Bellatto Edition Brazil, Connecticut Begin Shipping

More than one year after the cigars were first announced, the two Bellatto Edition lines are beginning to arrive at stores.

Last week, Down & Back, LLC—Bellatto’s distributor—began shipping the Bellatto Edition Brazil and Connecticut lines. These cigars were the first lines announced as part of Bellatto Premium Cigars, the then-new company launched by Tony Bellatto, who previously operated under the La Barba name.

The two lines are offered in the same three shapes, albeit in slightly different dimensions and prices. The Edition Brazil uses a Brazilian Arapiraca dark wrapper, while the Connecticut uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed shade-grown wrapper; the binder and filler are not disclosed for either blend.

• Bellatto Edition Brazil Lonsdale (6 x 46) — $12 (Box of 20, $240)
• Bellatto Edition Brazil Robusto (5 x 50) — $14 (Box of 20, $280)
• Bellatto Edition Brazil Toro Grande (6 x 54) — $15.50 (Box of 20, $310)

• Bellatto Edition Connecticut Lonsdale (6 x 48) — $13 (Box of 20, $260)
• Bellatto Edition Connecticut Robusto (5 x 50) — $14 (Box of 20, $280)
• Bellatto Edition Connecticut Toro Grande (6 x 50) — $15 (Box of 20, $300)

These cigars were not actually blended but instead were personal blends of William Ventura, the patriarch of the Tabacalera William Ventura family. Bellatto told halfwheel that after enough whisky and Sprite, he was able to convince Ventura to let him sell the blends.

The reason for the delay is quite simple: on Sept. 26, 2022, a fire broke out that destroyed Tabacalera William Ventura, which is where these cigars were supposed to be made. Because of the fire, production moved over to El Maestro—the Ventura family’s smaller factory—but that factory’s production schedule was overloaded because it is also tasked with making all of the other cigars from Tabacalera William Ventura, which is slated to reopen as early as next September.

Last year, both Bellatto and Caldwell discontinued certain lines because of the production logjam.