Tag Archives: Nomad

Some New Cigars: Gurkha, Nomad and Spectral from Flor de Gonzalez

In the IPCPR show spirit, I smoked some more newbies this week!  I’ve been seeing a few cigars from the show that I’m looking forward to getting my hands on, but from what I’ve seen on other media outlets, it’s a lot of the same. I’m amused when I see comment on the IPCPR show and their policies by either new sites (they are supposed to see if you’ve had your site up for more than a month or two) or bloggers who have never been there, or have no knowledge apart from what they’ve read elsewhere.  I’ve seen my fair share of consumers at the show on social media, something which was strictly prohibited, I have also heard several stories of thefts from booths at the show, All I can say is I know who can’t be blamed this time! I’ve also seen some great coverage from the likes of The Cigar Authority, Cigar-Coop, Halfwheel and Cigar Federation. Glad to see some of my media brethren doing it right! I’ll see if I go next year, it’s fun but it’s a ton of work! On with the cigars!

 

Sunday I smoked a Gurkha 125th Anniversary in what they call the XO, which is 6” x 60, a nice sized cigar for a Sunday evening walk. This cigar features a Cubra Habano wrapper, accompanied by an Ecuadorian Habano binder and a complex combination of Nicaraguan, Brazilian and Dominican fillers. Bianca gave me this cigar at Cigarnival last month. I’ve smoked a few of the newer cigars in the Gurkha range, and really enjoyed most of them, particularly the Seduction, Ghost and Cellar Reserve Maduro.  This was a tasty treat!  It burned really well, had a perfect draw, and basically didn’t give me any trouble!  Not sure where these are priced, or how available they are, but it’s a worthy smoke from the folks at Gurkha.

 

Nomad_C-276_RobustoMonday I went with the new C-276 robusto from Nomad Cigars.  Fred was kind enough to send me a couple of these, knowing I wouldn’t be at the trade show.  This new release has a Ecuador Habano Oscuro wrapper which is dark and oily and Nicaraguan binder and fillers and is box pressed. Fred blended this cigar, as he’s been known to do lately, and it’s made in the AJ Fernandez factory. I’m impressed with the fact that Fred admits that he didn’t blend his original Dominican line, the factory gave him several blends to choose from. I think he’s getting the hang of it, as his last three, now four releases have been quite tasty! This C-276 is a powerhouse. Passing the smoke through the nose is a little painful, there’s loads of ligero in this cigar, and you can taste the distinct Ometepe influence. This is a great smoke, too bad it was only a robusto as it was finished too soon!

 

FdG_Spectral_ToroTuesday evening my hand gravitated to a cigar the Yadi Gonzalez from Flor de Gonzolez handed me at Cigarnival.  This is a cedar wrapped tor called Spectral, and has a dark, mottled wrapper. I seem to recall Yadi mentioning that it was five-plus years old, and made with tobaccos aged five years, and there might be plume under the cedar sleeve. I didn’t notice any, but this had a dark wrapper, and a really neat cold draw flavor which I tend to associate with tobacco from Peru. It was a Toro size, 6″ x 52 and was very nicely constructed. This was a solid medium cigar, with nice, rich, dark flavors and a perfect burn. This is another cigar I enjoyed thoroughly, right up to the point where I burned my fingers. This is another terrific cigar from Flor de Gonzalez, they are building quite a nice portfolio.

 

News

 

Cigar Journal Magazine had their annual awards event in Las Vegas this week, and here are the winners:

I went to the awards back in 2011 and it was a good time. I was just telling Glynn Loope a few weeks ago about how he stood in front of me while I was trying to video the whole thing and wouldn’t stand still!  It’s OK, the quality wasn’t very good anyway so I never used the video. As long as I brought  up Glynn, support Cigar Rights of America if you don’t already. We are in the home stretch with the comment period on this FDA nonsense and need every comment. Make sure you tell them what you think so that one day you don’t have any cigars to enjoy!

 

On another note, I will be finding myself in Chicago around August 15th to 17th, so if any of you Chigagoans want to get together for a smoke or two, I’ll be looking for places to visit. I’m sure there are several places I need to see.

 

That’s all I got, until the next time,
CigarCraig

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Ezra Zion, Leccia, A Rocky Patel Pre-Release and Loads of Cigar News

After the trilogy of good luck with the fine line of cigars from Bombay Tobac at the start of the week, I felt the need to take no chances. I started the week well, I was going to finish this week off right!  I smoke a lot of different cigars, and I have to admit, while the almost all have some redeeming qualities, not all of them are what I’m looking for in terms of personal satisfaction.  I know the difference between a good cigar, and one I really like, so I feel comfortable reporting on various cigars, but sometimes you just want to smoke some cigars you love.  I’m also going to share some news I’ve received over the course of the week.

 

EzraZion_JamaisVu_CoronaGordaThursday was a beautiful evening. I had been listening to the CigarChat in podcast version, featuring Kyle and Chris from Ezra Zion Cigars, and formerly the owners of Cigar Federation, which hosts CigarChat.  I listen in podcast form as I just never seem to be sitting in front of a monitor when the shows are on. This is true for all of the shows I listen to, I prefer to listen in the car, or on my walks. It would be fun to participate in the various chatrooms associated with some of these shows, I just always seem to be doing something else…but I digress.  I had a Ezra Zion Jamias Vu Corona Gorda Box Press 6½x52 (not really a corona gorda, but a toro) in my humidor which called my name. I really liked this cigar when it came out and was called Inception, and I like the Inception name better than Jamais Vu, but the cigar remains the same. It’s rich, dark, smooth and satisfying. Just about everything I look for in a smoke. It features mature tobacco, all Nicaraguan and all aged five to six years. You can taste the quality.  So far, these guys do it right, and were pretty hysterical on the CigarChat show.

