Category Archives: IPCPR

IPCPR 2015 – Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust Cigars with Steve Saka

I told you today’s post would be from the show, and we spent Saturday catching up with some old friends, meeting some new ones and only seeing about half of the show floor.  We will venture into the other end later today and tomorrow, but so far it’s been a lot of fun, but tiring. It’s going to be a challenge to see everyone I hoped to see, but I hope to leave here Tuesday with no regrets, and a lot to write about in the coming weeks.  It seemed like the day one turnout was light, but the vendors I talked to were writing orders and seemed pleased.  I only smoked two cigars on the show floor today, Victor Vitale’s Tortuga Connecticut, and Sam Leccia’s newest Luchador, the El Guapo, a short 70 ring box pressed cigar which was very nice.  I managed to get one special interview, I believe it’s the first you’ll see from the show.

 

DunbartonDay one of the IPCPR trade show in New Orleans was quite busy for one of the new exhibitors, Steve Saka, former president and CEO of Drew Estate. He debuted Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust, although his first release, Sobremesa, isn’t ready yet, he reportedly sold several times the number of boxes he anticipated and was busy all day.  I had the great pleasure of sitting down with him at his booth after he show closed and captured this 15 minute video of his very in depth description of the cigar and his company.  I’ve known Steve for many years, and he’s always fun to talk to, so please enjoy this video which pushes the limits of YouTube’s time limit!  Thanks to Steve and his wife Cindy and son Jon for their hospitality. I can’t wait to sample this new cigar in a few months!

 

 

Please note, the volume is low, my apologies for that. Please remember to turn down your volume when you are done!

 

That’s all for now, until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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Ezra Zion, Leccia, A Rocky Patel Pre-Release and Loads of Cigar News

After the trilogy of good luck with the fine line of cigars from Bombay Tobac at the start of the week, I felt the need to take no chances. I started the week well, I was going to finish this week off right!  I smoke a lot of different cigars, and I have to admit, while the almost all have some redeeming qualities, not all of them are what I’m looking for in terms of personal satisfaction.  I know the difference between a good cigar, and one I really like, so I feel comfortable reporting on various cigars, but sometimes you just want to smoke some cigars you love.  I’m also going to share some news I’ve received over the course of the week.

 

EzraZion_JamaisVu_CoronaGordaThursday was a beautiful evening. I had been listening to the CigarChat in podcast version, featuring Kyle and Chris from Ezra Zion Cigars, and formerly the owners of Cigar Federation, which hosts CigarChat.  I listen in podcast form as I just never seem to be sitting in front of a monitor when the shows are on. This is true for all of the shows I listen to, I prefer to listen in the car, or on my walks. It would be fun to participate in the various chatrooms associated with some of these shows, I just always seem to be doing something else…but I digress.  I had a Ezra Zion Jamias Vu Corona Gorda Box Press 6½x52 (not really a corona gorda, but a toro) in my humidor which called my name. I really liked this cigar when it came out and was called Inception, and I like the Inception name better than Jamais Vu, but the cigar remains the same. It’s rich, dark, smooth and satisfying. Just about everything I look for in a smoke. It features mature tobacco, all Nicaraguan and all aged five to six years. You can taste the quality.  So far, these guys do it right, and were pretty hysterical on the CigarChat show.

 

Leccia_Luchador_ElCastigoFriday I needed the slam dunk, so I picked one of my favorite cigars so far this year, the Leccia Luchador, in the 6″x60 El Castigo size. I wanted a smoking experience longer than the robusto,  so I went large.  For me, I love the El Castigo, but I think the robusto better represents what’s really special about this cigar. The larger size downplays that jalapeño cocoa flavor I find in the smaller vitola. I want to get around to trying the other two sizes, the El Guapo Toro and Loco Perfecto to see what they bring to the table.  If you haven’t tried the Luchador line yet, and you like great cigars, give it a shot.

 

RockyPatel_Decade_CameroonSaturday we spent the day laying sod where our back patio used to be.  If the ground were just at about waist level, this job would have been much easier on my back. All the lifting, moving, bending, etc. killed me.  For a reason I haven’t figured out, be it exhaustion, or blind faith, I decided that evening’s walk would be a great time to try a new cigar from Rocky Patel‘s Decade line. This has a flawless Cameroon wrapper, and, to my knowledge, is not out yet, and may be debuting later today at the IPCPR show in Vegas. I happen to love some Cameroon wrapper now and then, it has a unique sweet flavor I refer to as Camerooniness.  I took a chance on a new, untried cigar to wrap up my week of great smokes, and got lucky.  This was a wonderful, medium bodied smoke with a perfect burn. It had the nice, flat ash that shows me how much care went into selecting tobaccos that all burn at the same rate.  Smooth, balanced, and darned yummy.Thanks to our local RP rep, Mark, for setting me up with this one.  It’s a great cigar that I’ll be on the hunt for.

 

News

 

I’ve been inundated with press releases this week, and I’m sure you’ve seen most of this elsewhere, but I just want share it anyway.

First, a scoop from Victor Vitale of Legacy Brands on his Tortuga Reserva Cedro No.10:

The teaser on the Tortuga Reserva Cedro No. 10 is that it’s the third addition to my Cedro Series. As you can see,  it’s a bit larger 6.5×58 however still packs the power of my Cedro No. 5. There are not many boxes of this made and it will *not be on display at the show. This is going to be held back until the fall due to the limited quantity produced and inability to meet the already existing demand. I’m going to complete the full production, properly rest the additional cigars and deliver in the fall. 

 *Box qty 36

*Original production number 7,200 (set for July delivery – but will stay at the factory until the fall) 

*Total 2014 production number is 18,000 cigars for the Cedro No.10

 

This is exciting as I really enjoy the Cedro line, it’s refined and delicious!  Looking forward to smoking more of the Coyote Negros too!

 

The rest of these I’m going to present the press releases as I received them, which I know is the lazy way to do it, but I’m lazy, what can I say!

 

First, from 1502 Cigars:

Contact: Enrique Sanchez 
Email: info@globalpremiumcigars.com 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global Premium Cigars Releases New Cigar, the 1502 Nicaragua

Miami, Florida, July 16, 2014 

Global Premium Cigars is pleased to announce the release of its newest cigar, the 1502 Nicaragua. Global Premium Cigars is a tobacco company which is proud of its Nicaraguan heritage. The new cigar continues the company’s tradition of excellence and is the only cigar in the 1502 cigars line that is 100% pure Nicaraguan tobacco.

