April 26, 2024 — Black Label Trading Co (BLTC) will begin shipping the new Limited Release, ORTHODOX, next week. Hand crafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua.
ORTHODOX is a small batch release offered to retailers who attended this year’s PCA tradeshow.
Continue reading Orthodox – Black Label Trading Co.This cigar is a thing of beauty, the construction is so good. Smooth wrapper. The cold draw is perfect. Tonight’s beverage is a Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA.
The initial draw is so smooth. No initial roughness. First flavor impression is earth and cedar. The burn is steady and mostly even. The ash looks like it may drop off soon. Not flaking, but cracking.
Continue reading Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sungrown(Fort Lauderdale, FL) April 15, 2024– Altadis U.S.A., makers of the finest premium cigars, are proud to announce the launch of Romeo y Julieta 1875 ‘Run for the Roses®,’ a limited-edition premium cigar that pays tribute to the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, the most famous horse race in the world. The brand has partnered with Churchill Downs to create a winning cigar that will be sold exclusively at participating Liquor Barn stores, the cigar retailer at the Kentucky Derby.
Founded in 1875, the same year as the first Kentucky Derby, Romeo y Julieta is one of the most well-known global cigar brands, steeped in its own rich history, legacy and tradition. “Romeo y Julieta is the perfect brand to partner with to create a unique cigar for this milestone for Churchill Downs and the 150th Kentucky Derby,” said Casey Ramage, Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships at Churchill Downs.
Continue reading ALTADIS U.S.A. LAUNCHES ROMEO Y JULIETA 1875 ‘RUN FOR THE ROSES’ COMMEMORATIVE EDITION CIGAR TO CELEBRATE THE 150TH KENTUCKY DERBYWASHINGTON, DC (April 16, 2024) – Yesterday, Cigar Rights of America (CRA) and the Premium Cigar Association (PCA), filed the industry’s reply brief in response to the United States Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) appeal in Cigar Association of America, Cigar Rights of America, and Premium Cigar Association v FDA.
(Miami, FL) March 21, 2024–Miami Cigar & Co. announces the unveiling of the limited-edition Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2024 at the 2024 PCA in Las Vegas. Miami Cigar & Co. previously released prior editions of the brand in 2011 and 2012. It was felt that it was the right moment to revive the NM Grand Reserve, in time for the company’s 35-year anniversary.
Miami Cigar & Co. kicks off their 35-year anniversary by bringing back Nestor Mirand Grand Reserve. This 2024 version is a brand-new blend and complete with updated packaging. Nestor Miranda worked closely with the My Father Cigar Factory in Nicaragua, to create a blend that was worthy of such a milestone.
Nestor Miranda, Founder and President of Miami Cigar & Co. stated: “The Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2024 was a special one for us. 35-year anniversary is a big one! My wife and co-founder of Miami Cigar, Mariana Miranda, and I are still in awe by how far we have come. I really wanted to create a blend that was worthy of such an anniversary. I thank the team at the My Father Cigar Factory, for being patient with me throughout this process, as I wanted this blend to reach the highest possible standard.”
The Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve is a Nicaraguan puro, which is an elegant medium-bodied, full-flavored blend. The cigar boats flavors of spice, earthiness, and ceder, with a hint of sweetness.
Jason Wood, Vice President of Miami Cigar stated: “Nestor really wanted to create something special this year, and we believe that we hit the mark. We encourage everyone to visit us at #booth 7035 at the PCA.”
Only 1500 10 count boxes of the Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2024 were created. Vitola: 61/8 X 52.
The wrapper of the cigar was mostly smooth with a maduro. The cold draw was perfect. The Porter (which is usually reserved for Oscuro) has a good body but with just enough sweetness to make a great pairing.
The cigar has a very smooth (almost velvety) feel with the trademark gold leaf diamond under the band. Used a punch and got a perfect draw that had tiny flavor notes of well cared for tobacco. Tonight’s beverage is a Jester King Black Metal. JK is in Dripping Springs northeast San Antonio and makes a great line of farmhouse style ales.
I don’t usually smoke Drew Estates Kentucky Fire Cured, but my wife bought me some Kurveball BBQ whiskey, so I thought I’d try them together.
Beautiful little cigar with a pig tail. Same size as the Undercrown Papas Ftitas. The cold draw is perfect.
The newest vitola from Definition Cigars is a beautiful colorado-maduro that has a silky, almost oily wrapper with some minor veins. Tonight’s beverage is a St. Arnold Tarnation, which is essentially a less intrusive Arrogant Bastard (which is my favorite non-cigar beer; the real irony being that St. Arnold’s calls it “unreasonably strong [9.0ABV], which isn’t that strong in the craft beer world).
Ocala, FL – Operation: Cigars For Warriors is proud to announce the availability of online raffle ticket sales for a beautiful piece of custom artwork honoring US servicemen and women made by Lou Piscitelli of Melbourne, FL. Proceeds from the raffle benefit Op: CFW.
At the upcoming PCA Convention and International Trade Show to be held in Las Vegas (July 7-11), Crowned Heads will debut a new size extension to their sought-after Mil Días brand, the Mil Días Topes.
Scottsdale, AZ – Cigars For Warriors (CFW) is proud to announce the CFW Golf & Cigar Weekend Experience, taking place at the prestigious Talking Stick Resort and We-Ko-Pa Golf Club from April 18-21, 2024.
