The King Street Emporium

El Baton

By J.C. Newman

El Baton dates back to 1914, one of J.C. Newman's original brands, launched as a nickel cigar built entirely from Cuban tobacco. It disappeared in the 1920s as machine-made cigars took over the market and the Great Depression closed in, staying dormant for nearly a century until Eric and Bobby Newman revived it in 2008 as the company's first Nicaraguan cigar. Fourth generation owner Drew Newman revisited the blend again in 2022, upgrading to higher grade filler and wrapper tobacco and returning the packaging to something closer to the brand's traditional look. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Havana Seed over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan filler. Cigar Aficionado named it a Top 25 Cigar of 2012, and Cigar Journal ranked it the number two cigar of 2023. Four sizes, 25-count boxes. Full in body. Made at J.C. Newman's PENSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.