Crowned Heads has announced that it will be releasing its first limited-edition cigar from the Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. factory (NACSA) called Azul y Oro. This project dates back to the Spring of 2011 when Mike Conder and Jon Huber traveled to Nicaragua to explore different opportunities for manufacturing. That trip was spearheaded by Gustavo Cura who already has had a storied career in the business having worked for Olivia Tobacco Company. During his time with Oliva, Cura was in charge of all of Oliva’s farms and interests in Nicaragua. He also oversaw their tobacco processing subsidiary Procenicsa.
Mike Conder and Jon Huber later gifted Gustavo with a bottle of his favorite Scotch whisky i one known for its well renowned blue label. According to Gustavo, to this day that bottle remains unopened and serves as a remembrance of the friendship that was formed a decade ago. Today, in addition to his role at Oliva Tobacco Company, Gustavo Cura is at the helm of the NACSA factory in Esteli, Nicaragua along with General Manager and master cigar maker Raul Disla.
Crowned Heads set out to create a unique blend that was rich, complex and worthy of an inaugural release from Crowned Heads and NACSA. The result is the new Azul y Oro, a limited-edition production of 30,000 cigars that takes its brand language from that iconic bottle of Scotch whisky dating back to 2011. Azul y Oro is a 6″ x 50 medium-plus bodied cigar blend made of Nicaraguan (Jalapa) binder, fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic and finished with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper leaf. Total production is limited to 2,500 twelve count boxes. Azul y Oro carries an MSRP of $11.95.
