Joya De Nicaragua Joya Red Robusto

Today we have the Joya De Nicaragua Joya Red.  This cigar has a light tan wrapper with completely invisible seems and not veins.  The wrapper is very oily and aesthetically pleasing.  It comes in at 5.2 X 50 After lighting, the draw is perfect producing a huge amount of smoke out put.  The draw flavors have a fairly light black pepper flavor and tingle sensation with some cedar notes.  The black pepper is a little heavier through the retro-hale.  The finish has some cashew like notes with some sweet tobacco and black pepper flavor.  The flavors leave the palate after a few seconds between draws and the cigar is at a mild to medium in body.  The burn through the first inch is razor sharp.

I've burned down two inches now and some changes have happened.  The draw still has the light black pepper flavor and tingle sensation with some cedar.  The finish starts off with the cashew flavor and sweet tobacco but quickly transitions to a baking spice and leather combo.  The flavors change back and forth every few draws or so.  Also, the black pepper has come up a bit on the retro-hale.  The draw is still perfect, the burn is razor sharp and has a nice long ash.  The body has settled into a medium and the flavors stay on the palate long into the next draw.

With just over an inch and a quarter left the cigar starts to get VERY warm and the flavors are all washed out by a hot chard tobacco flavor.  I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 48 minute mark.  Altogether this was a nice medium bodied cigar with delicious flavors.  I will definitely be buying more of these cigars, if you like the flavor profile I described, give it a shot!

Thanks to Drew Estate Cigars for supplying this sample!

Price: $5.25

Appearance: 10/10

Draw: 20/20

Burn: 20/20

Flavor:  17/20

Complexity: 16/20

Burn Time: 8/10

Overall Score:  91 / Great Cigar

La Mission de L'Atelier 1959

Today we have the La Mission de L'Atelier 1959.  This cigar has a medium brown wrapper with visible veins and seems running the entire length of the cigar and has a pigtail cap.  It come in at 4 3/4 X 52.  After lighting, the draw is a bit snug but producing average smoke output.  The draw flavors include a deep earthiness with black pepper flavor and tingle sensation  The finish continues the earthiness and black pepper and add in a light leathery bread note.  The leather and bread is an interesting combination that I'm enjoying very much.  The body is at a medium.  The burn is razor sharp through the first inch.

I've burned through nearly two inches and some flavor changes have taken place.  The draw still has the black pepper flavor and tingle sensation, with a nice heat through the retro-hale.  The finish still has the earthiness but has added in a nutmeg like flavor.  Every few puffs the finish starts out with the nutmeg note and transitions back to the bread and leather.  After a few more puffs the earthiness comes intensifies a little more and the entire profile started to get sweeter.  The draw remains adequate with good smoke output.  The burn did however go wavy but isn't presenting a large issue. The body is medium plus.

With just over an inch and a half left the cigar started to get warm.  All that remain is a chard sweet leather and tobacco flavor.  I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 55 minute mark.  This cigar had some very interesting combinations in the flavor department, the nutmeg, bread, earth and leather were all very nice.  It was a quite unique flavor profile that I will definitely be craving more of.

Price: $8.50

Appearance: 8/10

Draw: 19/20

Burn: 18/20

Flavor:  18/20

Complexity: 18/20

Burn Time: 9/10

Overall Score:  90 / Good Cigar

Drew Estate Undercrown Shade Toro

Today we have the Drew Estate Undercrown Shade in Toro.  This cigar is light tan and has minimal veins and seems.  It comes in at 6 X 52.  After lighting, the draw is perfect producing large amount of smoke out put.  The draw flavors start off with a nutty earthiness and no discernible black pepper or spice.  The finish is a smooth cedar and creaminess with a slight bit of sweet tobacco and the tail end of the finish.  Th flavors are fairly light and airy and leave the palate fairly quickly and are at a mild to medium in body.  The burn through the first inch is razor sharp and is producing a nice, tight, long ash.

I've now burned down about two inches and not much has changed as far as draw and finish flavors.  The finish has started to last a bit longer and has intensified as far as the sweet creamy tobacco is concerned.  The draw remains perfect giving off huge plumes of smoke.  The body is at a medium and there is no strength kick at all so far.  The burn remains razor sharp and construction is prefect.

With just over an inch and a half left I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 1 hour and 8 minute mark.  This cigar did not give many transitions as far as flavor is concerned, but did give off a nice medium creamy sweet tobacco and cedar with a slight bit of earthiness.  A black pepper spice did come into play in the last half of the cigar.  It wasn't over powering but did just let you know it was there in the back ground.  Overall, it was a well burning and tasty cigar.

Price: $7.50

Appearance: 10/10

Draw: 20/20

Burn: 20/20

Flavor:  15/20

Complexity: 13/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  88 / Good Cigar

Black Works Studio NBK

Today we have the Black Works Studio NBK.  This cigar has a medium brown wrapper and is boxed pressed with a closed foot.  There are a few visible veins and invisible seems.  The cigar is very well constructed and looks beautiful.  It comes in at 6 X 46.  After lighting, the draw is slightly snug and smoke output is at a minimum.  The draw flavors start of with some earthy black pepper flavors.  The finish continues the earth and black pepper and adds in some faint coco powder notes.  The finish stays on the palate long into the next draw and is at a medium body.  The burn through the first inch is wavy but not an issue.

I've burned down around two inches now and the draw has opened up slightly.  The draw still hits you with a black pepper punch as well as the earthy notes.  The finish continues to be heavy on the earthiness and the black pepper spice and flavor.  A creamy textured cedar has also come in at the tail end of the finish.  After a few more draws a small amount of leather has crept in as well.  The burn remains wavy and I did finally have to give it a touch up to keep it from tunneling.  The body is medium to full.

I've burned down three inches and the cigar went out on me.  I discovered that it did tunnel a little bit.  I re lit the cigar and continued to get some earthiness and black pepper and creamy cedar.  The re-light did not seem to effect the flavors that I was already getting on the draw and the finish but may have hindered me from getting any transitions.

I sat the cigar down and the 1 hour and 3 minute mark.  Overall the cigar was enjoyable.  Luckily for me I like earthy and peppery cigars medium to full in body.  If you like a bold cigar with transitions every few inches this will not be the cigar for you.  However if you like a well constructed  and aesthetically pleasing cigar that burns for just over an hour and is a pleasant experience, give this one a try!

Thank you to Black Label Trading Company for sending this cigar in for review!
Check them out at blacklabeltrading.com

Price: $9.00

Appearance: 10/10

Draw: 16/20

Burn: 17/20

Flavor:  16/20

Complexity: 15/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  84 / Enjoyable Cigar