After unveiling it at the 2015 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, Tobacconist University has shipped its second release in its R&D series, a limited production run of cigars released with puritos of their component parts.

The R&D PA/CT Broadleaf Capa Especial Serie 2 was blended by Jesus Fuego of J. Fuego Cigars and produced by A.J. Fernandez’s Tabacalera Fernandez S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua. It uses a Pennsylvania Connecticut wrapper, a Connecticut broadleaf seed grown in Pennsylvania by the Amish. It’s an experimental wrapper project pioneered by A.J. Fernandez and produced in conjunction with Jesus Fuego. Underneath are four tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua, with the goal of creating a familiar flavor that is a quintessential Central American taste profile. The organization proudly says that “there is nothing crazy or sensational in this blend; no Peruvian, Columbian, or other eccentric flavors to confuse your palate.”

The binder is a Honduran habano seed grown in the Jamastran Valley, while the fillers are Nicaraguan habano criollo 98 ligero from Ometepe, Nicaraguan habano corojo 99 viso from Jalapa and Nicaraguan habano criollo 98 seco from Estelí.

Tobacconist University R and D Serie 2

For this release, three sizes are being released: a Robusto (5 x 50) Toro (6 x 50) and Churchill (7 x 47). There are 4,000 of the Churchill being produced, with 8,000 of both the Robusto and Toro, with MSRPs between $10-11.

In addition, 2,000 packs of Puro Components are being produced, 3 7/8 x 26 puritos of each of the five tobaccos used so that consumers can taste each individual component and then taste the final blend by way of the larger format. Those packs sell for $7 each.

All of the cigars and puritos were produced in April 2015 and shipping began Aug. 1. 

The cigars are only available through a select group of retailers, a list of which can be found here.

(Images courtesy of Tobacconist University)

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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.