 

Leccia_Luchador_ElCastigoFriday I needed the slam dunk, so I picked one of my favorite cigars so far this year, the Leccia Luchador, in the 6″x60 El Castigo size. I wanted a smoking experience longer than the robusto,  so I went large.  For me, I love the El Castigo, but I think the robusto better represents what’s really special about this cigar. The larger size downplays that jalapeño cocoa flavor I find in the smaller vitola. I want to get around to trying the other two sizes, the El Guapo Toro and Loco Perfecto to see what they bring to the table.  If you haven’t tried the Luchador line yet, and you like great cigars, give it a shot.

 

RockyPatel_Decade_CameroonSaturday we spent the day laying sod where our back patio used to be.  If the ground were just at about waist level, this job would have been much easier on my back. All the lifting, moving, bending, etc. killed me.  For a reason I haven’t figured out, be it exhaustion, or blind faith, I decided that evening’s walk would be a great time to try a new cigar from Rocky Patel‘s Decade line. This has a flawless Cameroon wrapper, and, to my knowledge, is not out yet, and may be debuting later today at the IPCPR show in Vegas. I happen to love some Cameroon wrapper now and then, it has a unique sweet flavor I refer to as Camerooniness.  I took a chance on a new, untried cigar to wrap up my week of great smokes, and got lucky.  This was a wonderful, medium bodied smoke with a perfect burn. It had the nice, flat ash that shows me how much care went into selecting tobaccos that all burn at the same rate.  Smooth, balanced, and darned yummy.Thanks to our local RP rep, Mark, for setting me up with this one.  It’s a great cigar that I’ll be on the hunt for.

 

News

 

I’ve been inundated with press releases this week, and I’m sure you’ve seen most of this elsewhere, but I just want share it anyway.

First, a scoop from Victor Vitale of Legacy Brands on his Tortuga Reserva Cedro No.10:

The teaser on the Tortuga Reserva Cedro No. 10 is that it’s the third addition to my Cedro Series. As you can see,  it’s a bit larger 6.5×58 however still packs the power of my Cedro No. 5. There are not many boxes of this made and it will *not be on display at the show. This is going to be held back until the fall due to the limited quantity produced and inability to meet the already existing demand. I’m going to complete the full production, properly rest the additional cigars and deliver in the fall. 

 *Box qty 36

*Original production number 7,200 (set for July delivery – but will stay at the factory until the fall) 

*Total 2014 production number is 18,000 cigars for the Cedro No.10

 

This is exciting as I really enjoy the Cedro line, it’s refined and delicious!  Looking forward to smoking more of the Coyote Negros too!

 

The rest of these I’m going to present the press releases as I received them, which I know is the lazy way to do it, but I’m lazy, what can I say!

 

First, from 1502 Cigars:

Contact: Enrique Sanchez 
Email: info@globalpremiumcigars.com 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global Premium Cigars Releases New Cigar, the 1502 Nicaragua

Miami, Florida, July 16, 2014 

Global Premium Cigars is pleased to announce the release of its newest cigar, the 1502 Nicaragua. Global Premium Cigars is a tobacco company which is proud of its Nicaraguan heritage. The new cigar continues the company’s tradition of excellence and is the only cigar in the 1502 cigars line that is 100% pure Nicaraguan tobacco.

Nicaragua is one of only two countries in the world which can produce cigars entirely from their tobacco. The 1502 Nicaragua epitomizes this birthright, as it is made from tobacco from all four regions of Nicaragua: Esteli, Condega, Jalapa, Ometepe.

“This cigar was created for my newborn son. So that he never forgets his roots – 100% Nicaraguan,” said Enrique Sanchez, President of Global Premium Cigars.

The 1502 Nicaragua is packaged in a golden wrapper with a white band. It is a medium to medium-plus cigar that is stronger than the 1502 Line’s Emerald. The cigar will be available in the Robusto vitola, measuring 5 X 50, and in boxes of 30 cigars, box pressed. Retailers are urged to order them in time for their customers.

For more information please email info@globalpremiumcigars.com or contact via the website: globalpremiumcigars.com

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From La Flor Dominicana:

La Flor Dominicana
2013LFDLOGO123 San Lorenzo Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33146-1513
Phone- (800)543-7131
Fax – (305)443-7985
ligero@laflordominicana.com

La Flor Dominicana to introduce new items at 82nd IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas this year.

Coral Gables, FL July 16th 2014 – La Flor Dominicana will introduce the following items at this year’s IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas, July 20th – 23rd.

La Flor Dominicana 1994 Limited Edition Beer Stein – In honor of our 20th anniversary we have created a very special cigar uniquely packaged in a beautiful porcelain beer stein. The cigar is made with tobaccos that were set aside several years ago in anticipation of this very special occasion. The complex and powerful flavors of this cigar originate from the best fillers and binder grown on our farm in the Dominican Republic and are complemented with a sweet and savory Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper. This blend is as special as the occasion it serves to commemorate and is symbolic of the quality and pride with which La Flor Dominicana has built its name. The packaging is a toast to our friends and loyal fans that have supported us over the years. It is because of them that our passion for making cigars is as strong as it has ever been. Cheers!

1994 – In addition to the limited release, a very similar blend will be made available in 4 sizes, a 58 x 6 “Aldaba”, a 52 x 6.5 “Rumba”, a 52 x 5 “Conga”, and a 54 x 7 “Mambo”. The blend will feature the same fillers & binder, but with a natural San Andrés wrapper. This line will be a permanent addition to our portfolio.

