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La Sirena Cigar Launch Party in New York City

Filed under: Cigars

The world just got a new cigar! I've been waiting for this launch for months, having first heard about it last winter. And, if ever there was an open secret in the cigar industry, this was it. The La Sirena line of cigars, manufactured at Don Pepin Garcia's My Father Cigars factory and distributed by Miami Cigar & Company, is the latest bold and powerful Nicaraguan stick to take a place on tobacconists' shelves. It is unmistakably a Pepin creation, with rich flavors and the sort of kick that inveterate cigar smokers are bound to appreciate.

La Sirena was launched at a dinner in its honor held last week at De La Concha in Manhattan. "Full house" was redefined, as customers packed themselves into the Sixth Avenue retail establishment ... while more than a dozen others made it no further than the waiting list. Even with Cigar Aficionado's Big Smoke going on at the same time, the presence of Nestor Miranda, Janny Garcia and Arielle Ditkowich demonstrates the excitement that had built around this product. And, Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars stopped by to offer his regards (and announce with De La Concha General Manager Ron Melendi that the store would begin carrying Johnson's Tatuaje cigars).

Gallery: La Sirena Cigar Launch, De La Concha

Gallery: The Guests at the La Sirena Cigar Launch at De La Concha

[photos by Steve Zak Photography]

Tags: big smoke, cigar, cigar aficionado, cigar dinner, cigar lounge, cigars, nestor miranda, new york, new york city, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars, pepin garcia, tatuaje, tatuajes, tobacco

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Nestor Miranda to Release New Art Deco Cigar

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

A new creation from Pepin Garcia's cigar factory will be unveiled in New Orleans this week. Miami Cigar is set to release its newest cigar, the Nestor Miranda Art Deco, at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association's 78th Annual Convention and International Trade Show. This exciting new cigar's blend is 60 percent Nicaraguan Corojo 99 and 40 percent Dominican San Vicente, dual Dominican Criollo '98/Nicaraguan Habano '00 binder, and a dark, oily and aromatic Nicaraguan Corojo '06 wrapper leaf with a triple cap. The cap, according to Miami Cigar, offers a dark, rich-tasting smoke that provides a unique balance of aroma, flavor and strength."

According to Nestor Miranda:

"We wanted to get Pepin out of his comfort zone, which is using Nicaraguan tobacco," said Nestor Miranda. "He accepted the challenge and came out with an amazing blend using 40% Dominican tobacco."

Instead of using traditional wooden boxes, the Nestor Miranda Art Deco will be sold in metallic art deco-designed tins with 21 cigars each. The sizes are:

Coffee Break / 4.5 x 50
Robusto Grande / 5.5 x 54
Gran Toro / 6 x 60

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, nestor miranda, New orleans, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars, pepin garcia

Five Cigar Recommendations for Father's Day

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

I'm about to celebrate my first Father's Day, so when I heard that the Beverly Hills Cigar Club had a few cigar suggestions for the occasion, I opened the e-mail immediately. In past years, I would have written the blog post for everyone else ... this year, I have something at stake!

Vin Lee, CEO of the Beverly Hills Cigar Club, has put together an interesting menu of cigars for Father's Day this year. From this list, I'd go with the Oliva Serie V, though my personal favorite these days is the 601 Trabuco (hint, hint).

Let's take a look at the five cigars Lee offers up as Father's Day suggestions:

1. CAO America Monument Pinstripe Torpedo
The wrapper on this cigar consists of two leaves arranged to deliver a pinstriping effect. One is a golden brown Connecticut Shade, and the other is a chocolate brown Connecticut Broadleaf. The filler comes from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and the United States. Notes Lee, "Warm summer nights this Father's Day, heat up the Kalamazoo 900 Grill and let Dad light up America while he slow grills his special burgers. No, he still won't tell you what's in the sauce though."

Tags: beverly hills, cigar, cigar club, cigar lounge, cigars, colombia, costa rica, dominican republic, fathers day, fathers-day, FathersDay, honduras, Mexico, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars

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I Smell a Dirty Rat: Drew Estate Talks about Its Rarest Cigar

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

You probably won't find the "Dirty Rat" on the shelves of your local cigar shop. The rare corona-sized stick is too expensive to manufacture for mass distribution, so it's rolled in small quantities for the Drew Estate staff and is shared with friends and at cigar events. The unique cigar is worth a smoke if you can get your hands on it. It's smooth and flavorful with a solid construction and a great draw.

Cut and light a Dirty Rat, and you'll certainly be the envy of the cigar shop.

Gallery: Dirty Rat Cigar Event: Drew Estate and De La Concha

Marvin Samel of Drew Estate and Ron Melendi of De La Concha

Marvin Samel of Drew Estate Smoking a Dirty Rat

[Photos by Steve Zak]

Disclosure: I was invited to cover this event for Cigar Reader by De La Concha, and wasn't charged anything. It was free for all invited. Each guest received a Dirty Rat cigar, a few slices of pizza (or more, depending on hunger)and some cognac.

