All start in 1988
The story of 1988 Cigars was forged in the mist-shrouded mountains of northern Nicaragua during the height of Operation Danto 88. It was 1988—the zenith of a fierce conflict where an entire generation of teenagers was forced to mature overnight on opposing sides of the line. Among them was my father, Yader Toval, who had already spent eight grueling years surviving those rugged ranges. Amidst the heavy canopy and the din of war, he penned quiet letters to my pregnant mother, anchoring his spirit to the promise of one day meeting the unborn son who would bear his name.
He often spoke of the subtle divide in those trenches: high-ranking officers were provisioned with traditional 5x50 cigars, while the infantry shared modest 4x38 smokes—quick, burning reprieves stolen between moments of silence.
Decades later, watching me light a cigar, my father asked softly if I could roll a few for him. My response was not a simple favor, but a solemn vow: "Rather than just rolling a few, I am going to build a brand for you." That promise gave birth to YT—conceived as a living monument to his years of sacrifice and to the youth who bore the brunt of Nicaragua’s final war.
We are the children of that war—a generation raised in the shadows of post-conflict recovery. We learned the weight of honest labor early, some of us as young as eight years old, taking our first steps into the fields as soon as we were tall enough to reach the lower leaves of the tobacco stalk. From the classroom to the vegas and the heat of the curing barns, we poured our youth into the soil to rebuild our families, carrying our parents' memories in our hands.
1988 Cigars is dedicated to the sons and daughters of those combatants—a tribute to those who turned the ashes of conflict into the fertile soil of our heritage, building the legacy of Nicaraguan tobacco from the ground up, leaf by leaf.
Connected for our roots
Yader Toval
1988 Cigars`s Founder is Yader Toval,
with 17 years of experience in the
tobacco industry, has worked for several
prestigious tobacco companies.
The name YT is a reference to his
father, (they have the same name)
who once told him, "Son, make me
some cigars," to which he replied, "I'd
rather create a brand for you."
And that's how YT, the first
1988 Cigars`s Founder is Yader Toval,
with 17 years of experience in the
tobacco industry, has worked for several
prestigious tobacco companies.
The name YT is a reference to his
father, (they have the same name)
who once told him, "Son, make me
some cigars," to which he replied, "I'd
rather create a brand for you."
And that's how YT, the first sub-brand of
1988 Cigars, was born.
For Willi: all his projects are dedicated
to his brightest star, his son Willi,
across the ocean…
Diogenes Rodriguez
Don Dio Cigars In the fertile lands of Estelí, the Rodríguez family planted a dream:
The DON DIO cigar brand. It began as a modest family business, where every
tobacco leaf was painstakingly cultivated by hand on their own plantation.
With unwavering patience,
they built their factory, transforming their harvests into true masterpieces.
Pa
Don Dio Cigars In the fertile lands of Estelí, the Rodríguez family planted a dream:
The DON DIO cigar brand. It began as a modest family business, where every
tobacco leaf was painstakingly cultivated by hand on their own plantation.
With unwavering patience,
they built their factory, transforming their harvests into true masterpieces.
Patriarch Diogenes Rodríguez (Don DIO)
personally oversaw every detail—from planting to the final rolling—ensuring that the richness of their land was sealed
into every cigar. Today, DON DIO
represents the living legacy of
the Rodríguez family's passion
and hard work.
Our Culture
Our Culture
A passion for excellence and a deep respect for our tobacco heritage merge in a historic collaboration.
Two rising and iconic Nicaraguan brands unite their mastery, heart, tradition, and cultivation secrets to create an unprecedented sensory experience.
This alliance celebrates the richness and unique character of the Nicaraguan soil and t
A passion for excellence and a deep respect for our tobacco heritage merge in a historic collaboration.
Two rising and iconic Nicaraguan brands unite their mastery, heart, tradition, and cultivation secrets to create an unprecedented sensory experience.
This alliance celebrates the richness and unique character of the Nicaraguan soil and the passion of Nicaraguan tobacco, intertwining the finest blends and the identity of
both brands in an exclusive selection.
More than just the union of two names, it is the meeting of two passionate legacies that share a common soul, meticulously crafted to redefine the standard of the authentic premium cigar and captivate the most discerning palates.
About our brands
1988 CIGARS
Don Dio Cigars
Don Dio Cigars
1988 Cigars is dedicated to the sons and daughters of those combatants—a tribute to those who turned the ashes of conflict into the fertile soil of our heritage, building the legacy of Nicaraguan tobacco from the ground up, leaf by leaf.
Our brand born from the best Nicaraguans hands of experienced tobacco rollers in a factory that, due
1988 Cigars is dedicated to the sons and daughters of those combatants—a tribute to those who turned the ashes of conflict into the fertile soil of our heritage, building the legacy of Nicaraguan tobacco from the ground up, leaf by leaf.
Our brand born from the best Nicaraguans hands of experienced tobacco rollers in a factory that, due to its excellent working conditions, has among its staff experienced tobacco workers trained in different
factories, who, due to the excellent working conditions, produce tobaccos of excellent
value in their quality, who I have
known since childhood.
Don Dio Cigars
Don Dio Cigars
Don Dio Cigars
Don Dio Cigars With hands forged by farm labor and an unwavering vision, Don
Diógenes began this journey
starting with the seed.
What began as a modest family business
devotedly cultivating tobacco on his own plantation—evolved step by step into a factory where excellence is the only standard. Each leaf is meticulously selected, respecti
Don Dio Cigars With hands forged by farm labor and an unwavering vision, Don
Diógenes began this journey
starting with the seed.
What began as a modest family business
devotedly cultivating tobacco on his own plantation—evolved step by step into a factory where excellence is the only standard. Each leaf is meticulously selected, respecting nature’s rhythms and the traditional curing methods he himself
established.
The DON DIO brand is a direct
reflection of his tireless spirit and
absolute dedication to the art of
fine smoking. At our factory, every
cigar is hand-rolled by skilled
artisans who share the Rodríguez
family’s deep respect for the land.
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