You may not know this company by its proper name, but Tobacco & Cigar Distribution Corp., better known as Tabacalera El Artista, is a Dominican factory and brand that has steadily built a name for itself and is making an interesting splash this year via a partnership with a very well-known athlete.
In addition, the company is celebrating its 60th anniversary and has released a cigar in celebration of both the event and the company’s founder.
Big Papi by David Ortiz
Tabacalera El Artista has partnered with one of the biggest names in baseball as he enters the final months of his career: David “Big Papi” Ortiz. The partnership has produced its first cigar, a single vitola line known as Big Papi by David Ortiz that features the slugger’s silhouette and a red and white color scheme on both band and box. While Ortiz wasn’t in the booth this year, there’s talk that Ortiz will be making an appearance at next year’s trade show as well as a handful of events after the season to promote the line.
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Claro
- Binder: Dominican Republic Criollo 98
- Filler: Dominican Republic and Nicaragua
- Big Papi by David Ortiz Toro (6 x 54) — $11.50 (Box of 20, $230)
Launch Date: Immediately following the trade show
Production: Regular production
Pulita 60 Aniversario
This line pays tribute both to the company’s anniversary, but also the man who started the company, Ramón “Pulita” Rodriguez. “My grandfather loved the tobacco business, but he had a passion for cigars,” Radomes Rodriquez, president of El Artista, said at the time the cigar was announced in mid-July.
- Wrapper: Dominican Republic Negrito
- Binder:Dominican Republic Criollo 98
- Filler: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Pennsylvania
- Pulita 60 Aniversario Robusto (5 x 50) — $12.20 (Box of 10, $122)
- Pulita 60 Aniversario Toro (6 x 54) — $13 (Box of 10, $130)
Launch Date: Aug. 1, 2016
Production: Regular production