Julio Cabrera, Renowned Bartender, Launching Sacrificio Cigars

Julio Cabrera, one of the world’s most famous cantineros, is getting into the cigar business.

Cabrera, an internationally renowned bartender—specializing in classic Cuban cocktails and bar culture—is debuting Sacrificio Cigars at next month’s 2023 PCA Convention & Trade Show. The name refers to his family’s bar, Café El Sacrificio, in Cuba.

As for the cigars, there are four of them, each a different size and blend. Production is handled by Oliva Cigar Co. in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Sacrificio Junior is a 5 x 50 robusto that uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over a Cameroon binder and fillers from Condega and Jalapa, Nicaragua. It will have an MSRP of $15 per cigar.

The Sacrificio Elegante is a 7 x 38 lancero that uses an Ecuadorian habano claro wrapper over an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder. Its fillers come from Condega and Estelí, Nicaragua. The Elegante will have an MSRP of $16 per cigar.

Stepping up into what the company describes as “medium-full bodied” is the Sacrificio Maestro, a 6 1/2 x 52 torpedo that uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over an Ecuadorian habano binder. It incorporates fillers from Condega and Estelí as well as piloto tobacco from the Dominican Republic. The Maestro is priced at $18 per cigar.

Finally, there’s the largest and strongest of the quartet. The Sacrificio El Caballo is a 6 x 60 gordo that uses an Ecuadorian habano leaves for both the wrapper and binder; fillers come from Condega and Estelí. It will have an MSRP of $19 per cigar.

“Throughout my life, I have admired my father’s love for cigars, so my vision for Sacrificio Cigars became dedicated to honoring my family’s strong Cuban heritage and our rich cultural traditions,” said Cabrera in a press release. “To ensure the highest quality, we’ve partnered with award-winning Oliva Cigar Co. to create a super-premium line of cigars made with the finest ingredients and an exceptional, unique taste to elevate the smoking experience for beginners and connoisseurs alike.”

All four cigars will come in 10-count boxes. The company has not announced how it is handling distribution, but it expects the cigars in stores in September.

Cabrera was formally trained as a bartender in his native Cuba. In the early 1990s, he was sent by the Cuban government to learn hospitality in Europe. Eventually, he left to work in Cancún and then Miami, where he worked at The Regent Cocktail Club from 2013-2016. In 2019, he opened up Café La Trova in Miami. Cabrera’s lengthy list of recognition includes multiple wins at Tales of the Cocktails—the premier bartending trade event in the U.S.—and the Roku Industry Icon at the North America’s 50 Best Bars 2023 event.

Cabrera and Café La Trova were each nominated for awards at the upcoming Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktails 2023.