Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or providing a score for a first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Joya Black by Joya de Nicaragua in the Robusto Size size. This is a cigar we assessed back in November 2016 in the Toro size.

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Joya de Nicaragua SA)
Robusto: 5 1/4 x 50

In 2016 Joya de Nicaragua released the Joya Black. The Joya Black is a maduro offering that was the second installment of the Joya line. It was back in 2014 when Joya de Nicaragua launched the Joya line with the Joya Red. The Joya line was meant to bridge Joya de Nicaragua’s rich history with the modern contemporary cigar enthusiast in mind. Last year we assessed this cigar in the Toro size. Today we look at it in the Robusto size.

Joya Black is a significant release for Joya de Nicaragua in that it utilizes a San Andres Maduro wrapper. While Joya had produced San Andres wrapper offerings for other companies (e.g. 2015’s Fratello Bianco), this is the first Joya de Nicaragua branded cigar to utilize the wrapper. Joya Black also incorporates all-Nicaraguan tobaccos for the binders and filler. The line is offered in four sizes (Robusto, Doble Robusto, Toro, Nocturne (Corona Gorda)) The Robusto size we are looking at today measures 5 1/4 x 50.

The flavor profile of the Joya Black Robusto was in line with its Toro sibling. This was a cigar that delivered notes of coffee, maduro sweetness (cross of natural tobacco and dried fruit), classic wood, cedar and white pepper. Early on, I found the maduro sweetness to be the primary note. By the latter stages of the first third, the coffee notes made their way into the forefront alternating with the maduro sweetness as to what had the edge. There also was a layer of white pepper on the retro-hale which would vary in intensity throughout the smoking experience.

By the last third, the wood and cedar were the primary notes. In the background, the coffee and maduro sweetness were also contributing to the flavor profile. The pepper notes had also slightly intensified.

Overall the flavors of the Joya Black Robusto started out medium-bodied, but progressed to medium to full-bodied by the last third. Simultaneously, this was a cigar that delivered medium strength from start to finish.

My thoughts on the Joya Black Robusto are quite similar to the Toro. This is not a San Andres wrapped blend that is going to deliver a radically different profile compared to many other comparable cigars. However this is a cigar that delivers excellent flavor at an excellent price ($7.00). It’s a cigar I’d recommend to an experienced cigar enthusiast and a great cigar for a novice to graduate to something medium/medium plus. As for myself, I’d smoke this again and it’s worthy of a box split.

Summary

Key Flavors: Coffee, Maduro Sweetness, Classic Wood, Cedar, White Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium+
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Last third)
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Assessment: 3.5-Box Split
Score: 90

References

Previous Assessment: Joya Black Toro by Joya de Nicaragua
News: Joya de Nicaragua to Launch Joya Black
Price: $7.00
Source:  Joya de Nicaragua
Brand Reference: Joya de Nicaragua