El Septimo’s Vartan the Dragon Debuts in Arizona Ahead of National Release

A new El Septimo release has hit the shelves of one Phoenix-area retailer ahead of its national release at the 2024 PCA Convention & Trade Show. It’s called Vartan the Dragon, and is named for both the ancient Armenian General Vartan Mamikonian, as well as Vartan Seferian, owner of Ambassador Fine Cigars in Phoenix, who helped to blend the cigar.

The blend features an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a filler that contains tobacco from Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. El Septimo says that the tobaccos used in the blend have been aged for 15 years, with the goal of creating a medium-to-full bodied profile. The cigars are produced at an undisclosed factory in Costa Rica.

Vartan the Dragon is offered in a 6 3/4 x 58 presidente vitola, and the release is limited to 999 boxes of eight cigars, with individual cigars priced at $98 each, and boxes priced at $784.

“El Septimo is globally recognized for its exquisite craftsmanship and unparalleled quality in cigar making,” said Zaya Younan, ceo of El Septimo. “Vartan the Dragon continues this legacy, offering a sophisticated blend that promises a smoking experience like no other.”

The cigars recently debuted at Ambassador Fine Cigars in Phoenix, Ariz., as part of the store’s 25th anniversary.

“It is a privilege to lend my name to such a magnificent creation,” said Seferian in a press release. “Vartan the Dragon represents the pinnacle of cigar craftsmanship and the essence of what we strive to offer at Ambassador Fine Cigars. This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of history and experience unmatched quality created by the world’s best cigar brand.”

The cigars are scheduled to be ship to other retailers on April 8.

Images courtesy of El Septimo.

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.