La Galera Expands Rough Rider Line with Candela and Señoritas at PCA 2025
At the upcoming 2025 PCA Convention & Trade Show, La Galera is set to expand its Rough Rider brand with two distinct new releases. One introduces a vibrant green candela wrapper, while the other offers a compact, value-driven smoke.
Rough Rider Candela: A Nod to Tradition
The first addition is the Rough Rider Candela, a cigar wrapped in a Dominican candela leaf with a Mexican binder and fillers composed of Cameroon and Dominican criollo 98 and piloto cubano. Candela wrappers, once a staple in American cigar culture, are known for their distinctive green hue, which results from a high-temperature curing process that preserves the chlorophyll in the tobacco leaf. While candela cigars have become something of a niche in modern times, they remain a seasonal favourite, particularly around St. Patrick’s Day.
The Rough Rider Candela will be available in three vitolas:
• Toro (6 x 52) – $7.80 per cigar ($195 per box of 25)
• Robusto (5 x 50) – $7.05 per cigar ($176.25 per box of 25)
• Gordo (6 x 60) – $7.95 per cigar ($198.75 per box of 25)
Candela cigars have the advantage of a significantly faster curing process—taking less than a week compared to months for traditional wrappers—allowing for quicker turnaround from harvest to production.
Rough Rider Señoritas: A Small But Mighty Addition
Alongside the candela release, La Galera is introducing the Rough Rider Señoritas, a 4 1/2 x 27 petite corona crafted entirely from Dominican-grown tobaccos. It features a Dominican habano wrapper with a blend of criollo 98 and piloto cubano fillers. Unlike its larger, handmade counterparts, the Señoritas are machine-made, offering a quick, affordable smoke with an MSRP of approximately $1.18 per cigar ($23.65 per box of 20).
Made in La Galera’s Expanding Facilities
These new releases mark an exciting period of growth for La Galera, which recently inaugurated a new factory in the Dominican Republic. While the Rough Rider Candela will be handmade in the company’s new facility, the Señoritas will be produced in the original Tabacalera Palma factory, which remains operational for machine-made cigars.
Availability and PCA 2025 Debut
Both cigars will be showcased at the 2025 PCA Convention & Trade Show, taking place from April 12-14 in New Orleans. Following the event, they are expected to ship immediately to retailers nationwide.
For cigar enthusiasts looking to revisit a classic wrapper or enjoy a quick, Dominican-crafted smoke, the new Rough Rider Candela and Señoritas offer compelling options at budget-friendly prices. Keep an eye out for these releases at your favourite tobacconist post-PCA 2025.
