Quesada Cigars – IPCPR 2017

For 2017, Quesada chose to focus on existing brands, offering new designs and tweaked blends to give a familiar feel with a twist. The booth was the same as with years past, housing Quesada’s cigars in the center of the booth in a large, circular, glass display. Other associated companies or brands that Quesada distributes have small spaces within the booth as well, such as Matilde Cigars.

Quesada Master Blender Manuel Quesada

Reserva Privada Barber Pole

Quesada Reserva Privada was one of the brand’s most well-received cigars in recent times, launching in 2015 with a premium blend of ultra-aged tobaccos from 1997. Each year since, Quesada has played with the rare filler tobaccos, wrapping the same blend in a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper in 2016 (Quesada Reserva Privada Oscuro) and now offering a medley of 2015 and 2016’s releases with Reserva Privada Barber Pole. As the name alludes, the latest iteration of the Reserva Privada blend is wrapped in both the Ecuadoran Connecticut and Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers (barber pole style) from the previous two cigars.

This concept was first experimented with as a shop exclusive, but the blend proved so popular that Quesada introduced a nation-wide sale at IPCPR, offering 300 boxes in Toro format and 300 boxes in Robusto. The original size was Corona Gorda (5¾” x 48), made for Fine Ash Cigars in Arizona.

Oktoberfest 2017

Oktoberfest is among Quesada’s best-selling brands, as well as one of the most popular seasonal cigars on the market. The cigars debuted in 2011 and are now in their 7th season. Each year, Quesada makes subtle (or not so) changes to the series, adding new and limited sizes, changing the design, or adding a new Nicaraguan version of the blend in 2015. For 2017, the biggest change is once again the band. Quesada first changed bands in 2014 (blue bands), then added sub-bands to differentiate the year of release in 2015, and 2017’s version shows a similar design in a new, white layout. Interestingly, the cigars once again lack their sub-bands to differentiate year of release (but this will most likely be added back in 2018).

SEE ALSO: Oktoberfest 2016 Kugel Cigar Review

Each year, Quesada maintains the same Dominican puro blend, stating slight tweaks due to crop year and differences in vitolas. But for 2017, the brand has stated a more tangible alteration, using a lower priming and lighter fermentation on the cigar’s wrapper, giving a slightly lighter and more complex experience. As usual, special Oktoberfest events will be held at retailers across the country, with limited edition humidor prizes and Quesada’s new nonik-style Oktoberfest pint glasses being raffled off.

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