Don Emmanuel Cigars Begins Shipping Sun & Moon Limited Edition, a Collaboration Between Don Emmanuel and Legendary Master Blender Eladio Díaz

Following a successful debut at the 2026 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, where the release generated strong interest from retailers and media alike, Don Emmanuel Cigars is now shipping its Sun & Moon Limited Edition to retailers nationwide.

Created through a collaboration between Don Emmanuel and legendary master blender Eladio Díaz, Sun & Moon brings together Emmanuel's vision and philosophy with Díaz's world-renowned blending expertise in a unique dual-blend concept presented within a single box.

Inspired by the natural relationship between light and time, energy and reflection, Sun & Moon was created to offer smokers two complementary interpretations of the same philosophy. The Sun blend captures brightness, vitality, and balance intended for daytime enjoyment, while the Moon blend reveals a deeper, richer, and more contemplative character suited for the evening.

Both cigars are crafted in a 6½ x 50 format and feature a blend of tobaccos aged up to 10 years, including select tobaccos aged in rum barrels, a rare process that contributes additional layers of aroma, complexity, and depth to the smoking experience.

Blend Details

Sun

Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut

Binder: Dominican Republic

Filler: Dominican Republic

Moon

Wrapper: Ecuador Habano

Binder: Mexico

Filler: Dominican Republic

Production is limited to 777 numbered boxes, each containing 14 cigars — seven Sun and seven Moon — allowing smokers to experience both interpretations of the concept within a single presentation.

The suggested retail price is $350 per box, with individual cigars priced at $25 each.

For Emmanuel, whose approach to cigars is influenced by symbolism, mythology, and the rhythms of nature, the project represents a continuation of the philosophy that defines the Don Emmanuel brand.

“Sun gives strength. Moon gives time. A cigar is where both worlds meet,” said Emmanuel.

Following its successful introduction at PCA 2026, Sun & Moon Limited Edition is now shipping to retailers nationwide. With production limited to just 777 numbered boxes worldwide, select inventory remains available while supplies last.

Talk by Cigar Historian Holden Rasmussen at Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

On Thursday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m., J.C. Newman’s historian Holden Rasmussen will give a presentation at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts on the history and evolution of the cigar industry in Tampa. Hear about the evolution of Tampa’s cigar trade and bridge the gap between the historical archives of the past and the active factory floors of today.

Historian Talk with Holden Rasmussen

Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

1630 E. 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605

 On view during the talk will be the exhibit Cigars! Photography, Industry, and Identity. This unique collection pairs rare nineteenth and early twentieth-century vintage photographs of tobacco growing, cigar making and cigar smoking from The Burns Collection & Archive in New York with modern photographs of the 25 cigar factories still standing in Tampa by Zack Wittman.

We invite you to join us at this special event.

Pospiech Cigars Begins Shipping Powstanie Sumatra Cigars to Retailers Nationwide

Pospiech Cigars, the distribution company behind Powstanie Cigars, is proud to announce that the highly anticipated Powstanie Sumatra has officially begun shipping to retailers nationwide.

The newest addition to the Powstanie core lineup, Powstanie Sumatra features an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed wrapper over binders from Mexico and Pennsylvania and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Like the company’s other core offerings, the blend is produced at Fábrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño S.A. in Nicaragua.

“Powstanie Sumatra was built to fit exactly what retailers and consumers have been asking us for,” said Mike Palmer, National Sales Manager for Pospiech Cigars. “This is a blend that delivers complexity, balance and consistency while still bringing something new to the Powstanie portfolio.”

Powstanie Sumatra is being released in four box-pressed vitolas, all offered in formats unique from the company’s existing core lines:

Petit Robusto (4 3/4 x 50) — MSRP $13.50

Gran Robusto (5 1/2 x 52) — MSRP $14.00

Gran Toro (6 1/4 x 52) — MSRP $16.00

Churchill (7 x 48) — MSRP $15.50

All cigars are packaged in 21-count boxes.

Initial production is limited, with the first allocation totaling approximately 20,000 cigars. Retailers who secured early orders can expect shipments to begin arriving immediately.

The launch continues the momentum behind the Powstanie brand following multiple 90+ ratings and recognition throughout 2025, including the Powstanie San Andrés Belicoso being named one of the highest-rated cigars of the year.

