Dion Giolito has always been an enigma to me. Physically large (quite tall), seemingly socially aloof—something he seems to wear with honor—and immensely talented when it comes to anything having to do with tobacco. While I was in Nicaragua earlier in the year, I found out that Giolito was in Estelí and on a lark, [...]

May 24, 2013 (Tamarac, Fla.) — The East India Trading Company is proud to announce the upcoming cigar launch of ‘Rogue’. This much-anticipated brand will hit cigar stores nationwide this summer and be distributed by the Gurkha Cigar Group, Inc. The mischievous Rogue is the third cigar release under the East India Trading Company and [...]

Eddie Ortega appeared on CigarChat Thursday evening, and during his time confirmed that he is reserving a fairly significant number of Wild Bunch cigars to create an end-of-year sampler that will feature one of each of the twelve cigars. He estimated the number to be about 700 cigars. Ortega also mentioned that he will not [...]

Rocky Patel began shipping its 2013 version of the Decade Edición Limitada. The cigar features a five-year-old Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. It’s the fourth release since the company debuted the cigar in 2010. Once again, the cigar will be produced in three vitolas: Robusto (5 1/2 x 52), Toro (6 x [...]

Camacho is rebranding itself. The Honduran brand is hosting a series of events, beginning in the Dallas market, to introduce consumers to the new Camacho. Everything has been repackaged, price points have been lowered and at least four blends have already changed. The company’s popular Corojo and Diploma lines have been tweaked to taste more [...]

George Rico of Gran Habano has announced one of his new projects that will be formally unveiled at the 2013 IPCPR Convention and Trade Show: the George Rico STK Miami American Puro. On Thursday, he shared some details with halfwheel about it, and posted a picture of the new cigar to his Facebook page:   The [...]

May 23. 2013 (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) — Rolando Reyes Jr. has responded to the public’s demand for Cameroon blends with the introduction of his latest flavorful creation, the White Mutineer. This is the first foray into producing a Cameroon line for the cigar smoking by public by Reyes or his father, the late Rolando Reyes Senior. A medium to full [...]

May 23, 2013 — Dignidad Del Hombre (Dignity of Man) is the latest creation by Don’Juan to add to his strong line-up of Costa Rican cigars. The new Dignidad del Hombre is a maduro with double ligero combined with unique binders all grown in Costa Rica. Dignity wanted to add a cigar with more strength and [...]

May 22, 2013 (Basel, Switzerland) — Davidoff tobacco masters have created these very special Limited Edition “Club House” Toro Cigars with moments of shared pleasure in mind. The connoisseur’s choice, wherever he or she is relaxing, particularly enjoying the fairways on a golf course. Creation of the Davidoff Masters Edition 2013 “Club House” ToroFor this [...]

Today we’re looking at what has now become a yearly holiday release for Viaje – the White Label Project St. Patrick’s Day Candela. First released in 2011, Viaje rolled this bright green Candela wrapped cigar calling it a test blend and placing it under the experimental Viaje line, the White Label Project. Though it was [...]

Good Karma Cigar in Amarillo, Texas has confirmed that they are working on an updated version of their Donkey Dropping cigar and hope to have it in store by mid-July. Todd Dailey told halfwheel that the cigar is being made at Esteban Carreras’ factory in Estelí, Nicaragua and will be available in four sizes: Corona, [...]

New Jersey State Senator Richard Codey (D-Essex County) is leading an effort in the state’s legislature to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco from 19 to 21. The move comes fresh on the heels of New York City City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council members announcing that they will be proposing legislation to raise [...]