Next week, Colibri will be unveiling the latest in its series of auto racing-inspired accessories at the Tobacconists’ Association of America meeting, the Apex lighter.

Named for the point on a race course where the driver increases the throttle for the fastest exit out of a turn, the Apex is a single flame torch lighter that utilizes a unique push-up ignition, instead of the traditional pull-down style. It’s the same ignition that the company debuted in its Slide lighter, though in this case the body of the lighter remains fixed.

The lighter also features a pachmayr pattern on the sides and back of the body to enhance grip. The fuel level indicator features the company’s signature blue tinting, while a large, textured wheel at the bottom of the lighter is used to adjust the flame height.

The Apex lighter is offered in six finishes, metallic black, metallic silver, metallic red, metallic blue, neon orange, and neon green. Each color option retails for $59, with the lighter set to begin shipping immediately. It joins the Daytona and Rally in the company’s collection of racing-inspired lighters.

The Tobacconists’ Association of America meeting runs from April 28 – May 3 at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. It is the 50th anniversary of the organization, which includes approximately 80 premium cigar retailers and 40 cigar and accessory manufacturers. This year also marks the 90th anniversary of Colibri.

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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 and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, 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.