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Dona Flor CC Bahia Blend Corona

Posted by
at December 10, 2012

Dona Flor Cigars has been around for 35 years, but the roots of the company go back to the 1930s when Alonso Menendez perfected the art of cigar making in Cuba. The Dona Flor brand was released to American soil in 2005. But turmoil between the Florida distributor and Dona Flor has kept the cigars away for many of years. The lawsuit was settled, and Dona Flor is now distributed via a Colorado company named “Dona Flor USA” a division of  International Cigar Group. Dona Flor cigar are made in four blends, mainly composed of Brazilian tobacco.

 

Size: 5.5 x 44

Vitola: Corona

Wrapper: Connecticut Shade 

Binder: Mata Fina

Filler: Mata Fina & Mata Norte

Source: Sample from Dona Flor USA


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Cigar Reviews
4

Things I’ve Realized as a Cigar Smoker

Posted by
at December 9, 2012

I’ve been smoking cigars for over a decade, but more enjoying them for about 5 or so years. I’ve had some great cigars which I get from a local cigar smoking bar. And over the years, I’ve realized a few things I thought I would share with you all. Some are basic things and a few are a little more in-depth.
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Uncategorized
1

Ezra Zion and Emilio Cigars have entered into a nationwide distribution agreement

Posted by
at November 30, 2012

Press Release: November 30, 2012 Kyle, Chris, & the Don, the owners of Ezra Zion Cigar Company and CigarFederation.com, and Gary Griffith, owner of Emilio Cigars, announced today that they have entered into a nationwide distribution agreement. To satisfy the rapidly expanding demand for the super-boutique Ezra Zion product line the Emilio sales staff will service new and existing accounts.

 

“When we launched Ezra Zion Cigar Company at IPCPR in August, we were overwhelmed by the positive response and volume of orders.” said Chris, “Keeping up with the demand for our cigars and delivering a supreme, quality smoking experience is paramount to our company. Joining forces with Gary Griffith and the House of Emilio will allow us to do that even better!” “We started Ezra Zion with the idea of making cigars that you and your buddies would make if you made a cigar. To us, smoking is a celebration and an experience to be had, not just a hobby. Partnering with Gary and his staff will bring that celebration to a shop near you.

The Inception and the Reagan lines have arrived at the Emilio Cigars warehouse in Vineland, NJ and will begin shipping immediately.

“I am delighted to be able to help this outstanding boutique manufacturer benefit from our existing shipping and billing facilities, and even more happy that we were able to make this arrangement with such passionate new cigar makers” said Griffith.

“Through videos and social media, we want to continue to bring innovation and insight into our cigar journey. Whether we are at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Ca. for a Reagan/Two If By Tea cigar pairing…in Nicaragua creating new blends…or on our ranch in Texas shooting an M-14 with a cigar burning, we want to bring cigar lovers everywhere into our world and take the journey with us.” added Chris.

Keep up with the Ezra Zion Cigar Company on EzraZion.com.

Follow on Twitter @EzraZionCigars

Gary A. Griffith

Emilio Cigars

Industry News
3

Espinosa La Zona Connecticut Robusto

Posted by
at November 20, 2012

If you have been around cigars for a few years or so, you have surely heard of such brands as 601, Murcielago or Cubao. Well, one of the men behind these brands, Erik Espinosa, has started his own cigar company and purchased his own factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. One of the first lines from the factory is the La Zona and is named after the factory. The La Zona is the “economical” cigar line from Erik and can be purchased in bundles of 20 for around $75+/-. For $3 and change, you wouldn’t expect much; so lets take a further look and see how this economical La Zona turns out.

 


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Cigar Reviews
4

1502 Cigars Ruby Toro

Posted by
at November 16, 2012

1502 Cigars is one of the new boutique lines that have came about recently from Global Premium Cigars. Recently the guys at Emilio Cigars (who gratiously gave me this cigar to try) picked up the 1502 lines under their wings for distribution. 1502 has two other lines besides the Ruby; The Black Gold and the Emerald. The Black Gold is the fuller of the lines. The Ruby being the medium body line. The Emerald is the milder of the three lines.
As Enrique Sánchez (Company owner) says “I like to start my day with an Emerald, then I enjoy a Ruby after lunch, and a Black Gold to end the night.”

