Studio Tobac Hits the Road with 2012 Tour Cigar Sampler

(Cigar Aficionado) Studio Tobac is on the road again, and it’s bringing a rare, limited-edition sampler of prototype cigars on its list of stops all around the world.
The fifth annual Studio Tobac World Tour 2012 began last week with a kick-off event in Tampa, Florida. Studio Tobac is a 2007 creation of the Oliva Cigar Co. that produces the NUb and Cain brands and has previously partnered with cigarmaker Ernesto Padilla. From now until November they’ll visit 80 retailers nationwide as part of the tour. Continued

Tobacco: The intriguing story of Bermuda and Virginia

(Bermuda Royal Gazette) ... Could it be that the Spanish or Portuguese, well acquainted with tobacco since 1492, planted tobacco in Bermuda and probably the better quality Caribbean variety? Raleigh’s Indian tobacco was of inferior quality compared to the Caribbean variety. Tobacco does not cross oceans easily and grow naturally or wild, yet two patches of tobacco were found in Bermuda: In 1603, tobacco was found by the shipwrecked Captain Ramirez at Spanish Point and it is arguable that Sir George Somers found or grew a patch of tobacco at Tobacco Bay, St George’s in 1609. Could it be that Sir George Somers and John Rolfe (both on the Sea Venture which was wrecked in Bermuda on its way to Jamestown in July 1609) took the Bermuda Tobacco seed to Virginia from Bermuda on the two ships they built, the Deliverance and Patience, in May 1610? Continued

Photo: George Somers

Toque - SP Extra Snuff Tobacco Review

Thoughts on the Outlaw Pleasures of Cigars and Fragrant Blue Fumes

(Forbes) ... "A pipe for the hour of work; a cigarette for the hour of conception; a cigar for the hour of vacuity.”
Continued

CAO Last Stick Standing Promo Gives Fans a Chance to Choose New Cigar Blend

(smokemag.com) Look for the CAO Last Stick Standing display in local cigar shops: a free three-pack tin of unreleased test blends is available with the purchase of any six CAO cigars. Cigar fans can vote rate each blend online, vote for their favorite, and register for a chance to win a box of the winning blend when it's ultimately released. Continued

James Taylor - 'Tube Rose Snuff' Song

New Book: Scandinavian Pipemakers by Jan Andersson

(Pips Magazine) Pipe smoking is a big deal in Denmark. The Danes have the highest per capita population of pipe smokers in the world. So it seems fitting that the Scandinavian region would also produce some of the most famous pipe makers in the world. If you really want to be knowledgeable about the past, present and future of pipes, then you must be informed about the 50+ pipe makers from Denmark, Sweden & Norway. There are not many books published for the pipe enthusiast. Of the small amount, in and out of print, just a few have chapters on Scandinavian pipe makers. Now we have a brand new, complete book about them. Continued

Hailstorm Savages Padrón Cigar Tobacco Field

(Cigar Aficionado) A hailstorm in Nicaragua turned a crop of tobacco destined to become Padrón cigars into a tattered mess.
The storm struck Saturday in Jalapa, Nicaragua. The field of tobacco was supposed to become wrappers on Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series and other cigars. But the hailstorm peppered the plants with holes, rendering them useless for wrapper. Continued

Tobacco firms agree to discuss farm workers' rights

(Winston-Salem Journal) A long-sought meeting of the minds on tobacco farm worker conditions has been agreed to by advocacy groups and several large tobacco manufacturers, including Reynolds American Inc.
The Farm Labor Organizing Committee said Wednesday that a council is being formed that includes tobacco growers in North Carolina, the state Labor Department and agricultural scientists.
According to the N.C. Growers Association, FLOC represents about 2,000 farm workers in North Carolina. The multiparty approach was also promoted by Oxfam America in its recent report on the stark conditions facing some workers on N.C. tobacco farms. Continued

How To Tell If Your Cojiba Is From Cuba And Other Cigar Picking Wisdom

(Business Insider) Last night, Clusterstock headed to the newly renovated Merchants Cigar bar to see if it was as good as rumored (It was, but that's in another post).
Being the industrious journalists we are, we learned a little something about cigars from manager Steve Rudemyer while we were there.
Here are the bullets: Continued

