Last night, the Nicaraguan Chamber of Tobacco / Camara Nicaraguense de Tabacaleros honored Eric Newman with its Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was presented at the Puro Sabor Festival’s White Dinner, which was held at the J.C. Newman PENSA factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Newman said that he was very surprised and humbled by this honored, and was very grateful to receive it surrounded by so many friends in the cigar industry.
On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, and the Newman family cut the ribbon to open Cigar Workers Park. This new park is located across the street from J.C. Newman’s historic El Reloj factory in Tampa’s Ybor City National Historic Cigar District. In the presence of El Reloj’s cigar workers, the Newman family dedicated the park to the hundreds of thousands of people who have worked in Tampa’s cigar […]
Jose “Pepin” Garcia along with his children Jaime and Janny, started making cigars in a little factory in Miami, Florida over twenty years ago. At that time, their first private label client was Pete Johnson and his brand Tatuaje. In early 2003, Pete met Pepin at an event in Los Angeles, CA and immediately knew that Pepin was the man that he wanted making his cigars. From that day forward, the Garcia’s and Pete have been working together on […]
The E.H. Taylor Corojo for me seems like a match made in heaven. Cigars and whiskey has long been a pairing for many cigar smokers. For me, I started out with cigars & scotch, before making my way to cigars & rum. These days like countless others I pair my cigars with bourbon. As a bourbon enthusiast it’s frustrating so many brands are difficult to come by and E.H Taylor is one that is increasingly […]
The information about Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel proof on the company website is an example of poor marketing as there is a very little information available. What is stated is, “Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a “barrel proof bourbon”, meaning it has no added water to lower the proof or dilute the flavor after it’s been distilled. It’s a unique marriage of Wild Turkey 6, 8, and 12-year-old stocks, giving it a remarkably smooth […]
La Aurora USA, LLC, announces the debut of La Aurora Small Batch Lot 003, a limited-edition cigar created by Master Blender Manuel, at Total Product Expo (TPE) 2024 in Las Vegas. La Aurora Small Batch is a collection of limited quantity cigars created by our Master Blender, Manuel Inoa, who reached back into the aging room pulling out his favorite creations. “We’re excited to kick off 2024 at TPE as we continue to renew our relationship not only with Kretek, but […]
Ammunition comes from Caldwell Cigars & Wildfire Cigars as a PCA Exclusive with a catch. The partnership makes sense as Jeremy McDonald served as sales director for Caldwell Cigar Co before launching Wildfire Cigars. The PCA Exclusive wasn’t ordered on the trade show floor, but rather at a concert featuring McDonalds band Louder’s The Roar. Personally, I think this is a horrible idea for two struggling brands looking to get their message out. Instead, they […]
Crowned Heads has announced their latest regular production release, “Mil Dias Maduro.” The cigar is being made at TacaNicsa in Esteli, Nicaragua the factory of the original Mil Dias brand. Available in three size the Mil Dias Maduro is highlighted by a Grade A Dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over a Habano binder and Nicaragua fillers consisting of Viso Jalapa, Ligero Condega and Seco Ometepe. According to Jon Huber, co-founder of Crowned Heads, “Mil Dias Maduro […]
Le Bijou (The Jewel) from My Father is an ode to Don Pepin Garcia’s father who was born in 1922. It was also my first introduction to Pelo de Oro tobacco which if you know me from previous podcasts and websites is my favorite tobacco. The history of My Father Cigars is an interesting one. They first began as El Rey de Los Habanos when Don Pepin Garcia left Cuba in 2001 when he would […]
The history of the Jim Beam family begins in 1740 when the Boehm family came to the 13 colonies, determined to live the colonial dream. 48 years later, they moved where Kentucky is now and changed their name to Beam. By the late 1700s, German, Scottish and Irish settlers were making rye whiskey in Western Pennsylvania. With government incentives to move west and grow corn, many moved to the Kentucky region. Among them was Jacob […]