PCA 2024 Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (DTT) did not have an all-new brand being released at the 2024 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) 2024. At the same time, that did not translate to PCA 2024 being a flat show. Instead, DTT came into PCA 2024 with a combination of intriguing brand extensions that created a buzz before the PCA 2024 Trade. The Cigar Coop Coalition team was on hand to discuss PCA and more with Master Ligador Steve Saka in an extended interview.

It is also worth noting that DTT was Will Cooper’s pick for “Company of the Trade Show” prior to going into PCA 2024. One of the new releases, Umbagog Bronzeback, was the Cigar Coop Coalition’s pick for the best cigar of PCA 2024.

#GFY Lancero Collection

Only Steve Saka can find a way to make lanceros exciting for the retail community. The #GFY Lancero can be considered an extension of Muestra de Saka. It’s a collection of ten lanceros – a size Saka typically frowns on.

The Muestra de Saka #NLMTTHA Lancero is included in the blend. Saka says six different wrappers are in the collection, including one with a Candela wrapper. For the other eight blends, Saka isn’t disclosing much in terms of details. All of the lanceros are in a classic 7 x 38 format. Production will be limited and made to order. The collection is priced at $159.90.

Photo Credit: John McTavish, Developing Palates

Umbagog

For the first time since its introduction in 2016, Umbagog has a new blend for national release. Umbagog is named after a lake in New Hampshire on which Saka enjoys fishing. The Bronzeback is a type of Smallmouth Bass. The Umbagag Bronzeback is an extension of the Umbagog brand. The difference is that it is finished with a “2LS” Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. 2LS is a designation for the leaves typically situated between the 1/3 to 1/2 mark on the stalk. These leaves sit beneath what is called the “Mediums.”Saka got the inspiration for Umbagog Bronzeback from a brand from the 1980s/1990s that used the 2LS wrapper. It became a personal favorite of Saka’s and led him to bring this expression of Broadleaf back to the market.

Bronzeback is 5 x 48 vitola. In addition to the 2LS Broadleaf wrapper, Bronzeback features all Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Sold in ten-count bundles, Umbagog Bronzeback costs $97.50 per bundle.

Sobremesa

The Sobremesa Brûlée Wagashi, a release that had a soft launch for Smoke Inn in conjunction with Cigar Dojo, gets a national release. The Wagashi is named after a Japanese dessert that rose in popularity during the Edo Period. Wagashi is a tweaked version of the Sobremesa Brûlée Blue in a box-pressed format.

Sobremesa BrûléeWagashi comes in a 6 x 50 box-pressed Prensado Toro. It is packaged in 13-count boxes. The cigar is priced at $17.95/cigar ($233.35/box). The cigar has shipped to retailers.

Although not a new release, PCA 2024 was the first trade show where DTT could showcase Sobremesa Solita. This is essentially a rebranding of the original Sobremesa line. The blend remains the same, but the box counts have been adjusted; most notably, the count has changed from 25 to 13 (with the exception of the Short Churchill, which comes in 14-count boxes and will remain unchanged).

The other part of the rebranding is the vitola names are changing to use more traditional names:

Sobremesa Robusto Largo –> Sobremesa Solita Robusto (5 1/4 x 52)
Sobremesa El Americano –> Sobremesa Solita Toro (6 x 52)
Sobremesa Elegante en Cedros –> Sobremesa Solita Churchill en Cedos (7 x 50)
Sobremesa Short Churchill –> Sobremesa Solita Short Churchill (4 3/4 x 48)

Sin Compromiso

Sin Compromiso No. 4 is the sixth regular production size, adding a 5 x 54 Robusto prensado size to the lineup. Presented in 13-count boxes, it has a price point of $17.95 SRP/cigar and has shipped to retailers.

StillWell Star

DTT is adding the StillWell Star Aromatic No. 22 to its regular production lineup. This fifth main offering to the StillWell Star line is not a new cigar. The previously limited StillWell Star Holiday Y2022 is now a core line and is being rebranded to the Aromatic No. 22.

StillWell Star cigar brand from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust incorporates pipe tobacco into the filler. It was initially released in four regular production blends – each comprising a different pipe tobacco. When it comes to the world of pipes, many pipe tobacco blenders are known to make unique blends for the end-of-the-year holiday season. Master Ligador Steve Saka decided to incorporate the same concept with StillWell Star by creating a limited edition StillWell Star Holiday blend release, and the StillWell Star Holiday series was born. The Holiday Y2022 was the first of these limited releases.

StillWell Star Aromatic No. 22 is priced at $15.95 SRP/cigar.