How important is a cigar blender and what role do the play when it comes to a cigar? We will interview Willy Herrera from Drew Estate Cigars as we talk about his path from small boutique factory in Calle Ocho (Miami), Florida to one of the largest in Esteli, Nicaragua. In the first hour of The Cigar Authority we will light up the Herrera Esteli Brazil Maduro Toro Especial from the Care Package as we […]
15 years ago, Don Pepin Garcia opened his cigar factory in Little Havana, a section of Miami that is home to a large Cuban population. From his small storefront he would begin the steps at building an empire for him and his family. To celebrate, the company that is now based in Doral, another section of Miami with a factory in Nicaragua has released a cigar that is limited to just 2,000 boxes of 14. […]
Late last year, The Cigar Authority podcast teased that the 2017 Firecracker would come from Omar de Frias and Fratello cigars but very little information was given other than the fact the cigar would be released sometime before the Fourth of July. The line of cigars was launched by Two Guys Smoke Shop in 2006, when David Garofalo asked Don Pepin Garcia to roll him a cigar with a fuse on it. Garcia, hesitantly rolled […]
Approximately 6-8 weeks ago Skip Martin and Mike Rosales were in NYC for the weekend as they visited accounts in the Northeast. The day of The Cigar Authority broadcast they toyed with coming up to New Hampshire to do the show. However, with an event that evening at my old stomping grounds in NYC, the logistics just didn’t work out. It wasn’t for the lack of effort as they even looked into renting a helicopter […]
When I first got into the cigar business in the early part of 2000, I was approached by a cigar rep who was pitching the greatest cigar to hit the market in years. It was here that Glenn Gutin showed me cigars made by a roller from Cuban who was now in the United States trying to make his way into the market after the cigar book. That person was Don Pepin Garcia, and the […]
I am about to head down a road that could get me in some serious trouble. At times I have the ability to mean well and not properly string together the right words that could be taken as being negative. Today I review the cigar that Cigar Aficionado deemed The Cigar of the Year for 2015. The Le Bijou was released in 2009 at the IPCPR in New Orleans and came one year after the original My […]
A representative from My Father Cigars shared on social media this afternoon that the My Father, Don Pepin Garcia Original is being released as a Demi Tasse size measuring 4.5 x 32. Despite the graphic referring to the units as tins, a company representative informed The Cigar Authority that they would be in cardboard boxes referred to as a “petaca”. The Don “Pepin” Garcia Original “Blue Label” is made from 100% Nicaraguan tobacco and features a Corojo […]
In 2007 David Garofalo had an idea to create a cigar that had a fuse attached to it and call it the Firecracker. The first version of the cigar was offered to Pete Johnson of Tatuaje who didn’t like the idea and passed. The idea was then pitched to Don Pepin Garcia who though Dave was “loco” but agreed to do the cigar anyway as an exclusive to Two Guys Smoke Shop. Eventually the production […]
The Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic hasn’t been in production for sometime, and when it was they were available as part of a lancero sampler from My Father Cigars, and also in 50 count boxes via New England sales representatives, The Cigar Agency. Site sponsor 2GuysCigars.com has them available as part of a sampler pack. In fact, these cigars might be the last 100 available. When I first reviewed the cigar as part of my […]
Founded in 1989 by two Cuban immigrants, Mariana & Nestor Miranda; Miami Cigar & Company is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. As part of the celebration they have rebranded their signature line and today we have the first of 3 reviews over the coming months. The Nestor Miranda Collection is available in three wrappers. Cigar: Nestor Miranda Collection Size: 4.5 x 50 (Robusto) Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Strength: Mild/Medium The Look: At first look you question whether or not this […]