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.
Read the rest of this entry »
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.
Alec Bradley Introduces New Black Market Cigar
Alec Bradley Introduces New Black Market Cigar
New edition boasts a rich, complex character and “edgy” packaging design
DANIA, FL – September 8, 2011 – What do you think of when you hear the term “Black Market?” Something “forbidden” perhaps? Though they may look like something that entered the country under the radar, Alec Bradley’s Black Market cigars, which debuted at this year’s IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas to encouraging praise, the new line extension is anything but taboo.
Read the rest of this entry »
Arturo Fuente Short Story Maduro
Company: Arturo Fuente
Line: Hemmingway Short Story Maduro “AF SSM”
Size: 4 x 46/49 Perfecto
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Price: As low as $6.50 up to $9.00
The Arturo Fuente Hemmingway Short Story Maduro are one of Fuente’s rare and limited cigars. If I am not mistaken, the last time it was released was in 2002. During the 2011 IPCPR show, if retailers bought twenty or more boxes of Fuente, they could purchase one of only 1,000 boxes (of 25) of the Short Story Maduros.
Read the rest of this entry »
Where’s Chris?
Maybe you’ve asked yourself that question over the the last couple of weeks. Well, the truth of the matter is everyday life has gotten in the way of me being able to sit down and record or write a review. The good news, or maybe it’s bad news, is I should be getting back in the swing by this time next week.
I’ve got some good stuff planned for posting in the coming weeks. One of which is write up of my experience at this years Famous Smoke Cigarnival accompanied by some video. I’ve also got a few new cigars on hand to review along with a review of a humidor that comes from one of our newest sponsors 1st Class Cigar Humidors.
Villiger 1888
The Villiger 1888 is somewhat of a mystery. Released in 2008 in Europe for the 120th Anniversary of Villiger, the make up of the cigar is a mystery. Heinrich Villiger personally oversaw the blending of this cigar to make, to him, the best cigar available. Now released in the US, its a somewhat hard to find cigar, but with a price tag of only $8, many cigar smokers have been drawn to it. The Villiger 1888 is an enigma, so how does it hold up? Watch the video and find out.
Julius Caeser Robusto
Julius Caeser Robusto
By Diamond Crown – J.C. Newman
Size: 52 x 4 3/4″
Wrapper: Havana Seed Ecuadorian
Binder:Central American
Filler: Central American
Country: Dominican Republic
Cost: $11.50
The Julius Caeser is made by J.C. Newman that came out at the 2010 IPCPR Show. Its a tribute to the President of J.C. Newman’s ( Eric Newman) grandfather’s 135th Birthday and the 115th Anniversary of J.C. Newman Cigar Company. The Julius Caeser is only available at one of the 55 Diamond Crown Lounges spread out across the United States. Diamond Crown Lounge Listing
