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Blind Review: Los Statos Deluxe Robusto

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The Los Statos Deluxe Robusto is manufactured by General Cigar Company at their HATSA, SA factory in Danli, Honduras and is distributed by Scandinavian Tobacco Groups subsidiary Forged Cigar Co.  Los Statos Deluxe, historically was of pre-embargo Cuban fame until it lay dormant for years only to be registered in the new world market as a medium+ value smoke.  Since not only having his brand, Room 101 Cigars, acquired -but also being hired as STG’s creative director- Matt Booth sought to reimagine the Los Statos Deluxe brand for todays consumer.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Los Statos Deluxe Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
  • Size: 5 x 50

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a simple single cap chocolate maduro robusto with a hard rustic profile.  The cigar is packed solid and is very lightweight in hand.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The wrapper smells sweet with chocolate and cedar on the foot.

The cigar has a loose draw with cedar and spice on the breath.

The cigar toasts and combusts ideally.

At first puff the cigar has very deep and dark impressions of wood and black coffee that is both spicy and sweet.  The loose draw on the cigar, keeps me on guard when it comes to heat maintenance, but is a none issue.  The burnline is razor sharp with fantastic smoke production.  It is full bodied on the tongue with billowing mahogany and pepper. The aroma is leather, and the retro is toasted bread. A little touch up was needed for some minor wrapper detachment but self-corrected beautifully.

The second third surprises me when the so-far sturdy ash build up suddenly drops to the ground. However, the burnline stays flawless and the cigar hold its temperature immaculately. The cigar is a thick and rich smoking experience.  It grips your tongue with hot cocoa and throat tingling spice. I’m not complaining, but it can dry your mouth out at times.  Stay hydrated! Across the board, the cigar also picks up a floral and perfumey characteristic with more leather on the aroma, and toast on the retro.

Last third picks up the pace with a nice comforting fireplace nuance on the tongue. There is lots of toast, leather, and sweet perfume throughout. The cigar can also be zesty and citrusy at times. The ash build up becomes a little flaky, but holds on strong and does its job.  A nice steady smoke.

Conclusion

Now after 20+ years of being in this cigar game, who would have thought one my highest rated cigars to date would have been blended by none other then Matt Booth.  The Los Statos Deluxe Robusto was a job well done.  Bar none.  I have nothing bad to say about the cigar.  It was a work horse of a robusto, and though it has the same tobacco blend as the Sancho Panza cigars that I poorly rated, the Los Statos Deluxe met all the marks I look for in a medium-full smoke. Those at Fine Tobacco NYC, have long known that I am not a fan of Room 101 and their branding. Though me and Matt Booth share the same love for writing smut and expanding upon the art of conversation with uncomfortable yet artfully placed adjectives and nouns, I had for years refused to smoke even one of his offerings.  When it comes to the Los Statos Deluxe Robusto, haters need to sit the fuck down!  I had a very enjoyable time smoking this cigar.  Yes, this past year has been hard on my cigar addiction and gas prices have robbed me of my weekly Plasencia and Padron habits. I have often wondered if working in some bundle-smokes in my rotation had actually changed my palate for the worse? Maybe even made me a poor reviewer. Who knows?! All I can say is, if your a strong broadleaf fan like myself, Matt Booth damn near convinced me Ecuador Sumatra can somehow quench that thirst similarly. He also managed to do it all for $8. I need not apologize any more for this high rating.  I believe in ghosts and UFO’s.  Elvis is still alive! I was there! I know what I saw! Enjoy!

Final Score: 93

Blind Review: Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto

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The Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto is manufactured by General Cigar Company at their HATSA, SA factory in Danli, Honduras.  Sancho Panza is a world renowned Cuban value brand, whose trademark was also registered in the USA in 1981.  Sancho Panza was recently revamped in 2022 under Scandinavian Tobacco Groups’ new creative director, Matt Booth, of Room 101 Cigars.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
  • Binder: Nicaraguan (Esteli)
  • Filler: Dominican and Nicaragaun
  • Size: 5 x 50

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a sturdy well built maduro robusto.  It dons a double cap and is draped in a veiny rustic wrapper leaf.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The body of the cigar smells of chocolate.  It has a good cold draw with cedar and hot chocolate on the breath.

It takes a while for the cigar to toast, but combusts quickly.

At first puff the smoke is cedary and salty with a popcorn finish.  The cigar has a very toasty retro.  Lots of thick smoke production.  There is a noticeable graham cracker aroma off the foot of the cigar.  As the cigar heats up, my palate fills with pepper.  It handles the heat quite well.  The ash build-up is flaky.

