Discontinued Backwoods Flavors: What Happened to Grape?

Grape Backwoods is discontinued in the US. It was sold overseas for years, reached American stores in 2023, and disappeared again within a few months, according to retailers who carried it. ITG Brands, the company that makes Backwoods, has never given a public reason.

Grape isn't the only one. Wild Rum, Banana, Vanilla, Wine and Port have all been off US shelves at some point, and only some of them came back.

Below is where each flavor stands today, the rules that decide which flavors reach the US, and the closest swaps you can still get from our Backwoods collection.

The Short Answer: What Happened to Grape Backwoods

Quick answer: Grape Backwoods was an export flavor for most of its life. It had a brief US release in 2023, then it was pulled. No return has been announced as of October 2026.

The full story has three stages.

Overseas only. For years, Grape was made for markets outside the US. In an interview with MERRY JANE, an ITG Brands spokesperson said Grape, Banana, Vanilla, Wild Rum, Wine and Port had been dropped from US sales at the company's discretion and were sold only abroad.

A short US run. US retailer Bluegrass Tobacco reports that Grape finally arrived stateside in 2023, then was discontinued after a few months.

No explanation. ITG Brands has not said why. The likely pressures are federal regulation, state flavor bans and production priorities, all covered below.

For the ownership chain behind the brand, from Consolidated Cigar to ITG Brands, see our Backwoods brand history.

Discontinued Backwoods Flavors and Where Each One Stands

On this brand, "discontinued" usually means discontinued in the US, not worldwide. Several flavors pulled from American shelves kept selling in Europe and Asia, and two of them later returned.

Notice the pattern. Almost every flavor on that list is fruit or wine-style. The honey and aromatic blends that anchor the lineup, like Honey and Sweet Aromatic, have stayed in steady US distribution.

If you want to buy Backwoods cigars in a flavor that is reliably on US shelves, stick to the current lineup listed further down this page.

Why Grape Was Always on Thin Ice

None of the points below proves why ITG pulled Grape. They do explain why fruit flavors tend to go first.

Grape is named in federal law. The 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act banned characterizing flavors in cigarettes and listed grape by name, alongside strawberry, cherry and vanilla. Cigars were left out of that ban, but fruit-flavored cigars have been a regulatory target ever since.

New products need FDA permission. Cigars came under FDA authority on 8 August 2016. Under the FDA deeming rules for cigars, a cigar not on the US market by then needs FDA authorization before it can be sold, measured against products that were on sale as of 15 February 2007. A flavor that was only ever sold overseas starts from a weaker position than one already on US shelves.

A federal flavor ban came close. The FDA proposed banning characterizing flavors in cigars in 2022. That rule was withdrawn in January 2025, but it could be revived.

Big states already ban it. California and Massachusetts prohibit flavored tobacco, flavored cigars included. A new grape SKU loses the largest state market in the country on day one.

Add reports that Backwoods has struggled at times to make enough cigars to meet demand, and production space naturally goes to bestsellers. That is why discontinued Backwoods flavors lean so heavily toward fruit and novelty profiles, while honey and aromatic blends stay put.

Why Discontinued Backwoods Flavors Keep Coming Back

Discontinued is not always final with this brand.

Banana Backwoods spent years as an export-only flavor and is now a regular US seller. Vanilla Backwoods followed the same path, landing in the US in 2023. It is now available as a cigar and as Backwoods True Wraps Vanilla.

ITG also rotates limited editions. Cognac XO and the Generation Now collaboration arrived as limited runs, while Black Russian and Wild Rum both started as limited flavors before settling into wider distribution.

Years ago, ITG told MERRY JANE it was reconsidering its discontinued flavors, naming Banana, Grape and Vanilla. Two of those three came back for good. Grape came back briefly and left again.

Where Discontinued Backwoods Flavors Still Turn Up

Grape Backwoods has been sold in markets outside the US, which is why packs still show up on resale sites and social media. Before paying a premium, check these:

1. The warning label. US packs carry English-language US warning statements. A foreign-language warning panel means the pack was not made for US sale.
2. Freshness. Leftover stock can be years old. Natural broadleaf dries and cracks once it loses moisture.
3. Age verification and shipping. Licensed US sellers verify that buyers are 21 or older and follow state shipping rules. A seller who skips both is not one to trust.

The Closest Thing to Grape Backwoods You Can Get Today

No current Backwoods flavor is grape. These come closest by profile.

Inside Backwoods

1. Honey Berry is the nearest fruit profile: honey sweetness with a berry finish on the same broadleaf wrapper. It also comes in a smaller 10 packs of 3 carton.
2. Banana is the other fruit-forward option, and a flavor that returned from discontinuation itself.
3. Vanilla and Russian Cream suit Grape fans who mainly liked the sweetness. Our Russian Cream taste guide covers that one in detail.

If it has to be grape

White Owl still makes grape cigarillos. White Owl White Grape, Triple Grape Swirl and the shorter Mini White Grape are all in stock. They use a homogenized leaf wrapper instead of whole broadleaf, so expect a smoother, more uniform burn. More options sit in our flavored cigars collection.

The current Backwoods lineup at Smokenza

If you roll your own, our Backwoods wraps guide explains how True Wraps differ from the finished cigars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grape Backwoods discontinued?

Yes, in the US. Grape had a short US release in 2023 and was pulled within months. It has been sold in some overseas markets.

Are discontinued Backwoods flavors coming back?

Some do. Banana and Vanilla were both export-only before returning to US shelves, and Wild Rum is back at some US retailers. Grape has no announced return as of October 2026.

Which Backwoods flavors are no longer sold in the US?

Grape, Wine and Port are not in US distribution. Wild Rum is patchy: some US retailers carry it, many do not.

Why are Grape Backwoods so expensive online?

Scarcity. Remaining packs are either leftover 2023 US stock or overseas imports, and resellers price them as collectibles. Check where the pack came from and how old it is before paying.

What tastes closest to Grape Backwoods?

Within Backwoods, Honey Berry is the closest fruit profile. For actual grape, White Owl White Grape and Triple Grape Swirl are the nearest match, though on a different wrapper.

Final Thoughts

Grape Backwoods is gone from US shelves, and ITG Brands has not said whether it will return. Bananas and Vanilla show the brand does bring flavors back. Until Grape follows them, the full current range, from Honey Berry to Vanilla True Wraps, is in our Backwoods collection.