The most talked about booth at the 2018 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show was neither the newest nor the largest. Instead, it was the one that set off the fire alarm. It’s still not entirely clear what happened, but at some point something in the A.J. Fernández booth sparked or caught fire, at least enough to set off one of the fire suppressant systems. That led to the delay in the trade show opening on day two and a large crowd to gather at the A.J. Fernández booth once the show opened.

As for the booth, not much has changed physically. I arrived after the day two fire fiasco, meaning the carpeting was no longer in the booth and the televisions were not turned on, but the cigars, furniture and structure seemed fine.

Bellas Artes Maduro

The star of the show is the new Bellas Artes Maduro, a follow-up to the Bellas Artes line. I for one am interested as the combination of Brazilian and Mexican tobaccos isn’t something we see on a regular basis.

  • Wrapper: Brazil (Mata Fina)
  • Binder: Mexico (San Andrés)
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Bellas Artes Maduro Short Churchill (6 x 48)
  • Bellas Artes Maduro Robusto (5 1/2 x 52)
  • Bellas Artes Maduro Toro (6 x 54)
  • Bellas Artes Maduro Gordo (6 1/2 x 58)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2018

Enclave Broadleaf Belicoso

One of two extensions at the trade show, Enclave Broadleaf gets a large soft-pressed Belicoso.

  • Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Enclave Broadleaf Belicoso (6 x 56) — $10 (Boxes of 20, $200)

New World Puro Special Gordo

The New World Puro Especial gets a new larger size in the form of this 6 x 58 release.

  • Wrapper: Nicaragua
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • New World Puro Special Gordo (6 x 58) — $9.50 (Boxes of 20, $190)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2018

Humidors

These aren’t for sale, but could be coming to an A.J. Fernández event near you in the future.

Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2018 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.