Weekly News (May 30, 2011)

Editor’s Note: Outside of the Monday news, this site has seen various formats in its news… For the next week, there will be at least a trial in more coverage to all stories, not just your Viaje and Tatuaje new releases. Feedback is always appreciated. Oh yeah, Lancero50 is in full swing, in case you were unaware. Anyways, after the jump a rather busy week of news… — el niño diablo.

• Viaje WLP Fifty Fifty Red — Shipping this upcoming week, price is still unknown, but this is perhaps the most anticipated WLP release of the year. Details here.

• Tatuaje M80 — Details are still a bit shaky, but click here for what’s known and what’s believed.
• La Dueña — Janny Garcia has confirmed this to be her cigar. It’s going to be lighter than your typical Pepin blend, as she has admitted most of what is made by My Father Cigars S.A. is not exactly in line with her tastes. The cigar is scheduled for a release after IPCPR, but it presumably will be shown off in Vegas.
• My Father Le Bijou 1922 6 x 60 — The My Father Le Bijou line will receive another update. Following the success of the Jaime Garcia Super Gordo, the Le Bijou will receive a 6 x 60, expect this at the show.

• A. Turrent Triple Corojo — Thanks for Cigar Coop’s investigative reporting, it appears that the A. Turrent Triple Corojo is up with packaging and vitolas on the A. Turrent website (yay Flash.) Cigar will be formally shown off at the IPCPR show in July. Expect eight vitolas:

-Churchill (7 x 54)

-Belicoso (6 1/8 x 54)

-Toro (6 x 50)

-Gran Toro (6 x 60)

-Gran Robusto (5 3/4 x 54)

-Robusto (5 1/4 x 52)

-Short Robusto (4 1/2 x 54)

-Corona (4 1/2 x 48)

• Paul Garmirian Artisan’s Passion — Scheduled for June, this is a fuller bodied release from Garmirian and the team at TABADOM.

• NUb Plus Habano — Normally, I don’t eve mention any catalog exclusive, but this is a bit different. Studio Tobac’s ever-expanding role as Oliva’s skunkworks continues to grow, this time with 10,000 NUb Plus Habano 560s. These are 5 x 60 and feature a secondary Studio Tobac band, available only at Cigars International and its affaliated stores (Cigar.com/CigarBid.) Boxes of 10 cost around $70. Support your local B&M. (Image via CigarsInternational)
• San Lotano Oval — We have all the known details of A.J. Fernandez’ Limited Edition here, including some artwork. In stores in September.
• Undercrown by Drew Estate — Confirmed for a IPCPR release, no word on sizes/prices, but this is a new blend, lighter than Liga Privada, easily one of the more anticipated releases of the year.
• J. Fuego’s IPCPR Extensions — Jesus Fuego announced that he would bring the 6 x 60 format to both the Sangre de Toro and 777 Zero. In addition, the Sangre de Toro will also be introduced in the popular Originals (5 x 44 Cheroot) format. Expect all three at the show.
• Guillermo León by La Aurora Robusto — A busy few weeks for Guillermo… According to Jose Blanco, the new format of the Guillermo León ships Friday, likely hitting retailers next week. These are good.
• Emilio Draig Limitado — New boutique Emilio Cigars plans for a limited edition around Christmas time, details surely to come.
• Guillermo León Purchases La Aurora — Guillermo has purchased the remaining shares of La Aurora and León Jimenes from Grupo León. Details here.

• Casa Fernandez Copacabana — This is a full line of medium cigars retailing at around $5, available in 52, 54 and 56 RG formats. Picture as always via Paul Palmer’s Twitter account.

• Atlanta Braves Alumni Cigar — A slightly tweaked Nestor Miranda blend made at My Father Cigars S.A., only available at Buckhead Cigar Club.
• Casa Gomez Havana Sunrise — New blend, new manufacturer. These are out this week made in Nicaragua.
• Sam Leccia Cigar Co. — The former face of Oliva’s NUb and Cain has created his own company. Expect the cigars in a month? More details here.
• Hoyo de Monterrey Replica Antigua Humidor 2011 — Habanos S.A. will make three-hundred and fifty (350) of these, each containing twenty-five (25) Hoyo de Monterrey Monterrey Maravillas. Expect these in October 2011, you can pre-order here.

• Xikar Stratosphere — Detail above, these are shipping now it seems.

• Fuente Changes Don Carlos & Hemingway Bands — As I noted in my Don Carlos Phantom review, Arturo Fuente has quietly updated their bands for the Don Carlos and Hemingway lines, which use the same bands. No word on if other brands should see updates, given that the base design of most Fuente bands are the same, it would seem like a likely option. (The new bands are on the right)

• 601 La Bomba — Eddie Ortega posted packaging, shipping is still scheduled for June 25th. (Nuclear review here.)

• New Dog Walker 5-Pack — K.A. Kendall showed off the above, new five-packs for his popular Dog Walker size.

• J.R. Cigars New Look — Popular mail-in cigar company, J.R. Cigars, owned gave a preview of their new homepage, no word on when this is set to take place.
• Partagás Festival Dates Announced — Cuba’s second most popular annual cigar gather is the Partagás festival, which takes place annually in November. This year it will be held from November 14th-18th, more details here.
• New La Palina Bands — They have names on them, production of the new El Dario, made at Raices Cubanas with the help of Alec Bradley’s Alan Rubin is underway. Side-note, La Palina was not in anyway involved in the Toraño/Graycliff distribution deal (mentioned below.)

