Joya de Nicaragua Gran Reserva Gran Consul Review

[Silound]

Humm, so I was at the local B&M and asked the owner what he had that packed a punch. I wanted something that would make my head spin and my eyes water (nothing so far, not even chain huffing multiple cigars in 30 minutes, has managed to put me in a coma). He fidgeted for a moment, and told me he couldn't stand to smoke Partagas Black's, because they were too strong for his tastes.

I'd purchased and smoked several 5'ers of PBL's, and those weren't going to do, so I asked if he had anything else that I'd never tried that would knock me over. So he goes into the humidor, and starts digging in a corner on the lower shelf. He pulls out an opened but never smoked box of Joya GC's and looks at me strangely.

"These are some I've had since 2005 when I got them at the RTDA show. I never could sell many, so I stopped buying them since no one would smoke them. I smoked one once from the first box, and I personally won't touch them, they're too strong for me. I'll sell them to you for $6 a stick, 10% off if you buy the whole box, but I'm warning you if you get sick, don't blame me."


So says I, "YES! I'll take them! Also I'll take a box of this, that, and that on my way!"

So I buy them, and get home. I pull one out and inspect it. First thing I notice is that I've never seen a cigar quite so....fat? nor so tightly rolled before. I mean this thing had probably 40 layers from center to binder. It was packed fat and hard. Still had a nice even draw on it though with a good cut (it only took four tries to cut it just right so I could draw on it). Almost a minty-tobacco flavor on the pre-light, reminded me of mint tea.


So I lit it up...puffed some, inhaled a tiny puff. Not bad...not nearly as bad as he made them out to be. So I smoked. Very even smoke, no corrections needed, lots of thick smoke that left an unidentifiable thick taste in my mouth...not creamy, but thick like a stew or soup taste. Interesting.


On and on I smoked, keeping pace with a friend who was smoking a Nording (speaking of monster cigars). After almost an hour and 45 minutes, I finished it off. Stood up, and nearly fell off my balcony.


Moral of the story: Don't hold each and every puff for 30 seconds trying to identify the taste. That's where you get the dizzy effects.


I'm still looking for a coma-cigar.

[mtb996]

I've had a couple and agree that they are pretty strong, but not as strong as I thought given their reputation. They also kinda look like some sort of sex toy which doesn't add to the experience.

I have a Camacho black waiting in the humi that the local B&M recommened for being off the chart strong....maybe I'll fire it up this week to see.

good luck.

[smokemifyagotem]

Try a JDN Antano Machito. STRONG little suckers!! I LOVE EM!

[MiloFinch]

Told ya so.

[MrGudgeon]

I smoked one of these a few weeks back, and I agree with your sentiments. Not an absolutely overpowering cigar, but definitely a bit of a kick to it. The gran reserve line of the Antanos is aged a few extra years over the regular line though, and most people agree this tends to mellow them out a bit. I am still looking forward to trying a regular antano.

[Guitarman-S.T-]

Originally Posted by Silound

Humm, so I was at the local B&M and asked the owner what he had that packed a punch. I wanted something that would make my head spin and my eyes water (nothing so far, not even chain huffing multiple cigars in 30 minutes, has managed to put me in a coma). He fidgeted for a moment, and told me he couldn't stand to smoke Partagas Black's, because they were too strong for his tastes.

I'd purchased and smoked several 5'ers of PBL's, and those weren't going to do, so I asked if he had anything else that I'd never tried that would knock me over. So he goes into the humidor, and starts digging in a corner on the lower shelf. He pulls out an opened but never smoked box of Joya GC's and looks at me strangely.

"These are some I've had since 2005 when I got them at the RTDA show. I never could sell many, so I stopped buying them since no one would smoke them. I smoked one once from the first box, and I personally won't touch them, they're too strong for me. I'll sell them to you for $6 a stick, 10% off if you buy the whole box, but I'm warning you if you get sick, don't blame me."


So says I, "YES! I'll take them! Also I'll take a box of this, that, and that on my way!"

So I buy them, and get home. I pull one out and inspect it. First thing I notice is that I've never seen a cigar quite so....fat? nor so tightly rolled before. I mean this thing had probably 40 layers from center to binder. It was packed fat and hard. Still had a nice even draw on it though with a good cut (it only took four tries to cut it just right so I could draw on it). Almost a minty-tobacco flavor on the pre-light, reminded me of mint tea.


So I lit it up...puffed some, inhaled a tiny puff. Not bad...not nearly as bad as he made them out to be. So I smoked. Very even smoke, no corrections needed, lots of thick smoke that left an unidentifiable thick taste in my mouth...not creamy, but thick like a stew or soup taste. Interesting.


On and on I smoked, keeping pace with a friend who was smoking a Nording (speaking of monster cigars). After almost an hour and 45 minutes, I finished it off. Stood up, and nearly fell off my balcony.


Moral of the story: Don't hold each and every puff for 30 seconds trying to identify the taste. That's where you get the dizzy effects.


I'm still looking for a coma-cigar.

haha if i was looking for a coma cigar the Joya would do it for me. I just got a box of those
very tasty, awesome sticks with a whicked kick.
The La Flor dominicana Ligero 400 kicked my ass i remember, but trying to focus on the flavor while that Nico-teeeeen sinks in pays its dues

[hova45]

nice review