Collectors: 3 Dunbarton Unicorn Cigars, $100 MSRP, Buy and Store
Three cigars carry the Unicorn name at Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: the Muestra de Saka Unicorn, the Sobremesa Brûlée Blue Unicorn, and the Mi Querida Black Unicorn. All three are limited-run Diademas measuring 6.25 by 60, built from top-tier sorted leaf, and typically priced around $100 a stick. This guide breaks down specs, production numbers, and how serious collectors should buy, store, and evaluate them.
TL;DR:
- The Unicorn series comprises limited-run, high-quality cigars built with top 1% sorted leaf, primarily produced in small quantities due to labor-intensive processes.
- All three releases share a 6.25 by 60 Diademas format, with packaging options including wooden coffins, trays, and piano boxes, and typically retail for around $100 each.
- Authentic Unicorns arrive in branded packaging with matching bands, and buyers should verify provenance and avoid unusually low or high prices on secondary markets.
- Most Unicorns are best enjoyed shortly after purchase to appreciate the blend and story, rather than stored long-term for aging, which offers limited added value.
- Collectors seeking specific releases face scarcity, as most are distributed through select retailers or charity auctions, and secondary-market purchases carry authenticity risks.
Table of Contents
- Unicorn Cigars List: Every Dunbarton Release and Variant
- Vitola Specs, Packaging, and What the Numbers Actually Mean
- How to Buy, Authenticate, and Store a Unicorn Cigar
- Why the Unicorn Series Matters More Than the Hype Suggests
- Find Your Next Limited-Edition Cigar at Thor’s Cigar Vault
- Sources
- FAQ
Unicorn Cigars List: Every Dunbarton Release and Variant
Steve Saka built the Unicorn concept as a leaf-selection experiment rather than a single blend, and that distinction matters when you’re trying to figure out what separates one release from another. Dunbarton’s own Unicorns brand page describes the project as an “ultra-premium” effort that pulls the top 1% of sorted leaf and pairs it with the most skilled rollers in the factory. Here’s how each release breaks down.
Muestra de Saka Unicorn. This was the original. Rolled as a Diademas Deluxe, it launched using top-1% sorted leaf and carried an initial MSRP around $100 per stick, according to The Cigar Authority’s review. It set the template every later Unicorn would follow: oversized format, extreme leaf curation, and a story worth telling at the humidor counter.
Sobremesa Brûlée Blue Unicorn. Announced at the 2023 PCA trade show, this release extended the Unicorn treatment to Dunbarton’s Sobremesa Brûlée Blue line. Halfwheel’s PCA 2023 coverage confirmed it as one of two new Unicorn vitolas debuted that year, built on the same Diademas Deluxe frame as the original.
Mi Querida Black Unicorn. The second 2023 addition took Dunbarton’s Mi Querida line, known for its darker, heavier-bodied blend, and gave it the Unicorn leaf treatment. Reviewers at Cigar Coop note that several 2023 Unicorn announcements started life as charity or auction pieces before Dunbarton allocated a limited retail run.
A few things to keep straight as you build out a collection:
- Wrapper, binder, and filler origins are not fully disclosed for any Unicorn release. Dunbarton markets the project on leaf quality and hand-selection rather than published tobacco sourcing.
- Packaging formats repeat across all three releases: individual wooden coffins, 7-count trays, and 10-count piano cabinet boxes, per the Unicorns brand page.
- The Mi Querida Black Unicorn and Sobremesa Brûlée Blue Unicorn share a vitola but differ in blend character. Mi Querida runs darker and more peppery; Sobremesa Brûlée Blue leans sweeter and more balanced.
- Charity and auction origins mean some boxes never reached general retail. If you’re chasing a specific release, expect the earliest examples to be the hardest to find.
No fourth Unicorn vitola has been formally announced as of this writing. Dunbarton has released the three above through its regular PCA and limited-drop cadence, and the brand page treats all three as the current canonical list.
Vitola Specs, Packaging, and What the Numbers Actually Mean
Every Unicorn ships in the same shape: a 6.25 by 60 Diademas, sometimes labeled Diademas Deluxe in early Muestra de Saka references. That’s a long, thick, tapered format, closer to a torpedo with extra length than anything resembling a standard robusto or toro. The taper concentrates smoke and slows the burn near the tip, which changes how the blend reads compared to a Pareto cut from the same tobacco.
Packaging follows a consistent pattern across releases:
- Single wooden coffins for individual sticks, often used for gifting or auction lots.
- 7-count trays, a common retail allocation size for limited drops.
- 10-count piano cabinet boxes, the format most associated with full-box collectors.
MSRP typically runs around $100 per stick, with box-level pricing scaling from there depending on count and retailer markup. Halfwheel’s PCA 2023 reporting put planned production for the 2023 additions at a few hundred boxes, with realistic final counts lower after quality sorting eliminated sticks that didn’t meet construction standards. That gap between planned and shipped inventory is normal for the Diademas format: it’s labor-intensive, only a handful of roller pairs in the factory can produce it reliably, and rejection rates run higher than standard vitolas.
