New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 Exquisitos Review

New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 Exquisitos - 4 7/8 X 50. Wrapper - Ecuador Connecticut (wrapper from New Wave Connecticut), Binder - Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro (wrapper from Core Maduro), Filler - Nicaragua & Dominican Republic (filler from Core Maduro). Medium bodied.


Initial taste - Oak wood and a mild spiciness.

First third - Creamy, woody, sweet fruitiness and a peppery spice.

Second third - Creaminess, fruity sweetness, pepper and wood with a tangy citrus emerging.

Last third - Creaminess continues with the citrus right behind it followed by the sweet fruit, pepper and some wood notes. Nice long finish of Peppery spice and citrus.

Construction - A beautifully smooth, light-brown flawless wrapper with no major veins and a perfect cap. The burn was straight with a semi-solid black and white colored ash that held on. Draw was perfect.

A fantastic cigar that had very complex, balanced and unique flavors. The cigar incorporated the best aspects of Connecticut wrapped cigars - Creaminess and pepper; and combined it with the best flavors of Maduro wrapped cigars - Fruity sweetness along with Nicaraguan filler - citrus and wood; to form an amazingly interesting and wonderful cigar. MSRP for this vitola is $6.35 for a single and $152.40 for a box of 24 cigars. The Connecticut Short Run will come in 3 sizes and 1,000 boxes per size. Absolutely recommended.

TORAÑO FAMILY CIGAR CO. IS A HIT AT THE 2ND ANNUAL NEAT STUFF CASINO NIGHT!!

TORAÑO FAMILY CIGAR CO. IS A HIT AT THE 2ND ANNUAL NEAT STUFF CASINO NIGHT!!

 (Miami, FL) February 15, 2012—Toraño Family Cigar Co. was happy to return as the official cigar sponsor for the 2nd annual Neat Stuff for Kids Casino Night event at the newly renovated Coral Gables Country Club. Neat Stuff for Kids is a local nonprofit agency in South Florida which provides brand new clothing for neglected, abused, and underprivileged children.

Toraño family members Carlos Llaca-Toraño and Jack Toraño were present at the event as they educated event-goers on cigar craftsmanship while sampling some of Toraño’s award winning cigars. Event attendees were treated to Toraño new releases Vault and Loyal as this fabulous Las Vegas style event which featured professional grade gambling tables, show girls, and specialty entertainment.

President of Toraño Family Cigar Co. Charlie Toraño has taken a special interest in Neat Stuff for Kids as this local charity nicknamed “The little engine that could” has been awarded the highest possible rating by charity navigator for their efficiency as 96% of all donations go straight to the cause, without receiving government grants. Charlie Toraño said, “I commend Neat Stuff’s Executive Director Franklin Monjarrez for his vision and compassion and we as a company are more than happy to support the work that he and the organization does for kids in our local community.”

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.Toraño.com. Please also follow Toraño on Face book: Toraño A family Cigar Company or on Twitter: @TORAÑOFAMCIGARS.

Chess Extreme Corojo Torpedo 1 Review

Chess Extreme Corojo Torpedo 1 - 4 X 64. Wrapper - Nicaraguan Corojo, Binder - Dominican Olor, Filler - Nicaragua (Ligero '98 & Ceco Corojo). Full bodied.

Initial taste - Cedar wood and pepper.

First half - Pepper, cinnamon and leather with notes of Mediterranean spices such as cumin, sage and rosemary. Good balance.

Second half - Continuation of the pepper, cinnamon, leather and notes of the Mediterranean spices. Very long finish of spice and cinnamon.

Construction - Nice looking,a darkish brown wrapper with a nice oily sheen. No major veins were visible and the cap was bumpy and uneven. Burn was razor sharp producing a salt and pepper colored ash that was solid and did not fall of easily. Draw was perfect with plenty of smoke.

