J.C. Newman Unveils the America250 Cigar Humidor

J.C. Newman Cigar Co. unveiled the America250 Cigar Humidor at the Premium Cigar Association trade show this past weekend (April 18-20, 2026) in New Orleans. This all-American cigar humidor is handcrafted in the United States by Jason LeGear of Milwaukee Humidor Co. Each humidor contains 50 The American Perfecto cigars, one for each of the 50 states. This is a new 6.25” x 50 size of J.C. Newman’s famous all-American cigar brand. Both the humidor and the cigars will bear the official America250 branding of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. 50 humidors are scheduled to ship in time to reach stores before Memorial Day. These humidors will be powered by Boveda humidification systems.

“J.C. Newman is proud to roll official cigars of the 250th Anniversary of the United States,” said fourth-generation cigar maker Drew Newman. “We are equally proud to release this limited-edition series of America250 cigar humidors. Cigars have been an important part of our country since its founding. Therefore, it is only fitting that we celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a humidor and cigars handmade in America.”

Every part of this project, from the blend of heirloom tobaccos in the cigars to the hinges used in the humidor are grown or made in the United States. The lid of each humidor features a map of the United States. Using marquetry, LeGear has shaped each state with wood from trees that are native to the state. LeGear has also inlaid a red, white, and blue border around the map and the U.S. government’s official America250 logo on the front of each humidor.

“The tradition of American craft dates back to before the founding of our country, the Native peoples constructing their environment to live and connect with myth, settlers creating novel ways of making furniture in an American tradition all its own, and those of us embracing natural materials to explore art and design,” said LeGear. “I am honored to be woven into the tapestry of American Handcraft in our fine country with the America250 Cigar Humidor. It is my homage to American cigar culture, from the giants of culture like Mark Twain, Orson Welles, Groucho Marx, Ernest Hemingway and Studs Terkel, to the people who for generations have cultivated, harvested, and created the cigars you now enjoy.”

This is the fourth year that J.C. Newman and Milwaukee Humidor Co. have released a limited-edition series of cigar humidors. In 2023, LeGear handcrafted The American All-Star Humidor from the 2011 NBA All-Star Game court. In 2024, he built humidors for the Tampa Bay Lightning with game-used pucks. In 2025, LeGear created the Home Run Humidor using wood from game-used professional baseball bats.

Because the wood used in each humidor varies, the 50 humidors are unique works of art. Each humidor has a capacity of 100 to 125 cigars. The suggested retail price is $2,750. LeGear will be available at the trade show to meet with retailers and showcase his craft.

“As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of this great nation, I keep in mind two ideals: one from the great patriot Paul Robeson, ‘To be free, to walk the good American earth as equal citizens, to live without fear, to enjoy the fruits of our toil, to give our children every opportunity in life — that dream which we have held so long in our hearts is today the destiny that we hold in our hands’, and from the Declaration of Independence, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal,’” said LeGear. “With these are our guiding principles, let us walk into the next 250 years as a nation. E Pluribus Unum, and may God bless America.”

This is the fourth of four new products that J.C. Newman will be introducing at the PCA trade show this weekend.

President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe Featured in LeRoy Neiman 2026 Collector’s Edition Cigars

 

J.C. Newman Cigar Co. introduced the LeRoy Neiman 2026 Collector’s Edition cigars at the Premium Cigar Association trade show this past weekend (April 18-20, 2026) in New Orleans. This is the fourth year that America’s oldest family-owned premium cigar maker and the LeRoy Neiman and the Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation have collaborated to create a luxury, handcrafted cigar honoring the late, iconic, cigar-smoking American artist, LeRoy Neiman.

“This year’s edition features LeRoy’s painting, ‘The President’s Birthday", which depicts Marilyn Monroe serenading President John F. Kennedy on his birthday at Madison Square Garden in 1962,” said Drew Newman, fourth-generation owner of J.C. Newman. “Jackie Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson, among others, are also featured in the painting. We chose this patriotic image because this year is the 250th birthday of the United States.”

