Joya de Nicaragua is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, and the company has created a new cigar line called Cinco de Cinco that was inspired by the hundreds of blending records gathered during private blending sessions so that the company’s master blenders could build what it calls “the perfect scoring recipe.”

That blend features tobacco that the company describes as being “ultra-vintage,” starting with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, while the binder and fillers come from Nicaragua. The company calls it a five-out-of-five in profile and complexity, full-bodied and medium strength with hints of cocoa and dark chocolate.

“This cigar was made with the people, by the people and for the people,” said Juan Ignacio Martinez, executive vp of Joya de Nicaragua, in a press release. “Our past is all about tobacco. Our bright future is all about tobacco. We are here, stronger than ever thanks to our wonderful community of amigos.”

The line is being offered in five semi-box pressed vitolas, though not all of the sizes will be available everywhere Joya de Nicaragua cigars are sold. Three of the vitolas—the corona extra, the toro, and the robusto—will be available in the U.S., while the corona doble and robusto will be exclusives for non-U.S. markets.

  • Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Corona Doble (7 x 54) — $21 (Box of 10, $210)
  • Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Corona Extra (6 1/4 x 46) — $16 (Box of 10, $160)
  • Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Toro (6 x 52) — $20 (Box of 10, $200)
  • Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Robusto Gordo (5 1/2 x 54) — $18 (Box of 10, $180)
  • Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Robusto (5 x 50) — $16 (Box of 10, $160)

The cigars come in packaging that utilizes an emerald green color, selected because emeralds symbolize love, wisdom, growth and prosperity, Martinez said in a press release, adding that those are values very much embodied in the blend.

Cinco de Cinco will join the company’s ultra-premium Obras Maestras collection, which includes Dos Cientos, which was halfwheel’s #4 cigar of 2021, as well as Cinco Decadas, which earned the #8 cigar of 2020, Cuatro Cinco, and Número Uno, a line that produced halfwheel’s #6 cigar of 2020 as well as the #15 cigar of 2020. The Número Uno line was an evolution of the Joya de Nicaragua No. 1, which was named halfwheel’s 2018 Cigar of the Year.

The cigars are scheduled to arrive in the U.S. in September, followed by a global release in October. They will be on display in Joya de Nicaragua’s booth at the 2023 PCA Convention & Trade Show, which runs from July 8-11 in Las Vegas.

Correction: The Corona Doble vitola was originally listed with an MSRP of $16, that is incorrect. It has been corrected to $21. We regret the error and apologize for any confusion.

Update (Sept. 8, 2023) — Joya de Nicaragua has delayed shipping of Cinco de Cinco until late October or early November due to packaging delays.

Images courtesy of Joya de Nicaragua.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.