Two icons in their respective fields, Rocky Patel and Gary Sheffield collaborate to launch a commemorative cigar – The Homerun 500 Club Cigar by Gary Sheffield
August 30, 2012 (Bonita Springs, FL). Two icons in their respective fields, Rocky Patel and Gary Sheffield join forces to bring you a special cigar, to commemorate Sheffield’s rare accomplishment of hitting 500 homeruns.
It is no secret in the premium cigar industry that the world-renowned Rocky Patel brand enjoys a sizeable following, owing to its reputation for the highest quality premium cigars and luxury lifestyle products.
All-star Gary Sheffield’s illustrious baseball career has rendered him an unforgettable figure in the world of sports. With all his tenacity and passion, Gary will always continue to strive for high performance and excellence.
So, it should come as no surprise that Rocky Patel Premium Cigar Company was the perfect fit for Gary Sheffield, himself a cigar enthusiast, to blend a cigar commemorating his 500th home run — The Homerun 500 Club Cigar by Gary Sheffield.
Both Patel and Sheffield have worked tirelessly to bring to market a perfectly blended and aged, medium to full-bodied premium cigar. Equally inspired is the box in which the cigars are presented. The velvet-lined, white leather-finish box is characterized with red stitching to match an authentic baseball. Both the metal plate on top of the box, and the artist’s rendering on the inside of the box were specially commissioned to reflect the momentous occasion of Gary Sheffield’s 500th home run.
Gary Sheffield will be promoting his Homerun 500 Club Cigar (“HR 500”) at special events, which will be held at fine retail tobacconists across the country. He will personally autograph each and every cigar box purchased at the events, and other memorabilia on multiple box purchases.
For Immediate Release For more information, contact Ratna Patel 239-593-1833
The management at Studio Sq. (Astoria Beergarden) recently announced another event in what has become a very popular string of events (take a look at the last one) hosted with Rocky Patel. “Smoke,” a Whiskey, Cigar and BBQ Festival will be hosted at Studio Sq. and will feature cigars from Rocky Patel, including the newly released “Freedom”, which is a fantastic blend.
Also at the event will be a four hour open bar featuring Chivas, Jameson, Glenlivet, and many other fine spirits. And of course, BBQ will be provided.
Tickets look like they are regularly priced at a little over $200, but you can get your ticket for under $100 at Groupon – but you have to act fast.
Drew Estate is at it again. Nicknamed “KFC”, the new line, going by the name “Kentucky Fire Cured” features a wrapper of Kentucky Fired Cured tobacco. I don’t have an inkling of what this means with respect to taste besides spice/full flavor, but with all of the incredible releases from Drew Estate in the past couple of years, fans should be excited to find out.
Near the bottom of the release below, you’ll see that Jonathan Drew mentions a mystery country where Drew Estate tobacco is now being produced. For what it’s worth, my bet is Egypt, or possibly the Philippines (if I’m right, I’ll put up a complete post explaining).
The official release is below.
April 2, 2013 (Miami, Fla.) — Drew Estate Inc. announced today the impending release of Kentucky Fire Cured Cigars, an extension to the MUWAT brand also to be produced at the Joya de Nicaragua factory. In development for over 2.5 years, this extension to the popular MUWAT line of premium cigars was inspired during a trip to the Dominican Republic where Jonathan Drew and Steve Saka were visiting the Universal Leaf tobacco pre-industry facility.
“I remember it as if it were yesterday” states JD. “Fritz Bossert (President of Universal Leaf), Steve Saka and I were smoking Liga Privada T52’s in the fermentation area when I noticed a pilon of Kentucky Fired Cured tobacco. We took the wrapper off the T52 and placed a thick Kentucky Fire Cured leaf in its place. The taste and aroma were simply amazing, but there was just one huge problem – the cigar would not burn properly, and is one of the reasons of the lengthy process it took to get ‘KFC’ to market.”
Nicholas Melillo, Executive Vice President of International Operations, was tasked with working on a solution to the burn issue in conjunction with Fritz Bossert, experimenting with using the fire cured leaf in the wrapper leaf position as well as using limited amounts as part of the filler.
Six months later we were already producing blends and sharing samples with good friends throughout the cigar industry, while keeping the project completely quiet.
