This morning David Garofalo posted to Facebook that he was smoking a Padron 50 Years with the caption of have something special today… just because. Well my just because moment is for a cigar review. Driving in this morning, I was smoking a sample from Cigar Journal magazine that was to be honest, a dog rocket. Looking at David’s post, I felt like Charlie Brown on Halloweeen, “I got a rock.” The Padron 50th Anniversary is available […]
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 […]
In our new weekly series we will be sharing two to three minute video reviews about some cigars we can’t get enough of. The week we look at the Byron Distinguido which comes to us from Nelson Alfonso and Selected Tobacco. For those that don’t know. Nelson Alfonso makes his cigars in Costa Rica; but he also lives in Cuba where he does packaging and design for Habanos S.A.
(United States) United Cigar, exclusive U.S. Distributor of Nelson Alfonso’s Selected Tobacco Brands announced today that a new Byron size will be available at the 2016 IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas on July 25, 2016. The new size is part of the Byron Serie Siglo XXI (21st Century). Other Series include Siglo XIX and XX. The Byron Elegantes will measure 55 x 6.125”and will be sold in humidified cabinets of 25. Only 200 boxes […]
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 […]
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 […]