Famous Smoke Shop: Cigar Expo 2010
A month ago Brian and I attended the Famous Smoke Cigar Expo 2010. This two day event included a VIP dinner, free craft beer, excellent food, great cigars and much more. The video below is our attempt to document the event; hoping to give those that could not attend an idea of how the festivities went down.
Looking back on the event Brian and I are still impressed with just how well it was put together. It just seemed like everything was thought of. We’re not sure on the exact number of attendees, but it was much lower than others which made talking to the manufacturers and reps much easier.
We could probably talk all day about what a great time we had, but the message would be the same. Famous Smoke Shop’s Cigar Expo is a must for cigar enthusiasts. We don’t see any way you could be disappointed by this event.
JJ for JJ Day
As most people know, fellow cigar reviewer, Jerry Cruz over at Stogie Review, tragically lost his son 3 years ago to SIDS. As a father myself, I can’t imagine something like that happening and how I would cope. So, today, on JJ’s 3rd birthday, we will celebrate his life by smoking a Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ. This is the third year for this and cigars smokers from all over Twitter and cigar blogs are joining in today to smoke a JJ for JJ. Another cigar reviewer, Barry Stein from A Cigar Smoker’s Journal and gone a step further and has stated that he will donate $20 for every picture he receives today of you smoking a JJ for JJ up to $500 to the American SIDS Institute! GREAT gesture, Barry! So, please join us and celebrating JJ’s life and light up a DPG JJ. Don’t forget to take a pic and send it to Barry!
Carlos Torano Noventa Santiago
Torano released the Noventa in the 2006 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Torano family being tobacco growers.  Don Santiago Torano left Spain to grow tobacco in Cuba in 1916. In 1959, the family fled Castro controlled Cuba to the Dominican Republic and brought with them Piloto Cubano tobacco seed. Later, Carlos Torano II moved factory to Nicaragua. The cigar I’m reviewing is the Santiago named after Don Santiago Torano. It’s a robusto shape, one of three vitolas.
- Robusto – Santiago (Carlos Sr. Father’s name) 5 x 50
- Toro – La Esperanza 6 x 52 (Means Hope in Spanish and is the name of the Tobacco farm in Cuba)
- Torpedo – Latin – 6 1/2 x 54
I found this cigar to be medium in body and filled the gap nicely between the Casa Torano and the Exodus 1959. Check out the video for more.
Press Release: GENERAL CIGAR TO CELEBRATE ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
National Cigar Event Series to Kick Off in July
Richmond, VA—General Cigar will commemorate its golden anniversary with a ten-city tour that will hit chic, cigar-friendly venues across the U.S. beginning on July 27 at Chicago’s swanky Vertigo Lounge in the Dana Hotel, and ending on November 11 at the legendary Foundation Room in Las Vegas. The complete event schedule appears on the General Cigar 50th anniversary website www.cigarcelebration.com.
At each event, General Cigar will welcome tenured cigar enthusiasts and fellow connoisseurs drawn to the lure of handcrafted cigars to celebrate the company’s past 50 years of artistry in cultivating venerable brands such as Macanudo®, Punch®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey® and La Gloria Cubana®.
Benji Menendez, the legendary cigar master who recently celebrated his 58th year in the premium cigar business will be on hand to regale event attendees with glorious stories spanning five decades of tobacco cultivation across Latin America, South America, the Caribbean and the U.S. Emerging cigar masters Michael Giannini and Rick Rodriguez and other key General Cigar staff will also be present to pair a selection of the company’s new and critically-acclaimed cigars with fine wines, spirits and hors d’oeuvres.
Debo Mukherjee, vice president of marketing for General Cigar comments, “At General Cigar, we take great pride in our heritage and our unparalleled tobacco expertise. We developed this event series to celebrate the people whose passion and mastery have made General Cigar one of the world’s foremost producers of premium cigars. Invited guests will not only have a chance to experience the premium cigar lifestyle in a connoisseur’s setting, but will also have a rare opportunity to learn about tobacco cultivation and blending from Benji Menendez, our cigar sage, and from the emerging cigar masters who will take our company into the next half century.â€
General Cigar Co. Inc. manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar also produces Macanudo, Cohiba®, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur®, La Gloria Cubana 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.
® Macanudo, Punch, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, La Gloria Cubana, Cohiba, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
Press Release: GENERAL CIGARS RECEIVES A FAVORABLE RULING FOR GENERAL CIGAR IN COHIBA TRADEMARK CASE
Richmond, VA—On July 14, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled in favor of General Cigar in the latest round of litigation in the Cohiba® trademark case, affirming that General Cigar is the rightful owner of the Cohiba trademark in the U.S.
