Charatan Releasing Three New Core Lines at InterTabac 2024; Schedules U.S. Debut for PCA 2025

If you’re not a cigar smoker in the United Kingdom, the Charatan brand is likely not on your radar. It dates back to 1863 and claims to be the “best-selling Nicaraguan cigar in the UK for over 25 years – that you have probably never heard of,” thanks to Dunhill developing a cigar under the Charatan name in the early 1990s.

In 2017, Tor Imports Ltd., the brand’s distributor, purchased it and added what it calls “a traditionally British selection of pipe tobaccos to its portfolio, further connecting the brand to its rich heritage.”

This week, the brand is releasing three new core lines at the InterTabac 2024 trade fair being held in Dortmund, Germany: the Charatan Claro, the Charatan Colorado, and the Charatan Maduro.

“When we acquired Charatan from Dunhill, we made a commitment to preserve and grow the brand’s legacy in our market,” said Scott Vines, managing director of Tor Imports, Ltd., in a press release. “Charatan has always been well regarded in the UK. In recent years, fellow distributors have increasingly asked us to supply their markets. We weren’t ready until now.”

The Claro is the mildest of the three blends and uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and filler. The company calls it “a brilliantly smooth and creamy blend of flavours” and suggests pairings of black coffee, breakfast tea, or brown ale.

The Colorado is the next strongest and uses an Ecuadorian habano-seed wrapper, a Nicaragauan habano-seed binder, and a Nicaraguan filler. Its profile is described as offering “smooth notes of spice, with woody and leathery accents,” with pairings of espresso, Earl Grey tea, an old fashioned, or a negroni suggested.

Rounding out the trio, the Charatan Maduro is medium-plus in strength and uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper atop a Nicaraguan binder and filler, giving it “dark chocolate and earthy spices of indulgence,” the company says. It is recommended to be paired with espresso, Assam tea, whisky neat, or a negroni.

All three blends are made by Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A. and are being released in the same three sizes: a 3 1/2 x 46 Half-Churchill offered in 24-count boxes, along with a 5 x 52 robusto and a 6 x 50 toro that are presented in 12-count boxes.

As part of the launch of the new lines, Charatan is getting some new branding highlighted by a prancing white unicorn, which the company describes as a symbol of strength, purity, and untamed power. “This mythical creature, part of the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom, has been associated with the brand since its inception, reflecting Charatan’s long-standing connection to British heritage,” the company said in a press release.

The company is also releasing updated packaging for its pipe tobacco, which offers 16 blends in the U.K. and six lines internationally.

A release schedule for the cigars has not yet been announced, nor has pricing, but both are expected to be announced in the near future.

As for when the new Charatan lines will appear in the U.S., Carlos Zúñiga, strategic development & marketing director at Tor and executive vp of Charatan London, told halfwheel that the company is aiming to release them at the 2025 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Convention & Trade Show in mid-April.

Update (Sept. 19, 2024) — Carlos Zúñiga said that the cigars are currently in production and will ship to Germany at the start of 2025, and then the U.K. in Spring 2025. Pricing for the robusto in Germany will be around €13 per cigar.

Images courtesy of Charatan/Tor Imports.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.