Azan by Roberto Duran
Most people recognize the name. But, usually not for producing cigars. Different Roberto, different product. However, Roberto Pelayo Duran has experience making cigars like his more famous namesake has in the ring. Azan is a little known old time Cuban brand of cigars that has been in Robertos family for many years and now it is made Nicaragua. The result is a typical hand rolled cigar....
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...
Your Brother’s Cigar – Fratello
Fratello is the name of a new cigar brand launched recently by former pro basketball player Omar de Frias. de Frias has been nicknamed ‘Fratello’ which means my brother in Italian grew up next to a cigar shop in the Dominican Republic. This cigar, which we found at the recent IPCPR show is available in four sizes. Many new brands debut at the show and we try to review them as we...
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...
Viva Republica’s Rapture Exodus
Jason Holly, a cigar enthusiast and store owner in Northeastern Pennsylvania, intended to shake up the traditional cigar industry by making unusual blends not generally available to small suppliers. He created Viva Republica, Inc. and partnered with by the well-known La Aurora factory in the Dominican Republic to make cigars. These medium to full bodied sticks are aimed at traditional brick and...