“‘The President's Birthday’ is one of LeRoy's most luminous works—a painting that captures a singular, electric moment when art, celebrity, and American history converged in one room,” said Tara Zabor, LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation Executive Director. “LeRoy had an extraordinary gift for being present at the defining moments of our history and translating them onto canvas with an energy that made you feel like you were standing right there beside him. He was fiercely proud of being an American, and his body of work is essentially a chronicle of America at its most iconic—its champions, its cultural giants, its greatest celebrations. His brushwork was a love letter to American life in all its vibrancy and spectacle. With this collaboration, we are honored to see 'The President's Birthday' take on new life and reach new audiences.” 

LeRoy Neiman Collector’s Edition cigars are handcrafted at J.C. Newman’s historic El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa, Florida. The 2026 edition is a 6.5” x 56 Toro Grande rolled with a Havana Rosado wrapper, a Florida Sun Grown binder, and a blend of aged filler tobaccos from Latin America. This year’s edition is limited to 15,000 cigars, packed in 750 cabinets of 20 cigars with a suggested retail price of $24 per cigar. J.C. Newman plans to ship these cigars at the beginning of June so that they will arrive in stores before July 4. 

Inside each cabinet is an authentic lithograph of “The President’s Birthday.” The image is also wrapped around each cigar. The bottom of each cabinet includes a surprise print of Neiman’s paint-splattered New York City studio floor. All of the packaging was printed by Vrijdag Premium Printing in Holland.

“We have placed this lithograph inside our cigar cabinets to welcome aficionados into LeRoy's cherished world,” added Zabor. “Every time someone opens the cabinet, they're getting not just a great cigar, but a piece of LeRoy's legacy. It's our way of honoring his life and sharing the joy that he put into every brushstroke.” 

Each cigar will also have an official America250 foot band. “J.C. Newman is proud to roll official cigars of the 250th Anniversary of the United States,” said Newman. “Cigars have been an important part of our country since its founding. Therefore, it is only fitting that we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country with American-made cigars.” 

As in past years, J.C. Newman and the Foundation will donate all profits from this collaboration. Since the first edition in 2023, LeRoy Neiman Collector’s Edition cigars have raised $117,000 to support arts education in Tampa’s public schools, including those surrounding the El Reloj cigar factory. 

“Every cigar from the LeRoy Neiman 2026 Collector’s Edition directly supports our ongoing mission at the Foundation,” noted Tara Zabor. “The profits help us improve arts education in local public schools, keeping LeRoy's passion for nurturing creativity alive and thriving among the next generation of artists.” 

This is the third of four new products that J.C. Newman will be introducing at the PCA Trade Show this weekend.

J.C. Newman Unveils New Diamond Crown MAXIMUS

J.C. Newman Cigar Co. unveiled new Diamond Crown MAXIMUS cigars at the Premium Cigar Association trade show this past weekend (April 18-20, 2026) in New Orleans. The new Diamond Crown MAXIMUS will feature elegant new packaging and a bolder, yet still refined, blend of hearty tobaccos. Diamond Crown MAXIMUS will remain in boxes of 20 cigars and the suggested retail price will not change. The new MAXIMUS is expected to ship in June.

“Diamond Crown MAXIMUS is the final cigar that my grandfather Stanford J. Newman created,” said fourth-generation owner Drew Newman. “MAXIMUS is a collaboration between the three remaining cigar families in the ‘Cigar City’ of Tampa, Florida: Arturo Fuente, J.C. Newman and John Oliva. They came together in 2002 to create MAXIMUS to celebrate J.C. Newman’s 105th anniversary.”

The Fuente, Newman and Oliva families have been friends for more than 60 years. These three families represent half of the inaugural 1997 class of Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar Hall of Fame. To create Diamond Crown MAXIMUS, Carlos Fuente Jr. blended this special cigar with Stanford J. Newman using an exclusive El Bajo Sungrown wrapper grown by John Oliva Sr., in Ecuador.

