Emilio Draig Cayuquero Lancero News
Newark, DE
June 24, 2014
Gary Griffith of Emilio Cigars announced this morning that the limited edition Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero lanceros will begin shipping on June 25, in honor of his 60th birthday. Only 100 boxes of 10 cigars were produced in this extremely limited run of cigars.
 
The Draig Cayuquero uses a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper, and fillers from the Jalapa and Esteli regions of Nicaragua, and has been critically acclaimed by numerous reviewers.
According to Griffith this will be the only time the Cayuquero is produced in the lancero size.
The Draig series of cigars honors Griffith’s Welsh heritage, and each Draig blend is entirely different.
Gary A. Griffith
BUENA VISTA CIGARS MAKES ITS MUCH AWAITED RETURN TO THE U.S. MARKET
(Miami, Florida) June 19, 2014— M.G.M. Cigars proudly announces the return of the Buena Vista Cigar brand of premium cigars to the United States. In 2011 Buena Vista Cigars made a brief appearance in the U.S. scene with tons of internet buzz and rave reviews from cigar media. M.G.M. Cigars has now brought back to the U.S. public the “Worlds fines Cuban seed cigarâ€-Buena Vista Cigars.
The genesis of MGM Cigar can be traced to Cuba and the year 2009. At the time, the notion of crafting a Premium Cigar with the highest quality in every aspect of its creation, without any of the restrictions imposed by the island upon the product and its processes, gained support and backing. This support was from a group of very experienced cigar makers.
 
In 2011 Buena Vista Cigars was released with a sizable amount of industry hype do superb cigar construction, one of kind luxury presentation and packaging, and most importantly, the quality of the cigar itself. The Buena Vista Prominente received a 94 Rating in Smoke Magazine with one of the panelists simply stating: “The one word that comes to mind is Awesome.†The Buena Vista Robusto was featured in Cigar Journal in the article “60 Cigars that you should try.â€
Circumstances beyond the manufacturer’s control hindered the project’s development and successful advancement. The entire production of 200,000 cigars was stored in temperature and humidity-controlled cedar conditioning rooms, until 2013. At that point, José E. Borges Batista, founding partner and current President of MGM Cigar, arrived to the United States (after a prolonged wait) bringing with him dreams of freedom, prosperity, and his irrevocable mission of pressing ahead with the MGM Cigar project.
José E. Borges said: “The M.GM. Cigar project and first brand Buena Vista cigar was nothing more than a dream in 2009. It quickly caught flight, only to be put to bed for a short while. I am thankful to have relocated to the United States where I am free to forge ahead with our project. We look forward to re-introducing the Buena Vista Cigar brand which pays homage to all who, through music and from one generation to another, have kept the Cuban traditions, values and joie de vivre alive.â€
Buena Vista Reserva 2008 is a well-balanced cigar of medium strength. It’s crafted by Cuban master rollers, who expertly mix a filler of select tobacco harvested in the Dominican Republic, aged two years (2008-2010) and then dress it with an elegant Habano 98 wrapper from Ecuador. These cigars have rested in cedar conditioning rooms for three years, surrounded by an optimal temperature and level of humidity. This process accents and balances the tobacco’s nuances, ensuring the connoisseur a uniquely pleasurable experience.
The Buena Vista brand is presented in boxes of 10 units and comes in 9 vitolas:
CIGAR SIZESÂ
- PROMINENTEÂ -Â 7 x 49
- SUBLIME -Â 6.3 x 54
- PIRAMIDE – 6.3 x 52
- DOBLE ROBUSTO – 5.5 x 52
- ROBUSTO – 5.3 x 54
- CORONA LARGA – 4.8 x 50
- CORONA – 5.1 x 46
- PETIT PYRAMID – 4.9 x 52
- SHORT CHURCHILL – 4.3 x 54
About MGM Cigars:
MGM Cigar proudly announces the launch of its Buena Vista Cigars. These one-of-a-kind masterpieces, issued in limited quantities and reserves, inspired in the founder’s roots, are presented with the fervent pledge. The pledge that the most demanding cigar connoisseur will experience great enjoyment in a product only enhanced with time and that is capable of satisfying the smoker’s five senses. MGM Cigars is based in an elegant yet highly functional manufacturing plant in the La Palma Free Zone, located in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. This is where the pinnacle of cigars are skillfully rolled and expertly stored in aging rooms in limited quantities.
