Doña Elba Cigars
Granada
A working cigar workshop in colonial Granada, and the subject of our first piece of original reporting.
Read our field notes
The Makers
Meet the families, factory owners, master blenders and artisans who make Nicaraguan cigars exceptional.
The great houses
Elementos Cigars
Handmade in Estelí
A boutique brand made by a friend of ours, with cigars handmade in Estelí.
Elementos on Instagram
Padrón
Estelí · In Estelí since 1970
José Orlando Padrón left Cuba, rebuilt in Estelí and created the most decorated house in Cigar of the Year history.
Cigar of the Year 2004, 2007, 2009, 2021, 2025
More about Padrón
Family company founded in Miami in 1964 by Cuban exile José O. Padrón; began Nicaraguan production in Estelí around 1970 as Tabacos Cubanica. The factory burned in 1978 and production moved to Honduras during the US embargo (1985–1990) before returning.
Made here
My Father
Estelí · In Estelí since 2009
Master roller Don Pepín García and his family brought Cuban-style blending to their own farm and factory in Estelí.
Cigar of the Year 2012, 2015, 2024
More about My Father
Founded by Cuban master roller José 'Pepín' García, who opened El Rey de los Habanos in Miami in 2003 and moved production to a factory and farm in Estelí in 2009. Makes its own My Father, Don Pepín García, Flor de las Antillas and La Gran Oferta lines and also manufactures for other brand owners such as Tatuaje and La Aroma de Cuba (Ashton). Cigar Aficionado Cigar of the Year in 2012, 2015 and 2024.
Joya de Nicaragua
Estelí · Founded 1968
Nicaragua's first premium cigar factory: it survived revolution and nationalisation and still rolls in Estelí.
More about Joya de Nicaragua
Established in 1968 as the Nicaragua Cigar Company, Joya describes itself as the country's first premium cigar maker. After revolution-era damage and nationalisation it was taken over in 1994 by Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca and became Tabacos Puros de Nicaragua.
A.J. Fernández
Estelí · Founded 2003
One of the busiest houses in the country, making its own brands and cigars for some of the biggest names in the business.
Cigar of the Year 2019
More about A.J. Fernández
Founded in 2003 by Cuban-born A.J. Fernández. The company says it operates three factories in Nicaragua producing about 180,000 cigars per day (~50 million a year) and farms in Estelí, Jalapa, Condega, Pueblo Nuevo, Quilalí and Ometepe.
Made here
Drew Estate
Estelí · In Estelí since 1998
From Brooklyn to La Gran Fabrica in Estelí: home of Liga Privada, Undercrown and the famous Cigar Safari.
More about Drew Estate
Founded in Brooklyn in 1995; Jonathan Drew moved to Nicaragua in 1998 and opened the first Estelí factory. La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate houses production and the Cigar Safari visitor programme. Brands include Liga Privada, Undercrown, Herrera Estelí, Acid, Kentucky Fire Cured and Deadwood.
Official website Offers visits
Oliva
Estelí · Founded 1995
The Serie V Melanio, Cigar of the Year in 2014, comes out of the Tabolisa factory in Estelí.
Cigar of the Year 2014
More about Oliva
Oliva Cigar Co. was founded in 1995; its Estelí factory (Tabolisa) and brands were acquired by Belgium's J. Cortès in 2016, while the Oliva family kept its tobacco farms.
Perdomo
Estelí · In Nicaragua since 1995
Nick Perdomo's farm-to-box operation, famous for its bourbon-barrel-aged tobacco.
More about Perdomo
Nick Perdomo started Nick's Cigar Co. in Miami in 1992, opened his first Nicaraguan factory in 1995 and a new one in 1999. The company reports 1,200+ acres in Estelí, Condega and Jalapa and roughly 4,800 employees (company claim, 2019).
Made here
Plasencia
Estelí · Tobacco family since 1865
A tobacco family going back to 1865, farming seven terroirs including the volcanic island of Ometepe.
Cigar of the Year 2008
More about Plasencia
Fifth-generation tobacco family claiming roots to 1865, with farms across seven terroirs in Nicaragua (incl. Condega/San Julián, Estelí, Jalapa, Ometepe) and Honduras, 4,900+ acres (company). Long-time contract manufacturer (e.g.
Made here
Official website Offers visits In the Hall of Legends
The directory
More Nicaraguan factories
From big contract houses to small boutique workshops. Search by name, brand or town.
31 factories
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Aganorsa Leaf — TABSA (Estelí) & SABSA (Jalapa)
Agricultural group founded by Eduardo Fernández, who arrived in Nicaragua in 1998, best known for Corojo and Criollo leaf. Factories: TABSA (Estelí) and SABSA (Jalapa), plus Casa Fernandez in Miami. Long-time manufacturer for boutique brands (Illusione, Viaje, Warped, OneOff; HVC until 2022; Foundation earlier).
Brands: Viaje, OneOff, Warped, Illusione, Aganorsa Leaf / Casa Fernandez / JFR, Allegria, HVC
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Arturo Fuente — Nicaragua factory project
Fuente, historically based in the Dominican Republic, broke ground on a Nicaraguan factory in June 2022 with a 2024 target. No source found confirming opening or production as of 2026-10-15.
