May 15, 2013 (Louisville, Ky.) — Ted’s Cigars, a leading manufacturer of premium branded cigars announces a collaboration with Duck Commander, the company that produces duck calls featured in the hit A&E series Duck Dynasty. The packaging of the officially licensed “Duck Commander Cigar” features members of the Robertson clan and the company’s signature logo. The cigar itself is handcrafted in Dominican Republic.
Millions of viewers have made Duck Dynasty a blockbuster reality show hit. Yet, the family’s success began with patriarch’s Phil Robertson’s original duck call. After patenting the call in 1972, he built what is today an empire of Duck Commander hunting products headquartered in West Monroe, Louisiana.
The launch of the Duck Commander Cigar follows the tradition of hunting and cigars. Hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and casual smokers will enjoy the cigar’s excellent blend of Ecuadorian Habano, United States Broadleaf, Dominican Piloto Cubano, Dominican Habano, and Dominican Criollo 98 tobacco.
The tradition of Duck Commander craftsmanship and excellence is in line with that of the storied history of Ted’s Cigars. For almost 20 years, Ted’s Cigars has been the industry leader in the development, marketing, and licensing of premium cigars. Fortune 100 companies and worldwide brands including Maker’s Mark, Grand Marnier, Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Forty Creek Whiskey, Courvoisier, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Sr. have all entrusted Ted’s Cigars to license their name. Indeed, Ted’s Cigars are the “go-to” guys for any brand that seeks to launch a cigar.
“This is an exciting partnership between Ted’s Cigars and Duck Commander and an excellent fit given that we are also avid hunters,” said Ted Jackson, President of Ted’s Cigars. “We share many of the same values as the boys at Duck Commander, and know enjoying a fine cigar while outdoors can make anyone ‘happy, happy, happy.”
The Duck Commander Cigar is a 6 x 50 Toro and features a mild, creamy smoke with a smooth finish. Individually sealed in a glass tube – no humidor required.
Expecting a huge demand, the cigars are available for pre-orders in singles and in boxes of 3, 10, & 25 cigars at www.tedscigars.com. Orders will ship at the end of May.
Cigar enthusiasts often think of cigar company reps as professional cigar smokers that advocate just one particular brand. In reality, cigar repping is a lot more complex and takes even more hard work. I recently spoke with Dustin Schmidt, Northeast Territory Representative for Carlos Toraño Cigars, about what it means to be a cigar rep, and what brought him into the business.
Q. Where are you from, and what originally drew you to cigars?
A. I was born and raised in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. For all of you out there wondering where that is, it is a small bedroom community located an hour north of NYC. I first started getting into cigars at the age of 18 when I took a senior class trip to Spain. My classmates and I, free from the tyranny of middle class parenthood, had a bit of a rebellious streak running though us before we landed in Madrid. We wanted to get our hands on anything that may be construed as counterculture, or defying the status quo, so cigars seemed like a natural fit. Plus we had heard you could smoke Cubans there, so the forbidden fruit theory had proven true. My first cigar was a Montecristo #4 and needless to say my untrained palate could not decipher any distinguishable characteristics at the time, but I thought it was a pretty cool experience.
Q. How did you first get involved withToraño?
That is an interesting question, and one that I could go on forever about because it was quite the journey. I will try to give the Cliffs Notes version if that is at all possible. I had worked at the Davidoff Columbus Circle store in Manhattan between 2007 and 2008. There I learned quite a bit about cigars from Michael Herklots and Kevin Threat along with manufacturers who came to visit the store.
Before then, I had been passionate about cigars for several years, but I knew very little about how they were made, the different types of tobacco used, and countries of origin along with their impact on the flavor profile. From there I started my own blog, where I reviewed boutique cigars from manufacturers like El Tiante, Reinado, Nomad Cigar Company, and Panacea Cigars.
