Roberto P. Duran Hires Cristano “Santo” Cardenas as Master Blender

Great news for RP Duran cigars

http://halfwheel.com/roberto-p-duran-hires-cristano-santo-cardenas-as-master-blender/86465?utm_content=buffer14e9c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Crown Heads making the news

Great report on Crown Heads

http://wkrn.com/2015/05/27/video-nashville-based-company-crafts-artisanal-cigars/

Been super busy

Sorry for the lack of posts, been super busy with reviews and enjoy beautiful cigars!

Memorial Day

Take a moment and enjoy a good cigar, and at the same time remember the men and women that dies to protect our way of life, gone but never forgotten!

Identifying Counterfeit Cuban Cigars

Identifying Counterfeit Cuban Cigars
While traveling abroad, it can be difficult for the American cigar aficionado (or even the novice) to resist the temptation of smoking a real Cuban cigar.
After all, Cuban cigars are one of life’s most indulgent luxuries, with production each year falling far short of worldwide demand.
The problem for the consumer is that this dynamic demand has created a substantial market for cigar counterfeiters. And in today’s world of laser printers and computer generated graphics, the counterfeiters can easily convert a cheap bundled cigar into a $20 Cuban Cohiba.
Caveat Emptor
The counterfeiters are driven by the rather lax penalties for being caught. In many cases, the penalties are non-existent and unlike the illicit drug trade, the cigar counterfeiter faces a relatively low risk of getting shot by an irate buyer.
However, the consumers largely are responsible for allowing this black market to flourish in that most people cannot discern between a real Cuban cigar and a fake one.
The Devil in the Detail
The good news is that there are a number of rules one could follow to identify a counterfeit Cuban cigar. All it takes is a little attention to the details on the exterior of the box to the interior of the box and cigar itself.
The following is an abbreviated list of details one could check to help ID the real thing.

A box of Cohiba Cuban cigars

The Exterior

1. Check for the Warranty Seal— Every box of Cuban cigars since 1912 has received a Cuban tax stamp, which generally is affixed to the left front edge. Since Cuban cigars are in high demand, the seal should be newly updated have a good registration of print.
2. Check for the Habanos Chevron—The Chevron is a label featuring a black silhouette of a tobacco leaf. This seal will be on all boxes of Havana cigars exported since 1994.
3. Look for the Hallmarks—The hallmarks are not ink stamps. They are burned-in marks that identify the exporter, and announce that the cigar was made in Cuba by hand. The Hallmarks include:
   1. Habanos s.a.—This the name of the Cuban company which exports Havanas.
   2. Hecho En Cuba—This words were added in 1960
   3. Totalmente a mano—This branding, meaning “totally by hand,” was added in 1989.
4. Look for the factory and date stamp—Habanos places a date stamp on each box.
5. Look for the import stamp—For instance, boxes from Canada should have a white and purple “duty paid” sticker. Since duties are charged worldwide on luxury items, these import stamps should be on almost every box purchased outside of Cuba.
6. Look for “Surgeon General’s warning”—Many nations generally require that all tobacco products carry a general health warning. If this warning appears on other tobacco products, then it should also appear on any imported box of Cubans.
7. Look for wear and tear—Various Cuban brands and sizes are packaged in specific boxes. Rather than replicate these boxes, counterfeiters often recycle used boxes.

The Interior

1. Look for the parchment with the Habanos logo—Inside the box there will be a rectangular piece of parchment with the Habanos logo and storage recommendations. These instructions should appear in four languages: Spanish, English, French and German.
2. Avoid cigars in cellophane—Except in the smaller, multi cigar Petacas style packages, the handmade Cuban cigars are never wrapped in cellophane.
3. Look for the cedar separator—All the dress boxes and cabinet boxes should have a plain cedar separator between the levels of the cigars. Cabinet cigars will also have a top sheet featuring the brand’s logo.
4. Look for the paper flap—The dress boxes, except those with tubos, will also have a paper flap attached to the front typically featuring a second brand logo.
5. Look for symmetry—All the bands should be in a near perfect line and the color and registration of each ring should be consistent.
6. Look for the yellow ribbon—The cigars in the cabinets with sliding lids should be tied with a yellow ribbon imprinted with the brand and name.
7. Avoid any hint of ammonia—If you notice an ammonia order, the cigars are fake.

