Press Release: General Cigars announces Cohiba Edición Diamante
General Cigar is pleased to introduce Cohiba® Edición Diamante, a rare opportunity to own a piece of premium cigar history.
It is a widely held belief that the 1980 crop of Cameroon wrapper tobacco remains one of the most exemplary leaves ever cultivated. In the more-than thirty years since this outstanding tobacco was harvested, General Cigar’s tobacco masters have cloistered these rarified leaves, nurturing them for the perfect occasion.  That time is now, with the launch of Cohiba Edición Diamante, an extraordinary collection of six frontmarks debuting in December, 2011.
Bill Chilian, director of marketing for Cohiba notes, “Cohiba Edición Diamante spent nine years in the making. Every single aspect of this collection, from the superlative wrapper and outstanding blend, to the striking humidor exemplifies the highest art of cigar making. Cohiba Edición Diamante is tribute to the artisans who put their heart and soul into bringing this collection to life, and is destined to be regaled as one of the premium cigar category’s most treasured offerings.â€
To celebrate the well-balanced, refined taste of the 32-year-old wrapper, Benji Menendez and General Cigar’s team of cigar masters worked tirelessly to create the optimal blend for Cohiba Edición Diamante.  A proprietary Dominican Piloto Cubano blend bolsters the subtly complex taste of the elegant wrapper which enrobes an Indonesian Jember binder. To taste this cigar is to experience the art of cigar making at its finest: a fragrant aroma opens to a delightfully balanced smoke with nuances of cinnamon and toasted wood.
Created to celebrate the exceptionally rare wrapper, the collection features six unique frontmarks: Capa Reserva Robusto
(5†x 49); Capa Reserva Corona Especiale (6 1/2†x 42); Capa Reserva Lonsdale Grande (6 1/4†x 47);
Capa Reserva Toro (6†x 54); Capa Reserva Churchill (7†x 49) and Capa Reserva Gigante (6†x 60).
A stately humidor was commissioned to accentuate the treasured cigars contained within. With attention to every detail, the interior consists of six drawers and is made entirely of Spanish cedar, while the handsome exterior features hand lacquered hard wood highlighted with chrome fixtures.
A true collector’s item, a mere 100 Cohiba Edición Diamante humidors will be released. The suggested retail price for this unique offering is $4,125.00.
About Cohiba Cigars
True cigar connoisseurs recognize Dominican Cohiba cigars as one of the finest brands available in the U.S. market. Critically acclaimed for their meticulous construction and refined taste, the core brand of Cohiba cigars is complemented by these premium collections: Cohiba Black, Cohiba Puro Dominicana and Cohiba XV.
Cohiba cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar also produces Macanudo®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur®, La Gloria Cubana®, CAO and several other leading premium brands. In addition, the company grows its own premium Connecticut Shade wrapper tobacco, as well as natural and candela wrapper in the Dominican Republic. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.
® Cohiba, Macanudo, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur, La Gloria Cubana and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Company.
JJ 4 JJ Day
July 22nd has become a special day for brothers and sisters of the leaf. One of our fellow bloggers and a friend of mine, Jerry Cruz of Stogie Review, tragically lost his son, JJ, to SIDS at only 3 months old. As a father myself, this is gut wrenching. To honor JJ, for the past 4 years, Jerry has been smoking a Don Pepin Serie JJ to honor his son. We, his fellow bloggers, have joined him to help honor his “Little Robusto”. So, today, if you can, spark up a Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ with us to honor JJ. If you don’t have a Serie JJ, any cigar will do. If you are on Twitter, use the hash tag #JJ4JJ with you pics and tweets for JJ. Thank you for your support.
PS – Jay of CigarPhoto.net is having a contest on JJ4JJ Day. Check it out here.
Emilio Grimalkin
Unless you active with the Twitter cigar community, you might not have heard of Emilio cigars. Its a boutique brand that is the brain child of Gary Griffith of Delaware Cigars. I had heard a lot of chatter on Twitter about their AF1 and AF2 cigars and the word was they were very good. While talking to a buddy of mine on Twitter, fellow Mississippian GC Puffs, Gary saw our conversation and asked me if he could get my address to send me some samples. A few days later, a box shows up with samples of the AF1, AF2 and the Grimalkin. I have to say, the Grimalkin band really caught my eye so I had to smoke it first. Gary sent me one sample so this is a first impressions review. So how did the witch’s cat smoke? Watch the video and find out.
