PUBLISHER'S NOTE: This is a guest article by Rob McKeon of CigarZen, manufacturer of the Blüme family of products. CW makes no product endoresements as a matter of policy.

It’s tough out here for us cigar smokers!

As we all know, tobacco has been highly regulated and the level of those regulations seems to keep climbing, almost by the day. For cigar lovers, it seems unfair that the products we use--to relax, to de-compress, to celebrate--are becoming more and more difficult to acquire.

While we can all appreciate the government’s desire to keep tobacco far away from kids, it’s hard to see the justification behind including cigars in its recent rigorous FDA rulings which were originally intended for smokeless tobacco only. The act of cigar smoking is almost artistic in its nature, viewed as a sign of sophistication, hard work and appreciation for the craftsmanship behind each stick. While it’s easy for a teenager to get their hands on a cheap pack of cigarettes, they’re likely not going to get too far in an artisanal cigar store.

Diesel is rolling out the first follow-up to Sunday Gravy with “Pecorino,” a three-country blend that’s just begun shipping to retailers nationwide. Pecorino takes its name from a deliciously rich and flavorful Italian cheese often substituted for a more expensive variety. Here again, the culinary world and the cigar category collide, as Sunday Gravy Pecorino offers a satisfying smoking experience at a surprisingly affordable price.

Blended by AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews and handcrafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua, Diesel Sunday Gravy Pecorino features a Mexican San Andres wrapper over a Cameroon binder and bold Nicaraguan Esteli Habano filler. This is a medium-plus smoke brimming with character. The Mexican wrapper delivers a peppery note and when combined with the subtle sweetness from the Cameroon binder and the boldness of the filler, the experience is unique and dimensional.

I am cnp'ing this raw from my PM inbox. I'm not quite sure what to do with it yet, but it is relevant and could easily be cleaned up for publication.

I smoke cigars to Celebrate. A wedding, a birth, a promotion. A Life.

Cohiba will debut its largest frontmark to date with the release of Cohiba Blue 7 X 70, an eye-catching cigar named after its sizeable dimensions.

Cohiba Blue 7 X 70 marks the sixth vitola in the Dominican-made collection. Shipping this week with an SRP of $14.99 per cigar, Cohiba Blue 7 X 70 will be presented in the bright blue, handpainted wooden Cohiba Blue boxes, each containing 15 cigars.

Handcrafted at General Cigar Dominicana in Santiago, DR, Cohiba Blue is a velvety, medium-bodied cigar with a three-country blend that represents the world’s most revered tobacco growing regions. The experience is sophisticated and memorable with an enticing aroma.

The Cohiba Blue blend starts with a silky, rosado-hued Honduran Olancho San Agustin (OSA) wrapper that sits atop a Honduran OSA binder, with the layered wrapper-binder imparting subtle, earthy notes. The blend consists of Honduran Jamastran, Nicaraguan Ometepe and Dominican Piloto Cubano that lend hints of cocoa and caramel, with a light touch of sweetness.

Cohiba Blue debuted in 2017 as an expression created to appeal to all who seek the indulgence of a fine cigar.

Dunbarton, NH – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) has begun shipping its highly anticipated StillWell Star® handcrafted luxury pipe tobacco cigar to its Purveyors.

The initial release includes four unique expressions, each representing a particular pipe tobacco genre custom blended by the famed head blender, Jeremy Reeves, of the legendary American pipe tobacco maker Cornell &
Diehl® (C&D). Our master ligador, Steve Saka, then crafted four different independent cigar blends to best showcase each of these pipe tobacco styles to cigar smokers.

“Sometimes the stars just align.” states Saka. “Although handmade cigars are my first passion, I have also been a pipe smoker for over three decades. During an impromptu discussion with Jeremy as he was sharing with me that really enjoyed my cigars, I replied in kind that I was a big fan of his pipe tobaccos. I think he was surprised when I just started rattling off some of my favorites and why. And then it really caught his interest when I told him that for decades I had been using some of my favorite C&D tobaccos added into cigars just for my own enjoyment.”

Fratello Cigars is pleased to announce The Fratello Arlequin Perfecto.  Debuting on a 6 x 58 Perfecto shape this cigar was blended to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of Old Virginia Tobacco. 

