At this year’s IPCPR Trade Show, Steve Saka of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust was showing off a total of 3 new lines and two line extensions.
The most prominent new line is “Mi Querida“, loosely translated to My Mistress. This offering from Steve Saka is his answer to his fans asking for a broadleaf cigar, more in line with what is was known for at Drew Estate than his Sobremesa line. Mi Querida is made at Nicaraguan American Cigar S.A. (NACSA), a factory that was previously known for making budget cigars, but Steve has taken under his wing recently in an effort to product “Opus” quality cigars in the new few years.
While he was not displaying it, Umbagog is a budget offering from Saka, made of the leftover wrapper leaves from the Mi Querida line at NACSA.
Muestra de Saka is a compilation of different blends from Steve Saka, to be released at different times. Each one seems to be an answer to something his fans have been asking for or Steve making appends with something he doesn’t like, i.e. a Lancero called #NLMTHA (now leave me the %$$$ alone) and a candela wrapper cigar, because Steve hates candelas and wanted to see if he could make one he actually enjoyed.
The two line extensions are for the Sobremesa line. The first is a short Churchill vitola, in which Steve blended it to be a little stronger than the regular Sobremesa to replace his Dirty Rat with morning espresso. The second is a Elegante en Cedros which is a 7 x 50 cigar that he made mostly because he likes how the presentation of cedar wrapped cigars look.
Watch the interview with Steve Saka below for a great conversation about his new lines, his philosophy on cellophane, NACSA, and his love for Blind Man’s Puff.