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CigarSEPTEMBER 25, 2012 n VOL.Insider 17, NO. 18 n FROM THE PUBLISHER OF CIGAR AFICIONADO MAGAZINE

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TASTING REPORT: CAMACHO LIBERTY 2012 VERTICAL BRAND TASTINGS: HONDURAS n PRICE: $16.70 n BODY: MED. TO FULL 91 POINTS n 2012 2 CLE Corojo [page ] For a full tasting, see page three. n Cuenca y Blanco [page 2] NEW SIZES: n Camacho Liberty 2012 [page 3] BEST CIGARS THIS ISSUE CURRENT RELEASES: Camacho Liberty 2012 Honduras 91 n Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 1 [page 3] n Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 [page 3] Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 1 Cuba 91 Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 Cuba 91 CIGAR NEWS—NEW CIGARS OF 2012 (PART FOUR) CLE Corojo 2012 11/18 Honduras 90 n Premium Imports Inc. [page 4] Cuenca y Blanco Corona Real Nicaragua 90 n Prometheus International Inc. [page 4] Cuenca y Blanco Lonsdale Club Nicaragua 90 n Puros Indios/Cuba Aliados [page 5]

n Rocky Patel Premium Cigars [page 5] Two Tied At Various 89

n S.A.G. Imports Inc. [page 6]

n Santa Cruz Tobacco [page 7]

n Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. [page 7] n Tabacalera Perdomo [page 8] A GRAND CELEBRATION n Tabacalera Tropical/Casa Fernandez [page 8] CIGAR AFICIONADO JUST TURNED 20 n Tabacos S.A. [page 8] and celebrated with a party hosted by editor and publisher n Toraño Family Cigar Co. [page 9] Marvin R. Shanken at the Grand Havana Room. The n Viaje Cigar Co. [page 9] party not only brought together some of the biggest names in the premium cigar industry, but also honored n Ventura Cigar Co. [page 10] nine of them with induction into our Hall of Fame. For n Villiger Cigars North America [page 10] the story and photos, visit CigarAﬁcionado.com.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM TRADE SHOW HIT THE MARKET AS WE GET CLOSER TO OCTOBER, MORE BRANDS SHIP TO SHOPS. Ever see a La Flor Dominicana Chisel shape in a tube? Nobody has until now with the Oro Chisel tubo (left). Salutem from the Toraño Family Cigar Co. (second from left) features Cameroon ﬁller—a company ﬁrst. What was once a house brand to Rocky Patel’s posh Burn lounge in Naples, Florida is now distributed nationally, though the blend for Burn Naples Florida (middle) has been adjusted for a little more sweetness. Villiger turns to the Plasencia family to produce its Talanga brand (second from right), a medium-bodied cigar that showcases a Honduran wrapper from the Talanga Valley. Casa Magna Colorado gets box pressed (right) in this three-size Nicaraguan puro.

