SELECTED TOBACCO INTRODUCES ROBUSTO EDITION SET
MADRID, SPAIN — The Robusto Edition Set is an exclusive collector’s release honoring the guests of the Selected
Tobacco facility grand opening in Madrid on the weekend of October 10th and 11th.
Tag Archives: #PCA26
Casa Carrillo Expands Pledge Purple
with New Robusto Size
Limited-Production Pledge Purple Robusto to Begin
Shipping to Select Retailers This Month
Miami, FL — Casa Carrillo announces the addition of a new Robusto size to the Pledge Purple Premier Collection, expanding one of the company’s most anticipated releases with a new format designed to deliver the signature Pledge Purple experience in a more compact presentation.
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Casa Carrillo Announces Pledge of Allegiance Rockets
A Limited-Edition Tribute to America’s 250th Anniversary
MIAMI, FL — September 23— In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, Casa Carrillo proudly introduces Pledge of Allegiance Rockets, an exceptionally limited release created to honor the American spirit, the pursuit of opportunity, and the country’s rich history.
Continue reading Casa Carrillo Announces Pledge of Allegiance RocketsCasa Carrillo Expands the Encore Legacy with Encore Noir II and Encore Edición Única II
Two International Exclusive Limited Releases Showcase Distinct Expressions of the Encore Brand
Miami, FL — Casa Carrillo proudly announces the release of Encore Noir II and Encore Edición Única II, two international-exclusive limited editions that celebrate the artistry, innovation, and craftsmanship behind the acclaimed Encore brand. While united by the pursuit of excellence, each cigar offers its own unique interpretation of the Encore legacy.
Encore Noir II
Following the success of its predecessor, Encore Noir II returns as a bold new expression of the Encore line. Rather than recreating the original, Noir II has been developed as its own distinctive release, showcasing a blend composed entirely of Nicaraguan tobaccos.
Presented in the elegant Celestial No. 2 vitola, Encore Noir II delivers a rich, balanced smoking experience with layers of complexity and refinement. Handcrafted at Casa Carrillo in Santiago, Dominican Republic, every cigar reflects generations of cigar-making expertise and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Produced in a limited run of 1,500 individually numbered boxes, with 10 handcrafted long-filler cigars per box, Encore Noir II offers enthusiasts an exclusive opportunity to experience the next evolution of the Encore tradition.
Blend Information
- Vitola: Celestial No. 2 – 6 1/8 x 50
- Wrapper: Nicaragua
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Factory: Casa Carrillo, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Encore Edición Única II
Building on the success of the inaugural Edición Única release, Casa Carrillo proudly introduces Encore Edición Única II, the second installment in the brand’s annual international-exclusive series celebrating rare tobaccos, exceptional craftsmanship, and limited production.
For its second edition, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo selected the iconic No. 109 factory shape, a distinctive 6½ x 54 vitola with a tapered head. Named Amigos, this release honors the friendships and shared experiences that have always been central to the premium cigar tradition.
“Every Edición Única is an opportunity to create something truly special,” said Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. “With Amigos, we wanted to showcase the beauty of the No. 109 format while allowing carefully aged tobaccos to deliver remarkable balance, complexity, and refinement.”
Each Edición Única is not a continuation of the last, but a new expression of craftsmanship. Defined by its own blend, vitola, and personality, every annual release is created to offer a singular smoking experience worthy of its name.
That philosophy comes to life in Encore Edición Única II. Crafted as an all-Nicaraguan puro, the blend features meticulously selected tobaccos aged for a minimum of five years, allowing each leaf to develop exceptional harmony, richness, and depth while showcasing the distinctive character of Nicaragua’s finest growing regions. The iconic No. 109 factory shape further enhances the smoking experience, delivering a refined expression unlike any that came before it.
Because of the limited availability of these specially aged tobaccos and the exacting standards required for production, Encore Edición Única II is limited to just 1,100 individually numbered boxes, each containing 10 handcrafted long-filler cigars.
