The historic, long-anticipated Fuente y Padrón Legends Cigar Project is going to take a bit longer to reach retailers and consumers. Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, one of the two shipping containers of this precious cargo was extensively damaged—and while the other was seemingly unscathed, the Arturo Fuente and Padrón Cigars teams have decided that it is far better and prudent to be safe than sorry. As such, they will be hand-inspecting each individual master carton box, and its contents, one by one.

“Each chest, each individual cigar, each portfolio simply has to be perfect,” declared Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr. “In my entire life, I’ve never encountered a shipping catastrophe the likes of this.” He continues, “This project is about three things: passion for a shared, time-honored craft, family—two families, and integrity, honoring two great men. This project is so much bigger than simply one thing, which is why, again, each element has to be flawless.”

The Fuente y Padrón Legends project was announced in 2020; a prototype was unveiled to great fanfare at the PCA 2022 Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas; and a nearly final iteration was displayed by both families at the same convention this year.

Two containers left port in the Dominican Republic during Thanksgiving week, bound for Florida to ensure that a lucky few would have a Fuente y Padrón Legends chest under their tree. Now, delivery will be delayed until the hand inspection is complete, and replacements for the damaged units can be sourced and assembled.

The extensive damage to the cargo was discovered when the cigars arrived at the Florida warehouse late last week to be repackaged and individually shipped to selected U.S. tobacconists.

This is a developing story; further updates will be provided in as timely a manner as possible.