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Charlie Minato

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About the author

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.

Rojas Celebrates 10th Anniversary With Limited Edition

It’s been 10 years since Noel Rojas opened up his own factory. Now, the self-proclaimed “king of small ring gauge” is releasing a limited edition cigar to celebrate. Hey, that’s not a small ring gauge.

Report: 467.6 Million Premium Cigars Imported to the U.S. in 2023, New Record

From 2021-2023, cigar companies imported what previously amounted to four years worth of premium cigars in just three years.

JRE Adds Aladino Maduro Gordo

The new 6 1/2 x 60 size will be on shelves this month.

Liga Privada 10 Aniversario Selección de Mercado Gets Two New Sizes

The two new sizes join the original 6 x 52 toro size. Drew Estate only sells the Liga Privada 10 Aniversario Selección de Mercado outside of the U.S.

Crowned Heads Turns to Casa Carrillo, NACSA for Coroneta

Casa Carrillo, née Tabacalera La Alianza S.A., will make the Coroneta Maduro. NACSA will produced the Coroneta Habano. Both blends are offered in the same three sizes.

AGANORSA Leaf Announces New Arsenio Cigar

The cigar is named after Arsenio Ramos, the longtime blender for AGANORSA who passed away in 2018. The company says it blended this cigar to be “Cubanesque.”

Bill That Would Have Banned Smoking at Florida State Parks & Beaches Dies in Committee

Smoking and vaping will remain legal in Florida’s state parks and at its state-controlled beaches.

Miami Man Arrested With Counterfeit Packaging for More Than $1 Million of Cuban Cigars

As part of a separate retail theft investigation, from the back of a store in Miami, police seized thousands of bands for Cuban brands such as Bolívar, Cohiba, Cohiba BHK, Cuaba, Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo, Partagás, Quai d’Orsay, Romeo y Julieta and Trinidad.

Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Medio Siglo Coming to the U.S. This Summer

The Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Medio Siglo was introduced in 2021. This summer, it will be offered to U.S. stores in four sizes, one of which is a new size that is exclusive to American retailers.

Smoking Jacket Showing Off Mini Henkie at PCA 2024

A Henrik, a Hendrik and another Hendrik make a cigar for another Hendrik. (Monika helped too.)