by | February 16, 2023 · 11:00 pm

News: Blackbird launches New Cigar Line: the ‘’GLITCH’’

Here’s some news from the folks at Blackbird Cigars.  I’m skipping the TPE this year, scheduling problems, but I’ll miss catching up with Jonas and his team.  TPE is a good show for releasing more wallet friendly cigars, it seems, these are a very well priced cigar.  

 

The Blackbird team launches new cigar line, the ‘’GLITCH’’, at TPE 2023. 

 

Jonas Santana, Co-Founder of Blackbird Cigars,  is excited to announce the newest addition to the company, the GLITCH. ‘‘On behalf  of the Blackbird Team, we are more than happy to announce this new product. For us,  the feeling of a new creation is always a great motivation to keep growing in the cigar  industry. This is an example of… listen to what the team has to say!! We can’t wait for  you to enjoy this affordable but great cigar’’. Said Jonas Santana. 

 

How often a GLITCH becomes an opportunity? 

 

In 2022, we were producing a particular blend at our factory, and everything was  normal as usual but, after a few days of producing the cigars, our Master Blender  arrived at the factory from a trip overseas to check on a tobacco crop. After  performing his usual quality control procedures, he was taken by surprise. The blend  was not exactly what he was expecting. The Master Blender immediately called for a  team meeting at the factory. He questioned everyone to understand what happened. 

 

He needed someone to elaborate how this was possible? Of course, no one had a  response, now frustration levels were high. After a couple of minutes in the meeting,  one of the new guys told the Master Blender, he didn’t know what was going on with  the blend because he did everything correctly. He chose the right tobacco for the  blend. Then, the new guy said: The day you left, we received two varieties of tobaccos.  I wrote the code names on the bales as I was instructed. With this information, the  Master Blender found out the error. The new guy mixed up the codes. 

 

 

The Master Blender immediately called the partners of the company to explain the  situation as he felt the issue was dire. He was wondering how to resolve the problem.  This was not the blend the company were supposed to produce. Silence was in the  room… Three gentlemen tasting the ‘‘mistaken blend’’ with a frustration that was  noticeable on their faces. An inch later, one of the partners asked the Master Blender: 

 

Did you really try this cigar? The Master Blender said: Yes, that is not the blend that I  created. The partner asked another question: Did you dislike the flavor profile of the  cigar? The Master Blender responded: I was not really thinking about it, why? The  partner said: This is what we were looking for. We were looking for an affordable cigar  that can compete in this market. The frustrated group turned into a room filled with  laughter. 

 

The other partner said: I think I have the name for this blend, we will call it the  GLITCH!! The GLITCH is a mistake, a blip, a temporary technical malfunction. In this  case, this GLITCH was a wonderful mistake. 

 

This line’s offering will be Claro, Habano and Oscuro. Every box will have 20 cigars  and it will be packed in a cardboard box to save the customers in shipping. Each blend  will come in Robusto 50×5 (MSRP $6.10 each) and Toro 52×6 (MSRP $6.6 Each). 

 

GLITCH Claro 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut 

Binder: Mexican 

Filler: Dominican & USA 

GLITCH Habano 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano 

Binder: Mexican 

Filler: Dominican & USA 

GLITCH Oscuro 

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres 

Binder: Dominican 

Filler: Dominican & USA

 

Shipping will be made in late March or beginning of April. NO CHARGE will be made  until we ship the order. 

#CantClipOurWingz 

 

Share

Comments Off on News: Blackbird launches New Cigar Line: the ‘’GLITCH’’

Filed under News

Tagged as , , ,

by | · 5:48 pm

News: Fratello Cigars Shipping ViceVersa

Last May I had the opportunity to smoke prototypes of this cigar (Here).  This was a project suggested to Omar by Kevin Shahan of CigarProp.  I’ve been looking forward to its release ever since.  This may not be the first “reversible” cigar, but it might be the best. Looking forward to picking up a few of these.  The genius of this is that you can’t just buy one!


FRATELLO VICE VERSA SHIPPING FEBRUARY 20TH

Fratello Cigars is pleased to officially announce that the VICEVERSA is shipping to retailers starting on February 20th. Keep checking the Fratello Website, as we will soon publish which retailers will have these highly anticipated cigars available.

​ 

“This project is easily one of the most challenging projects I have had the pleasure to work on,” said de Frias in a press release when the cigar was announced. “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.”

Better described by Cigar Aficionado, these cigars have two personalities, and come in one size, 7 inches long by 52. The cigars come in untraditional packaging: a box contains 60 cigars, divided into five packs of 12. The release is limited to 2,000 boxes of 12 cigars. Each cigar has an MSRP of $15, and a portion of sales will be donated to the Premium Cigar Association. VICEVERSA was made at the La Aurora Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic.

