The 48th Annual Meeting and Convention of the Tobacconists Association of America (TAA) is scheduled March 6 – 10th in Puerto Vallarta. Surrounding the event are the announcements for what cigars will make up the 2016 TAA Exclusive Series – a series of cigars made available to TAA retailers to sell at their shops. This year Christian Eiroa’s CLE Cigar Company will launch the CLE Azabache as a part of that series. While CLE Azabache will be launched at the convention, CLE Cigar Company will also use the convention to give attendees a preview on what to expect in 2016.

This marks the second consecutive year, CLE Cigar Company has released a cigar to TAA members. Last year, the Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro was released as a part of the the 2015 TAA Exclusive Series. This marks the first CLE branded cigar for the TAA, and the first new CLE branded line since 2013’s CLE Plus line.

Azabache is Spanish for “Jet”. CLE Cigar Company founder Christian Eiroa has a love of flying and is a pilot. It also refers to a dark coal typically used in jewelry . This is appropriate since the Azabache is a maduro release.

CLE Azabache will feature a Mexican Maduro wrapper, the first cigar branded as a CLE cigar to feature that wrapper. The cigar also features a Honduran binder and a mix of Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian fillers. The cigars are produced at Eiroa’s Aladino factory in Danli, Honduras.  The line will be launched in three box-pressed sizes (50 x 5, 54 x 6, and 60 x 6). Each of the three sizes will be in 25 count boxes with a total production of 320 boxes per size.

A staple of CLE Cigars is the use of tissue paper as opposed to cellophane. The CLE Azabache is no exception as the cigars will be tissued wrapped featuring both the CLE and TLE logos.

In addition to the CLE Azabache, CLE has also announced it will feature other products at this year’s TAA. The company will showcase the recently announced Asylum 13 Connecticut as well as a Toro-sized line extension to Asylum 13. CLE will also showcase a rebranding for both the CLE and Eiroa lines. Finally, two new lines CLE Prieto and CLE Chele will make their debut.

“Last year we released the Asylum Nyctophilia at TAA. This year we decided to showcase a cigar under the C.L.E. portfolio. I can’t wait to get there and show or friends and customers what I have been working on this year. ” says Christian Eiroa, founder of C.L.E. Cigar Company in a press release.

At a glance, here is a look at the CLE Azabache.

Blend Profile

Wrapper: Mexican Maduro
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian
Country of Origin: Honduas (El Aladino)

Vitolas Available

50 x 5
54 x 6
60 x 6