CAO UNLEASHES AMAZON ANACONDA
It started with CAO Amazon Basin, continued with Fuma Em Corda and now, the CAO Amazon trilogy reaches a crescendo with Amazon Anaconda, a new limited edition cigar made with the rarest tobaccos known to man.
Ernest Gocaj, the Indiana Jones of the cigar world, took his final trip to the wilds of Brazil in 2013. This time, the natives presented him with a hearty wrapper leaf they call Bahiano Habano which is used for the first and only time in CAO Amazon Anaconda.
Grown in the fertile Bahia region of eastern Brazil, the Bahiano Habano wrapper yielded a leaf that was dense, compact, and extremely flavorful. Ernest spent several years working with the local farmers, teaching them special agricultural practices to improve tobacco yield and leaf quality. In the end, Ernest purchased only the ligero leaves from the highest stalk position on the plant to ensure that the true rich and robust flavors of the Bahiano tobacco came through on Amazon Anaconda.Blender/ambassador Rick Rodriguez said, “This was the first time that the blending team and I worked with the Bahiano wrapper, and we devoted a couple of months just to leaf selection. Only the very best leaves were chosen and that shows right away, not only in the look, but also in the flavor of the cigar. It’s got a very unique, earthy taste, with notes of leather and espresso. There’s no doubt in my mind that the fans of CAO are going to wild for this blend.”
Bringing the CAO Brazilia trilogy to a stunning conclusion, the Brazilian Bahiano Habano ligero wrapper is supported by a blend made primarily of Bragança and Fuma Em Corda, the primitive, Brazilian tobaccos that also appeared in the trilogy’s previous releases. A Nicaraguan binder ensures an even burn, while Colombian and Dominican leaves enhance the blend, maximizing the exotic flavor of the Brazilian filler leaves.
CAO Amazon Anaconda is a once-in sale only at cigar shops, and when the cigars hit retail next month, they will sell out in an instant. Anaconda is handcrafted in Honduras, packed in rustic wooden boxes and are only available in a 6 x 52 Toro. The cigars will sell for $10.49 per cigar, and a 20-count boxes will cost you $209.80. That is, if you can find them.
Have you heard about Diesel Grind? If not, you will. This cool, value-priced line has cult classic written all over it.Here’s Diesel Grind in a nutshell:
Handmade by AJ Fernandez in his Nicaraguan factory
Made with aged tobaccos
Is a powerful yet smooth smoke
The blend has notes of earth, cedar, espresso and spice
It’s got a very cool band and comes in a 20-count rustic wooden box
It’s brick and mortar only
Did we mention it’s value priced and made by AJ Fernandez?
Wrapper: Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Available in three sizes:
Robusto -- 4.88 x 50; SRP per cigar is $5.99
Toro – 6 x 50; SRP per cigar is $6.49
Torpedo – 6.12 x 52; SRP per cigar is $6.99
Ships in mid-August
Again, only available at cigar shops.
There you have it.
In April 1968, the El Credito Cigar Factory opened in Little Havana and for decades, they turned out handmade, Cuban-style smokes for the locals. All that changed 25 years ago when high ratings transformed the factory’s La Gloria Cubana line into one of the most-wanted cigar brands available in the U.S.
Known as “the original boutique brand,” La Gloria Cubana returns to its roots with “Colección Reserva,” a special new line developed collaboratively with former brand owner and master blender Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. Colección Reserva celebrates the last 25 years of the brand’s unwavering success.
Ernesto Perez-Carrillo said, “La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva is based on a blend I created in the 1980s, after I took over our Little Havana factory from my father. I am very proud of this cigar because it complements the other blends in the line and has a taste profile that will appeal to people who have smoked La Gloria since the brand first hit it big in the 90s. To me, Colleción Reserva speaks to the legacy of La Gloria Cubana and proves that while so much has happened with the brand, nothing has changed.”Jhonys Diaz, who oversees General Cigar’s cigar making operations worldwide noted, “My team and I have always admired Ernesto for his unique approach to cigar blending, and have remained friends since he left the company to establish EPC Carrillo in 2009. We were thrilled at the opportunity to work with Ernesto again, and are very proud of Colleción Reserva.”
