Perla Del Mar

Perla Del Mar is a historic premium cigar brand with deep Cuban heritage, revived by J.C. Newman Cigar Company to honor its legendary past. Translating to "pearl of the sea," an old nickname for Cuba, this brand represents a perfect fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern excellence. The cigars feature hand-selected, aged tobaccos from four distinct Nicaraguan regions, combined with a choice of smooth Ecuadorian Shade, rich Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro, or robust Ecuadorian Corojo wrappers. Each cigar showcases a distinctive Tampa-style box press that enhances the marriage of flavors, delivering an exceptionally satisfying smoking experience that appeals to both traditional enthusiasts and contemporary cigar lovers.

Background

The Perla Del Mar brand traces its remarkable origins to 1905 when four Cuban brothers founded Perfecto Garcia Brothers and began hand-rolling cigars using tobacco from their family farm in Cuba. They named their cigars "Perla del Mar" after the beautiful Caribbean waters surrounding Cuba, and the brand quickly became one of the leading premium cigar names of the early 1900s. The brothers built a large cigar factory next to J.C. Newman's El Reloj factory in Ybor City, Florida, establishing themselves as major players in Tampa's golden age of cigar manufacturing. After decades of dormancy due to industry challenges including the Cuban embargo, mechanization, and market changes, J.C. Newman revived this historic brand to honor its legacy while creating an entirely new expression. Today's Perla Del Mar cigars are handcrafted at J.C. Newman's PENSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, utilizing premium aged tobaccos and traditional techniques that pay homage to the brand's storied past.

History

Originally established by the Perfecto Garcia Brothers in 1905, Perla Del Mar was one of Tampa's premier cigar brands during the early 20th century golden age of American cigar manufacturing. The brand flourished until industry upheavals including the 1960 Cuban embargo, mechanization, and changing market demands forced the Garcia brothers to sell their operations. After decades of dormancy, America's oldest family-owned premium cigar maker, J.C. Newman, revived this legendary brand to honor its historic legacy while creating an entirely new expression using the finest Nicaraguan tobaccos and traditional Tampa-style pressing techniques.

Reputation

Perla Del Mar enjoys an excellent reputation among cigar enthusiasts and critics, earning consistent ratings of 90-91 points from major publications including Cigar Aficionado, Cigar & Spirits, Cigar Insider, and Cigar Snob. The brand is praised for its exceptional consistency, construction quality, and the successful marriage of historical heritage with contemporary craftsmanship. Industry reviewers consistently highlight the cigars' smooth draw, even burn, complex flavor profiles, and the distinctive Tampa-style box press that enhances the smoking experience. The brand has successfully positioned itself as both an accessible daily smoke and a premium offering that appeals to discerning enthusiasts seeking quality and tradition.