People love Nicaraguan cigars,” says US businessman Rocky Patel, who also produces cigars in Honduras and the Dominican Republic. With the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicaraguan tobacco growers feared a ...

We take a look at the most sensational cigars from 2019—including Rocky Patel and Davidoff—that took the tobacco industry to new heights.

Smokers say a lot is going on in a cigar during puffs, tasting richness, balance and complexity -- a variety of flavors and aromas that have helped several Nicaraguan brands conquer the US market.

Ranging from 50 cents to $7 apiece, each cigar is hand-rolled with what Lopez calls a “special Cuban technique” and tobacco leaves harvested in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.