Then, once the cigars start coming out of the bundle, it’s a mashup of shapes, with seemingly every cigar squeezed into a unique shape, from just out of round to triangles, trapezoids, hexagons, and even a few that look like they had been sat on.

This year, J.C. Newman added a second vitola to the Yagua line, a 5 x 56 robusto that comes priced at $10.50 per cigar. The blend and process remain the same as the toro, which is offered on a biannual basis.

“Yagua is a difficult cigar to roll because we use an underfermented Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, blend the filler tobaccos differently, and do not use the usual tools and techniques of a cigar factory,” said Drew Newman, owner of J.C. Newman, in a press release. “As the wrapper is not fully fermented, we have to age the cigars for a full year after they are rolled.”

• Cigar Reviewed: Yagua Robusto
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: J.C. Newman PENSA
• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 5 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 56
• Shape: Both
• MSRP: $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)
• Release Date: August 2026
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

After smoking a majority of round cigars and a decent amount of box-pressed cigars, the shape of the Yagua Robusto feels incredibly odd in my hand. Not only that, but the band had folds and creases that make it look like I pulled it out of my wallet. The first cigar has an edge that reminds me of a box press, but the angle is sharper. I don’t know what to compare the second cigar to, while the third is almost a triangle, if only for a flattened angle that makes it more of a trapezoid with a really narrow top edge. There’s a bit of residual oil to the first cigar’s wrapper, while the other two aren’t quite as expressive in the oiliness department. The first cigar is decently firm, but there’s some variance, and I can feel some spots that are softer than others. The second and third are more consistently firm, but with the number of ridges, I feel like I’m squeezing the cigar in a few different directions. The foot of the first cigar is cool and slightly sweet, reminding me of a toned-down raisin, but then finished off with a dusting of pepper. The second is quite similar, just maybe not offering something I immediately identify as raisin, but not that far off, either. The third has the least amount of raisin sweetness, and I get a bit of muddy earth. The first cigar’s cold draw is a touch firm and quite mellow flavor-wise. What is there reminds me of a very mellow raisin bread flavor. The second is smoother and more in line with my ideal. The flavor is milder here, and about all I get is some tingle on my lips from the wrapper. The third cigar is the most open of the bunch, while the flavor is light and slightly sweet.

The Yagua Robusto starts with peppery heat and a kind of rough, rustic flavor, with a bit of a powdery, chalk-like flavor mixed in. The third cigar has a little bit of a vegetal note for a brief moment, something I didn’t expect to find given the experience of the first two. That third cigar also has some creaminess, a flavor that emerges after the vegetal note disappears. About an inch in, particularly in the first two cigars, some of the raisin flavor joins the profile. After that, the cigar locks onto a profile and doesn’t change much. Flavor sits at medium-plus, body is medium and strength is mild. Construction is generally very good, and I don’t have notable issues, though there is something about the second cigar’s combustion that has me concerned, as it is struggling right out of the gate, needing relights almost immediately and throughout this section.

At the start of this section, there is a bright pepper in the retrohales, a sensation that commands attention as the flavor continues to hold onto what was offered in the first third. There is a bit more creamy sweetness, but otherwise the flavor is largely the same. Given the use of underfermented tobacco, I find myself expecting more of the roughness that started the cigar but it doesn’t show up. Instead, the flavor seems to have refined itself, and while still creamy in texture, I get earthiness, a bit of roasted white meat, some nuttiness, and then a little bit of black pepper on the finish. Retrohales deliver black pepper fairly quickly, and while I’m sure there’s more to them than simply black pepper, whatever those supporting aromas are, they disappear so quickly that I can’t get a great read on them. If anything, I’d call it the scent of warm, mixed nuts. Toward the end of this section, a little heat brings out some edge to the profile, giving me a distinct sensation from what I got earlier, as it seems like it’s not an issue with the tobacco. That said, it does feel a bit early for this kind of sensation to emerge. Flavor is medium-full, body is medium-plus and strength is medium-minus. The draw, burn line, and smoke production are all fine, but the second cigar continues to burn like wet newspaper, while the first cigar also develops combustion issues that warrant a relight.

The Yagua Robusto starts its final third with a very enjoyable mix that leans into the creaminess while keeping some damp tree bark and a bit of black pepper, and while all three cigars execute the blend well, the third cigar is clearly doing it better than the others, with a layered, rich complexity. A creamy base continues to set the tone for the profile, but I now get a sweetness that reminds me of caramel or toffee, while a little nuttiness balances that out. The finish is a little thinner and doesn’t linger as much as I might want, but it’s good all the same. Retrohales are still largely driven by black pepper, but now I get the aroma of a hearty red wine surrounding that tingling sensation. There isn’t much more change to the profile, as the Yagua Robusto seems designed to make three pronounced changes, followed by plenty of puffs to dive into those profiles, which is really stellar in the third cigar. Flavor is medium-plus, body is medium-plus and strength is back to mild. Unfortunately, combustion has made itself an issue in all three cigars. At times, a relight seems to fix the first cigar, only to suddenly go out a few minutes later. The third cigar is the best of the bunch, but doesn’t escape needing a relight. The second cigar is really problematic, and were it not for this review, I would have put it in the ashtray a while ago. Instead, I slog through it with constant relights, each yielding me a few puffs before needing another one.

Final Notes

• Once I started smoking the cigars, the shape became less of an issue. For some reason, the odd shape kind of disappeared into the background.
• That said, it did come back to mind when putting the cigar in an ashtray rest, as I did have to find the cigar’s flattest side in order to get it to sit securely.
• I don’t like to dry box cigars before smoking them as I generally don’t think it’s necessary, and I’m generally not planning my cigar smoking to that point. However, if I had any inkling the second cigar would perform like it did, I would have given it at least a day to try and air out.
• In fact, I probably would have given all three cigars a little time in an empty cigar box, and probably with their heads cut to give the final thirds a better chance at drying out a bit.
• Charlie Minato reviewed the Yagua in its original toro shape in September 2020 and then gave it a redux review in December 2024.
• J.C. Newman advertises on halfwheel.
• The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.

• The company lists these as a 5 x 56 robusto gordo. The numbers above are the measurements we found for the three cigars used for this review.
• Note: Patrick was curious if it was more difficult to measure these cigars due to their unique shape. I use the HERICS Cigar Tape to measure ring gauge, so it was not. — Charlie Minato.
• Final smoking time was two hours and 10 minutes on average.
• Site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co., Corona Cigar Co. and Small Batch Cigar carry the Yagua Robusto.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the G-League’s Valley Suns. I was previously the PA announcer for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League, and Goodyear Ballpark, spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I’m a voiceover artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.