Today, we take a look at the LeRoy Neiman 2023 Collectors Edition. This is the first installment of a joint project between J.C. Newman Cigar Company, LeRoy Neiman, and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation. The project showcases the artwork of the late LeRoy Neiman. J.C. Newman and the Foundation will donate all profits from this collaboration to support arts education in Tampa’s public schools, including those surrounding J.C. Newman’s El Reloj cigar factory.

LeRoy Neiman was a well-known artist who created colorful expressionist paintings and screenprints of famous people and events. He was also a cigar enthusiast. Neiman passed away in 2022. The LeRoy Neiman 2023 Collectors’ Edition features LeRoy Neiman’s 1978 painting, “Irish American Bar.” This place is described by Tara Zabor, Director of the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, as a “legendary New York watering hole where he created memories, artworks, and life-long friends’. Inside the cigar box is a lithograph replica of “Irish American Bar.” The artwork also wraps the lower half of the cigar.

The Collectors Edition Series is a limited-edition cigar. A 2024 Collectors Edition was released with a different size and different artwork. The 2024 Collectors Edition features Neiman’s “Left Bank Café” artwork. This selection was inspired by the fact that the 2024 Summer Olympic Games are taking place in Paris, France. “Left Bank Café” depicts a scene of people enjoying cigars and spirits in a Paris café.

For now, we will turn our attention to the Collectors Edition 2023 and see what it offers.

LeRoy Neiman 2023 Collectors Edition by J.C. Newman Cigar Company | Cigar Review

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend and Origin

The Collectors Edition 2023 is highlighted by an Ecuadorian Havana Rosado wrapper. Florida Sun Grown tobacco is used for the binder. Details of the filler have not been disclosed other than that its “Latin American.” Production for the Leroy Neiman Collectors Edition series comes from J.C. Newman’s El Reloj factory in the Ybor City National Historic Landmark district of Tampa, Florida.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Havana Rosado
Binder: Florida Sun Grown
Filler: Latin America (Undisclosed)
Country of Origin: United States
Factory: El Reloj

Vitolas Offered

The 2023 Collector’s Edition comes in one size—a 6 x 52 toro. For 2023, 10,000 cigars were produced, each packed in 500 cabinets of 20 cigars.

Appearance (*)

The double band and sleeve will cover most of the cigar, but once the sleeve is removed, it reveals a cocoa-colored wrapper with a slight rosado tint. There was a slight amount of oil on the surface of the wrapper. The wrapper surface had some thin veins, and any wrapper seams were minimally visible.

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw (*)

After removing the sleeve around the lower half of the Collectors Edition 2023, a straight cut was used to remove the cigar cap. Once the cap was removed, it was on to the pre-light draw. The cold draw delivered a mix of hay, cedar, and lemon. Overall, this was a satisfactory pre-light draw experience. At this point, it was time to toast up the Collector’s Edition 2023 footer and proceed into the smoking phase.

Tasting Notes

The Collectors Edition 2023 opened up with a combination of earth, lemon, cocoa, cedar, and hay notes. Early on, the lemon and hay notes moved to the forefront. The cocoa, earth, and cedar notes settled in the background. Meanwhile, the retro-hale delivered an additional layer of citrus.

During the second third of the Collectors Edition 2013, the hay notes remained grounded in the forefront. There was a slight increase in the cocoa notes, where they became the most prominent note. Toward the midway point, the lemon notes receded into the background. There was an increase in both the cedar and pepper notes.

The final third saw the cedar notes join the hay in the forefront. At the same time, the flavor profile was rounded off by the cocoa, lemon, pepper, and earth notes. The Collector’s Edition closed out with a soft, slightly lukewarm nub.

Burn

The burn of the 2023 Collectors Edition maintained a straight burn path and straight burn line. More touch-ups were required for each of the samples during the second third. While the touch-ups kept the burn on track, more touch-ups were needed than preferred. The resulting ash was silver-gray. This ash was firm and came off the cigar in clean chunks. As for the burn rate, it maintained an ideal level. The burn also had a perfect temperature, but toward the final puffs, it got lukewarm -an indicator it was time to put down the cigar.

Draw

The draw of the 2023 Collectors Edition had a touch of resistance to it. This was ideal in my book. At the same time, this was a low-maintenance cigar from which to derive flavor.

Strength and Body

The Collector’s Edition 2023 started out with mild to medium strength and mild to medium-bodied flavors. There was a slight increase in the intensity level of both attributes. By the second half, the strength and body were pushed into medium territory.

In terms of strength versus body, the body maintained a slight edge throughout the entire smoking experience.

BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES (*)

The presentation of the Collector’s Edition 2023 is outstanding. The colorful artwork of the “Irish American bar” shines on the box and against the cigar itself. I also liked the black and gold primary band. One thing that is not seen in the picture is that the bottom of the box has a splattered paint design, which represents the paint-covered floor of Neiman’s studio.

The drawback is that the cigar’s sleeve was difficult to remove. While I was able to get it off without ripping it, it was quite difficult. It’s unfortunate because I would hate for anyone to damage the print on this sleeve, which is really something one might want to have as a keepsake.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

Artwork aside, this is an excellent offering by J.C. Newman Cigar Company. The first third of this cigar is where it shines. While the remaining two-thirds weren’t quite at the level of the first third, they still were quite enjoyable. This is another hand-rolled cigar out of El Reloj, which continues to showcase this small factory’s capabilities. The $20.00 price point is a little steep, but keep in mind this is a cigar being made in the U.S., so labor costs will be much higher. In terms of a numerical score, this scores a solid 89, but this doesn’t factor in price.

Ultimately, this is a cigar that I can also recommend to the novice or experienced cigar enthusiast. As for myself, this is still a cigar that I would buy and smoke again.

Summary

Key Flavors: Hay, Lemon, Cedar, Cocoa, Earth, Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Mild to Medium (1st Half), Medium (2nd Half)
Body: Mild to Medium (1st Half), Medium (2nd Half)
Finish: Very Good