Category Archives: News Items

Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival (Preview)

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I spent the last weekend in Broomfield, Colorado at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival (RMCF). I have some stories to tell about this awesome event, but before I write it all out I thought I’d share some highlights with everyone.

Yes, these are (most of) the bands from all the cigars I smoked during the weekend.

Bands

Bands

We smoked the whole way there and back…

Riding there

Riding home

These cigars were included in the ticket price! (Mine, Tom’s, and Rich’s)

Grab bag

I got to meet and chat with a lot of my favorite cigar makers and reviewers…Pete Johnson, Delicia (Cigar Vixen), and Jonathan Drew!

Pete Johnson

Pete Johnson

Delicia, the Cigar Vixen

Jonathan Drew

Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate was cutting and lighting a free Liga “A” for anyone who wanted one.

Liga "A"

Liga “A”

A few of the stogies from throughout the day at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival…

Iconic Leaf Recluse Amadeus

Iconic Leaf Recluse Amadeus

Oliva Serie G (box pressed Churchill)

Oliva Serie G (box pressed Churchill)

Liga Privada "A"

Liga Privada “A”

Butts and Rabbits!!

Butts!

Rabbits!

All in all I came home with around 80 cigars!

Cigars!

Cigar News for Friday, August 8th 2014

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Industry News

As you may or may not know, the cigar industry’s biggest trade show finished up last week. This year’s IPCPR (International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers) was held in Las Vegas and boasted a wonderful turn out by cigar makers and retailers alike. Here are some in-depth looks at the show, brought to you by the industry leaders of cigar media.

Cigar-Coop

Halfwheel

Cigar Federation

New Cigars

With so many new cigars, it’s impossible to cover them all. However, I do have an exclusive scoop on a few of the new cigars that Poor Richard’s will be receiving from IPCPR.

Drew Estate’s Undercrown is in store now, along with the Nica Rustica.

New Padilla cigars are on shelves.

The new Gurkha Cellar Reserve is in-house now. I reviewed the 2013 here.

The incoming list of cigars has me drooling. here are my top three picks that I will be rushing out to buy as soon as they arrive:

Joya Red – If it is half as good as I’ve heard, I’ll be filling my humidor. Here’s a look at the Joya Red from Cigar Federation.

Illusione “R” Rothchildes – This is a budget line from one of the industry’s top boutique companies. It’s not new, just new to Montana.

Tatuaje Tattoo – Another budget cigar, this time from Pete Johnson. I love the Havana VI, so this is an exciting release for me. Here is the Half Ashed episode where they reviewed it.

Weekly Cigar News for June 22nd – June 28th

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Not a lot of cigar news this week, but there is a couple of new cigars for our area.

New Cigars

  • Montecristo (Altadis, USA) is releasing a Nicaraguan pyro called the “Espada.” All of the components of this cigar are from the Jalapa region except the ligero, which comes from Condega. They will retail above the $10 mark, and probably in the $15 range here in Montana. The sizes are 6 x 50 (Guard), 7 x 56 (Quillon), and 5 x 54 (Ricasso). Here is a promotional video.
  • My Father Cigars is releasing a Connecticut wrapped cigar at the IPCPR trade show next month. Besides the wrapper, the cigar will be made up of Nicaraguan tobaccos. Will Cooper has all the details at Cigar-Coop.

Weekly Cigar News for June 15th – June 21st

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New Cigars

  • Nice Tight Ash brings us news of a new size in the Kentucky Fire Cured line from Drew Estate — the Flying Pig! These are 4 inch by 60 ring gauge cigars that are tapered at both ends. The KFC blend (don’t chuckle…) uses tobacco from Kentucky that is fire cured, as opposed to air cured like most cigar tobacco.
  • Coop has the scoop! CAO Cigars and Flying Dog Brewery are coming out with a beer and cigar sampler that will 4 different cigars and 4 different beers to pair with them. Check out the details here.
  • Alec Bradley is getting bigger and bigger…check out the story of a new 7 x 70 cigar called the Texas Lancero over at acigarsmoker.com.

