Editor’s Note: While José Blanco was the biggest industry news last week—and just to be clear, he’ll be back—there were actually a couple other important halfwheel-related posts that made it on the site. First, we seemed to have resolved our server issues with a migration over to a new hosting company that can better meet our needs. As for the forum, I would say October is the goal for it to be re-launched. Secondly, we published our IPCPR 2013 wrap-up post. We currently have 235 posts tagged under IPCPR 2013 and I imagine that number could grow to around 250 as we finish up a few more reviews, something that will most certainly continue for the better part of September. 

  • José Blanco’s Tenure at Joya de Nicaragua Ends — Exclusive here.
  • Joya de Nicaragua Announces Executive Changes — Here.
  • José Seijas Returns with La Maltide — Story here.
  • Hawaii Gets Jaime Garcia Lancero — Story here.
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  • Dion Giolito Begins Work on 4 x 44 Prototype — He’s tweeted about it a few times and there’s now a cigar called Dax in his FUMARE retail store. Giolito told halfwheel that it’s just a project and at this time no plans for it to become an Illusione product.
  • Midwest Gets Regional Nestor Miranda Special Selections — Here.
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  • Reinado Cigars Eying Maduro — Antonio Lam isn’t giving up details, presumably this will come after the company’s planned Connecticut release
  • Smoke Inn Adds Date to Microblend Oktoberfest Release — Here.
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  • Primer Mundo Costa Fuerte Lancero? — Maybe.
  • Blessed Leaf Announced, Cigar Coming — Here.
  • Sotolongo Cigars Announces First Release — Press release, here.
  • George Rico Launches G.A.R. Deli — Here.
  • Cigar Rights of America Adds New Board Members — via Cigar Aficionado
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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.