Category Archives: News

News: Diesel Sunday Gravy Grappa Announced

I’ll admit, I’m behind on sampling the Sunday Gravy series. The first one was pretty good, and I’ve been meaning to revisit it. I don’t think I’ve seen any of the others. I’m not a big fan of tomatoes, so that gets into my head a little, and, subconsciously, I don’t tend to look for them. A sampler would be nice, now that there are five versions!

 

It’s a widely held belief that Italians wrote the book on eating and drinking. Food, libations and socializing are part of the culture and meals can stretch on for hours.  Not for the faint of heart is grappa, an Italian-made digestivo made from the distillate of grape seeds, stalks and stems. The distilled spirit is enjoyed as a palate-cleansing firewater. And when the grappa comes out, things get interesting.

Or so says Justin Andrews who explained that the fifth Diesel Sunday Gravy expression was named “Grappa” in a nod to the blend’s bold flavor profile and the brand’s ability to spark conversation. “Diesel Sunday Gravy Grappa, like our previous Sunday Gravy expressions definitely packs a punch. It’s a great, medium-plus blend, handmade with premium tobaccos. And given its affordable price, Diesel Sunday Gravy Grappa is a cigar that’s meant to be smoked with good friends during spirited discussions.

 

Blended by AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews and crafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua, Diesel Sunday Gravy Grappa is rolled with an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Honduran filler. It is a layered smoke that delivers notes of leather, earth and spice.

 

Grappa is being released in a robusto gordo size only.

Grappa (5” x 56); SRP per cigar $4.99

 

Diesel Sunday Gravy Grappa will be available nationally from July-September 2022, or until the blend is sold out. The sixth and final Sunday Gravy blend will be released in October, 2022.

 

Diesel cigars are produced by Scandinavian Tobacco Group and distributed by Forged Cigar Company.

 

About Diesel Sunday Gravy

Diesel Sunday Gravy launched in August 2021 as a full-time line of seasonally-released, Nicaraguan-forward smokes, blended and handcrafted through Diesel’s winning partnership of AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews. Blends will be released quarterly, sold until their limited supply is deleted and offered at an unbelievable SRP of less than $5.00 per cigar.

 

About Diesel

Handcrafted by artisans in Esteli, Nicaragua, Diesel cigars are “bold by design.” The brand challenges the current conventions of the handmade cigar category through the bold, unapologetic style of its Cigar Master, AJ Fernandez. Diesel cigars are unified by their deeply complex flavor which is achieved through AJ’s steadfast adherence to time honored cigar making techniques and his insistence on using the highest quality tobacco. The Diesel portfolio includes Hair of the Dog which was released in 2019; Whiskey Row which launched two expressions, one in 2019 and one in 2018, and Diesel Grind which debuted in 2017. For more information, visit www.dieselcigars.com.

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News: Drew Estate Expands Liga Privada 10 Aniversario Connecticut Criollo Distribution

I haven’t had a 10th Anniversary Liga since they came out with them initially, I think they had a 100th Anniversary too, because it was around 2016 when the FDA deeming regs were announced and everyone was releasing everything to get it in market. I can’t really remember what it was like, nor do I have any idea if the cigars now are even the same.  Anyway, here’s some news from Drew Estate! 

 

For the first time in its history, Drew Estate’s Liga Privada 10 Aniversario Connecticut Criollo cigar will be regularly available as monthly allocation for qualifying Drew Diplomat Program participants beginning in mid-June.

 

Due to the limited supply of the tobaccos used in each Liga Privada expression, production for all Liga Privada cigars is limited because the magnificent Connecticut River Valley capa leaves, which are the hallmark for every Liga Privada cigar, remain the most difficult component to secure. This is especially true for the Liga Privada 10 Aniversario Connecticut Criollo.

