Brick House – Cigars and Merchandise

Brick House cigars are handmade longfillers from Estelí, Nicaragua. The range includes three distinct blends—Classic, Connecticut, and Maduro—as well as formats ranging from the compact Teaser to the imposing Mighty Mighty.

Brick House Cigars – From a Brick House to Nicaragua

The name Brick House pays tribute to the childhood home of Julius Caeser Newman. Located in a small village in what was then Austria-Hungary, it was the only brick building in the area. On the ground floor, his parents ran a general store and an inn where locals gathered to eat, drink, and enjoy cigars. The family lived on the floor above.

In 1937, Newman revived this memory by introducing the first Brick House cigar. At the time, it was a Cuban puro. However, the brand disappeared during the economically challenging years surrounding the Great Depression. It was not until 2009 that Newman's grandsons, Eric and Bobby, brought the name back from the family archives. This modern incarnation was developed using Nicaraguan tobaccos and has since become one of J.C. Newman's best-known brands.

J.C. Newman and the PENSA Cigar Factory in Estelí

Julius Caeser Newman founded his cigar company in Cleveland in 1895. According to family history, the unusual spelling of his middle name, "Caeser," resulted from a clerical error when he immigrated to the United States. In 1954, the company relocated its headquarters to Tampa, where J.C. Newman continues to operate the historic El Reloj cigar factory. Today, the family business is managed by the fourth generation.

Today's Brick House cigars are produced at the PENSA factory in Estelí, which opened in 2011. There, the tobacco is fermented, sorted, and stripped before experienced rollers craft it into premium longfillers. The factory now employs more than 840 people. After rolling, the cigars are given ample time to mature before being packaged and shipped.

Brick House Classic, Connecticut, and Maduro

The focused portfolio is one of the brand's greatest strengths. Rather than offering a constantly changing selection of blends, Brick House concentrates on three lines with clearly defined personalities. Classic, Connecticut, and Maduro are each available in several well-known formats, making it easy to compare the blends directly.

The Brick House Classic represents the balanced heart of the range. Its Nicaraguan blend delivers medium-bodied flavors of wood, nuts, leather, and spices, complemented by coffee, natural sweetness, and occasional creamy notes. As a result, the Classic strikes a balance between mildness and strength.

The Brick House Connecticut offers a milder smoking experience and is described by the manufacturer as a Double Connecticut. Its light Connecticut Shade wrapper and darker Connecticut Broadleaf binder both come from the United States, while the filler is grown in Nicaragua. The Shade wrapper contributes creamy, refined flavors, while the Broadleaf adds notes of toast, cedar, delicate pepper, and subtle sweetness. In 2018, the Corona Larga from this line was ranked No. 18 in the Cigar Journal Top 25.

The Brick House Maduro features a dark Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan filler. Compared with the Classic, it places greater emphasis on spicy roasted notes, earth, and pepper, complemented by the characteristic sweetness of Maduro tobacco. The blend delivers a darker flavor profile while maintaining its balance without relying solely on added strength.

Brick House Churchill and Mighty Mighty

The brand's best-known individual format is the Brick House Classic Churchill. In 2024, Cigar Aficionado awarded it 93 points, placing it No. 10 in its international Top 25. The tasting notes highlighted flavors of wood, leather, nuts, sweet spices, and a cappuccino-like finish. Earlier, in 2022, the Churchill earned 92 points and ranked No. 18.

Other Brick House cigars have also appeared in international rankings. The Classic Robusto reached No. 17 in Cigar Aficionado's 2010 Top 25, while the Classic Corona Larga also claimed No. 17 in 2016. These consistent rankings across different years and formats reflect the brand's reputation for craftsmanship, flavor, and outstanding value.

Alongside the Churchill, the Mighty Mighty is another signature format in the lineup. With a 60-ring gauge, it is available in all three blends and is, according to J.C. Newman, the brand's most popular vitola. Smokers who prefer slimmer or shorter formats can choose from Corona, Robusto, Toro, and Teaser, among others. The Brick House Sampler combines Classic, Connecticut, and Maduro, offering an easy way to experience the differences between the three lines.