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Announcement

New Nat Sherman Bench Collection Now Available

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Looks like Nat Sherman is continuing its big push forward with more new blends. Take a moment and read this release from Michael Herklots’ blog about their newest Bench release. I picked up a few of these the other day and a review will be forthcoming.
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La Aurora, the Dominican Republic’s oldest cigar factory, has teamed up with Nat Sherman to offer two very special cigars to the Tobacconist’s loyal customers at their Flagship Townhouse Store.
These cigars were manufactured in 2007 in their Dominican factory.  The blends were part of the development of the La Aurora Excepcionales, a cigar made exclusively available to a small group of New York City retailers.
“We had three blends we really liked”, said Michael Herklots, who worked closely with La Aurora’s Manuel Inoa on the project.  “Ultimately we chose a blend for the Excepcionales, but there were two other blends that we really liked and decided to make a very small production of them to use sometime in the future.” On a recent visit to La Aurora, Herklots inquired about the small production of the other two blends.  And, fortunately for Nat Sherman, they were resting in the company’s vast aging room.
La Aurora agreed to make the small amount of cigars avialable for Nat Sherman’s exclusive Bench Collection- a series of small production cigars that use harder-to-get tobaccos in more artisenal style blends.
Both cigars are available in limited quantities boxes of 20 cigars
L-IDD
Format: Lancero
Size: 6.5″ x 40
Wrapper:  Indonesia
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
$140 + Applicable Taxes
B-IDD
Format: Belicoso
6″ x 52
Wrapper: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
$160 + Applicable Taxes

Press Release: Miami Cigar Announces the Release of Añoranzas Line of Cigars

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What is Añoranza? The newest cigar from Miami Cigar & Company will have many wondering how to pronounce it (Ahn-yor-ahn-za) and what does it mean? The word which is Spanish, means nostalgia; a sense of yearning. Often when we smoke, we reflect on times gone by and look back to a period of our lives we miss and wish we could go back to. This is Añoranza.

The cigars which are made in Nicaragua feature a Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro wrapper, with Nicaraguan grown binder and fillers. They will be available in both 10 count and 20 count boxes in the following sizes.

  • Robusto ($6.50 MSRP)
  • Toro ($7.50 MSRP)
  • Belicoso ($7.80 MSRP)
  • Gran Toro ($8.50 MSRP)

The cigars which come in a soft box pressed format will debut at IPCPR in Orlando in 2012.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyP7kiUjpMg]

The Nat Sherman “Timeless Collection” To Expand Offering

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Michael Herklots from Nat Sherman writes on his blog that Timeless Collection (reviewed by me here) is set to expand!

After the incredibly successful launch of the Nat Sherman Timeless Collection, in February of 2012, the line is expanding.  The first Timeless Collection cigars were manufactured in the Dominican Republic by MATASA.  Now, a new blend will join the ranks of the Nat Sherman Timeless Collection made in Nicaragua by Plasencia Cigars S.A..  These Nicaraguan puros will be available in three box-pressed formats, 4″ x 52, 5″ x 56 and 6″ x 60.  The cigars will be packed in black boxes of 21 cigars adorned with Nat Sherman’s signature in Gold.  The new additions will be featured at the 2012 IPCPR convention in Orlando, FL and are scheduled to ship to retailers by September.

Nat Sherman Timeless 452   $140/box of 21 cigars MSRP
Nat Sherman Timeless 556   $160/box of 21 cigars MSRP
Nat Sherman Timeless 660   $180/box of 21 cigars MSRP

In Addition…

We’ve also added two new sizes to the Dominican-made Timeless Collection. These new formats will be offered in the same slide-top 20 count boxes as the rest of the Dominican-made Timeless Collection.  The Especiales will be a traditional lancero format at 6″ x 38 with a pigtail cap.  The Divinos is a small perfecto measuring 5″ x 32/50/36.

Nat Sherman Timeless Especiales $124/box of 20 cigars MSRP
Nat Sherman Timeless Divinos $160/box of 20 cigars MSRP

Cigar Inn Features Custom-Painted Cigar Boxes

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Cigar Inn has always been a great place to smoke, and now patrons can expect even more. For just $20, anyone buying a box of cigars can have a custom design painted right on to their box. All customers have to do is submit a photograph to be painted on the box and wait about two weeks.

From the Cigar Aficionado release:

“All paintings are being done by New York-based artist Elena Yakovleva. Yakovleva, a graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, is the talented artist that Cigar Inn commissioned to paint a mural for its 1016 2nd Avenue location.”