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Cigar Co. (his middle name is Luís) earlier this summer. Eiroa, TASTING REPORT who sold his Camacho brand to Davidoff in 2008, left the Swiss company last year and announced his return to cigars with CLE in July. He has since put his first two self-branded lines on shelves, CLE COROJO 2012 including CLE Corojo 2012. The CLE blend is intended to be NEW RELEASE—VERTICAL BRAND TASTING medium to full in body, and Eiroa said it reflects his changing Country: Honduras tastes in cigars. Eiroa is vintage-dating all of his cigar lines and plans to sell the 2012 version (rated here) until March 2013, when Maker: Tabacos Rancho Jamastran he will start selling the new vintage. He told Cigar Insider that Distributor: CLE Cigar Co. vintage dating is important for him, in part because, “Tobacco is Filler: Honduras different year after year—a new year is a new vintage.” While the Binder: Honduras CLE brand is being made at the factory that makes Camachos, Wrapper: Honduras Eiroa is in the process of forming his own factory called El Aldino in Danlí, named after and built in the footsteps of an old movie Release Date: July 2012 theater owned before by his family. Of the CLE Corojo 2012 line, the bulging 11/18 size performed the best, scoring 90 points in 11/18 our blind test. 90 POINTS n 6 x 54 n $6.50 " Average Rating: 88.3 points Earthy coffee notes lead to a sweet vanilla finish on this well-made, even-burning cigar. It is rolled with a bulging middle, tapered foot and three-seam cap. Body: Medium to Full CUENCA Y BLANCO 5 X 50 89 POINTS n 5" x 50 n $5.95 n Best Buy NEW RELEASE—VERTICAL BRAND TASTING A veiny robusto that burns well, showing pencil lead, Country: Nicaragua mineral flavors and peppery, spicy notes with a some- Maker: Joya de Nicaragua S.A. what dusty finish. Distributor: Drew Estate Body: Medium Filler: Nicaragua, Peru 5 3/4 X 46 Binder: Dom. Rep. 88 POINTS n 5 3/4" x 46 n $5.50 n Best Buy Wrapper: Ecuador There is a constant woody, cedary undertone to this Release Date: August 2012 dark, attractive corona gorda. Wheaty notes also emerge before a coffee-like finish. CORONA REAL Body: Medium 90 POINTS n 5 1/2" x 46 n $7.45 A dark and well-made corona, this full-bodied cigar 6 X 60 delivers a chewy, toasty smoke that is sweet and nutty 86 POINTS n 6" x 60 n $6.95 on each puff. A thick log with a lopsided cap, this hefty cigar is a Body: Full primarily woody, cedary-tasting smoke. It draws evenly throughout, but leaves a gummy finish. LONSDALE CLUB Body: Medium 90 POINTS n 6 1/2" x 44 n $8.45 This solidly rolled lonsdale has a slightly firm draw, but BRAND SUMMARY: Longtime Camacho Cigars president is full of flavor, imparting malty notes of dark stout, Christian Eiroa marked his return to the cigar business by meaty flavors and a sweet cocoa finish. announcing the founding of his new eponymous venture CLE Body: Medium to Full

95-100: Classic n 90-94: Outstanding n 80-89: Very good to excellent n 70-79: Average to good commercial quality Below 70: Don’t waste your money n N/A: Not Available Note: Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail, before taxes.

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CAMACHO LIBERTY TORPEDO ESPECIAL 89 POINTS n 6 1/4" x 52 n $10.45 NEW RELEASE First puffs of this dark torpedo show plenty of sweet Country: Honduras dried fruit and orange peel character, as well as touches Maker: Tabacos Rancho Jamastran of cedar, but the finish is dry and heavy with minerals. Distributor: Davidoff of Geneva (FL) Inc. Body: Medium to Full Filler: Honduras ROBUSTO DELUXE Binder: Honduras 88 POINTS n 5 1/4" x 50 n $7.25 Wrapper: Honduras A strong robusto whose bold meaty, earthy flavors Release Date: June 2012 underscore some creamy coffee notes on the finish, though it could use some sweetness. LIBERTY 2012 Body: Full 91 POINTS n 6" x 54 n $16.70 n Humidor Selection Contoured with a bulbous middle and tapered foot, TORO SUPREMO this cigar imparts a rich combination of coffee bean, 87 POINTS n 6" x 54 n $9.35 complex woods and dried fruit to the palate. A sweet profile of cedar, dried fruit, and tea flavors are Body: Medium to Full slightly offset by some perfumey notes. The wrapper is dark and attractive, though the draw is a bit firm. Body: Medium to Full HOYO DE MONTERREY BRAND SUMMARY: Cigar industry veterans Alejandro Martinez Cuenca and José Blanco teamed up to produce the new Cuenca y CURRENT RELEASES Blanco brand, a cigar made at the Joya de Nicaragua factory and Country: Cuba distributed by Drew Estate. Martinez Cuenca is the president of Maker: N/A Joya de Nicaragua, and José Blanco (formerly of La Aurora) serves Distributor: Habanos S.A. as the senior vice president. “This cigar is the quintessential expres- sion of how two minds, two experiences and two origins worked Filler: Cuba together,” Cuenca said of the project earlier this summer. “Each Binder: Cuba venturing off our traditional paths of only making puros to Wrapper: Cuba instead creating a cigar of diverse tobaccos.” The result is what Box Dates: July 2011, November 2011 Martinez Cuenca calls a unique blend, made with Ecuador Habano wrapper, Dominican Piloto Cubano from the La Canela EPICURE NO. 1 region for the binder, and a filler blend of Nicaraguan tobacco 91 POINTS n 5 5/8" x 46 n £15.92 n Humidor Selection from Ometepe and Estelí, and Peruvian viso from the Tarapoto Rich and savory from the first puffs, this cigar is full of region. The line was officially introduced at this year’s IPCPR pronounced leather flavor that lingers on the palate, trade show, and it performed well, netting two 90-point scores along with fresh ground coffee and nutty notes. for the Corona Real and the Lonsdale Club. Body: Medium Average Rating: 88.8 points EPICURE NO. 2 91 POINTS n 4 7/8" x 50 n £15.11 n Humidor Selection An oily wrapper and three-seam cap adorn this tasty, balanced smoke, whose sweet and nutty intonations are complemented by leather and licorice notes. Body: Medium

