One the nice things about attending a cigar trade show, like the Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE) each year, is I get to experience not only fun and reacquainting myself with old friend in the industry, but I also run across something new that I have not heard of. This year I introduced myself to the Casa Nicaragua Tobacco Group, a family owned business that was founded in 1999 by brothers García Vindell and Benavides Rodriguez. Both were born in Estelí Nicaragua, known worldwide as the Capital of tobacco.
The brothers grew up among plantations and factories, which inspired them from childhood to learn and fall in love with the cigar industry. During their journey, they made friends with a Mexican (Ubaldo Arellano – R.I.P), who joined their vision and Casa Nicaragua Tobacco Group was born. The principal goal was to produce premium cigars with the highest quality in the industry focused on giving their cigars a unique touch and flavor characteristic of a Nicaraguan cigar. The group has 100% Nicaraguan investment and production.
I spent a bit of time with this family at the 2021 TPE in Las Vegas and I have to say they were eager to get their product out and onto the palates of the US consumer. At the show, they were showcasing three different blends that were released in 2020 – 1492 Jerez Legacy, Paris Midnight, and Five B.
Today I would like to offer a review of the 1492 Jerez Legacy which has a blend described as:
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
The 1492 Jerez Legacy is expressed in five different vitolas each packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Robusto (5 x 52) – MSRP $9.50
- Toro (6 x 52) – MSRP $10.50
- Torpedo (6 x 52) – MSRP $10.50
- Churchill (7 x 48) – MSRP $11.00
- Emperador (6 ½ x 60) – MSRP $12.10
For this review I sampled one 1492 Jerez Legacy toro, which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Casa Nicaragua Tobacco Group – 1492 Jerez Legacy is wrapped with a mildly toothy, medium brown habano leaf that has some noticeable veins. The cigar is solid to the touch from head to foot and is finished with a decent cap.
There are two bands that adorn the cigar. The primary band uses a black and gold motif. The band highlights a drawing of Rodrigo de Jerez. If you did not know, Jerez was one of the Spanish crewman on the Santa Maria and along with fellow crewman Luis de Torres were the first to observe the natives smoking rolled tobacco leaf. Jerez is credited as the first European to pick up the smoking enjoyment. The band also identifies the cigar as a Casa Nicaragua Tobacco Group product along with the blend – HABANO.
As I ran the 1492 Jerez Legacy along the nose, I detected a rather pungent fermented leaf note along the barrel along with raisin and spice notes off the foot.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to be spot on with restriction and offered notes of raisin and cinnamon. A few more cold puffs and the cinnamon started to grow on the lips.
With the pre-light examination out of the way, I proceeded to warm the foot with my double flame torch and draw in the first puffs of smoke to start the journey of burning this one to ash. Follow along as I break down the Casa Nicaragua Tobacco Group – 1492 Jerez Legacy toro.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial puffs are a tad harsh to start
- Settles into a light cream and spice mixture
- Sweet aroma wafts off the foot
- Light grey ash forms on top of a slightly jagged thin char line
- Ash fell early revealing a nicely formed burn cone
- Early cream notes maintain with an added sweetness
- Coffee notes join the mix
- The smoke gets mildly tannic entering the second third
- Cashew notes grace the palate midway
- Pre-light cinnamon spice appears deep in the second third
- Bitter notes enter in the final third
- Off burn developed in the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
The Casa Nicaragua Tobacco Group – 1492 Jerez Legacy toro started with a pleasant pre-light aroma and flavor but once the ignited journey started the smoke was initially harsh before settling into a pleasant cream and spice sensation. The flavors shifted and grew through the journey but it had moments where it presented some off balanced notes such as tannic (dry) and a bitter note that took from the overall pleasure. The burn was good though most of the journey but it did go off in the final. This is one I may tray another. I rate this an 88. I look forward to sampling the Paris Midnight, and Five B in the next few weeks.
Point Deductions: (-1) Jagged Burn Line; (-1) Harsh Start; (-1) Off-burn in final; (-1) Bitter notes in final; (-1) Tannic notes midway; (-1) May try another
