Eighteen — the number of life. Every year, a single blend is brought to life from the archives of one the world’s oldest tobacco families — only ever to be released once.
What is Project 18?
Once a year, MEERAPFEL Cigar opens its vaults and brings a single,
extraordinary blend to life — a composition that will never be repeated.
The entire vintage lives in one hundred and eighty chests. No more.
An annual ritual of sharing the most exceptional tobaccos — each release a reflection on where life begins: with the first temptation.
The Release
I. One Blend, brought to life
A single composition drawn from the family archives — unique to its year.
II. Allocated, Not Offered
The one hundred and eighty chests are entrusted to a chosen circle of partnered tobacconists.
III. Assigned by Name
Each chest is allocated to its collector before release — pre-sold, without exception.
IV. Never to be Released Again
Every 18 release from the archives is unique — when the vintage is gone, it is gone.
Aged for Decades
The precious Cameroon wrapper leaves age for decades in the vaults at the Maison Meerapfel in the heart of Europe — under natural conditions, like a great wine in the château’s cellar. Without cooling, the tobacco isn’t frozen in time but rather continues toevolve in the most natural and gentle way. This extremely time-consuming process removes the impurities from the tobacco, which affect combustibility, aroma and taste. What remains are the essential oils — the purest aromatic expression of the leaf.
Matured to Perfection
Every cigar returns to the vaults of the Maison Meerapfel to mature in
tailored Paulownia wood crates. This continued ageing marries the blend into perfect harmony — the final step to create the utmost finesse, elegance and extraordinarily smooth expression that defines MEERAPFEL Cigar. This experience is profoundly recognisable on the retrohale.
Bringing Personalities to Life
With the world’s oldest and rarest tobaccos at its disposition — a privilege of four centuries of family legacy and archives — MEERAPFEL Cigar follows a unique approach: creating personalities, each with their own unique narrative. Rather than just blending tobaccos, MEERAPFEL Cigar brings characters to life. Where the Master Blends carry the personalities of the family, Project 18 stands apart: one singular composition each year, drawn from the tobacco archives, never to be replicated.
The Chest
A masterpiece of engineering, the Paulownia wood chest holds ninety-nine cigars and two cigar tubes — tied together by the distinctive “Bleu de Vie” ribbons, and side seals.
Within
Beneath the laser-engraved lid, the cigars rest, nestled in between perforated humidification chambers — perfectly protected and exposed to 360° air and humidity circulation.
6 × 50
One vintage, one vitola. With its patented technology to create the lace-like pattern of 18 symbology, the ring lets the vintage Cameroon wrapper shine through in a mysterious way.
The Profile of 18
Dark Belgian Chocolate of the highest cocoa content — daringly complex, dark sweetness, powdery smoothness. Profound transitions and a nuanced profile that constantly evolves, taking the aficionado on a journey
The Cigar Tube
Every wheel of ninety-nine cigars contains two Project 18 Cigar Tubes,
ornately decorated in “Bleu de Vie”. They protect the cigars when carried — or serve as a special gift.
The Side Seal
An ornate seal in “Bleu de Vie” and gold, its pattern scattered with the
symbolic 18 — applied across the chest as a discreet seal of authenticity.
The Ribbon
Two distinct “Bleu de Vie” satin ribbons, embroidered and produced in France, with the symbolic 18 number and cypher — dressing the cigars and embracing the wheel.