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Filler: Dom. Rep. Price: $7.00–$8.00 CIGAR NEWS Details: A two-size line presented in stately glass tubes with red and gold accents, the Double Ligero Crystal Tubo comes in Robusto, 5 3/4 by 52, and Corona, 5 5/8 by 44. SPECIAL REPORT: THE NEW CIGARS Retailers have them now. OF 2012, PART FOUR BY GREGORY MOTTOLA, ANDREW NAGY, G. CLAY WHITTAKER LA FLOR DOMINICANA ORO AND DAVID SAVONA Made by: Tabacalera La Flor S.A., Dominican Republic Wrapper: Nicaragua Binder: Dom. Rep. ur coverage of the IPCPR trade show continues as Filler: Dom. Rep. Othe Cigar Insider team further reports on the new Price: $12.50, $13.00 releases, brand extensions and limited-edition cigars that Details: The newest incarnation of the La Flor Dominicana will be heading to retail shops and tobacconists from now brand centers on the Spanish word for gold—oro, and until the end of the year. harkens to the roots of La Flor creator Litto Gomez, who was a jeweler before forming his cigar company with Ines Lorenzo-Gomez. The line comes in two sizes, each packed in a golden tube: There’s a Chisel, 6 by 54, ($13.00), and the Oro Tubo No. 6, 6 by 54 ($12.50). The No. 6 is available in natural and maduro varieties. The cigars are ready, but the tubes are not, so they are expected to ship in October. PREMIUM IMPORTS INC. What makes it special: The ﬁrst time Gomez’s unique Chisel shape has been packed in a tube. LA FLOR DOMINICANA TORPEDITO Also: La Flor Dominicana has put together several LIGERO OSCURO NATURAL samplers of some of its most popular smokes, including Made by: Tabacalera La Flor S.A., Dominican Republic a Chisel Selection. Wrapper: Ecuador Binder: Dom. Rep. Filler: Dom. Rep. Price: $7.00 Details: Designed for those who like their cigars strong and PROMETHEUS INTERNATIONAL INC. small, this sawed-off torpedo (it measures 4 3/4 by 50) is an absolute powerhouse. “We put a little extra ligero in GOD OF FIRE SERIE B (NEW SIZES) there,” says brand-owner Litto Gomez. The cigars come in Made by: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia, boxes of 40 and have shipped to market. Dominican Republic Wrapper: Ecuador, U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf LA FLOR DOMINICANA LIMITADO V Binder: Dom. Rep. Made by: Tabacalera La Flor S.A., Dominican Republic Filler: Dom. Rep Wrapper: Ecuador Price: $19.85, $21.00 Binder: Nicaragua Details: Keith Park, owner of the God Filler: Dom. Rep. of Fire brand, is celebrating the 20th Price: $11.75 anniversary of his cigar accessories Details: This is the ﬁfth installment of La Flor’s Limitado company, Prometheus International, with line, which does not come out every year. This smoke two new sizes in the Serie B line: a measures 6 1/2 by 54, and will be limited to 2,000 boxes, 5 1/2 inch by 50 Robusto and a each containing 48 cigars. 5 3/4 by 52 Double Robusto. Both are an all-Dominican blend, but the Robusto sports a sungrown LA FLOR DOMINICANA DOUBLE LIGERO wrapper from Ecuador while CRYSTAL TUBO the Double Robusto is covered Made by: Tabacalera La Flor S.A., Dominican Republic in a dark Connecticut Broad- Wrapper: Ecuador leaf maduro. The cigars will be Binder: Dom. Rep. offered alongside the other two

