Last week, Joya de Nicaragua surprised me with a sampler of their newest creation.  The Red was one of the few cigars I had seen ads for prior to the IPCPR.  Lauded as a value offering, the Red absolutely blew me away.  I waited for too long to review it in all honesty so I am just going too get right to it....

Construction: A golden brown wrapper leaf with few veins and no visible seams covers this beautiful cigar.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: Out of the cellophane, the Red gives off aromas of sweet tobacco, dry hay, and nuts.  The draw is perfect and a cold pull gives a nice sweet tobacco flavor. 

Light and Burn: Lighting is a snap.  Burn is sharp from start to finish and the ash is a nice light gray.

Tasting: The Red starts off with a nice cedar spice, some sweet oak, white pepper, and sugar.  Again, this thing blew me away.  Balance is spot-on masterful and the Red is consistent from cigar to cigar.  A very smooth leathery core develops early on with pepper, wood, and nuts.  Exceptional so far.

The middle third starts with all of the flavors from the first with additions of coffee and some orange peel.  It is a very unique blend which is always nice in these cigar-filled-days.  I honestly haven't smoked many Joya cigars in the past but I am going to call this one the baseline for their releases from here on out.  Just a terrific sweetness throughout with loads of coffee, leather, and nuts.

The final third adds flavors to the already massive complexity.  Bittersweet chocolate, roasted nuts, salt, and some heavier leather finish things off nicely.

Value: At between $5 and $7 the Red lineup is an absolute steal.

Final Thoughts: I am sold on this new line from one of the biggest boutique names around.  I mean, for the price it is a hard cigar to pass up.  I am already putting this in the category with the Tatuaje Tattoo as the cigar I reach for when I am short of cash...you know how it is.  Without a doubt, I highly recommend this cigar to anyone and everyone.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano (Corte Bajo)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa, Condega, Esteli

Strength: Medium

Size: 6 x 52