In January 2012, I was at a Toraño Family Cigars tasting event at one of my favorite shops on the planet: Hudson Valley Cigars in New Windsor, NY. I am still enamored by the fact that you can go there and enjoy a cigar along with an unbelievable steak dinner at Schlessingers Steak House. At the event I met Territory Representative Miguel Schoedel who was excited about where Toraño was headed. They were experiencing quite a bit of growth at the time and were looking to bring on a new rep for the Northeast. When I first submitted my resume to VP of Sales and Marketing Bruce Lewis, he said that they were expanding, but it would not be for a few more months. I was excited about the possibility of working for them, and knowing that I was one of many qualified candidates interested in the position, I asked to review some of their cigars on my blog. I had smoked the Exodus 50 Year, Exodus 1959, and Master before, but had never reviewed their cigars. I was sent some samples and really enjoyed all of them, especially one of their newer blends at the time: Vault. About five months later I was hired, and the rest is history.
Q. What’s it like being a brand rep? I know for some of us enthusiasts, brand reps can seem like shadowy figures traveling around in the name of a company. But what it is that you do?
A. Being a territory representative in the cigar industry is far different than what I thought it was like when I was a consumer hanging out at cigar shops. Don’t get me wrong, It is great to travel across the Northeast to visit shops and to meet customers, but I think many people paint a hyperbolic, romanticized picture about what it must be like to be a cigar salesman. I believe what many people miss is the sacrifice, hard work and stress involved being on the road as frequently as you are. I have grown the utmost respect for cigar reps as the result of walking in their shoes because I could not grasp all that it entailed before now.
Q. What is the most memorable experience you’ve had as a member of the Toraño family?
A. That’s easy: meeting Charlie Toraño just outside of Newark Airport right after I was hired last year. I had never met Charlie before, so it was quite a surreal experience. At the time it was kind of intimidating because here I was a total rookie in the cigar industry with no real experience, but he had the confidence and trust in my ability to help grow their presence in the Northeast.
Q. Cigar smokers are known for being friendly, but the industry as a whole can sometimes seem a bit cut-throat. What has been your experience?
My approach is somewhat atypical. I believe that the best way to make a contribution is to create value and be of service unconditionally. Bullying is a dead end street that usually leads to resentment and hard feelings. When you have a product that is as good of quality and at an incredibly competitive price as Toraño, it becomes more about building relationships and less about the hard sell. Yes, it is a competitive marketplace with a lot of great choices, and there are many fine cigars coming to shops across the country every day that blow me away in terms of complexity, and quality of blending. We believe that there is a cigar in our portfolio that is right for you, and ultimately our goal is to find one that fits into your rotation.
Q.Toraño makes incredible cigars. The Master Blend (reviewed here) and Master Maduro are fantastic, along with the Exodus 50 Year (reviewed here). Some of my favorite cigars. Yet I don’t see them at many shops, which has always surprised me. IsToraño more of a boutique brand, or is your plan to expand and become a national, sort of everyday smoke?
A. Toraño Cigars is a boutique brand. Being a family owned company, we are pretty small compared to other manufacturers. The reason why you don’t see Toraño everywhere is because we are more focused on working with the best stores that are supportive of our lines rather than being everywhere you go. Having said that, there is more room for growth and with our portfolio expanding to include Leccia Tobacco Company and Palio, we are excited about where we are, and the direction we are going.
You can learn more about CarlosToraño Cigars at theirwebsite.
Be sure to pick up a bottle of Long Island Spirits’
Rough Rider Straight Bourbon Whisky for this upcoming weekends Kentucky Derby!! While you’re out east, stop by the Tasting Room and sample the Rough Rider, LiV Vodka, and Sorbetta Liqueurs!
2.5 oz. Rough Rider Straight Bourbon Whisky
2 tsp. water
1 tsp. powdered sugar
4 fresh mint sprigs
Muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water in a collins glass. Fill the glass with shaved or crushed ice and add Rough Rider Straight Bourbon Whisky. Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig.
Serve with a straw.
