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Weekly News (September 24, 2012)

Editor’s Note: Much of the discussion from the earlier portion of the week was dominated by Dr. Paul Garmirian and comments he made to The Daily Caller. And then came this retraction. Most interesting, “I should have never mentioned other manufacturers (even off the record).” Liga Privada UF-13 Scheduled for 2013 — Story here. Four Kicks [...]

Weekly News (September 3, 2012)

Editor’s Note: And so begins the news. Things that shipped this week: Viaje’s IPCPR releases, Jameson Santos de Miami Haven Parejo, Rocky Patel Freedom. Much-needed updates to the 2012 list coming shortly. Don Pepin Garcia 10th Anniversary — As was mentioned in our IPCPR 2012 coverage, both José Ortega of My Father and Pete Johnson [...]

IPCPR 2012: Crowned Heads

Perhaps it was the theme of IPCPR—old faces, new booth. There was Christian Eiroa and CLE, José Blanco and Joya de Nicaragua, Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa each in their own booths and even José Seijas with Litto Gomez. Also in that category were Jon Huber, Mike Conder, Michael Trebing and Nancy Heathman—formerly of CAO—who brought [...]

Weekly News (June 25, 2012)

Editor’s Note: After a few weeks of craziness, we seem to be catching up. There are a few technical changes being introduced to the site, if you have any issues, please contact us. Brooks posted the first new Icons of Cigars™ portrait on halfwheel, one of Steve Saka of Drew Estate. In addition we are [...]

News: Crowned Heads to Add Sixth Vitola to Four Kicks

Crowned Heads, the Nashville-based cigar company formed by four former CAO employees in early 2011, has announced its sixth size to its debut Four Kicks line, a 5 1/2 x 56 Robusto Extra. The news comes only a few months after the addition of the Four Kicks Selección No. 5 and means the company will [...]

Review: Four Kicks Selección No.5 (Prerelease)

In late 2011, the long-awaited and much-anticipated Four Kicks debuted from Crowned Heads, the Nashville-based company formed by Mike Conder, Nancy Heathman, Jon Huber and Michael Trebing, all former CAO employees. Four Kicks would be their first line, made by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr., and originally debuted in four sizes. Huber told Brooks back in November: It [...]

Weekly News (February 20, 2012)

Editor’s Note: This is the week of ProCigar 2012, and as such, much of the news will likely be about the Dominican Republic. Quesada will formally open their new factory (and perhaps give it a new name) and announce the next size of Q d’etat. It sounds like things will be quiet at La Aurora [...]

The Consensus: 2011 Awards

For the 2010 rendition of this concept, click here to see Brian Hewitt’s work. Before anyone starts, I started this long before Bill Berris posted his rendition of this a few days at Cigar Snapshot. (Bill’s serves as a interesting sample of this, although there are noticeable differences beyond population size.) The concept was simple, [...]

Editorial: Ten Questions for 2012

Last year, I published an article entitled Ten Questions for 2011. The concept was simple, what were a few of the topics to watch for in the upcoming year. With the notable exception of E.P. Carrillo’s crazy year, I’d like to think that we covered most of the major topics of 2011. With another year [...]

Review: Four Kicks Corona Gorda (Prerelease)

For those of you that don’t know… In November of 2010, C.A.O. Director of Lifestyle Marketing Jon Huber decided to leave the company after Scandinavian Tobacco (which had acquired C.A.O. in January 2007) moved C.A.O.’s operations from Nashville to Richmond, Virginia, where General Cigar Co., is based. Soon after that, it was announced that Huber, [...]