Every year, Karen Berger’s participation at the PCA includes more than just tobacco, and this time she surprised us with another dress that reflects the cultural identity of her country. Crafted by a Nicaraguan designer using jute fabric –the very material used to wrap tobacco bales– it incorporates the words viso, seco, and ligero, which name the leaves according to the plant’s foliar levels, alongside other details that allude to the Don Kiki and Ixtelli brands.
Overtime made another appearance, but this time in a 6-inch by 60 ring gauge vitola, which serves as an extension to the 4-inch by 60 ring gauge Halftime, sharing the same Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper and a blend featuring estate-grown tobaccos. This is a cigar for those who enjoyed the original, short format but are looking for a longer-lasting experience.
As for Ixtelli, a line recently nominated by Cigar Journal magazine as one of the top 22 best cigars of 2025, it was presented in a Robusto format (5 inches, 50 ring gauge). This stands as the brand’s very first all-Nicaraguan puro, finished with a Jalapa Habano Criollo wrapper.
Karen will remain focused on innovation and developing new collaborations to maintain a highly relevant presence within the industry.
