Earlier in June, we broke the news that Jeffrey Amendola and his Amendola Family Cigars company was parting ways with Tabacalera G. Kafie y Cia and moving manufacturing to Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. The first product planned to be released from this new collaboration was going to be called the Cannoli, which Jeffrey Read more about Cigar Review: Amendola Family Cigars Cannoli – Rated 94[…]
Durham, NC based Amendola Family Cigar Company has made the decision to move manufacturing operations away from Tabacalera G. Kafie y Cia to Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua and possibly also Aganorsa Leaf. Amendola has been with Tabacalera G. Kafie y Cia since July of 2018. Jeffrey Amendola, founder and president, Amendola Read more about Cigar News: Amendola Family Cigars Moves to New Factories[…]
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to visit Pensacola, Florida. The city is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, just 13 miles from the border with Alabama. It is the home to Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) which was the first Naval Air Station commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1914. The city can boast being Read more about Cigar Lounge: Cordova Cigars – Pensacola Florida[…]
Cubariqueño Cigar Co. has announced the release of the Protocol Official Misconduct Corona Gorda as a new size & regular production release for the 2019 IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas. The Official Misconduct will continue to be produced at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona Factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. This second size in the line – Read more about Cigar News: Cubariqueño Cigar Co. announces the Protocol Official Misconduct Corona Gorda[…]
“I was just overwhelmed with how well it was received and how the people raved about it. I couldn’t wait for the IPCPR, I had to get it out to our retailers as soon as I could.” Erik Espinosa Erik was talking about the new Espinosa Cigars Laranja Reserva Escuro that was released to retailers Read more about Cigar Review: Espinosa Laranja Reserva Escuro – Rated 93[…]
Cigar Dojo and Cubariqueño Cigar Company are at again as they have joined forces to collaborate on a yet another cigar blend. Known as the Protocol Night Stick it will be a swift and just assault on the palates of die-hard cigar enthusiasts. In a press release today, the two companies stated: Following in the Read more about Cigar News: Cigar Dojo, Cubariqueño Cigar Company, and La Zona Introduce the Protocol Night Stick[…]
After recently departing General Cigar Co., Jack Toraño has been picked up by Espinosa Premium Cigars as the new Director of Sales. Toraño has been with General Cigar Co. since mid 2016, when he was brought on as the Toraño brand ambassador, for the line of the same name they acquired back in 2014. We Read more about Cigar News: Jack Toraño Joins Espinosa Premium Cigars as Director of Sales[…]
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[…]
Today I would like to give my input on the Espinosa Laranja Reserva cigar. This is one of the memorable cigars that is a master work of the Espinosa La Zona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. By now, many of you have probably tried this unique and pleasurable smoke but I felt the need to present Read more about Espinosa Laranja Reserva Cigar Review[…]
There has been a lot of buzz these past couple of months about the return of the Espinosa Wasabi cigar. Originally debuting in 2016 as part of the Espinosa Back Room series, the Wasabi was a very limited production cigar. Now once again, Erik must have been out for sushi again and decided it was Read more about Espinosa Wasabi Cigar Review by Boston Jimmie and Zac Riley[…]
Last year at the annual La Zona Palooza event in Miami, I received one of Arielle Ditkowich’s La Sirena Porthole cigars. This particular cigar line was released back in 2015 and was based on a challenge to Ms. Ditkowich to create a cigar for the value minded consumer. The result of that fan challenge was the creation Read more about La Sirena Porthole Oscuro Cigar Review – Worthy Value[…]
The Espinosa 601 line of cigars is as old as the company itself and has quite the storied history over time. Originally produced by Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa, with the master craft of Don Pepin Garcia , the 601 line of cigars was the first box press produced by Pepin. Later as the Espinosa/Ortega team Read more about Espinosa 601 Maduro Cigar Review – Forever Classic[…]
I have been saying all year how much A.J. Fernandez has been influential to the cigar industry this year with the many collaborations he has forged with big box brands and small boutique cigar companies alike. Today I would like to talk about another one of these fine collaborations, the 2017 Espinosa Murcielago. The cigar Read more about 2017 Espinosa Murcielago Cigar Review – The Bat Flies High![…]
December 21, 2017 Veritas Cigars announced today they have parted ways with Black Works Studio, the boutique cigar factory owned by James Brown from Black Label Trading Co. Veritas has been using the services of Black Works Studios since early 2017. Veritas Cigars is in the process of opening their own factory – Tabaclera Neuvo Nica Read more about Veritas Cigars to open Tabacalera Neuvo Nica in Esteli Nicaragua[…]