No Smoking Ban Planned for Mishawaka, Ind.
While the Mishawaka Public Health and Safety Committee was willing to listen to South Bend Common Councilman Gavin Ferlic about the merits of a smoking ban in his city, they weren’t willing to go any...
View ArticleKentucky Fired Cured Flying Pig Debuting at IPCPR 2014
Drew Estate fans will get another pig. The company has announced that it will be releasing its signature Flying Pig vitola in the MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured blend at this year’s IPCPR convention and...
View ArticleJM Tobacco Adds Havana Preferred Premium Bundles
JM Tobacco has begun the nationwide launch of its latest premium cigar offering, the bundled Havana Preferred. The cigar had a soft launch in May, shipping to select accounts. The Havana Preferred uses...
View ArticleViaje Skull and Bones FOAB (2014)
Four years ago Viaje released a new cigar called the Skull and Bones Daisy Cutter. With much hype leading up to the release and a very limited number the cigars were sold out quickly and became quite...
View ArticleLa Aurora Untamed Headed to IPCPR 2014
La Aurora’s long-time U.S. distributor is getting a major makeover and it’s getting in on the action too. At this year’s IPCPR trade show, the company will unleash Untamed, described as the company’s...
View ArticleBelle Plaine, Minn. Lifts Tobacco Shop Moratorium, But No Sampling
The small city of Belle Plaine, Minn., home to just under 7,000 people, has lifted a moratorium on new tobacco shops but has banned the sampling of tobacco products in those shops–an interesting move...
View ArticleMecklenburg County, N.C. Considers Expansive Smoking Ban
Mecklenburg County, N.C.—which includes the city of Charlotte—is weighing a smoking ban that could extend as far as banning smoking inside businesses. The proposed ban would ban smoking at all county...
View ArticleMillburn, N.J. Moves Forward With Proposed Smoking Ban
Millburn Township appears headed to join the growing movement of cities in New Jersey trying to limit tobacco use. A week after the Environmental Commission, the Township Committee debated adding...
View ArticleJoya de Nicaragua Introducing JOYA RED at IPCPR 2014 (Update)
While Joya de Nicaragua has become known in the U.S. for its stronger cigars, the company was not founded on Antaño Dark Corojo. In recent years, it has made attempts at blending a mild cigar...
View ArticleCrowned Heads Angel’s Anvil Shipping to Retailers
The inaugural Crowned Heads exclusive for members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA) is heading to stores. The Nashville-based company started shipping to retailers yesterday and says...
View ArticleIllusione Releases *G* Gigantes
Today, Illusione will begin shipping its latest cigar. It’s called *G* Gigantes, measures 6 1/2 x 56 and features branding that is rather similar to the company’s very successful *R* Rothchildes,...
View ArticleNobles County, Minn. Approves New Tobacco Retailer Ordinances
The Nobles County Board of Commissioners have approved a broad set of changes that will affect tobacco retailers in the rural county in the southwestern corner of the state that is home to...
View ArticleDavidoff Art Edition 2014
In 2013, Davidoff Cigars announced it would be releasing the inaugural cigar in collaboration with its Davidoff Art Initiative, which was formed in 2012. Named the Davidoff Art Edition 2014, the 5...
View ArticleDavidoff Announces Golden Band Nominees
Davidoff has announced the retailers eligible for this year’s Golden Band Awards. The awards, which began in 2012, are presented by the manufacturer to retail accounts of its flagship Davidoff brand...
View ArticleKentucky Supreme Court Overturns Bullitt County’s Smoking Ban
On Thursday, the Kentucky Supreme Court struck down a 2011 smoking ban passed by the Bullitt County Board of Health, saying the board had exceeded its authority by passing it. When it was passed, the...
View ArticleIPCPR Hires Mark Pursell as CEO
Multiple sources confirmed to halfwheel that Mark Pursell has been hired as the next chief executive officer of the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailer’s Association (IPCPR). The move was...
View ArticleCuba Rica Revamps Testarosso Vitolas
Cuba Rica’s fuller Testarosso line will now be offered in just two vitolas. The company will add the Pele (6 x 60) size and keep the Topaz (5 x 56), while the Azar (4 x 56), Calida (6 x 56) and...
View ArticleBuena Vista Relaunches
After over a year and a half off the market, Buena Vista is reentering the cigar market. It is now firmly under the MGM Cigar name and headed by José E. Borges Batista. Production has moved to the...
View ArticleFDA Extends Deeming Regulation Comment Period 30 Days
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a 30-day extension to the public comment period regarding the proposed regulation of cigars, e-cigarettes and pipe and shisha tobacco. The new...
View ArticleCAO America Sinister Sam
General Cigar Co. had a very successful launch this past winter. Rick Rodriguez, who is more or less the face of CAO, modified the CAO La Traviata blend slightly and placed the cigars in aggressive...
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