Nicaraguan

The UK cigar market is notoriously conservative and has long been dominated by Havanas, with only a few of the finest Dominican brands getting much of a look in. Indeed, we see only a tiny proportion of the enormous range of premium cigars currently available on the world market, but most UK retailers put it down to Britain's high taxation on tobacco. Offered a choice of a fine Havana or an equally fine non-Cuban brand, most British smokers will tend to opt for the safe choice – unless the price is right, i.e. the alternative 'unknown' cigar is much cheaper than its Cuban equivalent. And now there's the added problem of the new tobacco advertising rules which won't allow the UK's cigar retailers to offer their customers a sample of the non-Cuban – or any! – cigar delights now available. Too often overlooked and underrated – at least in the UK – Nicaraguan cigars are now slowly creeping up the ladder, perhaps because, generally speaking, they offer great value for money.