Nicaragua: The New Cuba

[Senor Perfecto]

Seems like every manufacturer is rushing to get a "Nicaraguan" line of their cigars out. Which frequently seems to mean a strong, dark-wrapped DE-style stick.

Will the trend last, or is it a fad, trying to cash in on the successful marketing of existing labels from Nicaragua?

 

[Eric_kruger]

I think that region is just a hot bed of activity now. The quality of sticks from nicurauga is passing what you get with a Cuban. It's just my take on it but I feel it is eliminating the need for Cubans.

 

[sofc]

I think that region is just a hot bed of activity now. The quality of sticks from nicurauga is passing what you get with a Cuban. It's just my take on it but I feel it is eliminating the need for Cubans.

Think it's like comparing apples to oranges. CCs are different than Nicaraguans and there is room for both. Are cubans getting worse quality control wise? Probably, but I still like them.

 

[Craig Mac]

I think it has been trending that way for several years now and there is a lot of great tobacco coming out of Nicaragua so everyone wants a piece of the market. I am not sure it will fade away, but it may shift at some point to the next hot thing.

 

[UpInSmoke]

I feel it is eliminating the need for Cubans.

I don't think anything will ever eliminate the need for Cubans

I love both and would love to see the Nicaraguan boom continue

 

[Kerosene Lounge]

I find myself gravitating towards anything Nicaraguan. Don't know why, but that is how I'm trending. I'm rather pleased with Nicaraguan smokes.

T

 

[CATom]

I think too much is put on where it's from. I mean ME personally probably couldn't tell where it was from smoking blind. Now with that said i enjoy smoking cigars and if they taste good I'm gonna smoke'em. I love me a Nicaraguan cigar though! ☺

 

[Shrody234]

CC=$$$, Nicaragua=$. My wallet can't handle a steady Cuban diet. Nic sticks are here to stay!

With that said, nothing can replace a strong, tasty Habano.

 

[UpInSmoke]

Come on Shrody we all know there's some superb inexpensive Cubans. Stop smoking behikes and Gran reservas so much

 

[ItsBarbarino]

Come on Shrody we all know there's some superb inexpensive Cubans. Stop smoking behikes and Gran reservas so much

Por Larranaga Montecarlo.

 

[D Quintero]

nicaragua has most def come a long way.

but cuba I read has trended towards returning back to its old glory .
an example is with the cohiba marca . lotsa raves about showing and achieving again its once stellar never ending aging potential.

So , is cuba soon to become the old cuba?

 

[pbibby]

I actually think that CCs are getting better quality control wise. They may even rival the quality coming out of Nicaragua. That and CCs are actually cheaper, in many cases.
Now to the original point, I think it may be a "trend" or "fad", but I think it will continue for some time. Nicaraguan tobacco is just money right now.

 

[Eric_kruger]

like I said though. how easy is it to get nicas? How hard is it to get cubans? I guess I might be comparing apples to oranges, but if the oranges are cheaper, taste just as good, if not better in some cases, and I can walk down the road and get them at a B&M, im gonna go with oranges... just my opinion. granted I have only been smoking seriously for a few years so I may have never had a top end cuban, but the nicas I get are amazing, have great quality, and are just great smokes, then I have no need to hunt down an out of the country source, and risk having them taken before I get them.

 

[JKinWV]

like I said though. how easy is it to get nicas? How hard is it to get cubans? I guess I might be comparing apples to oranges, but if the oranges are cheaper, ta some cases, and I can walk down the road and get them at a B&M, im gonna go with oranges... just my opinion. granted I have only been smoking seriously for a few years so I may have never had a top end cuban, but the nicas I get are amazing, have great quality, and are just great smokes, then I have no need to hunt down an out of the country source, and risk having them taken before I get them.

I agree with u 100%, eric. I can't get a consistent supply of cubans here, but nics seem consistent. Not to mention, as i continue to try more of the high end nics, the more i am enjoying them.

 

[pbibby]

I'm certainly not arguing that Non Cubans are not good. I personally love Padrons, Opus, Anejos, TAAs, Epernays, etc. But, most of those are $10 sticks at least. With the exception of Behikes and Grand Reservas, most CC's I smoke are well under $10.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Hopefully the fda and the us government can loosen up so both can continue to thrive.

Even the most "cubanesque" NCs are a long way off imo. Cubans have their place and Nc have theirs. I personally love both in different ways and hope they both get better and better so we can continue enjoying the experience and so we always have something new to talk about

 

[Senor Perfecto]

I agree that the average smoker -- even the borderline aficionado -- probably does not have access to CCs apart from the expensive back room of a B&M, or trying to get a box through customs on the way back from overseas, and always risks overpaying for phonies full of hair and scraps. Ain't nobody hawking fake Nicaraguans (no matter what you think of what DE is doing to get their wrappers so oily)! I love them all. Nicaraguan, Dominican, Honduran. A good smoke is a good smoke. When even Davidoff moves toward Nicaraguan, you gotta take notice.

Being on a forum like this -- probably representing less than 1% of all regular cigar smokers in the US? -- really gives you a prespective and knowledge base that far exceeds most smokers. Not to mention access to the best of the best. I love this goddamn place.

 

[Shrody234]

Come on Shrody we all know there's some superb inexpensive Cubans. Stop smoking behikes and Gran reservas so much

I just can't help myself!!!!!! :hearteyes

 

[hdroadglide]

I always laugh when I'm in a b&m and hear someone say, "which one tastes most like a Cuban?"
It is indeed apples and oranges. You may enjoy both or neither. It's your taste. There are lots of Cubans I don't like, just as there are Nicaraguans. There are also some of both that I think are outstanding. I think the dr has been passed by in popularity by Nicaragua now. Although Fuente fans might disagree. I haven't had a stick from Honduras in a lot of years that I would give the time of day.
But tastes and trends do change. My fear is that with the rush of all the different manufacturers to get Nicaraguan leaf, it might dilute the quality. That's one reason I think my father has made the excellent decision to buy enough farms that they can blend sticks with only their own leaf!

 

[javajunkie]

credit where it is due: there is certainly a market trend (reaction to people like us buying a lot of NICA sticks), but a lot of it has to do with the quality of the leaf. THAT is all down to people working the soil and redeveloping the agriculture over decades, to slowly get it to where it is now.

and good point, bob, on the "diluted quality". what will last out of this boom (like the 90's boom, with SO MUCH bad dominican crap) are tobacco people who are paying attention to both the soil they are dependant on, and the raw leaf inventory they need to be consistent.