Joya de Nicaragua has made their return to the PCA trade show. They normally would exhibit under the Drew Estate booth; the last time would have been at IPCPR 2019 (Pre-PCA). For those who do not know, this is because Drew Estate distributes Joya de Nicaragua in the United States. But they decided to come by themselves this year and make use of the time. Drew Estate is booked for PCA 2024 and will have its own booth.

The booth wasn’t as big as the monstrosity that is the Drew Estate booth, but it was a decent size and looked fresh. It had display cases for all of the new products and it all looked amazing in the booth. It felt like Joya was trying to make a statement and I think they achieved just that. Of course, it was also lined with the Drew Estate logo and was full of DE sales representatives’ taking orders on products. There were a few completely new products and an old one who is returning to show its face.

First, the company is celebrating its 55th anniversary. The company has used its ultra-premium Obras Maestras line to do so with the Cinco de Cinco (Fifty-Five). This cigar will join the ranks of other extremely popular releases such as Cinco Decadas, Cuatro Cinco, Dos Cientos and of course, Numero Uno. We’re told the company used vintage tobaccos in this blend and that it was created by experimenting with blends creating during blending sessions with visitors to their factory in Nicaragua.

It uses a Mexican San Andreas wrapper, over Nicaraguan binder and filler. It will be available in five different vitolas, all with a semi-box-press. However, only three of the sizes, Corona Extra (6 1/4 x46), Toro (6 x 52), and Robusto (5 x 50) will be available in the United States, the other two sizes, Robusto Gordo (5 1/2 x 54) and Corona Doble (7 x 54) will be only available outside the US market as exclusives. This is a regular production cigar and will begin shipping in September.

Next up was something we saw Drew Estate showing us at TPE 2023 back in February. This is the limited-edition Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno humidor. It is in the same royal blue color and design as their beautiful boxes. It includes two of the three different sizes the Numero Uno is available in: L’Ambassadeur (6 5/8 x 44) and Le Premier (6 7/8 x 48). Each humidor will come filled with 150 cigars, 75 of each size.

In addition, there will be a total of 400 humidors made but only 300 will be available to the United States, while the other 100 will go to international markets. The Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno humidor $2,850 and will be available sometime in July/August.

On old familiar (to some) face returns with the Joya de Nicaragua Clasico Original. This is perhaps one of the oldest and most important blends Joya ever made. It was last seen on shelves in 2009 but has been resurrected. Joya de Nicaragua is going to make this cigar available to retailers who are part of the company’s loyalty program, Club de Amigos of Joya de Nicaragua.

Simply put, Joya told us they will be using the same wrapper from the Numero Uno (Ecuador Connecticut Shade) on this cigar but features different binder and fillers, both of which are Nicaraguan. It will be available in four sizes, Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), Churchill (6 7/8 x 48), and Torpedo (6 x 52) and is a regular production. Expect to see these on retail shelves in August.

Finally, the thing we saw that got me most excited was the Joya de Nicaragua Antano Power Play Sling Puck. First of all, this thing is cool and fun. How many cigar boxes have come through my office over the years and get thrown away? You wouldn’t believe. That number is still minute compared to what a retailer goes through. It features the game sling puck into the box to be played once the box is empty. Sling puck is a game played by two players, one on each side of the box, who try to launch small wooden pucks through a small slot between the two halves of the box onto the opposing player’s side. Players use an elastic to propel thier pucks.

Each box holds twenty cigars, ten of the Joya de Nicaragua Antano Gran Reserva GT20 (6 x 54) and ten of the Joya de Nicaragua Antano CT toro (6 x 50). Both of these are existing cigars, and it carries an MSRP of $255.75. Total production is limited to 2,000 boxes, with 1,400 for the US market and 600 for international markets. These will ship in September.

Check out our interview with Christian from Joya de Nicaragua at PCA 2023 below.

Matt Tabacco

Born and raised in New England, Matthew Tabacco began smoking cigars and living up to his unique namesake in 2017. What began as just a social indulgence became a world of everything premium cigars- learning from some of the biggest and best in the business. From casual smoking to lighting up on the hit podcast The Smokin Tabacco Show, Matthew can usually be found in some of the largest smoke shops in the Northeast enjoying a cigar, talking business, or preparing for a show.