Edca Quiñones has joined Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust®

On February 1st, Edca Quiñones has joined Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) as their first ever, in-house Sales Representative. She will be working with their Purveyors in the State of Florida.

Edca was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, NY and is bilingual. She was first introduced to cigars by her grandfather and father, who were two men that loved to discuss their cigars as they were smoking. She herself started enjoying cigars in 1992. After serving 20 years in the US Coast Guard, she was forced to retire due to injury, however there was no question that she wanted to get involved full time in the cigar industry to share her love, passion and cigar knowledge with others. Edca began working at Executive Cigar’s Sanford, Florida location as a tobacconist and eventually their Cigar Manager, then in late 2022, she joined Cigar Hustler in Deltona, Florida as a Sales Associate, where she remained until January 2025. Simultaneously she was also part of the sales team at Zander-Greg representing a variety of brands they distribute.

“Most young companies in our industry focus on their Sales Teams very early on, but I have done the exact opposite.” states Steve Saka, the Founder and Co-Owner of DTT. He continues, “Product has always been first - in my opinion, if you always strive to make the best, the market will reward you with success. Finding people to ‘sell’ of our puros has been far less important than having a person who truly loves cigars, can connect in the right way with our customers, understands our unique ethos so they can represent who we are as a family business. These types of people are far rarer than you would think. It took nearly 5 years for us to add David Lafferty as our VP of Sales and now nearly almost 5 years later Edca will be joining us. We weren’t actively looking, but by happenstance I met her at an event and found her to be impressive in all the right ‘not-your- typical-sales-weenie’ ways. So, it is great to be able to welcome her to the DTT family.”

Edca will assist DTT’s Florida-based Purveyors with their product allocation, support, training and events. Her contact information is being transmitted via email to all the appropriate accounts. Currently, she is beginning the process of introducing herself to their Purveyors in the territory and will be attending this year’s PCA Trade Show.

ROMEO Y JULIETA CELEBRATES 150 YEARS

Romeo y Julieta, one of the most revered and enduring names in premium cigars, marks its 150th anniversary this year. Founded in 1875, the brand has captivated cigar enthusiasts worldwide, earning its place as one of the most iconic and beloved cigars. In the United States, the iconic brand is owned and distributed by Altadis U.S.A., continuing a dedication to craftsmanship, passion and innovation that has shaped the cigar industry for more than a century and a half. 

“Celebrating 150 years is a moment of immense pride for all of us,” said Davide Moro, CEO of Altadis U.S.A. “This milestone honors the generations of individuals who have contributed to this journey—from farmers and rollers to retailers and our loyal consumers. It also marks the beginning of an exciting year-long celebration for this iconic brand.” 

Oliver Hyams, Vice President of Marketing at Altadis U.S.A., said, “2025 marks a pivotal year for Romeo y Julieta. To honor this 150-year milestone we will feature a series of strategic releases and exclusive events to highlight the brand’s legacy and our vision for the future. We are excited to bring our consumers along for this exceptional journey and look forward to sharing what’s ahead for Romeo y Julieta.” 

Romeo y Julieta’s 150th Anniversary will unfold with several key events throughout 2025 

Exclusive Launch Events: The celebration kicks off at the Procigar Festival in February 2025 in the Dominican Republic, home of Tabacalera de Garcia, which is one of the factories that produces Romeo y Julieta cigars. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the Romeo y Julieta 150th Anniversary cigar and view the exclusive “Palazzo of Love” humidor, a one-of-a-kind creation reserved for auction at the festival. 

National Debut: In April 2025, the full Romeo y Julieta 150th Anniversary cigar lineup will make its national debut at the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show in New Orleans. This collection, the most premium Romeo y Julieta cigar to date, will be showcased alongside the unveiling of the bespoke Romeo y Julieta 150th Anniversary Humidor and a captivating brand activation.  

