Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco, Sling Puck Begin Shipping

Nicaragua’s oldest cigar factory is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, and to no surprise, it is doing so with a special cigar. That cigar, the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco, is beginning to ship to stores.

Cinco de Cinco—Spanish for five out of five—is a new regular production line that is part of the company’s Obras Maestras series, the high-end products for the company. Blend-wise, it uses a Mexican San Andrés over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua.

“This cigar was made with the people, by the people and for the people,” said Juan Ignacio Martínez, executive vp of Joya de Nicaragua, in a press release when the cigar was announced. “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.”

Joya de Nicaragua was founded in 1968, making it the oldest Nicaraguan cigar factory in existence today.

It is offered in five sizes, all of which have a soft box-press.

• 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 Corona Double and Robusto vitolas are reserved for international markets, meaning American stores will be able to sell the other three vitolas.

Like it did three years ago with a game called shut the box, Joya de Nicaragua has designed this box to also double as a game. In this case, that game is called sling puck. That box, the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Power Play Sling Puck, is also beginning to ship to stores.

The 20 cigars inside the box are not new. Each box of Antaño Power Play Sling Puck comes with 10 each of the Antaño Gran Reserva GT20 (6 x 54) and Antaño CT Toro (6 x 50).

The MSRP is set at $255.75 per box. The Antaño Power Play Sling Puck is limited to 2,000 boxes, of which 1,400 are designated for the U.S.

 

Sling puck has two players on opposing sides that try to shoot small pucks through a small hole until all the pucks are on the other player’s side. The pucks are propelled via an elastic band.

“Building on the success of Antaño Shut the Box, we learned that cigar enthusiasts are keen to combine their cigars with fun,” said Ignacio Martínez when the box was announced. “This time we’ve merged the profiles of their favourite Nicaraguan puros into one game, teasing their tastebuds with contrasting flavors.”

The box is produced by HumidifGroup.

In the U.S., Joya de Nicaragua is distributed by Drew Estate.