This summer of 2015 saw the launch of Foundation Cigar Company by Nick Melillo who had his career start at the retail level while living in the state of Connecticut. From here he would go on to Drew Estate where he would oversee their factory operations and he was responsible for blending Liga Privada No. 9, T52, Dirty Rat, L40, Nica Rustica as well as others. Nick would eventually leave Drew Estate to start his […]
According to a press release from the FDA, any brand that had a quantity count change after 2007, constitutes a new product. Something that the cigar industry is sure to challenge. The FDA issues a new press release today that included a link to a FAQ answering some questions in regards to Substantial Equivlence. The press release states, “Today, the FDA is issuing the third edition of the guidance for industry titled Demonstrating the Substantial […]
According to a press release from the FDA, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to four tobacco manufacturers—Swisher International Inc., Cheyenne International LLC, Prime Time International Co., and Southern Cross Tobacco Company Inc.—for selling flavored cigarettes that are labeled as little cigars or cigars, which is a violation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). The companies received warning letters for products under the “Swisher Sweets,” “Cheyenne,” “Prime Time,” and […]
This week on the internet’s number 1 cigar podcast we welcome to the show Manuel Inoa of La Aurora cigars where he serves as the Master Blender. In the first hour we will light up the La Aurora Untamed Extreme with the CLE Chele following in the second hour. Join us for all the madness known as The Cigar Authority PLEASE NOTE: If you are seeing an old episode, please refresh this page. Next Podcast: Manual Inoa […]
It’s starting to chill down up here in New Hampshire, so I was looking for something I could enjoy outside that wouldn’t take too much time. But I also wanted a cigar that was going to have the power I like. One of my favorites that fits both of those requirements is the CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger, a dark cigar that hails from Nicaragua made by Skip Martin and Michael Rosales of RoMa Craft. What am […]
Today, the FDA issued the revised guidance, “Registration and Product Listing for Owners and Operators of Domestic Tobacco Product Establishments.” In the initial revised guidance issued in July of this year, U.S. manufacturers of newly regulated products faced a deadline of December 31, 2016 for compliance with the registration and product listing requirements of section 905 of the Tobacco Control Act. The guidance has been revised again to clarify that for U.S. manufacturers of newly […]
Today we smoke the Via Havana which is a cigar from Costa Rica. It’s limited to just 200 accounts nationwide to control the production and make sure the cigars meet the high standards set by Steven Adib of Cuba Rica cigars. It’s a cigar that I never heard of until I moved to New England but I have smoked on a regular basis since I was introduced to them. Cigar: Via Havana Country of Origin: Costa Rica […]
IPCPR issued the following Year in Review for 2016: In 2016 the premium tobacco industry faced many legislative and regulatory challenges. The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) was at the forefront of each these battles on the federal and state levels, representing the interests of your business. Some of our notable achievements include: FDA Lawsuit – IPCPR partnered with the Cigar Association of America, and the Cigar Rights of America to file […]
There was hope that the cigar industry would receive a Hail Mary when earlier this year, the House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that provided an exemption for premium cigars from the over-reach of the FDA. However, in a bill proposal last night that will fund the U.S. Government until the spring of 2017 the language that would have provided safe passage for premium cigars was stripped from the bill. The bill will fund the […]
Avo. A name synonymous with fine cigars and musical talent. Over three decades ago in the early 1980’s, Avo quietly entered into the premium cigar market only selling 120,000 cigars in his first year. Fast forward to 1995, Davidoff took over distribution for Avo Uvezian and sold over 2,000,000 cigars that very next year. In the past, Avo Uvezian primarily used tobaccos from the Dominican Republic for his blends. More specifically, he has not used […]