Quality Importers Trading Company has announced the Palió PRO series torch lighters, which are now shipping to customers both globally and nationally. The Palió PRO series torch lighters come in three different designs: the Scorpius, Antares, and Polaris. Each model offers a choice of five color variations. These lighters feature full metal construction, an ergonomically designed large flame adjuster, and a transparent fuel window, enhancing convenience for daily use while ensuring durability. Also, the Scorpius variant includes a fold-out 7.5mm punch cutter and a 33mm (1.3”) cigar poker.
"If the draw was better I would be signing it praises. With this sample I found the profile to be excellent but the draw and size are a problem. It is a weird feeling to be almost an hour and a half into a cigar and only reach the halfway point. The flavors were good and there were enough profile transitions to keep me engaged though. I would smoke this again but I would have to block out a substantial amount of time to do so." -Alan (Eulogy)
La Aurora USA, LLC, has announced a new cigar, La Aurora Small Batch, a new, a limited-edition line. The company says these new small batch projects are cigars that have been in the company's aging room for years, and showcase Master Blender Manuel Inoa’s rarer cigars. La Aurora Small Batch Lot No. 002 has been aged for 15 years.
In 2022, General Cigar purchased the Room101 brand, and brought on Matt Booth to be their creative director. One of Booth's first projects with the company was the revitalization of the Sancho Panza brand. We rated all three of those new blends Original, Double Maduro, and Extra Fuerte. Now, the brand is getting a limited edition line extension. Something that sets this limited edition apart from the regular production version is the fact that they are rolled at the Oliva Cigar Factory, as opposed to HATSA.
Alec Bradley, recently acquired by STG, has announced a new exclusive cigar and single barrel whiskey pairing series for STG called “The Uncut Series.” This new project will debut with a special pairing of Alec Bradley Double Broadleaf cigars and Starlight Rye Whiskey Cigar Batch, which is aged in exotic Brazilian Amburana barrels.
Hooten Young showed off a new regular production cigar at PCA 2023, Operation Gothic Serpent 30th Anniversary. That cigar is now ready to ship. Hooten Young was founded around honoring the 25th Anniversary of Operation: Gothic Serpent (depicted in the movie Blackhawk Down), while remembering the fallen.
Macanudo is releasing a sequel to their successful collaboration with Flint Knoll Winery. Macanudo is continuing their collaboration with Napa Valley’s Flint Knoll Winery to produce Macanudo Estate Reserve Flint Knoll No 2. The limited-edition expression of Macanudo uses proprietary tobacco aged in wine barrels to create a one-of-a-kind smoking experience.
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·"Such a fantastic experience in terms of flavor, construction, and smoke texture. I could easily see this becoming a mainstay in my smoking rotation. If you like bold cigars with a good hit of nicotine this is a home run." -Alan (Eulogy)
"With a smoking time south of an hour, this smoke was quite literally short and sweet making it a shoo-in for a lunch break or any other occasion where time is not a luxury. It is hard to say with absolute certainty whether or not the missing chunk of wrapper right at the foot was intentional or not. The fact that the wrapper was not torn and the uniformity of the transition where the wrapper begins leads me to believe that this feature had a purpose. Regardless, it showcased and highlighted in an intriguing way just how much the wrapper leaf contributes to a cigar's aroma, blend, and flavor profiles. Without it, the cigar would certainly not be the same. Aside from the obvious transition that took place once the burn line reached the leading edge of the wrapper, this smoke was dead consistent with regards to flavors. A smoke this short doesn't need a ton of transitions and with such enjoyable flavors, I couldn't be happier in their absence. Not only were the flavors right in line with my preferences, they were well balanced and the smoke was buttery smooth. A top-notch draw and trouble-free burn were the cherries on top of an incredible smoking experience that I can not wait to have again." -Noah S. (Noah)
J.C. Newman Cigar Co. will be shipping their annual Brick House Bricktoberfest cigars this week to 128 retailers across the United States and Germany. This year’s release of Brick House Bricktoberfest cigar measure the same as last year at 6 x 52” in a toro with a pigtail cap. Rolled at J.C. Newman PENSA in Esteli, Nicaragua, the blend of these limited-edition cigars uses a Havana Rosado wrapper grown in Ecuador with a binder and fillers mix of Nicaraguan tobaccos.