Category Archives: News

News: J.C.Newman Ships New Diamond Crown Black Cigars

 

I’ve long been a fan of the Diamond Crown line, with the darker wrapped versions bring my favorite. I recall smoking one of these three years or so ago and really liking it.  Please read on: 

Today, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. is shipping its new Diamond Crown Black Diamond cigars to premium cigar retailers across the United States.
Drew Newman holding the new El Baton cigars with old El Baton sign next to him.
Diamond Crown Black Diamond Cigars are the pinnacle of J.C. Newman’s Diamond Crown luxury cigar brand.  First introduced in 2016, Diamond Crown Black Diamond cigars are hand rolled in Tabacalera A. Fuente in the Dominican Republic.  They feature an elegant and flavorful Connecticut Havana wrapper with a blend of very well-aged Dominican binder and filler tobaccos.

“My grandfather, Stanford J. Newman, told me that his father, J.C. Newman taught him that we should aim to do something better every day,” said Drew Newman, general counsel, and fourth-generation owner.  “Although our Diamond Crown Black Diamond cigars have been savored by cigar enthusiasts around the world for six years, I was not satisfied and wanted to make them better.”

This year, J.C. Newman is reintroducing Diamond Crown Black Diamond.  The sizes, price, and box quantity remain the same.  The blend has been strengthened and refined, and the cigars will feature new luxurious packaging printed in Europe.  The new Diamond Crown Black Diamond cigars are shipping to premium cigar retailers this week.

  • Diamond Crown Black Diamond Emerald, 6” x 52, Packed in Boxes of 20 with a MSRP of $21
  • Diamond Crown Black Diamond Marquis, 5 ¼” x 56, Packed in Boxes of 20 with a MSRP of $20
  • Diamond Crown Black Diamond Radiant, 4 ½” x 54, Packed in Boxes of 20 with a MSRP of $18
Visit our Diamond Crown Black Diamond Page
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About J.C. Newman Cigar Co.
Founded in 1895 by Julius Caeser Newman, J.C. Newman Cigar Company is the oldest family-owned premium cigar maker in America.  J.C. Newman rolls its El Reloj, Factory Throwouts, and Trader Jacks cigars by hand-operated, vintage cigar machines at its historic cigar factory in Tampa, Florida.  It also hand rolls its Brick House, Perla del Mar, El Baton, and Quorum cigars at the J.C. Newman PENSA cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.  J.C. Newman’s Diamond Crown, MAXIMUS, Julius Caeser, and Black Diamond cigars are handmade by Tabacalera A. Fuente in the Dominican Republic.  With its longtime partners the Fuente family, the Newmans founded the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, which supports low-income families in the Dominican Republic with education, health care, vocational training, and clean water.
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News: Wiseman Maduro Firecracker Rerelease Shipping

Here’s some news from United Cigars, they have another round of the delicious Wiseman Maduro Firecracker from Foundation Cigar Co.  I’ve enjoyed a few of the Firecrackers, and this was one of my favorites.  If I’m not mistaken, the release date at 2 Guys Cigars, which shares owners with United Cigar, is August 29th, which is the 13th anniversary of CigarCraig.com, a very special day indeed!   

 

Wise Man Maduro Firecracker will begin shipping to United Cigars retailers starting August 22nd. With the
end of Summer approaching and Labor Day weekend on everyone’s calendar the rerelease of the 2021 United Cigars Series Unidas Firecracker couldn’t come at a better time. The United Cigars Firecracker line is available year-round but there is always the anticipation of which manufacturers band will adorn the 3.5” x 50 vitola with the original wick as the cap. 2021’s collaboration was with Foundation Cigar Company and in true Firecracker form, President and master blender, Nicholas Melillo delivered excellence with the Wiseman Maduro Firecracker.

 

“The Wise Man Firecracker is a special little smoke that explodes with flavor the moment you light it! This is a special addition to the Wise Man Maduro line and it’s a pleasure to work with United Cigars,” said Nick.

 

Wiseman Maduro Firecracker

Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa, Esteli
Box Count: 20 Cigars
MSRP: $180 Box/$9.00 Single
Production: 1000 Boxes
Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A.

