Miami, FL, September 08, 2010 — Teka Puro of Istanbul Tobacco has signed a multi-year agreement with Rafael Nodal of Oliveros Cigars to provide consulting services and serve as the exclusive international representative for all Teka products. Teka Puro is the only manufacturer of Tobacco Products in Turkey and originally was a joint venture between the government of Cuba and the government of Turkey. Teka Puro used to produce Fonseca Cigarillos and other Cuban brands using tobacco from Cuba. Teka Puro was created in response to the growing market for cigars in Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe and was a project conceived by Cuban President Fidel Castro, who attended the opening of the factory. As a part of the privatization process of Turkish Tobacco monopoly, TEKA Puro was privatized a couple of years ago and it was sold to Azmi Erdogan and tobacco veteran A. Kemal Turk, whom also owns Che Cigar store in Istanbul. During the last few years Teka Puro has been producing mass-market cigars and now, as part of this cooperative agreement, Teka will also produce premium hand made cigars. Teka currently produces CHE cigars, cigarillos and flavored cigarillos and recently introduced Punta Cana, a line of rustic moist cigars.Rafael Nodal is the president and co-founder of Oliveros Cigars, a boutique brand of premium cigars that is sold in the United States of America, Russia and other international markets. Rafael Nodal and his wife Dr. Alina Nodal, a practicing psychiatrist, come from a veteran cigar family from Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Mr. Nodal will serve as Senior Advisor to Teka Puro in the areas of production, product development, general operations, packaging and marketing and will be the exclusive international representative of all Teka tobacco products. Under the terms of the agreement, Plasencia Cigars will be the premier provider of tobacco for Teka Puro. Located in Honduras and Nicaragua, Plasencia Cigars is one of the largest growers of Habano tobacco leaves in the world and manufacturer of Premium Cigars. Plasencia Cigars is headed by Nestor Plasencia, a renown Cuban grower and his son, Nestor Andres Plasencia. Plasencia Cigars is partly owned by Swedish Match, which also owns in the USA, Cigars International and General Cigar, together with the rights to Cuban Cigar Brands in the USA like Cohiba, Bolivar, Hoyo de Monterrey, La Gloria Cubana, Partagas and Punch as well as interest in other tobacco companies like Arnold Andre in Europe.“With the help of Mr. Nodal and the premium tobacco of Plasencia cigars, our company is getting ready for the international market as we improve our product lineup,” said Mr. Erdogan, the shareholder of Teka Puro. “For Alina and me it is a great opportunity to work with such a wonderful group of individuals that are dedicated to produce the best possible cigars at the best possible prices,” said Rafael Nodal. “With our perfect strategic location, the experience of Rafael Nodal and the Tobacco of Plasencia Cigars, we are ready to play an important part in the national, regional and International tobacco market,” said Meltem Cebi from Teka Puro.

For information about Teka Puro of Istanbul Tobacco please contact

Meltem Cebi

meltem.cebi@tekapuro.com

www.TekaPuro.com

PH: 0 216 442 8975

For information about the cooperation agreement or about Oliveros Cigars please contact:

Hank Bischoff, Vice President

Habana Cuba Oliveros

CigarsHank@OliverosCigars.com

www.Oliveroscigars.com

Ph: (305) 557- 6919

Very rarely am I impressed by a house cigar from a regular retail store because it’s merely the result of a proprietor’s desire to emulate their favourite major labels, but once in awhile I learn to eat my words and this once in awhile is now.  Thanks to Joel Sorrentino I received a sampler pack in the mail of the new Luca del Toro cigars from the Olde Punta Gorda Cigar Shop in the Florida town of the same name.

The Luca del Toro is the latest release from Ron Andrews (owner, Olde Punta Gorda Cigars), a man who for barely a decade has been in the cigar business and seems to have found a passion.  Under the parent name of Los Nietos Cigars, as the Spanish implies, Andrews is celebrating grandchildren.  Made by George Rico of Gran Habano Cigars, this stick is named for Andrews’ first grandson, Luke, and comes in two sizes: Toro Pequeño (52 x 5 1/2″) and the Toro Grande (54 x 6″) and they retail for $6.00 and $6.50 respectively.

