UN-BOXING OCTOBER 2020 PACKS AND FACTORY DIRECT! – VIDEO RECAP | MY CIGAR PACK

October 2020 marked an important moment for us at My Cigar Pack. Not because it was louder or more complex than other months, but because it reflected how much our process had matured. This unboxing was not just about revealing what cigars made it into the packs. It was about explaining why they were there, how they were grouped, and how member feedback continued to influence our decisions.

At this point in our journey, we were already well past the idea of simply assembling five or six cigars and shipping them out. The packs had become a living system. Strength categories were no longer rigid rules but guidelines. Factory Direct was evolving into a testing ground rather than a novelty. And most importantly, the community around the packs was actively shaping what came next.

This video captures that moment clearly. It shows us slowing down, smoking alongside the unboxing, and talking through decisions instead of rushing through them. October was about balance. Balance in strength, balance between familiarity and discovery, and balance between curation and listening.

Starting with Mild to Medium, Always on Purpose

As always, we began with the mild to medium pack. That choice is intentional. For many smokers, this is where nuance lives. It is where flavor development often matters more than raw strength, and where subtle differences become easier to appreciate.

October’s mild to medium pack included six cigars, each selected to contribute something different to the overall experience.

We opened by lighting Mildias by Crowned Heads. Smoking it during the unboxing set the tone immediately. This was not a cigar being presented from a distance. It was part of the moment. The commentary around Mildias focused on refinement and familiarity. It was framed as something recognizable, but elevated. A cigar that speaks to smokers who appreciate balance and polish.

Following that, we introduced another Crowned Heads cigar, Four Kicks Capa. Rather than breaking it down technically, the discussion leaned into expectations. If you are familiar with the brand and its previous releases, you already have a sense of where this cigar lives. That sense of continuity matters. It allows the pack to feel cohesive even when styles vary.

Next came Cigar Culture Blend No. 3 by Adrian Acosta. This cigar represented something different entirely. It was not about brand legacy or line extensions. It was about persistence. Hundreds of blends were mentioned, not as a flex, but as context. What made this cigar stand out was confidence built through repetition and conviction. Including it in the pack reinforced our belief that passion-driven projects deserve space alongside established names.

Connecticut Does Not Mean One Thing

Two Ecuadorian Connecticut-wrapped cigars followed, and this is where the pack began to show contrast within similarity.

Adventura Royal Return Queen’s Pearls was discussed as restrained but dynamic. Not loud, not aggressive, but expressive in its own way. The emphasis was on subtle shifts and balance rather than dramatic transitions. It represented a Connecticut profile that rewards attention.

Patina Connecticut followed, and the tone changed slightly. This cigar had clearly become part of a personal rotation. That matters. When a cigar shows up repeatedly in someone’s humidor, it says more than a tasting note ever could. The comparison between these two cigars highlighted an important idea. Wrapper categories do not define experience on their own. Intent and execution matter just as much.

Listening to the Community and Testing the Future

One of the most important aspects of the October mild to medium pack was the inclusion of a cigar intended for future Factory Direct placement. This was done deliberately to gather feedback. At the time, we had not yet formalized the feedback system we now use, but the intent was already there.

Including a cigar as a test rather than a statement requires humility. It acknowledges that curation is not static. The positive response to this cigar validated the approach and confirmed that members wanted a voice in shaping what came next.

This mindset carried directly into the medium to full pack.

Medium to Full, With Flexibility Built In

When we moved into the medium to full pack, one thing became immediately clear. Some cigars crossed boundaries.

The same cigar that appeared in the mild to medium pack also appeared here. That was not an oversight. It was a response. Members had shared that certain cigars felt equally at home in both categories. Instead of forcing separation, we embraced overlap.

Cigar strength is not a universal experience. What feels medium to one smoker may feel fuller to another. Allowing that flexibility made the packs more honest.

Patina Habano was introduced as a natural counterpart to the Connecticut version. The comparison focused on feel rather than specification. Earthiness, subtle sweetness, and general character took precedence over technical breakdowns. The idea was simple. Same philosophy, different expression.

Crux Cigars closed out the pack with two offerings placed side by side. One leaned stronger, one more restrained, but both were framed as flavorful and engaging. This pairing reinforced the idea that strength does not replace complexity. It simply shifts the experience.

Factory Direct, Still Finding Its Shape

October also marked the second iteration of Factory Direct. At this stage, Factory Direct was still evolving. It was not yet a fixed concept. It was a space for collaboration, exclusivity, and learning.

This month’s Factory Direct release featured two blends produced in collaboration with AJ Fernandez. The timing had shifted due to external factors, and that transparency mattered. Rather than glossing over the delay, it was addressed directly. No drama, no excuses. Just clarity.

The two blends were differentiated visually and experientially. One leaned smoother but spicier. The other offered more variation and movement throughout the smoke. Neither was positioned as better. They were simply different.

What mattered most was how they were framed. These were cigars meant to be enjoyed without overthinking. They were approachable, engaging, and designed to be smoked rather than analyzed.

Why This Month Mattered

Looking back, October 2020 stands out not because of any single cigar, but because of how the packs were presented. This was a month where we leaned into explanation rather than hype. Where feedback mattered more than finality. Where categories were treated as guides instead of rules.

It also reflected a broader truth about cigar culture. Discovery works best when curiosity is encouraged and rigidity is avoided. The packs were not trying to define taste. They were inviting exploration.

What Members Took Away From It

For members, this unboxing reinforced several ideas.

First, that strength segmentation exists to serve the smoker, not to limit them.

Second, that feedback is not performative. It actively influences future decisions.

Third, that Factory Direct is not just about exclusivity, but about experimentation and dialogue.

And finally, that cigars are best understood over time. Through repetition, comparison, and personal experience.

Closing Thoughts

The October 2020 unboxing captured a moment of alignment between curation, community, and culture. It showed that My Cigar Pack was not just assembling monthly selections, but building a conversation.

This was a month defined by listening. By balance. And by the understanding that great cigar experiences are not dictated. They are discovered.

As always, we continue to learn alongside our members. And months like October remind us why that matters.