2000 Ten-Count Keepsake Boxes of Each Toro Sized Authentic Corojo, Exotic Maduro and Native Cameroon to Hit Tobacconists' Shelves for Holiday Season

Alec Bradley Cigar Co. today announced that the Limited Edition, Collector's Series, Trilogy keepsake boxes will begin shipping to tobacconists next week. Trilogy Authentic Corojo, Exotic Maduro and Native Cameroon are being released in their own unique "cigar-press" shaped boxes, paying homage to the triangular mold created by Alec Bradley brand owner, Alan Rubin in the early 2000s. Only two thousand collectable 10-count boxes of each of the tree cigar blends are being presented in the triangle pressed, 6" x 52 ring gauge Toro format.

"Trilogy has been a passion project for me since I started with Alec Bradley in 2017," said second generation cigar maker, Bradley Rubin. "I'm honored that my dad, Alan, finally allowed me to move forward with the project; and now we have the opportunity to share a part of Alec Bradley's history with our brand advocates, old and new."

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Alec Bradley Cigar Co. today announced that they will be releasing a Collector's Series of their innovative triangular shaped Trilogy line of cigars. The three blends that make up the series- Trilogy Authentic Corojo, Trilogy Exotic Maduro and Trilogy Native Cameroon will all be released at once and in their own respective packaging. Each 6" X 52 ring-gauge, Toro sized, Trilogy blend is being presented in collectable 10-count boxes, designed to mirror the original Trilogy triangular shaped molds that Alec Bradley Founder, Alan Rubin, created in the early 2000s. Only 2000 boxes of each blend will be released to appointed US Tobacconists.

Along with early blockbuster hits like Occidental and MAXX, Trilogy's unique shape, critical acclaim and market acceptance helped bring the Alec Bradley brand name to prominence. After many years of success, the Trilogy line was eventually retired, but demand remained. On August 12, 2021, Alec Bradley released 300 Limited Edition samplers featuring eighteen Robusto Trilogy cigars (6 of each blend) through Boynton Beach, Florida Tobacconist, Smoke Inn, during a virtual event featuring Alan and his two sons, second generation cigarmakers- Alec and Bradley. Simultaneously, Alec Bradley announced that there would be a release later in the year of Trilogy Toros.

THE MIAMI EDITION TAKES PLACE DURING ART WEEK 2021

Tastemakers are invited to an exclusive culinary experience designed to excite the senses this December.

  (Miami, Florida) November 23 2021- Davidoff Cigars, proudly announces that their “Gastronomy Series” will return during Miami Art Week, when close to 100,000 art lovers and eventgoers will once again descend all over Miami. The weeklong event in collaboration with Sunny’s at Lot 6 will be located at 7357 NW Miami Ct., in the Little River area of Miami from Wednesday November 30th through Saturday December 4^th, 2021.

Due to COVID- 19, annual festivals, and the most nationally and internationally recognized annual events were postponed. December 2021 marks the time where Davidoff Cigars looks forward to bringing the public the ultimate lifestyle event during Miami Art Week. Those wanting to enjoy a journey of the senses are invited to dine at this exclusive location and enjoy their after-dinner cocktails at the Davidoff Lounge. The lounge will feature a delicious array of specialty cocktails and spirits selected to pair perfectly with one of Davidoff’s world-class and iconic cigars.

Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S (STG) today announced that The Forged Cigar Company will increase its coverage of the U.S. market, adding a regional sales manager and recruiting for two newly-created sales positions.

The moves come in response to increasing demand for Forged Cigar Company brands.

Sean Hardiman, national sales manager of Forged Cigar Company said, “In the eight months since we launched Forged Cigar Company, we’ve seen an exponential increase in sales across our portfolio. We’re now in a place where we have to expand our team to keep the promise we made to our retail partners. To provide the utmost support to our brands at retail, we are promoting from within to fill a newly-created position of regional sales manager. We will also increase our coverage in Arizona, Nevada, New York and New Jersey.”

The artisans of Cohiba are proud to debut the third expression of COHIBA SPECTRE, a small batch creation that elevates the art and science of cigar making.

Born of a passion for the craft, Cohiba Spectre features four varietals of tobacco, each paying homage to the growing regions, soils and microclimates from which they have been harvested. When met with proprietary aging and fermentation techniques, the tobaccos that comprise Cohiba Spectre tell a story of luxurious indulgence.

