John Garofalo has launched a new cigar company known as Enébes Tabac. Garofalo is a cigar aficionado, serial entrepreneur, musician, and owner of The Leaf Cigar Emporium in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. In going to market, Enébes Tabac is bringing ten blends to market.

“Enébes Tabac is about authenticity and quality in a market that’s often more style than substance,” said Garofalo in a press release. “Our goal is to deliver an experience that seduces your senses at a price that doesn’t insult your intelligence.”

The company is using a strategy that combines direct-to-consumer sales through its online platform while building solid relationships with retail partners and strategy. While the company says this dual strategy is ambitious and even a bit risky, it has already shown promising results. Early success and glowing reviews have been primarily fueled by organic growth on social media, indicating a strong ability to connect with both new and seasoned cigar consumers.

In terms of the name Enébes Tabac, Garofalo says this came about when “We were discussing on a podcast the industry’s habit of over-the-top marketing, and what a refreshing change we offered. Someone commented, ‘It’s a no bullshit cigar.’ That stuck with me. I played around with ‘N.B.S.’ for ‘no bullshit’ and wound up with ‘en-e-bes.’ Added an accent, and voilà! Enébes Tabac was born. It’s unique, a bit cheeky, and totally us.”

Enébes Tabac has a theme around time travel. The company says “Time travel even serves as a metaphor for Enébes Tabac’s blend development, where each represents a significant era in cigar history, from colonial beginnings and Jazz Age flair to Atomic Age cool and the futuristic appeal of James Bond.”

The ten blends are divided into three lines:

The Angels

Angels Monk

Enébes Tabac describes this as a traditional Nicaraguan flavor profile highlighted by its two-year-aged “Cubanesque” wrapper. The company lists five sizes on its website: Cuban Corona (5 1/2 x 42), Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), Gordo (6 x 60), and Winston (7 x 50). It is available in 20-count boxes or five-packs.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Jalapa, Ometepe, Pennsylvania Broadleaf

Angels Bianca

For this cigar, the company says, “The idea behind this blend was to contrast the kind of Connecticut-wrapped cigar you find in the market today, which is typically light and mild. This is a Connecticut cigar with a lot of flavor and a bit of strength. The Angels Bianca is a cigar that can be enjoyed any time of day, not just a ‘morning cigar.'”

Enébes Tabac lists five sizes on its website: Cuban Corona (5 1/2 x 42), Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), Gordo (6 x 60), and Winston (7 x 50). It is available in 20-count boxes or five-packs.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Nicaraguan Estelí, Jalapa, Ometepe, Piloto Cubano

Angels Arc

Enébes Tabac notes that this is highlighted by a limited reserve San Andreas wrapper with a long filler from Estelí underneath. The company lists five sizes on its website: Cuban Corona (5 1/2 x 42), Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), Gordo (6 x 60), and Winston (7 x 50). It is available in 20-count boxes or five-packs.

Wrapper: Aged San Andreas
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Estelí, Jalapa, Omelepe

The Artesian Line

Conforto

This is a barber-pole offering. The company describes this as a “mild yet character-rich cigar, masterfully balancing strength and flavor.” Enébes Tabac lists three sizes on its website: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), and Gordo (6 x 60). It is available in 20-count boxes or five-packs.

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut & San Andreas Maduro
Binder – Nicaraguan
Filler – Estelí, Jalapa, Condega

Malay

Enébes Tabac notes this cigar’s “silky wrapper has the color of milk chocolate and the texture of worn leather.” The company lists three sizes on its website: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), and Gordo (6 x 60). It is available in 20-count boxes or five-packs.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Estelí, Jalapa, Omotepe

Fusion

Both blends are sold in 20-count boxes or five-packs on the company website.

Fusion X-10 Maduro

Wrapper: Dominican Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican (Cibao River Valley)
Filler: Dominican Ligero & CT Broadleaf

Fusion Y-12 Natural/CT

Wrapper: Ecuadorian CT shade
Binder: Dominican (Cibao River Valley)
Filler: Dominican Ligero & CT Broadleaf

Signature Series

Speakeasy

This is a proprietary blend with a medium to full profile. The company describes this blend as “a cigar resonating with the daring spirit of the Jazz Age. An international blend rooted in Nicaraguan richness, and animated by Cuban rhythms offer a harmonious, flavorful serenade in every puff. Taste innovation and freedom with this tribute to a bygone era of excitement.”

Enébes Tabac offers this cigar in a 6 x 50 Toro on its website. It is available in ten-count boxes or five-packs.

Wrapper: Proprietary
Binder: Proprietary
Filler: Proprietary

Gatsby

A medium to full cigar that the company describes as “like Gatsby himself, this cigar achieves heights of sophistication from mysteriously rustic roots.”

Enébes Tabac offers this cigar in a 6 x 50 Toro or 7 x 54 Salomone on its website. It is available in 20-count boxes or five-packs.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Sungrown
Binder: Estelí
Filler: Condega Ometepe, Estelí

Jekyll & Hyde

A medium profile cigar that the company describes this blend as “a most complex blend of sweet and savory in a cigar whose profile mysteriously and miraculously changes throughout the smoke.”

Enébes Tabac currently offers this cigar in a 6 x 50 Toro or 7 x 54 Salomone on its website. It is available in 20-count boxes or five-packs.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Esteli, Jalapa, Condega

The Time Traveler’s Guide to Cigar Culture (Book)

In addition to launching his cigar company, Enébes Tabac, Garofalo is launching a book in April 2024:

The book is described as “not the standard guidebook covering the same old territory of product and production, The Time Traveler’s Guide to Cigar Culture is a fully illustrated blend of surprising historical anecdotes, fascinating cultural rituals, and expert practical advice.”

The book can be previewed here.

Photo Credits: Enébes Tabac