La Palina has begun shipping its 2017 exclusive cigar for the Tobacconists’ Association America.

It’s called the Bronze Label and comes as part of a collaboration with Rocky Patel. The 6 1/2 x 52 cigar is being made at Plasencia’s El Paraiso factory in Honduras. It uses a Honduran habano wrapper, Honduran binder and fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua.

“I’m very proud to be working with some of my oldest personal friends and collaborating with a terrific cigar company such as La Palina to produce this fine cigar blend,” said Patel in a press release.

It’s priced at $9.99 and sold in boxes of 20.

“The TAA is a dynamic collective of the world’s top retailers and manufacturers that we at La Palina have the utmost respect for,” said Sam Phillips, president of La Palina Cigars. “This group is the best of the best in the premium cigar category and we’re proud to be partnered with them.”

The TAA is a fairly small group of some of the country’s top tobacconists, about 80 retailers as well as 40 or so manufacturers. The association gathers annually to discuss issues facing the industry and retailers, as well as to have its annual trade show, a unique event that works on a group buying format in order to secure exclusive deals for these generally high-volume merchants.

Alec BradleyKristoff and Tatuaje have also announced their 2017 TAA releases. AsylumCrowned Heads, La Flor Dominicana and My Father have already shipped their TAA releases for 2017.

La Palina’s personnel have ties to Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, Inc. Both Phillips and Clay Roberts, La Palina’s coo, worked for Patel.

Avatar photo

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.