Cigar News: J.C. Newman Cigar Company Launches José Gaspar Cigars

J.C. Newman Cigar Company has announced the release of José Gaspar cigars. The cigar line is named for the famed pirate that would become the inspiration for the city of Tampa’s annual Gasparilla festival.

José Gaspar was a pirate who terrorized the waters of the gulf coast of Florida. Gaspár eventually was killed in an attempt at seizing a U.S. Navy warship in disguise. Since his death, many stories of Gaspár soon became a part of the Tampa Bay Area’ folklore. This lead to the creation of the Gasparilla festival in 1904, which is now a Tampa Bay tradition.

With pirates and cigars an important part of the culture of the city of Tampa, J.C. Newman Cigar Company is introducing the José Gaspar cigar to coincide with the event. It will be released to several Tampa retailers, and will return on an annual basis to coincide with the Gasparilla event.

“José Gaspar was one of most feared pirates in the Americas,” said Drew Newman, fourth-generation owner in a statement. “Sailing from his base near Tampa Bay in the late 1700s, he terrorized the Gulf of Mexico and amassed a great fortune. Gaspar celebrated victories with a bold and flavorful cigar. This cigar honors his legacy and the tradition of Gasparilla.”

A total of 10,000 José Gaspar cigars will be released in 2022. The cigar itself is a 7 x 50 vitola featuring a sun-grown Ecuadorian-Havana wrapper over an undisclosed blend. The cigars are available in five-packs with an MSRP of $40.

“When pirates invade Tampa and parade down Bayshore Boulevard on January 29, they will be enjoying José Gaspar cigars,” said Newman. “Just like the pirates of Gasparilla, however, José Gaspar cigars will sail out of Tampa Bay at the end of January and will not be available again until next year.”

The following are retailers in the Tampa area who are carrying the José Gaspar.