As I reflect back on the decade 2010 – 2019, if there is one cigar line that continues to have me scratch my head its the E.P. Carrillo Cardinal line. This was a line introduced in 2012 and it was intended to offer a bolder and stronger cigar into the E.P. Carrillo portfolio. The Cardinal […]
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Cigar News: Drew Estate Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Flying Pig Now Available
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments 2019 Preview, Drew Estate, News
Drew Estate has announced its Flying Pig size of the Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve blend is now available at Pappy & Co, which is exclusively offering the vitola. The Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve was a line first introduced in 2014 as an exclusive offering to Pappy & Co. Last month the company announced […]
Announcement: Prime Time Episode 118: Benjamin Holt, Dissident Cigars
William Cooper Announcement No Comments Announcement, Developing Palates, Dissident, Prime Time Show
Tonight Benjamin Holt, the owner of Dissident Cigars makes his Prime Time debut! Dissident is a brand that developed a cult following, but eventually went away. This year came news that Benjamin has resurrected the brand with his own spin. We talk to Benjamin about his journey in the cigar industry and this new […]
Agile Cigar Review: Atabey Ritos by Selected Tobacco
William Cooper Agile Cigar Reviews, Reviews No Comments 91-93, Agile Cigar Review, Assessment Update, Atabey, Buy Multiples, Selected Tobacco
Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we […]
Cigar News: Cubariqueño Cigar Company Announces Protocol Confidential Informant
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments 2019 Preview, Cubariqueño Cigar Company, News, Protocol
Come Black Friday, November 29, 2019 Cubariqueño Cigar Company will release a new small batch project for Cigars International known as Protocol Confidential Informant. The Protocol Confidential Informant is produced at Cubariqueño’s manufacturing partner, La Zona in Estelí, Nicaragua. The cigar comes in one size – a 6 1/2 x 52 box-pressed toro. It is […]
Cigar News: STG Announces Sarah Santos as Successor to Craig Reynolds as Head of Cigars International
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments Cigars International, News, People, Scandinavian Tobacco Group, STG
Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) has announced that Sarah Santos will succeed the retiring Craig Reynolds as the head of North American Online and Retail Division (NAO&R), the group that includes online retail giant Cigars International. Santos’ title will be President of NAO&R and Senior Vice President of STG. Santos will assume her role […]
Cigar News: Amendment Added to Exempt Premium Cigars Over $12.00 from Anti-Tobacco Bill
William Cooper Cigar News 1 Comment FDA, News
Today an amendment was added to HR 2339, a comprehensive anti-tobacco bill that last week passed a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee. In the amendment to the bill is language that would exempt premium cigars from a ban on internet and catalog sales as well as exemption from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s costly […]
Cigar Review: 300 Hands Connecticut Petit Edmundo by Southern Draw Cigars
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Box Worthy Consideration, Review, Southern Draw
One of the busiest companies at the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show was Southern Draw Cigars. For the most part, Southern Draw focused on brand extensions (additional blends for existing brands, and line extensions (new vitolas for existing blends). One of the new brand extensions came to Southern Draw’s 300 Hands brand in the form of […]
Cigar News: Habanos S.A. Launches Romeo y Julieta Maravillas 8 for Chinese New Year
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments 2019 Preview, Habanos SA, News, Romeo y Julieta
Last week, a new vitola under Habanos S.A.’s brand made its debut in Hong Kong. Pacific Cigar Company and Infifon HK Ltd. exclusive Habanos, S.A distributors presented the new limited edition Romeo y Julieta Maravillas 8, a cigar that commemorates the upcoming Chinese New Year. The Romeo y Julieta Maravillas 8 is a 55 x […]
Cigar Review: Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 1 Toro by Altadis U.S.A.
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Altadis, Review, Trinidad, Try a Sample
When it comes to the Trinidad brand in the Altadis U.S.A. portfolio, it’s been one that hasn’t quite had the impact of other Cuban brands that Altadis U.S.A. sells in the U.S. such as Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and H. Upmann. Over the years, there have been several releases. Most recently in the past ten […]