According to Dan Carr, chief operating officer of General Cigar, “The Second Circuit court’s ruling upholds what we have always believed since we first filed a U.S. application to register the COHIBA trademark in 1978: that General Cigar is the rightful owner of Cohiba in the U.S. We continue to remain confident that our exclusive right to the Cohiba cigar brand in the U.S. will be upheld even if Cubatabaco attempts further legal efforts to challenge these rights.â€
The appeals court concluded that Cuban-government-owned Cubatabaco’s argument that a change in a law justified re-opening this case was “without merit†and restored the U.S. Court of Appeals’ ruling in 2005 in favor of General Cigar over Cubatabaco.
In various court opinions beginning in late 2008 and into early 2010, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that there were changes to New York State Unfair Competition law that provided Cubatabaco the basis to re-open this case. Yesterday’s Appeals Court decision overturned the lower court’s rulings.
Cubatabaco first filed suit against General Cigar in 1997, claiming rights to the Cohiba name in the United States under U.S. law, although Cubatabaco had failed to take any legal action against General Cigar for nearly 20 years.
About General Cigar
General Cigar Co. Inc. manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar also produces Macanudo®, Cohiba®, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur®, La Gloria Cubana 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, Punch, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, La Gloria Cubana, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

Press Release: TORAÑO FAMILY, ARMED WITH A NEW LOOK, IS BACK IN CONTROL OF ITS OWN DISTRIBUTION
The Toraño Family, makers of some of the finest cigars in the world, is proud to announce that effective August 1st the family will distribute its own brands. To add to this exciting news, Toraño launches a new company name, a new logo and two retail exclusive cigar brands.
The company name is changing from Toraño Cigars to Toraño Family Cigar Company to truly capture the family legacy and emphasize that this is a family-owned company. The taking over of its distribution is the result of the family’s decision to enhance its personal relationships with the trade and consumers.
“We are energized and excited to be announcing these positive changes,†said Charlie Toraño, the company’s president.
The new logo, which combines a contemporary, yet classic look, is symbolic of the company’s new direction, one which will focus on the introduction of innovative cigar brands, unique blends and building a strong Toraño Family Cigar community.
“We recognize the value of building communication,†Charlie said. “There’s no better way to reach cigar smokers and the trade than through social media, the Internet, the use of viral campaigns and the personal touch and interactions at cigar events that only the family can provide.â€
The IPCPR in New Orleans will be the platform for the unveiling of Master by Carlos Toraño and Single Region, two retail exclusive brands. The company is also offering a value priced bundle cigar named Brigade.
“I am looking forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming annual trade show and personally showing all of the changes which are taking place,†Charlie said.
A leader in the cigar industry, Toraño Family Cigar Company is a four-generation company currently based in Miami, Florida. It enjoys a rich heritage and history in tobacco growing and cigar manufacturing.
Torano Family Cigars Facebook Site
Oliva Serie G Natural
Back again for a “Humidor Staple” review with another Oliva product for you. This time it is the Oliva Serie G Natural Toro. This stick comes in at 6″ x 50 and is a great looking specimen. Like the O, the G has Habano seed binder and filler but sports a Cameroon wrapper.
The value and quality of the Oliva lines make these smokes excellent candidates for humidor stuffers. Let’s see how this G compares to the O…
Press Release: My Father Cigars – “QUANTUM GROWTH REQUIRES ADDITIONAL SEASONED TALENT”
Miami, FL, 15 July…My Father Cigars, Inc., the principal company of the Garcia Family’s growing cigar manufacturing and sales colossus, announced the appointment of Jose Ortega as Vice President of Sales. Rather than replacing John Gonzalez, who has held that post since 2007, Ortega will focus on domestic (U.S.) sales and in-store events; while Gonzalez will be free to concentrate on international sales, specifically, Europe and Asia.
In a previous position with another company, John Gonzalez increased sales in Asia dramatically and was responsible for establishing his employer in Asia.
The company sees the need to direct their attention abroad, in light of the increasingly burdensome tax policies of the Federal Government and the various State Governments. Janny Garcia, speaking for the family entity also mentioned the impact of the innumerable smoking bans and restrictions on where people can, or cannot, smoke in various cities and states.
