It has been a busy year for Sam Leccia. After some fabulous cigar introductions at last years IPCPR , Sam’s company was acquired by General Cigar shortly after in September 2014. We were all wondering what new delights this new marriage would bring to the market and now we are about to find out. Sam has announced on his Facebook page that the new Luchador El Gringo will be released at this years IPCPR and available in stores this September. Last year, we honored the original Luchador in the Stogie Press Top 25. In fact it ranked 12th on our list. We are looking forward to this new release and we fully expect it to be honored once again.
I spoke with Sam this week and asked him if the new El Gringo was influenced at all by General Cigar and he explained :
There wasn’t too much of an influence from the General team on this blend, but I am currently working on some projects with the General Cigar team at the Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic factories. The tobacco stock piles that General possess is second to none. Its going to take some time to go through some of it.
Sam noted that the El Gringo is made at the same factory as the original Luchador – American Caribbean Tobacco S.A. in Nicaragua and it will be released in 4 vitolas each named with a wrestling theme:
- Chin Music 6 x 48
- Pile Driver 6 x 60
- Squared Circle 6 1/2 x 64
- Frog Splash 4 1/2 x 70
I asked him about the Frog Spash, noting that it seems to be quite a large ring gauge for a short stick and he said he wanted to offer a large ring gauge cigar that could provide a more comfortable smoking experience. It’s a mat press, so the size is wide and short and packed with tobacco.
The El Gringo is blended with:
- Nicaraguan oscuro wrapper
- Nicaraguan habano binder
- Pennsylvania and Nicaragua ligero fillers
He noted all leaf used in the blend is at least 3 years old which is what he typically uses with the exception of the Dark Fire leaf in the Black label.
All blends will be available in 21 count boxes.
This is just the start of the new Leccia blends and I am assured there will be some more amazing blends yet to come.