Since I’ve gotten a lot of new sticks at IPCPR that still might require aging or are still in prototypes, I’ve opted to introduce a concept called the “Pre-Review”. I know that isn’t exactly good grammar, but this will allow me to post some initial impressions of cigars that fall into those categories I mention. […]
I thought I would try a little video here. More of an experiment, but the message is still there….
What better way to settle your differences than to go to dinner and have a nice cigar? This is a great tradition. If the Pleasure Police get their way, then this great tradition could go away. Click below to read the story on how Albert Haynesworth and Mike Shanahan will do this. Haynesworth says he […]
The new Alec Bradley Tempus Maduro There were companies such as General, Miami, and Torano C that had major release years of new sticks at IPCPR. There were other cigar companies like Oliva, Camacho, and CAO that did not have major release years and instead chose to tweak their product lines. The visit to Alec […]
The Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta Serie – Toro Double wrapper cigars are nothing new to the cigar business. There have been many successful barber-pole (i.e. Camacho Liberty 2007) and pinstripe (CAO Cigars) cigars that provide a terrific level of complexity. However, 2010 seems to be the year of the combining two different wrappers creating “segments” […]
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 […]
In the previous installments of Tales from the IPCPR, we have discussed a lot of family cigar companies and several indie cigar companies. Like in any industry sector, there are the big boys – a.k.a. the big corporations. A lot of times, the big corporations take a hit for being – say “too corporate”. But […]
This is a terrible defeat and it is very scary for cigar enthusiasts. Among the bans include private cigar clubs. I guess its ok for Savannah to still collect taxes on tobacco, but they don’t want you to enjoy it. I have personally written Mayor Otis Johnson of Savannah and informed him if this ban […]
As with many conferences, often various customer dinners are scheduled. With IPCPR this was no different as many of the Cigar Manufacturers scheduled dinners with the retailers. Obviously there are limited lists of how many retailers could receive invites, so for Stace and myself, we were more than thrilled when it was our names put […]
The Old School Original – The Duke The key to a good Indie (i.e boutique) cigar is getting a memorable smoke. Once such cigar that fits the bill is the “Duke” – part of the Old School Cigars Originals line. This helped immediately make it memorable by name. While it wasn’t a perfect smoke for […]
Cigar Dave “The General” does a terrific job at explaining Nicotine in Cigars and drawing a difference between Cigarette Smokers and Cigar Enthusiasts. This happens between the 4:30 and 10:50 minute mark. Click here to listen…. (be sure to hit the PLAY button).
Don Pepin Garcia graciously poses for a picture for me In 2009, Outland Cigars in Charlotte hosted cigar legend Don Pepin Garcia at the store for what was Outland’s biggest event ever. Unfortunately, my “other job” had me out of town and I was unable to meet the great Don Pepin. However, the Outlanders in […]
