"Every company has a first product. En Passant wasn't simply our first cigar—it was the move that started everything."

Every cigar company has a beginning. A blend that represents the first step, the first risk, and the first vision of what the brand hopes to become. For Don Abram Harris Cigars, that cigar is En Passant.

Long before the company expanded its portfolio and earned the loyalty of smokers across the country, Abram Harris set out to create a cigar that reflected his appreciation for craftsmanship, complexity, and tradition. The result was En Passant—the cigar that would become the foundation upon which the brand was built.

In 2007, Don Abram Harris introduced the En Passant to the premium cigar industry at the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas. Surrounded by some of the most recognized names in the cigar world, the young brand made its first appearance with the cigar that would ultimately become its flagship.

The name En Passant was no accident.

An avid chess player, Abram has long viewed both business and life through the lens of strategy. Much like a chess match, success often comes from thinking several moves ahead, recognizing possibilities before others see them, and having the confidence to act when the moment is right. The name itself comes from a special chess move known as en passant, a move that can only be made under very specific circumstances and requires a player to recognize an opening as it unfolds.

When Abram created his first cigar, he saw it as a strategic move of his own—a chance to introduce his vision, craftsmanship, and passion for premium tobacco to the cigar world. Naming the cigar En Passant was a reflection of that mindset and a reminder that success is rarely accidental. It is built through patience, preparation, and a willingness to act when the time is right.

That same mindset influenced another important decision during the cigar's development: the tobacco itself.

One of the defining characteristics of En Passant is its use of aged Puerto Rican tobacco—a choice that was both intentional and personal.

Today, when cigar enthusiasts discuss premium tobacco, conversations often focus on countries such as Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, or Cuba. Yet there was a time when Puerto Rico held a respected place within the tobacco world. Generations of farmers cultivated tobacco on the island, producing leaves that found their way into cigars enjoyed throughout the Caribbean and beyond.

Over time, however, changes within the industry, economic pressures, shifting production centers, and evolving market demands caused Puerto Rican tobacco to become less visible on the global stage. While the island's tobacco heritage never disappeared, it gradually became one of the cigar industry's lesser-known stories.

The connection to Puerto Rican tobacco was not born from a marketing strategy or a desire to follow industry trends. It began with a discovery.

During a trip to Puerto Rico, Don Abram Harris encountered a cigar whose flavor profile immediately captured his attention. Intrigued by the blend and determined to learn more, he set out to discover who was behind its creation. That search ultimately led him to the people producing the cigar and opened the door to a relationship that would play an important role in the creation of En Passant.

What began as an appreciation for a remarkable cigar soon evolved into a deeper appreciation for the tobacco itself. Abram found himself drawn to the unique character, balance, and complexity that Puerto Rican tobacco could bring to a blend. Rather than following the industry's more common path, he chose to build his first cigar around those flavors and the people who produced them.

In many ways, that decision reflected the spirit of the cigar itself. Just as the chess move known as en passant requires a player to recognize an opening when it appears, Abram recognized something special in a tobacco tradition that many cigar smokers had never experienced for themselves.

The result is a cigar that serves not only as the flagship of Don Abram Harris Cigars, but also as a tribute to the craftsmen, farmers, and tobacco heritage of Puerto Rico that helped inspire its creation.

In many ways, that decision reflected the very spirit of the cigar itself. Just as the chess move known as en passant requires a player to recognize an opening that others may overlook, En Passant was created to shine a light on a tobacco heritage that deserved renewed attention.

The result is a cigar that serves not only as the flagship of Don Abram Harris Cigars, but also as a tribute to Puerto Rico's enduring tobacco heritage and the generations of farmers who helped shape it.

At the heart of En Passant is a distinctive blend built around aged Puerto Rican tobaccos. The aged binder and full-leaf filler provide the cigar's character and depth, creating a smoking experience that is both complex and rewarding. Those tobaccos are wrapped in either a silky U.S.-grown Connecticut Shade wrapper or a richer Brazilian Maduro wrapper, allowing smokers to choose between two unique expressions of the same blend.

From the first draw, En Passant delivers a medium-to-full-bodied profile that unfolds gradually throughout the smoke. Rich notes of leather and earth form the foundation, while subtle floral nuances add balance and refinement. As the cigar develops, hints of mocha emerge, creating a smooth and satisfying finish that encourages smokers to slow down and savor every moment.

The Connecticut Shade version emphasizes elegance and complexity, highlighting the blend's subtle transitions and nuanced flavors. The Brazilian Maduro option introduces additional richness and sweetness while preserving the cigar's balanced character and signature profile.

What makes En Passant special is not simply its blend, but what it represents. This is the cigar that introduced Don Abram Harris to the premium cigar world. It was the first move on a much larger board, the opening chapter in a story that continues to unfold today.

More than a flagship cigar, En Passant serves as a reminder that every journey begins with a single move—and sometimes that move changes everything.

Specifications

Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5 Inches
Ring Gauge: 48
Wrapper Options: U.S. Connecticut Shade or Brazilian Maduro
Binder: Aged Puerto Rican Tobacco
Filler: Aged Full Leaf Puerto Rican Tobacco
Strength: Medium to Full Bodied