Southern Daw Cigars has announced that it will begin the formal release of its latest blend, Rose of Sharon.

Announced last year, Rose of Sharon is the company’s milder offering using an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos including: Dominican piloto cubano and Nicaraguan seco and visos.

Southern Draw Rose of Sharon

It’s initially available in three vitolas.

  • Rose of Sharon Robusto (5 1/2 x 54) — $9 (Boxes of 20, $180)
  • Rose of Sharon Toro (6 x 52) — $9.50 (Boxes of 20, $190)
  • Rose of Sharon Gordo (6 1/2 x 60) — $10.50 (Boxes of 20, $210)

There will be four additional sizes released over time, though the company has not specified what they are.

In addition, the company is selling 1,000 Petaca cases of the Rose of Sharon Toro. The Petacas are handmade cedar cases that hold two of the Toro sizes. Only 1,000 were produced and they are being sold for $25.

The initial shipment for Rose of Sharon will be 15,000 cigars, the company expects to have another 18,000-20,000 cigars on hand for a second release around the 2017 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, which takes place in July.

As for the name, it has dual meanings. It plays off the flower theme that the company has used on other blends, but also pays tribute to Sharon Holt.

“She don’t know she’s beautiful,” said Robert Holt, co-founder of Southern Draw, in a press release. “Besides the apparent beauty of The Rose of Sharon in its semi box pressed format, the release is a celebration of grace and the devotion of Sharon Holt as she continues her daily service via strong faith and daily fellowship. Much like a Rose, Sharon exemplifies our brand with her beautiful soul, humility and a ‘subtle’ boldness which has made an incredible impact on so many lives.”

Like the rest of the company’s releases, the cigar is being produced by A.J. Fernandez with this line being produced at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.

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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.