ACE Prime has begun shipping The Sergeant, which it released as an exclusive cigar for retailers who attended the 2021 PCA Convention & Trade Show.

The Sergeant is a 5 x 58 robusto gordo that uses an Ecuadorian-grown corojo 99 wrapper, a double binder of leaves grown in Connecticut, and fillers from Nicaragua, including ligeros from Estelí and visos from Jalapa and Pueblo Nuevo. ACE Prime is not disclosing much in the way of specifics about the binders, other than it is a hybrid seed as opposed to a more traditional broadleaf. The company calls it a medium to full bodied cigar.

“Luciano and I blended this cigar mindful that this product represents the most noble values of humanity and that’s why the hands and hearts involved into the craft of this cigar, everyone, understood the honor of being part of this project,” said Eradio Pichardo, master blender and co-owner of ACE Prime and Tabacalera Pichardo, via a press release. It is made at Tabacalera Pichardo in Nicaragua.

It pays tribute to the heroes who fight in anonymity and sacrifice out of deep-rooted honor, regardless of recognition or acclaim. The company says it is medium to full bodied, marked by deep flavors and balanced acidity.

“I was inspired by the life of my dear friend and US Marine Corps Sgt. Brian Acevedo, one of the most altruistic and self-giving persons I know,” said Luciano Meirelles, master blender, president and co-owner of ACE Prime, via a press release. “Brian is the living example of what is to put the lives of others before your own. He has encountered peril many times and stood his ground. This cigar honors every man and woman who bravely committed to unconditional altruism.”

The Sergeant has an MSRP of $10.50 per cigar and is offered in 20-count boxes. Production is not being limited to a fixed number of cigars.

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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, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, 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.