PCA 2024: Joya de Nicaragua

Joya de Nicaragua was at its own booth at the 2024 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show and was also part of the Drew Estate booth. This year, Joya showcased several new things that covered all the bases. There is a new core release for the U.S. market, a limited edition release, a sampler, and a repackaging for one of its core brands. We caught up with Executive President Juan Martinez at the PCA and owe him a special thanks. Sometimes, equipment mishaps happen, and we did have one with Juan’s interview. Nevertheless, we have a video because he was kind enough to let us do the interview a second time. This was a jam-packed trade show, and we really appreciate Juan taking the time to do this.

A few years ago, Joya de Nicaragua released the Clásico Medio Siglo for the international market. The Clásico Medio Siglo is described as a bolder version of the Joya de Nicaragua Clásico. Now, the Clásico Medio Siglo is heading to the U.S. Clásico Medio Siglo incorporates all Nicaraguan tobaccos highlighted by a Habano Criollo wrapper. Presented in 25-count boxes, it is available Numero 6 (6 x 41), Robusto (5 x 5), Toro (6 x 50), and Gordo (6 x 60), exclusives to the U.S. market. The line comes in at an SRP between $8.25 – $10.50. Clásico Medio Siglo is being offered through Joya de Nicaragua’s preferred retail arm, Club de Amigos.

Additionally, Joya De Nicaragua is bringing back its Joya Cabinetta Lancero for a limited run. The Joya Cabinetta Lancero is a classic 7 x 38 lancero that was once a vitola in the line. The Lancero was discontinued in 2016, when the Cabinetta Serie line was revamped and moved under Joya de Nicaragua’s Joya brand. Due to demand, Joya de Nicaragua has opted to release the lancero size for a limited run of 1,000 20-count upright boxes. The Cabinetta features two wrappers – segmented on the upper and lower portions of the cigar. The lower segment features an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper. The segment by the cap features a Nicaraguan Criollo. The binder and filler consist of all Nicaraguan tobaccos. Pricing for the Joya Cabinetta Lancero comes in at an SRP of $9.95 per cigar.

Joya de Nicaragua also launched a sampler called The Ultimate Jewel Collection. It is a collection of 14 cigars, each from Joya de Nicaragua’s family of brands, in what the company has said is the best-selling vitola. The selection spans many releases, from its inception in 1968 (Clásico Original) to its latest release in 2023 (Cinco de Cinco).

Lastly, the four blends of the Antaño brand are getting a slight packaging refresh. The packaging refresh will primarily focus on the box design of the four blends under the Antaño brand. The new packaging for all four blends will feature a bull. When Antaño 1970 was released, the bull became symbolic with that line when Don Leonel Raudez (the then General Manager of the Joya de Nicaragua Factory) described that cigar as “dark as night, strong as a bull.” Besides changing the boxes, Joya de Nicaragua is rebranding the Antaño 1970 as the Antaño Original.