As it progresses, there are beautiful nuances of cinnamon, clove, and wood.  Smoke production is stellar and leaves a creamy mouth feel, with a confectionary aroma.  The cigar develops a very leathery retrohale that is both savory and sweet. The ash build-up stiffens and looks flawless.

On the second third, the body completely drops out of the cigar.  The smoking experience is still very smooth and creamy with great smoke production.  There is cinnamon and clove on the retrohale with a cedary aroma, but as I said, my palate is left wanting.

The last third of the smoke sees the body of flavors return. My tongue is again coated with baking spices.  The cinnamon and clove also revisits on the retrohale.  The aroma is sweet.  As I smoke it to the nub the flavors become a little harsh with hazelnuts and black coffee.

Conclusion

The Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto is a decent value smoke.  Those who know me, know that I have become quite the “bundle cigar” smoker in this current economy.  However, I wouldn’t put this specific cigar in my current rotation of Curivari Buena Ventura’s or New Cuba Corojos.  The Esteli tobacco in the blend really props the Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto up a little, but I would rather spend the extra cash for an Eiroa Classic Prensado if you really like spiced nuances.  Even a Joya De Nicargua Antano Consul will give you the same mouth feel.  Anyway, when it comes to the Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto I would likely be looking to spend my money somewhere else. Enjoy!

Final Score: 84

Blind Review: Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro

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The Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro is manufactured by General Cigar Company at their HATSA, SA factory in Danli, Honduras.  Sancho Panza is a world renowned Cuban value brand, whose trademark was also registered in the USA in 1981.  Sancho Panza was recently revamped in 2022 under Scandinavian Tobacco Groups’ new creative director, Matt Booth, of Room 101 Cigars.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
  • Binder: USA Connecticut Broadleaf
  • Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6 x 52

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a very veiny double cap maduro toro.  It feels very lightweight in my hand, but is packed very well.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The body and foot of the cigar smell of honey and straw bales. The cold draw has some resistance, with baking spices on the breath. The cigar toasts very easily under a soft flame and combusts with ease.

The cigar offers lots of chocolate and graham cracker at first puff.  It has a mild salty and spicy finish. Very tangy.  The retrohale is habanero pepper complimented by a cedary chocolate aroma off the foot.  The smoking experience, however, is really dampened by the tight draw.  I have run into draw issues with lots of toros, and have steered clear of them for this very reason.  They burn well and handle heat well, just like the one I’m smoking today, but I find the draw on toros to frequently be a tug-of-war.  In this current cigar market, the toro is the “new” robusto, and I have seen many manufacturers cancel their more classical vitola formats to meet this current demand.  Many master blenders are also switching from rolling corona sizes, and opting for a 6×52 or 6×54 when they are constructing their samples and protypes.  Anyway, the ash buildup is superb so far, but the heat management requires a steady double puff pace.  Flavors are fainter, yet dominated by straw bales and pepper.

The second third debuts with stronger flavors.  I sense nuances of endive and chicory with pepper on the back end.  The smoke maintains its chocolatey cedar aroma.  The retrohale is now leathery.  More importantly, the draw has developed a little more give, which boosts the smoke production and I can now taste some sweetness on the finish of each puff.  I still find myself having to take two draws to maintain heat.  A perfume note of subtlety shines through.

The last third opens up with cinnamon notes as well as some green bell pepper on the finish.  Other then that, the draw has completely opened up and the burn picks up its pace.  The flavors can be harsh at times and reminiscent of roasted hazelnuts and whole espresso beans.  The aroma is leathery as well as the retro.  Something is telling me I should have tried smoking this stick backwards…

Conclusion

The Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro was smoked a couple days after I had reviewed the Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto which scored four points higher.  The difference in rating solely came down to the pesky draw of the toro vitola.  That being said, the last third was spot on with its expression of  Connecticut Broadleaf, which I reluctantly suspected was in the blend.  When it comes to the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro, I wasn’t joking when I said it was better smoked backwards.  I would also like to revisit this blend in a smaller format since I am a big fan of Connecticut broadleaf.  Matt Booth may have hit the nail on the head idea-wise, but I couldn’t in good faith hand the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro to someone else.  The cigar industry has been growing since the last boom, and even the “value” AKA “bundle” cigar market is loaded with lots of better options that are far superior in construction and flavor delivery. Enjoy!

