MoyaRuiz Cigars – La Jugada Nunchuck

Debuting at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show, the Nunchuck marks MoyaRuiz Cigars’ third line in their well received La Jugada brand following the La Jugada Prieto and La Jugada Habano. Both the Preito and Habano received very favorable reviews here at Casas Fumando and the Prieto earned a spot on mine and Tony’s Top Cigars of 2013 lists. Today, I will be reviewing the Nunchuck, a very unique, limited edition cigar for your reading pleasure.

Manufactured in Esteli, Nicaragua at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory, the La Jugada Nunchuck  is offered in one size (7 by 54), with only a 1,000 boxes of 10 cigars being produced. A press release from May 2014 by MoyaRuiz Cigars had this to say:

The La Jugada Nunchuck is designed to resemble a pair of nunchucks. Two cigars are connected the head of the cigar and will be sold as a pair, something completely unique to the cigar industry. The design of the cigar was conceived by Danny Moya & Nelson Ruiz after being inspired by the martial arts theme of the Cigar Dojo social media app.

“Our company was coming up to its one year anniversary so we wanted to create something special, something unique. We made this limited edition cigar (1000 boxes) in dedication to the members of the Cigar Dojo. This social media community has supported us from day one, and is one of the key reasons for our company’s success.” Stated Danny Moya.

You can find the full press release HERE.

The Facts

Samples Provided by MoyaRuiz Cigars
Price: $23.50 per Nunchuck
Vitola: Nunchuck?
Size: 7 by 54
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
Drink: Water

Pre-light

The cigars are individually banded, which I was not aware of until I removed the outer band that held the two cigars together. Consistent in its dark chocolate appearance, the Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro wrapper is coated in oils. I encounter no soft spots as I examine the cigar. Big, rich notes of cedar are found on the wrapper.

The aroma off the foot is very fruity, making me think of skittles, with some chocolate and cedar in the mix. Based on the spice sting I can already feel in my sinuses and knowing this cigar is a Nicaraguan puro, the La Jugada Nunchuck may be a spice-bomb. Which would not be surprising considering where this cigar is made. A very free draw is presented once a shallow cut is made through the triple cap. The cold draw is rich with notes of cedar and potpourri spices.

First Third

As expected, the spice definitely plays a central role in the profile. Along side the spice, some bread-like and rich cedar flavors are pulling through. When the smoke meets the tip of my tongue, I am picking up a sweetness that quickly is overwhelmed by the spice. Burning down to the half inch point, the sweetness is no longer fading as fast and seems to be similar to a sugarcane sweetness. I can feel a spice hit in the back of my throat, but not in a harsh way, just more of a heat. The profile deepens as earth and coffee notes arrive. The finish up to this point is of a dusty cocoa. A light gray, layered ash is forming as the cigar burns mostly even with a thick burn-line.

Middle Third

The spice has toned down, and the bread, earth, and coffee notes have balanced out. But if you forget that the spice is there, all you need to do is push a small amount through your sinuses. That will wake you up! The sugarcane continues to evolve and a hazelnut richness has arrived in the mix. A shallow draw fills my mouth with full flavored smoke. While I am not feeling any ill effects, the strength is creeping up to the medium/full range and there is a lot of the cigar remaining. The La Jugada Nunchuck is performing effortlessly.

Final Third

Transitioning into the final third of this behemoth 7 by 54 La Jugada Nunchuck, I am picking up lots of black coffee and earthy notes, along with the hazelnut that arrive in the second third, and some creamy cedar.  The only downside I have found so far is with the smoke drying out my mouth, which only began in the last third. The ash and burn have been just about perfect for the entire two hours of smoking.

Wrap-Up

First off, this is one cool looking cigar. Yes, it may be a little gimmicky, but I still love the packaging. The La Jugada Nunchuck delivered medium to full flavors that are on darker end of the spectrum, along with a full amount of spice. The darker flavors of black pepper, coffee, earth, and cocoa were complimented by the sugarcane sweetness, hazelnut richness, and creamy cedar. the La Jugada Nunchuck showed some decent complexity that kept me engaged for nearly two hours. Not once did I have to even consider pulling out a lighter to touch-up this cigar. It held a perfect burn and firm ash all the way to the nub. The $23.50 MSRP (for two cigars) is reasonable considering the size, the quality, and the journey that the La Jugada Nunchuck takes yous on. Since they come packaged in sets of two, a five pack it out of question, but would recommend a sixer!  Grab yourself a few sets of the Nunchuck if you are fan of Nicaraguan tobacco and the cigars coming out of La Zona. Lastly, a big “Thank You” to MoyaRuiz Cigars for providing the samples.