Category Archives: News

by | June 30, 2021 · 10:38 pm

News: El Artista Cigars Announcers Bufffalo TEN Line Extension

I’ve smoked the Buffalo TEN Maduro and it’s a really good cigar, especially for the price. I haven’t sampled the Natural offering, but I wouldn’t hesitate to pick some up, and I know a couple local shops that are carrying them, so I might grab some. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this for the Connecticut smoker based on past experience with the Maduro and with El Artista in general. I’ve had good experience with the company in the past. 

 

EL ARTISTA CIGARS ANNOUNCES BUFFALO TEN LINE EXTENSION

El Artista Cigars announces the launch of a new line extension of the wildly popular Buffalo TEN series. “This flagship product line has performed so well,” says Radhames ‘Ram’ Rodriguez, President of El Artista Cigars, “we just had to bring out one more blend, this time in a Connecticut grown in our farms in Ecuador.”

 

With a suggested retail price of $5.00 per cigar, the new blend complements the original Maduro and last year’s release Natural, “Buffalo TEN truly demonstrates the strengths of El Artista,” says Kevin Newman, Director of Sales & Marketing, “the factory team worked with us to source some of the best tobaccos available and integrate a few factory-exclusives for a phenomenal blend at an incredible price”.

 

Buffalo TEN Connecticut is available in one size, a soft box pressed 6×50 Toro, and El Artista offers it in two retail packages, as an attractive 5-Pack ($22.50 MSRP) in a wooden retail shelf display that holds five 5-packs or as a single-stick purchase ($5.00 MSRP) from a 40-ct retail bundle tray. “Over the last two years Retailers have embraced Buffalo TEN in terms of packaging options and a great price point; Consumers the world over have told us to keep making more and we feel the Connecticut continues the theme of quality and value both consumers and the brick & mortar retailer have come to know and love,” states Ram.

 

 

Buffalo TEN Connecticut is a complex blend composed of five different tobaccos from across Central & South America and The Caribbean. Buffalo TEN Connecticut features a smooth and sweet Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper from El Artista’s own farms and a rich Cameroon binder. The filler blend is sourced from Nicaragua, and the company’s own farms in the Dominican Republic.

 

Buffalo TEN Connecticut first went on sale in Norway distributed by Nordic Cigars at the beginning of June and will be available for sale to retailers in North America at the 88th Annual PCA Trade Show in Las Vegas starting July 10, 2021 and will ship to retailers the first week of August.

 

ABOUT EL ARTISTA CIGARS

Tabacalera El Artista S.R.L. started operations in Tamboril, Dominican Republic in 1956. Today TEA is one of the nation’s largest producers of premium cigars. TEA produces millions of cigars each year and distributes throughout Europe, Canada, United States, and Asia. Additionally, TEA manages farms in the Caribbean and South America where it grows premium tobacco leaf which it utilizes in its proprietary blends as well as sells to top cigar manufacturers in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Dominican Republic.

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by | · 6:10 pm

News: Black Works Studio Offers Hive Cigars at PCA Show

It’s Wednesday and I’ll be posting a couple news articles over the course of the evening again.  The first one here is from Black Label Trading Co., and I hope one of my local shops goes to the show and orders these.  We have some bees and they are pretty cool, so I’d love to get some of these cigars, besides the fact that I enjoy the BLTC cigars too. 

 

Black Works Studio (BLK WKS)will be showcasing a new release at this year’s PCA in Las Vegas. HIVE is a small batch release offered on a first-come, first-served basis to BLTC/BLK WKS retailers attending PCA 2021. Shipping will commence in the fall.

 

“We wanted to offer Hive for PCA attendees as a way of showing our appreciation for the retailers who come to support our brands at the show. The HIVE is an idea I’ve had for a few years now. The Killer Bee & Green Hornet lines are some of our most popular and over the years I’ve played with a lot of different ideas for both. HIVE is a mix of some of my favorite Bee & Hornet samples that have yet to be released. For anyone that is a fan of the Killer Bee & Green Hornet, this is a must have!” says James Brown, creator of BLTC and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra.