Examining the cigars

1. The cigars should be of uniform color
2. The cigars should be the length specified by the vitola (or type), including the ring size.
3. The cigars should be well made with solid bunching.
4. The cigars should have very fine veins, if at all. Cuban Corojo wrappers rarely show veins.
5. The foot should have a clean cut with no chipping
6. The cap should be a triple cap. In other words, you should be able to see three fine rings around the cap from where the wrapper was rolled to the tip and then trimmed to be wound back in the same direction down the cigar.

But most importantly, the number one rule is to be cautious. Many fakes are sold in reputable establishments and often without the knowledge of the store owner. As a result, the best safeguard is to remain on guard.

spotting fake Cuban Cigars

Cuban Cigars

Great article from Clubs of America

Cuban cigars are widely accepted as the pinnacle of quality when it comes to cigars. There are many reasons that is so, including the weather, pH level in the soil, and the history and knowledge Cubans have with tobacco. However, do you know if the box you recently purchased is a fake? The infographic below explores why Cuban cigars are so renowned, and gives you a crash course on how to make sure you're not getting scammed when making a purchase.


 <a title="All About Cuban Cigars | Cigar of the Month Club" href="http://www.greatclubs.com/cigarofthemonthclub/cuban-cigars-why-they-are-best-spot-a-fake.asp"><img src="http://www.greatclubs.com/images/new/cigar/cigarvirallarge.jpg" border="0" alt=""All About Cuban Cigars  | Cigar of the Month Club" width="100%"</a>

Biolivar Regional a Beautiful cigar

Cigar bid

Have you checked out cigarbid yet? its a cigar smokers heaven, check them out at:

http://www.cigarbid.com/?

What's going on this weekend?

Cigaraholics, what's happening this weekend? whatcha smoking, drop us a line!

New Stuff

Lots going on, working on the plans for a new store, and also several new lines of cigars, keep your eyes posted for some very cool new things!

Romeo y Julieta Short Churchills

Origin: Cuba Manufactured: Hand Made Gauge: Thick Length: 4.5 Format: Short Churchill Ring: 50 Score: 92 Presentation: Box of 25 The Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill is a very popular cigar. It was released in 2006 and ever since has been a huge seller. One of the reasons is up until this release Romeo y Julieta has never had a regular production Robusto. The only cigar coming close to that size was the Exhibición No.4 which is technically a Corona Extra. In 2001 Romeo y Julieta had an Edición Limitada Robusto which wasn’t commercially available till 2002. There was also a Robusto available in 2003 in the Selection Robusto series sampler. In 2009 Romeo y Julieta Released another Robusto called the Wide Churchill, a much larger format but still technically a Robusto coming in at 55 x 5.1 inches.

U.S. Imported 310 Million Premium Cigars in 2014

U.S. Imported 310 Million Premium Cigars in 2014

Gregory Mottola
Posted: May 7, 2015 

The United States imported 310 million premium cigars in 2014, 1.2 percent less than 2013. The slim decrease is not statistically significant, making 2014 an essentially flat year.
According to the yearly report from the Cigar Association of America, the Dominican Republic remains the largest supplier of premium cigars to the United States, followed by Nicaragua. The difference is a mere 8.6 million cigars between the two countries. Although Nicaragua experienced a dramatic spike in exports from 2012 to 2013, it stayed relatively even from 2013 to 2014.

"Dominican cigars remain the leader in the United States because the U.S. cigar smoker has embraced their variety and complexity," said Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, CEO of Davidoff of Geneva Inc., which makes its Davidoff, Avo and Zino cigars in the Dominican Republic. "The American cigar smoker has grown used to the Dominican taste and in particular the constant newness of blends that focus more on aroma and taste than on strength."

The Dominican Republic continued its decades-long lead in the premium sector, making such big brands as Arturo Fuente, Davidoff, Macanudo and Montecristo. It remained in the No. 1 spot for 2014 with exports of 126.5 million units.

Nicaragua ranked second, with shipments of 117.9 million cigars, and Honduras ranked third with 63.8 million. Unlike the Dominican Republic or Nicaragua, Honduras saw a slight increase in exports in 2014, with shipments increasing by roughly 500,000 units, or less than 1 percent. Nicaragua, known for such brands as My Father, Oliva, Padrón and many Rocky Patel brands, posted virtually unchanged growth for the year.

