Herrera Esteli Launch Party at The Cigar Shop Biloxi Event Recap
Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to the Herrera Esteli Launch Party that was held at The Cigar Shop in Biloxi, MS. The Cigar Shop is one of two of my “home shops” and they have events once or twice a month with good food, many beverage choices and of course cigars. The event went from 4pm to 8pm, but started earlier and lasted a wee bit longer, which I had no complaints to. MugShots Bar & Grill catered the event with a very nice food spread. They had numerous sandwiches and burgers among other bar faire. In addition to the food there was Lucky Town Flare Incident (Oatmeal Stout), Abita Spring IPA, & Miller Lite beer on tap. There was plenty of sodas and a few non-alcoholic beers on ice as well.
The event was limited to (around) 100 tickets at $10 each. Each ticket got you unlimited food and drink, which was worth the $10 right there. Then you could watch the live rolling demo by Willy Herrera. As well as, you got to smoke a fresh rolled Herrera Esteli as well as a few other cigars passed out by the guys throughout the night. The Cigar Shop gave out 20% off of box purchases (I grabbed a box of UnderCrown Corona Viva). Jefe handed out swag such as a new Stinky Car Ashtray, Hats, Cutters & 6pk samplers of DE cigars with a box purchase. Each ticket entered you into raffles for hats, cutters, t-shirts etc… If you bought a box, there were a few “box purchase only” raffles with a pewter ashtray and DE mirror as some of the prizes.
The icing on the cake of the event was watching Willy Herrera of Drew Estate Cigars rolling the Herrera Esteli right before our eyes at a rolling station. Willy is a very intimidating looking person, but one of the nicest guys I’ve met in the cigar industry. When I say intimidating, I mean, I am 6’1″ and I had to look up to him to speak to him! From my understanding he was slated to be a MS State football player, but somehow, fate landed him into the cigar industry.
Here is a short video I captured of Willy Herrera Rolling the Herrera Esteli.
(If you look closely, you can see his next cigar in prototype form on the ashtray.)
MOYA RUIZ CIGARS IS ADDING A 6 x 60 VITOLA TO LA JUGADA – PRIETO LINE
For Immediate Release:
MOYA RUIZ CIGARS IS ADDING A 6 x 60 VITOLA TO LA JUGADA – PRIETO LINE
May 17, 2013 (Miami, FL) – Moya Ruiz Cigars has announced they are adding a 6 x 60 vitola called Ancho to their La Jugada – Prieto line. The line is available in five sizes, Robusto (5 x 52), Belicoso (6-1/8 x 52), Toro (6 x 52), Doble Corona (7-1/2×49), and now Ancho (6 x 60).
The Ancho vitola is now available and ready to ship to retailers. It is presented in boxes of 20 cigars with an MSRP of $8.80 a cigar.
Moya Ruiz Cigars introduced their first cigar brand in late 2012 called La Jugada – Prieto, which is Spanish for “the move” or “the play”. This was an ode to their love for dominoes and poker. La Jugada – Prieto is med-to-full bodied and comes in a dark San Andres Maduro wrapper with binder and filler from Nicaragua. The La Jugada – Prieto is full of complex flavors like, cedar, sweet spice, expresso, and dark chocolate. This is one of the first side lines blended and rolled at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Danny Moya and Nelson Ruiz are the men behind the Moya Ruiz Cigar company. For more information visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/moyaruizcigars
LA GLORIA CUBANA TO LAUNCH ITS FIRST NICARAGUAN CIGARS
LA GLORIA CUBANA TO LAUNCH ITS FIRST NICARAGUAN CIGARS
La Gloria Cubana® is making a bold departure from its Dominican roots with the launch of two new Nicaraguan collections, the first-ever La Glorias to have Nicaragua as the country of origin. Both expressions will mark the expansion of the top-selling Serie R line which started the large ring, full flavor craze back in 1999.
According to Michael Giannini, General Cigar’s director of innovation, “When Serie R debuted, we established a market for bold cigars, and inspired other manufacturers to follow suit. We’re shaking things up again, by further expanding the size and flavor spectrum of our cigars with two unique and different full-flavored Nicaraguan blends, each in ultra-large ring gauges. Both new collections are trend setters in the making.”
