The VegaFina 1998, a cigar named for the brand’s debut year,  is slated to make its stateside release this fall after previously being a European exclusive.

The cigar’s blend is described as a medium-bodied profile made up of an Ecuadorian HVA wrapper, Indonesian Java binder, and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Colombia, with the tobaccos said to be aged for at least four years. It will be available in three sizes, all offered in 10-count boxes:

  • VegaFina 1998 VF 50 (4 1/2 x 50)
  • VegaFina 1998 VF 52 (5 1/4 x 52)
  • VegaFina 1998 VF 54 (6 1/8  x 54)

Production for the cigar is being handled by Tabacalera de Garcia in La Romana, Dominican Republic. Pricing is between $8.60 and $9.60 per cigar, before taxes.

While Tabacalera USA has not formally announced the cigar, news of its pending release was made via Cigar Aficionado, with which the company appears to have an exclusivity agreement. An email to Rafael Nodal, the head of product capability for Tabacalera USA, seeking comment about the cigar or the accuracy of the report has not yet been returned.

Update (July 25, 2020) — Nodal replied to the email, saying that a formal announcement was forthcoming on Monday. He did not confirm the accuracy of the Cigar Aficionado story.

Update (July 27, 2020) — Altadis U.S.A. issued a press release about the line, with details added to the story. It also corrected errors in the original source information, specifically the length of the VF 52 and VF 54.

 

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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 MLB.com, 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.