Recent Posts
Team Cigar Review: Cuban Cigar Factory Manolo Quesada Robusto
For the Cuban Cigar Factory Manolo Quesada Robusto, the cardboard started subdued but kept building to the point where it sort of ruined the other flavors. That really is too bad because there are some great flavors to the cigar. I'll put this on the back burner to revisit down the road.
Cigar News: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Pauses Opening of New Accounts
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) is announcing an immediate moratorium on opening new Retail Accounts until further notice.
Team Cigar Review: Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Selección No. 1
I really enjoyed the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Selección No. 1 and my score reflects that. I really got behind the flavor profile and it did more than keep my interest from beginning to end. On top of that, there was a great body and strength level with the cigar. The construction was on point and the wrapper and presentation were great.
Team Cigar Review: Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Robusto
The Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Robusto had a really good first third, a good second third and a fairly average last third. Flavors included baking spices, bread, red pepper flake, sweetness, cedar, creaminess and earth. I'll be smoking additional Supreme Leaf cigars because the overall experience was good and the first third was rich and complex.
Team Cigar Review: Drew Estate BOTL Corona Gorda
With the Drew Estate BOTL Corona Gorda, the first third is the high water mark for flavor, and unfortunately the middle and last thirds provide a fairly linear and average flavor profile. There isn't anything here that grabbed my attention and I would gravitate towards a previous BOTL release.
Cigar News: Fratello Sorella Becomes International Exclusive
This “Same Blend, New Look” version of the Sorella will be available only for international markets only and debut in 2 vitolas, a 5 x 50 robusto and a 6 ½ x 54 toro and come in 10-count boxes. This special cigar is produced at the renowned Joya de Nicaragua, like the previous release.
Cigar News: FDA Announces Potential Program for Premium Cigar Manufacturers to Request Deferral of Filing Substantial Equivalence Reports
In court filings last night, the FDA announced a potential new program relating to the requirement that premium cigar manufacturers submit substantial equivalence reports for a decade’s worth of products. Therein, the FDA explained a potential program for premium cigar manufacturers to apply to the FDA for it to consider exercising its discretion to defer the submission of substantial equivalence reports.
Cigar News: Diesel Estelí Puro Announced
Each of the tobaccos that comprise Diesel Estelí Puro were hand-selected from AJ’s farms to meet specific requirements set forth by the Diesel team. The wrapper was harvested from La Lilia, the binder from San José and the fillers from several plots including AJ’s celebrated San Lotano farm.
Team Cigar Review: Davidoff Ginza 10th Anniversary
Buttery, oily, rich with roasted nuts, bread, subtle confectioners sugar and creamed coffee wrapped up in medium strength and body. This is what is required to be an excellent long smoking experience. This type of experience almost makes me believe a cigar is worth nearly $40. I enjoyed every bit of the Davidoff Ginza 10th Anniversary and I hope to experience it again someday.
Cigar News: Micallef A Begins Shipping
Micallef Cigars releases the new Micallef A in partnership with its Ambassadors. The "Micallef A" is the name chosen by the Ambassador Community. The Ambassadors smoked the cigar in a limited release celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Micallef Ambassador community. The cigar sold out in an unprecedented 36 hours and was referred to as the "TBN" or "To be Named".
Cigar News: Oliveros Gran Retorno Makes a Comeback
The Oliveros Gran Retorno is a small batch series of cigars featuring tobaccos that have undergone a unique aging process – with extra age in each of the three different stages. Most notable is the 33+ months of aging given these premium cigars inside individual cedar boxes which have always provided Oliveros Gran Retorno a complex flavor profile.
Cigar News: Pichardo Maduro Announced
ACE Prime's marquee brand - Pichardo - has become a favorite for many cigar lovers. ACE Prime & Crowned Heads offers two lines of cigars in the Pichardo brand – Pichardo Reserva Familiar and Pichardo Clasico. The Pichardo – Maduro is a new addition to the Pichardo Clasico range of premium cigars. As the name suggests, the Pichardo – Maduro is bold in flavor, yet perfectly balanced in strength.
Pour ‘n Tell – Pairing Edition: Templeton Rye and Florida Sun Grown
Pour 'n Tell adds a pairing component as we are joined by Keith Kerkhoff, Owner and Tim Grimes, Senior Brand Ambassador of Templeton Rye along with Jeff Borysiewicz from Corona Cigar Company and Florida Sun Grown. We will be pairing various expressions of Templeton Rye with various cigars that utilize Florida Sun Grown tobacco.
Cigar News: Espinosa The Expo Joins Binny’s Four Star Society
“The Expo”, Binny’s Beverage Depot first exclusive release with Espinosa Cigars is ready to launch. A part of Binny’s “Four Star Society”, the “The Expo” is an homage to The World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World in 1492.
