Kip Fisher - Co-Founder, Author at Half Ashed

News: IPCPR hires new CEO

June 20, 2014 By Kip Fisher

[Editor’s Note: This just in from the folks at IPCPR. I typically fill in gaps with press releases these days, but have left this one just as it arrived in my inbox……but there just might be an opinion or two on tonight’s Half Ashed Cigar Podcast!]

Washington, DC-After intensive searching, the IPCPR has named Mark Pursell as the new Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Mr. Pursell was the Senior Vice President of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Mr. Pursell brings a wealth of experience in business development, membership marketing, sales and association management to the IPCPR.

At NAHB, Mr. Pursell fostered relationships with key industry suppliers and executive management while engaging stakeholders to work together on industry issues, both internal and external. He was instrumental in the continued success of the International Builders’ Show, the largest light construction trade show in the world.

“The IPCPR is excited for the direction that Mark will take us in,” said IPCPR President Finnie Helmuth “his proven success in tradeshow management, publishing, education marketing and advertising businesses will allow him to take the IPCPR to exciting new levels.”

He has held similar positions at the Associated General Contractors of America and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. Mr. Pursell also served the United Nations Industrial Development Organization as an Investment Officer providing U.S. firms with project finance and capital services in overseas markets. He started his career with Equitable/DLJ Securities.

He is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

News: Drew Estate to Release KFC Flying Pig

June 18, 2014 By Kip Fisher

Drew Estate Announces Kentucky Fire Cured – Flying Pig

Drew Estate formally announced today the upcoming release of the Flying Pig vitola in their Kentucky Fire Cured blend. The cigar will soft-launch via a private event at [Read more…]

CAO and Flying Dog Brewery Create Pairings

June 17, 2014 By Kip Fisher

June 17, 2014 – In a move that will make those who enjoy craft beer and cigars happy, Flying Dog and CAO Cigars have collaborated to create and market four pairings of their respective products.

“Cigars are most often paired with brown spirits. Since we’re not fans of being conventional, we’re shaking things up by bringing craft beer into the mix. Flying Dog mirrors our devotion to delivering new, unique flavors, so we’re looking forward to working with them to bring this new trend to life.” CAO cigar blender Rick Rodriguez said.

“Just as craft beer is defined by a unique blend of malt, hops, and yeast, a cigar’s wrapper, binder and filler determines its flavor profile and aroma,” Flying Dog CEO Jim Caruso said. “The similarities between these two artisanal products quickly became apparent as we were working through this project.”

[Read more…]

Half Ashed Episode 070: Elogio Excepcionales

June 17, 2014 By Kip Fisher

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Good day, folks. Welcome to Episode 070 of Half Ashed. We have a big show this week, with a very peculiar Cigar of the Week. It’s the Elogio Excepcionales…which has been likened to a yam in shape. Tune in to find out what we thought of it. We covered several news items this week, including stories from Joya de Nicaragua, CAO, CLE, My Father, and Nomad. Also, we got into a couple of listener emails – but had to save one of the more interesting for next week, so be sure to catch next week’s show if you can.

The biggest item for me (Kip) personally was a good discussion about the big changes I’ve been implementing at The Cigarmy. I’ve completely revamped the look and use of the site….but the big story is the new review guidelines. We cover it on the show, but you can read for yourself on my new Review Guidelines page, which details all the current standards. Bear with its length; it isn’t nearly so complicated as it appears on the surface. NOTE: One change occurred after the show recording: I have converted everything from a 10-point scale to one of 100, since most folks relate to that format. Anyway, have at it and I look forward to feedback from you!

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be an Unbanded (#017 from Officer Paul), so be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at ~~Cigar Federation~~ ****We will temporarily only have chat access on our Show Page on halfashed.com. We have outgrown our previous chat, and it has been overloading the server and causing various and sundry issues with our hosting provider. In fact, they shut down our site this week during the show. I have installed a stopgap chat for the time being, but it will not frame into the Cigar Federation page. We will remedy this as soon as possible.****, where you can catch us recording and participate in the chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at the following emails: [email protected] or [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), or find us on iTunes to subscribe. Video, as always, will be available from our YouTube channel.