Capitulo II – A great sequel should pick up where the first left off, and the highly anticipated continuation to Antonio Gomez’s Chapter 1 does just that. An entirely new blend was created for the familiar box pressed Chisel shape, and though the tobaccos may be different, Capitulo II promises power and flavor all the same. This cigar features a gorgeous Nicaraguan Colorado wrapper which adorns a sweet Ecuadorian Habano binder and robust Dominican fillers. Sweetness, spice, and power are what define this story.

Salomones – The La Flor Dominicana Salomones is a subject of great lore among cigar collectors worldwide. We are ecstatic to announce that a very small quantity of these will once again be made available at this year’s IPCPR in both natural and maduro. These cigars have been maturing for years in our aging room and promise to provide an unbelievable experience of complex flavors and aromas like no other Salomon ever has!

Digger Ashtrays – Cigars these days have outgrown the accessories made to complement them. Being pioneers of the large cigar craze that has taken off over the last few years, we have noticed this problem more than most. This is why we are introducing a new line of ashtrays, Digger ashtrays to be exact. Beautiful, refined, and practical, these ashtrays have never met a cigar they couldn’t hold. They will be available in full porcelain and solid mahogany with metal trim.

La Flor Dominicana is a vertically integrated premium cigar company, where we proudly control the process from the seed to the final grading, inspecting and packing process. Our tobaccos are grown at our farm in La Canela, Dominican Republic. Our factory is located in Tamboril.

For further information, please contact our office at (800) 543-7131.

www.laflordominicana.com


 From George Rico’s G. R. Tabacaleras Co. in Miami:

NEW SUMMER S.T.K. MIAMI 2014 PRODUCTS

GEORGE RICO S.T.K. MIAMI ZULU ZULU

MAS PAZ EDITION 2014

This cigar will still contain the identical Ecuadorian Connecticut and Nicaraguan Habano blends, but this newest edition will be made in our own factory in Miami. G.R. Tabacaleras Co. is collaborating with a new artist, Mas Paz, to design the new boxes for this project, and the proceeds for the Mas Paz Edition will go towards a new charitable cause. A percentage of the sales of this new project will go towards a non-profit organization that will fund renovations for La Casa de la Madre y el Niño, an orphanage in Bogotá, Colombia.

Country of Origin: USA
Factory: G.R. Tabacaleras Co.
Distributor: Santa Cruz Tobacco / Gran Habano
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut / Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan
Sizes: 7 ½ x 40 Lancero, 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda, 6 x 54 Rolo
MSRP: $8.25 – $9.27
Release Date: Available for pre-order at IPCPR 2014

GEORGE RICO S.T.K. MIAMI BARRACUDA
LIMITED EDITION MADURO 2014

Country of Origin: USA
Factory: G.R. Tabacaleras Co.
Distributor: Santa Cruz Tobacco / Gran Habano
Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Sizes: 5 x 52, 6 ½ x 54, 5 5/8 x 46
MSRP: $7.50 – $8.50
Release date: July 2014
Number of Cigars Released: 200 boxes of each size

 www.ghcigars.com

 


 The next one is From JR Cigars:

 

Fans of premium-quality San Andrés wrapper leaf are gonna want to check out, Black Abyss, a brand-new handrolled premium cigar crafted by José “Jochy” Blanco, the guy who grows the leaf for a bunch of Boutique Blends cigar brands, including Aging Room and Swag, both of which have collected tons of high ratings in cigar magazines (the Aging Room Quattro F55 Concerto took second place in Cigar Aficionado's top 25 of 2013). Anyway…

Black Abyss is handmade at Tabacalera Palma in the Dominican Republic and, while it isfull bodied, it’s cleverly designed for not just smokers of super-strong cigars. It’s got that big, rich, bold flavor often associated with a San Andrés wrapper and it does contain some potent ligero leaf, but along with the blend’s hearty, zesty notes of dark coffee, this cigar begins and ends with a sweetness while a smooth creaminess remains throughout, making it a great choice for medium-bodied cigar fans who want to step it up in strength.

Black Abyss’s construction is top-notch, as evidenced by its extremely even burn and draw, which are made even better by an exceptionally appealing aroma.

Jochy Blanco’s Black Abyss is made in four sizes (each featuring a somewhat sinister name: Banshee, Cerberus, Hydra, and Wraith) packed in boxes of 20 cigars. If all that’s piqued your interest, you’ll be glad to know that Black Abyss cigars are also pretty reasonably priced. Starting in July, you’ll find them exclusively at JR Cigar.

 


 Then we have news from Roberto Duran Premium Cigars:

 

ROBERTO DURAN PREMIUM CIGARS INTRODUCES TWO ADDITIONAL CIGAR BRANDS AT THE IPCPR: NEYA AND BARACOA

 

(Miami, Florida) July 17, 2014— Roberto P. Duran Premium Cigars, after a successful 2013 launch with the Azan Line of cigars and the recent announcement of the Roberto Duran Premium Cigar Brand is ready to introduce two additional cigar brands: Neya and theBaracoa Line.

Roberto Pelayo Duran is fully committed to providing a full line at this year’s IPCPR. The Addition of the premium Neya and the value cigar Baracoa will fill in the gap in the Roberto P. Duran line as the announcement was made last week that he will introduce a super-premium brand, Roberto P. Duran Cigar.

 

The Neya Premium cigar brand is a premium brand which comes in a cedar 20 count cabinet.  The Filler and Binder is both Nicaraguan while the wrapper is a Habana Ecuador. The Neya line will be expressed through five sizes with the two largest sizes holding a description of F8 as they will be full bodied cigars even though all sizes carry the same blend. The Neya will retail between $4.00 and $7.00 per cigar. Neya Premium Cigar sizes: Petite Corona 5 1/8 X 42 CAB, Robusto 4 7/8 X CAB, Canonazo 6 X 52 CAB, Toro 6 X 56 CAB, and the Yanquee 6 X 60 CAB.

