If there’s a theme for this Week In Smoke, it’s a mix of new cigars and relaxation. Heavy on the relaxation. Maybe a little procrastination too. It’s been a busy summer, and I for one am ready to welcome a less hectic season of bourbon and heavier beers. Sure, I drink both year round, but […]
Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Epicure Maduro – Return of a Classic Cigar
There are times when I am about to smoke a cigar that I want something well within my comfort zone. A cigar that is considered a classic. One that you know very well, have smoked often and you know will give you satisfaction. For me, one of those smokes is the Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur. […]
IPCPR 2016: Macanudo
In this video Ben talks to Victoria McKee Jaworski about the latest Macanudo, the Macanudo Mao. General Cigars has been keeping their tobacco scientists busy, because like the new Partagás Ramón y Ramón, the Mao uses Dominican tobacco from “regenerated” vintage 1960’s seeds. In addition to that the blend also includes Nicaraguan and Colombian leaf. […]
IPCPR 2016: Hoyo de Monterrey
In this video Elizabeth Maksim, the Brand Manager for Hoyo de Monterrey gives us a quick introduction to the newest Hoyo offering for IPCPR 2016. It’s another collaboration with A.J. Fernandez, appropriately named the Hoyo La Amistad which translates to “the friendship”. The blend is made at Tabacalera Fernandez and features an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper […]
IPCPR 2016: Partagás
In this video we talk to Andres Maturen Maal, Brand Manager for Partagás about the new Ramón y Ramón. The cigar is an homage to Ramón Cifuentes, the owner of the Partagás in Cuba until his departure in 1961. The project has been in the work for four years, using tobacco seeds from the 1960’s. […]
IPCPR 2016: La Gloria Cubana
At the La Gloria Cubana display we met up with Matt Davenport, and he introduced us to the new La Gloria Cubana Serie R Esteli Maduro. The Serie R Esteli Maduro has a blend based on the original Serie R Esteli, the difference being a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper instead of the original’s Nicaraguan Jalapa Sol. […]
IPCPR 2016: CAO
At the CAO display we saw something that seemed a little familiar, but with a name we didn’t recognize. I’m talking about the CAO Consigliere of course, not Rick Rodriguez. He wasn’t wearing a name tag when we talked to him, but I’m pretty sure his name hasn’t changed. Rick is a little bit coy […]
IPCPR 2016: Cohiba
The next stop on the General Cigar tour was the Cohiba display to check out the new Cohiba Macassar. Steve Abbot tells us that the new cigar was inspired by a rare, expensive wood called Ebony Macassar (or Makassar Ebony) with a grain known for it’s dark brown to black stripes. The idea is a […]
Dunhill Heritage Robusto
The Dunhill Heritage was released this year at the 2015 IPCPR by General Cigar as Dunhill’s strongest cigar to date. The blend is a mixture of Honduran and Nicaraguan aged tobaccos including an habano ligero wrapper. The cigar is available in 4 sizes: Robusto (Boxed Pressed): 5 x 50 Toro: 6 x 50 Gigante: 6 x […]
IPCPR 2015: Foundry
There is no telling what you can expect when you step into the Foundry portion of the General Cigar booth at the trade show. At IPCPR 2015 we learned that Michael Giannini has re-imagined and transformed classic Cuban brands Ramon Allones and Bolivar as Foundry cigars. That means striking new packaging, blends and vitolas for […]