P.S. – If you have unbanded suggestions or contributions, you can get those to us by sending an email to [email protected]. This email address goes directly to my wife, so you can simply suggest an unbanded cigar for her to source, or send me an email to [email protected] if you have something you’d like to send in. I will provide an address to send them. Thanks!

News: CLE to launch Eiroa CBT Maduro

June 12, 2014 By Kip Fisher

CLE to release all-maduro Eiroa CBT

In the last of a series of news items for which I’ve been lagging behind, Eiroa / CLE Cigars announced via press release yesterday that they would launch the Eiroa CBT Maduro. The letters “CBT” represent the components of a cigar: Capa (wrapper), Banda (binder), and Tripa (filler). The differentiating aspect of the cigar is that all components are composed of maduro leaf. According to the release, each of these components was selected from only the top primings of the plant, “giving this cigar the intense and complex flavors with its deep body and very smooth finish”

“The taste lingers with you and 30 minutes after, you are looking for the next one,” says CLE founder Christian Eiroa.

The cigar is expected to be available at this year’s IPCPR Tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV. It will come packed in four, 5-count packs per 20-count box and is available in the following vitolas:

4″ x 48 Prensado
5″ x 50
6″ x 54
6″ x 60

The EIROA CBT Maduro cigars are manufactured in the Aladino Factory in Danli, Honduras. Expected production for 2014 is approximately 150,000 cigars. One note for retailers: this cigar will only be made available to existing EIROA customers. MSRP will range from $9.16-$12.16.

AJ Fernandez Hires New National Sales Mgr

June 11, 2014 By Kip Fisher

AJ Fernandez Cigars announced via press release yesterday that they have brought in Robbie Streitz as National Sales Manager. As would be expected, he will manage the entire salesforce from AJF headquarters in Sunrise, FL.

Robbie is a longtime cigar apasionado, originally entering the tobacco industry when he founded the CigaRobbie Radio Show. The show was broadcast from 1340 WTAM in Tampa, FL but grew to include five other states during its run, and featured industry personalities and cigar related content. Subsequently, he successfully held the National Sales Manager position with Esteban Carreras which led AJ Fernandez Cigars to take notice of him and offer the current position.

Kris Kachaturian managing partner at A.J. Fernandez Cigars said: “We are looking to take A.J. Fernandez Cigars to the next level as we are hard at work putting together the kind of staff that that will focus on customer satisfaction. We believe that Robbie Streitz possess the passion, experience, and dedication to push A.J. Fernandez forward.”

Robbie said: “I am honored to have received this opportunity and look forward as the national sales manager for A.J. Fernandez to building a culture of positive growth by implementing new standards of business. I was the hard working blue collar guy that would hang out in a cigar lounge with my buddies; to work in this industry is a dream for a guy like me. I love my clients and always try to build a better relationship with them through, truth, respect and professionalism. I hope one day I am looked upon as a man that helped this industry.”

About A.J. Fernandez Cigars:
A.J. Fernandez Cigars is based on the rich tradition of the Fernandez cigar legacy. A.J. Fernandez now produces unparalleled, hand-rolled cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua which have garnered numerous top ratings and acclaim from cigar publications and consumers alike. Today A.J. Fernandez continues the family tradition as he oversees production and manages day to day operations in his factory in Estelí.

Half Ashed Episode 069: RE+United

June 9, 2014 By Kip Fisher

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Good day, folks. Welcome to another fun-filled episode of Half Ashed. This week, we’re smoking the Re+United, by Ernesto Perez Carrillo and Michael Giannini as our featured Cigar of the Week. Even in light of a normally slow cigar news season, we had several interesting stories to cover this week, including items from: Alec Bradley, EP Carrillo, RoMaCraft, CRA, Tatuaje, and TL Johnson. As always, we covered what we’ve been smoking and a few listener emails. We wrap up with a special dedication and memorial for D-Day and all the veterans who’ve sacrificed to provide the lifestyle we enjoy today.