4 TO SUBSCRIBE GO TO WWW.CIGARINSIDER.COM September 25, 2012 Cigar Insider CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE sizes in the Serie B line in special 20th anniversary boxes FREEDOM BY ROCKY that are individually numbered and certified. In addition, PATEL the new Serie B sizes will also be packaged in another Made by: Tavicusa, commemorative 20-count box. Instead of the whole Serie B Nicaragua line, though, this box will feature five God of Fire by Don Wrapper: Nicaragua Carlos and five God of Fire by Carlito cigars. Only 500 Binder: Nicaragua boxes of each version will be released, with the five-count Filler: Nicaragua box selling for $113 and the 20-count going for $420. Price: $7.50–$8.50 Also: Park showed off the God of Fire Aniversario, a special Details: Rocky Patel spends a great commemorative cigar also celebrating the 20th anniversary deal of time in Central America oversee- of Prometheus. The cigar, a straight-sided salomon with ing production of his cigars as well as in cigar a nipple foot, has been rolled and is being aged until the shops promoting his brands, but he also invests time fall of 2013. and effort fighting for cigar rights. “I have spent a great deal of time in Washington fighting alongside others in our industry’s fight to preserve our rights to smoke cigars—this cigar is representative of that,” he says. Freedom by Rocky Patel, described as medium to full in body, comes in four sizes: Robusto, 5 by 50; Toro, 6 by 52; Torpedo, 6 1/8 by PUROS INDIOS/CUBA ALIADOS 52; and 60, the increasingly popular 6 by 60 vitola. CUBA ALIADOS CAPA CLARA Made by: Puros Indios/Cuba Aliados Cigars, U.S.A. Wrapper: Ecuador BURN NAPLES FLORIDA Binder: Nicaragua Made by: El Paraiso Cigar Factory, Honduras Filler: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep. Wrapper: Honduras Price: $7.00–$10.00 Binder: Honduras Details: The blend for this line is identical to the company’s Filler: Honduras successful Puro Indios 2012 Series, save for a Connecticut Price: $7.75–$8.60 Broadleaf wrapper grown in Ecuador. The new wrapper, says Details: Burn is Rocky Patel’s posh, vibrant cigar bar in president Carlos Diez, tones down the nearly all-Nicaraguan Naples, Florida. The cigar lounge has a house brand, but filler enough to make Capa Clara a medium-bodied smoke. now a version of the cigar has gone on sale nationwide. Capa Clara, which will be ready this fall, is made in Miami The smoke is a Honduran puro made at the Plasencia’s and will come in five sizes: Robusto, 5 by 50; Toro, 6 by 52; El Paraiso Cigar Factory in Honduras. Rocky Patel told Churchill, 7 by 49; Torpedo, 6 by 52; and Gordo, 6 by 60. Cigar Insider that he wanted more sweetness in the blend, and has added more tobacco from Jamastran, Honduras (which borders Nicaragua) into new versions of the cigar, which has been called medium bodied. The cigar comes in three sizes: Robusto, 5 by 50; Toro, 6 1/2 by 50; and Torpedo, 6 1/2 by 52. They come in boxes of 20, and have ROCKY PATEL PREMIUM CIGARS already shipped.

ROCKY PATEL EDGE HABANO NICARAGUA Made by: Tavicusa, Nicaragua ROCKY PATEL PRIVATE CELLAR Wrapper: Nicaragua Made by: Tavicusa, Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua Wrapper: U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf Filler: Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua Price: $6.15–$6.40 Filler: Nicaragua Details: The Edge has been Rocky Patel’s biggest hit, and Price: $8.50–$8.85 for the ﬁrst time it’s coming out in an all-Nicaraguan Details: Both Rocky Patel and his brother Nish call this blend. The puros are made using tobacco from all three of blend a personal favorite, a blend they say has been aged the major Nicaraguan growing areas—Estelí, Condega and for some time. The Broadleaf Nicaraguan cigar comes Jalapa—and are described as being full bodied. There are in three sizes: Robusto, 5 by 50; Toro, 6 1/2 by 52; and two sizes, a Toro and a Torpedo (each of them 6 inches by Torpedo, 6 1/8 by 52. They come in boxes of 20 cigars, 52) and they are made in Nicaragua. and are made at Patel’s Tavicusa Factory, home to his 15th What makes it special: The ﬁrst Edge Nicaraguan puro. Anniversary and many other blends.

