Antillian''s New Macabi USA Celebrates 50 Years

Source from:  Cigar Aficionado 10/19/2015

Antillian Cigar Corporation, best known for its Sosa brand, is celebrating 50 years in the cigar industry with a new version of its Macabi cigar, which is expected to begin shipping next week. To honor the nation where Antillian has been conducting business for the last half-century, the cigar will be released under an updated moniker: Macabi USA.

"We named it USA because we are very proud of the country that took in my family and has allowed us to be in business for over 50 years," said Arby Sosa, vice president of operations at Antillian.

Antillian, a Florida-based company, has been owned and operated by the Sosa family for four generations. The company opened its first U.S. store in 1964 after being exiled from Cuba, where they had been growing tobacco since the turn of the 19th century.

The release of the Macabi USA is a continuation of Antillian's 50th anniversary celebration, which began last year.

Macabi USA cigars are made in Clearwater, Florida at the La Vega Cubana shop under the supervision of veteran cigar roller and shop owner Roger Hodelin. Antillian is anticipating the production of 25,000 Macabi USA cigars per year. Sosa cigars, however, are produced in the Dominican Republic at Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia.

The blend features an array of tobacco, spanning five nations: Ecuador Habano wrapper, a Honduran binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Colombia. All of the tobacco was procured from the Oliva Tobacco Co.

Macabi USA is dressed in a gold-encircled red band with a secondary band donning the American flag and the acronym U.S.A.

The new Macabis will come in five sizes: Royal Corona, measuring 5 inches by 50 ring gauge; Corona Extra, 6 by 50; Belicoso Fino, a 6 1/2 by 52 torpedo; Double Corona, 7 by 50; and Lancero, 7 1/2 by 38. A barber-pole style version of the Royal Corona, dubbed the "Peppermint Stick," which features an additional Ecuador candela leaf, will also debut.

The cigars will ship in boxes of 25 and carry a suggested retail price of $7.00 to $8.50. Enditem