Tuesday, May 24, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: SAM LECCIA'S NEW CIGAR “DEBUT”

For Immediate Release

May 24, 2011

Sam Leccia “Debut”

It is with great pleasure we announce the return of one of the most creative minds thecigar industry has known. Sam Leccia is back with his newest creation and what looks tobe the years most anticipated cigar. The Sam Leccia Cigar Company(www.samlecciacigarco.com) proudly presents Sam’s “Debut”, a fitting name forLeccia’s solo release.

The cigar nation embraces Leccia like a rock star for the passion and originality he bringsto the business.“This is the most exciting time of my life. I look forward to sharing with you, myDebut.”- Sam Leccia

Advertisement
Sam Leccia’s “Debut” is a twist of Nicaragua, Honduras, Ecuador and Santo Domingotobaccos blended together to give a unique smoking experience. Sam’s “Debut” will beavailable in 3 sizes: Double Rob 5x60, Double Church 7x60, Figurado 6 ½x52.

The marketing genius and mad science approach of Sam Leccia has audiences excited

about his newest creation the “Debut”.

For pre-orders and general inquiries contact SamsDebut@SamLecciaCigarCo.com

www.samlecciacigarco.com

Monday, May 23, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: GENERAL CIGAR ROLLS BACK PRICE OF MACANUDO 1968


GENERAL CIGAR ROLLS BACK PRICE OF MACANUDO 1968

Richmond, VA—General Cigar announces today that the company is reducing the price of all Macanudo 1968 cigars, representing an average price savings of more than $3.33 per cigar, and an average cost savings of more than $32.00 per box.

The new pricing of Macanudo 1968 is currently being made available exclusively at brick and mortar retailers across the U.S.

Bill Chilian, director of marketing commented, “Since the debut of Macanudo 1968 in August of 2008, the brand has enjoyed critical acclaim and has received high praise from brick and mortar retailers across the country. We recognize that Macanudo 1968 is a strong product with tremendous potential and decided to revise the pricing structure to make the brand accessible to a broader range of cigar enthusiasts.”

Under the new pricing structure, Macanudo 1968 Churchill (7” x 49) will now be available for $7.69 per cigar or $153.80 per 20-count box (previous price was $10.00 per cigar or $200 per box). Macanudo 1968 Toro (6” x 54) will now carry an SRP of $7.49 or $149.80 per box (previous price was $9.50 per cigar, or $190.00 per box).
At 5” x 50, the Robusto frontmark (5” x 50) will now retail for $6.49 per cigar, with a box price of $129.80 (previous price was $8.50 per cigar and $170.00 per box). Rounding out the collection is Macanudo 1968 Gigante (6” x 60) which will now cost $7.99 apiece or $159.80 per box (previous price was $11.00 per cigar, or with a box price of $220.

About Macanudo 1968
Macanudo 1968 is made completely of tobaccos which are either grown by General Cigar or cultivated for the company under an agreement of exclusivity. Harvested one sun-ripened leaf at a time, aged in tercios and charcoaled wooden barrels to further enrich its flavor, the blend marries proprietary Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco to a tobacco cultivated solely for General Cigar in the remote Nicaraguan island of Ometepe. These tobaccos were developed expressly to complement the hearty Connecticut Habano binder and flawless, lustrous Honduran San Agustin wrapper.

Macanudo 1968 is aesthetically pleasing, with the brand’s characteristic round head and immaculate construction evident at the first glance. From the first draw to the last, deeply complex yet balanced flavor envelops the palate with a freshness that celebrates inherent natural sweetness from the soils that bore each tobacco.

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 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.

PRESS RELEASE: FORCADE CIGARS CELEBRATES CLAUDIO SGROI’S 10TH CAREER ANNIVERSARY!


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Forcade Cigars
10665 SW 190 St, Suite 3117
Miami, FL 33157

FORCADE CIGARS CELEBRATES CLAUDIO SGROI’S 10TH CAREER ANNIVERSARY!

The party dedicated to Forcade Cigars’ Vice-President of Sales & Marketing
was a night among tobacco industry personalities, cigar connoisseurs and great friends in honor of Claudio Sgroi’s 10 years of continuous passion and devotion to cigars

MIAMI, FL. - (23 May 2011). Claudio Sgroi’s 10th Career Anniversary Party celebrated this past Friday May 20 at El Clique Cigar Lounge, Miami FL, turned out to be a momentous evening of friendship and cigar passion. Cigar connoisseurs and friends reaffirmed their esteem to Sgroi as they enjoyed the night among notable tobacco industry figures who attended the event, becoming part of this very special moment. Giralda Natural Churchill cigars with a special 10th Anniversary Edition ring and festive tropical music preceded Claudio Sgroi’s speech, who warmly thanked those in attendance for their permanent support and took them back to his first steps into a tobacco plantation in the Dominican Republic in 2001 and then to Switzerland, Italy and now the United States, specifically Miami, city that he refers to as “The Cigar Capital of the United States” where he now holds the title of Vice-President of Sales & Marketing at Forcade Cigars.