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Size: Toro Pequeño (52 x 5 1/2″)

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano  *(Nicaraguan-Honduran hybrid used for the first time in a blend made by George Rico)*

Photo courtesy of Los Nietos Cigars

Binder: Honduras

Filler: Honduras

Appearance and Construction: At first glance I was a little alarmed because the wrapper appeared more veiny than I prefer, but to the touch the Nicaraguan Habano hybrid was exceedingly smooth and pleasantly oily.  Staring down the foot of the cigar it looked like a good roll and while the Cuban-style triple cap looked a little sloppy, it didn’t lead me to believe it would cause any problems while smoking.  My only real issue with the cigar’s appearance was the band itself: for my taste it was a bit too kitschy and has this Wild West vibe to it, but I’m not going to hold grudges for artwork when it has no bearing on my smoking experience.  (28/30 for the category)

Delivery (Notes, etc): I spent probably two-to-three minutes just smelling the foot prior to lighting the cigar because it had the most pleasant aroma of rich chocolate coupled with the smell of mineral-esque manure.  (Now I know what you’re thinking when I said “manure,” but in terms of the quality of the soil the tobacco came from, this smell is a good sign.  If you don’t believe me, then ask José Blanco of La Aurora.)

I’m not going to lie when I say I was skeptical because I’m not a big fan of Honduran tobacco — it is either cured and fermented beyond oblivion or as a natural wrapper too sweet for my palate– and despite its hybrid wrapper, Los Nietos labels this as a “Honduran Selection”.  On the flip side from the second I lit this cigar is when I had to discard many of my prejudices towards the tobacco used in this blend.  Prime example: you know when you first light a stick and it’s just this massive abundance of unmarried flavours before the oils in the leaves fully heat up? For some reason beyond my knowledge the Luca del Toro does NOT do this and is smooth and flavourful from the first puff with zero bite.

The best way for me to describe the Luca del Toro is that it is an adventure in chocolate. The first two inches or so there is this beautiful bounty of rich semi-dark chocolate marked with smokey undertones of chipotle pepper.  (If you have experience with true chocolate — not the crap Hershey’s puts out — then you’ll know how well darker chocolate works with hot peppers. )  The pepper here is just prominent enough that I got a slight tingle on my lips.  The longer I smoked the pepper slowly disappeared, but in return the cigar kept developing and throwing off hints of increasingly darker cacao.  At its apex it was like smoking 80% pure African chocolate where the overall bittersweet taste real cacao is known for also gave off the slightest hint of sweet cedar in the back of the draw.

I smoked the Toro Pequeño down to the nub and as the cigar itself began to wind down, so did the chocolate nature that had been so prominent throughout.  Another positive sign for me in terms of good blending was that the paramount notes here did not just die, but rather they gradually calmed down and bled into this milder, more peaty and earthy finish that sat well on my palate even after I had finished smoking. (33/35 for the category)

Burn/Ash/Draw: The burn was really the only time I had an issue with the cigar and it was a small one.  The Luca del Toro burned rather evenly throughout, but the last 1.5″ it started to canoe.  Although it did not do so badly, it still became a bit unsightly.

The ash itself was a rich silver-grey encompassed in a thin, darker-coloured ring.  While the colour of the ash — as pretty as it is to some — has nothing extreme to do with the overall quality of a cigar, the colour here let me know the tobacco came from calcium-rich soil.

The draw on the Toro Pequeño was perfect and that too impressed me, because as I prefaced earlier, Honduran tobacco is not my usual smoke of choice.  The more oscuro wrappers from Honduras tend to be too toothy and therefore you pull more when you smoke; whereas the more natural Honduran tobacco tends to be light and sweet, resulting in a draw so easy it’s almost as if you are not smoking.  Thankfully with the Luca del Toro George Rico got it right.  (30/35 for the category)

Overall Assessment: The Luca del Toro from Los Nietos Cigars is a must-try and a must-buy: inexpensive, tasty, well-made, and quite honestly that makes for a great everyday smoke to have in your humidor.  This cigar proves exactly what is preached in the food world and that is something does not have to be overtly complex to be good and enjoyable; in fact, it takes a lot more skill and understanding of your ingredients to make something well that is for all intensive purposes “simple,” rather than throwing a whole bunch of things in a pot hoping they work well with one another.  The cigar industry today seems to have turned into this competition for complexity and that does not always result in a solid product. Very rarely do I give this much praise, but kudos to George Rico for his work and to Ron Andrews for choosing a blend that is truly a breath of fresh air.