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HOMERUN 500 CASA MAGNA COLORADO BOX PRESSED Made by: Tavicusa, Nicaragua Made by: Plasencia Cigars, Nicaragua Wrapper: Ecuador Wrapper: Nicaragua Binder: Honduras Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Price: $12.20 Price: $6.95–$8.95 Details: Gary Sheffield had a storied career for several major Cigar Insider Score: 88–89 league baseball teams. The nine-time All Star and onetime Details: A box-pressed version of the original blend (whose World Series Champion hit 509 home runs over his career, robusto won Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year in 2008), and becoming part of baseball’s 500 home run club is one of Casa Magna Colorado Box Pressed comes in three chunky his proudest accomplishments. This cigar blend was made sizes: Short Robusto, 4 1/2 by 54; Toro, 6 by 50; and to commemorate the feat for the cigar-loving Sheffield. It’s Gordo Real, 6 1/4 by 60. available in one size, a 6 1/2 by 52 Toro, and it sports a dark, Also: The nonbox-pressed Casa Magna Colorado has the Ecuador Habano wrapper. new Gigantor, a 6 by 64 cigar that retails for $8.25

ROCKY PATEL VINTAGE 2003 BOX PRESS CASA MAGNA D. MAGNUS II Made by: El Paraiso Cigar Factory, Honduras Made by: Plasencia Cigars, Nicaragua Wrapper: Cameroon Wrapper: Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Dom. Rep., Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Price: $7.85–$9.85 Price: $8.95, $9.95 Details: This is an expansion of the Cameroon-wrapped Details: Blended with the same internal tobacco as the Vintage 2003 brand, which debuted in 2011. This trio of original Domus Magnus release, D. Magnus II features a cigars has the same blend as the original, but is presented sungrown wrapper from Jalapa harvested in 2007. It comes in a box-pressed format. There will only be 1,000 boxes of in two sizes, Optimus, 5 3/4 by 52 and Primus, 6 1/2 by 55. each size, for a total run of 3,000 boxes or 60,000 cigars. They come in Robusto, 5 1/2 by 50; Toro, 6 1/2 by 50; and Torpedo, 6 1/4 by 52. QUESADA JALAPA Made by: MATASA, Dominican Republic Wrapper: Nicaragua Binder: Dom. Rep. Filler: U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf, Dom. Rep., Nicaragua Price: $7.75–$8.75 S.A.G. IMPORTS INC. Details: When the Quesada España was created exclusively for the Spanish 3 REYNAS market, American smokers clamored Made by: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua for a release here in the U.S. The Wrapper: U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf Quesadas answered with this Binder: Nicaragua line, which has the same blend, Filler: Nicaragua but a light claro wrapper Price: $7.50–$8.25 from Jalapa grown in 2002 Details: Three of the most high-proﬁle young ladies in the by Nestor Plasencia. Three cigar business have collaborated to create a new, limited- sizes are available: Robusto, 4 edition cigar called 3 Reynas, which translates to “three 7/8 by 50; Prominente, 7 5/8 by 49; queens.” The new brand is the brainchild of Quesada sisters and Belicoso, 6 1/8 by 52. Patricia and Raquel of S.A.G. Imports in the Dominican Republic, along with Janny Garcia of My Father Cigars Inc. QUESADA OKTOBERFEST in Nicaragua. It consists of Nicaraguan binder and ﬁller Made by: MATASA, Dominican Republic draped in dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Blended to be Wrapper: Dom. Rep. a medium-bodied cigar, 3 Reynas comes in three sizes: Gordo, Binder: Dom. Rep. 6 inches by 60 ring, Torpedo, 6 by 54 and Robusto, 5 by 50. Filler: Dom. Rep. Only 1,000 boxes of each size are scheduled for production. Price: $7.25–$9.50

