Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Original Torpedo is medium tan and has some lightly raised veins. The seams are smooth and the torpedo head is sharp and well finished. There are two bands, with the primary being brown, white, gold and green and denoting the company. The secondary is cream, brown and gold and denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper is a musty and dusty mix of cedar and hay, while the foot brings cedar, cardboard and some spice. The pre-light draw is an airy, musty cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of toasted cedar, earth, mellow black pepper and some light creaminess. At a half inch in, the pepper is barely hanging on. The retrohale is toasted cedar, earth and lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch in, the creaminess departs and the overall profile is a it dry. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is in front, with the earth a bit behind and some black pepper in the background. The strength was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a light creaminess rejoins, but the overall profile is still a bit dry. At a half inch in, the earth edges a bit closer to the cedar up front. The retrohale is now just toasted cedar and dry earth. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is a bit ahead of the earth, with black pepper now just behind the middle of the profile and some creaminess in the background. The strength remained slightly below medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, both the toast level and the black pepper increase a bit. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, dry earth and light black pepper. As the cigar comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with black pepper in the middle of the profile and some creaminess in the background. The strength bumped up to medium.

Burn

The burn was straight throughout and the ash held on in near two inch increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with a mix of toasted cedar, earth, mellow black pepper and some light creaminess. The creaminess departed halfway through the third. The second third saw the light creaminess rejoin and the earth picked up a bit. Later, the pepper increased a bit. The final third saw the toast level and black pepper both increase a bit. Construction was absolutely perfect. The Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Original Torpedo had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the toasted cedar and earth, with black pepper being the primary supporting note. This is a fairly typical Connecticut shade offering and doesn’t really stand out from the pack. The price is attractive, but it’s not high on my list to revisit.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$1.61

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Original Torpedo