Tradecraft Gladius Box Press: Release Date & Price
Tradecraft Cigars is box-pressing its Gladius Maduro line and giving it a belicoso cap for the first time. The Gladius Box Press ships August 22, 2026, and the shape change is more than cosmetic — a box press and a pointed cap both change how a cigar smokes, not just how it looks on a shelf.
The short answer
The Gladius Box Press is a 5½ x 52 belicoso-capped version of Tradecraft's existing Gladius Maduro blend, releasing August 22, 2026 at $12.65 per cigar ($126.50 for a 10-count box). It launches first at The Wooden Indian, Tinder Box Haverford, and Tradecraft's own website, with a wider retailer rollout in late September through early October.
Specs at a glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Tradecraft Cigars |
| Line | Gladius Maduro (existing blend) |
| New format | Box Press, 109-style belicoso cap |
| Size | 5½" x 52 |
| Price | $12.65 per cigar / $126.50 per 10-count box |
| Release date | August 22, 2026 |
| Initial retailers | The Wooden Indian, Tinder Box Haverford, Tradecraft's website |
| Wider rollout | Late September–early October 2026 |
What actually changes with a box press and belicoso cap
The blend inside the Gladius Box Press is the same as the standard Gladius Maduro — Tradecraft isn't introducing new tobacco here, it's changing the shape. That distinction matters for anyone deciding whether to buy: you're not getting a new flavor profile from scratch, you're getting the same leaf under different construction. Box-pressing compresses the round parejo shape into a square cross-section, which tightens the draw and concentrates the smoke against a smaller surface area of tongue and palate on each pull — a real, physical reason box-pressed versions of a blend commonly taste bolder than their round counterparts, not just a marketing claim.
The 109-style belicoso cap adds a second variable: a tapered, pointed head instead of the rounded cap on the parejo Gladius. Tradecraft owner Rob Blumenthal describes the combination as pulling "more body, more spice, more chocolate than the parejos" out of the identical blend — which tracks with how box pressing and a tighter cap taper typically behave together. If you've smoked the standard Gladius Maduro and want to know whether the Box Press is worth a second purchase, this is the honest answer: same tobacco, meaningfully different smoking experience because of construction, not because of a new leaf.
Where it's launching first
Tradecraft is staging this release deliberately rather than blanketing every retailer on day one. The Wooden Indian and Tinder Box Haverford get it first alongside Tradecraft's own site on August 22, with the custom laser-engraved wooden display crates signaling this is meant to be a retailer showcase piece, not just another SKU on the shelf. The wider retail rollout doesn't happen until late September into early October — so if your local shop isn't one of the two named initial stops, expect a six-to-eight week wait rather than same-week availability.
Who this cigar is for
- Gladius Maduro fans curious about the box-press treatment. If you already know you like the blend, this is a low-risk way to try the same tobacco in a bolder-smoking format.
- Belicoso-cap smokers. The pointed 109 cap changes the draw progression compared to a standard rounded cap — worth trying if you haven't smoked Tradecraft in this shape before.
- Not the place to start with Tradecraft. If you've never tried the brand, the standard parejo Gladius Maduro is the more representative first cigar; save the Box Press for once you know you like the base blend.
Where to buy
At release, buy directly from Tradecraft's site or from The Wooden Indian or Tinder Box Haverford. Browse maduro cigars at Cigars International for widely available maduro alternatives while you wait for the wider Gladius Box Press rollout — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
When does the Tradecraft Gladius Box Press release?
August 22, 2026, initially at The Wooden Indian, Tinder Box Haverford, and Tradecraft's own website, with a wider retailer rollout in late September through early October 2026.
How much does the Gladius Box Press cost?
$12.65 per cigar, or $126.50 for a 10-count box.
Is the Gladius Box Press a new blend?
No. It uses the same tobacco as the standard Gladius Maduro. What's new is the construction — a box press and a 109-style belicoso cap — which changes how the cigar smokes without changing the leaf inside it.
What size is the Gladius Box Press?
5½" x 52, with a tapered belicoso cap instead of the rounded cap on the standard parejo Gladius.
Conclusion
The Gladius Box Press is a construction experiment on a blend Tradecraft already trusts — same tobacco, a tighter draw, and a pointed cap that the maker says pulls more spice and chocolate out of the leaf. It's a smart pickup for existing Gladius Maduro fans on August 22; everyone else should try the standard parejo first so they have a baseline to compare it against.
Trying both versions side by side? Log tasting notes for each in the Humidor Tracker so you can actually compare the box press against the parejo later.