Weekly News (December 12, 2011)

Editor’s Note: A few things. Last week I stated that we would not be publishing a Top Ten list this year, I lied. Due to a variety of things, one will come out sometime this week. Sales meetings start this week and will continue through the middle of January, which means you can expect lots of new product announcements. This is the last real week of any action for the year, which might explain a somewhat ridiculously lengthy and content-packed Weekly News. Enjoy. — el niño diablo.

• Litto Gomez Small Batch No. 4 — Press release is below and the full storyline is here.

• Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial TAA — A few stores say they have this in stock. Details still haven’t been confirmed, but Patrick Lagreid had some details a few weeks ago.
• Viaje Holiday Blend 2011 — Both sizes of Andre Farkas’ annual December release ship this week. They are the same price and sizes as last year, just a quarter of an inch longer, meaning the Petit Robusto is 4 1/4 x 54 and the Torpedo is 5 1/4 x 54. Viaje is shipping 200 boxes of each size and new ashtrays to accounts this week. The Candy Cane project is on hold and will not be released this year.

• La Flor Dominicana Double Claro — Presumably this is a Double Ligero with a Candela wrapper. Picture above comes from LFD, these are expected to be a January release.
• My Father Le Bijou 1922 Corona Gorda Rereleased — Didn’t see this one coming. My Father Cigars has rereleased 200 boxes of the limited edition created for Puff n Stuff back in April. Half (100 boxes) are going to Puff n Stuff and half will go to Federal Cigars in New Hampshire. Nothing has changed, although the price is a bit lower in New Hampshire because of the lack of taxes. Review here.
• Liga Privada Único Serie L40 Ships — Jonathan Drew told me earlier that 450 boxes of L40 have been shipped. This is expected to be the only shipment between now and late Spring. Feral Flying Pig is expected this week as well.
• Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ Little Robusto — These are in stores. Jerry Cruz provides details and a picture here. #jj4jj

• Undercrown Corona Gorda — Picture comes via Cigar Snob. Jonathan Drew told Cigar Aficionado that a Corona and a Demitasse size were the two planned extensions back in August, but the size they are working on now is allegedly a Corona Gorda.
• Nat Sherman Timeless Collection Now Available — The Quesada-made cigars are now for sale in Nat Sherman’s flagship Town House store. These will be distributed by Nat Sherman for the time being and other retailers can expect their shipments to arrive next month.
• E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2010 No. 4 Ships — Rick Gadway says this happens tomorrow. Details are here and the review is here. The cabinet version, which is available to in-store customers, is apparently not in yet.
• La Dueña Details — Frank Seltzer’s JR Blog just keeps on giving. This week, the Dallas-based writer spilled further details on the 2012 cigar being made for Janny García.
• 262 Paradigm Lancero — Clint Aaron indicated that these have been shipped today. It would appear the 262 website has relaunched as well.

• La Aurora 107 680 Factory Press “Big Mike” — Made for Buckhead Cigar. One box of six 6 x 80 box-pressed Torpedoes. Picture via David Jones of Tiki Bar.

• La Aurora 107 Puro Vintage — Fifteen boxes of the La Aurora 107 in the Puro Vintage Salomon size were made for Buckhead Cigar Club’s annual ATL Tweet-Up. Buckhead is sold out/Mike smoked them all. Picture via Shawn Pratt of Nice Tight Ash.

• Liga Privada UF — Picture above would indicate that the UF branding, first seen on the Liga Privada UF-4 has replaced the old MF moniker. In addition to the UF-13, Nicholas Melillo, Director of Tobaccos for Drew Estate, tweeted about another new blend he is working on.
• Grimalkin Corona and Lancero — Gary Griffith is in Nicaragua and confirmed that the popular Grimalkin line will receive a Corona and limited Lancero. Gary has made it clear there is a lot more coming from Emilio cigars, including a possible new manufacturing partner.
• Illusione Singularé Delayed — Dion Giolito’s limited edition has been formally delayed due to the regular production releases.
• Nadi Cigars Launch — It was made official at the ATL Tweet-Up. Details here.

• Adrians CroMagnon Boxes — The long-awaited boxes for the CroMagnon and future projects are “complete” in their factory. Aquitaine is scheduled for January with Intemperance coming later.
• Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill Tubos — Have been released via Trevor Leask.
• CFCF 2012 — Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, the Fuente/Newman charity in the Dominican Republic, has announced that it will hold its annual celebration on March 1st and 2nd. Details here.
• Tatuaje Over the Pond — Pete Johnson’s brand is now being sold in the UK, joining Arturo Fuente as recent non-Cuban brands to expand into Britain. Pictures here.
• XIV Festival del Habano — Tentative pricing and schedule announced.
• Drew Estate Launches iPhone App — Details of site sponsor Drew Estate’s new app here. It would appear the Android version might be out by the end of 2011.
• FDA Moves Non-Face-to-Face Sales Commenting Deadline to January 19th — The FDA announced that they are extending the original December 8th deadline for public comments on the regulation of non-face-to-face tobacco sales. CRA claims that they have received just over 130,000 signatures for various petitions. This is proposed legislation that would include limiting the scope of a lot of things, notably internet cigar sales.
• Puro Pac — The newly formed Super PAC is chaired by Corona Cigar’s Jeff Borysiewicz and is aimed at providing monetary assistance for candidates who are friendly to cigar related rights. Commentary from POLITICO and Stogie Guys provides more details.
• HAVANA SAVER Opposed — Habanos S.A. laid the groundwork for opposing a “HAVANA SAVER” mark.

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.