Blind Cigar Review: Joya de Nicaragua

Cigar Info

Joyo Black is a follow-up to the well-received Joya Red launched in 2014. This blend continues efforts from the Joya de Nicaragua factory to introduce contemporary, innovative products to the marketplace. The Joya Black follows in these footsteps and takes the experience up a notch by incorporating a dark Mexican wrapper and Nicaraguan fillers. Both Joya Red and Joya Black were engineered by the youngest executive team in the industry, along with the most senior Master Blenders of Nicaragua. Together they created JOYA, a line-up of cigars that represents the more approachable and adventurous side of Nicaragua‘s very first, and most authentic, cigar factory. Today we are reviewing the Joya de Nicaragua | Joya Black Robusto.

Joya Black is available in 20 count boxes and priced similarly to Joya Red, ranging from $5.50 to $8.00 per cigar. It is available in the following sizes: Robusto 5 ¼ x 50, Toro 6 x 52, Doble Robusto 5 x 56, Nocturno 6 ¼ x 46. Joya Black was presented during the 2016 IPCPR 84th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas. Drew Estate is distributing the brand in the U.S. as exclusive distributor.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5.25″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Negro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Juan Martinez
Number of reviewers: 4 – Matt C. (Big Matt) Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd) Eric (smalls29) Zane G. (Zane)
Price: $7.50
Age: 4 Months
Release Date: July 2016
Contributed by: Joya de Nicaragua

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 90

“614 is approximately 5×48 and sports a brown matte wrapper with a cinnamon sheen. We have 3 seams and a triple cap. The wrapper itself has a gritty toothy feel. Cold draw is doughy white bread.” –Matt C. (Big Matt)

Aroma: 89

“The wrapper smells of barnyard on the with some light sweet notes on the foot. Nothing like a cigar that smells like a barn!” –Zane G. (Zane)

Blind Cigar Review: Joya de Nicaragua | Joya Black Robusto

First Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Exhale is a dominant espresso core with dark earth, minerals, and cedar.” –Matt C. (Big Matt)

“The first third starts out with a bang. Little blast of pepper that quickly fades. I am getting sweet creamy wood notes with a great long finish. On the retro it’s a light citrus notes with more sweetness.” –Zane G. (Zane)

Second Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“The middle third is defined by coffee, cocoa, and a slight salty note. The retrohale is mostly bold pepper and toasted wood and some sweetness. The smoke output is still intense and the burn is fantastic.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)

“In the start of the second third a bit of leather sneaks in with a musty note. Sweetness through the retro. No pepper. This is a very smooth cigar.” –Zane G. (Zane)

Final Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“The strength kicks up just a bit in this final third. The flavor profile intensifies but still stays consistent. Molasses and some earthy notes join the profile and that makes a nice balance with the pepper notes.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)

“The cigar has taken on the burnt wood flavors. Bitter but still good. To me this has become a good old fashioned cigar. Not much in the way of complexity but a good burnt wood flavor.” –Eric (smalls29)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 92

“It was a draw with perfect resistance, and incredible amounts of smoke output. It was consistent throughout.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)

Burn: 93

“Great burn. Not razor sharp but no issues either.” –Zane G. (Zane)

Construction: 93

“The construction on this cigar was excellent. No soft spots to speak of on the cigar and it performed great.” –Zane G. (Zane)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 92

“Sample 614 was a good cigar. If it was not for the heavy mineral notes in the 1/3 this would be a very good cigar. I have a hankering that a little more rest in the humidor will help it out. The exhale dominantly was espresso core with additional flavors of dark earth, moss, cedar, leather and a spicy cream that appeared in the 3/3 was excellent. I definitely recommend picking up a few of these for yourself and giving it a whirl.” –Matt C. (Big Matt)

“This was a cigar I would gladly smoke again. Every aspect of the cigar was really good, and it kept me interested the entire time. Bold smoke output, great burn, complex and yummy flavors. These are the characteristics anyone would want in a cigar.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)

“Even though this one grew bitter in the final third, it was nice to be able to take it all the way to the end. The beginnings of sweet cedar and vanilla with cream were awesome. I liked that the flavors stayed for at least the first two thirds. The bonus was the wonderful aroma the smoke gave off. Even though it did grow bitter in the final third, it was not so bitter that I could not finish it. To me this added some nice personality to it. As I enjoyed it I imagined pairing it with a good rum. I would love this one again.” –Eric (smalls29)

“I enjoyed this cigar from beginning to end. While not an overly complex cigar I enjoyed every bit I got out of it. I would for sure enjoy this cigar over and over.” –Zane G. (Zane)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 83

Reviewer	Appearance	Aroma	1/3	2/3	3/3	Draw	Burn	Constr.	Overall Experience
Matt C.	90	90	85	88	90	90	90	90	88
Matthew T.	90	88	90	90	90	95	97	95	95
Eric	90	90	90	90	88	88	90	85	90
Zane G.	95	95	95	95	92	95	95	95	95

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.