Jeremy McDonald Leaving Caldwell, Launching Own Cigar Company

Jeremy McDonald will be going out on his own.

McDonald, the longtime national sales manager for Caldwell Cigar Co., has announced that he will be leaving his position and launching his own cigar company. He has been working in his role with Caldwell since before the company debuted in early 2014.

“I have been a part of Caldwell since it was Robert Caldwell’s dream,” said McDonald, in a press release. “Working side by side with Robert has been more than just a learning experience; it has been a life changing experience. We started this company as a couple of friends with a lot of ambition. Years of working together has allowed our friendship to grow and flourish. The time has come for me to leave the nest and fly on my own.”

McDonald is also a partner in Down&Back, LLC—the distribution company for Caldwell, La Barba and Lost&Found. He will be retaining his ownership stake in the company.

“Jeremy has been with us since before we launched Caldwell Cigar Co.,” said Robert Caldwell. “He was a critical component in the development of our company and we would not have accomplished what we have without him. I have always pushed the people that work with me to follow their hearts and dreams. Jeremy approached me last year with the idea of taking the next step in life and creating his own brand. Before he finished the sentence, I told him that he needed to do it. Life is too short to not follow your calling.”

While little is known about McDonald’s new cigar, he did tell halfwheel that it won’t be distributed by Down&Back, LLC.

“I am very excited to announce that I will be launching my own line of cigars in the coming months,” said McDonald. “It is bittersweet to leave but knowing that Robert and Tony Bellatto have always had my back (and will continue to) is evidence of the ethos of Caldwell Cigar Co: ‘friends working with friends.'”