For the past few months, there has been a lot of buzz of a new project for 2013 by Eddie Ortega’s Ortega Premium Cigar company.  The series is called the Ortega Wild Bunch and it marks a unique limited production concept that is being done by the cigar industry.   While sources such as Facebook and Twitter have been providing bits and pieces of information, it now appears that Charmed Leaf is among the first to be taking pre-orders for the initial three releases of the Ortega Wild Bunch.

The concept behind the Ortega Wild Bunch is to dedicate a cigar to various cigar enthusiasts whom Eddie Ortega has personally met during his tenure in the cigar industry.  During 2013, each month a different cigar – in a different size and blend will be released as a tribute to these various people Ortega has encountered during the cigar industry.   Production is limited and according to Charmed Leaf, box quantities will be based on the tobacco allocations.     There are also plans for an end of year sampler consisting of all twelve blends.  It is still to be determined if the sampler will consist of 12 (1 per character) or 24 (2 per character)

Each cigar will have a band with a cartoon representation of each of the characters.

Currently only names and details of the January through March releases have been made available.  However, a poster being sold on the Ortegacigars.com web-site gives a hint on what some of the other cigars will be named.  At press time, there are no details on the binder or filler.

January 2013 Big Bad John “Jackhammer”
Size 6 7/8 x 60
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Rosado
Binder: Secret
Filler: Secret

February 2013  Iron Mike “I-Beam”
Size: 4 7/8 x 54
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro
Binder: Secret
Filler: Secret

March 2013  Island Jim “Wahoo” 
Size: 6 1/2 x 52
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Secret
Filler: Secret

A more recent graphic has come out with some of the future names.  Ortega has mentioned these names have not been finalized.  The poster will be made available to retailers who will also be given stickers to fill in the poster as the monthly releases come out.

April: Tony “The Boss”
May: “DA” Byrdman
June: “honest” Abe
July: “Wild” Bill
August: “Fast” Eddie
September: “Gearhead” Gary
October: “Dandy” McCoy
November: “Warrior” Nick
December: “the Crusher”