Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Reveals Year of the Pausers for March
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust has confirmed the second release in its Year of Series. The Year of the Pausers will ship in March and introduces two distinct cigars created to honour Michelle and Tom Pauser, a cigar-smoking couple from Alaska.
Unlike zodiac-themed releases, Dunbarton’s series celebrates people close to the brand. This year’s concept reflects that philosophy with unusual clarity.
Two Honourees, Two Blends
Because the release honours two individuals, Dunbarton created two separate cigars. Both measure 6 x 48 and feature a pigtail. Beyond that, the similarities end.
Steve Saka began the process by asking the Pausers to list favourite Dunbarton cigars. Their answers differed sharply. The blends followed suit.
Michelle Pauser’s Cigar
Michelle favours Sin Compromiso. Her cigar adapts the Sin Compromiso Paladin de Saka with a revised filler blend.
The change introduces a sweeter, creamier profile. Cocoa and coffee remain present, but the texture softens.
The blend uses a Mexican San Andrés negro cultivo tonto wrapper. An Ecuadorian habano rosado binder supports fillers from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania. Joya de Nicaragua produces the cigar.
Tom Pauser’s Cigar
Tom’s preferences leaned toward Mi Querida Black and Mi Querida Triqui Traca. His cigar debuts a new wrapper called Capa Camaleón.
The leaf is a hybrid of habano 2000 and Connecticut broadleaf. Saka described its flavour as burnt caramel with saltiness and a distinct twang.
Underneath sits a Mexican San Andrés negro binder. Fillers come from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. produces the cigar.
Packaging, Pricing, and Release
Each cigar carries an MSRP of $19.75. Production is limited to 2,700 boxes. Each box contains 14 cigars, split evenly between the two blends.
Dunbarton expects shipments to begin in March. Notably, the Pausers have not yet smoked the cigars made in their honour.
Saka described the release with a simple moniker: “friends to many.”
A Look Back at the Series
Last year introduced the Year of the Duque. That release honoured Chris Duque, a dedicated Dunbarton supporter active at events and trade shows.
The Year of Series continues to spotlight community over calendar symbolism.
Muestra de Saka Lengua de Suegra Debuts at PCA 2026
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust also confirmed a new Muestra de Saka release. Lengua de Suegra will debut at the 2026 PCA Convention & Trade Show. The cigar marks the company’s first culebra vitola. The name translates to “mother-in-law’s tongue,” a common term for the snake plant.
Saka has not confirmed blend details, pricing, or production numbers. If no earlier releases appear, Lengua de Suegra will become the eighth entry in the Muestra de Saka line, which began in 2017 and focuses on extremely limited, experimental cigars.
