February 12, 2013 (Washington, D.C.) — Through increased sales and a consolidation of facilities, La Palina is able to announce an average price DECREASE of 10% on some of its most popular lines.
According to La Palina founder and President Bill Paley, “I wanted to pass along the savings we have gained to our loyal customers. My family has always believed that La Palina is quality at affordable prices.”“With sales exceeding our forecasts last year, we were able to re-negotiate better terms with one of our factories. These new prices, coupled with our December move into a new distribution warehouse in Miami, have created a savings we are proud to pass along,” adds La Palina Vice President Courtney Smith.
Andrew Brennan, La Palina Director of Sales, carefully crafted the new pricing structure based on his experience in the industry and conversations with key retailers. “We feel these new prices will reinforce La Palina’s dedication to retailers and consumers alike.” The new prices will be effective immediately and will reflect an average MSRP decrease of 10% and effects the La Palina El Diario—a consistently top rated cigar—and the newly released La Palina Maduro.
The immensely popular Hoja de Flores announced recently that it will be throwing a number of cigar events at the famed Florio’s Ristorante, which was closed for some time but has now reopened. For those of you who haven’t smoked Hoja de Flores cigars, they are fantastic Dominican puros with exceptional smoothness and fantastic construction – we reviewed them for you here. The cigar events are every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 7-10pm. All of the event specifics are below:
FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Feb. 2013) – Buffalo Trace Distillery marks the halfway point in its quest for the perfect bourbon with the release of its eighth round of Single Oak Project Bourbon.
All of the bourbons that comprise this release entered the barrel at 105 proof, aged within the wooden ricks of Warehouse K, with a number 4 barrel char after the staves were seasoned for 12 months. This allows the release to focus on three other variables, the recipe, wood grain size, and tree cut. All of the other variables such as aging warehouse, entry proof, char level, and stave seasoning remain constant.
“Many people will find this release interesting since the entry proof is 105 this round – which some fans contend is better. Bourbon drinkers can taste and decide if they like wheated or rye recipe bourbon better at the 105 entry proof.” said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director.
So far, more than 2,221 industry expert and consumer reviews have been logged online at http://www.singleoakproject.com/. These whiskey reviews will determine which Single Oak Project Bourbon is the favorite of fans worldwide. Buffalo Trace looks forward to more reviews, to hear what bourbon drinkers think, and will craft the perfect bourbon based on consumer feedback.
Now halfway through the project, barrel number 106 has fought its way back to the top, after being knocked off a few months ago by barrel number 97! “Barrels number 97 and 106 have been vying for the number one spot for several months now,” continues Comstock. “But with two more years to go, any of these bourbons still stand a chance to be declared the winner. And it’s not too late to get involved even if you’re new to the project!”
After a consumer reviews a bottle online, they will be availed of all the aging details and provenance of the barrel. They can interact with others who’ve also reviewed the barrel, compare their reviews, and even learn for themselves which characteristics they enjoy most, in order to help them select future favorites. Participants online will earn points after each review and most importantly, actively participate in Buffalo Trace Distillery’s quest to create the perfect bourbon!
The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.
To further the variety of experiments, the barrels were filled at two different proofs, 105 and 125 proof. And if this wasn’t enough, two completely different warehouses were used, one with wooden floors and one with concrete floors. In total, seven different variables were employed in Buffalo Trace’s ultimate experiment.
For eight years the Distillery continued with its tracking process, creating intricate databases and coming up with a potential of 1,396 tasting combinations from these 192 barrels!
The Single Oak Project Bourbon is being released in a series every three months from 2011 through 2015 until all of the 192 barrels have been released. The first release hit select stores in 2011. This eighth release will reach stores towards the end of February. Like all the other releases, the quantities are very limited. Every case will contain 12 bottles, each from a different barrel. The eighth release is made up of barrel numbers 27, 28, 59, 60, 91, 92, 123, 124, 155, 156, 187, and 188. All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle. Suggested retail pricing per bottle is $46.35.
