KUUTS, LLC TO RELEASE MIRO SPECIAL EDITION LANCERO
MIAMI FL, OCTOBER 2, 2013 – Kuuts, LLC is set to release a Special Edition Lancero under the Miró Brand mid-4th Quarter 2013 just in time for the holiday season. This Special Edition production is limited to 500 – 10 count boxes nationwide with an MSRP of $10.00 per Lancero. This will be a US only release being that the Miró brand is distributed worldwide.
The Miró Lancero will keep the same basic characteristics of the original blend with more emphasis on flavor for the true traditionalists that enjoy this vitola. Comprised of an Ecuadorian Sumatra Wrapper, Nicaraguan Binder and Nicaraguan and Honduran Blend for the Filler.
John Gonzalez, VP of Kuuts says “What started out as a private smoke for our Operations Manager Gabriel Alvarez, turned out to be a future project. After traveling throughout the US, the obvious demand for a quality Lancero still exists. I thought it was time to release it as a Special Edition with the possibility of a full release in the future.”
The Miró line is currently available in 4 vitolas, Robusto, Toro, Torpedo and Toro Gordo. With the Robusto just receiving a rating of 91 in the latest issue of Cigar Snob Magazine we are sure that the Lancero will have a grand welcoming in today’s market.
Pre-Sales will start on November 1, 2013.
For Ordering info please contact our office at 305-254-2211 or e-mail: sales@kuuts.com
“Smoked Up” No.39
As I sit here on my patio, enjoying an Intemperance EC, enjoying the cooler fall-like weather, I realize the next few weeks are going to be enjoyable, but not. Enjoyable due to the fact that in a week and some days, we (friends & I) depart on a week long hunting/camping trip. But not so much fun due to the fact that our buddy “Uncle Bob” won’t be with us this year. His condition has gone from bad to worse. Congestive Heart Failure has sat in. They have moved him out of the care facility to his daughter’s home to pass. We spent a good bit of time with Bob last night in New Orleans, possibly the last time we get to see him alive. No other way to put it, but the whole situation “Sucks!”
Enough bad news, I made it to the Ortega event on Friday held by The Cigar Shop in Biloxi, MS. It was a great time! The event was fairly low-key but, Eddie and rep Jeff are two great guys who were very hospitable to everyone who stopped buy. They gave away lots of free cigars, ashtrays & shirts as well as the food & drink brought in by “The Shop”. If you ever have the chance to meet either of these men, do so.
I had asked Eddie a few questions while there:
Shawn: Do you plan on keeping the Wild Bunch series going in 2014?
Eddie: Yes, those lines of cigars have done well for themselves. Everybody has their own favorite.
Shawn: Besides your own blends, what other cigars do you smoke?
Eddie: Everybody’s! (with a big smile) I like to keep my options open and like to see what everybody comes up with.
Cigar Views
Viaje Late Harvest 646: When these first came out, I was in a full blown Vuaje kick. A week didn’t go by where I didn’t have a Late Harvest. But, supplies dwindled, new cigars came out & I eventually got away from them. I found this 646 (original release) about halfway in the humidity. I toasted it up and it brought back pretty good memories from years prior. Those memories didn’t last long as the burn got way off, had to delight & touch it up so many times that the flavors didn’t sink in to my head as I was fighting to keep it going. None the less, it was a good smoke considering the issues I had with it. I got a few left to smoke, next time I will dry box them before I smoke another one.
Black Crown: A new (to me) cigar that I have heard mixed results of. I figured why not try it as the price was reasonable. The draw was fairly thick, wavy burn & some soft spots in the cigar. Had flavors that reminded me of what burning pine straw smells like. A but of a salted caramel added to the flavors & was a nice flavor, yet it wasn’t strong enough for my likings. Thus cigar didn’t do much for me as I was not impressed with it at all. It was a bit overpriced, but with some age it may be worth the price. But for now, not something I will smoke fresh.
