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News: Wayne Suarez Leaves Arturo Fuente

After 20 years at Arturo Fuente, Wayne Suarez is no longer part of Arturo Fuente. Effective August 1st, Suarez is no longer with the company, ending his role as president of the Tampa-based cigar maker. Suarez was largely seen as the man behind-the-scenes for the brand and particularly tied to the company’s famed Fuente Fuente [...]

IPCPR 2012: EloGio

Easily one of the smallest brands, particularly amongst those that claim both factories and tobacco production—EloGio was back at IPCPR with one new size. Production is still right around 50,000 cigars annually with accounts under 30, yet the buzz around the brand remains widespread.   ExcentrícoIt’s a 7 x 54 Torpedo with a gigantic cap [...]

IPCPR 2012: Ashton

The Ashton booth was at its normal pace—which is saying something given the overall traffic at the show. On display was a new La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor, a new size for Ashton cabinet, a few extensions that shipped before and the newly rebranded Bovedá packaging. La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva Oscuro [...]

IPCPR 2012: E.P. Carrillo

At one point E.P. Carrillo was expected to not formally debut anything at IPCPR—that changed with the release of the INCH. As always, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. hinted at a few tricks up his sleeves, but he reiterated it’s about time and tobacco. New Booth E.P. Carrillo brought a really nice booth to the show and [...]

IPCPR 2012: Arturo Fuente & J.C. Newman

It’s Fuente’s 100 year anniversary, and it was widely expected to be a year where the company brought nothing new to the IPCPR — something we mentioned was likely not the case a few days ago. As for J.C. Newman, the company released its long-announced Perla del Mar and a Maduro version of the Brick House [...]

Press Release: Zino Platinum Releases Zino Platinum Ten Collector’s Edition Toro and Salomones in Celebration of Tenth Anniversary

In commemoration of the tenth anniversary, Zino Platinum has unveiled two limited editions, both accented by a brand new blue and black band and unique packaging. The ZP Ten New York Collector’s Edition, a toro especial, weighs in at 5 ½” x 60. Featuring a Nicaraguan Rosada wrapper, Dominican Criollo binder and Dominican and Peruvian filler tobaccos, the Toro [...]

IPCPR 2012: Villiger

Earlier this year Erik Stokkebye left Villiger-Stokkebye and Roy MacLaren was named the president of the company. Since then MacLaren has been working on two lines from Plasencia Cigars S.A.—both bearing the Villiger name. Both were on display at IPCPR with a debut set for August 9. Villiger ColoradoOffered in four sizes (Robusto, Double Robusto, [...]

IPCPR 2012: Drew Estate & Joya de Nicaragua

The focus of Drew Estate’s IPCPR is Joya de Nicaragua’s Cuenca y Blanco. The cigar, which is the work of José Blanco is the center of attention thanks to the lack of debut for Willy Herrera’s Herrera Estelí. Despite a year with less buzz on paper, the Drew Estate booth remains as busy as can [...]

IPCPR 2012: Live from Orlando

Welcome to halfwheel’s coverage of IPCPR 2012, live from the trade show floor in Orlando, FL. And by live, we mean halfwheel’s live coverage. This is the coverage you would expect from halfwheel: photography from Brooks, and editorial coverage from Brian Burt and myself. We will be visiting booths in much the same manner as [...]

News: Blanco Cigar Co. to Release Liga Exclusiva de Familia Line at IPCPR

Blanco Cigar Co. will be unveiling a new line at the 2012 IPCPR convention and trade show that comes directly from the family’s own blends and preferences, as the Liga Exclusiva de Familia line features the personal blends of Cesar and David Blanco. Cesar’s blend uses a U.S. Connecticut shade seed grown in the Talanga [...]