Final Score: 80

Blind Review: Cohiba Nicaragua N54

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Cohiba Cigars USA, released by parent company General Cigars, is one of the many post-embargo Cuban brands reincarnated throughout various factories in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.  General Cigars has done a great job revitalizing the image of the Cohiba brand in the USA, despite its Cuban-tobacco-only heritage. To meet the increasing demand for fuller body smokes, it is good to see General Cigar finally taking its Cohiba label to task with embracing all the flavor profiles Nicaraguan tobacco has to offer.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Cohiba Nicaragua N54
  • Wrapper: Nicarauguan or Honduran Habano Oscuro
  • Binder: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)
  • Filler: Nicaraguan (Jalapa and Esteli)
  • Size: 5×54

Blind Review Notes: Cohiba Nicaragua N54

Appearance & Construction:

Let me begin by saying, that as soon as I received this cigar, I was hyped! First and foremost, it is a robusto with a thick ring gauge.  Secondly, its a beautiful maduro with a toothy, oily, veiny, speckled wrapper.  It’s light as a feather but feels packed firm from top to bottom.  This is a working persons cigar! The type of stick that any blue collar life-form stereotypically has hanging out of their mouths while performing an oil change or smacking a zombie in the head with a nail riddled baseball bat.  Long story short, “snowflakes” melt before cigars like this.  Even now, the hairs on my chest are growing thicker, and before you know it, adamantium claws are emerging from between my knuckles.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics:

The cigar is very aromatic.  The foot and wrapper smell like raisins, cedar, and molasses- the holy trinity of well aged and fermented leaves.  I decide to go with a traditional guillotine cut. The cold draw is filled with more cedar and a spice that karate chops me in the throat. My smoking environment as of late is ideal.  The patio is warm with a summer breeze and the humidity level is perfect, so I’m going to light up with my butane soft flame.  Contrary to cigar snobs everywhere, super-dark and oily cigars will light fine under soft flame without you having to put a pyrotechnic expert on your payroll.  It toasts perfectly, but on combustion the cherried ash reveals some tunneling- Intro: funeral dirge…What a way to rain on my parade!  We will just have to see how it smokes regardless.

The first few puffs hit me with a psychedelic trip of flavors.  If I were Matt Booth, I’d compare this experience to a 4-way bukkake where the lead startlet didn’t read the film script before shooting began…pun intended…I’m experiencing chocolate, hazelnuts, cedar and hot pepper all at once.  Good God! What sorcery is this?!  However, as satisfied as I am without the flavor profile, the flawed construction is proving to be more problematic then ever.  There is not just one tunnel, or even two…THERE ARE THREE!!! THREE TUNNELS! AH AH AH! Where’s the Count from Sesame Street when you need him?!  The wrapper leaf is no longer combusting in tandem with the binder and filler.  I’ve had to relight it twice so far.  I am still able to make out the typical sweet maduro nuances and some hot pepper.  The retro is spicy.

Just before reaching the finish line of the first third, I break out my guillotine cutter and amputate myself somewhere into the second third.  Sometimes, this minor ER surgery can help bypass poorly bunched leaves.  For those that don’t know, buncheros hold the filler in their hands as well as they can, but overcoming evolution isn’t easy! Your opposable thumb is always stronger then your pinky and ring finger. Even after wrapping and molding, the bottom half of that filler bunch might still have gaps in the mix.

Anyway, removing Medusas’ head helps a little bit. The second third proves to be almost Cubanesque.  Think: slightly fruity and floral on the retro.  There is also molasses and pepper hanging in the wings.

I get frustrated again because the initial tunneling set the cigar off-kilter.  I lop off a little more and time travel into the last third.  Yes, your dinky cigar cutter can actually defy orthodox quantum physics models! The final third appears normal upon inspection. This bunchero most likely only had a thumb and possibly an index finger… Don’t look at me like you never saw a two-fingered bunchero before. THEY’RE EVERYWHERE!  As I smoke the remains of such a flavor bomb, I think about what woulda’, coulda’, and shoulda’ been.  The nublet offers up burnt fruit, roasted hazelnuts, and espresso beans.  The retrohale is non-existent.

