A few weeks ago, I saw our good friend Oliver post a photo on his Instagram (@HavanaDaydreamin) of a cigar I was familiar with, but had never seen. Showcased in the image was an Atabey in a lancero size, another beautiful piece of artwork by Nelson Alfonso. I had to have it for this review. So luckily, I was able to get my hands on one so I could share my thoughts with you. This […]
Two Guys Smoke Shop of Salem, Nashua, and Seabrook, New Hampshire will be celebrating its 32nd Anniversary on September 13, 2017 by giving away a Custom-Built Man Cave. The Man Cave is a completely finished building, insulated and ready to use year round, equipped with a bar, humidor, electric wiring run throughout with 4 outlets, ceiling fan and lighting inside and out. Two Guys, a very popular New England Cigar Shop has not only become […]
Nelson Alfonso of Selected Tobacco might not be a household name yet, but I’m sure you’ve seen his work in the past. He is responsible for the branding of cigars such as the Cohiba Behike and other limited editions for Habanos S.A. a few years ago, Nelson started his own company out of Costa Rica called Selected Tobacco and created the brands Byron, Atabey, and Bandolero. Since his breakthrough into the US market, I’ve admired […]
The Atabey Ritos was a cigar that was only available in a 5 pack assortment until a year ago. While the other Atabey cigars come packaged in a beautiful jar, the Ritos takes on a more traditional look with a box that also serves as a humidor. The 30 count box features 29 naked cigars (no cello) and 1 cigar in the famous Atabey tube. The brainchild of Nelson Alfonso, Atabey is the goddess that […]
The story of Byron cigars begins in the mid 19th century when immigrants of the Canary Islands made their way to Cuba and started their own cigar factory. The small factory was located on Macías Street in Santiago de Las Vegas, a province of Havana. It was at this factory that the original Lord Byron was made in honor of the world-renowned English Poet. The brand was resurrected by another Cuban; Nelson Alfonso who designs […]
Nashua, NH, August 22, 2016 – United Cigar Group is proud to announce the appointment of Oliver Nivaud as Director of Sales and Marketing. Oliver will oversee the operation of United Cigar Group’s current portfolio of premium cigars including Fleur de la Reine, Classic, La Gianna Havana, and Garofalo among others. He will also be in charge of the U.S. distribution of Selected Tobacco brands by Nelson Alfonso, which include Atabey, Byron and Bandolero. Oliver […]
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 […]
The Bandolero comes to us from Nelson Alfonso’s Selected Tobacco. At times I feel like the Bandolero is the red-headed stepchild of the company often not getting the love of his other brands Atabey and Byron and today’s Bandolero…. The name Bandolero is historical in nature and according to the website the story goes likes this… Cigar history has followed a difficult path between crime and pleasure. Demonized on arrival to Europe, in which latter tobacco trade was […]
Byron. A cigar that not many have heard of, but those who know it have succumbed to its greatness. I will not hide the fact that Byron is one of the best cigars I have ever smoked. A brand I never heard of until I came to The Cigar Authority and Two Guys Smoke Shop. Owned by Selected Tobaccos and Nelson Alfonso the cigars are made in Costa Rica, but the blend is a closely […]
This week on The Cigar Authority we light up another cigar from the December Care Package, the Nestor Miranda Connecticut Coffee Break. We discuss out the blend came to be and how it has ties a member of The Cigar Authority… We also break down the Winter 2015 issue of Cigar Journal which features Avo Uvezian on the cover. We discus there 2015 awards and maybe even mention their Top 25 countdown. In the second […]