The world of cigars

It’s rare enough to be reported. A documentary about the cigar business has just been released. “Hand Rolled” is the work of two Americans, Jesse Mariut and Steve Gherebean. The documentary was made possible partly thanks to a crowdfunding on Indiegogo. Some cigar producers also gave money and opened the doors of their factories, among them Pete Johnson (Tatuaje) and

After the unforgettable XO 18 MK52, here is the XO Oscuro line’s new Torpedo. A complex and powerful smoke.   Wrapper: Mexico Binder: Dominican Republic Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua Figurado   Price: €12.60   Draped in a silky and appetizing Brazilian wrapper, the MK2 starts off gently with roasted notes of cappuccino, before serving up a few vegetal notes followed

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Every year, La Flor Dominicana releases a limited edition cigar, sold only in the state where the Superbowl is held. This year’s Superbowl will take place on February 3rd in Atlanta, Georgia. Cigars (4,500 copies in boxes of 10 numbered) are coming to Georgian cigar stores these days. This is our review.   Review by “L’Amateur de cigare” magazine La

Despite the threat of tighter regulations from the FDA, the U.S. handmade cigar market is growing rapidly. By Guillaume Renouard The U.S. premium cigar market is doing well. Handmade cigar imports experienced robust growth during the first half of 2018, sustaining an improvement that started in 2017, according to data provided by the Cigar Association of America (CAA) and published

At Tabacalera de Garcia in Dominican Republic, the “Grupo de Maestros” formulates the blends before submitting them to a panel of tasters. How does it work ? Directed by Javier Elmúdesi, the Grupo de Maestros of the Tabacalera de García brings together the eight experts in charge of the blends : Pedro Ventura, Víctor Ávila, Carlos Travieso, Néstor Rodríguez, Cándido

Once mystical, the Dunhill brand went from owner to owner, starting in 1990, without regaining its Cuban era’s aura. Its last owner, British American Tobacco, has decided to cease its production. Dunhill cigars are about to go extinct but nobody really seems to care, most likely because they were already suffering a long decline. “We have decided to end Dunhill

Many cigars producers were hoping for Trump’s victory. The Obama administration has, in their opinion, imposed way too many regulations on their industry. What does the current situation look like?   By Guillaume Renouard   Since August, 2016, cigar aficionados and manufacturers have been in a gloomy mood. A set of new, harsh regulations implemented by the Food and Drugs

The American Charles D. Fredricks associates in 1863 with the french Auguste Dariès. Together they operate a photography studio in Havana, at No. 108 Calle de La Habana. The images they realize of the city during the two years of their association (1863-1865) are the first known photographs of the Cuban capital. * These pictures were graciously lent to us

Confronted with an evolution of users’ demand and budgets, producers are reacting by creating new brands, both affordable and of high quality  By Jean-Pascal Grosso « The market itself is dictating this trend, explains José R. Oliva, Oliva Cigars’ CEO. Everybody would like to sell $12, $16 or $20 cigars. It would be more profitable. But the vast majority of American

Less common than their traditional counterpart, box-pressed cigars are nevertheless much appreciated by some aficionados. Here’s where they come from and how they are shaped. by Guillaume Renouard Four-sided cigars may not be as well known as their cylindrical counterparts, yet they are the favorite of many aficionados. According to advocates, the squared shape of box-pressed cigars beautifully enhances and

José Padron passed away last week, he was 91 years old. Taking up the torch of a big family company: that’s the challenge that awaits Jeffrey Padrón and his sister Jessica. Social networks are their weapon of choice. Here is an interview of Jeffrey published in 2013 in the International Amateur de Cigare… By Armelle Vincent Jeffrey and Jessica Padrón,

Can Apple censor a mobile application dedicated to a product authorized for sale? By Laurent Mimouni The boss of the largest American cigar magazine Cigar Aficionado did not appreciate that Apple removed from its platform the application “Where to smoke? In which the newspaper had for the last two years listed more than 2,600 addresses of cigar shops, smokehouses and

Agio, the company that distributes Jonathan Drew brands and produces Balmoral cigars, has just launched an uncommonly low-cost brand.   By Camille Sifer   So, what is this new and surprisingly inexpensive brand, you ask? Meet San Pedro de Macoris, named after its hometown, located some hundred kilometers from the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo. This town is already Agio’s

On October 25, Davidoff inaugurated his new head office, La Maison Davidoff. After 85 years, the building has been completely rebuilt to give rise to an ultra modern and bright workplace. A large smoking room and a walking humidor can host the 160 employees.. Lucky them ! Maison Davidoff, Nauenstrasse 73 Basel, Switzerland

Since the 1990s, Habanos has developed three “concepts” that can be found in different regions around the world. Do you know what sets them apart? Casa del habano This may be the concept that is best known by aficionados. The first to open, more than 25 years ago, was in Beirut. This store remains one of the most famous and

Launched at the beginning of the 70s, the Montecristo A is being retired from service. We take a quick look back at the 40-year history of an iconic cigar. The Montecristo A had it all from the start: exceptionally tall (more than 23 cm long), dark, handsome and silky smooth to boot; with a price to match (around €40 toward

On October 13, a collector bought a cigar that belonged to Winston Churchill for a few thousand euros … According to the BBC who published this picture, this cigar was smoked by Churchill at Le Bourget airport on May 11, 1947. William Alan Turner, a British airman who flew Churchill and his wife to and from Paris kept the cigar