Conclusion:

It has been revealed to me that I just smoked the Cohiba Nicaraugua N54.  This cigar was actually on my “give-it-a-shot-sometime” list.  American Cohibas aren’t that BAD!  I’m just glad that General Cigars decided to try something else then producing more flavorless “Red Dots.”  My peers commented that I may have been a little generous with my scoring.  I can’t trash such a flavorful cigar simply because the bunchero may have been missing some digits.  This Nicaraguan beauty- for us us who smoke puros on the regular- should fit in the daily rotation quite well.  The Cohiba Nicaragua N54 pulls no punches.  It is a very true representation of the Esteli and Jalapa terroirs that birthed it.  Also, for those who are strict devotees to CT broadleaf maduro- the Habano Oscuro wrapper on the Cohiba Nicaragua makes for a good runner-up if your local B&M only carries legacy brands. Remember kids, if you, “cant knock the hustle,” you cant knock sabor either!

Final Score: 85

Blind Cigar Review: Weller by Cohiba

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In the cigar world, collaborations are not uncommon. There are blenders working with other blenders, celebrity projects, even Chef’s having their palates challenged to create a cigar accenting the flavors they create at their restaurants (Davidoff Chef’s Edition comes to mind). Of course, cigars created to pair with spirits seems to be the biggest “no brainer”. With this in mind, General Cigar teamed up with Weller bourbon and their non-Cuban brand Cohiba to create Weller by Cohiba. This robusto was designed to work with their wheated bourbon, allowing the smoker and bourbon fan to enjoy both pleasures in harmony. It should be noted, however, that Weller doesn’t feature any barrel aging of the tobaccos like other spirits-associated blends.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Weller by Cohiba
  • Wrapper: Honduran
  • Binder: Connecticut Habano
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: 5” ½ (Robusto)

Blind Review: Cohiba Weller

Appearance and Construction

This robusto has a dark toothy, wrapper that appears almost near black. There are a few soft spots in the middle of the cigar as I squeeze it. The foot smells damp and earthy.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

I decide to use my Xikar scissors, clipping just enough off the head. The draw dry has the right amount of resistance and offers a damp and earthy profile. I’m getting a tanginess on my lips from the wrapper and striking a long match, I begin toasting the cigar. With my first draw, there’s a grittiness along with earth and fresh tobacco. While the smoke wafts through my mouth, I’m picking up coffee with a slight minerality on the finish. Taking a retrohale there are floral notes combined with cedar on the exhale. The cigar is billowing with smoke and is medium bodied at present.

At midway, the ash is gray and quite flaky. The burn line is askew, and the smoke production is quite dense. There’s milk chocolate and oats as I take another draw, while the finish is on the medium side. The retrohale delivers roasted peanuts with buttery notes on the back end. As a few minutes go by, I’m picking up cereal and wheat as I slowly puff. The body continues to lean towards more medium with leather drying out my mouth. There’s some pronounced cedar and vanilla as more smoke coats my tongue and comes on rather strong. I’m getting some noticeable sweetness from the wrapper at this point.

As I reach the final third of the cigar, the smoke continues to become overabundant although it never runs hot. The lengthy draw I take delivers spice upfront with mustard seed on the finish. The intensity of flavors is picking up with oak, leather and peppery notes coming through.  As I take a retrohale, wheat and spice are dominate followed by a sharp minerality. With a last puff the robusto ends with earth, leather, and cocoa on the mid palate.

Conclusion

This robusto started off gritty which had me concerned. But it transitioned nicely to earth, wood and wheat notes. The sweetness that gave way during the middle of the smoke accented the nuttiness and cocoa flavors that developed as it burned on. At the last third spice, mustard seed followed by minerals ended with a medium finish.

When I found out this was Weller by Cohiba, my first thought was that the wheat notes would certainly bode well with a wheated bourbon. Although not the most complex cigar, the Weller by Cohiba was enjoyable and delivered different tastes that I haven’t had in a while. If I had another, I would certainly be sipping Weller alongside it although at an MSRP of $19.99 I caution the quality/value ratio. If you don’t’ mind its price, then I’d say it’s worth a try.

Final Rating: 89

Cigar Reviewed: Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020

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General Cigar Company possesses many aged tobaccos and with the Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas reviewed today, they are utilizing that old stock. The Decadas incorporates tobaccos over ten years and as a result is released in limited quantities. The cigar is rolled in one size only, a 6 3/4 x 43 lonsdale that wears a Cameroon wrapper with a Mexican binder and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic as well as Mexico.  Once the cigar is rolled it is encased in a class tube to be shipped and sold.