*Final Score: 91

Check out this little blurb courtesy of NATO in regards to cigarillos….

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New York Legislature Changes the Definition of Little Cigars

In June, the New York State legislature passed a budget bill that raised the state cigarette tax and the other
tobacco products tax while also taxing little cigars as cigarettes at $4.35 per pack. This month, the New York
State legislature also made another change to the definition of what constituents a little cigar. The new
definition reads: “Little Cigar: Any roll for smoking made wholly or in part of tobacco if such product is
wrapped in any substance containing tobacco, other than natural leaf tobacco wrapper, and weighing not
more than four pounds per thousand or with a cellulose acetate or other integrated filter.” The underlined
wording is the new phrase added to the definition of a little cigar.

Article and photos courtesy of the Huffington Post, 23 August 2010

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Coming Soon: Maraya’s Cigar Shop on 87 Orchard

Those rumors about Mother-in-Law’s Kimchi assuming control of the old Guss’ Pickles HQ can now be put to sleep for the duration.  Six months after the pickle stand decamped for Borough Park as Ess-a-Pickle, a completely different type of business is moving into the small storefront.  A specialty cigar shop called Maraya.

Saturday afternoon, the security gates were up and the doors open at 87 Orchard Street, beckoning us to explore further.  Sitting on the tiled floor inside with a trowel in her hand was one of the co-owners, Joy Florentz.  Ms. Florentz was busy preparing the space, but kindly took five to explain to us the nitty gritty.

We learned that all of the craft cigars are hand-rolled and manufactured in the Dominican Republic. Florentz also stressed their somewhat non-traditional marketing stance – cigar smoking is an acceptable pleasure and should be enjoyed as such. Period.  Here is a bit of copy from their website:

“Our aim is to preserve the centuries-old tradition and craft of cigar-making, an authentic livelihood, deserving a continued place in the world. We want to educate and inform those who continue to enjoy fine cigars made in countries around the world.

Maraya promotes the enjoyment of cigar smoking as an acceptable pleasure, rather than accepting being dogged in a downward spiral by negative social stigma. We want to enjoy cigars when and where we please, at appropriate times and in appropriate places without being forced into smoking rooms.

We celebrate the fine craft of cigar-making as an art form and artisinal form of pleasure today and for many generations to come. We encourage the fight for freedom to continue making great cigars, and freedoms to pursue our natural instincts of pleasure.”

Maraya is tentatively scheduled to open in time for the third annual NYC Apple Day on September 26. Given the appearance of the interior, though, one month to ready the joint might be lofty thinking.  And as an aside, it should be noted that throughout our conversation, a number of people stopped to ask where Guss’ went.  Take pictures while you can, because that green-and-red awning is on its last legs.

Should IPCPR Be Open To Fans And Bloggers Or Vendors And Retailers Only?

In this little exposé, Lindsay and Squid take opposite sides on an issue that may be of concern to the community of cigar smokers, bloggers and fans. Lindsay takes the side that IPCPR is an industry trade show and should be for business primarily, so the bloggers are in the way. Squid takes the side that it’s a once-a-year celebration where the fans get to see all their heroes in one week-long venue.

**NOTE: We’ve taken these sides at random, not because we necessarily believe them.
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SQUID: In recent years, the number of online cigar forums and other virtual communities of cigar lovers has grown dramatically. Both retailers and manufacturers are active in these online venues, which has slowly changed how they are viewed by the members of these various online communities. They are now seen in most cases not as vague captains of industry but as real people, and even as celebrities sometimes. Because IPCPR has allowed access to a certain amount of non-retailers (as either “Press” or using a non-buyer pass from a retail shop) I see nothing wrong with these fans having access to see and speak with whomever they please.

