Nicarao Cigar Now Part of Rocky Patel
The Nicarao brand cigar is now under the umbrella of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars Inc. Once made by Tabacalera Tropical in Nicaragua, Nicarao cigars are now being rolled at El Paraiso factory in Danlí, Honduras. The factory, which is owned by Nestor Plasencia, is the same one where many Rocky Patel cigars are made.
"A Belgian named Didier Houvenaghel owns the brand," said Rocky Patel, president of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars. "He decided that he wanted to have a cigar that tasted unique."
Houvenaghel is an agricultural engineer with a degree from the University of Pinar del Río in Cuba. Patel said he created three new blends for the cigar, including the one that turned out to be the final selection, which is made entirely of Nicaraguan tobacco from the Estelí, Jalapa and Condega growing regions. Nicarao comes in boxes of 20 and is available in four sizes: Robusto, which measures 5 inches by 50 ring and retails for $5.50 per cigar; Torpedo, a 6 1/2 by 52 cigar that retails for $6.75; Churchill, 7 by 48, retailing for $6.50; and Toro, 6 by 52, also retailing for $6.50. Patel said that Nicarao is marketed to cigar shops as a "protected territory" brand, meaning that only a few retailers within any given territory will be permitted to carry it.
The old version of Nicarao cigars have been rated five times, and have scored from 86 to 89 points in Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider.
From the Jan. 22 issue of Cigar Insider.
