IPCPR 2016: J.C. Newman

It is the year of Black Diamond at J.C. Newman. The release, some four years in the making, is finally being released. In addition, the company has a few new extensions to its Nicaraguan brands.

The booth looks very much the same, once again split with Arturo Fuente—which is distributed by J.C. Newman. I’ll be honest, I was expecting a bit more of a Black Diamond theme, but nevertheless, the Fuente/Newman booth remains quite unique.

Diamond Crown Black Diamond

This is the main release for the trade show. Though, the background info goes back a couple years. This is not the same cigar the company released in 2013 as part of the Toast Across America set, but it is said to be the same cigar the company gave out last year at a party at last year’s trade show.

The centerpiece is a Connecticut Havana-seed wrapper grown by the Fuente family at their farms in the Dominican Republic. For the time being, the cigar will only be available to Diamond Crown lounges, though that could change next year.

• Wrapper: Connecticut (Havana)
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic

• Diamond Crown Black Diamond Emerald (6 x 52) — $20 (Boxes of 20, $400)
• Diamond Crown Black Diamond Radiant (4 1/2 x 54) — $17 (Boxes of 20, $340)
• Diamond Crown Black Diamond Marqius (5 1/4 x 56) — $19 (Boxes of 20, $380)

Production: Regular Production

Diamond Crown Packaging Update

There’s a slightly new look for Diamond Crown.

Brick House Toro Maduro

J.C. Newman decided to add the most popular size in America to the Brick House Maduro.

• Wrapper: Brazilian Apariraca
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Brick House Toro Maduro (6 x 52) — $6.05 (Boxes of 25, $151.25)

Production: Regular Production

Brick House The Traveler 3-Packs

The 6 1/4 x 48 size is now offered in three-packs.

Perla del Mar Maduro

There’s now a maduro version of the Perla del Mar that uses a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper over tobacco from four regions of Nicaragua.

• Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Perla del Mar Maduro M (4 7/10 x 52) — $5.40 (Boxes of 25, $135)
• Perla del Mar Maduro G (6 1/5 x 54) — $6.05 (Boxes of 25, $151.25)
• Perla del Mar Maduro TG (6 x 60) — $6.55 (Boxes of 25, $163.75)
• Perla del Mar Maduro L (5 1/2 x 46) — $5.40 (Boxes of 25, $135)

Production: Regular Production

Toast Across America 2016

It’s a 7 5/8 x 54 perfecto, the same as the Untold Story offered in both the Diamond Crown Black Diamond and Fuente Fuente OpusX blends. All proceeds from the Toast Across America packs are donated to the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. Over the years this has generated $2.5 million in donations.

Diamond Crown St. James Humidors

These were allegedly there, though I wasn’t showed them.

Update (Aug. 11, 2016) — This article originally stated the wrapper for Black Diamond is grown in the Dominican Republic, it in fact is grown in Connecticut.