When you think of great cigars, Cuba often comes first. In recent decades, however, another Central American country has established itself as a benchmark for cigar aficionados: Nicaragua. This volcanic country, with its rich, fertile soil, now produces some of the world’s finest cigars. So much so, in fact, that many experts claim they have nothing to envy their Cuban cousins, and that some even surpass them in quality, complexity and consistency
Nicaraguan cigars: a legacy from Cuba
The story begins in the 1960s. After the Cuban revolution, several tobacco-producing families fled the Castro regime and settled in Nicaragua, particularly in the Estelí region in the north of the country. These pioneers have since built a flourishing industry based on excellence and innovation. Today, world-renowned brands such as Padron, My Father, Drew Estate and Oliva are proudly Nicaraguan.
Tobacco-producing regions in Nicaragua
Nicaragua has several tobacco-producing regions, but Estelí, Jalapa and Condega dominate. Each offers different tobacco profiles: Estelí produces rich, powerful leaves, Jalapa milder, more complex aromas, and Condega a middle ground. It’s this diversity that enables blenders to create cigars with a rich, nuanced palette of aromas: precious woods, coffee, cocoa, spices, leather… All with impeccable construction and a regular draw
Why choose a Nicaraguan cigar?
Nicaraguan cigars are distinguished by their consistent quality, the fruit of particularly rigorous production standards. The country benefits from an exceptional volcanic terroir, whose rich soils give tobacco leaves intense, complex aromas. Thanks to the diversity of the producing regions, there is a wide variety of formats and flavour profiles, suitable for both curious amateurs and demanding connoisseurs. Each cigar is hand-rolled using artisanal methods handed down for generations, guaranteeing rare authenticity and outstanding craftsmanship
Experience it for yourself
Our Nicaragua tours include visits to tobacco plantations and cigar factories in theEstelí region, at the heart of Nicaraguan production. It’s a fascinating immersion in a world where tradition, precision and passion meet. Even if you’re not a cigar smoker, this visit reveals a little-known but essential facet of local culture, as you meet the craftsmen who patiently and meticulously shape these veritable hand-rolled works of art every day
