Category Archives: News

by | July 14, 2022 · 5:57 pm

News: Drew Estate Introduces Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Robusto

Here’s some news from Drew Estate on the eve of their PA Barnsmoker.  Unfortunately, it’s a Barnsmoker I was supposed to attend, but due to coming back from the PCA show with Covid, I have to pass.  Maybe I’ll get to the Connecticut version, but it’s more fun driving an hour than six! Anyway, check out the new size of H99!

 

Drew Estate is adding a new vitola to its Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo portfolio. Announced during its latest Freestyle Live broadcast, Drew Estate introduced the Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Robusto (140mm x 54). The cigar will debut at the Pennsylvania Barn Smoker DE25 Exclusive Pre-Party on July 15 and will be available as a regular allocation to qualifying Drew Diplomat Program members beginning in September.

 

The Liga Privada H99 (“H” stands for  “Hybrid”) showcases a special dark, air-cured hybrid capa that’s derived from the marriage between Stalk-Cut Habano and Corojo seeds. Grown exclusively for Drew Estate by one farmer in the Connecticut River Valley, the H99 capa combines the best elements of the Habano and Corojo seed varieties to produce a tobacco that is elegant and distinct.

 

The H99 Connecticut Corojo’s intense sweet qualities contrast beautifully with the robust spiciness of the Mexican San Andrés Otapan Negro Último Corte capote. The tripa blend of well-aged Nicaraguan, Honduran and Pennsylvania Green River One Sucker tobaccos contribute to a cigar that’s luxurious, complex and deceptively full-bodied with notes of earth, espresso and leather.

 

“The infamous wrapper leaves of the Connecticut River Valley are clearly the star in every Liga Privada blend,” notes Drew Estate Founder and President, Jonathan Drew. “This is especially true of Liga H99. This sexy beast expresses the intricacies of the terroir from the farm where H99 Connecticut Corojo is grown. The soil speaks to us and we’ve learned how to listen to it, sincerely. Those H99 savory notes dance across the palate and culminate into a master-crescendo of a finish. Believe me when I say that I’m especially proud of Liga H99 Robusto. It’s dope as hell.”

 

Debuting at the Pennsylvania Barn Smoker DE25 Exclusive Pre-Party, Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Robusto will become regularly allocated to qualifying Drew Diplomat Program participants beginning in September. Available in 24-count boxes, Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Robusto cigars will have an MSRP of $358.80/box or $14.95/cigar.

 

For more information or to find your nearest Drew Diplomat Program retailer, visit drewestate.com.

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by | July 7, 2022 · 12:01 pm

News: Fuente & Padrón Legends Cigar Project To Be Unveiled July 10, 2022

This is going to be a big deal at this weekend’s PCA show, maybe bigger than Guy Fieri’s appearance! There were no pictures included with the press release, I’ll try to get some when I’m there.  

 

Carlito Fuente and Jorge Padrón are proud to announce the release of their Legends cigar project. Please join the Fuente and Padrón families Sunday July 10, 2022 at 3:30 pm at the PCA Trade Show, Booth # 1321 for the unveiling of these extraordinary cigars.

Carlos A. Fuente, Sr. and José O. Padrón were friends and colleagues for over 50 years. They shared common bonds – a passion for the finest Cuban cigar-making traditions and deep respect for their family names. They passed these values on to their children. Their sons, Carlito Fuente and Jorge Padrón, together with their families, have partnered to honor and remember the Fuente and Padrón family patriarchs. For the first time, the families are collaborating on a joint project, a commemorative 40-cigar box in honor of their fathers and their legacies.

The box is detailed with colors, symbols and photographs illustrating the rich family histories and contributions to the cigar industry made by both families. Inside, there are two trays of 20 hand crafted cigars. One tray features cigars made by Padrón in honor of Carlos A. Fuente, Sr. The second tray features cigars made by Fuente in honor of José O. Padrón.

Specially designed bands honor both patriarchs with family symbols and the words the two men lived by – “Familia,” “Perseverancia,” and “Legado” (Family, Perseverance, and Legacy). Both families have selected rare and beautiful tobaccos to create legendary cigars worthy of the extraordinary men they honor.


In keeping with their fathers’ tradition of giving, a percentage of the proceeds from the sales of this collaboration will be donated to the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation and the Padrón Family Foundation.

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by | June 30, 2022 · 6:33 pm

News: Casa Cuevas Cigars Announces Sangre Nueva Cigar

I always enjoy talking to Luis Cuevas, so I’ll hunt him down at the PCA show if nothing more than to say hello and pay my respects. I always come away feeling like we are old friends after seeing him. Good dude, and really important family in the cigar world.  This looks like an interesting cigar! 

 

Casa Cuevas Cigars announces the release of the “Sangre Nueva” cigar brand at the 2022 PCA taking place in July at the Sand Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is the first Casa Cuevas brand solely blended by Alec Cuevas who was recently promoted to Director of Brand Development. Master Blender Luis Cuevas Sr. felt it was time that his grandson Alec Cuevas take the lead on new brands and the aptly named Sangre Nueva (translates to New Blood from Spanish) is his first creation. Alec Cuevas, the 5th generation of the Cuevas tobacco family looked to create a blend that represents “old Traditions, new Generation”.

 

Alec describes the Sangre Nueva as a Medium plus strength cigar that elegantly boasts rich, savory chocolate notes along with hints of pepper, earthy tones, and a tad bit of spice. The cigars feature an Ecuadorian Cameroon wrapper, and Honduran Corojo binder, and Dominican, Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania broadleaf filler. Alec estimated that he needed include a high percentage of Pennsylvania broadleaf in the filler. This gave the cigar extra strength while balancing out the cigar’s flavors.


