South Beach in Estreli

In the Nicaraguan town of Esteli, Spanish cowboys weave herds around rusty pickup trucks and taxi cabs.  Denim-clad farmers with dusty, sandpaper fingers study fresh-grown tobacco on hot days, and young boys guzzle Coca-Cola from glass bottles while skipping class.  In a nation where civil war wasn’t that long ago, and perseverance comes second nature, calling Esteli a blue collar city isn’t quite enough. 

Detroit is blue collar.  Pittsburgh is blue collar.  But Esteli is something more.  No collar, perhaps.

So when CigarsZone, a lounge and club worthy of a location on the Vegas strip or Miami Beach, opened on the Pan American Highway in Esteli, it took the locals some getting used to.  “It wasn't immediately successful.  People had to get familiar with the place,” said Aldrin Olivas, whose family opened CigarsZone.  “In Nicaragua, with every new establishment, there’s going to be some time until it’s accepted and eventually enjoyed.”

Yet, only a few weeks after the opening of CigarsZone, hundreds packed onto the dance floor and the VIP lounge to smoke Nicaraguan cigars and dance to salsa music or Spanish hip hop.  Pedro Gomez, Director of Tourism for Esteli-based Drew Estate Tobacco Co., was one of the many locals trying CigarsZone for the first time. 

“Oh, man, my first impression was like, ‘this is hot.’  To be honest, it looked like any club in South Beach.  Everyone was dressed really nice, and it didn’t seem like you were in Esteli,” said Gomez.

After having so much fun the first time, Gomez believes CigarsZone will be the favorite weekend destination for him and his friends.  “Everyone is dancing, drinking, talking, smoking, and having a good time.  They have great music, great security, and the place is very clean,” said Gomez, “Every time I go the place is packed.”

While CigarsZone may be quickly attracting the young locals, it was also designed to cater to tourists.  When Tai Erum, Director of Operations for Kauai Cigars in Hawaii, visited Esteli to study tobacco for several weeks, CigarsZone quickly became his favorite place to visit on weekend nights.  There, he found that over drinks and cigars, he could meet and spend time with interesting people from the cigar industry.  “Smoking at a place like CigarsZone is dead in most parts of the United States, but it’s a way of life here,” said Erum.

Cigar Industry Leaders Gather Here

Some of the interesting people Erum spent time with at CigarsZone included industry leaders like Gomez, Jonathan Drew, founder of Drew Estate, and Victor Calvo, owner of Tabacalera Tambor.  “We’ve really made an effort to give the top guys in the cigar industry a great place to enjoy themselves,” said Olivas.

Calvo, who produces cigars for El Tiante, Gurkha, and Kauai Cigar Co., can be found at CigarsZone on most Friday and Saturday nights.  “Its first class,” said Calvo.  “There are nice, clean restrooms, excellent service, good prices and music.”

The first CigarsZone was opened by the Olivas family in the capital city of Managua.  After that became a success, it only made sense to open CigarsZone in Esteli, Nicaragua’s capital city for cigars. 

A bright, neon-green sign welcomes visitors.  Lights shining down cast a faded shade of green on the metallic, futuristic building, giving CigarsZone the look of a dance club more than a cigar lounge.  But once inside, the wall humidor displaying Nicaragua’s most prestigious cigars reminds everyone of CigarsZone’s main purpose.  Walking through the next set of double doors opens to a vibrant atmosphere, with a large dance floor and two well-stocked bars.  On either side of the bar are stairs that lead to the VIP area, which is designed to give the feel of a cigar lounge.  Those willing to pay only five-dollars for VIP access are served in couches and leather chairs by attentive waiters with cigars, beer, or Flor de Cana rum, the local beverage of choice. 

“As soon as you get a cigar, two servers surround you.  One has an ashtray, and the other has a lighter for your cigar.  Anything can be ordered with the snap of your fingers.  The service is unlike any I’ve ever seen,” said Erum.

While the many flat screen televisions, lights, music, dancing and drinks are plenty distracting, the ever-present cloud of cigar smoke floating near the ceiling once again reminds everyone of CigarsZone’s intentions. 

