Weekly News (June 25, 2012)

Editor’s Note: After a few weeks of craziness, we seem to be catching up. There are a few technical changes being introduced to the site, if you have any issues, please contact us. Brooks posted the first new Icons of Cigars™ portrait on halfwheel, one of Steve Saka of Drew Estate. In addition we are two reviews into the Little Monsters. To clarify some questions: you can enter five times, once for each review. None of the reviews will close until 72 hours after the final review (Frank Jr.) has been posted, one winner gets a full box of Little Monsters.

• Toraño & Graycliff End Distribution Agreement — The news here.
• Crowned Heads To Add Robusto Extra to Four Kicks — Story here.
• Quesada Finalizes Oktoberfest 2012 Sizes — Details here.
• La Aurora 100 Años Returns in 2012 — Story here.
• La Gloria Cubana Announces Gorda Gorda — General Cigar Co. is getting in on the resurgence of regional cigars, recently being led by My Father Cigars and Tatuaje, with the 64 ring gauge Gorda Gorda for the western U.S.
• Liga Privada Ratzilla Goes On Sale For First Time — The latest Ünico Serie was offered in limited quantities at Casa de Montecristo this past week, review is here.
• Dignity Prepares Smoke of Art Limited Edition for IPCPR — Details here.
• Rodrigo Postpones The Corona Project — Story here.
• Davidoff Ships Puro d’Oro Gigantes Super Robusto — Press release here.
• Regius Announces Winston’s Humidor Third Anniversary Culebra — Here is the press release.
• Sosa Adds 6 x 60 to Classic Line — Press release here.
• Dona Flor Announces New Ad Campaign — Here.
• Camacho Launches New Website — Details here.
• Annual Cigar Family Auction — The Cigar Family auction is underway. You have to register to partake, but a host of rather Fuente products and more are on auction. The whole thing happens here.
• Prop. 29 Is Defeated — Story here, various reactions to the victory here.
• House Panel Warns FDA — This is a step forward.
• Cigar Rights Sampler # 4 — This came out pretty quietly. For those familiar with any of the other samplers, it’s much of the same: ten cigars and a one-year membership to the organization for $100.00.
• U.K. Fights Plain Packaging — The U.K. is fighting plain packaging and citizens are urged to comment on the Government’s plans before the July 10 deadline. For some reason this link isn’t working, but the entry currently sits at the top of the Hava Havana blog.

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.