At the conclusion of the Single Oak Project, the Distillery plans to take the top rated Single Oak Project Bourbon and make more just like it, under the Single Oak name.
About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Swisher International is entering the premium cigar market with the launch of its new Royal Gold Cigars division. The tobacco company has tapped cigar industry veteran Alex Goldman to lead the division, which was specifically created to build upon his experience.
“Alex’s leadership of House of Oxford/Mom’s Cigars as its owner and president for the past 20 years positions him perfectly to develop and market our new premium cigar lineup,” said Peter Ghiloni, president of Swisher International.
Goldman will lead Royal Gold Cigars in developing and introducing various lines to compete with key players in the premium cigar market. Test marketing of the new product lineup is planned for April, with a national launch slated for the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Annual Convention & International Trade Show in July in Las Vegas.
“As a fourth-generation tobacconist, I have cemented relationships that will enable Royal Gold Cigars to develop, source and market an array of premium products that customers will enjoy at competitive price points,” Goldman explained. “Operating as a division of Swisher International gives Royal Gold Cigars the opportunity to tap into Swisher’s leadership and leverage its resources, while maintaining an independent business model.”
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Swisher International has manufactured tobacco products since 1861 and ships more than one billion cigars a year to more than 60 countries.
“This is an exciting new chapter for Swisher International [that] aligns with our growth plans in several key areas of the overall tobacco market,” Ghiloni concluded.
The new Wolfburn distillery, situated just 350m from the site of the original 19th Century Thurso site, has been successfully commissioned and production of fine single malt scotch whisky has today commenced.
Construction of the Wolfburn buildings was carried out by a group of local contractors, with the inner workings being crafted by Forsyths of Rothes, the world-‐leading distillery fabricators. Building work began in August and the distillery
equipment was installed across November and December. The entire project has been successfully completed on schedule and exactly as specified.
“This is an enormously exciting moment for everyone involved,” commented Shane Fraser, Wolfburn production manager. “To watch the distillery go from concept to reality has been a truly superb experience. Commissioning went very smoothly indeed -‐ the equipment performed exactly as expected -‐ and the first spirit, with a wonderful malty flavour, is already flowing from the stills.”
The first oak casks are now full of new Wolfburn spirit – the first such maturation to take place in Thurso in over a century.
The first Wolfburn distillery was built in 1821 and was passed down through subsequent generations of the Smith family; in its heyday it was the largest distillery in Caithness. Production ceased during the latter half of the 19th Century –
the exact date is not known. The first bottling of the next generation of Wolfburn single malt whisky is expected in early 2016.
February 1, 2013 (Londonderry, NH) — Kurt A. Kendall, founder of today’s 7-20-4 Cigars, has once again explored cigar history, reintroducing a second dusty brand … “Hustler” … a trademark that hails back to the late Nineteenth Century. It follows the company’s introductions of the 7-20-4 and 1874 boutique lines.
In 2009, Kendall breathed new life into the venerable “7-20-4″ brand name, acquiring the trademark for the original 7-20-4 line. It was named after the 1874-founded manufacturer in Manchester, New Hampshire. The company became the world’s largest cigar producer, until the 1962 Embargo killed its supply of Cuban tobacco.
“Hustler has a misty history,” reports Kendall, “which I’m still researching. The brand dates back to a New York State birth in 1892. I selected its original box art, because it almost leaps off the shelf. It shows a dandy in full stride, toting a carpet bag and briefcase, with newspaper and ‘bumbershoot’ under each arm. The jaunty angle of the cigar in his grin says this guy’s a hustler, in more ways than one.”
The Spanish cedar box holds an unusual 27 cigars, divided into three compartments. Each holds nine cigars … all parejos … in 5-1/2″ x 52, 6″ x 54 (both at $9.00 MSRP), plus 6-3/8″ x 58 ($11.00 MSRP).