Odyssey is adding a bold, new line to its accessibly-priced portfolio with Odyssey Full. The five-cigar collection of Nicaraguan-made smokes rounds out the Odyssey portfolio with a rich, fuller-bodied profile and marks the sixth collection of Odyssey cigars.

Odyssey Full is handcrafted by artisans at STG Esteli in Nicaragua. The blend is centered on Cuban seed tobaccos and features a high concentration of ligero leaves from Nicaragua and Colombia in the blend for a memorable smoking experience. With a Nicaraguan Habano binder and Nicaraguan Jalapa wrapper, Odyssey Full delivers a robust yet balanced smoke that’s earthy and spicy with a hint of leather on the finish.

Ed Lahmann, senior brand manager for Odyssey said, “Given its accessible price point, Odyssey Full is a great option for the tried and true cigar smoker who’s looking to add variety to their go-to set of brands. We’re confident that this new line is going to catch fire quickly.”

Partagas Decadas 2021 is an artistically blended, limited edition expression that celebrates the element of discovery. Created to honor the intrepid spirit of Partagas’ founder Ramón Cifuentes, this new release features an exotic Brazilian-grown Cameroon wrapper, a first for Partagas.

A spectacular example of tobacco mastery, this rarefied offering features a curated selection of tobaccos that deliver an exquisitely refined smoking experience.

Matt Wilson, senior brand manager of Partagas said, “Partagas Decadas 2021 was created for cigar connoisseurs who seek extraordinary smoking experiences. The blend was developed to deepen the intrigue of our proprietary, Brazilian grown Cameroon wrapper and delivers the ultimate super premium indulgence. This is a smoke that the true cigar lover should seek to add to their collection.”

Partagas Decadas 2021 features a rare and delicate Cameroon wrapper grown in Brazil’s fertile Bahia region. There, the microclimate and curing process produce a creamy leaf that blends beautifully with other varieties of tobacco.

Frontier Brands, the owner and manufacturer of Frontier Cigars, is pleased to announce the expansion of their Frontier Cigar lineup with the addition of the Frontier Cigarillos and Frontier XL’s. These new offerings are made in their Dominican Republic factory along with their flagship product Frontier Cheroots. 

The Frontier Cigarillos are a hand made all-natural tobacco cigar made with the finest premium tobaccos from Nicaragua and Dominican Republic. Wrapped in an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade leaf these premium style cigars come in six flavors: Honey, Honey Berry, Rum, Russian Cream, Sweet Aromatic and Whiskey. Each cigar is individually cellophaned and packaged in stay-fresh crush proof retail tins of 10 cigars. They are a perfect addition for any tobacconist.  The MSRP is $17.99 per tin.

Plasencia Cigars, a world-leading premium tobacco grower, established in 1865, announces that the much-anticipated Plasencia Cosecha 149 cigar brand is now shipping to retailers across the nation. The blend first appeared at the 2021 PCA (Premium Cigar Association) which took place this past July in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Spanish word “cosecha” translates to harvest.  The Plasencia Cosecha 149 commemorates the Plasencia family’s 149th yearly tobacco harvest which took place in 2014. The Plasencia family felt that the aged tobacco from the 149th harvest had reached perfection this year, and thus the Plasencia Cosecha 149 was created.

The Plasencia Cosecha 149 is a Box-Pressed Honduran puro using tobacco from the Plasencia family’s various Honduran farms. This medium to full-bodied blend features plenty of spice and toasty crispness (which is unique to Honduran tobacco). The smoking experience changes to a smoother, balanced middle finish. Housed in 10-count boxes the Cosecha 149 boasts a beautifully designed copper foil band.

Partagas is launching “Cortado,” the brand’s first Connecticut Shade-wrapped offering and the first Partagas line to be handcrafted by artisans in Nicaragua.

The new, four-cigar collection has just begin shipping to retailers.

Matt Wilson, senior brand manager for Partagas said, “With interest in the Partagas brand continuing to grow, we felt it was the right time to expand the brand portfolio with a mellow-to-medium-bodied blend. The team and I are especially proud of Partagas Cortado’s incredible versatility when it comes to pairing. The blend is creamy and complex, and its taste notes can push forward or bow to other flavors, depending on the pairing. We feel our Nicaraguan artisans did a wonderful job with the blend and look forward to sharing it with Partagas fans, old and new.”