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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.

JFR Expands With XT

For fans of the popular JFR (Just for Retailers) line from Casa Fernández, there is a stronger version heading to market. The company has been…

New World on the Horizon from A.J. Fernandez

There are several well-known father and son blending teams in the cigar business, and now there’s a new one—formed by two individuals already well-established in…

Total Flame Shows Off Andullo with Wild One

Andullo tobacco is a not new thing to the cigar business, however, using it as a marketing technique is not steeped in tradition. The latest…

East India Trading Company Adds Classic Cigar Havana Blend

Gurkha’s East India Trading Company is getting a new addition—Classic Cigar Havana Blend. The company says it took 20 attempts to finalize the blend, which…

Casa Fernández Arsenio Oro Coming at IPCPR 2014

Arsenio Ramos, the master blender for AGANORSA/Casa Fernández, is getting another cigar. At this year’s IPCPR trade show and convention the company will unveiled the…

Total Flame Going Off the Rails at IPCPR 2014

Total Flame prides itself on being a cigar company with motorcycle roots and one of its recent additions makes that point clear. At this month’s…

Gurkha Royal Challenge Maduro Coming at IPCPR 2014

Fans of the Gurkha Royal Challenge should lookout for the company’s newest offering—the Gurkha Royal Challenge Maduro. While it’s scheduled to ship in September, the…

Toraño Expands Big Ring Gauge Offerings

The largest regular-production cigar in the Toraño line-up is heading to the company’s Exodus 1959 line. At the 2014 IPCPR convention and trade show, the…

Espinosa Adds Laranja Reserva

If orange is your favorite color, your favorite cigar might be a new release from Espinosa Premium Cigars. The company will add Laranja Reserva at…

Gurkha Expands Cellar Reserve With Edición Especial

For third year in a row, Gurkha’s IPCPR trade show plans will include something with new the Cellar Reserve brand. In 2012, the company introduced…

Providence, R.I. Moving Forward With Park Tobacco Ban

The days of smoking cigars in parks and other city-owned recreational areas in Providence, R.I. are almost certainly numbered. A new ban that would include cigars…