Roberto said:” Neya is a brand that took some time to develop as we used very well fermented leaves and well-aged Nicaraguan ligero. This is a full flavored cigar in the way that we understood the term in Cuba, which is to mean not spicy but a strongly flavored cigar which increases in strength when smoking the two larger sizes. As with all of our cigars they are rolled under strict supervision in our Nicatobacco Factory in Nicaragua.”

Screen Shot 2014-06-09 at 3

Baracoa, (full name Roberto Duran Baracoa) was created as a great everyday cigar. The RD Baracoa which represents the city of Roberto P. Duran family origin in Cuba (Baracoa) is made with the same quality and care of Roberto’s other cigar lines. The filler and binder is both Nicaraguan with the wrapper an Ecuador Habana Criollo. Baracoa comes in carton 20 box count and will be represented in 9 sizes with three of them in box press form. RD Baracoa sure to please a wide array of cigar palates. The Baracoa line of cigars will retail between $3.00 and $.4.50 a cigar. Baracoa Cigar sizes: Robusto 4 7/8 X 50, Torpedo 6 1/8 X 52, Toro 6 X 52, Churchill 7 X 47 Gordito 4 X 58, Gigantes 6 X 60, Robusto 5 X 50 Box Press, Toro 6 X 52 Box Press, and Torpedo 6 1/8 X 52 Box Press.

Roberto said:” Baracoa is a true power house value cigar gives boasts plenty of quality for the price”, Roberto continued,” I am very excited to introduce Neya, Baracoa and the previously announced Roberto P. Duran Cigar Brand to the public. We are about producing top quality products and we invite everyone to our booth (3813) to experience the passion we put into all of our brands.”

Roberto Pelayo Duran began his life’s work in his homeland of Havana, Cuba where tobacco grabbed a hold of him, and never let go. Supervising the production of cigar manufacturing in Cuba was only the beginning as he later went on to assemble and managedistribution of all Cuban cigar brands for Asia at The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd. Most recently, he contributed to the new global brand marketing strategy for British American Tobacco. The creation of Roberto P. Duran Premium Cigars has given Roberto the platform to introduce a brand of cigars that offer the same quality, construction, and detail which he exceeded from those he supervised while in Cuba.

For more information about Roberto P. Duran Premium Cigars, please visit www.Robertodurancigars.co. For media inquiries and interviews, please contact Creativas Group at info@creativasgroup.com.

###


 

Fred Rewey of Nomad Cigars sent this out this week, along with some samples!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nomad Cigar Co. Releases much-anticipated C-276

Estelí, Nicaragua (July 18, 2014) – Nomad Cigar Company is pleased to announce the release of the Nomad C-276 at this year’s IPCPR in Las Vegas.

The C-276 is a full flavored complex blend featuring five different filler tobaccos (with two Ligeros).

It also marks the second full production cigar that Nomad has done in Estelí at Tobacalera AJ Fernandez.

The C-276 rounds out Nomad’s portfolio of offerings and joins its place on the shelf with the Dominican Classic, Nicaraguan S-307, and the released-early-in-2014 Dominican Connecticut Fuerte.

The C-276 also marks Fred Rewey’s first venture into using Ometepe tobacco in a blend.

“When I was blending the C-276 I approached it in layers. I kept trying to add layers and layers of flavor but didn’t want to overpower any one tobacco in the process. At one point I was struggling to add a final component that I couldn’t quite nail down. It was suggested to me that I visit Ometepe and check out that tobacco – it was the best addition to this blend I could make – it just came together,” said Rewey.

As with the other Nicaraguan lines, Rewey creates the name of the cigar using a variety of Nicaraguan factoids.

“The “C” is for Concepción, one of two volcanoes on Ometepe Island. “276″ is the square kilometers of the island. It seemed a fitting tribute to an incredible island growing amazing tobacco.” said Rewey.

Details on the Nomad C-276 include… 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Factory: Tobacalera AJ Fernandez

Box Pressed. 21 Count Box.

Immediately available in Toro (6×50), Robusto (5×50), Torpedo (6 1/2 x 52), Toro Grande (6 x 58), Corona (5.5 x 46)

Contact:

Fred “Godfadr” Rewey, Nomad Cigar Company

Twitter: @Godfadr

Godfadr@NomadCigarCompany.com

Phone: 855-MYNOMAD (or 855-696-6623)


Lotsa news from Drew Estate:

Drew Estate Announces New Releases in ACID, Kentucky Fire Cured, Herrera
Estelí & MUWAT Lines
Miami, FL – Drew Estate announced today that they would be releasing new
extensions in their ACID, Kentucky Fire Cured, Herrera Estelí and MUWAT lines at
the 2014 IPCPR tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV next week. The new cigars will include
the following:
• Acid Blondie Maduro – A maduro version of Drew Estate’s popular Blondie.
Featuring a San Andrés Valley Maduro instead of the Connecticut Shade
wrapper used on the current Blondie, the new ACID Blondie Maduro will
appeal to those who desire Blondie in a bolder blend.
• Kentucky Fire Cured Sizes, “Delfinas”, “Kyotos”, & “Hamhock” – The
Kentucky Fire Cured line is being expanded by three sizes: the Delfinas (6 x
26), the Kyotos (5 ½ x 34), and the Hamhock (3 ¾ x 56). All three sizes are
based on the original KFCC blend, which features smoked tobaccos as well as
dark air cured tobaccos.
• Herrera Esteli Norteño – The “Norteño” showcases extensively aged
tobaccos from the Estelí and Jalapa growing regions of Nicaragua, coupled
with a spicy Honduran binder and a rich, bold Mexican San Andrés maduro
wrapper. The “Norteño by Willy Herrera” will be available in the following
six vitolas at select Herrera Estelí retailers nationwide.