Take a sip and enjoy as you watch the long shot you just bet
The makers of premium whisky brand Wild Turkey are introducing an exciting honey-flavoured bourbon, American Honey to the UK this month. American Honey, is blended with real Kentucky Wild Turkey bourbon and hand-selected American honey and has been developed to be shared with friends, chilled from the bottle as a shot.
Unlike other honey flavoured bourbons, American Honey retains the taste and kick of straight bourbon but introduces subtle notes of sweet honey, caramel and orange giving it a much smoother finish. American Honey was the first ever bourbon liqueur with honey to launch in the US and is one of Wild Turkey’s signature drinks made in their distillery near Lawrenceburg in Kentucky, USA.
American Honey is smooth without being overly sweet and is perfect straight out of the bottle as a shot, chilled or over ice, or works well with mixers like cola.
American Honey will be touring University Student Unions around the UK with a branded American Honey photobooth and will also be offering the chance to win a US Road Trip in summer 2013. For more details go to www.facebook.com/americanhoneyuk
April 22, 2013 (Jeffersonville, Ind.) — Riverside Cigar Shop is thrilled to celebrate its 2nd anniversary on Thursday, May 2nd. It will be a lively celebration featuring the finest cigar brands, specialty bourbon cocktails and libations, delicious menu offerings, live music and some fantastic deals on cigar purchases. Riverside’s Anniversary Celebration is the perfect addition to the festivities of the 139th Kentucky Derby for both locals and out of town guests. Plus, net proceeds from the celebration will benefit Kentucky Harvest.
In honor of the anniversary, Riverside Cigars will be releasing an exclusive cigar developed by RoMa Craft Tobac. The Riverside Anniversary Cigar combines two of RoMa Craft’s award-winning brands, the CroMagnon and the Aquitaine. The Riverside Anniversary Cigar is a gratifying Nicaraguan blend featuring an Ecuadorian Habano Ligero Binder and Double Ligero filler. It features a medium to full body and is rich in flavor. The price is $12 per cigar. The first production of this exclusive Riverside Anniversary Cigar will be twenty boxes of fifteen cigars. Continuous production will be based on customer demand.
In addition to the exclusive Anniversary Cigar, the celebration will also feature many of the fantastic cigar brands sold at Riverside including 262 Cigars, Primer Mundo Cigars, Drew Estate Cigars, La Flor Dominicana, Oliva Cigars, Ortega Cigars and RoMa Craft Tobac Cigars. A special Cigar Smoker VIP Package, which includes cigars from each brand represented and exclusive merchandise, is available for purchase for only $40, now through April 30th. The price increases to $50 on May 1st. Tickets can be purchased by call (812) 284-6198.
The festivities will also include specialty bourbon cocktails and delicious menu offerings provided by neighboring Match Cigar Bar, plus live music by Bombshell Cowboy and additional musical talent.
“It’s been a pleasure working with Jeff and the rest of the crew at Riverside. They have this infectious cult of personality that makes me proud to be a part of their humidor,” says Clint Aaron of 262 Cigars. “I’m looking forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with them.”
“We are looking forward to celebrating Riverside’s 2nd Anniversary,” says Eddie Ortega of Ortega Cigars. “It’s going to be a great party and the perfect way to kick off all the excitement of the Kentucky Derby!”
Riverside Cigar’s 2nd Anniversary celebration event will take place at Riverside, which is located at 201 Spring Street in Jeffersonville, Indiana, on Thursday, May 2nd, 4:00pm – 11:00pm. This free event, which is open to the public, will include raffles for free cigars and promotional materials. For more information, please visit http://www.riversidecigars.com.
April 24, 2013 — Goldie Drell Paley, the namesake of La Palina cigars, was the wife of Samuel Paley, who founded the company in 1896. Bill Paley, Sam’s grandson and current owner,created The La Palina Collection Goldie to celebrate the history, contributions and accomplishments of women in the cigar industry. Bill is proud to present the initial release of the new Goldie in late May, with a second release in August of 2013. The La Palina Collection Goldie Laguito No.5 will be limited to 2500 numbered boxes.
