Monday, November 29, 2010

La Aurora 107 Lancero Review


La Aurora 107 Lancero - 7 X 40. Wrapper - Ecuador, Binder - Dominican, Filler - Nicaragua & Dominican. Medium - Full bodied.

Initial taste of spice and wood.

First Third - Spice, rum, wood and leather. A caramel-like sweetness emerges as well.

Second third - Caramel-like sweetness becomes more prevalent along with spice, rum and leather. Underlying wood flavor. Very well balanced.

Last third - Continued caramel, spice, rum, leather and underlying wood. Some notes of nuts as well. Long tasty finish of rum and spicy leather.

Construction, burn and draw were spot-on.

This is an excellent cigar, I love the flavor profile, the balance and the complexity. The Lancero and the corona are my absolute favorite sizes in this line. If I had to compare this to the corona, I would say that the Lancero is a bit more fuller bodied in that it is spicier and has a slightly stronger rum taste. MSRP on this vitola is $7.00 which I feel is a very good price point. I highly recommend trying.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

MACANUDO CRU ROYALE 10K GIVEAWAY PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
November 22, 2010
Contact: Victoria McKee Jaworski
General Cigar Co. Inc.
732 721 0317 or 732 580 5215
MACANUDO CRU ROYALE

Richmond, VA General Cigar Co. Inc. announced that on Thursday, November 18, 2010, the company awarded Old Allegheny Shoppe of Pittsburgh, PA with $10,000 as part of a national event series created to celebrate the debut of Macanudo Cru Royale ® at tobacco retail stores. The company also awarded a matching $10,000 prize at random to one of its patrons, Marty Giegerich, a Pittsburgh resident who is a frequent customer of the store.

Debo Mukherjee, vice president of marketing for General Cigar, parent company of Macanudo commented, “We set out to generate great excitement for the debut of Macanudo Cru Royale at retail and we’re satisfied that we’ve accomplished that in spades. We’re pleased that Lady Luck chose our event to smile on a cigar smoker who will surely put his winnings to good use.”

A total of just 50 cigar stores nationwide were selected to host Macanudo Cru Royale launch parties during the month of November, and each received a limited edition Macanudo Cru Royale humidor. To guarantee a winner at every event, a $1,000 consumer prize was contained in 49 of the humidors, and just one contained the coveted $10,000.

Customers who were in the Allegheny Shoppe last Thursday evening for the new cigar tasting event each received an envelope containing a key. Marty Giegerich held the only golden key and was awarded a check for $10,000. Store Owner Steve Boroch received a credit for $10,000 in General Cigar product right on the spot.

After learning that he won the $10,000 prize, Marty Giegerich exclaimed, “I have never won anything before. You have no idea that this $10,000 means to me and my family. Macanudo just made our Christmas!”

Steve Boroch who owns Allegheny Shoppe along with his parents Kathy and Dave noted, “We would have been happy with having any one of our customers win $10,000 but we can’t think of anyone more deserving than Marty. We’re thrilled that he won the money, especially so close to Christmas.”

Old Allegheny Shoppe is a family-run establishment that has been in the business of selling tobacco products for more than 35 years. It is the second oldest cigar store in Pittsburgh.

About General Cigar
General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo, Cohiba®, La Gloria Cubana®, Punch®, CAO®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.cigarworld.com/" www.cigarworld.com .

® Macanudo, Cohiba, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, CAO, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

TIM OZGENER DEPARTS PREMIUM CIGAR BUSINESS

For Immediate Release
November 9, 2010
Contact: Victoria McKee Jaworski
General Cigar Co. Inc.
732 721 0317 or 732 580 5215

TIM OZGENER DEPARTS PREMIUM CIGAR BUSINESS

Richmond, VA—General Cigar announces that CAO President Tim Ozgener has decided to pursue personal business interests in his hometown of Nashville, TN, thus moving on from his 16-year career in the premium cigar business.

Ozgener, son of company founder Cano A Ozgener, joined the original family business in 1994 and has since been instrumental in building one of the most renowned and respected brands in the premium cigar category.
 
Dan Carr, president of General Cigar said, “We remain committed to CAO and are grateful to Tim for his contributions, not only to the brand but also for sharing his knowledge with the people who will continue his legacy. While we will miss Tim’s insight and passion, we respect his choice and wish him well.”
 
Gary Hyams, chairman of CAO International commented, “It has been a privilege to work with Tim over the last three and a half years and to have had the opportunity to share in his passion for CAO. I wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”

Ozgener commented, “It is with a heavy heart that I leave CAO.  I look back at my 16-year career with the company with great pride and I will miss the friendships that I have made over the years in the premium cigar industry.  I am confident that the team at General Cigar will carry the CAO brand to new heights and I wish them the utmost continued success.”