Nicaraguan premium cigar shipments decreased by 0.8 percent in 2014, making it the first year in a decade the nation posted a reduction in cigar shipments. Before 2014, Nicaragua was showing precipitous growth, and appeared poised to take over the lead spot in the premium cigar industry. In 1996, Nicaraguan cigar shipments were only 16 million units, putting it in third place by a narrow margin, not far ahead of Jamaica (15.5 million at the time) and Mexico (14.5 million).

Nicaraguan cigar exports have grown dramatically over the years. Shipments from Nicaragua increased by 18.7 percent in 2011, 1 percent in 2012 and 15.1 percent in 2013. The upward trajectory leveled off and Nicaragua still remains in the No. 2 spot.

The annual import numbers were well below 300 million cigars from 1999 to 2011, with spikes in 2004 and 2005 (286.5 million units and 297.8 million units, respectively). Imports returned to the 300 million mark in 2012 when 304.7 million premium cigars were shipped to the United States.
These figures are shipments, and not sales, but they are a positive indicator of the strength in the American premium cigar market, which has consistently imported more than 300 million premium cigars since 2012.
For even more on 2014 imports, see the May 5, 2015 issue of Cigar Insider.

 

 

 

Indiana Law Permits New Cigar Bars

 Indiana Law Permits New Cigar Bars

Andrew Nagy
Posted: May 11, 2015 

Once again it's legal to open a new cigar bar in Indiana.

On Thursday, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed Senate Bill 463, a new law that amends the state's Clean Indoor Air Act, which went into effect in 2012, by removing the moratorium on the establishment of new cigar bars as long as the business conforms to the following rules:

• No persons under the age of 21 will be allowed entry.
• The owner of the business holds a wine, beer or liquor retailer's permit.
• The business limits patrons to cigar smoking only.
• At least 10 percent of sales is from cigars or the rental of on-site humidors.
• Signs are posted explaining that cigarettes and e-cigarettes are not permitted.

Additionally, the new law permits retail tobacco shops to serve food and beverages as long as the items don't require a food handler's certificate.

According to the Cigar Association of America, the national trade organization of cigar manufacturers, importers and distributors as well as major suppliers to the industry, the association was approached by Rep. Edward Clere of District 72. Clere sought to help a constituent of his who wanted to open a new cigar bar, but could not legally do so. Working with the CAA, Clere, a sponsor of SB 463, revised the final language of the bill in the final few weeks of the 2015 Indiana legislative session.

 

Cigar Pole

There are some regular production Habano's I can smoke daily to name a few : Vegas Robaina Unico's and Partagas PSD4 .Others like Monte #2 can't do daily .
What are some regular production Habano's you can can smoke daily and never get bored of ?

RP Duran Neya Cigar

Got to hang out with Miguel from RP Duran cigars last night, he's such a classy guy and had the chance to try the Neya cigar, let me tell you this is an impressive cigar, they have two different styles, a typical Cuban style, and an American style, I loved the Cuban style, and I've not yet tried out the American, it's a big barrel size, 54 ring, so it's a monster, as I'm not a huge fan of anything over 52 ring I'll need a good drink when I smoke it

Specifications

• Wrapper: Habana Ecuador
• Blinder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

Vitolas

• Robusto: 4 7/8 x 50
• Petit Corona: 5 1/8 x 42
• Cañonazo: 6 x 52

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Cigar Details

The Neya brand comes in five Vitolas. The first three comes in classic sizes of Petit Corona, Robusto and Cañonazo with a medium to strong flavor EPF experience. The bigger size symbol as they sizes carry a F8 symbol as they are fully body flavors, truly strong product of a very well fermented Nicaraguan ligero leaf added to the bend. Neya is a premium brand which comes in a cedar 20-count cabinet. The filler and Binder are both Nicaraguan while the wrapper is a Habano Ecuador.

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Cigar Details

The Neya brand comes in five Vitolas. The first three comes in classic sizes of Petit Corona, Robusto and Cañonazo with a medium to strong flavor EPF experience. The bigger size symbol as they sizes carry a F8 symbol as they are fully body flavors, truly strong product of a very well fermented Nicaraguan ligero leaf added to the bend. Neya is a premium brand which comes in a cedar 20-count cabinet. The filler and Binder are both Nicaraguan while the wrapper is a Habano Ecuador.

