The 2020 version of the Cigar Rights of America Freedom Sampler is on its way to retailers, and the distribution will be much more widespread than initially reported.
When news of the sampler’s upcoming release was announced in mid-October, it was indicated that they would all be sold through one retailer. That has changed and now numerous stores across the country will be carrying the samplers, several of which have already begun taking orders for them via their websites.
This year’s Freedom Sampler contains 10 cigars from some of the industry’s most prominent names, and is a mix of rare, regular production cigars, limited editions, along with a pair of new releases:
- Alec Bradley Mundial PL #56
- Ashton VSG Torpedo or San Cristobal Ovation Opulence
- Diamond Crown MAXIMUS Toro No. 4
- Fuente Fuente OpusX Angel’s Share Perfecxion X or OpusX 20 Years Believe
- La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull
- My Father Le Bijou 1922 Box-Pressed Robusto
- Oliva Serie V Melanio Diadema
- Padrón Black No. 200
- Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition Toro
- Tatuaje Great Pumpkin
The first of those is the Tatuaje Great Pumpkin, a 6 x 52 belicoso version of a cigar that has primarily been used for event-only releases. The blend uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over Nicaraguan binders and fillers, and is produced at the My Father Cigars S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. It is the second new Pumpkin release that Pete Johnson has announced this month, joining the Tatuaje Shrunken Pumpkin, a 4 x 50 vitola that has been used for events since the end of October.
My Father Cigars is contributing a new 5 3/4 x 52 box pressed robusto vitola for its My Father Le Bijou 1922 line. Janny Garcia told halfwheel that it features the same blend as the Le Bijou 1922 Box Pressed Torpedo, which is the only full production, box pressed vitola in the Le Bijou 1922 portfolio, meaning a Nicaraguan habano oscuro wrapper over Nicaraguan binders and fillers.
Also of note this year is that two companies, Arturo Fuente Cigar Co. and Ashton, are each contributing two cigars to the packs, though only one from each will be in an individual sampler. Fuente is contributing the Fuente Fuente OpusX Angel’s Share Perfecxion X and the Fuente Fuente OpusX 20 Years Believe, while Ashton will offer the VSG Torpedo or a San Cristobal Ovation Opulence. Distribution of the cigars into each pack is random.
Suggested retail pricing has been set at $200 per sampler, though online retailers have been offering it for as low as $129.95. Each sampler comes in a humidified bag with a Boveda pouch, and includes a one-year membership to Cigar Rights of America. A total of 6,000 samplers are being released.
Funds raised from the sale of the samplers helping to fund CRA’s legal defense fund to push back against the regulation of premium cigars.