Fonseca CXX

• Above is a video about the evolution of MATASA’s Fonseca and the Quesada family’s new night club Fonseca CXX.
• Internal Changes at Altadis — The shifting around at Altadis U.S.A. continues, more info here.
• Martin Family of Cigars — Maria Martin’s new website is up, showing off the cigars made in tribute to her father, Pedro Martin.
• Texas Avoids Smoking Ban — The Texas legislature removed portions of a spending bill that would have outlawed smoking in a lot of indoor places, although not cigar stores. I’d like to personally thank the TXCMA for monitoring the various situations regarding the legislature and cigars in my home state. Special thanks goes to the board members: Kent Pennington (of Elite Cigar Cafe in Addison), Shawna Maynard (of 3Rs Cigars in Cedar Hill), Jared Biocca (of Ashton), Matt Bedowsky (of Calypso Cigars); Ralph Pina & Heather Haddad (both of Fumée in Austin.)
• José Oliva Wins Primary — José Oliva of Oliva Cigar Company won the Republican primary for House District 110, a de facto victory for the general election later this month given he is running against a run-in candidate.

I’m told the announcement that Toraño will take over Graycliff’s distribution is the first of a few large announcements form Toraño Family Cigars in the summer. Press release goes like…

GRAYCLIFF CIGAR COMPANY APPOINTS TORAÑO FAMILY CIGAR COMPANY AS OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR IN USA

Miami, Florida (May 22, 2011) – The Graycliff Cigar Company and the Toraño Family Cigar Company are proud to announce that Graycliff has officially appointed the Toraño Family Cigar Company as its exclusive distributor in the U.S.A. as of June 1, 2011.

“After many years of doing our own distribution, we decided that it was best if we partnered with Toraño to handle that part of our business, so we could focus on the production side,” said Paolo Garzaroli, President of the Graycliff Cigar Company. “We chose Toraño for the similarity in our family values and because our respective cigar brands will complement each other very well.”

“We are excited about this partnership between Toraño Family Cigar Co. and Graycliff Cigar Company. Graycliff is a super-premium brand and we are honored to be given the responsibility to grow its distribution nationwide. This union of two very passionate tobacco families will only enhance both of our positions in the cigar industry,” said Charlie Toraño, President of Toraño Family Cigar Company.

GENERAL CIGAR ROLLS BACK PRICE OF MACANDUO 1968

Richmond, VA—General Cigar announces today that the company is reducing the price of all Macanudo 1968 cigars, representing an average price savings of more than $3.33 per cigar, and an average cost savings of more than $32.00 per box.

The new pricing of Macanudo 1968 is currently being made available exclusively at brick and mortar retailers across the U.S.

Bill Chilian, director of marketing commented, “Since the debut of Macanudo 1968 in August of 2008, the brand has enjoyed critical acclaim and has received high praise from brick and mortar retailers across the country. We recognize that Macanudo 1968 is a strong product with tremendous potential and decided to revise the pricing structure to make the brand accessible to a broader range of cigar enthusiasts.”

Under the new pricing structure, Macanudo 1968 Churchill (7” x 49) will now be available for $7.69 per cigar or $153.80 per 20-count box (previous price was $10.00 per cigar or $200 per box). Macanudo 1968 Toro (6” x 54) will now carry an SRP of $7.49 or $149.80 per box (previous price was $9.50 per cigar, or $190.00 per box).

At 5” x 50, the Robusto frontmark (5” x 50) will now retail for $6.49 per cigar, with a box price of $129.80 (previous price was $8.50 per cigar and $170.00 per box). Rounding out the collection is Macanudo 1968 Gigante (6” x 60) which will now cost $7.99 apiece or $159.80 per box (previous price was $11.00 per cigar, or with a box price of $220.

Some good news from Montecristo/Altadis regarding the Joplin tornadoes.

MONTECRISTO RELIEF ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO JOPLIN TORNADO VICTIMS

Additionally, the Montecristo Relief Organization will match, dollar for dollar, the first $75,000 in contributions made by Altadis U.S.A. and CBI employees, customers, consumers and vendors. If you would like to contribute and have your donation matched by the Montecristo Relief Organization, please send your check made payable to the Montecristo Relief Organization/Joplin fund to:

Montecristo Relief Organization

Joplin Tornado Relief

c/o Altadis U.S.A.

PO Box 407179

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33340-7166

Help and support is needed immediately, so time is of the essence. The Montecristo Relief Organization will match donations made by June 15, 2011. Funds will be distributed to both the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army designated for specific aid to the Joplin disaster. We thank everyone in advance for joining us in this vital relief effort.

The Montecristo Relief Organization was established in 1999 by Altadis U.S.A. after devastating hurricanes swept through the Caribbean killing thousands of people, injuring millions, and causing unimaginable suffering. Since its inception, the Organization has donated millions of dollars to build homes, schools, medical facilities and provide scholarships and economic opportunities to disaster victims in the Caribbean and the United States.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.