Alec Bradley 30 Years Toro (6 x 54)

Video review HERE.

(Description provided by Forged Cigar Co.)

Alec Bradley is marking its 30th anniversary with the introduction of Thirty Years, a milestone cigar created to honor three decades of passion while setting the tone for the brand’s next chapter.

Founded in 1996, Alec Bradley began with a simple idea: make cigars we genuinely love and let the story unfold from there. Over three decades, that approach has helped the brand earn some of the industry’s most respected accolades, including Cigar Aficionado’s #1 Cigar of the Year, while building a reputation for award-winning blends and distinctive storytelling.

Rather than revisiting the past, Thirty Years reflects the evolution of the brand — trusted tobaccos, strong factory partnerships and a blending philosophy built on making cigars we actually want to smoke. The final blend was selected by Alec, Bradley and Alan Rubin.

Crafted at Raíces Cubanas, Thirty Years features a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos that deliver a medium-plus profile designed to honor the journey while looking ahead to what comes next.

“This cigar represents everything we’ve learned over the last three decades,” said Alec Rubin. “Thirty years isn’t ancient in the cigar world, but it’s long enough to understand what matters — great tobacco, great partners and cigars we’re proud to smoke ourselves.”

Thirty Years is available in Robusto (5 x 52), Toro (6 x 54) REVIEWED TODAY and Gordo (6 x 60) vitolas, each presented in 16-count boxes. A retail-exclusive Perfecto (6.75 x 54) will also be available in 10-count boxes, limited to 2,026 units for 2026. Suggested retail pricing ranges from $9.99 to $12.99 per cigar.

Wrapper: Honduran Trojes

Binder: Honduran Jamastran & Nicaraguan Jalapa

Filler: Nicaragua (Estelí & Jalapa) and Honduran (Jamastran & Trojes)

The cigar looks nice and has a nice feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was a little firm but workable. The initial flavors at light up were something like a strawberry jam, brown sugar, earthiness, and black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 to 7 1/2. I've had a few cigars that had a strawberry-like flavor but not many. 

At the first third (27 minutes) I still had the strawberry-like notes, brown sugar, light cream, and earthy black coffee. The finish is black coffee with moderate lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium bodied. I found the cigar nice at this point. The cream helps the strawberry notes. I rated the first third 93.

As I moved through the second third (51 minutes) I wondered what happened. The strawberry notes are only hints and there's a little bitterness, like an unripened strawberry. There is a touch of the cream remaining and a little brown sugar. But there's also a lot of earthy black coffee. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish had somewhat of a strawberry note with some earthiness and very good lingering black pepper. There's not enough sweet notes to counteract the earthy black coffee and bitterness. I rated the second third 88.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 18 minutes. I actually cut it a little short. It wasn't improving. I had a minor amounts of brown sugar, a lot of earthiness, and black coffee. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is black coffee and very good lingering black pepper. There's not much left. The cigar didn't hold much after the first third. I rated the final third 82. Each third had massive transitions downward. This one didn't have much that appealed to me.

Overall Score: 87.67

Punch Rare Corojo 25th Anniversary (6 x 54)

Video review HERE.

(Description provided by Forged Cigar Co.)

Punch Cigars is marking 25 years of Rare Corojo by releasing a new cigar with a signature Punch twist.

The new cigar — Rare Corojo 25th Anniversary — is not a limited-edition release, but instead will join the Punch full-time lineup.

Rare Corojo 25th Anniversary delivers a bold and spicy smoking experience, and it was produced at the Aladino Factory in Honduras. The cigar is a Honduran Puro made with a Corojo wrapper and a Corojo binder, along with fillers of Habano and Corojo. It offers tasting notes of spice, cedar, and earth.

Scott Abney, Brand Manager for Punch Cigars, said, “For over two decades, Punch fans have eagerly anticipated new Rare Corojo frontmarks and releases. Now, to celebrate 25 years on the shelves, we’re giving them a taste of a new blend that delivers that same signature Punch they know and love.”

While Rare Corojo 25th Anniversary contains an entirely different blend from the “original” Rare Corojo, both will be available on a full-time basis.

