Thursday, September 29, 2011

TORAÑO FAMILY CIGAR CO. CONTINUES TO STREANGTHEN ITS TEAM AS JACK TORAÑO JOINS THE FAMILY BUSINESS


TORAÑO FAMILY CIGAR CO. CONTINUES TO STREANGTHEN ITS TEAM AS JACK TORAÑO JOINS THE FAMILY BUSINESS

(Miami, FL) September 29, 2011— Toraño Family Cigar Co. has taken another step to strengthen its team as President Charlie Toraño is proud to announce the hiring of fellow family member Jack Toraño as the Marketing & Customer Relations Manager. Jack Toraño brings along an excellent reputation for customer service, branding, and public relations. The addition of Jack Toraño is the latest in many big moves made by the Toraño Family after taking back their distribution.

Jack Toraño, a native of Miami, Fl. got his start in the tobacco business when he was employed with Lopez Leaf Tobacco in the early 80’s. With a last name like Toraño it isn’t a surprise that he started his career in the tobacco business, but where he went next is quite an interesting tale. Jack Toraño found himself in Chicago for the last 16 years working along-side his brother Sandy Toraño in a company called Scandal Music. Scandal Music wrote jingles for television and radio commercials. Jack’s strong sense of branding and marketing in addition to his lively personality allowed him to help create ads with companies such as McDonalds, Nintendo, and was even part of the team that created the very successful “Real Men of Genius” campaign for Bud Light. A highlight for Jack was when Scandal Music had the privilege of creating music for the Oprah Winfrey Show. Jack’s love of premium cigars brought him back to Miami and into the family business.

Charlie Toraño felt that Jack’s background in advertising and his personable manner made him a perfect fit for the new look and direction of the Toraño Family Cigar Co. ”Jack is the prodigal son of the Toraño family. It took us 16 years to get him back in Miami”, Charlie Toraño continued,” it’s always a great feeling to work alongside family members as we all carry that same passion for cigars”.

The past year has been one of great change for the Toraño Family. New logo, new company name, new brands, and new faces round out the positive changes that the company has undergone. Charlie Toraño said,” I feel strongly that we have all the right pieces and persons in place to move Toraño Family Cigar Co. into a position to provide retailers and ultimately our customers with the best cigars and service possible.

Jack Toraño will replace Oliver Hyams who is going to work with his father, Gary Hyams. “Oliver is a great friend and a fantastic person. Oliver has been an important member of our team but I, more than most, understand Oliver’s desire to work with his father. I wish him much success,” said Charlie Toraño.

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 Facebook: Toraño A family Cigar Company or on Twitter: @TORANOFAMCIGARS

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Corona Review


H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Corona - 5 1/2 X 44. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Cubano, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Dominican Republic. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Cedar and spice.

First third - Spice, sweetness, citrus and leather.

Second third - Spice and sweet, tangy leather.

Last third - Spicy, sweet citrus leather. Long enjoyable finish of spicy, tangy leather.

Construction - Attractive dark-brown wrapper with a slight oily sheen. No major veins visible. Burn - uneven burn that corrected itself by the middle of the first third. Draw was perfect with just the right amount of smoke produced.

A fantastic little smoke that had great balance and complexity. This flavor profile is what I really enjoy - spicy, tangy leather with sweetness sandwiched in between. MSRP is a very good $5.25 for this size. Perfect for a short smoke before or even after a substantial meal from lunchtime on.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Swag Limitado 99 "Infamous" Review


Swag Limitado 99 "Infamous" - 6 X 54. Wrapper - Dominican Ligero Habano, Binder - Dominican Ligero Habano, Filler - Dominican Ligero Habano. Medium - full bodied. Limited release of 2,000 boxes made from an uncovered 1999 bale of tobacco. Made by Oliveros Cigars.

Initial lighting taste - Oak wood and spice.

First third - Spice, oak, tangy leather, raisin and some sweetness emerging.

Second third - Spice, tangy sweet leather, raisin and oak fading into the background. I'm really enjoying the complexity and balance.

Last third - Continuation of the spice, lemony-sweet leather and raisin. Nice long finish of tangy, spicy leather.

Construction - Beautiful reddish-brown wrapper with a silky texture. Only one major vein was visible. Triple capped. Burn - razor sharp burn with a salt & pepper colored ash that held on for about an inch at a time. Draw - As always my experience with Oliveros cigars was perfect with the right amount of smoke.