Immersive Campaigns: Throughout the year, Romeo y Julieta will launch a series of immersive storytelling events and educational experiences that showcase the brand’s rich heritage and global influence. 

Romeo y Julieta’s 150th Anniversary not only celebrates the past but sets the stage for the future. With every cigar, aficionados are invited to experience a legacy that has shaped the cigar world for 150 years, while embracing the innovation and bold vision that will continue to inspire future generations. 

Sizes & Retail: 

 

Tobacco Queen Lancero (6.9 x 38)

Video review HERE.

(Description provided by Cigar Ambassador)

Cigar Ambassador recently announced their introductory brand, “Tobacco Queen.” Cigar Ambassador has a two-decade history, as a grower of premium tobacco, international cigar magazine publisher, cigar distributor and operator of high-end cigar lounges.

The Tobacco Queen brand is unique as each vitola has a slightly different blend. The blends were created at the Cigar Ambassador cigar factory in Tamboril, Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Tobacco Queen Lancero

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Dominican Corojo

Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa, Dominican Criollo 98

6.9 x 38

MSRP: $21.06

The cigar is long and thin. It has an average feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good with a touch of firmness. The initial flavors at light up were citrus and black cherry with a touch of richness along with earthy black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2 to 8. Nice start.

At the first third (30 minutes) the flavors are the same and the richness is developing. The citrus and black cherry actually make a very nice flavor and they're rich. The earthy black coffee is there but it's in the background. The black pepper is still good. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is black cherry with very good lingering black pepper. I rated the first third 94.

Moving through the second third (58 minutes) the black coffee has risen somewhat but it actually helped the cigar by making a solid base. It's not very earthy though. The cigar is medium bodied leaning toward medium to full. The finish is unchanged. The cigar is still very good. I held the score of 94.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 27 minutes. The black coffee that inched up in the second third kept inching up and the richness pulled back. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. I rated the final third 93. This is the best of the cigars I've sampled in the Tobacco Queen line. The price point is a little high but well worth trying.

Overall Score: 93.67

Tobacco Queen 56 (6.8 x 56)

 

Video review HERE.

(Description provided by Cigar Ambassador)

Cigar Ambassador recently announced their introductory brand, “Tobacco Queen.” Cigar Ambassador has a two-decade history, as a grower of premium tobacco, international cigar magazine publisher, cigar distributor and operator of high-end cigar lounges.

The Tobacco Queen brand is unique as each vitola has a slightly different blend. The blends were created at the Cigar Ambassador cigar factory in Tamboril, Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Ecuadorian Habano wrapper

Dominican Corojo binder

Nicaraguan Jalapa/Dominican Criollo 98 filler

The cigar is nicely made and has a nice feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors at light up were tart black cherry and earthy black coffee. There is more earthiness in this cigar than the A which I reviewed yesterday. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2. Pretty good start.

At the first third (34 minutes) this cigar is coming across very similar to the A. The major difference is there are no citrus notes and it's earthier. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is black cherry with very good lingering black pepper. The blend in this cigar and the A are very similar. I rated the first third 93.

As I moved through the second third (1 hour 13 minutes) the earthiness moved up a little. The other notes are the same. The cigar is pushing medium to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. I rated the second third 92.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 58 minutes. The earthiness pulled back allowing the black cherry to shine. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. This cigar is a little earthier than the previous two I've reviewed. It's not bad at all. I rated the final third 93.

Overall Score: 92.67

Tobacco Queen Super A (9.25 x 48)

Video review HERE.

(Description provided by Cigar Ambassador)

Cigar Ambassador recently announced their introductory brand, “Tobacco Queen.” Cigar Ambassador has a two-decade history, as a grower of premium tobacco, international cigar magazine publisher, cigar distributor and operator of high-end cigar lounges.

