Warped Upper Realm

Warped Cigars is another tale of the boutique cigar company that could. Launched in 2009, the brand was founded by then 29 year old Kyle Gellis, making him one of the youngest cigar brand owners around. He had a string of early hits like La Colmena and Futuro that helped cement his place in the industry. He does not own a factory, but partners with select manufacturers to produce his brands. The factories he works with the most are El Titan de Bronze in Miami and Aganorsa Leaf in Nicaragua. Both factories are able to create the boutique, quality cigars that are Gellis’ focus. Only producing a total of 115,000 to 200,000 cigars per year, Warped places a focus on quality rather than quantity.

Crafted from pure, 100% Aganorsa tobacco and crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua, Upper Realm delivers a powerful, primal taste of Nicaragua in every 5 x 48 vitola. The inaugural release features just 250 cabinets of 200 cigars, with each cabinet and cigar hand packed and individually labeled at Warped’s headquarters in South Florida. “I wanted to blend something different for Warped,” said Kyle Gellis, the company’s founder and head of innovation. “Everything about Upper Realm’s creation has been different – from tobacco sourcing and choice to packaging format. During the blending process I remember thinking to myself, ‘We’re really reaching for a new and higher realm here,’ and the name Upper Realm was born.” This exclusive medium-to-full-bodied vitola is spice driven, with a sweet core and earth undertones – a bold expression of Nicaraguan force. The filler features 50% Esteli Criollo '98, 40% Jalapa Corojo '99, and 10% Condega Corojo '99 with an Esteli Corojo 2012 binder. “This is the first time we are using so much Esteli and Criollo material, and it celebrates the essential raw power of Nicaragua and the Esteli region,” said Gellis. “The blend is deliberately transitional, and clearly showcases each individual region. Upper Realm compels insightful exploration of Nicaragua, and the rich complexity of its tobacco growing regions.”