Gran Habano Azteca Jaguar

This year at the IPCPR trade show, it was hard to avoid the Gran Habano booth. Not only was it on a major foot traffic highway, but if you got within two or three booths you just had to go have another look at “El Gigante”, the world’s largest production cigar. (Or at least I couldn’t resist.) Yes, a real, smokable production cigar. Reportedly, for $200,000 you can buy yourself one of these massive 19 foot, 1,920 ring…

IPCPR 2010 New Cigars In Brief

IPCPR Cigars In Brief
As is the case every year after the IPCPR tradeshow, the questions come pouring in about the new cigars introduced. What was your favorite? What surprised you? What should I be on the look out for? What did you think about such-and-such cigar? The truth is that with all the hustle to get the Twitter Brother of the Leaf Cocktail Hour ready and film the video interviews, I really didn’t smoke as many cigars…

IPCPR 2010: The Week In Review

With everything going on lately, there just hasn’t been the time to get a proper cigar review ready. So no tower of burn this week. In its place, I’ve compiled some thoughts and observations on the trade show and how it went.

The Overall Scene
Months before tickets were booked for this year’s trade show, the speculation was that attendance would be pretty light. And after a very well attended Gala Reception, the foot traffic on the floor…

El Primer Mundo Liga Miami Toro

With this year’s IPCPR trade show looming on the horizon, details on new cigars and sample pre-release sticks have been making the rounds. One of the early release cigars that has been spotted online a lot recently is the El Primer Mundo Liga Miami. And thanks to Sean Williams, owner of the brand, and fellow Atlanta resident, I’ve been given the opportunity to check it out a little early.

The Liga Miami stands apart from El Primer…

Cigar Factory Tres Hermanos Numero Tres

IPCPR is a little less than three weeks away, and the preparations for the upcoming Twitter BOTL Cocktail Hour have got me thinking more an more about New Orleans. In the moments not taken up by my day job, and moonlighting as a cigar reviewer, I’ve been remembering the last year’s little after-show adventures and daydreaming about upcoming shenanigans. Also, the char-grilled oysters. With all this in mind, it seems the right time to review the Tres…

Rocky Patel Edge Sumatra Toro 2010 Release

This week, just about every cigar smoker with a blog is in a mad dash to get a review of the soon to be released Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary cigar posted. But for my money, the most exciting thing in the World of Rocky Patel these days is the quiet re-release of the very popular Edge Sumatra. That’s right, the Edge Sumatra is back, and all because fans of the stick kept asking for it. Kudos to…

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Robusto

Atlanta is a such a great place to live if you love cigars. The sheer volume of tobacconists in the greater metro area draws a lot of attention from large manufacturers and ensures that the smaller boutiques are well represented too. But even in a big market like this, it’s still possible to miss some new cigars. And initially, I thought that was what had happened with the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial. The first time I came face…

Zino Platinum Crown Series Emperor Edition 2010

Reviewing cigars is not a hobby with a certain element of danger. This week, in an attempt to get the scoop (or at least beat Jerry to it) I’m putting tens of dollars on the line and risking a possible nicotine knockout by what has already called by some “The Green Monster.” I’m not naming names, but the green-banded Goliath that is the Zino Platinum Emperor 2010 is rumored to have already put at least one veteran cigar…

Don Gonzalez Special Edition Maduro Robusto

I’ve been meaning to light up a Don Gonzalez cigar for a few months now. It’s one of those lines I don’t see around much, but I keep hearing people mention it in conversation. After being asked for at least the third time if I had tried one, I decided to make the effort to find some. I hopped in the herfmobile and headed a Don Gonzalez event out in the burbs of Atlanta.

Though I met…

D’Crossier Diplomacy Series Golden Blend

One of my favorite things about writing up cigar reviews that it encourages me to seek out new and interesting cigars I might not try otherwise. The exploration is fun, and it’s a bonus when you find a box-worthy gem. But I didn’t have to do much searching to come across the cigar I’m reviewing this week, the D’Crossier Diplomacy Series Golden Blend. Not only is it available in a number of shops around the area, the good…