Cigar Review: Joya De Nicaragua

[goyankees]

As the winter approaches my smoking habits begin to change. I smoke a little less often and I tend to smoke cigars that are stronger then the ones I smoke in the summer. I am not really sure why I do this, but perhaps subconsciously I hope a stronger cigar will warm me up as I smoke. You see I never smoke in my house, and I shy away from doing reviews in a crowded smoke shop when other people smoking can contaminate what I am smoking.

Today’s cigar has a distinct history as it is the first cigar ever produced in Nicaragua. In 1964 when the first cigar factory opened in Nicaragua this cigar hit the market. In 1970 the cigar began to gain popularity in the United States and it was smoked by many politicians.

However as the region became unstable the production of the Joya De Nicaragua ground to a halt. It disappeared from the market until 2002 when the cigar was resurrected. Todays Joya De Nicaragua Anatno 1970 is a tribute to that original cigar that put Nicaragua on the cigar making map.

Cigar: Joya De Nicaragua Antano 1970
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 4.75 x 60 (Gran Consul)
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full

Pre-Smoke: While the Joya comes in many sizes the cigar I smoked has a huge ring gauge but its tapered tip allows you to cut it to a ring gauge of your preference. With my idiot proof cutter back in hand I cut the cigar which had some sweet molasses notes on the foot. The cigar itself is a very oily sticky with some toothy characteristics. The pre-light draw offered a lot of spice.

Smoke: While I normally break down a cigar in thirds this cigar has two distinct regions. The first half of the cigar has a lot of leather and spice in the notes. The leather notes can be overpowering at first but as you smoke the cigar it smooths out some. In the second half while the notes of leather and spice remain it is offset by notes of nuts which help ease the strength some.

Overall: This is one knock you on your ass cigar. The flavor of the cigar though makes it an enjoyable full bodied smoke that I visit from time to time, especially in the winter months as stated above.However its leathery finish requires you keep water handy when smoking this stick.

Rating: 87
Price: $7.00

[Cigary]

I have been a fan of Joya De Nicaruagua cigars for quite a long time since I first smoked the Consul. I have a few Antano left from a box I bought over a year ago and they are a good cigar.

[rpm151]

Nice review. I have been enjoying the JDN for a while. If you get a chance try the Lonsdale, it is great.

[Raybird]

Yeah, they are powerful - I smoke these sitting down! Very good cigar though...

[ezmoney5150]

These are great cigars that age well.

[big04deuce]

Great review Barry! I must agree with these being a powerhouse!

[Phantom57-cl]

Very nice review, but this is not the cigar they produced in the seventies. I smoked JDNs almost exclusively in the seventies unitil the civil war then legal problems kept them off the market in the US. The seventies version had a medium to light brown wrapper, was medium in strength, full bodied and quite flavorful. The brand returned to the US market in the 90s boom years with a lightened blend favored in the foreign countries where they had been selling them, and they experienced moderate success at best. Sometime just after 2000, they realized they needed to strengthen the blend, and therefore the birth of the Antano, which they touted as a return to the 1970 blend. If nothing but for nostalgic reasons I have tried to like the Antano. I find it to be a full strength, medium bodied cigar that relies too heavily on the wrapper for it's appeal. They all have a perfumey, almost ammonia aroma to me, even after keeping them in the humidor for a year. Just my 2¢.