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be the Elogio Excepcionales, so be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at ~~Cigar Federation~~ ****We will temporarily only have chat access on our Show Page on halfashed.com. We have outgrown our previous chat, and it has been overloading the server and causing various and sundry issues with our hosting provider. In fact, they shut down our site this week during the show. I have installed a stopgap chat for the time being, but it will not frame into the Cigar Federation page. We will remedy this as soon as possible.****, where you can catch us recording and participate in the chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at the following emails: [email protected] or [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), or find us on iTunes to subscribe. Video, as always, will be available at the CigFed Half Ashed Video Archive.

News: Kinder, gentler Joya de Nicaragua coming in the Joya Red

June 9, 2014 By Kip Fisher

NOTE: Subsequent to this post, JdN has issued a mass email that “Due to a conflict with the name “Cardinal”, Joya de Nicaragua have changed the vitola name to “CAÑONAZO”“

JOYA RED: Rediscover Joya

According to Joya de Nicaragua, smokers should rethink any preconceptions about the company’s proclivity toward making powerful cigars.

During this past week, they released plans for the JOYA RED, a new blend to launch at IPCPR 2014. In their words, it has been developed “for the modern smoker by the youngest executive team in the industry, together with the most senior Master Blenders of Nicaragua.” Recently appointed Joya de Nicaragua President Juan Ignacio Martínez led the current team of both fresh and longstanding executives in creating the blend. The JOYA RED is promoted as a “vibrant smoke you will enjoy anytime, anywhere; class, as always, but also a lot more fun.”

Technically, the press release noted, the blend was still created with tobaccos from Nicaragua. However, with the JOYA RED, a move was made away from past predominance of ligero and thick wrapper leaf to “more visos and lower priming Habano wrappers.” Binder and filler tobaccos were also grown within Nicaragua’s tobacco regions of Estelí, Jalapa, and Condega. The company hopes to provide a medium-strength blend with interesting flavors, allowing “for an extremely pleasant smoking experience.”

The line will ship in four vitolas, packed in 20 count boxes:

• Short Churchill – 4 ¾ x 48
• Robusto – 5 ¼ x 50
• Toro – 6 x 52
• Cardinal – 5 ½ x 54

The JOYA RED will be available during the upcoming IPCPR Annual Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas this July. As usual, Drew Estate will distribute the brand as part of their exclusive agreement for the USA, and it will also be available worldwide through JDN’s International Marketing Division and partners.

Rediscover JOYA, Rediscover cigars!

About JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A.

JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A., is a family owned, Nicaragua-based cigar factory that handcrafts traditional cigars for the premium luxury cigar market. First opened in 1968, it is Nicaragua’s oldest cigar factory in operation and home to the legendary JOYA DE NICARAGUA® brand of cigars. JDN is regarded by many as the patriarch crafter of robust, unique puro blends of locally grown black tobaccos, and its cigars are sold in more than 40 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.joyacigars.com.

News: CAO releases Sinister Sam

June 7, 2014 By Kip Fisher

America remix now available until supplies are exhausted

I’m a bit behind the 8-ball with this story, and I apologize for that. I’ve been tied up with two podcasts this week (Catch either Stogie Geeks Episode 98 or Half Ashed Episode 069 to see that), and have not had a moment to catch up until tonight. CAO has released the Sinister Sam, a twist on the CAO America blend.

