Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust continues to be one of the most challenging booths to cover. When I walked by on days two and three there was literally no room in the booth. Even on day four, Saka only had a couple of minutes in between an interview and a meeting with a large catalog retailer.

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Booth IPCPR 2016

The booth is pretty much the same as last year, though I think they have a sign and an additional employee. Oh, and samples. This year, there were samples. Furthermore, by day four Steve Saka was giving out samples like he was going to have to pay some sort of fee to bring home any leftovers, which he was, thanks to shipping and other transport costs.

Mi Querida

Mi Querida

Steve Saka does broadleaf, again. Four sizes will begin shipping next week with Más Sucia (7 x 64, $13.45) listed as a pre-order item. This is the second line from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust.

  • Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Mi Querida Fino Largo (6 x 48) — $8.95 (Boxes of 20, $179)
  • Mi Querida Ancho Corta (5 x 52) — $8.75 (Boxes of 20, $175)
  • Mi Querida Ancho Largo (6 x 52) — $9.45 (Boxes of 20, $189)
  • Mi Querida Muy Gordo Grande (6 x 56) — $9.95 (Boxes of 20, $199)

Launch Date: Shipping now

Production: Regular Production

In February 2018, the name of the Mas Sucia was changed to Gran Bufalo after another cigar company expressed concern about the proximity of the name to its existing products.

Muestra de Saka

Muestra de Saka

This was on display, no word on when it will begin to arrive on stores nationally. Saka previously described the cigar:

Muestra de Saka aka “Sample of Saka” is a very unique product comprised of different unique ligas – each will be released in boxes containing 7 individual coffins of one of my personal pet project blends. The long time future of this particular brand is unknown as it will depend on how the SE pathway is implemented by the FDA.

I overheard Saka telling a group of retailers he has plenty of materials to make the product, so I imagine we will see it at some point.

Sin Compromiso

Not present. Saka previously described the product:

Sin Compromiso (without compromise) is a Nicaraguan Puro of only the absolute best of everything that is being crafted at JDN – absurdly priced, your wallet would be wise to ignore. 13 amazing cigars for ridiculous money…

Sobremesa Petit Churchill

Sobremesa Elegante en Cedros & Short Churchill

Two new sizes for Sobremesa. I smoked the Short Churchill a couple a months ago and was extremely impressed. According to Saka, they’ve gotten much better.

  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
  • Binder: Mexico
  • Filler: Nicaragua & Pennsylvania
  • Sobremesa Elegante en Cedros (7 x 50) — $13.50 (Boxes of 13, $175.50)
  • Sobremesa Short Churchill (4 3/4 x 48) — $10.45 (Boxes of 14, $145.30)

For whatever it’s worth, the Diademas DeLuxe (6 x 56, $14.95) is listed on the price list as “extremely limited distribution.”

Launch Date: Shipping now

Production: Regular Production

Umbagog

The broadleaf bundle cigar was also not present. It’s made with the wrapper deemed too ugly for Mi Querida and will be priced even lower.

Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
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Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.