A Year of Anarchy
On Thanksgiving 2010 I posted a review of the Tatuaje Anarchy. The Anarchy is a Limited Edition cigar that is only available at Smoke Inn. To say the least I was blown away by the cigar at that time. Luckily enough for me a few folks in my family paid attention to that review because I have subsequently recieved two boxes of these cigars. So I thought it would be appropriate to revisit this cigar and see how it has developed with a year of age.
And just to add a little something extra to the review I had my Dad sit in with me. This is only the second time he’s smoked the Anarchy, but I get the impression he’ll be looking to pick some up for himself. Watch the video to her what we have to say.
La Flor Dominicana to introduce Small Batch IV in December 2011
Coral Gables, FL December, 2011 – La Flor Dominicana will introduce the fourth in a series of “Small Batch” Litto Gomez Diez cigars. This limited production item is sold only to selected “Appointed Merchants”
These cigars are very special, made with tobaccos that are the cream of the crop. The tobaccos in these cigars are hand selected by Litto Gomez and are considered the “best of the best”. Initial release of fifty boxes will be in December with future shipments expected in January, 2012. Total production will be about 250 boxes.
Name: Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 4
Size: 52 X 7 inches
Packaging: Cedar Cases of one hundred and five cigars
Body: Full
Blend: 100% Dominican Puro
Wrapper: Dominican Pelo de Oro, grown on our farm in La Canela
Binder and Filler: 100% Dominican, grown on our farm in La Canela
Vintage: 2006
La Flor Dominicana is a vertically integrated premium cigar company, where we proudly control the process from the seed to the final grading, inspecting and packing process. Our tobaccos are grown at our farm in La Canella, Dominican Republic. Our factory is located in Tamboril.
For further information, please contact our office at (800) 543-7131.
Davidoff unveils new Retail Concept at Zürich Airport – the 21st Century Cigar store
Zurich, 30 November 2011 – On 1 December 2011 the Oettinger Davidoff Group unveils its new retail concept and design when opening the first of its kind Davidoff Flagship Store in the redesigned Airside Center at Zurich Airport. At the very heart of the approx. 60m² store is a 30m² walk-in humidor with generous glass frontage. The interior decoration with warm colors and wooden lamellae radiates “Caribbean feelingâ€. Part of the new store design concept is the new iPad in-store app to help finding your personal cigar or the nearest cigar lounge. The opening of the Davidoff Flagship Store at Zurich Airport is also signaling the roll-out of the new store concept around the globe and underscores the importance of both the duty free & travel retail channel and the new global retail strategy of the Oettinger Davidoff Group.
Davidoff’s new retail concept was designed by Stories, a French retail agency, with extensive experience in the luxury retail market and driven by Davidoff’s strategy of being the 21st century cigar destination retailer and demonstrating the brands legendary crossroads of innovation, savoir-faire and savoir-vivre. The US, Greater China and Global Duty Free are at the center of Davidoff’s investment strategy in the years to come.
Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oettinger Davidoff Group says: “We are crowning the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first Davidoff store opened in Geneva with the introduction of a 21st century retail concept. Renaming our Retail Brand “Davidoff of Geneva – since 1911†also signals the return to our proud roots as THE multibrand tobacco specialist. By implementing this new retail store concept in one of the most important duty free destinations we also underscore the great strategic importance of the duty free & travel retail channel for the Oettinger Davidoff Groupâ€.
“Caribbean Feeling†already before staring into the sun – exactly this atmosphere passengers will find from 1 December 2011 in the new Davidoff Flagship Store at Zurich Airport. Recreating the flair and savoir faire of the Dominican Republic, the country of origin of Davidoff cigars, the new store stands for its professional advice with a broad quality range and as an oasis of peace and tranquility at the often so frantic airport. Caribbean wooden lamellae, American cherry wood and warm colors as well as the harmonious illumination ensure a comfortable atmosphere. Part of the 60m² store with inviting entrance is also a 30m² walk-in humidor with broad glass frontage – the heart of the new store. The unobtrusive modern design consists of a combination of traditional classic and contemporary elements.
