THE SCANDAL OF 'THE HORSE': Plasencia Rushes to the Finish Line

Announcements, News & PR for Cigars (October 22 - October 28, 2025)

The cigar industry often finds creative ways to connect its traditional product with different facets of culture, and this week provided an excellent example of this trend through themed collaborations. J.C. Newman’s annual LeRoy Neiman Collector’s Edition links the world of premium tobacco with the vibrant, expressive domain of American fine art, turning a cigar box into a collector’s canvas that honors the legendary artist. Similarly, the continued partnership between the Highclere Castle brand and Foundation Cigar Company, centered around ancient Egyptian lore for the Senetjer, demonstrates the depth of historical narrative that can be built around a special cigar blend.

Cigar Releases and Industry News

Montecristo Elba Edición Limitada 2025 Size of Cigar 5.75×54. This limited-edition Cuban cigar premiered at a major gala in Madrid, Spain, as the brand celebrates its 90th anniversary. The cigar’s name, Elba, is a direct nod to the famed isle of Elba, which is referenced in Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel, The Count of Monte Cristo. Spain is the first global market to receive this special release, where it was introduced in five-count “premier packs.”

Casa Carrillo 2025 TAA Exclusive Size of Cigar 6×54. This cigar is the annual exclusive release for members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA), an independent retail trade group. This particular blend uniquely utilizes a USA Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper alongside a Dominican binder and fillers sourced from both the USA and Nicaragua. The final production of this distinguished single-vitola release is strictly limited to just 10,000 cigars.

Plasencia’s Year of the Horse Size of Cigar 6.75×50. This release is the latest in the brand’s series of limited-edition cigars celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year zodiac calendar. Although the current zodiac is the Year of the Snake, Plasencia has begun the process of shipping the Year of the Horse early to retailers. The Plasencia family’s deep-seated agricultural heritage in tobacco is highlighted by this continuing tradition, which honors the cultural celebration a bit ahead of schedule.

Highclere Castle Senetjer (2025 Release) Size of Cigar 6.75×52. This cigar, which features an Egyptian King Tut theme, is making its return to retailers for the 2025 limited-edition run. The Senetjer is notable for its intricate blend and presentation, drawing inspiration from ancient history and archaeology. Its creator, Foundation Cigar Company, is known for incorporating rich historical narratives into its premium tobacco releases.

J.C. Newman LeRoy Neiman 2025 Collector’s Edition Size of Cigar 6.25×50. This cigar is the third annual collaboration between J.C. Newman and the LeRoy Neiman Foundation, celebrating the iconic American artist. The special edition is presented in highly decorative boxes that feature Neiman’s distinctive, colorful artistic style. This ongoing series links the art of cigar blending with the world of fine art and collecting.

Analysis: Potential Impact of Hurricane Melissa

I got a fantastic question from Carnell Hayes Sr on the Meet in the Middle Cigar Show about how hurricanes impact the world of cigars. It’s an important topic, so I figured I’d dive a little deeper and share some thoughts with you all.

The immediate 2025 cigar yield is largely secure, any extreme weather events like Hurricane Melissa introduce significant long-term risks to the tobacco cycle, which typically relies on harvests aged for at least two to three years.

Severe flooding and wind damage in key growing regions such as the Dominican Republic or Nicaragua will not impact cigars scheduled for release this year but will inevitably diminish the quality and quantity of the wrapper, binder, and filler stock reserved for 2027 and 2028 blends.

This predicted long-term scarcity creates future pressure on prices across the entire industry, forcing manufacturers to secure reserves and potentially increasing costs for consumers in the coming years.

Ask Me on the Show

I love hearing from fellow cigar enthusiasts! If you have another question or want to dive deeper, you can always catch me live on the show. I’ll answer your queries on the spot and follow up here!

🔗 Join the conversation and watch the show here: MITMCIGAR