Refreshing drinks, fun conversations and many photographs served to transition to the impressive cigar box-shaped cake enjoyed by guests from all around the world. Chistrian Forcade from Forcade Cigars, Willy Herrera Master Blender for El Titan de Bronce, Erik and Jamilet Calvino from Cigar Snob Magazine, Victor Calvo from Tabacalera Tambor de Nicaragua, the legendary Billy Singer from SmokeShop II downtown Miami FL and many others, enjoyed a stunning ambiance while Sgroi danced the night away inviting all the guests to celebrate with him for many years to come in his tobacco career.

ABOUT FORCADE CIGARS
The current generation of the Forcade family is passionately involved in the creation of wonderful cigars such as: Forcade, Giralda Natural and Giralda Maduro. Jaime García blends all the Forcade Cigars, which are handmade in Nicaragua at My Father Cigar Factory. The history of Forcade Cigars dates back to 1887 when Thomas Novales migrated from Palma de Mallorca, Spain to Cabeza-Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, where he passed down his knowledge and dedication to the cultivation of tobacco to his four children. One of his daughters, Bienvenida Elena Novales, married Manolo Forcade and they dedicated their lives to the manufacture of quality cigars. The Forcade children and then grandchildren fell in love with the family business and together they were able to continue the company that their ancestors had created, assuring the quality and freshness of their fine cigars. The company is named after the Forcade Family, in memory of Manolo Forcade, who died at sea trying to escape Fidel Castro’s communist regime and to pursue his dream of continuing the Forcade tradition in the United States. To learn more about this company please call: 305 233 5104.

ABOUT CLAUDIO SGROI
With a diverse professional portfolio highlighting previous work experience in diverse territories such as France, Turkey, Italy, and the Caribbean, Sgroi began his career in the tobacco industry in Dominican Republic in 2001 under the direction of the internationally renowned tobacco expert Henki Kelner from the Oettinger-Davidoff Group. After gaining valuable knowledge about tobacco production and cigar manufacturing, he was relocated to Geneva, Switzerland where he was Cigar Stock Manager & Sales Assistant at the world famous store Davidoff & Cie. In 2006, was promoted to "Davidoff Brand Manager" at the International Tobacco Agency in Treviso, Italy, title that he held until 2009 when he decided to move to the United States. In the States, he worked as an independent consultant for various local cigar brands, expanding sales efforts nationally and increasing brand exposure and he was recently named Vice-President of Sales & Marketing at Forcade Cigars.

Friday, May 20, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: ALEC BRADLEY CIGARS WELCOMES A NEW ARRIVAL TO THE FAMILY


5/20/2011

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Alec Bradley Cigars Welcomes a New Arrival to The Family
6" x 60 GS57 joins the ranks of Alec Bradley Family Blend cigars

DANIA, FL – May 16, 2011 - Pass out the cigars! The Alec Bradley Family Blend selection has a new arrival. Weighing in at 6 inches by a 60 ring, the GS57 will be on its way to cigar retailers this week. The GS57 is handcrafted at Raices Cubanas with its critically-acclaimed blend of Honduran & Nicaraguan long-filler, Indonesian binder and a Honduran Trojes wrapper, finished in a Cuban fantail. Presented in boxes of 20 cigars, the GS57 will retail at $7.50 per cigar.

Alec Bradley Family Blend cigars were released in 2009 in honor of the fathers of the company's three principal executives: Alan Rubin (President), Ralph Montero (Executive Vice President), and George Sosa (Vice President of Sales). In 2010 the Family Blend T11 received an "outstanding" 94 rating in Cigar Aficionado. The addition of the GS57 takes the number of sizes in the Family Blend series to six front marks, and like its siblings, is presented cabinet style in a box that bears the signatures of David Rubin, Miguel Montero and Reinaldo Sosa. Moreover, the letter/number combination names attributed to each Family Blend front mark have a special significance.

Alec Bradley Cigars are also quite familiar with marketing wide-body cigars, as evidenced by the success of their predominantly large-ring-size Maxx and Maxx Connecticut cigars editions.

"We know there is a market for 6"x 60, but production and scheduling will only allow us to make 1,000 boxes for the first issue of the GS57 for this year," said Alan Rubin President of Alec Bradley Cigars.

For more information on Alec Bradley Family Blend cigars, visit the Alec Bradley Fan Page on Facebook.