 

Just one Connecticut River Valley farmer cultivates the capa leaf for Liga Privada 10 Aniversario cigars. This very rare hybrid leaf combines the best elements of Broadleaf and Criollo and it is used only for Liga Privada 10 Aniversario. Since Liga Privada 10 Aniversario’s introduction, Drew Estate has only periodically released small batches of the cigars due to the rarity of the Connecticut Criollo leaf. Working with the farmer, Drew Estate has planted more of the Connecticut Criollo each year and has steadily aged and stockpiled enough of the precious leaf to ramp up Liga Privada 10 Aniversario’s production to now make it regularly available.

 

Liga Privada 10 Aniversario is a brawny gem that celebrates the unrivaled artistry of Liga Privada. Featuring a signature Cola de Pescado (fishtail) head and a closed foot, only Drew Estate’s most celebrated torcedores may roll the cigars. Liga Privada 10 Aniversario’s Connecticut Criollo capa covers a San Andres Otapan Negro Último Corte capote from Mexico and a tripa blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos, as well as Pennsylvania Green River One Sucker. Dense and earthy with an intense peppery spice, Liga Privada 10 Aniversario is a full throttle beast of a smoke that commands your respect from its first light through the last puff.

 

“Liga Privada 10 Aniversario is a tribute to the remaining old-school tobacco growers in the Connecticut River Valley who produce the capas for Liga Privada,” says Drew Estate Founder and President, Jonathan Drew. “The magnificent cigar also honors our loyal consumers who’ve stood by our side through the ups and downs all these years. Today’s news is certainly welcome, as more people will now get to experience Liga Privada 10 Aniversario’s bold, luxurious and commanding presence … so let’s get luxuriating, party peoples.”

 

Available exclusively at qualifying Drew Diplomat Program participants, Liga Privada 10 Aniversario cigars are packaged in 10-count boxes with an MSRP of $183/box and $18.30/cigar. A list of qualifying Drew Diplomat retailers can be found at https://drewestate.com/liga-privada-h99-10-year-aniversario-select-retailers/.

 

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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News: Macanudo Inspirado Jamao Due Next Month

Here’s some news from Macanudo, another Inspirado line extension. I’ve been to General’s farm in Mao, it’s a beautiful place.  I’ve never been to Honduras!   It sounds like an interesting cigar! 

 

The second limited-edition blend of Macanudo Inspirado will be released in July. Called “Jamao” the new expression gets its name from a proprietary wrapper grown on a network of fincas in the Northwestern Dominican Republic.

 

Macanudo’s team of agronomists has been experimenting with tobacco cultivation and seed acclimation in Mao, D.R. for decades. There, in the Cibao Valley, the agronomists also work with a collective of independent local growers to cultivate and cure experimental tobaccos. With Macanudo Inspirado Jamao, one such sungrown tobacco is being brought to life as a wrapper.

 

“For this limited edition expression of Macanudo Inspirado, we acclimated a Habano seed varietal from Jamastran, Honduras to Mao, DR and ultimately produced a beautiful wrapper. To honor the many people who worked hard to produce this wrapper for the first time, we named the release ‘Jamao’ which represents the blending of Jamastran and Mao,” said Jhonys Diaz, General Cigar’s senior vice president of leaf operations.

 

The wrapper was selected as the most prominent aspect of the blend’s profile. A masterful composition of tobaccos that includes a Honduran binder and fillers from Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic together enhance the wrapper to create a medium-bodied smoking experience that is rich, creamy and dimensional, with herbal, woody, and salty notes.

 

Handcrafted at General Cigar Dominicana in Santiago, DR, Macanudo Inspirado Jamao will ship to retailers in July. A total of 2,300 boxes, each containing 20 cigars, will be released exclusively in the U.S.

 

Macanudo Inspirado Jamao Toro (5.75” x 52); SRP per cigar $10.49
Macanudo Inspirado Jamao Churchill (7” x 49); SRP per cigar $10.99

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News: Fratello Announces PCA Exclusive ViceVersa

I’ve smoked this cigar, two of them, actually.  I’m not sure why CigarProp isn’t mentioned in this press release, Kevin was instrumental in the development of this project. I know this from talking to both him and Omar.  Anyway, it’s an interesting smoke and a unique concept.

