Pre-Orders of Sobremesa Brûlée Wagashi Begin This Week

Cigar Dojo and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust have collaborated for the first time, introducing a fine-tuned variation of the beloved Sobremesa Brûlée brand with a Japanese-inspired twist.

Coming off the heels of Cigar Dojo’s 10th anniversary in 2022, a fresh start was in order for the next decade. As Steve Saka and his DTT brigade have consistently remained among the most highly requested partners for a Dojo collab, such harmonious qi was fulfilled with a tasty Japanese treat known as wagashi.

Similar to Dunbarton’s former Sobremesa Brûlée Blue cigar, the Wagashi 和菓子 offers yet another deep dive into the beloved Sobremesa Brûlée blend. The cigar draws on Cigar Dojo’s Japanese influence, being named for a dessert delicacy of Japan that rose to cultural import during the Edo Period (1603–1857).

“I have been tinkering with a larger format of my Sobremesa Brulée Blue liga for a couple of years on and off,” noted Steve Saka, owner and founder of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. “My original intent was to craft a ‘Big Blue,’ but when the opportunity arose to create something special for Dojo, it refocused my efforts, as the Brulée blend is one of Sensei’s favorites. Trunk pressing this liga proved to be quite a challenge, not only due to bruising and splitting of the shade wrappers, but how it impacted the flavor and burn. It required so many iterations of the blend, and to perfect the prensado techniques utilized, there were times where I thought about just saying ‘Uncle!.’ But I am really glad I stuck with it, as I am ecstatic with the end result. The bar established by our Blue is extremely high, but I believe the Wagashi rivals it both in flavor and aroma, while also being unique with its own distinct character.”

Taking on the difficult challenge of a proper box-pressed Connecticut, Saka worked tirelessly with the Joya de Nicaragua factory in Nicaragua, eventually crafting a 6″ x 50 toro expression that brought out a cool smoking temperature and intricate complexities of almonds, delicate coffee notes, blonde caramel, and sweet cream. Not only does the cigar embody Japanese wagashi in profile, but the box-pressed shape of the toro is reminiscent of yōkan-style wagashi, which is served in rectangular blocks. Finally, the iconic Sobremesa band has been reimagined with an ethereal emerald green palette; this is a nod to the green tea pairing commonly served with wagashi pastries.

Eric Guttormson, owner of Cigar Dojo, commented, “It’s no secret how much the Dojo loves the Sobremesa Brûlée, so when Steve showed interest in collaborating on a cigar in that lineup, we literally did backflips at Dojo headquarters. The Wagashi is going to be a figurative and literal treat for premium cigar smokers.”

 

Unique to Cigar Dojo collaborative releases, the Wagashi will be offered through an exclusive pre-order sale through retailer Smoke Inn Cigars. Pre-order sales will kickoff on April 20th at 12pm (EDT) on Smoke Inn’s online storefront, where each box of Wagashi can be secured for a $30 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit. There will be no limit on the quantity of boxes that may be purchased, and the pre-order value will be applied to the cost of the final product when Wagashi goes live this November. When the product becomes available for shipment later this fall, purchasers will receive an email and a notification in their Smoke Inn account, allowing for the completion of the sale. Those that pre-order will have 30 days to complete their order once Wagashi goes live, and those that fail to do so will forfeit their order(s) and $30 deposit(s). Additionally, those that pre-order Wagashi cigars will receive a limited-edition, collectable challenge coin featuring custom artwork that features Cigar Dojo, Dunbarton, Smoke Inn, and Wagashi logos.

Sobremesa Brûlée Wagashi 和菓子 Breakdown