New Cigar from Iconic Leaf: Recluse Draconian
We are pleased to announce that we have completed the blend for our upcoming special edition release of Recluse. It is called the Recluse Draconian. It will be made in three vitolas called Sidewinders. Sidewinders are another new shape that we have created. As we did with our Kanu’ shape, the Sidewinder shape has never been done before in the cigar industry. It will remain undisclosed until its release at this years IPCPR July 13th-17th.
A few select retailers will get an advance release of the Recluse Draconian blend in three box pressed sizes. Recluse Draconian will be rolled in true Entubar fashion as is every cigar that is rolled in the Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas factory.
The Recluse Draconian blend is truly exotic.
 Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro
Binder: Proprietary
Fillers: Brazilian Hybrid, Piloto Cubano,Dominican Iconic Leaf Ligero*                     Â
(leaf developed and exclusive to Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas)*
This blend was created in keeping with our philosophy of creating flavorful, well balanced blends that are smooth with many transitions.
We are proud that we have been able to bring quality and innovation together. This is only the beginning.
Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas, which means Cuban Tobacco Legends, is run by J.R. Dominguez; he comes from generations of cigar manufacturers and he wants to have the greatest factory in the Dominican Republic.
The first blend released from this factory is the Recluse.
Every leaf in the Recluse, the wrapper, the filler and the binder is fermented for Two years.
Additional steps taken that separates the Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas from others include 100% Entubao rolling. Every cigar that’s rolled in the TLC factory is rolled in the cuban style of ‘entubao’. Entubao means tubing. What we do is instead of bunching and pressing the filler, which can affect the draw, we take each filler leaf and roll it up into an individual tube and then we pull those three tubes together which creates three air channels. What you get with the three air channels is an effortless draw. By doing it this way you can do a better box press on the cigar. When you’re compressing the airspace on a cigar, you’re basically reducing the amount of combustion that you have because the airspace is reduced. So what you get with entubao is an effortless draw as well as a cooler, slower and straighter burn. The cigar refuses to burn hot.
We have invented new shapes ; we’re blazing a new trail. The OTG on the Recluse stands for Off The Grid, because that’s the way we do our whole business model. The new shape is called Kanu’ It’s really ‘a Picasso’….it’s the perfect ‘storm’ for .
Recluse Cigar Contest Winners Announcement
The Iconic Leaf Cigar Company, the makers of the Recluse Cigar, had sponsored a month long contest during February. I am very appreciative of them for doing this and supporting NTA and you, the NTA Nation. The contest was fairly simple and we had numerous entries (comments) on the Recluse. It was a fairly tough decision to make as all the comments were good ones. But I had to boil it down to four winners. Four winners was a tough decision to make and it took me a bit of time to go through them all and decide the winners. Without further ado:
The Winners Are:
(Drum roll please)
Matt Easter
007MI6
Scott Lancaster
Paul C
Congrats to all of the winners and thanks to all who entered. Special thanks to Iconic Leaf for sponsoring the contest! Guys, email me your mailing address to NTAShawn@gmail.com and I will get your prize out to you. Enjoy the cigars!
Arandoza Blue Label Robusto
Arandoza Cigars is a “family owned and operated company, is founded in the belief that through hard work and dedication, applying our knowledge of tobacco and passion for cigars, we would bring to market, a product that would honor the tradition and history of the cigar industry and for those that enjoy them.” The Blue Label line is their high end line and is hand made in Estelli, Nicaragua at “La Zona†(Erik Espinosa’a factory).
Cigar Information
Size: 5×52
Vitola: Robusto
Wrapper: Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Cost: $6.20 (at Charmed Leaf Cigars)
“Smoked Up” No.8
The past week has been fairly busy for me. I had my daughter, Satori’s 2nd birthday and party to plan and execute. That went over well, and glad its over and done. She is growing up fast; almost too fast for me! I got to have a small herf at a local “famous” BBQ joint (The Shed BBQ) on Sunday, with a few great friends. Enjoyed some good bbq, few beers and a few great cigars.
Cigar Views
Padilla Miami Torpedo (Original Release): To tell you the truth I have no earthly idea how old this cigar was. I’m not sure when the bands changed, but I’ve had this one for at least a year after I was gifted it. I had been eyeing it in the humidor for a few weeks, but I always said “Nah, I’ll wait” well,what better time than now. You can’t take them with you when you die! I absolutely loved this mellowed woody and slightly nutty cigar. An added faint pepper and creamy note danced around my mouth as well. The draw was a little tight, but I could have cut more off the head. Man, I wish I could have some more of these beauties!