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La Aurora Celebrates Their 110th Anniversary With a Contest
Celebrating La Aurora’s 110th Anniversary, they are hosting “National 107 Day”. On 10/7/2013 smoke a La Aurora 107 and share your pictures of it on social media with the hashtag “#LaAurora107”. You could win an all inclusive trip to the La Aurora Cigar factory in Santiage, Dominican Republic! That’s all you have to do, smoke a great cigar, show off your pictures and you could win a once in a lifetime experience.
House of Burgess Cigars Announces Launch
For Immediate Release:
September 30th, 2013. Cleveland, Ohio.- Cleveland, Ohio native Joe Baker and Florida based company, Palomino Cigars and Imports are proud to announce the partnership and launch of House of Burgess Cigars Ltd.
Silvio Palomino is a long time importer and distributor of premium Dominican cigars and owner of Palomino Imports. Silvio has been selling and providing private brand cigars (to cigar brand owners) across the U.S since 1990. Joe is an entrepreneur and the former publisher of, Cigars In Review Magazine.
When asked about the newly formed partnership with Silvio Palomino and Palomino Imports, Joe had this to say:
“I’m very excited about this venture. Silvio brings years of knowledge and experience to the table and that is something I value highly. He’s also a good friend and I couldn’t’t ask for a better partner.â€
Joe goes on to state,“Importing and distribution is going to be based in West Palm Beach, Florida while the company headquarters will be based in Cleveland, Ohio. The partnership includes several brands already in existence, La Renia, Santa Ana, Palomino, and Boca del Monte. For the Christmas season, we will be releasing the flag ship cigar line that will feature the House of Burgess name and logo. It will be released in a Connecticut, Maduro, and Corojo wrappers. At first, they will be available in a double robusto, Toro, and Torpedo shapes with other sizes to be released early next year.
Now Available From Davidoff – Colorado Claro Aniversario No. 3
Davidoff Cigars announced today the release of the Colorado Claro Aniversario No.3
The 6×50 Toro size sports a Ecuadorian grown Connecticut Seed wrapper. With binder and filler from the Dominican Republic. They are available now at a Davidoff Appointed Merchant.
“Davidoff stands for expertise and quality supported by deep heritage and craftsmanship to deliver unforgettable moments of pleasure. The Davidoff Colorado Claro series is expanding with the addition of the highly regarded Aniversario No. 3. Featuring a sun-grown Connecticut Ecuador wrapper reminiscent of the Cuban varietal – dark, reddish-brown in appearance – and stronger in taste, the new Colorado Claro Aniversario No. 3 creates a new moment of pleasure. This rare Davidoff series has been produced in very small quantities for cigar enthusiasts and aficionados who seek an exceptional taste experience.”
“Smoked Up” No.38
Well, the weather seems to be cooling off some down here in the south. That means it is somewhat easier to get out and do odd projects around the house that have been neglected this summer. As well as enjoy a few more cigars. I started getting my hunting/camping gear ready for this season and I am really looking forward to “getting back to nature soon.” We got a week long “man trip” hunting and camping trip coming up in October. Maybe I’ll catch a few nature & cigar pictures on the trip and share with you when I return.
I made it to two cigar events, for the same cigar company, this weekend. Previously, I told you about a local man who was wanting to get back to his family’s heritage and start up his own cigar company. He had a few blends made up then a few guys and I sat around one evening tasting them and giving him feedback on “more of this, less of that etc…” type of things. The project came to life and got up and going fairly quickly. The name was set at Puro Vida Cigars and three blends were made.  After the blends were tweaked and finalized, the launch was done this weekend at two local shops. I attended both to help promote a fellow BOTL and give my thoughts on the cigars to other cigar smokers. I don’t work for the company, just was involved in the taste testing stages. Well, the cigar came out pretty good. The changes we mentioned seemed to help the blends a good bit. There was a pretty good turnout at both events and the brand owner, Eddie, said he was hearing good things about the cigars and I did as well. He was also thinking about getting up a line of coffee to pair with his cigars. His Mother owns a substantial amount of coffee land in Nicaragua. I got a sample of some of the dark roasted whole beans and ground up a cup on Sunday, and another, and another. It was a pretty good cup of Joe that went well with the Ortega Serie D Natural I was smoking.
