Cigar Review No.37, pt.2 - Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Gran Consul: Joya de Nicaragua was Nicaraguas first cigar brand made for export by Nicaragua's first cigar company - Nicaraguan Cigar Co., established in 1968 by Juan Bermejo and Simon Camacho. The company succeeded instantly. Unfortunately, Nicaragua was currently under the control of then Dictator Anastasio Somoza. Somoza made certain to take control of any industry that brought money in. A Nicaragua Cigar Co. grew successful, he smelled another opportunity. Where there's cheese, there will be rats. Somoza gave then owners, Bermejo and Camacho an ultimatum - pay back all of the loans outstanding, taken to form the company (an impossibility within the given time-frame of 40 days) or forfeit 70% of the company to the Nicaraguan government - which was Somoza. Somoza owned over 40% of all businesses in Nicaragua. Under his control, Nicaragua Cigar Co. did flourish because, after all, if you're going to make money, the business had to thrive. He declared Joya de Nicaragua the, "official cigar of Nicaragua," although at the time, there weren't many other Nicaraguan cigar brands around but for those by companies just building their early foundations and a few others also produced by Nicaragua Cigar, Co., like Rosalones. Somoza also managed to have Joya de Nicaragua declared, "the official cigar of the White House," after meeting with then President Nixon.Finally, he had a new factory built in order to further the growth of the company. Many were unhappy with Somoza's stranglehold on the Nicaraguan economy and on Nicaragua in general. The Sandanistas Popular Uprising took place. in 1978, the factory, along with so many of Somoza's other properties, is burned down. The uprising is the start of what became a full-blown revolution in which some 50,000 souls are lost. On July 19th, 1979, the Sandanistas Party seizes control of Nicaragua, booting Somoza out of power. The Somoza family dynasty came to an end and Anastasio fled to Paraguay, where he was assassinated anyway, shortly thereafter - by another rebel group... Escaping your fate is not easy. The Nicaraguan Cigar Company factory was rebuilt and still stands there today. However, with the Sandanistas in power, Nicaragua's businesses were nationalized, resulting in Nicaragua Cigar Company becoming part of the "Oscar Turcios Chivarria," state-run enterprise. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan places a full embargo on all Nicaraguan goods in order to stifle the resources of the Sandanistas Party. For the United States, this means Nicaraguan cigars are now illegal! For Nicaraguan Cigar Company, this means they just lost their biggest customer. Civil war erupts and the Contra revolutionary movement begins. For over 6 years, Nicaragua is at war with itself. The economy is decimated as constant battles and skirmishes are fought, many times right in the tobacco fields. All Nicaraguan based cigar companies close their doors - all but one. Nicaragua Cigar Company continues producing Joya de Nicaragua among other lines, keeping itself afloat through contracts with several European clients. Nicaragua's national cigar is now Nicaragua's only cigar; the world's only cigar.

• published: 03 Apr 2015
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