Moya Ruiz La Jugada Prieto Belicoso
Since Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega separated the EO Brand, they have both went on their separate ways and made their own cigar companies. Erik, also bought his first factory, The La Zona in Esteli Nicaragua. One of the first side lines blended & rolled at the La Zona Factory is the La Jugada Prieto from Moya Ruiz Cigars. La Jugada translates to “the move” or “the play”. Danny Moya and Nelson Ruiz are the men behind the Moya Ruiz company and love to play dominos so that is where the name comes from. Danny asked me to try the Prieto and let them know what I thought of them. So, I decided to try the belicoso out and see how it goes.
 
Size:Â 5.5″ x 52
Vitola: Belicoso
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Sizes Available: Robusto (5×50), Toro (6×52), Belicoso (5.5×52), Double Corona (7.5×49)
Source: Unsolicited samples from Moya Ruiz Cigars
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“Smoked Up” No.7
Continuing on with my cigar views and news, is “Smoked Up” No.7. You still got about two weeks to enter my Recluse Cigar Contest. I also got a review of the all new La Jugada Prieto from Moya Ruiz Cigars comming up thursday.
The weather has finally taken its toll on me and been feeling down from it. Working inside and outside all day takes a toll on your body over time. Its finally catching up with me. I’m not sick, just not fealing too sporty this week. I did get in a few cigars, so here’s a few of my cigars views and news from the week.
Cigars Views
La Gloria Cubana Corona Gorda Natural: LGC cigars has always been in my smokings. From my start in cigars to present day, I have always enjoyed a LGC. The draw was a little thick and it burned well. Started out with some wood and coffee undertone flavors that I have came to expect from a LGC. A tad bit of pepper played a roll in the smoke as well once into the cigar some. Around halfway I got a creamy flavor in the smoke, almost a vanilla flavor. Past halfway it got a nice light creamy caramel flavor with some medium powered wood notes. Not a “wowing” cigar, but a solid smoke. Over all a good cigar to always have in the humidor.
COMPAÑIA HONDUREÑA DE TABACOS OPENS KUUTS, LLC DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN AMERICA
 COMPAÑIA HONDUREÑA DE TABACOS OPENS KUUTS, LLC DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN AMERICA
MIAMI FL – Well-established throughout Europe and the rest of the world with a sales volume in excess of 2 million cigars per year, Compañia Hondureña de Tabacos brings its premium cigars stateside with the opening of Kuuts Distribution Center, a brand new, state of the art distribution center in Southeast, Florida.
With over 15 years of experience and a new factory in Danli, Honduras capable of making over 6 million cigars per year, the company is set to distribute 3 premium brands in the United States. All 3 hand-made premium cigar brands; Placeres Reserva, Miró, and Tabacalera Zapata are set to debut in 2013 and feature 100% long filler tobacco and are offered in a range of vitolas.
Placeres Reserva is a box pressed product available in 5 vitolas featuring a Habano wrapper grown in Nicaragua. This medium to ¾ body cigar has a binder from Costa Rica and a filler blend from Honduras & Nicaragua.
Miró is available in 4 vitolas and features a Sumatra wrapper. This medium to ¾ body cigar has a filler blend from Nicaragua and Honduras.
Tabacalera Zapata gets its name from one of the company’s founders, Ramon Zapata Perez. This medium bodied masterpiece is finished with a Connecticut Oscuro wrapper and a Nicaraguan binder. The fillers consist of aged tobacco from Nicaragua, Honduras and Jaltepec.
According to John Gonzalez, Vice President of Kuuts, “We believe we have a great portfolio of products for our initial offering in the US market. There is something for everyone and a lot of room to grow as well. The company has made a tremendous commitment to the US market and we look forward to developing a long-standing relationship with today’s cigar connoisseur and the great retailers throughout the country”.
Kuuts LLC was established in Miami Florida in October 2012 for the purpose of distributing products manufactured by Compañia Hondureña de Tabacos to the US market.
Visit Kuuts online at: Kuuts.com
Bill To Protect Premium Cigars Gets New Number (HR 792)
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The Traditional Cigar Manufacturing & Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2013 is now H.R. 792 |
 On December 21, 2012, the President’s Administration again noted its intent to bring cigars under the domain of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. The threat is real. Between April 2010 and December 2012, the federal government told us they were coming after our humidors, seven times.