Nicaragua is one of only two countries in the world which can produce cigars entirely from their tobacco. The 1502 Nicaragua epitomizes this birthright, as it is made from tobacco from all four regions of Nicaragua: Esteli, Condega, Jalapa, Ometepe.

“This cigar was created for my newborn son. So that he never forgets his roots – 100% Nicaraguan,” said Enrique Sanchez, President of Global Premium Cigars.

The 1502 Nicaragua is packaged in a golden wrapper with a white band. It is a medium to medium-plus cigar that is stronger than the 1502 Line’s Emerald. The cigar will be available in the Robusto vitola, measuring 5 X 50, and in boxes of 30 cigars, box pressed. Retailers are urged to order them in time for their customers.

For more information please email info@globalpremiumcigars.com or contact via the website: globalpremiumcigars.com

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From La Flor Dominicana:

La Flor Dominicana
2013LFDLOGO123 San Lorenzo Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33146-1513
Phone- (800)543-7131
Fax – (305)443-7985
ligero@laflordominicana.com

La Flor Dominicana to introduce new items at 82nd IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas this year.

Coral Gables, FL July 16th 2014 – La Flor Dominicana will introduce the following items at this year’s IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas, July 20th – 23rd.

La Flor Dominicana 1994 Limited Edition Beer Stein – In honor of our 20th anniversary we have created a very special cigar uniquely packaged in a beautiful porcelain beer stein. The cigar is made with tobaccos that were set aside several years ago in anticipation of this very special occasion. The complex and powerful flavors of this cigar originate from the best fillers and binder grown on our farm in the Dominican Republic and are complemented with a sweet and savory Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper. This blend is as special as the occasion it serves to commemorate and is symbolic of the quality and pride with which La Flor Dominicana has built its name. The packaging is a toast to our friends and loyal fans that have supported us over the years. It is because of them that our passion for making cigars is as strong as it has ever been. Cheers!

1994 – In addition to the limited release, a very similar blend will be made available in 4 sizes, a 58 x 6 “Aldaba”, a 52 x 6.5 “Rumba”, a 52 x 5 “Conga”, and a 54 x 7 “Mambo”. The blend will feature the same fillers & binder, but with a natural San Andrés wrapper. This line will be a permanent addition to our portfolio.

Capitulo II – A great sequel should pick up where the first left off, and the highly anticipated continuation to Antonio Gomez’s Chapter 1 does just that. An entirely new blend was created for the familiar box pressed Chisel shape, and though the tobaccos may be different, Capitulo II promises power and flavor all the same. This cigar features a gorgeous Nicaraguan Colorado wrapper which adorns a sweet Ecuadorian Habano binder and robust Dominican fillers. Sweetness, spice, and power are what define this story.

Salomones – The La Flor Dominicana Salomones is a subject of great lore among cigar collectors worldwide. We are ecstatic to announce that a very small quantity of these will once again be made available at this year’s IPCPR in both natural and maduro. These cigars have been maturing for years in our aging room and promise to provide an unbelievable experience of complex flavors and aromas like no other Salomon ever has!

Digger Ashtrays – Cigars these days have outgrown the accessories made to complement them. Being pioneers of the large cigar craze that has taken off over the last few years, we have noticed this problem more than most. This is why we are introducing a new line of ashtrays, Digger ashtrays to be exact. Beautiful, refined, and practical, these ashtrays have never met a cigar they couldn’t hold. They will be available in full porcelain and solid mahogany with metal trim.

La Flor Dominicana is a vertically integrated premium cigar company, where we proudly control the process from the seed to the final grading, inspecting and packing process. Our tobaccos are grown at our farm in La Canela, Dominican Republic. Our factory is located in Tamboril.

For further information, please contact our office at (800) 543-7131.

www.laflordominicana.com


 From George Rico’s G. R. Tabacaleras Co. in Miami:

NEW SUMMER S.T.K. MIAMI 2014 PRODUCTS

GEORGE RICO S.T.K. MIAMI ZULU ZULU

MAS PAZ EDITION 2014

This cigar will still contain the identical Ecuadorian Connecticut and Nicaraguan Habano blends, but this newest edition will be made in our own factory in Miami. G.R. Tabacaleras Co. is collaborating with a new artist, Mas Paz, to design the new boxes for this project, and the proceeds for the Mas Paz Edition will go towards a new charitable cause. A percentage of the sales of this new project will go towards a non-profit organization that will fund renovations for La Casa de la Madre y el Niño, an orphanage in Bogotá, Colombia.

Country of Origin: USA
Factory: G.R. Tabacaleras Co.
Distributor: Santa Cruz Tobacco / Gran Habano
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut / Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan
Sizes: 7 ½ x 40 Lancero, 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda, 6 x 54 Rolo
MSRP: $8.25 – $9.27
Release Date: Available for pre-order at IPCPR 2014

GEORGE RICO S.T.K. MIAMI BARRACUDA
LIMITED EDITION MADURO 2014

Country of Origin: USA
Factory: G.R. Tabacaleras Co.
Distributor: Santa Cruz Tobacco / Gran Habano
Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Sizes: 5 x 52, 6 ½ x 54, 5 5/8 x 46
MSRP: $7.50 – $8.50
Release date: July 2014
Number of Cigars Released: 200 boxes of each size

 www.ghcigars.com

 


 The next one is From JR Cigars:

 

Fans of premium-quality San Andrés wrapper leaf are gonna want to check out, Black Abyss, a brand-new handrolled premium cigar crafted by José “Jochy” Blanco, the guy who grows the leaf for a bunch of Boutique Blends cigar brands, including Aging Room and Swag, both of which have collected tons of high ratings in cigar magazines (the Aging Room Quattro F55 Concerto took second place in Cigar Aficionado's top 25 of 2013). Anyway…

Black Abyss is handmade at Tabacalera Palma in the Dominican Republic and, while it isfull bodied, it’s cleverly designed for not just smokers of super-strong cigars. It’s got that big, rich, bold flavor often associated with a San Andrés wrapper and it does contain some potent ligero leaf, but along with the blend’s hearty, zesty notes of dark coffee, this cigar begins and ends with a sweetness while a smooth creaminess remains throughout, making it a great choice for medium-bodied cigar fans who want to step it up in strength.

