93%
Overall Score - Great
AllBlack Label Trading CompanyBlind Cigar ReviewsEricFeaturedIPCPRIsaac M.James BrownJason H.John I.Nicaragua
·"This cigar was, well, outstanding to me. This is something I could enjoy at any time and could even be something that I'd smoke very regularly. The flavors caught my attention at the beginning and the constant evolution kept me coming back for more. It was a surprisingly long smoking cigar with made it that much better." -Isaac M. (The Nothing)
HVC's only new line this year was the Cerro Maduro this is a followup to their original Cerro now featuring a Mexican San Andrés wrapper. It uses the same Nicaraguan filler and binder and comes in 4 sizes: 4 1/2 x 46 — $7.80 (Boxes of 20, $156), 5 x 50 — $8.50 (Boxes of 20, $170), 6 x 54 — $8.80 (Boxes of 20, $176), 5 1/2 x 58 — $9.60 (boxes of 20, $192), they launch July 2017.
At this years' IPCPR Battleground Cigars had an interesting set up, their display was basically a small pup tent, but inside they had plenty to offer....let's get right to it:
Battleground has decided to play around with Honduran Puro Mardo wrappers , and have resurrected a few brands with new wrappers and new packaging artwork.
Our reviewer Mickey spoke to Andreas Throuvalas about Curivari, where he was taken on avtour of the booth. Curivari started in Europe in 1997, but didn't start developing the brand until 2003. In 2010 they decided to go full Nicaraguan tobacco. Andres claims there are no Ecuadorian wrappers whatsoever.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about this booth was the presence of Matt Booth, which signified not only his return to the cigar industry, but that he was collaborating with none other than Robert Caldwell and AJ Fernandez to make some new cigars.
JM's Cigars is your everyday/all day smoke. They are more on the mild to medium in strength. JM Cigars told us at this years IPCPR they they have resurrected two cigars & both are slated to be released in September.
The 1st offering is Espanola:
Southern Draw Cigars sat out last years trade show due to the recently-announced FDA regulations cigars. But Southern Draw was at the show this year with updates to their packaging and a new blend. Robert Holt even told us exclusively that they plan on releasing all of the Quick Sraw series in a corona gorda format, not shown at the show.
This year the only *new* line Steve Saka was showing off was the Todos Las Dias.
“Todos Las Dias is my personal Spanglish translation meaning “All the Days.” The workers at Joya de Nicaraguan often cringe at my casual butchering of their mother tongue, but in my opinion cigars are far more than a grammar lesson to abide, they are the physical manifestation of a feeling and of an experience. TLD embodies the classic bold flavors that represent the heart of their soil’s peppery tobaccos and the labor of their always working hands. For me, this spicy Nicaraguan puro reflects no pretentious airs or any of that “notes of pencil lead with a hint of fennel” nonsense. It is an honest, hardworking cigar intended to be smoked by men who know what it means to be a cigar smoker and never give a damn about what others think,” states the creator, Steve Saka.
Crowned Heads showcased two releases this year: Four Kicks Maduro and Luminosa. The latter was available last year as part of a soft launch with a full launch this year including a new vitola the petite corona.