J.C. Newman Cigar Co. has begun shipping a new boxed set called The El Reloj Collection to retailers across the U.S., bringing together several Tampa-made cigars under one release. The set includes 10 cigars rolled at the company’s historic El Reloj factory and is the first from J.C. Newman to carry the official America250 seal, recognizing the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.
Drew Newman, fourth-generation cigar maker, noted the long history of American cigar culture. “America has a rich cigar tradition that dates back to 1612 when the first commercial tobacco crop was planted in the Virginia Colony,” he said. Newman added that while the country once had tens of thousands of cigar factories, “Today, El Reloj is the last large cigar factory still rolling cigars in the country.”
The collection contains:
- Two The American Toro
- Two Angel Cuesta Rosado Toro
- Two LeRoy Neiman Collector’s Edition 2023
- Two Angel Cuesta Shade Toro
- Two Tampa Smokers Toro
According to Newman, the project underscores the company’s emphasis on keeping U.S. cigar-making traditions visible. “The El Reloj Collection showcases how we are keeping America’s historic cigar-making tradition alive by handcrafting exquisite luxury cigars in the United States,” he said.
The included blends each tie into different facets of American cigar history—from the all-American construction of The American, to the Angel Cuesta line once connected to Spain’s King Alfonso XIII, to the LeRoy Neiman cigars honoring the cigar-smoking artist, and the Tampa Smokers, named after the city’s early baseball team.
As part of the America250 effort, the Newman family is also encouraging enthusiasts to visit the El Reloj factory itself, which features a museum, factory tours, rolling classes, and event spaces.
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