Matt Booth is bringing The Big Payback back to the cigar world at this year’s IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, but it’s getting a new spin by way of a new blend and a new factory producing it.

For the return of the cigar, Booth turned to General Cigar Co.’s Honduras American Tobacco S.A. factory, often referred to as HATSA. He also revamped the blend, selecting a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, Connecticut shade binder and fillers from Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It’s a departure from the Nicaraguan puro blend of the original, so Booth is referring to this as The Big Payback Maduro.

It will be released in three vitolas:

  • Room101 The Big Payback Maduro Robusto (5 1/4 x 50) — $6.50 (Bundle of 20, $130; Box of 40, $260)
  • Room101 The Big Payback Maduro Toro (6 x 54) — $7 (Bundle of 20, $140; Box of 40, $280)
  • Room101 The Big Payback Maduro Gordo (6 x 60) — $7.50 (Bundle of 20, $150; Box of 40, $300)

The Big Payback was originally released in 2014 as a way to bring a value-priced cigar to fans and supporters of the brand, while also delivering bigger ring gauges and a hearty Nicaraguan flavor profile. Those cigars were produced at Agroindustrias Laepe S.A. in Danlí, Honduras and featured slightly different sizes than this new version, namely a 7 x 70 vitola.

A Connecticut version of The Big Payback was added in Feb. 2016, and Booth confirmed that there are plans for similar line extensions in the future but does not have a set timeline for them yet. He also indicated that he is exploring the idea of bringing back other Room101 brands, all of which he retained after separating from Davidoff in Jan. 2017.

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Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2019 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
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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.