Drew Estate unveiled a new Freestyle Live Event Pack on the brand’s lastest live stream, teasing an upcoming premium cigar release on June 8th. Available at participating retailers nationwide starting today, the $40 Freestyle Live Event Packs include four unbranded premium cigars, a 4-cigar case, a torch lighter, and a cigar rest. Those who obtain an event pack can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes such as a luxury watch valued at $10,500. Other prizes include $6,000 in airfare for two and 1 of 10 custom longboards each valued at $150. Three Barn Smoker events were also announced, including dates and locations. A new element is being added, being referred to right now as Barn Smoker: After Dark. Pennsylvania’s event will be held at the Welk Family Farm in July. Augusts Connecticut event will be hosted at the Dunn & Foster Farm. The November Barn Smoker in Florida scheduled to take place on the Florida Sun Grown Farm.
Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of DE, corresponding from the Wynwood Cocktail Lounge in Miami, shared that “Freestyle Live is dope, plain and simple!!! It’s even more dope when Mystery Packs are included as an ‘announcement’ or ‘unveiling.’ People go bananas trying to guess what it could be. I love it. Additionally, this was a huge announcement ‘cause we dropped the Barn Smoker dates and explained how this year will be different from all others, Barn Smoker ‘AFTER DARK.’ Sounds scary, boooo!!!”
What began as a special request from one of the boutique operation’s retailers is fast becoming an experience that the wider community may soon have access to. Kafie 1901 Cigars has revealed that 5-packs of the brand’s La Aurora crafted selections are in the works. While not much beyond that has been disclosed at this time, the project seems pretty far along. The 5 pack appears to include Kafie’s Connecticut, Natural, Sumatra, San Andres, and Maduro regular production blends. The upcoming Premium Cigar Association trade show is where a lot of new offerings are debuted, so expect to hear more in July at the latest. The Boutique Cigar Association – founded by Dr. Gaby Kafie – has a pavilion at this year’s PCA through which they will present more than 15 member businesses.
Diesel Cigars and Rabbit Hole Bourbon present their third collaboration, Diesel Whiskey Row Founder’s Collection Boxergrail — a limited edition cigar developed by Justin Andrews, blended by A.J. Fernandez, crafted at Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez in Nicaragua, and distributed by Forged Cigar Company, a subsidiary of Scandanavian Tobacco Group. The cigar highlights the use of a unique aging process developed by Fernandez, as well as a propietary leaf varietal. Utilizing a special Nicaraguan Habano binder leaf, the tobacco is aged in American oak barrels with a level 3 char that were used to age Rabbit Hole Founder’s Collection Boxergrail Rye Whiskey. The blend also features Nicaraguan Habano filler and a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Launching as a 6 x 52 Toro for a suggested $15.79 per cigar, the cigars are set to reach retailers on May 1, coinciding with Kentucky Derby weekend.
Mere moment after checking on the latest crop at the Florida Sun Grown Tobacco farm, Owner Jeff Borysiewicz shared video of a massive hailstorm. Barely 2 miles into his journey – after having just determined that the crop was ready – the sky opened up. Reflected in what he wrote at the time, all anyone can do in a situation like that is wait out the storm, “Hail is the worst thing that could happen to Cigar Tobacco, when the leaves are just ready to start being harvested. We will see what it looks like in the morning.” When morning finally came, the entire crop had been completely obliterated. Even as the true extent of the impact – like future projects that had already been planned for the crop, and Barn Smoker scheduled to be held at the end of the year – is still being determined and mitigated, a resilient Borysiewicz is already on to the next steps and
Multiple shops have started accepting pre-orders for another project from Forged Cigar Company. The La Gloria Cubana Corojo De Oro Limited Edition is named for the Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s proprietary leaf varietal of the same name. Said to have been developed by crossing Corojo 97-98 and Pelo de Oro – a tobacco once common as wrapper leaf that is now rare due to the difficulties presented in growing it – the Corojo De Oro is showcased as a binder in this blend.
Featuring an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, everything is then balanced out with a combination of Brazilian Mata Fina, Dominican Piloto Cubano, and Nicaraguan Ometepe filler tobaccos. The 6 x 50 Corojo De Oro LE, produced at El Credito Cigar Factory that is located within General Cigar Dominicana in the Dominican Republic, will be available at a suggested $10.49 per cigar, and will launch in boxes of 20.
Les Fin Flame, the France-based makers of luxury cigar accessories, have introduced their latest Le Petit series – Collection 2023 – featuring eight new designs that seamlessly integrate into their existing product range. Striking black anodized aluminum frames contrasts with 3D in lays of gold and brass resulting in an exceptionally stylish and refined appearance. Available right now, works in the new collection range from around $275 to $489 based on today’s GBP to USD exchange rate.
Beginning 1st thing Monday morning, the “Champion” shaped Punch Dad Bod cigars will start their journey to shops across the country. The Father’s Day themed project, also from General Cigar Company, goes all in on the concept. Rather than a traditional box, 20 cigars are kept humidified within 4 re-useable stash cans. Made in Honduras at STGs Danli Factory, Punch Dad Bod utilizes tobaccos from 6 different countries. Featuring a Cameroon wrapper, the binder is a USA Connecticut broadleaf. Underneath, a combination of filler tobaccos that include Nicaraguan Condega, Dominican Piloto Cubano, Honduran La Entrada and Brazilian Mata Fina. The distincly rotund Perfecto measures 4.5 x 60 and features a necktie shaped band, a commonly gifted item for the holiday, and should be available as early as next week for an MSRP of $6.99.
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!