A full-time addition to the La Gloria Cubana portfolio, La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva reflects Ernesto’s blending expertise and features the world’s best proprietary tobaccos. The blend begins in Ecuador, under intense cloud cover and in the shadow of the Andes. There, in the Los Rios province of the Quevedo region, bracketed by two volcanoes, the alluvial soils and microclimate yield a Sumatra wrapper with abundant natural oils and exceptional flavors of earth and spice.
Beneath the wrapper lies a blend of Nicaraguan seco and ligero leaves selected by Ernesto and cultivated just once a year. Colleción Reserva is bound by a Nicaraguan viso leaf and delivers a rich and refined flavor, with notes of leather, cedar and spice.
The three-cigar collection is handcrafted at Tabacalera La Alianza in Santiago, DR and will debut in July across all retail channels. La Colección Reserva will be marketed and sold through General Cigar Company.
Presented in a box inspired by Ernesto’s personal humidor, the collection will launch with the following vitolas, each packaged in boxes containing 20 cigars:
Robusto (5.5”x 54); SRP per cigar is $7.59
Torpedo (6”x 54); SRP per cigar is $8.29
Presidente (7.5”x 54); SRP per cigar is $8.99
In support of La Colección Reserva, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo will make special appearances at fine cigar shops across the U.S. to share the history of La Gloria Cubana.
Introducing Hoyo La Amistad Silver
Following the success of Hoyo de Monterrey’s “La Amistad” collaboration which debuted at IPCPR last year, Master Blender A.J. Fernandez has developed an exciting new line made entirely with Habano seed tobaccos. Called “Hoyo La Amistad Silver,” A.J.’s latest creation complements the original La Amistad blend and embodies the true craftsmanship of Hoyo de Monterrey cigars.
A.J. Fernandez said, “It is an honor to blend for Hoyo because it reminds me how far I’ve come and gives me a chance to reflect on my roots. Growing up in Cuba near to the Hoyo de Monterrey tobacco farms left a big impression on me. Those fields will always remind me of home. So when I came to develop the second blend in the Hoyo La Amistad series, I wanted to honor the Cuban tradition of Hoyo by making a cigar with all Cuban-seed tobaccos. In this project, I used tobaccos that I grew on my farms in Nicaragua, so this is very special to me personally.”Hoyo La Amistad Silver takes the Hoyo/AJ collection to the next level, with a robust, meaty smoke loaded with indulgent notes of earth and black pepper. To achieve the cigar’s full-bodied complexity, proprietary Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobaccos cultivated by AJ on his farms in Esteli and Condega are bound with a Nicaraguan Habano leaf. The blend is enveloped in an exquisite, hand-selected Ecuadoran Habano wrapper aged to deliver a uniquely robust and hearty flavor. This is artisanal cigar making at its best.
Hoyo La Amistad Silver is handcrafted at the AJ Fernandez cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. The cigars are presented in 20-count boxes featuring the modern branding that debuted with the original La Amistad release. Silver will be available in three sizes beginning in mid-August. They are:
Churchill – 6.87 x 48; SRP per cigar is $7.99
Pancho – 5.5 x 52; SRP per cigar is $7.49
Robusto – 5 x 50; SRP per cigar is $6.99
IPCPR 2017 is set to kick off with a premiere party that defies convention. The who’s who of the premium cigar category will witness the Vegas strip pale in comparison, as Macanudo lights up the night with one of most exciting new cigar launches in recent history.
Presenting Macanudo Inspirado White and Macanudo Inspirado Black, two new collections from the top-rated, internationally-acclaimed brand.
“The evolution of Macanudo continues with the launch of Macanudo Inspirado White and Black,” said General Cigar President Régis Broersma. “Cigar lovers who now see Macanudo in a new light should be prepared to be wowed yet again.”
The new collections continue on the course charted by the original Macanudo Inspirado blends, introduced to the U.S. market last year. Created for discerning smokers in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Macanudo Inspirado marked an evolution of the brand, and ushered in an entirely new dimension of taste for Macanudo. Today, the evolution continues with two new lines that expand Inspirado’s range and deliver unique smoking experiences made for worldly palates.
Macanudo Inspirado White
At first glance, Macanudo Inspirado White is a thing of beauty. Grown beneath a veil of clouds, the lustrous Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper is a proprietary leaf developed by General Cigar’s agronomists to deliver an aesthetic quality like no other. Aged for six years and refined to a creamy shade of gold, the wrapper sets the stage for a study in contrast.