The Tobacco Queen brand is unique as each vitola has a slightly different blend. The blends were created at the Cigar Ambassador cigar factory in Tamboril, Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Dominican Corojo

Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa, Dominican Criollo 98 & HVA

9.25 x 48

MSRP: $28.08

The cigar is lengthy and nicely made. It has a nice feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good. Impressive for a cigar of this length. The initial flavors at light up were citrus, tart black cherry, and earthy black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2. Pretty nice start.

At the first third (56 minutes) there is quite a bit of the tart black cherry that at times seems to morph into a tart strawberry. There is still some citrus and after the sweet notes there is a dollop of butter followed by earthy black coffee. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is black cherry with good to above average lingering black pepper. The notes are quite tasty. I rated the first third 94.

As I moved through the second third (1 hour 47 minutes) the notes aren't changing but percentages are. Now there is more earthy black coffee. The other notes are the same but a little lower. The butter notes don't seem to be in play any longer. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is black coffee with hints of black cherry and very good lingering black pepper. I rated the second third 93.

The cigar lasted 2 hours 50 minutes. In a nutshell, nothing much changed on the front end. The same notes in the same amounts were in play. The black pepper has been creeping up throughout and is now around 8. The finish changed a little as it is now black cherry with very good lingering black pepper. There was very little change in the cigar and that's impressive for a cigar of this length. It remained medium bodied. I rated the final third 93. These are a little pricey but if you can afford them they are well worth trying. You will get a nice burn time for your expense.

Overall Score: 93.33

Isabela Cigar releases the 2025 Mammoth in a 770 Box Press

2025 Has Arrived!!  The Last Few Years have killed all the Micro-Craft Cigar Makers or Blew Them Up To Corporate Behemoths!

ISABELA Cigar Company is the last standing.

We Promised we would NEVER show up in Catalogs. Never compromise who we are. They all said the same thing but ISABELA honored it. The only reason we stand out is small farm tobaccos and 80 year old on average torcedores.

For 2025, our first drop is the MAMMOTH 770, our lights out hit, only this time in a more "accessible Box Press Format!

Packed with all the transitions and ever-changing flavor profiles that give ISABELA our true identity.

Limited to 100 bundles of 25 and 100 boxes.

www.isabelacigarcompany.com to order direct from our website or Official ISABELA Retailers !

Request ISABELA...at your local Tobacconist !

Powstanie Cigars Introduces the Release of the New San Andrés Line

Powstanie Cigars is excited to announce the highly anticipated Release of the new San Andrés Powstanie Cigar, an extraordinary addition to our premium cigar portfolio.

This addition to our regular production portfolio is crafted with precision at the renowned Nica Sueño factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, ensuring the highest quality and craftsmanship that aficionados have come to expect.

The San Andrés Powstanie features:

   •   Mexican San Andrés Wrapper

   •   Ecuadorian Habano Binder

   •   Nicaraguan and Dominican Fillers

Designed for those seeking bold, complex flavors, the San Andrés Powstanie is delivering an intense and unforgettable smoking experience.

Vitolas & MSRP:

   •   Toro: $16

   •   Robusto: $14

   •   Belicoso: $14.50

   •   Perfecto: $13.50

   •   Corona: Scheduled for release later this year

The San Andrés Powstanie brings together the finest tobaccos to create a cigar that balances strength with nuanced complexity. From the rich, earthy notes of the San Andrés wrapper to the smooth burn and bold finish, this line is destined to be a favorite among seasoned smokers.

 “This release reflects our commitment to delivering premium cigars with unparalleled quality and flavor,” says Mike Szczepankiewcz, Brand Owner of Powstanie Cigars. “The San Andrés Powstanie is the perfect addition for those who seek strength, depth, and sophistication in their smoking experience.”

