Quick Take
The CyB by Joya de Nicaragua is a cigar reviewed by Eric Scism on Stogies on the Rocks. Rated 90/100 at approximately $8 retail. Read the full tasting notes below.
Initial Thoughts
How does that old saying go? The only constant is change? Yeah something like that. That’s exactly what the fellas over at Joya de Nicaragua must be feeling. This year they released this cigar initially under the name Cuenca y Blanco after Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca & Jose Blanco. Then after being notified of a possibly offending someone and potential litigation over the name they decided to change the brand to CyB.
CyB by Joya de Nicaragua
It’s the exact same cigar just different packaging and a different band. As you’ll see in the pictures I have the old packaging and band. I was able to pick up this cigar the day after the news came out of the name change. I saw these cigars go on sale like hot cakes online to get rid of all the old packaging to make way for the new stuff. Talk about a great way to push out some cigars!
Looks
After seeing numerous reviews of this stick online I was stoked to actually get my hands on it. The CyB by Joya de Nicaragua has a beautiful Ecuadorian Habano wrapper that glistens with oils seeping out of it. It’s a nice light colorado wrapper with a reddish tint to it. I picked up the Corona Real size which stands at 5 1/4″ x 46. This is one of the ideal sizes for me. I love the corona sized cigars.
CyB by Joya de Nicaragua – Band
The band on this old version of the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua is awesome. I’m a big fan of combining blues and reds together in a color scheme. I just like how it looks and I think they are incredibly complimentary of each other. The band has all sorts of intricacies attached to it. It’s encircled with a nice thick gold and then smaller rings of similar colors continue until you get to the sweet spot in the middle. A nice dark red oval with gold lettering. This is a very classic looking band with a bit of modern color thrown in to make it stand out. Well done Joya, well done!
Function
Believe it or not, but I actually let this CyB by Joya de Nicaragua sit for almost 3 months in my humidor. So I can’t exactly remember picking it out at my B&M except for the fact that it was the day after the name change because it was a Joya de Nicaragua / Drew Estate event.
I proceeded with my normal pre game ritual, using the pinch test up and down the barrel. Not a single soft spot to be found. Woooohooo. I must have been paying attention when I was picking it out amid my intense Klackers game with Jeff the Fro Tennell (our local Drew Estate rep).
CyB by Joya de Nicaragua – Foot
I went ahead and removed the cap with my backed cap cutter. In fact I actually got this cutter the same night as the cigar. Because I won this cutter from playing Klackers. So yeah that fuzzy night is all starting to come back together piece by piece as I write this. The CyB by Joya de Nicaragua has a perfectly placed triple cap on the head. It has three very defined seams and are a perfect topping for this great looking cigar.
CyB by Joya de Nicaragua – Triple Cap
After removing the cap I went to test the dry draw and I was a little disappointed. It was fairly snug and kind of difficult to pull any air through the barrel. Hopefully this will open up once I put the flame to it.
Let’s kick the tires and light the fires what do you say? I haven’t said that in a while and I feel like I need to. Pretty redneck saying isn’t it? That’s why I love it.
Smoking
MMMmmm. It’s so nice when a cigar lights up evenly and just burns so smoothly. It makes the smoking experience so peaceful and relaxing, exactly how it’s supposed to be. From the first light this CyB by Joya de Nicaragua is smooth and oozing a nice thick white smoke.
CyB by Joya de Nicaragua – First Third
Clearly the cold draw was not indicative of how this cigar was going to burn or draw. Once I put some heat to it, it opened right up. The second third opened up even more and burn was just incredible. Nearly perfect. I got the ash to hold on to just about 1 1/2 inches before I decided it was time to end up in the tray and not on my shirt.
CyB by Joya de Nicaragua – Nice Ash
The final third of this CyB by Joya de Nicaragua smoked just as perfectly as the 1st and 2nd. Not a single issue. I have to say this is one of my favorite cigars to come out from Joya de Nicaragua thus far.