For more information about the cigars, visit www.fratellocigar.com

Share

Comments Off on News: Fratello Cigars Shipping ViceVersa

Filed under News

Tagged as , , ,

by | February 12, 2023 · 10:57 am

Villiger de Nicaragua, Alec Bradley Fine and Rare and Bocock Brothers Cigars

I’ve been getting into a pattern of smoking what I want to smoke in the beginning of the week, then smoking new cigars for here at the end.  So Thursday I smoked a Villiger de Nicaragua torpedo which I had received in a package from Villiger  a week or so ago. This is a $15 limited edition ciga made in Villiger’s factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.  It’s a pointy 6″ x 52 box pressed torpedo, with an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, San Andrés binder and Nicaraguan and Pennsylvanian filles. This cigar has nice, dark, rich flavors.  It’s. got some spice with dark chocolate, very nice smoke.  It burned without incident, it was among the best cigars I had all week.  Very nice. VIlliger opened their factory in Esteli in September of 2021, they are also making La Meridiana, San’Dorp, La Vencedora, La Libertad, Casa De Nicaragua, and Corrida in that factory now. 

 

I had a trying Friday, so I went to the special humidor where I keep the Secret Santa cigars I received this year.  I chose the next Alec Bradley Fine and Rare in the series I received, the 2018 Second Edition.  This is the JRS10=(86) blend, all of the Fine and Rares are a blend of ten tobaccos, and they keep those tobaccos to themselves.  This one was a 6½” x 56 Gran Toro.  I needed a great smoke and I got just that. This is outside of my normal comfort zone, it’s bright, floral, slightly fruity, but it sure tasted good.  Perfect construction was a big factor in my enjoyment, if I had encountered one of those cigars that produced loads of smoke when blown through, but you don’t get any when you draw, I would have been homicidal.  Why does that happen, by the way, it really pisses me off, I had it happen yesterday.  Anyway, the Fine and Rare was just that, thanks again to Mitch for sharing with me, very generous.

 

Finally, I went into some cigars that I got at last year’s TPE show.  I thought about going this year, but I have some scheduling conflicts which made it impossible.  I did a video with Bryant Bocock then, and have smoked a few of their Bocock Brothers cigars, but came across this 5″ x 50 World Traveller, which I initially thought was Habano, but now that I think back it might have been the Maduro.  I like the rooster on the band, I suppose “cock” in the Bocock name is the reason they use that imagery. I like chickens, we have a few.  This was an interesting cigar, it had a nice, meaty flavor.  Very dense, rich smoke.  I know it was 5″ x 50, but it somehow seemed thinner to me, which was OK, it was the right size cigar for the time available.  I know they were doing some cigars with AJ Fernandez, although this wasn’t one of them. It was different from your standard maduro, I enjoyed it quite a bit, I need to see if I have some more floating around. 

 

That’s all for now.  I know I’m from the Philly area and should be losing my mind over the Super Bowl, but I honestly don’t give a rats ass about football. Good for them if they win, I hope the city survives the carnage whichever way it turns out.  Thanks to all this Philadelphia has become known for having the grease all the light and traffic signal poles so fools won;t climb them, when there are so many other great things about the city to focus on.  Whatever, I guess it’s good for business. Until he next time, 

 

CigarCraig

 

 

 

 

Share

1 Comment

Filed under Review

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

by | February 11, 2023 · 7:43 am

News: Diesel Fools Errand Simple Fool Due For Release

I’ve liked a lot of the Diesels over the years, this one looks fun.  Not only is there s a cool shaped cigar, but they’ve included an online game with it!  Pretty cool, read on: 

 

 

DIESEL RELEASES SECOND FOOL’S ERRAND ITERATION WITH INTERACTIVE GAME

Diesel is set to roll out the second release in its Fool’s Errand trilogy with Simple Fool, a new, limited edition expression that blends cigar mastery, storytelling and interactivity in one. 

 

Simple Fool will ship to retailers on March 6.

 

Blended by AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews, Diesel Fool’s Errand Simple Fool is a Nicaraguan-forward smoke. Crafted with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and a blend of proprietary tobaccos cultivated by AJ in Nicaragua’s celebrated growing regions, the binder and filler tobaccos are all Nicaraguan Habano harvested from various primings. Simple Fool is a full-bodied, dense smoke with espresso, earth and spice notes balanced by a rich creaminess.  

 

Justin Andrews said, “There is nothing foolish about simplicity and this cigar echoes what AJ and I believe to be true about life in general: that less can often be more. Think about the aroma you smell when you first open a box of cigars. Or a relaxing place to unwind with a great smoke. These are simple things that mean a lot. Simple Fool is no different. This cigar exercises restraint beautifully with proprietary, full-bodied tobaccos blended to perfection. Nothing more, nothing less.”

 

Simple Fool is being released in one size, a 5” x 58 tapered perfecto that tells the blend story perfectly.

 

For this, the second release in the Fool’s Errand series, the Simple Fool character will be introduced via a collectible tarot card inside the box. The card contains a QR code that, when activated, will launch an interactive game which invites the cigar smok

buy augmentin online https://warren-yazoo.org/wymhsorg/images/gif/augmentin.html no prescription pharmacy

er to complete the Simple Fool’s errand by solving a series of riddles. Special Diesel Fool’s Errand prizes created specifically for the Simple Fool character will be awarded at random to the top 10 participants. 