Creating a Culture of Smoking Cigars

“We wanted to create a culture of smoking cigars in Nicaragua.  Here, locals like smoking cigars, but they don’t have a way to get it,” said Olivas.  “We also wanted to promote a variety of our nation’s cigars.  Many people don’t know about cigars because in Nicaragua there are only two brands marketed – Joya de Nicaragua and Padron.  But since we opened CigarsZone, many people are getting familiar with different kinds of cigars.”

Gomez, who has spent most of his life in Esteli, sees the growing number of cigar enthusiasts every time he visits CigarsZone.  “To be honest, not many people smoke cigars in Esteli.  However, this new place has taken the cigar culture to another level,” said Gomez.

It’s easy to understand the intense passion Olivas has for promoting Nicaraguan cigars, as his family was the very first Nicaraguan family involved in tobacco.  As the producers of some of the most prestigious Nicaraguan cigars in the world, including CAO and Toraño, the Olivas family has survived in the cigar industry through civil wars, and times when Nicaraguan cigars were considered irrelevant. 

“Most people involved in the industry are of European, American, or Cuban descent.  The Padrons, Nestor Plasencia, and many others in Esteli are Cuban.  Joya de Nicaragua was owned by the government for a long time.  But we were the first, and we’re very passionate about that,” said Olivas, who joined his family’s company, at the time called Latin Cigars, in 2001.

In the last 15 years, with the help of many dedicated families like the Olivas family, Nicaragua has become a nation recognized for producing some of the best cigars in the world.  Cigar brands like Padron, Oliva, CAO, Tatuaje, and Perdomo receive ratings and reviews that consistently rival many famous Cuban cigars. 

The director of tourism for Drew Estate, Gomez is also involved in international sales, helping introduce Drew Estate to consumers in Europe.  Traditionally only a market for Cuban cigars, he believes even people outside of the United States are accepting Nicaraguan cigars as the best in the world.  “Esteli is becoming known as a place where we grow great tobacco and make perfect cigars,” said Gomez.

Olivas wholeheartedly shares that sentiment.  “Cigars from Nicaragua are a different experience,” said Olivas.  “They are more complex, more complete, and more fulfilling.”

As long as it remains successful, Olivas will continue to share his passion with both Nicaraguans and those that visit his country through CigarsZone.  “We want to offer the people the experience of smoking cigars.  Any challenge along the way, we’ll take it on and make it happen.”  Fortunately for the Olivas family, accepting challenges has been something they’ve been doing since first getting into tobacco many years ago.

To Gomez, the continued success of CigarsZone is not in question.  He just wonders where the next one will open up.  “I don’t know, but with CigarsZone packed every time I go, I wouldn’t be surprised if the open CigarsZone in another country to promote Nicaraguan cigars,” said Gomez. 

The first cigar-family in Nicaragua can now call themselves the first cigar-lounge-family in Nicaragua.  Gomez is probably safe in assuming the latter will be just as successful.

