PCA 2022: Elie Bleu | half wheel

Like STDupont, the Elie Bleu stand is one of my absolute favorites to visit as a spectator, but covering the stand is a challenge, hence why this will be my last published stand from PCA 2022. C is actually quite similar to my experience at STDupont, another French luxury cigar accessory company: there are a lot of new items, retail items to worry about, and some of the new items are not not really designed for the US market, which means they might not be completely new, but just making their first US appearance. The large number of new products and the varying prices and ship dates for these items means that my normal approach these days is to photograph what I am told is new and then contact Rëyns International, the US distributor of Elie Bleu, after the show for more details. Unfortunately, I waited until the last minute to send this email, so it’s my fault that some information is missing. I’ll update this post when I hear back with the details.

The Elie Bleu stand hasn’t changed in years and I’ve come to appreciate it as a photographer. While there’s a definite difference in lighting between the small accessories that sit in boxes with very blue LED lights and the humidifiers that sit on top, that’s probably for the best. Most years, Elie Bleu has a centerpiece that is exciting in part because of the surprise; This year’s centerpiece was less of a surprise given Elie Bleu announced it last year: the OpusX 25 Cabinet Humidor.

If you’re hoping for more collaborations from Elie Bleu, who has worked with Altadis USA, Arturo Fuente, Boveda, My Father and Oliva in recent years, there’s likely to be more. During my visit to the stand, Pete Johnson of Tatuaje was talking to Micahel Reynolds of Rëyns Internation about an anniversary humidor.

360 scissors by Elie Bleu

This is a new cigar cutter design called “360 Scissor” which refers more to the action than to imitating the design of a pair of traditional cigar scissors. You place your fingers in the handles like you would a pair of scissors, open the handles, which move like Pac-Man’s mouth. The end result is that it’s basically a double guillotine knife, except there’s a hinge on the side where the blades meet, hence the Pacman comparison.

One thing that worried me when I saw this cutter advertised was if the resistance would be too loose when opening and closing the blades. Elie Bleu says it worked to find the right resistance and it felt good in the hand. The next obvious question is how it will hold up over time.

It is offered in four finishes, although one of the knives pictured above is not a production version. The cutter on the right side does not appear to be part of what will be shipping to stores, instead there will be a silver version of the vertical line model.

MSRP: $290

Production: regular production

Release date: September 2022

Elie Bleu Alba EBC-4 & J-14

The Alba collection, which Elie Bleu has used on humidors for years, is now making its way to lighters and cookie cutters. The J-15 lighter is a single flame lighter that is ignited by flipping the lid. There’s an optional leather case for $60.

It also comes to the EBC-4 cigar cutter, a double guillotine cutter that can cut a 54 gauge cigar in half and handle cigars up to 60-64.

MSRP: $230 (EBC-4) and $240 (J-15)

Production: regular production

Release date: August 2022

Elie Blue Casa Cubana Wardrobe

I don’t think the Casa Cubana cabinet is new, but I’m told the interior of the cabinet now has a painted piece, which is new for this year. The humidor measures 12.2 x 8.66 x 17.72 inches, which Elie Bleu describes as good enough to hold 150 cigars, which seems a little conservative at least by normal humidor calculations. It comes with two humidifiers.

Please note that for some of these items I have used the prices listed on Elie Bleu’s European website. They may not be the same as actual US MSRPs.

East. Price: €12,500 ($12,775)

Production: limited to 88 copies

Release date: On sale now

Elie Bleu Casa Cubana El Secadero (2022)

The El Secadero humidifier isn’t new, but there are some minor updates for 2022. For example, the leaf color is now green instead of brown, and the dog’s collar is a different color. The humidor measures 11.81 x 8.27 x 7.28 inches, for 110 cigars. It comes with two humidifiers and a hygrometer.

East. Price: €3,317 ($3,390)

Production: limited to 99 copies

Release date: On sale now

Elie Bleu Haute Couture Limited Edition Casa Cubana J-14

The J-14 single flame lighter features a special colorway that not only features Casa Cubana artwork, but also a black ion-plated finish, which means the black finish should not chip or fade with time.

MSRP: $550

Production: limited to 159 copies

Release date: October/November 2022

Elie Bleu Casa Cubana Blue/Yellow Accessories

The J-15 Single Flame Lighter and EBC-4 Cutter now come in Casa Cubana Blue and Yellow finishes. Unfortunately, I don’t have details on pricing and shipping dates.