Counterfeit COHIBA Cigars Seized in Miami Announces General Cigar Company

(BUSINESS WIRE) General Cigar announces that a team of special agents from the Miami Office of the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco conducted raids yesterday resulting in the seizure of over 10,000 counterfeit COHIBA(R) cigars with an estimated retail value of more than $200,000.
The counterfeit cigar seizures followed an investigation conducted by law enforcement, in cooperation with General Cigar, which is the exclusive owner of the COHIBA trademark in the U.S. Continued

Cornell & Diehl Home From The Hills Tobacco Review

(Cake & Dottle) This blend answers a question you may have had when smoking any American blend: "What if this had more Latakia? What would an American blend be like if it was big and full like a meaty Lat blend?". Continued

Cuban Quintero Brand Gets New Size

(Cigar Aficionado) The handmade, short filler Cuban brand Quintero now has a thick new size: Favoritos. The heftiest cigar in the brand’s line-up, Favoritos is Quintero’s fifth size and measures 4 1/2 inches long by 50 ring, a unique vitola referred to as Concha No. 2 in Cuban factories.
According to the official press release from Cuban cigar distributor Habanos S.A., the Favoritos is made with tobacco cultivated from the Vuelta Abajo and Semi Vuelta zones of Cuba’s Pinar del Río growing region. Continued

Lectures to address tobacco's importance

(Richmond Times-Dispatch) Jamestown Settlement will present "Virginia Economy in the 17th Century," a two-part evening lecture series, on Saturday and May 19 in conjunction with the 400th anniversary of the cultivation of tobacco as a cash crop in Virginia.
The lectures are free and open to the public.
On Saturday, Marcy Norton, associate professor of history at George Washington University, will present "How Tobacco Became a Commodity." Continued

The £145,000 cigar set 'infected by weevils': Row involving firm whose customers included Winston Churchill

(Daily Mail) The world’s oldest cigar merchant, whose customers have included royalty and Sir Winston Churchill, is embroiled in an embarrassing row involving weevils.
Nightclub owner Robin Birley paid £145,000 for a collection of vintage cigars, but claims they were infected by the little beetles.
Mr Birley ordered the cigars from 220-year-old firm Fox of St James’s for his elite new London club, which boasts a cigar shop and a plush terrace where members can puff on their Havanas. Continued

81-year old cashes in on late husband's tobacco crop

BLACK JACK, N.C. (WNCT)- An 81-year-old woman in the east is finally getting paid for work her late husband did more than 40 years ago.

Casa Magna Domus Magnus Cigar Gets New Sizes

(Cigar Aficionado) Three sizes of S.A.G.’s Casa Magna Domus Magnus have been added to the limited-edition brand. A collaboration between Manuel Quesada of Matasa and Nestor Plasencia, Domus Magnus was released last year as a follow-up to the core Casa Magna line and came in two box-pressed sizes, Optimus and Prime.
“After we finished making the 5,000 boxes of Optimus and Prime we still had very high demand,” said Terence Reilly of Matasa/S.A.G. “We had enough tobacco to make an additional 30,000 cigars so we made 1,000 boxes of three different sizes.” Continued

Cigar store Indian tops Showtime auction at $94,400

(Auction Central News) A rare cigar store Indian figure, beautifully carved in the 1880s by the renowned artisan Samuel Robb, sold for $94,400 at a three-day auction event held March 30-April 1 by Showtime Auction Services.
 ... The 5-foot-tall Indian chief figure had much of its original paint still intact and was in overall excellent condition. Continued

Historic Cigar Factory Clears Another Hurdle

(The Ledger) Bartow's historic cigar factory cleared another hurdle toward restoration this week when the City Commission approved it for a brownfield designation.

The site at 235 N. Third Ave. qualifies as a result of environmental contamination inside the vacant factory by animals and pigeons, making it eligible for funding to mitigate that contamination.

