J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Releases 2026 José Gaspar Cigars Celebrates Tampa’s two world-famous traditions, cigars and Gasparilla

Tampa, FL – Tampa has two-century-old traditions: Since 1885, Tampa has been known as “Cigar City.” Since 1904, pirates have been invading Tampa and throwing a large festival called Gasparilla. Each year, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. brings both traditions together by releasing a limited edition José Gaspar cigar.  Handcrafted by J.C. Newman, a 130-year-old, four-generation family business, José Gaspar cigars pack a punch perfect for any pirate.

“José Gaspar was one of most feared pirates in the Americas,” said Drew Newman, fourth-generation owner. “Sailing from his base near Tampa Bay in the late 1700s, he terrorized the Gulf of Mexico and amassed a great fortune. Gaspar celebrated victories with a bold and flavorful cigar. This cigar honors his legacy and the tradition of Gasparilla.”

This year, J.C. Newman is releasing 10,000 José Gaspar cigars. The 2026 release of José Gaspar is a 6’ x 54 cigar wrapped with a Ecuador Havana wrapper. The 2026 José Gaspar cigars are sold in packs of 5 cigars with an MSRP of $40. José Gaspar cigars are only available at the following locations in the Cigar City of Tampa, Florida:

• Cigar City Brewery Co.
• Corona Cigar Company-Tampa
• Edwards Pipe and Tobacco
• Grand Cathedral Cigars
• Hotel Haya
• Central Cigars
• J.C. Newman Cigar Museum and Factory Store
• King Corona Cigar Bar & Cafe – Ybor
• Tobacco Depot- Carrollwood
• Sterling Cigar Lounge & Bar
• Visit Tampa Bay Visitor Center
• Tampero Cigars Ybor City
• Cigar Castle
• Bruton’s Cigar Shop
• Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge & Bar – South Tampa
• Cigars International Superstore – Brandon
• The Columbia Restaurant- Ybor
• J.R. Cigars Outlet-Tampa

“When pirates invade Tampa and parade down Bayshore Boulevard on January 31st, they will be enjoying José Gaspar cigars,” said Newman. “Just like the pirates of Gasparilla, however, José Gaspar cigars will sail out of Tampa Bay at the end of Gasparilla season and will not be available again until next year.”

Shortly after J.C. Newman Cigar Co. relocated to Tampa in 1954, leading cigar makers invited the late Stanford J. Newman to become a pirate and join the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, the organization that hosts the annual Gasparilla celebration. This invitation was a symbol that J.C. Newman had been welcomed and accepted into the cigar community in Tampa, which was then widely recognized as the fine cigar capital of the world.

About J.C. Newman Cigar Co.
Founded in 1895 by Julius Caeser Newman, J.C. Newman Cigar Company is the oldest family-owned premium cigar maker in America. J.C. Newman rolls its El Reloj, Factory Throwouts, and Trader Jacks cigars by hand-operated, vintage cigar machines at its historic cigar factory in Tampa, Florida. It also hand-rolls its Brick House, Perla del Mar, El Baton, and Quorum cigars at the J.C. Newman PENSA cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. J.C. Newman’s Diamond Crown, MAXIMUS, Julius Caeser, and Black Diamond cigars are handmade by Tabacalera A. Fuente in the Dominican Republic. With its longtime partners, the Fuente family, the Newmans founded the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, which supports low-income families in the Dominican Republic with education, health care, vocational training, and clean water.