Flavor
I’ve found that with most nicaraguan tobaccos I tend to pick up on a nice bit of spice and some very solid coffee notes. This CyB by Joya de Nicaragua is definitely in that same vein as well. On the pre light I pick up some very nice dry cocoa. It’s as if I just opened up the metal container containing some Hershey’s cocoa powder and I’m about to make an extra large glass of chocolate milk. Then after the initial rush I picked up on some notes of dry hay. Talk about two completely different thoughts that go through my head. At first I’m thinking about enjoying a huge glass of chocolate milk. The next thing I’m thinking about back to one terrible summer where I helped a farmer hay his field and I’m instantly transported to the thought of being covered with dry hay as I throw square bales up on the trailer in the muggy Arkansas summer. Ugh, that sucks. Ok, back to the cigar? Yes please I want to forget about hay for awhile.
CyB by Joya de Nicaragua – 2nd Third
As soon as I got the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua lit I picked up on a nice bit of spice initially on the lips. This seems fairly typical of a lot of Nicaraguan tobaccos as well (to me at least). The spice was fairly dominate during the first third. I found it every where. It wasn’t over powering in strength but it was dominating in flavor.
The second third brought about some change to this cigar. As the spice started to fade a bit, it brought in a nice nuttiness to it. The nuttiness flavor was dominate on the palate. But the retrohale brought in a nice dark roasted coffee flavor that I couldn’t really detect other than in my nose. Very interesting flavor combinations here.
CyB by Joya de Nicaragua – Nub
The final third didn’t change too much for me. It continued with the woody notes and the nuttiness with a few glimpses of the spice. It was all blended very well together where nothing really came out and hint you in the face. They were all blended together quite well to form this nice medium bodied cigar known as the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua.
Would I Buy It Again?
For sure. It’s a great smoke and I would love to have it again to see if I can pick out some more complexities.
Is It an Every Day Smoke?
I think so, it’s a nice medium bodied at a good price. This vitola is the perfect size for me to smoke every day as well.
Would I Buy a Box?
I would have liked to buy the old box with the original bands and labels and a new box and have them side by side. Unfortunately that time has probably passed me bye.
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong is the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua?
The CyB by Joya de Nicaragua is a medium to full-bodied cigar. Check our full review above for strength and body notes from first light to the nub.
What are the flavor notes of the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua?
See the Flavor section above for a full tasting breakdown of the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua across all three thirds, including retrohale notes and finish.
Where can I buy the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua?
The CyB by Joya de Nicaragua is available at Famous Smoke Shop, Cigars International, and Amazon. See the Where to Buy table below for current pricing and availability.
How much does the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua cost?
The CyB by Joya de Nicaragua retails for approximately $8 per stick depending on the retailer and vitola. Prices may vary by box size.
What bourbon pairs well with the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua?
Our top bourbon pairings for the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua are Knob Creek 9 Year, Old Forester 1920, Russell’s Reserve, chosen based on complementary flavor profile scoring. See the Pairing section below for details.
Where to Buy CyB by Joya de Nicaragua
Average retail: ~$8 per stick. Prices vary by retailer.
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Best Bourbon Pairings for the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua
As a full-bodied, high-strength Nicaraguan torpedo, the Cojonu 2006 demands a bourbon with presence. Here are our top three pairings based on complementary flavor profiles.
#1 — Knob Creek 9 Year
High-rye character and oak depth complement the earthiness and spice of the Cojonu perfectly.
Pairing suggestions based on the Stogies on the Rocks flavor profile scoring system. Browse all bourbon reviews →
Conclusion
I’m a big fan of the CyB by Joya de Nicaragua. It was a great smoke, full of flavor, great burn, overall great smoking experience. I only gave it a 9/10 because I wasn’t completely floored by the flavor. It was very good, but I felt like I needed a bit more of something, but I would no problem smoking these every day that’s for sure.
CyB by Joya de Nicaragua
About This Review
Eric “Siz” Scism is a Louisville, KY-based cigar and bourbon enthusiast and the founder of Stogies on the Rocks. With over 20 years of marketing experience and direct access to Kentucky’s bourbon country, Eric brings genuine expertise and a discerning palate to every review. He is also the founder of Cream of Kentucky bourbon, giving him a unique insider’s perspective on American whiskey. All cigar and bourbon reviews on this site are based on personal, unsponsored tasting experiences.