Foundation Cigar Company, renowned for its commitment to quality and tradition, proudly announces the launch of its newest brand, METAPA. Inspired by the birth town of Rubén Darío, a legendary Nicaraguan poet, Metapa pays homage to Nicaragua’s rich cultural heritage and the artistry behind its world-class cigars.
Foundation Cigar also unveils its latest creations, “Charter Oak Pegnataro-CT Shade and Pasquale-CT Broadleaf” cigars. These exceptional blends serve as a heartfelt tribute to the lasting influence and cherished memories of Nicholas Melillo’s grandfathers, whose passion for tobacco kindled his own.
Continue reading Foundation Introduces Two Cigars and One New Brand; All As TributesWhen you pull into the parking lot of a cigar lounge and see a space reserved for Al Micallef, you know you’ve chosen wisely.
This quaint shop has a few surprises around every corner. Their humidor is small and was not full but we found several cigars we couldn’t get anywhere else. The staff was young but knowledgeable and friendly. The shop looked small but had multiple rooms making it able to hold a large crowd.
Continue reading Lounge Review: AME Cigars, WeatherfordWith a medium box press and the tradition of the Murcialago heritage, I expect a great cigar. The wrapper is dark San Andreas and the binder and filler are Nicaraguan. From the foot I can smell the earth and oak common to Nicaraguan cigars, but I detect something more. The cool draw is perfect, also showing off its Nicaraguan pedigree. A Real Ale Black Quad Trappist-style ale that has excellent malty flavors with some coffee notes is tonight’s beverage. I think it will be a good pairing.
As an extension of their Highclere Castle line, Foundation has released the Sentejer, a long perfecto. The wrapper is seventh-priming Ecuadoran Habano leaf over a Brazilian Mata Fina binder. The filler is an undisclosed blend. The cigar is dark and lightly oily. The cold draw is perfect. Tonight’s beverage is a Real Ale Black Quad Trappist style ale.
The Ozgener Family, founders of the CAO brand, are back in the cigar business, working alongside Crowned Heads. This is a good looking short robusto with a medium dark wrapper and a soft box press. The cold draw is perfect. Tonight’s beverage is a 903 Brewers Dice Goblin Imperial Cream Stout Ale. the wrapper is a dark sumatran and the fillers are Nicaraguan.
The initial flavor profile notes are earthy with cedar undertones. The ale is a bit too sweet, but not enough to ruin the cigar. The ash is mottled grey and solid. The burn is even.
On a side note, this is a pretty short cigar for how much band is present. I’m going to have to peel off before the end of the first third. Fortunately it peeled off with no damage to the wrapper.
In the first third the earth base and cedar notes continue with yeast-roll flavors sneaking in from the side. A trace of spice also appears, and I think it will grow. The ash remains solid and the burn remains even.
During the second third, I am drinking the beer sparingly to avoid missing tobacco flavors on the palate. The spice notes remain subtle, even in the retrohale. Ash and burn remain good.
The Ale is Butter Cream and Whipped Cream flavored, and I was a bit leery, but it is actually working. The cigar flavors are pushing through the sweetness.
Approaching the final third the ash is splaying on the end but still not dropping off. The flavor profile is rounding out nicely. This is a medium bodied cigar. The ash and burn speak well for the construction. The spice never develops past a light white pepper note.
Overall a very satisfying short smoke with good complexity. I would recommend a lighter/less flavored beverage.
This one earns 9.4/10 points for being very smooth and consistent. Joe Bob says check it out.
Yesterday, the Biden Administration issued an Executive Order (EO) targeting the modernization of the regulatory process with a focus on advancing policies that promote the public interest and address national priorities.
In order to improve effectiveness in the regulatory review process, the EO made a number of significant changes that will supplement and reaffirm the principles, structures, and definitions governing contemporary regulatory review established in Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993 (Regulatory Planning and Review), and Executive Order 13563 of January 18, 2011 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review).
Continue reading Biden Administrations Issues Executive Order on Modernizing Regulatory ReviewIn advance of PCA2022, we were approached by Rabbitair about evaluating one of their air purifiers. They sent us one and put it in a friend’s indoor smoking room. Here are our thoughts.
The Cayman Cigar Company is unique in that the net profit of the company goes to charitable causes. This is a Corona parejo with a medium dark wrapper that is a bit rustic but shows an light oily character. The cold draw is perfect.
This is a robusto size is a special edition made in honor of Guy Fieri’s 55th birthday (just in case you didn’t know, Fieri collaborated with Eric Espinosa to develop the blend for the Knuckle Sandwich line). The wrapper is a rich dark brown. The notes from the foot are earthy. The cold draw is perfect.
This is a very attractive box-pressed cigar with a rich Broadleaf wrapper. The foot gave up light notes of coffee and cedar. The cold draw is perfect. Tonight’s beverage is Desert Door Sotol.
This is a beautiful Cigar with very little aroma from the foot. The cold draw is slightly tight, but I expect it will open up as the cigar burns. Tonight’s beverage is a 50ml pour of Clyde Mays Rye.
I was fortunate enough to see Rick Rodriguez at a recent event and he gave me a couple of pre-release samples. This cigar is beautiful, with a nice dark San Andreas wrapper. There are light sweet notes from the foot. The cold draw is perfect.
haveapremiumcigar 