cigars

Luxist Interview: Rocky Patel Discusses His Latest Cigars

On his recent trip to New York, I was able to catch up with Rocky Patel. He discusses his three newest cigars, including the recently released Patel Brothers stick (which is an enjoyable smoke). He still has a three more cigars up his sleeve for 2010, including a 15th anniversary cigar and a special edition stick. The anniversary cigar hits the streets in June, with the other two cigars being released over the summer. Watch the video for the full story from Rocky Patel himself.

Gallery: Rocky Patel Comes to Mahattan

Disclosure: I interviewed Rocky Patel while attending a cigar dinner as an unpaid guest of De La Concha. Even if I had not invited, I would have shown up at a minimum to interview Rocky without participating in the dinner.
[Photos by Steve Zak]

Tags: cigar, cigar lounge, cigars, interview, rocky patel

The Drew Estate Cigar Factory

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Video

Drew Estate stands out in Esteli, Nicaragua. Eschewing many of the traditional aspects of manufacturing hand-rolled cigars that you'll find in Pepin Garcia's factory, it has a more American flair, with the conversion of construction and marketing at every point in the process. Born of the minds of two Long Islanders, Drew Estate has grown into a substantial cigar manufacturing operation with an incredibly wide range of cigars and its own collection of secrets.

On my recent cigar trip to Nicaragua, I hadn't expected to visit Drew Estate. Hell, I'd never heard of it. I knew a few of the brands it produces but never related them back to Drew, simply because they aren't cigars that I smoke. Most of what comes out of Drew Estate is infused, with Acid cigars the most prominent. I don't look down my nose at those who smoke infused (hey, the point is to enjoy whichever cigar you choose), but I simply don't lean that way. Nonetheless, I was excited to see the factory, if only to deepen the experience.

I'm glad I did.

In addition to seeing an impressive cigar operation and learning of a fun travel alternative, I discovered that Drew Estate is also moving into the traditional cigar market, and its fairly new T9 and T52 cigars are certainly worth more than a few puffs. What's really staggering, though, is the planning and execution that goes into running a segmented operation that draws hard lines between the infused and traditional products.

Gallery: Drew Estate Cigar Factory

Cigar Safari: the resort section of Drew Estate

Tags: cigar, cigar factory tour, cigar lounge, cigars, drew estate, drew estates, esteli, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars

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Smoking My Father: Pepin Garcia's Cigars from Seed to Ash

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Video

Even with a full, detailed tour of everything from leaf to ash, much of what occurs in Jose "Pepin" Garcia's My Father Cigars operation will remain a mystery. Of course, you'll never master the details involved in farming the tobacco (unless you're in that business already) ... and have a willingness to guide oxen through the fields in lieu of heavy machinery. As you walk through nearly every building in every room in the factory, you will still be constrained by the act that key details are hidden, even if in plain sight. Watch every step in the process used to manufacture My Father, 601, Tatuaje and several other cigar lines, and you'll never have a chance to appreciate the operation as a whole ... and there's a good reason for this.

The creation of any premium cigar always involves a dose of "secret sauce," and Pepin's business is no different. From the farm to the factory, only four people in My Father Cigars know exactly what goes into each stick. Trade secrets are portable, and this knowledge is maintained only by those who have both proven themselves worthy and have a clear business need for the information.

Yet, even if you won't be able to replicate in your basement what Pepin has created, it's still a fascinating process to watch. From La Finca Estrella to the nearby factory and out the door, Pepin's cigar business is a local affair, involving mostly the staff from Esteli, Nicaragua.

Gallery: Cigar Rolling at My Father Cigars, Pepin Garcia's Factory

Welcome to the new My Father Cigars Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua

Cigar Manufacturing Operation at My Father Cigars in Nicaragua

Tags: cigar, cigar manufacturing, cigars, esteli, my fathers cigars, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars, pepin garcia, tatuaje, tatuajes

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Gurkha His Majesty's Reserve is Most Expensive Cigar

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Gurkha has a reputation of being the best of the best in the cigar world, and His Majesty's Reserve has the honor of holding the title of world's most expensive cigar. Made from the most expensive cognac and premium tobacco, HMR consists of a secret blend of filler tobaccos from all over the world wrapped in a rare aged Dominican wrapper before being infused with Louis XIII Cognac (the process uses an entire bottle). Less than 100 boxes of His Majesty's Reserve are made each year and getting your hands on one will not only be difficult, but will also cost you $750 per cigar or $15,000 per box.