  • Coronita – 4 x 46
  • Corona Extra – 4 3/4 x 48
  • Belicoso Fino – 5 x 50
  • Robusto Grande – 5 1/2 x 54
  • Toro – 6 x 50
  • Lonsdale Deluxe – 6 1/2 x 44
  • MUWAT Nightcrawler – A 4 ½ x 50

and

Drew Estate Announces “Drew Diplomat” App & Consumer Loyalty Program
Miami, FL (07/18/2014)

Drew Estate, Inc. announced today the “Drew Diplomat”
Consumer Loyalty Program, which includes a mobile application for all smart
devices, as well as a desktop version. This exclusive new program provides
members with the ability to earn Points by checking-in Drew Estate Cigars and
attending events at retail locations throughout the world, as well as social
networking functions and unparalleled access to La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate.

Michael Cellucci President of Drew Estate, “The Drew Diplomat program bridges the gap
between the old world of the premium cigar industry and the modern technological
platforms available today. Our goal was to ensure that Drew Estate delivers the best
possible way for our consumers to interact with the company and our brands. Innovation
is the heart of what drives us, not only in the manufacturing process, but in all aspects of
the consumer experience. This program is a clear example of the tireless drive to be
thoughtful trailblazers.”

In 2013, Jonathan Drew assembled a team nicknamed “SLAB,” lead by Executive Director
Mario Takeyama. When reached for comment, Takeyama said, “Our team was created
with one objective: the connectivity between technology and premium tobacco. This is
something we have been working on in secret for a year and a half now.”

Heading the “Drew Diplomat” Consumer Loyalty Program is Customer Loyalty &
Advertising Specialist Sam Morales, who according to Jonathan Drew “is a specialist with
a true street fighter mentality, definitely Drew Estate Subculture approved. SLAB intends
on launching the Beta Program in the fall.”

Drew Diplomats can expect to spend their points on one of a kind artwork and swag from
Jessi Flores (Director of Subculture Studios in Estelí, Nicaragua); Lifestyle swag from
Creative Director Joey Reichenbach in Miami; and trips to Cigar Safari at La Gran Fabrica
Drew Estate. Jessi Flores notes, “We never had a way to get our artwork to final
consumers in the United States in a sustainable way. This groundbreaking application
explicitly connects each creative Drew Estate team member to our support base
worldwide.”

Consumers who are interested in Beta testing the program should visit
http://drewestate.com/ipcpr and enter Drew Estate’s giveaway for a chance to win one of
three prize packs:

• Liga Privada MEGA Standing Humidor/Ashtray
• A signed box of Liga Privada Feral Flying Pigs & an IPCPR Exclusive
Subculture Studios Stinky Ashtray
• A signed box of Liga Privada UF-13 Dark

Beta testers will be chosen from those who enter. Sam Morales notes that, “we are going
to need everyone in the Drew Estate family to help to make Jonathan’s vision come true.
This is the first program of its kind in the industry.”

For more information about the Drew Diplomat program, please visit Drew Estate’s booth
at the 2014 IPCPR tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV at Booth #210. Also, please use Drew
Estate’s hashtag #DEipcpr on any posts relating to Drew Estate and IPCPR. Lastly, follow
all of Drew Estate’s IPCPR coverage at http://drewestate.com/ipcpr.

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 Craft” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco
industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that have attracted new and old
cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew
Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Kentucky Fired Cured,
Liga Privada, MUWAT, Natural, Nica Rustica, Tabak Especial, UnderCrown, and Java by
Drew Estate.


Finally, this one is from Shon Brooks’s people. I admit, I have no idea who he is, and I’ve never heard of, or tried his cigars. I’ll have to look into this:

 

Shon Brooks “Star Cigar” Sets Chart Records – Smoke Magazine
Shon Brooks of Brooks Entertainment Inc. invents top rated S.O.B™Dominican cigar while in the mist of launching a new television channel with Cox Media. Shon Brooks, helped increase the highest NCAA Championship Nielsen Ratings after signing a ESPN Cox Media contract for March Madness. He is also one of the (IMDB) Internet Movie Database (SEO) search engine optimization traffic leaders and now becomes one of Smoke Magazine’s top 36 cigar manufacturers in the world!
Shon Brooks

Long Island City, NY, July 16, 2014 –(PR.com)– Lockwood Publications Inc. was incepted in 1872 and is the owner of Smoke Magazine. Their focus is on cigars and life’s burning desires, featuring blind tasting reviews of premium cigars and interviews with cigar makers. The publication includes feature stories on cigar producing countries and cover story interviews on cigar-smoking celebrities. It brings news and trends in the cigar world, must-have gifts and accessories, cigar-friendly drinks and spirits, etiquette advice, cigar culture, history, and much more. Smoke Magazine has the cigar industry’s most strict and critical cigar reviewers. The S.O.B™ Robusto cigar wholly owned by Brooks Entertainment Inc. received an all-time high score of 95% from panelist number 3 and quantifies for an overall (A+) 90% grade curve and is now leading amongst the top 36 cigar manufacturers in the world. Shon Brooks and Brooks Entertainment Inc. invention is now eternally inducted into the Smoke Magazine volumes.

The S.O.B™ Robusto cigar was described by panelist 2 as being flawless, tan, smooth and silky, “Like a beautiful woman.” Also, in Smoke Magazine (Volume 18, Number 2, on page 63) the S.O.B™ Robusto cigar was mentioned as being, “A good early day smoke to enjoy on the golf course.” The flavor and strength was described as being mild and-medium and a bit spicy.

