3rd Annual Pork ‘n Puff Announcement

From my friends at Empire Cigars:

Please be our guest…The 2011 Pork n Puff is set!!! Saturday September 10^th we will be hosting Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars for our yearly pig blowout. There is no greater celebrity in the cigar industry than Pete and we are extremely lucky to have him. This year we will be roasting 2 pigs since we are expecting a very large crowd. Both Walt and Rich will be crafting beer for the occasion, so get ready to party.

Sincerely,

Hal Rubin

More information will be out soon and I will update this as we learn of the time.

As is the tradition at the Pork n Puff, all box purchases will earn you a ticket into the drawing for a 42″ flat screen TV, an IPad 2 and my 2000 Millennium Opus X Humidor ($5,000 value). Pete is sure to bring lots of cool swag as well as some great smokes you can only get at his events.

Join us afterwards! – Following the Pork n Puff pig roasting, we will be having an after party with our new friend and partner at Amra’s downtown. For those of you who haven’t been there, you’re in for a treat. Dave Mellin is a great guy and really knows how to host a party.

Lots more details will follow (time, deals, etc) but I wanted to give you lots of advance notice so you can save the date.

Save the Date
September 10, 2011
Time – Noon – 5pm

After Party at Amras

5-Until

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Avo 85th Anniversary!

DAVIDOFF OF GENEVA DISTRIBUTION INTRODUCES

AVO “85^th” Anniversary Edition Cigar 2011

Pinellas Park, FL, March 14, 2011 – Cigar luminary Avo Uvezian is celebrating his 85^th birthday with the release of his Limited Edition Anniversary Cigar, the “85^th”. The “85^th” marks the tenth annual limited edition release from AVO Cigars, a tradition the legendary cigar composer started to commemorate since his 75^th birthday.

The “85^th Anniversary” presents itself in a majestic and charming cigar format – a noble “Diademas” – and is limited to 100,000 cigars worldwide with 60,000 cigars for the US market.

The sophisticated black, silky-matte-lacquered box with the impressive golden print of the “Avo 85^th Anniversary” logo underlines the gracefulness and the non-interchangeable note and denomination of this cigar.

 

The well-balanced combination of the San Vicente and Piloto tobaccos enfolded by a Peruvian binder and perfected with a special Sun grown Dominican wrapper as well as the gorgeous Diademas format make it an outstanding cigar. The “Avo 85^th Anniversary” is of medium strength, offers complex aromas and is an extraordinary smoking experience. A cigar no aficionado should miss!!

The AVO 85^th Anniversary will be launched on March 21^st, at Select Merchants only, with a retail price of $17.50 – taxes not included.

To launch the AVO 85^th Anniversary Cigar, a series of unforgettable intimate evenings will be held where guests will enjoy fine food and wine as well as having the opportunity to be among the first to sample and purchase the AVO 85^th Anniversary Edition cigar.

Seating at each dinner is very limited, and the AVO Select Merchants expect to sell out within days of the event announcement.

 

 

I for one cannot wait for this to come out!

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The Results are in! The Zennie goes to…

This was a really hard one this year.  I was torn between several new lines.  The EP Carillo was the triumphic return of Ernesto Perez-Carillo.  The Avo Heritage was a strikingly bold and flavorful offering from the typically more mild Avo Uvezian.  But the new cigar that really sold itself offered several different sizes which all tasted different and featured my favorite wrapper (Ecuadorian Habano)…

 

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2010 Zen Cigar of the Year

Yeah it’s a bit late, but I’ve done a lot of pondering as to who is worthy of  a “Zennie”.  Remember a candidate for Cigar of the Year must have been newly created for 2010; for example, Arturo Fuente Hemingway would not be eligible.  The official list is located here.  So without further ado, here are the nominees in random order:

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Follow Zen on Twitter!

In a move I promised would never happen, I have opened a Twitter account – @zencigar.

But this is an account for you, my loyal Zen fan(s).  I will post a mini-review of every cigar I smoke (hopefully).  This could just add a little more Zen to your day!

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Playboy: The Book of Cigars (New Edition)

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of Playboy: The Book of Cigars – the new edition.  This edition was updated featuring brand new pictures and text.  The pictures are some of the best I’ve seen.  It’s written by Aaron Sigmund and Nick Kolakowski (Smoke Magazine).

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Floods Devestates Honduras

I received this e-mail from our friends from Gran Habano Cigars.  Please help if you can (especially if you are in the Florida area)!

