Omar McGee isn’t any stranger to constructing empires. The Flint, Michigan native, Howard College alumnus, and serial entrepreneur has lengthy crafted companies that replicate a deep sense of function, tradition, and an elevated expertise. His newest enterprise, the Rose Gold Reserve Cigar, isn’t any exception— it’s a masterclass in storytelling, exclusivity, and refined style.
McGee launched Rose Gold Reserve in a booming market. The U.S. premium cigar trade noticed over 500 million premium cigars imported in 2022, marking a continuation of a multi-year pattern of progress. In the meantime, the worldwide cigar market was valued at $17.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to succeed in $21.6 billion by 2028, rising at a compound annual progress charge (CAGR) of three.5%.
Born from a three-year collaboration with legendary grasp blender Christian Eiroa, Rose Gold Reserve isn’t only a cigar — it’s a press release. “I needed to craft greater than only a cigar—I needed to create an expertise,” McGee says. “The identify symbolizes sophistication and distinction, whereas additionally nodding to the richness of Black tradition and heritage.”
Regardless of this upward momentum, illustration stays restricted. McGee is a part of a small however rising group of Black entrepreneurs carving out house in a traditionally unique trade.
From Howard to Honduras: The Artwork of the Mix
Crafted in Danlí, Honduras, every Rose Gold Reserve cigar boasts a Mexican Maduro wrapper, complemented by a premium Honduran binder and filler. McGee selected to work with Christian Eiroa, a third-generation grasp blender recognized for his work with Davidoff, C.L.E., and Camacho manufacturers.
“Christian was born into the tobacco fields,” McGee says. “His household has been doing this for over a century. That experience helps us keep the consistency and excellence that defines Rose Gold Reserve.”
McGee took a hands-on method — visiting fields, testing blends, and curating a definite taste profile. “It wasn’t nearly location — it was about constructing actual relationships and curating a smoking expertise that matched our id.”
Positioning the Model: Luxurious with Intention
From day one, McGee strategically positioned Rose Gold Reserve as a cigar and a life-style model. “We have been intentional about aligning with luxurious, tradition, and exclusivity,” he says. “It’s not about hype — about timeless model and intentional progress.”
Limiting releases helped construct anticipation and keep exclusivity. In the meantime, strategic visible branding and storytelling helped join with tastemakers, creatives, and professionals. The model’s debut occasion? A black-tie affair in a billion-dollar penthouse overlooking Los Angeles. “We launched with momentum and imaginative and prescient,” McGee recollects. “And the following morning, we offered out in two days.”
Most lately, Rose Gold Reserve was chosen because the unique cigar model for the Tremendous Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. The cigar model was prominently featured within the victory celebrations and pictures of the Eagles on the Fanatics Unique Occasion.
Breaking Obstacles in a Legacy Trade
Like many Black founders in legacy industries, McGee confronted challenges gaining entry and credibility within the cigar trade. “This can be a relationship-driven house, and lots of the key gamers aren’t used to seeing us in management roles,” he defined.
Assist got here via his Howard College (HU) community. HU alumna and attorney-turned-business accomplice Celeste Williams, in addition to McGee’s spouse and enterprise accomplice, Teresa McGee, have been instrumental in constructing the model’s basis. “Celeste stated, ‘I would like all of the smoke. I would like in.’ That was God speaking to me.”
McGee highlights an important demographic shift: “The fastest-growing demographic within the cigar trade is Black girls. Why wouldn’t I align with sturdy, sensible Black girls who get the imaginative and prescient?”
Scaling With out Sacrificing Status
For McGee, progress isn’t about scale — it’s about legacy. “We’re not chasing quantity — we’re constructing one thing lasting,” he says. The workforce has stored cigar distribution restricted and selective, specializing in on-line gross sales and curated partnerships. “Rose Gold Reserve isn’t meant to be all over the place — it’s meant to be in the best locations.”
The model lately expanded with The Platinum Reserve, a puro mix made with three-year-aged Honduran tobacco. “All the things we do is about high quality and expertise. That’s the way you scale a premium model — in your phrases.”
A Blueprint for Black Luxurious Entrepreneurship
McGee’s recommendation is easy however profound to aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to break into area of interest luxurious markets: “Lead with confidence, readability, and tradition. Perceive your trade in and out. And ensure your audio matches your video.”
With Rose Gold Reserve, Omar McGee isn’t simply redefining cigar tradition — he’s making a blueprint for excellence, storytelling, and legacy within the luxurious house.
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