Hustler, entirely separate from Kendall’s benchmark 7-20-4 line, is triple-capped for durability of their heads, and entubado-bunched, yielding a company-touted “vertical integrity” that ensures smooth draws and uniform burns. They are made by Tabacos de Oriente in Danli, Honduras. The tobaccos carry five years of aging, with the cigars resting another six months. Kendall first released the line in November, and they are carried at retailers nationwide … see the “Find Our Cigars” page on the company site (www.7-20-4.com) for local 7-20-4 tobacconists.
The cigars themselves boast an eye-catching twist … literally. They are spirally-wrapped in a two-tone, barber-pole wrapper, with a dark and brawny Brazilian Mata Fina leaf and a contrasting tawny, Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut Shade leaf. The heads are finished in a traditional Cuban-style pigtail. The Jamastran and Jalapa filler is held in a Costa Rican binder. Hustler contains no relatively flavorless ligero, relying instead on the other tobaccos in the blends to gain its power. Hustler is a medium-bodied smoke, with the spiral wrapper providing a visual emphasis to what Kendall calls it’s “swirl of complex flavors and aroma.”
Hustler’s first production run was shipped in November, and is sold out at press time … coinciding with the April shipment date of the cigar’s second release.
January 28, 2012 (Miami, FL) — Wynwood Cigar Factory a part of the Fabricas Unidas family has opened its doors in the Wynwood art district of Miami. The concept of the Wynwood Cigar Factory came from the minds of Christian Eiroa and Robert Caldwell and features a unique environment for cigar smokers and art lovers alike.
Wynwood Cigar Factory offers exclusive cigar blends rolled by some of the best talent from Honduras. Rollers competed in Eiroa’s Honduran factory for a chance to come to Miami to roll for the Wynwood Factory.
“I’m very excited to have the rollers here in the factory, as the final piece in this project,” says Caldwell. “I’ve spent the past six months creating the space and now we are able to bring the cigars to life.”
Wynwood Cigar Factory is now producing and selling Wynwood Factory Fresh and Wynwood Art Edition as well as other blends the rollers are creating at this time. Wynwood is open daily from 9:00AM – 5:00PM for cigars, tours and merchandise.
Expect to see these cigars and other brands, as a part of the Fabricas Unidas family, to appear in retail locations nationwide. For more information or to schedule a private tour of the Wynwood Cigar Factory, please call (800) 253-1429.
NEW YORK, NY(January 29, 2013) – Nat Sherman, tobacconist to the world since 1930, has been selected as the official cigar partner for the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s Celebrity Chef Golf Tournament presented by Benchmark Hospitality International hosted by José Andrés. Taking place on February 23rd at the legendary Turnberry Isle Miami, the culinary, wine and spirits adventure will prove second to none with the addition of premium Nat Sherman cigars to be enjoyed by guests amidst the beauty of Turnberry Isle’s 18-hole Raymond Floyd-designed Soffer Course.
“Nat Sherman is honored to be chosen as the official cigar partner for the Food Network South Beach Food & Wine Festival’s Celebrity Chef Golf Tournament,” said Michael Herklots, Executive Director of Retail and Brand Development at Nat Sherman. “Just as a great dish is painstakingly composed of the best ingredients, our cigars are created thoughtfully, with the finest tobaccos, to offer a unique tasting experience that satisfies the palate, and soothes the soul.”
Nat Sherman will feature a selection of cigars including a variety from The Host series, The Metropolitan Collection and the award-winning Timeless Collection. The Nat Sherman Host series – a personal favorite of Nat himself, boasts Honduran-made beauties that offer a rather mellow smoke, but with great body, giving a creamy character and wonderful sweetness. The Metropolitan Collection achieves a mild yet balanced and flavorful smoke; a wonderful snapshot of the type of flavor and experience that has made Dominican cigars so popular over the past 20 years. Nat Sherman’s most recent collection, The Timeless Collection, offers full-bodied, medium-strength blends of tobaccos from three unique countries.
Spanish celebrity chef, José Andrés, recently named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people, will host the Festival’s golf event. Participating foursomes will be paired with a chef, winemaker or spirit producer to discover the epicurean delights showcased at each hole throughout the tournament.
