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J.C. Newman Cigar Co. has announced the release of its 2026 José Gaspar cigar, continuing the company’s annual tradition of marking Tampa’s Gasparilla season with a limited-production cigar tied to the city’s pirate festival and cigar heritage.

Tampa has long been associated with both cigars and Gasparilla, and J.C. Newman has used the José Gaspar line to connect the two each year. The 2026 edition will be produced in a single 6 x 54 size and finished with an Ecuador Havana wrapper. Production for this year’s release is set at 10,000 cigars, packaged in five-count packs with an MSRP of $40.

“José Gaspar was one of most feared pirates in the Americas,” said Drew Newman, fourth-generation owner. “Sailing from his base near Tampa Bay in the late 1700s, he terrorized the Gulf of Mexico and amassed a great fortune. Gaspar celebrated victories with a bold and flavorful cigar. This cigar honors his legacy and the tradition of Gasparilla.”

The cigars will only be available through a group of retailers located in and around Tampa, including shops in Ybor City, South Tampa, Brandon, and Carrollwood, as well as at the J.C. Newman Cigar Museum and Factory Store. Distribution is limited to the local market as part of the project’s connection to the city and its annual festival.

  • Cigar City Brewery Co.
  • Corona Cigar Company-Tampa
  • Edwards Pipe and Tobacco
  • Grand Cathedral Cigars
  • Hotel Haya
  • Central Cigars
  • J.C. Newman Cigar Museum and Factory Store
  • King Corona Cigar Bar & Cafe – Ybor
  • Tobacco Depot- Carrollwood
  • Sterling Cigar Lounge & Bar
  • Visit Tampa Bay Visitor Center
  • Tampero Cigars Ybor City
  • Cigar Castle
  • Bruton’s Cigar Shop
  • Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge & Bar – South Tampa
  • Cigars International Superstore – Brandon
  • The Columbia Restaurant- Ybor
  • J.R. Cigars Outlet-Tampa

“When pirates invade Tampa and parade down Bayshore Boulevard on January 31st, they will be enjoying José Gaspar cigars,” Newman said. “Just like the pirates of Gasparilla, however, José Gaspar cigars will sail out of Tampa Bay at the end of Gasparilla season and will not be available again until next year.”

J.C. Newman’s relationship with Gasparilla dates back to the company’s move to Tampa in 1954, when founder Stanford J. Newman was invited to join the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. The invitation was widely viewed as a sign that the family-owned cigar maker had been welcomed into Tampa’s cigar community, which at the time was recognized as one of the world’s major cigar centers.