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Details: Originally a two-size line, the Quesadas added utilize high-priming tobaccos that were almost all grown three more cigars to the brand, which was specifically by the Ricos themselves. No. 5 will come in five sizes— blended to pair with German beer. New sizes are Kurz, Corona Gorda, 5 5/8 by 46; Gran Robusto, 6 by 54; 4 by 50; Das Boot, 6 by 52; and Kaiser Ludwig, 6 by 49. Imperial, 6 by 60; Czar, 6 by 66; and Grandioso, 7 by 70— in boxes of 20, with each size limited to a run of 15,000 cigars. The blend for the No. 5, according to George Rico, QUESADA Q D’ETAT DAGGA consists of filler from Nicaragua and Panama, harvested in Made by: MATASA, Dominican Republic 2007 and 2006, respectively, encased in a binder of 2006 Wrapper: Ecuador Nicaraguan leaf. A sun grown, Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper Binder: Dom. Rep. harvested in 2007 in Jalapa Valley holds it all together. Filler: Dom. Rep., Nicaragua Price: $9.75 Details: Because the established Q D’Etat blend did not GRAN RESERVA NO. 3 2009 work optimally with this 7 inch by 54 salomon shape, the Made by: G.R. Tabacaleras Unidas, Honduras Quesadas used a blend very similar to the one found in the Wrapper: Ecuador limited-edition Quesada 35th Anniversary cigar. The name Binder: Nicaragua Dagga refers to the dagger shape of the cigar’s pointed Filler: Nicaragua ends. This is the final cigar in the Q D’Etat series. Price: $7.00–$7.33 Details: This small-batch stick comes in three sizes: Gran Robusto, 6 by 54; Pyramid, 6 1/8 by 52; and Churchill, REGIUS OF LONDON CIGARS 7 by 50. An Ecuadoran-Habano wrapper, harvested in Made by: Plasencia Cigars, Nicaragua 2006 says George Rico, covers an all-Nicaraguan blend. Wrapper: Ecuador Only 15,000 cigars of each size will be rolled, and each Binder: Nicaragua format will come in boxes of 20. Filler: Nicaragua Price: $5.95–$7.95 Details: Though Regius has been around for a few years, it had only primarily British and European distribution. S.A.G. began distributing the brand at this year’s IPCPR show. It comes in six sizes, two of which are new. Grandido, 7 by 47; Robusto, 4 7/8 by 50; Corona, 5 1/8 by 42; Short TABACALERA A. FUENTE Y. CIA. Robusto (new), 4 by 50; Lord Madsen, 6 by 38; and a 4 3/8 by 32 size (new) available in tins of five. Also: A new offshoot line made by MATASA called Regius FUENTE FUENTE OPUSX THE ANGEL’S SHARE White Label by Don Manuel Quesada is set to come in Made by: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., Dominican Republic three sizes—Royal Robusto, Torpedo and Toro—and will Wrapper: Dom. Rep. retail in the $7.25 to $8.25 range. Binder: Dom. Rep. Filler: Dom. Rep. Price: n/a Details: Fuente has long run counter to the normal activity at the IPCPR trade show, rarely showing off new cigars and typically shunning new business. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Arturo Fuente brand, and the planned SANTA CRUZ TOBACCO November celebration has been pushed back to 2013, a year Fuente has dubbed “Year One.” When pressed, GRAN RESERVA NO. 5 2010 Carlos Fuente Jr. described Made by: G.R. Tabacaleras Unidas, Honduras one of his many projects Wrapper: Nicaragua to celebrate 100 years of Binder: Nicaragua Fuente: The Fuente Fuente Filler: Nicaragua, Panama OpusX The Angel’s Share. It’s Price: $6.00–$9.00 made with wrappers from Details: Owner Guillermo Rico, along with his son George, the middle of the tobacco are releasing two limited-edition lines this year: Gran Reserva plant, rather than high- No. 5 and No. 3. Both are offshoots of successful regular priming leaves that grow production lines that were introduced in 2003 and both near the top, as on typical

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Fuente Fuente OpusX cigars. These wrappers are lighter CASA FERNANDEZ MIAMI AGANORSA LEAF and have been aged for years, so the cigars are a milder MADURO BOX PRESSED version of Fuente Fuente OpusX. They will come in four sizes. Made by: Casa Fernandez Miami, U.S.A. What makes it special: A milder version of a brand known Wrapper: Mexico for strength. Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Price: $8.60–$9.00 Details: This box-pressed, maduro version of the Casa Fernandez brand pairs Mexican San Andrés wrapper with Nicaraguan ﬁller and binder grown by Aganorsa. There TABACALERA PERDOMO are two sizes, El Supremo, 6 by 58, and Robusto Extra, 5 by 54. The Miami-rolled smokes are on sale now. PERDOMO 20TH ANNIVERSARY Made by: Tabacalera Perdomo S.A., Nicaragua JFR 770 MADURO Wrapper: Nicaragua Made by: TABSA, Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua Wrapper: Mexico Filler: Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua Price: $8.00–$10.00 Filler: Nicaragua Details: Tabacalera Perdomo turned 20 this year and is Price: $7.98 celebrating with its Perdomo 20th Anniversary line of Details: Casa Fernandez has had a strong reaction to its cigars—Nicaraguan puros featuring bourbon barrel-aged JFR line, which stands for “Just For Retailers,” and is not wrappers and thick ring gauges. The cigars use mostly sold via the web. The 770 size—seven inches long with a jaw- high-priming tobacco grown on Perdomo’s farms in Estelí, stretching 70 ring gauge, has become popular in the world of Condega and Jalapa, and come in two wrapper varieties: ever-fatter smokes. Now, they have a darker version. “The Cuban-seed sun grown or Cuban-seed maduro. The semi- customers were after us to come up with a maduro,” says box-pressed line is offered in ﬁve sizes: Robusto, 5 by 56; Paul Palmer-Fernandez. It has been on sale since the spring, Epicure, 6 by 56; Torpedo, 6 1/2 by 54; Gordo, 6 by 60; and was on display at the show. and Churchill, 7 by 56.