Rare Corojo 25th Anniversary’s branding is distinct from other Rare Corojo releases. It is available in a single size: a 6 X 54 Toro. Each box contains 10 cigars. SRP per cigar is $10.99.

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

The test draw after cutting the cap was a touch firm but workable. The initial flavors at light up were tangy plum, brown sugar, a little earthiness, light leather, and black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7. Nice start. The plum and brown sugar are very nice.

At the first third (19 minutes) the ash is tight and the cigar is burning very evenly. The plum and brown sugar are still mixing very well. And now there is a sprinkling of cinnamon. There was light leather and black coffee in a nice amount. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is plum and very light leather with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar is quite tasty. It's impressive. I rated the first third 95.

As I moved through the second third (40 minutes) the sweet notes weren't quite as sharp. The black coffee is up just a little. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is plum, light leather, and some dry wood notes with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar remains quite good. I rated the second third 94.

The cigar lasted 1 hour. In the final third the earthiness rose along with the black coffee while the plum notes decreased. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is plum with a lot of dry wood notes and very good lingering black pepper. The dry wood notes are not very good, in my opinion.  I rated the final third 91. The first two thirds were very good and kept the cigar with a good overall score. This cigar is well worth trying and has a nice price point.

Overall Score: 93.33

Drew Estate Announces New SVP of Marketing & Chief Innovation Officer Role

Drew Estate is proud to announce both the promotion of Founder and President Jonathan Drew Sann to Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) of Drew Estate, as well as the hiring of Andrew Duncan, who will succeed Jonathan in the lead Marketing role and serve as Senior Vice President of Marketing. As Jonathan moves into the CIO role, he will remain the company’s President and a key member of the Executive Team.

Jonathan Drew’s new position as Chief Innovation Officer will allow him to take on a role crafted specifically to unleash, focus, and leverage the unique entrepreneurial, visionary, and disruptive capabilities that have been fueled by his personal journey over the arc of his career, and most particularly over the last 13 years since he sold Drew Estate to Swisher in 2014. ​

The mission of Drew Estate’s newly formed Innovation Department is to identify new opportunities that strongly align with Drew Estate’s four competencies – innovation, disruption, iconic brands, and engagement – thus enabling the company to broaden its business portfolio with the goal of creating significant levels of virtuous value for years to come. The newly announced Drew Dominicana factory in the Dominican Republic as well as the newly announced J.SANN & SON retail division exemplify mission-critical strategic initiatives birthed by the Innovation Department.

Drew Estate CEO Glenn Wolfson explains, “We are asking Jonathan to engage his visionary roots and create multidimensional cultural and business adjacencies that will help shape the future of Drew Estate. This is a momentous occasion in Drew Estate’s history, and one we’ll surely look back at as the beginning of a whole new chapter.”

Jonathan Drew remarks from Wynwood, Florida, “When I think about my work-life today, I’m focusing on the long-term legacy of Drew Estate – all of the stakeholders in the USA, Nica, and now the Dominican Republic – the people who give their heart and soul to make us better. I focus on the consumers and retailers of our beautiful craft, who deserve to be treated well and appreciated. Finally, I’m thinking about my son, JD2 and teaching him how to make an honest living with a life of purpose – the Drew Estate Way.”

Drew Estate is also proud to announce the hiring of Andrew Duncan as the company’s new SVP of Marketing. Andrew will inherit the overall leadership responsibilities for Brand Management, Consumer Engagement, Digital Marketing, and Global Creative. In addition to his role leading Marketing at Drew Estate, Andrew will work closely and collaboratively with JD to support the commercialization of the Innovation Department’s strategic initiatives.

​Andrew Duncan comes to Drew Estate from The Sazerac Company, one of America’s most respected family-owned spirits companies. In his most recent role as Global Head of Brand Marketing, Andrew led global growth strategy for the company’s Bourbon and American Whiskey portfolio. During his tenure at Sazerac, Andrew helped steward some of the most iconic and fastest-growing brands in American Whiskey through a period of significant growth and premiumization. Prior to Sazerac, Andrew held a variety of senior marketing positions at Procter & Gamble with responsibilities spanning brand strategy, portfolio management, commercial planning, partnerships, and consumer engagement.

