Rosalones by Joya de Nicaragua 448 Consul

The fine cigars from the Joya de Nicaragua line are not only popular with our panel members; they've been a big hit since they first hit the market in 1964. In the 1970s the brand was hugely popular, widely considered to be the best in the world. Created in Nicaragua's first cigar factory, from where they spread throughout the world, its deserved popularity was cut short. Sadly, decades of war and Communist rule in their homeland nearly destroyed much of the country—including the factory that produced them. The Rosalones is one of the original cigars made by Joya de Nicaragua, and after two decades of rest, the Rosalones is back. This Nicaraguan puro is made with a juicy and dark Nicaraguan Criollo wrapper that secures a Nicaraguan Habano binder and Nicaraguan long-leaf filler core. Medium bodied in strength, this handmade is balanced and super smooth with rich notes of earth, pepper, and coffee with a raisin-esque note. We enjoyed ours with a rum and cola on a warm afternoon.

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.