Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno Le Premier

JOYA DE NICARAGUA

• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 6 7/8 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 48
• Vitola: Churchill
• MSRP: $16.60 (Box of 25, $414.93)
• Release Date: July 2020
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Original Score: 91

Memories of certain cigars tend to stick with a person. For me, one of those is the memory of smoking the Joya de Nicaragua No.1 in May 2018. At the time, it was an event-only release that was the same as one the company crafted for Nicaragua’s ambassadors to use in their work. Seemingly the only thing different was the band, as it used the familiar Joya de Nicaragua logo instead of the country’s coat of arms.

To put it simply, the cigar was exquisite. It was elegant in every way, delivering a profile full of subtleties, complexity, nuance and refinement. Not only did it score very well, it went on to be named Cigar of the Year for 2018. The following year, it would become a limited release available for purchase, now known as the Joya de Nicaragua Número Uno L’Ambassadeur.

The line has since added new sizes, including this, a slightly thicker and slightly longer version than the original. While we found the profile to be a bit different from the original No.1, it is still plenty enjoyable, offering a profile that spans a wider range than its predecessors and one that seems like it has plenty of legs to develop and refine with age. — Patrick Lagreid.