A Glimpse Into My Cigar Adventures!

Craig VandersliceAuthor Archives

Upmann, CAO and Black Label Trading Co. Cigars and a Rant

There seem to be few cigars in Altadis portfolio that fit my preferences. I probably say this every time I post about an Altadis cigar, and it probably doesn’t endear me to the marketing folks there! I do have some friends there that are aware of my feelings. I keep trying though. There are exceptions, and I can pretty much count on enjoying anything Altadis produces in conjunction with A.J. Fernandez.… Continue reading »

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News: CAO Releases “Borealis” To Canadian Market

 I would normally skip a press release like this, but there’s something important about this I wanted to point out. No offense to my Canadian readers, but they represent a fairly small portion of my readership. Notice the box and bands on this new CAO release below. Not pretty or very imaginative, are they?  This is what’s known as “plain packaging”, and this is how cigars have to be packaged in Canada (and Australia, I believe). In Canadian Cigar stores the windows have to be blacked out and you can’t see the cigars before buying them. They all have to have this same, drab band and box. Imagine how easy it would be to counterfeit cigars like this? If we aren’t careful in the U. S., this is going to happen here. That would suck. I may never know how this CAO cigar is,  maybe one of my Canadian readers will let us know! … Continue reading »

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News: Drew Estate Previews New Premium Cigar Brand In All-New Freestyle Live Event Packs

Drew Estate has another one of their Freestyle Live events coming up! I usually tune into these as they are fun and informative.  I wonder what the new cigar brand will be this time? 

During its May 12 “Freestyle Live: Special Edition” broadcast, Drew Estate will introduce its newest premium cigar, and the company is giving consumers a chance to preview the brand before its global unveiling with the release of an all-new Freestyle Live Event Pack. Packs will be available at participating retailers nationwide beginning on April 11.… Continue reading »

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EP Carrillo Short Run, Nica Rustica and La Libertad Cigars

Earlier in the week I smoked an E.P Carrillo Short Run Retro 2022. I smoked this in the Short Play size, which is 5″ x 50. This has a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Ecuador binder and fillers from Nicaragua, Mexico and Honduras.  Boy, this was a great cigar!… Continue reading »

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News: Drew Estate Releases Smoke Inn’s 25th Anniversary Cigar

I guess when I first met Abe he was only about 11 years into Smoke Inn, because it was 2008, and we met at a brunch with Steve Saka in Vegas. I don’t usually post news items about shop releases, but this one hits a bunch of things I like.

Last year marked the 25th Anniversary of the first Smoke Inn premium cigar store, and Drew Estate and Smoke Inn’s owner, Abe Dababneh, are celebrating the landmark achievement with the launch of a special commemorative Herrera Estelí cigar honoring Abe’s father and mentor, Raji Dababneh.… Continue reading »

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