Curivari’s Seleccion Privada
Curivari began in Europe in 2003 and expanded into the USA in 2010, just in time to join our “still ongoing” recovery from the Great Recession. While the company maintains a low profile in the US, I found their cigars on the websites of most major internet sellers. Every year Curivari launches a new cigar and at the 2014 show they provided me with their Seleccion Privada Maduro, a Nicaraguan...
The SAGA Continues With Blend No. 7
Corporation Cigar Export (CCE) is operated by the Reyes family where the current fifth and sixth generations maintain their tradition of making high quality cigars. CCE makes one of my favorite cigars, the Gigante of the Don Julio Punta Espada series. CCE launched a new series called Saga at the 2014 IPCPR and I previously reviewed (and liked) the new Saga Golden Age. The remaining 2014 Saga...
A Volcano From Canada – Tierra Volcan Grande
Each ICPR can be a springboard for a new company/brand to enter the US market after already selling outside the US. The Tierra Volcan line, from the Mombacho Company headquartered in Toronto Canada, did so in 2014 with a large booth and a high quality product sampler for interested parties. They spared no expense with this launch and gave me some samples for testing. Mombacho is a large volcano...
A Bugatti You Can Afford! The Epicure.
Maserati. Bugatti. Lamborghini. Very high end, sexy sports cars that we wish we could afford. But which one is not Italian? Bugatti – it is a French car company founded in 1909 that sells vehicles with price tags that often reach 7 figures. What does one do while driving a million dollar glove fitting Bugatti automobile? Can’t reach the beautiful model sitting in the tight bucket seat next...
High Interest In The New “Banker” from Upmann
Back in the mid 1800’s a pair of German bankers named Upmann were operating in Cuba and they invested in cigar making as a side business which subsequently grew in both size and fame. Eventually Upmann was purchased by Altadis where Upmann became a major brand, along with Montechristo, Romeo y Julieta and Pleiades. Now, in 2014, Altadis fittingly used The Banker to name one of its latest...
An “Aged” Cigar from Blue Mountain
Marvin Wright’s Blue Mountain Cigars has several brands and he has continuously introduced new blends since he began in 1995. At the 2014 IPCPR Marvin provided me with a Black Anejo to test. This cigar is made in Esteli, Nicaragua with Nicaraguan filler and binder, wrapped in a Habano criollo tobacco. The Black Anejo is a 7 X 54 toro grande whose long black band is unusual but it does protect...