LINDSAY: While I will never disagree that with the advent of social media this industry has changed, the point here is that since the RTDA morphed into IPCPR, an industry trade show has turned into a giant meet & greet.
The point of a trade show is to use an opportunity to display to one’s peers new products & innovations, plus of course engage in business. There are other cigar events throughout the calendar year where a plethora of major manufacturers are around to hand out samples, talk to fans/bloggers, etc., so why disrupt companies who are there under the auspice of doing business?? Though I can attest that most IPCPR exhibitors are happy to answer questions & like seeing the ‘fan boi’ enjoy their product(s), that blogger isn’t placing an order for 1,000 boxes and needs to get off the couch so the manufacturer can make money and disseminate inventory.

SQUID: Fan Boi??? Gosh, Lindsay! These are the guys who will go to your B&M and plunk down their hard-earned cash for a cigar they never tried, simply on the basis of another “Fan Boi’s” recommendation on a blog, or because they traded a few words and a ‘LOL’ with the manufacturer on Twitter. They also take time off work, pay to travel to IPCPR, and generally have mostly good comments to write on their “Fan Boi” blogs! Make no mistake that the professionals in the cigar industry use social media to sell their products, so if a few fans want to talk to a celebrity cigar maker for a few minutes, what’s the harm? And do you think all the Booth Babes and glitter are merely to impress the retail shop owners?

LINDSAY: As supportive as bloggers generally are of this industry, do you see other trade shows being mobbed by them? I grew up going to trade shows with my Dad who has worked in the cable industry since the early ’80s and despite having HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, etc with large booths and celebrities to promote shows/products, even today you don’t see “True Blood” blogging fanatics at these venues because they’re not allowed if
they are in fact not employed by the cable industry itself.

To boot I have it on good authority from multiple reps in various cigar companies that this year the IPCPR was sad: about half the retailers as were last year, low sales, and TONS of bloggers. While this year manufacturers didn’t have to worry about allocating samples and denying bloggers over buyers — this did happen in 2009 — when the Padróns and
Rocky Patel & co. are sitting down talking amongst themselves in their own booths, something is wrong on the sales end. I know for a fact these guys really like the bloggers and appreciate all the attention, but if the bloggers are so influential, why did less retailers show up & why did those that were present cut their booth sizes in half from last year? You can’t blame this all on taxes, either….

Honestly there is a better place for bloggers in this industry when it comes to events, which is why Cigar Aficionado has its Big Smoke on both coasts, Serious Cigars has their annual festival/BBQ, and CI has CigarFest. Assuming the board members of IPCPR this year weren’t completely turned off by the hoards of bloggers then maybe the best way for these non-industry folks to get their face time & samples would be through a “Press Day” just as is done in the entertainment industry.
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DISCLAIMER: This is our first writing collaboration and we both hope you readers have enjoyed it. We did this to give food for thought, and we don’t necessarily hold to the opinions we’ve expressed; but both sides of the issue needed to be aired. Your comments and opinions are welcome!

Lindsay is a tobacconist based in New York City who does everything from sell cigars, to assist in blending, write articles for various publications, and host cigar events around the world.  You can follow Lindsay on Twitter by clicking here.

Squid builds cigar-banded lighters and is based in Houston, TX.  You can see his custom lighters on his website: http://squidslighters.wordpress.com/ If you’d like to follow Squid on Twitter, you may so do by clicking here.

I’d like to think that one of the biggest names in the cigar trade today does their research, but I guess my standards are too high.

Courtesy of Stogie Review’s Brian Hewitt who posted a pic this morning on Twitter, we all know that the Fuente Family has debuted a new cigar called the ‘Julius Caesar’, but look closely at the picture below:

At the advent that your vision is poor the image is of Julius Caesar but the Fuentes have decidedly spelled the last name of one of history’s most famous men INCORRECTLY.  Sorry Carlito, but it’s ‘Caesar’ and not ‘Caeser’.