Size: 6×50
Vitola: Toro (Box Pressed)
Wrapper: Equadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan from Jalapa Valley and Estelí
Source: Sample

First Looks: The 1502 Ruby is a very unique looking cigar. We have all seen a closed or shaggy foot cigar. But this has a half closed foot, which is pretty interesting to the fact, I have never seen a cigar foot presented in this form. The wrapper comes around the foot and leaves just a tad bit of the filler showing. I think it would help with getting an even burn due the wrapper is getting toasted just as evenly as the filler tobacco.
Overall, it has a soft almost spongy feel to the cigar. A nice oily sheen on the Sumatra wrapper with a slight tooth. A few minimal veins run through the wrapper, but no major veins. The wrapper has a slightly sweet and woody aroma to it. The foot aroma has a nice cinnamon and slight peppery aroma.

Construction: The burn is pretty typical of most box pressed cigars. Its somewhat wavy, but not as bad as most box pressed cigars I’ve had; its easily managed to a decent burn line. Even though there was a slightly uneven burn, I never needed to touch it up, nor relight it. The ash was of a mainly white with some grey mixed in here & there. The first ash lasted about 3/4″ then fell into my lap and caught me way off guard! Each ash there after lasted well over an inch, not a tight ash, but it held. The draw was really nice; not too thick or too thin. It produced a fair amount of “idle” smoke that has a room note with a cedar aroma to it, but I didn’t find it too pleasing. The nice draw produced a good amount of drawed smoke. Its not the most I’ve ever had, but far from the least smoke I’ve ever drawn.

Flavor: First off, I got a good blast of white pepper, which quickly fades off to a nice peppery note. Soon after, a nice note of a muted Nestle Quik-like coco powder flavor comes into the flavor profile. Into the cigar some more, the flavor seems to mellow off to a medium strength creamy white pepper, coco, and a very faint sweetness.
About a third into the cigar, the pepper seems to ease off even more. And a malt chocolate flavor starts to take shape. Its not a bold flavor, but a nice flavor.
Around half way, I got some citrus flavors accompanied to the muted coco/malty notes. Working into the final third, a earthy flavor eased onto my palate. This is when I really started to enjoy the cigar. An easy mix of white pepper, some malty coco, and earth tones, in the final third, is the plateau I think of the cigar. Right towards the end, a nice amount of black pepper arose from the ashes with a slight undertone coco note. It wasn’t a bold pepper, but a nice medium strength pepper note. I was still not 100% off of my head cold, so I didn’t attempt a retrohale.

Final Thoughts: Overall it was a pretty good medium flavor and bodied cigar. I’m still on the fence on whether I would smoke it regularly though. Would I smoke it again? Yes, and recommend it to others who like a medium body smoke with this line of flavor profile. If I could have this cigar that was mainly like the final third, it would be a cigar I would smoke a good bit more often. I would like to try this cigar again and pair it with a citrus green tea or possibly a light beer. I don’t drink much light beer, so I’m guessing it will be with the green tea!

For more information on 1502 Cigars and Global Premium Cigars:
Website: Global Premium Cigars
Twitter: @1502Cigars
Facebook: 1502 Cigars

Cigar Reviews
0

Montana Azul Torpedo

Posted by
at November 12, 2012

Back in 2010 I was at the IPCPR Trade show in New Orleans, LA and was handed a few of these cigars. I set them with the rest of the samples into my humidor and quite frankly forgot about them. I kept seeing them peek out in the humidor and thought to myself “I haven’t tried one of them, nor have I ever seen anything on them”. So I figured to try it and let ya’ll know what I thought of it.
This is from Blue Mountain Cigars from Esteli Nicaragua. Blue Mountain Cigars have been in the cigar business since early 1995. Ran by Marvin Wright and his Jacqueline, Marvin has a history of tobacco. His father grew it, and when Marvin grew up he moved to Cuba to learn more about cigars. Eventually, Marvin landied in Jamaica to build the company of Blue Mountain Cigars. Reading into the name “Montana Azul” and looking at the band. I think the band looks like the blue (Azul) skyline of Montana, but thats just a hunch.

Size: 6 1/8×52
Vitola: Torpedo
Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Source: Sample

First Looks: The cigar looks very well. A nice smooth wrapper with tight roll lines and no tooth. The band is a little flashy and shinny. Im not into flashy and shinny bands; I like a more “classical” band. But we don’t smoke the band, so I’ll get away from it. The overall feal of the cigar is nice. No soft or hard spots the length of the cigar. The wrapper has a light wood & cedar aroma to it. The prelight draw is good with about 1/4″ cut off the torpedo tip.
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Cigar Reviews
3

Ezra Zion Cigar Co Announces Reagan Cigar

Posted by
at November 9, 2012
 

Still trying to figure out what to do after the election?  The REAGAN by Ezra Zion Cigar Company is the first cigar of the Honor Series. A Nicaraguan puro tribute to the great Ronald Reagan.  We hope it will invoke conversation of great times from the past and inspiration for the future!