“We do not fear for the future of the industry in the United States,†Garcia said, “but we feel a need to pay greater attention to the foreign markets where cigar smoking is still an acceptable passtime…particularly, Asia.â€
In the appointment of Jose Ortega to head the domestic sales organization, My Father Cigars has acquired an experienced, able sales executive who is known for his ‘hands on’ approach in working with salesmen in the field, doing events and ‘buttonholing’ indidvidual smokers at events to explain the value of his cigars.
Jose Ortega ‘hit the ground running’ on 1 July while all three Garcias – Janny, Jaime and Pepin – were in EstelÃ, Nicaragua. That same day, Ortega had spoken with all the company’s Sales Representatives, and spelled out his modus operandi and explain what he expected of them. Likewise, he spoke with many of the company’s major customers – all known to him – to say “Hello†and advise them of his role.
Jaime Garcia said that “…we spent a considerable amount of time seeking the individual who would help move our company to the next level. When we began conversations with Jose, we were immediately aware that his knowledge, energy and work ethic were more than equal to our needs and expectations. My father, sister and I, all agreed and we were delighted when Jose accepted our proposal.â€
Jose Ortega, while in the cigar industry only seven years, as a Vice President of Sales, has made his mark among retailers and consumers alike. In the fifteen days that he has been in his new position, several retailers, who have My Father Cigar events scheduled, have called to request that Jose be at their event, even if Pepin would be coming to the event.
It is expected that Ortega will not be a ‘desk bound’ Vice President of Sales, but will be in the field, working with Sales Reps, tobacconists and doing events, thus becoming an addition ‘face of’ the Garcia brands.
Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary
Today I’m firing up the new Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary which is scheduled to be released nationwide on July 30, 2010. A big thanks goes to Patrick Vivalo for sending me the two samples I had for this review. The 15th Anniversary comes from Rocky’s new Nicaraguan factory, which also makes the 1961. This cigar features an Ecuadorian grown Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan filler tobacco.
Name: 15th Anniversary
Company: Rocky Patel
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Jalapa, Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $9.50
Comes in: Box of 20
Vitola: Robusto (5 x 50)
Read the rest of this entry »
Press Release: Miami Cigars – GUILLERMO AND NESTOR CAPTURE WASHINGTON
Miami, FL, 11 July…Guillermo Leon and Nestor Miranda, in conjunction with W. Curtis Draper Tobacconists, Washington, DC’s oldest continuously operated tobacconists, will play host to the Congressional Cigar Association at a reception in the nation’s capitol on Tuesday, 20 July.
While the event is a first for Leon and Miranda, the CCA holds quarterly events where manufacturers of Premium hand made cigar educate the group on cigars, the manufacture of cigars and the various aspects of the industry.
At the reception in July, Leon will focus on his recently introduced La Aurora 107©. The cigar commemorates the 107th Anniversary of La Aurora’s founding. The company, part of Grupo Leon is the oldest cigar maker in the Dominican Republic. Introduced in May 2010, the 107 has been an instant success, much as La Aurora’s Cien Año, Preferido and 1495 Series.
Miranda, the man behind Tatiana© flavoured cigars and the Nestor Miranda Collection©, is the co-founder of Miami Cigar & Company, a twenty-one year old enterprise that distributes La Aurora©, Leon Jimenes© (also a La Aurora product) and the cigars noted above. Miranda is, as described in a cigar magazine, “The most interestinging man in the cigar industry!â€
The Congressional Cigar Association is an officially recognized bipartisan organization of Congressional staffers from the House and Senate. All, of course, are cigar aficionados. The organizations purpose is to create a bipartisan atmosphere amongst staffers of both parties and the cigar smoking community.
In the current climate, where cigar smokers are being heavily taxed by the Federal Government (S-CHIP) and the various states, and with the advent of smoking bans and prohibitions, Leon and Miranda see the opportunity to foster a better understanding of the industry and its contributions to the economy.
The CCA events are frequently attended by Congressmen and Senators who enjoy the relaxing, contemplative benefits of a fine cigar.
The reception will be supplied with La Aurora 107s and Nestor Miranda Collection cigars and it will be an afternoon of conviviality, cigars all within view of the Capitol and The White House.
With the cooperation of W. Curtis Draper the event was organized by CCA and Rene Castaneda, Vice President of Miami Cigar & Company.
On Thursday, 22 July, W. Curtis Drapper will host a private dinner, limited to ten guests, each paying $200. It will take place at Blue Duck Tavern in the Park Hyatt and the guests will be seated in Chef Brian McBride’s private dining room. Guillermo Leon and Nestor Miranda will be present to introduce the guests to new cigars, and share in the camaraderie that cigar dinners, such as these, engender.
The Nestor Miranda Collection is available only at brick and mortar tobacconists.
