Darren Cioffi of Principle Cigars had an innovative idea: what if five of the most prominent figures in the Dominican Republic’s cigar industry each crafted a unique cigar for a singular release? Rather than imposing many restrictions, Cioffi aimed to allow each artist the freedom to express their creativity.

To kick off this project, he sent Nina Simone’s 1965 album I Put a Spell on You to each of the five blenders, asking them to create a 6 x 50 toro that captured the essence of the album.

The five talented individuals involved were:

• José “Jochy” Blanco
• Eladio Díaz
• Hendrik “Henke” Kelner
• Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr.
• Manuel “Manolo” Quesada Jr.

Each blender responded with their own unique blend, culminating in what Cioffi is calling Principle’s Boy Band Vol. 1.

Set to launch in mid-November, this collection will include 5,000 boxes, each containing one cigar from each maker, along with photos from their youth. The expected retail price is around $16 per cigar or $80 per box.

“This is the ‘27 Yankees of cigar collaborations,’” said Cioffi in a press release. “Working with any one of these gentlemen throughout your career would be an honour; bringing them all together for one project is something momentous.”

Cioffi is still deliberating whether to reveal the blend details. He noted that coordinating five different factories for a single release presented logistical challenges, so he has focused on preparing for the debut at InterTabac 2024 in Dortmund, Germany, as well as the upcoming launch later this year.

While the artwork for I Put a Spell on You is quite stoic, the design for Boy Band Vol. 1 is vibrant and reminiscent of the mid-1960s. As the “Vol. 1” designation suggests, Cioffi is already contemplating a second release, though he hinted that he may collaborate with a completely new set of blenders for Vol. 2.