Rocky Patel Thunder by Nimish
A couple of weeks ago I received a package from Patrick Vivalo at Rocky Patel Premium Cigars. Enclosed was two samples of a one of the new product lines. Since this week is the annual IPCPR trade show I thought it would be appropriate to review a cigar that will be debuted during the annual trade show. The Rocky Patel Thunder is blended by Mimish Desai, Rocky’s cousin. He supervises all of the Central American manufacturing for Rocky, but has for wanted to blend his own cigar for a long time. This year he finally came up with a blend that he wanted to put on the market and Rocky agreed. So the Thunder by Nimish was born and it will be available in three different sizes.
Name: Thunder by Nimish
Company: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $5-6.00/stick
Comes in: Box of 20
Vitola: Toro
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Wayne Newton to Accept Donation to USO Las Vegas at IPCPR Tradeshow
Wayne Newton to Accept Donation to USO Las Vegas at IPCPR Tradeshow
Richmond, VA— Wayne Newton will join representatives of the USO Las Vegas in accepting a $20,000 donation from General Cigar on behalf of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) on Monday, July 18 at 2:00 PM at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in the Venetian Hotel.
General Cigar and the IPCPR are making the donation to support the “$1K a Day†campaign created to help fund the USO Las Vegas facility in McCarran Airport.  Doug Bradford, center director of USO Las Vegas says it takes about $900 a day to operate the facility, which has been visited by more than 17,000 people with military ties since its opening last Veteran’s Day.
The “$1K a Day†campaign is the perfect way for businesses and individuals to show their support for our nation’s armed forces,†said Bradford. “The importance of letting our men and women in the military know that we do not take for granted what they do for our country, every day, cannot be stressed enough.â€
“Entertaining the men and women of our armed forces overseas has been one of the highlights of my life,†said entertainer and USO tour veteran Wayne Newton. “I have been associated with the USO for decades and am honored to join the organization in accepting General Cigar and the IPCPR’s generous donation which will go a long way in helping fund the USO’s new Las Vegas center.â€
General Cigar and the IPCPR will be in Las Vegas for the 79th annual IPCPR tradeshow which brings premium cigar manufacturers and retailers together to celebrate the industry and debut new products.
“We chose to represent the premium cigar category by contributing to the USO because we value the organization’s heritage and long-term commitment to supporting members of the U.S. Armed Forces bravely serving our country all over the world,†said Dan Carr president of General Cigar. “We are honored to assist the USO in enhancing their presence in the city of Las Vegas which has graciously welcomed the IPCPR tradeshow for many years.â€
The USO has more than 160 locations worldwide that serve as a home away from home for our military. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the organization and its mission to lift the spirits of America’s troops and their families. For more information about the USO Las Vegas “$1k a Day” campaign or to learn how to contribute, contact Doug Bradford, USO Las Vegas Center Director at 702-261-6590.
General Cigar’s commitment to supporting the USO stems from its comprehensive corporate citizenship program which is underwritten solely by the company. Since 1992, General Cigar has actively provided agricultural, environmental and educational support in the Dominican Republic and Honduras, where its premium cigars are handcrafted.
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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®, Punch®, CAO, Partagas®, 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.
About the IPCPR
With more than 2,000 members throughout the U.S. and 31 foreign countries, the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association is the leading non-profit industry organization representing retailers, manufacturers and distributors of hand-made cigars, pipes and accessories. Stores displaying the IPCPR logo are recognized as premier purveyors of premium tobacco products. Members of IPCPR have access to IPCPR market research, trade shows, services, publications, and participation in community, constitutional and legislative action programs.
About USO
The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families and the families of the fallen.
The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and donors. In addition to individual donors and other corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners: American Airlines, AT&T Inc., BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Procter & Gamble and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this patriotic mission and to learn more about the USO, please visit www.uso.org.
® Macanudo, Partagas, Cohiba, Punch, La Gloria Cubana, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
CAO to release OSA Sol at IPCPR 2011
From the CAO Facebook page:
OSA Sol is a 3 size cigar collection featuring a wrapper hand picked by Rick Rodriguez and his team of master blenders. OSA stands for Olancho San Agustin, the region the wrapper hails from.
Guest Review: Sultan Robusto
Editor: Again this week, we have a guest review from Shawn. This one is a cigar most of you have never heard of or especially seen. Check it out.
Sultan Robusto
“An Indonesian Puro”
Size: 5×50
Blend: Indonesian Puro from the East Java, Besuki region
Sizes Available: 7×50 Churchill, 5×50 Robusto, & 52×5-3/8″ Signature
Info: http://sultan-cigar.com/ & @sultancigar on Twitter
I have never had an Indonesian cigar, let alone a Indonesian Puro. I was given this cigar a little over a year ago by a friend on a cigar forum site to try. I did some research on Sultan and they are made from tobaccos that are aged 5 years, rolled, and then the cigars are aged anywhere from 6 months to a year. The cigars were created in 1990 for diplomatic use in the Sultan’s Palace.