I really like this cigar - it had nice complexity and very good balance. The Mediterranean spices were interesting and not something that I taste in many cigars that I review. The burn and draw also made the smoking experience that much better. MSRP for this vitola is $6.10 and I feel that it is a worthy price point for this cigar. Definitely a cigar to be enjoyed after a full meal. I would absolutely recommend this cigar to try for someone looking for a unique profile - full body smoke with excellent construction.

GENERAL CIGAR KICKS OFF SUPER BOWL WEEKEND IN STYLE

GENERAL CIGAR KICKS OFF SUPER BOWL WEEKEND IN STYLE

General Cigar will be the toast of Indianapolis this weekend, with sampling events that are on par with the Big Game itself. In fact, two of the three events that General Cigar is participating in have been named to BleacherReport.com’s highly-publicized ranking of the “10 Best Parties of Super Bowl Week.”

According to Alan Willner, General Cigar’s vice president of marketing said, “General Cigar has long been known for associating our brands with high profile events that elevate the cigar smoking occasion. This year, we’ll once again be at the best parties leading up to the ‘Big Game’ to bring the ultimate cigar smoking experience to A-list athletes, celebrities and football enthusiasts.”

Last night’s Jaws Cigar Party was hosted by none other than Ron Jaworski at Nicky Blaine’s cigar bar in downtown Indy. This fundraiser benefitted Ron’s pet charities -- Jaws Youth Playbook Foundation and Gleaners Food Bank's BackSack program.

An array of General Cigar favorites, including La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale, CAO OSA Sol and Macanudo Cru Royale, as well as Macanudo Vintage 1997 Maduro were available for Ron’s guests which included his ESPN boothmates. We’ll provide more details on the event, including photos, next week.

Tonight (Friday, Feb. 3) is the SPP Sports Poker Tournament to be held at the Indianapolis Zoo. General Cigar will be on hand to sample Punch, Grand Puro and Grand Cru cigars to event hosts Devin Hester, LeSean McCoy. Other noteworthy names expected to attend are Patrick Warburton (Rules of Engagement) and Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side) and a slew of NFL greats. Stay tuned for more info.

Saturday night is the big Rolling Stone party at the Crane Bay event center. To celebrate Bacardi’s 150th anniversary, General Cigar has teamed up with the premier rum brand and will serve La Gloria Cubana and CAO La Traviata to a roster of A-list guests. Jeff Gordon, Joe Jonas, Marc Anthony, Nikki Reed and Andy Roddick are all expected to attend.

Outside of Indy, General Cigar is once again participating in Franco Harris’ annual Immaculate Reception. This year’s event will be held in Sin City and will benefit Soldier’s Angels. Franco’s beloved Punch Grand Cru cigars will be on hand for guests to smoke and savor.

AVO Heritage Toro Review

AVO Heritage Toro - 6 X 50. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Sun Grown, Binder - Dominican Republic, Filler - Dominican Republic. Medium - full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Spicy woodiness.

First third - Spice, citrus, leather and cedar wood notes.

Second third - Spice continues, tangy citrus, leather and sweet fruit notes. Very nice.

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

Construction - A nice looking, brown wrapper with a somewhat bumpy texture and some moderate veins. The wrapper had a slight oily sheen to it. Burn was straight producing a light gray ash that was solid and held on. Draw was very good and allowed for plenty of smoke.

This was a fantastic cigar - great complexity and balance and a flavor profile that I love. The sweet fruit notes on the back end of the taste was very enjoyable. MSRP for this vitola is $8.50 which this cigar is worth every bit of. I smoked this down to my finger tips and wished there was more. By far my favorite line from AVO Cigars hands down. Definite recommend.

Macanudo Welcomes Two New Frontmarks

Making their retail debut this week are Macanudo Café Gigante and Macanudo Maduro Gigante. Created in response to consumer demand for large-ring offerings, both the Macanudo Café and Macanudo Maduro Gigante cigars measure 6” x 60. Each will be packed in a 25 count box and sold for an SRP per cigar of $7.99, or $199.75, SRP per box.