“In February 2011 we had the pleasure of smoking some of these early samples on the Corona Cigar Co.’s Cigar Safari tour,” says Jeff Borysiewicz founder & owner of Corona Cigar Co. ”My group really enjoyed the aroma and flavor profile and kept asking JD when this product would be ready to market. He kept me waiting until December 2012, when we smoked more KFC samples at my lake house during the Christmas holiday. They’ve really come a long way and we look forward to the release.”
“The My Uzi Weighs A Ton brand was the first true collaboration between Drew Estate and Joya de Nicaragua,” says Michael Cellucci, President of Drew Estate.
“The Fact that JD wanted to bring the ”MUWAT” franchise under the flag of Subculture Studios is a reflection of his love of working with other talented cigar makers. Subculture Studios is more than just a graffiti factory in Nicaragua, it is a ‘mental space’ that JD and Jessi Flores have cultivated throughout the years and reveals innovation, raw talent and creativity that you find throughout all of Drew Estate at every level.”
There is a lot we have experimented with and all shall be revealed in short order, but for now here is a little quote from Nicholas Melillo, the King of Broadleaf, “First off, Kentucky Fire Cured is from a stalk-cut tobacco. The initial firing of KFC is done at low heat between 100 F to 115 F degrees and maintained until the color reaches solid brown. Once color is set temperatures increase to 120F- 130F to completely cure down the midrib of the leaf and darken. Once the midrib is dried the temperature will be reduced and the smoke maximized with saw dust to finish the leaf. When KFC hits your olfactory nerve you know it! “
MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured will be Available in three sizes:
6 x 52 “Just a Friend”, 5 x 56 “Fat Molly” and a 4 x 46 “Chunky” in the familiar MUWAT craft paper bundle. Americana style graphics adorn these new packs.
“Kentucky Fire Cured is not something new to the world of tobacco, as it has been grown for over 200 years. Easily compared to the smokey taste attributed to a “peaty scotch”, the KFC picks up nuances of the roasted hickory, oak or maple wood that makes you say ‘Damn, that’s tasty,’” expels Jonathan Drew.
“In addition to the fire cured tobaccos of Kentucky and Dark Fire Cured of Virginia, we are finishing the two year project of our fire cured tobaccos from another country which DE will not disclose until a time closer to the actual release of the brand. I’ll just say this: they don’t speak English, Italian or Spanish in this region of the world.”
This cigar from L’Atelier Imports is collaboration between Pete Johnson, his brother K.C., Sean Casper Johnson, and Dan Welsh of New Havana Cigars. The sizes are an homage to Cuban Cohiba Behikes. The cigar is made by Pepin Garcia in the My Father factory in Nicaragua. The filler blend is of Nicaraguan tobaccos while the wrapper is an Ecuadorian wrapper called “Sancti Spiritus”. This is a hybrid of Criollo and Pelo de Oro. I’ve enjoyed Behikes in every size even the 56 which is not normally my preference so let’s see what this Cuban tribute has to offer:
Blend specifics
Size: 5 5/8″ x 54- Toro
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Appearance & Construction
The cigar sports a high glossy band which immediately attracts the eye. The wrapper has a rich brown hue with an oiliness and veins present. There were no soft spots on this cigar and it was rolled extremely well. The triple cap along with the pigtail at the end demonstrates the craftsmenship taken in rolling this smoke.
Taste & Smoking Characteristics
Intial lighting of this cigar gave off tea and sweet fruit notes. Bits of spice where had on the retrohale however the lingering finish was that of sweetness. The body built up to a medium profile at this point and coated the palate with creamy smoke. I initially thought I would get a classic blast of “Pepin spice” however I was pleasantly surprised with the refinement I was treated to. Midway the LAT 54 developed a creaminess and wood profile that finished with that fruit sweetness again. The wood/cedar profile picked up with spice developing in the background. The last third of this cigar gave a more earthy character and chewy texture to it. I was loving the changes in flavor and the tobacco quality was excellent. The finish provided flavors of oolong tea, earth, and cedar. The cigar burned a nice dark gray ash throughout and smoked effortlessly.
