Aging Room Cigars
Aging Room cigars are the boutique creations of master blender Rafael Nodal, produced in small batches by Jochy Blanco in the Dominican Republic and A.J. Fernandez in Nicaragua. The line has earned two of Cigar Aficionado's most decorated rankings: the 2013 #2 Cigar of the Year and the 2019 #1 Cigar of the Year.
The Aging Room Story
Aging Room cigars are the work of Rafael Nodal, a Cuban-born master blender who left the island as a teenager on a shrimping boat bound for Miami, arriving four days later after a treacherous voyage across stormy seas. A classical violinist and pianist by training, Nodal moved through finance and mental health work before entering the cigar business, eventually launching the Aging Room brand in 2011 under his company, then called Habana Cuba Cigar Company, which he renamed Boutique Blends in February 2012 to reflect its shift toward premium, small-batch, & flavored cigars to unflavored cigars.
Every vitola in the Aging Room lineup carries a musically inspired name, a direct nod to Nodal's background as a classical musician. Concerto, Maestro, Vibrato, Espressivo, and Grande all sit alongside the recognizable "Quattro" designation, which itself refers to the line's distinctive four-sided box-pressed construction. In 2017, distribution of the Aging Room brand was taken over by Altadis U.S.A., and Nodal now serves as Head of Product Capability for Altadis and the broader American division of Imperial Tobacco.
The Aging Room portfolio has produced two of the most decorated releases in the modern boutique cigar market. In 2013, the Aging Room Quattro F55 Concerto earned a 95-point "Classic" rating from Cigar Aficionado and was named the #2 Cigar of the Year. Six years later, the Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro was named the #1 Cigar of the Year for 2019, making Aging Room one of the very few boutique brands to hold both a #1 and #2 Cigar of the Year across its portfolio.
Aging Room Quattro (Original) - The 2013 #2 Cigar of the Year Line
The original Aging Room Quattro line is handmade by Jochy Blanco at Tabacalera La Palma in Tamboril, Dominican Republic, and is built around a rare Indonesian-grown Sumatra wrapper aged since 2003, sourced from a warehouse belonging to a German cigar producer. Beneath the wrapper sits a Dominican Habano binder and Cuban-seed Dominican long-filler grown on Blanco's own farm. The "Quattro" name refers to the line's four-sided box-pressed shape, while the original F55 designation marked the date the blend was finalized, February 24.
This is the line that earned Cigar Aficionado's 95-point Classic rating and #2 Cigar of the Year honors in 2013, with the Concerto vitola specifically singled out for its rich notes of roasted coffee bean and sweet cedar. Medium to full body, box-pressed, and consistently praised across a decade of independent reviews.
Smokenza carries the two most sought-after sizes from this line: the Aging Room Quattro Concerto (7 x 50 Churchill, the award-winning vitola) and the Aging Room Quattro Vibrato (6 x 54 Toro).
Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua - The 2019 #1 Cigar of the Year Line
The Quattro Nicaragua sub-line represents Rafael Nodal's collaboration with A.J. Fernandez at his factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Where the original Dominican Quattro leans on a Sumatra wrapper and Dominican filler, the Nicaraguan version reaches for Ecuadorian wrapper leaf over Nicaraguan binder and filler, producing a fuller, spicier profile with the same box-pressed construction that defines the broader Quattro identity.
In 2019, the Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro was named the #1 Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado, a rare distinction for any boutique cigar and one that placed the line among the most decorated Nicaraguan releases of the last decade. That recognition drove genuine, sustained demand for the entire Quattro Nicaragua family.
Smokenza carries the full range of Quattro Nicaragua vitolas: the award-winning Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro, the Nicaragua Concerto, Nicaragua Vibrato, Nicaragua Grande, and Nicaragua Espressivo, all in boxes of 20.
Which Aging Room Cigar Should You Buy First?
For smokers new to the brand, the two most commonly recommended starting points are the vitolas that carried Aging Room to its Cigar of the Year rankings. The Aging Room Quattro Concerto delivers the specific Dominican, Sumatra-wrapped blend that earned the 95-point Classic rating in 2013. The Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro is the exact vitola named #1 Cigar of the Year in 2019, and represents the fuller, spicier Nicaraguan direction of the brand.
Smokers who prefer a shorter session or a more compact ring gauge should consider the Quattro Nicaragua Espressivo, while those looking for a wider gauge in the Nicaraguan blend will find it in the Nicaragua Grande. Browse the complete Aging Room collection above, or explore the full range of premium cigars and tobacco products at Smokenza.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aging Room Cigars
Who Makes Aging Room Cigars?
Aging Room cigars are created by master blender Rafael Nodal, founder of Boutique Blends. The original Aging Room Quattro line is handmade by Jochy Blanco at Tabacalera La Palma in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. The Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua line is produced in collaboration with A.J. Fernandez at his factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Distribution of the brand was taken over by Altadis U.S.A. in 2017.
Are Aging Room Cigars Good?
Yes. The Aging Room Quattro F55 Concerto earned a 95-point Classic rating and was named the #2 Cigar of the Year in 2013 by Cigar Aficionado. The Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro was named the #1 Cigar of the Year in 2019, making Aging Room one of the very few boutique brands to hold both a #1 and #2 Cigar of the Year across its portfolio.
What Is the Difference Between Aging Room Quattro and Quattro Nicaragua?
Both lines share the same box-pressed construction and musically named vitolas but use different tobacco. The original Quattro line uses an Indonesian Sumatra wrapper aged since 2003 over a Dominican Habano binder and Cuban-seed Dominican filler, produced in the Dominican Republic. The Quattro Nicaragua line uses an Ecuadorian wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, produced in Nicaragua by A.J. Fernandez, and delivers a fuller, spicier profile.
What Does "Quattro" Mean?
Quattro refers to the four-sided box-pressed shape used across the entire line, a distinctive construction detail that separates these cigars visually from standard round parejos.
Why Are All the Vitola Names Musical?
Rafael Nodal is a classically trained violinist and pianist, and the musical vitola names (Concerto, Maestro, Vibrato, Espressivo, Grande) are a direct tribute to that background. This musical theme runs across the entire Aging Room portfolio, not just the Quattro sub-lines.
How Much Do Aging Room Cigars Cost?
Aging Room cigars at Smokenza are priced approximately $10 per stick, or roughly $200 per box of 20, representing approximately 35% off MSRP across the Quattro and Quattro Nicaragua lines.
Smokenza carries the full Aging Room Quattro and Quattro Nicaragua collections at discounted pricing. Browse our complete selection of premium cigars or explore all cigar brands available for fast, same-day shipping.