 

HIVE

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper(s): Ecuador Maduro, Connecticut, Candela

Binder: Honduras HabanoFiller: Nicaraguan

Hive Mix Box (27 count) MSRP $12.50

 

These cigars are an expression of art showcasing the talent, technique and tobacco of our boutique cigar factory; Fabrica Oveja Negra.

 

BLK WKS cigars are available for purchase through OvejaNegra Brands.

For more information visit OvejaNegraCigars.com.

Visit BLTC Booth #755 at this year’s PCA Tradeshow for more information.

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by | June 23, 2021 · 6:36 pm

News: Protocol Cigars Introduces The Protocol Bass Reeves

You see, I knew there was another press release from Protocol! This is another pair of cigars in their “Lawmen” series, which I will have to try one of these days. I suppose a trip up north is in order as nobody seems to have them around here. Check out this news item: 

 

Protocol cigars is proud and honored to announce the third installment in the Lawmen series that will debut at the 2021 PCA Trade Show, The Protocol Bass Reeves. The Protocol Bass Reeves, like the other installments in the Lawmen Series, is being offered in both in natural and maduro. The Lawmen Series is a more classic, traditional, refined, and regal look Protocol Cigars has been offering since it’s launch of the Protocol Sir Robert Peel. The Lawmen Series is the company’s concept where they pay homage to the men and women of law enforcement who spend hours working tirelessly to catch the bad guys. 

 

Bass Reeves was one of the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshals in history. During his long career in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory, Bass Reeves arrested more than 3,000 dangerous criminals. In 1875 he was sworn in as a U.S. Deputy Marshal. “Bass Reeves was the inspiration for The Lone Ranger and we tried to incorporate that into the design of the packaging. We added a white horse and incorporated silver into the design on the vista and band because The Lone Ranger’s horse was named silver. We can not think of a more deserving historical law enforcement figure to get a cigar in their honor!” Said Kevin Keithan. 

 

The Protocol Bass Reeves comes in a 6×52 box pressed toro in a 10 count box. It is being produced at the San Lotano Factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua under the watchful eye and tutelage of Erik Espinosa. The MSRP is $119.50 per box. “Bass Reeves was blended with tobacco leaves from the different growing regions of Nicaragua. Both were blended to have  incredible taste and balance. The maduro is a dark habano with sweet subtleness. The natural is a nutty sumatra with a delicious underlying spice note.” Added Hector Alfonso Sr. Espinosa’s Master Blender. Juan Cancel added, “We are proud to feature Bass Reeves as the newest addition to the Lawmen Series. I feel it truly shows the diversity of the law enforcement community as a whole, that men and women from all races and ethnicities come together to serve the public at large.”

 

The Protocol Bass Reeves

Vitola: 6×52 Box Press

10 Count Boxes $119.50

Natural:

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Maduro:

Wrapper: Nicaragua Dark Habano

Blinder: Nicaragua 

Filler: Nicaragua

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by | · 6:21 pm

News: Protocol “Blue” Line Adds 6″ x 60 Gordo

Since I’m in the middle of smoking my way through the Black Lion Luxuries Cigar of the Month Club pack, I’m being lazy and posting some news items. It’s that time of year anyway, so there’s going to be a lot of news over the next few weeks as the PCA show approaches. Here’s a tidbit from Protocol, I think I have another one around someplace…

 

Protocol Cigars is pleased to announce a 6 x 60 Gordo line extension in the Protocol “Blue” Line debuting at the 2021 PCA Trade Show. The Protocol “Blue,” which it has unofficially been referred as, was the first release for Protocol Cigars back in 2015. As it stands the original Protocol line comes in a 6 x 52 Toro, a 7.5 x 38 Lancero, and a 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda. This is Protocols first 6 x 60 cigar and we are planning on doing more Gordo line extensions in the future if this goes well. “The demand for a 6 x 60 has steadily been increasing over the years from our supporters, so we decided to feed that demand.” Said Kevin Keithan co-owner of Protocol Cigars.

