Miami Cigar & Co. is now shipping the NM80, a cigar line celebrating Nestor Miranda’s 80th birthday, with an official launch dinner at City Cigar Lounge on February 8, 2024.
The event features a 5-course dinner by “Certified Angus Beef Chef of the Year” Carla DiLorenzo, showcasing Argentine-style open fire grilling.
Guests will enjoy a tasting of The Balvenie 14, and each $250 ticket includes a box of NM80 cigars and a bottle of The Balvenie 14. The NM80, a Nicaraguan puro crafted in collaboration with My Father Cigar, is limited to 500 boxes across three unique sizes, designed with Nestor’s palate in mind for a medium-bodied, refined smoking experience.
Ferio Tego, known for its Timeless Panamericana line, has introduced a new addition to its collection: the Timeless Panamericana Secreto petit corona. Rolled in Nicaragua under the skilled hands of the Plasencia family, this small-sized smoke measures 4 1/2 inches long by 40 ring gauge and is now available in cigar shops.
Crafted with a blend of Nicaraguan and Costa Rican filler tobaccos, the Secreto boasts a Nicaraguan binder and an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, delivering a unique smoking experience. Each box contains 10 cigars, with a suggested retail price of $10 per stick.
Michael Herklots, co-owner of Ferio Tego, highlighted the enduring popularity of petit coronas among discerning cigar enthusiasts. The addition of the Secreto expands the Panamericana line to five sizes, including the Julieta (7 by 48), Gordo (6 by 60), Belicoso Fino (5 1/2 by 52), and Epicure (5 by 50).
Notably, several sizes of the Timeless Panamericana line have received high ratings in blind tastings conducted by Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider, underscoring the brand’s commitment to quality and consistency in every smoke.
Glenmorangie, the Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery, has unveiled its latest creation: the Glenmorangie Calvados Cask Finish. This release marks a significant milestone as it is the first time Glenmorangie has finished its whisky in French Calvados casks, adding a unique twist to its 12-Year-Old small batch whisky collection.
The Glenmorangie Calvados Cask Finish is the fifth installment in the Distillery’s Barrel Select Release series, which focuses on exploring the distinct flavors that emerge from various cask finishes. This new expression promises a sensory journey with its blend of jasmine, baked apples, and pears, adding fresh layers to Glenmorangie’s signature fruity tones.
Led by the esteemed Director of Whisky Creation, Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s whisky makers are celebrated for their innovation and commitment to crafting exceptional single malt whiskies. Dr. Bill’s inspiration for the Calvados Cask Finish came from his fascination with the soft, orchard notes found in Calvados, a French spirit distilled from apples and sometimes pears.
Intrigued by the potential synergy between Calvados casks and Glenmorangie’s elegant style, Dr. Bill embarked on an experimental journey. He transferred whisky aged for over a decade in American white oak bourbon casks into Calvados du Pays d’Auge casks from Normandy, France, which had aged Calvados for two decades. The result is a soft and rich whisky that harmonizes mellow fruits of baked apples and pears with delicate hints of jasmine, narcissus, and vanilla.
Reflecting on this innovative creation, Dr. Bill remarked, “Glenmorangie Calvados Finish is a wonderful addition to our Barrel Select Release series of small-batch single malts. Entwining scents of baked pears, vanilla, and jasmine with tastes of toffee apples, lemon balsam, and spice, this rare whisky takes all that is good about Glenmorangie, to richly delicious new heights.”
The Glenmorangie Calvados Cask Finish exemplifies the distillery’s commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering exceptional whisky experiences. As whisky enthusiasts eagerly anticipate its release, this latest expression promises to captivate palates with its distinctive flavor profile and meticulous craftsmanship.
Quesada Cigars marks its 50th anniversary with a special limited-edition cigar, reflecting on five decades of excellence in the cigar industry. This commemorative offering will be unveiled at the Procigar Festival in the Dominican Republic, with a subsequent showcase at PCA 2024 in Las Vegas.
The Quesada family, now in its fifth generation of operation, has consistently maintained high standards in cigar blending and manufacturing. The anniversary cigar, available in Toro Prensado and Perfecto vitolas, embodies the rich legacy of Quesada Cigars, featuring a blend of tobaccos from four different countries.
This milestone is celebrated with 2,200 boxes of Toro Prensado and 200 boxes of Perfecto, alongside two special humidors created for the occasion, one of which will be auctioned at the Procigar Festival.
Plasencia Cigars, with its rich history dating back to 1865, is set to release “The Year of the Dragon” limited edition cigar, marking its fourth annual tribute to the Chinese New Year. This edition consists of a Torpedo 6 ½ x 54 Vitola, with 3,000 boxes produced globally.
The launch coincides with the Chinese New Year on February 10, 2024, celebrating the dragon—a symbol of good luck, honor, strength, and health in Chinese culture. This medium-bodied puro, crafted exclusively with Nicaraguan tobaccos from Plasencia’s farms, embodies the dragon’s esteemed qualities through its robust, smooth, and refined blend, offering peppery and earthy notes.
CEO Nestor Andres Plasencia highlights the dragon’s representation of the family’s pursuit of excellence. Priced at $45 per cigar, the boxes contain ten cigars each.
Quality Importers Trading Company has announced the launch of the Palió Veneto Quadruple Jet-Flame Desktop Lighter, set to enhance the cigar smoking experience with its unique design and functionality.
The Palió Veneto features an elongated diamond flame, textured body, and is available in multiple colors with gunmetal accents. Its ergonomic design includes a high-capacity fuel tank capable of lighting up to 150 large-ring cigars.
Additionally, the lighter offers a personalization option through the Swag Bunker customization program. Set for distribution in July 2024, each lighter comes in a 15-count display at a wholesale price of $225, with an MSRP of $29.99 per unit.