Top Nicaraguan Cigar Companies

PADRON Recognized around the world for aged tobacco, quality control, and their complex, rich cigars, the Padrons do it like nobody else.  The most well-known Nicaraguan brand has received better cigar ratings than most Cuban cigars.  Located in the heart of Esteli, Nicaragua, the Padrons arrived there after leaving Cuba once Castro took power.   While more expensive Padrons like the Serie 1926 and 1964 Anniversary receive most aficionado’s praise and attention, the less expensive original Padron line shouldn't be overlooked.  These cigars come at an incredible price for such a well-aged, full-bodied blend of tobacco.  Having received dozens of 90+ ratings by Cigar Aficionado, each size features flavors of spice, earth, coffee, and leather.    The Padron 1926 is simply one of the best and most sought after cigars in the world.  Using tobacco aged in Esteli for five years to create smoking perfection, this cigar was released to commemorate the 75th birthday of Jose Padron.  To ensure the quality of this cigar, only 100,000 are made a year, each individually numbered on the band.    Many aficionados would argue that without its brother, the Padron Serie 1926, this would be the best cigar to ever come out of Nicaragua.  Less expensive than the 1926, the Padron 1964 Anniversary Series is packed with tobacco aged to perfection.   OLIVA For years, Oliva cigars were recognized for their well-made, bargain brands.  But with an Oliva cigar represented in every Cigar Aficionado Top 25 since 2005, it's safe to say that they have changed their image.  Today, Oliva cigars are widely regarded as one of the best cigars in production, and though they don’t have many lines, Oliva certainly makes them count.  Three of Oliva’s most popular lines are the Oliva Serie G, O, and V.    The Oliva Serie G is perhaps the best cigar in the world available for under $5. Medium-bodied, with an African-Cameroon or maduro wrapper, notes of sweet cedar and a very prevalent coffee flavor makes the value of this cigar unbeatable.    The Oliva Serie V has been in Cigar Aficionado’s top 25 cigars of the year for three years running, and is certainly up there with the Padron Anniversary as one of the best cigars in the world.  The Oliva Serie V uses ligero tobacco in the filler to create a strong, complex and delicious cigar.  Between the incredible price of the Serie G and the rave reviews for the Serie V, it's easy to overlook the Oliva Serie O.  However, this cigar combines the best of both cigars.  Similarly priced to the Serie G, but with a similar flavor and full-body of the Serie V, the Nicaraguan filler and binder produces distinct notes of spice and cedar.  Along with the limited edition Oliva Masters Blend and Connecticut Reserve, these are some of the most popular cigars coming out of Nicaragua. CAO During the cigar boom in the mid-1990s, cigar companies rose and fell faster than consumers could keep up.  Some time during the confusion, a new company called CAO emerged.  With the help of savvy marketing and good, mild cigars, it quickly rose to the top of the industry.  Unlike most of the cigar industry, the founder of CAO, Cano Ozgener, is not of Cuban descent.  Instead, the Ozgeners are Armenian Turks.  After designing Meerschaum pipes, Ozgener moved to cigars during the cigar boom in the mid-1990s.  Today, CAO has several lines, including mild, medium and full-bodied cigars.   One of CAO’s most well-known mild cigars is called the Gold.  Released over 15 years ago, the Gold was one of the first cigars to put CAO on the map, and it remains one of their most popular lines.  With several sizes, an amazing price, and a creamy, nutty flavor, the CAO Gold is an alluring cigar with perfect construction.   The CAO Brazilia is a perfect example of the way CAO combines brilliant marketing with excellent quality.  In 2001, at a time when Brazilian tobacco was thought to be inferior to that of Dominican, Nicaraguan and Honduran tobacco, CAO not only dared to use it for the wrapper of their cigar, they named it after the tobacco.  Using a label that resembles the Brazilian flag, and mixing the Brazilian wrapper with tobacco from Nicaragua and Honduras, the CAO Brazilia remains their most popular cigar.   DREW ESTATE The most unique cigar company in the world, Drew Estate always does its best to stand apart from the rest of the crowd.  Most often than not, it succeeds.  With creative marketing, a hip-hop feel that caters to a younger generation of smokers, and the combination of infused, flavored cigars and quality premium cigars, Drew Estate is one of the hottest brands in the world.  Drew Estate was one of the first companies to introduce infused cigars, which it calls Acid.  While these remain extremely popular, Drew Estate’s premium, Nicaraguan cigars like the Liga Privada #9, Flying Pig, and La Vieja Habana are some of the most sought after cigars in the U.S.   La Vieja Habana was Drew Estate’s first premium, non-infused cigar.  Created in the 1990s when Drew Estate was still an up and coming brand, this cigar is still going strong.  La Vieja Habana is called a Cuban Sandwich, due to its mix of long and short filler.  Nevertheless, it has beautiful packaging and smooth flavors of earth and spice.   The Tabak Especial was created by Drew Estate as a different infused cigar from the Acid line.  Utilizing Nicaraguan-grown, long-filler tobacco, Tabak Especial is coffee-infused to give it a rich espresso flavor.  Chances are, if you’re a fan of flavored cigars, you’re a fan of infused cigar by Drew Estate, like Tabak Especial.