Iconic Leaf Recluse Draconian (pre-release)
In 2012, Iconic Leaf Cigars released the “Recluse” and was met with a pretty good fanfare of likes. I happen to do a review on the Toro a while back and it was quite interesting & tasty smoke. There was a unique mix of flavors I have never experienced before together, which made for a pretty good cigar. I have been given the chance to try out the pre-release of their new line the Recluse Draconian. This vitola will not be one that’s released, the shapes released with be called “Sidewinders”. But I am sure the flavors will be along the same lines as the pre-release. For a little more info on the Draconian check out their Draconian Press Release.
Size:Â 5×50
Vitola: Robusto (Released sizes and shapes will differ)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro
Binder: Proprietary
Fillers: Brazilian Hybrid, Piloto Cubano,Dominican Iconic Leaf Ligero*Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
GENERAL CIGAR PREVAILS OVER CUBATABACO IN TRADEMARK DISPUTE
Richmond, VA–General Cigar was recently vindicated by the courts again in the nearly 16 year old legal battle waged by Cubatabaco to determine rightful ownership of the Cohiba® trademark in the United States. After losing its legal battle in the Second Circuit, Cubatabaco continued to exhaust all available legal channels by bringing this matter before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTABâ€).
The TTAB granted General Cigar’s motion for summary judgment, and dismissed with prejudice Cubatabaco’s petition to cancel General Cigar’s Cohiba registrations. The TTAB ruled that because the federal courts have held that Cubatabaco may not sell Cohiba cigars in the U.S. or acquire any interest in the Cohiba mark, Cubatabaco lacks any property interest in the Cohiba mark. Cubatabaco therefore has no standing to challenge General Cigar’s registrations of the Cohiba mark.
General Cigar’s President Dan Carr said, “This ruling once again affirms what we have believed all along: That Cubatabaco has no merit in challenging General Cigar’s ownership of the Cohiba trademark in the United States.â€
General Cigar received its first registration of the Cohiba trademark in the U.S. in 1981, and again in 1992. The company has sold its Dominican Cohiba cigar in the U.S. since the early 1980s.
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About Cohiba Cigars
True cigar connoisseurs recognize Dominican Cohiba cigars as one of the finest brands available in the U.S. market. Critically acclaimed for their meticulous construction and refined taste, the core brand of Cohiba cigars is complemented by these premium collections: Cohiba Black, Cohiba XV, Cohiba Puro Dominicana and Cohiba Edición Diamante. Â
® Cohiba is a registered trademark of General Cigar Company.
“Smoked Up” No.12
It is that time of the week when I tell you about the week’s happenings in my cigar journey through life, plus some news from around the interwebs. We had a glitch in our server last week and thought I had lost a few posts (including the Cuenca Cigars 5 Anniversary review), but we got them back and things are running a little more smoother here. Spring is upon us down here in the south which means more cigar and bbq time for me and my friends. Hope ya’ll up north get some warmer temps soon. I don’t see how ya’ll can take those cold temps and snow!! Enough of my blabbering….
Cigar Views
Puros Indios Special Aged Pyramid: When I first started enjoying cigars, these were a go-to for me. They are inexpensive, good flavors and I got a decent smoke time from them. I got this cigar in December, 2010, so its got 2 more years age than the 6 years the Reyes put on them before sold. Had a slightly thick draw, but a good burn. Had very light creamy wood flavors throughout. For about $1.50, its not a bad or great cigar. I think these peak with a year age as they mellow off too much after that. I think these are good aged between 9months and a year, this one was almost too mild.
MACANUDO CONTEST WINNERS TEE UP FOR TRIP TO AUGUSTA
Richmond, VA— Macanudo®, America’s best-selling premium cigar brand, is sending the winners of the Macanudo Ultimate Round Contest on a spectacular, all-expense paid trip to Augusta to see golf’s greatest players compete in the 2013 Masters Golf Tournament, live and in person.
A total of eight winners and their guests will be whisked away to the mecca of golf from April 10-15, 2013 where they will enjoy a golf-lover’s dream come true: all-access tickets to the 2013 Masters, roundtrip airfare, lush accommodations at exquisite private residences, and white glove service, all in the company of their favorite Macanudo cigars.
As the winner of the Macanudo Ultimate Round photo contest, Jason Canady of Fayetteville, NC, submitted a photo of himself smoking a Macanudo 1968 at his hometown club, King’s Grant Golf and Country Club. Jason and his guest will be joined in Augusta by the seven winners selected from entries submitted through online cigar retailers. They are: Richard Brown, Macon, GA (Thompson Cigars); Charlie Swart III, Wheeling, WV
(JR Cigars); Kent Kilpatrick, McCook, NE (Famous Smoke Shop); CJ Kirkpatrick, Rio Rancho, NM (Holt’s); Kevin Klein, Chester, NJ (Cigars International); Marc Stine, Parker, CO (Best Cigar Prices), and Ralph Hoover, Pittsburgh, PA (Mike’s Cigars).
