Some of the highest rated cigars here at The Cigar Authority come from Nelson Alfonso’s Selected Tobacco which is distributed in the United States by United Cigar. In addition to launching new sizes of Atabey, the Limited Edition Byron was on hand at the 2017 IPCPR in Las Vegas. The extensions to the Byron brand are based around new packaging that places these exclusive cigars in packaging that lives up to their reputation. Nelson Alfonso […]
This week on The Cigar Authority, David Garofalo returns from the Dominican Republic and we will catch up with him to find out all the details of his annual trip. We will also be joined by the Director of Sales and Marketing for United Cigars, Oliver Nivaud. In the first hour we will light up Bandolero from Selected Tobacco, whom he distributes. In the second hour we will light up one of Barry’s personal favorites, […]
This weekend on The Cigar Authority we will light up the last cigar of the January Care Package, Bandolero. Even though we will be smoke the Tremendos vitola on the show, both cigars are from pack III. Cigar history has followed a difficult path between crime and pleasure. Demonized on arrival to Europe, in which latter tobacco trade was monopolized. The success of the tobacco expansion is explained by the attempts of being controlled. […]
Yesterday on The Cigar Authority podcast which is embedded just below we smoked the Byron Distinguido on our Christmas show. We paired the cigar with Ron Zaya rum which made for a phenomenal pairing and helped bring out some of the subtle vanilla notes in the cigar. Cigar Review: Byron Serie Siglo XXI Size: 6 x 55 (Distinguido) Wrapper: Unknown Binder: Unknown Filler: Unknown Strength: Medium-Full The Look: The Byron Distinguido features a simpler band then the regular Byron line. Instead of an […]
Nelson Alfonso of Selected Tobacco might not be a household name yet, but I’m sure you’ve seen his work in the past. He is responsible for the branding of cigars such as the Cohiba Behike and other limited editions for Habanos S.A. a few years ago, Nelson started his own company out of Costa Rica called Selected Tobacco and created the brands Byron, Atabey, and Bandolero. Since his breakthrough into the US market, I’ve admired […]
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 […]
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. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqAR134oN0U]