Epic – Cigars

Epic: Dean Parsons as a Driven Visionary

Dean Parsons' life story is at least as colorful and diverse as the flavor profiles of the cigars from his label Epic, founded in 2010. Originally from the Canadian province of Labrador, the former real estate agent — who once tried his hand at a career as a hockey player and police officer — had always dreamed of turning his passion into a profession. Founding Epic Cigars was just the final step in making that dream come true. Years before, the restless Canadian had already been working hard to make a name for himself in the world of premium cigars.

From Real Estate to Brown Gold

For many years, Dean Parsons made good money selling luxury real estate to wealthy clients in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This small island group lies about 150 kilometers north of the Dominican Republic and geographically belongs to the Atlantic Ocean — although it appears to be part of the Caribbean on most maps.

It was here, on this British Overseas Territory, that Parsons settled in, enjoying the Caribbean lifestyle — often topped off with a fine cigar. Eventually, he realized that many of his wealthy clients weren’t just looking for properties, but also for quality cigars, which were hard to come by on the islands.

Dominican Epic Cigars: Learning from the Best

Being the entrepreneur he is, Parsons began flying regularly to the Dominican Republic, each time bringing back a stash of excellent cigars to sell to his clients. Over time, he not only got to know the local cigar industry but also gained insight into the many fábricas, including Davidoff and Aurora, and learned how to distinguish good cigars from truly great ones.

On one of these trips, he met Rolando Villamil, a seasoned tobacco blender with decades of experience — though Parsons didn’t know that at the time. Over several shared cigars, they realized their connection might turn into a worthwhile business. And so in 2006, they launched Turks Select — premium cigars made exclusively for the upscale clientele visiting or living on the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Ocean Views and a Fresh Start: Cigars from Epic

When the 2007/2008 financial crisis hit, its effects were felt even on the small island group. The rich and famous stayed away, property values plummeted, and sales of Turks Select declined. Parsons, who was still balancing his cigar business with his real estate work, was hit especially hard. He was relieved when a U.S.-based real estate firm offered him a position — one that brought him to the Dominican Republic.

For the cigar aficionado, it was a dream come true — closer than ever to the birthplace of world-renowned tobacco. He stayed in touch with Villamil, though reviving their cigar business still seemed a distant prospect. Then in 2010, while relaxing on a beach with a cigar in hand and the sea in view, Parsons made up his mind: he was ready to return to the premium cigar world. Together, the two cigar lovers launched a new brand — this time with real impact. Epic Cigars was born. The name and domain were secured, and over the years they developed a smart and scalable distribution structure — first focusing on the world’s largest cigar market, the U.S.

Diverse Epic Cigars – The Full Range

Since 2015, Epic Cigars have finally been available in Germany. They’re rolled at the Charles Fairmorn factory in the Dominican Republic, where many Kristoff and Belmore lines are also produced. For the Epic Maduro Reserva, Parsons chose a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper and a binder from Cameroon. The filler combines Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. The Epic Corojo, on the other hand, features an Ecuadorian wrapper and a Dominican Olor binder. Its filler consists of Dominican tobaccos only: Piloto Cubano, Viso, and Ligero.

The third line couldn’t be sold in Germany under its U.S. name due to legal restrictions; the name contained a word starting with H that is reserved for Cuban products. It was simply renamed Gold. Its Sun Grown wrapper comes from Ecuador, with filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The filler in the fourth line, La Rubia, is also a blend from these countries. Parsons chose a Mexican San Andres binder and an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, resulting in a very mild smoke. The Edicion Limitada, featuring rare and special blends, completes the Epic portfolio.

“You Deserve It”

What sets Epic apart as a cigar brand? The founder puts it this way: “All cigars have a medium to full body and are remarkably flavorful.” His commitment to excellence is captured in the brand’s motto: You deserve a cigar worthy of your achievements!