CAO debuts new La Traviata frontmark

Following in the footsteps of the highly successful Ecuadoran-wrapped CAO La Traviata Luminoso, the new Maduro version features a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper to lend a touch of sweetness to the critically-acclaimed blend. At 4.5” x 50, the new Rothschild will be available for an SRP of $5.10 per cigar, or $153 for a 30-count box. “CAO La Traviata ‘Luminoso’ is one of our top sellers, so it was only natural that we gave CAO fans a new take on one of their favorite cigars,” said Ed McKenna, CAO’s senior brand manager. “Rick Rodriguez and I are looking forward to receiving some great feedback about CAO La Traviata Maduro Luminoso on our website, caocigars.com.”

La Palina "El Diario" Churchill Review

http://www.examiner.com/cigar-in-long-island/la-palina-el-diario-churchill-review-review

Viaje Exclusivo Corona Gorda Review

http://www.examiner.com/cigar-in-long-island/viaje-exclusivo-corona-gorda-review-review

Oro De Panama Maduro Torpedo Review

Oro De Panama Maduro Torpedo - 6 X 52. Wrapper - Panama Maduro, Binder - Panama, Filler - Panama. Medium - full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Earth and spice.

First third - Peppery spice, tangy, sweet fruit and Earthiness.

Second third - Pepper spice, tangy, sweet fruitiness and Earth.

Last third - A continuation of the Pepper spice, tangy, sweet fruit and Earthiness.

Construction - A somewhat bumpy wrapper, dry in texture with a few major veins visible. Burn was straight with a loose ash that was dark gray in color. Draw was perfect with copious amounts of smoke produced.

A very enjoyable cigar that had excellent complexity and good balance. I was very impressed with the complex flavor profile especially the fruity Earthiness. MSRP for this vitola is $6.50 which is a very economical price point for a cigar of this quality. I recommend if you like the Spicy, Earthy flavor profile in a medium to full body.

Illusione MJ12 Maduro Review

Top 10 Cigars for 2011 (10 through 8)

My picks for the Top 10 Cigars for 2011.

Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Toro Gordo Review

Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Toro Gordo - 6 X 60. Wrapper - Dominican Republic Criollo 1998, Binder - Dominican Republic Olor, Filler - Dominican Republic Criollo & Nicaragua. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Cinnamon and wood.

First third - Spice, leather, citrus and woody notes.

Second third - The spice increases along with the citrus leather and wood.

Last third - Spice, citrus, leather, and woodiness. Nice long finish of spicy citrus and leather.

Construction - nice oily sheen, dark brown wrapper with no major veins. Burn was straight with a gray and black colored ash that was solid and held on. Draw was very good allowing plenty of smoke.

Another very good cigar from Gurkha that was complex and balanced. Flavors were very well pronounced and lasted long on the palette. The woodiness remained throughout the entire cigar instead of fading out in the first third as many other cigars do. I have been very impressed with the latest releases coming out of Gurkha and 2012 promises to bring more interesting cigars from them. MSRP is $10.00 for this vitola. If you are a fan of tangy, spicy leather with continued woodiness, than I definitely recommend this cigar for you.

Canimao "Jibaros" Review

Canimao "Jibaros" - 5/5/8 X 50. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Sumatra, Binder - Ecuador, Filler - Dominican Republic & Nicaragua. Between medium and full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry woodiness.

First third - Spice, dry cedar, leather and a very nice citrus flavor emerges.

Second third - Spiciness continues with the tangy citrus coming to the forefront followed by leather and now a raisin flavor reveals itself.

Last third - Spice, tangy citrus, raisin and leather. Very nicely balanced. Long coating finish of spice and citrus leather.

Construction - Nice looking, light-brown wrapper with a silky sheen texture and no major veins. Burn was sharp with a salt & pepper colored ash. The ash is solid and held on. Draw was very good and the cigar had plenty of smoke.

An excellent little cigar packed with bold flavors. I found it to be very well balanced as with all Canimao cigars and with very good complexity. This flavor profile is among my favorite. The citrus raisin flavors were very tasty and enjoyable. I would say that this line is my new favorite in the Canimao portfolio followed by the Robusto and the Torpedo. It is also the fullest bodied in terms of flavor. MSRP is a consumer friendly $7.20. This is a perfect cigar for those cold winter days when you want a short smoke. A definite recommend to try for yourself.

