If there was a vibe in the Black Star Line Cigars booth, it was definitely a welcoming, “come on in and take a load off” tone set by company owner Aric Bey. The single-space booth felt offered a central seating area that was like being welcomed into someone’s living room or invited to pull up a chair at your local cigar shop.

If you’re not familiar with the brand, it was stated by Bey and his childhood friend Derrick Bell. Bey had been a Chicago firefighter, but an injury forced him to retire from the department but opened up the door to this next chapter of his professional career. He began working with El Titan de Bronze for his first cigars but has since moved production to AGANORSA Leaf’s Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A. factory in Nicaragua.

Black Star Line Cigars has also added order fulfillment through Illusione Cigars, which is another significant step in the company’s progress. As for new products this year, the company is bringing back a robusto to its core War Witch line, while adding it to its Dark War Witch line. That line is also getting an updated band, as is the Lalibella line.

Black Star Line War Witch Robusto

A robusto vitola was part of the War Witch’s original lineup but disappeared for several years; now it’s back and being added to both War Witch lines.

“The Connecticut War Witch Robusto has been sold out for a couple of years and I thought this would be a great time to bring it back for regular production,” Aric Bey, owner of Black Star Line Cigars, told halfwheel. As announced in mid-June, the War Witch lines are wearing new bands that were designed by Cigar Dojo. Bundle versions are shipping now, while boxes are in the works for a later release.

  • Wrapper: Nicaragua (Connecticut)
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Black Star Line War Witch Robusto (5 x 50) — $11.99 (Box of 20, $239.80)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2022

Black Star Line Dark War Witch Robusto

After debuting in November 2021, the Dark War Witch is getting its second vitola, and it’s the same 5 x 50 robusto that is returning to the original War Witch line. It joins the original 6 x 46 box pressed corona, both of which are made by AGANORSA Leaf’s Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A. factory. As with the War Witch Robusto, it will debut in bundles as the boxes are still in production.

  • Wrapper: Nicaragua (Corojo 99)
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Black Star Line Dark War Witch Robusto (5 x 50) — $11.99 (Box of 20, $239.80)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2022

Black Star Line Cigars Lalibela Packaging Update

Black Star Line Cigars worked with Cigar Dojo to also give its Lalibela line an updated band, which are just beginning to ship to stores.

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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.