Big changes for White Hat Distribution. The company, best known for distributing the cigar of Hirochi Robaina has recently hired Todd Vance and Erica Arroyo (source halfwheel). Now the company is changing its name. And ready to go international.

When Cornelius & Anthony reduced all their full-time staff in early May of this year, White Hat Distribution seized the opportunity. They quickly hired Todd Vance and Erica Arroyo. Vance was the director of sales after being the national sales manager for A.J. Fernandez before. Arroyo was the social media manager for Cornelius and Anthony. And at White Hat Distribution, they will serve in similar roles.

La Familia Robaina

White Hat Distribution is also changing its name to La Familia Robaina. After fielding questions for the past 3.5 years about the relationship between the Robaina’s and White Hat, Hirochi and I felt it made sense to rename the company.” said Spence Drake, White Hat’s founder. “The Robaina name is steeped in tobacco and tradition. When people are considering our cigars, we want them to know that there are 175 years of experience and tradition that have gone into every single one.”

The company is releasing a trio of bundled cigars under the name Pelones. There will be a Habano, Maduro, and a Connecticut version available. All with an Ecuadorian wrapper. Naked in a bundle, all longfiller, all triple capped. In a 5×50 Robusto, 6×52 Toro or 6×60 Gordo size.

But that’s not all. In an email exchange between Drake and us, Drake revealed that La Familia Robaina is expanding outside the United States. The company is exploring possibilities to distribute their cigars globally. That goes for the Soneros and for the three HR blends. Those are the HR Claro, HR Blue and the HR Signature.



Currently, no distribution agreements with distributors in Europe, Asia, Africa or Oceania have been signed. But La Familia Robaina is reaching out to interested parties worldwide.

Hirochi Robaina is the grandson of the legendary Alejandro Robaina. The only person ever to have a Cuban brand named after him post-revolution. Hirochi learned all about tobacco from his grandfather. And he uses that knowledge to cultivate tobacco in Central America. The HR cigars and the Soneros are rolled in the La Corona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.