As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary in 2026, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. has begun shipping a commemorative cigar release tied to the milestone.
The company announced that 250 premium cigar retailers will each receive a set of 250 cigars bearing the official America250 seal. The cigars are being produced at El Reloj in Tampa, which the company describes as the last large traditional cigar factory still operating in the United States.
“J.C. Newman is proud to roll official cigars of the 250th Anniversary of the United States,” said fourth-generation cigar maker Drew Newman. “Cigars have been an important part of our country since its founding. Therefore, it is only fitting that we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country with American-made cigars.”
The release includes The American, Angel Cuesta, and an El Reloj Collection sampler. The American is described as a cigar made entirely from U.S.-grown tobaccos and packaged in American-made materials. Angel Cuesta, a brand with roots dating back more than a century, is included in the set, along with the first release of the Angel Cuesta Shade Double Robusto.
Tobacco has played a role in American history dating back to the early 1600s, when it was first harvested in the Virginia Colony. By the time of the American Revolution, tobacco was cultivated across all 13 Colonies, and several prominent figures of the era were tobacco farmers.
“When my great-grandfather founded our family business in 1895, there were 40,000 cigar factories in the United States,” Newman said. “Today, El Reloj is the last large cigar factory still rolling cigars in the country. It is our privilege to keep America’s historic cigar-making tradition alive by handcrafting exquisite cigars in the United States.”
Congress established the United States Semiquincentennial Commission in 2016 to coordinate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. America250 is the organization charged with leading the commemoration and licensing official products connected to the celebration.
The America250 cigar sets are now shipping to participating retailers ahead of the 2026 anniversary.
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