PCA 2023: Rson

I still remember writing a sentence a few years ago about being pleasantly surprised by seeing new companies at the PCA Convention & Trade Show, largely because the looming threat of FDA regulations made it seem like no one would have the guts to start a company in an industry facing the kind of regulations that premium cigars were.

Even though the threat of those regulations has changed, I’m still impressed by seeing new cigar companies at the show, and that’s whether they are truly a new company, or if they are a first-time exhibitor at the PCA Convention & Trade Show. For Rson, the company has been around for about three years selling via its website, but the Alexandria, Va.-based company is now expanding into retail stores with its mix of cigars and cigar accessories.

The company had a well-logoed 10′ x 10′ booth located in the back rows of the show floor, with their products displayed on a pair of tables along with a good amount of promotional material, and a very eager Araia Tesfamariam at the ready to talk about those products.

Rson Fire Lance

This compact multi-function device serves as a cigar punch, a draw poker and a cigar holder, with the device stepping through those different functions simply by twisting it; first the punch pops up, then the draw poker, and finally the cigar holder.

• Rson Fire Lance — $45

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2023

Rson Golden Dragon

Rson had a pair of boxed cigars on display, the first of which is the Golden Dragon, a Nicaraguan puro. Tesfamariam said that he works with a pair of families to produce his cigars, the Bello family out of Miami and Nicaragua, and the Cortez family, which is based out of New Jersey and the Dominican Republic.

• Wrapper: Nicaragua (Habano 2000)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Rson Golden Dragon (5 x 50) — $13.50 (Box of 20, $270)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: August 2023

Rson Upper Kingdom

Like the Golden Dragon, this is a Nicaraguan puro that uses a Habano 2000 wrapper and comes offered in 20-count boxes. The company calls the blend a “rich and smooth, medium-bodied smoke.”

• Wrapper: Nicaragua (Habano 2000)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Rson Upper Kingdom (7 x 48) — $13.50 (Box of 20, $270)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: August 2023

Rson Singleton Connisseur’s Edition

This is one of the more interesting packages that I saw on the show floor, as the company is offering a set that includes five cigars, a cutter, and a Singleton watch, packaged in a five-count travel humidor. There are some options for the watch available, including colors and materials for the band, while the case is 41mm in size and 14mm in thickness, and is water resistant to 200 meters. The cigars, known as the Singleton Series 1, are 4 1/2 x 62 perfectos.

• Wrapper: Mexico (San Andrés)
• Binder: Nicaragua (Ligero)
• Filler: Nicaragua (Ligero)

• Singleton Connisseur’s Edition — $500

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: August 2023