Dissident Cigars Relaunching Soapbox and Bloc at IPCPR 2019
In January, it was announced that the Dissident Cigars brand would have a new owner, Benjamin Holt, who would be relaunching the micro-boutique brand that last appeared around the end of 2015. While he declined to speculate at the time of the acquisition when the brand would relaunch, it’s now clear it will be at the upcoming IPCPR Convention & Trade Show which kicks off next week, as the Holt has announced the return of two of the company’s core line cigars, Soapbox and Bloc.
Both lines have gotten a complete rework by Fabrica Oveja Negra in Estelí, Nicaragua, the home of Black Label Trading Co. and BLK WKS Studio. “I think these blends are very unique and offer a special smoking experience for those who love cigars,” Holt said in a press release, adding that he feels they really highlight the quality of tobacco used at Oveja Negra.
Soapbox returns with a Brazilian wrapper, Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan filler, and is being offered in three vitolas:
- Soapbox Petite Corona (4 3/4 x 46) — $8 (Box of 20, $160)
- Soapbox Robusto (5 1/2 x 52) — $10 (Box of 20, $200)
- Soapbox Toro Gordo (6 3/4 x 54) — $11 (Box of 20, $220)
Bloc, meanwhile uses an Ecuadorian-grown maduro wrapper, Ecuadorian binder and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It too will come in three sizes:
- Bloc Box Press Robusto (5 5/8 x 46) — $10.25 (Box of 20, $205)
- Bloc Box Press Toro (6 1/4 x 52) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)
- Bloc Box Press Lonsdale (7 x 42) — $10 (Box of 20, $200)
“I am very excited about this. A lot of thought, time and work as been put into making this happen and I’m ready to show it to the world,” Holt added.
The two revamped, regular production lines join HOME, a limited edition release, in the company’s portfolio. Dissident is being distributed by LJ Zucca Distributors. Holt told halfwheel that he expects both lines to ship soon after the conclusion of the trade show.
Update — shortly after this story was published, the last sentence was modified to note that both lines are regular production and will ship soon after the show, as Holt clarified both points.
Images courtesy of Dissident Cigars.
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 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.
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