HDA Cigars Moves All Core Production to Rojas Cigar Factory
Breaking on the Creekside Cigar Co. Podcast
HDA Cigars has announced a major milestone in its growth: all core line production is moving to the acclaimed Rojas cigar factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, effective immediately for new retailer orders. The news was shared first on the Creekside Cigar Co. podcast, where HDA co-founder Zack broke down the reasons behind the move and what it means for retailers and consumers.
Why HDA Chose Rojas
During the conversation, Zack confirmed that HDA’s core blends — Descending Shadows, Cataclysm, and Veiled Mutiny — in both 6x54 and 5x48 formats will now be produced at Rojas using the original “recipes” and carefully matched tobaccos. HDA worked closely with brand owner and blender Lee Marsh of Stolen Throne Cigars, who helped oversee the transition and ensure the blends stayed true to what smokers already love.
The decision to move all core production to Rojas was driven by three key factors: the ability to scale production and keep pace with rapidly growing demand, broader access to tobaccos and a larger creative playground for future releases, and a strong personal and professional relationship with both Lee and factory owner Noel Rojas.
“We’ve been saying ‘jump on the rocket ship’ for a while now, and this rocket ship needs more fuel. Moving all of our production to Rojas gives us the capacity and tobacco access to keep up with demand while staying true to what made Descending Shadows, Cataclysm, and Veiled Mutiny special in the first place,” Zack said on the Creekside podcast.
HDA had already been collaborating with Rojas on an upcoming limited edition project releasing this summer, produced in partnership with Stolen Throne at the Rojas factory. That successful experience, combined with time spent together in Estelí and in the factory, made Rojas the clear long-term production home for the brand.
What’s Changing. What Isn’t.
For HDA fans and retailers, the core message is simple: blends and sizes remain the same; production is what’s moving. Descending Shadows, Cataclysm, and Veiled Mutiny keep their current vitolas, with blends carefully matched to existing profiles so smokers get the same experience they already enjoy.
Boxes remain the same and will continue to feature the “veteran owned” designation, preserving that piece of HDA’s identity. The one notable presentation change is that HDA is discontinuing its footer bands going forward, a deliberate brand decision unrelated to the factory move.
Zack and the Creekside crew also talked about why stepping away from the footer band — and leading less with “veteran owned” as a front-and-center hook — is part of building HDA for the long haul. The goal is for smokers to discover the veteran story after they’ve already connected with the cigars themselves, not as a gimmick or shortcut to attention.
“We don’t want anyone to smoke HDA because we’re veteran owned. We want to be judged first and foremost on the quality of our cigars,” Zack said.
Timing and Availability
The transition to Rojas is already effectively live. By the time this episode of the Creekside Cigar Co. podcast airs, any new orders placed by retailers will be fulfilled with cigars produced at the Rojas factory. Existing product already in the market will naturally sell through, after which shelves will be replenished with Rojas-made HDA core lines.
For consumers, that means some boxes on shelves may be from the original factory and some from Rojas during the transition period, but the blends are designed to stay as close as possible to the experience HDA fans already know. Zack compared it to an updated version of the blend — still the same operating system, just with subtle refinements under the hood.
Looking Ahead: LEs, Veterans Day, and More
Beyond the factory shift, HDA used the Creekside appearance to tease what’s coming next. A Connecticut Broadleaf limited edition is in testing for a potential Veterans Day release, tied to a charity initiative where a portion of proceeds will be donated to an organization HDA already partners with.
HDA plans limited edition projects at least a year in advance, with Zack heading to Nicaragua this summer to work on future releases and put them into production early. The upcoming Sentinel Fourth of July LE will continue the brand’s tradition of doing something a bit different from the core line, including use of the same Mexican San Andrés wrapper featured on Stolen Throne’s Crook of the Crown.
Listen to the Full Conversation
If you want the full story directly from Zach, you can listen to the complete episode of the Creekside Cigar Co. podcast here:
Watch the HDA factory move episode on YouTube
For those ready to “jump on the rocket ship,” you can shop HDA’s core lines and limited editions at Creekside Cigar Co. as new Rojas-produced inventory lands on our shelves.