How to Buy, Authenticate, and Store a Unicorn Cigar
Finding a genuine Unicorn takes more legwork than browsing a standard cigar shop shelf. Here’s a practical approach:
- Start with select retailers and dealer allocations. Unicorns rarely appear in general inventory. Selective retailers, charity auctions, and Dunbarton-adjacent limited-release channels are the primary paths.
- Check the coffin and band before paying. Genuine releases arrive in Dunbarton’s branded wooden coffin with matching band artwork specific to the release. A loose stick with no packaging, or packaging that doesn’t match published photos on the brand page, is a red flag.
- Ask sellers for provenance. Where did the box come from? Was it purchased from an authorized retailer or resold from a private collection? A seller who can’t answer basic questions about sourcing is a risk, especially at secondary-market prices well above the roughly $100 per stick MSRP.
- Watch for price outliers. A Unicorn priced dramatically below or above what comparable listings show is worth extra scrutiny either way.
- Store at standard cigar conditions. 65 to 70 percent relative humidity and roughly 65 to 70°F works fine. Diademas don’t require special aging beyond what any premium cigar benefits from, though a few months of rest after purchase can smooth out transport stress.
Pro Tip: Before committing $100 to a single Unicorn stick, track down the standard parejo version of the same blend and smoke that first. Reviewers at Cigar Coop point out that the oversized Diademas shape concentrates flavor and shifts perceived strength, so the parejo gives you a cleaner read on whether you actually like the blend.
Most collectors treat Unicorns as celebratory smokes rather than everyday cigars. The scarcity and story are part of what you’re paying for, not just the tobacco, and reviewers largely frame the value proposition that way rather than pretending it’s a straightforward dollar-per-flavor calculation.
Why the Unicorn Series Matters More Than the Hype Suggests
Most limited-edition cigar marketing leans on scarcity as the whole pitch: fewer boxes, higher price, done. The Unicorn series is different, and I think that distinction gets lost in a lot of coverage that treats it as just another rare drop to chase.
Dunbarton built the project around a production philosophy, not a marketing calendar. That’s why the gap between planned and final production numbers is so wide. Dunbarton isn’t rationing sticks to inflate demand; the format itself rejects a meaningful share of what gets rolled.
Where I’d push back on the collector instinct is the idea that owning all three variants matters more than actually smoking one properly. A Unicorn sitting in a coffin on a shelf for three years isn’t accomplishing anything the tobacco was built for. If you’re going to spend $100 on a single stick, do it around an occasion where you can actually pay attention, not as a trophy for a collection spreadsheet. The story is worth something. The story only lands if you experience the cigar.
— Kevin
Find Your Next Limited-Edition Cigar at Thor’s Cigar Vault
Chasing a specific Unicorn box can mean months of waiting on allocations that never come through. Some retailers offer curated selections of rare and limited-edition cigars sourced through direct vendor relationships and regular inventory checks, providing alternatives to refreshing auction pages hoping for a restock.
Our Limited Releases category is the place to start if you’re building out a collection beyond the Unicorn line, and our Samplers selection is worth checking first if you want to try a blend’s standard parejo before committing to a premium format. Sign up for restock alerts, browse the current Cigars inventory, or reach out to our staff directly if you’re hunting something specific.
Sources
- Unicorns – A Cigar by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
- Muestra de Saka Unicorn Diademas Deluxe Cigar Review – The Cigar Authority
FAQ
What is the 135 rule for cigars?
There’s no established “135 rule” tied to Dunbarton’s Unicorn releases or premium cigars generally. If you’ve seen this term elsewhere, it likely refers to a specific retailer’s internal guideline rather than an industry standard, so treat it with caution rather than as verified fact.
What are the three main Unicorn cigar releases?
The three confirmed Unicorn releases from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust are the Muestra de Saka Unicorn, the Sobremesa Brûlée Blue Unicorn, and the Mi Querida Black Unicorn. All three share the same 6.25 by 60 Diademas format and were built using top-1% sorted leaf.
What are some of the top cigar brands collectors follow?
Collectors generally follow boutique and heritage brands known for limited releases and consistent construction, including Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, alongside other boutique makers featured in curated retail selections like Thor’s Cigar Vault’s Limited Releases category. Specific rankings vary widely by personal taste and regional availability.
How much does a Unicorn cigar typically cost?
Unicorn cigars typically carry an MSRP around $100 per stick, with box pricing scaling based on whether you’re buying a 7-count tray or a 10-count piano cabinet. Secondary-market prices can run higher depending on scarcity and which specific release you’re chasing.
Should I smoke a Unicorn cigar or store it long term?
Most reviewers treat Unicorns as celebratory smokes best enjoyed within a reasonable window rather than cellared indefinitely, since the appeal centers on leaf quality and craftsmanship rather than long-term aging potential. Standard humidor conditions of 65 to 70 percent humidity work fine if you do choose to hold one for a special occasion.