Produced at the El Titan de Bronze factory in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, the Goldie is made under the supervision of owner Sandra Cobas. The La Palina Goldie Laguito No.5 will be a 5 5/8 x 54 cigar and presented in boxes of 10.
Master roller Maria Sierra, who will have signed each numbered box, rolled the entire La Palina Collection Goldie Laguito No.5 release. Maria was one of the first women trained to roll cigars in Cuba. Her historic 32 year career at Villa El Laguito began July 22, 1967. Maria is a 95 rated, category 9 roller trained by Fidel Castro’s personal roller Eduardo Rivera Irizarri, as well as Avelino Lara, the creator of the legendary Cohiba blend.
Each cigar is finished in the traditional Laguito style with a fan cap, exclusively taught to rollers at Villa El Laguito. The Goldie is blended with the prized Medio Tiempo leaf, found on only 10% of tobacco plants.
The La Palina Collection Goldie Laguito No.5 embodies the tradition, expertise and passion of women in the cigar industry.
Bill Paley and La Palina will debut the La Palina Collection Goldie Laguito No.5 at Nat Sherman International in NYC on May 9, 2013. Maria Sierra will be rolling the Goldie Laguito No.5 at the event. Please contact Nat Sherman 1-800-MY-CIGAR regarding attendance. The May release will be limited to 1000 boxes, and distributed to select accounts across the country. The rest of the release will become available sometime in August.
Our friends over at LongFillersLounge cigar blog announced just last week that Cigar Inn took home the 1st place prize in New York City’s (or probably anywhere) first ever house blend tasting tournament. The contest featured house blends from cigar shops like Velvet Cigar Lounge (Manhattan), Refugio Cigar House (Brooklyn), Ash Cigars (Hoboken), Cigar Inn (Manhattan), and Excalibur Lounge.
Here’s how the guys at LongFillersLounge concluded:
“In what was the toughest decision of the tournament by far, Cigar Inn’s great bold flavors just edged out the Exlcusivo enough to take the win, but man was it close. In each of the match-ups previous to this, Longfillers was unanimous in our decision of what deserved to win. In this match-up we were not able to come to a unanimous decision, and Cigar Inn won by a 2-1 vote, it was literally that close all the way to the end. These are both great cigars, not only in terms of house blends, but against all cigars. If you walked into either of these shops, and did not pick up at least one house blend, you would be doing yourself a disservice.”
So here’s a shout out from one NYC blog to another: great job on this contest. What a great way to encourage local business at B&Ms and have a kickass time doing it. And next time, hopefully you won’t have to pay for the cigars!
Guests can welcome summer in New York and enjoy the hotel’s luxurious terraces and outdoor space.
New York, NY (April 16, 2013) – Hyatt 48 Lex hotel launches its, “Nat Sherman Terraces Cut and Cork,” package today. While Hyatt 48 Lex is a 100 percent smoke-free hotel, the property offers eight specialty suites and studios with well appointed outdoor terraces, a perfect perch for cigar aficionados to enjoy long summer evenings in New York. The Nat Sherman Terraces Cut and Cork package includes two cigars: Romeo by Romeo y Julieta and Nat Sherman Timeless Collection No. 2; a Nat Sherman cutter and matches; a bottle of hand-selected red wine; and a Boveda humidification pack that allows cigars to maintain their freshness for up to three months. The package is available at Hyatt 48 Lex starting Memorial Day, May 27 through Labor Day, September 2, and rates start at $499 + tax/ night. For more information and reservations visit: www.hyatt48lex.com or call 1- 800-223-1234. Please use promo code: CIGAR when booking.
Terrace Studios at Hyatt 48 Lex:
Located on the 4th floor, the hotel’s six Terrace Studios offer a king or queen bed accommodations, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Lexington Avenue or 48th Street. All Terrace Studio guestrooms offer a fully stocked pantry with gourmet snacks, and a selection of wine and liquors. The Landscaped Terrace Suite offers 115 sq. ft. of outdoor lounge space. Guests can relax on designer outdoor chaise lounge seating, complete with a side table to hold wine glasses and cigars.