For more information on MGM Cigar please visit: WWW.MGMCIGARS.COM
Drew Estate Announces Kentucky Fire Cured – Flying Pig
Miami, FL – Drew Estate announced today the release of the Flying Pig vitola in their Kentucky Fire Cured blend. The Kentucky Fire Cured Flying Pig (KFCFP) will make its debut at a private event, featuring Drew Estate co-Ââ€founder Jonathan Drew, with Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe in Louisville, Kentucky. The cigar will receive a nationwide release at the IPCPR Tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV in July of 2014.
When asked why he decided to debut the cigar in Kentucky, Drew stated, “The choice was an easy one. Kentucky is obviously a major inspiration for the Kentucky Fire Cured line, and that inspiration comes through in everything from the blend profile to the iconic imagery. The tobacco that gives the Kentucky Fire Cured line its distinctive smoky aroma and flavor is grown right here in Kentucky.â€
The Kentucky Fire Cured Flying Pig will be released in boxes of 12, and the cigar will be the same size as the other Flying Pig releases, 3 15/16â€x 60. The KFCFP captures all of the smoky character that the Kentucky Fire Cured line has become known for among cigar smokers nationwide.
As stated, the Kentucky Fire Cured Flying Pig will be officially released at IPCPR 2014, and should ship in September 2014. The cigar will be available to ALL Drew Estate accounts. For more information about Kentucky Fire Cured, visit Drew Estate’s website at http://drewestate.com.
“Smoked Up” No.73
We made it past another Friday the 13th and the rare “Strawberry Moon”. On Friday, I hung out with my friend at the tattoo gallery she was working at. I ended up getting another tattoo, but nothing major. This time it was a rabbit’s foot with a “13”. I call it my “unlucky rabbit’s foot.” I got it on my rib cage above a previous tattoo and that was an interesting type of pain. I don’t know why I keep wanting to get ink on my ribs…
Saturday me and a few buddies helped Eddie with Puro Vida with some taste testing of his upcoming Honduran puro blends. He has a Connecticut and a Corojo coming out that are pretty good smokes.
Cigar Views
Flor de Oliva Torpedo: This bundle cigar is one I had quite a few times in the past; usually the maduro. This cigar seemed to have a sweetened tip as I got a decent amount of sweetness on my lips that accompanied the woody and semi-spicy notes of the tobacco. The draw was a good bit on the heavy side, but no other construction issues. For the price on these cigars, they make a good yard gar or a cigar for one of your buddies who wants to hang out with a cigar. The maduros are better in my opinion and they are better with about 6months age. Â
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CAO Cigars and Flying Dog Brewery Release Exclusive Pairing Pack
For craft beer enthusiasts who want to drink their beer and smoke it too, Flying Dog and CAO Cigars have partnered to pair four world-class cigars with the brewery’s most iconic beers.
“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,” CAO cigar blender Rick Rodriguez said. “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.”
The CAO “Art of Craft” cigar pack will be available alongside each corresponding beer exclusively at 36 Total Wine stores throughout Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, and California beginning July 1.
“Smoked Up” No.72
I know one thing, it is getting hot in south Mississippi! I can see my cigar choosings getting smaller in size and my pool time getting longer. The nights are in the low to mid 80s, no breeze and high humidity. So, every occasion I get to smoke indoors I am! One occasion this week was at El Puro Perfecto’s humidor expansion party. They have been open a little over a year now and little over doubled the size of their humidor and selection recently. They threw a nice party with free local craft beer from Crooked Letter, smoked sausage, boudin, hanburgers etc… Puro Vida was there showcasing the locally owned company that I and a few others help blend. There was also a good amount of give-aways of cigars & swag.