Blend Information
- Vitola: Amigos (No. 109) – 6½ x 54
- Wrapper: Nicaragua
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Aging: All tobaccos aged a minimum of five years
- Factory: Casa Carrillo, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Shipping Now
Encore Noir II and Encore Edición Única II are shipping now to Casa Carrillo’s international distribution partners. Produced in strictly limited quantities, these releases offer retailers and aficionados an opportunity to secure two of the year’s most exclusive additions to the Encore portfolio before they are fully allocated
Casa Carrillo Announces Ascend Now Shipping to Retailers
A New Regular Production Release in the Perez-Carrillo Series
Miami, FL — Casa Carrillo announces that Ascend, the newest regular production release in the Perez-Carrillo Series, is now shipping to retailers nationwide.
Continue reading Casa Carrillo Announces Ascend Now Shipping to RetailersCasa Carrillo Announces Encore Noir II
An International Exclusive Continues the Legacy of Encore with a Limited U.S. Launch Event at Two Guys Smoke Shop
Miami, FL — Casa Carrillo proudly announces the release of Encore Noir II, the next chapter in its exploration of deeper, darker expressions within the acclaimed Encore legacy. Building on the foundation of the original Encore—named Cigar Aficionado’s 2018 Cigar of the Year—Encore Noir II delivers a richer, more intense interpretation while maintaining the balance and elegance that define the series.
Continue reading Casa Carrillo Announces Encore Noir II
Hiram & Solomon Cigars Announces the Release of Mystic Tie and Fraternal Flame
Now Shipping to Retailers and Available Online
Hiram & Solomon Cigars is pleased to announce that its highly anticipated limited releases, Mystic Tie and Fraternal Flame, have officially begun shipping to retailers and distributors and are now available for purchase online and at participating premium cigar retailers.
Continue reading Hiram & Solomon Cigars Announces the Release of Mystic Tie and Fraternal Flame
Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday with an America250 Cigar!
J.C. Newman Cigar Co. has hand rolled special cigars in
America’s last large cigar factory bearing the official America 250 seal.
TAMPA, FLA. – As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. invites cigar enthusiasts to celebrate with an America250 cigar. This year, J.C. Newman is releasing limited-edition cigars hand rolled at J.C. Newman’s historic El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa, Florida, to commemorate this anniversary. The American, Angel Cuesta, LeRoy Neiman and Tampa Smokers cigars bear the official America250 seal.
Premium Cigar Association Responds to FDA’s Proposed Tobacco Product Registration Rule
Premium Cigar Association Expresses Concern for FDA Proposed Rule on Tobacco Product Establishment Registration and Product Listing
The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) acknowledges the release of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed rule titled Establishment Registration and Product Listing for Tobacco Products and will provide comment on behalf of its membership before the September 14, 2026, deadline.
Continue reading Premium Cigar Association Responds to FDA’s Proposed Tobacco Product Registration RuleIllinois Enacts Premium Cigar Tax Cap
After years of effort by multiple industry trade associations, the state of Illinois just joined the coalition of states that have a premium cigar tax cap.
Continue reading Illinois Enacts Premium Cigar Tax Cap
PLASENCIA CIGARS APPOINTS RODRIGO MEDINA MENDIETA AS FIRST-EVER GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR
(Miami, Florida) – June XX, 2026 – Plasencia Cigars, a world-renowned premium tobacco grower and maker of award-winning cigars with a tobacco tradition since 1865 proudly announces the appointment of Rodrigo Medina Mendieta as the company’s first-ever Global Brand Ambassador, a newly created role that reflects both the continued evolution of the brand and Rodrigo’s nearly 11 years of dedication to expanding Plasencia’s presence around the world.
Continue reading PLASENCIA CIGARS APPOINTS RODRIGO MEDINA MENDIETA AS FIRST-EVER GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADORPledge of Allegiance Now Shipping
New Limited-Edition Blend Honors American Heritage and America’s 250th Anniversary
Miami, FL — June 2026 — Casa Carrillo announces that the 2026 Pledge of Allegiance Toro began shipping to select premium retailers nationwide late last week. Created to honor America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, this annual limited-edition release features an all-new blend with a Connecticut Habano wrapper, Ecuadorian Connecticut binder, and Nicaraguan fillers from Condega, Jalapa, ASP, and Estelí.
Illinois Enacts Premium Cigar Tax Cap
After years of effort by multiple industry trade associations, the state of Illinois just joined the coalition of states that have a premium cigar tax cap.