La Flor Dominicana Factory Press IV Press Release

Factory Press IV

National Release - December 2011



The 4th in the series of highly acclaimed Factory Press cigars by La Flor Dominicana. The tobaccos used to construct these wonderful cigars are from special small crops that have been retained and aging for use in this very limited production.

Total Production: 250 Boxes

Size: 60 X 6.5 inches

Packaging: Chest of 10 trays of 12 cigars.

Wrapper: Mexican Maduro

Binder: Ecuadorian

Filler: 100% Dominican grown at Estancia La Flor De Palma in La Canela, Dominican Republic

Body: Full

Oliveros Sun Grown Reserve Paco No. 3 Review

Oliveros Sun Grown Reserve Paco No. 3 - 7 X 48. Wrapper - Havano Sun Grown aged over 5 years in Nicaragua, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaragua. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Woodiness.

First third - Spiciness with leather, some citrus and raisin notes.

Second third - Spice, citrus moves up to the forefront followed by leather, sweet raisins and wood notes.

Last third - Spice continues, Tangy citrus, leather, raisin sweetness and wood notes. Long finish of tangy spice and leather.

Construction - Dark-brown wrapper with a slight sheen texture without any major veins. Good cap. Burn was fairly straight with a salt & pepper colored ash that was solid and held on. Draw was perfect with a good amount of smoke.

I was very impressed with this cigar's complexity and balance. Loved the sweet raisin taste and of course the tangy citrus and leather. Smooth, tasty and a wonderfully long finish make this cigar another winner for Oliveros Cigars. MSRP for this vitola is $7.30 which is an excellent value. I would smoke this cigar anytime from midday on - definite recommend for a medium bodied, complex and smooth smoke that won't hurt your wallet.

Torano "Vault" Torpedo Review

Torano "Vault" Torpedo - 6 1/8 x 52. Wrapper - Shade-Grown Nicaraguan Colorado. Binder - Ometepe, Nicaragua and Jamastran, Honduras, Filler - Esteli and Condega, Nicaragua. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry cedar and spice.

First third - Spice followed by leather and cedar with notes of citrus.

Second third - Spice, Tangy citrus, leather and cedar notes.

Last third - Spice continues along with the wonderful tangy citrus leather and cedar notes. Long finish of spicy citrus and leather.

Construction - Attractive oily brown wrapper with a smooth texture. No major veins were visible. Burn was straight with a very dark gray, solid ash that held on a couple of inches before falling off. Draw was spot-on with plenty of smoke.

Another fantastic cigar from Torano - I really like what they have been coming out with lately. As many of you know, I am a big fan of this flavor profile - spice, citrus and leather. The complexity was very good and the balance was perfect. MSRP for this vitola is $7.95 which is a great price point for a cigar of this quality. Best enjoyed from the middle of the day on. A definite recommend to try yourself, I think you will be very happy you did.

Gurkha "Seduction" Toro Review

Gurkha "Seduction" Toro - 6 X 55. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Habano, Binder - Dominican Olor, Filler - Columbian Corojo. Medium - full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry woodiness and spice.

First third - Spice, Earthiness, cocoa and wood notes.

Second third - Spice continues but now a citrus and raisin flavor emerges along with the Earthiness and cocoa.

Last third - More of the same - Spicy citrus, raisin, Earth and cocoa. Long wonderful finish of spicy Earth and cocoa that coats the palate.

Construction - Good looking, smooth textured dark-brown wrapper. Nice oily sheen without any major veins. Burn was straight with a black and gray colored solid ash that held on. Draw was perfect with just the right amount of smoke produced.

