Cigar Ratings & Reviews

#NowSmoking: 90 Miles R.A. Nicaragua Limited Edition

#NowSmoking: 90 Miles R.A. Nicaragua Limited Edition Cigar Review (Video)

90 Miles R.A. Nicaragua Limited Edition – Cigar Details:

Factory: Agroindustrial Nicaraguense de Tobacos S.A. – Estelí, Nicaragua
Size: 7” x 38 Lancero
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaragua

Presented in boxes of 20

The 90 Miles R.A. Nicaragua Limited Edition Lancero Story

The 90 Miles selection is a line extension made by Flor de Gonzalez Cigars. Founded by Cuban expatriate, Arnaldo Gonzalez, their 90 Miles cigars signify the distance between the southern-most point of Florida (somewhere in downtown Key West) and the island of Cuba. In other words, the distance Arnaldo traveled when he fled Cuba for a better life in the U.S.

The R.A. initials are a tribute to the late Roberto Alonso, also a Cuban émigré. Alonso was the director of sales and marketing for Flor De Gonzalez and one of Arnaldo’s closest friends. The cigar was rolled in a Lancero shape because it was Roberto’s favorite. Additionally, the artwork on the box is a sketch that Roberto drew on a napkin during a trip to Nicaragua many years ago which also serves as a memento.

Cigar Basics:

Construction: The cigar is pretty firmly rolled. It has an attractive milk chocolate color evenly throughout. The cap is also fashioned with a Cuban-style pigtail at the head and a covered foot at the bottom. Instead of clipping the cap with a cutter, I twisted the pigtail off, leaving a small hole which issued an excellent draw.
Cold Draw: A distinct cherry-like flavor combined with leather.
Base flavors: Earth, espresso, leather, pepper, nutmeg, burnt cedar, dried fruit.
Aroma: Sharp.
Burn & Ash: Excellent. Even burn with firm dark grey ashes from top to bottom.

When you light a cigar with a closed foot, the flavor from that first puff is going to come mostly from the wrapper. For me, it was a strong note of cayenne pepper and other spices. Fortunately, the pepper settled down quickly transitioning to a much earthier taste with a spicy finish. Shortly thereafter, there was more of a tangy sensation that lingered on the palate, too. I would sum up the first third as a medium-bodied smoke with random flavors of espresso, leather, white pepper, and dried cherry.

At the midsection the flavors rounded-out well. I decided to try a retrohale which I expected to be peppery, but it was actually quite smooth with a woody twist. When I smoke cigars that are this much thinner I tend to lay-off the puffs even longer than usual. Keeping the cigar cooler will sometimes issue some additional flavor nuances you might otherwise miss. For example, hints of charred cedar and nutmeg showed up while some tanginess remained on the finish. The body at this point was medium-plus and medium in strength.

By this time the smoke was just shy of full-bodied. However, the strength was still in the medium range. The base notes hadn’t changed all that much, but the standout flavors at this point were the espresso, burnt cedar and nutmeg. Even more impressive was the smoke got smoother in the last couple of inches—a very rare occurrence. The peppery notes had all but disappeared, but some lingering molecules kept the finish a little spicy.

What beverage pairs well with the 90 Miles R.A. Nicaragua Limited Edition Lancero?

A traditional American Bourbon or Nicaraguan Rum Old Fashioned with Flor de Cana 12 Year for this one. Otherwise, try either with a splash of sparkling water or ginger ale and an orange twist.

For more accurate pairing combination results, please see our Cigar & Spirit pairing guide.

Are 90 Miles R.A. Nicaragua Limited Edition cigars worth smoking?

Since I prefer wider ring gauges, I don’t smoke a lot of Lanceros. That said, this limited edition Lancero smoked well and at times offered a fair amount of complexity. The flavors I picked-up were among my favorites. Yet, looking at the cigar as a whole, it ran a little too spicy for me. Yet, if you enjoy Lanceros and rich, spicy Nicaraguan blends, this cigar should be right up your alley. Additionally, its medium strength also makes it more accessible to a wider audience. Now if I had to compare it to another excellent Nicaraguan Lancero, it would be the Southern Draw Kudzu Axil. Otherwise, I found the 90 Miles R.A. Nicaragua Limited Edition Lancero to be a relaxing, robust, and flavorful cigar.