The Berger name is returning to the cigar world, as Karen Berger, widow of Enrique “Kiki” Berger will be unveiling her new K by Karen Berger line at the IPCPR Convention & Trade Show next week.

“K is a very important letter as it stands for both Kiki and Karen,” Berger told halfwheel. “All of my passion, desire and a lot of courage went into making of this cigar.”

The line is not just a Nicaraguan puro, but an Estelí puro, with tobacco grown in the region and produced at Tabacalera Estelí. There are two versions being released, one with a habano wrapper and the other with a maduro wrapper. Berger said the blend is the result of the knowledge she has acquired working alongside “the finest and most knowledgable men in the cigar industry.”

K by Karen Berger feature white

Both will come in three box-pressed sizes, a Robusto (5 x 52, $10), Toro (6 x 52, $11) and Salomon (6 x 54, $11), all of which come in 10-count boxes. The line is part of the Don Kiki Cigars/HC Cigars portfolio and will be available at the company’s booth during the trade show.

It has been nearly two years since Kiki Berger passed away following complications from a heart attack. He was best known for Cuban Crafters, his Florida-based retail stores and mail order business, and Tabacalera Estelí, a Nicaraguan-based cigar operation. In 2009, he and the Argenti brothers teamed to make Berger & Argenti, although that company is now defunct.

“I’m here to show people that even though he has passed, his passion and love of the leaf lives on through me,” Berger said.

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.