Cigar Blog

United Cigars has announced it is re-releasing The Wise Man and Banoldero Firecrackers. The company says both cigars are ready to ship to retailers.

The Firecracker is a 3 1/2 x 50 vitola with a long “fuse.” The United Cigars Firecracker series is also known for the many limited edition collaborations that have been done with leading manufacturers to produce a cigar in the Firecracker vitola in a popular line.

The Wise Man Maduro Firecracker made its debut in 2021. It was re-released in 2022, making the 2023 release the third batch to be released. The blend features a San Andres Maduro wrapper and all-Nicaraguan tobacco for the binder and filler. Production comes from Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A.. One difference with the Firecracker is that while most of the core line is box-pressed, the Firecracker is a parejo (rounded).

The Bandolero Firecracker made its debut in 2022 and would finish as Cigar Coop’s #16 Cigar of the Year for 2022. This marks the second batch of the Bandolero Firecracker. The blend for the Bandolero Firecracker is derived from the Clandestino line (Serie C) that uses filler leaves from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and undisclosed tobaccos. The Bandolero Firecracker features an Ecuadorian binder and a dark Ecuadorian wrapper that is typically used on the Aventureros line (Serie A). Production comes from Tabacos de Costa Rica located in Costa Rica.

Photo Credit: United Cigars

When Emilio Cigars was brought in as part of the Oveja Negra Brands portfolio, one of the first things done was that the Emilio Grimalkin was resurrected as a limited small batch release. Over the past few years, Emilio Grimalkin has been a Halloween-themed release with several variations of the original concept. This year, Emilio has announced the Emilio Grimalkin Season Edition 2023. This release introduces a barber-pole variant to the line.

The Emilio Grimalkin was introduced back in 2011. A grimalkin (also called a greymalkin) is an old or evil-looking female cat. The term stems from “grey” (the color) plus “malkin,” an archaic term for a cat. Scottish legend makes reference to the grimalkin as a faery cat that dwells in the highlands. At that time, it wasn’t a Halloween release. Grimalkin eventually was rebranded as La Musa until Oveja Negra Brands resurrected it.

The barber pole of the Emilio Grimalkin Seasonal Edition 2023 consists of a combination of Ecuadorian Maduro and Corojo wrappers over a Nicaraguan Habano binder and all Nicaraguan fillers. The cigar will come in one size – a 5 x 50 Robusto. Each will be presented in 25-count boxes. Pricing will be set at $11.00 per cigar.

“To celebrate one of my favorite times of year, Grimalkin seasonal is back. We changed things up a bit this time around. The blend of filler tobacco has stayed the same, but we did a dual wrapper, closed foot, and a rabito cap. The Grimalkin has rich, intense flavors of dark fruit, herbal cedar notes, and mild baking spice on the layered, complex finish,” said James Brown of Black Label Trading Co and Fabrica Oveja Negra in a press release.

At a glance, here is a look at the Emilio Grimalkin Season Edition 2023:

Blend and Origin

Wrapper: Ecuador Maduro and Corojo dual wrapper
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica Oveja Negra

Vitolas Offered

Robusto: 5 x 50

Last month La Aurora released a new regular production line to commemorate its 120th anniversary. And since October 3rd is the official date for La Aurora’s 120th anniversary, the company used the date to announce a special limited edition offshoot of that line, the La Aurora 120th Anniversary Limited Edition. The vitola was previewed at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show.

The blend for the La Aurora 120th Anniversary features a Habano 92-seed leaf wrapper over a Dominican binder and Dominican fillers (Piloto Cubano, Olor Dominicano, Corojo). The cigar comes in the iconic Preferidos #1 (6 x 58) shape).

“This unique edition is a tribute to the very first Preferidos cigars in 1903, with replicas of the original tubes encapsulating a new, meticulously crafted blend. The design features a perfecto or double figurado shape, similar to what was created 120 years ago, and today is our most premium offering known by many from the colored tubos that encase the cigars which only our most expert rollers are asked to craft,” said Guillermo León, President of La Aurora in a press release. “Together, these elements create a perfect synergy of aroma, flavor, strength, and tradition that magnifies the quality of our Dominican tobacco, the craftsmanship of our team of experts and the history of La Aurora.”

The cigars will be presented in ten-count boxes with a total production of 2,500 boxes. Pricing is set at $40.00 per cigar. The La Aurora 120th Anniversary is expected to ship later this fall.

Photo Credits: La Aurora Cigars