Villiger’s La Libertad brand is one that has undergone some significant changes. The brand was simply known as La Libertad when it was launched in 2010. In 2017, Villiger Cigars introduced new packaging for the U.S. market. As a part of those changes, the Villiger name was added to La Libertad’s packaging for the first […]
Cigar Review: Viaje Stuffed Turkey White Meat Edición Limitada 2017
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 85-87, Review, Try a Sample, Viaje
Back during the earlier days of Viaje nearly a decade ago, the company was gaining a reputation for its seasonal themed releases. Some of the more popular themes included: Holiday Blend (Christmas), TNT (Fourth of July), and Candela (St. Patrick’s Day). While interviewing Viaje Cigar founder Andre Farkas for their IPCPR media coverage, the crew […]
Cigar Review: San Pedro de Macorís Brazil Robusto by Royal Agio Cigars
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 85-87, Review, Royal Agio Cigars, Try a Sample
In 2018, Royal Agio Cigars introduced a new value-priced brand known as San Pedro de Macorís. At the time this brand was introduced Royal Agio was expanding its premium handmade cigar footprint in the U.S. market. A year earlier, after a three year run of distribution in the U.S. by Drew Estate, Royal Agio Cigars […]
Cigar Review: Viaje Hamaki Omakase 2019
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 85-87, Review, Try a Sample, Viaje
In 2017, Viaje released two cigars influenced by brand owner Andre Farkas’ travels to Japan, the Viaje Hamaki and the Viaje Hamaki Omakase. It’s not the first time Farkas has done a Japanese-themed release. For the better part of the past ten years, Viaje has released its Satori release as an offering to IPCPR Trade […]
Cigar Review: HVC Edición Especial 2018 Toro
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 85-87, HVC, Review, Try a Sample
At the 2018 IPCPR Trade Show, HVC Cigars unveiled a cigar line called the HVC Edición Especial 2018. HVC Cigars is a company founded by Reinier Lorenzo in 2011. The name HVC stands for Havana City. It pays homage to Havana, Cuba where Lorenzo grew up in post-revolution Cuba. Over the past few years, while […]
Cigar Review: Protocol Jane Doe Series by Cubariqueño Cigar Company
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 85-87, Cubariqueño Cigar Company, Protocol, Review, Try a Sample
In January 2019, Cubariqueño Cigar Company released a limited small batch release known as the Protocol John Doe Series. It was a cigar where pretty much no information about the blend or origin was disclosed. The cigar was sold as a shop exclusive to Berkeley Humidor in New Jersey. Three hundred ten-count bundles were put […]
Cigar Review: VegaFina 1998 VF 52
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 85-87, Review, Try a Sample, VegaFina
Earlier this year, Tabacalera S.A. announced a new offering under its VegaFina brand known as the VegaFina 1998. The cigar pays homage to the year that the VegaFina brand was launched. VegaFina is a brand also sold by the U.S. arm of Tabacalera S.A., Altadis U.S.A. Over the years, VegaFina has been a brand that […]
Cigar Review: Aganorsa Leaf Ground N Pound Elbow Candy
William Cooper Reviews 1 Comment 85-87, AGANORSA Leaf, Review, Try a Sample
The past decade in the cigar industry has seen the growth of both small batch releases and private label brands. This past year saw Aganorsa Leaf combine both of these concepts in a release for Serious Cigars known as Ground N Pound. Serious Cigars is a retail chain based in Houston, Texas which in 2016 […]
Cigar Review: Cohiba Connecticut Robusto
William Cooper Reviews 2 Comments 85-87, Cohiba, General, Review, Try a Sample
Two years ago, General Cigar Company hired Sean Williams to be the face of its Cohiba brand. Williams had built a name for himself in the cigar industry as the owner of Primer Mundo Cigars. Bringing in Williams was a strategic move because he was both a popular and knowledgable face in the cigar industry. […]
Cigar Review: Toscano Anno Domini 1492
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 85-87, Miami Cigars, Review, Toscano, Try a Sample
Toscano Anno Domini 1492 is a cigar that comes from Italian-cigar maker Manifatture Sigaro Toscano. 2018 was a year when many companies and brands celebrated anniversaries, but for Toscano it was very special as the brand was celebrating its 200th anniversary. This is a cigar company that makes some very unique cigars. Long before it became trendy, […]