Cohiba Goes to Nicaragua

There are Cuban Cohibas, Dominican Cohibas and even Cohibas with Cameroon and broadleaf wrappers, but for the first time in the brand's history, there will be a Cohiba from Nicaragua this fall.

Aptly named Cohiba Nicaragua, the new cigar was unveiled by General Cigar Co. at last week's International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show in Las Vegas. It's made in Nicaragua at the Scandinavian Tobacco Group EstelĂ­ S.A. factory, and contains mostly Nicaraguan tobacco. Before production started on this brand, General made all of its Cohibas in the Dominican Republic.

"It was a laborious process to develop a Nicaraguan cigar to complement the existing Cohiba portfolio," said Jhonys Diaz, vice president of operations for General Cigar.

The blend starts with a Honduran sun-grown wrapper that the company classifies as Colorado oscuro in color. Underneath, a binder leaf from Nicaragua's Jalapa growing region holds together a blend of Nicaraguan tobacco from EstelĂ­.

Cohiba Nicaragua cigars come in four sizes: N45 at 4 inches by 45 ring gauge ($9.99); N54, 5 1/2 by 54 ($13.99); N60, 6 by 60 ($14.99); and N50 En Crystale, a 5 by 50 cigar that comes in a glass tube ($12.99).

All sizes will be packaged in 16-count boxes, save for the tubed N50 En Crystale, which will come in boxes of eight.

Cohiba Nicaragua should start shipping to retail shops in early October. Enditem