General Cigar has begun informing retailers of a third installment of its CAO Arcana series, the CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke. It’s a blend that General says is the first premium cigar to feature an all-African filler from three different regions. General says is the first in the U.S. to incorporate South African tobacco.

Thunder Smoke features fillers from Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The remainder of the blend incorporates a Mexican San Andres binder and a Honduran San Agustin wrapper. Production comes out of the Dominican Republic.

Thunder Smoke is a limited edition release that comes in one size – a 6 1/2 x 52 Toro. Pricing comes in at $12.99 and is scheduled to ship in September.

In a press release Ed Lahmann, Senior brand manager for CAO said, “With CAO Thunder Smoke, we are pushing the boundaries of cigar making, venturing into uncharted territories to craft an unparalleled smoking experience. Our mantra, ‘We Go Where The Tobacco Takes Us,’ has guided us to innovate and redefine the industry standard. This release is not just a milestone for CAO, but a bold leap forward for the entire cigar world.”

Thunder Smoke gets its name from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, known to the local Sotho people as “Mosi-Oa-Tunya,” which translates to “The Smoke That Thunders.”

The Thunder Smoke follows Mortal Coil and Firewalker as releases in the CAO Arcana Series. The series has focused on unique tobaccos and unique processing methods behind the tobaccos.

Update 8/12/24: Included information for a subsequent press release following story