A delicious cigar with wonderfully bold flavors, lots of complexity and excellent balance. If compared to the regular Swag line, I would have to say that this cigar has a bit more complexity with the added raisin taste, and the flavors seemed to be richer and more distinct. MSRP for this size is $9.50. An excellent cigar.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Imperiales By Leon Jimenes Maduro Toro Review


Imperiales By Leon Jimenes Maduro Toro - 6 X 50. Wrapper - Dominican Republic Corojo Maduro, Binder - Dominican Republic, Filler - Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Brazil. Medium - full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Charred wood and spice.

First third - Spice, sweet earthiness with a tangy citrus and leather.

Second third - Spiciness continues with the sweet earthiness, tangy leather and black cherry notes emerge.

Last third - Spice, sweet earthiness, tangy leather and black cherry. Very long finish of spice and an earthy leather.

Construction - A dark brown attractive oily wrapper with bumpiness throughout. No major veins visible. Burn was straight with a solid dark gray ash that held on. Draw was a slightly on the loose side but otherwise good with plenty of smoke.

A fantastic cigar that had excellent complexity, balance and body. I was surprised at how tasty this stick was especially with an incredible MSRP of $5.00 for this size. This could have easily been an $8.00 cigar and I would still consider it worthy. I found it to be medium - full bodied so I suggest smoking anytime after lunch. This line will be sold in boxes or bundles. A perfect cigar for the everyday smoker.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

El Primer Mundo Epifania Robusto Review


El Primer Mundo Epifania Robusto - 5 X 50. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Habano, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Dominican Republic & Nicaragua. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Spicy, dry woodiness.

First third - Spicy with a flowery, floral taste, wood and some caramel notes.

Second third - Spice, floral, woodiness and caramel notes. Very nice balance - smooth.

Last third - Spice continues with the flowery floral flavor, wood and caramel. Moderately long finish of spice and wood.

Construction - Pretty brown wrapper with a slight sheen. No major veins or soft spots were visible. Triple capped which is always nice to see. Burn - sharp burn with a dark gray solid ash. Draw was perfect.

An excellent cigar with a unique flavor profile that was both complex and very well balanced. The floral notes were very enjoyable with the spice and wood. The Robusto size is not available yet so there isn't an MSRP for it but the Toro size is $10.00 available in Toronto. Definite recommend.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Velazquez Cigars Cuatro G Torpedo Maduro Review


Velazquez Cigars Cuatro G Torpedo Maduro - 6 X 52. Wrapper - Brazil, Binder - Dominican Republic (Cuban Seed), Filler - Dominican Republic (Cuban Seed). Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Spicy cedar.

First third - Spice, citrus, leather and a plum sweetness.

Second third - Spice, tangy citrus leather and sweet plum. Very nice balance.

Last third - Spice, tangy leather and the plum sweetness. Very long finish of tangy leather and spice.

Construction - Slightly bumpy, dry, dark-brown wrapper with a couple of moderate veins visible. Burn was razor sharp with a dark gray colored solid ash that holds on. Draw was perfect - not too loose, not too tight with a good amount of smoke produced.

An excellent cigar that surprised me at how good it was. Great flavor profile, very good complexity and balance. It had me at tangy citrus and leather. MSRP on this vitola is $8.00 which this cigar is definitely worth. A cigar best enjoyed after a hearty meal later in the day - definite recommend.

Velazquez Cigars is based out of Puerto Rico by Angelo Velazquez and can be ordered by calling 787-396-0941 or email: velazquezcigars@hotmail.com. You can also visit his website: www.velazquezcigars.com

Thursday, September 15, 2011

CAO La Traviata Animados Review


CAO La Traviata Animados - 5 5/8 X 46. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Habano, Binder - Cameroon, Filler - Nicaragua & Dominican Republic. Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry cedar wood.

First third - Pepper, cedar, leather and a sweetness emerges somewhere in the middle of this third of the cigar.

Second third - Pepper settles down to a nice spice followed now by a sweet leather, cedar and nuts.

Last third - Spice, sweet leather, cedar and nutty notes. Long finish of spicy leather and cedar.

Construction - Attractive oily, smooth light-brown wrapper with no major veins. Burn was razor sharp with a salt & pepper colored solid ash that did not want to fall off. Draw was perfect..

