The 25th anniversary of South Florida retail chain Smoke Inn was in 2021. As he had done with the 15th and 20th anniversaries, Smoke Inn proprietor Abe Dababneh would commission a commemorative cigar as a part of the Smoke Inn MicroBlend series. With this particular cigar, Dababneh decided the cigar would pay tribute to his […]
Cigar Review: JR Pure Origin Gran Vulcano Toro
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Buy One, JR Cigars, Review, Tabacalera USA
In 2022, online and catalog retailer JR Cigars would launch a new limited edition line of cigars known as JR Pure Origin. For many years, JR Cigars has produced its own cigars under the JR name with most of these being valued-priced and bundled offerings. When JR Cigars celebrated its 50th anniversary a couple of […]
Cigar Review: 7-20-4 Hustler Five & Dime
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 2022 PCA Exclusive Series, 7-20-4, 88-90, Buy One, Review
The 7-20-4 Hustler Five & Dime is a cigar that was made exclusive by 7-20-4 Cigars for retailers who placed orders at the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. PCA Trade Show exclusive cigars are not a new concept, but in 2021, the PCA made an attempt to somewhat formalize these trade show releases into […]
Cigar Review: SP1014 Love n’ Passion 552
William Cooper Reviews 1 Comment 88-90, Buy One, Review, SP1014
One thing we see in the cigar industry is many retailers becoming brand owners. Some retailers will carry house brands that they sell in their own stores. Other retailers will go a step further and become full-fledged cigar companies and distribute their product nationwide. Early in 2022 came word that Sanj Patel, owner of Sanj’s […]
Cigar Review: Don Carlos The Man by Arturo Fuente
William Cooper Reviews 1 Comment 88-90, Arturo Fuente, Buy One, Fuente, Review
In 2018, Arturo Fuente Cigars would release a limited edition cigar known as Don Carlos The Man. The Don Carlos line pays homage to the late Carlos Fuente Sr. who passed away in 2016. The Don Carlos line has a reputation for showcasing some of Arturo Fuente’s best tobacco. Don Carlos The Man was a […]
Cigar Review: El Criollito Robusto (2021) by PDR Cigars
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Buy One, PDR Cigars, Review
Back in 2017, PDR Cigars launched a blend known as El Criollito. Originally El Criollito was a blend developed for the Spanish market by PDR owner Abe Flores in conjunction with his distributor in Spain (Jaime de Juana), and a group of retailers from Spain. Later that year, El Criollito was added to PDR Cigars’ […]
Cigar Review: AVO Improvisation LE22 Black
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Buy One, Davidoff, Review
Early in 2022, Davidoff released the AVO Improvisation LE22 edition. The AVO Improvisation LE22 would be unique in that it would be a two-blend set released in one package. The LE22 would mark 22 consecutive years that the AVO brand has had an annual limited edition cigar. For the first 14 years (2001-2014), the cigar […]
Cigar Review: Terra Nova Dark Fired Kentucky Toro by Arnold André
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Arnold André, Buy One, Review, Terra Nova, United Cigars
If you have followed the cigar industry from a global perspective, the name Arnold André is one you are quite familiar with. Based in Germany and founded in 1817, Arnold André is best known as Germany’s largest machine-made cigar manufacturer. Over the years, Arnold André has also handled European distribution for well-known premium cigar brands […]
Agile Cigar Review: Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Vintage 1960’s Happy Ending
William Cooper Agile Cigar Reviews, Reviews No Comments 88-90, Agile Cigar Review, Arturo Fuente, Assessment Update, Buy One, Fuente
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 Review: Rocky Patel Disciple Toro
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Buy One, Review, Rocky Patel
At the 2021 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, one of the higher profile releases was the Sixty by Rocky Patel. As the name indicates the cigar commemorated the 60th birthday of company founder Rocky Patel that had been celebrated earlier in the year. The Sixty would feature a Mexican San Andres wrapper on it, […]