El Bajo is a pristine valley in Ecuador where a mountain’s natural minerals and nutrients, washed down by centuries of rain, have made the soil exceptionally rich and perfect for growing tobacco. Only the richest, heartiest and darkest tobacco from the top priming ‘corona’ of the plant is used in Diamond Crown MAXIMUS. Its rich body allows the wrapper leaves to be refermented, further contributing to its full flavor and dark color. Matched with this incredible wrapper are the finest filler tobaccos grown in the Caribbean Basin, creating a complex and full-flavored blend.

For more than two decades, Diamond Crown MAXIMUS has been known for its distinctive box design. In 2002, Drew Newman created the unique royal blue “M” box with shoulders and feet. A decade ago, J.C. Newman removed the “M” and deepened the box’s color. Diamond Crown MAXIMUS will now be presented in a stunning handmade box that stands on columns and has capitals on the lid and top and bottom of the column feet. 

Diamond Crown MAXIMUS cigars are flavorful with flawless construction and superb quality. Cigar Aficionado has rated Diamond Crown MAXIMUS a 93 and named it the No. 4 Cigar of 2009. 

This is the second of four new products that J.C. Newman will be introducing at the PCA trade show this weekend.

J.C. Newman Introduces Brick House The Commodore Maduro

J.C. Newman Cigar Co. introduced Brick House The Commodore Maduro at the Premium Cigar Association trade show this past weekend (April 18-20, 2026) in New Orleans. This bold new cigar is 5.5” x 70 and will be packed in both boxes of 25 and humidor bags of 5 cigars. The Commodore Maduro has a suggested retail price of $11.50 and will begin shipping in June.

“Brick House is known around the world for its outstanding taste, flawless construction, and excellent value,” said fourth-generation owner Drew Newman. “Our most popular Brick House size is the 6.25” x 60 Mighty Mighty. This year, we will hand roll 1.1 million cigars in that vitola alone. The Commodore is Mighty Mighty’s big brother. It recognizes the popularity of larger ring gauge cigars, but its standard 5.5” length makes it more approachable than the typical 7” x 70.”

In 1875, Julius C. Newman was born in the only brick house in his village in Austria-Hungary. The first floor was a tavern and general store, and J.C. and his family lived on the second floor. Locals and visitors would gather at the home nightly to eat, drink, smoke, and enjoy each other’s company. After he came to America and founded his cigar company, J.C. designed the Brick House brand to honor his family’s home.

A century ago, Brick House was a true Cuban puro. Today, J.C. Newman proudly rolls Brick House at its J.C. Newman PENSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Like all Brick House Maduro cigars, The Commodore features a Brazilian Arapiraca maduro wrapper and a rich selection of the finest Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. 

“When you light The Commodore, you take command,” said Newman. “As captain of your ship, prepare to set sail on a bold three-hour cigar journey.” 

Brick House cigars are flavorful with flawless construction and superb quality. Cigar Aficionado has rated Brick House a 93 and included it in its Top 25 Cigars of the Year four times, including as the No. 10 Cigar of 2024. 

This is the first of four new products that J.C. Newman will be introducing at the PCA Trade Show this weekend.

Montecristo Unveils ‘Follow The Stars’ Tribute Humidor Following PCA Debut in New Orleans

Altadis U.S.A. proudly announces the release of the Montecristo “Follow The Stars” Tribute Humidor, after its initial unveiling April 18 at the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show in New Orleans, La.

With a limited production of just 20 pieces, this one-of-a-kind creation honors the legacy of the Montecristo brand through an extraordinary fusion of craftsmanship, innovation and design—unlike anything ever created in the category.

Developed in collaboration with Hernandez Humidors, the Montecristo “Follow The Stars” Tribute Humidor is engineered to deliver a truly immersive experience. The exterior lid features unique motion-activated lighting with a tactile switch that turns trim LEDs on and off on the bottom of the art piece. Upon opening the humidor, the interior reveals a stunning starry-sky and LED interior that brings the humidor’s inspiration to life.

