While Dominion Cigar, Inc. isn’t the most well-known brand in the United States, it’s not for a lack of proximity. The cigar company, based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, has been gaining a following north of the border and is looking to expand its reach in the United States with the help of its latest cigar, the Black Lotus Maduro.

The company recently introduced the line to its Canadian retailers, but will be showcasing it and its two other core lines, Black Lotus and Flor de Claro, at the 2016 IPCPR Convention and Trade Show.

Steve Ricker, founder of Dominion Cigar, told halfwheel that the new cigar uses a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan habano maduro binder and fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras.  It will be released in a single 6 x 52 vitola, and while the price is still to be finalized, it is expected to be just under $10 per cigar, or $200 for a box of 20 cigars.

U.S. retailers will also get a look at the original Black Lotus, which is made at Tabacos De Oriente in Honduras and uses a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos, and the Flor de Claro, which is made at Plasencia Cigars S.A. with a Honduran Connecticut wrapper and fillers from Nicaragua’s Jalapa, Condega and Estelí regions. For the latter line, the company is bringing a 6 x 60 vitola that will only be available to U.S. retailers.

While details weren’t specified, the company is also working on a new line that is a “maybe” for the trade show according to Ricker, but should be added to the company’s portfolio at some point, though given FDA’s pending regulation of the premium cigar industry, could be limited to Canadian retailers.

Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
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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 MLB.com, 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.