La Gloria Cubana Estelí Robusto

Launched in 1885, La Gloria Cubana Cigars was once a best kept secret in the cigar world but now is a favorite of cigar smokers everywhere. The brand, popularized by Ernesto Perez-Carillo, was actually started by his father while, as a young adult, Ernesto traveled the world making a living as a jazz musician. Ultimately the family business beckoned and he returned home to Miami to embrace his heritage. Since then, production has moved to the Dominican Republic where the majority of the brand’s cigars are produced, but the smoke we bring you this month was handmade Nicaragua.

Debuting at the IPCPR Trade Show (International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers) in 2018, the La Gloria Cubana Estelí is a modern interpretation of the classic La Gloria Cubana cigar. Handcrafted to perfection, this bold smoke starts with a with a rich ligero wrapper from Nicaragua’s Jalapa Valley that hugs a Honduran Jamastran binder and Honduran Jamastran and Nicaraguan La Entrada fillers. Medium to full bodied, expect notes of cedar, spice, and white pepper. Enjoy this bold smoke with an equally bold wine like Bodega Colome Estate Malbec.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.