Category Archives: News

News: Drew Estate Will Air Freestyle Live: Special Edition Thursday, May 6th

Here’s the first of a couple Wednesday news items. This is another big Drew Estate Freestyle Live Facebook Event. This one looks to be an interesting one! I may have to tune in. Will Pedro be drinking Presidente or his favorite “Jingling” beer? (a bit of an inside joke between Pedro and I).

 

Drew Estate will air Freestyle Live: Special Edition on Thursday, May 6th, on its Facebook Live page (facebook.com/drewestatecigar) at its usual broadcast time of 7-9 p.m. EST, but this episode will be a shocker to both consumers and trade alike, so get ready!

 

Here’s the scoop … Leading up to the Freestyle Live broadcast, Drew Estate will ship participating retailers across the United States a limited amount of Freestyle Live Event Packs that will include three of a new ultra-premium cigar [WITHOUT BANDS], a travel humidor, a cutter, a lighter and a raffle ticket. The identity of the newly released cigars will remain an air-tight secret right up to the moment that Drew Estate’s Ambassadors reveal their identity during the show.

 

From the Wynwood Safehouse in Miami, JD reveals, “This episode is gonna be a straight gangsta party. In addition to bookending the final night of our new brand media blitz, we’re gonna go absolutely bananas with massive consumer prizes and theatrics galore. But check me here … consumers who were diligent enough to snag a pack from their local bricks-and-mortar will burn the new sticks with the Drew Estate Ambassadors, Sales Team, Executive Team and Nicaragua Front Line Division at the exact same time so we can all enjoy the experience together. At that exact moment, we gonna drop the 411 on this worldwide, globalized sexy beast! I’m gonna be drinkin’ Angels Envy Cask Strength for this one. Joey and Frankie prolly be slurpin’ the Mezcal in those red adobe “cupitos,” while Pedro drinks a few Presidentes, and Willy’s double fisted with two cigars burning at the same time. Hahaha … let’s ride.”

 

 

 

The raffle ticket included in the Freestyle Live Event Pack automatically enters consumers for a chance to win* one of three prizes … a Drew Estate Standing Tower humidor for third prize; a Drew Estate branded bar designed by Dog at Subculture Studios for second prize; and the grand prize of a Suzuki Supermoto DR-7400SM dirt bike. Retailers who participate in the Freestyle Live Event Pack promotion will be automatically entered for a chance to win* one of three prizes … a Drew Estate Standing Tower humidor for third prize; a Drew Estate branded bar designed by Dog at Subculture Studios for second prize; and the grand prize package of a Mega Standing ashtray, three Dream Seat recliners and a $5,000 credit for store improvements. Prize winners will be announced during the show.

 

 

Drew Estate’s Freestyle Live Special Edition Event Packs have an MSRP of $40 … with only 2,300 available for purchase beginning on April 12.

 

Drew Estate Freestyle Live Special Edition will kick off on Thursday, May 6, at 7 p.m. on facebook.com/drewestatecigar.

 

* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY FOR CONSUMER OR RETAILER PROMOTIONS. Legal residents of the 50 United States (incl. D.C.; excl. MA, MI and VA), 21 years or older. Enter Sweepstakes by: 4/29/21. To enter and for Official Rules, including prize descriptions, visit https://drewestate.com/freestylelivetradepromotion. 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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UPDATED News: United Cigars Celebrates Our Beloved Sports Stadiums

I’m disappointed in this news for a few reasons.  I was looking forward to the cigars, and I feel like the reasoning is pretty weak. I think it’s pretty safe to assume this was killed due to the word “Monstah” infringing on Pete Johnson’s “Monster” trademark, but I fail to see how there could be any confusion. The only thing I can understand is that the trademark has to be defended in an evenhanded manner, if he allows one person to get away with one permutation of the word, someone else can find another loophole. It seems crappy, but I suppose the owners of United would defend their trademarks as well (and probably have).

United Cigar is disappointed to announce that its 1st Stadium Series releases has been halted. The Asylum Green Monstah, a collaboration with CLE Cigars and United Cigars, was due to ship to United retail partners just in time for opening day of baseball scheduled for April 1, 2021. This limited release was produced in two vitolas packaged in 9 count boxes representing the nine innings of baseball. The box is shaped as home plate with both sides fashioned after the iconic left field wall of Fenway Park: The Green Monstah.

“This project meant more than cigars,” said Oliver Nivaud, Director of Operations at United Cigar. “Baseball is America’s pass-time; stadiums delivered sports, music and life before the pandemic and we wanted to share our passion with other enthusiasts. My connection to Boston’s Fenway Park is deeper than just a cigar project, I named my son after the park in 2004. I never expected the cancel culture to show itself in the cigar industry, especially not because we named our first series after a green wall that was built in 1912.”