The humidor is fitted with a precise digital hygrometer that ensures optimal humidity readings. The hand-polished and assembled authentic Spanish Cedar interior provides the perfect vessel for aging the most precious cigars.

Further elevating its design, the humidor includes a hidden 2-cigar Montecristo electroplated ashtray, crafted to mirror the humidor’s aesthetic – an intentional and seamless extension of its artistry and functionality.

“This artful humidor piece is a tribute to everything Montecristo represents—heritage, craftsmanship and innovation,” said Oliver Hyams, VP of Marketing for Altadis U.S.A. “We set out to create something that honors the brand’s legacy while delivering a completely new and unforgettable experience. There is truly nothing like it.”

The humidor is accompanied by a 50-count collection of Nicaraguan Maduro puros, aged an additional five years after rolling. Crafted in a 6 x 55 box-pressed Salomon format with tobaccos from AJ Fernandez’ private estate, these cigars deliver a rich, complex smoking experience designed to complement the rarity of the humidor. Only the 20 owners of the limited, Montecristo “Follow The Stars” humidors, will be granted exclusive access to purchase a 50-count refill twice within a 12-month calendar period.

“This project was about creating a lasting symbol of the Montecristo name,” said Gabe Diaz, Brand Manager for Altadis U.S.A. “Every detail—from the star-inspired design to the cigars themselves—was built to reflect the brand’s story and elevate the way it’s experienced. ‘Follow The Stars’ truly captures the vision for Montecristo…Then. Now. Forever.”

The Montecristo “Follow The Stars” Tribute Humidor will be available in an extremely limited quantity of just 20 units and will ship in June 2026. MSRP of the Follow The Stars Humidor with accompanying 50-Count Salomon cigar collection is $15,000.

Cigar Details

• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro

• Binder: Nicaraguan

• Filler: Nicaraguan

• Origin: Nicaragua• Aging: 5 Years Post-Roll

• Size: 6 x 55 Box-Pressed Salomon

• Packaging: 50-Count Humidor Refill (Exclusive Owner Access) – MSRP $7,500

Avowed New Dawn Corona Gorda (6 x 46)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Cigar-coop.com website)

This was one of two inaugural regular production cigars released by Avowed Cigars. Avowed Cigars is a company founded by Andrew Considine and Dave West. Both Considine and West have a long-standing association with Small Batch Cigars, an online retailer based in California. Inspired by their experiences in retail, they decided to venture into the manufacturing side of the business. In February 2025, the duo officially launched Avowed Cigars.

To produce their cigars, Avowed worked with Klaas Kelner. Klaas is the son of legendary blender Henke Kelner. In 2023, Klaas would open his own factory, Kelner Cigars S.A.S. New Dawn is a project that came about after the Avowed Cigar team described their ideal all-day cigar to Klaas. From that point, Klaas set out to create a single blend to deliver that experience.

Wrapper: Dark Ecuadorian Connecticut

Binder: Ecuador Habano

Filler: Dominican San Vicente/Criollo '98/Piloto Cubano

The cigar is a dark golden brown with an average feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was a little firm but I rolled the cap between my fingers and it loosened up. The initial flavors at light up were lemon, a little brown sugar, dry nutmeg, and earthy black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7. Not a bad start but the lemon and brown sugar need to increase.

At the first third (21 minutes) the ash was still intact and the cigar is burning very evenly. The flavors are just like they started but the lemon and brown sugar have come out more. Not to the point I'd like but they made a definite improvement. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish was black coffee with good lingering black pepper. I rated the first third 92.

Moving through the second third (49 minutes) there was a big change. The lead flavor went from lemon to lemon peel. There is a touch of brown sugar but not enough. And there's a lot of black coffee with earthiness. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is unchanged. There is too much lemon peel and not enough sweetness. I rated the second third 88.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 26 minutes. The cigar made a very small improvement. There is a little more brown sugar and just the slightest amount of actual lemon notes but the lemon peel is still very much in play, as well as a large amount of earthy black coffee. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is primarily black coffee with just a hint of lemon and very good lingering black pepper. I rated the final third 89. The first third was pretty good but it lost steam after that. These are available at smallbatchcigar.com.

