Drew Estate Names Willy Herrera as “Master Blenderâ€
Miami, FL, May 15, 2014: Drew Estate announced today that Willy Herrera will become the “Master Blender†of Drew Estate, effective immediately. Herrera was originally recruited by Drew Estate to create a signature brand illustrating his Cuban heritage and “Cubanesque†blending style. After working with him over the past three years in Nicaragua, Drew Estate determined he was suited to lead their blending team. This represents a major change for Drew Estate, marking the first occasion where someone of Cuban descent has held a top-level position at the company.
Herrera’s new responsibilities will place him at the front and center of Drew Estate’s blending team, which will allow him to channel his passion and energy into creating new blends and maintaining Drew Estate’s current signature blends.  Â
Read the rest of this entry »
“Smoked Up” No.69
Up until today, the weather has been great. The birds are singing, bees are buzzing flowers are blooming and I am smoking cigars! Today, has been pretty dreary with rain in the morning and 90+% humidity the rest of the day. It did put a hindering on my cigar plans as I was going to write up a review, but with the high humidity, I only did a taste test of another new cigar for later review. The review I had planned will most likely be out on Friday afternoon. Last week, I got out a review of the Ezra Zion Tantrum. Its not a new cigar, but a mighty fine one that I thought I’d give my thoughts on.
In other news:
Via Cigar Craig: “…Cigar Rights of America has published a response to the FDA’s deeming document with excellent recommendations on how to respond, and we MUST respond in numbers, or life will change negatively for many thousands of people. Glynn Loope, the director of the CRA made a comment that no cigar related anything should be published without including a link to http://cigarrights.org/fda-response.php. ”
Cigar Views
Joya de Nicaragua Rosalones Machito: I had seen few people on social media enjoying these a good bit and I figured i’d try it out myself. For $5.50, its pretty good smoke! I figured it to be a fuller smoke, but it was more of a solid medium bodied smoke. Very flavorful with notes of spice, chocolate, nuts and cedar. Great draw and burn with no construction issues. I would consider this a box worthy cigar or at least split with a friend. Â
Read the rest of this entry »
Ezra Zion Tantrum
Ezra Zion has been in the cigar biz for a decent amount of time and has had some pretty good hits. They are a boutique brand of cigars with a handful of cigars with all different flavor profiles. With that being said, there is more than likely an Ezra Zion cigar that would meet your taste likings.
The Tantrum is a Nicaraguan puro in a petite corona size. That alone gets my mouth watering. They come in 28 count boxes with only 1500 boxes made. This cigar was released in the middle of last year, so there may be a few singles lingering around still.
 
Cigar Stats
Size: 4 11/25×44
Vitola: Petite Corona (Prensado Pequeño)
Wrapper: Cuban Seed 1999 Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Grade AA Nicaraguan aged 5 to 7 years.
Cost: $9.50*
 
First Looks
The Tantrum has a petite look and feel to it. Its not all that big of a cigar and has a light feel to it. There are a few minimal veins in the lightly box pressed blend. A nice set of silver and black bands adorn the head and foot. A deeply applied triple cap covers the head and that’s always a plus in my book. I like a cigar where the cap is applied deep enough that if you have to give it a second cut, there won’t be any issues. I don’t necessarily have to have a triple cap, but its a small plus.
The aroma of the foot is of a hefty amount of nutmeg, some wood and slight hints of cinnamon. The cold draw is a tad on the light side. I get hints of the nutmeg, and greem peanuts. The wrapper aroma is of an earthy profile. Kind of musty and dirty smelling, but I don’t think it will transition into the smoke.  Â
Read the rest of this entry »
“Smoked Up” No.68
I think I may have gotten a few too many coals in the fire this past week. My friend Joe and IÂ are working on coming up with some metallurgy ideas. We want to build each a small metal forge to make rings, bracelets, knives etc… We were planning on taking it slow, but I slipped in a little too deep and went out and bought a whole bunch of tools to do it. Then, I was needing to clean off the winter junk and leaves off my carport on Saturday, but finishing my hammock stands took that over. Then I had to enjoy the fruits of my labor and ended up laying around in the hammock most of Saturday.
Sunday was a day I was going to tend to my garden some, then get a review out, but it got pushed back to a later date. I ended up taking the family to brunch, then ended up going grocery shopping. By the time we got done it was late and I was beat. So I didn’t get too much accomplished over the weekend that I had wanted to. I did get in a few smokes over the last few days seeing the weather was amazing.
