Joya de Nicaragua Red Robusto

The Red is another regular production offering from Joya de Nicaragua, just like the Joya de Nicaragua Black that I reviewed a few weeks ago. This Nicaraguan puro features a Habano leaf wrapper and can be found in four vitolas with relative ease.  While the sample I smoked was a 5 1/2" x 50 Robusto, you can also find the Red as a Toro and two other Robusto adjacent sizes (5 1/2" x 54 and 4 3/4" x 48). You can also purchase these in a tin of Cigarillos if that floats your boat as well. You can purchase a Joya de Nicaragua Red for around $5 to $7 USD per stick for the traditional sized cigars and around $11 USD for a tin of 10 Cigarillos. 

Wrapper: Nicaragua

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 5 1/4"

Ring Gauge: 50

Size: Robusto

The Smoke: The Joya de Nicaragua feels like a well-made cigar in my hand. The dark brown Habano wrapper feels like velvet along with some oil. The cigar has a slight budge when squeezed but it quickly regains form. Like my last review, I used my new Colibri SV-Cutter to slice a wedge out of the cigar's head. The cold draw was very good, and the draw remained excellent all the way to the cigar's finish after lighting.

Flavor during the cold draw was earthy and full of leather.  After toasting and lighting the cigar, the leather was once again in full force. Earthiness was present but faded to the background and was replaced by notes of cocoa, nut, and hay. Some light vanilla sweetness undulated as the cigar progressed on its hour-long life span.  The body and profile of the cigar is medium strength.

The burn rate is even, or should I say even enough to not require any corrective burns. The construction of the cigar also remains intact. The cigar creates a good amount of smoke while the ash remains relatively compact and intact. I only required 4 ashings to keep the cigar's ashes from falling on to my lap.

This cigar is a great value. To think this smoke is sub $8 while being well made and providing plenty of flavor and strength. Since one can find this smoke with relative ease, I would advise against filling your humidor with a box albeit that this cigar is box purchase worthy. 

The Score: Buy a 5 pack