"This cigar was a tale of two halves. The first half had complexity while the second half was on the darker side with little change. I'm not sure if it was me or the blend but by the end, I was left with more questions about how good this cigar could really be. I will definitely revisit this cigar once I know what it is. " -Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
"I enjoyed this cigar it kept giving me notes of sweet tobacco, coffee, German chocolate cake, and even some cream soda at the end. This cigar started out nice with the sweetness then let up and brought in the wood and earthy notes, but the sweetness never left and even returned at the end. I will let you know dear readers that this does require some time commitment. I wouldn't suggest you smoke this cigar in the elements unless it's a nice spring or fall day." -Mickey T. (irratebass)
"This was definitely on the milder side for someone like me who likes a stronger cigar, but the flavors really shined. Citrus, lemon zest, orange peel, leather, and Graham cracker all melded together to create a very enjoyable cigar. I would definitely try this again, especially when the weather warms up. Thanks for the experience!" -Kevin J. (maninblack77)
In July of 2020, Jas Sum Kral came out with a Swedish exclusive, Sota Kakor. Jas Sum Kral owner Riste Ristevski and his Swedish distributor Karl Martin Brix Nelson from Kind Cigars had been working on the project since 2017. The name Söta Kakor is Swedish for sweet cookies. The name of the cigar isn't the only reference to Sweden, as the ring contains traditional elements from the Dalarna region of Sweden.
J.C. Newman has named Aimee Cooks the new Vice President and General Manager of Its Historic El Reloj Cigar Factory. In her new role she will over see cigar manufacturing and distribution. This appointment makes her one of the few females in this position in the industry. Based out of Tampa, FL, Cooks will oversee all manufacturing responsibilities, including tobacco fermentation, cigar rolling, aging, and packing. Additionally, she will be responsible for the warehousing and shipping of imported J.C. Newman and Arturo Fuente cigars that are distributed from El Reloj.
Fratello Cigars has announced new distribution in the countries of Belgium and Luxembourg through an exclusive distribution agreement with Media Rueda. The cigars will be available in though countries as of today. Crowned Heads and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust also use Media Rueda for international distributions.
Altadis U.S.A. has announced a new cigar in the H. Upmann brand for 2022, H. Upmann Nicaragua AJ Fernandez Heritage. Frequent Altadis collaborator AJ Fernandez blended this new cigar and it will be shown off at the upcoming Tobacco Plus Expo January 26-28 in Las Vegas.
Favilli S.A., the company behind Mombacho Cigars, has announced new packaging for its Diplomático Rum Cigars. They will new be available in 10 count bundles in addition to the original boxes. The brand is a collaboration that was released in 2019 with the rum brand Ron Diplomático.
Florida-based Serino Cigar Company has announced and is already shipping a new line: The Expat. The blend uses an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper with fillers from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania. Binder is not disclosed. It comes in three sizes: Corona Gorda 6 x 46 ($5.35 MSRP), Passport 5 7/8 x 50 ($5.50), and Sublime ($5.75). It also sports a pigtail cap and a sporty shaggy foot. The Expat comes in bundles of 10 cigars and is a regular production cigar.
Supreme Leaf is back, and this time in a fatter robusto size. This limited edition cigar is blended with 100% Aganorsa-grown tobacco and is one of the company's most sought-after cigars. The new size is a 5 x 54 box-pressed robusto and it is the same blend as the previous four sizes and comes in the same bright, vibrant packaging.