The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s Celebrity Chef Golf Tournament presented by Benchmark Hospitality International hosted by José Andrés will take place Saturday, February 23rd beginning at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast; followed by a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Tickets are $650 for singles / $2,000 for foursomes. To learn more, visit http://www.sobefest.com/golf
About Nat Sherman
Nat Sherman defines tobacco connoisseurship through a family tradition of innovation and expertly-curated products. Since 1930, Nat Sherman’s timeless appeal, while quintessentially New York is embraced and enjoyed worldwide. Learn more at www.natsherman.com
Yes, you read the title correctly. That’s $185 with three zeros after it. The Associated Press published quite the story this morning around 6:00am. Apparently, cigarsdirect.com sold a 19 foot Gran Habano cigar to a private buyer for $185,000. To put that in perspective, the cigar is covered in 16,000 wrapper leaves – enough to make almost 25,000 robusto sized cigars.
A few details from the article:
“Juan Panesso, a cigar aficionado who runs CigarsDirect.com, an online cigar shop, deals in fine cigars from all over, but he’d never seen the likes of the Gran Habano #5 El Gigante before he uncrated it in a warehouse on Sunday morning.
The cigar, nearly 19 feet long and more than 3 feet wide, came in its own carrying case, a 900 pound round wooden crate that looks like an old steam locomotive. It sat inside a Clearwater warehouse Sunday awaiting the gentle hands of workers to crate it up and ship it out on Tuesday.
Destination: undisclosed. The stogie is going to a private collector, somewhere out of the country, Panesso said.”
FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Jan. 2013) Just in time for colder weather, Buffalo Trace Distillery offers a solution to your winter chills. The latest Experimental Collection bourbons both survived the heat. The Hot Box Toasted Barrel Bourbon Whiskey and #7 Heavy Char Barrel Bourbon Whiskey are the two latest offerings from the Kentucky distillery.
Both of these experiments study the effects of extreme heat on oak barrels and the flavor of the bourbon inside.
The Hot Box Toasted Barrel Bourbon involved placing the barrel staves into a “Hot Box” at 133 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, the staves were steamed before being assembled into a barrel. The goal was to drive the flavors deep into the wood.
Next the barrels were filled with Buffalo Trace Rye Bourbon Mash #2 and left to age for 16 years and 8 months. The resulting bourbon is a well-balanced whiskey with fruity notes complimented by a caramel and buttery taste.
The #7 Heavy Char Barrel Bourbon Whiskey experiment used barrels which were charred for 3.5 minutes, as opposed to the normal 55 second char used by Buffalo Trace typically. The barrels were then filled with Buffalo Trace Rye Bourbon Mash #2 and left to age for 15 years and 9 months. The end result is a bourbon with an oaky aroma followed by a body that is heavy and complex. A smoky and robust flavor, with fantastic woody notes and hints of vanilla, fruit and tannin. It is dry and balanced.
“Toying with barrels is fun and interesting. It’s quite dramatic to see how something as simple as an extra heavy barrel char can influence the taste of bourbon,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller. “Both of these experiments yielded very interesting and balanced flavor profiles that I think most people will enjoy tasting.”
These “hot” barrels are part of the more than 1,500 experimental barrels of whiskey aging in the warehouses of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each of these barrels has unique characteristics that differentiate it from all others. Some examples of these experiments include unique mash bills, type of wood and barrel toasts. In order to further increase the scope, flexibility and range of the experimental program, an entire micro distillery, named The Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. “OFC” Micro Distillery, complete with cookers, fermenting tanks, and a state-of-the-art micro still has been constructed within Buffalo Trace Distillery.
The Experimental Collection will be packaged in 375ml bottles. Each label will include all the pertinent information unique to that barrel of whiskey. These whiskeys will retail for approximately $46.35 each. These rare experimental bottles should be available in late January or early February. For more information on the Experimental Collection or the other products of Buffalo Trace Distillery, please contact Kris Comstock at kcomstock@buffalotrace.com
About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visitwww.buffalotracedistillery.com