The hot S.O.Bâ„¢ Dominican cigar brand’s heritage is from Tabaqueria Carbonell CXA; it was founded in 1894 with more than 100 years of experience in the manufacturing of cigars. Brooks Entertainment Inc. discovered Jose Rivas in the Dominican Republic to help with the designs. This is the same area where Christopher Columbus once sailed in 1492. The brand successfully launched the S.O.Bâ„¢cigar to the United States achieving a missile star rating which has now toppled the charts. The unprecedented task was accomplished the hard way by skipping over cigar trunk trade shows. Instead, relying on the hand rolled cigars’ pure quality and the screaming (SEO) Rock Star fan base of Shon Brooks. This pioneering schematic is how the S.O.Bâ„¢ cigar climbed the charts. While accomplishing this high rating the hard way, the brand took one hundred percent of the risk and receives all the reward.

Not only-but also being in a nation that demands proof of performance on the big stage and where numbers speak volumes which equates to dollars for corporate advertisers. This highly favorable S.O.Bâ„¢ Star Cigar brand and its excellent ratings has had a positive impact on all the innovative brands of Brooks Entertainment Inc. Likewise, Brooks Financial & Entertainment Consultants ratings of their S.O.B television show campaign on Cox Media during the NCAA college championships helped in achieving the highest cable Nielsen ratings for March Maddness. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/04/08/cable-top-25-ncaa-basketball-tops-cable-viewership-for-the-week-ending-april-6-2014/252262/

Cox Media with Brooks Entertainment Inc. plans on creating a 24/7 ‘On Demand’ Television Network which appears to be closer than expected. News feed reports of the latest meetings between the two were reported on a Cox Media corporate metadata tag of #coxshowcase. Professedly, the corporate advertisers have not been revealed as of yet, however, the television production content for the 24/7 ‘On Demand’ channel is already completed with never seen before footage. The Brooks Financial & Entertainment Consultants Networkis expected to be included inside the Cox Gold Bundle With Contour TV which is in high definition.

As noted, Shon Brooks is a Time Warner – TV Editorial Excellence Award Winner for covering the Olympic Games, Game Changer by Invention Magazine, named Superhero by ‘On Wall Street’ Magazine and Financial Planning Magazine. Brooks Entertainment Inc. now emerges as a member of Smoke Magazine’s Top 36 Cigar manufacturers in the world. As a golden rule, being one of the top in the world for manufacturing luxury premium cigars has driven up the market price of the S.O.Bâ„¢ cigars, as well as the autographed collectors memorabilia merchandise for Shon Brooks. (Shon.TV)

The Hit-maker created both modern day United States history and Dominican Republic history at the same time from the recent S.O.Bâ„¢ cigar invention. A bus load of fans in the Dominican Republic report, Shon Brooks, donated autographed copies of the Smoke Magazine and collectors memorabilia. It was donated in honor of this Dominican cigar history being made. Shon, tributes Rock & Roll in directing him into the entertainment industry. His first live on stage performance in grade school was at Bells Elementary, NJ. The rock band he assembled had diversity which included a female lead singer, a drummer boy, a male bass player and Shon Brooks on electric guitar. This musical performance introduced him to the entertainment industry which later lead to the creation of the hit S.O.Bâ„¢ Dominican cigar. http://www.cigarlopedia.com/pages/GridPage.aspx?s=S.O.B%20cigar

When asking the inventor, Shon Brooks, about his thoughts of the S.O.B™ Cigar emerging to the top spot in the world with this extremely high rating, he says, “Making the grade is remarkable, and a magnificent world class achievement. It represents a shining beacon of hope for manufacturers. Especially, when only an exiguous number of cigars ever get rated. I would like to thank our Dominican global teammates and the Smoke Magazine review panelist for being a industry leader and having the courage to rate and rock our S.O.B™cigars. The Smoke Magazine review award will be used as motivation and encouragement for our team to continue making more blends.”

“The S.O.B™ luxury cigar brand was created for the Vanquisher that plays the cards that has been dealt in life to win and not fold! It is vital that you remain ethical at all times even though others may bend the rules of life. Pressing on is when you begin to obtain Rock Star status!” (Says the company’s mission statement)

For Media inquiries regarding Lockwood Publications Inc. or Smoke Magazine (volume 18) please contact Ted Hoyt at www.LockwoodPublications.com. Whereas, for a list of news stands and Smoke Magazine retailers to order the S.O.B cigars in your area please see attachment.

Paris Crosby (Retailer and Public Relations Calls Only)
619-575-0242
Contact
www.SOBcigars.com
S.O.B Cigar Authorized Retailer – Habana Club Cafe 858-231-6673 780 4th Ave
(between G St & F St)
San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: Gaslamp

 

Kudos if you made it this far, thanks for reading!  That’s it for now, Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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JdN Quatro Cinco, Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva and the Nomad Connecticut Fuerte

I’m going to lead off with the usual reminder to head on over to  http://cigarrights.org/fda-response.php  and make sure you make an educated comment on the FDA deeming document. This is scary stuff, folks. Nuff said.  I also wanted to make a bit of a policy statement.  Rest assured that when I receive products they are either for evaluation or for contest prizes. At no time will I ever sell, raffle, or otherwise profit from any items I receive from vendors or manufacturers.  I feel that the purpose of these items being in my possession is for the promotion of said products. If you’ve been reading long, you’ve seen me pass along my good fortune more times than not.  Stay tuned for a contest coming soon, it’s been a while since I had one and I have some cigars I want to share.  Enough ranting for now, lets talk cigars!