Floods Devastate Honduras

Miami, Fl., August 20, 2010 – Severe thunderstorms have devastated Honduras causing major flooding and landslides. The Gran Habano factory has sustained damage by the floods but we anticipate that we can recover without any loss to production or distribution. However, the families in the surrounding area and our own families were not so fortunate. Reports of the damages are still coming in but have indicated that 7 major bridges have been damaged, road infrastructure is ruined and hundreds of homes have been washed away or have become inhabitable. In all there are 15 neighborhoods and districts that are in need of major support.

The people in the affected communities are currently being relocated to shelters around the country with little more than the clothes on their back. It is unknown when the communities will be able to rebuild as heavy rains are expected to continue in the upcoming months.

We are doing everything in our power to aid not only our Gran Habano families but the State as a whole. As a single company we will be limited to the number of families that will receive assistance – however as a cigar community we will have the opportunity to provide major relief to a greater number of people.

George Rico will be collecting toiletries, clothing and any other donations the good-natured people of the cigar community are able to provide. We will be accepting dropped off aid items at our Miami office or you can ship them directly to Gran Habano. All collected items will be personally flown to Honduras and distributed directly to those most in need.

Shipping Address:
Gran Habano Cigars
C/O George Rico
3261 NW 82nd Avenue
Doral, FL 33122

Contact Information:
888.958.7002
http://GHCigars.com

About Gran Habano Cigars
Gran Habano Cigars is a family run operation that was founded in 1995 by Guillermo Rico and his son George Rico.

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El Picador is here!

Just letting everyone know, the El Picador, Don Pepin’s version of the Cheroot is available at Empire Cigars.

This cigar is smooth and spicy.  If you are a fan of the My Father line of cigars, this is a must try!  Hal & Co. at Empire will ship!

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Throwback is In! – Nestor Miranda 1989

From Miami Cigars:

The Nestor Miranda Collection Introduces 1989

Miami, FL…29 Apr…Honouring Miami Cigar & Company’s founding in 1989, the Nestor Miranda Collection presents, 1989.

A beautifully blended combination of Nicaraguan tobaccos, the cigar was blended and is being manufactured by My Father Cigar Corp. It was inspired by Nestor Miranda who described to Pepin Garcia the particular flavour and body he was looking for “…that can be sold at a very reasonable price point, in deference to the prevailing economic conditions.” The cigars will sell for $5.00.

“While we do not have any cigars in the Nestor Miranda Collection that are expensive, we wanted to offer an excellent smoke at a very reasonable price point. It has become obvious that smokers, like everyone else, these days, are seeking to restrain their spending,” Rene J. Castaneda, Miami Cigar & Company Vice President said. With the continued success of the Special Selection; the recent introduction of the Dominicano and now the 1989 more or less completes the Nestor Miranda Collection. With a cigar for every smoker’s preference and pocketbook.

A satisfying blend of rich, aromatic and flavour filled Nicaraguan tobaccos, from Estelí and Jalapa, the Nestor Miranda Collection 1989 comes in three (3) sizes:

Robusto 5 x 50

Toro 6 x 50

Torpedo 6-1/8 x 52

The Nestor Miranda Collection 1989, like all other cigars in the Collection is made with two distinct wrappers. A Rosado, for those preferring a medium bodied smoke, and Oscuro to satisfy the taste of those seeking a medium to full bodied cigar.

The 1989 will make its appearance in tobacco shops starting 1 May.

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Nosotros Worldwide Release Party Wrap-Up

So last Friday, the folks at Empire Cigars in Raleigh, NC had a very special event.  This was the worldwide release of the Nosotros cigar by Dion Giolito made in collaboration with Jonathan Drew and Drew Estate.

Dion and Jonathan were supposed to be there, but Jonathan ended up at another shop for a similar event (?).  This was  ok, because I was very interested in picking the brain of one of the cigar industry’s biggest up-and-comers, Dion Giolito.  This guy is known for his palate and cigar flavor memory, and like me is a true cigar geek.

I walk in a little before 4 and Dion is already there chatting with Hal Rubin, the owner of Empire Cigars.  I introduce myself and shake hands say a quick hello to some of my buddies before checking out the sticks.  Four sizes were available that night – the Corona Larga, Robusto, Corona and Churchill.  Dion told me the Toros and the 660s will be in by the end of the month.

I’m in line waiting to get a box (the Corona Largas) and Dion is standing near/above (he’s like 9 feet tall), so I start talking to him.  He asks which size I picked, I show him the CLs, and he tells me that they are 60 days from the table and suggested I try one or two now and put the rest away for at least a month.  You gotta love a guy that up front and open about his product.

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