The Meerapfel family is known both for producing some of the highest quality Cameroon wrapper in the cigar industry and for releasing high-end cigars. The company’s newest release, Project 18, which is being shown off at the InterTabac 2026 trade fair this week, is no exception to those two connotations.
The cigar is offered in a 6 x 50 toro vitola, with the only detail about the blend being that it uses a vintage, genuine Meerapfel Cameroon wrapper. The company says that the profile “conveys notes of dark Belgian chocolate of the highest cocoa content, daringly complex, with a dark sweetness and a powdery smoothness.” As part of the aging process, the company says that the wrappers mature for decades at Maison Meerapfel in a room that uses Japanese paulownia wood, a process that helps the leaves shed impurities, leaving pure essential oils.
Each cigar comes dressed in a cigar ring that carries an 18 cipher via a lace-like pattern, which allows the wrapper to be seen.
Project 18 is presented in chests made of Japanese royal paulownia wood, which the company says “guarantees optimum air and humidity circulation via 360 degree perforated humidity chambers.” Each chest contains 99 cigars and two gold-plated cigar tubes for transport of gifting, all of which are tied together by the Bleu de Vie ribbons. Additionally, each chest comes with a hand-finished lithography artwork that serves as a certificate of authenticity and seal of quality after final inspection.
“This may be one of the most extraordinary creations yet,” said Jeremiah Meerapfel in a press release. “Hats off to the entire Meerapfel team for their commitment and focus on making the best products in the world.”
Pricing is set at $99 per cigar and $9,801 per chest.
The cigars are slated to begin shipping to retailers around the world in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Photos courtesy of Meerapfel Cigar.
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InterTabac 2026
Jeremiah Meerapfel
Maison Meerapfel
Meerapfel
Meerapfel Cigar
Meerapfel Project 18
