In 2015, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust debuted at the IPCPR show in New Orleans, ending a 2-year gap in the cigar industry for Steve Saka – the man formerly best known for his work with the legendary Liga Privada blends at Drew Estate. 2016’s booth carried the same vibe as the year prior, only bigger! Where Dunbarton showcased only a single release in 2015, the booth now held three products. Where 2015’s booth offered a humble couch for visitors, Dunbarton now held a large, conference room table – accompanying a constant flow of show attendees. And while technically there were only 2 products for sale (only 1 of which was new), the brand made it clear there is much more in the works…
Mi Querida
It’s no secret that Steve Saka has a certain affinity for broadleaf-wrapped cigars. Fans of Saka and his work with Liga Privada cigars will now have the chance to experience Steve’s unfiltered interpretation of a dark, gritty, and dirty (as Steve puts it) Connecticut Broadleaf maduro blend.
Mi Querida translates to “my dearest” in Spanish, a term used to describe one’s “secret mistress”. Flavor-wise, Steve describes it as bold and rustic, with a smooth and satisfyingly dirty finish.
SEE ALSO: Mi Querida “Fino Largo” Cigar Review & Rating
- Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Factory: NACSA (Nicaragua)
- Production: Small Batch
- Packaging: 20-ct | 10-ct boxes
- Vitolas: 8 (4 regular production)
- Price: $8.75 – $13.45
- Release: Now Shipping
Frontmarks
- Fino Largo: 6 x 48 | $8.95
- Ancho Corta: 5 x 52 | $8.75
- Ancho Largo: 6 x 52 | $9.45
- Muy Gordo Grande: 6 x 56 | $9.95
- Pequeño Pequeño: 4 x 44 | N/A (limited quantities)
- Gordita: 4 x 48 | N/A (limited quantities)
- SakaKhan: 7 x 50 | N/A (10-ct box – limited quantities)
- Más Sucia: 7 x 64 | $13.45 (10-ct box – limited quantities)
Sobremesa
It was the only cigar at Dunbarton’s 2015 IPCPR booth and Steve has expanded on the line for 2016. The new sizes utilize a slightly tweaked blend (dubbed “Poco Más Intensa”), adjusted for size but also to give more punch to the smoking experience. Elegante en Cedros is packaged in individual cedar sleeves. Diademas DeLuxe features a custom-designed mold made by Saka himself – this size was listed as “extremely limited distribution”.
- Short Churchill: 4¾ x 48 | $10.45 (14-ct box)
- Elegante en Cedros: 7 x 50 | $13.50 (13-ct box)
- Diademas DeLuxe: 6½ x 56 | $14.95 (13-ct box – limited availability / TBA)
Future Projects
Steve isn’t one to keep his projects “top secret”. Some of the cigars were seen on the brand’s sales sheet at the 2015 IPCPR and listed as TBA, based on the availability of tobaccos needed. Similar tactics were seen this year. One cigar was even a featured display item without actually being for sale. All future blends were reportedly at the show though, unveiled on special occasions.
Muestra de Saka
The only “future project” technically on display. The name translates to “Samples of Saka” in Spanish, alluding to the cigar’s concept of showcasing unique blends and sizes – e.g. an “experiemental” or “personal bend” series. The cigars were not being sold at the show and the release is TBA, as Dunbarton is working out the proper roadmap as FDA regulation become more clear.
The cigars were banded with silk foot-band ribbons and packaged in 7-ct boxes of individual coffins.
Sin Compromiso
The name translates to “Without Compromise”, a term that has also been used as a subheading for the Dunbarton brand itself. The cigars are said to use a Nicaraguan puro blend and feature a Desflorado wrapper.
Todos Las Días
Announced at the 2015 show but still not available at this time. The name translates to “All Days”, in reference to it being an “everyday smoke”.
Umbagog
Umbagog aims to offer a more affordable smoking experience while retaining high-grade materials. The cigars use secondary wrapper leaves from the new Mi Querida brand (discolorations, etc.) and affordable, paper bundle packaging to cut costs. The name denotes the New Hampshire Umbagog Lake State Park (Steve is known for his love of fishing).
While the wrapper is Connecticut Broadleaf, the rest of the blend is undisclosed at this time. A release date is TBA.
See photos of all the upcoming “future releases” from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust at Cigar-Coop.
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