Gladius Belicoso Cigar (5.5 x 52)

Tradecraft Cigars was founded in early 2025 by Robert and Gary Blumenthal, fourth and fifth generation members of a family deeply rooted in the premium cigar industry dating back to the post Civil War era. For over 45 years they have been at the helm of the Tinder Box franchise, with their ties also stretching to co-owning the Villazon brand with legendary names such as Punch, Excalibur, and Hoyo de Monterrey before they were acquired by General Cigar Company in 1996. The family also built the HATSA Factory in Honduras that is now named STG Danlí and produces cigars for General Cigar Co. and Forged Cigar Co. Rob grew up watching the joy his family had owning these brands and wanted to create a new company with his father to revive their presence in the cigar production side of the industry. The cigars pay homage to the artisans who have carried forward the timeless tradition of cigar making and honors not only their skill, but the intrigue of history's greatest craftsmen, cultures, and even elements of espionage. Their ethos is to "collaborate with today's most talented boutique cigar makers to create blends of extraordinary complexity, full flavor, and impeccable construction, using the finest aged tobaccos. Each cigar is designed to be instantly recognizable and unmistakably unique."

Gladius is the cornerstone of their core line and was blended by Wiber Ventura at Tabacalera William Ventura. The blend features a 3-5 year old fire-cured San Andrés Maduro wrapper grown by the Turrent family in Mexico, who grow the finest San Andrés wrappers for brands such as Padrón. For Rob, this is his "baby," the first blend of the brand and is representative of his core palate. When he met with factories this was the blend he relentlessly searched for with countless factories until he sat down with Wiber and he brought him this cigar. Wiber also produces blends for Caldwell as well as Room101 and Partagas. Underneath the wrapper is an Ecuadorian-Sumatran binder, with filler tobaccos of Pennsylvania Broadleaf Viso, Pennsylvania Ligero, Criollo 98' Ligero, and Ecuadorian Habano 2000 Viso. Creating a flavor profile that is clean, consistent and full of flavor and body. The cigar pays homage to the history of the mighty Roman Empire, and the sword wielded by its Legionaries in battle. Offered in a Robusto, Toro, and Belicoso, shown here is the Belicoso.