Via JustLuxe

Source

Tags: cigar, cigars, gurkha, gurkha cigars, GurkhaCigars, most expensive, MostExpensive

Beverly Hills Cigar Club to Hockey Haters: Light(en) Up!

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Events

Much ado has been made of the cigars ignited by the Canadian Women's Hockey Team in celebration of the gold medal they had earned. Of course, they are not the first to light cigars following a victory, and despite much of the criticism being levied these days, they are unlikely to be the last. Vin Lee, CEO of the Beverly Hills Cigar Club, wants the team to know that they have his support.

In addition to decrying the International Olympic Committee's suggestion that an investigation may be necessary, he said in a statement:

Every other sport – from the Stanley Cup, the World Cup of Soccer, NASCAR to the Super Bowl -- supports celebrating victories with a bottle of champagne and a great cigar," points out Lee. "The moment is emotional; in the case of the Olympics, it often is the reward of years of hard work and sacrifice. The Canadian Women's Hockey Team should not be chastised for wanting to mark their victory on the ice. They are national heroes.

It would be nice for the IOC to lighten up on this issue ... having already missed the opportunity to light up in support of the Canadian women's team.

And, congratulations on a victory that was certainly earned!

Tags: beverly hills, BeverlyHills, canada, canadian womens hockey team, CanadianWomensHockeyTeam, cigar, cigars, hockey, ice hockey, IceHockey, OlympicGames, olympics

Cuban Cigar Festival Punctuated with Million Dollar Humidor Auction

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Auctions

The annual Habanos festival ended Friday with a million-dollar cymbal crash. The week-long event attracted cigar merchants, smokers and collectors from around the world to select, sample and savor ... all leading up to purchases, of course. The main attraction was an auction of ornate cedar and mahogany humidors packed with hecho a mano cigars, ultimately fetching $1.09 million. Hundreds may have attended, but only a small fraction walked away with that level of satisfaction.

The celebration came on the heels of an announcement by Habanos S.A. that its revenue only reached $360 million last year, an 8 percent decline from 2008. The new Romeo y Julieta that was unveiled at the event, designed to appeal to women, is ostensibly a direct response to two consecutive years of revenue declines. Since women comprise only 5 percent to 10 percent of Habanos' customers, the company is hoping that there's room for growth. The company is also relying on an economic recovery in Spain, which is its largest market.

Despite the new "ladies' line," the focus in Cuba last week was on the auction. The top humidor to move contained the new Cohiba Bieke cigar, fetching $681,000, close to two-thirds of the total. According to Oscar Basulto, Vice President of Habanos, this is the top premium cigar on the market – though I'm sure there are a few people in Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic who would disagree.

Source

Tags: auction, cigar, cigars, cohiba, cohibe-behike-cigar, cuba, cuban, cubans, Habano, habanos, havana, humidor, humidors, romeo y julieta, RomeoYJulieta

Avo and Davidoff Celebrate 84 Years with LE10 Cigar

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Every year, Avo Uvezian releases a new cigar for his birthday ... and it's always incredible. My first encounter with Avo's birthday cigar was the Avo 80, celebrating eight decades of the master himself. Last year, it was the Campanero, which may have been better than the Avo 80, though I haven't had the latter in a few years, so a comparison is impossible. This year, Avo turns 84, and he's celebrating his birthday with the Avo Limited Edition LE10.

The LE10 is made from an Ecuadoran sun-grown wrapper and has a Mexican Sumatra binder. The filler consists of Dominican ligero tobacco. The cigar has a ring gauge of 55 and is 5 ½ inches long; Davidoff is calling it a "super robusto" and says that it is full-bodied.

The LE10 tour will begin in Salem, New Hampshire at Two Guys Smoke Shop on March 17, 2010 and comes to Manhattan the next day, with a visit to Davidoff of Geneva. In total, Avo will make 13 stops across the United States. View all locations below.

Source

Tags: Avo Uvezian, AvoUvezian, cigar, cigars, davidoff, DavidoffMadison, tobacco

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Cuba's Looking for Ladies to Light Up

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Cuban cigar sales are in the tank right now. A combination of economic woes and anti-smoking legislation around the world have put the squeeze on Habanos S.A., the company behind Cuban cigars. Sales fell 8 percent last year, the company said, to $360 million last year. This follows a sales decline in 2008. Even though the economy is showing signs of recovery, Cuban cigar haven't come back. So, the company is looking to move into some relatively uncharted territory: women.

