IT’S LIFELINE, IT’S STRUGGLE, IT’S WILL TO FORGE AHEAD AND RENEW, RENEW, RENEW, IT’S NICARAGUA ITSELF.

ITS LIFELINE, ITS STRUGGLE, ITS WILL TO FORGE AHEAD AND RENEW, RENEW, RENEW IS NICARAGUA ITSELF

It’s been a turbulent yet rewarding journey. We pioneered an industry, rebuilt a gunned and burned down factory, survived a decade of the embargo, and a lot more…

1968

We Ignited Nicaragua

If Nicaragua had poster boys for pioneers in its tobacco industry, Simón Camacho and Juan Francisco Bermejo would be first among them. The pair fled their native Cuba like so many others of their time and sought opportunities in other lands. They had access to fields rich with deep, volcanic soil in Estelí, Condega and Jalapa; they agreed to pay workers to help them grow and harvest. And they found facilities in Central Estelí where they could process the tobacco. These were the first days of the Nicaragua Cigar Company, as Joya de Nicaraguan was originally called.

1970

The Oficial Cigar Of The White House

Nicaraguan cigars start to become recognized as a superior alternative to Cuban cigars after the embargo. Somoza, a fellow classmate of Richard Nixon was invited to the White House. As is polite, Nixon offered Somoza a box of cigars to choose from. As the dictator reached to select one, he paused, hand hovered over the box. He was amazed to see that the cigars snugly packed into the full box all displayed bands from the Nicaraguan Cigar Company.

Somoza Debayle was keen to cash in on the opportunities tobacco provided in Nicaragua – and was known to own farms in Estelí and Jalapa which were already producing viable crops. Now came his chance to own a factory.

1979

Revolution And Civil War

The Sandinista Revolution brings the Somoza dynasty to an end, but the new factory couldn’t escape the reality the country faced. As the Revolution against Somoza gathered pace, Sandinista Revolutionaries one day approached the factory – and set fire to it. On another occasion, Somoza-loyal planes returning to base dropped bombs on the factory as they passed overhead, believing Sandinistas were using it as a base. Somoza was so keen to retain power that he bombed his own factory. Fortunately, the damage was minor.

1980

The Reconstruction

The workers rebuild the factory, destroyed during the war, and the production starts again.

When Somoza finally fell, the factory, like other businesses, was nationalised and the tobacco industry was thrown together as one entity. The American embargo kicked in, cigars piled up, wages failed, Contra hostilities were soon in full swing. And to add to all this, Somoza had taken with him key documents pertaining to the trademark of the Joya de Nicaragua cigar in the United States. He sold them to the highest bidder and to add insult to injury, a sub-standard cigar made in Honduras – but carrying the Joya de Nicaragua name – was soon being sold in the US in small quantities.

They attempted to look buyers from around the world, promising fantastic cigars and a hardworking and loyal team. While the workers of the Nicaragua Cigar Company knew how to make cigars – they didn’t know a lot about selling them.

Fabrica JDN ViejaFabrica JDN Nueva

1992

A New Era

The workers began looking for a leader to help them keep the factory alive. They saw great potential in Dr. Cuenca, who also recognized the factory’s worth.

Dr. Cuenca agreed to an initial 12-month trial rental of the business. He committed to making up the six months back pay the workers were due, and also committed to making no early redundancies. In return, the workers committed to make the best cigars they knew how – and to work to bring prosperity back. The Nicaragua Cigar Company became Tabacos Puros de Nicaragua in 1994. And one of the first things Dr Cuenca sought was the rights back to the name Joya de Nicaragua. By the mid 90’s, there is a growing demand for Nicaraguan production with the “cigar boom”, a phenomenon that lasts around two years.

2012

We Keep Moving Foward

Under the leadership of Dr. Cuenca and his son, Juan Martínez, the 2010s were about creating a platform. Their focus has been on ensuring that JDN’s distributors around the world have all the support they need to do their jobs in their markets. They have aligned Joya de Nicaragua’s portfolio to be able to reach their customers – both old and new – in a voice that would both reassure and intrigue them. This includes the ultra-premium family of cigars “Obras Maestras,” the authentic full-bodied Nicaraguan Puro “Antaño,” the modern JOYA line, the very first premium puro to come out of Nicaragua, “Clásico,” and the affordable but well-constructed “Rosalones” and “Flor de Nicaragua.”

2023

To The Next 50 Years

55 years ago, we pioneered an industry by crafting the first cigars to ever come out of Nicaragua.  Today, JDN is the most international brand of our Nicaragua, with presence in over 60 markets, and growing.

We are thriving, like never before, thanks to our people and the discerning palates of cigar enthusiasts everywhere. For us, quality is not an obligation, it is our highest commitment. We are humbled and proud of 55 years of perserverance and success but mostly inpired by all the memories we have created with our Amigos around the world.

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