TABACALERA TROPICAL/ TABACOS S.A.

CASA FERNANDEZ ORIGEN MADURO Made by: Plasencia Cigars, Nicaragua CASA FERNANDEZ MIAMI TITAN RESERVA AND Wrapper: Brazil ROBUSTO RESERVA Binder: Costa Rica Made by: Casa Fernandez Miami, U.S.A. Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico Wrapper: Nicaragua Price: $6.00–$9.00 Binder: Nicaragua Details: Following in the footsteps of the original Origen Filler: Nicaragua brand (now Origen Natural), Origen Maduro uses a Brazilian Price: $8.90–$9.40 Matafina wrapper (Origen Natural sports a Brazilian Corojo) Details: Tabacalera Tropical/Casa Fernandez is the cigar and the filler will now include San Andrés leaf from arm of tobacco giant Aganorsa, which grows immense Mexico. Origen Maduro will come in five sizes: Original, 5 amounts of tobacco throughout the three main growing by 44; Corona Gorda, 5 1/2 by 46; Robusto, 4 7/8 by 49; regions of Nicaragua. Last year it began making cigars in Belicoso, 5 1/2 by 52; and Toro Grande, 6 by 54. Miami, selling them as Casa Fernandez Miami, and it added a single-size reserva extension, blended with some medio EDICION DE FAMILIA tiempo tobacco. This year the company unveiled a duo Made by: Plasencia Cigars, Nicaragua of new sizes in the Reserva line: Titan Reserva (6 by 60, Wrapper: Ecuador $9.40) and Robusto Reserva (5 1/4 by 52, $8.90). Binder: Nicaragua What makes it special: Medio tiempo is uncommon. Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras

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Price: $12.00–$16.00 Also: Toraño is adding the LFC size to every one of its Details: J. Fuego is releasing a limited-edition smoke with brands. The small, thick-ringed smokes will vary in price tobaccos aged ten years or more. Edicion de Familia will from $5.10 to $7.50 depending on the brand. They’ll be come in three sizes: Robusto, 4 7/8 by 49; Belicoso Fino, available in October. 5 1/2 by 52; and Toro, 6 1/2 by 54. The Belicoso Fino and Toro will be box pressed, and the Robusto will also be available in glass tubes. The cigar boasts an Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper and is set to hit stores in November. What makes it special: Only 750 boxes of 10 are being made in each size. VIAJE CIGAR CO. Also: 777 Corojo and 777 Zero will be receiving a Minuto size, measuring 4 1/2 by 38. HONEY & HAND GRENADES Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L., Honduras Wrapper: Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua TORAÑO FAMILY CIGAR CO. Price: $9.36–$10.16 Details: The name refers to the blend’s combination of SALUTEM strength and sweetness. The cigars are crafted with a Made by: American Caribbean Cigars, Nicaragua rounded head and pointed nipple foot, each wrapped in Wrapper: Ecuador red foil. Three sizes are named for stabbing implements: Binder: Nicaragua The Rapier, 6 1/2 by 44; The Shank, 5 1/4 by 52; and The Filler: Cameroon, Dom. Rep., Nicaragua Shiv, 6 1/4 by 50. They’re on retail shelves now. Price: $7.20–$8.76 Details: Salutem, named for the Latin term for extending a friendly greeting, sports a Habano Ecuador wrapper and a Jalapa binder over a unique filler blend which includes Cameroon leaf. It will come in four sizes: Robusto Extra, 5 by 52; Toro Major, 5 5/8 by 55; Piramide, 6 1/8 by 52; and BFC, 6 1/8 by 60. Each size is packaged in a 12-count box, and should hit shelves this month. What makes it special: This is the first time Toraño has used Cameroon leaf in the filler.

