Press Release: GARY HYAMS LEAVES CAO INTERNATIONAL
Richmond, VA—General Cigar announced today that with completion of the integration of CAO® International and General Cigar Company, Gary Hyams will step down from his role as chairman of CAO International, effective today.
Along with Dan Carr, president of General Cigar, Mr. Hyams led the integration of the two companies as part of the recent joint venture with Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which was announced in October.
Gary Hyams commented, “Being at the helm of CAO for the past four years has meant a lot to me and I am proud of what my colleagues and I have accomplished. I have great faith in Dan Carr and his team, and I leave CAO fully confident that they will continue to enhance and grow the brand.â€
Dan Carr, president of General Cigar said, “Gary is a strong leader who is responsible for bringing international prominence to CAO. I am grateful to him for his dedication to the company and to all that he contributed toward the integration of General Cigar and CAO into the new Scandinavian Tobacco Group. Gary has done an exceptional job of preparing my staff and me for the future and we remain committed to continuing the momentum that he and his colleagues have built with CAO.â€
In 2007, Hyams was highly instrumental in the acquisition of CAO International and was appointed Chairman. Under his leadership, CAO has grown to become a highly successful company in the competitive premium cigar category. He retained the culture of the company and implemented many successful new brand launches including America®, Lx2® and La Traviata®, which has received the highest acclaim of all CAO brands to date. Mr. Hyams was also heavily involved in the 2009 acquisition of the Toraño and Olivas cigar factories in Nicaragua and Honduras.
Mr. Hyams has been an advocate for the cigar industry, having been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Cigar Association of America (CAA) and having served as Chairman of the Imported Tobacco Products Advisory Council (ITPAC) in the U.K.
His distinguished career in the industry began in the U.K. at “Loretta Cigars London LTD,†which Mr. Hyams later came to co-own. Loretta Cigars was noted for building the Henri Wintermans, King Edward and Ritmeester brands, and was also an agent for Macanudo®, Don Tomas®, CAO and the cigarette brand “Natural American Spirit.â€
Upon the sale of Loretta Cigars to Henri Wintermans, Mr. Hyams became managing director in the new company, Henri Wintermans U.K. Upon the Acquisition of CAO, Mr. Hyams held the distinction of being the only general manager/managing director in Scandinavian Tobacco Group to hold that position in two different countries.
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.
® CAO, America, LX2, La Traviata, Macanudo, Don Tomas, Cohiba, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
262 Paradigm Robusto
A couple nights ago Brian and I got together and fired up the Paradigm Robusto from 262 Cigars. When we get together for these reviews I like the video to speak for itself.
Name: Paradigm
Company: 262 Cigars
Made in: Honduras
Wrapper: Brazilian
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Seco and Ligero from Esteli & Jalapa, Nicaragua and Cubito from Columbia
Price: $7.95
Comes in: Box of 20
Vitola: Robusto (4″ x 52)
Press Release – MIAMI CIGAR & COMPANY CREATING $5,000 DONATION TO THE LOVE FUND
Miami, FL, 26 January…Miami Cigar & Company’s principals, Marianna & Nestor Miranda are supplying 1000 cigars from the Nestor Miranda Collection to five shops in Miami. These cigars will be sold to benefit The Love Fund, which benefits the families of fallen officers. Each shop will have 10 boxes with an actual retail value of $136 each. The cigars will be sold for $5/each; $100/box.
“The Mirandas were very moved by the funeral service for the two slain Police Officers, Amanda Haworth and Roger Castillo†according to Jason Wood, Miami Cigar & Company Marketing Manager. “They are very aware of the recent increase in violence against Police Officers.†The Miranda’s learned about The Love Fund yesterday, and asked Wood and MC&C Vice President Rene J. Castaneda to organize this event immediately.
The event will take place on Friday, February 4th at the following Miami stores: Cuban Crafters (3604 NW 7th Street); Puros Fine Cigars (10792 SW 24th Street); Havana Cuba Cigar Lounge (15348 NW 79 Court); Vilar Cigars (13989 South Dixie Highway); Cigar 1 Lounge, formerly Stogies of London Square (12305 SW 137th Avenue,, Ste 306). The cigars will be available until the supply runs out.
Miami Cigar & Company will donate the total proceeds of the 1,000 cigar sale to The Love Fund with a corporate check that will list the 5 participating shops as contributors.
Cusano 15th Anniversary
Well the Cusano brand of cigars is 15 years old and to celebrate this milestone they have released 2000 boxes of their new cigar appropriately named 15th Anniversary. This stick is sold in boxes of 15 and retails for $8.99 per stick plus any state and local taxes. I’d never heard of this cigar until I saw it in a local Tinder Box in December. Since the cigar was a lancero, easily my favorite vitola, I picked up a couple to try. Since then I’ve gone back to the shop and picked up a few more. Now I’ve sat down and put my thoughts on video for enjoyment. That is if you enjoy these videos…
Name: 15th Anniversary
Company: Cusano
Made In: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic
Price: $8.99
Comes in: Box of 15
Vitola: Lancero (7″ x 40)
Read the rest of this entry »
Gran Habano Gran Reserva #3
Recently, Gran Habano announced the discontinuation of a lot of their established lines which concerned many cigar lovers. Gran Habano is known for making really good cigars for a very affordable price. The loss of some of the more popular lines was just a refocusing of their cigar lines which started with the release of the well received Azteca. As you know, I helped in the prototyping of that cigar and I really think it turned out great. Not to take a moments rest, Gran Habano released a new cigar a few months after IPCPR in 2010. That cigar was the Gran Reserva #3 which features aged tobaccos from Gran Habano farms. Using 7-8 year old tobacco from Nicaragua and Columbia, the cigars are rolled and aged another 2 years before release with a price point less than $7. Is the cigar worth all that trouble? Watch the video and find out.