 

JDN_QuatroCincoSunday I decided to celebrate Mother’s Day with my last Joya de Nicaragua Quatro Cinco.We had the kids over, then did some running around, so I was ready to relax with a really nice cigar. As you might recall, this cigar celebrates 45 years of the Joya de Nicaragua factory in Esteli, a factory I’ve had the privilege to visit twice and is one of my favorites. I can’t think of a cigar from that factory that I don’t enjoy. This is the top of the line smoke and is really quite tasty.  It’s smoother and more refined than the excellent Antaño Dark Corojo and 1970s.  I love both of those, but the Quatro Cinco really takes it up a notch in flavor and sophistication. This is a wonderful treat.   It’s only available in one vitola, a 6″ x 54 slightly pressed toro with a dark and oily wrapper with filers aged in oak barrels and even some 5 year old ligero. The burn was perfect and it was a terribly satisfying cigar from start to finish. These are pricey, in the $12 range, but certainly worth a try if you like big, bold Nicaraguan flavor. I can’t wait to see what they do in five years if they put this much love and effort into a 45th anniversary cigar! Thanks to JB at DE for sending this to me last year.

 

CasaFernandez_ReservaMaduroMonday I revisited the Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva Maduro Corona Extra. I got a late start, so the smaller 5” x 46 size worked well with my schedule.  This has been in the humidor since last October or November and came from the folks at Casa Fernandez.  This is a Nicaraguan puro rolled in Miami, with Aganorsa tobacco grown in the three growing regions, Jalapa, Condega and Esteli.  The size is really nice, it’s a little bigger than a corona, and smaller than a robusto. It smoked for over an hour though, and was very flavorful. I have enjoyed the cigars I’ve smoked from Casa Fernandez, I just don’t seem to see them around much.  I think I like the Aganorsa Maduro the best, it’s like a chocolate bar. I’ve got to dig around and see if I can find one in the humidors.

 

Nomad_CTFuerte_ToroLast night I smoked the new Nomad Connecticut Fuerte from Fred Rewey’s Nomad Cigar Co.  This one came in a goodie bag from Gary Griffith of The House of Emilio which distributes the brand. The tag line “Not you father’s Connecticut cigar” is a little over used, but in this case, the cigar has some horsepower.   I really enjoyed the contrast of the spice and relative strength of the filler with the creamy and slightly bitterness of the wrapper.  I appreciate the Connecticut wrapper on a cigar, but it’s not one I reach for first, probably because I worry that the cigar will be too mild for my tastes.  This one has enough flavor and strength to be satisfying at any time of the day.  In the Nomad portfolio, while the original Dominican line is good, and the Nicaraguan blends are really good, this one is my new favorite of the line.  It’s different from anything else out there. I liked it.

 

That’s it for now. I’ll work on putting a contest together, I already have a pretty good selection set aside from various vendors and my own humidors. It may not be Twelve Days of Giveaways spectacular, but it’ll be worthwhile.

 

Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

 

 

 

 

 

 

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An Undercrown, A Six-Zero, a Nomad and a San Lotano Cigar

Undercrown_GorditoAt some point last week, probably Friday, I grabbed an Undercrown Gordito from the Drew Estate Humidor and took it out for a walk. I enjoy the undercrown line, especially the Corona Viva, but there are some sizes I like better than others. This 6” x 60 turns out to be one of my favorites oddly enough (not including the Viva, which is a slightly different blend). Of course, I love the San Andrés wrapper, and I feel like the larger girth smooths out the blend for me. This was an eminently enjoyable cigar that was hard to put down. It was rich with a little bite to let you know you’re smoking something great. I continue to be a fan of this cigar.  

 

SixZero_RoboloSunday evening I wanted something enjoyable but unchallenging, if that makes sense. Sometimes you just want to grab a cigar and enjoy it without thinking about it. A month or so ago a picked up a fiver of Six-Zero Robolo’s from BestCigarPrices.com. This is a 4½x60 San Andrés wrapped cigar made for BCP by Boutique Blends. While I haven’t sampled a lot of the Boutique Blends products, this is my favorite. I really enjoy the medium strength and full flavor of this fat rubusto (or short Gordo?). These are a no-brainer at around $3 each for flavor, construction and burn. As I said, I purchased these, they weren’t provided for review. I dig these cigars, I’d buy a bundle in a heartbeat.  

 

Nomad_VagabondMonday I selected possibly the most appropriately named cigar for my evening walk, the Nomad Vagabond. I purchased this nice little Dominican perfecto last year at the end of my vacation week after I came home from Nicaragua. Fred Rewey (@Godfadr) of Nomad Cigars was at a local shop (The Wooden Indian) along with the Ezra Zion guys and Nate McIntyre of Team Emilio. It was technically an Ezra Zion event, but I had to buy a handful of Fred’s cigars as well. This is a really nice, smooth Dominican cigar with hints of sweetness and a really nice draw, at least after I cut it a second time. Funny thing, I gave it a little snip with my Xikar scissors and it was fine, but about an inch into the cigar it kinda clogged. Very strange, but once I cut another eighth of an inch off it drew fine! This is a neat shape, very fun and enjoyable to smoke. I think this is the best in the Dominican line I’ve smoked.

 

SanLotano_Maduro_RobustoTuesday I wanted a sure thing, and I happened to come across a lonely San Lotano Maduro Robusto. I think I bought this a couple years ago at an AJ Fernandez event at another shop in Lancaster, PA. I really like this blend, and the box pressed robusto really worked well. It possessed my favorite aesthetic feature in a cigar, a nice, flat coal. I know what you’re thinking, again with the San Andrés wrapper, but what can I say, I’ve been in the mood for that flavor this week. This Robusto is 5½ x 54 and is sweet and creamy with a hint of spice. I have trouble finding anything wrong with most of AJ Fernandez’ work. I had actually thought earlier in the day that I wish I had a Man ‘O War Dark Aged Maduro, so when I saw this San Lotano I knew it was the one.

