Ibis Luis and Anna Ayupova Launch Pangea Cigars

[JohnS]

Ibis Luis and Anna Ayupova Launch Pangea Cigars

January 27, 2026 - Patrick Lagreid

A pair of women with experience in cigars, wine, and bourbon has come together to launch a new cigar company that they are calling Pangea Cigars.

The company is the creation of Ibis Luis and Anna Ayupova. Luis is best known for her Instagram account, @cigarlover12, which has over 120,000 followers. She recently spent six years with Plasencia Cigars as a U.S. representative and brand developer, and has served as a consultant to other cigar companies on brand positioning, sales strategy and market development, while Ayupova owned and operated a high-end cigar and wine club in California, according to a press release. Now, they are making their own cigars, enlisting the help of Indiana Ortez of Casa de Ortez for the brand’s inaugural lines, which the company said reflect a shared commitment to tobacco integrity, thoughtful blending, and modern craftsmanship rooted in tradition.

While the company has not yet announced when its cigars will be released, a company representative told halfwheel that there will be two blends: one a Connecticut and the other a habano-wrapped blend. Full details are expected to be announced next week, per that representative.

The name Pangea comes from the ancient supercontinent, which the company says symbolizes connection before division, and reflects the founders’ beliefs that “cigars serve as a universal language—bridging cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives through a shared moment, adding that the company will be built on intention, discipline, and refined craftsmanship, not by putting lots of new cigars into the market.

“Pangea is not about launching products quickly,” the founders shared in a press release. “It’s about building something meaningful, thoughtful, and enduring. We believe the strongest brands speak quietly and perform consistently.”

Both Luis and Ayupova are Certified Cigar Sommeliers via Tobacconist University, while Luis is also a Certified Bourbon Steward, and Ayupova is a wine sommelier.

Images courtesy of Pangea Cigars.

Source: https://halfwheel.com/ibis-luis-and-anna-ayupova-launch-pangea-cigars/461305/