The Joya Red cigar was introduced in 2014 by Joya de Nicaragua Cigars as a “cigar for the modern smoker”. The company itself has its roots in Nicaragua and was the country’s first cigar manufacturer, at the heart of Estelí. Originally established in 1965 as the Nicaragua Cigar Co by J.F. Bermejo and Simón Camacho they produced the first national cigar brand to be marketed worldwide. Through many challenges; including dictatorships, revolutions, reconstruction, and embargos, the Joya brand maintained itself and eventually sealed a US distribution agreement with Jonathon Drew and Drew Estate in 2009.
Joya de Nicaragua has 7 lines of cigars and today I offer you the review of the Joya Red, a Nicaraguan Puro that has a multi-region blend of fine Nicaraguan tobacco:
- Wrapper – Nicaraguan Habano
- Binder – Nicaragua
- Filler – Nicaragua (Jalapa, Condega, & Estelí)
Packaged in 20-count boxes, the Joya Red is available in 5 vitolas:
- Half Corona – 3.75 x 46
- Short Churchill – 4.75 x 48
- Robusto – 5.25 x 50
- Canonoza – 5.5 x 54
- Toro – 6 x 52
The Joya Red is a stunningly beautiful cigar to look at, adorned with a bright red, white,and gold band, it is smooth to the touch, light on veins, and medium tan in color. It is packed solid and has a decent weight in the hand.
For this review I sampled the Joya Red Toro
Cigar Review Notes
- Silky smooth medium tan habano wrapper
- Sweet milk chocolate and raisin notes off the pre-light foot
- Natural tobacco sweetness along the barrel
- Finished with a well applied triple cap
- Cold draw offers notes of toasted bread, fruit, light earth, and vanilla
- Initial puffs wake up the palate with some early pepper on the retrohale
- Once settled in, spicy citrus develops
- A light grey ash begins to form resting on a medium char line
- The ash maintains in perfect form
- Once the ash falls after almost half the cigar, a well centered burn cone is revealed
- Smoke is quite smooth with a mouth-watering citrus flavor
- Cedar and ginger mix in by the half
- Earth notes enter just shy of the band
- The aroma is sweet with a spicy chocolate
- Solid Medium Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 15 minutes down to the nub!
Overall, the Joya Red Cigar was a very pleasant smoke with some complex flavor notes, a solid error free burn, and a long ash. An easy cigar to smoke with a solid medium strength and decent smoke production. This is a cigar that can be enjoyed any time of the day and would pair well with a morning cup of coffee, a mid afternoon IPA, or a late evening cordial.
Joya Red