Speaking of Puro Vida, the owner has a few test blends of a puro line that we will be taste testing and giving our thoughts on this Sunday. From the sounds of the blend, it will be quite and interesting one that I hope takes off as you don’t see too many of this type of blend on the market these days. If all goes to plan and the cigars get finalized, I will report back on exactly what they are.
Cigar Views
 
Davidoff Year of the Snake: My Sunday Davidoff this week was while I had a rack of baby back ribs on the smoker. The smoke time of the cigar kept me occupied while the ribs did their thing. I don’t smoke too many limited edition Davidoffs, mainly due to their $20+ price tag. This was a gift from the owner of The Cigar Shop in Biloxi, MS and was a very nice gift at that. This smoke was a bit more in strength than the usual Davidoffs and had some nice flavors as well. Notes of a slight peppery spice, charred wood and some creamy semi-sweet herbal notes danced around my palate. Overall a pretty good smoke and one of my top Davidoffs; just still can’t get past the price tag.
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Joya de Nicaragua Changes Red “Cardinal” to “CAÑONAZO”
Due to a conflict with the name “Cardinal”, Joya de Nicaragua have changed the vitola name to “CAÑONAZO”.
The final size lineup for Joya Red will be Sizes:
- Short Churchill – 4 ¾ x 48
- Robusto – 5 ¼ x 50
- Toro – 6 x 52
- Cañonazo – 5 ½ x 54
601 Announces La Bomba Warhead II
LIMITED EDITION 601 LA BOMBA WARHEAD RETURNS IN A NEW VITOLA
Hialeah Gardens, Florida (June 6, 2014)
– Espinosa Premium Cigars is proud to announce that the 601 La Bomba Warhead will be back in a new vitola and transformed packaging for this year’s IPCPR. Coming off last year’s successful debut of the 601 La Bomba Warhead, Espinosa returns with the 2014 release known as Warhead II.
Warhead II measures 5-1/2 inches by 56 ring gauge and is semi-box pressed with the familiar fuse-like pig tail that is found on the 601 La Bomba line. They carry a suggested retail value of $10.95 or $109.50 for a box. “A Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper will cover binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. Although the Warhead II will have the same strength and flavor profile as the original, the blend was tweaked a bit due to the scarcity of tobacco used in this special release. We are planning on making Warhead an annual release and keeping it limited in production.” said Erik Espinosa.
Warhead II is limited to 2,000 boxes of 10 and the packaging is again inspired by several themes in the World War II era.
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“Smoked Up” No.71
Although the official first day of summer is a few weeks away, it sure has me fooled. Every day this past week its hit high 80s everyday. Then there was a weekend with off an on showers which really helped with the humidity. Not much going on locally, I went to a “Meet and Greet” event with an independent sales rep. He represented Nat Sherman, Quesada and Aging Room Cigars. Not a big get together, just getting the word out on the new lines in the shop, a few deals and beverages. And this time, I held onto my craft beer as I didn’t want another one sprouting legs and walking off.
Cigar Views
Oliva G Robusto: This is a cigar I used to smoke a lot of when I first started enjoying cigars. Then I would put my friends onto them when they got interested in cigars also. I haven’t had one in a while and this was a nice treat for me. Great notes of a semi-sweet chocolate, some leather and coffee as well as hints of black pepper. Had a great draw and burn considering it was a hard box pressed shape. For about $5-6 this is a great every day smoke that I would consider a staple in ones humidor.  Â
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Joya de Nicaragua Announces JOYA RED Cigar Line
JOYA RED: Rediscover Joya
Estelà – You probably know Joya de Nicaragua as the traditional maker of powerful cigars. Think again!
Meet JOYA RED, a new and exciting side of JDN. Some might even call it unexpected. Developed for the modern smoker by the youngest executive team in the industry, together with the most senior Master Blenders of Nicaragua. Juan Ignacio MartÃnez (31), President of JDN since 2013, led a team of contemporary executives and experienced Master Blenders such as Leonel Raudez (62), JDN’s Factory Manager since 1992, to create this beautiful new blend. The result? A vibrant smoke you will enjoy anytime, anywhere; classy, as always, but also a lot more fun.
If you want to get technical, we created this blend with tobaccos from our beloved home of Nicaragua.
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