Editor’s note: It is with heavy hearts that we bring you this week’s Weekly News, as Charlie Minato’s laptop passed away suddenly and unexpectedly Monday morning. As such, I am filling in while his new laptop is being built. All of us at halfwheel, especially Charlie, appreciate your thoughts and prayers during this time of loss.  –Patrick Lagreid 

  • The FDA continues their push to regulate the premium cigar industry — story here.
  • A new Robusto vitola of the My Father Le Bijou 1922 was spotted in a Pepín Birthday Sampler created for The Cigar Republic in New York — details here.
  • KILO in 2014? Barry Stein of Miami Cigar & Co. says so — per this Tweet.
  • Ted’s Cigars has partnered with Patrón Tequila for a new cigar — details here.
  • Eddie Ortega posted this picture of this Figurado and told halfwheel it is a possible size for 2014.

Ortega Figurado

  • Also from Ortega, October’s Wild Bunch release, “Warrior Joe,” began shipping today — says this Tweet.
  • Zino Platinum has shipped “The Make of Los Angeles” — press release here.
  • Jonathan Drew says that Drew Estate MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured will be hitting retail humidors by November 15 – here. We hear that might be a tentative date, but that’s just us.
  • Ernesto Padilla is working on a Miami-made Lancero — according to this Tweet.
  • La Flor Dominicana formally announced their fall & winter releases — in this press release.
  • La Gloria Cubana released a regional project called Rival Twin for the western US — story here.
  • And last but not least, the forum is finally back.
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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 and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, 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.