 

United Cigars Director of Operations, Oliver Nivaud said, “The rerelease of a limited edition Wise Man Maduro Firecracker is extremely exciting, this is an amazing capture.” Shipping to retailers starting August 22nd, the Wiseman Maduro Firecracker and all Limited Release Firecrackers from United Cigars are available at United Cigars retailer partners.

 

United Cigar began as a US based cigar store chain in 1901 growing to nearly 3,000 shops. United Cigar eventually became part of the corporation that bought Marvel Comics in 1968. The United Cigar chain represented the interests of the Consolidated Tobacco Company, the tobacco trust that controlled the American Tobacco Company.

Today United Cigars distributes and manufactures premium cigars within the United States. Distribution agreements with Selected Tobacco (Atabey, Byron & Bandolero) as well as Jose Dominguez cigars. United Cigars has its own brands including the quick-selling bundle line Classic, La Gianna Havana, and our flagship brand United to name a few. United Cigar Series Unidas, a collaboration with respected manufacturers, provides premium cigar retailers with Limited Release productions. Buy United, Smoke United, Live United! United We Smoke!

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News: Drew Estate Previews All-New Brand in Latest Freestyle Live Event Packs

Fresh on the heels of the Connecticut Barnsmoker, here’s some news from Drew Estate.  An “entirely new brand”!  Interesting!  I admit that the last new brand they launched with a freestyle event didn’t interest me. The Nica Rustica Adobe was a good one, but not an entirely new brand. 

 

During its Sept. 28 “Freestyle Live: Special Edition” broadcast, Drew Estate will unveil an entirely new premium cigar brand … and the company is giving consumers the ability to experience it prior to its formal launch in the upcoming Freestyle Live Event Pack. The packs will be available at participating retailers nationwide beginning on Aug 18.

 

Drew Estate has prepared a total of 10,000 Freestyle Live Event Packs, which will have an MSRP of $39.99. Every Freestyle Live Event Pack will include three of the new premium cigars without any brand identification on them, a Freestyle Live 3-cigar case, a Freestyle Live cutter with cigar rest and a Freestyle Live flask. Additionally, each Freestyle Live Event Pack will include a Freestyle Live badge with a QR code, which purchasers may use to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win incredible prizes! The grand prize is a 2022 black Dodge Charger, valued at $32,000. Second prize is a Gibson Les Paul Dark Limited guitar, valued at $1,600. A total of 25 sweepstakes entrants will win the third-place prize of a pewter ashtray designed by Subculture Studios, valued at $100 each.*

Freestyle Live Event Pack participating retailers can win a prize too!!! All retailers who sell Freestyle Live Event Packs are automatically entered for a chance to win one of three prizes. The grand prize consists of $5,000 in Drew Estate credit and a Drew Estate Barrel Bar; the second-place prize for retailers is $2,500 in Drew Estate credit and a Drew Estate Mega Standing Ashtray; and the third-place prize is $1,000 in Drew Estate credit.**

“Dodge Chargers, Gibson Les Pauls, Barrel Bars … oh my” exclaims Jonathan Drew, company Founder and President with a big smile from his Sag Harbor, NY, home. “While all the prizes are definitely dope, the big news is in the new brand release. It’s just a different level of mega-excitement when we drop a completely new brand on the Freestyle. It’s not a new line extension or something that already exists in the DE brand portfolio, my dudes and dudettes … it’s something meatier. This brand is going to change the world. Mark my words.”

Learn the mystery cigars’ identity and experience all the other surprises Drew Estate will debut by tuning in on Sept. 28 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the next “Freestyle Live: Special Edition” broadcast, which will be aired only on Drew Estate’s Freestyle Live YouTube channel (youtube.com/drewestatecigar) and Drew Estate’s Facebook Live page (facebook.com/drewestatecigar). Until then, be sure to stop over at drewestate.com/freestylelive2022 beginning on Aug. 18 to find the complete list of participating premium cigar retailers where you can snag your own Freestyle Live Event Pack.

 

*NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C. (excluding MA, MI, & VA), age 21+. Void where prohibited. Starts 08/15/22; ends 09/21/22. Purchase Entries must be submitted by 11:59:59 PM ET on 09/21/22. To enter without purchase, send a postcard with your first name, last name, complete mailing address, email address and date of birth (postmarked by 09/21/22; received by 09/27/22) to: Drew Estate: Attn Freestyle Live Sweepstakes,12415 SW 136th Ave Suite 7, Miami, FL 33186. Total ARV of all prizes: $36,599. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received. For full Official Rules, visit https://drewestate.com/freestyleliveeventpack/. Sponsor: SWI-DE, LLC, 12415 SW 136th Ave, Suite 7, Miami, FL 33186.

