JR Cigar to Release Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition JR 50th

Rocky Patel has now joined the long list of collaborators for JR Cigar’s ongoing 50th Anniversary Series. For this project, Rocky and the JR team looked to one of his most popular and highest rated cigars and have brought it back on a limited basis.

Rocky Patel’s ALR line, which stands for Aged, Limited and Rare, was a great addition to the Rocky Patel portfolio. The follow up release, the ALR Second Edition, is one of the most sought after cigars in Rocky’s portfolio and the inspiration for JR’s collaboration with Rocky. To add a huge exclamation point to this success story, the JR team is taking the most popular size of this already limited line and is offering it in a special, customized 10-count box.

“Fifty years in this industry is an historic achievement,” says Rocky Patel. “The ALR Second Edition is one of our most sought after and critically acclaimed cigars, so I thought it would be the perfect addition to JR’s celebration series.”

The Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition JR 50th is hand rolled at Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A., also known as the TaviCusa factory. It uses aged Nicaraguan tobaccos from both Estelí and Jalapa for the filler and a stout Nicaraguan leaf for the binder. The wrapper is an exquisite Mexican leaf from the famed San Andrés Valley.

What makes the ALR line unique is that after the cigars are rolled, they are left to age for an additional two years. This allows the different tobaccos to comingle further, creating an even smoother and more flavorful experience. Hints of cocoa, cedar and a tobacco sweetness are noticeable throughout as the complexity increases with each puff.

The cigar is rolled into a box pressed 6½ X 52 Toro, and packaged in custom boxes of 10, opposed to the boxes of 20 with its original release. Only 500 boxes have been made.

Priced at $14.70 per cigar; $132.50 per box, this cigar will be available October 5 exclusively at www.JRCigars.com.

Las Calaveras Edición Limitada (EL) 2021 LC48 (6 x 48)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Cigar-coop.com website)

Crowned Heads has released Las Calaveras Edición Limitada (EL) 2021, the eighth installment of the annual series that pays homage to the Year of the Dead.

Las Calaveras was first launched in 2014 and has been an annual release. Las Calaveras pays homage to those who have passed away over the past year. As opposed to being a mournful symbol, it is intended to be a celebration of those lives and remembrances of those who are no longer with us. As with most of the previous blends, the bands of each release of Las Calaveras have contained the initials of four deceased individuals.

Las Calaveras EL 2021 consists of an Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro cover leaf and Nicaraguan binder and filler – marking the firs time Sumatra has been used on a Las Calaveras blend. The cigars will be released in four sizes: LC48 (6 x 48), LC50 (5 x 50), LC54 (5 3/4 x 54), and Petit Lancero (6 x 40). The Torpedo will be available as a part of a four-count sampler featuring one of each of the Las Calaveras EL 2021 sizes. The LC48, LC50, and LC54 will be available in 24-count boxes. Production is handled by My Father Cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua – who has produced every release of Las Calaveras to date. Production has been allocated to 1,250 boxes per size and an addition 1,750 of the sampler boxes.

The 24 box counts consist of 3 rows of eight cigars. Crowned Heads has done this because the number 8 is a symbol of infinity as in everlasting life and the three rows represent the beginning, middle, and end of the cycle of life.

“We’re particularly excited about this year’s Las Calaveras releases as it marks a first for us in the series,” commented Jon Huber, co-founder of Crowned Heads in a press release. “In fact, this is the first time we’ve utilized a Sumatra wrapper leaf in any project originating from our partners at My Father Cigars, and I think the resulting profile is not only an obvious change of pace, but is also an amazing expression of Sumatra wrapper leaf.”

Pricing is set at $10.95 to $12.95 SRP per cigar.

Blend and Origin

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.

Vitolas Offered

LC48: 6 x 48 REVIEWED TODAY

LC50: 5 x 50

LC54: 5 3/4 x 54

Petit Lancero: 6 1/2 x 40

The cigar is medium brown and well made. It has an average feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were cedar with a splash of citrus, citrus peel, brown sugar, dry nutmeg, and an earthy black coffee. There was average black pepper rated at 7. I like the flavor notes. Nice start.

At the first third (23 minutes) the cigar is burning fairly evenly. The cigar has a nice mix of the citrus, citrus peel, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It's a soup of flavors that are almost fermented tasting. Like a sweet wine. There is still an earthy black coffee base but it does not detract from the nice, sweet soup of flavors. The black pepper is good. The finish is citrus and citrus peel with good lingering black pepper. The cigar is currently medium bodied. I rated the first third 94.

As I moved through the second third (46 minutes) the cigar got even sweeter and richer. It's more intense. The black coffee started to elevated which helped the overall balance. The lingering black pepper is also better. The finish is citrus, citrus peel, brown sugar, and nutmeg. The cigar is still around medium bodied. I expected it to jump but it has not. But the cigar is quite tasty. I rated the second third 95.

One thing that is interesting is in each of the previous years the Las Calaveras band has gold medallions on either side of the main circle that has the Las Calaveras name. In those medallians are the initials of 4 people who passed away during the past year.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 6 minutes. In the last segment the black coffee started elevating and it continued through the final third. The cigar got quite earthy due to the elevated black coffee. The nutmeg also rose. The other flavor notes are still there but the nutmeg and coffee took the cigar way out of balance. The cigar is still quite good but the elevated coffee and nutmeg caused me to lower the final third to 93. Still, I really enjoyed this cigar and will be looking for more. This is the best Las Calaveras I've had in recent years.

Overall Score: 94

Punch announces Bento Box, a Limited Edition Brick and Mortar exclusive for Holiday 2021

Punch will kick off the holiday season next month with “Punch Bento Box,” a limited edition, brick and mortar exclusive containing all three “Year of the Zodiac” releases from 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Shipping to cigar shops in October, Punch Bento Box contains a total of 42 cigars, including 20 of the “Egg Roll” blend launched in 2019, a dozen of the “Chop Suey” blend from 2020 and 10 “Kung Pow!” cigars released earlier this year. Each of the cigars is included in its original size. Also included is a custom-made cigar rest, created exclusively for the Bento Box. This special holiday item will sell for a suggested retail price of $205.58.

Ed Lahmann, senior brand manager for Punch cigars said, “Just like a true Bento Box that hits all of the major food groups in one package, our version brings together all of our Zodiac releases in one creative and great looking box. Each of our Zodiac releases were fast sell-outs at retail, due to their fantastic blends and incredible value. Bento Box is being released in a very limited quantity, so they’re sure to be gone in a flash from cigar shops.”

Punch Egg Roll (4.5” x 50) A Colombian, Mexican, American and Dominican blend meet an Ecuadoran Sumatra binder and Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper to create a satisfying smoke that’s earthly and dimensional. Handcrafted at HATSA in Danli, Honduras, Punch Egg Roll has an SRP per cigar of $3.99.

Punch Chop Suey Punch (7” x 37) Punch Chop Suey is made with a Nicaraguan and Dominican blend and has a Nicaraguan binder with an Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper. The shaggy foot smoke has notes of leather, earth and earth and an SRP of $5.49 per cigar. Chop Suey is handmade at the HATSA cigar factory.

Punch Kung Pow! (6” x 52) has a five-country blend and is also handmade at the HATSA cigar factory. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper sits over a Honduran Habano binder and the blend features long filler leaves from Brazil, Honduras, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Kung Pow! is a vaguely sweet smoke with an undercurrent of spice. SRP per cigar $5.99.

Punch Bento Box will be available at retail until the limited supply is depleted.

Diesel Sunday Gravy San Marzano (6 x 54)

Video review HERE.

(Description provided by Forged Cigar Company)

The great gravy-sauce debate has been hotly contested for decades. Run a search and you’ll find more than 68 million results. You read that right: 68 million. Now, Diesel’s getting into the fray with its newest collection, called “Sunday Gravy,” launching in August.

Sunday Gravy will be a full-time line under Diesel, and will feature seasonally-released, Nicaraguan-forward smokes, blended and handcrafted through Diesel’s winning partnership of AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews. Blends will be released quarterly, sold until their limited supply is deleted and offered at an unbelievable SRP of less than $5.00 per cigar.

Justin Andrews, senior brand manager of Diesel said, “When I first started working with AJ Fernandez and even to this day, I’m impressed by his method of making cigars. He ferments and ages his tobacco meticulously to achieve the taste he wants. His process actually reminds me of my Mom and how she cooked her Sunday sauce slowly over a low flame, knowing she had the luxury of being able to cook all day on a Sunday to get it just right. The comparison to cooking inspired the name of this new collaboration with AJ, and it’s actually very similar to his approach. AJ never rushes the tobacco. In fact, his processes are what some might describe as painstaking. The result is richness, depth and complexity and like a good Sunday sauce or gravy, AJ’s cigars are always worth the wait.”

Handcrafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua, and blended by AJ Fernandez with Justin Andrews, Sunday Gravy launches with its first blend called “San Marzano.”

Available nationally from July-September 2021 or until the cigars are sold out, San Marzano features three varieties of Cuban-seed tobacco. The wrapper is Ecuadoran Habano, the binder is Nicaraguan Esteli and the filler is Nicaraguan Jalapa. This is a bold smoke, with notes of black pepper, nuts, cedar and a hint of dark chocolate.

San Marzano (6” x 54); SRP per cigar $4.99 (available in ten-count boxes or as single cigars)

This limited-time blend will ship on August 12th and the brand’s distributor, The Forged Cigar Company, is expecting that gravy-sauce debates will be coming soon to a cigar shop near you.A new Sunday Gravy blend will be released in October, 2021 in time for the 2021 holiday season.

The cigar is medium brown and nicely made. It has a nice feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were good basic flavors; cedar, citrus peel, brown sugar, nutmeg, light leather, and black coffee. There was a nice amount of black pepper rated at 7 1/2. A pretty nice start.

At the first third (26 minutes) the flavors were about the same; cedar, brown sugar, light citrus peel, light nutmeg, leather, and black coffee. The finish is citrus peel and nutmeg with a little brown sugar. There was good lingering black pepper. The cigar is currently medium bodied. A good, basic cigar. I rated the first third 91.

As I moved through the second third (1 hour 2 minutes) I had the same flavor notes. Nothing had changed. The cigar is now medium to full bodied. The finish is also unchanged. The cigar is very consistent to this point. I held the score of 91.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 26 minutes. In the final third I had cedar, brown sugar, light nutmeg, light leather, and elevated black coffee. The cigar is now full bodied. The finish had a scorched brown sugar and nutmeg with nice lingering black pepper. I rated the final third 89. For a $5 cigar this has been a nice find and definitely one worth trying. Good basic flavors.

Overall Score: 90.33

CAO Flathead V21 Carb (6 x 60 Box Pressed)

Video review HERE.

(Description provided by General Cigar)

CAO is putting the pedal to the metal with a souped-up follow-up to the wildly-popular V-19 blend. Called CAO Flathead V21, this new release was created by Rick Rodriguez and the CAO blending team in Nicaragua to kick the Flathead franchise into high gear.

Rick and the team selected a Mexican San Andres wrapper for the blend which also includes a Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a bold selection of Nicaraguan and Dominican ligero tobaccos. They then gave each of the filler leaves an abbreviated fermentation to lock in the tobacco’s native characteristics and added a secondary aging process to the filler to bring everything together. The result is a cigar with a medium to medium-full profile brimming with distinctive molasses and leather notes, this time with even more depth and complexity.

“For Flathead V21, we wanted to give our fans a cigar that’s bold and complex, and still perfect for any smoking occasion,” said Rick Rodriguez. “We see this as the ultimate cigar for the CAO smoker who wants to experience the complexity of each tobacco with every draw. I’ve personally enjoyed V21 on its own and with a drink and have experienced different notes every time I smoke it. To me, that means we’ve done our job.”

Crafted at STG Estelí in Nicaragua, CAO Flathead V21 will be released in two sizes, and production is limited to just 2,000 boxes per size. The blend will only be available for a limited time and began shipping to retailers on August 3.

The boxes that house CAO Flathead V21 are racecar red, with a bold black sash that culminates in the brand’s logo on the front of the box. Each box contains 27 cigars.

Carb V21 (6 x 60) – SRP per cigar $13.99 REVIEWED TODAY

Big Block V21 (7 x 70) – SRP per cigar $14.99

The cigar is large and very dense feeling.

The test draw after cutting the cap was a bit firm. After having several of these this cigar is drawing just like the others. I decided to go with it. The initial flavors at light up were a sweet, somewhat tangy peach, citrus peel, brown sugar, and a thick, creamy nutmeg. These flavors take about 5 minutes after light up to appear.

At the first third (45 minutes) there is a little hint of chocolate in the sweet peach notes. The primary flavor is a tangy, sweet peach with brown sugar, light citrus peel, nutmeg, and light black coffee. There is black pepper rated at 7. The finish is peach with average lingering black pepper. The draw is ok but it sure could be better. I chose not to use the PerfecDraw tool because the previous samples had a poor draw all the way through the cigar. I rated the first third 92.

Moving through the second third (1 hour 27 minutes) there are light chocolate notes attached to the peach notes. The other notes are still in play except for the citrus peel which has dropped off. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is still peach with average lingering black pepper. Some of the flavors in the second third are a little mellowed out so I rated the cigar 91.

The cigar lasted 2 hours 4 minutes. Nice burn time. Nothing has really changed in the final third. I still had the peach, very light chocolate, brown sugar, nutmeg, and black coffee. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is peach with average lingering black pepper. I think this cigar would score higher if the draw were better. Perhaps they need to sit for an extended time to dry out a bit. It's a good cigar that deserves a try. I rated the final third 91.

Overall Score: 91.33

ATL Cigar Co Announces the ATL Magic

ATL Cigar Co (www.atlcigar.co) announces the launch of its fourth line of cigars, the ATL Magic.  To be released to ATL Cigar Co’s network of 50+ premium cigar retailers on October 16, 2021, the ATL Magic celebrates a city full of passion and mystery, gems and ghosts.   

A single 6x54 vitola created in partnership with Master Blender Luciano Meirelles of Ace Prime - Tabacalera Pichardo in Esteli, (Mil Dias, Luciano The Dreamer, The Traveler, and many others), the ATL Magic features a unique flavor and aroma developed using different fillers of Nicaragua, including the very special Pueblo Nuevo region.  

While Pueblo Nuevo contributes the dominant features of the cigar, long fillers from Esteli and Jalapa also contribute to a rounded, sweet and earthy flavor profile.  A San Andres wrapper caps off this complex, medium-plus blend, adding another chapter to the ATL story.

ATL Magic will ship in October in bundles of 10 and boxes of 20, and retail for $9.75.

Leroy Lamar, President of ATL Cigar Co, commented on the launch: “Working with Luciano Meirelles has been a distinct pleasure for me and our team.  Our shared values - from proper fermentation of the leaf to financial and social support of the farmers and production team - give us great hope for the future of our partnership with Luciano and the Ace Prime - Tabacalera Pichardo family.”

Luciano Meirelles added, “We have very few private labels we are working with, however the ATL Cigar team’s passion for people and for Atlanta culture is contagious.  Although they are a relatively new brand, ATL Cigar Co demonstrates a passion for doing things in the time-honored tradition of premium cigars. It’s not hard to see why they’ve grown so fast in their first year in the industry.”

Learn more about the creation of the ATL Magic: https://youtu.be/e6ttyuAodC4  

About ATL Cigar Company

ATL Cigar Company is committed to bringing diverse groups of people together around a shared premium cigar experience. With unique blends developed in partnership with leading tobacco farms and factories, we believe the country's greatest cigar city deserves its own line of great cigars.  With a retail footprint of more than 50 stores that is growing on a weekly basis, ATL Cigar Company is poised to be one of the fastest-growing boutique cigar brands of 2022.

HUMIDIFGROUP USA TO UNVEIL NEW SMART PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY BY WAY OF FERIO TEGO CIGAR CO.

HumidifGroup USA, a world leader in luxury packaging, design, and accessories for the tobacco industry brings to the public its new Smart Packaging technology, in conjunction with the launch of Ferio Tego Cigar Co. Ferio Tego Cigar Co. is the latest venture for Michael Herklots, former executive at Nat Sherman. The Smart Packaging technology enhances the consumer experience by way of NFC technology. Smart Packaging immerses the end-user with information, slick videos, and education with a simple tap of the phone. HumidifGroup is the first packaging company to create this technology the tobacco industry.

With more than 30 years in market, HumidifGroup felt it was time to embrace the latest in technology. HumidifGroup USA ushers in this technology by embedding an NFC chip within the cigar box or cigar accessory that is created for their customer. With a simple TAP of a smartphone, Smart packaging tech offers the most secure authentication system and opens a wide channel for the customer’s experience and interaction. Users will enjoy amazing features such as VR, AR, pairing notes, tap to reorder and much more. The new Ferio Tego Cigar Co. brand will be the first to market with HumidifGroup Smart Packaging technology.

Ferio Tego Cigar Co., the brainchild of Michael Herklots and Brandon Scott who are both former Nat Sherman Executives. Ferio Tego Cigar Co. wanted to introduce their brand in a new and innovative way, to further connect with the consumer. With a simple tap of your iPhone on the Ferio Tego Cigar Co. box will open a browser that showcases video, cigar descriptions, and company information.

Michael Herklots, Principle of Ferio Tego Cigars said:” Smart Packaging by HumidifGroup allows us to control our messaging and ensure that we are communicating clearly to our audience. Packaging is an important part of the Ferio Tego Experience. Smart packaging technology allows collectors to receive real-time information and communication about Ferio Tego and our products. Our retail partners work tirelessly to run their businesses, a challenge made only greater these last 18 months. Smart packaging allows us to assist them, keeping the most helpful details and stories of Ferio Tego right on the product itself, delivered straight to a smart phone.”

Smart Packaging solution turns the product into a powerful digital platform and enables logistics optimization. HumidifGroup feels strongly that their Smart Packaging technology will change the way the cigar industry does business.

Videos: 

Augmented reality

Smart packaging

Interactive Shop

Product authentication

Tap to reorder

Viaticum 2021 Toro (6 x 48 Box Pressed)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Cigar-coop.com website)

At the 2021 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Oveja Negra Brands showcased the 2021 edition of its Black Label Trading Company Last Rites Viaticum. This year’s edition will introduce two new vitolas into the limited-edition line.

Viaticum was introduced two years ago at the IPCPR Trade Show. It was a cigar introduced to commemorate Black Label Trading Company’s sixth anniversary. It’s an offshoot of Black Label Trading Company’s Last Rites line. Viaticum uses the same tobaccos as Last Rites, but uses different proportions and incorporates different primings.

The blend features an Ecuadorian Maduro wrapper over a Honduran Habano binder and a combination of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobacco. It was introduced in 2019 in a 5 x 54 box press. For 2021, Viaticum brings in two new box-pressed sizes – a 6 x 48 Toro and a 6 3/4 x 40 Lancero. 

Blend and Origin

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro

Binder: Honduran Habano

Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: Fabrica Oveja Negra

Vitolas Offered

Robusto: 5 x 54 (Box Press)

Toro: 6 x 48 (Box Press) REVIEWED TODAY

Lancero: 6 3/4 x 40 (Box Press)

The cigar is a nice box press and very dark. I chose this size because of it's smaller ring. It has an average to light feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors at light up were a nice tangy cedar with orange citrus, a caramel/toffee mix, nutmeg, and a generous amount of black coffee. There was a large amount of black pepper rated at 8 to 8 1/2. A very nice, sweet, dark noted start.

At the first third (21 minutes) the flavors are exactly like I described them initially. The cigar is medium to full bodied and it seems to be moving up. The finish is cedar, brown sugar, nutmeg, and a little black coffee. The lingering black pepper is very good. The cigar is very tasty at this point. I rated the first third 95.

As I moved through the second third (40 minutes) I lost the tangy orange citrus but the cedar is still there along with the caramel/toffee, nutmeg, and quite a bit of black coffee. The black pepper is still up around 8. The finish is unchanged and it still has very nice lingering black pepper. The cigar is now full bodied. The cigar lost just a slight amount due to the loss of the citrus notes. I rated the second third 94.

The cigar lasted 59 minutes. The citrus notes made a little comeback. The cigar is back to a nice sweetness and the black coffee dropped back to it's previous amount. I now had some tangy citrus/cedar notes, toffee/caramel, light nutmeg, and black coffee. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is unchanged. This is a fantastic cigar. I rated the final third 95. I can definitely recommend this cigar and I feel sure any of the other sizes are just as good.

Overall Score: 94.67

Drew Estate Announces Bitcoin Sweepstakes*

Drew Estate is about to make someone a whole lot richer!!! During its latest Freestyle Live show on the company’s Facebook Live page (facebook.com/drewestatecigar), Drew Estate announced that it will hold a Bitcoin Sweepstakes, with numerous incredible prizes during upcoming Freestyle Live events, including a Grand Prize of one full Bitcoin for a lucky fan to be announced during the Feb. 17, 2022, edition of Freestyle Live.

Entry into the unheralded Drew Estate Bitcoin Sweepstakes is simple. During each of the company’s three upcoming Freestyle Live events—Oct. 15 and Nov. 11 in 2021, and Jan. 20, 2022—the company will randomly select the names of five people who attend the online show and comment during specific times in each broadcast as potential winners of an assortment of fantastic prizes. The five winners from each of these three shows will create the contestant pool of 15 people eligible to win the Grand Prize Bitcoin. At the conclusion of the Feb. 17, 2022 edition of Freestyle Live, the Grand Prize winner will be randomly selected from this group.

Created in January 2009, Bitcoin is the largest and best-known cryptocurrency. As of mid-September 2021, a full Bitcoin was worth around $46,000! Those who have kept an eye on Bitcoin over the years know that its price can be volatile and can go way up or way down with little warning. While it is impossible to predict what Bitcoin’s value will be on Feb. 17, 2022, when Drew Estate holds the random drawing for the Grand Prize, one lucky Drew Estate fan will have a chance to get in on the action with one full Bitcoin of his or her own!

“Drew Estate’s primary mission in our 25 years has been our authentic, groundbreaking and never-ending pursuit of improving the quality of peoples’ lives by encouraging them to be themselves and celebrate diversity and individuality together,” says Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate. “Through the manifestation of revolutionary cigars like ACID and Liga Privada, as well as groundbreaking experiences we enjoy with our loyal fans at events such as Barn Smoker or Cigar Safari, we’ve become part of so many wonderful people’s lives, building our dream of ‘The Rebirth of Cigars.’ Drew Estate’s Bitcoin Sweepstakes is an unprecedented pathway for us to continue the development of peer-to-peer, decentralized love of the premium leaf and passion for our time-honored tradition. We know how to keep the fire burning and keep the DJ spinnin’.”

Each of the upcoming Freestyle Live shows will be aired on Drew Estate’s Facebook Live page (facebook.com/drewestatecigar) beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern, and the sweepstakes entry period during each show will be early in the broadcast. Visit https://drewestate.com/freestylelivebitcoingiveawaytermsandconditions/ for official rules and entry details, and make sure to show up on time for Freestyle Live! Always interactive and entertaining, Freestyle Live shows last for approximately two hours and offer previews of Drew Estate’s new cigars, swag, events and other surprises, as well as sweepstakes and contests for both consumers and premium retailers. Be sure to tune in on Oct. 15 and Nov. 11, 2021, and Jan. 20, 2022, to learn all that’s new at Drew Estate and participate for a chance to win a Bitcoin.

*NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C. (excluding MA & MI), age 21+. Void where prohibited. Entry Periods start at 7:00 PM ET and end at 07:45 PM ET on 10/15/21, 11/11/21 and 01/20/22. ARV of all prizes: $71,585.24. Odds of being selected an Entry Period Prize winner will depend on the number of eligible entries received per Entry Period. Finalist’s odds of winning Grand Prize: 1:15.: One (1) entry per person per Entry Period. For full Official Rules, click here. Sponsor: SWI-DE, LLC, 12415 SW 136th Ave Suite 7 Miami, FL 33186.

CASA CUEVAS CIGARS REBRANDS THE CASA CUEVAS PRENSADO BRAND

Casa Cuevas Cigars announces that the Casa Cuevas Prensado line has added a secondary band to distinguish the Prensado from the Casa Cuevas core line of cigars.  The Casa Cuevas Prensado line features a Habano and a Maduro version.

Launched in 2017, the Casa Cuevas Prensado is a follow up to the Casa Cuevas core line of cigars. The addition of the secondary band will further distinguish this from the original Casa Cuevas core line.

Luis Cuevas President of Casa Cuevas Cigars said, “Because the Prensado is a 6 X 48, we felt that it was too similar in gauge to our Toro, which is 6 X 50.  Thus, after much feedback on this issue from retailers and consumers, we knew it was time to accentuate the branding so as to fully distinguish the Prensado from the Toro when a consumer is simply looking at the layout of the cigars within a box.  The Prensados, or box-pressed cigars, are a personal favorite of my father, my son, and I.   We look forward to getting behind the Casa Cuevas Prensado and re-introducing the line in this new way.”

Although blended in the same manner as the Casa Cuevas Core line of Maduros and Habanos, the Prensado really accentuates the flavor of the wrapper and binder since less filler is used in order to press the cigar into its rectangular shape.  Additionally, Master Blender Luis Cuevas, Sr. believes in making sure that box-pressed cigars are pressed for enough time to maintain their shape. Which means these cigars take longer to roll out to market than their traditionally shaped counterparts. 

Luis Cuevas, Sr. states, “Prensado cigars need adequate time being pressed.  This is non-negotiable in our factory.  Perfection takes time.”

The Casa Cuevas Prensado Habano is composed of an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Dominican/Nicaraguan fillers.  

The Casa Cuevas Prensado Maduro is composed of a Mexican San Andreas Maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Dominican/Nicaraguan filler. 

Both blends are made in the Cuevas family-owned Las Lavas Cigar Factory located in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Both blends are available in one size, a 6X48 box pressed.

MSRP:

Casa Cuevas Habano: $8.20

Casa Cuevas Maduro: $8.40

The newly branded Casa Cuevas Prensado’s started shipping at the beginning of September.

Sensei’s Sensational Sarsaparilla (5 1/2 x 52 Belicoso)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Cigar-coop.com website)

Sensei’s Sensational Sarsaparilla, a collaboration released by Espinosa Cigars in conjunction with Cigar Dojo, is returning. This time Sarsaparilla will be returning as an ongoing national release. The cigar launched at the 2021 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show.

Sarsaparilla made its debut in 2014 as was actually the second Cigar Dojo collaboration. Sarsaparilla was a very popular beverage in the old west and was often believed to be a remedy for a number of health conditions. Sarsaparilla is a drink that is still popular today because of its distinct and complex flavor.  Cigar Dojo founder Eric Guttormson said the name was derived because the cigar exhibits the flavor of the beverage.

The original blend and original size for the Sarsaparilla also return. The blend features a San Andres Mexican wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and filler. The cigars come in one size – a 5 1/2 x 52 belicoso (there was a 6 x 50 size done in 2016).

While the original Sarsaparilla was packaged in bundles and sold through Famous Smoke Shop, the 2021 edition will be packaged in ten-count boxes and sold nationally at Espinosa retailers. The cigar will be an ongoing limited release with the first shipment is slated for August 20, 2021. Pricing is set at $10.00 per cigar or $99.95 per box.

Blend and Origin:

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua (Condega | Estelí)

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: La Zona

Vitolas Offered:

Belicoso: 5 1/2 x 52

The cigar is well made and dark brown. It has an average or above feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were licorice, vanilla, brown sugar, nutmeg, and white pepper rated at 7. The lingering white pepper is already showing it's presence and it's nice. The flavor notes are somewhat like the sarsaparilla drink initially.

At the first third (39 minutes) another flavor associated with sarsaparilla appeared; wintergreen. It's primarily on the finish. The front end flavors are like they were initially; licorice, light vanilla, brown sugar, and nutmeg. The wintergreen is light on the finish with licorice and brown sugar. The lingering white pepper is pretty good. The cigar is medium bodied. The flavors are nice but very unusual. I rated the first third 92.

Moving through the second third (1 hour 2 minutes) I had light licorice, brown sugar, and a lot of an earthy black coffee. The finish is wintergreen and light nutmeg. The wintergreen is very prominent on the finish, not on the front end. The cigar jumped to full bodied in the second third. This cigar is quite different from other cigars I've reviewed. It almost catches you off guard. But due to the elevation of black coffee in the second third I rated the cigar 90 at this point.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 32 minutes. A good burn time. In the final third I had light licorice, nutmeg, light brown sugar, and wintergreen. It finally appeared on the front end. The finish is heavy wintergreen. There is a nice amount of lingering white pepper. The cigar is full bodied. The flavors in this cigar are very unique that will appeal to a lot of people but it didn't really grab me. I rated the final third 91. It made a slight improvement. Even though it's not something that I typically gravitate toward it's well worth trying. If you're looking for something out of the norm this is it.

Overall Score: 91