UN-BOXING SEPTEMBER 2020 PACKS + FACTORY DIRECT! – VIDEO RECAP | MY CIGAR PACK
The Month Everything Changed
September 2020 marked a quiet turning point for My Cigar Pack. On the surface, it looked like another monthly unboxing, two strength based packs, careful packaging, and a lineup of thoughtfully selected cigars. Underneath that familiar rhythm, something new was taking shape.
This was the first month Factory Direct officially entered the picture.
The episode captures more than just a breakdown of cigars. It documents a moment where My Cigar Pack expanded its identity, moving beyond traditional subscription curation into direct collaboration with factories and blenders. For longtime members, September represents the start of a deeper connection to how cigars are made, not just how they are enjoyed.
Built With Care From the Outside In
Before a single cigar is discussed, attention is given to packaging. Every September pack arrives sealed and protected, each one including humidity control from Boveda. This detail is not treated as an afterthought. It reflects a broader philosophy that cigars should arrive ready to smoke, not requiring recovery time or adjustment.
The packs are sealed intentionally. Maintaining stable humidity and temperature is framed as essential to preserving the experience intended by the blender. Even a lighthearted aside about a prematurely opened pack reinforces how seriously that seal is taken.
From there, the breakdown begins, starting with the mild to medium selection.
The Mild to Medium Lineup
JRE Tobacco Co.
Aladino Connecticut
The Aladino Connecticut opens the pack. Produced by the Eiroa family, this cigar carries a lineage deeply rooted in Honduran tobacco. The family’s history, including their past stewardship of the Camacho brand, is acknowledged as part of what gives this cigar credibility.
Rather than over analyzing the blend, the cigar is positioned simply. Smooth, balanced, and particularly well suited for mornings. Its role in the pack is to offer an approachable entry point without sacrificing quality.
Julian Sued
Pequeñas Producciones
Next comes Pequeñas Producciones, tied closely to Edgar Julian Sued. The discussion highlights Edgar’s long standing collaboration with Chico Rivas and his evolution into running his own factory.
This cigar is framed as a reflection of passion and independence. It represents a younger voice in the industry, someone building something personal rather than replicating existing formulas. The recommendation is simple. If the opportunity arises to try cigars from Julian Sued, it is worth taking.
Rodriguez Cigars
Series 84 Habano
Rodriguez Cigars appears with the Series 84 Habano, a fully Nicaraguan cigar wrapped in Habano leaf. The emphasis here is consistency. Everything associated with Danny DeFabio and Rodriguez Cigars is framed as dependable and thoughtfully executed.
This cigar is noted as having a similar body and experience to another Series 84 appearing later in the medium to full pack, setting up a comparison that underscores how small changes in blend components can significantly alter the final experience.
Ho Chi Blanco
Team Meerkat
Team Meerkat carries a story beyond its blend. Developed as part of the Black Bag Project during the height of COVID, this cigar was created to support brick and mortar retailers by allowing them to preserve margins during an uncertain time.
The cigar itself is fully Dominican and described as traditional, flavorful, and aligned with what Ho Chi Blanco’s factory is known for producing. Its inclusion adds historical context to the pack, reminding smokers that cigars often reflect the times in which they are made.
Blanco Cigars
Cigar Obsession First Third
Rounding out the mild to medium pack is the Cigar Obsession First Third, produced by Dave Polanco of Blanco Cigars in Nicaragua. Developed in collaboration with Brian Glenn of Cigar Obsession, this cigar reflects a partnership built on mutual respect.
Originally considered more medium to full in strength, the cigar has mellowed over time. That evolution influenced its placement in the mild to medium category. The blend features Nicaraguan tobaccos with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, noted for its silky appearance and flavor contribution.
With that, the mild to medium pack closes, offering balance, variety, and a strong sense of intention.
Stepping Into Medium to Full
The medium to full pack continues the theme of careful curation, with packaging once again highlighted as a critical part of the experience. Sealing the packs is framed as non negotiable, ensuring cigars arrive in optimal condition.
AJ Fernandez and Ho Chi Blanco
San Lotano Dominicano
This cigar carries a personal anecdote. The blend was witnessed firsthand during a visit to Ho Chi Blanco’s factory while AJ Fernandez was present. That moment, seeing the blend come together, adds authenticity to its inclusion.
Featuring Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos with a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper, the cigar is positioned as distinctive and memorable. It is recommended strongly to anyone who has not yet experienced it.
La Galera Cigars
1936 Box Press
The 1936 Box Press from La Galera follows. This cigar holds personal significance, representing a deep connection to the brand’s early development.
A fully Dominican blend, it is described as having a strong mouthfeel and pronounced dried fruit notes. The cigar is framed as one of the factory’s standout offerings, even if that sentiment is shared quietly rather than publicly.
JRE Tobacco Co.
Aladino Corojo
The Aladino Corojo brings Honduran Corojo tobacco to the forefront. Not to be confused with the Corojo Reserva, this cigar offers a slightly less refined but equally compelling expression of Corojo flavor.
It reinforces the Eiroa family’s strength in working with Corojo and stands as a clear choice for smokers who appreciate that specific profile.
Rodriguez Cigars
Series 84 Maduro Torpedo
Returning to the Series 84 line, the Maduro Torpedo highlights how changes in wrapper and tobacco origin affect the experience. Unlike the Habano version, this cigar incorporates Ecuadorian tobacco and a Maduro wrapper, creating a noticeably different dynamic.
The comparison underscores how intentional blending choices shape flavor, body, and overall impression.
Chico Rivas
Flor de la Mar Habano
Closing the medium to full pack is Flor de la Mar Habano. Made by Chico Rivas, this cigar reflects the passion of its brand owner and the close relationships behind its placement.
Described as earthy with pronounced barnyard character, it appeals directly to fans of Dominican tobacco and traditional profiles.
Factory Direct Makes Its Debut
The most significant development of September 2020 comes last. Factory Direct officially launches as an add on to subscriptions, marking a new chapter for My Cigar Pack.
This first Factory Direct release includes five cigars across three distinct blends, all produced by Julian Sued. While the cigars may appear similar at first glance, subtle physical cues differentiate them, including closed feet and a pigtail.
Rather than speculating, the episode brings the blender directly into the conversation. Edgar Julian Sued explains how each cigar uses the same wrapper family but varies in binder and filler composition. One blend incorporates Pennsylvania tobacco, adding a distinct layer to the experience.
These cigars are described as related but individual, each offering a different expression while sharing a common foundation. The Factory Direct concept is framed as access. Access to cigars that do not need to exist at scale and can instead explore variation and creativity.
What September 2020 Represents
This episode captures more than an unboxing. It documents the moment My Cigar Pack expanded its mission.
September 2020 is where curation met collaboration. Where subscribers were invited not just to smoke cigars, but to understand them. Factory Direct did not replace the traditional packs. It complemented them, offering another way to engage with the craft.
A Foundation for What Came Next
Looking back, it is clear how much of what followed traces back to this month. Factory Direct would grow into a defining pillar of My Cigar Pack. Relationships with blenders and factories would deepen. Education would become inseparable from enjoyment.
September 2020 stands as the beginning of that evolution.
Not because it was loud or dramatic, but because it was intentional.