The first of the two new Nicaraguan collections is a puro called Serie R Black. The blend features viso leaves from Jalapa and Esteli, and a Jalapa viso binder. The use of Jalapa viso as a binder and in the blend speaks to the spectacular characteristics of this tobacco, which was cultivated by a small, independent grower named Pedro Joaquin Guardian. It was Pedro who took a bold step by raising the tobacco on several small, unconnected plots on the craggy Jalapa mountainside. The blend is punctuated with an audacious Jalapa ligero wrapper. Harvested from the 2009 crop, this flavorful tobacco was fermented for an entire year, and aged for two and a half years.
Serie R Black debuts with a trio of brawny frontmarks, each in 18-count boxes. This includes: No 58 (6.87” x 58, SRP $6.99); No 60 (6” x 60, SRP $7.24) and No 64 (6.25” x 64, SRP $7.49). This collection will only be available for purchase through Internet/catalog retailers.
Initial details about the second Serie R offering will be released in June, with a full reveal in July at the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas. This new line will be a brick and mortar exclusive.
Giannini noted, “What’s also significant about both new blends is that they have the full flavor that’s characteristic of Nicaraguan tobacco, but they’re not about power. They are meant to deliver the smoking experience of a well-aged, refined and balanced Nicaraguan smoke, and we believe we’re delivering that in spades.”
About La Gloria Cubana
La Gloria Cubana cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo®, Cohiba®, La Gloria Cubana, Punch®, CAO®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.
® La Gloria Cubana, El Credito, Macanudo, Cohiba, Punch, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
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La Palina releases the second Goldie from the La Palina Collection: The Goldie Laguito No.5
La Palina releases the second Goldie from the La Palina Collection: The Goldie Laguito No.5
“Smoked Up” No.19
This past week I have found myself fascinated with the Ortega Wild Bunch series. I bought two of the first two sampler boxes. This week, I tried three out of the six (in no particular order), they are somewhat addictive. They make me want to try the one next to it in the box to see what its like and then the next one and then the next one… Its a vicious cycle when it comes to sampler boxes with me. I can say that of the ones I have had, they are all good in their own aspect. Some are better than others, but that’s just my opinion.
Cigar Views
Punch Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary: Not a very complex smoke as I had remembered it being. But a solid good smoke that have liked since they were released. Had nice flavors of leather with hints of wood & white pepper. Had an excellent draw & burn (considering its a box pressed cigar). Next time, I want to smoke a Rare Corojo then a 10th Anniversary to pick out the differences in the two. Punch cigars will always be in my humidor in some form or fashion. They are a no frills cigar, but some are better than others. They are just a good, decent and solid smoke that never really disappoints me too much.
The Cigar Clip Contest
I did a review of The Cigar Clip Thursday and today I am giving you the chance to win one of them. I am going to base the winner from comments left on the review.
Please post your comment entries on the review.
The Cigar Clip
Comment Ideas:
What do you think of The Cigar Clip from the review? Pros/Cons you possibly see.
What did you think of the review?
Why do you want to win The Cigar Clip?
Contest Rules:
Contest ends Saturday, May 25th at midnight cst.
One comment per person.
18 and over and CONUS only please.
GOOD LUCK!!!
“Smoked Up” No.18
Another week has gone by and another issue of “Smoked Up” is here. Tried a new cigar size of a cigar I already like this week. I am trying to branch out from my “usual” cigar sizes and try a few new sizes here and there. Basically, I am trying to see if there is another size of a cigar that I may like more than the usual size I smoke. No events or anything of that nature to tell you about. But there is a Jonathan Drew & Will Herrera event coming up in a few weeks I will be attending. So be on the look out for a small story of that event in two weeks or so.
I am doing a week long “product testing” review of The Cigar Clip. I am putting it through its paces finding its pros and cons. Look for this review out towards the end of the week.
Cigar Views
Rock-A-Feller Habano Torpedo: I usually smoke a lot of the short pyramid size and its a pretty good smoke at a decent price. But I am branching out to see how the other vitolas are. The torpedo has some nice coffee, wood, with a decent bit of a pepper undertone. Had a great burn, draw and produced 2″+ nice tight ashes. Going to smoke the other sizes to see which one I like most. This one seemed to be a tad bit more peppery than the short pyramid. But this one is pretty tasty and worth a try. Also looking forward to trying the Connecticut line of this blend. I suppose it will be somewhat lighter bodied, but I’ll have to find that out soon.
