Cigar Podcast and Cigar Reviews
Nomad Cigar Co. Releases much-anticipated C-276
As mentioned a couple weeks ago in an article describing another Nomad news item, and discussed on Half Ashed, Nomad Cigars has now released the C-276 at IPCPR 2014.
According to the information provided by Nomad, the C-276 is “a full flavored complex blend featuring [Read more…]
Adding to the list of new products trickling out of IPCPR 2014, Gran Habano / G.R. Tabacaleras has provided some information on their offerings for this year. We covered some of this news in the most recent episode of Half Ashed as well.
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
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
Rumors and rumblings have been circulating for a bit about a new Casa Fernandez cigar set for release after IPCPR 2014, but I have just this week [Read more…]
Toraño Family Cigar Company has announced that for the first time, Charlie Toraño will unveil a cigar under his own name: the Charlie Toraño Captiva. Charlie is the fourth generation of the Toraño family to carry the tobacco industry torch. In his years working alongside his father Carlos, as well as since, he has created cigar brands under the family name as well as countless marques for other major distributors. He has been president of the company for more than ten years, and felt it was “time to create a cigar under his own name which represents his personal tastes and pastimes.”
“Captiva, which is a very small island off the coast of Southwest Florida, is my favorite place in the entire world,” said Charlie Toraño. Every year I plan a summer family trip there which serves as my get-away from the everyday. It takes me back to the true essence of cigars. I am able to smoke and simply relax as I feel the pressures of life dissipate with every puff. I am able to reflect, count my blessings, and recharge my batteries. The Captiva cigar is a very elegant and flavorful cigar which represents the slow rhythms of the Island.”
The Captiva will feature an oily Ecuadoran wrapper over Nicaraguan fillers that have been specially aged and selected by Charlie. It is presented as medium to full bodied, with notes of coffee, chocolate, and sweet peppery spice. The line will carry a suggested retail pricepoint between $7.95 and $8.95, and be available in four different vitolas:
Robusto (5″ x 52)
Toro (6″ x 50)
Churchill (7″ x 47)
BFC (6″ x 60)
A leader in the cigar industry, Toraño Family Cigar Company is a four generation company currently based in Miami, FL. It enjoys a rich heritage and history in tobacco growing and manufacturing. For more information: www.torano.com. Please also follow Toraño on Face book: Toraño A family Cigar Company or on Twitter: @TORANOFAMCIGARS.
Nomad Cigar Company
has announced the addition of a Belicoso to its popular Connecticut collection. The Dominican-made Nomad Connecticut Fuerte line launched in March 2014, and has been previously available in four sizes (Corona 5.5″x44, Toro 6″x52, Robusto Gordo 5.5″x54, and Robusto 5″x50). Founder Fred Rewey added the 6.25″x54 Belicoso after some experimentation with various sizes.
“I think every manufacturer sometimes has a host of other sizes for personal use or for friends that request them. Frankly, the Belicoso was just fun. It was one of those sizes in the Connecticut line that I found myself smoking a bit more often. No sense keeping them all for myself. The industry reviews on the Connecticut Fuerte line have been very positive and I look forward to adding to the family,” Rewey added.
The release comes just two weeks ahead of Nomad’s release of a new line of Nicaraguan cigars: The C-276. The C-276 will feature five filler leaves with two being ligero.
Nomad Cigar Company launched in 2012 with four sizes of classic hand rolled Dominican cigars and quickly grew the [DR] line to seven sizes. In January 2013 founder Fred Rewey ventured to Nicaragua; blending and creating the Estelí Lot 1386 and the S-307. In 2014 Nomad released the Connecticut Fuerte and will be releasing the C-276 at the 2014 IPCPR show.
Contact:
Fred “Godfadr” Rewey, Nomad Cigar Company
Twitter: @Godfadr
Florida based Córdoba & Morales Cigars will add to the existing Clave Cubana line this summer, with the addition of the limited production Etiqueta Blanca. Total production for this cigar will only be 1,000 boxes of 20 cigars. The Etiqueta Blanca will feature a 5-year-old
San Andrés Maduro wrapper, Jalapa binder and a filler blend from Esteli, Ometepe and Jalapa. According to company co-founder Azarias “Z” Mustafa Córdoba, the second addition to the line has been in the works for quite some time.
“We’ve wanted to work with the aged San Andrés Maduro wrapper since we opened our company, however, it’s in short supply. As soon as we got our hands on it, we painstakingly created the perfect blend of tobaccos to complement and honor this much-sought after wrapper, which we’ve accomplished with the Etiqueta Blanca,” Mustafa Córdoba said.
The line will be available for order at the 82nd Annual IPCPR Convention & International Trade Show, and is expected to ship around August 1st, 2014. It comes in three vitolas: Robusto Extra (5 ½” by 52, MSRP $9.80), Toro (6” x 54, $10.50) and a Toro Gordo (6” x 60, $11.20). The company will offer retailers special promotions on their existing lines during the show, and invites all attending retailers to stop by their booth (Hall C, booth #4530) to learn more about their entire lineup.