Conclusion
Having smoked the entire line of LAT’s I have to say this is my favorite vitola. The flavors presented were refined and harmonious throughout the entire cigar. The LAT 54 smokes medium to full bodied and packs wonderful sweet, wood and earthy flavors. The progression of this cigar left me wanting more and I would love to see where the flavors go with some age. Although a lot of Pepin’s cigars smoke well initially and then tend to fade in flavor, I think this one has potential to develop further if not remain just as good in the future. L’Atelier has shown me something with this Behike tribute. I wouldn’t say it is anything like a Behike nor was it the intention of the maker however for the price and flavors you need to pick a box of these up.
Rocky Patel is once again on to a new blend: the 2/26. RP is, of course, a brand that has gotten a lot of hate in recent years from cigar smokers for releasing “too many blends” – the problem with this obviously being that so many of their blends are so damn good. Recent releases like the Freedom delivered massively on taste and construction quality, so I don’t hesitate to say I’m excited to try the 2/26.
Here’s the release
March 22, 2013 — To celebrate Rocky’s birthday on 2/26 we have released one of Rocky’s favorite personal blends from our factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The II-XXVI (2-26) are packed in beautiful handcrafted wood with a piano finish. The II-XXVI is limited, so there are only 1,000 boxes available in each size.
Pricing:
Robusto ($12.95)
Toro ($13.95)
Torpedo ($14.95)
Tasting Notes: medium to full-bodied with rich complex flavors consisting of white pepper and dark chocolate. It’s a tasty smoke whose bold leather and coffee notes are accented by a solid oaky essence.
Wrapper: Broadleaf
Binder: San Andreas
Filler: Brazilian Matafina, Nicaraguan Condega, Jamastran Valley, Ometepe
Just days after his soda-restrictions were overturned, Bloomberg is at it again
Bloomberg announced today that he plans to pursue more pipe-dream regulatory action in New York City. He plans to pursue a tobacco product display ban, along with legislation that would enforce the measure. This after a judge struck down Bloomberg’s large sugary-drink ban, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.”
I’m no lawyer, but that sounds like legal lingo for some less-respectful adjectives.
You can read the full announcement below. Basically, tobacco sellers will now have to keep tobacco products out of sight from, you guessed it, their customers.
Aside from the specifics of this or that regulation, New York is becoming a pretty suffocating place to live. But I guess that’s life in a democracy: the majority are duped or tempted into more state control, while the “forgotten third man” (in Bloomberg’s case, anyone who wants to enjoy life) takes the bill.
Citizens of New York City, hear this: there will always be another regulation around the corner to “make life better/safer/cleaner/greener/insert adjective here,” and sooner or later, it will hurt you.
As C.S. Lewis wisely observed,
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”
~~~
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced new legislation, the “Tobacco Product Display Restriction” bill, which would make New York City the first in the nation to keep tobacco products out of sight in retail stores.
Under the new legislation, sellers would be required to keep tobacco products out of sight, except during a purchase by an adult consumer or during restocking: tobacco products would be required to be kept in cabinets, drawers, under the counter, behind a curtain or in any other concealed location.
The bill does not impact advertising for sellers.
A second bill, “Sensible Tobacco Enforcement,” is comprised of policies that will combat illegal cigarette smuggling, said Bloomberg.
The Sensible Tobacco Enforcement bill increases penalties for retailers who evade tobacco taxes or sell tobacco without a license; prohibits retailers from redeeming coupons or honoring other price discounts for tobacco products; creates a minimum price for cigarettes and little cigars, at $10.50 per pack; requires that cheap cigars and cigarillos be sold in packages of at least four, and little cigars be sold in packages of at least 20.
Cigars that cost more than $3 each are exempt from the packaging rule.
It also gives the Department of Finance the authority to seal premises of tobacco sellers that have had repeated violations of the law.
The bills will be introduced at the request of the mayor by Council Member Maria del Carmen Arroyo, chair of the Health Committee, on Wednesday.
Watch for details on CSPnet.com and in CSP Daily News.
Burns Tobacconist and the Tiki Bar Online are happy to announce the third annual Chattanooga Tweet-Up and Cigar Festival, scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, August 1 through 3, 2013, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In the past two years, the Chattanooga Tweet-Up has garnered national attention and a great reputation for providing a great consumer-level cigar event with multiple cigar vendors sponsoring, tons of special guests, and unexpected surprises.
This year the team is pulling out all the stops to make this the best Tweet-Up yet. We already have over 25 cigar companies confirmed to sponsor and at least a dozen special guests from the industry…and if history is any indication, we will be adding more sponsors and guests almost every week until the event kicks off!
