Tradecraft Cigars is heading to the 2026 PCA Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans with something worth paying attention to — a pair of limited edition vitolas for two of its flagship lines. The releases, tied to the Gladius and Azorian lines, are small-batch offerings with a backstory that makes them a little more interesting than your average trade show announcement.
The company itself is relatively new to the scene. Gary and Robert Blumenthal launched Tradecraft in the fall of 2025. The two are fourth- and fifth-generation cigar men, respectively, and the owners of Tinder Box International — so this isn't a passion project from a couple of outsiders. These are guys who grew up in the business.
The Gladius Belicoso
The Gladius line is getting a 5 1/2 x 52 belicoso, priced at $14.60 per cigar. The blend stays consistent with what's already in the Gladius lineup: a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed binder, and a filler that pulls from Dominican criollo 98 ligero, Ecuadorian Puntiao, Pennsylvanian broadleaf, and Pennsylvania ligero. Tradecraft describes the profile as full and robust — this is not a mild smoke by any stretch.
The belicoso shape is a smart choice for this blend. The tapered head tends to concentrate flavor in a way that changes how the smoke develops, and for a full-bodied cigar like the Gladius, that can make for a noticeably different experience compared to a standard robusto or toro.
The Azorian Corona Gorda
The Azorian line is picking up a corona gorda measuring 5 1/2 x 46, coming in at $14.40. This one leans in a different direction than the Gladius — Tradecraft calls it medium-bodied but full-flavored, which for experienced smokers usually means complexity without the heavy punch.
The wrapper is a 7th priming Ecuadorian habano rosado, paired with an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed binder. The filler combines Dominican criollo 98 seco and corojo ligero, Ecuadorian Puntiao ligero, and Pennsylvanian broadleaf. The 7th priming wrapper leaf is notable — leaves from the upper primings of the plant tend to be oilier and more developed, which plays well in a more nuanced, flavor-forward blend like the Azorian.
Why These Two Vitolas Exist
Here's the part that makes these releases a little different. Both cigars were actually produced more than 14 months ago — they weren't rolled specifically for the trade show. They were originally made as part of a personal selection for Rob Blumenthal himself. That extra age on them is something most limited trade show releases can't claim.
"These are a couple of my all-time favorite vitolas, and I specifically chose them as they highlight the nuances of the blends in a very lovely way and offer a different smoke experience when compared to the robusto and toro," said Rob Blumenthal in the announcement.
That context matters. These aren't cigars designed by committee to move units at a convention. They came out of one guy's personal stash of preferred sizes — vitolas he was already smoking on his own time.
Availability and What to Expect
Both the Gladius belicoso and the Azorian corona gorda are being offered in 12-count boxes, and each is limited to just 150 boxes. That's 1,800 cigars per vitola — not a lot, especially once retailer orders are factored in.
Tradecraft says both cigars will begin shipping within a couple of weeks after the trade show wraps up. The 2026 PCA Convention & Trade Show runs April 18 through 20 in New Orleans, so smokers looking to get their hands on either release should expect product to start moving in early to mid-May.
A Young Brand Worth Watching
Tradecraft Cigars may only be a few months old as a brand, but the lineage behind it spans generations. The Blumenthals aren't testing the waters — they're building something with real roots in the industry. Releasing limited vitolas at PCA with meaningful aging behind them, rather than rushing product to meet a deadline, says something about how they're approaching the brand.
For anyone who follows the Gladius or Azorian lines, these two releases offer a chance to experience familiar blends in formats that Rob Blumenthal himself considers among the best expressions of those tobaccos. That's a reasonable endorsement.