“The Macanudo Ultimate Round contest winners are about to experience the ultimate enjoyment of cigars and golf,†said Alan Willner, vice president of marketing for General Cigar. “Macanudo’s longtime association with the sport of golf is allowing us to deliver an unparalleled VIP experience. For these devoted Macanudo fans who enjoy the game as much as they enjoy their cigars, this will be the trip of a lifetime.â€
Updates from the Masters, and photos of Macanudo’s ultimate golf getaway will be posted to the brand’s Facebookand Twitter accounts beginning on April 10.
About Macanudo Cigars
Since their introduction in 1968, Macanudo cigars have been a favorite among premium cigar connoisseurs. The brand continues to be the best selling premium cigar brand in the U.S. and also sells in more than 90 countries worldwide. In addition to the base brand of Macanudo cigars, the brand also features these collections: Macanudo Maduro, Macanudo Robust, Macanudo Gold Label, Macanudo Vintage and Macanudo 1968.
General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, 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.
® Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur, La Gloria Cubana and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
Cuenca Cigars 5 Anniversary
Cuenca Cigars in downtown Hollywood, Florida is “The only place that will put up with your ash”. They are a cigar shop, bar, a patio and a cappuccino bar that is next to a “Members Only” lounge. In celebration of their 5th Anniversary, Miguel Cuenca created a special cigar. He specially blended the cigar himself, then had Ana Cuenca and five seasoned smokers from the shop to help with the “taste testing”. The loyal customers helped them with an unbiased opinion of the cigar to make the final blend. AJ Fernandez, a good friend of the Cuenca family, produced and kept a watchful eye of the aging and curing process of the 5 Anniversary at the Tabacalera Fernandez factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.
Each of the first initial 500 boxes of 10 cigars, was released in December of 2012 to 20 cigar shops in the US and Europe. Each box will be hand signed by Miguel Cuenca. In the later part of 2013, a full line will be released using the same blend as the 5 Anniversary. By the middle part of this year, the whole line will be more available and in 50 total stores.
Size: 7×54
Vitola: Box Pressed Torpedo
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro
Binder: unknown
Filler: unknown
Cost: $8.50
“Smoked Up” No.11
This past week was a great smoking week for me. I had a hand full of new cigars and wasn’t disappointed by any of them. Some of them I have been looking for for a good while and others just seemed to end up in my hand. I attended two events this saturday. One was at “The Cigar Shop” in Biloxi, MS. They had a Xikar & LFD event with awesome Cuban style food, prize drawings and a keg of Guinness!
Later that day, I went to “El Puros Perfecto” in Ocean Springs, MS where they had thier first event. There was a local brewery called “Crooked Letter” there showcasing a few of thier brews. There was food and beverages there as well, but I was full from the Mojo Pork from the previous event. The shop gave away some cigar swag and cigars and had quite a turn out for thier first event.
Cuban Mojo Pork, beans, rice and fried plantains
LFD “Unreleased” prize
Doing the “Mando”
Alex (LFD), Paul (Shop Owner)Â & I
CAO Brazilia Carnivale Hits Retail
CAO Brazilia Carnivale Hits Retail
CAO Brazilia Carnivale is hitting cigar shops as we speak. The 6 ½†x 60 box-pressed beauty is a limited edition release that puts an innovative spin on the popular Brazilia blend.
“Carnivale†is made with ligeros from the DR, Honduras and Nicaragua, and a binder from Brazil. The wrapper is a rare Habano Grueso leaf cultivated only in small quantities.
Rick Rodriguez who heads up blending for CAO said, “We haven’t changed any CAO blends since we took over the brand. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t put our spin on one of them. That’s exactly what we did with Carnivale…it’s my and my team’s take on Brazilia. We added a new wrapper, made the original wrapper the binder, and cranked the whole thing up with more ligero.â€
You won’t miss CAO Brazilia Carnivale at your favorite cigar shop. It’s in an eye-catching, bright yellow, 12-count box, and is a must-have for the CAO collector. Single CAO Brazilia Carnivale cigars are on sale for $8.30 until the limited supply is gone.
Rick hinted that there could be another small batch twist on the horizon for another one of CAO’s top blends.  “My team and I have been experimenting with some fantastic tobaccos, so CAO fans should be on the lookout to see what we come up with next.â€
DONA FLOR USA SIGNS CALIFORNIA DISTRIBUTO​R
DONA FLOR USA SIGNS CALIFORNIA DISTRIBUTOR
(Miami Florida) March 14, 2013. 2013 is off to a bang for Dona Flor USA and Double Edge Inc. Dona Flor USA established a partnership with RK Distributors dba Cigar Cartel in Sun Valley, California to assist in distribution. The company also hired a new sales representative to handle customer visits and events. Officials say they are very excited and the company is looking forward to getting the west coast solidified and up and rolling.
Located in Sun Valley California, RK/Cigar Cartel offers premium cigars as well as a multitude of other tobacco products. The distribution company has been servicing wholesalers and retailers in California for over 25 years. With a satellite office located in La Verne, California servicing customers in the Inland Empire, North Orange County and eastern L.A. County regions, they are well positioned to expand the Brazilian Puros in this sunny market.
