Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta Serie Cigar Review – Truly Elegant

Back  in 2010, the oldest cigar manufacturer in Nicaragua – Joya de Nicaragua – introduced the Cabinetta Serie Cigar. For some it was quite a unique cigar in that there were two different wrappers on it, the bottom 2/3 had an Ecuadorian Shade and the top 1/3 had a Nicaraguan Criollo leaf. Unlike the “barber pole” style this cigar used the different wrapper to provide a step function of flavor change.  At the 2016 IPCPR, the company re-branded as “JOYA” and the band was redesigned. There was no change however to the blend.

As part of the 2016 press release, Joya de Nicaragua President Juan Martinez, President of Joya de Nicaragua commented:

“Cabinetta might be one of the favorite cigars of the JDN team. It’s a brand that we have always enjoyed, specially paired with a hot cup of Nicaraguan coffee. We wanted to give some love back to it, not only by revamping its packaging, but also, by giving it a new identity. We are sure the new Joya Cabinetta will help us expand our offering to modern smokers while continuing to satisfy the needs of retailers and consumers seeking for flavorful experiences without aggressive strength”

It should be noted that Drew Estate has been the US distribution partner for Joya de Nicaragua since inking a deal back in 2008.

The Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta Serie blend is described as:

• Wrapper – Ecuadorian Shade/Nicaraguan Criollo
• Binder – Nicaraguan
• Filler – Nicaraguan

As I have understood, the cigar is completely wrapped in the Ecuadorian Shade and then an additional over wrap of Nicaraguan Criollo is placed on the top third of the cigar which adds a unique flavor transition when the burn hits that demarcation.

The Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta Serie is available in 5 vitolas and comes packaged in 20-count boxes.

• Belicoso – 6 x 54 MSRP $7.80
• Toro – 6 x 50 MSRP $8.10
• Robusto – 5 x 52 MSRP $6.55
• Corona Gorda – 5.25 x 46 MSRP $6.30
• Churchill – 6.875 x 46  MSRP $8.10

For this review I sampled a couple of the Belicoso vitolas which I received from Drew Estate at this years IPCPR for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.

The Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta Serie

Pre-Light Examination

I have to say, I really like the look of this cigar with its smooth and silky Ecuadorian Shade bottom that has a beautiful sheen to it and is contrasted so well with the dark and gritty Nicaraguan Criollo at the top of the cigar. The head is finished with a well applied Belicoso cap.

There is one band on this cigar and it is the newly re-branded JOYA one. The word “JOYA”is prominently displayed in the center with the word Cabinetta printed below.  The Joya de Nicaragua logo is displayed at the bottom. The back of the band displays bronze shilds and the phrase “Est 1968” signifying the year the company was founded.

There are some truly enticing pre-light aromas on this gem, including a mild floral aroma on the shaft and delicious leather, toast, and fruity jam off the foot.

I used my Zikar double blade, to slice the cap back about 1/4 inch and the cold draw was open and offered notes of butter and light spice  with a growing black pepper as I roll it about savoring the early notes.

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Cigar Review Notes

• First light offer a mild fruit through a very smooth and creamy smoke
• A medium grey ash develops on a thin char line
• A touch of leather enters and a slight orange flavor
• The ash is simply amazing with a perfect burn
• Ash falls cleanly and reveals fairly flat and centered cone
• The second third showed little change in the profile
• Approaching the band and the bolder Maduro Criollo wrapper portion there is a spice note that appears
• Creamy Coffee notes enter
• Dry cocoa powder presents itself in the  background
• Sweetness enters
• Cedar completes the journey
• Medium Strength
• Total Smoking time was 1 hour and 25 minutes to the nub

Overall, the Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta Serie is simply an elegant smoking experience and a break from the bolder offerings of the company. This is a cigar that can be enjoyed anytime of the day and would certainly pair very well with a rich cup of sweet espresso or possibly an aged dark rum. The burn and ash were pristine throughout the experience. With a price in the sweet spot this is an easy buy and one you should try if you have not already.