Following Managua, the second stop in Nicaragua for the Puro Sabor Festival is in historic Granada, a colorful, colonial city that celebrated its five-hundred-and-second anniversary two years ago. I’m told by the locals that the celebration was one for the ages.
With a population of around 200,000 people, Granada isn’t exactly a quaint little town, but it has the feel of one (minus the traffic jams that are a mishmash of cars, trucks, mopeds and horse-drawn carriages).
After a little over an hour long drive from Managua, the tour busses roll into a bay on Lake Nicaragua for the attendees to board a nice 45-minute boat tour of the lake’s many islands and islets (in total, there’s over 400 of them).
It’s shaping up to be a day of uninterrupted sun. In the background, the colossal Mombacho volcano looms.
Though it’s a windy day – which makes lighting and smoking a cigar on the water challenging – the visitors are undeterred, and quickly light up after boarding the small fleet of 14-person boats, which unfortunately have no bathrooms on them. As a result, I light up a Villager 1888 Nicaragua Churchill but decline pairing it with the Toña beers that are being handed out. Last year, the islets tour was on a larger, riverboat-style boat that was equipped with washrooms, a bar, and a DJ, but this year we’re told that the greater amount of attendees have resulted in the outgrowing of that vessel. All good.
The islets tour is very enjoyable, and really gets the group feeling relaxed and social. Once we return to land, there a big lunch ready for us in a large covered pavilion by the water. At the lunch event, I’m provided with a Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Series and a bold, Black Gold cigar by 1502, which are individually packaged in attractive boxes. I decide to apply a v-cut to the Black Gold. The cigar delivers a bold and earthy character with a spicy kick that compliments a neat pour of the oak-forward Flor de Caña 18 rum very well. A plentiful buffet consists of Nicaraguan fare including cassava, barbecued beef, fried white fish, and black beans and rice (of course).
The time on the water has effectively relaxed the group. Conversation over the loud music is everywhere, and a slight breeze under the covered thatched roof makes smoking easy and enjoyable.
After checking in to the hotels (there are 3 hotels associated with the event and all are impressive). The evening dinner event takes place at the Hotel Dario, which is steps away from the main city square. Even though it’s a Monday, the square is busy with life, even well into the evening.
Upon entry, we’re handed a Perdomo 10th Anniversary Series, again. One shortcoming early on in the festival appears to be a bit of repetition on the brands and cigars that have been handed at the events.
Dinner takes place in a gorgeous courtyard setting. The buffet was varied and lovely, and was typically paired with Toña beer or Flor de Caña rum.
After a satisfying day, I decide to retire at a decent hour. Tomorrow is to be a day of cigars and local sightseeing within Granada.
