Joya de Nicaragua smokers are familiar with the Gran Consul name. This Asian exclusive release of the Gran Consul not quite the same, as the size is 60 x 114 mm and box-pressed. The blend has all Nicaraguan fillers bound with a leaf from the Dominican Republic, wrapped in Nicaraguan Criollo. Joya de Nicaragua only produced 1,000 boxes of 10.
The cigars are packaged in an attractive black hinged lid box. On the box and the secondary band is a Pixiu, which is a Chinese mythological creature looking something like a winged lion. The cigars are all triple banded. The two primary bands are also printed on the reverse side with special information about the limited release. Everything about the packaging lets you know that the cigars inside are something very special.
Looking at the cigars in the box they all share the same color, as they should. They all have a nice dark chocolate hue reminiscent of good hot chocolate with a slight hint of red. The wrappers all are smooth and well rolled with very minimal thin veins. There is a fine tooth to the wrappers, but they all shine brightly with a nice oily sheen. While the shape is described as a Belicoso, the caps are not quite what one would expect. Instead of coming to a well-defined point they round off and become flat at the tip. This is a nice feature on such a short cigar because it doesn’t require much of the cap to be removed (an thereby a loss in precious length) before an adequate draw is achieved.
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Size: 60 x 114 mm (4.5″)
- Wrapper: Nicaragua
- Binder: Dominican Republic
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Price: $37 | € –
Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Asia: the cold draw has nice hints of sweet plum with a hint of chocolate. Upon lighting the cigar it immediately explodes with flavors of a rich peppered steak; even the smoke feels thick in the mouth.
The flavors from the opening continue into the first third, with the pepper subsiding. Strength is immediately at a medium-full level (4/5).
About halfway through, the thick meaty flavors give way to notes of oak, spices, coffee, and dry rum. Strength has decreased to a medium body (3/5).
At the end the cigar comes full circle and notes of charred steak are detectible, with a hint of raisin. Strength remains unchanged.
Overall, the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Edicion Asia is a very enjoyable cigar, that is full in flavor. While it is a short cigar in size, it is not a quick smoke and needs to be paced out. These cigars will, no doubt, age well.