Guest Review: Joyas de Panama Robusto

Origin : Panama
Format : Robusto
Wrapper : Sumatra
Filler : Creollo Chiricano
Binder : Panama
Hand-Made
Price : $6.50 each
More info about Joyas de Panama cigars...

This review comes courtesy of Sboyajian and earns him 5 entries in our current contest.

Pre-Smoke

Scent of Wrapper : No distinct smell.
Scent at Foot : Grassy.
Appearance : The smoke looked very good. Well wrapped.
Wrapper : Nice Medium-brown coloring.
Feel : Very firm.

Ratings

Flavor : 85 - While the flavor of the first two thirds were enjoyable, they didn't stand out. It wasn't until I hit the subtle Currant flavor at the end that I was really wowed by it.
Construction : 98 - The construction (as you will see) was top notch. I have never had an ash remain like this one did. The only thing that kept it from being a perfect 100 was some cracking to the wrapper in the last 1 1/2".
Price : 90 - While I didn't pay for this smoke, at $4.00 ($100 for 25), this was a great smoke.
Overall : 91

I was a bit nervous going in. The pre-light draw seemed very tight and the cigar seemed solid.. definitely no soft spots, but overly hard at that. It lit up with some work.. at first it produced very little smoke and very thin/light smoke. This only lasted about 1/4" of an inch and it seemed to open right up. The ash remained white only for about another 1/4" of an inch and then would begin to darken. The first third was very smooth and tasted of untreated leather (rawhide?). The ash kept for the full third.

The second third brought a very mellow and welcome change. After the leather I was hoping for something light and I got it. A very sweet wheat flavor. The smoke was beginning to increase and it was a nice aroma.

The ash held again through the second:

I have never had a cigar made of tobacco from Panama, so I really didn't know what to expect going into the third.. I actually smelled a slight change before I tasted it and on the very next draw it had changed to a fruity Currant flavor. This remained until the end until the cigar simply got too hot to continue smoking.

I would recommend this to anyone, and may even pick up more to have around.