Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1543154
Tobacco Asia 37 Montoliu Cigars addresses challenges by relying on a top‑level team led by mas‑ ter blender Angel Gabriel Collado, who has an internationally recognized track re‑ cord. "His expertise has been validated by multiple awards and high ratings granted by industry publications and industry com‑ petitions, recognizing [our] cigars' balance, complexity, construction, and refined aro‑ matic profile," noted Alcantara. This level of expertise is directly reflected in Montoliu's production pro‑ cess, where traditional techniques are combined with rigorous quality control and close supervision at every stage — from tobacco selection and fermenta‑ tion, through rolling and resting to final aging and packaging. The brand's future plans include expanding distribution and introducing new blends, which according to Alcantara "will reinforce Montoliu as a symbol of Dominican craftsmanship." More at: themontoliu.com Rebellion Cigars Pink, Loud, Proud, and Affordable Though incorporated in Florida, USA, Rebellion Cigars was actually conceived in 2020 in the United Kingdom by Shaun Wilkinson and his wife Mandi. A life‑long cigar aficionado, Wilkinson wanted to cre‑ ate a boutique brand that not only reflect‑ ed his own rebellious spirit but also was affordable yet distinctive. Wilkinson's soul searching manifests itself with a highly un‑ conventional pink branding theme. Fur‑ ther playing into that, Wilkinson prefers to designate himself "chief rebel" instead of managing director or similarly mundane ti‑ tles. "Rebellion Cigars was founded with a love of music and a rebellious nature as we wanted to stick it to the man," he pointed out to Tobacco Asia. Can't get more rebel‑ lious than that! Rebellion's mission is inclusivity and affordability. "We believe cigar smok‑ ing should be affordable and inclusive so our mission is to make exceptional cigars at a low cost," Wilkinson explained. The brand embraces bold aesthetics: "We are pink, we are loud, and we are proud." All cigars within Rebellion's ex‑ panding range are made in Honduras. Originally only being marketed them do‑ mestically back home in the UK, Rebel‑ lion Cigars ins now also exports to Ger‑ many, Sweden, Estonia, and Thailand. The rebellious brand's fifth anniversary cigar, the Screaming Skull (what else?), has already earned accolades, including a top‑ five spot in Cigar Lovers Magazine. Challenges and aspirations Wilkinson admitted that "encouraging people to try new things" is the biggest hurdle. Yet once customers engage, they understand and appreciate the brand's ethos. Wilkinson's future ambitions in‑ clude expanding the brand's rebellious footprint to further markets while con‑ tinuing to deliver standout cigars without premium price tags. More at: rebellioncigars.com Mosi-oa-Tunya Zimbabwe's First Premium Cigar Brand It was in 2019 when local entrepreneur Shepherd Mafundikwa established Zim‑ babwe's very first and only premium ci‑ gar brand. Appropriately, it was named after the southern African nation's most iconic natural landmark, Victoria Falls. In the local Shona language, the gigantic falls are known as mosi-oa-tunya, which translates as "the smoke that thunders." Mafundikwa explained the vision be‑ hind his ambitious project: "The venture is grounded in my desire to contribute something very novel to the country of my birth, and with Zimbabwe's world‑ renowned tobacco basically at my door‑ step, the rest was organic." The brand trained its all‑female rolling staff under Dominican master torqueador Elias Lopez. "Thanks to him, our rollers learned quickly, attaining a skill level that allows them to produce quality cigars with minimum supervision," Ma‑ fundikwa recalls. Female empowerment remains central: "We are giving these women's families a livelihood and, thus, contribute to growing the economy of our country." About 95% of Mosi‑oa‑Tunya's filler and binder tobaccos are Zimbabwe‑ grown, with wrappers imported from the Dominican Republic. Available vitolas presently include Toro, Torpedo, Ro‑ busto, Corona, Lancero, and Mini Cigars, all described by Mafundikwa as "earthy, woody, spicy, sweet, and nutty." Screaming Skull is Rebellion Cigars' latest line. Credit: Rebellion Cigars Pink, rebellious… and screaming. Credit: Rebellion Cigars Mosi-oa-Tunya exclusively employs female rollers. Credit: Mosi-oa-Tunya Cigars