Weekly News (August 1, 2011)

Editor’s Note: I apologize for the delay in the news, server issues have prevented publishing. The original editor’s note reads as follows… And today is the day when things return back to “normal” here at TheCigarFeed. Our IPCPR booth coverage is done, the recap will be out shortly and tomorrow the 2011 list will be getting lengthy updates throughout the week. Over the course of the next few days, there might be some downtime on the site as the servers move and I’d like to apologize for any difficulty you have accessing the site in the coming days. After the jump, another brief news recap. — el niño diablo.

• J. Fuego 777 Corojo “Paka” — A new LE for Hawaii’s Tamura’s Fine & Liquor. Details are here, more LEs for other Hawaiian stores are coming.
• El Rey de los Habanos Discontinued — Jose Ortega confirmed that the El Rey de los Habanos line, i.e. red label, has been discontinued. There are some left in the warehouse, but once that stock is gone, they are gone forever.
• Crowned Heads Moving Along — Michael Trebing indicated that box designs are being finalized. As for the cigars, also moving along.
• Oliva Master Blends Humidor — Just a quick update, at a minimum expect two or three of these to be released at events later this year, including some of the first three releases.
• A.J. Fernandez Offers to Rehire Broker — The overblown incident of a single broker being let go of at the show went full circle, with Clay Roberts of A.J. Fernandez indicating that the broker has been offered their territory back.
• IPCPR Releases Shipping — A flood of IPCPR releases have begun shipping, including works from: Fuente, Ashton, Tatuaje, Illusione, My Father, Prometheus, La Flor Dominicana and more…

I won’t be in attendance, but a whole bunch of great people will be there, press release from David Jones:

Friday and Saturday, August 12 and 13, 2011

Anticipation continues to grow for the first large-scale cigar event to be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee: the 2011 Tweet-Up. The event is being hosted by Burns Tobacconist and the Chattanooga Billiards Club, with two locations in the city; and is being organized and promoted by members of two popular cigar blogs: the Tiki Bar Online and Stogie Review.

The event begins on Friday, August 12, with an afternoon herf at Burns East (110 Jordan Drive, 423-855-5686) before those in attendance that day head to AT&T Field to see the Chattanooga Lookouts Minor League Baseball game (the Lookouts are an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers). We have reserved a luxury suite for between 20 and 30 people.

Saturday’s mega-herf begins at Burns East at 11:00 a.m. and continues until 6:00 p.m., with plenty of time to chat and mingle and get to know some of the other cigar-lovers that have traveled from all across the country to attend. It’s also a great time to meet and get to talk to our special guests, Jon Huber (Crowned Heads), Matt Booth (Room 101 Cigars), and Frank Herrera (La Caridad del Cobre).

At 6:00, we will leave Burns East and travel to Burns Downtown where we will reassemble at 7:00 p.m. for dinner and a liquor tasting, which we are calling “A Taste of Tennessee.” Featured libations will include Jack Daniels and George Dickel Tennessee Whiskeys.

Two packages will be available for purchase: the Friday/Saturday Package includes attendance to the baseball game, a Chattanooga Tweet-Up T-Shirt, and admission to the Taste of Tennessee Liquor Tasting, as well as a 5-pack of cigars; it will cost $35 (plus tax). The Saturday Package includes the commemorative T-Shirt, the Liquor Tasting, and the cigar 5-pack; it will cost $25 (plus tax). Either of these two packages will also earn the purchaser one raffle ticket.

Excellent deals on cigars will be available throughout the event. All single-stick purchases, up to 19 cigars, will receive a 10% discount; buying 10 singles will also get another raffle ticket. Buying a box or box equivalent (20 cigars or more) will get you a 20% discount and 3 more raffle tickets. Many fine cigar manufacturers are donating cigars and/or door prizes for the raffle (to be held at 5:30 on Saturday). These companies include: Oliva Cigar Company, Drew Estate, La Gloria Cubana, A.J.

Fernandez, Miami Cigar and Company, 262 Cigars, Emilio Cigars, Room 101 Cigars, La Caridad del Cobre, and Toraño Family Cigars.

For full updated information about the Chattanooga Tweet-Up-2011, please visit www.TikiBarOnline.com.

Congrats to Carlos Toraño Sr. on the following…

CARLOS TORAÑO SR. HONORED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PRESENTED BY

CIGAR JOURNAL MAGAZINE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Miami, Florida) July 28, 2011 – Toraño Family Cigar Company was bestowed a great honor as the patriarch of the family Carlos Toraño Sr. was presented with the Lifetime Achievement award by Cigar Journal Magazine to commemorate his service and dedication to the tobacco industry.

The Cigar Journal Magazine’s annual award ceremony took place on July 19^, 2011 at Lavo Italian Restaurant located inside The Palazzo Hotel during the 2011 IPCPR Trade show. The ceremony was attended by leading figures of the tobacco industry, Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval, Hollywood producers, and other notables. The ceremony featured awards for 17 different categories. This year’s ceremony featured a twist as the trophy awarded to the winners was redesigned to resemble a crystal chaveta. In the words of the Cigar Journal the chaveta is the symbol of the cigar-maker’s art.

The ceremony was hosted by the Cigar Journal’s Chief Editors Reinhold Widmayer and Colin Ganley. After awarding 16 awards for categories such as best brand, best cigar, etc. there was only one crystal chaveta left. After a short introduction Widmayer announced Carlos Toraño Sr. as the lifetime achievement award winner. Too much applause, Carlos Toraño Sr. walked on stage and graciously accepted the award from Widmayer. Carlos Toraño’s first words were that he was humbled to receive such an honor. After a short speech he walked off stage to pose for pictures with his son and current president of Toraño Family Cigars Co. Charlie Toraño. Charlie was heard whispering in his father’s ear, “Congratulations, you deserve this dad”.

On winning the award Carlos Toraño Sr. stated, “I am truly honored to receive this award from Cigar Journal Magazine. This industry has been very special to my family and I, and we look forward to continuing the Toraño tradition for years to come.”

Founded in 1916 by Santiago Toraño, the Toraño Family Cigar Company is recognized as one of the oldest tobacco families in the cigar industry. Carlos Toraño, at the age of 16 was part of the nationalization of Cuba in 1959, where his family’s tobacco fields were taken away and were forced to leave the island. The family however continued to seek out the finest quality tobaccos from many countries around the world. After being educated in the United States, Carlos Toraño Sr. joined the family business and followed in his father’s footsteps by continuing the tradition and legacy of his grandfather in buying and distributing tobacco. In 1997, the family owned and operated its first factory in Nicaragua and launched the Carlos Toraño brand.

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.