A few worthwhile items have presented themselves this week, and I thought I’d share them with you in one “Cigarmy News” post:

1. First, a press release from Tarazona Cigars:

MIAMI, FL, January 16, 2013 – Building off the success of its Cubanacan Connecticut line, released at IPCPR 2012, Tarazona Cigars is announcing the release of the Cubanacan Habano.  As with the Connecticut, the Cubanacan Habano will be available in five vitolas and housed in boxes of fifty. MSRP for the Cubanacan Habano will be between $5.35- $7.85.  The Cubanacan brand is named after the Tarazona Cigar factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Cubanacan Habano:
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Nicaragua

Chato 4.5 x 42
Rothschild 5 x 50
Piramide 6 1/8 x 52
Churchill 7 x 50
El Gordo 6 x 60

For additional information:
Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

2. Smoke Inn and Room101 Cigars also issued a press release this week, announcing the upcoming release of the sixth in Smoke Inn’s Microblend Series – the Big Delicious.

 3. I tried a few new (to me) cigars this week that were of note.

I was down in South Florida a few weeks ago, and while at a cigar shop I met Emiliano, a rep for Cipriano Cigars.  As he was leaving, he passed me a petit torpedo to try.  I just got around to firing it up this week, and found it very interesting.  They do have a website, although it is essentially a placeholder with some contact information.  So, I don’t have much information to go on beyond that brief chat with Emiliano.  Based on the conversation I had with him, I believe that the company has a history in the Northeastern U.S., and is currently expanding into new markets (such as Florida).  He told me the cigars are Nicaraguan puros, manufactured in Esteli, with a Jalapa/Esteli filler blend and featuring a habano wrapper.  I’ll abstain from a full review since I have not yet been able to find a retailer from whom to buy a couple more to try; however, here are some initial notes on it.  By my handy-dandy cigar ring gauge guide, I found it to be about a 54 ring, and 4.75″ long.  Prelight, both the aroma and flavor were a very faint hay.  With the addition of fire, it produced a good amount of smoke, and moderate spice over a predominant nuttiness.  The cigar burned well, and the flavors remained consistent throughout – with a slight increase in the spice as I neared the end of the cigar.  I could not locate the MSRP on any of their cigars, so I’m afraid I can’t offer much information on pricing.  I also have not yet located a retailer – so I am in a holding pattern on this line pending more information.  If you find them in your local shop let me know.  I’d be interested in buying a few more to try.  I’m sure most fans of Jalapa tobacco and medium strength cigars would enjoy the Cipriano.  The construction was very good, and the flavor quite pleasant.  Definitely worth investigating should the opportunity arise.

On the same trip, I bought a couple of other cigars at Charmed Leaf with which I was unfamiliar.  They are from DUJO, a company I’d never heard of – so, of course I had to buy a couple to try in the name of science, right?  The cigars are Dominican puros, with a “super secret blend of the finest tobacco available.  Made in extremely small quantities and available ONLY at Charmedleaf” (per the Charmed Leaf website).  DUJO also has a website, but like Cipriano above it doesn’t yet furnish many details about the cigars themselves, although I do know that they sell at Charmed Leaf for $8.75 per stick.  Again, holding to only a brief synopsis of the cigar: The DUJO comes in one vitola, which is 5.5″ X 52.  Mine had a slightly oily sheen to the wrapper, which made it quite smooth to the touch.  The unlit aroma was faint on the wrapper; slightly less so at the foot with a bit of sweetness that reminded me of allspice.  Both of mine delivered an outstanding draw – firm, but free.  The flavors ranged from nutty to citrus to a sweet spice (akin but not identical to the allspice aroma before lighting).  At times, the sweetness was accompanied by a savory “twang” that was reminiscent of some contraband cigars I might have had in the past.  If you are into Dominican tobacco with the slightest touch of spice you should give these a try.  I wouldn’t hesitate to keep a few around.

Finally, thanks to Ana at Cuenca Cigars, I had the chance to try the new Cuenca 5 Anniversary cigar.  I published the press release from them last week, and will be posting a full review of the cigars later this week.  Just as a teaser, I smoked the first one in preparation last night, and it was one of the best new cigars I’ve tried in a some time.  I made mention of it over on The Cigarmy Facebook page, so I won’t rehash those comments here.  I’ll only say that it was bold and spicy – but never approached being overwhelming.  It remained remarkably flavorful.  Full bodied and constructed superbly.  Suffice it to say, if they are all as good as that one, Cuenca should have a great future with that cigar.  So, stay tuned for the review – I should have it published by week-end.

4. Plans continue to progress for the new Show.

The only other news I have is that Craig and I are zeroing in on kicking off the new show.  We have a tentative first-show date set for February 8th.  There will be some big news between now and then with details on how we’ll be pushing the show out and some alliances that are forming for supporting the show (muhahaha).  For the first show, I’ll be freshly back from my third trip down to the Dominican Republic to visit the Chateau de la Fuente and the CigarFamily Charitable Foundation for CFC 2013, so you don’t want to miss that.

Well, that about wraps it up for today.  I hope you’re all having a great week and will stay tuned in to The Cigarmy.