Grace Sotolongo has announced that the launch of Sotolongo Cigars’ debut line, Hechicera, is set for 6 pm on Friday, October 18 at Havana Humidor in Miami. In attendance will be Ninoska Perez Castellon, the artist who came up with the Hechicera artwork. Sotolongo told halfwheel that the boxes sold at the launch will be unique to the event, which will feature food, drinks, a live band, and a DJ under a tent in the store’s parking lot.

The journey to the release of the Hechicera was first mentioned at the 2013 IPCPR Convention and Trade Show, held this past July in Las Vegas. It was there that Sotolongo told halfwheel that she had plans to release her own cigar under the umbrella of Christian Eiroa’s Tabacaleras Unidas. Sotolongo had recently joined the company after working at My Father Cigars for just under three years.

Shortly after the trade show wrapped up, Sotolongo launched a Facebook page for Sotolongo Cigars, a new company formed by her and Eiroa.

In late August, Sotolongo Cigars formally announced Hechicera, the company’s debut line. According to the press release, “the meaning of Hechicera is a female sorceress, who has the ability to captivate and enchant those around her with her beauty and charm.”

Hechicera will debut in four sizes:

  • 5 1/2 x 44 Box Press – $5.95 (Boxes of 10, $59.95)
  • 4 1/2 x 50 – $6.95 (Boxes of 10, $69.95)
  • 6 x 52 – $7.95 (Boxes of 10, $79.95)
  • 6 x 60 – $8.95 (Boxes of 10, $89.95)

All of the cigars are regular production and are being made at Eiroa’s Tabacaleras Unidas factory in Honduras. Sotolongo says that Eiroa has “sworn me to secrecy” in regards to the blend, and as such declined a request to provide information on it.

The Sotolongo Hechicera is set to begin shipping to other retailers around October 15. She has a second launch party scheduled for October 31st in Alpharetta, Ga. at Cutters Cigar Emporium, as well as tasting events on October 30th at  Burns Downtown in Chattanooga, November 1st at R & R in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and another tasting at Cigars & More in Birmingham, Ala.

Sotolongo Hechicera logo

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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.