Kinky Friedman Cigars Returns Through Havana Alley Cigar Shop & Lounge

Charlie Head of Galveston, Texas-based Havana Alley Cigar Shop & Lounge has acquired the rights to the Kinky Friedman Cigars name. The newly-formed company already has its first line, the Kinky Friedman Cigars Signature Series Natural.

If you are wondering if it’s old stock from the former company, the answer is no. The new Signature Series is made Tabacalera Carreras S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua, a big change of scenery from the cigars which were traditionally made by Oliveros, now known as Aging Room.

The Natural version of the line uses an Ecuadorian habano oscuro wrapper over a blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos from Condega, Estelí and Jalapa. The new KF Signature Series is offered in three sizes: Robusto (5 x 50, $8.80), Siglo (6 x 54, $9.40) and Gigante (6 x 60, $9.80)—all sold in boxes of 20. The company also anticipates a Maduro blend as well.

While Havana Alley is the new owner, it’s not an exclusive product to the store. The company tells halfwheel it has already opened up a half dozen of the company’s old accounts and is reaching out to others in Texas. As for the future, the company hopes to have a third cigar ready by next year’s IPCPR trade show and convention in New Orleans, La.

Friedman is a popular personality in Texas. He is best known as a country music singer and politician, running for Governor in 2006. In November of last year, the old Kinky Friedman Cigars announced it would be closing its doors.

(Images via Kinky Friedman Cigars)

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.