Drew Estate Introduces the "Liga Privada Único Serie Year of the ​Snake" to the Asian Market

This exclusive release aligns with the Year of the Wood Snake, symbolizing wisdom, charm, and transformation - traits that were deeply pondered while blending and crafting this limited and exclusive short batch. “It’s an honor for Drew Estate to participate in such an important cultural moment,” says Jonathan Drew, company Founder and President. “We’ve worked on the ‘Year of’ project for quite a long time and it seems to have an impact on people who wish to bring two distinct rituals together for celebration and reflection. I would love to personally meet the people who are enjoying this collection. That would be so cool.”

The "Year of the Snake" is a 7 x 44 (177.8 mm x 17.5 mm) Lonsdale, available in beautifully crafted 10-count boxes. Balanced and complex with a peppery kick, this Liga reflects the enigmatic and potent nature of the snake.

Blend Specifications:

​• Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

​• Binder: Connecticut Corojo

​• Fillers: A select blend of Nicaraguan, Brazilian, and US tobaccos

Distribution is exclusive to CoH Cigars Hong Kong and is scheduled for release on January 29, 2025, just in time for the Lunar New Year celebrations. For more information on the "Liga Privada Único Serie Year of the Snake" and other Drew Estate products, please contact CoH Cigars Hong Kong.

The Moose Is On The Loose With The New Chillin’ Moose Too Toro

To celebrate the new year, Chillin’ Moose is expanding its Chillin’ Moose Too lineup with a new toro (6 X 52) vitola. Known for delivering exceptional quality at an unbeatable price, Chillin’ Moose Too has been a favorite among cigar enthusiasts since its debut in 2016.  

Joe Krzyston, Brand Manager for Chillin’ Moose, said, "The Chillin’ Moose brand has built a loyal following thanks to its unbeatable value and a flavor profile that always delivers. Following the release of the toro size for Shady Moose, fans came knocking at our door asking for the same vitola of Chillin’ Moose Too. We’re excited to answer their call with this cigar that has been a staple in our lineup for almost ten years.” 

Chillin’ Moose Too features a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder and a filler blend made exclusively of Nicaraguan tobacco. Handcrafted at STG Esteli, this medium-bodied cigar is available at a great price of $5.49 per cigar.  

 Chillin’ Moose Too Toro (6 X 52) will ship to retailers on February 3, 2025, with each box containing 20 cigars. Medium-bodied with notes of cedar, cocoa, vanilla and spice, this cigar pairs well with a stout or coffee.

PUNCH BLASTS OFF WITH LUNAR NEW YEAR RELEASE, BOTTLE ROCKET

Punch Cigars is continuing its beloved tradition of Lunar New Year cigars with an explosive new limited-edition called Bottle Rocket. Punch Bottle Rocket features a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, a Nicaraguan Estelí binder, and Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Honduran fillers. It is available in a single size — a 4.5 X 50 figurado. 

Building off last year’s firework-themed release (Dragon Fire), Bottle Rocket comes packaged in a firework canister, and each cigar is attached to its own firework stick. Individual canisters contain 20 cigars. The canisters also display serpent imagery as a nod to The Year of the Snake, which begins on January 29.  

Punch's brand manager, Scott Abney, said, “Much like a good firework, Punch Bottle Rockets are powerful, eye-catching, and surprising in all the right ways. Beyond the colorful packaging and bombastic branding lies a truly excellent cigar crafted with a rich Mexican San Andrés wrapper. Grab a pack of Bottle Rockets and start the Lunar New Year off with a bang!” 

Punch Bottle Rocket is a full-bodied smoke that delivers a spicy and peppery yet balanced flavor profile. It is handmade at HATSA in Honduras. Bottle Rocket will begin shipping to retailers February 3, 2025.  

Punch Bottle Rockets (4 X 50); SRP per cigar $6.99 

J.C. Newman’s Cigar Float Parades Through Tampa

Tampa has two century-old traditions: The first cigars were rolled here in 1886.  Beginning in 1904, pirates have invaded Tampa in an annual celebration called Gasparilla.  The Gasparilla Parade of Pirates is reportedly the third largest parade in the USA. Last Saturday, hundreds of floats paraded down Bayshore Boulevard before 300,000 spectators. 

