Joya Red Cañonazo

1. 2nd September, 2021:  This is a 5.5 x 54 robusto. It comes in a beautiful red box.

On the front side of the box is an excellent description of the cigar, comprising the origin of the components of the cigar and body. 

Construction: This was a beautiful cigar: smooth appearance, with an attractive Nicaraguan Habano wrapper. 

Unfortunately, the first cigar I tried from the box had construction issues. There was too much resistance; the cigar was slightly plugged. There was enough draw to smoke the cigar, but burn was uneven and required three touch ups. After the first ash fell I noticed a pencil-shaped ember protruding about half an inch - the tell-tale sign of a plug. This affected burn, which was wavy, draw, which was tight and flavour, which was unbalanced until the final third.

Draw: Plugged enough to create too much resistance until the final third, after which the cigar opened up with plumes of medium bodied smoke. 

Burn: Wavy. But I would put this down to poor construction. I wouldn't draw any conclusions from one sample. 

Wavy burn throughout. Note the plug protruding from the remaining assh and the cavity in the ash that fell into the ashtray.

Flavour: Flavour was compromised by the plug and consequent uneven burn. The cigar began mild to medium with an interesting sour finish. I imagine that some would call this the 'sour cherry' flavour. It was a pleasant light chocolatey cocoa flavour. But a bit too light to be satisfying. By the final third I had passed the plug and the flavour of the cigar came together. It was so delicious that I smoked more of the nub than I would otherwise, having felt cheated in the first two thirds. The final third was much more complex than the first two thirds and added a little spice. 

Complexity: Complexity was elusive during the first half of the cigar but exploded in the final third. 

Body: Body was mild to medium with increased intensity, almost to full body, in the final third.

Strength: The cigar started light with almost no strength. But in the final third strength was prominent, gradually rising to strong in the last inch. I quite enjoyed it even though I felt mildly dizzy. The strength was a surprise and it complemented the increased complexity of flavour as well as the pepper blast. (Vivid dreams ensued that night.)

Finish: Finish was sour in the first third; not unpleasantly sour. As strength and complexity increased the sourness dissipated and the finish became longer and smoother.

Aroma: Not much aroma while the cigar was plugged but after that, it was a very pleasant, refined aroma. 

Ash: A grey ash that held on substantially, perhaps due to the plug, but which flaked, also, quite likely due to the plug. I noticed several holes in the ash from time to time, each around the size of a match head. Once or twice there was a long fissure in the ash. These defects were no doubt due to the plug. 

Balance and Consistency: Unfortunately, there was no balance until the final third, at which point the cigar came together.

Time smoke: 70 minutes

Overall: This was a promising cigar. But for the plug it would have been very good. The transition from mild to medium-full body and the blast of strength and pepper at the end were very interesting. Construction issues are found in all cigars. I've been especially unlucky recently. This is my third plug in a month. The other two were in an AJ Fernandez and a Liga Privada; totally unrelated brands. Cigars, being hand made and mass produced are bound to have an issue from time to time. So I don't draw any conclusions from one unfortunate experience. It's another reason why I order by the box. One needs a larger sample to draw conclusions. I look forward to trying another one in a few weeks. 

2.September 9th 2021: Another poorly constructed specimen. Draw was difficult for the first half inch, after which it opened up somewhat, but not completely; resistance was always too great. As such, the cigar burned for 80 minutes, which is testament to the tight draw. Flavour didn't really develop. Body and finish were both mild. There was no strength, unlike the previous cigar, which culminated in a blast of strength. 

It's probably worth giving this cigar another chance. Two duds in a row might be random. As I mentioned in the first review, there is promise in this cigar. It just needs to deliver more flavour and body. 80 minutes. Pleasant at best. 

After half an hour ash was still holding. But the tilt suggests a poor construction, which manifested in difficult draw and lack of body.

October 30th, 2021: This one was the best burner so far. There was a slight resistance and a small spike after ashing. But draw was not a big deal. Flavour and aftertaste were still sour for the first two thirds. Like the first cigar, on 2nd September, the cigar started to shine in the final third. Sourness abated completely and the cigar became smooth and quite strong. But for the sourness, this would be an interesting cigar with an interesting transition from medium to full body. 80 minutes. Perhaps ageing will moderate the sourness.

At this point the sourness abated and the cigar became strong and smooth.

June 2nd, 2022: Surprise, surprise. This cigar was excellent. It was not plugged. Burn was almost perfect. Draw was slightly resistant, but quite satisfactory. Body hung around medium. As for flavour, the sourness of previous cigars had abated to being just one of a range of flavours, adding to complexity, and much resembling the Partagas Serie D. Aroma was rich, Cubanesque, delicious and omnipresent. The cigar lasted around 110 minutes, letting it go out once or twice. Overall, this was a very satisfying cigar. If all were like this I'd have no hesitation buying another box.