Cigar News: J.C. Newman to Launch The American

One of the most anticipated projects in the premium cigar market will finally have an official launch. It’s a cigar called The American, and it comes from J.C. Newman Cigar Company. It’s a project spearheaded by Drew Newman, the son of co-owner Eric Newman, under his Fourth Generation Cigar Company Project. The American is not only the resurrection of an old brand produced by J.C. Newman, but it’s a name that is appropriate because it is a truly a U.S. project through and through.

For starters, the blend consists of 100% American grown tobacco. This is highlighted by a Florida Sun Grown (FSG) wrapper grown on the farm owned by Jeff Borysiewicz. It’s the first major project where the FSG leaf is being used for a wrapper. It also features a Connecticut Broadleaf binder grown by eighth-generation family farmer Jon Foster in South Windsor, Connecticut. Finally, the filler consists of a blend of Foster’s Connecticut Havana tobacco and Lancaster Pennsylvania tobacco grown by the Mennonites.

Second, the cigar is rolled at the Newman’s 109-year old El Reloj factory in Ybor City in Tampa, Florida. In recent years, machine-made cigars have been the focus of production at El Reloj, however, a small number of pairs have been brought in to make The American entirely by-hand. Incidentally, The American is the name of the first cigar brand rolled at the historic factory.

Besides the tobacco and the production being U.S. based, just about everything else about The American also originates from the U.S. The boxes are produced by Millennium Wood Box in Miami, Florida; the bands come from Printing Action Label in Sanford, Florida; the molds used for The American come from HSA Cigar Molds in Dade City Florida; and the cellophane tubes come from Technical Packaging in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.

“The American speaks to the heart of who we are: a four-generation, 124-year-old, American family business,” said Drew Newman, great-grandson of company founder J.C. Newman in a press release. “Our country’s rich premium cigar tradition dates to the Colonial Era. As an American, I wanted to prove that we could hand roll a world-class cigar in the United States using American tobaccos. I am thrilled that we have created an outstanding all-American cigar.”

“We are delighted to see our exclusive Florida Sun Grown wrapper tobacco being used on a cigar that is hand crafted in America’s ‘Cigar City,’” added Borysiewicz. “A hundred years ago, it was commonplace for Florida-grown tobacco to be rolled into cigars in Tampa’s numerous cigar factories. We are proud to be working with the Newman family to bring back this long lost cigar-making tradition after a 50 year hiatus.”

Friday, May 31st will mark the official launch of The American. Drew Newman will join Jeff Borysiewicz for a launch event at Corona Cigar Company’s Sand Lake store in Orlando, Florida. Concurrently J.C. Newman Cigar Company co-owners Eric and Bobby Newman will host a launch event at the Davidoff of Geneva since 1911 Tampa store.

At a glance, here is a look at The American.

Blend and Origin

Wrapper Florida Sun Grown (Clermont, FL)
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf (South Windsor, CT)
Filler: Pennsylvania and Connecticut Habano (South Windsor, CT)
Country of Origin: United States
Factory: J.C. Newman El Reloj