IPCPR 2018: Quesada

Few companies have been through as many changes in the last 12 months as Quesada, though the company is quite stern: we are still here, our cigars are still here. While some of the more common faces are now elsewhere, Manuel “Manolo” Quesada Jr. is still here, as our his daughters—Racquel and Patricia—and their cousin, Esther.

As for the booth, some is the same, though the back of the booth featured ads that I do not recall seeing before. Quesada’s circular tower of product returned—not my favorite item to photograph cigars in—though the new product was moved to separate cabinets elsewhere.

Vega Magna

The new line is the star of the show for Quesada. While the cigar might look like the more affordable Casa Magna line, the Vega Magna is a flagship line at price points normally not seen for most Quesada cigars.

That specialness extends to the packaging—there’s a special piece of art made by Pragmy Marichal designed to be hung on a wall that is built into the box—and the way the cigars are made. Some of the tobacco has been aging since 2001 in tericios. In addition, the cigars are being rolled by a single pair of roller and buncher.

• Wrapper: Ecuador
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic

• Vega Magna Robusto (5 1/2 x 54) — $20.40 (Boxes of 10, $204)
• Vega Magna Belicoso (7 x 52) — $21.60 (Boxes of 10, $216)
• Vega Magna Toro (6 x 50) — $21 (Boxes of 10, $210)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: Fall 2018

Fonseca Classic Packaging Update

This is technically a packaging update, though the Quesadas are quite clear they believe the cigar tastes quite different due to better harvests in recent years. It sounds like this branding is likely to be extended to other lines within the company’s portfolio.