The Lost Angel 2022 Heads to TAA Stores

Crowned Heads says its 2022 exclusive cigar for Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA) retailers is now heading to stores.

The Lost Angel 2022 is a 5 3/4 x 52 robusto extra that uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper over a Mexican San Andrés binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic and two regions in Nicaragua. Crowned Heads says the wrapper’s color is between Colorado and oscuro. Like The Lost Angel 2021, it will be made at Tabacalera Pichardo in Estelí, Nicaragua.

It has an MSRP of $12.75 per cigar and is limited to 1,000 boxes of 20 cigars.

“For the second consecutive year, we’ve taken our TAA Exclusive to our Tabacalera Pichardo family for production,” said Jon Huber, co-founder of Crowned Heads, in a press release when the cigar was announced in March. “The 2021 Lost Angel was arguably one of our most highly-regard TAA releases to date, and I strongly believe that the 2022 version will continue on that path. We’ve selected an all-new blend for the series and I think it checks all the boxes for intensity, structure, flavor, complexity, and balance.”

The TAA, which also includes approximately 40 manufacturers, gathers annually to discuss issues facing the industry and retailers, as well as to have its annual trade show, a unique event that works on a group buying format in order to secure exclusive deals for these generally high-volume merchants.

During the event—which occurred in late March in Cabo San Lucas—the organization holds two selling events, one known as the Dream Machine where the retailers collectively order to secure larger discounts, while the other is a more traditional trade show. Typically, around a dozen manufacturers release new exclusive cigars for the retail members of the organization under the TAA Exclusive Series Program banner. Those manufacturers agree to give a portion of the proceeds to the organization, a minimum of 50 cents per cigar.

Asylum, E.P. Carrillo, Ferio Tego, Forged Cigar Co., Gurkha, Illusione, Joya de Nicaragua, La Flor Dominicana, La Palina, Rocky Patel, Tatuaje and Villigerhave announced TAA 2022 releases.