I was fortunate enough to have this one in my hand at PCA before most people could finish spelling-checking “collaboration.”

My first thought…this looks serious. 

From a distance, the case pulls you in first. Dark carbon fiber, clean lines, no extra bling. It feels like something you’re not supposed to casually toss in a bag…but I will. When you open it, the cigar immediately matches the attitude.

I lit it right there on the floor, which is usually not the place for evaluation or reflection. The PCA show floor is a loud room, with constant conversations, and something in the distance always catches your eye (was that a robot dog?). If a cigar is going to disappear from your thoughts, that is where it happens.

This one didn’t.

Thick smoke right away. No “let me ease into this.” More like, we’re starting here. Dark profile, heavy texture, and it sticks around on the palate. Cocoa, earth, spice, all layered but not trying to be delicate about it.

That San Andrés setup makes sense the second you get into it. It has weight. Not just strength, actual presence. The kind of smoke that didn’t really care I had limited food options in the PCA hall.

Draw was solid. Burn held up, which at PCA is its own test. No babysitting, no weird moments, just consistent all the way through while I’m getting pulled into three different conversations.

The interesting part is the pairing with the case.

Usually, one side carries the other. Either the cigar is the star and the packaging is forgettable, or the packaging does all the work and the cigar feels like an afterthought.

This doesn’t feel like that.

The case is very Project Carbon. The cigar is very La Flor Dominicana. Neither one backed off. They just decided to exist together, and somehow it clicks.

Also worth noting: this is not meant for everyone. You can tell within the first few minutes. If you like bold cigars, you’re in. If you don’t, this won’t convert you…and that is absolutely the right call.

By the time I got halfway through, I already knew what was going to happen. Limited run, PCA floor, strong first impression. These are not going to be available long.

Five cigars, 1,500 cases, $200. Retailer either grabs it when you they see it, or they are reading about it later.

I’ll say it this way…

There are a lot of “collabs” at PCA every year. This is one of the few that actually feels like both sides showed up.