 

**NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (incl. D.C.; excl. MA, MI and VA), 21 years or older who are retail trade partners of Sponsor. Enter Sweepstakes by: 9/15/22. To enter and for Official Rules, including prize descriptions, visit https://drewestate.com/freestylelive_tradepromotion/. Odds depend on number of eligible entries received.  Void where prohibited.  Sponsor:  SWI-DE, LLC, 12415 SW 136th Avenue, Suite 7, Miami, FL 33186.

 

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 Cigar” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that attract new and traditional cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Herrera Estelí Norteño, Isla del Sol, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Larutan by Drew Estate, Nica Rustica, Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, Tabak Especial, Undercrown, Florida Sun Grown, and Java by Drew Estate.

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Dissident Bloc and Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue Cigars

I started dipping in to the PCA show samples, and and one that caught my eye was the Dissident Bloc.  This isn’t a new cigar, but it was one I hadn’t tried before.  I spoke with Cyn and Josh Coburn, the new owners of the brand a the Oveja Negra booth.  They seem to have a passion for the brand.  I smoked the corona gorda size, 5 5/8″ x 46, one of my favorite sizes after toro.  The cigar has an Ecuadorian Maduro wrapper, whatever that is, Ecuador (again, could be anything) binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers.  This cigar was my cup of tea. It had dark, rich espresso flavors, and I quite enjoyed it. I wish it had been larger, because it left me wanting more. I like most of the cigars made at Oveja Negra, and this one is no different. 

 

My video interview with Tatuaje Cigars Pete Johnson has quickly jumped into the top five viewed videos on Youtube! The numbers are relative, I don’t consider myself a “Youtuber”, it just a place to put videos to me.  Anyway, I smoked the new Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue in the No. 1 size, which is a 6¼” x 52 Toro. This cigar has a shade grown Nicaraguan wrapper, and is fully composed of tobaccos grown by the Garcia family.  The Verocu is one I usually grab when I stop at Holt’s in Philly, I like them.  This one is more on the creamy side, with coffee and cocoa.  It performed well and is one I will revisit.  It was a very nice cigar. 

 

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

 

CigarCraig

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News: La Gloria Cubana Society Cigar Announced

Here’s some news from Forged Cigars, the distributor of La Gloria Cubana.  This project is like the Punch The People’s Champ, where the blend is basically crowd sourced. Interestingly, this cigar is a Honduran Puro, the first La Gloria that I know of made with all Honduran leaf. As a 25 year fan of LGC, I’m interested to try this one. 

 

LA GLORIA CUBANA SOCIETY CIGAR TO SHIP NEXT MONTH

La Gloria Cubana empowered its fans to develop the brand’s latest limited edition release. Called the La Gloria Cubana Society Cigar, the new expression is named after a special group of cigar smokers that interact with the brand regularly both online through the LGC website and offline through La Gloria activations across the US.

 

The La Gloria Cubana Society Cigar was developed with input from more than 2,000 of the brand’s most devoted fans from across the U.S. They consulted on the profile, packaging and size of the cigar in a collaborative process that spanned nearly a year.

 

It’s been a pleasure to harness the Society’s passion for La Gloria and it’s an honor to provide them with a cigar that reflects what the brand represents to them. We look forward to collaborating with this great group of tenured smokers on future releases,” said Steve Abbot, director of marketing for La Gloria Cubana.

 

Handcrafted at the El Credito Cigar Factory, a stand-alone rolling gallery within General Cigar Dominicana, the La Gloria Cigar Society cigar is a Honduran puro, with filler tobacco from Jamastran and La Entrada, with a Jamastran binder and is crowned with a lustrous Olancho San Agustin wrapper. The medium to full-bodied smoke is brimming with notes of earth, nuts and coffee.

 

The cigars are available in one size, a box-pressed toro that’s presented in 20-count, wooden boxes. A total of 2,500 boxes will be released in early August and is being distributed by Forged Cigar Company.

 

La Gloria Cubana Society Toro (6.25x 54); SRP per cigar $8.99

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