Over the past decade, Nicaragua has emerged as the proverbial king of the premium cigar industry.  More cigars are imported into the US from Nicaragua than any other country, and Nicaragua holds more #1 cigar of the year awards than any other country.

If you are looking to try out some of the top-rated Nicaraguan cigars, the task can seem daunting.  There are an incredible amount of options and it can be risky buying a whole box before you are sure if you like the cigar or not.  That is why I always recommend picking up a 5-pack before committing to a box.  They are much more reasonable in both price and quantity and are the perfect way to test out a cigar before going full throttle.  Today, we are listing some of our favorite Nicaraguan five packs for you to try.

In 2014, Crowned Heads released the first edition of the now highly coveted Las Calaveras.  Handcrafted by Don Pepin Garcia and the My Father factory, this limited edition sold out immediately and set the stage for one of the most popular annual releases in the industry.  With such a high demand for the blend, Jon Huber decided to take the original Las Calaveras blend and turn it into a general release.  It was with this plan that La Imperiosa was born.

This rich and flavorful cigar is handcrafted using aged Nicaraguan tobaccos for the filler and binder, giving it a zesty and bold center.  The wrapper is an oily Ecuadorian Habano leaf, that adds in touches of spice, earth, and leather.  This complex cigar is a must-have for the Nicaraguan lover.

Skip and Mike of RoMa Craft have created something truly special.  This boutique brand has become something of phenomena over the last 10 years and is among the most popular and asked for cigars in stores across the country.  Their factory, Nica Sueno, is responsible for some of the highest-rated cigars to come out of Nicaragua.  For that classic Nicaraguan profile, look no further than the Aquitaine.

This follow-up to the bold and rich CroMagnon, the Aquitaine uses a similar blend make up. It is rolled using vintage Nicaraguan filler tobaccos, followed by a toothy Cameroon binder for a touch of leather and spice.  The finishing touch is a stunning Ecuadorian wrapper, that gives this smoke its signature spice and complex profile.

If you are looking at the best of the Nicaragua list and it doesn’t include a cigar from Pepin Garcia, you are looking at the wrong list.  My Father has been one of the premier cigar manufacturers in Nicaragua for nearly 20 years and has had several number one cigar of the year awards.  However, for that quintessential Nicaraguan taste, you need to go to one of the brand’s original lines.

Before the hype of the My Father line, there was the original Don Pepin Clasico Black.  This powerful and full-bodied smoke embodied everything that makes Nicaraguan tobacco great.  This puro uses aged filler and binder tobacco along with a stunning Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper.  It showcases the versatility of Nicaraguan tobacco by offering a plethora of different flavors including spice, black pepper, cocoa, earth, and leather.

Today, AJ Fernandez is known as one of the most prolific blenders in Nicaragua.  While in recent times he has been known for his extensive collaborations with several different prominent manufacturers, AJ still has a solid portfolio of personal brands.  Among the most popular of his personally branded work, the New World remains a fan favorite to this day.

The New World was meant to pay homage to the founding of the Americas and the discovery of tobacco.  The original blend uses aged Nicaraguan tobaccos for the filler and binder, grown on AJ’s personal farm.  The wrapper is a flavorful Ecuadorian Sumatra, that adds in slight touches of espresso, cream, earth, and just a hint of spice.  This solid medium-bodied smoke is considered one of the best cigars at this price range in the industry.

Erik Espinosa has been doing some amazing work over the years.  The La Zona factory in Estelí is a hotspot for new and unique projects and some of the coolest people in the industry.  The Espinosa Laranja Reserva is not only one of my favorite cigars of all time, but one of Erik’s most coveted projects.  However, if you are looking for that quintessential Nicaraguan profile, you want to look for the 601 Gold Label.

The Gold Label is a Nicaraguan puro, meaning it only uses Nicaraguan tobacco for the entire blend.  Its rich filler and binder tobaccos give it a bold and zesty aroma, while its Nicaraguan Habano wrapper creates a spicy yet smooth flavor profile.