Tags: cigar, cigar lounge, cigar shop, cigars, CigarShop, corona, drew estate, esteli, nicaragua

Cigar History: The Evolution of Drew Estate

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Have you ever wondered how the Acid and Liga Privada cigars came to be? I had the opportunity to sit with Marvin Samel a few weeks ago, and he explained how a company that started as a pushcart in the World Trade Center mall became one of the largest in the cigar industry.

What started with outsourcing to La Rosa, a small rolling shop in Manhattan, and single-stick sales underground downtown has grown into an international force, with large factory (and small tourist) operation in Esteli, Nicaragua, cigars in humidors across the country and committed customers eager for anything from coffee infusion to the more traditional Liga cigars. It's been a wild ride, according to Marvin, but the future definitely looks bright.

Drew Estate will be in New York on June 24, 2010 for a cigar dinner. Smoke a "Dirty Rat" cigar, and learn more about this unique Nicaraguan-and-America success story.

Gallery: Drew Estate Cigar Factory

Cigar Safari: the resort section of Drew Estate

Disclosure: I was invited to cover this event for Cigar Reader by De La Concha, and wasn't charged anything. It was free for all invited. Each guest received a Dirty Rat cigar, a few slices of pizza (or more, depending on hunger)and some cognac.

Tags: cigar, cigars, drew estate, esteli, manhattan, new york, new york city, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars

New Cigar: Nestor Miranda Collection 1989

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

The Nestor Miranda Collection 1989 just hit the streets, and it is worth the 45 minutes you'll need to commit to it. Rolled by Pepin Garcia, it is inspired by Nestor, who told Pepin he wanted a cigar "that can be sold at a very reasonable price point, in deference to the prevailing economic conditions."

Like the other cigars in the Nestor Miranda Collection, the 1989 is available with one of two wrappers. One is a Rosado, for smokers preferring a medium-bodied cigar. The other is an Oscuro, for those who want something a little fuller. It comes in three sizes: Robusto, Toro and Torpedo.

I smoked the Torpedo with both wrappers and found it thoroughly enjoyable, and fans of Pepin's work will notice his handiwork immediately. As with most of Nestor Miranda's cigars, its body that you notice immediately, rather than flavor, though he certainly isn't deficient in the latter.

Interestingly, the 1989 is included in the 10-cigar sample pack currently on sale through the Cigar Rights of America. A one-year membership is included.

[Photo via Facebook]

Tags: cigar, cigars, nestor miranda, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars

Welcome the New La Aurora Cigar at Your Local Shop For Free

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

If you haven't lit up a La Aurora Serie 107 Anniversario yet, you've been missing something special. The cigar, which celebrates La Aurora's 107th year of operation in the Dominican Republic, actually caught me by surprise.

This cigar was not nearly as light as I expected it to be, bringing a lot of character and complexity. It was a bit spicy and stayed interesting from foot to ash. The medium-bodied cigar was great for me as late morning stick, but your specific timing may not be the same. The La Aurora 107 has a Sun Grown Ecuadorian wrapper and contains filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic aged more than six years.

So, you could always get one of these cigars the ol' fashioned way ... you know, buy it. Or, you could wait until April 30, 2010, when 107 cigar retailers across the United States will be giving away 107 La Aurora 107 robustos.

Tags: cigar, cigars, dominican republic, free cigars, la aurora, nestor miranda, nicaragua, tobacco, tobacco industry

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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

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

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

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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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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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Eddie Ortega: No New Cigars (for a reason)

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

When I asked Eddie Ortega what new cigars he has coming out this year, I wasn't surprised by his response. The man behind the 601 line doesn't have anything new hitting the shelves this year, and I'm pretty happy about that. So is he. Eddie – and Ron Melendi of De La Concha and Israel Markevitz of Uptown Cigar, with whom I spoke about this issue – believes that there isn't much need for new brands right now. Retailers have plenty of product in their stores, and consumers have no shortage of choices.

The cigar market is jammed right now. Every year, more than a handful of people get the brilliant idea that retailers need another line of cigars to pitch to cash-strapped consumers, and the established players tend to bring a steady stream of new concepts, exacerbating the situation. Of course, we need this: we can't let the cigar market go stale. But, we have to cope with a lot of bad ideas to get the good ones (I'm pretty excited about the Tatuaje vintage, for example).

The decision not to venture back into the market with a new line can be intimidating: it's a break from convention, which can always be unsettling. So, it's a bit gutsy not to follow the herd, but Eddie's air of confidence is hard to ignore ... as is the fact that he's right.

Through 2010, Eddie will focus on the cigars he already has on the market and ensure that as many people as possible realize that they should puff on a 601 at least occasionally (his personal preference is for the blue label). Even without a new product this year, Eddie has enough on his plate – and we have plenty to enjoy.

Gallery: Eddie Ortega at Pepin Garcia's Farm

Pepin Garcia and Eddie Ortega Viewing Tobacco Leaves

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

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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