New Cigars and a New Shop by Frank Seltzer
As we approach the holidays, things usually get quiet. But there is some news going on. There is new cigar out from Altadis USA, one not officially announced from Pepin Garcia’s My Father factory and Davidoff is renovating a bunch of their shops.
La Duena
In Spanish it means the owner, and in this case it is a special cigar made for Janny Garcia, daughter of Pepin, sister of Jaime from My Father Cigars in Nicaragua. Pete Johnson, whose Tatuaje cigars are made in the factory, worked on the blend with Janny to come up with a special line just for her. Pete has been developing the blend in secret for about a year and recently mentioned he was smoking one, as did Janny.
In talking to Janny before she headed to London for some events, the cigars will come out just before the IPCPR show this summer and most likely will be in 4 sizes…A Belcoso Fino, Petit Lancero, Petit Belicoso and a Robusto. Pete says the cigars are kind of a cross between the Jaime Garcia and his La Casita. The blend uses Connecticut Broadleaf for the wrapper and in the filler along with Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar will be a medium strength smoke, but sounds delicious.
Vega Mas Fina
Altadis USA has been making Vega Fina cigars at the huge Tabacalera de Garcia in La Romana, Dominican Republic. While the cigars have been big sellers in Spain (second only to Montecristo) they have not been known much in the U-S. They often get overlooked for more popular brands from Altadis like Montecristo or Romeo y Julieta.
However, the company is reinvigorating the Vega Fina line. This past summer it changed the packaging, making it look cleaner and just like the ones sold in Europe. The blend is Ecuadorian Connecticut over an Indonesian binder with Columbian, Dominican and Honduran fillers. It is a mild to medium smoke, at an affordable price, but now for the first time Altadis USA is introducing the Vega Fina Seijas 2011 Limited Edition.
Jose Seijas 2011 Limited Edition Vega Fina
In 2010, when I was at the factory, Jose Seijas gifted me a box of the Seijas 2010 limited edition series that went to Europe. They were sold in Spain and France and were quickly gone. This is a meatier smoke than the usual line and is very flavorful and I have been slowly smoking them since they were not available here. Now with the new 2011 series (a 6 x 56), which will be available in the U-S, I can smoke more. The 2011 series uses a San Andres Criollo wrapper over Dominican binders and fillers. They run about $6.50 each.
Swiss Store
Davidoff has been around for 100 years and to mark the anniversary, the company last week unveiled its first of its kind Davidoff Flagship Store in the Zurich Airport.
New Davidoff store Zurich Airport
The 600+ square foot lounge features a 300 square foot humidor.The new design also incorporated an iPad app that can help customers find the right cigar or the nearest cigar lounge. Davidoff not only makes its namesake but also the Avo line of cigars.
The company says it will roll out this design beginning next year at all the flagship Davidoff stores around the world. The company is making the push in the U-S, China and the Duty Free markets.
The lounge is meant to recreate the feeling of the Dominican Republic, which is where Davidoff cigars are made. Alas, like parts of the D.R. there appears to be no smoking in the airport shop. However, the airport itself does have 16 smoking lounges.
Good News
County councilmen in St. Charles, Missouri, last week rejected putting a smoking ban on the ballot. Hero council Chairman Joe Brazil said it was about protecting businesses choices as he fought to defeat the proposal. It is likely that the antis will try for a petition to eventually put the issue on the ballot. But for now a win for our side.
But remember the FDA is about to act on premium cigars…have you voiced your opinion? Please contact your Representatives and Senators now. It is easy…go to the Cigar Rights of America or the IPCPR website and do it today!
