When you get into booths of a certain size, they can begin to take on the feeling of a room in a house, and every once in a while I see a booth where the first thought that comes to mind is “I certainly wouldn’t mind having a room in my house draw some inspiration from that booth.”
While we’re not here to talk about interior decorating, that was exactly the thought that came to mind when I made my way up to the La Palina booth, which is a design that returns in seemingly the exact same configuration from last year and which has maintained elements from several of the past trade shows. Yet having not covered the booth in recent years, there was still a feeling of newness to me. And as I stopped to take the first batch of photos, the idea of comfy lounge chairs on one side, the more familiar round tables for work and writing orders on the other, and a bar in the middle began to settle in my brain. I could make that work, I thought to myself.
As for the new product that La Palina had on display, the company is digging into its archives to bring back two cigars in what is likely its most sought-after line, while bringing back a limited edition from last year and giving one of its lines a refresh.
La Palina 125 Años Boxed Version
After being released as a limited edition in a glass jar of 37 cigars last year—as well as an additional set of 300 bundles, one for each of the jars—the La Palina 125 Años is back in a new packaging format that will make it more accessible to consumers as well as give it added availability for those who either missed out on the first batch or simply would like some more for their humidor. All the other details about the cigar remain the same, and it will be an ongoing production release, though how often they are available to ship will depend on the availability of the tobaccos and the cigars undergoing a six-month aging process at the Oliva Cigar Co. factory in Nicaragua.
Release Date: Late August/Early September 2022
La Palina Goldie Laguito No. 2 Series 2
The very first vitola in the La Palina Goldie line is coming back for a second release, as the company has begun to roll out what it is calling “Series 2” of the La Palina Goldie series. Of the two Goldie releases, this one is getting more boxes and a more widespread release, as it isn’t restricted to retailers who attended the trade show.
For the Series 2 releases, the company is updating the packaging a bit to a different colored tray and is adding “Series 2” to the front of the boxes to help distinguish them from the originals, though the cigars themselves will not wear any special bands.
Production: 1,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (10,000 Total Cigars)
Release Date: Late August/Early September 2022
La Palina Goldie Prominente Series 2
Much like the Laguito No. 2, the Prominente vitola, which was first released in 2021, is coming back for a second round. The big differences here are that this vitola is limited to retailers who attend the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show and there aren’t as many being produced as the Laguito No. 2.
Production: 500 Boxes of 10 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
Release Date: Late August/Early September 2022
La Palina Nicaragua Connecticut & Oscuro Updates
The company has moved production of these two lines to an undisclosed factory in Nicaragua, and as such, they are getting updated packaging, new bands, and a tweaked blend, though the basic details are staying the same. Both versions will remain Nicaraguan puros, with the Connecticut using a Nicaragua-grown Connecticut-seed wrapper, while the Oscuro uses a habano oscuro leaf.
Production: 500 Boxes of 10 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
Release Date: Late August/Early September 2022
The La Palina White Label has expanded into regular production and added two sizes, a robusto and Churchill. The line debuted in August 2021 as an exclusive for members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America, but it’s now available to all retailers.
Release Date: Late August/Early September
I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. I previously covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.