Spotting Fake Cohibas

There are so many fake cigars out there, here's a great guide for spotting Fake Cohiba's they are the most faked of all the Cuban Cigars out there!

H Hupman Magnum 46

		Origin:	Cuba	Manufactured: Hand Made
		Gauge:	Thick	Length:	143
		Format:	Corona Gorda	Ring:	46
		Weight:	11,41 gr.	Score:	92
		Presentation: Slide-lid box of 25

H. Upmann Magnum 46 has definitely sealed its place in my Humidor.  A perfect spice hits the back of the tongue and throat with the smoke itself a good medium body. Tastes of a rich, dark coffee came through with cocoa, earth, and a very nice woodiness. There was also a delicious sweetness in the smoke that was fantastic. The finish was incredibly good, long and lasting on the palate.

The burn was sharp with a strong medium gray ash that held until ashed about every inch or so. Smoke flowed effortlessly from the perfect draw, continuing to be a good medium body with a spot on spice and excellent, rich flavors. The finish was simply fantastic.

Partagas Lusitanias

The Partagas Lusitanias is a 2+ hour smoke containing everything possible in a cigar. Beautifully balanced with wonderful body and flavor. We have never had one that wasn't rolled beautifully and smoked amazingly. This beautiful double corona is 194mm with a 49 ring gauge. The wrapper leaf is very soft to the touch, and has a very nice chocolate brown color that varies in color according to the batch...
The final third is once again incredibly rich. The mixture of spices and bitterness is still incredibly there, with notes of Asian spices and bitter chocolate. Herbal touches also start appearing towards the end, and all that makes a cigar that is hard to put down. This gem delivers it until the nub.
In summary, many aficionados claim this is the best cigar in the world, right up there with the Hoyo De Monterrey double corona.

Origin:

Cuba

Manufactured: Hand Made

Gauge:

Thick

Length:

194

Format:

Prominente

Ring:

49

Weight:

17,86 gr.

Score:

98

Presentation: 2 Layers in a Box of 25

What's in a name? Cuban cigars plant legal seeds for U.S. future

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/05/us-cuba-usa-cigar-idUSKBN0NQ1KH20150505


Miami cigar maker Jose Montagne has been fighting for more than a decade to protect his catchy Cuban brand name, Guantanamera, from Cuban government trademark lawyers.
But a recent warming in U.S.-Cuban relations could be the death knell of American cigar makers like Montagne who are seeing their legal position erode as they brace for the potential invasion of Cuban cigars into the world's most lucrative cigar market.
A Cuban exile who came to the United States in 1996, Montagne is one of more than a dozen cigar makers in the United States that Cuba’s state-owned tobacco company has tried to block from using names referring to the Communist-run island.
Montagne, who began making his cigars in Central America in 1997, maintains that Cuba's government can't monopolize all things Cuban, noting that Guantanamera is a popular song both for those living on the island and worldwide.

"This isn’t about money, it’s about who we’re fighting," said the 50-year-old exile who sports a pale pink polo shirt and a white Panama Jack hat.
Cuban cigars have been sought after around the world since the island's natives presented dried tobacco leaves to Christopher Columbus more than five centuries ago. In the United States, they have taken on a coveted, forbidden-fruit status since a U.S. trade embargo outlawed their import a half century ago.

The consumer magazine Cigar Aficionado has estimated that the U.S. premium cigar market alone is worth as much as $2.6 billion, with Cuba hoping to snap up to 25-30 percent of that if and when the trade embargo is eventually lifted.
To that end, Cuba has strenuously sought to block Cuba-inspired trademarks from being registered in the United States.

THE TWO COHIBAS
Cuba's legal push hotted up when Spanish tobacco giant Altadis, now a subsidiary of Britain's giant Imperial Tobacco, purchased a 50 percent stake in Cuba’s state-owned cigar company Habanos S.A. in 2000, according to Montagne's attorney, Frank Herrera.
In 2012 it successfully blocked Kansas City-based Xikar Inc from registering the name Havana Collection for a line of $300 cigar cutters made in France and decorated with pieces of Cuban cigar bands and box art.

