A pair of cigar brands have parted ways from Quesada Cigars for their distribution, choosing to form their own new distribution company.

Matilde Cigars and MLB Cigar Ventures have announced the formation of SeiBel Distribution, which will be based in Miami, Fla. and handle the distribution for both companies’ portfolios effective immediately.

“SeiBel Distribution will allow us to have a more direct control over our warehousing, shipping, and customer service, enhancing our current relationship with our retail partners, said Enrique Seijas, co-founder of Matilde Cigars, via a press release. He went onto say that he and Mike Bellody, founder and ceo of MLB Cigar Ventures, share similar business philosophies when it comes to brand growth and distribution.

Bellody echoed that sentiment, calling Seijas both a business partner and close friend. “I’m extremely grateful that we have come together to create a pathway for continued success for both of our companies,” he said in a statement.

Both Seijas and Bellody spoke highly of their time with the Quesada family.

Bellody will maintain his production relationship with Quesada Cigars, however; the Dominican company makes several of the lines in his portfolio, including the Imperia by Mike Bellody, Imperia Aventador, and Imperia Islero. His David P. Erlich line of cigars will continue to be made at Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s Tabacalera La Alianza S.A.

Matilde Cigars will also keep its production at Tabacalera Palma in the Dominican Republic.

Quesada’s distribution relationship with Bellody’s cigars lasted less than a year, having been announced in June 2017. Matilde began distributing its cigars through Quesada in May 2015.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.