As you know, throughout 2012, tremendous progress was made to advance H.R. 1639 and S. 1461 so that the legislative process could help protect our passion for a great cigar. Through your petitions to Congress, your voice was heard, with over 200,000 messages to the U.S. House of Representatives, 221 bi-partisan members said Yes to Cigar Liberty. Fourteen members of the U.S. Senate joined them in that chorus, telling the FDA to Leave our Cigars, Alone. Now, we’re doing it again. With our brethren at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association, we now have H.R. 792. U.S. Representatives Bill Posey and Kathy Castor have again joined forces in the spirit of bi-partisan cooperation to help our cause. They have come together with a dozen members of Congress from both sides of the aisle as ‘original co-sponsors,’ to again tell the FDA that they have no business, in the cigar business. We need you again. Over 208,000 in Cigar Nation spoke to Congress in 2012. We need to do better. This time, in the spirit of our new bill number, we’re going to take Operation Cigar Liberty to new heights. With 792 petitions per Congressional District, that would be 344,520 messages to Congress, asking that they support this critical piece of legislation. Sign this simple petition with your name and zip code. We take care of the rest. Let us know of your legislator’s response. Let’s make our voices heard, as never before. The FDA could rip the soul out of the cigar industry, as we know it. By jeopardizing seasonal blends, threatening boutique production, imposition of new fees, keeping cigar samples out of your hands, and by their very prohibitionist approach, gutting the community tobacconists of Main Street America. CRA will keep you informed of the progress with H.R. 792 [and the forthcoming Senate bill] and what your legislators are saying. It’s time for Cigar Nation, to speak, loud and clear. |
| TAKE ACTION: Help Exempt Premium Cigars From FDA Regulation! |
| H.R. 792 – Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act Did you know that on April 26, 2010, December 20, 2010, and July 7, 2011 the U.S. Food & Drug Administration publicly posted their intent to regulate cigars in the Federal Register? Some of the measures FDA could consider, as we believe they are, include:
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Cigar Rights of America Facilitates International Support Against FDA Regulation of Cigars
Cigar Rights of America Facilitates International Support
Against FDA Regulation of Cigars
Fairfax, VA – Cigar Rights of America announced this week a dramatic new measure in the
effort to combat federal regulation of cigars. CRA has not just been working the halls of
Congress since legislation was filed to protect cigars from potentially threatening
regulations by the US Food & Drug Administration. The organization has also been engaging in a brand of shuttle diplomacy among the primary cigar producing nations of Latin America.
Last week, following several months of meetings and groundwork, a joint letter was issued
by the Ambassadors to the United States for Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican
Republic.
Facilitated by Cigar Rights of America, the staff of each embassy has been kept apprised
of the legislation filed in 2011 to protect cigars from FDA oversight, which finished
2012 with 221 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, and fourteen in the U.S.
Senate. The bills are currently being resubmitted for the 113th Congress.
While previous joint letters have been sent to the members of the House and Senate
committees for foreign affairs by the Honduran and Dominican Republic ambassadors, this
is the first joint statement of all three, and sent directly to the Obama Administration.
Signed by Ambassador to the U.S. for Honduras Jorge Ramon Hernandez-Alcerro, Ambassador to the U.S. for the Dominican Republic Anibal de Castro, and Ambassador to the U.S. for Nicaragua Francisco Campbell, the letter highlights the economic significance of the premium cigar industry to each of their respective nations, and why the government of the United States should not promote regulations that can pose threats to the industry.
The letter states, “If history is any precedent, some of the regulations that could be
imposed by the agency would prove disastrous to the centuries old cigar industry that
provides over 350,000 jobs among our three nations, and represents millions of dollars in
export revenue. No regulatory measure should threaten such jobs, and hence raise the
specter of political and economic consequences within our region.â€
The letter further notes that premium cigars were neither a target nor the intent of
Congress, when it passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The
ambassadors point out that the legislation pending in Congress, as well as letters sent
from Members of the House and Senate to the FDA, “serves to echo our deep concern about
the direction and intentions of FDA.â€
Alonso Menendez Robusto
The Alonso Menedez line of cigars is from the Dona Flor Cigars company from Brazil. Dona Flor has a rich history in the cigar industry and their cigars are now available in the US via Dona Flor USA. For more company information take a look at the review i did of the Dona Flor CC Bahia Blend Corona. I saw a recent review from Cigar-Coop of another Dona Flor cigar, so that got me wanting to try another Dona Flor. So, today I am going to take a look at the Alonso Menedez Connecticut. I say its a Connecticut, but it is Brazilian grown tobacco.
 
Size: 5×50
Vitola: Robusto
Wrapper: Brazil
Binder: Brazil
Filler: Brazil
Source: Sample from Dona Flor USA