Industry News

  • There is a new book out called “Tobacco Sheds- Vanishing Treasures in the Connecticut River Valley.” The book is a coffee table-style tome that portrays these sheds from Vermont to Connecticut. Check out the write-up on Stogie Guys.
  • The IPCPR has announced that Mark Pursell will be the new CEO of the organization famous for its summer trade show. Get the details at Cigar Federation.
  • Half Wheel reports that the FDA has extended the deadline for comments on their deeming document regarding cigar regulation. Cigar-Coop has more good news: the SBA has submitted a comment in our favor!

Weekly Cigar News for June 8th – June 13th

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New Cigars

  • Direct from Jonathan Drew…”FLYING PIG UNDERCROWN on the production floor in Nicaragua. The UCFP in the photo just came off the bunchero bench and are about to go into the press for 30 minutes per side. Soon thereafter, the wrapper will be applied and the Flying Pigs head to a holding room, where they rest one night before moving to Quality Control. I’m amped up to bring some of the pre release UCFP boxes to the event with Oxmoor Smoke Shop in Kentucky on June 18th, 2014. Hope to see ya there if your nearby.” See it here.
  • We like beer here in Montana. Samuel Adams and Ted’s Cigars are once again bringing us a beer-and-cigar combination. The Brewlywed Ale Seasoned Cigar will release June 16th, and the beer itself will be released for one day, on the 18th. I’ve indulged in the Samuel Adams Utopias beer/cigar combo before, so this sounds exciting. Get all the details at Cigar-Coop.
  • We are as familiar with Alec Bradley cigars as any other these days, so fans of larger ring gauges will be pleased about the new sampler of 6 x 60 sticks they are offering. Once again, Coop has the scoop.

 

Industry News

  • The Joya de Nicaragua “Red” has been renamed the “Canonazo.” Check out the story over at The Cigarmy.
  • HalfWheel has some disturbing news about an extension to the CHIP Act that has been filed in the Senate. This Act single-handedly raised the price of our cigars, and it looks like it could continue.

Weekly Cigar News for June 1st-June 6th

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New Cigars

  • My Father Cigars has a line out, La Antiguedad. The new line was announced in May on Twitter and is now on the shelf at Poor Richard’s for a little over $10. I’ll be reviewing it here soon.
  • Joya de Nicaragua is launching a new cigar this summer called the Joya Red. JdN is known for stronger smokes, but this Nicaraguan puro is blended to be in the medium range. Poor Richard’s carries JdN, so we can only hope that we see these after this year’s IPCPR.
  • CAO released a new cigar called Sinister Sam. This is a 6 1/2 x 52 Toro and follows the Evil Santa and Angry Snowman in CAO’s small-batch holiday series. Is this a cigar a one-finger-salute in response to the FDA’s intended takeover? I like to think so. Only brick and mortar retailers will get these limited sticks.

Industry News

  • Cohiba (yes, THAT Cohiba) has won a telling victory over the General version of the brand. Check out the in-depth article over at HalfWheel.
  • Cigar Rights of America chairman Jeff Borysiewics has resigned his position as Chairman of the Board. Robert Levin, President of Ashton Cigars, will be taking his place. Coop has more information and some great links over at Cigar-Coop.com.
  • CAO
  • Cohiba
  • CRA
  • Joya De Nicaragua
  • My Father
  • News Items

406 Cigars on Half Ashed

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Wow!
406 Cigars was lucky enough to have the guys at Half Ashed mention us in last week’s show! The mention is about 10 minutes from the end, but if you’ve never checked out this show now is the time. Craig and Kip do an amazing job bringing us cigar news, new releases, cigar reviews, and general shenanigans. Big thanks to Kip for the plug. Keep coming back for new content, this “bad boy” is just getting started!

Click the image for the video.

Screen Shot 2014-06-04 at 8.58.23 PM

Weekly Cigar News for May 26th-May 30th

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New Cigars

-Cohiba (not THAT Cohiba) added two new sizes to their Comador line. Besides the 6 x 52 Toro, they are now offering a 6 x 60 Gigante and a 7 1/4 x 54 Double Corona. Read up about these sticks at Cigar Coop.

-Also in new sizes, San Cristobal is now shipping a 6 1/2 x 52 Presto. See A Cigar Smoker’s Journal for the story.

Cigar News

HalfWheel.com reported some good news in terms of our current situation with the FDA. The tide seems to be turning in our favor, but it’s still important to get your voice out there. You can get more info from HalfWheel here or go directly to the deeming document and click on the “Comment Now!” button.