Penthouse Suites at Hyatt 48 Lex:
Located on the 23rd floor of the hotel, the two Penthouse Suites at Hyatt 48 Lex are true Manhattan jewels. Each Penthouse Suite offers 750 sq. ft of living space and includes a king bedroom. The floor to ceiling windows offer generous views of the mid-town Manhattan skyline and the suites also include a kitchen with cooktop and a fully stocked minibar.
Hyatt 48 Lex offers for guests to luxuriate en suite with its Suite Spa menu of services. Guests may also dine in room or at the hotel’s signature, Lexington Brass brasserie, that is beloved by locals and visitors alike and is most popular for its weekend brunch and nightly dinner menus, featuring items such as Duck Au Poivre with fingerling potato and spinach; Chili Glazed Bass with asparagus and pea greens; and Apple Crusted Salmon with beets, spinach and walnuts.
Hyatt 48 Lex emphasizes warmth, a focus on the local neighborhood and extraordinary service standards to fulfill the needs of modern travelers. Located in Midtown East in Manhattan within walking distance of many iconic New York City destinations, Hyatt 48 Lex has 116 spacious studios and suites. Smart details include a butler’s pantry stocked with local snacks from the likes of Dean & Deluca and Dylan’s Candy Bar and beds positioned with floor-to-ceiling views of Lexington Avenue. Lexicon Lounge, open to all guests, stands in for a typical “lobby,” with complimentary homemade snacks throughout the day, comfortable furniture for relaxing, a fireplace, evening wine tastings with selections hand-picked by the General Manager, and a library of Assouline coffee table books. The New American bistro, Lexington Brass, offers creative twists on classics and also caters the food for in room dining and meetings. The dog-friendly Hyatt 48 Lex is a AAA Four Diamond hotel and offers 24-hour access fitness studio, in-room spa treatments and four Boardrooms. www.hyatt48lex.com
About Nat Sherman
Founded by Nat Sherman in 1930 and family-guided for three generations, Nat Sherman continues to define the authentic tobacco experience. Through a tradition of innovation and expertly crafted products, Nat Sherman’s timeless appeal, while quintessentially New York, is embraced and enjoyed worldwide. Learn more at www.natsherman.com.
Espinoza Premium Cigars recently announced the release of an Espinoza Maduro, which will feature a dark Mexican Maduro wrapper. Espinoza’s other blend, the Espinoza Habano (released last year), is highly acclaimed. This is a cigar to watch for at your local tobacconist.
April 9, 2013 (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) — Espinosa Premium Cigars is proud to announce the release of the long anticipated Espinosa Maduro. Coming off last year’s successful debut of the medium bodied Espinosa Habano, the Espinosa Maduro will be wrapped in a beautiful, smoothly textured, dark chocolate Mexican Maduro wrapper. Within this triple capped cigar lies a premium blend of tobaccos that have been combined to form a rich cocoa, cedar, pepper and spice base. This medium-full bodied cigar is the perfect combination of Erik Espinosa’s signature strength notes and the La Zona factory’s reputation for flavor.
The Espinosa Maduro is made in Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua and will come in 4 different vitolas: Robusto Box-Pressed (5×52), Belicoso Box-Pressed (5-1/2×52), Corona Gorda (5-5/8 x46), and Toro Box-Pressed (6-x52). All four sizes will be offered in boxes of 20. The Espinosa Maduro is set to be released at the end of April 2013.
Ballantine’s, the No.2 ultra-premium and Prestige Scotch whisky range in Asia-Pacific, has unveiled the 2013 Ballantine’s Championship Blend after exclusively bringing together Master Blender Sandy Hyslop and winner of the 2012 Ballantine’s Championship, Bernd Wiesberger, to create the sixth unique expression of the prestigious blend.
