J.C. Newman “Takes It To The Hoop” With American All-Star Humidor
Cigars and sporting events frequently go hand-in-hand whether it’s a cigar-chomping spectator or a player celebrating a victory. This week, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. honors the connection between sport and smoke with a limited-edition humidor that not only comes with exclusive cigars, but is made with an even more exclusive material: wood from the floor of the 2011 NBA All-Star Game court.
Handcrafted by Jason LeGear of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, only 40 of these humidors have been produced due to the scarcity of the wood. It was created as part of the NBA’s Reclaimed program, which repurposes NBA game courts. Each humidor is unique as the surface of the wood is marked with scuffs and scratches that were created during the game. The lids are inlaid with pieces of the blue three-point line and the interior is lined with Spanish cedar.
“Basketball is an American game,” said fourth-generation owner Drew Newman. “My great-grandfather founded our company four years after basketball was invented in 1891. As the oldest American cigar company and maker of the all-American cigar, it’s our privilege to celebrate the greatest basketball players in the world with a humidor made from the wood that they competed on.”
The humidor comes with 30 cigars from J.C. Newman's The American brand. At 6 1/2 inches by 50 ring gauge, the All-Star size is exclusive to this package. Rolled at the company’s El Reloj factory in Tampa, Florida, The American consists entirely of tobaccos grown in the United States: Florida sun-grown wrapper, Connecticut broadleaf binder and a mix of fillers from Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
In addition, each set comes with a certificate of authenticity and a Boveda starter kit. The humidor can hold up to 90 cigars and the entire set has a suggested retail price of $3,000. They are shipping to retailers now.
The 2011 All-Star Game took place on February 20, 2011 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles with the Western Conference defeating the Eastern Conference by five points (148–143). Kobe Bryant was named the All-Star Game MVP.
Newman stated that of the 40 humidors produced, one will be put on display at the El Reloj museum at company headquarters in Tampa, and one will be sent to the NBA.