Overall Score: 89.67

Avowed Hallowed Hands Corona Gorda (5 3/4 x 46)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Halfwheel.com website)

In celebration of Avowed Cigar Co.’s first anniversary, the company is releasing a new core line.

Next week, Avowed will release Hallowed Hands, a new regular production line. Blend-wise, it uses an Ecuadorian corojo wrapper—a first for the company—over an Ecuadorian habano wrapper and corojo 99, criollo 98, piloto cubano and Pennsylvania broadleaf fillers. It is produced at Kelner Cigars S.A.S.

Hallowed Hands will debut in three vitolas:

Avowed Hallowed Hands Corona Gorda (5 3/4 x 46) — $17 (Box of 15, $255) REVIEWED TODAY

Avowed Hallowed Hands Box-Pressed Robusto (5 3/4 x 50)

Avowed Hallowed Hands Toro (6 x 52) — $19 (Box of 15, $285)

While two of the vitolas are round, the Box-Pressed Robusto is the first box-pressed size for the company.

“With The Vow, we made a commitment. With New Dawn, we looked to the future,” said Andrew Considine, Avowed’s co-founder, in a press release. “Hallowed Hands calls us to stop and reflect. Every time I light one up, I’m reminded of the people who shaped us, who gave us the tools and the belief to build something worth passing on. This cigar honors every hand that had a part in making us who we are today.”

Dave West, an Avowed co-founder, said the blend was created in the corona gorda vitola.

The cigar is nicely made and has an average feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good with just a touch of firmness. The initial flavors at light up were peach, brown sugar, light nougat, and light black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7. Pretty good start.

At the first third (25 minutes) the peach notes are nicer than they were at the light up. There is still some brown sugar and light nougat with earthy black coffee holding the base. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is black coffee with very good lingering black pepper. I rated the first third 93.

As I moved through the second third (52 minutes) I had light peach, citrus peel, brown sugar, increased earthiness, and slightly increased black coffee. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is unchanged. With the introduction of citrus peel and elevated earthiness and black coffee I rated the second third 92.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 27 minutes. Good burn time for a Corona Gorda. In the final third I had plenty of brown sugar and nougat but there weren't any defined notes of peach or citrus peel. There were still plenty of earthy black coffee notes. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is light notes of nougat and black coffee with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar has changed but it's still as good as it was in the second third so I held the score of 92. These are available at smallbatchcigar.com. 

Overall Score: 92.33

Drew Estate Announces New Factory and Farm in the Dominican Republic, “Drew Dominicana”

While La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate is known globally as one of the largest and most respected premium cigar factories in the world, it is also well known that Drew Estate manufacturing has been exclusively based in Estelí, Nicaragua. ​ The combination of Drew Estate’s New York roots and Nicaraguan manufacturing home have been the unwavering backbone behind a distinct, hybrid culture that has changed the face of the premium cigar industry over the last thirty years.

The launch of Drew Dominicana represents the next major chapter in Drew Estate’s global evolution - expanding the company’s footprint into a multi-country manufacturer of premium cigars. The new, 73,000 sq. ft. manufacturing compound includes a consumer experience unlike anything in the cigar world - distinctly Drew Estate.

“Everything changes today,” says Jonathan Drew Sann from Wynwood, Florida. The Drew Estate Founder and President continues, “Nicaragua will forever be our homebase - but today, with us planting our official flag in the Dominican Republic - we are on to something very big, purposeful, and powerful. We are meeting a moment of evolution, head-on, and with open arms as we embrace a new season of learning and organizational growth. The Drew Estate culture, what we proudly call our Subculture, will now include a vibrant, additional layer of Dominican influence that will shine as bright as the sun itself. I’m so proud to know that my son, JD2 is going to have Santiago, Dominican Republic as his fourth native city: New York, Estelí, Wynwood, and now Santiago. Simply magical.”

