Editor’s Note: Each week, our friends at the Smooth Draws Radio Show, based in Atlanta, GA, do a review of ‘The Cigar of the Week’ on their radio show, which can be heard Saturday mornings on AM1230 ESPN the Fan 2 (WFOM radio) from 10AM to Noon. That review is printed (in its entirety) here on Cigarweekly.com, usually on the Monday following its broadcast.

The Smooth Draws Radio Show Pick of the Week

THE CIGAR

We’ve selected the Joya de Nicaragua Joya Red for our ‘Premium Cigars of Georgia’ cigar review of the week.

BACK STORY

Joya de Nicaragua is primarily known in the United States owing to the reputation it has earned for producing stronger cigars – cigars like the Antaño 1970 and the Antaño Dark Corojo, which even well-developed palates have a reverence for. In July of 2014, at the IPCPR Convention and Trade show, Joya introduced a medium-bodied cigar into its portfolio – the Joya Red.

This new introduction was instituted by the company’s president (and son of owner Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca), Juan Ignacio Martínez, along with Leonel Raudez, Joya’s factory manager since 1992.

The unique blend of the Joya Red was achieved by leaving out the ligero, lowering the strength and using lower primings that would impart similar core flavors aimed at smokers looking for a cigar more suitable for lighting up on a daily basis. The company has said that the Joya Red is a true rediscovery – classy as always, but a lot more fun.

THE CONSTRUCTION

The Joya de Nicaragua Joya Red is produced at Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua. It is a regular production cigar and Nicaraguan puro, with long filler tobacco coming from the regions of Esteli, Condega and Jalapa. The binder is Nicaraguan and the wrapper is a Habana wrapper (also from Nicaragua), the latter golden reddish in hue, somewhat oily to the touch, toothy and finished off with a triple cap. Overall, the construction of this cigar is meticulous.

The Joya Red is available in four sizes – a Short Churchill, a Robusto, a Toro and a Cañonazo. It’s packaged in modern red boxes, each containing twenty cigars. Drew Estate is the sole distributor of Joya de Nicaragua products in the United States.

THE DRAW

The Joya Red produced volumes of mouth satisfying smoke. The draw was perfect and effortless.

THE CIGAR TASTE PROFILE

The Joya Red proved a solid medium-bodied smoke, very flavorful, creamy and ever changing. It was both complex and well balanced. The taste profile seemed more Dominican in nature then Nicaraguan. We tasted toasted white bread, roasted nuts, earthiness, black pepper and faint red pepper. There were also hints of a lemon citrus and black licorice along with notes of sweetness ranging from caramel and cocoa to dried fruit.

DOES IT GET A BUY RECOMMENDATION?