An Exquisite Cuban Stock Exquisito
I’ve met a lot of cigar makers. Many are humble farmers. Many are mild mannered and soft spoken. All share a passion for tobacco. The owner of Cuban Stock has the passion for tobacco, but is in no way soft spoken or laid back. His challenge to me when we met at the recent trade show, “Smoke my cigars and tell you don’t like them”. But, I couldn’t meet...
The Monte by Montecristo
Monte by Montecristo At the 2013 IPCPR Altadis had a large and varied presence as it represents a number of well-known brands such as H Upman, Romeo y Julieta, Saint Luis Rey and Montecristo. However, Altadis is just a division of Imperial Tobacco, a $9.3 billion tobacco colossus based in the UK. Imperial is also the exclusive seller of luxury Cuban cigars worldwide (per their 2012 Annual...
Sentinel’s Honor Offering
Most cigar businesses are started by a combination of profit motives, industry knowledge/exposure or just plain love of the product. Sentinel Cigars is slightly different in that its primary motive is to provide funds for a worthy cause – the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation. This foundation provides housing, tuition assistance and mentorship to severely wounded retired U.S....
H. Upmann Goes Samatran
H. Upmann, owned by Altadis USA, is a brand with a long history, one that pre-dates our Civil War. The brand’s “history” relates that in 1844, 2 Upmann brothers used their newly founded cigar operation to promote their banking business in Cuba. Cigar smoking was quite fashionable back then. This lasted until 1922 when both businesses failed and the cigar business eventually landed in the...
La Gloria Cubana Liga JD-05
The IPCPR is one of the best platforms to launch a new product or test a new concept. In 2012 La Gloria Cubana presented its Trunk Release cigars – special blends made in small quantities and packed in unique trunk style boxes, at that years IPCPR. At this years IPCPR La Gloria Cubana launched 3 new Trunk Release Cigars. I previously tested the 2013 LIGA MG-08 and gave it a very...
Ego by Felix Assouline
It’s pretty risky to name a cigar Ego. If your product isn’t wonderful there will be lots of bad puns based on the name. And if your product is good, people might think its pretty bold of you to use that name. In the case of cigars by Felix Assouline the name is justified. Ego is a line of box pressed sticks form this below the radar producer who has experience in the...
