A Visit to the Miami Cigars Lounge (Tales from the IPCPR Part 15)

The Cigar Coop in front of the simulated front of La Aurora

Very simply, I really liked the Miami Cigars Lounge at IPCPR. Like General Cigars, I am also very excited about the pipeline. While there isn’t a crafty tale to weave in this visit, I felt that this visit was still worth of a chapter of Tales from the IPCPR. Namely, this was the place where I heard some of the most interesting news at IPCPR!

The cornerstone of the Miami Cigar lounge was the simulated storefront of “La Aurora” (representing one of the brands). This was actually used for some storage and quasi-office space (assuming for some IPCPR retailer purchases). When I went to take a photo of the simulated storefront, one of the reps working the booth was so kind as to take my picture there.

The lounge contained a lot of bar-style settings in it. Tatiana, Guillermo Leon, and Nestor Miranda all had bar like areas. There was even a separate bar where you can order a cuban coffee – and yes it was really good. Behind many of the “bar” areas, there were various displays of cigar art. You never know what superstars you are going to run in at IPCPR. I took a look at the Nestor Miranda bar area, and who did I see but the legendary Mr. Nestor Miranda himself.

The legendary Nestor Miranda (pictured right) talking business

But IPCPR is all about the sticks, and Miami Cigars definitely makes it on the winner’s podium for cigar pipeline. Earlier in the year, they introduced the Nestor Miranda Domincano (a Medium body collaboration with Don Pepin and Guillermo Leon) and 1989 (a value priced stick on the Mild to Medium body side) sticks. While I still have to smoke the 1989, the Dominicano could be a cigar to land in my Top 20. Obviously both cigars were being showcased at IPCPR.

There were two sticks launched at the show. I will be providing reviews on these in upcoming Cigar Coop postings as I have yet to smoke them – the Nestor Miranda Art Deco, Calibre 58 (a new 4 x 58 cigar – available in Robusto and Torpedo – still unbanded), and the Guillermo Leon Signature (a medium bodied smoke). The Art Deco is another Nestor Miranda collaboration with Don Pepin. The unique thing about the Art Deco is not its packaging, but the background of the blend. This is perhaps one of the few (if only times), Pepin has agreed to blend with Dominican tobacco (San Vincente) in addition to his well-known Nicaraguan tobacco (in this case Corojo). This was done apparently at the urging of Miranda himself. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation! From a cigar news standpoint, I think Pepin going Dominican is huge! The Art Deco also has some unique packaging in the retro style band – and of course, this retro style box available.