2018 is a big year for Joya de Nicaragua as the company celebrates 50 years in business. Joya de Nicaragua owns and operates the oldest factory in Nicaragua, and a lot of the company’s history is tied to the history of Nicaragua this past half-century. While this past year Joya de Nicaragua has celebrated its people and accomplishments, it has also been challenged by the civil unrest that has been going on in Nicaragua for the past four months.
There are many important points in the history of Joya de Nicaragua tied to the history of the country. At one time the company was partially owned by dictator Anastasio Somoza. The factory was burned down during the Nicaragua revolution and years later was reconstructed by the people who worked at Joya de Nicaragua. The company has seen growth as the Nicaraguan cigar industry as grown. Now the company perseveres in the challenges the country faces with the civil unrest.
Joya de Nicaragua has decided to use all of 2018 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. This year, the company had two releases at the IPCPR Trade Show coinciding with the celebration.
Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Décadas is the company’s signature release for its 50th anniversary. It stands for “five decades”. It’s a blend that is shrouded in mystery other than it utilizes extra vintage tobaccos in the blend. The blend comes in special sizes: Diadema (6 x 54) and El General (a Double Corona measuring 7 x 50). These sizes represent the first formats rolled at the Joya de Nicaragua factory back when it opened its doors in 1968.
Cinco Décadas is an ongoing limited production cigar. 5,000 ten-count boxes were initially produced with 3,000 boxes going to Drew Diplomat preferred retailers in the U.S. This will be an ultra-premium offering with the El General priced at $18.95 and the Diadema priced at $19.00.
The cigar was one of the most-talked-about cigars at the 2018 IPCPR. It was the best cigar this author smoked during the time of the trade show.
While not officially branded a 50th-anniversary cigar, the company showcased the Joya Silver. It’s the fourth installment in Joya de Nicaragua’s Joya series – aimed at the more contemporary smokers. Joya Silver is an all-box-pressed line available in four sizes: Corona (5 1/4 x 42), Ultra (6 1/4 x 46), Robusto (5 x 50), and Toro (6 x 52). As for the blend, it consists of an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a San Andres binder, and all-Nicaraguan fillers. Each size is presented in 20-count boxes.
Earlier this year, Joya de Nicaragua announced two other cigars, the re-packaged Joya de Nicaragua Clasico and Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva Presidente for the TAA. These cigars were not showcased at the booth, but the Clasico was showcased at the Santa Clara Cigars booth. This is because Santa Clara will be handling distribution for the Clasico. Clasico represents the oldest brand in the Joya de Nicaragua portfolio.
