There are just two weeks remaining in this year’s third annual Smokin Tabacco Cigar Family Charitable Foundation fundraiser raffle. What began as an innovative way to celebrate the 1st year of their podcast has become an annual tradition that has accumulated nearly $60,000 for The Cigar Family Charitable Foundation in just its first two years. The foundation, established and operated by the Newman and Fuente families, has been serving the people of the Bonao region of the Dominican Republic for more than 20 years. Matt Tabacco, owner of Smokin Tabacco, shares that “It is such an honor to be able to play a small role in this great organization. We are so proud of everyone who came out and donated these past two years and hope to see another amazing year in 2023.”
Raffle items full boxes and other sought after selections from brands like Tatuaje, Aganorsa Leaf, Drew Estate, Room 101, Red Meat Lovers Club, J.C. Newman, Arturo Fuente, Hiram & Solomon, and Rabbit Air. Alexander Martinez even donated a full box of the La Flor Dominicana GOLDEN NFT to the list Head over to the raffle now!
Announced less than a month ago, the new Favilli Five sample packs are almost gone. Created to provide a pathway to trying new blends and old favorites without having to buy a full box. Favilli Five consists of what the brand describes as “a mix of new cigars, classics, and some of our limited items.” For those who are able to order in time, potential selections include – but are not limited to – Tierra Volcan, Casa Favilli, Granada (Tierra, Isletas, Lava), Factory Blend Arrangements and Liga Maestro.
The Favilli Finest Five packs can include sought after and difficult to find blends from their “Rare & Limited” collection. Listed as examples this pack are cigars like the Mombacho Decimo Año, 10th Anniversarario, Cosechas 2012-2016, and Liga Maestro Pre–Release.
The Padrón Family Reserve No. 96, first unveiled at 2022’s Premium Cigar Association trade show in Las Vegas, will be making it’s way to shops as soon as next week. The 5 3/4 x 52 parejo is an addition to the storied brand’s Family Reserve line. Celebrating what would be the 96th birthday of late founder José Orlando Padrón, who prior to his passing in 2017 ran the company for over 50 years. The No. 96 will be available in 10 count boxes at an MSRP of $30.50 per cigar.
ZR Nicaragua, founded in 2018 by Zohar Riezman and Candido Rosario, has announced a new 100% Nicaraguan blend to be released before the end of the year. Planned to make its debut at this year’s PCA trade show, the company shares that the wrapper leaf is a Jalapa Habana Oscura. Currently on schedule to begin shipping to retailers in December, 4 formats of the blend are listed: Robusto, Toro, Gran Toro, and Churchill. Rosario is one of the Altadis U.S.A. “Grupo de Maestros.”
Foundation Cigars and 1573 have just announced an exclusive partnership to offer Foundation products across the U.K. Owner of Foundation Cigars, Nicholas Melillo, shares, “I am very excited to open the British market with 1573. We share the same passion for this industry, and they understand Foundation’s core principles.” The Tabernacle, El Güegüense, and Charter Oak are just a few of the lines being distributed by 1573. Director of 1573, George Frakes, explains that “It is a true honor to be Foundation Cigars’ U.K. Distributor. I can state with every fiber of my being that these are, without doubt, the finest cigars produced today. I first smoked Foundation in 2016 and was completely overwhelmed by the range’s depth of flavor, balance, complexity, and quality.”
Wishing you all another great week full of your favorite cigars and your favorite people. Keep on sending in your favorite cigar related news stories, posts and video. If anything from this roundup catches your attention, let everyone know in the comments below!