I’m in Las Vegas at the PCA show and my first order of business was to catch up with the folks at Cigarmedics! We’ve had a great partnership over the years, and I’m happy to finally meet these guys. I sat down with Luigi for a few minutes and we talked about their new cutter, The Baller, that I’ve been so enamored with.
Stay tuned for more as I get the chance to post. Until the next time,
CigarCraig
This is going to be a big deal at this weekend’s PCA show, maybe bigger than Guy Fieri’s appearance! There were no pictures included with the press release, I’ll try to get some when I’m there.
Carlito Fuente and Jorge Padrón are proud to announce the release of their Legends cigar project. Please join the Fuente and Padrón families Sunday July 10, 2022 at 3:30 pm at the PCA Trade Show, Booth # 1321 for the unveiling of these extraordinary cigars.
Carlos A. Fuente, Sr. and José O. Padrón were friends and colleagues for over 50 years. They shared common bonds – a passion for the finest Cuban cigar-making traditions and deep respect for their family names. They passed these values on to their children. Their sons, Carlito Fuente and Jorge Padrón, together with their families, have partnered to honor and remember the Fuente and Padrón family patriarchs. For the first time, the families are collaborating on a joint project, a commemorative 40-cigar box in honor of their fathers and their legacies.
The box is detailed with colors, symbols and photographs illustrating the rich family histories and contributions to the cigar industry made by both families. Inside, there are two trays of 20 hand crafted cigars. One tray features cigars made by Padrón in honor of Carlos A. Fuente, Sr. The second tray features cigars made by Fuente in honor of José O. Padrón.
Specially designed bands honor both patriarchs with family symbols and the words the two men lived by – “Familia,” “Perseverancia,” and “Legado” (Family, Perseverance, and Legacy). Both families have selected rare and beautiful tobaccos to create legendary cigars worthy of the extraordinary men they honor.
In keeping with their fathers’ tradition of giving, a percentage of the proceeds from the sales of this collaboration will be donated to the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation and the Padrón Family Foundation.
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I’ve smoked this cigar, two of them, actually. I’m not sure why CigarProp isn’t mentioned in this press release, Kevin was instrumental in the development of this project. I know this from talking to both him and Omar. Anyway, it’s an interesting smoke and a unique concept.
Omar de Frias is proud to announce the company’s 9th-anniversary blend, The VICEVERSA. The VICEVERSA will be making its debut as an exclusive to PCA Members.
“This project is easily one of the most challenging projects I have had the pleasure to work on. We blended a cigar and tripled capped both ends. The consumer decides if they want to start their smoking experience Mild and Creamy or Strong and spicy.” Said de Frias.
The VICEVERSA will debut as a 7 x 52 Vitola with an MSRP of 15.00 per cigar. “We limited the production to 2,000 boxes of 12 cigars each due to the complexity and manpower required to accurately blend this cigar”. Said de Frias.
The Fratello Vice Versa is comprised of a Habano Ecuador HVA Wrapper, Indonesian Binder and Pennsylvania, Nicaragua Esteli and Nicaragua Condega filler tobacco manufactured at the La Aurora Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to PCA.
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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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I’ve had a lot of thoughts rattling around my head lately. I finally have an interview lined up for a job, with another couple possibilities in the pipeline. Historically, January has been a good hiring month for me, twice in the past I’ve started jobs which have lasted 13 years in January. As long as the companies don’t start with “S” I’m OK (every company I’ve worked for since 1989 has started with “S”, I need a change! Why do you think I haven’t pursued employment with Swisher, Swedish Match, Scandinavian Tobacco, Southern Draw…). It’s been stressful these last few months. Anyway, I’ve been reading and hearing a lot of divisive talk about the PCA and who’s going and not going and all, and I made my position clear in my last post, but I think there’s a big picture that’s being missed. The cigar industry seems to be mirroring what’s going on in the country politically with the divisiveness. There’s a whole us versus them mentality where everyone really needs to be united now more than ever. I hate seeing it, it really sucks, and I don’t know the answer, but it’s clear that whoever is pulling the strings here is achieving the desired effect. Divide and conquer. The cigar industry already is too small to stand up for itself as it is, fractured it has no shot at all. I’m on the fence. I love cigars from the largest manufacturers down to the smallest without regard for their politics (there are a few brands I avoid on general principle). I have been to both kinds of factories and seen that cigars are made the exact same way. I know it’ll never happen in the cigar industry, or in the country, but is it too much to ask to just get along and do the right thing?
On a positive note, one of the smaller cigar companies which has been a long time favorite of mine is going to me at the TPE show, and I’m looking forward to seeing the folks from La Sirena. I smoked a King Poseidon this week, and my supply is dwindling. This is the 6″ x 60 in the line, made at La Zona (did I recently say I seem to have been smoke a few La Zona made cigars lately?), and is really quite good. Lacking a toro in the line, I am partial to the Churchill (Trident) and this gordo, although the belicoso (Devine) is a great cigar as well. I bet I haven’t had a Robusto since they were making them in the My Father factory! The blend is a Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro wrapper, Nicaraguan Criollo binder and fillers from Jalapa and Condega, including something they refer to as Erik Espinosa’s “magic leaf”. The La Sirena brand, much like CigarCraig.com, celebrated it’s 10 year anniversary in 2019! Did I mention that the La Sirena is among my favorite brands? I love the line, and the King Poseidon smoked beautifully, and had a rich, creamy flavor with some punch! It’s a bold smoke, although the larger ring gauge perhaps less so than the thinner. I’m going to dig out one of my remaining My Father era Tridents one of these days, and I still have some Dubloons, which are large salomon shaped cigars. I can’t wait to see the La Sirena crew at the TPE.
One more repeat, this one was another newer cigar from Villiger, their Cuellar Black Forrest. I smoked this back in November and wrote about it, ironically I also included the King Poseidon in that post. Perhaps my selections are more cyclical than I know. To recap, the Black Forrest is not made in the Black Forrest at all, it’s made at Tabacalera Palma in the Dominican Republic, the factory where Jochi Blanco makes a whole bunch of cigars like La Galera, Aging Room, as well as a bunch of other cigars like Señorial, Freyja, Matilde, and probably a ton that none of us realize are made there. This cigar has a San Andrés wrapper, and, as I said before, it doesn’t have the “dirty” taste that that wrapper usually has, but is much more refined and really quite special. There’s a unique spice, and sweetness that’s delicious and wonderful. It has a nice box press and works very well to, so it’s a joy to smoke. It’s a well done cigar.
OK, that’s enough for today, I need to get preparing for interviews, get the suit cleaned up and pick out a tie.
Until the next time,
CigarCraig