VITOLAS: President: 54 x 6.75 & 40th (Boxpress): 52 x 6.00

BLEND: Grade “A” Nicaraguan Tobaccos Aged 5 to 6 Years

WRAPPER: 2006 Cuban Seed Sun Grown Habano

BINDER #1: 2006 Cuban Seed

FILLER: 2007 Cuban Seed Seco, Viso, and Ligero

If you are having trouble viewing the video please follow this link: http://www.ezrazion.com/reagan/

Please also join us in supporting our Cigar rights by supporting the Cigar Rights of America, http://www.cigarrights.org/

 

All the best..Kyle, The Don and Chris

 

Visit Cigar Federation at: http://cigarfederation.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network
Industry News
1

McIntyre joins Emilio Cigars Full Time

Posted by
at November 4, 2012
What do you get when you combine youth, passion, and creative genius? The McIntyre Effect.
A bit over a year ago I was standing in my hotel room at IPCPR in New Orleans, staring out at the Mississippi river, and talking to a young man on the telephone about our cigars. He made it clear that his dream in life was to be involved in the cigar industry. I brought him on as an independent sales rep without ever meeting him in person. That young man was Nathan McIntyre, a resident of Spring Hill, Tennessee.
He immediately established himself as a major presence in his market, opening and servicing the accounts of retailers in a way that drew constant praise not only from the retailers themselves, but from long-established members of the industry who recognized his talents, and admired his determination.
A few months later, as Emilio Cigars grew I appointed Nathan to the position of National Director of Sales, a position that afforded him no additional compensation from our fledgling enterprise, but imposed huge additional burdens on him. He undertook the task without hesitation, and always expressed his faith that I would honor the commitment I made to him at that time – someday he would become our first full-time member of staff. He never questioned my judgement when circumstances forced me to delay honoring that promise. He always believed.
Today, at long last, Nathan joins us full time in that same capacity, supervising a now nationwide sales staff, and taking responsibility for a cigar brand that has grown almost five fold in size just in the months since he first joined us.
The coming months will be exciting for all of us as Nathan begins traveling the country, assisting and training our sales representatives, and educating retailers not only about the Emilio brand, but the portfolio of small and promising other cigar brands we now distribute, including Rodrigo, Herederos de Robaina, Guayacan, and 1502 Cigars.
Watch for the McIntyre Effect to take hold across the country. Watch what we are about to do. Wish him well. Let’s get it done in a bigger way than any of us ever imagined in the beginning it could be. See that determined young man in the picture? He is my right hand, my brother, and a man I now trust with everything I’ve worked so hard for. Together at last. Let’s get this done.
Gary A. Griffith
443-350-6957
Emilio Cigars
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Industry News
0

Emilio Releases La Musa Cigars

Posted by
at November 4, 2012
Gary Griffith, owner of Emilio Cigars, announced today that the long anticipated release of La Musa Mousa is scheduled for the week of November 5.  The initial shipments will occur by mid week to those who have placed preorders, followed by allocation of cigars to newer accounts wishing to open.
In addition to the previously available 3 sizes of robusto, toro, and torpedo, the La Musa Mousa will be available as a regular production cigar in corona size. Each year there will also be 200 boxes of lancero made available to select Emilio retailers.
As most are aware, this blend is the rebranding of the highly acclaimed Grimalkin cigars.
“We are pleased to finally see these cigars come to market”, said Griffith, “and look forward to the announcement of the release date for La Musa Melete, second blend in this series, soon.”
Interested retailers should contact National Director of Sales Nathan McIntyre for additional information on availability.
Gary A. Griffith
443-350-6957
Emilio Cigars
Industry News
0

Dona Flor Premium Brazilian Cigars Samplers & Gift Boxes for the Holidays

Posted by
at November 4, 2012


Order your boxes in time for holiday sales.
 

Stock is limited, so don’t wait too long!

Dona Flor Mata Fina 5 Pack – Makes a great gift or stocking stuffer. Available in Robusto and Petit Corona.

Alonso Menendez Connecticut 5 Pack – These also make great weekender traveler boxes. Available in Robusto & Corona vitolas.

Dona Flor Mata Fina 3 Pack Rothchilde – A fat, short pug of a cigar – great for when you don’t have time for a whole Robusto!

Corpo y Alma (Body & Spirit ) and Puro Mata Fina Samplers – The Corpo Y Alma comes in a beautiful Limited Edition Box containing a Dona Flor Selecao, Puro, and Robusto.

The Puro Mata Fina Commemorative contains 3 Dona Flor Puro Mata Fina Robustos.

See the Puro Mata Fina review @ StogieReview.com

Call 877.321.5569 to order now.

sales@donaflorusa.com

donaflorusa.com

Industry News
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