I am a big fan of the La Traviata line since it's debut in 2009 and this size does not disappoint. Wonderful flavor profile with excellent balance and complexity and the size. I really enjoyed the sweetness that the Cameroon binder offers with the leather. MSRP for this size is $4.95 which is a great price point for this cigar. I think I found my new "go-to" smoke for the fall.

General Cigar Announces Sherwin Seltzer’s Retirement


General Cigar Announces Sherwin Seltzer’s Retirement

General Cigar announces today that industry veteran Sherwin Seltzer will retire at the end of October, thus concluding a storied career spanning more than half a century in the premium cigar category.

“There comes a time when you have to stop and do something else. I’ve had a great run in this business but at this stage in my life, I want to devote my time to Iris, my wife of 51 years, and my children and grandchildren,” comments Seltzer, who will continue to serve as General Cigar’s vice president of trade development until October 31.

Dan Carr, president of General Cigar remarks, “Sherwin is one of those people you meet in life and never forget. He has a great sense of humor and always makes people feel at ease. Because of this, he made great contributions to General Cigar, particularly in developing relationships with our trade partners and in acting as a mentor to people in all areas of the business. While we will all miss working with Sherwin, we consider him family and look forward to hearing about his adventures during retirement.”

Sherwin began his career in the industry in 1956, working for Brown Williamson, a cigarette company, before joining Faber, Coe and Gregg, best known for importing Cuban cigars to the U.S. After a stint in California, during which time he launched Faber’s national products division, Sherwin returned to New York in 1978 to work for Joel Sherman of Nat Sherman & Company.

In 1980, Sherwin joined Villazon & Company, maker of iconic Honduran brands such as Punch®, Hoyo de Monterrey® and Excalibur®, and was quickly promoted to vice president of sales and marketing, working with Danny Blumenthal and Frank Llaneza. When General Cigar acquired Villazon in 1996, Sherwin’s career flourished. He worked hand in hand with industry icons including Edgar Cullman, Daniel Nuñez and Benji Menendez. He ultimately concentrated on sales and trade development, an entrepreneurial position which allowed him to focus on trade relations and channel expansion.

Sherwin remembers, “When General Cigar acquired Villazon, it was a turning point in my career. Edgar Cullman was like a godfather to me and together with his son Edgar and grandson David Danziger, they developed what I feel are the best brands in the industry. They also built a tremendous foundation for today’s General Cigar Company.”

Sherwin feels he’s leaving the company at the right time. “I have complete confidence in Dan Carr. He’s a terrific guy, and I know he’s going to keep moving the business forward to even bigger and better things. He has also developed a really talented management team, along with great people in the factories, and in sales and marketing. I’m retiring knowing that the company will continue to be the best in the business.”

When asked what advice he would give to someone who wants to enter the cigar business, Sherwin simply answers, “Get a job with General Cigar.”

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Alec Bradley Introduces New Black Market Cigar


*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

Alec Bradley Introduces New Black Market Cigar
New edition boasts a rich, complex character and "edgy" packaging design

DANIA, FL – September 8, 2011 – What do you think of when you hear the term "Black Market?" Something "forbidden" perhaps? Though they may look like something that entered the country under the radar, Alec Bradley's Black Market cigars, which debuted at this year's IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas to encouraging praise, the new line extension is anything but taboo.

Handmade in Danli, Honduras the Alec Bradley Black Market cigars boasts a blend of Honduran Jamastran and Panamanian longfillers, Sumatra binder, and a Jalapa-grown Nicaraguan wrapper cured to a dark, shimmering patina. Cigar lovers can expect a medium-bodied, yet full-flavored smoke with stunning complexity and a head-turning aroma.

Presented in rustic-looking, gray crate-style boxes, Black Market takes Alec Bradley's packaging to new heights. The eye-catching boxes are well-built enough to serve as humidors, and will very likely be sought by collectors. Even the bands are atypical. Rather than using the traditional band at the neck of the cigar, the cigars are wrapped in paper sleeves that cover only the bottom half of each vitola. Once the sleeve is removed a band is revealed positioned in the middle of the cigar.

"We've always wanted to do things that were more edgy," said Alec Bradley Cigars president, Alan Rubin." Starting with our triangular-shaped Trilogy cigars, to our extra-wide body Maxx line, to our personalized Family Blend cigars, the Black Market fits right in that groove from the blend to the box."