 

The Diesel Fool’s Errand trilogy is released annually in early Spring, and includes the introduction of a new character with a unique backstory and a customized interactive game and prizes. The line debuted in 2022 with Diesel Fool’s Errand Stubborn Fool. The third and final release in the trilogy is planned for Spring 2024. 

 

Justin Andrews hints, “A simple fool is still a fool yet a wise person thinks ahead. Wise cigar smokers among us will put the Simple Fool tarot card in a safe place for safe keeping…”

 

Diesel Fool’s Errand Simple Fool is handmade at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua. The cigars will come in

buy doxycycline online https://warren-yazoo.org/wymhsorg/images/gif/doxycycline.html no prescription pharmacy

10-count boxes.

 

Diesel Fool’s Errand Simple Fool (5” x 58); SRP per cigar $9.99

 

Diesel cigars are distributed by Forged Cigar Company.

 

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.

Share

Comments Off on News: Diesel Fools Errand Simple Fool Due For Release

Filed under News

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | February 5, 2023 · 10:02 am

Oliva Serie V, Cuba Aliados and La Patissier Cigars

Last Sunday I was out and about and came across a couple cigars that I hadn’t tried yet, so I bought them.  I smoked a couple this week, although by Saturday it had gotten ridiculously cold, so I opted for a shorter smoke so as not to over-tax my propane heater.  I started off with the Oliva Serie V 125th Anniversary Edicion Limit

ada. I thought this would be priced higher, but it was reasonable $10, and well worth it.  It wasn’t all that long ago that I felt like I was really going top-shelf spending $8-12 on a cigar.  Times have changed.  Still, what else could I do for an hour and a half or more that costs less than $10?  This is an interesting figurado, it’s tapered at the foot, once you burn past the first inch and a half it may as well be a parejo.  It measures 5½” x 54 overall and is Nicaraguan filler and binder wrapped in a Sungrown Ecuador Habano leaf.  That narrow foot not only makes it easy to light, but seemed to make the opening few puffs pretty sharp and powerful.  It settled into leathery and earthy with some cocoa sweetness.  Overall I really enjoyed this cigar. I haven’t smoked a lot of Serie Vs lately, they have to be priced higher than this one.  It’s highly recommended.  By the way, the 135 refers to the anniversary of when Melanio Oliva started in the tobacco business, Oliva cigars has only been around for about 30 years.

 

Next up was another cigar connected with Oliva, from the  recently acquired Cuba Aliados brand. I smoked a bunch of these in the ’90s when they were made by Rolando Reyes and existed alongside Puro Indios in their lineup. I can’t say I remember too much about them, but I know the Cuba Aliados brand was a favorite of Steve Saka back then.  This one is made by Ernesto Carillo, it has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. Ernesto is kinda famous for using Sumatra, and I like Sumatra. The cigar I smoked was a 6″ x 54 torpedo, and I probably selected that because it was the only vitola the shop had available. This was a really nice tasting cigar with a sweet spice.  It’s burn and draw were perfect and I quite enjoyed it.  It was closer to $15, so I don’t think I’ll smoke a lot of them, but it was worth the money.  I’m a fan if EPC from way back, so that probably worked in the cigar’s favor.  

 

Like I said, Saturday was super-cold, and I know we weren’t along in this weather pattern, a lot of the country seems to have had a cold snap. below a certain temperature, my propane heater doesn’t do as good a job.  This is the perfect time for shorter cigars, so I had a La Patissier No. 50 from the PCA show that would fit into this scenario perfectly.  It’s 4 3/8″ x 50, not tiny, but not huge.  I don’t smoke a lot of Crowned Heads cigars, and this particular one was made at the Pichardo factory before they had the falling-out. I don’t recall where they will be having this made, it might be made by Ernesto Carillo which would connect all three of today’s cigars in some circular way.  Anyway, this cigar has a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Jalapa binder, and fillers from Costa Rica, as well as the Ometepe and Pueblo Nuevo regions of Nicaragua. My guess would be that future iterations of this cigar will not have the Puebla Nueva tobacco, as that seemed to be a favorite of Luciano Marielles. This cigar was really good, although I’m a little surprised to see it was Broadleaf, it didn’t smoke that way to me. It started out bold, and had an exotic spice that I couldn’t put a label on.  It was very good, I may see if I can find some of these older ones so I can see if it changes.  

 

A week or so back I smoked a La Gloria Serie S, their new San Andrés offering, and I guess I bought a couple of them and forgot that I had, because I couldn’t remember where it came from. Last week I got some samples of these and smoked one yesterday.  I’m going to set them down for a while, lets just say that I had pretty much the same experience the guy who smoked one on Dojo’s last Smoke Night Live show had.  I like San Andrés and I love La Gloria, so I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. More to come on that. That’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

Share

Comments Off on Oliva Serie V, Cuba Aliados and La Patissier Cigars

Filed under Review

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,