IPCPR 2014: Flor de Gonzalez

Flor de Gonzalez, the company best known for its 90 Miles line, had a pair of new releases to show off at IPCPR this year, as well as a new logo that will be phased in over the upcoming weeks.

The limited edition 90 Miles R.A. Nicaragua lancero looked about as good in person as it sounded when it was announced a few weeks ago: a Nicaraguan puro with artwork that comes from a napkin sketch done by Roberto Alonso, the company’s former director of sales and ad marketing who passed away several months ago. Yadi Gonzalez Vargas is still waiting on the final bands to arrive, but it appears the cigar will still be ready to ship on Aug. 15.

Spectral is the company’s other new release for the trade show, though the cigars come with some history on them. They have been aging in cedar wraps for five years, and when they were rolled the tobacco had already been aged for five years, meaning that this cigar comes with some 10 years of rest on it by the time it arrives at retail. It too is expected to begin shipping on Aug. 15.

Finally, a new logo is beginning to be phased in that incorporates the FDG name as opposed to Flor de Gonzales. The company’s website is FDGCigars.com and Vargas said this helps unify the two better.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.