Hex is the third cigar that has been released.   Of the three cigars showcased at IPCPR, the Hex is that we have most eyeballed.  It’s Nicaraguan made with Nicaraguan tobaccos and an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.  The company has also released the bundle cigar offering Casa Bella and the milder Affinity cigar.  We feel that while the other two offerings attract a niche segment among cigar enthusiasts, it is the Hex that might have the widest appeal among today’s cigar enthusiasts.  This is a cigar we will be featuring in the near future on Cigar Coop.

• 1502 Cigars: The company posted a teaser of its new 1502 Nicaragua.
• Boutique Blends:  Company president Rafael Nodal announced on his Facebook page that the El Padrino Italian Edition will be making a return under the Oliveros name.
• Dona Flor:  The Brazilian cigar company said on their Facebook page that they will be putting together a free offering that will document a “complete cigar history of the Cuban exodus that led the infamous Alonso Menendez and his sons to Brazil to produce one of the finest cigars still in production today.” This will be done to coincide with the 2014 World Cup being hosted in Brazil.
• E.P. Carrillo: The company announced its long awaited Perez Carrillo line is targeted for release in May 2014. 
• Flor de Gonzalez:  Company president Yadi Gonzalez Vargas posted on her Facebook page a 6 x 60 line extension to the 90 Miles 1980 Edition line is coming.
• MLB Cigar Ventures: In a Facebook post by the company, “Mike Bellody has finalized the blending process for our inaugural blend. Next step, another trip to Santiago to complete the box and band design. Our target release date is March or April. Stay tuned, more announcements to come very soon.”
• Nomad Cigar Company: On a recent Blowin Smoke podcast, Fred Rewey said he pretty much finalized “a little bit stronger” Connecticut blend out of the Dominican Republic.  He mentioned that blend will be seen “pretty soon”.  Meanwhile at the A.J. Fernandez, Rewey is working on a stronger blend. He has two blends he is considering for that final blend.  Rewey is targeting the blend by the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show.
• Tatuaje Cigars:  Pete Johnson posted a picture of prototypes of his lancero project.  This was a project he broke news on Episode 75 of our Stogie Geeks podcast.

Legislative News

• FDA:   No new co-sponsors signed on to HR792.  The count remains at a total of 136 co-sponsors (137 total sponsors).  

Assessments

• CAO Angry Santa
• Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 5 by La Flor Dominicana
• Padron Family Reserve No. 46 Maduro
• Room 101 Master Collection One
• S & S Foreplay

Assessment Updates

• RyJ by Romeo y Julieta

Stogie Geeks Episode 78

We have posted Episode 78 of Stogie Geeks that was recorded on 12/19/13.  In this episode we talked to Seth Geise of Seth’s Humidor.  In just under three years, Seth has established himself as one of the leading online media people in the cigar industry.  In this episode Seth joins us for the whole show.  We learn a little of how he got started in the industry and with his web-site.  Seth is one of the most knowledgable people when it comes to Cuban cigars and he gives us a great look at the Cuba industry. We also get some great insights from him when it comes to the cigar industry as a whole.  Seth also joined us for our smokes of the week.

Here are some of the cigars we talked about in Episode 78:

Aging Room Quattro F55 Concerto
Brun Del Re Gold Corona
Eiroa Prensado (Redux)
El Centurian Toria
El Mayimbe Toro by A.J. Fernandez Cigars
E.P. Carrillo INCH Natural No. 62
LFD El Jocko Maduro
LFD Mysterio Oscuro
Litto Gomez Diez Americano 2008 
Partagas Serie D No. 4
Romeo by Romeo y Julieta Special Edition Gran Bully
Room 101 Namakubi Ecuador H-Town
Viaje Holiday Blend 2012 Candy Cane (Redux)