MASTER HABANO MADURO Made by: American Caribbean Cigars, Nicaragua Wrapper: Nicaragua VIAJE 5TH ANNIVERSARY Binder: Ecuador Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L., Filler: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep. Honduras Price: $6.40–$7.80 Wrapper: Nicaragua Details: Master Habano Maduro Binder: Nicaragua is the spicy sequel to the Master Filler: Nicaragua line released in 2010. A sun grown Price: $13.20 Habano maduro wrapper from Details: Viaje celebrates its fifth year with this box-pressed, Nicaragua covers a Habano double-tapered perfecto that measures 6 1/4 by 52 and Ecuador binder and fillers from comes with a stark white, embossed band. Nicaragua and the Dominican Also: A short 5 by 50 figurado called Collectors Edition Republic. The line currently comes packaged in 8-9-8 boxes of 20. They sport secondary comes in three sizes: Robusto, bands and retail for $10.00. Only 200 boxes were 5 by 50; Toro Gordo, 5 by 54; released. Plus, Viaje has cut its once extensive Oro and and BFC at 6 by 60. The cigars Platino brands to limited-edition lines that now only are already on shelves. have three sizes each.

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VENTURA CIGAR CO. CIGAR AFICIONADO’s BIG SMOKE 2012 SCHEDULE PURA SANGRE 2012 EDICIÓN Made by: Plasencia Cigars, Nicaragua November 9-11 Wrapper: Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua LAS VEGAS • THE MIRAGE Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua Big Smoke evenings scheduled on Friday and Price: $12.00 Saturday, as well as cigar and lifestyle educational Details: The major difference between this release and the seminars on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. core line is a Nicaraguan Viso Habano Colorado wrapper TICKETS ON SALE NOW leaf from a 2007 crop. The 2012 is offered in one 5 1/2 by 56 ring size, and should hit shelves in late March. What makes it special: The cigars were rolled in early November 29 2012 and will have rested for an entire year before hitting NEW YORK CITY • PIER 92 retail shelves. TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Visit CigarAﬁcionado.com VILLIGER CIGARS NORTH AMERICA

VILLIGER COLORADO Made by: Plasencia Cigars, Nicaragua IN THE NEXT CIGAR INSIDER Wrapper: Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua Our final installment of new cigars from the IPCPR Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua trade show, plus breaking news from around the Price: $9.00–$10.00 cigar world, along with ratings on hot new cigars. Details: The Colorado actually sports a double binder of two Read about it first in Cigar Insider. Nicaraguan leaves: one from Estelí and one from Ometepe. Packed with filler from Jamastran, Ometepe and Estelí, and covered with a Nicaraguan Colorado wrapper, this line comes in four sizes: Robusto, 5 by 50; Double Robusto, 5 1/2 by 54; Your Next CIGAR INSIDER Arrives on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Churchill, 7 by 50; and Toro, 6 by 50. What makes it special: A double binder and darker wrapper make this the fuller-bodied version of its sister brand, Villiger Talanga. Editor and Publisher Marvin R. Shanken Executive Editor Gordon Mott VILLIGER TALANGA Made by: Plasencia Cigars, Nicaragua Managing Editor David Savona Wrapper: Honduras Director of Research Frank C. Walters Binder: Nicaragua Associate Editor Gregory Mottola Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua Editorial Assistant Andrew Nagy Price: $9.00–$9.75 Tasting Coordinator/ G. Clay Whittaker Details: Blended much like The Villiger Colorado brand, Editorial Assistant Villiger Talanga’s major difference is a Honduran Talanga Art Director Chandra Hira wrapper which gives it a lighter appearance and a lighter Senior Designer Jackelyn Navarro body. The cigars also have just one binder from Jalapa. The same filler blend of Ometepe, Estelí and Jamastran leaf © 2012 M. Shanken Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. rounds out the smoke. It also comes in four sizes: Robusto, Materials may not be reproduced without permission. 5 by 50; Double Robusto, 5 1/2 by 54; Churchill, 7 by 50; and Toro, 6 by 50. Also: Villiger is adding the popular 6 by 60 size to three of Questions about your subscription? its lines: La Libertad, La Capitana and Villiger 1888 Fuerte. n Email: [email protected].

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