Beauty soon turns to complexity, as an Indonesian binder brings forth an aromatic richness, while Nicaraguan Condega and Mexican San Andres leaves, each aged for four years, deliver sweet strength. A Nicaraguan leaf cultivated in the Jalapa Valley and aged for two years deepens the experience, producing a cigar brimming with notes of earth and spice. This is Macanudo Inspirado White.Jhonys Diaz who spearheaded blend development for Macanudo Inspirado White said, “We spent several years developing this blend, using tobaccos we refined and aged to perfection. Think of the most creamy, alluring cigar you’ve ever had, amplify the complexity and you have Macanudo Inspirado White.”
Handcrafted at General Cigar Dominicana, Macanudo Inspirado White will be available in striking, 20-count boxes and will debut at retail in mid-July. The collection will debut with three vitolas.
Robusto (5” x 50); SRP per cigar is $6.49
Toro (6.5” x 50); SRP per cigar is $6.99
Churchill (7” x 48); SRP per cigar is $7.29
Macanudo Inspirado Black
A balance of power, achieved by art and science. This is Macanudo Inspirado Black.
In a proprietary and experimental process, the Connecticut Broadleaf plants were left to ripen on the stalk. The result is a rich and radiant maduro wrapper with a new dimension of sweetness. As masterful blending calls for balance and complexity, the Ecuadoran Sumatra binder enhances the strength and flavor of the Broadleaf wrapper. And that is just the beginning.
The Nicaraguan-forward blend features proprietary seeds grown in Esteli, uniquely fermented to produce the utmost in strength and flavor. All told, this is a cigar that demands attention, with bold, peppery notes intertwined with a subtle under tone of sweet earth.Jhonys Diaz noted, “Macanudo Inspirado Black represents sophistication, and is truly for the initiated smoker. It’s about tobaccos that deliver incredible full-bodied flavor and complexity, in a cigar that’s balanced and pleasurable to smoke.”
Also handcrafted at General Cigar Dominicana, Macanudo Inspirado Black will be available in striking, 20-count boxes and will begin shipping to retailers in mid-July. The collection will debut with these three vitolas:
Robusto (4 7/8” x 48); SRP per cigar is $6.99
Toro (5.87” x 54); SRP per cigar is $7.49
Churchill (7” x 48); SRP per cigar is $7.99
Beginning in August, Macanudo Inspirado events will be held at top cigar shops across the country.
In the five years since its launch, Partagas 1845 remains one of the most successful brands in the handmade cigar category. Today, the collection’s three distinct blends have been completely updated with deeper, richer taste profiles, and modernized with a new look and feel. Each of the three Partagas 1845 lines continues to pay homage to the heritage of Partagas by featuring the hallmarks of the brand – the finest, hand selected tobaccos, meticulous construction and an exquisite array of flavors.
Andres Maturen, brand manager for Partagas said, “Within the Partagas portfolio, the 1845 franchise stands apart for its ability to bridge the brand’s rich heritage and symbolism with contemporary influences. We’ve continued along this path by reimagining Partagas 1845 with a modern lens. The new Partagas 1845 blends give a nod to the brand’s storied history while delivering added complexity and more competitive pricing to resonate with discerning smokers of today.”
The newly-revamped lines will be offered at lower price points than the original Partagas 1845 lines, and will ship in mid-August.