 

Omar de Frias is proud to announce the company’s 9th-anniversary blend, The VICEVERSA. The VICEVERSA will be making its debut as an exclusive to PCA Members.

 

“This project is easily one of the most challenging projects I have had the pleasure to work on. We blended a cigar and tripled capped both ends. The consumer decides if they want to start their smoking experience Mild and Creamy or Strong and spicy.” Said de Frias.

 

The VICE​VERSA will debut as a 7 x 52 Vitola with an MSRP of 15.00 per cigar. “We limited the production to 2,000 boxes of 12 cigars each due to the complexity and manpower required to accurately blend this cigar”. Said de Frias.

The Fratello Vice Versa is comprised of a Habano Ecuador HVA Wrapper, Indonesian Binder and Pennsylvania, Nicaragua Esteli and Nicaragua Condega filler tobacco manufactured at the La Aurora Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to PCA.

 

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News: CAO Launches BX3 Cigar

One more news item today, then I’ll start working on tomorrow’s post about the event I attended this week.  Something new from CAO? I’ll be honest, I kind of thought with the exit of Rick Rodriguez we’d be seeing less from the brand. Of course, CAO was one of the first to popularize Brazilian tobacco in premium cigars with the Brazilia, and have done a lot with it since.  I look forward to smoking this as I’ve long been a fan of the Brazilia (and 2 out of the 4 Amazon Basin cigars!).  

 

 

CAO DEBUTS BX3

CAO has always had a rebellious streak (think MX2, CX2, LX2), and the brand’s maverick approach to blending is taking another leap forward through its latest expression: CAO BX3.

 

BX3 is a new collection that harnesses “three times the Brazilian tobaccos” in one robust blend.

 

Focusing on the primary growing regions of Northeastern Brazil, CAO BX3 is made with sweet and aromatic Mata Fina and hearty, vibrant Arapiraca tobaccos that are used as wrapper, binder, and filler in an exciting, four-country blend.  

 

Ed Lahmann, CAO’s senior brand manager said, “Being trailblazers of tobacco is in CAO’s DNA, and with BX3, we’re continuing to pilot the path. Our inspiration was the legendary X series which had put our blending expertise on the map. With BX3, we set out to take the best of Brazilian tobacco and bring it to the next level. The easy thing to do would have been to make a Brazilian puro. Our blending team went that route, and it felt like we were just dialing it in. So they kept at it, peppering in Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Mexican tobaccos in just the right proportions to add character, dimension and layers to the smoke. We’re really proud of the way the blend turned out. To us, BX3 is everything a Brazilian-centric smoke should be. It’s memorable, savory and thought-provoking and it complements our portfolio beautifully.”

 

Handcrafted in Nicaragua at STG Estelí, CAO BX3’s is enrobed in a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, has a Brazilian Arapiraca binder and a blend of rich and robust filler tobaccos from Brazil, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Honduras. All told, the tobaccos create a medium-bodied smoke, that’s rich in character and deeply enjoyable with notes of espresso, dark chocolate, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne, and white pepper. 

 

 

CAO BX3 will be a full-time line, available in all channels. The three-frontmark collection is packed in boxes containing 20 cigars and will begin shipping in the first week in July.

 

BX3 Robusto (5” x 52) —  SRP per cigar $8.99

BX3 Toro (6” x 54) —  SRP per cigar $9.49

BX3 Gordo (6” x 60) —  SRP per cigar $10.49

 

About CAO

CAO was originally launched in 1993 by Cano Ozgener, who was the founder of CAO International Inc., a company that up until that point was known for its tobacco pipes. The General Cigar Co., inherited the entire portfolio of CAO’s preexisting brands after Swedish Match and ST Cigar Group Holdings merged in 2010, and the tobacco giant still distributes the brand and all its lines.

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