Black Abyss’s construction is top-notch, as evidenced by its extremely even burn and draw, which are made even better by an exceptionally appealing aroma.

Jochy Blanco’s Black Abyss is made in four sizes (each featuring a somewhat sinister name: Banshee, Cerberus, Hydra, and Wraith) packed in boxes of 20 cigars. If all that’s piqued your interest, you’ll be glad to know that Black Abyss cigars are also pretty reasonably priced. Starting in July, you’ll find them exclusively at JR Cigar.

 


 Then we have news from Roberto Duran Premium Cigars:

 

ROBERTO DURAN PREMIUM CIGARS INTRODUCES TWO ADDITIONAL CIGAR BRANDS AT THE IPCPR: NEYA AND BARACOA

 

(Miami, Florida) July 17, 2014— Roberto P. Duran Premium Cigars, after a successful 2013 launch with the Azan Line of cigars and the recent announcement of the Roberto Duran Premium Cigar Brand is ready to introduce two additional cigar brands: Neya and theBaracoa Line.

Roberto Pelayo Duran is fully committed to providing a full line at this year’s IPCPR. The Addition of the premium Neya and the value cigar Baracoa will fill in the gap in the Roberto P. Duran line as the announcement was made last week that he will introduce a super-premium brand, Roberto P. Duran Cigar.

 

The Neya Premium cigar brand is a premium brand which comes in a cedar 20 count cabinet.  The Filler and Binder is both Nicaraguan while the wrapper is a Habana Ecuador. The Neya line will be expressed through five sizes with the two largest sizes holding a description of F8 as they will be full bodied cigars even though all sizes carry the same blend. The Neya will retail between $4.00 and $7.00 per cigar. Neya Premium Cigar sizes: Petite Corona 5 1/8 X 42 CAB, Robusto 4 7/8 X CAB, Canonazo 6 X 52 CAB, Toro 6 X 56 CAB, and the Yanquee 6 X 60 CAB.

Roberto said:” Neya is a brand that took some time to develop as we used very well fermented leaves and well-aged Nicaraguan ligero. This is a full flavored cigar in the way that we understood the term in Cuba, which is to mean not spicy but a strongly flavored cigar which increases in strength when smoking the two larger sizes. As with all of our cigars they are rolled under strict supervision in our Nicatobacco Factory in Nicaragua.”

Screen Shot 2014-06-09 at 3

Baracoa, (full name Roberto Duran Baracoa) was created as a great everyday cigar. The RD Baracoa which represents the city of Roberto P. Duran family origin in Cuba (Baracoa) is made with the same quality and care of Roberto’s other cigar lines. The filler and binder is both Nicaraguan with the wrapper an Ecuador Habana Criollo. Baracoa comes in carton 20 box count and will be represented in 9 sizes with three of them in box press form. RD Baracoa sure to please a wide array of cigar palates. The Baracoa line of cigars will retail between $3.00 and $.4.50 a cigar. Baracoa Cigar sizes: Robusto 4 7/8 X 50, Torpedo 6 1/8 X 52, Toro 6 X 52, Churchill 7 X 47 Gordito 4 X 58, Gigantes 6 X 60, Robusto 5 X 50 Box Press, Toro 6 X 52 Box Press, and Torpedo 6 1/8 X 52 Box Press.

Roberto said:” Baracoa is a true power house value cigar gives boasts plenty of quality for the price”, Roberto continued,” I am very excited to introduce Neya, Baracoa and the previously announced Roberto P. Duran Cigar Brand to the public. We are about producing top quality products and we invite everyone to our booth (3813) to experience the passion we put into all of our brands.”

Roberto Pelayo Duran began his life’s work in his homeland of Havana, Cuba where tobacco grabbed a hold of him, and never let go. Supervising the production of cigar manufacturing in Cuba was only the beginning as he later went on to assemble and managedistribution of all Cuban cigar brands for Asia at The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd. Most recently, he contributed to the new global brand marketing strategy for British American Tobacco. The creation of Roberto P. Duran Premium Cigars has given Roberto the platform to introduce a brand of cigars that offer the same quality, construction, and detail which he exceeded from those he supervised while in Cuba.

For more information about Roberto P. Duran Premium Cigars, please visit www.Robertodurancigars.co. For media inquiries and interviews, please contact Creativas Group at info@creativasgroup.com.

###


 

Fred Rewey of Nomad Cigars sent this out this week, along with some samples!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nomad Cigar Co. Releases much-anticipated C-276

Estelí, Nicaragua (July 18, 2014) – Nomad Cigar Company is pleased to announce the release of the Nomad C-276 at this year’s IPCPR in Las Vegas.

The C-276 is a full flavored complex blend featuring five different filler tobaccos (with two Ligeros).

It also marks the second full production cigar that Nomad has done in Estelí at Tobacalera AJ Fernandez.

The C-276 rounds out Nomad’s portfolio of offerings and joins its place on the shelf with the Dominican Classic, Nicaraguan S-307, and the released-early-in-2014 Dominican Connecticut Fuerte.

The C-276 also marks Fred Rewey’s first venture into using Ometepe tobacco in a blend.

“When I was blending the C-276 I approached it in layers. I kept trying to add layers and layers of flavor but didn’t want to overpower any one tobacco in the process. At one point I was struggling to add a final component that I couldn’t quite nail down. It was suggested to me that I visit Ometepe and check out that tobacco – it was the best addition to this blend I could make – it just came together,” said Rewey.

As with the other Nicaraguan lines, Rewey creates the name of the cigar using a variety of Nicaraguan factoids.

“The “C” is for Concepción, one of two volcanoes on Ometepe Island. “276″ is the square kilometers of the island. It seemed a fitting tribute to an incredible island growing amazing tobacco.” said Rewey.

Details on the Nomad C-276 include… 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Factory: Tobacalera AJ Fernandez

Box Pressed. 21 Count Box.

