Powstanie SBC 26 Ships: Five Countries, Two Wrappers, 10,000 Cigars
Powstanie SBC 26 Ships: Five Countries, Two Wrappers, 10,000 Cigars
Powstanie SBC releases always get cigar smokers' attention, and SBC 26 might be the most ambitious blend in the series yet. It's now shipping to retailers. Here's the honest angle: don't reach for Powstanie SBC 26 just because it's limited. Reach for it because Powstanie built a blend you won't run into very often, and only then remember there are just 10,000 of them. The tobacco is the real story.
At a glance
The key facts first:
- A 5 1/2 x 46 Corona Gorda with Powstanie's off-center barber-pole wrapper.
- Tobacco from five countries: Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.
- The first SBC for which Powstanie has disclosed Dominican tobacco.
- Made at Fábrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño (associated with RoMa Craft).
- Limited to 500 boxes of 20 — just 10,000 cigars total; $18 each.
What's inside
What SBC Means
First, some context. SBC stands for "Surrounded by Champions," a limited-edition series Powstanie launched in 2016. The concept honors the people who have helped the Szczepankewicz brothers and Powstanie along the way. So it has always carried a personal note. This year that feeling runs even deeper: Powstanie describes SBC 26 as Gregg Szczepankewicz's passion project, which gives it a more personal connection than a typical annual limited edition.
The Blend Is the Real Story
This is where Powstanie SBC 26 stands apart. The blend pulls tobacco from five different countries. It starts with the brand's off-center barber-pole wrapper, which pairs Ecuadorian Sumatra and Mexican San Andrés. Under that sits a Brazilian Mata Fina binder. The filler mixes Dominican Piloto Mejorado Ligero with three Nicaraguan leaves, from Condega, Estelí, and Pueblo Nuevo. That is a truly unusual build. It is not a familiar recipe dressed up for a yearly release.
A First for the SBC Series
Here's a detail collectors will like. This is the first SBC release for which Powstanie has disclosed Dominican tobacco. That is the Piloto Mejorado Ligero in the filler. In a series that goes back to 2016, that's a real first. The Nicaraguan filler, meanwhile, comes from the 2021 crop. It all points to one thing: Powstanie is using SBC as a place to experiment. If you enjoy full-bodied cigars, this multi-country ligero blend fits right in.
Powstanie SBC 26 at a glance
| Vitola | 5 1/2 x 46 Corona Gorda (off-center barber-pole) |
|---|---|
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Sumatra & Mexican San Andrés |
| Binder | Brazilian Mata Fina |
| Filler | Dominican Piloto Mejorado Ligero + Nicaragua (Condega, Estelí, Pueblo Nuevo — 2021 crop) |
| Countries | Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua |
| Made by | Fábrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño S.A. — Nicaragua |
| Production | 500 boxes of 20 (10,000 cigars) |
| MSRP | $18 per cigar · $360 per 20-count box |
Yes, It's Limited — But That's Not the Point
Now the scarcity. Production is capped at 500 boxes of 20 cigars, or 10,000 cigars total. That's legitimately small. But we'd rather it reinforce the story than be the whole story. SBC 26 checks every box that makes a limited release worth watching: an unusual blend, an established series with a following, a respected factory behind it, and production that's truly limited. The small number is the last reason to grab one, not the first.
Why It's Worth Your Attention
Put it together and Powstanie SBC 26 is a rare kind of release. Five countries. Two wrappers. Dominican and Nicaraguan ligero. And a personal passion project behind it. That mix is what makes the blend the draw. It sits alongside our other limited-edition cigars and the rest of our Powstanie cigars at Mardo. If it's on your radar, it's the blend, not just the box count, that earns the look.
The Bottom Line
Five countries. Two wrappers. 10,000 cigars. One very different Powstanie SBC. That sums up SBC 26 nicely. It's an ambitious, experimental blend with a personal story and a genuinely small run. Buy it because Powstanie put together something you won't see often, and let the 10,000-cigar number be the reminder to move sooner rather than later.
Powstanie SBC 26: FAQ
What is Powstanie SBC 26?
It's the latest release in Powstanie's limited-edition SBC series, now shipping to retailers. SBC stands for "Surrounded by Champions," and SBC 26 is a five-country blend in a 5 1/2 x 46 Corona Gorda.
What is the blend?
An off-center barber-pole wrapper of Ecuadorian Sumatra and Mexican San Andrés, a Brazilian Mata Fina binder, and a filler of Dominican Piloto Mejorado Ligero with Nicaraguan tobaccos from Condega, Estelí, and Pueblo Nuevo (2021 crop).
Why is SBC 26 notable beyond being limited?
It uses tobacco from five countries and is the first SBC release for which Powstanie has disclosed Dominican tobacco. Powstanie also calls it Gregg Szczepankewicz's passion project, so the blend and story are the real draw.
How limited is it, and what does it cost?
Production is capped at 500 boxes of 20 cigars, or 10,000 cigars total. MSRP is $18 per cigar and $360 per 20-count box.
Where is it made?
SBC 26 is handcrafted at Fábrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño S.A. in Nicaragua, the factory associated with RoMa Craft Tobac.
Five countries. One very different SBC.
Powstanie SBC 26 is shipping now, limited to 10,000 cigars. Find it with our limited editions at Mardo.
Mardo Cigars sells premium tobacco products intended for adults 21 and older. Please enjoy responsibly.
Share