Tim Ozgener was named president of CAO in 2006. He is largely credited with bringing innovative packaging, new flavor profiles and unique marketing concepts to the brand which has continued to thrive since the company’s inception during the cigar boom.

About Scandinavian Tobacco Group
Scandinavian Tobacco Group which purchased CAO in 2007 has recently completed a global merger with Swedish Match AB, combining all the tobacco business of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S with the cigars and pipe tobacco business of Swedish Match AB (with the exception of its US mass market cigars). This new company, which has retained the name Scandinavian Tobacco Group, is now the second largest cigar company in the world, holding more than 30% of the U.S. premium cigar market and producing more than 2.5 billion cigars and 1,650 tons of pipe tobacco annually at the Group’s factories in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Central America. For more information, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.st-group.com" www.st-group.com .

About General Cigar
General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo®, Cohiba®, La Gloria Cubana®, Punch®, CAO®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.cigarworld.com/" www.cigarworld.com .

® Macanudo, Cohiba, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, CAO, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

MACANUDO MILLIONAIRE CONTEST WINNERS TO VIE FOR $2,000,000 PRIZES AT PLAYBOY CLUB IN VEGAS

MACANUDO MILLIONAIRE CONTEST WINNERS TO VIE FOR $2,000,000 PRIZES AT PLAYBOY CLUB IN VEGAS

Richmond, VA— HYPERLINK "http://www.macanudomillionaire.com/about-macanudo.php" Macanudo ®, America’s number-one-selling brand of premium cigars announces the winners of the second annual HYPERLINK "http://www.macanudomillionaire.com/" Macanudo Millionaire contest. Dan Newman, of Liberty Township, Ohio is the national essay contest winner. He will be joined in Las Vegas by these lucky winners who were selected by national cigar catalog retailers: Kerry Rold, Redlands, CA (JR Cigar); Terry Greenlee, Ripon, CA (Cigars International); Thomas Knuesel, Duluth, MN (Mike’s Cigars) and Dana Purdy, New Meadows, ID (Thompson Cigars).

Newman and three guests, along with Rold, Greenlee, Knuesel and Purdy, each with a guest, will jet to Las Vegas for an all expense paid, three-day, two-night trip to the HYPERLINK "http://www.palms.com/" Palms Hotel and Casino where they will be accompanied by three Playboy Playmates for a VIP evening at the legendary HYPERLINK "http://www.palms.com/playboy" Playboy Club .

While in Sin City, on Saturday November 13, Newman and his guests, along with the Macanudo Millionaire retail grand prize winner and his guest, will each be dealt a hand of poker. If either the contest winner or their guests receive a straight flush, they will win the $2,000,000 prize, courtesy of Macanudo. This year’s Macanudo Millionaire promotion ups the stakes from last year’s promotion – doubling the prize money from $1,000,000 to a cool $2,000,000.

Updates about the Macanudo Millionaire contest will be posted to the contest’s dedicated Facebook accounts throughout the weekend of November 13. Video footage and photos chronicling the weekend and the VIP evening at the Playboy Club will be featured on the Macanudo Millionaire website following the weekend of November 13.

Debo Mukherjee, vice president of marketing for General Cigar, parent company of Macanudo, comments, “We were incredibly excited by the buzz generated by this year’s Macanudo Millionaire promotion. Together with the team at Playboy, we are gearing up for another, even more exciting weekend in Vegas and look forward to sharing the results with the media and consumers who have actively followed the contest since its kick off in September. Maybe this year, we’ll celebrate crowning a Macanudo Multi-Millionaire.”

About Macanudo Cigars
Since their introduction in 1968, Macanudo cigars have been a favorite among premium cigar connoisseurs. The brand continues to be the best selling premium cigar brand in the U.S. and also sells in more than 90 countries worldwide. In addition to the base brand of Macanudo cigars, the brand also features these collections: Macanudo Maduro, Macanudo Robust, Macanudo Gold Label, Macanudo Vintage and Macanudo 1968.

General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo®, Cohiba®, La Gloria Cubana®, Punch®, CAO®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.cigarworld.com/" www.cigarworld.com .

® Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur, La Gloria Cubana and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

Playboy, Playboy Club, PLAYMATES and Miss April are trademarks of Playboy and used with permission by General Cigar Co. Inc.  Playboy is not a sponsor of this contest.