Collaboration Cigars Too many Chefs in the Kitchen An Editorial by David Garofalo It’s been going on for a while and when I hear of it, it always sparks my attention and creates lots of interest and discussion in the cigar lounge but it seems to me to never work out as I had expected. I’m talking about a cigar maker or owner of a cigar brand teaming up with another owner of a cigar […]
La Gianna Havana was originally only available in a Connecticut shade wrapper. Years later David Garofalo released that same blend, of which is named after his daughter Gianna, only this time using a maduro wrapper. This is a great example of how a wrapper can change the overall taste of a blend, and here’s why. This is the La Gianna Havana Maduro. What am I smoking? Cigar Review: La Gianna Maduro Robusto Country of Origin: […]
I’m actually surprised at the lack of interest and talk about the Olympic Games this year in our cigar shops. The Americans are winning at the time of this article; there was some controversy with alleged mugging in Rio and apparent danger. There was plenty of LIVE television coverage but according to Gallup polls, Americans’ interest in watching the Olympic Games has hit a historic low. And while the interest was down, advertising was up […]
Each year, for the past 24 years, David Garofalo who hosts The Cigar Authority Podcast (www.TheCigarAuthority.com) has made the announcement for the Contenders for the Cigar of the Year. Much like the nominees for the Academy Awards, the Contenders for the Cigar of the Year is announced late in the year, but this year it was moved ahead… way ahead. This year the announcement for The Contenders for The Cigar of the Year took place […]
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 […]
THE CIGAR COUNTDOWN BEGINS The IPCPR 2016 is just a few days away Over 2,000 Cigar Retailers representing over 1,000 cigar shops in the U.S. and across the globe will merge together once again for The Cigar Convention better known in the industry as “The I.P.C.P.R.” the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Convention. This year the 84th Annual Trade Show will be held at the Sands Exposition Hall at the Venetian in Las Vegas, […]
The much-anticipated CroMagnon Firecracker from Roma Craft Tobac is leaving Nica Sueno today and headed toward New Hampshire’s Two Guys Smoke Shop. On May 19, 2007, Two Guys Smoke Shop owner David Garofalo asked Jose “Don” Pepin Garcia to roll him a short cigar and to put a long pig tail on it. And so the birth of the firecracker came from an idea. The cigar has seen versions made by My Father Cigars, Jose […]
Cigar Smokers come in all shapes and sizes, big and small, fat and thin, rich and poor, and old and young but always over 18. Walk into any cigar shop across America and you’ll meet people from all walks of life. From Laborers to Lawyers, Doctors to Dump Truck Drivers, Retirees to the Handicapped and everything in between. In the cigar shop, the cigar is the great equalizer and in a cigar shop everyone is […]
Here it is… short and sweet…THE FACTS AS I SEE THEM A Summary of FDA Regulations on Cigars The FDA adopted restrictions on the sale and distribution of cigars including advertising and promotion restrictions. All cigars (premium and domestic) are now subject to regulation by the FDA. Manufacturers of cigars must comply with the following regulations: Submission of ingredient lists for each cigar and reporting of harmful or potentially harmful constituents. Registration of cigar manufacturing […]
This week our own David Garofalo’s daughter, Gianna, is graduating college. This is obviously a special time for the both of them, so I figured why not review the cigar he made in her name. La Gianna Havana is a cigar that has been around for as long as Gianna herself, originally coming in a Connecticut shade wrapper. Years later, David released that same blend, only this time using a maduro wrapper. And as some […]