The Prensado Gran Belicoso was created in early 2019 during a retreat Alec Bradley held for its entire US staff in Central America. Based on the award-winning Prensado blend, the elegant 5 1/2" X 56 ring-gauge Gran Belicoso was limited to a total production run of 1300 ten-count boxes, never to be made again.

However, in 2021 Jason Faulkenburg contacted Alec Bradley Director of Sales & Marketing, Jonathan Lipson, with hopes to commission the Prensado Gran Belicoso for Ash Quarterly's ongoing support of Cigars For Warriors. Alec Bradley Founder, Alan Rubin, agreed to the project, as Cigars For Warriors is an organization near and dear to his heart. Only 2200 cigars were produced and will be featured at Ash Quarterly's event on July 2, 2022, at Executive Cigar Lounge in Sanford, Florida, where consumers will have the ability to purchase and donate Prensado Gran Belicoso cigars directly to Cigars For Warriors. Additional cigars will be available in-store at both the Sanford and Melbourne locations of Executive Cigar Shop and Lounge, as well as online through ashquarterly.com.

Diesel will roll out a new trilogy that blends storytelling, interactivity, and cigar mastery in one. Called ”Fool’s Errand,” the new, limited edition release will ship to retailers on April 1.

Justin Andrews, who oversees Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s (STG) cigar collaborations and the Diesel brand says, “AJ Fernandez and I recently completed the Elixir trilogy and in that time, Diesel fans grew accustomed to our cool approach to limited edition cigars. We’re keeping the tradition alive with ‘Fool’s Errand.’ It’s our next three-year series, and we’ll launch it annually to kick off spring. With Fool’s Errand, we’re taking it to the next level by adding an interactive game to the mix. As far as the blends for Fool’s Errand go, we definitely won’t disappoint.”

A new cigar from Punch called “The People’s Champ,” will ship in early June. The cigar is the result of input from thousands of dyed-in-the-wool Punch fans who guided every aspect of the cigar and its packaging.

The Punch Brotherhood, an online-based group of Punch brand enthusiasts from across the US, started collaborating on The People’s Champ cigar in 2019, providing feedback to the Punch brand and cigar-making teams in the U.S. and Honduras. Three years later, with input on everything from the profile and the size of the cigar to its packaging, Punch will proudly unveil the limited edition robusto.

CAO is set to launch a blend called Pilón Añejo which pairs labor-intensive fermentation and finished cigar aging to deliver a cigar of great depth and character.

The limited-edition line will ship to retailers in April and a total of 5,000 boxes will be released in the US.

CAO Pilón Añejo is made with the same circular pilón fermentation technique as CAO Pilón, the collection that launched in 2015. However, that is where the similarities end. CAO Pilón Añejo features a unique blend of tobaccos that are met with aging after the cigar is finished, to release an intriguingly complex smoke.

Rick Rodriguez, CAO’s blender/ambassador commented, “With CAO Pilón Añejo, we’ve combined pilón fermentation which does such incredible things to the tobacco, with a full two years of aging of the finished cigars. Together, these methods add a whole new dimension to the blend. We’ve ultimately created a layered smoking experience that we could not have achieved through any other processes. This cigar is just a pleasure to smoke, and the team and I are really proud of it.”

Handcrafted in Honduras at STG’s HATSA factory, CAO Pilón Añejo relies on the pilón process of natural fermentation to heighten the smoking experience and aesthetics of the Cuban seed Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper. The blend is rich and savory, consisting of Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers, beneath a Honduran Habano binder. CAO Pilón Añejo is a medium-to-full-bodied smoke that bears a deep, rich color and an array of notes including wood, earth and toast, with a touch of spice.

CAO Pilón Añejo will be presented in 20-count boxes, in the three sizes listed below.

CAO Pilon Añejo Robusto (5.5” x 54) -- SRP per cigar $8.89

CAO Pilon Añejo Toro (6” x 52) -- SRP per cigar $8.99

CAO Pilon Añejo Gigante (5.88” x 60) -- SRP per cigar $9.29

El Rey del Mundo, the legendary Honduran brand, welcomes its first limited edition cigar with El Rey del Mundo by AJ.

The new expression is available in one box-pressed vitola and features a blend from AJ Fernandez.

El Rey del Mundo by AJ began shipping to all channels of retail this month.

