Joya de Nicaragua announces a new Clasico
Joya de Nicaragua announces a new Clasico. The new cigar is the Clasico Medio Siglo, and the old Clasico is now the Clasico Original. The Clasico Medio Siglo is a tribute to a dinner at the White House back in 1970.
When President Somoza of Nicaragua met President Nixon of the United States in 1970 for dinner at the White House, he was unaware his country was making fine, hand-rolled cigars. By the time his plane landed back home at Managua Airport, he already had a plan to be part of Nicaragua’s burgeoning cigar industry. After the customary official dinner, Nixon had invited Somoza to retire to the Green Room, where – also as was customary – he invited the Nicaraguan to enjoy brandy and cigars with him. Nixon proffered a box – and Somoza was astounded to see it was emblazoned with the brand Nicaragua Cigar Company. He was even more astounded when a smiling Nixon told him it was the official cigar of the White House.
The cigar the two smoked over their brandies that night was the Joya de Nicaragua Clásico. Shortly after returning home, Somoza called in the founders of the Nicaraguan Cigar Company (the original name of Joya de Nicaragua), two gentlemen called Simon Camacho and Juan Francisco Bermejo. By the time they left that meeting, they had been persuaded to sign over control of the company to the President himself.
Somoza realized there was profit to be made in Nicaragua’s fertile soils. So he backed the extensive trialing of tobacco plots in three distinct locations; Jalapa, Condega, and Estelí. Nicaraguan cigar culture was born. Somoza was eventually overthrown. The Nicaragua Cigar Company became Joya de Nicaragua. More on that subject in our article about Dr. Martinez Cuenca. The very same Clásico cigar has been on sale ever since, it’s mild, cultured, and gentle smoke providing countless hours of pleasure for countless discerning smokers over the last half-century.
A new Clasico
This year, Joya de Nicaragua celebrates that fabled brand. It’s the best-selling Joya cigar in many overseas markets. The company does that with the launch of a new line of Clásico cigars; the Clásico Medio Siglo.
Created to commemorate that original White House cigar, the Clásico Medio Siglo will be available in four sizes. Those are a 5×50 Robusto, 5 ½ x42 Selección B, 6×41 Número 6 (6ins x 41 Ring Gauge), and 6×50 Toro. The wrapper is a Colorado Habano Criollo leaf. The binder and filler are Nicaraguan. It will be available in nine key markets, to begin with, and its profile delivers that diverse experience that Clásico smokers have learned to love, spice, wood, and leather in a gentle, aromatic, light to medium-bodied smoke.
With the advent of the Clásico Medio Siglo, the Clásico will now become known as Clásico Original. Initial markets for Clásico Medio Siglo will be Hong Kong and Germany in late June 2021; the Czech Republic, Mexico, and Slovakia in late July 2021; New Zealand and Poland in late August 2021; and Guatemala and Romania in late September 2021.
The start
“The Clásico is where it all started. It was Nicaragua’s first premium, long filler cigar, made in Nicaragua’s first factory. Lots of things have changed in the cigar market since then, but the Clásico has been ever-present, showcasing the quality and smoothness of Nicaraguan tobacco ever since. We’ve added many successful lines to accompany all tastes and pockets over the years, but we’ve never stopped making – and appreciating – this elegant cigar,” says Juan Martinez, president of Joya de Nicaragua in a press release.
Martinez continues: “To mark its 50th year of production, and in homage to the thousands of cigar lovers who enjoy true Clásico style, we now introduce the Clásico Medio Siglo. It is not offering something fancy and new. It is offering something tried, tested and beloved. We know the Clásico works – and we wanted to give it a family of its own.”.
