1502 Nicaragua Robusto (Prerelease)

The latest addition to the 1502 portfolio is expected some time in the next two months. It’s called 1502 Nicaragua, an obvious tribute to founder Enrique Sánchez’s home country, the country where the company’s cigars are made and where all the cigar comes from.

It’s also likely to take on some moniker as 1502 white, due to the white band the cigar will carry when it ships to the U.S.

According to Sánchez, the cigar will feature tobaccos from Condega, Estelí, Jalapa and Ometepe, and like the rest of Global Premium Cigars’s offerings, it will be made at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua.

• Cigar Reviewed: 1502 Nicaragua Robusto
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: 5 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Vitola: Robusto
• MSRP: n/a
• Release Date: June 2014
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 3

There’s a slight press to the 1502 Nicaragua with some very noticeable veins running down the rich rosado-colored wrapper. Also present is a fair bit of oils, particularly to the touch. Out of the cellophane the wrapper presents big aromas of fruit, some creaminess and hints of cedar. From the foot, I pick up pomegranate, damp cherry woods and a fair bit of spice. The cold draw is a mix of orange peel, a big perfume note and spice.

A sweet cedar is the first flavor to emerge on the palate. It’s followed by spice, a muted cocoa and freshly chopped walnuts with a peculiar rubber note tone that dissipates after a few minutes. Sweet cedar and salty nuts continue to dominate the first third of the 1502 Nicaragua. A harsh pepper is found, although it’s mild and actually enjoyable as it cuts through the sweet notes. On the finish I get brandy and nuts.

The second third of the 1502 Nicaragua sees the saltiness die off. The sweet cedar is now accompanied more by nuttiness, although there’s new flavors—dry vanilla, cream and hints of creaminess. The green pepper is gone, although the harshness remains, which is not the most favorable. Smoke production was average through the first third, enormous right at the inch mark and peaking shortly thereafter. Other than a few burn line issues, which self correct, there’s no real issues with construction.

A cayenne pepper emerges in the final third along with a really dark cocoa. There’s still a distinct nuttiness, as well as the harshness, the latter of which is becoming easier. The touches of creaminess remain, but it’s still a very minor note in the grand scheme of things. The harshness never becomes unbearable, but after over an hour of it, my palate could use a rest so I end the cigar before I probably have to.

Final Notes

• The white band and somewhat golden wrapper are likely going to lead people to assume this is the mildest of the 1502 offerings, that’s not true. I’d place this medium-plus, definitely stronger than the 1502 Emerald.
• 1502 is the year Columbus discovered Nicaragua.
• My only word on the construction would be to make sure that you pay attention to the cigar in the first third, as the cigar might go out.
• The 1502 Nicaragua features the cigar lock, a semi-closed foot. In this video, Enrique Sánchez I. explains the process and the reason behind the interesting finish on the foot of their cigars that they call the cigar lock.

• 1502 is distributed by House of Emilio in the U.S.
• Cigars for this review were sent to halfwheel by 1502/Global Premium Cigars.
• Final smoking time was one hour and 10 minutes.