A wonderful cigar with excellent complexity and smooth balance. I really liked the citrus raisin and cocoa flavors balanced with the spice and Earthiness. I would have to put this cigar as my all time favorite of the Gurkha lines just ahead of the Evil and Regent - in that order. MSRP is a very good $7.60 for this vitola which makes it a reasonably priced cigar to smoke often. Definite two thumbs up.

Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve Review

Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve - 6.25 X 52. Wrapper - Connecticut Broadleaf, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaragua. Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Spicy Earthiness.

First third - Spice, citrus, Earth and leathery notes.

Second third - Spice with tangy fruit-like citrus, Earthiness and leather on the back end.

Last third - Spiciness continues with the tangy fruitiness, Earth and now a very nice chocolate flavor emerges followed by the leather. Long finish of citrus spice & Earthiness.

Construction - Beautiful darkish-brown wrapper with no major veins. Silky sheen and smooth in texture. Triple capped. Burn was pretty much straight with a light-gray, semi solid ash that did hold on despite not being totally solid. Burn was very good with the average amount of smoke produced.

An impressive tasting cigar with excellent complexity and balance. As the cigar progresses, it builds in complexity until it reaches a crescendo of wonderful bold flavors. The chocolate flavor in the last third really was a very nice surprise. MSRP for this vitola is $12.00. Definitely a cigar for after a full meal. A must try for those looking for a very complex, balanced and full-bodied smoke.

Alec Bradley to Release “Fine & Rare” Cigar on 11-11-11

IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

Alec Bradley to Release “Fine & Rare” Cigar on 11-11-11
New, very limited edition 10 leaf blend will debut this November

DANIA, FL – October 21, 2011 – No, it's not a new Broadway musical, a reality TV series, or a law office. Fine & Rare is the name of the latest and perhaps the most ambitious cigar yet from the award-winning Alec Bradley Cigars. Scheduled to arrive in cigar stores on November 11th, 2011, Fine & Rare is made in just one size, a 6” x 52 Toro format, and will be a limited edition release of only 1,111 boxes.

Known for pushing the envelope when it comes to marketing premium handmade cigars, Alec Bradley's Fine & Rare is no different. Produced at Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas, the cigar boasts a shimmering Honduran Trojes wrapper leaf that conceals dual Honduran and Nicaraguan binders plus seven long-filler tobaccos which the company prefers not to disclose. To ensure the consistency of every cigar, Raíces Cubanas assigned only one team for the job which was supervised by Alex Miguel Artica. The cigars are meticulously rolled, and each vitola has been assigned a serial number which is imprinted on the band.

Alec Bradley believes this cigar is the only cigar in the world made with 10 different tobaccos; moreover, the cigars have been aging since production was completed in August of 2010. Since then, the master team has moved on to another special project that will be released in 2012.

Each of the 11,110 cigars bear the signatures of Alan Rubin (President), Ralph Montero (Vice President), Alex Miguel Artica (Supervisor), Antonia Baquedano Aluarenga (Master Roller), and Juan Miguel Rodriguez (Master Buncher).

“1000 boxes are already pre-sold for retail cigar stores, said Alan Rubin, “They sold out in 15 minutes back in July.”

100 boxes containing 10 Toros and 10 torpedos will be used at Mr. Rubin’s discretion, while another 11 boxes containing 30 cigars (10 Toros, 10 Torpedos and 10 Perfectos) will be used to raise money for Alec Bradley supported charities.

“Since we were only able to make 1,111 boxes, we thought it would be fun to release the cigars on 11-11-11,” said Alan Rubin. “I'm really excited about this cigar, too. We've done a lot of special things over the years, but this cigar is really in a class by itself. We took as much time as we needed to carefully select only the best of the best tobaccos. It's one of the reasons we could only make a limited number of boxes. As for the smoke itself, it's aromatic, full-flavored and as about complex as it gets.”

Fine & Rare will be presented in boxes of 10 cigars with an MSRP of $14.00 per cigar (pending taxation).

For more information on Alec Bradley Fine & Rare cigars, visit the www.facebook.com/alecbradleycigar
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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
www.alecbradley.com

Contact: Sam Phillips | Ph: 239-682-4080