Immediately available in Toro (6×50), Robusto (5×50), Torpedo (6 1/2 x 52), Toro Grande (6 x 58), Corona (5.5 x 46)

Contact:

Fred “Godfadr” Rewey, Nomad Cigar Company

Twitter: @Godfadr

Godfadr@NomadCigarCompany.com

Phone: 855-MYNOMAD (or 855-696-6623)


Lotsa news from Drew Estate:

Drew Estate Announces New Releases in ACID, Kentucky Fire Cured, Herrera
Estelí & MUWAT Lines
Miami, FL – Drew Estate announced today that they would be releasing new
extensions in their ACID, Kentucky Fire Cured, Herrera Estelí and MUWAT lines at
the 2014 IPCPR tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV next week. The new cigars will include
the following:
• Acid Blondie Maduro – A maduro version of Drew Estate’s popular Blondie.
Featuring a San Andrés Valley Maduro instead of the Connecticut Shade
wrapper used on the current Blondie, the new ACID Blondie Maduro will
appeal to those who desire Blondie in a bolder blend.
• Kentucky Fire Cured Sizes, “Delfinas”, “Kyotos”, & “Hamhock” – The
Kentucky Fire Cured line is being expanded by three sizes: the Delfinas (6 x
26), the Kyotos (5 ½ x 34), and the Hamhock (3 ¾ x 56). All three sizes are
based on the original KFCC blend, which features smoked tobaccos as well as
dark air cured tobaccos.
• Herrera Esteli Norteño – The “Norteño” showcases extensively aged
tobaccos from the Estelí and Jalapa growing regions of Nicaragua, coupled
with a spicy Honduran binder and a rich, bold Mexican San Andrés maduro
wrapper. The “Norteño by Willy Herrera” will be available in the following
six vitolas at select Herrera Estelí retailers nationwide.

  • Coronita – 4 x 46
  • Corona Extra – 4 3/4 x 48
  • Belicoso Fino – 5 x 50
  • Robusto Grande – 5 1/2 x 54
  • Toro – 6 x 50
  • Lonsdale Deluxe – 6 1/2 x 44
  • MUWAT Nightcrawler – A 4 ½ x 50

and

Drew Estate Announces “Drew Diplomat” App & Consumer Loyalty Program
Miami, FL (07/18/2014)

Drew Estate, Inc. announced today the “Drew Diplomat”
Consumer Loyalty Program, which includes a mobile application for all smart
devices, as well as a desktop version. This exclusive new program provides
members with the ability to earn Points by checking-in Drew Estate Cigars and
attending events at retail locations throughout the world, as well as social
networking functions and unparalleled access to La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate.

Michael Cellucci President of Drew Estate, “The Drew Diplomat program bridges the gap
between the old world of the premium cigar industry and the modern technological
platforms available today. Our goal was to ensure that Drew Estate delivers the best
possible way for our consumers to interact with the company and our brands. Innovation
is the heart of what drives us, not only in the manufacturing process, but in all aspects of
the consumer experience. This program is a clear example of the tireless drive to be
thoughtful trailblazers.”

In 2013, Jonathan Drew assembled a team nicknamed “SLAB,” lead by Executive Director
Mario Takeyama. When reached for comment, Takeyama said, “Our team was created
with one objective: the connectivity between technology and premium tobacco. This is
something we have been working on in secret for a year and a half now.”

Heading the “Drew Diplomat” Consumer Loyalty Program is Customer Loyalty &
Advertising Specialist Sam Morales, who according to Jonathan Drew “is a specialist with
a true street fighter mentality, definitely Drew Estate Subculture approved. SLAB intends
on launching the Beta Program in the fall.”

Drew Diplomats can expect to spend their points on one of a kind artwork and swag from
Jessi Flores (Director of Subculture Studios in Estelí, Nicaragua); Lifestyle swag from
Creative Director Joey Reichenbach in Miami; and trips to Cigar Safari at La Gran Fabrica
Drew Estate. Jessi Flores notes, “We never had a way to get our artwork to final
consumers in the United States in a sustainable way. This groundbreaking application
explicitly connects each creative Drew Estate team member to our support base
worldwide.”

Consumers who are interested in Beta testing the program should visit
http://drewestate.com/ipcpr and enter Drew Estate’s giveaway for a chance to win one of
three prize packs:

• Liga Privada MEGA Standing Humidor/Ashtray
• A signed box of Liga Privada Feral Flying Pigs & an IPCPR Exclusive
Subculture Studios Stinky Ashtray
• A signed box of Liga Privada UF-13 Dark

Beta testers will be chosen from those who enter. Sam Morales notes that, “we are going
to need everyone in the Drew Estate family to help to make Jonathan’s vision come true.
This is the first program of its kind in the industry.”

For more information about the Drew Diplomat program, please visit Drew Estate’s booth
at the 2014 IPCPR tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV at Booth #210. Also, please use Drew
Estate’s hashtag #DEipcpr on any posts relating to Drew Estate and IPCPR. Lastly, follow
all of Drew Estate’s IPCPR coverage at http://drewestate.com/ipcpr.

About Drew Estate:
Founded in New York City in 1996. Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing
tobacco companies in the world. Under their mantra “The Rebirth of Cigars”™, Drew
Estate has led the “Boutique Craft” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco
industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that have attracted new and old
cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew
Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Kentucky Fired Cured,
Liga Privada, MUWAT, Natural, Nica Rustica, Tabak Especial, UnderCrown, and Java by
Drew Estate.


Finally, this one is from Shon Brooks’s people. I admit, I have no idea who he is, and I’ve never heard of, or tried his cigars. I’ll have to look into this:

 

Shon Brooks “Star Cigar” Sets Chart Records – Smoke Magazine
Shon Brooks of Brooks Entertainment Inc. invents top rated S.O.B™Dominican cigar while in the mist of launching a new television channel with Cox Media. Shon Brooks, helped increase the highest NCAA Championship Nielsen Ratings after signing a ESPN Cox Media contract for March Madness. He is also one of the (IMDB) Internet Movie Database (SEO) search engine optimization traffic leaders and now becomes one of Smoke Magazine’s top 36 cigar manufacturers in the world!
Shon Brooks

Long Island City, NY, July 16, 2014 –(PR.com)– Lockwood Publications Inc. was incepted in 1872 and is the owner of Smoke Magazine. Their focus is on cigars and life’s burning desires, featuring blind tasting reviews of premium cigars and interviews with cigar makers. The publication includes feature stories on cigar producing countries and cover story interviews on cigar-smoking celebrities. It brings news and trends in the cigar world, must-have gifts and accessories, cigar-friendly drinks and spirits, etiquette advice, cigar culture, history, and much more. Smoke Magazine has the cigar industry’s most strict and critical cigar reviewers. The S.O.B™ Robusto cigar wholly owned by Brooks Entertainment Inc. received an all-time high score of 95% from panelist number 3 and quantifies for an overall (A+) 90% grade curve and is now leading amongst the top 36 cigar manufacturers in the world. Shon Brooks and Brooks Entertainment Inc. invention is now eternally inducted into the Smoke Magazine volumes.