I’ve smoked a lot of General cigars and found that the quality all comes down to how the cigars are blended and the crop they used tobaccos from. Some cigars have off putting, others mild, and some really hit the mark with everything coming together. Read on to see how this cigar fared in a blind review.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020 Review
  • Wrapper: Cameroon
  • Binder: Mexican
  • Filler: Dominican and Mexican
  • Size: 6 3/4″ x 43 (Londsale) 

Appearance & Construction 

This long dark rustic looking smoke has several bumps as I run my fingers across it. The head is slightly rounded and as I squeeze the length of the cigar I can see it is densely filled with tobacco. It’s not the most attractive stick and despite the worn look of it I’d say the wrapper is rather delicate. I give a smell at the foot which has white chocolate and coffee notes along with a touch of white pepper.  

Flavor & Smoking Characteristics

Since my Palio cutter is within arm’s reach I make a surgical cut clipping just a slight piece of the rounded head. I bring the cigar to my lips and the cold draw is airy and leaves a drying sensation. With a cedar taper in one hand and matches in the other I strike a flame and toast the foot with my taper and watch the red glow as I puff on the cigar. There’s some immediate sweetness followed by leather and a buttery quality that coats my mouth. Earth tones are coming through as well, and the ash is already getting white. Strength is mild to medium. 

Even though I’m puffing slowly this long cigar seems to be smoking fast, though fortunately not hot. There are secondary flavors of milk chocolate and charred peanuts. I decide to take a retrohale and leather is dominating. As I blow out the smoke through my nasal passages I pick up more dusty cocoa notes. The cigar continues to be milder than medium and I really need to coax these flavors out. The white ash is hanging on which is demonstrative of the quality of the binder and filler tobaccos. Another draw and the flavors wane a bit leaving hints of nuts and earth that dissipate rather quickly.

As I’m moving closer to end of the smoke there’s fruits, specifically dried berries followed by  leather with a very long finish. With another retrohale I get earth with plum and a slight dampness as I exhale. The cigar continues to be on the mild side in terms of strength and the flavors have been rarely intense.  Another slow draw and I pick up cedar with bing cherries that quickly fades out leaving a sour note on the palate.  I taste sugary sweetness again on the wrapper and while I take a puff cashews resonate which gives a more medium bodied profile. The note of nuts are a bit stronger than the previous flavors I’ve been getting. A final draw delivers leather along with a more intense drying sensation that lingers on the palate. A quite mild smoking experience.

Conclusion

I enjoy a londsdale size. The length and ring gauge can make for more concentrated flavors of the tobaccos used in a blend. The Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020 started off with sweetness and an almost buttery quality contrasted by earth and leather. Midway, cocoa and some charry notes seemed a little unbalanced and the mildness of the blend wasn’t as nuanced as I’d hoped. The cigar also burned fast for me and the sour notes at the end along with the dryness left me with a lackluster impression.  

When it was revealed to me this was the Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020, my first thought was that even though General Cigar has stockpiles of aged tobaccos, it does not always make for great flavors. If they were looking for a mild cigar they certainly achieved it and while not unpleasant, I think it could’ve given a bit more.

If you enjoy mild smokes you may appreciate this, but for the price I’d hold off on this one.

Final Rating: 89

General Cigar Launches New Website

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February 13, 2013 (Glen Allen, Va.) — The new General Cigar website, www.cigarworld.com has just gone live! While the name’s the same, the site has been completely redone. The folks at General Cigar spent almost a whole year developing it.

Think of the new Cigar World as a digital cigar lounge. It’s got cool interactive features like a virtual humidor and a cigar bomb component, and it gives cigar lovers the chance to interact and voice their opinions.

Cigar World also brings General Cigar to life, with detailed information on the company and their portfolio of products. It includes biographies of the artisans who make their cigars.

Other new features of the site include an education section, which will come in handy for those of you who need to brush up on their cigar knowledge.

The site also has a section devoted to lifestyle content. It’s called CW World Magazine and it includes articles on wine and spirits, men’s apparel, sports, electronics and more. CW Magazine is easy to locate on cigarworld.com. Just find CW Magazine on the main navigation, and click to get there.

To celebrate the launch of the site, General Cigar is running a contest called the 30 Days of Giveaways. Cigar World humidors, autographed boxes and other prizes are available. Just create a profile on the site, and you’re entered to win. Visit www.cigarworld.com to get in on the action.

The Wall Street Journal Interviews Victoria McKee of General Cigar

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The Wall St. Journal interviewed Victoria McKee at Club Macanudo in two different video segments, one as a sort of cigar 101 and the other a brief overview of Victoria’s top 5 cigar picks for the Fall. Both segments are very well done, though I might disagree on a few points in the second.