“As anyone internally at Drew Estate can tell you, filling this position has been a very challenging search,” said Drew Estate CEO Glenn Wolfson. “We set the bar extremely high with exacting requirements, searching for proven leadership and management skills, talents and values that align with Drew Estate’s ethos, hands-on experience with ‘premiumization’. Most importantly, Andrew is a very strong fit, not only with Drew Estate’s iconic culture, but with the premium cigar industry’s culture at large. He is authentic, passionate, and purpose-driven, and already embraces many of the attributes which characterize the Fellowship of the Leaf. ​ We are confident we’ve found the right leader for the job with Andrew and are excited to see what he can achieve here at Drew Estate as well as what we can contribute to the ongoing health and growth of our premium cigar industry.”

“The last 30 years in the cigar industry has taught me that Drew Estate is a very strange company. After a very extensive search, I can say that finding Andrew was like finding a needle in a haystack. Andrew is a superstar because he’s intellectual, numeric, analytical - yet also humble and very human. He’s from the Midwest of the United States, with a military background, and I deeply appreciate his personal values and virtues of which I’ve learned in our fast-friendship. We are gonna be solid partners across Marketing and Innovation,” remarks Founder Jonathan Drew Sann.

On the personal front, Andrew is a native of Pittsburgh and a true son of the heartland who shares the values of consumers on Main Streets across America. He received his MBA from the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University and his MM from Carnegie Mellon. Andrew currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with his family.

Celebrate International Museum Day at El Reloj!

Each year, we proudly welcome more than 25,000 visitors to experience the rich history of J.C. Newman Cigar Co., home to the last operating cigar factory in the United States.

This International Museum Day, we invite you to join us in celebration with a FREE guided tour of our historic El Reloj cigar factory and museum!

International Museum Day | Monday, May 18

Complimentary Guided Tours

Select times between 9 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

Learn about the craft of cigar making, explore the largest private cigar collection in the world and visit our factory store for all your Cigar City favorites. Discover the craftsmanship, history and tradition that make El Reloj one of Tampa’s top cultural destinations.

Limited spots are available so book your tour for Monday, May 18 today! We can't wait to welcome you to El Reloj.

Book a Tour

New Exhibition on Cigar Photography at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

J.C. Newman Cigar Co. is proud to sponsor a new exhibit on cigar photography at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, located in Tampa’s Ybor City historic cigar district. The exhibit, Cigars! Photography, Industry, and Identity, pairs rare nineteenth and early twentieth-century vintage photographs of tobacco growing, cigar making, and cigar smoking from The Burns Collection & Archive in New York with modern photographs of the 25 cigar factories still standing in Tampa by Zack Wittman. The exhibit celebrates the 140th anniversary of the first cigar rolled in Ybor City in 1886 and is open through July 19.

The Burns Collection includes more than one million historic photographs from the early era of photography. In support of the exhibition, the Burns Collection published a book, Cigars: From Seed to Smoke, A Photographic History, featuring 250 vintage photographs documenting the early days of the cigar industry. J.C. Newman commissioned Wittman, an award-winning documentary photographer, to capture 12,000 images of Tampa’s remaining cigar factories. Last year, Newman and Wittman published Cigar City: A Legacy of Tampa’s Founding Industry.

On Thursday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m., J.C. Newman’s historian Holden Rasmussen will give a presentation at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts on the history and evolution of the cigar industry in Tampa. We invite you to join us at this special event.

Cigars! honors Ybor City’s enduring legacy as the cigar capital of the world through the powerful lens of photography, bridging the golden age of cigar making with its vibrant present while celebrating the deep roots that shaped the city’s cultural and economic foundation.

Presented in collaboration with The Burns Collection & Archive in New York and Tampa’s own J.C. Newman Cigar Company, the exhibition offers a rare visual dialogue across centuries. Nineteenth and early twentieth-century original vintage photographs from The Burns Collection transport visitors to a time when immigrants were at the heart of Ybor City’s rise, bringing with them cigar-making expertise, revolutionary ideals, and a rich cultural heritage that transformed Tampa into a global hub of industry and identity.

