James Brown and company have been pioneering a unique combination of Nicaraguan craftsmanship with an artistic flair since debuting the Black Label Trading Company in 2013. Two years later, the Brown family announced the formation of Fabrica Oveja Negra, a new factory in Estelí that would take on the manufacturing role for Black Label and other smaller brands. It was at this point that the Brown family’s operation truly came into its own, with the creative potential of the factory providing the inspiration for the Black Works Studio brand that launched later that same year. In 2017, the factory moved to a larger freestanding facility close to the entrance of Estelí, allowing for a larger production area and tobacco storage facility, among other upgrades. Manufacturing more cigars than ever before—both for their own brands as well as the closely aligned Dissident and Emilio Cigars—the company transitioned to the umbrella-style Oveja Negra Brands in 2019, collectively overseeing the four aforementioned brands under one cohesive operation. The years that followed have seen a more streamlined feel, being primarily led by the bold attitude of Black Label Trading Co. and the creative, unexpected nature of Black Works Studio. This includes 2024 Dojo awardees such as the Orthodox (No. 5), Paper Crane (No. 19), and Coffin Nails (Value-Priced Cigar of the Year), with the Plasmatic release from Dissident Cigars and the Intergalactic Event Horizon from Black Works Studio being other noteworthy additions.
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