Dan Ozmezguine, Associate Partner of Paris based Stories, the agency responsible for the new store design, says: “We feel honored that the Oettinger Davidoff Group has entrusted us with this amazing project. The implementation of the first store in the new duty free area at Zurich Airport was an exciting challenge and we are looking forward to further projects – also on landside.â€
The new Flagship Store concept will be implemented from 2012 in Davidoff stores around the globe.
In touch with the latest trends – first iPad in-store app
Another innovation is awaiting visitors of the new airport store. With the first iPad in-store app customers can evaluate their favorite cigars on the iPad. In return they only have to answer four questions concerning their personal smoking habits. In addition, the app informs customers about the position of the nearest cigar lounge. The app, of course, also contains product information about the Davidoff range. The customer can send the selected information directly to his own mail account. Furthermore, there is the alternative to send the contents via Twitter and Facebook to friends. History and milestones of Davidoff as well as a variety of films, which give an understanding of the world of tobacco, can be found on the iPad.
100 years of Davidoff of Geneva
This year Davidoff of Geneva celebrates its 100th anniversary. Henri Davidoff, who came from Kiev to Switzerland due to political unrest, opened in 1911 the first tobacco store in Geneva and laid the foundations for today’s world-wide network of 65 Davidoff Flagship Stores. Henri Davidoff‘s son, Zino, learned the tobacco trade from scratch and stayed several years in South and Central America to deepen his knowledge of tobacco and cigars. In 1930 he returned to Switzerland and successfully managed the business for forty years. In 1970 Zino Davidoff transferred the business to the Oettinger Group.
With the international luxury brand Davidoff the company appeals to connoisseurs all over the world in order to acquaint them with The Good Life – the art of living and pleasure. The premium brand Davidoff stands for a culture of conscious enjoyment and reflection in today’s hectic world. Enjoyment of beautiful and precious things, of pleasure and of life itself unites Davidoff with people all around the world who have come to appreciate our superior products and who expect absolute top quality every day – a promise kept by Davidoff.
The Oettinger Davidoff Group – a Swiss family business rich in tradition
The CHF 1.3 billion Oettinger Davidoff Group with almost 4,000 employees around the world, traces its roots back to 1875 and remains family owned to this day with two distinctly different businesses: one that is focused on FMCG distribution in the Swiss market and one dedicated to the core business of producing, marketing and retailing premium branded cigars, tobacco products and accessories. The premium branded cigar business include Davidoff, AVO, Camacho, Cusano, Griffin’s, Private Stock, Zino, Zino Platinum and Winston Churchill Cigars. The Oettinger Davidoff Group is anchored in a strong “crop-to-shop†philosophy, having pursued a vertical integration from its tobacco fields in the Dominican Republic and Honduras to its world wide network of 65 Davidoff Flagship Stores.
www.davidoff.com/film_flagship_store
For further information:
Oettinger Davidoff Group
Corporate Communications
Nauenstrasse 73
CH – 4002 Basel
Tel. +41 61 279 36 24
media@davidoff.com
www.davidoff.com
MONTECRISTO NEW YORK CONNOISSEUR EDITION RELEASED
Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve
Nestor Miranda released this cigar this year at the 2011 IPCPR as the pinnacle of the Nestor Miranda line. Dressed in a beautiful Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper and made in the My Father cigar factory in Nicaragua, only 10000 cigars were made. Available in 10 count boxes for around $110 a box, this cigar runs cheaper than most ultra premiums.  The cigar was blended by Jaime Garcia with select tobaccos from Nicaragua. So, is this cigar worthy of being an ultra premium? Watch the video and find out.
Sometimes I Just Want an El Cheapo
There are a handful of cigars that are priced between $10 and $20 that I would love to smoke everyday and even more in the $7-10 range that I would smoke just as much. Even though most of the cigars I smoke fall into the second category it’s a third category, the $3-5 cigar, that really gets me excited. To me a great cheap cigar is hard to beat.
