PCA 2022: Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co.

As I approached the Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co. booth, it looked much like it had in years past, with the yellow, circular banner hanging from the ceiling above it, a quartet of display cases, and clusters of seating areas. And of course, a good number of retailers coming by to place their orders and catch up with what was new with the company.

But as I got closer, I started noticing the number 10 being featured on the new backdrop of the booth, as well as on boxes of cigars at the front of the booth, and it hit me that this was the company’s 10th anniversary. Of course, that calls for a new cigar line to be released in celebration, which was there, and which uses tobacco from Valladares’s farms, which have become an increasing part of his company and cigarmaking operation.

Beyond that, the company released an interesting new project that will definitely get some attention for both its name and what it is lacking compared to seemingly every other cigar. As for Oscar Valladares, the person, he remains one of the most affable cigar makers on the show floor in my opinion, as he seems to talking to retailers about what is new with them as well as what is new with him and his company.

Oscar Valladares 10th Anniversary

As you might remember, Oscar Valladares’ first commercial release was called 2012, and was a nod to the Mayan calendar and the related predictions as to the end of the world that would be coming on Dec. 21, 2012. Well, here we are 10 years later, the world is still around, and Oscar Valladares is celebrating his company’s 10th anniversary. While production will be ongoing, it will also be limited in how frequently it can be produced due to the blend requiring the fillers to be aged for five years. This will also be one of Valladares’ most premium offerings to date.

• Wrapper: Mexico & Honduras (Candela)
• Binder: Honduras
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Oscar Valladares 10th Anniversary Toro (6 x 52) — $18 (Box of 10, $180)
• Oscar Valladares 10th Anniversary Sixty (6 x 60) — $20 (Box of 10, $200)
• Oscar Valladares 10th Anniversary Salomon (7 x 52/60) — $23 (Box of 10, $230)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: Late September 2022

Oscar Valladares Raw Dog

Go ahead and take a moment to take in that name, much like I did when I first saw the cigar in the display case. It gets its name because it doesn’t use a wrapper leaf, so what you are seeing is the binder as the outermost leaf, which gives the cigar its distinctive look that is also reminiscent of the My Way by Bayron Duarte, which used a wrapper leaf but put it on upsidedown, so the rougher side faced outward. Since there’s no wrapper, there’s also no cap on the cigar, so you don’t need a cutter before lighting it up. If you’re concerned that the cigar won’t have as much flavor without a wrapper leaf, Valladares says the binder and filler were selected to deliver plenty of flavor. A unique and eye-catching cigar, to say the least, and certainly one of the names I’ll remember most from the show floor this year.

• Wrapper: n/a
• Binder: Honduras (Copan)
• Filler: Honduras (Jamastran & Copan)

• Oscar Valladares Raw Dog (5 x 60) — $6 (Box of 50, $300)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: Late September 2022