Drew Dominicana will serve as a center for tobacco cultivation, cigar manufacturing, and immersive consumer experiences, marking the first time Drew Estate will produce cigars outside of Nicaragua. The announcement marks a major milestone in Drew Estate’s recent exploration of Dominican tobaccos. A journey that has already produced the 2025 blockbuster release, Deadwood Tobacco Co. Dominicana, as well as this year’s Undercrown El Tigre Dominicano and Deadwood Tobacco Co. Dominicana Buenas Noches.

While each of the three Dominican focused brands lean heavily into Dominican tobaccos, they are produced in Estelí, Nicaragua at La Gran Fabrica. Now, Drew Estate’s new Drew Dominicana factory and signature farm will provide the infrastructure, resources and authenticity for Drew Estate to invest even deeper into "La Madre de las Tierras" (Mother of Lands).

Drew Estate’s signature farm, located in Villa Gonzalez, Dominican Republic will provide Drew Dominicana with the ability to grow proprietary tobaccos and break boundaries that were only a dream in 2015 when Founder Jonathan Drew Sann wrote the initial white paper outlining the vision and strategy for the endeavor.

Drew Estate is very proud to announce that the farm led by Manuel Peralta, widely regarded as one of the Dominican Republic’s most respected tobacco cultivators, will grow tobaccos exclusively for Drew Estate. Peralta, as everyone calls him in the DR, is a celebrated seed developer and has been a pioneering force in the industry, growing tobacco for more than fifty years. ​ The tobaccos grown by Peralta will provide Drew Dominicana with unique, top-quality leaf developed and grown by one of the island’s most experienced and respected agronomists.

Maarten Van der Linden, Drew Estate’s Head of Tobacco Procurement and a 30-year veteran of the premium tobacco industry, added, “This project represents years of work behind the scenes. Dominican tobacco has incredible depth and character, but only when you invest properly. We’re working with the best professionals to develop truly exceptional tobacco. You can only make truly great cigars with truly great tobacco.”

While most of Drew Estate’s current production will remain at La Gran Fábrica Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua, the new Dominican initiative represents a long-term investment in the Dominican Republic that will broaden Drew Estate’s scope and resources to grow and innovate. The only brands scheduled to shift from Nicaragua to the Dominican Republic are Deadwood Tobacco Co. Dominicana and Undercrown El Tigre Dominicano, but the blends and packaging will remain exactly the same.

Glenn Wolfson, CEO of Drew Estate, added “There have been so many important developments throughout my ten years as CEO of Drew Estate, but this is certainly one of the most exciting, and simply put, one of the best. Every department of Drew Estate has been working to drive this project forward, and to them I am so thankful and proud.”

Drew Dominicana is a fast-developing story, with tremendous work still ahead of the company. Drew Estate will continue to share construction progress through our social media channels as new details develop. ​ Additional information about Drew Dominicana’s opening date and future releases will be shared as it becomes available.

ROOM101 CIGARS SUPERSIZES THE BIG PAYBACK LINE WITH EXTRA FUERTE 70S

Room101 Cigars is adding a new chapter to The Big Payback with the introduction of Big Payback Extra Fuerte 70s, a full-bodied release built for smokers who prefer their cigars with a little more diameter and a little more attitude.

A new offering in the highly popular 70 ring gauge format, Big Payback Extra Fuerte 70s delivers the scale the line is known for with a bolder profile to match. Handcrafted in Honduras, the blend features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan Estelí binder, and a mix of Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Dominican fillers. The result is a premium cigar at an accessible price point, staying true to the Payback mission of delivering more cigar for the money.

Matt Booth, Founder and Creative Director of Room101 Cigars, eloquently said: “SO. MUCH. GIRTH. So much circumference. So much delight.”

Big Payback Extra Fuerte 70s will begin shipping to retailers in April 2026. It will be available in a 7 x 70 size, packed in 20-count boxes, with an SRP of $9.79 per cigar.