These historical images of factory life, skilled cigar rollers, and moments of everyday community are placed in conversation with compelling contemporary photographs by Zack Wittman, who documents the 25 remaining cigar factory buildings in present-day Tampa and the people who carry forward this legacy. Wittman’s work, created in partnership with the J.C. Newman Cigar Company, offers an intimate look at how Cuban, Spanish, and Italian traditions, labor practices, and pride remain embedded in Ybor City’s living culture.

Timed to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the first cigar rolled in Ybor City on April 13, 1885, the exhibition reveals how photography has long served as a tool to preserve and reimagine the Ybor City story, as well as American history—one of migration, resistance, artistry, and community. Cigars! celebrates not only the history of an industry but also the lasting contributions of the people whose spirit continues to define Ybor City’s past, present, and future.

El Rey del Mundo King of the World VSOP (6 x 52)

Video review HERE.

(Description provided by Forged Cigar Co.)

El Rey del Mundo is launching a new, limited-edition cigar for those who appreciate aged complexity and bold character from their smoking experiences. The cigar, called El Rey del Mundo King of the World VSOP, was rolled in 2021 and has been carefully resting in STG’s aging room waiting for its opportunity to shine.

King of the World VSOP boasts an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, a Nicaraguan Habano binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican Habano fillers. It is available in a single size — a 6 x 52 Toro. King of the World VSOP was produced at STG Estelí in Nicaragua. The new cigar represents a follow-up to the limited-edition El Rey del Mundo King of the World, which was released in 2024. King of the World VSOP is a medium-to-full-bodied cigar.

Ed Lahmann, Senior Brand Manager for El Rey del Mundo, said, “Fans, for many decades, have always relied on El Rey del Mundo for its exceptional cigars at an exceptional price. King of the World VSOP stays true to this statement and delivers one of the best cigars that we’ve made in a long time. This cigar really punches above its weight, giving cigar smokers across the country a chance to experience the elegance of El Rey del Mundo at a price that’s hard to say no to.”

Only 2,000 boxes of El Rey del Mundo King of the World VSOP have been produced. Suggested Retail Price (SRP) per cigar is $10.99. Each box contains 16 cigars. 

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

The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were somewhat of a pear, light brown sugar, and a lot of very heavy black coffee which I'll call espresso. There was black pepper rated at 7 to 7 1/2. An ok start but there is a lot of espresso.

At the first third (22 minutes) the black coffee seems to have pulled back just a little allowing the sweet notes to come out. I still had the pear-ish notes and there is somewhat of a citrus to go along with them, a little more brown sugar, a dribble of nougat, a little earthiness, and quite a bit of espresso. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is black coffee with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar is pretty good at this point. I rated the first third 93.

As I moved through the second third (52 minutes) there was a big swing. The sweetness is very light. There is some bitterness and very little brown sugar. The espresso is back up and it's way up. The earthiness has also increased. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. The cigar lost a lot of what it was in the first third. I rated the second third 89.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 19 minutes. In the final third I had a little brown sugar, roasted pecans, and heavy espresso. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is unchanged. I rated the final third 85. The cigar started off with some promise but faded quickly.

Overall Score: 89

Cohiba Serie M Reserva Plata (6 x 52)

Video review HERE.

(Description provided by General Cigar)

Cohiba Cigars has again partnered with the storied El Titan de Bronze Factory in Miami to produce a new, American-made cigar. Serie M Reserva Plata marks the sixth time Cohiba and El Titan de Bronze have collaborated on a Serie M Cigar. And like previous releases, all Serie M Reserva Platas are hand-made by Certified Level 9 rollers.

The limited-edition Serie M Reserva Plata boasts an entirely new, five-leaf blend. It begins with a rich Mexican San Andrés wrapper. Underneath rests a bold and balanced Nicaraguan Estelí binder, along with Nicaraguan Jalapa Viso & Ligero, Estelí, and Dominican Piloto Cubano fillers. Serie M Reserva Plata offers tasting notes of cocoa, wood, and hazelnut.

Sean Williams, Cohiba Brand Ambassador, said, “This is our 6th Serie M Release, and it continues to be a pleasure working with El Titan de Bronze to create a special expression each year for this line. Serie M Reserva Plata is just that... special. It marks only the second time we’ve ever used a San Andrés wrapper on any Cohiba cigar. Married with the rest of this terrific blend, Serie M Reserva Plata really delivers a deep, rich, well-balanced profile.”