United Cigars is regretfully pulling the Stadium Series Green Monstah from the market for now until a direction is decided upon. This decision was made after another cigar brand owner reached out to CLE directly and said that a portion of the name of would need to be concealed. As this was not an option United Cigars wanted to accommodate, the decision was made to pull the series to avoid further distress to their friends at CLE.

This will not stop the Series Unidas Stadium Series however, United Cigars has new plans for this annual release and has begun the early steps for the next one which should be announced by this Fall.

 

 


A rare Saturday morning post, I was going to do this one last night, but I didn’t get around to it. Funny, because I had candela on my mind, but that’s a story for another day. I like a candela, and Christian Eiroa made one of my favorite Candelas when he made the Camacho Monarca in Candela years ago. I really miss that cigar, I smoked through a box of them a dozen years ago or so. Maybe this will be similar blend? I guess I’ll have to get my hands on some and see (if my memory holds up).  As far as the stadium series goes, I can only hope they don’t do one for Vet Stadium, as many great memories I have of that stadium, it really wasn’t what I’d call a great baseball stadium (and there’s already a Phillies cigar, and I ain’t smoking it)! 

 

With nearly a year behind us since we have had the opportunity to visit a stadium to cheer on our favorite  athletes, United Cigars has decided to bring the stadium to you. Teaming up with Christian Eiroa and Tom Lazuka of  Asylum Cigars, United Cigars is launching a new line as part of their Series Unidas collection and will ship to retailers next  week in time for baseball’s opening day. The Green Monstah cigar release will pay tribute to the Boston Red Sox and  Fenway Park as the launch of a planned United Cigars Limited Edition Stadium Series line.  

 

A collectible series honoring America’s beloved stadiums, the Green Monstah boxes will showcase the iconic scoreboard  and celebrate our love of the game. Available in two classic Asylum Cigar vitolas, 6 x 60 and 7 x 70, the Green Monstah  limited series features an Ecuadorian candela wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Esteli and Jalapa. This Limited  Edition Stadium Series production was kept to 250 boxes of each size and will be available in boxes of 9 cigars for 9  innings of baseball. The boxes were constructed to resemble home plate, so this is perfect for every baseball  enthusiast’s collection and cigar lover’s humidor. 

 

 

“The sounds at the ballpark have always been a part of my Spring,” said Oliver Nivaud Director of Operations for United  Cigars. “Now we have an Asylum cigar to smoke for opening day. Fenway Park is my Holy Cathedral, but we have a few more  stadiums in mind for this stadium series.” 

 

Tom Lazuka, Co-Founder of Asylum Cigars added, “This was an exciting project as both Christian and I are huge baseball fans.  We worked hard to have a candela in a large format, turned out to be an amazing cigar that has filled a few of my ashtrays.” 

 

 

The Green Monstah will begin shipping to retailers on March 22nd in limited quantities. MSRP on the 6 x 60 is  $79.99/$8.88 and the 7 x 70 will retail for $89.99/$9.99. 

 

About United Cigars 

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.  

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News: Blackbird Cigar Co and Stogiebird Hatch New Blend

If ever there was a perfect partnership, it’s Blackbird and Stogiebird! It just makes sense! Of course, I’ve known Sam Leccia of Stogiebird for many years, and I met Jonas of Blackbird last year at the TPE. I’m looking forward to this becoming available, I’m almost tempted to subscribe, as subscription services have been on my radar lately. The problem is, I just can’t spend the cash to subscribe to all of the services I’d like to! Sam seem to be doing it right, as he always has! I have a small collection of cigars he’s had his hand in over the years, and I can’t wait to add this one! 

 

Today, Blackbird Cigar Co announces the creation of their latest cigar the “Ruffed Grouse” made exclusively for Stogiebird. The Ruffed Grouse, named after the Pennsylvania State bird, is a four-country blend starting with a beautiful oily Habano wrapper around an Indonesia binder using grade A Criollo 98 and Pennsylvania long filler tobaccos.


“Sam Leccia has done an amazing job with Stogiebird. I was excited to work with him on this project.” said Jonas Santana, President Blackbird Dominicana


The Ruffed Grouse is shipping immediately for Stogiebird monthly subscribers and will be available in all subscription packages until April 14th. Afterwards it will be available online via the Stogiebird cigar store.

 


“Jonas really hit it out of the park with this blend.” said Sam Leccia, President, Stogiebird. “I am already trying to convince him to add it to his portfolio.

