Cornelius & Anthony – IPCPR 2016

If you’d have told me that Cornelius & Anthony would be one of the most hoppin’ booths at the 2016 IPCPR show a year ago, I’d have responded with, “Who?” Some quick digging around would inform me that they were indeed at both the 2014 and 2015 shows, but I’d missed them—simply blending into the vast sea of “identity crisis brands” that get lost in the shuffle.

This was clearly not the case or 2016, as the brand immediately began reworking their entire image following the 2015 IPCPR show. New members Courtney Smith (of La Palina) and Spencer Drake (Cubancan Cigars & A.J. Fernandez Cigars) would join the fold, working with owner Steven Bailey to rebuild the entire brand from the ground up. It’s amazing to see what one year and a solid direction can do—Cornelius debuted their first two offerings earlier this year, alongside their fresh, new look that draws inspiration from the Bailey family’s rich history in the tobacco industry.

SEE ALSO: Cornelius & Anthony Daddy Mac Cigar Review

Meridian

This is the line that Cornelius debuted at the 2015 IPCPR. The cigars use the same name, but everything else has changed. The originals were made in the DR at the PDR Cigars factory but Cornelius has moved operations to Nicaragua, again working with the La Zona factory and using a completely new blend. Of course, the design has completely changed as well, using the same look as Cornelius’ first two releases—only replacing the sub-band with a new color and text. The profile is described as being in the “medium” range.

Venganza

The Venganza is a completely new concept for the brand. The blend is also made at the La Zona factory, but features a more full-bodied experience—it’s said to be a “spice-forward blend” with a “lingering sweetness” and “long, smooth finish.” The cigars come in similarly packaged boxes of 20, using the same size structure (but different names) as the Meridian and slightly steeper prices.

The name translates to “revenge” in Spanish and the boxes feature an illustration from the 1876 patent by Fortune L. Bailey and his “Bailey Machine Gun”.

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