Continue reading Illinois Enacts Premium Cigar Tax CapNew Limited-Edition Blend Honors American Heritage and America’s 250th Anniversary
Miami, FL — June 2026 — Casa Carrillo proudly announces the release of the 4th Annual Pledge of Allegiance, a bold and patriotic limited-edition cigar that continues the brand’s tribute to American freedom while commemorating the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Continue reading New Limited-Edition Blend Honors American Heritage and America’s 250th AnniversaryAaron Sigmond Announces New Book, CIGARS: A Culture
[NEW YORK, June 15, 2026]—CIGARS: A Culture, the forthcoming limited-edition volume by Aaron Sigmond—author of more than 20 books and one of the most respected voices in luxury-lifestyle and cigar journalism—serves as both a follow-up and an addendum to his widely acclaimed, multi-award-winning CIGARS: A Biography.
Published by Mad/Dash Press (M/DP) and presented by the Premium Cigar Association (PCA), the book will be available for pre-order beginning this summer ahead of its anticipated October 2026 release.
“A Biography took readers on a journey—chronicling the cigar across time, soil and sea—through the Caribbean Basin, the Americas and Europe, from tobacco growers and cigarmakers to merchants. A Culture continues that journey—beyond the fields, the curing barns, fermentation, tobacco warehouses, rolling and arrival on merchants’ shelves,” Sigmond says. “This new work explores cigars through the lens of arts, culture, media, events, accessories and epicurean pursuits—all the refined pleasures, pursuits and customs that orbit the cigar.”
The final version of CIGARS: A Biography was structured according to three distinct sections. There was, however, originally a fourth section, but as A Biography grew to 424 pages, that fourth section, though mostly written, was left undesigned, unedited and ultimately relegated to the figurative cutting-room floor, as the book would otherwise have been too long.
Sigmond, together with Mad/Dash Press creative director Liliana Guia, later returned to that omitted material to expand it into this all-new stand-alone, first limited-edition volume.
Taken together, CIGARS: A Culture combined with CIGARS: A Biography represent the complete realization of Sigmond’s original vision.
CIGARS: A Culture will be released in the U.S. and the Caribbean with a distinctive multiple-cover concept: four cover variants—each featuring a different cigar-and-pen pairing—while the interior content remains identical. Also, there are two international editions: Europe and the Middle East, which will be offered exclusively within those markets.
PREORDERS OPEN JUNE 15, 2026, EXCLUSIVELY AT SIGCULTURE.COM.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aaron “Sig” Sigmond is the author of PLAYBOY: The Book of Cigars (2009-10), The Impossible Collection of Cigars (2019), Arturo Fuente: Since 1912 (2022) and CIGARS: A Biography (2025). He was the founding editor of SMOKE magazine and The Cigar Report, as well as a contributor to Elite Traveler and the contributing cigar editor for Playboy magazine. Sigmond also served in various consulting capacities at General Cigar Co., Nat Sherman and Arturo Fuente.
ABOUT MAD/DASH PRESS
Co-founded in 2009 by creative director Liliana Guia and media executive Aaron Sigmond, MAD/DASH PRESS (M/DP) is an award-winning boutique luxury publisher and incubator of distinctive coffee-table books and connoisseur-focused titles, combining legacy-media content with contemporary print design.
PCA Announces New Initiative in Mexico
The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced PCA Connect Mexico 2026, a new international market-development initiative taking place August 24–30, 2026, in partnership with Cigar Roller Mexico.
Continue reading PCA Announces New Initiative in Mexico
Crux Cigars Introduces the Marblehead Maduro in Two Sizes
Bold Maduro flavor, accessible pricing, and the signature Marblehead shape in two classic sizes
Crux Cigars is proud to announce the release of the Marblehead Maduro, an exciting new extension to the popular Marblehead lineup.
Like the original Marblehead, the Maduro features the line’s distinctive rounded marblehead cap, a unique finishing touch that gives the cigar its recognizable look and a comfortable feel from the first draw.
Continue reading Crux Cigars Introduces the Marblehead Maduro in Two Sizes
Don Emmanuel Cigars Begins Shipping Sun & Moon Limited Edition, a Collaboration Between Don Emmanuel and Legendary Master Blender Eladio Díaz
A dual-blend concept inspired by the balance of opposing forces, now shipping to retailers nationwide.
