Zino Nicaragua Half Corona

In May 2021, Davidoff of Geneva USA released a new line, Zino Nicaragua, featuring a blend made up of an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper covering a Nicaraguan Semilla 56 binder, along with filler tobaccos sourced from Honduras’ Olancho and Jamastran Valley regions, visos from Ometepe in Nicaragua, along with San Vicente and San Vicente mejorado secos from the Dominican Republic. While there were only three different vitolas in the line when it launched, the company added 6 x 60 Gordo and 3 1/8 x 19 Mini Cigarillos vitolas one year later in May 2022.

Earlier this year, Davidoff announced the newest edition to the Zino Nicaragua line, a 4 x 44 Half Corona priced at $30 for a tin of five cigars, or $6 per cigar if sold individually. However, unlike the vast majority of other cigars on the market, each of the Half Coronas is sold pre-cut with a punch cut, which Oettinger Davidoff AG says is a response to the changing lifestyles of its consumers, as well as increased demand for flexibility and convenience.

“Our target consumers value spontaneity in their on-the-go lifestyle,” said Edward Simon, CMO at Oettinger Davidoff, in a press release. “The pre-cut allows them to go about their day with the option of enjoying the cigar whenever and wherever they want, as no cutter is required. With this launch, we continue to expand into new distribution channels, making Zino Nicaragua widely accessible for aficionados and novices.”

With the addition of the Half Corona, the line is currently available in five vitolas:

• Zino Nicaragua Short Torpedo (4 x 52)
• Zino Nicaragua Robusto (5 x 54)
• Zino Nicaragua Toro (6 x 50)
• Zino Nicaragua Gordo (6 x 60)
• Zino Nicaragua Half Corona (4 x 44)

As is the case with the rest of the vitolas in the Zino Nicaragua line, the Half Coronas are made in Honduras at the company’s Diadema Cigars de Honduras S.A. factory and the cigars began shipping to retailers on Aug. 3.

• Cigar Reviewed: Zino Nicaragua Half Corona
• Country of Origin: Honduras
• Factory: Diadema Cigars de Honduras S.A.
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)
• Binder: Nicaragua (Semilla 56 Seco)
• Filler: Dominican Republic (San Vicente & San Vicente Mejorado Secos), Honduras (Olancho and Jamastran Visus) & Nicaragua (Ometepe Visus)
• Length: 4 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 44
• Vitola: Petite Corona
• MSRP: $6 (Tin of Five Cigars, $30)
• Release Date: Aug. 3, 2023
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

An attractive, light brown wrapper covers all three of the Zino Nicaragua Half Coronas, and while there are plenty of small, unobtrusive veins present, the wrappers are silky smooth to the touch. All three punches in the caps of the cigars are well done, and the cigars are quite hard when squeezed. Aromas from the wrappers include sweet hay, earth, generic nuttiness, leather, cedar and a very light citrus note. A creamy nuttiness leads the scents from the feet, followed by citrus peel, barnyard, gritty earth and coffee beans as well as some light generic sweetness. Finally, the cold draws bring flavors of strong creamy cashews, lemongrass, cinnamon, dark chocolate, malty sweetness and a very light vegetal note.

It is a thinner cigar, so it is no surprise that the foot lights up quickly, but I am a bit surprised when my first few puffs feature a blast of baker’s spices and caramel sweetness, both of which continue to be a part of the profile in the first third. Within 10 puffs, main flavors of dry straw and rich espresso take over, followed by secondary notes of creamy cedar, nutmeg, gritty earth, leather tack and cocoa nibs. There is some noticeable spice on my tongue, as well as a combination of black pepper and caramel sweetness on the retrohale all of which seem to be getting stronger as the first third burns down. Flavor starts out at just over medium, the body is at a point just under medium, and the strength is at just under medium. There are no issues whatsoever with any aspect of the construction through the first third, as the razor-sharp burn line, copious smoke production and excellent draws all work in harmony together.

A mineral saltiness becomes noticeable on my lips around the time the second third begins, and it only gets more prevalent as the burn line progresses. Main flavors are now a combination of creamy cedar and hay, followed by a stronger—albeit still generic—vegetal note, coffee beans, nutmeg, earth, dark chocolate and leather. There is more black pepper on the retrohale but less of the caramel sweetness, a trend that continues through the second third. Flavor increases slightly to medium-plus, while the body and strength meet together at a solid medium but rising. When it comes to construction, the second third is a carbon copy of the first: great draws, plenty of smoke and a burn line that does not need to be worried about.

The main flavors shift yet again in the final third of the Zino Nicaragua, as a salted popcorn note takes over the profile and remains there until the end. Additional flavors of dry hay, leather, earth, nutmeg, powdery cooca nibs and lemongrass flit in and out at various points. The caramel sweetness returns on the retrohale to about the same level as I noted in the first third, but the amount of black pepper as also increased slightly. Flavor ends the cigar at medium-full, and while the body remains at a solid medium, the strength increases enough to land a point just over the medium mark. One cigar has a very minor burn issue that leads to a small correction with my lighter, and all three cigars get a bit hot at the end, but other than those, the construction continues to be excellent on all three cigars until I put the nubs down with less than an inch remaining.

Final Notes

• As mentioned above, Davidoff also makes a a 3 1/8 x 19 mini cigarillos vitola in this line but it is not offered for sale in the U.S.
• I am unsure how I feel about the fact that these cigars come already punch cut: on one hand, it is awfully convenient for me—not to mention someone who may not be great at cutting a cigar in the first place—just to pick up a well-cut cigar and start smoking. On the other hand, I can understand if someone is a bit annoyed by the fact that they did not get to cut their own cigar the way they wanted to.
• Visually, the band and logo combination on these cigars strikes me as a little cheap-looking.
• Speaking of the logo, it seems to have more than a passing similarity to this Zorro one.
• Patrick mentioned it in his review of the Zino Nicaragua Robusto, and I too find it odd that this cigar is named “Nicaragua” when there is apparently so little tobacco from the country actually used in the blend, unlike another of the company’s releases with the same name, the Davidoff Nicaragua.
• Davidoff of Geneva USA advertises on halfwheel.
• The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time averaged an almost shocking one hour and 8 minutes for all three cigars. The Davidoff of Geneva USA website says this cigar has an estimated smoking time of 20 minutes. While I am not a fast smoker by any means, I think that time is almost comically optimistic.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Zino Nicaragua Half Corona cigars, site sponsor Corona Cigar Co. has them for sale on its website.