 

The Protocol Gordo will be the same blend as the original line. It will be a Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro Leaf, wrapping around a Nicaraguan Habano, covering all Nicaragua long fillers. This cigar has quadruple ligero in the blend, making it full bodied and bold. The double habano wrapper and binder combination balances out the quadruple ligero giving it a creamy finish. “We had to listen to the demands for a 6 x 60 vitola, so we couldn’t think of a more appropriate blend to launch a Gordo than the original “Blue” Protocol. We feel this blend will hold up great in a 6 x 60 format” added Juan Cancel founder and co-owner of Protocol Cigars.

 

Like it’s predecessors, The Protocol Gordo will be manufactured at the La Zona Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua under the watchful eye of Erik Espinosa and under the tutelage of La Zona’s Master Blender: Hector Alfonso Sr. The MSRP will be $110 per 10 count box and $11 per single stick. The cigar will ship shortly after the PCA, tentatively.

 

The Cigar:

6 x 60 Gordo

MSRP $11 single stick. $110 10 count box.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro

Binder: Nicaragua Habano

Filler: Quadruple Ligero Nicaragua 

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by | June 2, 2021 · 10:27 pm

A Few Ortega Serie D Cigars

As I mentioned in my Sunday post, Ortega Cigars is a new partner on the site. I purchased the sampler that’s featured in the ad that’s running currently, and it arrived promptly. It’s an amazing deal, I almost feel guilty recommending it, as it must be a big losing proposition. Anyway, Like I said before, I’ve known Eddie Ortega for many years. I believe I met Eddie at a local shop here when he had a 601 La Bomba Event, back when they were made by Pepin Garcia. It was about ten years ago because my then 21 year old son was with me and he had his first taste of Zacapa rum courtesy of Eddie. I’ve only made it through three of the seven cigars so far, but I’m pleased with the new offerings. The first cigar I tried out of the pack was the Serie D Habano. This was a powerful cigar with a lot of pepper. It has an Ecuador Habano wrapper, Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan fillers. I don’t remember the old version being this spicy, but this one was very good if that’s the kind of cigar you like. All the cigars in the sampler are the toro vitola, which, of course, is great for me. The burn and draw were perfect. 

 

The second one I tried was the Serie D Black. I think I remember this cigar coming out at the tail end of Eddie’s first go around, and I wanted to try it but never got the chance. The Serie D Black sounds like it should be a maduro cigar, but it isn’t. It has an Ecuador Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers. While this is very close in make-up to the Serie D Habano, it was very different in flavor, much smoother and mellower. This was a pretty nice cigar! 

 

Tonight I smoked the Serie D Maduro, a sharply box pressed toro with a San Andrés wrapper, Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan fillers. This is probably the Ortega cigar with which I was the most familiar, obviously it’s been years since I’ve smoked one. I still have one left, although there’s no sense trying to compare a several year old cigar to a new one. Eddie’s using a different factory, TACASA S.A., which has made cigars in the past for Veritas, as well as having worked with Quality Importers, where Eddie worked at one time and who distributed Ortega cigars a few years ago. The new Serie D Maduro is a tasty Mexican Maduro, with some spice and rich earthiness. 

 

I still have four cigars to go in the sampler, I’m interested in the Serie D Connecticut, not that I typically gravitate toward Connecticuts, but I don’t recall that wrapper in the original lineup and I’m curious to see how it smokes. The Cubao was a great cigar that I look forward to revisiting as well and the M3 and Jalapa look really interesting, both featuring Jalapa tobacco. I’m excited. Welcome back Ortega Cigars! 

 

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

 

CigarCraig

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