To find its way into women's hands, Habanos has created a smaller and milder Romeo y Julieta (the women I know who smoke cigars, however, tend to prefer something more robust). Women comprise only a smal share of the market – between 5 percent and 10 percent according to Habanos marketing director Ana Lopez.

Though some love from the ladies may help, Habanos realizes that it won't change the world for the beleaguered Cuban cigar company, which expects only a modest performance in 2010, due in large part to soft economic conditions in Spain.

Source

Tags: cigar, cigars, cuban, cuban cigar, cuban cigars, CubanCigar, CubanCigars, cubans, Habano, habanos, women smoking cigars, WomenSmokingCigars

Camacho Cigars Official Sticks of Oscars Style Lounge

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Events

I've heard all over that Oscar parties are supposed to be a big deal this year. While you're donning your formals and schlepping over to someone's house to see who walks home with glory, think for a few moments about what will be going on at the Academy Awards Style Lounge at the Intercontinental Hotel in Beverly Hills. One thing will be certain: the guests will be cutting and lighting Camacho Cigars. At the party on March 6, 2010, Camacho will be the lounge's official cigar.

Says Dylan Austin, Director of Marketing for Camacho, "Camacho Cigars is proud to be a part of the Academy Awards Style Lounge," continuing, "We are excited to be aligning Camacho Cigars with the Oscars, and to be part of this grand celebration in honor of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards."

Source

Tags: Academy Award, Academy Awards, academy awards 2010, AcademyAward, AcademyAwards, AcademyAwards2010, beverly hills, BeverlyHills, Camacho, cigar, cigars, oscars, Parties

Five Reasons to Visit a Cigar Factory

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Video

My visit to Pepin Garcia's My Father Cigars factory was an eye-opening experience. I'd had no idea just how much work goes into manufacturing a cigar. My trip wasn't thrust of a media relationship or any other connection: cigar companies want their customers to visit. And these days, it's easier than ever to do so. Cigar trips are becoming increasingly common. Rocky Patel and Camacho, among others, have been hosting groups for a while, and the trend is gaining momentum. I was able to see Pepin's team in action because of a trip arranged by De La Concha and Uptown Cigar. If you're looking to take advantage of a cigar trip, talk to the manager of your local shop.

Why would you want to visit a cigar factory? If you enjoy cigars, your mind is probably flooded with reasons – curiosity alone is sufficient motivation. You'll see the entire process, which is eye-opening, and you'll get a feel for how each step affects your smoking experience.

Here a five reasons to take a cigar tour:

Gallery: Cigar Rolling at My Father Cigars, Pepin Garcia's Factory

Tags: cigar, cigar lounge, cigar shop, CigarLounge, cigars, CigarShop, esteli, farm, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars, travel

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Uptown Cigars Donates to the Troops

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Charity, Video

Philanthropy and the brotherhood of the leaf have converged upon Upton Cigar, in Kingston, New York. Many cigar companies and shops have donated sticks to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. While Cigars for Soldiers has done a considerable amount of heavy lifting in this regard, there are lots of local efforts that are making a profound difference in the lives of people who have made the sacrifices associated with serving their country.

At Uptown Cigar, what started small has grown quickly. According to Israel Markevitz, the store's manager, word of mouth has been the major driver. The occasional customer would buy a box to ship overseas (the shop pays for that part). Before long, Markevitz was sending more than five boxes a week, ensuring that virtually every soldier who makes a request has it as quickly as possible.

Needless to say, the practice caught on. Now, Uptown Cigar ships five boxes a week or more to military personnel serving in combat, if only to thank them for their service and make their lives a little easier. Learn a bit more about this practice from the video below.

Tags: cigar, cigar shop, cigars, CigarShop, philanthropy, soldiers

Featured Cigar Lounge: Uptown Cigar

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

If you're heading up to Kingston, New York, around 90 miles up from the city, stop by Uptown Cigar to light up a stick and relax for a while. I had the opportunity to catch up with Israel Markevitz, the store's manager, on a trip to Esteli, Nicaragua to tour Pepin Garcia's cigar factory, as well as the Drew Estate factory, which makes Acid, T59 and others. Israel is clearly plugged into the cigar business, as everyone from Jonathan Drew to Eddie Ortega to Pepin Garcia greeted him as a familiar face.

