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:

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.

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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.