PCA 2025 Constella Group / Luciano Cigars

One of the bigger announcements heading into the 2025 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show was Luciano Cigars entering into a joint partnership with Empresa Madeirense de Tabacos SA (EMT) to form Constella Group. While both Luciano and EMT will be integrating operations, each will also keep their own identities. Co-Owner Luciano Meirelles has said Constella Group is like an umbrella company for various Luciano Cigars and EMT brands, much like Altadis and STG, which are holding companies for their brands. In addition, baseball great Adrian Gonzalez is coming in as a full partner in the Constella Group operation. Gonzalez also has a new cigar brand of his own called The Resilient. This is one of four new releases Constella brought into PCA 2025.

It’s important to note that EMT has ownership of Fábrica de Tabacos Estrela (FTE), which is recognized as Europe’s oldest active tobacco company. FTE is situated in São Miguel, the largest and most populated island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. Constella is set to manufacture cigars at the FTE facility and has plans for agricultural ventures in the region as well. Additionally, Constella intends to establish a production facility in the Dominican Republic. Notably, these new production initiatives will not disrupt Luciano’s existing operations in Central America.

Élevé

When Constella Group was established, its first new release was Élevé. The name is derived from the French word for “elevate,” symbolizing the elevation that the brands of Luciano and EMT will experience under the new Constella Group operation. This limited edition cigar is available in a 6 x 54 Sublime size. The details of the blend have not been disclosed. The cigars are packaged in ten-count boxes and are priced at $22.00 each.

Photo Credit: John McTavish, Developing Palates

The Resilient

The Resilient is Gonzalez’s second project with Luciano Cigars, but it’s his first one as a full partner with the Constella Group. Previously, Gonzalez teamed up with Meirelles for the M.X.S. Adrián González. The name “Resilient” symbolizes the perseverance that Meirelles and Gonzalez have demonstrated throughout their careers.

The Resilient is launching in one size – a 6 x 52 Limited Edition Toro. This will be the first size in a growing line of cigars. The blend features an Ecuadorian-grown Colorado H92 wrapper and aged tobaccos from Costa Rica, Peru, and Nicaragua. Pricing comes in at a $24.00 MSRP price point.

The Machinist

The Machinist is a cigar that pays homage to the working class. The life and legacy of Jack Beaver, a machinist and grandfather of Josh Beaver, National Key Account Manager at Constella USA, inspired the project. Mr. Beaver is further described as a family man and a quiet example of perseverance, grit, and generosity.

The Machinist is a full-time offering featuring a Mexican San Andrés Viso wrapper, a double binder of Ecuadorian Sumatra Viso and Indonesian Sumatra. As for the fillers, they are a blend of Pennsylvania, Dominican, and dark air-cured South African tobaccos. Notably, the cigar is available in three sizes, with each size having a specific meaning:

Gordo: 6 x 60 – Built for endurance, like long shifts and heavy lifts
Toro: 6 x 52 – A classic shape for dependable hands
Magnum: 5 1/4 x 54 – A compact force, delivering precision and power

Pricing for The Machinist comes in between $11.00 and $13.00 MSRP.

Maria Lucia Limited Edition

Maria Lucia has been one of Luciano Cigars’ most successful lines. It’s a line that pays homage to Luciano Meirelles’ late mother. This year, a special limited edition version is being introduced. The Limited Edition is a different blend from the original. The cigar features a San Andrés Mexican ligero wrapper over a double binder of Connecticut Broadleaf and Sumatra. The fillers feature Brazilian Mata Fina, Nicaraguan, Peruvian, and South African tobaccos. The Limited Edition Parejo comes in one size – a 6 x 54 Sublime presented in ten-count boxes. The Limited Edition is a rounded parejo, which also differs from the box-pressed core line. Pricing is set at $20.00 SRP.