Black Label Trading Co. Discontinues Redemption
Black Label Trading Co.’s Redemption line is no more, as the company confirmed to halfwheel today that the line has been discontinued. The cause for the deletion was that the company didn’t feel...
View ArticleRicky Somoza Joins A.J. Fernandez as U.S. Director of Operations
Enrique “Ricky” Somoza has a new job at A.J. Fernandez, as he was recently promoted to director of operations manager after being production manager at the Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua...
View ArticleTatuaje Putting Black Label Into Regular Production
Pete Johnson’s Private Reserve is heading to regular production. The Tatuaje founder announced today that the Tatuaje Black Label—which currently has one regular production vitola—will be a five-size...
View ArticleOettinger Davidoff AG Acquires Majority Interest in Asia Distributor Bluebell...
Just over a year since Oettinger Davidoff AG acquired a 25% interest in Bluebell Cigars (Asia) Ltd., its Asia distributor, the Swiss premium cigar maker has announced that it has acquired a majority...
View ArticleLarry Palombo Joins NACSA
It’s a new year and industry veteran Larry Palombo has a new job. Palombo has joined Nicaraguan American Cigars S.A. (NACSA) to help oversee the company’s efforts to enter its own brands into the U.S....
View ArticleParis Reserve 2015
Last month, La Sirena released a new limited edition made for a friend of the Ditkowich family, Paris Giannopulos. Appropriately dubbed the Paris Reserve 2015, the 6 x 65 gordo was produced to...
View ArticleMilford, Mass. to Raise Tobacco Purchase Age to 21 as of April 1
Earlier this week, the Milford, Mass. Board of Health approved a proposal that will increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21, a change that will go into effect on April 1....
View ArticleThompson Adds PDR Dark Harvest Habano 2013
First there was a Dark Harvest Maduro, then a Dark Harvest Connecticut, now, there’s a Dark Harvest Habano. The first two cigars came from Abe Flores’ PDR Cigars as an exclusive to Tampa-based Thompson...
View ArticleArturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve 2015 Corona Extra
For many years, the holiday season meant two things for Arturo Fuente fans: Añejo and OpusX shipments, but a few years ago, the company added another wrinkle: Unnamed Reserve. Since 2012, the company...
View ArticleH. Upmann Royal Robusto
In 2004, Habanos S.A. began releasing exclusive cigars for the Habanos-licensed La Casa del Habano retailers. While they are usually limited to one or two different cigars a year, they are only sold in...
View ArticleThompson Adds Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Connecticut
Thompson Cigar’s growing stable of exclusive releases has its newest cigar. The Tampa retailer and My Father Cigars have teamed up for the Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Connecticut. The three vitola...
View ArticleSTG Plans IPO for 2016
As expected, the initial public offering (IPO) for Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) is back on track. The company, which claims to be the largest manufacturer of premium cigars and owns General Cigar...
View ArticleNebraska State Senator Seeks Tobacco Tax Increase
With the opening of another state’s legislative session, another elected official is seeking an increase in tobacco taxes. This time, it’s Nebraska State Senator Mike Gloor of Grand Island. Gloor has...
View ArticleMoyaRuiz to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Pickle Juice
It might not be the traditional celebratory choice of St. Patrick’s Day, but that isn’t stopping MoyaRuiz from releasing Pickle Juice as its cigar for the Irish holiday. It’s a 6 x 50 Nicaraguan puro,...
View ArticleSmoke Inn Celebrating José O. Padrón’s 90th Birthday With Special Cigar
Next Friday, South Florida-based Smoke Inn will host a special event celebrating José Orlando Padrón’s 90th birthday. As with most special events, there is a special cigar. The cigar is a 6 x 46 round...
View ArticleTyngsboro, Mass. Prohibits Smoking in Tobacco Shops, Updates Tobacco Rules
The town of Tyngsboro, Mass. has a number of updates to its tobacco policy, including one that no longer lets people light up in a tobacco store or smoking bars. At its most recent meeting, the board...
View ArticlePuro Sabor 2016: Day 1 & 2
It’s the fifth Nicaraguan cigar festival, known as Puro Sabor, lots of familiar faces, lots of new faces. I arrived in Managua late at night before the start of the first official day of the festival....
View ArticleHouse of Emilio Rebrands as Boutiques United
The distribution company known as House of Emilio is now known as Boutiques United by Zucca. The company unveiled its new website showing off the four existing House of Emilio clients: Emilio, Ezra...
View ArticleCLE Cigar Co. Raises Prices
CLE Cigar Co. has informed retailers that it will be raising prices effective Feb. 1 The prices effects almost every line the company offers. Asylum will see its 13, 13 Corojo, and Premium lines...
View ArticleRegius LE Corona 2015 Winter Edition
Last fall, Regius Cigars announced plans to make a limited edition box-pressed corona vitola as a winter release. While it would be banded with the company’s familiar black label that adorns one of its...
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