Exclusive Interview with Juan Ignacio Martinez: Joya de Nicaragua at PCA 2024

As part of our exclusive PCA 2024 coverage, we had the honor of sitting down with Mr. Juan Ignacio Martinez, the esteemed President of Joya de Nicaragua, the oldest cigar factory in the country. Dive into our conversation to discover his top cigar picks and gain insights into the exciting future initiatives planned by Joya de Nicaragua.

Joya de Nicaragua was born in 1968, becoming the first factory to manufacture premium handmade cigars in Nicaragua. To celebrate their 55th anniversary, they created Cinco de Cinco. The most memorable celebrations require you to rise to the occasion. Cinco de Cinco achieves precisely that.

They found nutrient-rich fields and deep soils in Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa; they agreed to pay the workers to help them grow and harvest. They set up facilities in the center of Estelí to process the tobacco. And thus began the early days of the cigar factory "Nicaragua Cigar Company," as Joya de Nicaragua was originally called.

Within this space where we were able to converse with Juan Ignacio Martinez, we touched on some important topics about the cigar process (such as aging) and highlighted some key points that make Joya de Nicaragua stand out.

Cigar Aging

Aging is a multifaceted practice in the premium cigar industry. Tobacco is typically aged in bales after fermentation, a process that can last from a couple of years to several years. This aging process adds complexity, smooths out any harshness, and enhances the overall quality of the tobacco, especially stronger types like ligero. Many producers also age their cigars post-rolling, with durations ranging from a month to over a year.

This allows the different tobaccos—filler, binder, and wrapper—to meld together, resulting in a more enjoyable smoking experience. Aficionados often take this a step further by aging their cigars in their boxes inside a humidor for extended periods, sometimes for decades, a practice known as box aging.

Joya de Nicaragua Cigars

We asked Juan Ignacio which cigars he would add to our cigar club and under which membership. He gave us some very interesting recommendations, highlighting the following:

• Joya Cabinetta

• Joya Clásico Original 

• Joya Antaño

• Antaño Dark Corojo

• Antaño Gran Reserva

• Antaño CT

• Cinco de Cinco

• Cuatro Cinco

 Joya Cabinetta

Crafted with two wrappers, this cigar begins with a woody and tangy profile, accented by subtle notes of vanilla bean. As it progresses, it develops a delightful sweetness reminiscent of chocolate-covered raisins, concluding with a toasty finish.

Joya Clásico Original 

It is a very pleasant cigar, smooth and delicate, with delightful notes of wood and covered by a magnificent light wrapper of Ecuadorian Connecticut variety.

Joya Clásico Antaño

Handcrafted exclusively and made from tobacco harvested in Nicaragua, this cigar is ultra-robust, offering a spicy smoke with an earthy finish, full body, and unrestrained aroma, showcasing the authentic Nicaraguan cigar experience.

Antaño Dark Corojo

Antaño Dark Corojo embodies the "power" of the Nicaraguan cigar. Its dark, oily wrapper serves as a harbinger for the full-bodied flavors of its complex and spicy blend of locally grown, mature leaves.

Antaño Gran Reserva

Antaño Gran Reserva uses the richest and oiliest wrapper leaves from Nicaragua. Additionally, its filler has been aged for 5 years, making it a refined and mature version of its predecessor.

Antaño CT

Antaño CT offers a dynamic creaminess accompanied by spicy notes, highlighting the contrast between the subtlety of the CT wrapper and the richness and strong flavors of Nicaraguan tobacco.

Cinco de Cinco

Cinco de Cinco offers a medium to full-bodied experience, delivering profound, rich earthy notes complemented by subtle hints of cocoa and dark chocolate. Crafted from premium aged tobacco, this cigar boasts a Mexican San Andrés wrapper paired with Nicaraguan fillers and binders, all presented in a gentle box-pressed format.

Cuatro Cinco

This exceptional blend unveils delicate yet irresistibly captivating woody nuances, offering a rich complexity of flavors and a luxuriously smooth finish.

Interested in learning more about cigars? check out our blog!

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