Reviews

After a 12-year absence, the Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve returned earlier this year. The newest version of the limited edition line was released to commemorate Miami Cigar & Co.’s 35th anniversary.

Not only did Scandinavian Tobacco Group acquire the existing Alec Bradley brands, but seemingly the blend book of Alan Rubin, founder of Alec Bradley. That book became the source for the company’s newest cigar.

While the Padrón Black is still one of the company’s most secretive lines, this year saw what is likely the most widespread release for the series to date. Retailers that placed orders during the 2023 PCA Convention & Trade Show were given the chance to purchase the Padrón Black PB-97.

Released last year, the Connecticut Londres was part of a sampler that included 16 cigars, two each of the company’s eight different core-line blends. Carrying the name Micallef Collectors Edition, the sampler was made to commemorate the 80th birthday of company founder Al Micallef.

Created to commemorate the brand’s fifth anniversary in business, this cigar is a 5 1/2 x 58 box-pressed vitola with a small pigtail on the cap. Like all of Casa de Sueños cigars, this limited edition of 3,600 cigars was made by De Los Reyes in the Dominican Republic.

Strong, full-flavored cigars have long been Black Label Trading Co.’s thing. This year, the company said it was returning to its roots with Orthodox, what it called one of its boldest new blends.

While Stolen Throne Cigars isn’t known for doing line extensions, it made an exception for the fifth anniversary of its Crook of the Crown line. This 6 x 46 is limited to 50,000 cigars.

While the company has thus far declined to disclose many specifics on the blend of the 5 x 52 limited edition, Illusione has said that the cigar uses a type of tobacco that hasn’t recently been grown in Nicaragua. In addition, the company noted that the tobacco had been “Primed and bale aged” for three years.

The Don Pepín García Original line, commonly known as the Blue Label, received two new offshoots to celebrate the brand’s 20th anniversary in 2023. One uses a Nicaraguan corojo wrapper while this one uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf, both of which are very limited in production and very high in price tag thanks in part to coming in an Elie Bleu humidor.

In the spring of 2023, Powstanie added a 5 1/2 x 46 corona gorda as the fifth size in its core lines, the Habano and Broadleaf. After a year of rest, the time has come to revisit the skinniest size in the line.

The El Septimo Culinary Arts Collection contains four different sizes, each with their own distinct names and packaging. This 6 x 46 corona gorda was inspired by sake.