 

That’s about all I have this time around! I’m REALLY looking forward to consistently warm weather!  I certainly won’t be complaining that it’s too hot this summer after the winter we’ve had! Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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A Man O’War, A Joya de Nicaragua and a New Nomad Cigar

As the evenings get colder, my desire to smoke fuller bodied cigars increases.  Normally I’ll smoke just about any strength cigar, but I lose milder cigars in the cold air.  I have a beautiful Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar that the folks at Custom Tobacco sent me, complete with a personalized band, that I’ve been putting off smoking for this reason.  I really want to be able to give this cigar my complete attention and smoke it in daylight and relative warmth!  Hopefully I can get that done soon, because I like what those folks do and I’m anxious to see how the cigars smoke!

 

ManOWar_DarkAgedMaduroSo Thursday evening I picked out a Man O’ War Dark Aged Maduro Robusto.  This was a sample from the Meier and Dutch booth at the IPCPR show.  I noted when I took a sniff of the cigar that it reminded me of some jalapeño dark chocolate I once had, and once I lit it up I got that nice spice right off the bat.  The spice continued either until it mellowed out of my palate got used to it, I’m not sure which.  That brings up an interesting point.  Do the flavors in a cigar actually change, or do our taste perceptions change during the time we are smoking a cigar?  I’ve seen cigars made, I understand how tobaccos can be placed in a bunch in various ways to effect the burn and flavor, but it’s hard for me to imagine someone sitting at a bench eight hours a day, five days a week placing the exact leaves in the exact place every time to make a specific flavor transition.  It’s certainly plausible, but the cynical side of me just wonders if it’s more of a physiological change in our mouths than a physical change in the tobaccos.  The comment section is open for your thoughts on this, the more expert opinions the better!  I digress.  The Man O’ War was a fantastic cigar, right in my wheelhouse, up my alley and was just about perfect for the time and situation.  If you don’t see these listed on Cigars International’s website, it’s because it’s a brick and mortar exclusive.  I’ll look for these the next time I stop in one of the Cigars International stores, or look in local B&Ms.

 

Joya 1970ConsulFriday I’m known to smoke a sure thing, something I know, or strongly suspect, will be a great, satisfying smoke.  I had a Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 Consul floating around the humidor that suffered a little head damage. I think it got pinched in a travel humidor somewhere along the line, resulting in a perfect split in the middle of the cap and a tapered on two sides, not unlike a La Flor Dominicana Chisel. Of course, because I’m borderline CDO (OCD in alphabetical order, as it should be!), and the taper was up and down instead of side to side, I had to remove the band.  I was going to just turn the band the right way, but I figured it had to come off eventually anyway.  Apart from the damage, it smoked perfectly, and the tapered head actually made it a little more interesting so smoke.  Fortunately I was alone and in the dark, my vanity wouldn’t allow me to smoke this in public. (Those who know me know I’m joking about this….not he CDO part, but the vanity part!).  Great, full flavor, full strength cigar that’s been a favorite of mine since they came out.  I have a soft spot for just about any cigar that was made in a factory I’ve visited, having some personal connection seems to make a difference in a lot of cases.

 

Saturday evening I chose a new cigar from Nomad Cigars to accompany me on my evening walk. This S-307 box pressed toro is made for Fred Rewey by A.J.Fernandez.  Here’s a blurb from the press release:

 

Nomad_S-307Estelí, Nicaragua (November 4, 2013) – Nomad Cigar Company is pleased to announce the release of the much-anticipated Nomad S-307. 

Nomad’s first full production cigar in Nicaragua, the S-307 is a box pressed Sumatra wrapped cigar blended and rolled at the AJ Fernandez factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. 

Name: Nomad S-307

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra 

Binder: Ecuadorian Habano

Filler: Nicaraguan

Factory: AJ Fernandez

Notable: 21 count, Box Pressed

Sizes / Pricing

Toro (6×50) – $7.95 MSRP

Robusto (5×50) – $7.75 MSRP

Torpedo (6.5×52) – $7.95 MSRP

In keeping with his trend, Rewey gave meaning to the name of his new cigar as well. The “S” stands for Sumatra. The “307” pays homage to the approximate square miles of the Estelì area. 

 

I’ve not met many cigars made by A.J. Fernandez that I didn’t like, including the above mentioned Man O’ War.  This cigar was no different.  It was full of flavor and left me quite satisfied and wishing it were a little bit longer.  The construction was perfect and it was quite enjoyable.  So far, Fred’s Nicaraguan offerings have hit the spot for me more than his Dominican cigars, but both are excellent and they deserve to be tried if you are presented with the opportunity.

 

I’ve started the ball rolling on the upcoming 12 Days of Spectacular Giveaways!  So far I’m one third of the way there, with 4 companies on board, and I just sent the e-mail out yesterday!  I expect to hear from more tomorrow when people get back to work and have my 12 sponsors lined up by the end of the week.  Then it’s the arduous task of finding humidor room, taking pictures and writing up posts.  Tune in on December 12 when we start the madness for 2013!

 

Once again, I didn’t smoke any crappy cigars this week!  It’s time for my walk now, I wonder what I should grab?  Something new that I may not care for, or a tried and true cigar that will cap off the weekend nicely.  It’s getting hard to “take one for the team” when the humidor is filled with such great smokes!  I’m feeling like a lancero (I don’t look like one!).  Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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