A couple of weeks back I smoked the Andalusion Bull on The Cigar Authority podcast. The cigar I smoked that day was a sample from IPCPR that made its way back to me via David Garofalo. It intrigued me enough that when the cigars reached the shelves of Two Guys Smoke Shop I reached for another for today’s review. According to a press release from La Flor Dominicana, “Invoking the spirit of Spain’s famous Toreros, this cigar has […]
Why Did U.S. Customs Cut My Cigars in Half? Another Editorial by David Garofalo Just 1 week ago, on August 8, 2016 the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) began its control over cigars with vague and overreaching regulations (known as the deeming regulations) that will undoubtedly find its way through the courts to see if any of this is not only Unconstitutional, but not at all reasonable. Beginning on August 8 and with the very […]
This week the Cigar Authority is broadcasting live from Two Guys Smoke Shop in Nashua, NH from the La Flor Dominicana Studios. We welcome to the show Eric Wentworth from Hammer + Sickle Cigars as we light up past Cigar of the Year winner, Hammer + Sickle Trademark. We will also unveil the seven cigars that are The Contenders for Cigar of the Year. In the second hour we will light up the La Galera […]
Cigars are being destroyed at the Port of Miami and it appears that US Customs and Border Protection are behind it. Earlier this week a shipment from Davidoff reached a retailer in New Hampshire. The normal packing tape was replaced with green tape denoting US Customs and Border Protection. This tell tale sign showed evidence that the box of cigars was searched. Upon opening the box many of the cigar boxes inside were open and […]
Atabey. A cigar crafted by the brilliant mind of a man named Nelson Alfonso. Although the average consumer might not know who he is, Nelson is a legend in the Cuban cigar industry. He played and essential role behind brands such as the Cohiba Behike and even designed the humidors for Padron’s 50th Anniversary cigars. His specialty is visual design, but Nelson Alfonso also has a rich experience in tobacco blending, spending years working alongside […]
I’ve lived in a few different cigar markets plus I’ve visited many others and one thing seemed to be constant. Lancero cigars sell slower than any other size on the market place. However, if you look at social media it is one of the most popular sizes among cigar geeks like me. A few months ago when La Flor Dominicana announced they were releasing Los Lanceros; a 5-pack of Lancero cigars I personally was intrigued. Cigar […]
On August 8, 2016, FDA’s deeming regulations went into effect, extending FDA’s authority over tobacco products to cover cigars, e-cigarettes, and all other tobacco products. Although additional requirements relating to cigar manufacture, packaging, labeling, and promotion will be implemented in the future, one of the more immediate impacts of FDA jurisdiction over the cigar industry will be at the import level. Cigar imports are now subject to FDA review. As a result, brokers will need […]
This past weekend was a big one for the J.C. Newman Cigar Company. Finally, after 4 years of work and hundreds of man hours, the long awaited Diamond Crown Black Diamond made its worldwide debut at all three Two Guys Smoke Shop locations. In attendance for the events were brand owner Eric Newman and North East Sales Representative Brad Jarvis. The cigar features tobacco grown on the same Fuente farms as Opus X. What am […]
Today, the J.C. Newman Cigar Company, America’s oldest family-owned cigar maker, introduced its long-awaited boutique cigar division, the J.C. Newman Fourth Generation Cigar Company, with the division’s first three cigar brands: The American, Admiration, and The 1954. The first cigars began shipping to select retailers last week. Created in New York City by the great-grandson of the founder, Drew Newman, and Drew’s wife Ariel Peters, the J.C. Newman Fourth Generation Cigar Company seeks to honor […]
The “Gallery,” or area in any handmade cigar factory where the cigar rollers make beautiful works of art, is affectionately known as La Galeara. Jose Amaldo Blanco or “Jochy,” which everyone who knows him affectionately calls him, is the owner of Tabacalera Palma, a family business (since 1936) which today celebrates their 80th year in business. In their factory they make lots of cigars for other people including Boutique Blends (Rafael Nodal) Aging Room, La […]