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Fresh Cigars, Industry Shakeups, and Deals That Hit Different
Andres Sanchez
April 02, 2025
This Weeks Newsletter Is Sponsored By:
There’s no slowing down in the cigar world this week.
From exclusive new blends to bold industry moves, there’s plenty to unpack. E.P. Carrillo is dropping a Honduras-exclusive with Tobacco Tactical, Chateau Diadem is revamping its Certitude line ahead of PCA 2025, and United Cigars just added a new Bandolero to its lineup.
On the regulatory front, big news: FDA’s top tobacco regulator, Brian King, is out, and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust is hiking prices in 2025.
Meanwhile, Belgium enacted a strict tobacco display ban that could ripple across the EU.
We’re also shining the spotlight on Foundation Cigar Company, one of the most soulful, culture-driven brands in the game.
Whether you’re lighting up an El Güegüense or a Tabernacle, these cigars are steeped in heritage and flavor.
Oh—and don’t miss this week’s cigar fact (did you know baseball teams were once funded by cigar brands?) and some seriously good humidor-worthy deals, with savings of up to 60%.
Let’s get into it.
News
This Week In The World Of Cigars
New Releases
Tobacco Tactical Gets Exclusive E.P. Carrillo Essence Honduras (Read More)
Chateau Diadem Launching Rebranded Certitude Line at PCA 2025 (Read More)
United Cigars Adds Bandolero Premium (Read More)
Industry News
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Increases Prices for 2025 (Read More)
Brian King, FDA’s Top Tobacco Regulator, Forced Out (Read More)
Belgium’s Ban on Tobacco Product Displays Goes Into Effect Today (Read More)
Brand Of The Week
Heritage-Rich Cigars with Soul
Founded in 2015 by Nicholas Melillo, Foundation Cigar Company has quickly risen to prominence in the premium cigar world. Known affectionately as "Nick R. Agua," Melillo brings decades of experience and deep tobacco knowledge to every blend, crafting cigars that are rich in both flavor and story. With roots in Nicaraguan tobacco and a respect for ancient traditions, Foundation is all about honoring culture, history, and craftsmanship.
A Blend of Culture and Craftsmanship
From the artwork to the leaf, Foundation cigars are layered with meaning. Whether it’s paying tribute to ancient Ethiopian royalty, Mesoamerican mythology, or Connecticut’s tobacco-growing heritage, every stick delivers more than just a good smoke—it delivers depth. Blended with top-grade Nicaraguan tobacco (often from AJ Fernandez’s farms), these cigars offer complexity, strength, and soul.
Blends Worth Trying
🔥 El Güegüense (The Wise Man) – A Nicaraguan puro with notes of cedar, spice, and sweet earth.
🔥 The Tabernacle – Full-bodied and rich with dark chocolate, espresso, and pepper from a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.
🔥 Highclere Castle – A refined Connecticut Shade blend with creamy citrus and almond notes, made in partnership with the historic English estate.
Find Foundation Cigars near you and light up a smoke that speaks to tradition and taste.
Discover More:
🌐 Official Website: (Click Here)
El Güegüense: (Click Here)
The Tabernacle: (Click Here)
Highclere Castle: (Click Here)
Weekly Interesting Cigar Facts
Cigars Once Powered Baseball Teams
Believe it or not, cigars played a big role in early professional baseball. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, cigar companies often sponsored entire baseball teams, helping fund uniforms, travel, and gear. In return, the teams would take on names like the “Havana Perfectos” or the “Cremo Cigars”, turning the ballfield into a living advertisement.
Some cigar brands even created collectible baseball cards with players featured on the packaging—decades before Topps became a household name. These cards are now highly sought after by collectors, especially ones tied to famous cigar-sponsored teams.
It was a perfect match: cigars and America’s pastime, both symbols of leisure, tradition, and a little bit of swagger.
🔥 If you could name a cigar after a sports team, what would you call it? Let me know your pick!
Weekly Cigar Deals
Steals Of The Week
The Romeo y Julieta Crafted by AJ Fernandez is a medium to full-bodied cigar resulting from the collaboration between the renowned Romeo y Julieta brand and master blender AJ Fernandez.
The Montecristo Crafted by AJ Fernandez is a collaboration between the renowned Montecristo brand and master blender AJ Fernandez. Handcrafted in Nicaragua, this box-pressed cigar features an Ecuadorian Sumatra oscuro wrapper, a Mexican San Andrés binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers.
Herrera Esteli Habano is a medium to full-bodied cigar by Drew Estate, blended by Willy Herrera. It features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Honduran binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. Expect a smooth and complex profile with notes of cedar, almonds, white pepper, and subtle caramel.
The Gurkha Expedition Series is a medium-bodied cigar featuring aged Dominican long-leaf fillers and a Connecticut-seed, Ecuadorian-grown wrapper. It offers flavors of cedar, nuttiness, and subtle floral notes. The cigar is complemented by a cedar sleeve, enhancing its woody profile.
The Victor Sinclair Serie '55' Imperial Connecticut Robusto is a mellow to medium-bodied cigar, handcrafted in the Dominican Republic. It features a silky Connecticut Shade wrapper, a Brazilian binder, and a blend of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Panamanian long-fillers. This combination delivers smooth flavors of leather, oak, and subtle pepper.
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