IPCPR 2014: Espinosa Premium Cigars

Erik Espinosa continued to grow both his booth and brand this year with the unveiling of a new regular production line, the latest version of the Warhead, plus a few other treats.

Laranja Reserva is Espinosa’s latest line, a cigar that gets its name from the orange shade of its Brazilian wrapper. The word laranja is Portuguese for orange, and the line certainly carries that theme out well with an orange theme to both bands and boxes, the latter of which were made in Miami. There are three sizes in the line: Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46, $9.90), Robusto Extra (5 1/2 x 54, $10.50) and Toro (6 x 52, $10.90). The cigar is scheduled to ship in August.

The Warhead II was also on display, a limited edition of 2,000 boxes of ten cigars that measure 5 1/2 x 56. The addition was announced back in early June and should begin shipping by the end of the July.

Much like they did last year, the company invited military veterans and personnel to autograph an item that will go back to the company office. This year it was a foot locker.

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.