May 3, 2022 — Black Works Studio (BLK WKS) is pleased to announce the 2^nd release of Hyena: Hand crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua at Fabrica Oveja Negra.

HYENA is a Limited Edition that will be shipping to select BLK WKS retailers this month. It will also be available in Belgium and Germany.

“Hyena received a lot of hype in 2021 and this year’s release will be no different.  The 2022 Hyena is bold, spicy, very well balance and a touch more intense than last year’s release. A truly unique cigar that is focused on showcasing a perfect balance between Nicaraguan fillers and the Cameroon wrapper. The profile is spice forward with white pepper & semi-sweet baking spices blended with herbal notes & cedar.

The finish is a blend of bitter cocoa, cream & malt. Hyena is an extremely complex and balanced cigar and is a tribute to my wife’s and my many years of living in Africa,” said James Brown, creator of BLTC & BLK WKS and owner at Fabrica Oveja Negra. 

HYENA
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Africa Cameroon
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaragua

Corona Gorda – 5 x 46 (20 count) MSRP $12.50
Lonsdale – 6.5×42 (20 count) MSRP $12.50

These cigars are an expression of art showcasing the talent, technique and tobacco of our boutique cigar factory; Fabrica Oveja Negra. BLK WKS cigars are available for purchase through Oveja Negra Brands. For more information visit OvejaNegraCigars.com.

On April 26th at the emblematic restaurant La Única in Polanco, Mexico City, we had a pairing with Chivas Regal whisky, where we enjoyed a four-course dinner paired with Chivas Regal extra (Tequila barrel), 18 years aged, Ultis, and to finish with Chivas 25 years and our famous Cuchillo Parado cigar.

 
Among the attendees were celebrities, influencers, entrepreneurs in the spirits industry, Chivas Regal Mexico ambassador Alex Millán and our Master Blender Manolo Santiago. Undoubtedly a night to remember.

At the beginning of the month, we had presence at one of the most nationally recognized competitions in the world of classic automobiles, the “Concurso de Elegancia”, where the most exquisite collectors of antique cars exhibit their best work in restoration, maintenance and mechanics.

For two days, classic car enthusiasts were able to experience the collections of American and European cars up close, along with an excellent gastronomic atmosphere. 

Our first guests in a our talk show was one of the top-ranked Podcasts in the industry; this was presented as an Instagram Live about what they thought of our cigar Cuchillo Parado.

The renowned Wine Sommelier Grecia Guerrero delighted us with a wonderful interview about her experiences and opinions about the tobacco business in Mexico.

Dunbarton, NH – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) is currently taking pre-orders for “The Bewitched”, its newest addition to it much heralded Muestra de Saka line. The deadline for pre-orders is April 8th, 2022.

UPDATE: Shipping June 9, 2022

Drew Estate has announced the big 2022 return of its popular Barn Smoker Program. This year’s Barn Smoker event will consist of five different events:

• Florida Barn Smoker (Clermont, FL): May 13-15
• Pennsylvania Barn Smoker (Strasburg, PA): July 15-16
• Connecticut Barn Smoker (Ellington, CT ): Aug. 12-14
• Kentucky Barn Smoker (Hopkinsville, KY): Sept. 30-Oct. 1
• Barn Smoker Presents—Savage Feast (Parker, TX): Oct. 21-22

Jake Wyatt Cigar Company is proud to introduce Taylor Ramirez as their newest full-time Account Manager.

[Washington, DC, Feb 8, 2022] The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced today the development and release of its new strategic advocacy plan known as Vision 50: A Decade of Action. The plan focuses on a proactive approach to spearhead policy and legislative advocacy to benefit specialty tobacco retailing and will be synced with the association’s efforts to bolster state associations and retail membership.

More to come.

Ferio Tego, LLC just announced the availability of the Metropolitan Selection brand starting January 19, 2022. 

Dear PCA Members,

Our industry’s greatest argument against overregulation is that we do not fall into the scope of concerns levied against most tobacco or vapor products. Even the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledges premium cigars and pipes have a negligible impact on youth tobacco consumption and, according to the latest government studies, adult consumption patterns are not typically consistent with addiction. Furthermore, FDA’s enforcement data shows specialty retail is the most certain way to assure legal adult sales for any type of tobacco product. PCA encourages our members to take the necessary steps to ensure that this record is fortified and promoted to internal and external audiences.

To allow members to have a greater voice in the organization, the Premium Cigar Association has added five manufacturing spots to their board.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

Dunbarton, NH – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) has begun shipping its highly anticipated StillWell Star®
handcrafted luxury pipe tobacco cigar to its Purveyors.

Southern Draw Cigars to release exclusive NEW KUDZULUSTRUM at Cigars International Hamburg

Southern Draw Cigars LLC, a family-owned company of Austin, TX emerges from its own “COVID fog” and is excited to announce that we are changing the way we support the great premium cigar communities that have helped us learn and grow as a brand. We believe the best way to connect and share our mission is face to face, over a cigar, and only then can we enlist the power of social media to chronicle and capture the true personal connections. 

(TAMBORIL, DO) – El Artista Cigars announces a new distribution agreement with Star Cigar & Spirits of Sweden. El Artista Cigars brands should be available to Swedish Retailers by the end of September 2021.

September 17, 2021 — Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) is pleased to announce the release of ARAPOSA as a Fox Cigar Bar exclusive; hand crafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua.
“Araposa is dark, rich and extremely well balanced. This cigar has bold flavors and just the right amount of spice on the retro hale. The flavors of black cherry, anise and bitter cocoa let you know this is a Black Label cigar. The Nicaraguan fillers are topped with an Ecuadorian Habano binder and wrapped in both Mexican San Andrés and Ecuador Corojo,” says James Brown, creator of BLTC and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra.
ARAPOSA will be available at Fox Cigar Bar in Arizona.

​​Country of Origin: Nicaragua
​​Wrapper: San Andrés and Ecuador Corojo
​​Binder: Ecuador Habano
​​Filler: Nicaraguan
Robusto – 5.5 x 54 Box Press (10 count pack)

“Black Label Trading Company is redefining the standards for cigar making. With a less is more philosophy, Black Label Trading Co. creates hand crafted premium cigars of the utmost quality at their own factory in Nicaragua.”

For more information, please contact the shop directly at foxcigarbar.com

[Washington, DC, September 10, 2021] The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced today that Ryan Parada has officially joined PCA as the full-time manager of government affairs focusing on grassroots and political operations including Premium Cigar PAC, assisting both federal and state government affairs work. Parada worked as a contractor over the past year for the PCA.

“We are excited to continue to expand our government affairs team to reflect new challenges and priorities for the association. Ryan has shown his capabilities as a contractor, and everyone is enthusiastic about him joining the team full-time” said Joshua Habursky PCA Head of Government Affairs.

Before joining PCA, Ryan worked as a legal researcher and holds a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University in Government and a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and National Security Certificate from Rutgers University.

“By hiring Glynn Loope in April and now Ryan, the association is making investments into building back our key areas to prepare for the 2022 state legislative cycles and federal election cycle,” said PCA Executive Director Scott Pearce. “Advocacy is a top priority for the association as we fight to keep the industry on a path for sustained growth. With this government affairs team we are poised to truly take our advocacy program to a whole new level, which everyone in the industry should be very excited about,” Pearce said.

Ryan can be reached at Ryan@premiumcigars.org.