The S.O.B™ Robusto cigar was described by panelist 2 as being flawless, tan, smooth and silky, “Like a beautiful woman.” Also, in Smoke Magazine (Volume 18, Number 2, on page 63) the S.O.B™ Robusto cigar was mentioned as being, “A good early day smoke to enjoy on the golf course.” The flavor and strength was described as being mild and-medium and a bit spicy.

The hot S.O.Bâ„¢ Dominican cigar brand’s heritage is from Tabaqueria Carbonell CXA; it was founded in 1894 with more than 100 years of experience in the manufacturing of cigars. Brooks Entertainment Inc. discovered Jose Rivas in the Dominican Republic to help with the designs. This is the same area where Christopher Columbus once sailed in 1492. The brand successfully launched the S.O.Bâ„¢cigar to the United States achieving a missile star rating which has now toppled the charts. The unprecedented task was accomplished the hard way by skipping over cigar trunk trade shows. Instead, relying on the hand rolled cigars’ pure quality and the screaming (SEO) Rock Star fan base of Shon Brooks. This pioneering schematic is how the S.O.Bâ„¢ cigar climbed the charts. While accomplishing this high rating the hard way, the brand took one hundred percent of the risk and receives all the reward.

Not only-but also being in a nation that demands proof of performance on the big stage and where numbers speak volumes which equates to dollars for corporate advertisers. This highly favorable S.O.Bâ„¢ Star Cigar brand and its excellent ratings has had a positive impact on all the innovative brands of Brooks Entertainment Inc. Likewise, Brooks Financial & Entertainment Consultants ratings of their S.O.B television show campaign on Cox Media during the NCAA college championships helped in achieving the highest cable Nielsen ratings for March Maddness. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/04/08/cable-top-25-ncaa-basketball-tops-cable-viewership-for-the-week-ending-april-6-2014/252262/

Cox Media with Brooks Entertainment Inc. plans on creating a 24/7 ‘On Demand’ Television Network which appears to be closer than expected. News feed reports of the latest meetings between the two were reported on a Cox Media corporate metadata tag of #coxshowcase. Professedly, the corporate advertisers have not been revealed as of yet, however, the television production content for the 24/7 ‘On Demand’ channel is already completed with never seen before footage. The Brooks Financial & Entertainment Consultants Networkis expected to be included inside the Cox Gold Bundle With Contour TV which is in high definition.

As noted, Shon Brooks is a Time Warner – TV Editorial Excellence Award Winner for covering the Olympic Games, Game Changer by Invention Magazine, named Superhero by ‘On Wall Street’ Magazine and Financial Planning Magazine. Brooks Entertainment Inc. now emerges as a member of Smoke Magazine’s Top 36 Cigar manufacturers in the world. As a golden rule, being one of the top in the world for manufacturing luxury premium cigars has driven up the market price of the S.O.Bâ„¢ cigars, as well as the autographed collectors memorabilia merchandise for Shon Brooks. (Shon.TV)

The Hit-maker created both modern day United States history and Dominican Republic history at the same time from the recent S.O.Bâ„¢ cigar invention. A bus load of fans in the Dominican Republic report, Shon Brooks, donated autographed copies of the Smoke Magazine and collectors memorabilia. It was donated in honor of this Dominican cigar history being made. Shon, tributes Rock & Roll in directing him into the entertainment industry. His first live on stage performance in grade school was at Bells Elementary, NJ. The rock band he assembled had diversity which included a female lead singer, a drummer boy, a male bass player and Shon Brooks on electric guitar. This musical performance introduced him to the entertainment industry which later lead to the creation of the hit S.O.Bâ„¢ Dominican cigar. http://www.cigarlopedia.com/pages/GridPage.aspx?s=S.O.B%20cigar

When asking the inventor, Shon Brooks, about his thoughts of the S.O.B™ Cigar emerging to the top spot in the world with this extremely high rating, he says, “Making the grade is remarkable, and a magnificent world class achievement. It represents a shining beacon of hope for manufacturers. Especially, when only an exiguous number of cigars ever get rated. I would like to thank our Dominican global teammates and the Smoke Magazine review panelist for being a industry leader and having the courage to rate and rock our S.O.B™cigars. The Smoke Magazine review award will be used as motivation and encouragement for our team to continue making more blends.”

“The S.O.B™ luxury cigar brand was created for the Vanquisher that plays the cards that has been dealt in life to win and not fold! It is vital that you remain ethical at all times even though others may bend the rules of life. Pressing on is when you begin to obtain Rock Star status!” (Says the company’s mission statement)

For Media inquiries regarding Lockwood Publications Inc. or Smoke Magazine (volume 18) please contact Ted Hoyt at www.LockwoodPublications.com. Whereas, for a list of news stands and Smoke Magazine retailers to order the S.O.B cigars in your area please see attachment.

Paris Crosby (Retailer and Public Relations Calls Only)
619-575-0242
Contact
www.SOBcigars.com
S.O.B Cigar Authorized Retailer – Habana Club Cafe 858-231-6673 780 4th Ave
(between G St & F St)
San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: Gaslamp

 

Kudos if you made it this far, thanks for reading!  That’s it for now, Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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La Jugada, Gonzo, Vanadium, News From the FDA and La Sirena

I revisited some cigars this week as well as trying a new one and there were some big news stories. I was plagued with migraines at the end of the week, so I took Friday off to recover. I think raw onions are another trigger along with red dye 40 (and maybe the yellow dyes too, not sure about that one). Anyway, I did manage to smoke a few cigars, let me ramble on about them before we get to the important stuff!

 
La-Jugada-Prieto-ToroThursday I managed to drive the migraine away with medication and selected a La Jugada Prieto Toro from the humidor, the last of the ones the folks at Moya Ruiz Cigars sent me a while back. Of course, I’m a sucker for the Mexican San Andrés wrapper, which this has. When I smoked this cigar last it was between Christmas and New Years, and I thought it had unique Mesquite flavor that I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t get that as much this time, but is certainly stands apart from the typical San Andrés wrapped cigars. It burned well, smoked well and was a very satisfying cigar. It only lasted about an hour, which was pretty short for a 6″ x 52 Toro. Another winner from Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Esteli. (note: I can’t believe I spelled La Jugada incorrectly several times in the original post and nobody called me out on it. I fixed it…it just sucks to have the correct spelling on the band and mis-spell it in the article and title!) This is in the 97 range on my rating scale for sure.