ROOM101 CIGARS REIGNITES JOHNNY TOBACCONAUT LINE WITH NEW MADURO RELEASE

Room101 Cigars is reigniting one of its most sought-after sub-brands with the introduction of Johnny Tobacconaut Maduro — a highly anticipated return and the next chapter in an episodic story that began in 2015.

Originally released as a limited Unobtanium project, Johnny Tobacconaut quickly built a reputation among collectors and enthusiasts. Now, the brand returns in Maduro form, offering a darker, more developed expression of the original concept.

Built with AJ Fernandez, Johnny Tobacconaut Maduro is a full-bodied Nicaraguan puro, finished with a rich, oily maduro wrapper. The blend delivers bold notes of earth, espresso, and dark cocoa, pushing the profile further while staying true to the character that defined the original release.

Matt Booth, Founder and Creative Director of Room101 Cigars, said: “I was a tremendous disappointment to my mother during my teenage years. I still lament over this period of life well knowing that time was the only medicine to heal our relationship. Time brings lessons nothing else can teach - and in time we have evolved our beloved Johnny Tobacconaut into a sensational maduro variant which I believe is the most appropriate evolutionary step for this series in our evergreen effort to spread this cosmic brand across this beautiful planet of ours.”

Johnny Tobacconaut Maduro will begin shipping to retailers in June 2026 and will be available in three vitolas: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), and Gordo (6 x 60). The cigars will be offered in 20-count boxes, with suggested retail prices ranging from $10.29 to $12.49 per cigar.

PARTAGAS RELEASES THE NEXT CIGAR IN THE Y NADA MÁS LINE, Y NADA MÁS CIBAO

A follow-up to last year’s Y Nada Más Santiago, Partagas announced the launch of Y Nada Más Cibao, the second in the Y Nada Más line.

Remaining true to its roots in the Dominican Republic, Partagas has centered this new blend around tobacco sourced from the Cibao Valley and has partnered with the renowned, Santiago-based La iSLA factory to craft Y Nada Más Cibao.

John Hakim, brand manager for Partagas, says, “We are reimagining classic cigar traditions through a modern lens, crafting a cigar for today’s cigar smoker who wants authenticity and refined flavor. We went back to our home in the Dominican Republic and sourced from the Cibao Valley to blend our heritage with innovation, making Partagas Y Nada Más Cibao perfect for the modern smoker who has high expectations.”

The cigar is made with an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper, a Sumatra binder, and Habano Vuelta Abajo (HVA), Criollo, and Pennsylvania Broadleaf tobaccos that pair well with Pinot Noir, Cognac, or Porter. Medium-to-full-bodied, Partagas Y Nada Más Cibao is refined and bold, and balances leathery notes of dark wood, mocha, and white pepper.

Partagas Y Nada Más Cibao is handcrafted at La iSLA in the Dominican Republic. The cigars will be presented in 20-count boxes and will ship to retailers on May 11, 2026. The line will launch with three sizes.

Robusto (5" × 50): SRP per cigar $7.99

Toro (6" × 52): SRP per cigar $8.99

Gordo (6"x 60): SRP per cigar $9.99

Drew Estate Announces Undercrown El Tigre Dominicano - A Distinctly Dominican Undercrown

Since its birth on the factory floor, Undercrown has always represented the spirit of the Underdog. This newest extension to the Undercrown line sees this familiar Underdog spirit extend past Nicaragua to the fields of the Dominican Republic to create an Undercrown unlike any before.

Undercrown El Tigre Dominicano is a defining new chapter for the Undercrown brand, one deeply rooted in the DR. For the first time, Undercrown embraces a Dominican filler-forward expression, with the elegant and rich Dominican filler tobaccos in full spotlight. At the core of El Tigre is a beautiful pairing of Dominican HVA and C-98 leaves, tobaccos selected specifically for their balance, structure, and aromatic depth. Together, they build a layered, expressive base of flavors easily enjoyed by any fan of premium cigars.

