The Boutique Cigar Brand Boom is Over! The “Names You Know” That’s What Cigar Retailers were Buying Another Editorial by David Garofalo “What’s New” might be what consumers are asking for… but “What Sells” and what is “Most Recognized” is what cigar retailers are buying. I’m just back from the IPCPR Cigar Trade Show, the cigar industry’s largest convention and trade show world-wide. Walking through, I couldn’t help but notice the trade show booths that […]
We take a look at Lord Baltimore a resurrected cigar brand from the owner of Davidus Cigars. We also recap the 2015 IPCPR trade show and discuss what stood out and what doesn’t have a chance… Join us for all the shenanigans on The Cigar Authority. [jetpack_subscription_form] Next Episode: Lord Baltimore & IPCPR Recap
On our previous episode of The Cigar Authority before the IPCPR we lit up Recluse Amadeus Connecticut and I enjoyed the cigar so much, I couldn’t believe this one got by me and hadn’t been reviewed on the website. It is the perfect cigar on why the question we ask when we enter a cigar shop needs to change from “what’s new to what’s good?”. If you listen to the show, you know that Recluse is […]
Just prior to the IPCPR trade show in New Orleans a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would bring an end to cigars shipped via the United States Postal Service and would add various other requirements to other methods of shipping. The bill H.R. 3042, dubbed “Stop Tobacco Sales to Youth Act of 2015,” was introduced by two democrats from Connecticut; Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Elizabeth Etsy and seeks to change the language of […]
Two cigars made it back to me from the show with some special care given to them. The first was an M80 prototype for 2016 that I won’t be reviewing. If you follow me on social media, you can see the cigar. The other is today’s review. Henry Clay is a brand of cigars that was named for the American politician Henry Clay who served three terms as the Speaker of the House of Representatives […]
Nelson Alfonso is an artist from Cuba who is responsible for the Behike design, but he is also a cigar manufacturer with brands made in Costa Rica. Some of his cigars have rated amongst the highest of anything we smoked. The Atabey and Byron are his signature cigars, but often over looked is the more affordable Bandolero. Available as the Pack II (lighter wrapper, medium body) and the Pack III (medium-full, darker wrapper) the sticks have […]
When we stopped by to visit Steve Saka of Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust, he spoke perhaps the truest words of anyone at the show. While these words aren’t what the retailer wants to hear they speak volumes about how we should try cigars before jumping into a box purchase. With so many new releases at this years trade show, it’s easy to say I want a box of these and a box of those. Steve […]
Before the IPCPR started some of the biggest news was La Palina and Hirochi Robaina joining forces to blend together. While not an employee, Robaina will play a huge role on the future releases from the company. This years release is the La Palina Red and while not blended by Hirochi the cigar is a different take on everything La Palina in the sense that its more medium then the full. Bob Moreno took the […]
