Remembering Connecticut’s Rich Cigar History

Posted by Jay on Aug 10, 2011 in Cigar News | 38 comments

As a Connecticut resident, my state’s cigar history is close to my heart and anyone who has had to fly out of Bradley Airport has seen the tell tale tobacco tents dotting the landscape leading up to the airport. Phillip Devlin of the Mansfield-Storrs patch ruminates on Connecticut’s storied past and reminds us that the US holds a very rich cigar history.  Mansfield-Storrs Patch.

New Senate Bill To Protect Cigars From FDA Regulation

Posted by Jay on Aug 10, 2011 in Cigar News | 316 comments

Big news this week from the Cigar Rights of America.  “U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, D-FL, and US Senator Marco Rubio, R-FL came together and introduced S. 1461 as the companion bill to H.R. 1639, so that the Senate legislative process can now consider the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act .”  These bills represent a huge step forward in the fight to clarify the FDA’s jurisdiction over premium cigars and to protect the businesses of those companies involved in their manufacture.  Ride the link over the CRA website and be sure to thank senators Nelson and Rubio for their efforts in preserving our right to enjoy premium cigars.  CRA.

San Lotano Habano Toro Review

Posted by Jay on Aug 10, 2011 in Cigar Reviews | 332 comments

AJ Fernandez is a rising star in the cigar world being the man behind the popular Diesel and Man O’ War cigars. The San Lotano line is AJ’s first foray into his own, direct line of cigars. Released at last year’s IPCPR, the San Lotano line has been slowly and steadily getting attention and gathering eager fans.

The Habano features a unique, Cuban seed, Brazilian grown, Habano ligero wrapper. As noted on the AJF website, “Perhaps the most unique aspect of the Habano blend is its rare Cuban seed and ligero wrapper grown only in Brazil by the Fuego family. Containing extremely limited Cuban seed only offered to two factories in Central America, including Tabacalera Fernandez.” Link

Crowned Heads Partners With Carrillo Cigar Co.

Posted by Jay on Aug 4, 2011 in Cigar News | 18 comments

Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. To Produce “Four Kicks”

Crowned Heads LLC, the Nashville-based premium cigar company committed to producing cigars of artisanal quality, announced today that it has partnered with E.P. Carrillo Cigar Co. to produce the first Crowned Heads brand. The cigar brand, “Four Kicks,” will be manufactured at Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. under the supervision of one of the cigar industry’s true icons, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.

Diesel Unholy Cocktail

Posted by admin on Jul 25, 2011 in Cigar Reviews | 102 comments

I’m taking a break from my Studio Tobac Advisory Board responsibilities and indulging in a cigar I have heard much about, but have yet to sample: the Diesel Unholy Cocktail. Made by A.J. Fernandez, the Diesel features a rich, dark chocolate colored Pennsylvania broadleaf maduro wrapper and a Nicaraguan binder and filler. The color on the wrapper looks like it was molded by a master confectioner out of semi-sweet chocolate.

Nub San Andres Maduro

Posted by admin on Jul 21, 2011 in Cigar Reviews | 543 comments

Tonight I pulled the yet unreleased Nub San Andres as part of my assault on the Studio Tobac sampler pack. The San Andres is a squat and beefy 4 x 64 parejo featuring a deep, rich-looking maduro wrapper from San Andreas, Mexico (the same wrapper used on the Cain Maduro). By comparison, the regular Nub Maduro sports a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper.

European Cigar Journal 2011 Best of the Year Awards

Posted by admin on Jul 21, 2011 in Cigar News | 296 comments

The European Cigar Journal just announced their 2011 Best Of The Year winners during the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas. Two of my personal favorites happened to make the list in the Best Cigars category: the OpusX and the new Cain Daytona Lancero.