United Cigars has unveiled the Aganorsa Lunatic Firecracker as this year’s annual July Firecracker. Announced on The Cigar Authority podcast, the Lunatic Firecracker is a limited edition, 3 1⁄2 x 50 cigar, produced at the Aganorsa Factory in Nicaragua.
Oliver Nivaud, Director of Operations for United Cigars, highlighted the collaboration between United Cigars and Aganorsa Leaf in creating the Lunatic Firecracker. This release is aligned with the celebration of the Fourth of July.
The Lunatic Firecracker features a blend using Aganorsa Leaf’s Shade Grown Corojo Maduro wrapper, encompassing Corojo 99 and Criollo 98 tobaccos from Jalapa and Esteli. The 20-count boxes of these cigars are designed to offer a distinct smoking experience.
Terence Reilly, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Aganorsa Leaf, mentioned the Lunatic Firecracker as a testament to the artistry and commitment of both United Cigars and Aganorsa Leaf. He emphasized the uniqueness of the blend and the smoking experience it offers.
The 2024 Limited Edition Lunatic Firecracker is scheduled to be available in retail outlets in June, ahead of the 4th of July celebrations. With an MSRP of $150 per box, the availability of this edition is limited, offering cigar enthusiasts a unique smoking experience for the holiday.
JRE Tobacco Co. is set to release the Aladino Candela Toro at TPE 2024, following the debut of the Aladino Candela Robusto last year. The Aladino Candela Toro is a 6 x 50 toro, made entirely of Honduran tobacco, featuring a corojo-seed green candela wrapper. The pricing is set at $10.50 per cigar, with a limited production of 1,200 boxes, each containing 20 cigars. Shipments are expected to begin in February.
The candela wrapper is known for its distinctive green color, which varies in intensity. This coloration is achieved through a specific process rather than being a tobacco varietal like criollo or habano. The process involves heating the tobacco leaves in a specialized barn at higher temperatures compared to other tobaccos. This method aims to quickly remove moisture while retaining the leaf’s green color due to the preservation of chlorophyll, a contrast to the slower processes that yield the typical light tan to dark brown colors of most premium cigar leaves.
Vivi Eiroa from JRE Tobacco Co. mentioned last year the company’s intention to promote the candela wrapper in honor of Julio Eiroa, a significant candela grower in the 80s and 90s. During that period, candela was a dominant wrapper in the cigar industry, though it has since become less common in the U.S., now often seen as a novelty.
Candela wrappers offer a significant advantage in terms of production time. The heating process for creating candela tobacco takes less than a week, and the tobacco requires less processing when it arrives at factories.
Currently, JRE Tobacco Co. has not made the Aladino Candela a regular production line. Like the Toro, the Candela Robusto was a limited edition. Additionally, in November, the Aladino Candela Queen’s Perfecto was released as the second vitola for the blend, available exclusively at Smokingpipes.com.
TPE 2024, where the Aladino Candela Toro will be featured, is an important event in the tobacco products industry, showcasing new and innovative products.
La Aurora is set to showcase its third release in the Small Batch Series, Small Batch Lot No. 003, at the upcoming TPE 2024 trade show in Las Vegas. This new addition to their Small Batch Series is a toro gordo, measuring 5.78 x 58, and features a blend that includes an Ecuadorian wrapper, dual binders from Cameroon and the Dominican Republic, and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Peru.
Each cigar in the Small Batch Lot No. 003 series will have an MSRP of $13, with the production limited to 400 boxes, each containing 10 cigars. A notable aspect of this release is the significant aging process, with the cigars having been aged for 19 years.
Manuel Inoa, La Aurora’s master blender, emphasized the uniqueness of the Small Batch Series. He highlighted that each release in this series is distinct, featuring specific tasting notes and complex profiles that are not replicable on a large scale. Lot No. 003, according to Inoa, offers a medium to full-bodied experience with a creamy smoke and notes of pepper, leather, and cedar.
The Small Batch Series from La Aurora features various blends, each released in limited quantities. While the first release was exclusive to the Dominican Republic, Lot No. 003 will be available solely in the U.S. market. The company has also hinted at a future release, Lot No. 004, which is expected to be announced later in 2024.
Luciano Cigars and Peter James Co. have jointly announced the formation of Peter James Cigar Co., a new venture focusing on cigars and accessories. This partnership is equally owned by Peter James Co. and the duo of Luciano Meirelles and his business partner, Tiago Splitter. The new company will hold the Peter James trademark in the U.S., along with other trademarks for upcoming products.
The partners are currently working on a new cigar set to launch in March. While specifics of the cigar are yet to be revealed, it’s confirmed that production will take place at the Luciano Tabacos S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Distribution will be handled by Luciano Cigars.
Luciano Meirelles expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, citing the shared passion and attention to detail that both companies bring to the table.
In addition to the upcoming cigar, this partnership is expected to yield Luciano Cigars’ most premium offerings. These cigars will be notable for their exceptional packaging, construction, and use of rare tobaccos.
The venture will also include a range of cigar lifestyle products. Peter James Leather Co., established in 2014 in Toronto, brings its experience in crafting leather cigar cases, torch lighters, and its own cigar brand, Los Esotico, to the partnership.
John Peter Laurendi, founder and president of Peter James Leather Co., emphasized the natural synergy between the two companies. He highlighted the joint venture as an opportunity for continuous innovation and refinement in their respective crafts.
The formation of Peter James Cigar Co. marks a significant collaboration in the cigar industry, combining the expertise of Luciano Cigars in cigar making with Peter James Co.’s prowess in luxury accessories and lifestyle products.
