Cigar Review: CyB by Joya de Nicaragua, TAA Exclusive

by David Jones · August 15, 2013

Originally published at Tiki Bar Online

Lancero Fino, 7” x 38 ring gauge / approx. $11, Burns Tobacconist

A couple months ago, while in Nicaragua for Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari trip, I was privileged to get a couple pre-release samples of a new vitola of CyB. Jose Blanco showed up to dinner on Thursday night with a bundle of Lancero Finos and told us to “Enjoy!” I smoked two or three on the trip (there was more than one bundle that found its way to our group) and I think I brought home one as well. Simply put…I really enjoyed this size of this blend. So, maybe I’ve ruined the story, but I will persevere anyway. Maybe I’ll just make this a shorter review…after all, if you wish to see a longer look, you can read mine or Keith’s…we reviewed two of the other sizes last year. Just a short review: Jose Blanco led the blending on this cigar shortly after he was hired by Joya de Nicaragua as Vice President. It uses filler from two regions of Nicaragua as well as Peru, a Dominican Piloto Cubano binder and an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. This particular vitola is available only to TAA retail stores; luckily, the owner of my local shop, Burns Tobacconist, is President of that organization, so getting them was a no-brainer for me.

As before, the appearance is very good for this brand. It’s actually a little easier to read now that it has a big “CyB” in place of the “Cuenca y Blanco” in the same amount of space, although that does prompt people to ask, “What does CyB mean?” The secondary band was created using the same color palate as the original band so it matches; just an observation, but this is a good thing. This vitola adds the traditional Lancero pigtail…more of a “docked” pigtail actually…very short and stubby. The wrapper was light brown and fairly oily. The wrapper had a note of earth and hay, while the foot had a stronger ripe composting soil smell. The prelight draw was excellent and the cold flavor had plenty of orange zest flavor, along with a bit of wood and earth.

After lighting the flavors swapped mostly, with cedar right out in front. Earthiness was close behind, along with a strong red pepper spice on the nose. The orange sweetness was there, but very subtle. Another observation: it’s got to be difficult to make true 38 ring gauge Lanceros that consistently draw well. So far, Joya de Nicaragua seems to be up to that task better than most. The CyB Lancero started off medium in body, but quickly ramped up to medium-to-full, which is already fuller than the other vitolas I’ve smoked turned out to be. Let this be a lesson for those who thing big ring gauge means stronger cigars…usually, the smaller ring gauge sticks will have more body and more strength. Big ring gauge may often have a higher nicotine content, but that’s really just a function of the amount of tobacco contained in them.

Through two-third, the CyB Lancero Fino was definitely “fino.” The flavor had edged more toward the sweeter notes, although plenty of earthy and woody flavors were still present. Construction was excellent.

As I finished up this CyB several one-word descriptions came to mind. Superb. Brilliant. Perfect. To paraphrase something I recently posted on Twitter: for those trying (and failing) to make a great cigar…THIS is how you do it! The CyB Lancero hit on all cylinders and delivered up a great smoking experience from beginning to end. Lots of flavor. Plenty of complexity. It just edged into the low end of full body but nothing anyone but absolutely newbies should worry about. In short, a great smoke. Full stop.