10. Powstanie SBC16 (2017 Packaging Awards)

Powstanie is not a brand that I associate with very interesting packaging and I’m curious to know if this was designed by the same person(s) who did the packaging for the original line. The Instagram-friendly boxes for the limited edition come in a wide format with a generally unobstructed view on the front.

With the exception of an inscription in the vista, the box and bands are largely left to small amounts of heavy text and it works. The box screams: FDA regulations are really going to ruin this.

There’s no doubt the unique barberpole nature of the cigar makes the overall appearance more interesting than it might otherwise be if these were typical cigars, but from the moment I first saw pictures of the cigar in the summer of 2016 until now, I’ve always appreciated the look. — Charlie Minato.