Cigar Views
Viaje Late Harvest LH648 (2012): This is one of my favorite sizes when it comes to cigars. The blend is one of my favorites from Viaje as well. Its not top five or ten, but its close. I paired this cigar with some Flor de Cana 7yr Rum and Coke. The pairing did nothing for the cigar, in fact, it may have hindered it some. The smoke didn’t seem as good as I once remembered. I think the Rum overpowered a few of the key flavors in the smoke. The draw was slightly thick, the burn was absolutely horrible! I had to relight it a about three or four times, as well as numerous touch-ups to correct the off burn. I know my humidor RH is good, to be honest, its probably a little lower than I’d like it to be. So the storage of the cigar is not the reason of the issues. Overall, I got a few more resting in the humidor. I think I will let them rest more and not drink rum with it next time.
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Guayacan Cigars Expands Offerings
After meeting with Guayacan Cigars owner and blender Noel Rojas this morning Gary Griffith of the House of Emilio is pleased to announce size extensions to the original Guayacan blend.
The original Guayacan with an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper will be available soon in two new sizes: Corona and 6×60.
In addition, there willl be 4 sizes released in a new blend featuring a San Andres maduro wrapper and entirely different filler.
These new products will give Guayacan a stronger market presence, and fill niches that consumers have requested.
According to Griffith the new vitolas should be available around the end of the year.
Gary A. Griffith
Emilio Cigars
Emilio Cigars to release Draig Cayuquero
House of Emilio Announces Master Retailer Program
Newark, DE
September 23, 2013
House of Emilio Announces Master Retailer Program
Gary Griffith announced today that House of Emilio, which includes the Emilio, 1502, Ezra Zion, Nomad, Epicurean, Rodrigo, Guayacan, and Bodega Premium cigar brands has created a “Master Retailer” program.
Participating retailers receive training for their staff on all House of Emilio brands and blends so as to best serve the consumer. Qualifying retailers carry facings from every brand in the line, assuring consumers the best possible selection from a well-informed and educated staff.
In addition consumers can be assured that Master Retailers have the earliest access to new product releases, and enjoy the benefit of extra allocation of limited edition products.
“This is an important step for us,” says Griffith, “in that we are able to be certain that retailer staff is well versed on the profiles of each of the blends in order to appropriately make recommendations to consumers.”
Over time this program will be expanded to include additional enhancements that will have value for both the retailer and consumer.
Interested retailers may get additional details by contacting Nathan McIntyre, National Sales Director.
Gary A. Griffith
Villiger Cigars Export Brasil
I have never done a machine made cigar review. Mainly due to the fact that not too many, if any, are worth doing a review. A few weeks ago I came across the Brasil line of Villiger Cigars Export line of cigars. Villiger has been in the cigar business since 1888. If I am not mistaken, they are one of, if not the, top producers of machine made cigars.
I had tried the maduro and natural lines of the Export back in 2010 when I went to the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans, LA. I was given a handful of each while visiting the Villiger booth. I had basically shrugged the cigars off and put them in my humidor. One day I figured, why not give them a try. I did, and enjoyed the maduro line for a quick lunch break cigar. A few friends tried them, liked the maduro as well and we dubbed it “the little candy bar cigar.” The natural was “ok”, but nothing to write home about.
I am not sure how “new” the Brasil line is, but a local shop started carrying Villiger and the Export lines. I saw they had the Brasil line and figured “Why not? Its only $1.75!” I figured why not do a small write-up on what I experienced in the cigar.
Cigar Breakdown
Size: 4×37
Vitola: Cigarillo
Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca
Binder: Natural Leaf Tobacco
Filler: Natural Leaf Tobacco
Country: Switzerland
Cost: $1.75
First Looks
The first thing is pretty obvious that this is a short cigar with a green paper wrapper with the “Villiger” name all over it. Once it is unwrapped, you see a modest looking cigar. Its no beauty winner, but it is fairly smooth, tight seams, and little or no wrapper discoloration.
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