You’d think there’s spell-check or a marketing associate in charge of preventing such embarrassing mistakes down  at Chateau Fuente, but I guess that got tossed with a budget cut or something.
#CIGAR_FAIL

Let me just say I’ve had the pleasure of smoking quite a few of the Gran Coronas and Gran Toros with Guillermo himself and they are EXQUISITE.  While I prefer the Gran Corona, this cigar no matter what your preference is a winner and a test to the brilliance of La Aurora.  Virtually every new cigar that is debuting at IPCPR right now I’ve had prior to the show and for me the Guillermo León Gran Corona is the best new smoke of 2010.

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La Aurora debuts new Guillermo León line

Also adds new La Aurora Corojo line for retailers

MIAMI FL – Miami Cigar & Company, the exclusive U-S distributor for La Aurora, announces two new additions to the La Aurora lines.  The first is the new Guillermo León line which brings a complex and medium-to-full bodied experience into the La Aurora marque.

La Aurora vice president Guillermo León says, “Obviously, this cigar is personal for me.  It is part of my family’s legacy for the past 107 years. In this cigar, I wanted something with deep complexity yet also a stronger smoke than most of our offerings.  I think this is something that will please today’s smokers.”  Miami Cigar & Company president Nestor Miranda adds, “With the additions of the La Aurora Corojo and the Guillermo León to the La Aurora 107, which debuted earlier this year, we now have more lines directed specifically to the Brick and Mortar stores.  Our goal is to remain committed to the retail operations that are our lifeblood.”

The Guillermo León sports a Habana wrapper grown in Ecuador, over a double binder of both Corojo for strength and Cameroon for sweetness.  The fillers are from the Dominican Republic, Peru, Nicaragua and Brazil.  The Guillermo León will be offered in 4 sizes:  a Corona (5.5 x 42), a Gran Corona (6 x 47), a Belicoso (6.25 x 52) and a Gran Toro (6 x 58).  The MSRP, excluding state taxes,  ranges from $7.60 for the corona to $9.80 for the Gran Toro.

La Aurora Corojo is another new line addition, specifically for Brick and Mortar stores.  The new line will have the same basic flavor profile as our regular La Aurora, except with a touch more strength due to its Corojo wrapper. The rest of the blend is the same as the regular La Aurora with a Dominican binder and Piloto Cubano, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers.  Initially there will be 5 sizes – Number 4 (5.25 x 43), Robusto (5 x 50), Belicoso (6.25 x 52), Gran Corona (6.5 x 50) and Double Corona (7.5 x 50).  The suggested retail prices, exclusive of state taxes, will range from $5.60 for the Number 4 to $6.80 for the Belicoso or Double Corona.

About Miami Cigar & Company
Miami Cigar & Company, founded in 1989, is the sole U-S distributor of La Aurora brands, Ducados and worldwide distributor of Tatiana, Don Lino and the Nestor Miranda Special Selection.

Like winemakers’ terroir – with its critical contribution to the unique personality of a wine, the precise region and farm where tobacco is grown will ultimately determine the style and character of a premium cigar.

Toraño Family Cigar Company is introducing the first release in its Single Region Series at this August’s IPCPR 2010. The concept highlights the different characteristics of tobaccos grown on individual farms in various regions in the world’s best tobacco-producing countries. Each Serie will feature a blend that is created entirely from tobaccos grown on one carefully selected finca in one particular region. The blend’s flavor and aroma will reflect the influence of the region’s soil, weather and topography. The Toraños then apply their well-known blending artistry to create an in-depth smoking experience that reveals the character of this historic region’s tobacco.

Bruce M. Lewis, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, explains the birth of the concept: “I have always had an interest in the single region concept and how crucial it is to wine and coffee. In early 2008, I suggested to President Charlie Toraño that we experiment with blends of tobacco from only one farm. We soon realized blending such a cigar was not an easy task. Now, however, I know we have truly captured the characteristics and taste profile of tobacco grown in Jalapa.”

The first release, Serie Jalapa, features a blend of tobacco from the El Estero Farm in Jalapa, Nicaragua. This small farm, located in the country’s northernmost growing province, is irrigated by a centuries-old, natural stream on the property. Its mineral-rich water, together with the sandy, red clay soil, enables this farm to grow some of the finest and most aromatic tobacco in the world. Lewis’ tasting notes indicate Serie Jalapa is, “Incredibly rich, complex, layered and with a great presence of sweetness. The blend exhibits good strength that balances well with the rounded, luscious flavor.”

