Aging Room Quattro Sonata Maestro

During TPE 2023 which took place in late February, Aging Room showed off an extension to the company’s Quattro Nicaragua series that launched in 2018. Named Quattro Nicaragua Sonata, the new line is a Nicaraguan puro that is billed as being slightly lighter than the original Quattro Nicaragua line due to a combination of the tobacco being fermented for a longer period of time as well as the use of different seed varietals.

“Not with notes or to be played on the piano, but with tobacco leaves to be enjoyed by adult consumers looking for something unique,” said Rafael Nodal, co-founder of Aging Room, in a press release. “The Aging Room Nicaragua Sonata is composed with leaves grown in the valleys and mountains of Nicaragua and nurtured by the dedicated people of Nicaragua.”

The Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata debuted in six different vitolas:

• Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata Espressivo (5 x 50) — $13.02 (Box of 20, $260.40)
• Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata Maestro (6 x 52) — $13.13 (Box of 20, $262.20)
• Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata Vibrato (6 x 54) — $13.24 (Box of 20, $264.80)
• Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata Concerto (7 x 50) — $13.37 (Box of 20, $267.40)
• Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata Grande (6 x 60) — $13.55 (Box of 20, $271)
• Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata Impromptu (6 1/2 x 52) — $14.98 (Box of 10, $149.80)

As is the case with the original Quattro Nicaragua cigars, the Sonata line is being made at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. using tobaccos from Fernández’s farm, and boxes started shipping to retailers in June.

• Cigar Reviewed: Aging Room Quattro Sonata Maestro
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 6 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Vitola: Torpedo
• MSRP: $14.98 (Box of 10, $149.80)
• Release Date: June 2023
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

From a visual standpoint, the Aging Room Quattro Sonata Maestro is covered in a milk chocolate brown wrapper that features both noticeable mottling as well as some very obvious oil. The wrapper is sandpaper rough to the touch, and all three cigars are extremely firm when squeezed. Aromas from the wrappers include sweet cedar, earthiness, generic nuts and baker’s spices, along with a very light vegetal note that I can’t place. Scents from the feet are quite a bit more distinct, with sweet almonds, black pepper, leather tack, sourdough bread, and nutmeg as well as a sweetness that reminds me of caramel. Finally, after a Dickman cut, the cold draws bring flavors of strong earth, more almonds, coffee beans, cedar and a touch of floral sweetness.

A noticeable metallic flavor combines with some earth and spice on my tongue to start the cigar off, and while the former note continues to be a major part of the profile on the finish, main flavors of cedar and espresso emerge as the burn line continues through the first third. Secondary flavors of powdery cocoa nibs, gritty earth, toasted bread and leather tack make themselves known at various points, while a small amount of a generic vegetal note comes and goes on the finish. There is no death of black pepper on the retrohale, and while I note a bit of generic sweetness every once in a while, it is neither distinct enough nor strong enough to make any sort of impact on the profile. The flavor and strength end the first third just under the medium mark, while the body lags behind a bit at mild-plus. All three aspects of construction give me no issues at all through the first third, with the excellent draws the standout in that regard.

The earthy metallic note continues to plague the finish of the cigar during the second third—albeit with a bit less distinctness overall compared to the first third—while a combination of espresso and cedar easily remains the main flavor. Additional notes include hay, toasted bread, plain rice, baker’s spices and light citrus peel, but the vegetal note from the first third disappears after the halfway point, never to return. In addition, while the amount of black pepper on the retrohale remains fairly constant, there is slightly more sweetness present, although the latter note is still very much generic in nature. Flavor and strength increase slightly to a solid medium, while the body increases to hit a point under medium. In terms of construction, there continue to be no issues whatsoever with the burn lines, draws or smoke production.

Thankfully, the earthy metallic flavor from the first two thirds wanes a bit during the final third of the Quattro Sonata Maestro, allowing different—and much more enjoyable—flavors of cocoa nibs and hay to take over the top spots in the profile, followed by coffee beans, cinnamon, cedar, dry oatmeal and slight tea leaves. There is also a bit less black pepper on the retrohale, and while the sweetness continues to be generic in nature, there is more of it. Flavor increases to land at a point just over medium, while the body joins the strength level at a solid medium. Finally, all three cigars continue to feature excellent draws, plenty of smoke and near-flawless burn lines before I put the nubs down with less than an inch remaining.

Final Notes

• This is the first new line from Aging Room in a year-and-a-half.
• Out of the six Quattro Nicaragua Sonata vitolas that debuted at TPE 2023, only the 6 1/2 x 52 Impromptu size is being sold in 10-count boxes, while the other five vitolas are packaged in 20-count boxes.
• This is an ideal cigar to do a Redux review on at some point down the line to see if the combination of metallic earthiness and the large amount of spice and pepper that is currently in the blend calms down enough to allow some more sweetness to peek through.
• I am far, far from a cigar blender of any sort, but the pervasive metallic earthiness that I tasted in all three cigars makes me think there is at least a small amount of Ometepe tobacco in this blend.
• Aging Room is distributed in the U.S. by Altadis U.S.A., part of Tabacalera USA.
• These were easily some of the best-constructed cigars I have smoked in quite some time: all three featured excellent draws, burn lines that did not come close to needing attention from my lighter and copious amounts of smoke.
• Cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time for all three cigars averaged one hour and 52 minutes.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Aging Room Quattro Sonata Maestro cigars, site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co., Cigars Direct, Gotham Cigars, Famous Smoke Shop and JR Cigars all have them in stock on their respective websites.

The Bottom Line: