PCA 2022: Freud Cigar Co.

One of the things I’m glad to be writing about at the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show is that there are still companies making their trade show debuts. Sometimes a company has been around for a few years but had not exhibited at the show, while other times a company is completely new to the market, such as Freud Cigar Co., which launched in April and debuted its first cigar, SuperEgo, in May.

The company is part of Agape Lifestyle, Inc. and has signed on with Illusione to handle its product fulfillment. Its booth space features a pair of large TVs with rotating messaging and details about the company, then a familiar mix of banners, display cabinets and some seating rounded things out. The only thing that seems to be missing was a couch to further draw the connection between the cigar brand and the famous psychoanalyst.

Co-owner Luis Torres told halfwheel that a new project called Reina Cubana is in the works for an October release. It is named after an old Cuban brand that was one of Sigmund Freud’s favorite cigars. And while SuperEgo was on display in the Freud Cigar Co. booth this year, the focus was squarely on the company’s first limited edition.

Freud Cigar Co. Agape Limited Edition

For its first limited edition, Freud Cigar Co. turned to Eladio Diaz, formerly the supervisor of production at Davidoff’s factory in the Dominican Republic, and who is now operating his own factory in the Dominican Republic. Diaz and Luis Torres, co-founder of Freud Cigar Co., blended a Dominican puro that contains an autochthonous Dominican leaf binder, meaning that it is an indigenous variety of tobacco. In total, the blend features seven distinct types of tobacco, with Diaz describing the cigar as being creamy and slightly spicy, with floral, cocoa and oak wood sensations. Unfortunately, the bands weren’t ready, which is why the cigars are unbanded, but the boxes look quite good. They are made from okoume wood, which was selected both for its lighter color as it provides contrast to the bands, as well as its ability to handle moisture, which makes it a choice for higher-end humidors.

• Wrapper: Dominican Republic
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic

• Freud Cigars Agape Limited Edition (5 x 54) — $30 (Box of 10, $30)

Production: 3,500 Boxes of 10 Cigars

Release Date: July 2022