Dona Flor president Chris Edge took an extended trip up and down the Southern California coast, personally visiting cigar lounges and humidors beginning in January. “I spent forty-five days, 6000 thousand miles, and hours in California traffic sharing hundreds of samples with lots of new friends,†says Edge, “and there has been a tremendous response from California ÂÂÂlounges and their customers.â€
Company officials also stated that “California consumers are huge soccer fans, and when the 2014 FIFA World Cup begins next year in Brazil, we expect our sales to skyrocket. Dona Flor is the number one selling and official cigar of Brazil and it is expected to capture the US Market with the same passion as that of Brazil.
Dona Flor cigars are 100% Brazilian puros, manufactured under age-old Cuban traditions that were passed down from father to son. Alonso Menendez, creator of the Montecristo and Montecruzbrands, taught sons Benji and Félix Menendez the family trade. Benji Menendez would later become VP of Sales at General Cigar, while son Félix settled in the Bahia region of Brazil. Over the last thirty-five years, he has perfected the Dona Flor and Alonso Menendez brands there with life-long friend and master grower Arturo Toraño, part of the world renowned Toraño family.
Dona Flor USA promotes the cigars as filling a niche in the boutique arena. “Brazilian tobacco is entirely unique in comparison to other regions. It is extremely full-flavored and yet still a very smooth smoke, you just have to try one to understand,†says Edge. “Though a boutique cigar, our cigars are not new—their quality is only new to the states. We have just received a 93 rating from Cigar Journal—as well as consistent 92, 91 and 90 ratings throughout our line—along with many other outstanding reviews. As awareness of the quality of premium Brazilian tobaccos and of our cigars to continue to grow, we will be at the forefront in supplying the increased demand.â€
Dona Flor cigars are currently available in the US to premium cigar retailers in over 18 states, and distribution is expanding. For more information on where to Find Your Dona Flor, you may contact Dona Flor USA by phone or email: 877.321.5569| sales@donaflorusa.com
NHC Illusione Burn Robusto
New Havana Cigars has been always a go-to place for me to get ahold of many Illusione, Viaje, Tatuaje, and EPC cigars when I can’t find them locally. I was on my lunch break and happen to catch a post from NHC on Facebook with a link to the Burn line from Illusione (that was once exclusive to The Burn Lounge) being offered by NHC. I, personally don’t prefer too many of the original lines of Illusione. Except, for a few of the small ring gauged cigars and anything Dion puts a maduro wrapper on. On a whim, I got the sampler of the line and figured I try them out and see whats up with them.
Made at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, the Burn line was done as a house line for the Burn Lounge in Miami, FL. It may just be an odd querk, but most cigars that have “Miami” in the name I tend to like a pretty good bit. So, I actually have high hopes and expectations for these cigars.
Size: 5×52
Vitola: Robusto
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Cost: $8.80 ($44.00/5pk)
Purchased from New Havana Cigars
“Smoked Up” No.10
This week really flew by me pretty fast. I didn’t get a chance to do a weekly review, . So I will try and double up this week and do two. My new position at work is going pretty well and I am catching on quickly. Its a lot less physical work than my previous position., But a lot of work that keeps me busy. The weather has been great one day and iffy the next, but didn’t smoke too much last week. Here are a few cigar views & news from the past week.
Cigar Views
Drew Estate UnderCrown Corona Viva: This size and the Gran Toro are my two go to lines of Undercrown. I paired this with a Rouge Chocolate Stout. I figured this would make for a good pairing. But I was wrong. The beer way overpowered the cigar flavor strength and dulled out some of the flavors. They are great items seperately, but not paired together. Sometimes you have to learn from trials and tribulations. The Undeercrown always seems to confuse me to think its a more fuller bodied smoke, but its a solid medium. So, I suggest pairing it lightly.
Diesel Shorty: I won this cigar with a few others by watching the weekly RobbyRasReviews chat show. Thanks for the cigars Robby! Even though its a large (60rg) ring gauged cigar, I actually liked it. Had some straw and slightly sweet caramel flavors. Had a great draw and burn. The caramel went from rich to chalky to obsolete at the end. Also at the end, I got a good bit of espresso as well. But I liked the rich slightly sweet caramel flavors the most of the first portion of the cigar. Good smoke, but still prefer the Unholy Cocktail better.
Cigar News
Cuban Stock Announces Chubbys 3-4-5
Punch Rare Corojo Makes Annual Return with Perfecto Size
CAO Sponsors Kid Rock’s “Chillin’ the Most Cruise
Legislation: US Bill H.R 792 Gains 6 New Co-Sponsors via Leaf and Grape
H. Upmann Legacy Vitola to be Launched in Charlotte via CigarCoop
Sindicato Cigars Announcement via Toasted Foot
Room101 Namakubi Ecuador via Leaf and Grape
Black Patch Kenbano Features Kentucky-grown Habano via CigarCoop
Rocky Patel The Edge Candela Returns for Second Year via HalfWheel
CAO Announces Brazilia Carnivale via CigarCoop
HalfWheel Announces Their Forum
Cigar Preview: Padrón TP40 – Retail Exclusive to Tobacco Plaza via CigarCoop