J.C. Newman’s parade float is a replica of its historic, El Reloj cigar factory, which is the last traditional cigar factory still operating in the United States. While the float paraded through Tampa, spectators were able to watch a cigar roller on board hand roll José Gaspar cigars. In addition to longtime J.C. Newman employees, the float also carried the official 2025 Miss Florida, Casana Fink.       

“Cigars and Gasparilla have been essential parts of Tampa’s identity for more than 100 years,” said Drew Newman, fourth generation owner. “We wanted to bring them together by rolling José Gaspar cigars as well as being featured in the Gasparilla parade.”

Although pirates have always smoked cigars along the parade route, cigar floats have been absent from the parade for many decades. The most recent photos of a cigar float in Gasparilla are from the 1960s.

“We hand rolled cigars on our float because we wanted to show all of the paradegoers the art and tradition of premium cigars.”

“My hope is that our J.C. Newman cigar float can participate in lots of parades in the years ago, and perhaps event attend the Premium Cigar Association trade show in Las Vegas,” said Newman.

Eric and Bobby Newman, longtime members of the original Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, were joined by Drew and Dawson Newman, newly inducted members of the Krewe, as they proudly rode J.C. Newman’s parade float in full pirate gear.

Warped New Day (5 7/8 x 52)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Halfwheel.com website)

For its latest release, Warped Cigars relied on the opinions of some of its retailers to decide which cigar to release.

Warped says that it created three different test cigars, entirely different in both wrapper and filler blends. They were sent to various retailers who were asked to vote on which blend they liked and which vitola they’d like it created in.

The winning combination—as chosen by the retailers’ votes—is called New Day. It’s offered in a 5 7/8 x 52 parejo vitola. Blend-wise, New Day uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra rosado wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers. The cigar was made at TABACALERA LA iSLA in the Dominican Republic.

Each cigar has an MSRP of $14.75 and production is limited to 1,000 boxes of 15 cigars.

It will only be sold at 12 retailers:

Atlantic Cigar Co. (Norristown, Pa.)

Jack Schwartz Importer (Chicago)

Luxury Cigar Club (Cottonwood, Ariz.)

Maxamar’s Ultimate Cigars/SmallBatchCigar.com (Orange, Calif.)

Neptune Cigar (Miami)

Oxford Cigar Co. (Orlando, Fla.)

Smokingpipes.com (Longs, S.C.)

STOGIES World Class Cigars (Houston)

The Cigar Chapel (Bend, Ore.)

The Vault Cigar Lounge (Meridian, Idaho)

Tobacco Leaf (Lakewood, Colo.)

Wooden Indian Tobacco Shop (Havertown, Pa.)

The cigar is a medium brown and has an average feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were citrus, apple, lime, brown sugar, and slightly earthy black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2. Nice start.

At the first third (28 minutes) the ash was still intact and the burn line was nearly perfect. There's a lot more citrus at this point. I still got some light apple and lime but primarily it's citrus. The brown sugar plays a big part in the overall sweetness. You hardly notice the black coffee at the base. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is a thickness of brown sugar, almost wafer like and caramelized, with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar is impressive. I rated the first third 94.

As I moved through the second third (1 hour 4 minutes) the cigar is still burning very evenly and where the ash fell off is almost perfectly flush. Very even burning. The notes are about the same. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. The cigar continues to be very enjoyable. I held the score of 94 for the second third.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 45 minutes. In the final third the very nice sweet notes of primarily citrus and thick brown sugar actually ramped up. The cigar is very sweet. There's earthy black coffee for the base but you will fixate on the extreme sweetness. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. I rated the final third 95. This is unlike any Warped cigar you've had before. Very different but very good. And the burn is almost perfect. These are available at smallbatchcigar.com but no discount codes apply. They come in 4 packs for $59. 

Overall Score: 94.33