Mombacho Cigars S.A., makers of the Tierra Volcan line sold in the United States, has announced that it will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with the release of a limited edition cigar called the Magnifico.

For this project, Claudio Sgroi, Mombacho Cigars S.A.’s master blender, broke one of the main rules of the company’s Casa Favilli factory, which is not to mix the tobaccos used in Mombacho/Tierra Volcan cigars with that of the company’s other brand, Liga Maestro. Because of the significance of this release, the company decided it wanted to incorporate the complete history of Mombacho Cigars S.A. into one release, which set the basis for the Magnifico.

The Mombacho Magnifico is a Nicaraguan puro, using a shade grown habano viso leaf from Jalapa that has been fermented twice. For the binder, a habano-criollo leaf from Condega was picked, and underneath those leaves is a filler blend made up of seco habano-criollo from Condega, viso mediano habano-criollo from Condega, viso grande habano from Jalapa, ligero mediano habano criollo from Jalapa and ligero grande habano from Jalapa.

In a statement to halfwheel, Sgroi called it the best blend he’s made in his career, and one that will only be used for this particular release.


The anniversary cigar is being released in just one size, a 6 1/4 x 52 with a pigtail cap. The company tried 25 blend and size combinations before deciding this was the ideal combination. Once finalized, production was assigned to one of Casa Favilli’s most experienced rolling pairs, with no more than 200 cigars made in a single day during September and October. The complete production is being capped at 5,000 cigars.

The MSRP has not yet been confirmed, but a company spokesperson told halfwheel it is expected to be in the $15 range, before taxes. The Mombacho Magnifico will be sold in 10-count boxes made in Estelí, Nicaragua of local “Cedro Macho” wood, which was selected because it doesn’t release any odor or smell.

The company will formally unveil the cigar at an anniversary party being held on January 23 in Granada, Nicaragua, with an expected arrival at retail in the spring. Markus Raty of Mombacho told halfwheel that the cigars need at least six months of aging before they will be packed and said that a more specific date will be announced one the cigars have completed that rest.

During that event, the company will also formally unveil a new regular production line that will be released in 2016, as well as discuss plans for further expansion into the U.S market, as well as the construction and opening of the Mombacho experience center at their factory, Casa Favilli, in Granada.

Editor’s note: It remains unclear whether the cigar will be sold under the Mombacho name in the United States, as that name is owned by Casa Fernandez. Mombacho Cigars S.A. sells its cigars under the Tierra Volcan brand in the U.S.

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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 MLB.com, 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.