Joya de Nicaragua has never been shy about celebrating its history, and the Cinco de Cinco is a cigar built around an important milestone for Nicaragua’s oldest cigar factory. Originally introduced in 2023 to commemorate the company’s 55th anniversary, the name Cinco de Cinco translates to “Five out of Five.”
The blend itself has an interesting story. Joya de Nicaragua examined blending records from visitors who had participated in blending experiences at the factory and looked at which tobaccos were selected most frequently. Those preferences helped inspire what ultimately became the Cinco de Cinco blend.
The Corona Doble, measuring 7 x 54, provides plenty of real estate for the blend to develop. It is presented in a soft box-pressed format and features a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos.
For this review, I put the 3 of the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Corona Dobles through the Stogie Press test to see what kind of journey it would deliver.
Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Corona Doble
Vitola: Corona Doble
Size: 7 x 54
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fábrica Joya de Nicaragua S.A., Estelí
Format: Soft Box Pressed
MSRP: $21.99
Packaging: 10-count boxes
Pre-Light Examination
The Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Corona Doble presented as a nicely rolled and box-pressed cigar, cloaked in a reddish-brown wrapper that was fairly smooth to the touch. A decent oily sheen covered the wrapper, while the seams were practically invisible. The cigar was well packed from head to foot with no noticeable soft spots and was finished with a nicely applied cap.
The Cinco de Cinco is dressed with an elegant commemorative band built around a deep teal-green field accented with white and gold. Across the top is the inscription “Fábrica Joya de Nicaragua, S.A.”, while the company’s circular crest occupies the center. The dates 1968 and 2023 flank the crest, marking Joya de Nicaragua’s 55-year milestone. Angular gold lines point toward the central emblem, while the bold white CINCO DE CINCO name sits underneath, accompanied by five stars.
The upper and lower borders incorporate a repeating tobacco-leaf motif against a white background with fine gold detailing. A metallic emerald-green panel adds another splash of color to the presentation. Overall, it is an attractive anniversary design that manages to look celebratory without becoming overly ornate.
Running the cigar along the nose didn’t reveal much aroma from the barrel, but the foot offered a pleasant hint of chocolate along with a touch of raisin.
I used a straight cut to remove the cap and gave it a few cold-draw puffs. The restriction was just to my liking, and the cold draw proved quite inviting, offering more of that chocolate and raisin, along with a bit of peppery spice.
With the pre-light examination complete, it was time to fire this one up and see where the journey would take me.
The Smoking Experience
I warmed the foot with my dual-flame torch and drew in the first puffs. The journey opened with a noticeable dose of white pepper on the throat, while cream and raisin settled onto the palate. A light grey ash began developing above a thin and even char line.
As the cigar settled in, the initial pepper began to smooth out and chocolate took center stage, accompanied by a continuing creamy note. The retrohale maintained a touch of peppery spice, providing some extra definition without becoming overly aggressive. The ash eventually fell in a solid chunk, revealing a well-formed burn cone.
Moving into the second third, dry raisin notes entered the profile while a mild cinnamon-like aroma began wafting from the foot. A more refined spice joined the mix, working nicely alongside the sweeter and darker notes that had developed earlier. Construction was proving to be one of the strong points of this cigar. The draw remained right where I wanted it, and the burn was spot-on.
Toward the end of the second third, richer earthy notes began to emerge, providing another transition and giving the profile additional depth.
As the Cinco de Cinco moved into its final third, a mild bitter note entered the mix. The richer earth remained in the background while the spice began to increase. That spice continued to build as I worked my way toward the nub, becoming the dominant characteristic through the closing portion of the journey.
Final Analysis
The Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Corona Doble was an enjoyable cigar that combined excellent construction with enough flavor transitions to keep my palate engaged throughout a lengthy smoking experience. I particularly enjoyed the early combination of cream, raisin and chocolate. The transition into dry raisin, refined spice and richer earth gave the middle portion of the cigar some added complexity. The mild bitterness that developed in the final third added an edge to the profile, while the increasing spice carried the cigar through the finish.
Construction deserves special mention. The draw was right where I like it, the burn remained spot-on, and the cigar required no touch-ups or corrections during the journey. The solid ash and well-formed burn cone were further evidence of how well the Corona Doble was constructed.
The cigar finished at medium-to-full strength, with a total smoking time of 1 hour and 45 minutes. I would certainly smoke this one again.
Recommendation: Box Worthy — an exceptionally well-constructed Corona Doble with an enjoyable chocolate, raisin, cream and spice core and enough transitions to maintain interest throughout its nearly two-hour journey.