The Sinister Sam shares a common bond with the original America line in the wrapper and binder content – Connecticut Shade and broadleaf, respectively. The filler, however, has been pumped up a bit with a “new, ligero-driven blend with a touch of Colombian tobacco. The flavor is similar to CAO America, amped up with fuller-body.” In a release from General earlier this week, the Sinister Sam features is said to feature some intricate construction details. The cigar is wrapped predominantly with Connecticut Shade leaf, but additionally features a “sheath” of broadleaf on its exterior. Although largely hidden by the lengthy band, the sheath extends enough below to reveal a large cut-out star. At the foot is the existing America footband, with another cut-out star below. “The result is a unique smoking experience as the smoker progresses along the cigar from shade to a shade + broadleaf overwrap, and then back to shade with a hint of broadleaf at the end.”

The Sinister Sam is available in a single, 6.5″ X 52 vitola, and has been produced in a limited run of 2,000 boxes of 14 (28,000 total production). Retail price before tax is set at $8.50 per cigar. It is available exclusively at cigar shops nationwide from now until the run is depleted.

Per the General release, “CAO Sinister Sam is an ideal smoke for Fourth of July and summer BBQs, and follows CAO’s Evil Santa and Angry Snowman, two small-batch blends that were extremely well-received by cigar smokers.”

25th Anniversary brings new look for Miami Cigar & Company

June 4, 2014 By Kip Fisher

Armed with a new image, the company sets a new tone for the next two decades.

Miami Cigar & Company has big plans for this year’s IPCPR Trade Show, using it as the launch platform for their new look. The company is undergoing a great deal of change in celebration of 25 years in business. Aside from being of celebratory significance, the hope is that these key changes will also better position Miami Cigar to increase brand awareness toward continuing to serve their customers in the future.

Earlier this year, a teaser campaign began to appear throughout various print publications, including Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Snob Magazine. This campaign provided a preview of the new look for the Nestor Miranda Collection line. The new sleek and contemporary look represents the philosophy behind the tag line “One Life” which has been pushed via their social media platforms.

Jason Wood, Vice President of Miami Cigar & Co. stated: “It has been an honor for me to begin the process of creating a new look and feel which is worthy of what Nestor Miranda and the Miami Cigar & Co. team have accomplished over the last 25 years. The “One Life” tagline represents the way that Nestor has and continues to live his life. It represents a call to action to seize the day and live every moment with passion. We are looking forward to celebrating our new look and company anniversary in Las Vegas this July.”

In addition to unveiling the new design elements at the show, Miami Cigar & Co. will also host an invitation-only 25th anniversary event at the Hyde Bellagio Las Vegas, overlooking the Bellagio fountains. The red carpet event, sponsored by Brown Forman Beverages, will welcome friends, colleagues, media, collaborators and celebrities who have helped Miami Cigar & Co. reach this milestone. The event will also symbolize a passing of the torch as Nestor Miranda has decided to pass along day to day operations to his son-in-law Jason Wood.

Director of Miami Cigar & Co., Nestor Miranda said: “2014 marks the 25th anniversary of my company and it has brought a renewed excitement to my wife and me. I can proudly say that I knew my son in law, Jason Wood, was a special talent who just needed industry experience that time has brought to him. I am excited about the new vision that he has for our future and the re-branding of the Nestor Miranda Collection. 2014 looks very bright for us as we have positioned ourselves to make a lasting impression on the cigar industry for years to come!”

About Miami Cigar & Co.

Miami Cigar & Co. proudly celebrates its 25th Year in the cigar industry. Founded by Nestor and Mariana Miranda, Miami Cigar & Co. has become one of the premier distributors of premium cigars boasting a portfolio which includes Tatiana, Don Lino and the Nestor Miranda brands. Miami Cigar &Co. also serves as the exclusive United States distributor for La Aurora, S.A and all Viva Republica brands.

Social Media:
Facebook: Miami Cigar & Company
Instagram: MiamiCigar, Hashtag: OneLife
Twitter: Miami Cigar & Company

For those attending the IPCPR in Las Vegas wanting to visit Miami Cigar & Co. Their booth number is # 404