Now that the city has approved the designation, city administrators can begin working with engineers and the state Department of Environmental Protection to draft a plan for cleaning up the two-acre site. Continued

Room 101 Releasing New Cigar Line

(Cigar Aficionado) Room 101 has another new release hitting shelves, but unlike its most recent offerings, this one is here to stay.
Room 101 San Andrés, which is on sale in some locations now, is the third core line for the brand, which is produced by Camacho and part of the Davidoff group of companies. Room 101 is headed by L.A. jeweler turned cigarmaker Matt Booth, and it has made a name for itself with successful limited-edition releases. (One size from the most recent release, OSOK, scored 93 points in the March 20 of Cigar Insider). But San Andrés will be a core line and is meant to be affordably priced in comparison with the more expensive limited releases. Continued

Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired - Hot Pressed Tobacco

(Pips Magazine) ... Per Georg Jensen, Mac Baren Product Manager (and all-around Mac Baren Evangelist), tells Pipes Magazine; "’English Tobaccos’ are typically thought of as tobacco blends that contain Latakia. This is not always correct. To us, English Tobaccos are those made using the old-style English production methods. The new HH Old Dark Fired does not contain Latakia, but we consider it an English blend as it is made using the steam press. The tobaccos marry faster and in a completely different way than what we normally produce. In short, they alter the taste. This blend is a heavy/strong tobacco with a lot of vitamin N. The smoking ability is a smooth, round taste without any bite. You can taste the smoke notes from the dark fired Kentucky. This tobacco should satisfy the smokers of heavy English flakes … you really feel the smoke. Old Dark Fired is the first chapter of the new English legacy…" Continued

A bit about Charleston-inspired London Cut bourbon-aged cigars

(The Digitel) Cigar Row is leading an elegant revolution in the cigar industry. Known for producing the highest quality hand-rolled cigars and cigar gift sets, Cigar Row recently unveiled its first ever, exclusive London Cut bourbon-aged robusto cigar. Continued

New Camacho Corojo and Connecticut Cigar 4-packs

(Camacho) Camacho, the world’s best-known producer of bold Honduran smokes, has announced the release of new 4-pack assortments for its popular Corojo and Connecticut lines. Camacho Corojo, released in 2000, is the highest rated product in the Camacho portfolio and has been in Cigar Aficionado’s “Top 25” both in 2010 and 2011. Comprised of 100% Authentic Corojo tobaccos, the Corojo is Camacho’s crown jewel and has been a staple amongst full-body cigar lovers for more than a decade.
Since it’s introduction in mid-2009, the Camacho Connecticut has become one of the most attractive lines for the brand. Adorned in a silky and luxurious Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, this milder-mannered offering was built with the milder smoker in mind, while maintaining the signature body that Camacho is known for. The result was a medium bodied smoke to be appreciated by both novice and seasoned smokers alike.

“Next time you walk into a cigar store there will be no doubt as to where you can find our Camacho Corojo and Connecticut products. The presentation of these new packs is stunning and one that cannot be overlooked in a humidor,” said Dylan Austin, head of marketing for the Camacho brand.

The new Camacho Corojo and Connecticut 4-packs will begin shipping to fine cigar retailers nationwide on Friday, April 27^th.

Republic Tobacco Introduces Tin Star Pipe Tobacco

(CSP) Republic Tobacco is pleased to introduce Tin Star™ Pipe Tobacco. Available in Regular, Menthol and Gold medium and large bags, the new blend is a flavorful combination of premium tobaccos with a smooth, mellow taste. With Tin Star, retailers can satisfy the demand for a great pipe tobacco at the lowest price. Continued

Farmers plan to produce more tobacco in Pittsylvania County

(WSLS) Pittsylvania County [Virginia] tobacco farmers plan to plant more tobacco this year as the contracting amount seems to be up, according to reports to the local extension agent.
The acres of planted tobacco in Pittsylvania County will increase this year as some firms plan to buy more tobacco from the region, said Stephen Barts, Pittsylvania County Extension Agent.
“Everybody in the growing community is excited about the possibility of an increased volume and being able to produce a little more tobacco, sell a little more tobacco,” said Barts, who also grows tobacco.
Some growers are reporting contracts with a 10 to 15 percent higher volume, he added. United Tobacco Co. of Wilson, N.C., will also buy tobacco in Danville this year. Continued