Alec Bradley Black Market cigars are offered in the following sizes:
Robusto - 5¼ x 52
Toro - 6 x 50
Churchill - 7 x 50
Torpedo - 6 1/8 x 54
Gordo - 6 x 60

The cigars will retail between $7.40 and $8.00 per cigar, and are expected to arrive on cigar store shelves mid September.


For more information on Alec Bradley Black Market cigars, visit the Alec Bradley Cigars Fan page@ HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/alecbradleycigar" http://www.facebook.com/alecbradleycigar.

* * *
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.

Alec Bradley Cigar Co.
3400 SW 26th Terrace, Suite A-1
Dania, Florida 33312
HYPERLINK "http://www.alecbradley.com" www.alecbradley.com
Contact: Sam Phillips | Ph: 239-682-4080

Perdomo Exhibicion Corojo Double Robusto Review


Perdomo Exhibicion Corojo Double Robusto - 5 X 54. Wrapper - Nicaragua (Cuban seed), Binder - Nicaragua (Cuban Seed), Filler - Nicaragua (Cuban Seed). Medium - full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry cedar.

First third - Peppery spice, cedar and underlying leather.

Second third - Pepper settles down to a spice, cedar continues followed by leather and now some sweet caramel emerges. Nice balance.

Last third - Spice, cedar, leather and sweet caramel. Really enjoying the this flavor profile. Long finish of cedar and caramel.

Construction - attractive light-brown wrapper with a couple of noticeable veins. Dry texture. Burn was sharp with a solid gray ash that holds on an inch or so at a time before falling off. Draw was perfect and produced copious amounts of smoke.

Another winner in my opinion from Perdomo Cigars. Very good balance and complexity and I especially liked the caramel sweetness offset by the spicy cedar/leather - very nice. MSRP is a very affordable $6.50 for this size. Perfect cigar from the middle of the day on.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Buena Vista Edicion Limitada 2008 Short Churchill Review


Buena Vista Edicion Limitada 2008 Short Churchill - 4 7/8 X 50. Wrapper - Ecuador, Binder - Ecuador, Filler - Ecuador. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Cedar.

First third - Spice, toasty cedar, sweetness emerging an cinnamon notes.

Second third - Spice, sweet toasty cedar and cinnamon notes.

Last third - More of the same - spice, toasty sweet leather and cinnamon notes. Nice long finish of spice and cinnamon.

Construction - Attractive light-brown wrapper with a silky sheen and a triple cap. Burn was crooked and had to be corrected several times. The ash was flaky with a dark gray ash color. Draw was perfect with plenty of smoke.

A very good cigar with good complexity and balance. I had a very enjoyable experience with this cigar - the only issue was the burn on the cigar. The flavor profile was very tasty and the sweet toastiness was very good. Perfect from the middle of the day and on. MSRP for this vitola is $9.00 and can be purchased at WWW.MOCIGARS.COM Definite recommend.

ANGELO DUNDEE CELEBRATES 90th BIRTHDAY WITH A BOX OF CIGARS FROM TORAÑO FAMILY CIGAR CO.


ANGELO DUNDEE CELEBRATES 90th BIRTHDAY WITH A BOX OF CIGARS FROM TORAÑO FAMILY CIGAR CO.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Miami, FL) September 12, 2011- Hall of Fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee celebrates 90 years of age with a reunion with a piece of his glorious past and a gift from the Toraño Family Cigar Co. The legendary Dundee who trained 12 world boxing champions (most famously Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard) had the chance to slow down for one of the few times in his 90 years to reminisce about days past as he was presented with mounted brick from the original 5th Street Gym which was torn down in 1994.

Turning 90 this Tuesday August 30, 2011 Angelo Dundee was all smiles over the weekend as invited friends and fans came into the new incarnation of the 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach which opened last year. Dundee who is still spry at 90 can’t get away from his passion of boxing as he sat ringside giving pointers to young boxers hoping to one day be Dundee’s 13th world champion. Friends wished him well for his birthday as he posed for pictures and signed autographs. Two special surprises came his way as boxing fan Ken Drodvillo surprised Dundee with a brick from the original 5th Street Gym and Torano Family member Carlos Llaca Toraño presented him with a box of Toraño Reserva Selecta.

