UNBOXING MY CIGAR PACK ELITE FEBRUARY 2023 | My Cigar Pack
New Hat, New Store, Same Energy
Before we even get into cigars, let’s address the elephant on our heads.
Yes, the unreleased My Cigar Pack big-logo hat is back. Yes, we’re thinking about releasing it. And yes, the new MCP store is coming online soon. Consider this the soft launch announcement. Cat officially out of the bag.
Now let’s get into what really matters.
Elite February 2023.
A Different Way to Break It Down
If you caught the previous unboxings, you already know we’re switching things up a bit.
Instead of dragging things out cigar by cigar in real time, we laid all five Elite cigars out front and center. The idea is simple. Show you what’s featured, keep things moving, then let the visuals and media cards do some of the heavy lifting.
More agile. More precise. More fun.
And this month’s selection absolutely deserves that kind of treatment.
The Blue Telephone Booth That Started It All
We’re starting strong with the Telephone Booth Series from J. London Cigars.
This is the first J. London cigar ever featured in My Cigar Pack, and it’s been a long time coming.
Jonathan J. London took a very intentional approach here. The goal was clear. Create something that carries the quality and personality of the core J. London line, while making it more accessible than the notoriously expensive Coraline series.
That meant hands-on tobacco sourcing, working closely with a family that’s been growing and processing tobacco for four generations, and bringing in a master blender with over 40 years in the business. Some details remain deliberately undisclosed. Factory. Blender. Names stay quiet.
Don’t let the lack of a band fool you. This cigar is only available in five-packs, and it stands confidently alongside any other J. London release.
Expect a balanced, nuanced smoke that leans both classic and expressive. Apricot sweetness, forest floor depth, cashew, and nutmeg all show up without fighting each other. The Blue Telephone Booth is a 5 x 50 robusto, wrapped in Corojo over a Dominican binder with Broadleaf and Corojo 98 fillers.
Quietly impressive. Exactly the kind of cigar Elite exists for.
A Familiar Face Worth Bringing Back
Next up, Flor de Selva No. 15.
This cigar has history with us. It’s one we’ve been smoking for years, and more recently, revisiting in very well-aged form. That experience alone was enough to spark the conversation about bringing it back into rotation.
Flor de Selva No. 15 has a reputation for being one of the most respected cigars in the brand’s lineup. It carries more power than many expect, but time and age soften its edges beautifully.
What makes it special is balance. Strong enough to satisfy those who like intensity. Refined enough to stay approachable. It’s a cigar that evolves gracefully, and it rewards patience.
Sometimes bringing something back isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about recognizing when a cigar still belongs in the conversation.
A European Favorite Finally Lands Stateside
Now for something we were genuinely excited to secure.
Villiger de Nicaragua 2022.
This cigar was originally slated for release at the end of last year, then quietly pushed back. Our first experience with it came through the European version at InterTabac in Germany, where it immediately stood out for its flavor clarity and sheer enjoyability.
Fast forward to Miami. One conversation with the Villiger team. One nod from René Castañeda. And suddenly we’re talking about bringing it into the U.S.
What landed in Elite is a 6 x 52 torpedo, medium-bodied, built on the same blend that impressed overseas. Ecuadorian wrapper, Mexican binder, and a mix of Nicaraguan and U.S. fillers.
This was easily one of the most enjoyable cigars of late 2022, and arguably the entire year. Ultra-limited, and we were fortunate to secure a meaningful allocation.
Sweet molasses. Pecan. Toast. Marshmallow. Hay. Fig.
A cigar that manages to feel comforting and complex at the same time.
Why Everyone’s Talking About Oscar
Oscar Valladares Family Cigars have been on an absolute tear lately, and there’s a reason for it.
From Tim Ozgener’s legacy at CAO, to deep industry ties with Crowned Heads, to their current resurgence, this brand has momentum. And not the artificial kind.
The Bosphorus represents that perfectly.
Wrapped in Ecuador Habano 2000, supported by a dual Ecuadorian and Nicaraguan binder, and filled with Nicaraguan tobacco, this cigar lands squarely in rich medium-bodied territory. Complexity builds slowly and deliberately.
Expect cedarwood, cinnamon, peanut, and peat, delivered at a controlled pace that never rushes the experience. It’s refined without being reserved, and expressive without being loud.
The ratings buzz is real, but more importantly, the consistency is there.
A Zodiac-Inspired Finale
We’re closing out Elite February with another release from Flor de Selva, fresh for 2023.
Inspired by the Chinese Zodiac and paying homage to Mayan culture, this limited edition honors the 18 Rabbit, a historic ruler of Copán, Honduras, where the brand and factory are based.
This Honduran puro features a cinnamon-toned wrapper and delivers a balanced smoke with medium complexity and density. The profile leans elegant rather than aggressive.
Cedar. Almonds. A subtle macchiato-like essence that lingers without overstaying its welcome.
It’s thoughtful. It’s intentional. And it’s exactly the kind of cigar that belongs in Elite.
Why Elite Exists in the First Place
Elite has always been different.
Before launching the program, we spent years sourcing, testing, and pushing boundaries. Limited releases. Older cigars. New projects. Things that didn’t always fit neatly into the standard My Cigar Pack system.
Elite gave us the freedom to curate without compromise.
Now everything fits. Factory Direct. Club Membership. Elite. Mystery Packs. Brand-specific clubs. Each tier has a purpose, and Elite continues to stand out because it allows us to step just a little further outside the comfort zone.
That’s the point.
Until the Next One
As always, thank you for trusting us with your humidor space.
Let us know what stood out to you this month. Let us know what surprised you. And if that big-logo hat needs to drop sooner rather than later… you know where to tell us.
We’ll see you on the next unboxing.