The 2013 Championship Blend has been created with a selection of exceptional whiskies, aged for at least 41 years, and is being released to commemorate this year’s tournament which is taking place in Icheon, South Korea from 25 – 28 April 2013.
Just ten individually numbered bottles of this rare limited edition will be produced, with one being gifted to Wiesberger as reigning Ballantine’s Championship winner and collaborator in the creation of this year’s blend. A bottle will also be reserved for the 2013 champion and another will be auctioned during the tournament for charitable causes.
This exclusive and exceptional blend is presented in a prestigious bottle with a handcrafted and gold finished metal band which bears the individual bottle number alongside the signatures of its two creators, Sandy Hyslop and Bernd Wiesberger. The bottle also features Ballantine’s unique crest carefully etched onto the glass, enhancing the brand’s proud heritage and excellence. The bottle sits in a solid wooden cabinet with a premium leather cover featuring the iconic Ballantine’s ‘B’ and gold coloured metal band. Interior leather panels on each of the cabinet doors, bearing a quote from Hyslop and Wiesberger, and a leather bound booklet complete the luxurious presentation of the 2013 Championship Blend, highlighting Ballantine’s association with golf and the uniqueness of the blend.
Since the inaugural event in 2008, Ballantine’s has established the unique tradition of creating an exclusive Championship Blend each year, created by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop with the reigning Championship winner. Wiesberger becomes only the fourth person in history outside of Ballantine’s expert blending team to be invited to work with a Master Blender in creating a Ballantine’s blend, with previous winners, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell MBE and Marcus Fraser having been granted the same privilege over the past five years. This year, Sandy Hyslop personally guided Wiesberger through a tasting of extremely rare and high quality grain and malt whiskies to assess which flavours he preferred before carefully blending the golfer’s selection.
Sandy Hyslop comments: “It was a pleasure to introduce Bernd Wiesberger to the art of blending while creating the 2013 Ballantine’s Championship Blend. We’ve created a truly unique blend that reflects Bernd’s own taste and character but is still true to Ballantine’s signature style – soft, sweet, elegant and balanced. I’m delighted with the results and I believe this Championship Blend is a fitting tribute to the shared flair, craftsmanship and excellence of Ballantine’s and professional golf.”
Bernd Wiesberger added: “It has been a privilege and an honour to join Ballantine’s Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop, in creating this special whisky. It will have a place of honour in my home, sitting alongside the Ballantine’s Championship trophy until an occasion so special that I am willing to drink it.”
Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, says: “The Ballantine’s Championship Blend is a unique tradition that celebrates the shared values and heritage of Ballantine’s and golf, so we are thrilled to release this year’s unique expression, one of the rarest and most exclusive whiskies ever produced by our Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop. The synergy between Ballantine’s and golf has never been stronger and we are extremely proud to be associated with one of the most prestigious golf events in Asia, where our sponsorship investment, both at the top of the game and at grass roots level, marks our deepening commitment to world-class golf.”
Ballantine’s association with golf can be traced back to 1960 when the first Ballantine’s Tournament took place at Wentworth Golf Course in the UK. Since Ballantine’s became the title sponsor of the Championship in 2008, many professional golfers have demonstrated their world-class talents at the Ballantine’s Championship and the event has fast become one of Asia’s most prestigious golfing events, with over 45,000 spectators in 2012 and coverage broadcast to 300 million homes worldwide.
Notes
Tasting Notes of Ballantine’s Championship Blend 2013:
Nose: Wonderful flavours of sweet candy apples, soft fruity pears, rich fruitcake and a hint of dark chocolate and treacle.
Taste: Silky smooth with fruit flavours in abundance. This 2013 edition also has fantastic creamy toffee / fudge flavours complemented perfectly by a delicate nutty, oaky background.
Finish: Perfectly balanced, long and lush
About Ballantine’s:
Ballantine’sis the No 2 ultra-premium Scotch whisky in Asia, No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 120 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.
About Chivas Brothers:
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.
In July 2010 Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.