The Cigar Clip
Have you ever had a cigar that was so good you smoked to the nub and literally burnt your fingers? Well today the idea of “burnt digits” is over with The Cigar Clip!
I have seen many new and unique cigar accessories come out over the last few years. From notebooks to write down your cigar thoughts, new types of cutter designs, cigar holders etc… Some of these ideas are good ideas and some are either too bulky, too hard to use etc… and quickly fade into the sunset. I recently saw on Twitter a new cigar accessory called “The Cigar Clip”. Just looking at the pictures on their website really had me intriqued about the product. I followed them on twitter and was contacted by them in regards to a review and thoughts of their new product. I received it in the mail and gave it about a week’s worth of testing. Not so much testing, but more of “What can I do with this thing??”
But, before I get to the things I did with it, I’ll give you a overlook of The Cigar Clip. The clip comes in a plastic package that’s easy to display in cigar shops and doesn’t take up a whole lot of shelf space. Inside the package is the clip with a handy sheath with The Cigar Clip’s logo embossed into it. Now, that right there is a plus to me. There are companies that if you buy one of their accessories, you have to go online and register it in order to get the sheath. That usually takes two or so weeks to get, so getting the sheath right off the bat is a plus! Another plus is the clip itself is not very big in size and the clip & sheath fits easily in my pocket or travel humidor. Perfect for carrying to a herf or a B&M.
“Smoked Up” No.17
I am back into the swing of things this week. I have gotten over my soreness and overall icky fealing I had last week. Things at the house have leveled off back to “normal”. The weather has been absolutely beautiful this week. It rained a a day or two, but no big storms. The breeze has kept the heat to below 80* and the humidity has been fairly low. So, its been some cool nights to sit outside, enjoy a cigar and a beer or bourbon.
I did get to go to the 2013 “Mopars at the Battleship” this Saturday. I have been going to this car show for 10+ years with my buddy Josh D. So, its like a tradition every year that we go. I know this is a cigar site, but I figured I’d post a few pics I took of some nice cars for you car nuts to enjoy.
Cigar Views
Ortega Cigars “Wild Bunch” Island Jim: The Wild Bunch line of cigars has always caught my attention. I got ahold of 2 samplers of the first three lines and this is the third line of the series. Had a great draw and burn; no construction issues at all. Good woody & nutty flavors that are similar to the Serie D Natural line. Mixed in were some hints of nutmeg & candy-like sweetness at the end which really made this cigar for me. It was not my favorite Wild Bunch, but still a good smoke. The Iron Mike still reigns as my favorite Wild Bunch so far. I am looking forward to the other cigars from the series.
Emilio Draig K Limitada Corona
If you have been smoking cigars for any amount of time, I am pretty sure you have heard of Emilio Cigars. If you haven’t, they are a unique large boutique line of cigars company. Not only does Emilio produce cigars, they also distribute a handful of smaller boutique companies. My favorite Emilio cigars are the AF2 and Grimalkin (now re-branded as La Musa). Late 2012, Gary Griffith released the Draig K Limitada in three sizes (Corona, Robusto & Toro) with limited production of 400 boxes in each size. There is some history of the name and why a pink dragon on the band, but I am not going to get all historical on you. Just think The country of Wales, their national symbol & Gary Griffith’s Welsh herritage and you should get the picture!
I had a few toro and corona when they first were released and had fair results with them. They seemed to have bad burn and sometimes a very stiff draw to them. So, I almost gave up on the line. A few fellow BOTLs told me to get a few and let them rest for a while, that the draw and burn will come out better after some rest. So thats exactly what I did with this one. This one has been resting ever since Gary gifted me this cigar a few months back (Thanks Gary!!). Then, I dry boxed it two days, just to make sure it wasn’t too wet still.
Cigar Vitals
Size: 5 1/2 x 42
Vitola: Corona
Wrapper: Columbian Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan & Handuran
Filler: Nicaraguan & Honduran
Cost: $9.00