To allow members to have a greater voice in the organization, the Premium Cigar Association has added five manufacturing spots to their board.
Continue reading PCA Expands Board, includes manufacturers
PCA Expands Board, includes manufacturers
El Artista Buffalo Ten Maduro
This is a hard box-pressed cigar with a very attractive wrapper. Some notes of earth and cedar are present in the foot. The cold draw is perfect.
Alec & Bradley Kintsugi
This is a very nice looking cigar with a medium brown wrapper. It has light fruit notes from the foot. The cold draw is perfect.
Initial flavors are light with earthy and light fruit notes. The ash is light grey and looks solid. The burn is even.
News from Southern Draw
January 13, 2022 – Austin, Texas
Southern Draw Cigars is turning to 10,000 of our most loyal consumers, valued retail partners and media members, to select our next new brand.
In a very traditional industry – premium handmade cigars – the company decided to create a very modern Quick Response (QR) portal, accessed from any mobile device, to allow participants to input valuable information including cigar reviews, ratings and recommendations, the very data that will be used to determine a new brand to be launched by Southern Draw Cigars in 2023, with plans for a similar campaign that will bring a follow up launch in 2024. For years, our loyal consumers have offered to test our sample blends, and in some cases, they have smoked a few, but we wish to empower them by harnessing the power of the crowd, to heed their collective feedback and to deliver a product chosen by them, meaning cigar blend, size, and format.
Continue reading News from Southern DrawMy list
Before I post my list, realize that these were mostly released in 2021.
Here is a list, not in any order other than alphabetical, of the cigars that really impressed me that were released in very late 2020 and 2021. There were many other cigars that did not rate a 95 or better, according to my palate, but if you read my reviews you can count on anything rated 85 or better.
Continue reading My listBlack Works Studio Announces new LE
January 5, 2022 — Black Works Studio (BLK WKS) is pleased to announce the release of INTERGALACTIC; hand crafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua.
INTERGALACTIC is a Limited Edition that will begin shipping to select BLK WKS retailers next week. It will also be available in Belgium and Germany later this month.
PCA’s 2021 Government Affairs Highlights: No New Taxes
FEDERAL
2021 was a strong year for the Premium Cigar Association’s advocacy efforts and the support of its membership. Consumers, retailers, and manufacturers all felt the positive effects of a strong PCA advocacy presence at both the federal and state levels.
Continue reading PCA’s 2021 Government Affairs Highlights: No New TaxesLas Calaveras 2021 by Crowned Heads
This is the first Las Calaveras to feature an Oscuro wrapper, which is a bit on the rugged side of smooth. The foot has leathery aromas. The cold draw is perfect with earthy flavors. Tonight’s beverage is a Viva Los Muertos, a black Mexican lager with light spicy notes.
Dissident Home 2021 release
This is a very good looking double wrapper (barberpole with dark and medium color components) cigar. The cold draw has light earthy flavors and is perfect.
Don Lino Africa Robusto
This cigar from Miami Cigar Co. has a nice smooth Cameroon wrapper. The wrapper has pleasant earthy aromas. The cold draw is perfect.
Sin Comprimiso Paladin de Saka
This cigar has a nice dark brown smooth box pressed wrapper. Aromas from the foot are well-aged tobacco with a slight spiciness. The cold draw is perfect.
Montecristo Epic 12 Toro
This cigar has a medium dark wrapper that only shows a couple of veins. It is smooth and slightly oily. The foot has light earthy notes. The cold draw is perfect.
Initially there is an oaken wood note over an earthy base in what looks to be a medium bodied cigar. The smoke is moderately thick. The burn starts clean.
Stillwell Star Bayou No. 32 Toro from DTT
This is one of the new series of cigars from Steve Saka blending select pipe tobaccos with Nicaraguan filler. It has a Grade A Ecuador Habano wrapper over a San Andreas Negro binder. The pipe tobaccos are Bright and Red Virginia leaf with St. James Parish Perique. The wrapper is smooth with some light veins. The aromas from the foot are light with some spicy notes. The cold draw is perfect.
Oliva V 135th
This is the latest Oliva release and it looks great. A reverse torpedo with very light aromas from the foot but hearty cocoa and coffee notes from the perfect cold draw. Today’s beverage is a Founders KBS Espresso Stout.
Initial flavors are robust with cocoa, coffee and spices. The smoke is thick and smooth. The ash looks good but the burn is a bit off. It will probably self correct. The body of the ale is a perfect pairing.
StillWell Star Shipping Nationwide to Purveyors
Dunbarton, NH – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) has begun shipping its highly anticipated StillWell Star®
handcrafted luxury pipe tobacco cigar to its Purveyors.
haveapremiumcigar 