Cellar Elie Bleu Red Tiger

This is one of three tiger-themed humidors, presumably to celebrate that 2022 is the year of the tiger on the Chinese zodiac calendar. This humidor measures 19.1 x 10.6 x 4.1 inches, for 110 cigars. It’s a stunning piece in person with a bright red bird’s eye maple wood with the added tiger inlay.

I’m not sure exactly when it debuted, but it’s already on sale in Europe. There is also a black version of this humidor at the same price.

East. Price: €3,806 ($3,890)

Production: limited to 88 copies

Release date: 2022

Cigar humidor Elie Bleu Tiger Walnut Flamed

I don’t know what “French flame walnut” is, but it’s a very nice wood on this humidor. This is much larger than the Red Humidor, measuring 22.9 x 12.7 x 5.7 inches, which is designed for 250 cigars. It’s so large that there are three humidors included, that’s more than the aforementioned Casa Cubana cabinet. The walnut has a pattern that mimics the stripes of a tiger and like the red cellar there is a tiger inlaid.

East. Price: €5,630 ($5,750)

Production: limited to 88 copies

Release date: 2022

Cigar humidor Elie Bleu / Fuente Fuente OpusX 25

This is the final piece in the collaboration between Elie Bleu and Arturo Fuente to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Fuente Fuente OpusX, which took place in 2020. Last year, this particular humidor was just a rendering, but now the humidor is there in person. There are many ways to describe it, but if I had to choose one word, it would be “dramatic”. The size of this humidor – 24 inches high x 15 inches long and 15 inches wide – and the materials used – especially the bronze accent pieces – keep you from ignoring the humidor. It’s big and bold.

Material wise, it is made of red gum and makes extensive use of marquetry. Michael Reynolds told me that Rëyns actually manufactures the accent pieces in the United States – the company is also involved in the jewelry business – and sends the pieces to France where they are applied.

I’m not sure this will matter to potential buyers, but the price is up about $9,000 from the humidor’s announcement last year with an MSRP of $70,000.

One thing that surprises me a bit is that the interior still has exposed cedar. Since most of the surfaces you see when the cellar doors are opened are finished, I’m surprised the rest weren’t finished for a cleaner look. I have an old Altadis USA humidor which is also a cabinet and the humidor is fully finished so when you open it up the wood is the same as the outside but once you pull out the drawers it s is primarily Spanish cedar. I think it makes a big difference in terms of looks, but maybe that’s just me.

Each humidor comes with 144 Fuente Fuente OpusX 25 cigars as well as Elie Bleu OpusX 25th accessories (lighter and cigar scissors). These cigars are only available for sale in this humidor, the other OpusX 25 humidor that Elie Bleu sold last year, or I guess the ultra-limited Impossible Collection sampler that Fuente sold for charity. The cellar was designed by Elie Bleu and Manny Iriarte.

The lower drawer has specific foam trays for said accessories. There, on the back, is also a compartment designed for the included Cigar Oasis electronic humidifier.

And then on the back there is a finished port for the power cable.

MSRP: $79,000

Production: 25 humidors

Release date: to be determined

Elie Bleu J-11 New finishes

There are two new finishes for the J-11. The most noticeable change is that it’s now a single color scheme, as most of the upper is the same color as the rest of the body. Earlier versions of this lighter used a chrome piece where the text “Elie Bleu” is located; now it’s painted and just the topmost part remains chrome.

This is a single flame lighter that works by pressing down on one side of the lid which activates the piezo and ignites the torch flame.

Elie Bleu J-12 New finishes

I think all of these finishes may be new to the J-12 lighter, which is traditionally sold in a two-tone scheme for the most part. Unfortunately this hasn’t been confirmed to me and I don’t have more details, but I’ll update the post when I have more information.

The J-12 is a flat flame lighter that looks a little deceptive. It looks like the lighter has a flip lid, but it doesn’t. Just activate the side ignition and a very wide flame emerges. It also has a fuel window on the side.

Elie Bleu J-14 Diamond Jetflame

The J-14 lighter gets one of the most sinister finishes you’ll see. It wasn’t the easiest lighter to photograph. Again, when I have more details I will update the post.