    "Habanos claimed we were causing confusion about the origin of the product," Xikar Chief Executive Kurt Van Keppel told Reuters. "Nobody was confused whether this was made in Cuba. We advertised them as made in Paris."
Xikar isn't the only case. The Cohiba, Cuba’s most famous brand created by Fidel Castro in 1962, has been at the heart of a 16-year-long battle between the Cuban government and rival Swedish Match that holds the trademark for a Dominican-made Cohiba sold in the United States.
In February the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Cuba’s cigar monopoly when it declined to hear an appeal of a lower court decision favoring the island’s exclusive claim to the Cohiba brand.
The move sent the matter back to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that could finally decide who receives the trademark.

Imperial spokesman Alex Parsons said in an email that Cuban state-owned Habanos "will take appropriate action to protect its intellectual property."

LEGAL STRATEGY

Cuba's New York attorneys say the legal strategy is designed for the day when Cuba can sell its cigars in America.
"Thousands of U.S. companies have registered ... intellectual property in Cuba in anticipation of the day when they will be able to sell their products there. Cuban companies are doing exactly the same thing," said Michael Krinsky, a partner with Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky & Lieberman.Cuba has already begun to penetrate the U.S. market using its European partner to churn out Cuban brand cigars made with non-Cuban tobacco, legally using the same names as its top domestic brands such as Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta.
As a result, when the trade embargo ends, U.S. consumers could find themselves being offered multiple products: a pricier original Romeo y Julieta from Cuba alongside a more affordable non-Cuban variety.

Montagne filed a U.S. trademark for his Guantanamera brand in 2001. Habanos quickly launched its own brand of the same name a year later in Germany, according to legal documents.
The name Guantanamera is as Cuban as it gets, referring to the island's best-known patriotic song, inspired by the poetry of its independence hero, Jose Marti.
The tune was popularized in the 1960s by American folk singer Pete Seeger and has since become known worldwide.

But judging by recent legal history, that may not suffice to beat Cuba in court.
(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Ted Botha)

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Interesting article from CNBC

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102276563

what's happening cigar world?

what happening today, were one day closer to the weekend, and its beautiful out, what's your favorite cigar for everyday?

For me, the partagas serie D no.4 or the Caldwell Broken Sword, have you tried either? Let me know I'm always looking for good cigar recommendations

Chris

Wednesday Pole!!!!

Whats the best cigar you have ever smoked? for me it was a Hoyo Double Crona was an amazing cigar just under 2 hours to smoke, flavors like you cannot believe.

Post your favorite in the comments section!

Paratags Serie P #2

This is one of the finest cigars out there, great flavors, even burn, a must have cigar!

The Asia Exclusivo Por Laranaga

This was one of the few cigars that from the git go blew me a way it could easily be a 100 point cigar, in 30 years of cigars, this one was one of the top, it was simply amazing

what's going on Monday?

For me today is a Hoyo kind of day, Hope your all have a good Monday!

Federal, Legislation 2

New Federal Tax on Cigars Proposed

By Charlie Minato @charlieminato · On April 30, 2015

Earlier today, four Senators announced the Tobacco Tax and Enforcement Reform Act (TTERA), which they claim will help combat the illegal tobacco trade and discourage underage tobacco consumption. For cigar smokers, it could mean higher-priced cigars.
Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Jack Reed, D-R.I.; and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., proposed new legislation that would increase the federal tax on cigarettes by 94 cents and “set tax rates for other tobacco products at an equivalent rate.” The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) estimates that rate to be 37.4 cents per cigar.
“This legislation is bad for American small business and continues the disturbing trend of excessive taxation on premium cigars,” said Kip Talley, senior director of legislative affairs for IPCPR, to halfwheel. “Unfortunately, many of these taxes are passed on to the consumers who simply want to enjoy a unique artisan product. IPCPR continues to monitor the legislation and will actively oppose its enactment into law.”
Because there is no definition of “premium cigars”—all cigars, regardless of size, filler or price—would be subject to this new tax. This tax would be in addition to the federal SCHIP tax imposed on cigars, which is 52.4 percent of their wholesale price capped at 40 cents per cigar. In total, the new taxes would likely add more than 77.4 cents to what the end consumer pays as the federal taxes are added to the wholesale cost of cigars for most retailers.
Given the Republican-controlled Senate, the bill is not expected to pass.