DENVER, CO (Monday, April 17, 2023) —— Cigar Dojo and Dunbarton
Tobacco & Trust have collaborated for the first time, introducing a
fine-tuned variation of the beloved Sobremesa Brûlée brand with a
Japanese-inspired twist.

Coming off the heels of Cigar Dojo’s 10th anniversary in 2022, a fresh
start was in order for the next decade. As Steve Saka and his DTT
brigade have consistently remained among the most highly requested
partners for a Dojo collab, such harmonious qi was fulfilled with a
tasty Japanese treat known as wagashi.

Similar to Dunbarton’s former Sobremesa Brûlée Blue cigar, the Wagashi
和菓子 offers yet another deep dive into the beloved Sobremesa Brûlée
blend. The cigar draws on Cigar Dojo’s Japanese influence, being named
for a dessert delicacy of Japan that rose to cultural import during
the Edo Period (1603-1857).

“I have been tinkering with a larger format of my Sobremesa Brulée
Blue liga for a couple of years on and off,” noted Steve Saka, owner
and founder of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. “My original intent was to
craft a ‘Big Blue,’ but when the opportunity arose to create something
special for Dojo, it refocused my efforts, as the Brulée blend is one
of Sensei’s favorites. Trunk pressing this liga proved to be quite a
challenge, not only due to bruising and splitting of the shade
wrappers, but how it impacted the flavor and burn. It required so many
iterations of the blend, and to perfect the prensado techniques
utilized, there were times where I thought about just saying ‘Uncle!.’
But I am really glad I stuck with it, as I am ecstatic with the end
result. The bar established by our Blue is extremely high, but I
believe the Wagashi rivals it both in flavor and aroma, while also
being unique with its own distinct character.”

Taking on the difficult challenge of a proper box-pressed Connecticut,
Saka worked tirelessly with the Joya de Nicaragua factory in
Nicaragua, eventually crafting a 6″ x 50 toro expression that brought
out a cool smoking temperature and intricate complexities of almonds,
delicate coffee notes, blonde caramel, and sweet cream. Not only does
the cigar embody Japanese wagashi in profile, but the box-pressed
shape of the toro is reminiscent of yōkan-style wagashi, which is
served in rectangular blocks. Finally, the iconic Sobremesa band has
been reimagined with an ethereal emerald green palette; this is a nod
to the green tea pairing commonly served with wagashi pastries.

Eric Guttormson, owner of Cigar Dojo, commented, “It’s no secret how
much the Dojo loves the Sobremesa Brûlée, so when Steve showed
interest in collaborating on a cigar in that lineup, we literally did
backflips at Dojo headquarters. The Wagashi is going to be a
figurative and literal treat for premium cigar smokers.”

Unique to Cigar Dojo collaborative releases, the Wagashi will be
offered through an exclusive pre-order sale through retailer Smoke Inn
Cigars. Pre-order sales will kickoff on April 20th at 12pm (EDT) on
Smoke Inn’s online storefront, where each box of Wagashi can be
secured for a $30 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit. There
will be no limit on the quantity of boxes that may be purchased, and
the pre-order value will be applied to the cost of the final product
when Wagashi goes live this November. When the product becomes
available for shipment later this fall, purchasers will receive an
email and a notification in their Smoke Inn account, allowing for the
completion of the sale. Those that pre-order will have 30 days to
complete their order once Wagashi goes live, and those that fail to do
so will forfeit their order(s) and $30 deposit(s). Additionally, those
that pre-order Wagashi cigars will receive a limited-edition,
collectable challenge coin featuring custom artwork that features
Cigar Dojo, Dunbarton, Smoke Inn, and Wagashi logos.