By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- Pangea Cigars was founded by Ibis Luis and Anna Ayupova, combining backgrounds in cigars, wine, and bourbon.
- The company’s inaugural cigars are being produced with Indiana Ortez of Casa de Ortez, with two blends planned: a Connecticut and a habano.
- The brand says it will focus on measured releases and craftsmanship, with full details expected to be announced next week.
Two industry veterans with backgrounds in cigars, wine, and bourbon have teamed up to launch Pangea Cigars, a new premium cigar brand focused on deliberate production and restrained growth.
The company was founded by Ibis Luis and Anna Ayupova. Luis is widely known in the cigar space through her Instagram account @cigarlover12, which has more than 120,000 followers, and for her recent role as a U.S. representative and brand developer at Plasencia Cigars, where she spent six years. According to the company, Luis has also worked as a consultant to cigar brands on positioning, sales strategy, and market development.
Ayupova previously owned and operated a high-end cigar and wine club in California and brings a hospitality and retail background to the venture. Both founders are Certified Cigar Sommeliers through Tobacconist University. Luis is also a Certified Bourbon Steward, and Ayupova is a certified wine sommelier.
For its first releases, Pangea Cigars has enlisted Indiana Ortez of Casa de Ortez to produce the brand’s inaugural lines. A company representative told halfwheel that Pangea plans to debut two blends, one with a Connecticut wrapper and the other with a habano wrapper. Additional details are expected to be announced next week. A release timeline has not yet been disclosed.
The name Pangea is derived from the ancient supercontinent, which the founders say represents connection before division. In a press release, the company said the name reflects a belief that cigars serve as a shared language across cultures and backgrounds, and that the brand will prioritize intention and consistency over rapid product launches.
“Pangea is not about launching products quickly,” the founders stated. “It’s about building something meaningful, thoughtful, and enduring. We believe the strongest brands speak quietly and perform consistently.”
The company stated its approach will emphasize tobacco integrity, careful blending, and modern craftsmanship rooted in traditional cigar-making principles as it prepares for its first market introduction.
