Peter James Cigar Company’s first cigar, Emergence, has been released through cigar subscription service Luxury Cigar Club and is almost ready to hit retail shelves.
The line was announced in mid-March and shown off at the 2024 PCA Convention & Trade Show. Shipments to stores were expected to begin on April 15th and the cigars were ready to go, but packaging delays meant the cigars were not released as scheduled. Currently, members of Luxury Cigar Club’s Sapphire level subscription will be among the first to smoke the cigars, as they will receive a 6 1/2 x 50 Toro Elegance vitola. The cigars are also available for purchase through the Luxury Cigar Club website, but are only available in single or five-packs, as they were shipped without finished packaging.
Emergence produces blends that focus on using aged tobaccos, with the fermentation of the tobacco lasting between three and 10 years, depending on what the company considers optimal for each leaf. The wrapper is a Corojo hybrid Viso from Ecuador, grown in the Loja region of southern Quevedo, known for its volcanic soil. According to the company, the wrapper leaves undergo a fermentation process that takes five years due to the low temperatures necessary for the delicate nature of the leaf.
The binder is made from Brazilian Mata Fina leaves, and the filler is made from Dominican Pilot Cubano, as well as tobacco from Nicaragua and the U.S. In total, the tobacco comes from five different regions, according to the company.
Emergence comes in three sizes:
Emergence R 52 (5 x 52) — $60 (box of 20, $1,200) Emergence Toro Elegance (6 1/2 x 50) — $62 (box of 20, $1,240) Emergence Sublime (6 x 54) — $66 (box of 20, $1,320)
Emergence is made at the Luciano Cigar Factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, by a single buncher and roller on a regular but limited production line, with daily production limited to 100 cigars. The company says that “this approach allows us to maintain the uniqueness and individuality of each cigar, as well as paying close attention to detail.”
Meirelles told Halfwheel that the shipment of cigars is scheduled to leave Nicaragua on Friday, with shipments to retailers expected to start on Sept. 21.
Peter James Cigar Co. was formed in January 2024 and is a joint venture between Luciano Cigars and Peter James Co.
Image courtesy of Peter James Cigar Co.