Crowned Heads is proud to announce its first limited edition release working with Nicaraguan American Cigars S.A. (NACSA), “Azul y Oro.”
The genesis of this project dates back to 2011. During Spring of that year, Mike Conder and Jon Huber traveled to Nicaragua to explore manufacturing opportunities and the premium cigar landscape at that time. On that trip, their entree into the farms, factories, and warehouses was largely spearheaded by Gustavo Cura, a man with a storied career in tobacco and cigars.
Gustavo was in charge of all of Oliva Tobacco Company’s tobacco farms and interests in Nicaragua, as well as overseeing its tobacco processing subsidiary PROCENICSA. As a token of gratitude, the Crowned Heads founders gifted Gustavo with a bottle of his favorite blended Scotch whisky, famous for its iconic blue label. Eleven years later, according to Gustavo, that bottle remains unopened as a remembrance of the friendship formed a decade ago.
Today, in addition to his role at Oliva Tobacco Company, Gustavo Cura is at the helm of the NACSA factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, along with General Manager and Master Cigar Maker, Raul Disla. Working in tandem with Disla, Crowned Heads set out to create a unique blend that was rich, complex, and worthy of the inaugural release from Crowned Heads and NACSA. The result is Azul y Oro, a limited edition production of 30,000 cigars that takes its brand language from that iconic bottle of Scotch whisky dating back to 2011.
Azul y Oro is a medium-plus-bodied blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian (Habano)
- Binder – Nicaraguan (Jalapa)
- Filler – Nicaragua (3 different regions) and the Dominican Republic
The 6” x 50 parejo cigar possesses a flavor profile that exudes deep flavors of leather, wood, and dark chocolate, with subtle black pepper spice undertones. Total production of Azul y Oro is limited to 2500 (12-count) boxes, a total of 30,000 cigars.
Azul y Oro has a suggested retail price of $11 .95 per cigar and will begin shipping in November.