Cigar Views
Room 101 HN Corona: I really like the Papi Chulo size that Room 101 produces and I think the corona is a close second. This was my first Series HN and it was a pretty potent and pungent smoke. Had the typical musty notes you typically get from a Honduran cigar, plus some more. A little ways in, I got some ample graham cracker like sweetness that helped tone down the mustiness of the Honduran tobacco. Great construction as you would expect from a Room 101. Its way down on my list of favorite Room 101s, but a pretty decent smoke if you like Honduran blends.Â
Read the rest of this entry »
CIGAR STATION OF SPRING HILL, TN JOINS HOUSE OF EMILIO MASTER RETAILER FAMILY
Drew Estate Announces Exclusive Distributorship of Tsuge Pipe Company
Miami, FL, May 2, 2014: Drew Estate and Tsuge Pipe Company Ltd. have announced a new strategic alliance between the two companies with news that Drew Estate will become the exclusive distributor of Tsuge in the United States and Canada. Drew Estate will begin selling the Tsuge line at the 2014 IPCPR show in Las Vegas, Nevada in July 2014. Drew Estate entered the pipe market by releasing a line of custom pipe tobacco blends at the 2013 IPCPR tradeshow, and this new announcement stands to cement their involvement in the premium pipe and pipe tobacco market. Â
Read the rest of this entry »
General Cigar Presents 1907 by Dunhill
GENERAL CIGAR PRESENTS 1907 BY DUNHILL
Four New Super Premium Sizes to Make Worldwide Debut
General Cigar announces the world premiere of 1907 by Dunhill®, a medium-bodied, four-cigar collection that will be available at fine cigar shops nationwide, and at premium tobacconists worldwide, beginning in May.
1907 by Dunhill marks the first full-time new Dunhill brand since its Signed Range was introduced in 2001, and commemorates the first box-pressed cigar in the entire Dunhill portfolio, with the range’s new Toro size.
Yves Politi, head of British American Tobacco Ltd.’s Dunhill cigar division said, “In the century since opening its flagship tobacco shop in London, Dunhill has remained synonymous with exquisite cigars in elegant packaging. 1907 celebrates the Dunhill brand’s time-honored tradition of tobacco mastery, while incorporating elements that speak to the modern cigar smoker’s passion points: a fuller taste profile, accessible pricing and classic sizing.”  Â
Read the rest of this entry »
“Smoked Up” No.67
It has been sort of an off week for me. I didn’t smoke too many cigars this past week. The weather got real sketchy as you may have seen on the news earlier this week. Was planning to get a review out on Monday, but it was too humid outside and the weather forecast was not very favorable. There ended up being a few tornados in the state and my thoughts and prayers go out to those involved. I made it to a Camacho event and got to see the Harley they are giving away along with the other events there. There was arm wrestling, mixology and blind taste testing. Over all it was a pretty cool event and there was quite a turn out for it.
Cigar Views
Cigar Federation “The Collective”: This cigar was a “collective” alright! There was a huge collection of flavors. I got anywhere from spicy dark wood, dried fruit, leather, black pepper, and some earthy tones. All from a slightly restricted draw that produced a good amount of smoke. The burn was a little off as any box pressed cigars give off. Overall this was a pretty complex smoke that changed a good bit. Look for a full review of it in the next few weeks as I let the other stick rest to possibly help the thick draw.   Â
Read the rest of this entry »
LA SIRENA Acquires Old School Cigars
The newly independent La Sirena Cigars announced the acquisition of Old School Cigars. Old School is best known for their three lines: Stix, Jaxx & Jaxx LT. Both Companies are New York Based and will be a good fit together. Looking to grow, Arielle Ditkowich said the Old School milder profiles would fill the void needed in La Sirena’s line of cigar offerings.
Daniel  Ditkowich  and  the  Holman  Family  founded  Old  School  Cigars 7 years ago producing a number of blends over the lifespan of the company. La Sirena will continue to produce the “Jaxx†made by  Tavicusa S.A. in Nicaragua, the “Jaxx  LT†made by Plasencia in Honduras and the “Stixxâ€Â made by the Quesada Family in the Dominican Republic.
Exisiting Old School Stock will be sold with original bands and new stock will have “by La Sirena” added to the bands.
La Sirena will be releasing more exciting news in the near future, so be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Herrera Esteli Lancero Announced
Herrera Esteli Lancero – Edicion Limitada 2014
 
