Most of the time when we write a review we focus on the cigar, but I think some focus needs to be put on the factory that Serino has teamed with to produce some great cigars. Bygone & many other brands in their portfolio are made at La Corona Factory in Nicaragua. . If this name rings a bell, they partnered up with Hirochi Robaina to release his foray into the American market with HR […]
Back when Steve Saka announced the SakaKhan he wrote on Facebook, “It was the 80’s when Chaka Khan became known as an artist and I was getting certified to Con(n) as a JOOD Underway on my ship – the enlisted guys who worked the Bridge started calling me this… kinda funny as my middle name ‘Temujin’ is also the birth name of Ghengis Khan… so this is double dip when it comes to why this nickname […]
At Two Guys Smoke Shop’s Anniversary Party in 2021, Carson & Tony Serino showed up with some cigars that they handed out to myself and David Garofalo. While I am sure others got samples I only witnessed this exchange. Dave was instantly in love with Elenor Rose. It’s a cigar that he has talked about almost non-stop for a year. The name Elenor Rose is multi-faceted: a tribute to the ultra-fine Ecuador Rosado wrapper, a rose […]
In May 2022 it was announced that Aganorsa Leaf would rebrand their core lines to La Validacion Series. All the lines would become uniform in sizes including a 5 x 54 Gran Robusto, a 6 1/4 x 52 Toro, and a 6 x 58 Gran Toro. According to Terence Reilly, VP of Sales & Marketing, “Last year we sent out a survey to our retail partners and the big take away is our cigars need to […]
More than a decade ago, I made the move from NYC to Miami where I began working at Miami Cigar & Company. One of my greatest memories was heading down to Esteli, Nicaragua with Jason Wood VP of Miami Cigars and Eddie Ortega who was in the process of launching his own lines. During this trip Jason and I were tasked on creating a cigar for the Nestor Miranda Special Selection line to bring back […]
According to a Davidoff press release, “To enhance the excitement of the Davidoff Black Band Collection in 2022, the Davidoff Master Blenders created a unique cigar combining the best of the lines’ landmark tobaccos. The result is a cigar with remarkable flavors for the progressive explorer, addressing aficionados who are open to discover new taste experiences. The Limited Edition 2022 blend highlights the three landmark tobaccos of the Black Band Collection (Escurio, Nicaragua & Yamasa) and delivers complex, intense and unique flavors. […]
Originally scheduled for release at the end of 2020 the Rojas Street Tacos Barbacoa was delayed due to COVID-19 until the spring of 2021. At the time of its announcement it was stated that the Barbacoa which features a Sumatra wrapper would be the first of three wrapper releases. Now after Noel Rojas’ appearance on The Cigar Authority on Saturday, April 9th we know the second release will feature a Connecticut wrapper called Carnitas. If […]
From ACE Prime & Crowned Heads comes The Dreamer by Luciano. It is teamed after the owner and co-founder of Tabacalera Pichardo and ACE Prime, Luciano Meirelles. Inspired by the book “The Artisan Soul” (Erwin McManus), The Dreamer is a cigar that innovates in every possible way. The construction is designed to create the best draw experience, and the leaves contained in this blend are carefully selected to provoke more salivation. “I wanted to produce a cigar […]
On a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, our own David Garofalo had a chance to visit the factory where ADVentura Cigars are made. During the trip, sample after sample left him in awe of what the factory was doing. We even smoked the ADVentura King’s Gold on a recent episode of The Cigar Authority where both Ed Sullivan and I (Barry) were definitely intrigued. Now that the cigar has landed to us I decided […]
When you see a cigar on the shelf at a cigar at this price you wonder, how good can this be and how can they make any money. According to the folks at El Artista, “They say money isn’t everything and they are right; this blend is priced so low you will question how we even make any money. The answer is: we make cigars, not money.” If the name El Artista sounds familiar it […]