Newminster Pipe Tobacco Debuts from Villiger

(Pips Magazine) Last month, Pipes Magazine broke the news of the change in distribution of the Peter Stokkebye Pipe Tobacco line. Now, we have breaking news on how Villiger-Stokkebye, (now Villiger Cigars North America) will fill the void in their pipe tobacco offerings. Villiger, today announced the introduction of the Newminster line of bulk pipe tobaccos. You often hear of new pipe tobacco blends as individual additions being added to existing product portfolios, but this is the first large-scale entire new range of boutique pipe tobaccos introduced in years.
In the works for 9-months, the Newminster blends were developed jointly between Villiger and The Mac Baren Tobacco Company. They will be produced at the Mac Baren factory, with U.S. retailers being serviced via Villiger’s North American operations in Charlotte, North Carolina. The current Villiger 1888 blends will remain available, and will continue to be produced at the STG (formerly Orlik) factory.
Newminster is shipping now, and should start arriving in stores next week. We will have reviews published on Pipes Magazine in the coming month.
There are several Cavendish, Aromatics, and English blends in the offering. A few of the new blends include; Continued

Regional Edition Bolivar Cigars Arrive in United Kingdom

(Cigar Aficionado) The Bolivar Britanicas, one of the United Kingdom’s Regional Edition Cuban cigars for 2011, has finally arrived on British shores, quite later than originally intended.
The Casa del Habano in Teddington, Britain’s sole Casa del Habano, said the cigars arrived there yesterday. They will hit Britain’s other cigar shops very soon. Continued

Evaluating Vintage Cigar Boxes

(Cigar History Museum) ... When coming upon a closed cigar box, the first thing I notice is how clean it is. I look for evidence of paint, grease or water damage ... scribbling ... Magic Marker. If any substantial amount ... the size of a playing card or more ... I’m unlikely to be interested. But I do continue.
Life is filled with surprises.
If the box is clean enough, as it gets picked up, I am answering the following questions: Continued

Buoy Tobacco

(CSN) Rouseco Inc.'s new line of Buoy pipe tobacco is hitting store shelves now. Buoy is available in five blends: Full Flavor, Natural, Mint, Mild and Silver. The Buoy line is a robust, flavorful addition to Rouseco's Golden Harvest pipe tobacco, the company said. It is available in six-ounce and 16-ounce bags; other sizes are available upon request. There are 24 bags to a case. All Rouseco's blends are true "All American" blend of premium tobaccos that are manufactured daily. Link

Romeo Cigars by Romeo y Julieta

(Cigar Aficionado) Romeo y Julieta, the largest premium cigar brand made by Altadis U.S.A. Inc., now has a fuller bodied and eye-grabbing new incarnation.
Romeo by Romeo y Julieta will begin shipping early next month, and the cigar has a bold new look and completely new taste. Continued

R.J. Reynolds Expands Camel Snus Tobacco Line

(CSN) R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (RJRT) is expanding its Camel Snus line by bringing its latest product, Camel Snus Mint, to more retail outlets.
Up to now, Camel Snus Mint has been available only in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since the first quarter of 2011. Starting April 2, the smokeless tobacco product is available in select retail outlets across 27 states, according to Richard J. Smith, spokesperson for Reynolds American Inc., parent company of RJRT.
Those states are Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Mississippi, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and New York. Continued

Also: Swedish Match Enters Seven New U.S. Markets

McClelland - Virginia and Perique Flake Tobacco Review

(Mr. Tobacco) One hell of a cracking tobacco, its strong by the end. Head swimmingly strong, love the flavours even the vinegar start.

My Father Shipping New Flor de las Antillas Cigars

(Cigar Aficionado) My Father Cigars is paying tribute to the Cuban heritage of cigars with their new Flor de las Antillas line. Each part of the project, from the seed to the vintage artwork, is a tip of the hat to Cuba, the largest of the Greater Antilles islands.
“The name was chosen to honor Cuba, which has always been referred to as the flower of the Antilles,” said vice president of sales José Ortega.
The box-pressed Flor de las Antillas (the Spanish spelling) is a Nicaraguan puro with a sun-grown wrapper leaf. My Father Cigars says the cigar is blended with several Cuban-seed tobaccos. Continued

Garcia y Vega 1882 Rolled Leaf Cigar debuts

(PRNewswire) Garcia y Vega today announced the newest contender in Mass Market Rolled Leaf cigars, Garcia y Vega 1882. Garcia y Vega 1882 will be available in test markets in the state of Florida and in the metro Philadelphia area beginning today. Rolled leaf, also known as "rough cut" refers to the natural leaf cigars that are made only with a leaf and filler. Continued