Weekly News (December 17, 2012)

Editor’s Note: LOTS OF CONTEST. This week winners will be announced for the following contests:

• Four five-packs of Herrera Esteli & a Cigar Safari — here.
• Preproduction Papas Fritas, two tins of Papas Fritas, bundle of Ratzillas & “MIxed Mystery Bag from JD” — here.
• Cain Dayton NUb 460 & STUDIO TOBAC Corona Gorda — here.
• (The) Contest: 25 Days of halfwheel — here.

Happy holidays.

• STUDIO TOBAC Connecticut & Habano/Sun Grown Scheduled for 2013 — Exclusive here.
• Oliva Melanio Maduro Planned for 2013 — Exclusive here.
• MUWAT Digital Son 6 Headed to Outland Cigars — Story here.
• Tatuaje Black Label Lancero Arrives in Stores — Story here and here.
• Tatuaje Apocalypse Ships — Lots of them. Here.
• Edgar “OSOK” Hoill Plans Return — Here and via CigarBrief.
• Liga Privada Único Serie Papas Fritas Ship — Review here.
• Jameson Adds Vitola to La Resolución — Story here.
• Johnson County (TN) Repeals Smoking Ban — Before it started. Here.
• Taboada Passes Away — The legendary Cuban custom roller suffered a fatal heart attack last week. In Memoriam here.
• Frank Herrera Files Extension for Opposition to Herrera Esteli — In what has seemed like an inevitable event for months, Frank Herrera of Herrera Cigars has filed an extension for opposition to Drew Estate’s Herrera Esteli trademark application. Herrera, a trademark attorney himself, posted the latest on his blog. Both Frank Herrera and Drew Estate provided a “no comment” to halfwheel regarding the matter. (Disclosure: Drew Estate is a site sponsor, Frank Herrera has provided advice to halfwheel in the past.)
• Epicurean Cigars to be Distributed by Emilio Cigars — Press release here.
• Luis Sanchez-Harguindey Appointed Co-President of Corporación Habanos — Press release here.

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 handle the editing of our written content, the majority of the technical aspects of the site and work with the rest of our staff on content management, business development and more. I’ve lived in most corners of the country and now entering my second stint in Dallas, Texas. I enjoy boxing, headphones, the Le Mans 24-hour, wearing sweatshirts year-round and gyros. echte liebe.