Southern Draw Cigars has announced a new cigar, Manzanita which translates to “little apple”. Like all other Southern Draw Cigars, it is rolled at AJ Fernandez Cigar Co.
The name Manzanita came about years ago during a planning session as inspecting bales of Habano hybrid, noting the deep red oily leaves, indicative of the shimmering “red” bark of a manzanita tree, these leaves would later become the wrapper of Manzanita. The blend includes the aforementioned Habano hybrid, Pelo d’Oro, Corojo 99, Habano, and ligero. But the rest of the blend details are undisclosed so as not to form notions prior to each person’s own actual smoking experience. The cigar comes in one size as of now, a 6×52 toro parejo. It comes in boxes of 10 that sell for $149.99 each. Manzanita is a regular production blend and will be released in their standard size robusto, toro and gordo in 2021, which the initial launch is in the toro size only. Annual production for 2021 is 180,000 cigars, 60,000 per size, will be made available Q2 and Q3 2021.
“We have long desired to share the history of traditional tobacco and its spiritual importance and then we had an epiphany while working on names for our new cigar release,” says Robert Holt. “Some nostalgic names were thrown around, but, when we saw this leaf, its deep red color, observed the texture, rolled the tabaquiados and smoked them together, there was a unanimous endorsement that Manzanita (meaning “little apple” in Spanish, describing the tiny, apple-like fruit) was perfect. This name and our research go back to 2013, awaiting the right moment to tell its story and should not be confused with the ever popular 4×42-ring petit corona size cigars produced by Caldwell Cigars. Robert Caldwell was generous to approve our use of the Manzanita brand and has our humble thanks for the gesture. Distinctive tobaccos, each with their own narrative, were graciously sourced and collated into the binder and filler. There is ample reason to be excited about this incomparable cigar and I will leave it there for now, decide for yourselves.”
Manzanita in its natural form, has been used as a tobacco substitute or additive to wild tobaccos, for food and medicinal purposes by Native Americans for millennia, which is only part of the story. Southern Draw “elevates” the presentation of this release as a tribute to the contributions of longtime financial consultant and close member of the family Cortney L. Taylor, most notably in the color scheme of the bands and special designed boxes as they embody his cherished university and athletic program. Design incorporated a respectful interpretation of Native Art within the cigar rings. From there, the Manzanita burgeoned into a much bigger concept that the family is excited about, including an essential charity component. When approached with the proposed brand, HumidifGroup, Cigar Box Factory (Estelí) and Cigar Rings (Estelí) were quick to join the design team that now render a fresh new presentation.
“The instant I smoked these tobaccos individually was amazingly satisfying but, the most gratifying aspect of this brand is that it’s not just one story, it’s a series of stories. We will be able to share the sacred spiritual and cultural uses of Traditional Tobacco and support a remarkable Native American charity while we publicly thank Cortney for his 20 years of professional dedication to our ventures and for his friendship. Many interesting facts from our research will follow the launch as we engage in Zoom and Skype and other communication with our retailers and media members,” says Sharon Holt of Southern Draw.
There will be several virtual events to launch the new cigar, details coming soon. Some proceeds from the Manzanita will go to the First Nations Development Institute, an organization endeavored to ensure the sustainable, economic, spiritual, and cultural well-being of their communities. Southern Draw has chosen for their contributions to go toward Nourishing Native Foods & Health, www.firstnations.org The initiative is expected to raise a total of $30,000 for this charity in 2021, with hopes to exceed that number at the end of the program.
The first 10 retailers to receive Manzanita will be:
F&M Cigars – Phenix City, AL http://www.fandmcigars.com/
