Rafael Nodal of Boutique Blends has issued a statement on FDA Compliance, Now that our industry is officially under the FDA regulations, we wanted to write to update you on the work we are doing to comply with the regulations. We know that as a retailer, when you order products from a company, you may wonder if you should support their brands because you don’t know if the company will be here next year. (A […]
This weekend, moments before The Cigar Authority podcast went on air, we received word that an icon in the industry, Carlos Fuente Sr. had passed away. We were sitting around waiting for the show to go live when Eric Newman of JC Newman received the call. Carlos Fuente Sr. had been battling stomach cancer before succumbing to the illness at 11:15pm on Friday night. The show took a somber note as Eric Newman shared some […]
This morning as cigar shops open around the United States of America new FDA Regulations are in place. While many are calling this the end of an industry that might be premature as lawsuits are in place and new releases should still find their way to the shelves prior to 2018 as many companies have released cigars to the market prior to today that should see full releases in the near future. However, some things […]
It’s hours before the Two Guys Smoke Shop event called The Last Supper and the FDA regulations are just hours away. We will have live in studio Eric Newman from JC Newman Cigar Company as we unveil a cigar a decade in the making, Black Diamond. We will also smoke a special 1895 Julius Caesar Connecticut Perfecto made for Eric Newman to give out at events. However, thanks to the FDA this cigar will no […]
In Spanish, Mi Querida translates to My Mistress. For many of us, cigars are the other woman. Let’s face it, sometimes we sneak out for a cigar or stop by the local lounge telling our wives we are working late. All because of our love for premium cigars aka the other woman. Mi Querida wasn’t the original name for this cigar either as Steve Saka originally had plans to release the project as Todos Las Dias. However, a […]
Limited to just 300 boxes of 10 cigars, the Smoking Jacket Limited Edition comes to us from Henke Kelner Jr. and his Kelner Boutique Factory. If that name seems familiar, his father is the master blender for Davidoff. This Limited Edition is the follow-up to the original Smoking Jacket released in 2013. Cigar Review: Smoking Jacket The Limited Edition Country of Origin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Domincan Havana Cotuí Binder: Criollo Filler: Nicaraguan Condesa Viso, Dominican HVA and San Vicente, […]
Davidoff, known for crafting the finest cigars and accessories, has revamped its accessories line through a cigar-inspired design developed in collaboration with Swiss architecture and design agency Atelier Oï. Based in La Neuveville – Switzerland, Atelier Oï has been striving to create a new transdisciplinary design genre and skills to play with materials, shapes and functions. The intimate relationship between cigar accessories, cigar enjoyment and cigar rituals was the topic of Davidoff’s first conversation with […]
Nick Melillo of Foundation Cigar Company released a few new blends to add to his portfolio this past week at the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas. One of them is his new Connecticut broadleaf wrapped cigar dubbed ‘The Tabernacle’ which is rolled at A.J. Fernandez’s factory down in Nicaragua. David Garofalo was kind enough to get a few samples for us to try, which were smoked on The Cigar Authority podcast this past weekend. […]
With the extension of its Nicaraguan line, Griffin’s, the renowned and popular cigar brand, appeals to aficionados of Nicaraguan and Cuban cigars who prefer a fuller bodied, and more complex taste profile. The addition of the Toro format responds to cigar lovers’ desire to capture vibrant notes and enjoy a great blend, using Nicaraguan, Dominican and Honduran tobaccos with a typically Nicaraguan bittersweet stimulation. Inspired by the night-time, the new format delivers a pronounced spiciness […]
Oliveros is a brand with Cuban roots that date back to 1927 and Boutique Blends’ Rafael Nodal has decided to resurrect it with the creation of Gran Retorno. The name translates to Grand Return and will be available in 3 different wrappers including today’s review of the Connecticut that debuted at the 2016 IPCPR in Las Vegas. Cigar Review: Gran Retorno Connecticut Country of Origin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Binder: Nicaragua Habano Filler: Nicaragua Size: 4.5″ Ring Gauge: 52 Vitola: […]