halfwheel

Review: Liga Privada Único Serie Velvet Rat

On October 19, 2012 Drew Estate held a special event at TESA Cigar Co. to sell Drew Estate’s newest Liga Privada for the first time, the Velvet Rat. Just 40 bundles of 10 cigars were offered as part of the “soft launch” with a full release expected mid-2013.  We covered the news a few weeks [...]

Review: Angelenos Robusto Gordo JM

In October of 2011, Prometheus released a limited edition version of their Angelenos blend with part of the proceeds of each cigar going to the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, which helps physically and emotionally battered children. The Angelenos Robusto Gordo JM was produced in conjunction with actor Joe Mantegna, who co-hosted the God of Fire charity dinner [...]

Review: Tatuaje The Mummy

It is October again — and that means just one thing to Tatuaje fans — the annual release of the Monster Series. For five years running, Pete Johnson has released a different cigar based on monster characters in classic and recent films. We detailed the details in our story about The Mummy release: As mentioned in our [...]

Review: Oliva Atlantic Cigar 15th Aniversario Diadema (Prerelease)

Back in November of 2011, Atlantic Cigar released the first of what they announced would eventually be four different cigars from four different manufacturers to celebrate their 15th year of business. The fourth and final cigar in the series is being produced by Oliva Family of Cigars and will be released for sale to the general [...]

Blog: On Our Macklemore Obsession & Contest

If you follow Patrick Lagreid and/or me on Twitter, you might have noticed a reference to Seattle rapper Macklemore, a few times, particularly from yours truly. Given there’s actually been a reference to it on halfwheel proper, it’s probably worth some explanation. My interest is pretty simple, I really enjoy the music from Ben Haggerty [...]

Review: Quesada Q d’etat Daga

In December of 2011, Quesada announced the Q d’etat line, a series of limited editions meant to bring attention to unfair taxation and overall mistreatment of the cigar industry by the government. Says the original press release: The brand is intended to create awareness of the dangers increased government regulation and taxation will produce, specifically [...]

Review: Undercrown Flying Pig

Back in March we were tipped off via one of our Dutch readers about a new Undercrown, a Flying Pig. While in Holland visiting accounts, Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate agreed to make the unique size in Drew Estate’s newest blend for the region. The Flying Pig was introduced in 2009 as a limited edition [...]

Review: Tatuaje Frank Jr.

In October of 2008, Pete Johnson released the first of what would become the most noted limited edition of the late 2000s, the Tatuaje Monster Series with the first release being The Frank. Jose Agosto of Gloucester Street Cigar Company, who the Tatuaje Porkchop was named after, is oftentimes credited with assisting Johnson in coming [...]

Review: Tatuaje Wolfie

The fourth and most recent installment in Tatuaje’s Monster Series was The Wolfman, a sizable, shaggy foot cigar released in October 2011 and named for a movie monster that first appeared on the big screen in December 1941. In less than a year’s time after the release of The Wolfman, Johnson has released a sampler box [...]

Review: Tatuaje Lil’ Drac

Dracula by Bram Stoker is hands down the most well-known vampire novel ever written. The book’s popularity throughout the past century, the number of movies about Dracula, and the numerous vampire related books, movies and television shows can easily allow us to say that the character Dracula is one of the most popular horror icons [...]