I don’t often buy boxes of cigars from anywhere, let alone Cigar Aficionado (NY tobacco taxes are killer), but if I ever do buy an exclusive from Cigar Inn, this will definitely be a feature that I’ll be tacking on.

Read the full release at Cigar Aficionado.

FineTobaccoNYC and Caballero Cigars Host Havana Wed @ The Ravel Rooftop

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This email went out to all FineTobaccoNYC event subscribers. To make sure you get notifications of our events first, simply add your name/email to our event subscriber list – no spam, just great invites.

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The Ravel Rooftop

Ladies and gents of the leaf,

First off, a huge shoutout to everyone who came out to our summer smoke at Studio Square – recap here. It was a great time, and a big shout out to our friends at Hispaniola Cigars, easily some of the highest quality cigars on the market today. Also, for those of you interested in the pending FDA regulation of cigars, check out our ongoing webseries, “Cigar Wars”, which will bring you up to speed.
I want to invite all of you to our next rooftop event at The Ravel Hotel, next Wednesday (July 25). The rooftop has great seating, a bar, and features a gorgeous view. We’ll also have live cigar rolling and a DJ, which will make for a magical evening. This event is RSVP only. 
 
The details:
 
  • Where: The Ravel Hotel rooftop
  • What: live cigar rolling, DJ, full service bar, beautiful view, networking, time to relax!
  • When: Wednesday, July 25, 7pm – late (weather permitting).
  • What to bring: Cigars (no cutting fee!). Do not bring liquor – full service bar.
  • Must be 21+ to attend.
  • Gents free before 8, Ladies free before 9. $10 cover from then on.
 
This is going to be a lot of fun, so grab some friends and come hang out! 
 
Just hit “reply” to RSVP – web readers, click here. Email me if you need directions – the venue is right next to many major subway lines.
 
 
Best,
Matthias Clock
 
p.s. for weekly cigar recommendations and reviews, bookmark this page, or subscribe to our blog.

Maraya Cigar Scorching Summer Special – 16 Tango Torpedo Cigars in a Tin

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This summer, Maraya Cigar is offering 16 MARAYA Tango Torpedo cigars (50 x 54) in a round tin (pictured above). A $187 value; they will include a humidipak along with the tin and sales tax for $150.  If you haven’t had the Tango, it is a pretty fantastic cigar, and I’d say easily one of the best house blends in the city.

In-shop pick-up at 87 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side, while supplies last. You can reach Joy Florentz, shop owner, via email.  Otherwise, just head down to their shop on Orchard St.

Nat Sherman Appoints Ike Karipides to Director of Premium Cigar Sales

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Our friends at Nat Sherman have an announcement for New York City cigar smokers, and the United States at large. It sounds like Ike Karipides will be a great addition to the Nat Sherman team.

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NAT SHERMAN APPOINTS IKE KARIPIDES TO DIRECTOR OF PREMIUM CIGARS SALES

July 13, 2012 (New York, NY) – Nat Sherman, offering an iconic collection of premium tobacco products and upholding a service-centric approach to business, announces the appointment of Ike Karipides as Director of Premium Cigar Sales. Karipides’ appointment is effective immediately and he will be reporting directly to Michael Herklots, Executive Director of Retail and Brand Development.  The announcement was made by Joel Sherman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nat Sherman.

“We are thrilled to have Ike join the family. He has a profound passion for service that complements our multi-generational commitment to excellence,” says Joel Sherman. “Ike’s appointment underlines our dedication to our customers and the cigar industry.”

In the newly created role, Karipides is responsible for managing the sales efforts for the family-owned tobacconist’s premium cigars to partner retailers throughout the United States. Karipides brings experience and expertise in sales and marketing, promotions, special events and new brand development with him to Nat Sherman.

“I’ve always been drawn to family owned businesses,” says Ike Karipides.  “I am excited to join the Sherman family, playing an active role in building upon Nat Sherman’s storied legacy.”

With over 15 years of experience in the cigar industry, Karipides most recently served as Regional Sales Manager for Miami Cigar & Company. Karipides’ previous experience also includes serving as a Brand Developer for the House of Oxford and General Manager for Barclay Rex Cigar and Tobacco.  He has nearly grown up in the cigar business and entered into the field as a retail cigar sales associate while attending college.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Ike in many capacities over the years and during this time I’ve witnessed the profound passion and tremendous respect that he has for the cigar industry. I am excited to have Ike on board to spearhead our premium cigar sales efforts,” says Michael Herklots.  “Ike’s addition to the team as Director of Premium Cigar Sales supports Nat Sherman’s commitment to working closely with our partner retailers and building those relationships for the long term.”