Israel explains that his shop is home to a great group of around a dozen regulars who are more than happy to welcome new guests into the shop. You can relax in his spacious lounge while puffing away and sipping a coffee, or you can time your visits to coincide with the various events he holds, including tastings, rolling events and book signings. Chess and backgammon boards are kept on hand, and you can always kick back and watch the game on one of Uptown's big-screen televisions.

Tags: cigar, cigar lounge, CigarLounge, cigars, CigarShop, new york, NewYork, nicaragua, nicaraguan cigars, NicaraguanCigars, smoke, smokers, smoking

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Drew Estate: A Cigar Company's Take on Corporate Social Responsibility

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Art, Charity

When you think about corporate social responsibility – i.e., good corporate citizenship – the cigar industry probably isn't the first that comes to mind. The cigar business is small and only appeals to a handful of customers. Though I've been a cigar smoker for close to 15 years and was a consumer business strategist for a major consulting firm, I'd never thought about the possibility of corporate social responsibility in the cigar world – it jest never occurred to me.

While I was walking the Drew Estate factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, though, I began to hear the cues that signal an effort to be a valuable member of the community. The company – which produces the Acid and Java cigar lines, along with newer products such as the T9 and T52 – pays twice the region's prevailing wage for its positions. There are healthcare facilities on the premises. Wood for cigar boxes comes only from approved sources with environmentally friendly practices, and the company makes it a point to hire people with disabilities.

Jonathan Drew, one of the company's owners, spoke with me at length about Drew Estate's commitment to the surrounding community, which involves several measures intended to benefit not just the factory's employees but the people of Esteli.

While the holiday celebrations that involve the entire neighborhood, healthcare for employees and pregnancy leave are prominent aspects of Drew's informal philosophy of corporate social responsibility, I was struck by two rather unusual aspects: food and art.

Gallery: Drew Estate Cigar Factory

Tags: acid, cigar, cigars, Corporate Social Responsibility, CorporateSocialResponsibility, drew estate, DrewEstate, esteli, healtcare, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars

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A New Appreciation for the Art of Cigar Rolling

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Video

Until last week, the closest I'd been to the cigar rolling process was to see on-site demonstrations at cigar shops. Even then, I understood that it wasn't easy, and that the speed with which the rollers worked was the result of years invested in their chosen career. My appreciation for this activity multiplied, however, when I stepped onto the rolling floor at Pepin Garcia's My Father Cigars factory in Esteli, Nicaragua and saw what felt like endless rows of cigar rollers, each taking a specific piece of the process: filler and binder, wrapper and cap. They worked quickly and quietly, each completing hundreds of cigars a day.

To see the operation at work was impressive, but to feel it was totally different. Even trying something as seemingly simple as wrapping and capping a cigar, I learned just how much craftsmanship goes into what we cut, light and smoke.

The leaf for the wrapper is delicate. Every cigar smoker knows this, but when it's waiting to be wound around the binder, the tobacco feels downright flimsy. I worried, appropriately, that the slightest stupid move would tear it and force me to start over. As I sat in the seat belonging to Jaime Garcia, Pepin's son, to roll a cigar, I was a little nervous. So many people around me were making it look so easy, and I knew that the reality, for me at least, would be far different.

Gallery: Cigar Rolling at My Father Cigars, Pepin Garcia's Factory

Tags: cigar, cigars, esteli, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars, smoke, smokers, smoking, tobacco, tobacco industry, TobaccoIndustry

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Tatuaje Limited Edition Follows in the Footsteps of Wine

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

I met with Pete Johnson, the man behind the Tatuaje cigar line, after he and I met at Jose "Pepin" Garcia's cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. His right arm, sleeved with ink, made Pete easy to pick out of a crowd. Since Tatuajes are among my favorites when I'm away from home, I was excited to learn what's on tap for 2010. Unsurprisingly, Pete has something in mind that's a bit different form the norm in the cigar industry.

Tobacco manufacturers strive for consistency above all else. They want the cigar you smoke next year to taste like the one you're smoking today. This is a sentiment I've heard from Pepin's operation and across the cigar industry. And, this makes sense. If you manufactured a high-quality product of any kind and sought repeat business, wouldn't you strive for consistency?

Tags: cigar, cigars, nicaragua, nicaraguan cigars, NicaraguanCigars, tatuaje, tatuajes, tobacco, tobacco industry, TobaccoIndustry

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