 

 

Gonzo_Santeria_HeinaSaturday I selected a cigar that I’ve been looking forward to smoking, and just came into my possession. Gary Griffith (House of Emilio) was kind enough to send a new batch of samples, including the Gonzo Santeria Heina, a 6″ x 52 box pressed toro with a nice curly-cue cap. I gave it a V-cut and took off for an afternoon walk with the dog. We have another San Andrés wrapped cigar, and to make things better, this one has a San Andrés binder too! This cigar had a really nice espresso flavor and behaved quite nicely. One thing that freaked me out a little was the lack of a cap, then I remembered the pigtail finish. The V-cut worked well with the as the Xikar cutter lets the little bun shaped protuberance pass through the cutter. My draw and burn were perfect and I smoked it to a finger-burning little nub. I really like the broadleaf wrapped Gonzo line, and this takes it one step better. Steve Ysidron of Epicurean Cigars has another winner here. This is a stellar smoke that gets a solid 98 on my scale. (here’s where my rating scale will get me in trouble! On the linked page for this cigar, there’s a badge with Cigar-Coop’s 92 rating. If you don’t read about my rating scale on my “About” page, it may take something away from my esteemed colleague’s rating! I assure you this is not my intention)

 
CE&M_VanadiumAfter dinner I decided I wanted to revisit the Compounds, Elements and Musings Vanadium from a box I bought at the end of last year. I just looked, and you can get a box of these for a little over $70 some places, including one of my sponsors, Famous Smoke Shop. I bought the box a few months ago and paid somewhere in the $117 range. I’m a little annoyed now! Anyway, I bought it because the box was cool and “V” shaped, and obviously I’m a fan of the letter “V”. The empty box occupies a place on top of a bookshelf, next to one of my Adorini humidors. We don’t have any information about the blend, other than what’s listed on the box, which is Nicaragua, Brazil and Mexico, all winners in my book. I like the perfecto shape of this cigar, and it’s got the dark and dirty flavors I enjoy. These are coming along nicely, I think, although they were good off the truck. I think these will mellow over time and become a little less aggressive, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I put this at 97 for me, your mileage may vary, but for under $4 a stick and a cool box (as well as a nice lighter if you buy at the right place), how can you go wrong?

In the News

FDA Issues Deeming Regulation on Tobacco Products

 
On April 24, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released proposed regulations to extend the authority of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, to additional tobacco products. Currently, the agency oversees cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, and smokeless tobacco.

 
The FDA released two options for consideration during the 75 day public comment period, effective today. Option 1 would extend the agency’s regulatory authority to all categories of tobacco products including cigars, pipe tobacco, electronic cigarettes, nicotine gels, hookah tobacco and dissolvables. Related accessories, such as lighters, cutters, and carriers, are not included in the regulation. Option 2 would extend the FDA’s regulatory authority to all of these categories of tobacco products, excluding premium cigars and related accessories.

 
Under Option 2, premium cigars are defined as wrapped in whole tobacco leaf; contains a 100 percent leaf tobacco binder; contains primarily long filler tobacco; is made by combining manually the wrapper, filler, and binder; has no filter, tip, or non-tobacco mouthpiece and is capped by hand; has a retail price (after any discounts or coupons) of no less than $10 per cigar; does not have a characterizing flavor other than tobacco; and weighs more than 6 pounds per 1000 units.

 
The deeming rule has numerous potential negative implications for the premium cigar industry. Specifically, the regulations could make the following changes:

  • Impose a ban on sampling
  • Require product registration and ingredient disclosure
  • Impose labeling requirements for manufacturers
  • Establish an arbitrary price point of $10, excluding all other products from the premium category
  • Prohibit characterizing flavors other than natural tobacco

 

A 75 day public comment period begins today, April 25, 2014, and concludes on July 9, 2014. Public comments, data, and research submitted during this time will be reviewed, and will determine which provisions are enacted. It is critical that you remain engaged throughout the duration of the public comment period to further clarify why premium cigars should not be subject to the same regulatory framework as other products. IPCPR will provide you with instructions on how you can submit public comment.

 
Upon conclusion of the public comment period, the FDA will review all of the comments submitted. Any revisions to the initially proposed regulations will be sent to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for economic review before the final regulations become effective.

 

 

“The proposed regulations released by the FDA Center for Tobacco Products demonstrate a misguided attempt to regulate the premium cigar and pipe tobacco industries,” said IPCPR President Finnie Helmuth. “While IPCPR is encouraged to see progress in defining the unique tobacco products our retailers carry, this regulation remains flawed. The facts are clear: premium handmade cigars are not desirable to, marketed to, or affordable to America’s youth. The products our retailers sell are a celebratory luxury enjoyed by adults, and do not have the same habitual use patterns as other tobacco categories. We do not believe it was the intent of the United States Congress to regulate premium cigars under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009. IPCPR looks forward to working with FDA moving forward, and encourages all interested parties to submit comments on how this rule will affect their small businesses.”

 
The proposed rule can be read in full at http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/ucm388395.htm

 

 

Please contact Kip Talley, IPCPR Senior Director of Federal Legislative Affairs, with any questions or concerns. His email is kip@ipcpr.org.

 

OK, this is important….you MUST go to this link:  http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FDA-2014-N-0189-0001 and leave your comments (It’s not as easy to find as you might think, which is why I’m making it easy for you). Be sure to express that you are in favor of option two, but there need to be some things fixed. You need to tell them that saying a cigar is a “Premium” cigar if it’s only over $10 is absurd.  You need to tell them that a weight requirement for a cigar to be considered premium is ridiculous. The business about having events and samples and flavorings are important too. If these pieces of the puzzle are not addressed, having “Premium” cigars exempted from the regulation will be a hollow and meaningless victory. Perhaps someone who really knows can leave a comment below to verify this, but I believe that the over $10 segment is actually a pretty small part of the premium cigar picture. Would you consider the Vanadium cigar I talked about above to be something other than a “Premium” cigar? I don’t know where they got that arbitrary number, but it’s ridiculous. I’m pleased that the FDA is, at least, considering the fact that handmade cigars are different from mass market cigars, but this needs to be fixed.  Only public comments will give us any chance. I’m also not too thrilled that tobacco products are lumped in with electronic nicotine delivery devices. Except for looking like smoking, how are these the same?  Tomatos and eggplant contain nicotine, but you won’t see me smoking them!  Don’t get me wrong, I think electronic products should be regulated, they are chemicals, not naturally occurring products.  Keeping the FDA out of our humidors is important!

