Alec Bradley Cigar Co have announced they will be initiating a full-scale re-release Medalist cigar line. The Medalist is cloaked in a golden ‘shade grown’ wrapper grown in Honduras, a Honduran binder and premium long-fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua.
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Boyd Motor Company is teaming up with Touch of Modern for a line of smoking accessories. The Lakewood cigar ashtray, the Denver cigar ashtray, Breckenridge cigarette ashtray, the Block cigar rest and the Clous de Paris cigar rest are among the products available in this new line. All of these products are machined and fabricated in the USA from 6061 billet aluminum. A master machinist with the eye of an artistic flair, Ryan Boyd wanted to offer his entire line all at one place for a limited time.
Imagine a car enthusiast having an opportunity to tour the Ferrari factory in Maranello, or someone who is a collector of fine watches going to visit Patek Philippe in Geneva. The chance to actually see your favorite products being constructed by hand can be a real treat for the senses, and it can also give a heightened respect for the work that goes into creating these items that we love so much. For premium cigar lovers the products that we consume are some of the most artfully and painstakingly crafted products in the world. Still, so many cigar lovers still don't have the first-hand experience of seeing what goes into growing fine tobacco and crafting great cigars. During Puro Sabor 2018 I was able to visit a number of cigar factories, large and small. In this second article of the series about the festival I will take you through these factories in the same order that I visited them.
Rocky Patel begins shipping their new Laser Lighters to tobacconists in mid-February. They were unveiled at the IPCPR trade show in July, 2017. The new Laser Lighter designs are branded with Rocky Patel cigar lines including Royale, Fifty-Five, Java Maduro, and Java Red.
Crowned Heads has joined with FITTED to bring you a limited edition series of Paniolo Kamehameha New Era 9Fifty cap. In total, production of these caps will be limited to only 144 pieces. The caps will feature a crown woven from black Lauhala fabric, top visor of black denim, a Tri-Laka patterned under visor, and a PU leather accent embossed with the FITTED Kamehameha logo. They will make their debut at the launch event for the 2018 Paniolo. This event will take place at The Prince Waikiki Hotel in Honolulu on February 23rd, 2018.
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·"Off the bat I enjoyed the sweetness and pepper flavors. The way they played off each other was enjoyable. I also enjoyed how the sweetness was like a glaze on my lips. While smoking the cigar, looking at the cigar, it was ok and was not wowed by how the cigar looked. I had to touch up the cigar and had to relight it twice throughout the smoke. As much as enjoyed the flavors in the first two thirds, the last third wrecked the experience for me. The way the cigar was constructed it burned my tongue and all the flavor were bitter. It left my mouth feeling like I smoked five cigars back to back." -Daniel S. (Daniel S.)
Ezra Zion announced a new company venture. They have formed a partnership with Oak & Eden Inspired Whiskey, rounding out the ownership team which includes brothers Joe and Jamie Giildenzopf. Joe serves as the CEO and Jamie is the master distiller.
In my most recent trip to Nicaragua I was fortunate to attend Puro Sabor 2018. Puro Sabor is a celebration of the Nicaraguan cigar industry and the people who make it so wonderful. I had previously been to Nicaragua once before, in the fall of 2015, and I was so grateful to be able to go back again. Since there's so much to cover about this trip I'll break it into a series of different articles each covering different aspects of the trip itself. One theme that I hope you'll notice in all of these articles is the people. The people are the most important aspect of every piece of the cigar industry in Nicaragua. Nothing is more important to the industry than its people and it's the relationships that make the cigar industry in Nicaragua so beautiful and so wonderful.
Gurkha Cigars have announced a cigar that will exclusively be made for Gurkha Lounges and for retailers with more than 25 Gurkha facings. This new Lounge Exclusive will be available with a Maduro or Habano wrapper. The cigar will be made available to the seven exclusive Gurkha Lounges and any retailers that carry more than 25 Gurkha facings and that are not within a 25-mile radius of the official Gurkha lounges.
El Artista announces new SKUs for retail promotion of Big Papi by David Ortiz cigar brand. The first, titled “Big Slugger” is a baseball bat shaped figurado cigar in a keepsake box with a large display window. Featuring two different wrappers with the familiar Big Papi blend, the cigar can be smoked or displayed. Made in the Dominican Republic, Big Slugger retails for $45.00 and is available as of February 1, 2018. The second is a Big Papi branded cigar humidor that holds up to 50 cigars. The piece is offered in two SKUs, empty (MSRP: $120) and with 20 cigars (MSRP: $330). The humidor is made in the Dominican Republic and is available as of February 1, 2018. “We wanted to produce items that really stand out,” says Radhames Rodriguez, President of El Artista USA. “Anyone can make a hat or lighter in China. This is something special,” says Kevin Newman National Sales Director, “We launched both the Big Slugger and Humidor at Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vegas and it was a huge hit with premium cigar retailers!”.