Founders Cigar Company has announced The Declaration, a limited edition cigar released to commemorate the company’s five year anniversary.
Since launching in 2020, Founders has built its portfolio around cigars named after historical American figures. The company’s five production blends, Franklin Connecticut, Douglass Habano, Roosevelt Maduro, Hamilton Candela, and the Signature Dual Wrap, each feature the silhouette of the historical figure the cigar is named after.
For this anniversary release, Founders decided to take a different approach.
Instead of featuring a historical figure, The Declaration uses the silhouette of the American eagle on the band. The change was intentional and meant to clearly signify that this cigar is a limited release and not part of the company’s regular production line.
Angelo Fraboni, co-founder of Founders Cigar Company stated:
“The Declaration of Independence was one of the boldest statements ever made. When the colonies declared independence from Great Britain in 1776 they were making a clear and unwavering statement about who they were and what they believed. In many ways this cigar represents our own declaration as a company.
Five years in business is something we’re incredibly proud of. We would not have made it this far without the support of the shops that believed in us early, the suppliers who helped us build the brand, and the customers who have followed our journey from the beginning.”
Founders partnered again with Luis Cuevas and his team at Tabacalera Las Lavas in the Dominican Republic, the factory responsible for the company’s regular production, to develop and produce the blend.
The wrapper choice was also intentional. Pennsylvania Broadleaf was selected not only because it is a favorite of Luis Cuevas, but also because it ties the cigar to early American history. Pennsylvania, and specifically Philadelphia, played a central role in the founding of the United States. Philadelphia served as the meeting place of the Continental Congress and the location where the Declaration of Independence was debated and adopted in 1776. Using a Pennsylvania grown wrapper further connects the cigar to the moment in history that inspired its name.
The size of the cigar also represents a departure from Founders’ standard production format. The company’s core line is typically released in a (6 x 50) toro. For The Declaration, Founders chose to produce the cigar in a (5.5 x 43) corona as a more refined, ultra premium format intended to further distinguish the release from its regular production cigars.
To reflect the boldness behind the name, The Declaration was blended to be the strongest cigar Founders has produced to date, with a fuller body and strength intended to mirror the conviction behind that moment.
The cigar’s MSRP also carries symbolic meaning. The Declaration will retail for $13.76, representing both the 13 original colonies and the year 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
Production is limited to 250 boxes of 25 cigars, a nod to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. The cigars are expected to begin shipping to retailers during the PCA Trade Show in New Orleans this April.
Fraboni said the release is meant to represent both the history that inspired the brand and the milestone the company is celebrating:
“This cigar is our way of marking five years. The Declaration was a defining moment in American history, and it felt like the right name for an important moment in our own story.”
Blend Information
Vitola: 5.5 x 43 Corona
Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Binder: Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan Seco and Criollo 98 Ligero
Factory: Tabacalera Las Lavas, Dominican Republic
MSRP: $13.76
Production: 250 boxes of 25 cigars
About Founders Cigar Company
Founders Cigar Company is a veteran owned premium cigar brand founded in 2020. The company produces handcrafted cigars in the Dominican Republic and distributes them through select retailers across the United States as well as online. The brand is built around honoring the individuals and ideas that shaped the American spirit.
In 2023, the company also launched Founders Fulfillment, a logistics and fulfillment service that supports boutique cigar brands with warehousing, compliance, and order processing.