 

Note: Shortly after posting this I received this handy chart from Gary Griffith of Emilio Cigars showing the breakdown in sales by price range over the last year in his 26 stores.  I think it supports my assertion that the majority of premium cigars are below $10. Thank you very much Gary!

 

fda-retailchart

Click to enlarge

 In other news

 

La Sirena Cigars Acquires Old School Cigars
Arielle Ditkowich makes first acquisition in company history

 

NEW YORK, NY – April 28th, 2014 – The newly independent La Sirena Cigars announced today the acquisition of New York based cigar brand, Old School Cigars. The acquisition was a strategic move for La Sirena to increase their portfolio and gain immediate market share. Old School Cigars is best known for its 3 Lines: Stixx, Jaxx and Jaxx LT.

“La Sirena’s acquisition of Old School Cigars represents a natural fit. Both companies are New York based premium cigar brands featuring unique blends and a high level of cigar expertise,” said Arielle Ditkowich, President and Founder of La Sirena Cigars. “It just made sense to me, as we [La Sirena] continue to grow quickly. I was looking to blend a mild cigar and, during my research, I came across the sweet Connecticut wrapper on the Jaxx LT.”

Beginning immediately, the distribution of Old School Cigars will be handled by the La Sirena Sales team. All orders may be placed through the La Sirena Cigars website, by telephone or email, or by contacting La Sirena regional sales managers. La Sirena Cigars will continue to produce the La Sirena Original and Merlion by La Sirena blends.

“La Sirena continues to gain momentum since our independence in January. Arielle realized we needed to produce a mild, yet full flavored cigar to even out our portfolio. We liked the Jaxx LT so much, we made an offer to buy the company,” said Max Mogil, Vice President of National Sales & Marketing. “This is just the first of many exciting announcements for La Sirena. In addition to the Stixx, Jaxx and Jaxx LT, we’re looking forward to the 2014 IPCPR where we will debut our third line under the La Sirena brand.”

Daniel Ditkowich and the Holman Family founded Old School Cigars 7 years ago producing a number of blends over the lifespan of the company. La Sirena will continue to produce the “Jaxx” made by Tavicusa S.A.in Nicaragua, the “Jaxx LT” made by Plasencia in Honduras and the “Stixx” made by the Quesada Family in the Dominican Republic.

The acquisition will be effective as of April 25th, 2014. As part of the transition, existing Old School stock will be sold with original Old School labels with future production to be labeled “Jaxx by La Sirena”, “Jaxx LT by La Sirena” and “Stixx by La Sirena”.

La Sirena Cigars will be announcing more exciting updates soon. Find out first by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @lasirenacigars

In my uneducated opinion, this is a great strategic move for La Sirena, it instantly brings in relationships with 3 major factories, Quesada, Rocky Patel and Placencia. La Sirena and Merlion are already made in My Father and La Aurora, respectively. These are all BIG factories with great reputations, so the sky’s the limit for Arielle and company!  I’m looking forward to checking these out, as well as the upcoming Oceano line later this year.

 

That’s more than enough for now! I’ve got a noon Flyers game to watch, I hope they can win another one in Madison Square Garden! After that I’ll have to find something nice to smoke to either celebrate or drown my sorrows!

 

Until the next time,

Cigar Craig

 

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CigarCraig’s Semiannual IPCPR Diatribe and Announcement and a CAO Flathead

Many of you may know that for the last 3 years I’ve been a member of the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers as an “Internet Media” member.  2011 was the first year they instituted that membership category, and it came with an application process where one had to provide traffic data and references. I think about 15 Internet Media members were admitted, of which I was one.  The membership dues was $150 that year, and that got us one pass to the trade show.  Where retailers membership was $295, they got two passes to the show, lunch at the show, along with a lot of other benefits throughout the year.  As an independent, part time blogger, I really don’t have a need for credit card processing and healthcare, so those benefits don’t mean anything to me, but free access to the Tobacconist University is something I would take advantage of if I had the chance. The Tobacconist University access was not available to the Internet Media, nor was lunch. Once again, myself, and many of my blogger brethren (and sistren?) do this out of our own pockets, any money we make isn’t enough to fly us to Vegas (or wherever) to attend the show, and the only benefit we get is content for our sites and some sample cigars (as long as we don’t ask for them, that’s another rule, no asking for samples!). I went alone and got some crappy videos, but met a lot of great people.

 

2012 come along and we are informed that our membership dues had increased to $295, with all the same rules and limits imposed.  I won’t rehash the whole thing, but I wrote a post (here) about it which caused then IPCPR head Bill Spann to open a dialog where we were able to at least get second pass to the show (important to some of the sites who have multiple contributors) and lunch. We got to the show to register and there were no lunch tickets (it’s the principle, you understand). The show was in Orlando, Florida which sounds good, and the convention center is incredible, but it was a lot more costly to attend with parking and driving and everything.  We had a great show though and it looked like the Internet Media membership category might be gaining acceptance.

 

The 2013 show was back in Las Vegas, and the IPCPR had raised the membership fees across the board, up to $395. They did this to raise much needed money for the legislative battles and fighting FDA regulation.  They tried to institute a “consumer day”, that was flatly rejected by the industry, to raise additional funds. One thing they did manage to do was open the show floor a half hour later than normal and let retailers who paid into the political action committee in an hour early.  Now, take into account that in prior years the media have been allowed onto the show floor an hour before the doors open every day.  This gives us the chance to take some pictures and even get in some interviews and not get in the way of business. This was now off the table, no early DSC00550admittance, unless, of course, you made a PAC donation!  This little detail was not communicated to us, even though it was brought up to senior IPCPR management well in advance of the show. On the last day of the show I was told by an IPCPR board member that there were manufacturers alleging that media members were getting in the way of business and stealing! Now, I don’t believe any of the members I know would do either of those things, and a I know a bunch.  There were, however, quite a few there that I didn’t know, never heard of even. I was told that there were now over 30 Internet Media members!  We also used to be allowed on the floor the day before the show opened, and a couple guys we know were escorted off the floor and told that they couldn’t be there. Also, upon registration they still did not give us lunch vouchers, and they tried to give us “exhibitor” badge sleeves (I had brought Media sleeves from last year). Nobody at registration seemed to even know there was a Media category. Exhibitor badge sleeves would have gotten us in early, it’s true, but when it’s made clear that media members have separate rules and you can be kicked out for breaking them, they should also follow the rules and identify us properly. Somebody somewhere is looking for any excuse to get us out, and we don’t need the IPCPR giving them any extra ammunition!