Partagas 1845 Clásico
A medium-bodied collection available in four vitolas, Partagas 1845 Clásico is a creamy smoke with hints of toast and nuts. This four-country blend begins with a lustrous Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper, draped over a Connecticut Broadleaf binder. The blend features hand-selected leaves from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. With the new Partagas 1845 Clásico, cigar lovers can now expect to enjoy a more profound smoking experience.Gigante – 6 x 60; SRP per cigar is $7.49
Churchill – 7 x 49; SRP per cigar is $7.19
Toro – 6 x 52; SRP per cigar is $6.89
Robusto – 5 x 50; SRP per cigar is $6.29
Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte
The newly-blended Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte strikes an intricate balance between intensity and complexity. This is a full-bodied cigar that features a blend of aged ligeros from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, with a Connecticut Habano binder and aromatic Olancho San Agustin wrapper. A smoke for the initiated, Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte is available in four sizes and packs a punch with a dynamic array of roasted coffee overtones.Gigante – 6 x 60; SRP per cigar is $7.69
Churchill – 7 x 49; SRP per cigar is $7.39
Toro – 6.5 x 45; SRP per cigar is $6.99
Robusto – 5.5 x 50; SRP per cigar is $6.49
Partagas 1845 Extra Oscuro
At first glance, the dark, oily wrapper of Partagas 1845 Extra Oscuro predicts a cigar of pure power. That is only the beginning. Complexity reigns as this bold blend of Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican opens to rich, sweet spice, balancing the aged Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and binder with hints of espresso and caramel. Savory notes intensify as the smoke progresses, to deliver a cigar of great character.Churchill – 7.25 x 54; SRP per cigar is $7.39
Toro – 6.12 x 50; SRP per cigar is $6.99
Robusto – 5.25 x 50; SRP per cigar is $6.49
Rothschild – 5.63 x 46; SRP per cigar is $6.29
New Items and Special Offers
Macanudo Inspirado Orange Tube
The Ultimate Accessory Collection by Cohiba
CAO World Sampler
CAO Gold Sampler
Flavours by CAO Sampler
CAO Champions Sampler
Holiday Gift Chest
Macanudo Collection with Lighter
As America’s top-selling premium cigar brand, Macanudo Café, Cru Royale and Maduro are universally appealing to those devoted to handcrafted cigars. With a windowed view of the impeccably constructed cigars contained inside, this special offer is made even more enticing with a branded quad-flame lighter. The Macanudo Collection with Lighter ships to retailers in September for an SRP of $48.99.
Partagas Collection with Lighter
What’s better than smoking a full-bodied Partagas Black Label cigar? How about having the bold flavor of Partagas 1845 and the enticing flavor of Partagas Yellow Box on hand for future smoking occasions? This special window box contains a total of six cigars, with the added bonus of a branded quad-flame lighter. The Partagas Collection with Lighter ships in September and will sell at retail for the suggested price of $48.99. Quantities are limited.
General Cigar Extends Portfolio to Include Humidor Accessories
General Cigar announces that the company will extend its portfolio of top-selling cigars to include a complete selection of humidor accessories, shipping to retailers in October, via the Humi-Care range of products.
Regis Broersma, president of General Cigar said, “We are always looking for ways to better serve the trade. By offering a full line of humidor accessories, we’re able to provide retailers with the convenience of one-stop shopping. With products priced considerably less than comparable items available on the market, some of which being exclusive and patented, the benefits of Humi-Care are many.”
The range of Humi-Care products to be sold by General Cigar includes the following items.
Cigar Juice – A propylene glycol solution ideal for maintaining optimal humidity levels in jars and pillows, Cigar Juice is available in an 8 oz or 16 oz bottle, for a per-bottle SRP of $6.99 and $8.99, respectively.
4 oz Crystal Jar – The best-selling item in the Humi-Care line, the Crystal Jar is priced less than competitive products and delivers the goods with unmatched humidity.
Black Ice Pie Jar – Another top-seller in the Humi-Care line, this patented product can be split into four pieces to take up minimal space in the humidor, while delivering radiant humidity. The Black Ice Pie Jar is available in a four oz. (SRP is $12.50) and 8 oz. size (SRP is $14.99).
HX10 Crystal Rectangle Humidifier – An unbeatable value with an SRP that’s less than competitive humidifiers, the Humi-Care HX10 Crystal Rectangle Humidifier is a great, cost-effective solution for any humidor.
Portable Humidification Pillows – For fresh from the factory flavor anytime, anywhere, look no further than the Humi-Pack humidification pillow. The Humi-Pack pillows offer unbeatable moisture levels in a portable price-friendly package.
Seasoning Wipes – A unique, turnkey solution for seasoning your humidor, the Humi-Pack seasoning wipes are easy to use and individually packaged for easy sale.
Black Ice Round Digital Hygrometer – At an SRP of $19.99, Humi-Care’s digital hygrometer delivers top-notch readings at a significantly less expensive cost than similar items on the market.
Humi-Care Rectangle Digital Hygrometer – With a large display, the Humi-Care rectangular hygrometer is ideal for easy-to-read, accurate humidity levels, and uses traditional AAA batteries vs. watch batteries for easy long-term maintenance.
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