The Cigar Industry Report is a one stop place to catch up on the activity here at Cigar Coop and Stogie Geeks. It is a combination of our news reports, cigar reviews, and assessment updates we do throughout the week. We will also recap what happened on our Stogie Geeks show. Finally, each week we will look back at Cigar Coop history. Look for this report every Saturday morning at 8am Eastern time.
Today we completed our 104th consecutive edition of this weekly report. We have completed two full calendar years of bringing you this weekly round-up. We begin year three next week.
Feature Story: Cigar Coop Post Season Awards
This past week we have focused on some our post-season awards. We have introduced new categories for Factory of the Year and Person of the Year. This Tuesday, we wrap up with our Top Brand Performers List.
12/30/14: 2014 Year in Review: Top 12 Cigar Industry Stories / Themes of 2014
12/31/14: Cigar of the Year: Joel Sherman 75th Celebration by Nat Sherman, Full Top 30
1/1/15 By the Numbers (Editor’s Corner Volume 4, Number 2)
1/2/15: Factory of the Year (Small / Single) – Nica Sueno
1/5/15: Best Aged Cigar (Room 101 Namakubi)
1/6/15: Factory of the Year (Larger or Multi-Faceted) – Tabacalera Tropical / Casa Fernandez
1/7/15: Best Line Extensions for 2014 (Padron 1964 Anniversary Belicoso TAA Exclusive Maduro)
1/8/15: Cigar Industry Person(s) of the Year – Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard and Jim Young
1/9/15: The Honorable Mentions
1/13/15: Top Brand Performers List for 2014
News and Previews
While it was coincidental, three companies made announcements revamping products this week.
- Fratello Cigars: The company will release a lancero line extension to the Fratello line as a shop exclusive to Stogies World Class Cigars in Houston. Owner Omar de Frias was a guest on Episode 124 of Stogie Geeks and provided some additional context.
- Headlines Cigars: The company has announced it has revamped its portfolio and has released two new cigars done in collaboration with Arby Sosa.
- JM Tobacco: The company has launched Sealed-In Humidity Packs.
- Jordan Alexander III Cigars: The revamped Jordan Alexander III Corojo line is targeted for a February Release.
- Warped Cigars: The company is planning a line extension to La Colmena called “Black Honey”.
- Zander-Greg: The planned Nat Cicco HHB Habano has been revamped to become the Nat Cicco HHB Gold.
- Louisiana: Another public hearing will be held Jaunary 14th on a proposed smoking ban in the City of New Orleans. A contentious meeting was held this past week on this same topic.
- Nebraska: As Glynn Loope on Episode 118 of Stogie Geeks, legislation would be filed to restore smoking in Nebraska cigar bars and smoke shops. State Sen. Tyson Larson introduced a bill to do this. The State Supreme Court had ruled smoking unconstitutional in these shops late last year.
- FDA: New legislation is expected to be filed with the House of Representatives and Senate to exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation.
Assessments
- Swag Black VIP by Boutique Blends Cigars
- Padron 50th Anniversary Maduro (The Hammer)
- VegaFina Nicaragua Robusto by Altadis
Our smokes of the week included:
Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve 2014
Ashton ESG 22-Year Salute
Asylum Dragon’s Milk
Avo 25th Anniversary Edition (Part of Avo’s Greatest Hits Sampler)
Diamond Crown Julius Caeser Robusto
E.P. Carrillo La Historia (Paul)
E.P. Carrillo Perez-Carrillo La Historia E-III (Will)
Ezra Zion FHK Truth
Illusione Fume D’Amour Clementes
Nat Sherman Epoca (Tasting Seminar)
Oliva Serie V Melanio Perfecto
Padron 50th Anniversary Maduro
San Cristobal Revelation Legend
We published two Stogie Geeks Extra segments this week. We had Michael Reynolds from Lotus and a special interview with Michael Herklots of Nat Sherman recorded at the Nat Sherman event we recapped in Episode 124.
- January 10th 2012: We assessed the Tatuaje HCS.
- January 10th 2013: We assessed the J.Grotto Silk by Ocean State Cigars
- January 10th 2014: We recapped our Stogie Geeks 2013 Cigar of the Year selections.
- January 10th 2014: We assessed the Sindicato Hex.
- January 10th 2014:: We did an Assessment Update on the 1502 Emerald Perfecto
- January 10th 2014: We reported on line extensions to the Tortuga 215 Reserva.
- January 10th 2014: We had exclusive news on the announcement of the Debonaire First Degree.
- January 10th 2014: We reported on new Cigar Oasis Next Generation Humidification Devices.
- January 10th 2014: We did an Assessment Update on the Ezra Zion Tantrum.
- January 10th 2014: We previewed the Partagas Benji Homage 62.