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Casa de Alegría
Listed Estelí manufacturer; website links to a German retailer (cigarworld.de) — commercial relationship not verified.
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Cigar Box Factory Estelí
Cigar box maker serving the Estelí industry (listing + Facebook page since 2015). Supplier, not a cigar manufacturer.
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Cigar Rings (band printer)
Commercial printer of cigar bands in Estelí (listing). Supplier, not a cigar manufacturer.
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Fábrica de Tabacos HVC S.A.
HVC brand owner Reinier Lorenzo opened his own Estelí factory in February 2022 after production at Aganorsa (halfwheel).
Brands: HVC
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Fábrica Oveja Negra (Black Label Trading Co.)
Small-batch factory started in 2015 by James and Angela Brown, home of Black Label Trading Co. and Black Works Studio; also produces for other clients and advertises factory tours (Jan–Apr). Named Small/Medium Factory of the Year 2019 by Cigar Coop.
Brands: Black Label Trading Co. / Black Works Studio
Website Map Source: Fábrica Oveja Negra / Black Label Trading Co.
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Garmendia Cigars
Family boutique factory established around 2010–2011; makes West Tampa Tobacco Co. cigars (halfwheel; CA 2023 Top 25 West Tampa Red).
Brands: West Tampa Tobacco Co.
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J. Fuego Cigar Co. de Nicaragua S.A.
Estelí factory listing with website and active Instagram (@jfuegocigars).
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J.C. Newman PENSA (Puros de Estelí Nicaragua S.A.)
Factory built in 2011 by the Tampa-based Newman family and renamed J.C. Newman PENSA in 2018; makes Brick House, Perla del Mar, El Baton and Quorum (company).
Brands: Brick House, Perla del Mar / El Baton / Quorum
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Lanuza Cigar Factory
Listed Estelí factory/shop with website.
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Loaisiga Cigars S.A.
Listed Estelí factory with website.
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Luciano Tabacos S.A. (formerly Tabacalera Pichardo)
Boutique factory associated with Luciano Meirelles; ACE Prime rebranded as Luciano Cigars and the former Pichardo line is now sold as Tiago. CA credited Luciano Tabacos S.A. with Foreign Affair (2023 Top 25).
Brands: Foreign Affair / Luciano / Tiago, Peter James Emergence
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Maquiladora de Tabaco Vegas de Jalapa S.A. (Matveja)
Listed Jalapa tobacco/cigar company with website.
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Mi Havana Cigars
Listed Estelí manufacturer with website.
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NACSA (Nicaragua American Cigars S.A.)
Estelí factory with multiple partners (halfwheel); Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust says its Mi Querida line is made at NACSA.
Brands: Mi Querida
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Oso de Nicaragua Tobacco Company S.A.
Listed Estelí manufacturer with website.
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Ruiz Cigars
Listed Estelí producer/shop with website.
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STG Estelí (Scandinavian Tobacco Group)
STG acquired factories in Danlí (Honduras) and Estelí in 2009 from the Olivas and Toraño families. CA credits STG Estelí with Cohiba Riviera (2024 Top 25).
Brands: Cohiba Riviera
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Tabacalera Barreda Cigars
Listed factory with website; Instagram linked from website (restricted).
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Tabacalera Carreras S.A. (Esteban Carreras)
Estelí factory behind the Esteban Carreras brand (company site).
Brands: Esteban Carreras
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Tabacalera de Aragón S.A.
Estelí factory; halfwheel notes it made Los Estoico for Peter James in 2022. Its website functions mainly as an online shop.
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Tabacalera Familia Disla S.A. (TBFD)
Listed Estelí factory with website.
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Tabacalera Hernández
Vertically integrated Estelí factory offering contract and private-label production, boxes, bands and logistics (company site).
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Tabacalera La Zona S.A.
Factory associated with Erik Espinosa (halfwheel; 2013 Cigar Snob video tour). Current operating status unverified.
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Tabacalera Pages de Nicaragua
Listed Estelí factory; Facebook page (29.6k followers) lists tabacalerapages.com.
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Tabacalera Segovias de Estelí
Estelí factory with US sales presence in Florida; website showed 'coming soon' on 2026-10-15.
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Tabacalera Tambor de Estelí S.A. (Victor Calvo)
Factory that began operating in Estelí in September 2001 after moving from Costa Rica; Victor Calvo became owner in 2002 (academic source).
Brands: Victor Calvo / Tambor
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Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. (TAVICUSA) — Rocky Patel
Rocky Patel's Nicaraguan factory, credited by CA for multiple Top 25 cigars (e.g. Rocky Patel Sixty, #2 in 2022). halfwheel reported in January 2024 that a new 60,000-cigar-per-day factory was planned and TAVICUSA would close once it opened; current status unverified.
Brands: Rocky Patel
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Villiger de Nicaragua
Joint venture between Swiss company Villiger and Joya de Nicaragua; production began in October 2021 and the factory was officially opened on 26 January 2023.
Brands: Villiger
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White Label Cigars — Bespoke Cigar Co.
Listed private/white-label cigar service in Estelí with website.
Know a factory we should add? Tell us.