Press Release: Jameson Cigar Co. Releases SouthBound Series Latitude
We’re excited to finally introduce the SouthBound Series with Latitude being the first release. The SouthBound Series was conceived as a collection of everyday smokes, cigars you can afford to set alight often. With SouthBound conjuring up images reminiscent of travel, a journey to a better place, even, Latitude was the perfect fit for the first series release.
For Latitude we chose a broadleaf wrapper from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to surround a Criollo ’98 binder from the Dominican Republic as well as Criollo fillers. This blend results in a medium-bodied, medium-strength smoke that pairs well with your morning coffee or your drink of choice in the evening. Latitude is initially available in bundles of twenty in two sizes, 5×50 and 6×52, with each size retailing for $62.00 and $64.00 per bundle, respectively. They will only be available on our website, Jameson Cigars, and on Calle Ocho at 1336 SW 8th St., Miami, FL.
Alec Bradley Prensado
Lately I’ve felt like there have been a bunch of cigars that I’d wanted to review, but just hadn’t gotten around to. One of those cigars is the Prensado from Alec Bradley. This cigar made it’s debut in September of 2009, but it’s roots go back to 2006 when the Corojo leaf, that would one day be the wrapper, was harvested. This tobacco was aged and fermented until 2008 when Alan Rubin and his team went to work developing a blend. This process took six months and the result is the cigar I’m smoking today.
Name: Prensado
Company: Alec Bradley
Made In: Danli, Honduras
Wrapper: Corojo 2006 Trojes, Honduras
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua & Trojes, Honduras
Price: $9.25
Comes in: Box of 20
Vitola: Robusto (5″ x 50)
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La Sirena The Prince
Released this year at IPCPR in New Orleans, La Sirena was relatively unknown before the show. I met Brand Manager, Arielle Ditkowich, at the Miami Cigars booth while talking to Nestor Miranda. There was a buzz at the show about Arielle’s new cigar line so I was eager to try it. Alas, I left there without trying a sample, but luckily, Jason Wood of Miami Cigars sent two of them to me to review. This cigar was blended for Arielle and Miami Cigars by Don Pepin Garcia. So, was the buzz worthy of the cigar? Does it sink or swim? Watch the video and find out.
Guest Review: Flor de Gonzalez 90 Miles Toro “ROTT†Review
Ben – Today we have a guest reviewer filling in for us today that many of you have seen on the sight before. Shawn has done a couple of dual review with me in the past and this is his first, but hopefully not last, written review. Shawn reviews the new 90 Miles cigar from Flor de Gonzalez.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Habano Rosado
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Shape: Toro
Size: 6 X 52
I got this cigar recently and a few friends have told me it was worth a try. So, I figured I’d go out and grab one and give it a try right of the truck (ROTT) and do a review on it.
This cigar is a nicely constructed cigar with a double cap, medium brown wrapper, with few veins; but no major ones. The cigar is not spongy at all with no hard/soft spots in it. The prelight draw is fairly tight, but not too hard. This could be due to the fact its fresh from a B&M that keeps 70% humidity in their humidor. The prelight draw has no flavors that jump out at me and is really faint. The band is uniquely designed, in the fact it has a Cuban coastline on one side of the band and “The Southern Most Point†on the other. With the 90 Miles in between the two, signifying the distance between the USA and Cuba.
Carlos Torano Signature Collection
The Carlos Torano Signature collection was released in 2000 with five different vitolas to choose from. This line of cigars features a blend of tobacco from four countries and is intended to be medium to full-bodied. Over the years I’ve smoked my fair share of these in various sizes, but for this review I sat down with the robusto.
Name: Signature Collection
Company: Carlos Torano
Made In: Danli, Honduras
Wrapper: Sun Grown Brazilian Maduro
Binder: Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero & Nicaraguan Habano Ligero
Price: $7.25
Comes in: Box of 20
Vitola: Robusto (5″ x 52)
Final Thoughts
If there is one thing that I have learned to expect from the Torano family it’s consistency; and the Signature Collection is no different. The construction of these cigars was always great which lead to a perfect draw, tons of smoke, even burns and long strong ashes. The flavor wasn’t bad either. A combination of cocoa and coffee seemed to be the core flavors and was accompanied by a bitter grassy finish. Generally I’m not a fan of a grassy flavor notes, but in this cigar it was not off-putting.
The Signature Collection is by far not my favorite Torano product, but I think there is space in my humidor for a few. Nothing about the flavor really grabbed my attention and tempted me smoke more, but the smoking experience was still enjoyable. The real high-point to these cigars is the consistency, as every sample in recent memory has smoked just as well as the last.
