Black Star Line Cigars and Cigar Dojo have teamed up for a limited-edition premium cigar release named after the world’s first Black samurai. Yasuke combines Cigar Dojo’s Japanese-inspired ethos with Black Star Line’s heritage as a black-owned cigar company that regularly draws attention to Black historical events and figures.
This new collaboration pays homage to Yasuke, a man believed to be the first black samurai. From 1581 to 1582, Yasuke served the Japanese daimyō Oda Nobunaga. Yasuke is a historical figure whose story spans the continents of Africa and feudal Japan, and it embodies the spirit of cultural exchange and barrier-breaking represented in this special release.
“This collaboration with The [Cigar] Dojo is more than just creating a great cigar. It’s about telling a story that resonates with our commitment to diversity and excellence in the cigar industry. Yasuke’s legacy as the first black samurai perfectly encapsulates our mission,” says Aric Bey, founder of Black Star Line Cigars.
Eric Guttormson, owner of Cigar Dojo, added: “Partnering with Black Star Line Cigars allowed us to explore a fascinating intersection of cultures. Yasuke’s story is a testament to the universal language of respect and skill, transcending racial and cultural boundaries. We
wanted to capture that essence in this cigar.”
The Yasuke premium cigar is crafted at Aganorsa Leaf’s factory in Nicaragua. This release features Aganorsa’s newest and most prized seed varietal, the Corojo 2012, used as the cigar’s wrapper and binder. In addition, Yasuke is the first cigar produced by Aganorsa Leaf that breaks the company’s strict rule of using only Nicaraguan tobacco for its cigar filler. Yasuke uses a Mexican San Andrés leaf in its filler and Nicaraguan leaves from Nicaragua’s Jalapa and Estelí growing regions.
Yasuke is a medium-plus-bodied smoke presented as a 6 x 52 Toro with a pigtail cap, inspired by the imagery of a samurai’s chonmage (topknot) hairstyle. Only 300 bundles of 10 cigars will be released through Smoke Inn Cigars beginning on Oct. 4, 2024, at noon (eastern).