Name: Joya Black Toro
Country: Nicaragua
Shape: Parejo
Size: Toro (6 inches x 52)
Strength: Medium

A flavorful, medium-bodied cigar that pairs well with blended Scotch.

Branding: Here’s an attractive cigar. The band gives it a bad boy vibe. (Because it’s named Black, I felt like pairing the first third with a glass of Johnnie Walker Black Label.)

Construction: Masterfully rolled, the Joya Black has no weaknesses.

Pre-light: Promising a rich experience full of flavors.

Cut: Straight cut, as always.

Burn: Great and even burn.

Duration: 90 minutes.

Draw: Firm draw. Could have been a little looser.

Smoke: Good.

Ash: Good.

Flavor: Coffee, leather, and hints of pepper.

Name: Brick House Maduro Mighty Mighty
Country: Nicaragua
Shape: Parejo
Size: Gordo (6 1/4 inches x 60)
Strength: Medium to Full

I paired this cigar with espresso and sparkling water and smoked it in good company. Overall, although it wasn’t the best smoking experience, I’d say that I wouldn’t mind smoking the Brick House Maduro Mighty Mighty again. For its price, it’s a good cigar.

Branding: A J.C. Newman cigar. I wasn’t able to recognize the cigar from where I stood in the walk-in humidor. But since the cigar bands looked fairly attractive from afar, I had to come closer to the box to see what wss in it. And that’s how I met the Brick House Maduro Mighty Mighty.

Construction: Not so great, but good. It could have been more firmly wrapped. The cigar started collapsing during the last few draws of the final third.

Pre-light: An earthy smell and a chocolaty flavor.

Cut: Straight cut.

Burn: It did not burn evenly 100% of the time, yet I wouldn’t say it was a mess.

Duration: 75 minutes.

Draw: A good draw. Easy.

Smoke: A generous amount of smoke.

Ash: Average.

Flavor: Chocolate, earth, pepper.

Name: Adventura The Navigator Cabral
Country: Dominican Republic
Shape: Parejo
Size: Toro (6 inches x 54)
Strength: Medium

Branding: It’s a cigar with a very basic look. I can’t explain it, but I usually don’t like a cigar band that has a lot of white in it. Besides, compared to The King’s Gold band, this one is bland — weak. The King’s Gold, for instance, gives the vibe of being the adventurer’s stick. But The Navigator doesn’t look like a navigator’s go-to cigar.

Construction: Great. Solid. No weak spots.

Pre-light: Promising draw. The smell of freshly baked brownies and the leather jacket of a woman you’re willing to be lured by.

Cut: Straight cut.

Burn: It burned well and at a nice pace.

Duration: 75 minutes.

Draw: Excellent draw.

Smoke: Great smoke.

Ash: Good.

Flavor: Cocoa, leather, cashew, pink peppercorn, cappuccino.