Established in 2011, Córdoba & Morales is a family owned boutique cigar company that produces 100% hand-rolled cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua. During this year’s 82nd Annual IPCPR Convention & International Trade Show, the company will release its much-anticipated Clave Cubana Etiqueta Blanca, expanding on their current line of popular cigars, including the Front 9, the 19th Hole, Family Reserve, Puro Pinar and Clave Cubana. For more information, please visit www.cnmcigars.com.
As reported in a few other sources around the web and discussed on the most recent episode of Half Ashed, Toronto-based Mombacho Cigars S.A. has announced an exclusive U.S. distribution agreement with RoMa Craft Tobac LLC. I have since received the full press, and thought I would publish the additional information here.
The two companies, “after a few years of sharing best practices and developing personal friendships….discovered a significant amount of alignment existed in their mission and values.” Both, unlike many similarly sized peers, own and operate their own factories in Nicaragua. Each bears “a strong commitment to the communities in which they operate….[and] has demonstrated a strong focus on product quality and a dedication to a high level of craftsmanship.” As the friendship between the companies’ principals has developed, an understanding of small business limitations and a unique mix of complementary strengths and weaknesses was revealed.
“Our vision is to provide the world’s most memorable cigar experience for consumers,” says Markus Raty, President of Mombacho S.A. “RoMa Craft’s supply chain and logistics expertise, combined with their technical execution has consistently resulted in efficiently delivering a high level of service to retailers. We believe both are key components in the realization of this vision.”
Mombacho S.A. recently announced the launch of its Tierra Volcán line in the U.S. With another entity currently holding the US trademark for the name, the degree to which the line will carry the “Mombacho” moniker is yet to be seen. The company has an established sales and marketing team in the luxury consumer goods industry; the partnership adds RoMa Craft’s logistics, fulfillment, and administrative support.
“We are very excited to build on the collaborative relationship we have developed over the past few years with Mombacho,” says Skip Martin, of RoMa Craft Tobac. “Leveraging our operational proficiency with their own expertise in blending, manufacturing, brand management and sales, positions Tierra Volcán for success in an extremely competitive market.”
Both companies will be co-exhibiting in booths 4425-4426 at the 2014 IPCPR tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV.
Mombacho Cigars S.A. was founded in 2006 to provide premium handmade cigars through memorable experiences in select markets In Canada and around the world, including China, where it primarily serves the Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou markets. Mombacho produces all of its products at its boutique factory, Casa Mombacho, in Granada, Nicaragua, where over 20 members of the Mombacho Family work.
Twitter: Mombacho Cigars
RoMa Craft Tobac, LLC is a premium cigar company founded in 2012 by Michael Rosales and Skip Martin. RoMa Craft Tobac imports, markets, and distributes hand-crafted cigars through a network of select retail tobacconists in the United States. RoMa Craft Tobac’s brand portfolio consists of the CroMagnon, CroMagnon Aquitaine, Intemperance, Neanderthal and Craft brands. The entire RoMa Craft portfolio is produced by Fabrica de Tabacos (Nica Sueño S.A.), established by Martin and Esteban Elias Disla Siri in 2013.
Twitter: RoMa Craft
Arandoza has formally announced the launch for their next line – the Arandoza Red Label – at this year’s IPCPR tradeshow. The company has been in the marketplace since 2011 with their Blue Label, with the White being added at last year’s show. All three lines are manufactured at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory, in Esteli Nicaragua. Per information received from Arandoz, “the “Red” label commemorates and praises the nation’s heritage following on its footsteps of Independence Day celebrating the history, commitment and traditions of the Arandoza Family. This new label is a full flavored full bodied cigar that will delight the seasoned aficionado.”
The Red Label is presented as a full flavored, full bodied cigar that aims to “delight the seasoned aficionado.” The blend is comprised of Nicaraguan binder and filler, and is wrapped in San Andres Mexican wrapper leaf. It will have an MSRP range of $7.25 – $8.50, and come in the following vitolas:
Company website: Arandoza Cigars
June 24, 2014 – Earlier today, Gary Griffith of Emilio Cigars announced that the limited edition Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero lanceros will begin shipping on June 25, in honor of his 60th birthday.The Draig series of cigars honors Griffith’s Welsh heritage, and each Draig blend is entirely different.
[Editor’s Note: I have had the pleasure of enjoying a couple of the initial Draig Cayuquero toros, and very much look forward to trying to get my hands on a few of these. Of course, I’m an absolute sucker for lanceros these days, and a big fan of Guayacan in general….]
REINADO® Grand Empire Reserve Continues to Expand with an Aged Ecuadorian Connecticut Wrapped Petit LanceroREINADO Cigars announced an upcoming expansion in the form of a Connecticut Wrapped Petit Lancero today. In addition to the Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, the GER Ecuador Edition will – as all existing Grand Empire Reserves do – have a Nicaraguan binder and filler mix. The wrapper incorporated into the Ecuador Edition has been aged a full three years.
The dimensions of the new cigar are 6″ X 38, and it will be [Read more…]