Cigar News: Altadis USA Announces H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez

Altadis U.S.A. announced today the latest cigar in their H. Upmann lineup, the H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez. The is a partnership between Upmann and Jose Mendez who grew the tobacco used in the blend.

Hispaniola is the name Christopher Columbus dubbed the island in 1492 when he landed on it, now known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti. H. Upmann is paying tribute to this island with the name and using tobaccos in the blend from the Dominican Republic such as Olor, Pilotico and Andullo tobacco with the last two being developed exclusively for Altadis by the Mendez family, the largest tobacco grower in the island.

Andullo tobacco is indigenous to the Dominican Republic and is not often used in premium cigars.

Rafael Nodal, Head of Product Capability for Tabacalera USA. Stated: “Jose Mendez & Co. has an amazing library of rare and special Dominican tobacco. Together with Siegfried Maruschke, grandson of Jose Mendez and President of the company, we have created a cigar which highlights the spirit of Hispaniola and takes us on a journey through the most representative tobacco varieties of the island”

H. Upmann Brand Manager Candela Diaz added, “We are very excited to expand the H. Upmann brand with the help of collaborators, such as Jose Mendez. It was quite the experience to see this ancient andullo tobacco brought back to life; our partners in Jose Mendez have done an outstanding job. We look forward to showcasing this one of a kind cigar in Las Vegas at the 2019 IPCPR,” she said.

The H. Upmann Hispaniola is described as a full-flavored, medium to full bodied cigar. The blend features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper with Dominican binder and fillers, including andullo tobacco. It comes in 20 count boxes in three different vitolas: Robusto, (50 x 5): $8.50, Toro (52 x 6 1/8): $8.95, Belicoso (50 x 6): $8.80. The cigar is rolled atTabacalera de García in the Dominican Republic and ships July 2019.