Serie M Reserva Plata is available in a single size: a 6 X 52 Toro. It was produced by El Titan de Bronze in Miami, Florida. Only 3,000 boxes have been made available for sale. Serie M Reserva Plata is a limited-edition cigar and will begin shipping to authorized Cohiba retailers in March 2026. It is sold in ten-count boxes. SRP per cigar is $29.99.

The cigar is well made and has a nice 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 lemon, lime, brown sugar, a little earthiness and leather, and black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2 to 8. Nice start.

At the first third (32 minutes) the cigar is basically the same; lemon/lime, brown sugar, earthiness, black coffee, and leather. All the flavors are working very well together. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is black coffee with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar tastes very good. I rated the first third 94.

As I moved through the second third (1 hour 10 minutes) the cigar was earthier with more black coffee. The sweet notes are still nice and at about 75% of what they were in the first third. The cigar is a low grade medium to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. The cigar lost just a tick. I rated the second third 93.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 51 minutes. Nothing much changed. There is the slightest amount of citrus peel in the front end flavors but it does not hurt the cigar. In reality, lemon, lime, and citrus peel are all sort of similar so no harm, no foul. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. I held the score of 93. This is a good cigar. A little pricey, but good.

Overall Score: 93.33

J.C. Newman Celebrates Victory Before the Supreme Court of Estonia

Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Estonia struck down the Estonian Health Board’s excessive €5,000 annual fee to register each type of cigar.  The Court ruled that the Estonian government’s one-size-fits-all approach to tobacco regulation was unconstitutional as applied to premium cigars.  As the named plaintiff in the case, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. sued the Estonian Government on behalf its longtime importer, Sigari Maja.

 “Around the world, premium cigars continue to face an onslaught of excessive government regulation,” said Drew Newman, fourth-generation cigar maker and J.C. Newman’s general counsel.  “We have proudly sold our cigars in Estonia for more than 25 years.  By imposing a €5,000 annual fee for every type of cigar sold in the country, the Estonian government effectively forced most premium cigars off the market, greatly reducing the number of cigars available to Estonian consumers.”

In explaining its decision, the Supreme Court recognized that premium cigars are sold in small quantities and cannot absorb the same regulatory costs as mass-market tobacco products with vastly higher sales volumes.  The Court directed the Health Board to establish a new fee structure tailored to premium cigars that reflects the significantly lower cost of regulating these products.

“This decision is an important victory against government overregulation of premium cigars,” said Newman. “I hope this victory in Estonia will spread throughout Europe and encourage policymakers to treat premium cigars fairly. My family and I are proud to have supported this effort, and we are deeply grateful to Sigari Maja and attorneys Armin Heinsaar and Margus Reilan for their outstanding work in achieving this result before Estonia’s highest court.”

Step inside Ybor City’s El Reloj, the last operating cigar factory in America

In the heart of Ybor City, where Tampa’s cigar industry was born, one factory is still keeping that legacy alive. 

J.C. Newman Cigar Company is now the last operating cigar factory in the United States — a distinction that makes it not just a business, but a living piece of American history.

Inside the historic El Reloj factory, cigars are still crafted using techniques passed down through generations. Skilled rollers work by hand, shaping each cigar with precision — a process that has largely disappeared in modern manufacturing.

The company, founded in 1895, has deep roots in Tampa and played a major role in shaping Ybor City into what was once known as the "Cigar Capital of the World."

Today, that tradition continues under the Newman family, who have preserved both the craft and the culture that defined the area for more than a century.

Beyond production, the factory doubles as a museum experience.

Visitors can walk through the facility on guided tours, watching cigars being made in real time while learning about the industry’s impact on Tampa. The building itself is filled with history — from antique cigar molds and tools to some of the oldest cigars in the world still preserved onsite.

The factory’s iconic clock tower, "El Reloj," has become a symbol of Ybor City’s rich heritage.

J.C. Newman continues to open its doors to the public, offering tours throughout the week and inviting visitors to step back in time and experience a craft that helped build Tampa.

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