RoMaCraft | Half Ashed

Cigar News: RoMaCraft to Distribute Tierra Volcán

July 6, 2014 By Kip Fisher

Canadian based Tierra Volcán announces distribution agreement with Roma Craft

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.

About Mombacho S.A.

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

About Roma Craft Tobac

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

Half Ashed Episode 058: Unbanded #013

March 24, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Hello again and welcome to Episode 058 of Half Ashed. This week, we’re smoking an Unbanded – #013, supplied by Jacob Pinkas. We had quite a big of technical difficulties, but I have edited as much of those snafus out as possible. Please forgive that. In cigar news, we talked over items from Skip Martin, Eddie Ortega, Miami Cigar/Viva Republic, Blessed Leaf, Paul Stulac, and Tatuaje. We also kicked around one legislative story. We also covered what we’ve been smoking, and some listener comments. So kick back with a cigar and join us. Thanks for listening!

Next week, our Cigar of the Week has yet to be determined. As always, we’re constantly looking for suggestions about potential Cigars of the Week, and Unbanded cigars. So if you have one drop us a line at one of the email addresses below. Be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at Cigar Federation (details on locating the show will be on the front page that evening an hour before showtime), 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 email addresses: [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.

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!

Half Ashed Episode 040: Alec Bradley Fine & Rare

November 10, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome to the 40th episode of Half Ashed! This week, we’re smoking the 2012 edition of the Alec Bradley Fine & Rare. The Fine & Rare is a very limited annual release from Alec Bradley. It contains 10 different tobaccos, although little is know about the blend outside of the wrapper – which is Honduran leaf, from the Trojes region of the country. The 2012 edition is a 6″X52 torpedo, produced at the famed Raices Cubana factory. Production for that year was 2000 boxes of 10, and had an MSRP of $16.50. Personally, it is one of my favorite Alec Bradley offerings, and I look forward to it each year, and even at the pricepoint I’m in for a few. Tune in to the show for detailed description of what we thought of this particular rendition.

In the news this week, we discuss a recent report from Cigar Coop about Skip Martin’s recent revelation about an upcoming blend from RoMaCraft – the Neandertal. The fascinating piece of information from this is the fact that it will contain some Aganorsa leaf. I’m a huge fan of Casa Fernandez/Tabacalera Tropicale/Aganorsa cigars and RoMaCraft, so I’ll be waiting on this with bated breath. Speaking of Aganorsa, we also covered a couple of upcoming releases from Casa Fernandez (and the fact that Casa Fernandez will be on the show in two weeks – Nov 22nd). We also had an interesting discussion on a recent instagram post by Ernesto Padilla, hinting at a special club he has in the works for fans of his cigars. We also have some brief talk of what we’ve been smoking this week, Craig’s recent thoughts on coffee, and cover a few recent listener emails.

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be either unbanded 011 from Jacob Pinkas, or possibly one of Michael Stewart’s personal blends. Michael will be our guest as we dive into his fascinating hobby of blending/rolling his own cigars. You may remember Michael if you were watching live during the infamous “Lost Episode” of Half Ashed. Episode 017 was lost in the cosmos, and never released to the public after YouTube decided to eat it. Michael is a very interesting guest, and we both love the idea of making your own cigar creations at home. So, be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at Cigar Federation (details on locating the show will be on the front page that evening before showtime), 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 email addresses: [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 Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

Episode 028: Skip Martin of RoMaCraft Tobac

August 18, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome to Half Ashed Episode 028, everyone. This week, we had an surprise visit with Skip Martin, of RoMaCraft Tobac – makers of such fine cigar lines as the Cro Magnon, Intemperance, and Aquitaine. Both Craig and I are huge fans of the RoMaCraft lineup, as well as Skip and his business partner Michael Rosales. I personally smoke enough of the Intemperance and Aquitaine that I could probably support the investment of shelf space from a local Tampa area retailer (that’s a big hint for all you Tampa area brick & mortar shops). This week’s show is a wealth of good information from Skip about the heart and soul behind RoMaCraft: the tobacco, the cigars, and the people. Moreso than with just about any other company today, I am impressed with the dedication and forethought invested by the RoMaCraft team into the assurance that they are releasing a quality product into the marketplace that carries a great deal of value to the consumer. I hope you all will give the show a listen; you are sure to pick up a heavy dose of what RoMaCraft is all about…and no small amount of fun to boot. Skip is a wealth of information, wisdom, and wit. This is one of the most entertaining 2+ hours Craig and I have had in a show to date.

We cover a few bits of industry information as well – some important legislative moves that are going on around the country and with our Canadian neighbors to the North. Our cigar of the week is the Oliva Masterblends I from 2003, which we discuss a few times throughout the show. It turns out, this cigar has not lost its potency over the past decade (just ask Craig).

Next week, we’ll be joined by Jeff & Nada Jumper of Nadi Cigars, so be sure to check back in then to learn what they have to offer. If you aren’t familiar with Nadi, you should be. If that’s the case, be sure you listen to get the scoop on them. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at the following email addresses: [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.

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!