Perla del Mar 'G'

Originally a Cuban brand, Perla del Mar is now a unique addition to the J.C. Newman portfolio. Perla del Mar literally means “Pearl of the Sea,” and legend states that some of the earliest explorers to Cuba discovered a golden leaf and named it Perla del Mar. The relaunch of this historic brand comes from the same boutique factory as such top-quality brands as Brick House and El Baton cigars. Hailing from the fertile lands of Nicaragua, this stunning box-press starts with beautiful artwork on the label; in fact, the artwork on the labels was something that attracted J.C. Newman’s president, Eric Newman, to the brand. Underneath the stunning artwork, this handmade comes dressed in a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and three different kinds of Nicaraguan long-fillers from three distinct growing regions. Mild to medium in strength, expect smooth and creamy notes of sweet wood, toast, and graham cracker. Not only did we love this cigar but so did Cigar Aficionado who gave it a well-deserved 90 rating. We recommend pairing this stellar smoke with an afternoon espresso.

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.