At the end of this month, Altadis USA will release a special limited edition offshoot under its H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez. The cigar is called H. Upmann Nicaragua by AJ Fernandez Finca La Lilia 2009. While it features the same components as the regular production H. Upmann Nicaragua by AJ Fernandez line, Finca La […]
Prime Time Episode 105: Rafael Nodal, Tabacalera USA & Boutique Blends
William Cooper Podcast No Comments Aging Room Cigars, Altadis, Boutique Blends Cigars, Developing Palates, Podcast, Prime Time Show, Tabacalera USA
On Episode 105 Rafael Nodal makes his Prime Time debut! As many know Rafael wears two hats in the cigar industry – co-founder of Boutique Blends Cigars and now as Tabacalera USA’s (including Altadis U.S.A.’s) Director of Product Capability. We’ll take a look at this unique dual-role and how this came about. Plus we’ll talk […]
Announcement: Prime Time Episode 105 – Rafael Nodal, Tabacalera USA & Boutique Blends
William Cooper Announcement No Comments Aging Room Cigars, Altadis, Announcement, Boutique Blends Cigars, Developing Palates, Prime Time Show, Tabacalera USA
Tonight on Episode 105 Rafael Nodal makes his Prime Time debut! As many know Rafael wears two hats in the cigar industry – co-founder of Boutique Blends Cigars and now as Tabacalera USA’s (including Altadis U.S.A.’s) Director of Product Capability. We’ll take a look at this unique dual-role and how this came about. Plus […]
Cigar News: Cigar Companies and Trade Organizations Issue Comments to FDA on Substantial Equivalence
William Cooper Cigar News 4 Comments CLE, CRA, Davidoff, Drew Estate, FDA, General, IPCPR, PCA, Perdomo, Tabacalera USA
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published draft guidance on the Substantial Equivalence process. As a part of issuing such guidance, there must be a public comment period. The comment period came to a close on July 17th (following a 30-day extension granted by the FDA). This saw many cigar companies […]
Cigar News: Altadis U.S.A. Head Rob Norris Moves to Fontem Ventures
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments Altadis, News, People, Tabacalera USA
Tabacalera USA has announced that Rob Norris, head of Altadis U.S.A. has accepted a transfer to Fontem Ventures as General Manager of Canada. Altadis U.S.A. is a unit of Tabacalera USA, Imperial Brands’ premium cigar division in the United States. Norris had served as Altadis U.S.A.’s head since 2017. Fontem Ventures is another separate Imperial […]
Cigar News: H. Upmann 175th Anniversary to Debut at 2019 IPCPR
William Cooper Cigar News, IPCPR 2019 1 Comment 2019 Preview, Altadis, H. Upmann, IPCPR 2019, News, Tabacalera USA
With 2019 marking 175 years of the H. Upmann brand, Altadis U.S.A. has announced a special commemorative limited cigar appropriately called the H. Upmann 175th Anniversary. The cigar will make its debut at the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas. This cigar has its origins back in Cuba. German banker Herman Upmann had moved […]
Cigar News: H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez to Debut at 2019 IPCPR Trade Show
William Cooper Cigar News, IPCPR 2019 No Comments 2019 Preview, Altadis, H. Upmann, IPCPR 2019, News, Tabacalera USA
Since 2019 is the 175th anniversary of the H. Upmann brand, Altadis U.S.A. is expected to have H. Upmann as one of its featured brands. At the 2019 IPCPR, Altadis U.S.A. is releasing a new line under the H. Upmann brand called the H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez. Hispaniola is the island where the Dominican […]
Editor’s Corner #99: Thoughts on Imperial Brands Exiting the Premium Cigar Business
William Cooper Blog, Editor's Corner No Comments Altadis, Editor's Corner, Imperial Brands, Tabacalera USA
The month of April ended quite differently than I expected when it came to covering the world of cigars. An announcement was made that will potentially be the biggest cigar media story of the year – namely, Imperial Brands planning to exit the cigar industry. With the IPCPR Trade Show scheduled to start at the end […]
Cigar News: Montecristo Espada Oscuro Slated for May Release
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments 2019 Preview, Altadis, Montecristo, News, Tabacalera USA
Altadis U.S.A. has announced the next installment under its Montecristo Espada line, the Montecristo Espada Oscuro. The new release is slated to hit retail shelves in May. It was back in 2014 when the Montecristo Espada first was introduced. Produced at the Plasencia factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, it not only marked the first time a Montecristo […]
Agile Cigar Review: Montecristo Artisan Series Batch 1 (2018 TAA Exclusive)
William Cooper Agile Cigar Reviews, Reviews No Comments 2018 TAA Exclusive Series, 91-93, Agile Cigar Review, Altadis, Assessment Update, Box Purchase, Montecristo, TAA, Tabacalera USA
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 […]