Zino Platinum Scepter XS
Cold Weather is comming up and smaller smokes will be smoked more and more for those unfortunate enough to be able to smoke indoors at all times. So, I am going to focus on a few smaller smokes on my next few reviews. This week, I am going to try the Zino Platinum Sceptor XS. I got this cigar from a Zino Black Carpet Event held at The Cigar Shop (Biloxi, MS) last week had one, liked it and decided to give it another shot and a review.
Zino Platinum Sceptor XS
Size: 4×30 Demme-Tasse
Wrapper: Connecticut-seed Ecuadorian
Binder: Connecticut Shade
Filler: Dominican & Peru
Smoke Time: About 19 minutes
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Gran Habano STK Zulu Zulu Released
Miami, Fl., October 10, 2011 – Shipments of the new STK Zulu Zulu Habano and Ecuadorian Connecticut lanceros have been delivered out to all of our STK participating retailers. Measuring 7 ½ x 40 the Zulu Zulu lanceros will come in both an Ecuadorian Connecticut and Nicaraguan Habano wrapper featuring a Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan filler.
The medium-body Ecuadorian Connecticut cigars will be packaged in the blue box while the full-body Nicaraguan Habano will be in the red. Both boxes were hand painted and signed by the Miami artist, and close friend of George A. Rico, known as “Kidâ€. Limited in production, only 500 boxes of each blend were released.
Both the Zulu Zulu Habano and Ecuadorian Connecticut will retail for $9.00.
All of our STK retailers, STK cigars and future projects (as they are announced) can be located on our website:Â http://GHCigars.com under the STK heading.
Please remember that a portion of the proceeds from all boxes sold will be donated directly to Invisible Children. Invisible Children is an organization; “…that uses film, creativity and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony’s rebel war and restore LRA-affected communities in central Africa to peace and prosperity.â€
For more information on Invisible Children please take the time to explore their website and videos at http://InvisibleChildren.com.
About Gran Habano Cigars
Gran Habano Cigars was founded in 1995 by Guillermo Rico and his son George Rico. Using only the best raw materials on earth, Gran Habano begins the growing process with Habano and Corojo seeds which are grown on company-owned farms in Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The process comes to fruition at our boutique factory, which focuses on quality control and high-end productivity making it one of the top cigar companies in the world.
Connect With Gran Habano
http://GHCigars.com
http://twitter.com/GHCigars
http://facebook.com/GranHabanoCigars
La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale now shipping to retailers
Continuing its tradition of innovation, Team La Gloria is proud to introduce La Gloria Cubana® Artesanos Retro Especiale, a collection that spent eight years in the making.
Inspired by an antique humidor found at the El Credito® Cigar Factory, Michael Giannini and Team La Gloria toiled for nearly a decade to replicate the antique humidor. Inclusive of a two-year process that encompassed cultivating a new wrapper, the development of the blend for Artesanos Retro Especiale was approached with an equal amount of creativity and commitment.
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CAO OSA Sol – New Month Long Contest!
This week I’m reviewing the newest, and first, CAO cigar under the General Cigar banner. The OSA Sol was the brainchild of Rick Rodriguez and select General Cigar master blenders. This new cigar features a select wrapper from the Olancha, San Agustin (OSA) area of Honduras that was grown in 2008. 2008 was a perfect year for the area climate wise producing a nice oily tobacco leaf perfect for cigar wrappers. In CAO’s words:
To achieve its uniquely balanced, medium-bodied taste, Rick and his team have punctuated the flavorful OSA wrapper with a hearty Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler. The result is a provocative taste that celebrates the nuances of Olancho San Agustin tobacco.
General Cigar sent out a 5 pack sampler to several of us cigar bloggers for review. Â The size we received was the Lot 54 which is a 6 x 54 Toro Grande. Â So, how does the new CAO OSA Sol compare of the old CAO line up? Â Watch the video and find out.
PS – Don’t forget about the contests! Â Here are the match ups for the first weekend (Oct 6)! Â Remember, give scores for both to get a chance to win both contest.
New Orleans vs Carolina
Mississippi State vs UAB
A Message from Glynn Loope, CRA Executive Director
While I was at Cigar Expo 2011 I got a chance to talk with Glynn Loope and Alan Price of Cigar Rights of America (CRA). Mr. Loope was kind enough to take a few minutes and spread the work of CRA. Unfortunately the audio didn’t turn out that well, but if you listen carefully you should be able to pick up on the message. Either way the CRA is doing a great thing for cigar smokers across the United States of America and deserves our support.
Illusione mk ULTRA
Dion Giolito, owner of Illusione Cigars, seems to have the golden touch with me. He hasn’t made a cigar that I haven’t just loved. Matter of fact, my first cigar review for NTA was the Cruzado Domenicos. Along with the Eperney, each blend has its own unique character all of which I adore. The MKULTRA was somewhat of an anomaly back in the early days of Illusione cigars. Dion released two different blend of the MK original, one of the which was much stronger than the mk we know today. That version was called the MKULTRA. The original, as I remember it, was very well received, but, at the time, wasn’t what Dion was looking for. Fast forward to 2011 and now we have the MKULTRA back! The back story Dion tells about the cigar was it was named after a US military project to make “zombie soldiers” using LSD given to GIs to make them more receptive to subconscious suggestions. So, does the new zombie win or is it a double tap to the brain? Watch the video and find out.
