PCA 2023: Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co.

Last year, Oscar Valladares celebrated ten years in the tobacco business. To say that Oscar and his company have become a powerhouse would be an understatement. Not only has Oscar built a successful brand, but he has established a thriving factory and acquired many acres of farms. This year debuted perhaps the most exciting set of new releases I have seen from the brands under Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co. Oscar Valladares didn’t launch a new brand, but rather new blends we added to arguably the three most successful brands produced by Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co.

While Oscar Valladares celebrated ten years in the business in 2022, this year is the tenth anniversary of the Leaf by Oscar brand. Leaf by Oscar is a brand Valladares produced for Jim Robinson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Leaf and Bean retail shops. The cigar is highlighted by being encased by an actual tobacco leaf instead of cellophane. It became a successful brand in retail stores. Valladares also makes the Island Jim brand cigars for Robinson. The Robinson brands have operated separately from Oscar Valladares’ brands for many years. Earlier this year on the Simply Stogies podcast, Robinson said that the process has begun to merge his operations into Oscar Valladares’ operations. Robinson is still planning to stay involved, but he says, “It’s time for me to let Oscar run the show.”

It’s the tenth anniversary of Leaf by Oscar and there is a new Leaf by Oscar blend for the first time in almost a decade. The Leaf by Oscar 10th Anniversary Criollo adds a Criollo-wrapped offering to the Leaf by Oscar portfolio. The cigar is a Honduran puro and, as the name indicates, features a Criollo wrapper from the La Florida farm in the Jamastran region of Honduras. The Leaf by Oscar 10th anniversary Criollo is available in two sizes: Toro (6 x 52, SRP $11.50/cigar) and Sixty (6 x 60, SRP $12.50/cigar). Each is presented in 20-count boxes. Like the other four brands, the Leaf by Oscar 10th Anniversary Criollo is encased in a tobacco leaf.

The 2012 by Oscar Sumatra is joining the 2012 by Oscar family. This is the fifth blend under the 2012 by Oscar brand. 2012 by Oscar pays homage to the year Oscar Valladares entered into business. The 2012 by Oscar Sumatra is available in Connecticut, Corojo, Maduro, and Barber Pole offerings. The Sumatra blend consists of an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over a Honduran binder and a combination of Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers. The 2012 by Oscar Sumatra comes in three box-pressed sizes: Short Robusto (4 x 52, SRP $6.80/cigar), Toro (6 x 52, SRP $9.80/cigar), and Sixty (6 x 60, SRP $10.20/cigar). Each is presented in 20-count boxes.

Finally, The Oscar is adding a third blend to the line with The Oscar Connecticut. The Oscar was initially launched in a Habano blend back in 2016. This was followed a year later by the Oscar Maduro. Like its Habano and Maduro counterparts, the Oscar features a Candela sleeve. The big difference is the packaging. Instead of the Seafoam blue bands and vistas, the Oscar Connecticut utilizes a deep sea blue color. The Oscar Connecticut features an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over a Honduran binder and a combination of Honduran and Nicaragua fillers. The cigars are available in three sizes: Robusto (5 x 50, SRP $11.80/cigar), Toro (6 x 52, SRP $12.90/cigar), and Sixty: (6 x 60, S RP $14.00/cigar). Each size is presented in ten-count boxes.

The company says all of the cigars are in their warehouse and are shipping after the 2023 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show.

Finally, while it wasn’t showcased at the booth, Oscar Valladares is quite proud that he was able to collaborate to produce the E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2023. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. worked with Valladares, his tobacco, his factory, and his team to make this cigar. This cigar was showcased at the E.P. Carrillo booth.