Charlie Toraño adds, “I am inviting all IPCPR attendees to stop by our pavilion (booths 2501, 2503, 2505, 2600, 2602, 2604) to experience the Serie Jalapa, available exclusively to brick-and-mortar retailers.”

Single Region – Serie Jalapa’s three sizes are: 5″ x 52 Robusto, 6″ x 54 Toro Grande and 7″ x 50 Churchill, with a suggested retail of $6.50-6.95. The cigars will appear on tobacco retailers’ shelves immediately after the August show, alongside the company’s equally revolutionary new blend, Master by Carlos Toraño.

A leader in the cigar industry, Toraño Family Cigar Company is a four-generation company. It enjoys a rich heritage and history in tobacco growing and manufacturing.

For starters if you’re not Jewish then let me translate the Yiddish phrase in the title: it means “pretty face”.  Now down to business….

What does it take to sell cigars and be successful? Certainly I don’t think there exists one right answer to this question, but I feel there are multiple wrong ways to go about it and despite supposed progress in society, in the marketing and retail world of it all we’re still stuck in the 1920s.  It is no surprise that over the last few years there have been groups formed for female cigar lovers and even female cigar makers who are part of the storied traditions of their own tobacco families, but what is to be said for success??

Maybe one day I will have my own line of cigars, but for right now I’m content selling them, writing about them, and teaching classes on them.  Besides my own place of employment I frequent the smoking lounges here in New York and for the most part no matter where I go people know me or know of me.  On the flip-side I encounter men on a semi-regular basis who think nothing of me simply because I’m a woman: they pass me over when I offer to assist them while I’m working, they make wisecracks about me being female and address cigars as something phallic, or in certain cases they write me off despite colleagues saying out loud that I am the cigar expert on premises.  Since I am not a man I cannot claim to think like one,  but I have to imagine men who don’t know me automatically think that I must know nothing because cigars are a “guy thing,” or worse yet,  hit on me because they think I’m pretty and show me no respect.  Personally I think the finger should be pointed in a clear direction: marketing.

While the number of instances of random negativity towards me in this industry decreases on a regular basis, there will always be ignorance and backwoods thinking no matter how many ways I choose to prove myself as an equal (if not a superior in some cases) in this male-oriented business.  I am proud to see a larger number of women working in the cigar industry in all mediums and I am elated when a woman comes to me to assist her in securing smokes and displays a desire to learn about tobacco on her own accord.  I am far from a feminist so don’t call me Gloria Steinem, but why must this industry always resort to using a pretty young girl to sell a product?

One avenue where I think marketers go awry today is that they discount the motives of the cigar smoker: even occasional smokers today are rather passionate about their tobacco and participate in forums, social media networks, etc., spending sometimes their entire day conversing about cigars. Those that label themselves as “cigar lovers” nowadays are interested in learning about the process and why their favourite stick has become their favourite — these are not people who flip open any number of  magazines and choose their next smoke based on the girl in the ad. These people also don’t attend events at their local B&M because of the cigar models, either, but rather they like the featured brand or want to meet its manufacturer or simply want to take advantage of event pricing.  Cigar models are simply that — models — and are not hired based on their product knowledge, especially since many of the ones I have encountered over the years don’t even smoke.

Forget the lesser-respected brands that are poorly made bargain smokes for the non-discerning palate (because if you’re on the retail side as a proud tobacconist you’re not interested in that crowd), but what happens when a major label manufacturing cigars you love resorts to the “sex sells” philosophy? New labels seem to be popping up left and right; and while many are doing their best to make a dent in the marketplace, there are some that I think are not only going about it unfairly, but taking the cheap route by using a young model to tout their product.  Part of me wonders what goes through the mind of cigar manufacturer who suddenly decides to abandon their traditional advertising in lieu of a girl wearing a bikini or a mini-dress partying it up in Miami with an unlit cigar in her hand: do these people really think consumers are that dumb and easy?!

I think the same rule for packaging versus quality can be said for a cigar’s advertisement in a magazine: the prettier the parcel the lesser the quality.  Ratios in this world are far from perfect, so why overcompensate?