About Alec Bradley Cigars Founded by Alan Rubin in 1997, Alec Bradley Cigars has been acknowledged as one of the world's leading producers of fine, handmade premium cigars. Alec Bradley has received the cigar industry's highest critical acclaim for its Family Blend, Maxx, Tempus, Select Cabinet Reserve, Vice Press and Prensado premium cigars. Their commitment to satisfying cigar enthusiasts worldwide is demonstrated by their passion for excellence, creativity, and the highest quality standards.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

My Father Le Bijou Special Edition Corona


My Father Le Bijou Special Edition Corona - 5 5/8 X 46. Wrapper - Double Oscuro Nicaraguan Habano, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaragua. Full bodied. Rolling team 2. Only 300 signed and numbered boxes were made exclusively for Puff 'N' Stuff Cigars. Blended by Jaime Garcia and owner Alan Tybor.

Initial taste - Dry cedar and spice.

First third - Strong spiciness, leather, some woodiness and notes of raisin.

Second third - The cigar really opens up with flavors of spice, citrus, leather, chocolate and a raisin fruitiness. Very nicely balanced.

Last third - Spiciness continues with the tangy citrus leather, chocolate and the raisin fruitiness. Very long wonderful finish of spice citrus leather and chocolate. This finish lasted a long time.

Construction was excellent - gorgeous silky-brown, smooth wrapper. This has to be the thickest and strongest wrapper that I have seen on any My Father/Pepin Garcia cigar. Burn was sharp producing a light gray solid ash that held on. Draw was perfect with plenty of billowing smoke.

A fantastic smoke bursting with robust flavors. Complexity and balance was superb especially for such a full bodied smoke. If you like the regular My Father Le Bijou line, you will love these - think of it as a Le Bijou on steroids. MSRP is $190.00 for a box of 23 or $47.00 for a 5 pack which is a very good value for such an exceptional cigar. You can get them at Puff 'N' Stuff Cigars website or by calling 1-770-908-9388. Definitely a top ten for 2011 nominee for my blogs - great job Jaime and Alan!

Friday, May 13, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: TORANO ANNOUNCES NEW SIZE FOR THE EXODUS 1959 50 YEARS

TORAÑO FAMILY CIGAR COMPANY ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF NEW 6x60 SIZE EXODUS 1959 50 YEARS WHILE DROPPING HINTS OF MORE TO COME


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Miami, Florida) May 12, 2011 - Toraño Family Cigar Company, makers of some of the finest cigars in the world, is excited to announce the upcoming launch of the Exodus 1959 50 Years BFC 6x60 that will be unveiled at this year’s IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas, NV.

The BFC 6x60 is the fifth vitola to be introduced by the family in this line, which has become a true staple of the Toraño portfolio. The Exodus 1959 50 Years has received many accolades, including being awarded a 93 rating by Cigar Aficionado and ranked number 12 on their list of top 25 cigars of the year in 2010.

“The popularity of larger ring gauges continues and we felt that the Exodus 1959 50 Years blend worked very favorably in a 6x60,” said Charlie Toraño, President of Toraño Family Cigar Company.

The Exodus 1959 50 Years is dressed in a Brazilian Arapiraca sun-grown wrapper, that is accompanied by a Honduran binder with fillers from Estelí and Pueblo Nuevo Nicaragua. The blend offers a unique and flavorful profile which provides sweet, creamy notes that dominate the palate with subtle hints of spice, dark chocolate, and raisin. This line is also available in a 5x50 Robusto, 51/2x52 Torpedo, 6x48 Short Churchill and a 5x55 Box Press. For those still unclear what “BFC” stands for, the Toraño’s have left that up to the creative minds of cigar smokers…

The new line extension for the Exodus 1959 50 years isn’t the only new product Toraño is working on for the upcoming IPCPR. Charlie Toraño and the gang are currently putting finishing touches on two new exciting brands which are sure to turn heads in Las Vegas. When asked to elaborate on the new brands Charlie Toraño can hardly hide his grin and simply says, “Would love to talk about it but all I can say is that they are currently under lock and key”.

A leader in the cigar industry, Toraño Family Cigar Company is a four generation company currently based in Miami, FL. It enjoys a rich heritage and history in tobacco growing and manufacturing. For more information: www.torano.com. Please also follow Toraño on Face book: Toraño A family Cigar Company or on Twitter: @TORANOFAMCIGARS.

Monday, May 9, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: TEAM LA GLORIA DEBUTS “EL PERRITO WAR OF FLAVORS”


TEAM LA GLORIA DEBUTS “EL PERRITO WAR OF FLAVORS”

Richmond, VA--Team La Gloria® presents El Perrito War of Flavors, an innovative new cigar handcrafted entirely by hand and shaped without a cigar mold.

