The MLB lockout may delay the start of the baseball season in 2022, but United Cigars will have something to celebrate no matter what. The Big Papi Firecracker by El Artista will be released on the scheduled MLB Opening Day. Retailers and cigar media will get a preview of the new cigar at the TPE Show this week in Las Vegas, NV. This Special Edition Big Papi Firecracker is a slightly stronger variation of the Slugger line by El Artista.
Sinistro is releasing a new line with multiple blends: La Fabrica. This new series consists of small batches of "forgotten" cigars that have been aging for some time. The cigars are unearthed, tested, and given new names. The concept is similar to the Lost & Found series from Robert Caldwell and Matt Booth.
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·"My first impressions were negative due to the size of the cigar. Eliminating my bias towards that was easy once I started smoking the cigar. It really was a pleasant and long experience. This is still not necessarily going to be a first choice smoke for me but I can say it was flavorful enough all the way through to work for a niche smoke at the right time for me. Well constructed and good looking, I’d revisit this cigar again." -Diana (ArmyRN)
The first Smoke with a Legend event for 2018 has been announced by Tabacalera El Artista and David Ortiz. This year’s first event will take place at the Cigars International Bethlehem Super-Store on April 7, 2018. David Ortiz is scheduled to be there to sign boxes and for photo ops with the first 500 visitors.
"This cigar hit all of my sweet spots in terms of flavor. Peppery, leathery, with hints of scotch whiskey toward the end. I'd happily invest in a few more of these to see if I could get some with a more consistent draw. I bet this would be a tremendous smoke if that issue was ameliorated. " -John I. (John I.)
El Artista Cigars has announced a new distribution agreement with Star Cigar & Spirits to have their cigars available in Sweden. El Artista Cigars brands will be available for purchase at Swedish Retailers by the end of September 2021.
"Overall this was a very good cigar experience. I would recommend this cigar to the 20 year old cigar aficionado or 80 year old novice, it is that of an all around good cigar experience with flavors that excite the palate from start to finish. As for me, if this cigar is available in the robusto vitola, I will be grabbing 10 of them for my personal humidor." -Matt C. (Big Matt)
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!”.
"Shockingly to me, I loved this cigar. I'm not a huge box-pressed cigar fan and this one is so thin worried me but it smoked wonderfully and the mouthfeel was not as harsh as expected. The flavors were complex and kept me interested the entire time. Starting with a red pepper blast that then settles into a smoky cedar and leather flavor. Complex baking spice and some surprise floral notes make this cigar stand out. I will absolutely seek out more of this stick in the future." -Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
Tabacalera El Artista has announced two new line extensions for existing brands and one new rebrand. Fugly Cheroots and Buffalo TEN each are each getting line extensions and the eight-year-old Puro Ambar is getting a new look and blend.