Altadis U.S.A. is adding a new cigar to its collaboration with AJ Fernandez. The upcoming H. Upmann Nicaragua by AJ Fernandez Sunrise is the third release in the H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez lineup and is expected to debut this April at the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show in New Orleans.
The Sunrise is built around an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, paired with a Nicaraguan binder and fillers grown on AJ Fernandez’s farms. According to Altadis, the cigar was designed to provide a balanced profile that leans toward a smoother experience while still maintaining the Nicaraguan character associated with the series.
“The Sunrise is our take on a Connecticut done right,” said Gabe Diaz, Brand Manager at Altadis U.S.A. “It’s smooth and easy to enjoy, but it still has flavor and character. To kick off 2026, we wanted to give H. Upmann fans something balanced, high quality and priced right.”
The project continues the partnership between AJ Fernandez and Rafael Nodal, who have collaborated on several releases within the H. Upmann Nicaragua portfolio. The Sunrise blend was developed to sit alongside the existing expressions in the series.
“We were looking to craft a cigar designed for a smooth experience,” said Rafael Nodal, VP of Product Capability for Tabacalera USA. “The Sunrise release rounds out the H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez line and provides consumers with a smooth, flavorful cigar that consumers can come back to again and again.”
The cigars will be packaged in 20-count boxes featuring orange packaging meant to reflect the sunrise theme. After its debut at PCA, the cigar is scheduled to begin shipping to retailers shortly after the trade show.
Blend Details
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Strength: Medium
Vitolas & Pricing
- Robusto (5 x 52) – $12.99 MSRP
- Toro (6 x 54) – $13.75 MSRP
- Churchill (7 x 50) – $14.25 MSRP
- Magnum (6 x 60) – $14.50 MSRP
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