MIAMI, FL — Following a successful debut at the 2026 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, where the release generated strong interest from retailers and media alike, Don Emmanuel Cigars is now shipping its Sun & Moon Limited Edition to retailers nationwide.
Continue reading Don Emmanuel Cigars Begins Shipping Sun & Moon Limited Edition, a Collaboration Between Don Emmanuel and Legendary Master Blender Eladio Díaz
Drew Estate Undercrown El Tigre
The new offering from DE is a very attractive, soft-pressed cigar with great looking construction. Easy light with a pairing of Canadian rye, an easy choice for the Habano wrapper. Initial flavor profile shows earthy notes with subtle wood notes.
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Hooten Young Secures U.S. Design Patent for The Cartridge™, Featured in the Ma Deuce Cigar Selection
One of the world’s only patented cigar shapes, The Cartridge™ brings American heritage, premium tobacco, and unmistakable visual identity to the premium cigar market.
Jacksonville Beach, FL — May 7, 2026 — Hooten Young LLC is proud to announce the issuance of U.S. Design Patent No. D1,124,474 S, protecting the ornamental design of the company’s distinctive cigar shape known as The Cartridge™. The patented design is featured in the Ma Deuce Cigar Selection, a premium cigar created to honor American military strength, legacy, and sacrifice. The patent was issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and recognizes a group of inventors associated with the design, including Azarias Mustafa Cordoba “Z” and Norman G. Hooten.
Continue reading Hooten Young Secures U.S. Design Patent for The Cartridge™, Featured in the Ma Deuce Cigar SelectionHOOTEN YOUNG RELEASES CONSTITUTION HULL RESERVE.AN ULTRA-RARE AMERICAN WHISKEY COMMEMORATING 250 YEARS OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE — and America’s oldest commissioned warship.
Only 250 Individually Numbered Bottles. Finished with Authentic Timber from the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides.”
Jacksonville, FL — May 8, 2026 — Hooten Young, America’s Favorite Pairing: Whiskey & Cigars, today announced the release of Constitution Hull Reserve, an ultra-rare American whiskey made to commemorate 250 years of American independence. With only 250 bottles ever produced, each individually numbered, this is one of the most historically significant and limited whiskey releases ever brought to market. Only 250 bottles exist. And for Norm Hooten of Hooten Young, every one of them carries more than whiskey.
Continue reading HOOTEN YOUNG RELEASES CONSTITUTION HULL RESERVE.AN ULTRA-RARE AMERICAN WHISKEY COMMEMORATING 250 YEARS OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE — and America’s oldest commissioned warship.
The Premium Cigar Association Concludes a Successful PCA26 Trade Show in New Orleans; Announces Dates for PCA27 in Las Vegas
The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) successfully concluded its annual trade show and convention, PCA26, held April 17–20, 2026, in New Orleans. Bringing together premium cigar retailers, manufacturers, distributors, media, and industry professionals from across the United States and around the world, PCA26 delivered four days of business, networking, education, and celebration in one of America’s most iconic host cities.
Continue reading The Premium Cigar Association Concludes a Successful PCA26 Trade Show in New Orleans; Announces Dates for PCA27 in Las VegasPCA Expands into Asia Through Strategic Partnership with Cigraal
Launch of PCA and Cigraal’s PCA Connect Asia | November 30 – December 6, 2026
The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced a new strategic partnership with Cigraal, a leading premium cigar development and distribution company across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. This collaboration marks a significant step in supporting the rapid growth, professionalization, and long-term development of the premium cigar category across key Asian markets, through advancing education and advocacy.
Continue reading PCA Expands into Asia Through Strategic Partnership with CigraalCasa Carrillo Introduces Ascend at PCA 2026
A New Regular Production Release in the Perez-Carrillo Series
Miami, FL — Casa Carrillo introduces Ascend, a new release that reflects the company’s ongoing dedication to refinement and its commitment to elevating the premium cigar experience.
Continue reading Casa Carrillo Introduces Ascend at PCA 2026Premium Cigar Association Honors Industry Leaders at 2026 Step Up Awards
During a ceremony held on the first night of the PCA26 Trade Show, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced the recipients of its 2026 Step Up Awards. Presented annually, these prestigious awards recognize individuals whose leadership, advocacy, and dedication have made a lasting impact on the premium cigar industry.
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