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Press Release: La Flor Dominicana to introduce new items at IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas this year.
Coral Gables, FL July 13, 2011 – La Flor Dominicana will introduce the following items at this year’s IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas next week, July 17 – July21.
Casa de Tabaco featuring “Airbender Maduro” – A unique cigar box/humidor made in the style of a true Dominican curing barn. This beautiful package will house 24 of our limited Airbender Maduros, made with a Brazilian maduro wrapper and Dominican filler and binder. Â Production of these will be limited to orders taken at the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas.
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Press Release: Puros Indios Unveils New 2012 Series
Miami, FL—Puros Indios Cigars announced today the unveiling of 3 new blends, to be released at the IPCPR in Las Vegas.
The Puros Indios “2012†Series will be box-pressed and made in Miami under the close supervision of company President Carlos Diez, grandson of Rolando Reyes Sr. “We secured some incredible tobacco out of Nicaragua that will allow us to create this special blend. Three sizes will be available; Robusto, Toro & Torpedo, with a suggested retail price between $7 & $9 dollars. We only use 3 master cigar rollers at our Miami factory in Little Havana, and their daily output is limited to 100 cigars each. This cigar definitely won’t be widely available, but rest assured it will be on the shelves of our best customers.
The Cuba Aliados Cabinet Selection is the 2nd cigar we are debuting at the trade show. This is another unique blend because it contains tobacco from the first crop grown on our own lands in the fields adjacent to our factory in DanlÃ, Honduras. My grandfather is ecstatic that we are finally able to grow our own tobacco, and this blend is a testament to his lifetime labor of love. Three sizes will be available, Robusto, Torpedo & Toro, with suggested retail pricing between $6.00 & $7.00. The Cuban-seed Habano wrapper, binder & filler are all homegrown. This blend will be manufactured, there, in Honduras, so it will be widely available.
The Cuba Aliados “Super Mazo†is a value bundle being offered to big ring-gauge cigar lovers. The three stout sizes available will be 4×60, 5×60 & 6×60, at an average retail price of $3.00 per cigar. This medium-bodied cigar will contain a blend of Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos.
Diez states: “I’m really excited to finally have these new cigars ready for our fellow cigar smokers. We usually don’t come out with new blends every year. But, with the addition of our fairly new Miami factory that we created a couple of years ago, plus the first crop that is ready from our own tobacco growing operation, it’s a great time for our company to continue to grow and prosper, thus offering incredible tasting cigars at great prices.â€
About the Reyes Family
Rolando Reyes Sr. has been manufacturing cigars for 70 years. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, steeped in the old Cuban tradition, Don Rolando produces the Puros Indios, Cuba Aliados, Cienfuegos and several other leading premium brands. Having been called the world’s most talented cigar maker, Don Rolando and grandson Carlos Diez are now fusing time honored traditions with a new and unique perspective. Based in Miami, FL, the Reyes Family sells through tobacconists all across America and worldwide.
For more information about Puros Indios Cigars, please visit www.PurosIndiosCigars.com
Press Release: A CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT MIAMI CIGAR & COMPANY
A CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT MIAMI CIGAR & COMPANY
Miami, FL, July 11, 2011 … Three years ago the Miranda family experienced something that no family can ever be prepared for. After a four year fight with cancer, Mariana and Nestor’s son Danny passed away. “This was the most difficult situation I have ever had to deal with†said Nestor. Not only did this affect their family but it also had direct implications to Miami Cigar, Danny was everything to the company.
The Miranda’s were faced with a dilemma and called upon Rene Castaneda for support. Rene was the current NY territory representative and although he enjoyed being on the road he decided to make the move to Miami and help head Miami Cigar. “When I spoke to Nestor for the first time after Danny passed away I realized that this was not a decision that I had to think about, I had to be there for him and for this company.â€
During this transition, Castaneda brought aboard Jason Wood to be his direct counterpart in hopes that one day he would be able to return to NY and leave the company in good hands.
That day has arrived and both Castaneda and Wood couldn’t be happier. “Over the last 2 ½ years, Jason has shown that he not only has the capacity to take over but I believe he has the talent to take us to the next level†said Castaneda. Castaneda will retain his role as Executive Director for National Accounts and still play an active role on the Board of Directors for Miami Cigar.
Jason started his tenure with Miami Cigar in March 2009 and has worked his way through all sectors of the company, finally culminating with his recent promotion. He will be over-seeing all aspects of the company and continue to work closely with the factories introducing top of the line products into the market.
“I am honored that Nestor and Rene have the supreme confidence in me to continue moving this company in the right direction†says Wood, “and I am excited for what the future has to offer!â€