Take for example the Padron Palmas Maduro I’m smoking right now. I picked this cigar up a local B&M for $4.30. The cigar is burning and drawing well and to this point has been an extremely enjoyable cigar. The Palmas is full-bodied, well balanced and provides a satisfying combination of cocoa and coffee flavors with a healthy blast of spice. I could see myself smoking this cigar quite often, and at $4.30/stick I could see keeping a box or two on hand.
Over the last couple of years I’ve reviewed a number of budget friendly cigars, and I hope to keep that trend up in the coming years. To help me do that I’d like to ask for your help. Leave a comment below letting me know you favorite cigar in the $3-5 price range or a cigar in that price range that you’d like me to review. I’ll do my best to try and sample as many of your suggestions as possible. And just so I can make sure I get plenty of suggestions to pick from I’m going to offer up a 5 pack of the Padron Palmas Maduro to one randomly selected person. I’ll accept all comments posted up until 12/9/2011 @ Midnight EST and you must provide a legitimate e-mail address so I can contact you for shipping information. I look forward to seeing your suggestions.
Crowned Heads Four Kicks robusto
After the merger of ST Group and Swedish Match, CAO undertook dramatic changes. Most of the employees where let go and the company headquarters was moved from Nashville, TN to Richmond, VA. A few of the employees from the old CAO didn’t want to accept these changes so they left and formed Crowned Heads. Jon Huber, Mike Conder and Michael Trebing decided to make Crowned Heads a company that makes quality, relationships and integrity their foundation. When the Four Kicks was announced by Jon on Twitter, the buzz was deafening. I immediately ordered two boxes from Buckhead Cigars in Atlanta, GA. They both arrived a couple of weeks ago to my delight. Made by Ernesto Perez Carillo, the cigar has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper along with Nicaraguan binder and filler and made at Tabacalera LaAlianza S.A., Santiago, Dominican Republic. So did the cigar live up to the hype or was it four kicks to the teeth? Watch the video and find out.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! – Viaje Stuffed Turkey
What better of a cigar to review for Thanksgiving than the new Viaje Stuffed Turkey? It all started as a joke in an interview that the guys at Stogie Review were doing with Andre Farkas. Jerry Cruz mentioned that he needed to have a cigar for Thanksgiving…how about the Stuffed Turkey? Well, Andre liked it and now the joke as become a reality. The 5 x 60 robusto gordo is the 4th in the White Label Project series and the largest cigar of that series to date. A Nicaraguan puro with a criollo wrapper, the cigar comes in at around $10.50. So, is this cigar a beautiful succulent bird or a flaming, dried out piece of poultry leather? Watch the video and find out.
La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale Club
Almost every year, La Gloria Cubana brings out a new cigar in their Artesanos line. This year, they unveiled the Retro Especiale which was inspired by an old humidor found the El Credito factory. According to Michael Giannini, this cigar took 8 years to complete, 2 of which was on the wrapper alone. The wrapper is made of a cross-bred Connecticut wrapper which has a rich golden color to it which reminds me of the Macanudo Cafe wrapper. The cigar also features a dual binder of a Nicaraguan and Mexican tobaccos. The filler consist of Nicaraguan and Dominican ligero with proprietary tobacco from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The MSRP comes in at $7.00 which is right in the middle of what I consider the sweet spot area for cigar pricing. So, how did the Retro Especiale do? Watch the video and find out.
Nadi Classic Habano Gilgamesh
Size: 7×50 Churchill
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican and Nicaragua
Nadi Cigars is an up and comming cigar company. They are based out of Florida and thier cigars are produced in the Dominican Republic. Their cigars are hand-rolled by a former Davidoff master roller and it shows in the quality of the cigars. All of the vitolas of thier cigars are named after historical rulers. The Epic of Gilgamesh is, perhaps, the oldest written story on Earth. I have seen a bit of info of the company online and mainly on twitter. They also have a website that is in the works.
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