At next week’s Tobacconists’ Association of America meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, La Palina will show off an exclusive release for the group for the first time.

It’s called Bill’s Blend, a personal blend of company head William C. “Bill” Paley. The 6 x 50 cigar uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, Ecuadorian binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler. Like the company’s Family Series and Goldie, it’s made at El Titan de Bronze in Miami.

“‘Bill’s Blend’ is proudly hand-rolled in the United States of America, in Little Havana Miami,” said Paley in a press release. “We are wonderfully pleased by this cigar. ‘Bill’s Blend’ highlights La Palina’s commitment to the brick and mortar side of our business, and is the essence of ‘Made in America.’”

Production is limited to 1,000 boxes of 20 and the cigar carries a suggested retail price of $10.99.

The TAA is an organization of approximately 80 retailers who meet each year to discuss issues facing the cigar industry and also to hold a private trade show with select manufacturers. In recent years, many of those companies have created special cigars exclusive to members of the TAA.

CLECrowned HeadsDrew EstateLa Flor DominicanaMy Father, Nat Sherman and Tatuaje have all announced new TAA releases for this year.

It’s unclear whether or not Padrón will create a new TAA release for this year. If they do not, La Palina will be the last new TAA cigar for the year.

La Palina was founded in 1896 as Congress Cigar Co. by Bill’s grandfather, Sam Paley. It dissolved in 1926 due to the family’s growing media empire and remained dormant until 2010 when the younger Paley brought the brand back.

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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.