If you remember back to last year’s PCA we started the show off with the Newman family so we thought it was only fitting to kick off the 2024 Premium Cigar Association Trade-Show the same way!
In true JC Newman fashion, you’re greeted by the GRAND and historic 1/4 size scale El Reloj, JC Newman’s Tampa cigar factory that turned 113 last year. While we haven’t yet been able to get down to Tampa to see the factory, the PCA replica does a great job immersing you into the El Reloj experience.
What’s New for 2024?
- The Tampa Smoker
- A unique hand crafted premium cigar that pays homage to Tampa’s rich history of cigars and baseball.
- A century ago, Tampa was known was the Fine Cigar Capital of the World. The 150 cigar factories in Tampa handcrafted more than 500 million cigars per year. In 1919, Tampa’s local baseball team was named the Tampa Smokers to celebrate its place as Cigar City. Many famous athletes played for the Tampa Smokers, including Al Lopez, who was the son of cigar workers and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- J.C. Newman plans to ship Tampa Smokers cigars to premium cigar retailers in time for the World Series this fall.
- LeRoy Neiman Collector’s Edition cigar, Café Left Bank
- This years release will feature artwork of Leroy that focuses around Paris in homage to this years’ summer olympics being help within the French city.
- J.C. Newman and the Foundation are donating all profits from this collaboration to support arts education in Tampa’s public schools, including those surrounding the El Reloj cigar factory.
Around the Booth
JC Newman’s booth is one of the more fun booth experiences in our 2 years of covering the trade-show. They take an extremely different approach to the presentation of product by including you along a historical “tour” through the El Reloj quarter-scale building. There are tons of historical Florida/Tampa/JC Newman pieces on display and give you a full immersion into their flare of the Premium Cigar Industry. Along with the historical collection they also present their current lines in nice, glass top, presentation cases that create little islands of purveyors interested in Tampa’s finest.
The Full Interview with Drew Newman
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