Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Americana TAA Exclusive (2021)

Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Americana TAA Exclusive (2021)

In 2021, Joya de Nicaragua delivered the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edición Americana as an exclusive cigar to the Tobacconist Association of America (TAA). Cuatro Cinco was a line created by Joya de Nicaragua in 2013 to commemorate the company and factory’s 45th anniversary. It was originally released as a one-time limited edition known as the Cuatro Cinco Edición Limitada. In 2015, Joya de Nicaragua brought back Cuatro Cinco as an ongoing limited production known as the Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial. The Reserva Especial featured a modified blend from the original Cuatro Cinco Edición Especial. Fast forward to 2019, and Joya de Nicaragua created an event exclusive 6 x 54 Box Pressed Belicoso size of the Cuatro Cinco. This size would be rebranded to the Edición Americana and would be a part of the 2021 and 2022 TAA Exclusive Series releases.

TAA Exclusive Series consists of cigars made by leading manufacturers that are exclusively sold at TAA member retailers. The TAA is a small group of retailers. At press time the number of retailers is approximately 80. The TAA describes itself as:

The Tobacconists’ Association of America, Ltd. is a trade organization established in 1968 by visionary retail tobacconists. By providing education, communication, research, advocacy, and member discount programs, The TAA works with our members and the industry they support to offer the tools and relationship building opportunities needed to maximize professionalism and success.

2021 TAA Exclusive Series

There are 15 cigars released for 2021 as a part of the TAA Exclusive Series:

The following is a complete list of the Joya de Nicaragua TAA Exclusive releases:

The name “Americana” is meant to pay homage to Joya de Nicaragua’s close ties with the United States. This can be traced back to the 1970s when Joya de Nicaragua became the official cigar of the White House under President Richard Nixon.

Without further ado, let’s break down the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edición Americana and see what this cigar brings to the table.

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend and Origin

With the exception of a Dominican binder, the remainder of the blend of the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial features all-Nicaraguan tobaccos. The filler tobaccos have been aged in vintage white oak barrels from what Joya de Nicaragua describes as a world-renowned rum distillery.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua SA

Vitolas Offered

As mentioned the TAA release is a 6 x 54 Box Pressed Belicoso. Each is presented in ten-count boxes. There were a total of 500 boxes allocated to the TAA in 2021 as well as 500 boxes for 2022.

Packaging for the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Americana (Photo Credit: Joya de Nicaragua)

In addition, the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial is an ongoing limited production line of cigars available in four sizes.

Petit Corona: 4 1/2 x 46
Doble Robusto: 5 x 56
Torpedo: 6 x 52
Toro: 6 1/4 x 50

Appearance

The Nicaraguan Criollo wrapper of the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana had a medium-roast coffee bean color to it. Upon closer examination, there was some subtle mottling on the surface. There were a few visible veins, and the cigar did a good job of hiding the wrapper seams. The box press had very much a square press shape to it with a gentle taper toward the belicoso tip.

There are two primary bands on the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana layered on top of each other. The outer band has a black background. There is a gold and white Joya de Nicaragua logo in the center of the band with horizontal gold and silver stripes extending to the left and right. To the left of the logo is the text “HECHO A MANO” in gold font. To the right is the text “EN ESTELI NIC” -also in gold font. Above the logo, it says “Reserva Especial” in gold cursive font. Below the logo is the text “CUATRO CINCO” in a white font except for the A in gold and the N which is shaped like an upside-down 5.

The inner band is ivory with white Joya de Nicaragua leaf logos arranged in a wallpaper fashion. The center of that band has a hexagon design with the same “CUATRO CINCO” and “Reserva Especial” as on the upper band, but in white font.

Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Americana Primary Bands

Inner (Top) and Outer (Bottom) Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Americana

 

Both the primary bands have information on the back side. The black band has an image of factory workers and a message that pays homage to the 45th anniversary of Joya de Nicaragua. The information on the back of the ivory band contains social media references.

Back of the Inner (Top) and Outer (Bottom) Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Americana

There is also a band around the footer. This is blue with gold trim. On the center of the band is the text “TAA” in large gold font and “EXCLUSIVE” in a smaller gold font. There are red and white stripes extending from the center text to the left and right. The far right is a small rectangular field. On the field is the text “EDICIÓN AMERICANA” and some small stars – all arranged in landscape mode.

Footer band of the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Americana

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw

A straight cut was used to cut about 1/2 of the belicoso tip of the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana. The cut was done to still get the most out of the tapering that existed at the head of the cigar. From that point it was on to the pre-light draw. The cold draw delivered a mix of sweet natural tobacco, cedar, and leather. Overall this was a satisfactory pre-light draw. At this point, it was time to remove the footer band of the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana, toast up the footer, and move into the smoking phase.

Tasting Notes

The Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana opened up with notes of sweet natural tobacco, earth, oak, chocolate, and black pepper. Early on the natural tobacco notes moved to the forefront with the earth, oak, natural tobacco, and black pepper settling in the background. During the first third, the chocolate notes morphed into a coffee bean note. Toward the end of the first third, the coffee bean notes joined the natural tobacco in the forefront.

The second third of the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana  saw the coffee bean and natural tobacco remain in the forefront. The natural tobacco did lose some of its sweetness. Meanwhile the oak notes transitioned to cedar. The cedar, pepper, and earth notes remained in the background.

The final third didn’t see much change. It was still natural tobacco and coffee bean in the forefront with the cedar, pepper, and earth notes rounding things out. This is the way the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana came to a close. The resulting nub was soft to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn

Some touch-ups were needed along the way to keep the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana on a straight burn path and maintain a straight burn line. The resulting ash was firm and had a silver-gray color with some dark spots. As for the burn rate and burn temperature, both maintained ideal levels.

Burn of the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Americana

Burn of the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Americana

Draw

The draw to the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana was on the open side. At the same time, this was not a loose draw. The open draw did not have any adverse effects on the smoking experience.

Strength and Body

The Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana started out with medium strength and medium to full-bodied flavors. There was a gradual increase in intensity throughout the smoking experience. By the last third, the strength pushed into medium to full range, and the flavors moved to full-bodied territory.

In terms of strength versus body, the body maintained the edge throughout the smoking experience.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

Overall the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Edición Americana delivered a solid experience. Personally, I have enjoyed the Reserva Especial blend better than the original limited edition release in 2013. This cigar has a nice amount of flavor nuances and the flavors delivered are solid. Because this is a bolder smoke, it’s one that I would recommend to a more seasoned cigar enthusiast. As for myself, this is a cigar I’d reach for and smoke again. The problem with this cigar is I am not convinced the box-pressed Belicoso version is better than the other sizes that are available in the line on an ongoing basis. Certainly this box-pressed belicoso was a fun smoke, but I still deem that the Toro and Double Robusto performed better.

Summary

Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Coffee Bean, Cedar, Oak, Chocolate, Earth, Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Very Good
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Final Third)
Body: Medium to Full (1st 2/3), Full (Final Third)
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Value: Buy One
Score: 89

References

News: Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edición Americana TAA Exclusive Announced
Price: $13.00
Source: Joya de Nicaragua
Brand Reference: Joya de Nicaragua

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted