Tag: Cigars

In 2018 I embarked on a trip from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada to Las Vegas, Nevada to attend the Premium Cigar Association Trade show, known then as IPCPR.
It’s the largest gathering of cigar producers, distributors and retailers in North America.
It’s always exciting to see all the elaborate booths and the new cigar releases and get to know the big names in the cigar industry.

It was an absolute honour to meet Nirka Reyes of De Los Reyes Cigars which, in addition to their own cigar blends – Don Julio & Saga – makes Debonaire, Indian Motorcycles, Patoro & Puros de Hostos cigars for other companies.

The De Los Reyes story is a long one which dates back to the 1850’s when Nirka’s family immigrated to the Dominican Republic from Spain.
They have been growing tobacco for generations since.

Nirka decided to start making the unique Saga series cigar in 2014 starting with the Saga Golden Age using all Dominican tobacco: Corojo 2006 Dominican Wrapper, Dominican San Vicente binder & original Piloto Cubano seed tobacco in the filler.

The 1st volume of Saga Short Tales volume came out in 2016 and was aptly named: “Tales of the High Primings”.
Each box looks like a book and the public responded favourably, wanting to buy full boxes of the cigar … and then wanted an entire collection!

Currently, there are six editions, with plans for 4 more.

The De Los Reyes team is dedicated to making cigars that bring joy to people who love cigars.

I enjoyed a Saga Short Tales cigar when I stopped for a stroll in Gallup, New Mexico, which was just one of many stops along the way during my Cigar Road-Trip 2018.
Definitely a box-worthy … or in this case “volume-worthy” … smoke!


https://www.reyescigar.com

DTT Timeshare Experience

Dunbarton, NH – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) recently announced an innovative virtual initiative dubbed with their tongues firmly planted in cheek called “The DTT Timeshare Experience”.

The program debuted in the 2nd half of July 2020 in response to the cancellation of PCA’s Annual Trade Show for the cigar industry.

“Everyone is trying to figure out the best way to serve their Retail Customers and their own interests in this very topsy-turvy year of trade show and event cancellations.
Most are doing virtual sales meetings, other are hosting virtual tradeshows and/or mini-physical travelling trade shows.

Honestly, I do not know how these will work, but I am doubtful that any of these strategies are appropriate for our Select Purveyors currently when it comes to our brands.

For us, sales have been solid and we are on track for another record setting year; this is thanks to steady growth with ever increasing turns and volume per turn.

In my opinion, the best thing we can do is remain steady and continue to enhance our brands’ value for our Retailers and their customers,” states Steve Saka, Founder and Co-Owner of DTT.

He goes on to add, “So rather than focus on sales, we have created an interactive program that will educate and engage our Select Purveyors and any of their staff they wish to include.

It will be focused on our products, industry trends, business strategy for continued growth, etc. in my typical no-nonsense manner. But ‘man does not live on work alone’, so we decided to spice it up a bit and jokingly bring in some elements of those really crappy timeshare pitches that we all endured as children whose parents just wanted the FREE whatever for listening. Now I cannot promise it will be good, but it will definitely be different and hopefully fun!

And of course we will throw out some sort of deal or two at the end, but that will not be the primary focus – we want our Purveyors to buy our puros not because they are discounted, but because they are exceptional and serve the needs of the most experienced and discerning customers. ”

Emails soliciting for registration in the DTT Timeshare Experience have been transmitted to Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Select Purveyors.

Some opportunities will only be extended to those who participate in the program.

®Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust are registered trademarks of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and/or affiliated companies.

About Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, LLC
Founded in 2015, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (DTT) has quickly become the premier craft manufacturer of ultra- premium handmade cigars. Founded by cigar and industry expert Steve Saka, a former Executive Consultant to JR Cigar and President and CEO of Drew Estate, with the singular focus to create only “Puros Sin Compromiso” – Cigars Without Compromise.
Included within their portfolio are:
Sobremesa
Mi Querida
Todos Las Dias
Sin Compromiso
Umbagog
Muestra de Saka.

DTT is the only company ever to be named the “Company of the Year” for three consecutive years by Halfwheel.

For more information, please visit: 
www.dunbartoncigars.com.

®Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust are registered trademarks of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and/or affiliated companies.

val-bradshaw-black-white-valbradshaw-copy Partagás. by Val.
Partagás is among the oldest brands of cigars in the world.
It was established in Havana in 1845 and is still produced in Cuba for Habano’s SA, the Cuban state-owned tobacco company.

On September 16th, 2016, Cigar Journal announced that Partagás was voted “Best Brand – Cuba” … winning the Cigar Trophy award for 2016!
Partagás History

“Don Jaime Partagás y Ravelo was the son of Jaume Partagás, a tailor, and Teresa Ravelo.
In 1831 he immigrated to Cuba.
Upon arriving in Havana Don Jamie started working  for Lloret de Mar businessman, Joan Conill.
After a few years, he branched out on his own, and in 1845 established his factory:
La Flor de Tabacas de Partagás.
A strong businessman, Don Jaime owned many of the best plantations in the Vuelta Abajo tobacco-growing region of Cuba.
As a result, he was able to select the finest tobaccos to be found on the island.
This led to Don Jaime’s “Partagás” cigar having the flavour & aromas that kept people coming back & made the brand incredibly successful.
It is suggested that Don Jaime Partagás y Ravelo was a curious man, experimenting with various methods of fermenting and aging tobacco.

Another of Don Jaime’s claims to fame is he’s credited with installing one of the first “lectors” to read to & entertain the cigar rollers as they worked, a practice which continues today.

Before and after the Cuban revolution, the authentic Cuban-produced Partagás was, and remains, one of the most sought-after and highest-selling cigars in the world.”

Partagás cigars are full flavoured.
Once you’ve tasted a Partagás,
the experience will be burned in your memory.
This is due to their earthy aroma & taste, which comes from the
filler & binder tobacco found in Vuelta Abajo.
Vuelta Abajo is a region unique in the world of tobacco & of Cuban tobacco
as it is the only zone that can successfully
grow all types of leaf: wrapper, binder & filler.

You can get  Partagás cigars in a variety of shapes & sizes, like the Lusitania.
Partagas Lusitania VB.jpeg
… but, according to “The World of the Habano” Partagás is probably the best known for the Serie D No 4, a robusto that dates back to the 1930’s.
Partagas serie d no4.jpg

Congratulations to Partagás on winning Cigar Journal’s
Cigar Trophy 2016
“Best Brand – Cuba”

cigar-trophy-image-bw
Cigar Trophy Award 2016. Cigar Journal

 

 

Other nominees in the “Best Brand 2016 Cuba” category were:
Cohiba. Montecristo. Ramon Allones. Trinidad.
And the winner is: Partagas.

Cigar Journal. Cigar Trophy 2016

In 1998, Cigar Journal embarked on a series of awards to recognize exceptional Cigars, Cigar Brands and over-all service to, and for, the Cigar Lifestyle.

In 2013, to their credit, Cigar Journal turned the voting over to the consumers, ushering in a whole new era of “Cigar Trophy Awards”.

Starting in late spring of every year, Cigar Journal readers & followers submit their recommendations, followed by voting from all around the globe.

Cigar Journal editorial staff continues to decide on a few illustrious categories, honouring Cigar companies with distinction for extraordinary cigar art, charitable projects, cigar advocacy groups, cigar ambassadors and the ultimate: Lifetime Achievement Award.

On September 16.16, the Cigar Trophy Award winners were announced.
Here are the results:

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST BRAND 

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST BRAND from CUBA:
PARTAGÁS
Nominees in the Cuba category were: Cohiba. Montecristo. Partagás.
Ramon Allones. Trinidad

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST BRAND from DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
DAVIDOFF WINSTON CHURCHILL
Nominees in the Dom. Rep. category were: Davidoff Winston Churchill. Gurkha 125th Anniversary. La Aurora 107. La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero. Quesada 40th Anniversary

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST BRAND from HONDURAS:
ALEC BRADLEY BLACK MARKET
Nominees in the Honduras category were: Alec Bradley Black Market. Camacho American Barrel Aged. Flor de Copan. Flor de Selva. Rocky Patel Twentieth Anniversary

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST BRAND from NICARAGUA:
PERDOMO DOUBLE AGED 12 YEAR VINTAGE
Nominees in the Nicaragua category were: CAO Flathead. Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco RE. Nub. Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage. San Cristobal (Paradiso)

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST BRAND from the USA:
TATUAJE RESERVA
Nominees in the U.S.A. category were: Casa Fernandez Miami.
El Primer Mundo Liga Miami.El Reloj El Ocho. La Palina Family Series Miami.
Tatuaje Reserva

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST CIGAR

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST CIGAR from CUBA: 
PARTAGÁS SERIE D NO. 5
Nominees in the Cuba category were: Bolívar Belicosos Finos. Cohiba Behike BHK 56.
Cohiba Siglo VI. Partagás Serie D No. 5. Trinidad Vigía

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST CIGAR from DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
LA FLOR DOMINICANA LA NOX
Nominees in the Dom. Rep. category were: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Belicoso. Ashton Symmetry Sublime. Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro. La Bohème Encantador La Scala. La Flor Dominicana La Nox

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST CIGAR from HONDURAS:
ALEC BRADLEY SANCTUM ROBUSTO
Nominees in the Honduras category were: Alec Bradley Sanctum Robusto. Camacho Connecticut Robusto. Flor de Selva Tempo Maduro. Leaf by Oscar Maduro Toro. Rocky Patel Twentieth Anniversary Rothschild

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST CIGAR from NICARAGUA:
PADRÓN 1964 ANNIVERSARY SERIES EXCLUSIVO MADURO
Nominees in the Nicaragua category were:  A.J. Fernandez Enclave Salomon. El Centurion H-2K-CT Toro. Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Exclusivo Maduro. Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Epicure Sun Grown. Tabaquero by Hamlet Paredes Toro

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST VALUE

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST VALUE from DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
KRISTOFF LIGERO MADURO
Nominees in the Dom. Rep. category were: A. Flores Gran Reserva. Kristoff Ligero Maduro. La Aurora 1495 Series. Macanudo Inspirado Black. VegaFina Nicaragua

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST VALUE from HONDURAS:
ROCKY PATEL THE EDGE
Nominees in the Honduras category were: Camacho Ecuador. CLE Connecticut. Dunhill Heritage. Villa Zamorano. Rocky Patel The Edge

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST VALUE from NICARAGUA:
JOYA RED
Nominees in the Nicaragua category were: A.J. Fernandez New World. Brick House.
Cain Daytona. Joya Red. Perdomo Small Batch 2005

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST MEDIUM FILLER:
TOSCANO ORIGINALE
Nominees in the Medium Filler category were: Flor de Cano. Perla de Calvano. Quintero. Quorum. Toscano Originale

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST ACCESSORY:
XIKAR FORTE LIGHTER
Nominees in the Best Accessory Category were: Cigar Traveller Lighter To Jet Flame Converter. Daniel Marshall Treasure Chest Humidor. Davidoff Duocut Double Blade Punch Cutter. Palio Cutter

Cigar Trophy 2016 BEST CIGAR LOUNGE:
CASA FUENTE. LAS VEGAS
Nominees in the Best Cigar Lounge category were: Ashton Cigar Bar, Philadelphia.
Club Macanudo. New York City. Jack’s Cigar Bar & Lounge, Rotterdam.
P.G.C. Hajenius, Amsterdam

Cigar Trophy OUTSTANDING ART 2016:
HENK LUXURY GOODS
This award was not part of the public vote.

Cigar Trophy 2016 CHARITY & COMMUNITY:
PLASENCIA CIGARS
This award was not part of the public vote.

Cigar Trophy 2016 AMBASSADOR:
THE CIGAR AUTHORITY
This award was not part of the public vote.

Cigar Trophy 2016 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT:
MANUEL QUESADA
This award was not part of the public vote.

Cigar Trophy Awards 2016