Jose Blanco goes to Joya de Nicaragua

[Mowee]

José Blanco now Senior VP at Joya de Nicaragua

José Blanco, the former director of sales for La Aurora has moved from the Dominican Republic to Nicaragua. Blanco, 61, retired from the oldest cigar company in the Dominican in June after 29 years with company. At the time, it was believed Blanco would not stay idle long and today, Dr. Alejandro Martinez-Cuenca announced that Blanco was joining Nicaragua’s oldest cigar company as Senior Vice President.

Unlike its Cuban or even Dominican counterparts, Joya de Nicaragua began a relatively short while ago, in 1968. The company suffered from the intervention by former Nicaraguan president Somoza throughout the 70s and then after the Sandanista revolution in 1979, the company suffered from a U-S boycott of Nicaraguan products. The brand was moved to Honduras where Nestor Plasencia continued making it. Dr. Alejandro Martinez-Cuenca, an economist by training, bought the Esteli factory in 1994 and then the brand—which had been sold to Altadis.

Blanco has moved from his former home in Santiago to Managua where he will now be based, traveling back and forth to the company’s Esteli factory. Blanco says his position offers him new challenges and the opportunity to work with new tobaccos and blends. He admits leaving Santiago and the Dominican Republic which have been home for him since 1962 is a huge change, but he saqys he loves Nicaragua and the quality of the cigars coming out of the country. Joya de Nicaragua produces the Antaño 1970, Antaño Dark Corojo, Cabinetta series, Celebracion and Classico series and is working with Drew Estate on the new My Uzi Weighs a Ton. Drew Estate distributes Joya de Nicaragua.