According to the Drew Estate website, “Patience and a never-ending drive to craft the world’s most exceptional cigars are deeply rooted in the 10 year history of Liga Privada.” According to Jonathan Drew, President and Founder of Drew Estate, “Following the revolution in Cuba, the Corojo seed took roots in Florida, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Growing Corojo in new climates produced mixed results and much heartache for those who chose to grow it. By creating hybrids of […]
Originally released in 2019 as part of Smoke Inn’s Microblend Series, the Red Meat Lovers comes from Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust in partnership with the South Florida based Red Meat Lovers Club. It wasn’t the only limited edition cigar released by Saka in 2019 that would be added to the 2023 portfolio. The other cigars were the Mi Querida Firecracker from Two Guys Cigars & United Cigars which donned a red band that […]
Looking back throughout the history of cigars the industry hasn’t seen many successful celebrity collaborations. One can make the argument that the Erik Espinosa collaboration with Guy Fieri might be the most successful to date. Originally announced in January of 2022 the cigar would make it’s debut at TPE in Las Vegas the following month. Surprisingly the cigar isn’t made at La Zona, the Erik Espinosa owned factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Instead the cigar is […]
Tatuaje The Face was the 3rd release of the he Tatuaje Halloween Series. The series has been one of the most sought after limited editions to ever grace the cigar industry. Thankfully for those who missed out they are back as a Redux version. Each release of the Halloween Monster Series is a reference to well known character in the horror genre. The Face is a homage to Leatherface from the movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre. […]
My Father Cigars celebrates a milestone with the release of the Don Pepin Garcia 20th Anniversary Limited Edition. It’s hard to believe I was in the cigar industry longer than the brand Don Pepin Garcia was around. I remember when a rep whom I believed was named Glen Gutin came into the store I was a partner in. He was pushing a cigar and said, “This guy is going to change the industry.” We smoked […]
Matt Booth first developed Room 101 in 2003 as a jewelry brand in Los Angeles. 6 Years later he would connect with Davidoff where Room 101 Cigars would be made by their recently purchased Camacho Cigars. In 2017, he would briefly leave the industry before coming back with two new cigars made with Robert Caldwell. More recently, Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) would purchase Room 101 Cigars where Matt Booth remains today as creative director. The Room […]
The J21 is part of the Tatuaje Selección de Cazador Miami Reserva line. As the name implies it was rolled in Miami at Don Pepin’s Miami based My Father Cigar Company. Tatuaje brand owner Pete Johnson has long had a relationship with the Garcia family with the two growing in popularity almost side by side in the cigar industry. These days the partnership has become family with Pete Johnson and Janny Garcia of My Father Cigars […]
Nestor Miranda Special Selection was originally introduced in 2006 by Miami Cigar & Company. In 2014, the brand would be discontinued as Miami Cigar & Company decided to rebrand to the Nestor Miranda Collection. That new branding was met with mix results leading the company to bring back the Special Selection in 2019 as part of their 30th Anniversary. Cigar Review: Nestor Miranda Special Selection Size: Toro (5.5 x 54) Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano Binder: Nicaragua Criollo ’98 Filler: Nicaragua (Condega, […]
Nicholas Melillo began his career in the cigar industry working in a cigar shop in his home state of Connecticut. He would eventually wind up at Drew Estate where he become one of the top blenders. It is here that some controversy over the Liga Privada No. 9 line starts to emerge. Depending who you ask some might credit him with the creation of that blend, while others would credit Steve Saka. No matter who […]
HVC Cigars follows up the successful HVC Hot Cake with the HVCHot Cake Golden Line. The Cigar is available in four sizes; Laguito No. 4 (4 1/2 x 52), Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46), Laguito No. 5 (6 x 54) and Gran Canon (6 x 60). The cigar is being made in brand owners Reinier Lorenzo’s own factory Fabrica de Tabacos HVC S.A. de Reinier Lorenzo in Esteli, Nicaragua. Cigar Review: HVC Hot Cake Golden Line […]