 

 

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

 

CigarCraig

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News: Reinado Cigars To Release The Grand Apex

Back in 2013 I met Antonio Lam, the owner of Reinado Cigars, at Cigar Emporium in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. I subsequently saw him at a couple of IPCPR shows where I interviewed him and he was in one or two of my IPCPR special videos. One of the more memorable moments was the video where I asked everyone what their brand’s them song would be, and we had to do several takes because he kept calling the Star Wars Imperial March, the Imperial Death March. Much hilarity ensued. I really enjoyed his Reinado cigars, the Grand Empire Reserve, made by Yadi Gonzalez in Nicaragua was an exceptional cigar. I was disappointed when he dropped out of sight, but with the FDA regulations, and him being a very small brand, I wasn’t terribly surprised. I figured he was another casualty of the times. As it turns out, it was familial obligations that took focus away, as he, his sister and brother-in-law have been assisting his mother in taking care of his father who sufferes from dementia. Antonio says: “My father always taught me to excel at whatever I chose to do, work hard and never give up. He worked in this country all his life since receiving his visa from Cuba in 1968, holding factory jobs to provide for his family. He was a lawyer in Cuba but his diplomas and degrees were not recognized in the USA. After several years he was finally able to get an entry level position job at Chase Manhattan Bank in NYC and climbed up the corporate ladder to hold the title of VP. It was a proud moment for him. With this product line I am paying tribute to his “Apex”, his climb and the efforts we all make to reach our Apex, that highest
point of success. Reinado will be contributing a portion of our proceeds to the Dementia Society of America to help find a cure for his illness. Although my father will not know it, we will make the climb just as he did to make him proud.”  

Photo Credit: Elisa Bailon

Reinado Cigars is returning with The Grand Apex, which will be made at Aganorsa Leaf Company in Nicaragua. They plan to offer it. in boxes of 20, and will retail between $10 and $13. The blend is yet to be disclosed. The Grand Apex will be offered the Reinado’s original retailers and will also be offered to new accounts. Ruben’s Smokestack in Hackensack, NJ should be expected to be one of the first retailers to carry them as the owner, Ruben Abreu, has been a personal friend and mentor to Antonio over the years.  This is not expected to be a limited release. I’m personally looking forward to smoking this and catching up with Antonio again, it’s been far too long. I wish the best to him and his family through a difficult time. 

 

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

 

CigarCraig

 

 

 

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News: La Gloria Cubana Presents Spirit of the Lady

Some news from Forged Cigar Co., which is taking some getting used to. I’m so accustomed to typing General Cigar Co. I have to get used to making the distinction. Of course, when something new comes out from LA Gloria Cubana it catches my eye, having been a fan of the brand since I started smoking cigars in the mid-90s.  This sounds like an interesting blend, I’ll be interested in smoking it.

 

La Gloria Cubana Presents Spirit of the Lady

 

Limited Edition Release Celebrates the Artisans of the Original Boutique Brand

 

La Gloria Cubana, the original boutique brand, has created a special five-country blend that celebrates the masterful artisans of the El Credito Cigar Factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic. 

 

Called “Spirit of the Lady,” the limited edition collection will be available exclusively at U.S. cigar shops beginning on March 2 and includes two box-pressed vitolas made from the finest aged tobaccos.

 

La Gloria Cubana and its Spirit of the Lady collection are distributed by The Forged Cigar Company.

 

Steve Abbot, senior brand manager for La Gloria Cubana said, “The artisans of El Credito are passionately committed to their craft, and it shows in every single cigar they make. Through their unwavering commitment to creating exquisite cigars, this dedicated team embodies the assured spirit of Lady La Gloria, the brand’s iconic marque. It is truly a pleasure to celebrate these talented men and women, and to honor their artistry through this special offering.”

 

Featuring hand-selected tobaccos from around the world, the El Credito blending team has selected a dark and lustrous, seven-year-aged wrapper from the Olancho San Agustín region of Honduras. It envelopes a Cameroon binder and dimensional blend of Mexican, Nicaraguan, and Dominican tobaccos.  The result is an elegant, medium-to-full-bodied smoking experience with notes of cocoa, dark fruit, cedar, toast and a hint of cinnamon.  

 

Spirit of the Lady will be available in two classic sizes and just 600 boxes of each size will be released.

Spirit of the Lady Toro (6” x 50); SRP per cigar $12.99

Spirit of the Lady Churchill (7” x 50); SRP per cigar $14.99

 

About The Forged Cigar Company 

Developed to deepen support for the brick and mortar channel, The Forged Cigar Company launched in 2021 as an independent national cigar distribution network. Bolstered by independent marketing and customized programming, The Forged Cigar Company’s portfolio includes a curated mix of established and cult brands such as Partagas, La Gloria Cubana, Bolivar Cofradia, Diesel and Chillin’ Moose. The Forged Cigar Company’s mission includes leveraging relationships with its proprietary network of cigar factories to deliver product innovations uniquely timed to meet retailer and consumer needs.

 

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