 

So here’s how I feel: I feel like a second class citizen in the IPCPR. We pay our dues and our own way to the show and are treated like we don’t belong there. We cover the show because we love the cigar business. For me it’s my vacation, and my wife, as much as she supports me in this and helps me at the show, isn’t as enamored with it as I am. I am tired of taking “working” vacations. That’s why I decided to not renew my membership this year. I’ll find some other events to go to and have a good time with my friends in the business and  try to write some good stories about them for you. I need to change things up a little anyway, I’m sure watching my interviews with all the industry people isn’t to much different than watching Stogie Review‘s, Cigar-Coop‘s, or any of the others. I do have some advice for the IPCPR again though, not that anyone asked:

Offer the “media” free admittance to the show. Choose those who you want to be there covering the show, ask the board, ask the retail members, ask the manufacturers.  It can be a simple survey, but tell the membership that if they don’t vote, they can’t bitch! Do you (the IPCPR) engage the membership and ask them about issues? I’ve never seen it and I was a member, right? Put the same restrictions on the media if you want, and limit the number of attendees, offering a modest fee for extra people, but those extra people better be contributors with their names on posts over a period of time. If one of the media members breaks the rules, kick them out, and let everyone know who, where, what and why.  Rules have to be in place and can’t be arbitrarily changed on the fly like it appeared last year.  In my mind, it would take an IPCPR staffer maybe a day to take a list of applicants and check them out and make a determination who belongs there and who doesn’t. Stop treating your paying members like interlopers. Like I said, we don’t need to spend our time and money to go where we don’t feel wanted.

 

CAO_Flathead_PistonThat’s this year’s rant on the subject. I smoked a few cigar this week, most notably, the CAO Flathead  Piston . This cigar is a stark contrast to the Flathead V770 Big Block.  The Piston is a 6½x42 which seems much slimmer than 42 ring gauge since it’s square pressed.  It’s got an awesome Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper which is nice and oily. The cigar has powerful flavor, however I think the larger ring gauges are more for me.  I have no complaints about the burn, it was perfect, but the draw was a little snug. I’ve smoked the 5×54 Camshaft, and I have the enormous Big Block in the humidor (I’m missing the 6×60 Carb), given the square press, again, the 70 ring doesn’t seem that huge.  Strange how that works! So far, I dig this line, the packaging is cool, and the cigars are solid.  Another great job by Rick Rodriguez, Ed McKenna and the gang at CAO.

 

It’s a beautiful Sunday and I’ve got cigars that need to be smoked!  Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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Reinado Grand Empire Reserve, Nomad S-307 and Custom Tobacco’s Briarmont Cigar

Reinado_GER_PetiteLanceroAfter beginning the week with three less than satisfying cigars, I decided Thursday called for a high probability, sure thing smoke. I’d had my eye on a Reinado Grand Empire Reserve Petite Lancero that Reinado emperor Antonio Lam had given me at the IPCPR show. This size is limited, only about 10, 000 of these were made and my example lacked the GER secondary band. I have had exceptional experiences with the Reinado brand, and count Antonio among my better friends in the cigar industry. I thought the Grand Empire Reserve was stellar in this size. It was rich and decadent and well balanced. However, I personally prefer the larger ring gauges in this cigar. I find the larger rings to be even more stellar! That’s just me. I suppose it’s better that I don’t fall in love with such a limited cigar and prefer sizes that are more available. Try the Petite Lancero if you get a chance, heck, try them all.

 

Nomad_S-307 TorpedoA few weeks ago I received Fred Rewey’s new Nomad S-307 cigars to sample, and smoked the toro size right away. I later noticed that instead of what I thought were four toros, there were a pair of torpedos mixed in. So Friday evening I took one of he torps for a spin. This cigar has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, Ecuador Habano binder and Nicaraguan fillers and is made by AJ Fernandez in his factory in Esteli. Much like the toro, this is a nice smoke, perfectly constructed and tasty. You might think cigars from the same factory would start to taste the same after a while, but not the case. The thing that the S-307 has in common with most of the other cigars made there is that its really good. There’s some subtle flavors that surprise you here and there and it’s a satisfying experience all the way around. Kudos.

 

CustomTobacco_Briarmont_CCSaturday afternoon I took the dog for a bit of a hike on a nearby trail. Several weeks ago I received a sample of the Briarmont Classic from Custom Tobacco. I met with Adam from Custom Tobacco st the show last July, and they are doing custom banded cigars. They are working with the folks at Briarmont Cigars, designing and affixing custom bands on the cigars. Obviously this is pretty cool, provided the cigar is good. They sent me a 6″x54 Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar with a band bearing my logo, which definitely appealed to my vanity. So the question is, does the cigar merit being emblazoned with my visage? Let’s look at a couple thing first. What is pretty well known to be my favored wrapper style? Maduro, right? What size cigars do I gravitate to in the chillier months? Smaller sizes, right? I really liked this cigar! It’s a cigar that I’d hand out with my name on the band without reservation. It was smooth as silk and had a very nice flavor, even though I smoked it on a cool afternoon. It was a nice, mild to medium sweet tobacco flavor. I’d be very interested in smoking the Briarmont Maduro, and even think the barber pole might be interesting. They offer a cool service. We all fantasize about having cigars with our own bands on them for certain occasions, and these guys are offering just that, and the cigars seem to be of excellent quality, which is always a concern.

 

Well, I need to work on the upcoming 12 Days of Spectacular Giveaways, only a few weeks away. Are you ready? It looks like there’s going to be some great cigars in copious quantities being given away! Sign up for e-mail alerts, follow me on Twitter, or friend me on Facebook so you don’t miss anything!

 

Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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