Above the Dominican base, El Tigre Dominicano features a Connecticut Corojo H99 Hybrid binder and an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper. Finished in a soft box-pressed format, this blend presents a medium-to-full bodied flavor profile that is refined and expressive. Notes of white pepper and roasted espresso unfold throughout the experience, supported by earthy undertones that bring depth and continuity to this undeniably Undercrown experience.

“El Tigre Dominicano means so much to all of us at Drew Estate,” explains company Founder & President Jonathan Drew Sann. “While handmade in Nicaragua at La Gran Fabrica, El Tigre strikes at the filler-forward core of the Dominican Republic, with layers and layers of complex transitions. Seriously, the El Tigre blend brings Undercrown to a whole new level. It’s a cigar that’s now in my personal daily rotation. Everyone at the office can’t stop smoking them … I’m super curious to see the consumer response to this blend.”

Available Sizes:

Box-Pressed Corona Viva (5 3/4" x 46) $11.50 (Box of 20, $230.00)

Box-Pressed Robusto (5" x 50) $12.75 (Box of 20, $255.00)

Box-Pressed Toro (6" x 50) $13.00 (Box of 20, $260.00)

Box-Pressed Gordo (6" x 60) $14.50 (Box of 20, $290.00)

 

Product Details:

Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra

Binder: Connecticut Corojo H99 Hybrid

Filler: Dominican-forward HVA & C-98

Body: Medium-Full

Taste Profile: Elegance, Silky Spice, White Pepper, Roasted Espresso, Earth

 Undercrown El Tigre is an unprecedented addition to the Undercrown portfolio. First shared as the “Fire” blend of the inaugural Early Access packs, El Tigre will be fully unveiled and available to order for attendees of the PCA Trade Show on April 18th. Undercrown El Tigre Dominicano will ship to retailers in April 2026.

Pospiech Introduces "Smoke This Trust Me" — A Bold New Cigar Line Engineered for Brick-and-Mortar Retail

Pospiech today announced the launch of Smoke This Trust Me, a new premium cigar line crafted in the world-renowned tobacco region of Estelí, Nicaragua. Available in three distinct blends — Connecticut, Habano, and Maduro — Smoke This Trust Me is designed from the ground up to empower independent retailers and bring unmatched value directly to walk-in customers.

Three Blends. One Mission.

All three blends in the Smoke This Trust Me line are long filler cigars produced in Estelí, Nicaragua — one of the most celebrated cigar-making regions on the planet. While the specific blend compositions and factory remain proprietary, each cigar delivers a distinct smoking experience tailored to a wide range of palates:

Connecticut — A smooth, approachable wrapper for the discerning mild-to-medium smoker.

Habano — A spicy, complex profile with rich body and depth.

Maduro — Full-bodied and naturally sweet, for those who prefer a darker, bolder smoke.

Each blend is available in three vitolas: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), and Gordo (6 x 60) — offering something for every preference without compromising on value.

Pricing & Availability

Smoke This Trust Me carries a uniform MSRP of $8.00 per cigar across all three blends and all three sizes. Cigars are available in bundles only, displayed in-store with bold "Buy 3 Get 1 Free" packaging — a retail-forward program designed to give independent shops a powerful selling tool right on the sales floor.

Built for Brick-and-Mortar

The driving philosophy behind Smoke This Trust Me is simple: give local cigar shops a compelling value product that keeps customers walking through the door instead of waiting at the mailbox.

"I wanted to create a program that helps brick-and-mortar retailers compete against catalog retailers — without affecting margins. A local shop should be able to offer real value to a walk-in customer, right then and there, instead of that customer going home to order online and waiting days just to save a couple bucks."

— Gregg Szczepankiewicz, Co-Founder, Pospiech

By presenting the Buy 3 Get 1 Free promotion directly on the display box, retailers can offer a transparent, compelling deal at the point of sale — no coupons, no websites, no waiting. The program is structured to protect retailer margins while delivering genuine value that catalog and online competitors simply cannot match for the walk-in shopper.