Dundee seemed to get a bit nostalgic as he had a physical piece of a building which represented the golden age of boxing in his hands and the box of cigars took him back to the days of a free Cuba which is where he spent much time working with Cuban fighters. Dundee joked about his travels to Cuba using his “dirty-Spanish” which was a mix of his bad Spanish and his bad Italian to communicate with Cuban fighters. Dundee recounted how he started smoking cigars because of his frequent trips down to Cuba. Dundee looked over the glass tubes which encased the Torano Reserva Selecta cigars and was excited to call his son Jimmy over to show them and talked about plans to smoke them during their next poker night.

Carlos Llaca Torano said,” It’s an honor to represent the Torano family during special moments like these. To be in the presence of a living legend like Angelo Dundee as he turns 90 is quite humbling.”

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.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

San Lotano Habano Toro Review


San Lotano Habano Toro - 6 X 54. Wrapper - Brazilian Habano, Binder -Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaraguan, Honduran & Dominican Republic. Medium - Full bodied. Made by A.J. Fernandez.

Initial lighting taste - Cedar.

First third - Spice and cedar with some leather and mineral notes.

Second third - Spice, leather and cedar. Towards the end of this third, a citrus flavor emerges.

Last third - Continued spice, leather, citrus and cedar. Long finish of spice and leather.

Construction - light brown wrapper with a silky, oily sheen. A couple of major veins were visible. Burn was good with a salt & pepper colored ash. The ash was slight flaky but still held on for inches at a time. Draw was perfect with plenty of smoke.

A good, solid smoke that was enjoyable. I would put this cigar just behind AJ Fernandez's La Cuna and his Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet. Complexity and balance were very good as you would come to expect with AJ's products. MSRP for this size is $8.50. If you are a fan of a good amount of cedar/wood flavor in your cigar, then I recommend.

CAO OSA "Lot 54" Review


CAO "OSA Lot 54" - 6 X 54. Wrapper - Honduras (San Augustin), Binder - Connecticut Broadleaf, Filler - Nicaragua & Honduras. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - A very dry woodiness.

First third - Spice, dry wood and cinnamon. Balance is off with too much woodiness and cinnamon.

Second third - The cigar settles down in this third - spice picks a bit and there is now a sweet bready quality coming into play with cinnamon and an very interesting and surprising sour apple flavor. Balance is now very good with all the flavors meshing together nicely.

Last third - Spice continues with a very enjoyable sweet creaminess, sour apple and notes of cinnamon. Long finish of creamy spice and cinnamon.

Construction - Smooth textured, dry brown colored wrapper with no major veins. Attractive in appearance. Burn was straight with a salt & pepper colored ash that was solid and held on. Draw was a bit on the loose side but otherwise good.

A very interesting smoking experience - the first third I did not particularly enjoy - balance was off and I really thought that this cigar was not for me. By the end of the first third, the cigar was beginning to make an amazing transformation to a very well balanced, complex and tasty smoke. The sour apple flavor that I detected is one that I have not experienced before but I really liked a lot. It may not sound like a flavor that one might want in their cigar, but it really works very well with the other flavors in the OSA. In fact, the last two thirds of this cigar was so good, that it more than compensated for the first third so that this can still be considered a fantastic cigar. MSRP on this vitola is a consumer friendly $6.25 which makes this an affordable regular rotation cigar for those of us on a budget.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Flor De Gonzalez 90 Miles Reserva Selecta #4 Review


Flor De Gonzalez 90 Miles Reserva Selecta #4 - 5 3/4 X 48. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Habano 2000, Binder - Nicaragua Habano, Filler - Nicaragua & Dominican Republic. Medium - Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Oak wood.

First third - Oak, spice, orange peel and leather.

Second third - Now things get interesting - spice picks up, tangy citrus and leather. Notes of raisin/fruit. The oak flavor fades out.

Last third - Spice, citrus, leather and raisin. Long finish of tangy spice and leather.

Construction - beautiful silky brown wrapper with no major veins and a pigtail cap. Burn was razor sharp producing a white solid ash that held on inches at a time. Draw was perfect with just the right amount of smoke.

An excellent cigar. Loved the complexity, loved the balance, loved the flavor profile. As my followers know, I am a big fan of the tangy leather and spice flavor profile. The raisin flavor is a bonus for me. MSRP for this size is $6.80 which I feel is a very good price point for a cigar with super premium qualities. Best enjoyed from midday on. Highly recommended.