Cigar News: J.C. Newman Announces The American

J.C. Newman Cigar Company has announced it's latest project: The American. It will be launched at two events happening at the same time in Orlando and Tampa on Friday, May 31st. What makes this project so unique is that it is 100% American. It is made from tobacco grown in the US and rolled at J.C. Newman's El Reloj factory in Ybor City, Florida. In addition, the boxes, bands, labels, molds, cellophane tubes, and everything else is made in the United States. This cigar was originally released in 1910.

“The American speaks to the heart of who we are: a four-generation, 124-year-old, American family business,” says Drew Newman, great-grandson of company founder J.C. Newman. “Our country's rich premium cigar tradition dates to the Colonial Era. As an American, I wanted to prove that we could hand roll a world-class cigar in the United States using American tobaccos. I am thrilled that we have created an outstanding all-American cigar.”

The American is not the first Florida Sun Grown (FSG) tobacco, but it is the first to use this tobacco as a wrapper. The wrapper is Florida Sun Grown, grown by Jeff Borysiewicz in Clermont, Florida. Under the wrapper is a Connecticut Broadleaf binder grown by eighth-generation family farmer Jon Foster in South Windsor, Connecticut. Below that is a filler blend of Pennsylvania Type 41, grown by Mennonite family farmers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Connecticut Havana, grown John Foster in South Windsor, Connecticut.

“We are delighted to see our exclusive Florida Sun Grown wrapper tobacco being used on a cigar that is hand crafted in America's ‘Cigar City,'” said Borysiewicz. “A hundred years ago, it was commonplace for Florida-grown tobacco to be rolled into cigars in Tampa's numerous cigar factories. We are proud to be working with the Newman family to bring back this long lost cigar-making tradition after a 50 year hiatus.”

In 1910, the J.C. Newman's El Reloj factory opened in Ybor City, Florida, The Ameircan was the first to be there. J.C. Newman brought the cigar back to life celebrate J.C. Newman's 125th anniversary in 2020. As part of this anniversary, J.C. Newman is restoring the El Reloj factory which includes a cigar museum, factory store, handmade cigar factory-within-a-factory, tours, seminars, and event space. The hope is that El Reloj will become a destination for cigar tourism in the United States.

The American will come in four vitolas to begin with and all in voxes of 20 costing between $16.00 and $19.50. The sizes are: Churchill 7″ x 47, Torpedo 6 1/8″ x 52, Toro 6″ x 54, and Robusto 4 1/2″ x 50.

Event details

• Date: Friday, May 31
• Time: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m
• Locations:
  • Corona Cigar Co.
    7792 W. Sand Lake Rd.
    Orlando, FL 32819
    • Featuring: Jeff Borysiewicz and Drew Newman
  • Davidoff of Geneva Since 1911
    4142 W. Boy Scout Blvd.
    Tampa, FL 33607
    • Featuring: Bobby Newman and Eric Newman

Cigar News: J.C. Newman Announces The American