At the 2024 PCA Convention & Trade Show this month, Black Label Trading Co. will be releasing Paper Crane, a new limited edition for its Black Works Studio line.

The cigar uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut desflorado wrapper, which James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Co. and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra, said he wanted to work with for several years. “I love the flavor profile of this wrapper and of course its unique beautiful golden pink color,” Brown said in a press release.

Underneath that wrapper is an Ecuadorian habano binder and fillers from Nicaragua, which Brown said creates a complex profile, “with a beautiful balance of light citrus notes on the palette, followed by delicate layers of spice on the retrohale and finish.”

Paper Crane is produced at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Estelí, Nicaragua, and is offered in two sizes:

  • Black Works Studio Paper Crane Corona Gorda Box Press (5 x 46) — $11 (Box of 20, $220)
  • Black Works Studio Paper Crane Toro Box Press (6 x 48) — $12 (Box of 20, $240)

The company is producing 900 boxes for each size, and they come bearing artwork that Brown designed, using the profile of the cigar as his inspiration. “Even though there are a lot of subtleties, it is still a full flavor medium strength cigar that lives up to what you expect from a Black Works cigar,” he noted.

The cigars are slated to ship to retailers at the end of March.

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halfwheel's coverage of the 2024 PCA Convention & Trade Show is sponsored by Drew Estate.
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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.