Announced in early June of this year, the Joya Red is the latest release from Joya de Nicaragua. Marketed as a milder blend compared to other Joya’s and at a lower price point, I get the sense that Joya de Nicaragua s going after the casual smoker who perhaps enjoys a cigar on the golf course.
This Nicaraguan Puro’s blend is comprised of a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan Binder and filler tobaccos from the Estelí, Jalapa and Condega regions.
The Joya Red is presented in four vitolas: a Short Churchill (4 ¾ x 48), a Robusto ( 5 ¼ x 50), a Toro (6 x 52) and the Cardinal ( 5 ½ x 54). They are sold in boxes of twenty.
I received the cigars used in this review from Joya de Nicaragua.
Taking a look at the cigar, the Joya Red’s wrapper is tan in color with prominent veins and barely perceptible seams. The wrapper’s aroma had notes of leather and tobacco. The cap was well formed and neat. The finished foot had an aroma of sweet berry and earth.
The cigar was mostly firm with a few soft spots and felt very lightweight in my hand.
After clipping the cap, the pre-light draw was easy with no resistance and had a sweet flavor with a hint of raisin.
The first third of the cigar has a very mild sensation in my sinuses in comparison to the peppery tobacco I picked up on my palate. The finish on the first third was a little on the mild side.
During the second third, there was an increase in the spice sensation as I exhaled and some rich coffee notes and a lively pepper sensation on my tongue.
At the end of this smoke, the spice sensation remained the same in my sinuses while the flavors on my palate changed to a rich tobacco with a medium lingering finish.
The Joya Red burned evenly and had a thin carbon ring. The white ash held its shape very well with only a slight flake. The ash dropped for the first time after 2 inches of growth. The cigar also produced a good amount of smoke.
Overall, this mild to medium strength, medium bodied cigar was very enjoyable and I would smoke this line again.
On a 100 point scale, I give the Joya Red an 88.