The cigar’s distinctive name is derived from a term coined at the El Credito® Cigar Factory in Santiago, DR. El Perrito (translation: little dog) was created by two cigar factory supervisors (Robert Batista and Juan Almonte) who brought their concept for a small, powerhouse cigar to El Credito’s Michael Giannini (director of marketing) and Yuri Guillen (director of manufacturing). The supervisors came to Michael and Yuri, raving about how they made the cigars and describing the taste experience as a battle of flavors in the mouth. Michael and Yuri sampled the prototypes and the rest, as they say, is history.

According to Michael Giannini, “El Perrito is a prime example of how Team La Gloria operates. We’ve empowered all of our employees, from rollers and bunchers to supervisors, to bring forth ideas for new products. When Yuri and I were approached with the concept of an entirely handmade cigar with incredible flavor, we almost instantly became excited. El Perrito continues our platform of innovation by allowing us to bring a unique and value-priced offering to market and we’re confident it will be a fast favorite among premium cigar consumers.”

Handcrafted with two filler leaves (Nicaraguan and Dominican), bound with Connecticut Broadleaf and wrapped with Ecuadoran Habano, El Perrito cigars are shaped entirely by hand, using the index finger to achieve a torpedo-like head.

Sized expressly to maximize the flavor of the blend, the 5 1/2” x 38 cigar is bundled and packed in a rustic wooden box which hints at the cigar’s humble beginnings. El Perrito War of Flavors is currently debuting at tobacco shops across the U.S. for a suggested retail price of just $2.50 per cigar, or for $125.00 for a 50-count, boxed bundle.
El Credito El Perrito War of Flavors continues the tradition of innovation that has garnered acclaim for Team La Gloria, the new product development team for La Gloria and El Credito cigars.

About La Gloria Cubana

La Gloria Cubana cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which 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 www.cigarworld.com.

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

Monday, May 2, 2011


Immediate Release
May 2, 2011
Contact: Victoria McKee Jaworski
General Cigar Co. Inc.
www.victoria.mckee@st-group.com

MACANUDO AND EXCALIBUR TEE UP FOR GOLF PROMOTION

Richmond, VA—Macanudo® and Excalibur® are teaming up to make hitting the links even more enticing during spring golf season with the “Pick Your Favorite Foursome Promotion."

Consumers of legal smoking age who visit www.golf.cigarworld.com/retail-locator are encouraged to “pick their favorite foursome” by purchasing their choice of any three Macanudo or Excalibur cigars. With the three-cigar purchase, consumers will receive a complimentary Macanudo Cru Royale cigar, plus a premium Excalibur-branded scorecard wallet/cigar holder containing special golf and cigar accessories, while supplies last.

To sweeten the deal, General Cigar, parent company of Macanudo and Excalibur, is also giving consumers an opportunity to win the ultimate, custom cigar golf bag by Callaway Golf®. Two custom golf bags will be given away each week between now and May 31, 2011. No purchase necessary. For more information, visit www.cigarworld.com/golf

According to Rick Chandler, director of marketing for Excalibur, “We created the ‘Pick Your Favorite Foursome’ promotion to answer the golf lover’s need for a convenient and portable way to access their favorite cigars on the course. By pairing Macanudo with Excalibur and in allowing consumers to customize the cigars in the pack, cigar smokers have a wide variety of tastes to choose from while they indulge in their passion for cigars and golf. And in giving consumers a complimentary Macanudo Cru Royale cigar in the four pack, we’re making it easy for them to sample one of our best-selling new blends.”

The joint promotion between Macanudo and Excalibur will continue through the summer, with in-store putting events and sponsorship of national and regional golf events such as the Phoenix Open. A complete event listing can be found on www.cigarworld.com/golf.

Macanudo and Excalibur cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans also produce Cohiba®, La Gloria Cubana, Punch®, CAO, Partagas® and Hoyo de Monterrey®, 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 www.cigarworld.com

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

® Callaway Golf is a registered trademark of Callaway Golf Company.

Alec Bradley American Classic Blend Toro Review


Alec Bradley American Classic Blend Toro - 6 X 50. Wrapper - Honduras (Connecticut Shade), Binder - Nicaragua (Jalapa), Filler - Nicaragua (Esteli & Condega). Mild - Medium bodied.

Initial taste - Dry cedar.

First third - Pepper, woodiness and cinnamon notes.

Second third - Pepper tones-down to a mild spice with a bready woodiness and continued notes of cinnamon.

Last Third - mild spice, bready, woodiness and cinnamon notes. Long finish of breadiness and cinnamon.

Construction was very good - beautiful light-brown wrapper with no major veins and a somewhat dry texture. Burn was razor sharp producing a solid light-gray ash. Draw was perfect with copious amounts of smoke.

This is a flavorful morning smoke that delivers good balance and complexity. Best enjoyed early in the day. MSRP for this size is $4.75 which makes this an excellent value.