PCA 2023: Artista Cigars
As you might recall, the company formerly known as El Artista Cigars dropped the El and became Artista Cigars. However, it was more than just a subtle name change. The company used it to spur new packaging designs and develop a more modern approach to the business.
This philosophical shift is exemplified at this year’s PCA Convention & Trade Show, where the Artista booth stands out for its bright white foundation, angled wood designs, and overall clean look. A number of cigars are shown off, but they are not overbearing. If anything, it’s a very welcoming booth, and easily one of the best designed I have seen thus far on the show floor.
Artista Cigars didn’t technically roll out any new product this year, but rather put the focus on Harvest and Midnight, two cigars it showed off at the 2022 trade show that didn’t ship until June 15 of this year due to a handful of delays.
The Artista Harvest, which features yellow and gold-colored bands and packaging, uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, an Ecuadorian habano seco binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic that the company describes as proprietary. According to Artista, the blend offers spice, rich honey, elderberry, and earthy cashew and almond.
- Wrapper: Ecuador (Sumatra)
- Binder: Ecuador (Habano Seco)
- Filler: Dominican Republic
- Artista Harvest Robusto (5 x 54) — $10.20 (Box of 20, $204)
- Artista Harvest Toro (6 x 50) — $10.40 (Box of 20, $208)
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: June 15, 2023
The Artista Midnight sports a noticeably darker wrapper than the Harvest, using an Ecuadorian habano leaf, while the binder is a shade-grown Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf. The filler comes from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and the U.S.A. The company says the profile is marked by deep, rich, and earthy notes of coffee, spice, and chestnut with a citrus finish.
- Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
- Binder: Ecuador (Connecticut Shade)
- Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua & U.S.A.
- Artista Midnight Robusto (5 x 54) — $10.20 (Box of 20, $204)
- Artista Midnight Toro (6 x 50) — $10.40 (Box of 20, $208)
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: June 15, 2023
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 Major League Baseball, 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.
Related Posts
-
June 15, 2023 -
July 4, 2022