Steve Abbot, director of marketing for STG said, “’El Rey del Mundo by AJ’ takes the foundation we’ve established with El Rey del Mundo and El Rey del Mundo Naturals and brings it to another level. Powered by a Nicaraguan-forward blend, AJ’s take on ‘El Rey’ delivers a fuller-bodied smoking experience. We believe this blend will capture the attention of smokers who might not have tried the brand before.”

Handcrafted by artisans at Tabacelera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua, El Rey Del Mundo by AJ is made with a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper and filler, with a Connecticut Broadleaf binder. The cigar delivers both body and balance and imparts hints of dark chocolate, cedar and white pepper on the palate.

El Rey Del Mundo by AJ is presented in 10-count boxes and available until the limited supply of 3,800 boxes is depleted.

El Rey del Mundo by AJ Toro (6 x 52); SRP per cigar $11.99 (box pressed)

Bethlehem, PA (March 16, 2022) – Cigars International (CI) announced today that the company will open a CI Superstore in San Antonio. The new location will be the company’s third store in Texas and its eighth retail location in the U.S.

A grand opening event is slated for Saturday, May 14, 2022, with additional details to be posted on Facebook @CISanAntonioSuperStore and Instagram @CigarsInternationalSanAntonio.

The San Antonio SuperStore is located in The Landmark, at 5630 Landmark Parkway, on Highway 1604 and the I-10 corridor in the city’s bustling outer loop.

2000 Limited Edition Samplers to Feature Exclusive Cigars

Fort Lauderdale, FL (May 5, 2022)

Alec Bradley Cigar Company, a multigenerational family owned and operated business, today announced the upcoming release of 2000 Limited Edition 'Taste of the World Chunk' samplers for Father's Day 2022. Presented in collectable 8-count boxes, finished in a luxurious high-gloss blue lacquer, the collection unites 2 Chunk sized cigars each of the sampler exclusive 'Gatekeeper' and 'Kintsugi' with the Canadian exclusive 'Black Market,' and global release 'Magic Toast.' All Alec Bradley Chunk cigars measure in at a short and stout 4 1/4" X 60 ring gauge.

COHIBA TO LAUNCH NEW SIZE OF SERIE M

LIMITED EDITION RELEASE EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH EL TITAN DE BRONZE

General Cigar announces that Cohiba Serie M, the first collection of Cohiba to be handcrafted by artisans in the U.S., will be released in a new, limited edition size for 2022.

Cohiba Serie M is the result of a collaboration between General Cigar’s Cohiba team and the family-owned El Titan de Bronze Cigar Factory.

Cohiba Serie M Corona Gorda (6.5” x 48) will be available for a suggested retail price of $29.99 per cigar, and will be presented in 10-count boxes that sell for $299.90 apiece. The new frontmark will begin shipping to retailers on April 4, and just 5,000 boxes will be released.

Cohiba Brand Ambassador Sean Williams said, “Since its debut a year ago, Cohiba Serie M has been a resounding success. We’ve received high praise from cigar media, shop owners and cigar lovers who have called Serie M one of the most exciting Cohiba blends they have ever smoked. Together with Sandy Cobas (owner of El Titán de Bronze) and her team, we’re proud to release the blend in a new size, giving cigar connoisseurs another opportunity to experience the artistry of Serie M.”

Each Cohiba Serie M cigar is handmade by the Cuban expatriate cigarmakers of the El Titán de Bronze Cigar Factory in Miami’s Little Havana district.

Chillin’ Moose will soon have a beefy sidekick thanks to Bull Moose, a new line of super-sized smokes that will ship to retailers in early May.

With its own, high-octane blend, Bull Moose is a Nicaraguan puro made exclusively with Nicaraguan Habano tobaccos derived from the country’s rich volcanic soils.

John Hakim, brand manager of Chillin’ Moose said, “Bull Moose kicks Chillin’ Moose up a notch with a deeper profile and delivers it in sizes that are well, gigantic. This is the perfect cigar for the initiated smoker who wants the experience of a Nicaraguan puro without breaking the bank.”

El Rey del Mundo, the legendary Honduran brand that became available in all retail channels in February 2021, is adding a new full time expression to its lineup. Called “El Rey del Mundo Naturals,” the collection ships to retail in March and features a completely different blend from the Sumatra version of El Rey del Mundo that launched last year.

