Back in September of 2018, Drew Estate announced the shipment of a shop exclusive cigar known as the Liga Privada Unico Pork Beli. The cigar was made exclusively for Hyde Park Cigars, a string of Chicago area shops. In the announcement, Jonathon Drew, President and Founder of Drew Estate noted: “Hyde Park Cigars has been Read more about Cigar Review: Drew Estate Liga Privada Pork Beli – Rated 92[…]
Happy New Year! Today I offer the first review of 2019 here at Stogie Press. Back in late 2017, I reviewed the pre-release of the Providencia Cigars Trinitas and found it to be a very promising blend for this small, Texas based, boutique cigar company. Since that review, the company has been working to keep Read more about Cigar Review: Providencia Trinitas – Rated 95[…]
It has been an amazing year of cigars even with the FDA regulations bearing down on the industry, many of the boutique cigar companies have seemed to weathered the storm so far and released new blends or extended their current lines. This year we also started our new rating system in July, and though not Read more about 2018 Boutique Cigar of the Year[…]
I recently received a holiday package of cigars from my friend and great BOTL, Francisco Almonte, the owner of Dominican Big Leaguer (DBL) Cigars. That package had some of his latest introductions in it and as you may have read I reviewed the DBL 35th Anniversary this past week. One of the other blends in Read more about Cigar Review: DBL Cigars MAFU Cameroon – Rated 98[…]
This year at the IPCPR, Juan Cancel and Bill Ives doubled down in Vegas with their acclaimed Protocol Themis blend by extended the line with a Lancero vitola. Although lanceros are one of those sizes that can be hit or miss with consumers, the Protocol Themis lancero is the company’s third lancero offering. It follows Read more about Cigar Review: Protocol Themis Lancero – Rated 93[…]
The list is almost complete as we count down the remaining days before 2018 comes to close. Today we release the next 6 candidates for the Stogie Press top 25 Boutique Cigars of 2018. This takes us to 22 candidates. The last group will include 8 more for a total of 30 cigars and then Read more about 2018 Boutique Cigar of the Year Candidates 17-22[…]
At this years IPCPR, Dominican Big Leaguer (DBL) Cigars announced the introduction of a DBL 35th Anniversary cigar. This cigar is a tribute to Francisco Almonte who has spent 35 years in the tobacco industry. Imagine having worked with two of the most famous cigar makers, Mr. Carlos Fuente (A. Fuente Cigars) and Mr. Litto Read more about Cigar Review: DBL Cigars 35th Anniversary – Rated 94[…]
Eights days to go before we ring in 2019 and another year of cigars reviews, lounge visits, lifestyle, and news. Before we do that we first have to announce what we feel were the best boutique cigars smoked here at Stogie Press. Today I present the next 6 candidates for the Stogie Press Top 25 Read more about 2018 Boutique Cigar of the Year Candidates 11-16[…]
Back in June, Gran Habano Cigars announced they would be showcasing their latest creation – Blue in Green – at this years IPCPR. Throughout the week of the show, I visited the Gran Habano booth numerous times hoping to get a moment with George Rico to catch up on all things GH. Unfortunately our paths Read more about Cigar Review: Gran Habano Blue in Green Churchill – Rated 94[…]
Let me say here and now that I have been guilty of misconduct every now and then especially back in my younger days. As I matured, that crazy part of me toned down. As for many, I would think we were not all angels growing up, maybe some of you out there are and I Read more about Cigar Review: Protocol Official Misconduct – Rated 90[…]
Before I get into the review of the 2018 maduro rendition of the Caldwell Cigars Long live The King, please allow me a moment to say that Robert Caldwell may very well be a Mad MF. On the last day of the IPCPR this year, there was a little battle between Caldwell Cigars and Mombacho Read more about Cigar Review: Caldwell Long Live The King Mad MF Corona – Rated 93[…]
The Isabela Cigar Company has grown in a few short years since going national, to be known for their creative talent in blending and rolling cigars. They have actually been around since 1997 when Isabela Cigars owner Johnny Piette met Cuban Master Vicente Ortiz in Little Havana, FL. The two bonded instantly and over the Read more about Cigar Review: Isabela Cigars Shape Shifter – Rated 94[…]
Room 101 and Matt Booth were in full force at this years IPCPR. There were a number collaborations coming from Matt and Robert Caldwell but this year Matt released his first new blend since coming back into the cigar scene. Known as the Farce, the new blend is described as: Wrapper: Ecuadorian Binder: Indonesian Filler: Read more about Cigar Review: Room 101 Farce Lonsdale – Rated 91[…]
I recently did a spotlight on Mike Bellody, owner of MLB Cigar Ventures, introducing him to the Stogie Press audience. As you have read, I have known Mike since 2015 and have smoked and reviewed every cigar he has put on the market since then. Today I would like to present a review of his Read more about Cigar Review: David P. Ehrlich PLM Series – Rated 99[…]