Beyond the cigar industry, Ike gained valuable leadership skills and international experience with IC International as Vice President of International Sales and Marketing.  Karipides grew up in Cleveland, Ohio but has made New York his home since attending and graduating from Fordham University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics.

About Nat Sherman:

Tobacconist to the World since 1930, Nat Sherman offers an iconic collection of premium tobacco products, from flavorful hand-rolled cigars to all natural tobacco cigarettes. Nat Sherman maintains a tradition of passion and creativity by offering unique blends of the world’s finest tobaccos. Owned and operated by the third generation of the Sherman family, Nat Sherman is committed to authenticity, quality and customer service. The universe of Nat Sherman comes to life in the company’s Flagship Townhouse store on 42nd Street just off 5th Avenue in Manhattan.www.NatSherman.com

For Media Inquiries Please Contact:

Suzanne DeFosset, Account Executive

EVINS, Ltd. (on behalf of Nat Sherman)

Direct: (212) 377-3592

suzanne.defosset@evins.com

Cigar Inn Dinner with Montecristo Connoisseur Edition No. 2

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Heads up New York cigar smokers: the Cigar Inn just released an announcement of an upcoming dinner event featuring the newest cigar from Montecristo: the Connoisseur Edition No. 2. According to the announcement this cigar is the follow up to the popular Montecristo New York Connoisseur Edition (No. 1), which featured and Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and a box pressed design. I’ve smoked that cigar many times, and it is a really fantastic cigar, so I can’t wait to see what Montecristo has planned for the #2.

The dinner will be held at the Cigar Inn (2nd Ave location) on July 17th at 7:00pm. There is no ticket information or price information – so not really sure what is up with that or if they even want people to show up – but it’s worth looking in to.

Click here to read the full article on the Cigar Inn blog.

Announcing the Red Witch from East India Trading Co.

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Greggory Mottola from Cigar Aficionado writes on the CA website that the East India Trading Co., a subsidiary of Gurkha, is releasing the “Red Witch”, which is a new box pressed cigar that will debut next month. No photos of the cigar yet, but we’ll try to get one up for you soon.

From the release:

“Named after a trading ship from the British rule during the 1800s, Red Witch features an Ecuadoran rosado wrapper, Dominican binder and filler tobacco from Nicaragua’s mountainous region of Jalapa. Housed in rustic 50-count boxes, Red Witch will be available in three sizes: Robusto, 5 inches by 52, Rothchild, 6 by 54, and XO, measuring 6 by 60. Retail prices are expected to fall in the $4.99 to $6.39 range.”

With a retail price between $5 and $7, it should be a cigar to keep your eye on.

Read the full article here on Cigar Aficionado.

Ventura Cigars Media Meet & Greet at Nat Sherman

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Ventura Cigars Meet & Greet

I was onsite this afternoon to cover Ventura Cigars’ event at the Nat Sherman Townhouse on 42nd St. Fellow finetobaccoclub.com/ contributing writer, James Bollen was on hand for the event as well. We were greeted by Patrick Hurd, Ventura’s General Manager.

Patrick told the Ventura story in an entertaining and compelling way, referencing their 100 year old parent company, Phillips & King International and the top of their corporate chain, Kretek International, makers of my favorite machine made cigar, Djarum Cloves. Ventura is from (duh) Ventura County, California, an LA suburb.

Adam from Ventura Cigars

Patrick was featuring 2 of Ventura’s lines at the event; Pura Sangre & Estillo Cubano. The first line, Pura Sangre’s top stick (torpedo) was recently rated a 92 in Smoke Magazine and is a Nicaraguan puro. The line was named by Nestor Placencisa Jr., and means “pure blend”. The Pura Sangre line represents the Placencia’s 5 generations in tobacco.

The second line, Estillo Cubano is constructed from a Honduran Habano wrapper, with ligero binder/filler from both Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The name means “Cuban Style” and is rolled with a pigtail at the cap. This line has some good press going for it already, having earned a 90 rating (robusto) in Cigar Aficionado.

Ventura Cigars

Also in attendance were the incredible staff at Nat Sherman. I am always educated walking into their world, and today was no exception. In addition to discussing the Ventura lines with them, I was brought up to speed on a quicker/easier way to fill my S.T Dupont lighter. (more about that in another post).

In a future post, finetobaccoclub.com/'s Editor in Chief, Matthias Clock will be reviewing Ventura's wares for your reading pleasure.

To sum up, the 5 year old Ventura Cigar Company hosted a nice event and finetobaccoclub.com/ was there to provide a recap for our readers.

As always, please shoot me an e-mail with any questions. rparisella@gmail.com @BigRonnie

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