CASA FUENTE PARTNERS WITH JACK DANIEL’S TO OFFER LIMITED EDITION WHISKEY
Las Vegas, NV (September, 21, 2011) – Casa Fuente inside The Forum Shops at Caesars has teamed up with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey to create a special limited edition Casa Fuente Single Barrel Whiskey which is now available for purchase at the world renowned cigar bar. Each bottle sells for $85.00 with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation and includes a special commemorative tag designating the limited edition selection for Casa Fuente.
Sosa Classic Gran Wavell
Size: 5 1/2 x 55
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Dominican Republic
Started at the turn of the century, Don Juan Sosa had a small tobacco farm in Cuba. By the 1920s, he had grown to one of the largest tobaco-producing haciendas in Cuba.But after political turmoil, Don Juan’s son Arturo and grandson Juan left the island searching for rich soil. After a few years of searching, they settled in the Santiago region of the Dominican Republic. Juan continues today with his wife and three sons to make cigars with Cuban tradition.
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Fausto FT153
Alright guys, I told you I’d be back so here I am. And today I think I’ve got a real beauty to smoke. Today I’m smoking the Fausto, which is a new cigar release from Pete Johnson.
Name: Fausto
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Comes in: Box of 25
Price: $8.50/stick
Vitola: FT153 (6 x 50)
The Fausto is a full-bodied and full-flavored cigar that does not lack in the strength department. Draw and burn were consistently good from beginning to end and yielded an abundant amount of thick smoke that quickly filled my smoking lounge (garage). The cigar starts off with a blast of spice that remained consistent throughout the entire first half of the cigar. Other flavor notes included earth and grilled meat. Towards the middle of the cigar the spice mellowed on the palate yet remained full through the nose. An espresso note also became detectable at the halfway mark which finished with a subtle sweetness.
Fausto is balls to the walls. This a powerhouse cigar that’s best enjoyed after a large meal. I’ve had success pairing this cigar bourbon and various stouts.
General Cigar Announces Sherwin Seltzer’s Retirement
Richmond, VA—General Cigar announces today that industry veteran Sherwin Seltzer will retire at the end of October, thus concluding a storied career spanning more than half a century in the premium cigar category.
“There comes a time when you have to stop and do something else. I’ve had a great run in this business but at this stage in my life, I want to devote my time to Iris, my wife of 51 years, and my children and grandchildren,†comments Seltzer, who will continue to serve as General Cigar’s vice president of trade development until October 31.
Dan Carr, president of General Cigar remarks, “Sherwin is one of those people you meet in life and never forget. He has a great sense of humor and always makes people feel at ease. Because of this, he made great contributions to General Cigar, particularly in developing relationships with our trade partners and in acting as a mentor to people in all areas of the business. While we will all miss working with Sherwin, we consider him family and look forward to hearing about his adventures during retirement.â€
Sherwin began his career in the industry in 1956, working for Brown Williamson, a cigarette company, before joining Faber, Coe and Gregg, best known for importing Cuban cigars to the U.S. After a stint in California, during which time he launched Faber’s national products division, Sherwin returned to New York in 1978 to work for Joel Sherman of Nat Sherman & Company.
In 1980, Sherwin joined Villazon & Company, maker of iconic Honduran brands such as Punch®, Hoyo de Monterrey® and Excalibur®, and was quickly promoted to vice president of sales and marketing, working with Danny Blumenthal and Frank Llaneza. When General Cigar acquired Villazon in 1996, Sherwin’s career flourished. He worked hand in hand with industry icons including Edgar Cullman, Daniel Nuñez and Benji Menendez. He ultimately concentrated on sales and trade development, an entrepreneurial position which allowed him to focus on trade relations and channel expansion.
Sherwin remembers, “When General Cigar acquired Villazon, it was a turning point in my career. Edgar Cullman was like a godfather to me and together with his son Edgar and grandson David Danziger, they developed what I feel are the best brands in the industry. They also built a tremendous foundation for today’s General Cigar Company.â€
Sherwin feels he’s leaving the company at the right time. “I have complete confidence in Dan Carr. He’s a terrific guy, and I know he’s going to keep moving the business forward to even bigger and better things. He has also developed a really talented management team, along with great people in the factories, and in sales and marketing. I’m retiring knowing that the company will continue to be the best in the business.â€
When asked what advice he would give to someone who wants to enter the cigar business, Sherwin simply answers, “Get a job with General Cigar.â€
About General Cigar
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®, CAO, Partagas®, Punch®, 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.
® Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur, Macanudo, Cohiba La Gloria Cubana, Partagas, and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