To cut down on confusion about “what ticket or package to buy?” from the last couple year, there will be a single consolidated “all-access” ticket this year, projected to be about $75 and including a grab bag of cigars from the sponsors, discounts on all sponsor products in the shop, a raffle ticket (with opportunities to get more), an event t-shirt, the Thursday night Tweet-Up Kickoff Party (sponsored by House of Emilio and featuring a selection of cigars from Emilio Cigars and their distribution partners), Friday night’s River Boat cruise on the Tennessee River (sponsored by Drew Estate & Joya de Nicaragua, and featuring extra cigars for those who get on the boat, AND featuring a liquor tasting by Prichard Distillery of Kelso, TN, makers of fine spirits like Tennessee Whiskey, Bourbon, and Rum), and the Saturday night After-Party (sponsored by RoMa Craft, who will be giving out cigars to attendees, and also featuring a mechanical bull).
The Chattanooga Tweet-Up and Cigar Festival has its own website now at www.chattanoogatweetup.com. All information and updates can be found there.
Tickets will be limited to the first 300 buyers and will go on sale around April 1. You won’t want to miss this one!
March 13, 2013 (Portsmouth, N.H.) – Federal Cigar is honored to announce the upcoming release of the My Father Cigar Company’s Special F to commemorate Federal’s 92nd Anniversary event on Saturday, March 16th 2013. Blended by the Pepin family, this cigar is a prime example of the history of excellence for which the My Father Cigar Company has become known.
It will be a singular release, with 200 boxes of 15 in a Corona Gorda (5.5 x 46) size. They will be available for in-store purchase only starting on the 16th at the Federal Cigar My Father Lounge, located in Plaistow, NH with members of the Garcia family on hand to join in the festivities. Any remaining quantity after that weekend will be available for purchase by phone or online at FederalCigar.com.
The blend of the Special F is based on the familiar S Special cigar, normally reserved for events attended by members of the Garcia family. With the Special F, however, the blend has been changed such that it stands firmly on its own as an individual cigar in both flavor and strength. Any remaining information regarding the blend is unavailable at this time, per the request of the My Father Cigar Company.
The management of Cigar Landing announced late last night that it is reopening after a series of repairs. We encourage cigar smokers in New York City to drop by this great shop, located in the heart of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy.
Hello everyone,
We’re very happy to announce that we’ll be re-opening this week after some much-needed repairs. The shop is officially open for business on Thursday, and we’ll celebrate with some festivities on Friday night (starting around 7:00 pm). If there’s enough interest, we’ll get a poker game started during the night. Please come out to support one of the few Seaport businesses that survived Sandy. Hope to see you all…
Cheers,
Cigar Landing
150 Beekman Street (between South and Front Streets, one block north of Pier 17 @ the Seaport).
March 7, 2013 — General Cigar announces that Punch® Rare Corojo is making its anticipated annual return to retail, this time with a new, strikingly-packaged figurado that is only available as part of the Honduran brand’s 2013 release.
A total of eight Punch Rare Corojo frontmarks are now available, with suggested retail prices ranging from $4.79 to $7.39 per cigar. This includes the new “Perfecto” size (7” x 48, SRP per cigar $7.39), which is protected in a keepsake, wooden cabinet-style box.
Punch Rare Corojo cigars will be sold by General Cigar to retailers nationwide until May 31, 2013. The 2013 Rare Corojo release will therefore be available in cigar shops until the limited quantity is depleted.
Gus Martinez, director of marketing for General Cigar’s Punch cigar brand noted, “Punch Rare Corojo started the trend toward seasonal offerings, and we are pleased to continue the tradition. Between the breadth of frontmarks and the addition of the Perfecto to this year’s lineup, we are confident that Rare Corojo will be the go-to, springtime smoke for cigar lovers across the country.”
Like the recent issues of Punch Rare Corojo, the 2013 release is crafted with a lustrous, extra rich, Sumatra wrapper cultivated in the mountains of Ecuador. Grown only in limited quantity, these rare, reddish leaves give Punch Rare Corojo its uniquely smooth taste. Bound with Connecticut Broadleaf, Punch Rare Corojo cigars are filled with a select blend of Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco, for a complex smoking experience, layered with spice.