 

Alec Cuevas stated: “The slogan “old traditions, new generation” signifies so much more to me than a passing of the family torch. It represents all the experiences I’ve ever been through in this industry, from working behind the counter selling my fellow manufacturer’s products, to spending my summers learning all there is to know about our factory from a very young age. Sangre Nueva is a personal love letter to my family, who placed their faith in me to create something from scratch given my knowledge of tobacco. It is also the culmination of patrons and distributors alike that took time out of their day to educate me and better help me define my palate throughout all these years. It’s been a blast creating such a savory blend, and I think it’s a perfect representation of the gratitude I have for this one-of-a-kind industry.”

 

 

The Sangre Nueva blend is available in 10 count boxes and expressed in three vitolas.

4.75X 52 Robusto MSRP: $13.00
6X52 Toro MSRP: $13.50
6X58 Double Perfecto MSRP: $14.75

 

ABOUT Casa Cuevas Cigars:

Casa Cuevas Cigars was established in 2016 but has decades old history behind it. Cuban born Master Blender Luis Cuevas Sr. has been blending cigars from his factory in the Dominican Republic for many popular cigar brands. Now, together with son Luis Cuevas Jr., the Casa Cuevas Cigar brands were created to honor their four-generation cigar heritage. Currently the Casa Cuevas Cigars line of brands include the Casa Cuevas core line, the Casa Cuevas Limited Edition Flaco, the Cuevas Reserva Natural (91 rated by Cigar Aficionado), Cuevas Reserva Maduro, La Mandarria (ranked no. 16 boutique cigar of 2020 by Cigar & Spirits Magazine), and the Patrimonio (No.1 cigar of 2021 by Stogie Press)

 

For more information please visit: www.casacuevascigars.com

Follow Casa Cuevas Cigars on social @CasaCuevasCigars

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by | June 29, 2022 · 5:32 pm

News: Gran Habano Announces 20th Aniversario Cigar

I like Gran Habano and George Rico, so here’s some news from them about their anniversary cigar.  I’ll try to stop by and congratulate them next week at the show.

 

GRAN HABANO ANNOUNCES 20TH ANIVERSARIO

 

Gran Habano announces the release of the 20th Aniversario, a cigar celebrating an incredible milestone in the family business. The inspiration for making this cigar was drawn on the first chapter of the Gran Habano story: El Sueño (the dream), El Desafío (the struggle), and El Triunfo (the success). Gran Habano is thankful to everyone that believed in us and supported us along the way. The best is yet to come.


“It is with great pride that after 27 years in business as a company, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our brand, Gran Habano. It is a wonderful feeling to reach this special milestone as a brand, as we will continue to maintain our culture as a company by following our principals to pursue making quality cigars. We look forward to the next chapter in our family’s journey, and to the new generations continuing the family tradition that has allowed four previous generations to be successful in the industry of tobacco.” – George Rico

Gran Habano 20th Aniversario

Description: The Gran Habano 20th Aniversario is described as having a four year aged lush rosado wrapper from Jalapa Valley, Nicaragua, enveloping a rich Nicaraguan binder and unique blend of Colombian, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian fillers.

Body: Medium

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo Shade Wrapper

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru

Box Ct: 20

Sizes: El Sueño 5 x 52 (MSRP $14), El Desafío 6 x 54 (MSRP $15), El Triunfo 6 x 60 ($16)

The 20th Aniversario is a limited-production release with 4,000 boxes of each size made and released each quarter. Only 200 retailers will be carrying the cigar. The Gran Habano 20th Aniversario is rolled at the company’s factory in Danli, Honduras, Gran Habano Honduras. The 20th Aniversario will be making its official debut at the PCA trade show in Las Vegas July 9-12, and starts shipping in August.

 

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by | · 7:35 am

News: Latitude Zero Signature Announced

I’ll be honest, this is the first time I’ve ever heard of the Latitude Zero brand! I don’t closely follow CI anymore, so it may be all over their catalog for all I know, but this is in national distribution, through their wholesale company. I find it interesting because I just mentioned the factory that’s making this in my Sunday post. It’s also interesting because this factory has a strong association with JR Cigar, which is owned by STG’s largest competitor. The cigar industry is very incestuous. 

LATITUDE ZERO ADDS NEW EXPRESSION

Latitude Zero, a blend named to honor Ecuador’s tobacco growing regions, is expanding its lineup with a new expression called Latitude Zero Signature.

 

Featuring premium, hand-selected tobaccos grown by Oliva Tobacco Company, Latitude Zero Signature is blended by Raul Disla and was created to extend the popular Latitude Zero line.

 

Kevin Irvine, product coordinator of Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s (STG) Online and Retail division said, “Latitude Zero Signature is rich and refined with an intriguing spice. It complements the original Latitude Zero blend, offering a completely unique smoking experience. This cigar smokes like an ultra-premium, so it’s a great choice for someone who wants the utmost in tobacco quality and complexity at a great price point.”

 

 

For the blend, Raul Disla selected a robust assortment of Nicaraguan Habano, Dominican Habano and Connecticut Broadleaf fillers, and a Nicaraguan Habano binder. He crowned Latitude Zero Signature with Ecuadoran Sumatra leaf from the lush, cloud-covered equatorial growing region from which the Latitude Zero brand takes its name. The result is a full-bodied smoke, brimming with notes of pepper, leather and cream and an alluring spice.

 

Latitude Zero Signature will be available starting on June 24, 2022. National distribution will be handled by Meier & Dutch Wholesale Cigar Distributors.

 

Latitude Zero Signature is handcrafted in Nicaragua at the NACSA factory. The cigars are box-pressed, and ship in 20–count boxes.

 

Robusto (5” x 54); SRP per cigar $8.00

Toro (6” x 52); SRP per cigar $8.25

Gordo (6” x 60); SRP per cigar $8.75

 

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