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 […]
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 […]
Today I had no idea what to put up for review, so I asked my co-worker to pick me out a cigar. The only requirement was that it had to be a corona or smaller. The result is today’s 22N / 83W review. The numbers on the cigar are coordinates for Cuba, specifically Hacienda el Corojo, a plantation that once (1930 – 1990) grew arguably the best tobacco in the world. Today, having low yield and […]
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — One of the oldest Cuban heritage brands not seen in the United States for many years will soon be released in the U.S. “Por Larrañaga, born in Cuba in 1834, is one of the oldest heritage brands in our portfolio,” says Altadis U.S.A., the premium cigar company. “Known for its smooth, rich and sweet tobacco leaves, it has a reputation for consistency and high quality. We treat all our brands with […]
Every now and then I look for tasty smokes that I can buy boxes of without emptying my bank account. I’ve smoked cigars that cost me twenty-five cents each, all the way to a single that cost me $300 (which was an absolutely terrible call on my part, but I won’t get into that). I’m all over the board with this passion of mine, but if I’m looking for a stick I can light up […]
In 2015 the first of a series of changes that read like a novella, centered around the Hirochi Robaina brand. The week before the IPCPR show in New Orleans Robaina would leave Cubanacan and move to La Palina. During this turmoil, Cubanacan was said to have no factory and all their cigars were made by Tabacalera Los Charutos, S.A. which is the factory that produces the cigars that carry the Robaina name. Hirochi however would never […]
50 years ago, the most famous name in cigars was born, Cohiba. At Festival del Habano XVIII during the gala dinner, guests were given a box of 2 cigars. Encased in a felt sleeve, the lacquered boxes denote Cohiba 50 and were designed by Nelson Alfonso who also makes Atabey, Byron and Bandolero. Inside the cedar box are two cigars, one of which David Garofalo gifted to me. This limited edition cigar is not to be confused with […]
Recently our own David Garofalo was at the Habanos Festival where he was able to secure some cigars for review here on The Cigar Authority. The first of two cigars that we plan to review is the Cuaba 20th Anniversary. The Cuaba was officially launched 20 years ago in 1996 at the Claridge Hotel in London, England. To date all of the Cuaba cigars have been part of the perfecto family. The brand was launched […]
The forthcoming Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deeming regulations on cigars have been put to the side for now, say insiders, as there is a temporary freeze on the FDA Ruling close sources tell The Cigar Authority today. The story heard is that the decision for the freeze came immediately following President Obama’s historic visit to Cuba this past Tuesday March 22nd. Cigars are one of the largest exported products from Cuba followed closely behind raw […]