J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Pays Tribute to LeRoy Neiman with 2023 Collectors’ Edition
The renowned American artist, LeRoy Neiman, celebrated for his vibrant, expressionist portrayals of athletes, Playboy magazine cartoons, and distinctive handlebar mustache, is being honored posthumously by the Tampa-based J.C. Newman Cigar Co. This tribute takes the form of the LeRoy Neiman 2023 Collectors’ Edition, a limited-edition cigar set to hit retailers imminently.
Unveiled earlier at the PCA trade show during the summer, this toro-sized cigar boasts dimensions of 6 inches by 52 ring gauge and was meticulously crafted at J.C. Newman’s El Reloj factory, situated atop the company’s headquarters in Ybor City, Florida. The cigars have undergone months of aging to ensure a refined smoking experience.
The LeRoy Neiman 2023 Collectors’ Edition showcases a blend featuring a “Havana Rosado” wrapper from Ecuador, a binder cultivated in Florida by Jeff Borysiewicz, and a mix of filler tobaccos sourced from Nicaragua and America. Limited to just 550 boxes, each containing 20 cigars, this exclusive production is a collaboration between J.C. Newman and the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation. All profits generated will be donated to support arts education in the public schools of Tampa, as part of the foundation’s commitment to providing opportunities for at-risk youth interested in the arts.
Paying homage to Neiman’s artistic legacy, the packaging of the LeRoy Neiman 2023 Collectors’ Edition features lithographs of his renowned piece, “Irish-American Bar,” inside the lid of each box and on a band encircling each cigar. This iconic painting exemplifies Neiman’s ability to transform ordinary scenes into vivid displays of color and detail. Additionally, the interior of each box reveals a print of Neiman’s paint-streaked studio floor in New York City.
Drew Newman, the fourth-generation owner of J.C. Newman, emphasized the historical connection between art and cigars, stating, “Art has been an integral part of the cigar industry for more than 150 years.” Priced at $20 per cigar or $400 per box, the LeRoy Neiman 2023 Collectors’ Edition aims to become an annual tradition, with plans for the 2024 release to feature a Parisian theme in homage to Neiman’s association with the Olympics, for which he served as the official painter for decades.