Handcrafted by artisans at the HATSA factory in Danli, Honduras, El Rey Del Mundo Naturals is a mellow-to-medium-bodied smoke featuring an Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper, a Honduran binder and a Honduran and Nicaraguan filler. The cigar delivers a smoking experience that is richly layered, with a subtle note of white pepper, surrounded by deeper notes of cedar and graham cracker.

Olga Koke, assistant brand manager for El Rey del Mundo said, “With ‘Naturals,’ we are introducing a great all-purpose cigar. It is easy to smoke, loaded with nuances and extremely versatile when it comes to pairing. Factor in its accessible price and we believe El Rey del Mundo Naturals has all the makings of a runaway success.”

El Rey Del Mundo Naturals will launch with four vitolas, each presented in 20-count boxes:

Rectangulars (5.625” x 46); SRP per cigar $5.19 (box pressed)

Robusto en Vidrio (5.5”  x 50); SRP per cigar $6.49 (crystal tube)

Flor de Llaneza (6.125” x 54); SRP per cigar $6.79 (pyramid)

Reserva Salado (6” x 54); SRP per cigar $6.79 (toro)

Macanudo Gold Label is making its annual return next month and will mark the brand’s 20^th anniversary with a new, limited edition size available this year only.

Macanudo Gold Label will ship to retailers between May 1 and July 29, 2022 or until this year’s allotment has been depleted. A total of eight frontmarks will be available, including the Gold Label “Gran Pyramid” which is a new, limited edition frontmark created exclusively for the 2022 season.

Originally released in 2002, the line was inspired by a special golden Connecticut Shade leaf and has, for two decades, remained a perennial favorite among discerning cigar aficionados.

Laurel Tilley, Macanudo’s brand ambassador said, “Even after twenty years, the anticipation continues to build for the annual release of Macanudo Gold Label. This speaks to the allure of Gold Label’s mellow blend and the unique creamy notes it delivers. Whether it’s paired or savored on its own, this cigar makes for a great indulgence. I’m looking forward to enjoying it with fellow cigar smokers across the country.”

February 25, 2022 -- Club Macanudo has opened its first location in Southeast Asia, with the launchof Club Macanudo Kuala Lumpur.

Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s upscale shopping and entertainment district of Jalan Ampang, and just steps away from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, the new Club Macanudo location is part of The Shoppes at Four Seasons Place, a stunning retail mall that caters to locals and visitors with discerning taste.

The elegantly-appointed, intimate cigar lounge is sleek and modern, designed in a minimalistic style. The interior of Club Macanudo at Kuala Lumpur boasts a smoking lounge, private VIP rooms and retail space with rich woods, lush upholstery and bespoke lighting that casts a golden glow throughout the space.

CAO leads the pack in bringing the world’s most unique and unexpected tobaccos to its fans. The brand team has gone deep into the Amazon jungle, to the wilds of Africa, and to Italy, Columbia and many points in between to create exciting blends. And now, with their newest release, CAO Borealis, CAO has set its sights on the North.

A new expression made exclusively for the Canadian market, CAO Borealis features a rare Canadian tobacco in its blend.

CAO Borealis gives a nod to the awesome skylights that only occur in locations as targeted as pinpoints on a map. This speaks to the fact that geography and climate are pivotal in so many ways, just as they are for tobacco. It’s why the CAO team ventured to the province of Ontario, where Canada’s highest quality farmland is located. There, in the province’s Southwest corner, near the Great Lakes where humidity and warm evenings prevail, a special Cuban-seed variety of dark air-cured tobacco is grown.

(Miami, Florida) - Plasencia Cigars, a world-leading premium tobacco grower established in 1865, announces that the limited release “Year of the Tiger” is now shipping. This launch was unveiled at the Tobacco Plus Expo which took place at the Las Vegas Convention Centerthis past January. In the Chinese Zodiac this is the Year of the Tiger and the Plasencias felt it apt to introduce a cigar which symbolizes values upheld by the family.

In Chinese culture the tiger represents characteristics such as determination, confidence, persistence, and is also known to be dynamic. Established in 1865 all those characteristics were needed for the company’s longevity. Being dynamic was especially relatable to the family, as to survive for well over a century, the company has had to be creative and forward-thinking to change with the times.

