PCA 2023: Oveja Negra Brands

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the Oveja Negra Brands booth is one of the better laid-out booth designs at the show, so I was glad to see the general layout had remained the same.

What makes a good booth layout? First, the PCA Convention and Trade Show is supposedly about manufacturers selling their products to retailers. This booth provides nice displays of cigars, a convenient central desk for information and samples, and a seating area off to the side that’s out of the way for sit-down meetings. For selfish reasons, the way the cigars are lit makes it easy to photograph, along with plenty of logos all over the place for me to use for a featured image.

While the basics of the booth have remained from year to year, various tweaks will happen with a wall being opened or closed, or for this year, a display case with many of the new releases nicely laid out along the back wall. While the number of new releases from Oveja Negra Brands varies from year to year, it seemed this year, Fábrica Oveja Negra was working overtime with many new limited editions and line extensions.

Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend Novemdiales

Bishops Blend is getting a new blend called the Novemdiales, which refers to the nine days of mourning following the pope’s death.

• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Pennsylvania)
• Binder: Ecuador
• Filler: Nicaragua & U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)

• Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend Novemdials Petite Corona (4 1/2 x 46) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)
• Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend Novemdials Robusto (5 x 50) — $11 (Box of 20, $220)
• Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend Novemdials Toro (6 x 48) — $12 (Box of 20, $240)

Production: Not Disclosed

Release Date: October 2023

Black Label Trading Co. Lawless Robusto Real

Four regular production Black Label Trading Co. lines have received a new size of a more traditional 5 x 50 robusto. While the definition of the vitola can range quite a bit in size and ring gauge, these lines already sported a thicker 5 x 54 robusto. The Robusto Real brings each line to four total sizes.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Maduro)
• Binder: Honduras
• Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua

• Black Label Trading Co. Lawless Robusto Real (5 x 50) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2023

Black Label Trading Co. Last Rites Robusto Real

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Black Label Trading Co. Last Rites Robusto Real (5 x 50) — $11.50 (Box of 20, $230)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2023

Black Label Trading Co. Royalty Robusto Real

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Corojo)
• Binder: Honduras
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Black Label Trading Co. Royalty Robusto Real (5 x 50) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2023

Black Label Trading Co. Salvation Robusto Real

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Sun Grown)
• Binder: Honduras
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Black Label Trading Co. Salvation Robusto Real (5 x 50) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2023

Black Works Studio Killer Bee Robusto

Not to leave out Black Works Studio, the Killer Bee blend is also getting a robusto size. Since the line previously did not feature a robusto, the Real moniker has been left off.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Maduro & Connecticut)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Black Works Studio Killer Bee Robusto (5 x 50) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2023

Black Works Studio Poison Dart

This year’s PCA exclusive from the company is the Poison Dart. Limited for sale to only retailers who attend the show, it will come in two sizes, each is limited to 500 boxes.

• Wrapper: Brazil (Mata Fina)
• Binder: Ecuador (Habano)
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Black Works Studio Poison Dart Short Robusto (4 1/2 x 50) — $11.50 (Box of 20, $230)
• Black Works Studio Poison Dart Corona Gorda (5 1/2 x 46) — $12 (Box of 20, $240)

Production: 500 Boxes of 20 Cigars (10,000 Total Cigars Per Size)

Release Date: Fall 2023

Black Works Studio The Hornet Corona Larga

As mentioned above, the robusto vitola can range in length and ring gauge. The Hornet was previously released in just one size, the 5 x 48 Robusto. A Corona Larga size has been added to this regular production line this year.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Maduro & Candela)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Black Works Studio The Hornet Corona Larga (6 x 46) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2023

Black Works Studio Ambush

Last year Black Works Studio added a third size to the Tiger Series and made a 13-count sampler of the three that was only available at events. This year, the box count was expanded slightly, given the Ambush name, and only available at Black Label Trading Co. events. The sampler will feature 4 Kahn, 4 Tiger Lily, and 7 Neon Tiger cigars.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Maduro, Candela, Connecticut)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Black Works Studio Khan (5 x 50)
• Black Works Studio Neon Tiger (5 x 48)
• Black Works Studio Tiger Lily (6 x 48)

MSRP: $270

Production: Limited Production

Release Date: July 2023

La Madonna Negra

Black Label Trading Co. is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a new cigar that shipped to stores in mid-June but is getting featured at the PCA Convention & Trade Show. Another release featuring heavy Catholic iconography, La Madonna Negra features box artwork reminiscent of the Black Madonna.

• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
• Binder: Ecuador (Habano)
• Filler: Nicaragua and U.S.A. (Pennsylvania)

• La Madonna Negra Rothschild Box Press (4 1/2 x 48) — $11 (Box of 20, $220)
• La Madonna Negra Corona Gorda Box Press (5 1/2 x 50) — $12.50 (Box of 20, $250)
• La Madonna Negra Robusto Box Press (5 x 54) — $13 (Box of 20, $260)

Production: 2,700 Boxes of 20 Cigars and 50 Boxes of 32 Cigars (55,600 Total Cigars)

Release Date: June 2023

Emilio audiophile (2023)

Previously released in just a single 5 x 52 Robusto, the limited release Emilio audiophile is back with two additional sizes this year.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Maduro)
• Binder: Ecuador (Habano)
• Filler: Nicaragua

•  Emilio audiophile Robusto (2023) (5 x 52) — $10.50 (Box of 20, $210)
•  Emilio audiophile Toro (2023) (6 x 50) — $11 (Box of 20, $220)
•  Emilio audiophile Short Robusto (2023) (4 1/4 x 48) — $10.25 (Box of 20, $205)

Production: 200 Boxes of 20 Cigars (4,000 Total Cigars) Per Size

Release Date: August 2023