First, Victoria McKee, Vice President of Marketing for General Cigar Co. Inc., talks to the Wall Street Journal’s Lee Hawkins about cigar basics, covering everything from cigar strengths and how to smoke, cut, ash and select the right cigar to go with meals and drinks.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rivTcQivy90]

Second, Victoria gives the Wall Street Journal’s Lee Hawkins her tips for the five best cigars to smoke during the Fall. They also discuss the various cigar strengths and how to smoke, cut, ash and choose a cigars.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdewo2epdl8]

General Cigar Releases FOUNDRY

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General Cigar is proud to introduce FOUNDRY, a new boutique collection created to amplify the artistry and romanticism of premium cigars.

FOUNDRY is a stark juxtaposition between the old and the new.  This visually-arresting collection was inspired by the art form of “steampunk,” which is both a retrospective and futuristic interpretation of innovation.

FOUNDRY is the brainchild of Michael Giannini who led the team that created the breakthrough brand. “Innovation comes from many sources,” he notes. “It is a pleasure and an honor to be able to call upon our greatest resources: the collective talent of cigar masters, our expertise in tobacco cultivation, processing and blending and the creativity of our artisan cigar rollers and box makers to bring FOUNDRY to fruition.”

Through a groundbreaking approach previously unseen in the premium cigar category, FOUNDRY entices the premium cigar connoisseur to take a bold step back in time and a quantum leap into the future to envision the artistry of handmade cigars through the lens of unbridled innovation.

 

Visual considerations aside, FOUNDRY’s avant-garde approach extends to its masterfully balanced synthesis of flavors. Featuring an indulgent collection of five proprietary tobaccos from four different countries, each aged between three and six years, Foundry’s foundation is amplified through an eight year old wrapper developed by General Cigar. Called H-47 Pleno Sol, the lustrous wrapper imparts a deeply complex, layered smoking experience like no other.

The four-cigar collection is accessibly-priced, and will make its mark on tobacco retail starting in late-October. Foundry features these new cigars: Wells (6”x 50, SRP per cigar is $7.95); Lovelace (6 ¼ ” x 54, SRP per cigar is $8.45); Talbot (5” x 60, SRP per cigar is $8.95) and Cayley (6  ½” x 60 x 56 x 43, SRP per cigar is $9.45). Each frontmark is presented with a unique box design and features both a traditional paper band and a steampunk-inspired metal gear band.

 

Press Release: General Cigar and Hill & Partners to Participate at IPCPR 2012

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8/2/2012 – Hill & Partners, Inc. will partner again with General Cigar Company Inc. to bring the premier manufacturer and marketer of hand-made imported cigars in the United States to the IPCPR (International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association) 80th Annual Convention & Trade Show to be held August 2-6 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

The creative team at Hill& Partners will design and manage a custom rental hybrid with a footprint covering 8,000 sq ft. The eclectic exhibit will impart unique brand presence to a variety of General Cigar’s diverse portfolio of products, incorporating five separate branded environments under one flagship custom designed property.

The Macanudo brand will be promoted with a golf-themed display, complete with a putting competition; winners will receive General Cigar branded Calloway accessories. The World Golf Tournament will be broadcast live over three monitors. The inviting display will include cocktail tables and stools where visitors can take a break and watch the Tournament and the putting competition.
The CAO brand will premier its newest cigar, the “Concert”, at a corner station with a musical theme. Featured will be a small stage with CAO branded instruments and concert equipment. Live concerts will be broadcast on the CAO monitors, further bringing the concert theme to life.

The Punch brand will be represented by a “tailgating” theme, complete with a Punch blimp floating overhead, a branded tent, pick-up truck, chairs, tables and other “tailgating” accessories. Attendees will be able to enjoy NFL highlights on two screens while a massively scaled model of the Punch 6-pack promo will anchor the space, standing over 8-feet tall.

The La Gloria Cubana gazebo will simulate the look and atmosphere of the Dominican Republic. Built with a thatch roof, the area will feature a cigar roller to hand roll cigars on site and add an extra element of interaction for trade show attendees.

“Café Macanudo” will offer food and beverages to visitors throughout the convention and trade show.

“We look forward to showcasing General Cigar and its highly popular brands in unique and imaginative ways at this prominent trade show,” said Michael McMahon, President and CEO of Hill & Partners, Inc.