1502 Nicaragua Robusto Cigar Review

Back in 2014, Enrique Sánchez introduced his first Nicaraguan Puro under the 1502 cigar line. That cigar was aptly named the 1502 Nicaragua and it is a tribute to the Enrique’s home country – Nicaragua. It should also be noted that the year 1502 is when Nicaragua was first “discovered” by Europeans when Christopher Columbus invaded from Honduras and explored the eastern coast on his fourth voyage in that year. In fact, Columbus never actually set foot on the land but observed the land from his ship, but the date is written in history as the Spanish later landed in 1522 now that it was on a map.

In the creation of the 1502 Nicaragua, Enrique Sánchez selected the four main growing regions (Esteli, Jalapa, Condega, and Ometepe.) to choose the leaf used in this cigar. The company does not disclose the actual blend profile, they just simply describe the blend as:

• Wrapper – Nicaragua
• Binder – Nicaragua
• Filler – Nicaragua

The company’s website describes the 1502 Nicaragua as:

“This cigar fits right in between the 1502 Emerald and 1502 Ruby – as a “medium plus” cigar.”

The original release was just a 5 x 50 Box-Pressed Robusto that came packaged in a 30-count box but a year later they extended the line to include a 7 x 48 Box Pressed Churchill that comes packaged in a 20-count box.

The MSRP for the Robusto is $6.50 USD and the Churchill retails for $10.00 USD. If your local shop does not carry these I found them online at the Cigar Federation Store.

For this review I sampled the 1502 Nicaragua Robusto while sitting on my back deck this morning as the sun was rising and my faithful dog Ziggy was running about chasing the squirrels in the yard. It was a perfect morning for smoking a cigar, cool and low in humidity. Being a Nicaraguan puro I was hoping it would not kick me too hard as I had not had breakfast yet and was just drinking some water.

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Pre-Light Examination

From an appearance perspective, the 1502 Nicaragua is a well constructed box pressed cigar with a smooth and silky wrapper that has a color akin to a Connecticut shade. It is finished with a triple cap and a partially closed foot which Enrique describes as a “cigar lock” which is designed to keep the wrapper from fraying on the foot. You can see this on other 1502 cigars. The cigar is packed solid from head to foot.

The band on the 1502 Nicaragua is simple in design, white with the golden phrase “1502 Nicaragua Hand Made” printed in the center and gold bands on top and bottom. This band actually contrasts well with the wrapper color.

Pre-light aromas are rather enticing with a curing barn scent on the barrel and a sweet hay off the foot.

I sliced the cap with my Colibri double blade cutter and gave it some cold draw puffs. The draw was tighter than I like and offered notes of butter and spice. I was a afraid this would be a bit tight as the packing was real solid. Let’s see how it performs though.

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Cigar Review Notes

• Initial puffs are still tight with smooth notes of butter cream and hint of cinnamon
• Smoke begins to open up and natural tobacco sweetness flows into the profile
• Solid medium grey ash on a thick char line
• Sweetness grows
• Mineral notes lay under the sweetness
• Smoke is still medium volume
• Ash fell after first third reveals no a blunted point cone
• Coffee notes enter followed by a muted red pepper spice
• Wood notes follow
• Perfect burn
• Honey sweetness develops on the tongue
• Spicy floral aroma –
• Now at midway and things are kicking in
• Salty butter notes appear just before the band
• A slight bitter note enters
• Woody aroma picks up
• Spice increases into the final third
• Strength moved up gently to medium plus
• Down to the nub a spicy earth note finishes the journey
• Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes to the nub – a slow burner for sure!

Overall,  the 1502 Nicaragua had a plethora of flavors that were well-balanced and enticing throughout the burn. The draw remained tight through the burn and the smoke volume stuck at medium. I personally would have liked the draw to have loosened up a bit more. Don’t confuse this with a mild cigar because of the wrapper color as it does slowly ratchet up in the second half and finished at medium-full strength but not so much that I regretted not eating something before smoking it. I would like to try this in the Churchill vitola.