Nica Libre Potencia Ltd. Ed. Double Robusto

Potencia, the latest offering from Nica Libre, is a small-batch Nicaraguan beauty from the famed Oliva family. “Potencia” means “power” in Spanish and, as the name implies, Potencia is the standard Nica Libre's fuller-bodied counterpart. This superb cigar has character in spades. Well constructed, with a dark, sleek, reddish-hued Habano Sun Grown wrapper, this smoke is lovely to look at. Its robust blend of well-aged Nicaraguan ligeros gives it a rich tobacco core and delivers a deep, complex flavor profile loaded with layers of coffee, spice, earth, and dark chocolate. Expect thick, creamy smoke from start to finish with a wonderful earthy aroma. Fans of full-bodied, super-premium cigars are going to really appreciate the Potencia, but the smooth and balanced nature of the smoke may just win new full-bodied fans. Best after a meal, enjoy it with a full, tawny port.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world. The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.