The Year of the Tiger is a Nicaraguan Puro with tobacco aged 10 years from the Plasencia library of tobaccos. Medium bodied, this limited release blend boasts deep and rich flavors, that only well-aged tobacco can deliver. Because of the limited availability of this aged tobacco, only 2500 boxes were created and shipped to the U.S. market.

In the great Italian sandwich debate, what you call it depends on where you’re from. It’s either a “sub,” a “hoagie,” or, if you lived in Brooklyn back in the day, you called it a “hero.” Either way, the bread’s soft inside and drizzled with the vinegar, oil and oregano mix, and there’s heaps of provolone, salami and lettuce. To be legit, it’s gotta have capicola. Or Gabagool as the cool kids call it.

Where are we going with this?

Partagas is launching “Añejo,” a refined cigar named for the profoundly-aged wrapper tobaccos that define its appearance and its taste.

Handcrafted at General Cigar Dominicana and shipping to retailers on March 1, Partagas Añejo is a dimensional blend that starts off mellow and builds to a medium-bodied experience as the smoke progresses. Notes of wood, leather and earth abound, stemming from the cigar’s artisanal blend.

The star of Partagas Añejo is its wrapper. Predominantly adorned with a rare 1998 Cameroon which is intermixed with 2013 Connecticut Shade in a barber-pole format, the aged wrapper tobaccos create a cigar of exceptional depth. The Mexican and Dominican filler and Dominican binder deepen the complexity of the aged wrappers to deliver a layered experience.

Protocol Cigars is pleased to announce its first exclusive limited release of 2022. The Protocol Hard Coal Detective, HCD for short is being release in collaboration with Breaker Cigars of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Like all of the limited edition releases the company does with smaller brick and mortar shops, they try to incorporate the heart and soul of the shop into the project. Juan Cancel, founder and co-owner said, “When we do these great projects we try to capture as much of the spirit of the shop we are releasing the cigar through as possible. The Hard Coal Detective is no exception.” 

(Miami-Fl)- Carlos Alberto Toraňo Sr., the former President of the Toraňo Family Cigar Company, passed away peacefully in his home this month (February 2022) in Miami, FL. He was 78 years of age. Carlos Toraňo Sr. was the third generation of the Toraňo tobacco family. He is credited with bringing the Toraňo tobacco family to new heights, after relocating to the USA following the Cuban revolution. Toraňo Sr.’s storied career earned him many recognitions to include the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Cigar Journal.

Founded in 1916 by Santiago Toraňo, the Toraňo tobacco family is recognized as one of the oldest tobacco families in the cigar industry. At the age of 16 Carlos Toraňo Sr. experienced the nationalization of Cuba in 1959, where his family’s tobacco fields were taken away and were forced to leave the island. The family however continued to seek out the finest quality tobaccos from many countries around the world. After being educated in the United States, Carlos Toraňo Sr. joined the family business and followed in his father’s footsteps by continuing the tradition and legacy of his grandfather.

Dunbarton, NH – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust^® (DTT) is currently taking pre-orders for “The Bewitched”, its newest addition to it[s] much heralded Muestra de Saka line. The deadline for pre-orders is April 8^th, 2022.

“Muestra is the humble, common word for “sample” in Spanish, however it takes on much more important, sometimes reverential, meaning when used in a handmade cigar factory. A muestra is the vision of the ligador and torcedor realized, it is the promise of a new experience and possibly the key to financial success for the fabrica. Muestras are hoarded and coveted by not only their makers, but by the cigar smokers who seek to catch a glimpse into the cigarmaker’s soul within their smoke” states Founder and Master Ligador, Steve Saka.

Punch Knuckle Buster, the bold and wallet-friendly collection that debuted in February 2020, is adding a Maduro expression to its lineup.

“We created Punch Knuckle Buster to be a ‘go to’ for smokers who wanted a well-made, no-nonsense blend at an accessible price. With Knuckle Buster Maduro, we’re at it again, this time adding a little more ‘punch.’ This is a cigar that delivers on all fronts: strength, complexity, balance and above all, enjoyment,” said John Hakim, brand manager for Punch.

Handcrafted at HATSA, Punch Knuckle Buster Maduro offers a medium-to-full bodied experience derived from its lustrous, Connecticut-grown Broadleaf wrapper, Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan filler. The hearty blend offers peppery spice tempered by hints of nuts, leather and sweetness.