Cigarticles

Is Marathon Runner 101 of Only 94?

July 21, 2008

Are cigars key to longevity in the UK? Second article inside a week documents another senior still plugging along smoking cigars and drinking. The strange tale of Buster Martin: When he ran the London Marathon this year at the reputed age of 101, he was hailed as the oldest person ever to complete one. Then it emerged that he might be 'only' 94. So who is he? And can Patrick Barkham track down the truth behind . . Read more...

IPCPR Former RTDA 2008

July 17, 2008

Cigar Weekly Contributing Editor Frank Seltzer (Mowee) recounts the highs and lows of this year's International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers gathering in Las Vegas. Read more...

Whisky, cigars and a long, happy life

July 17, 2008

DEFIANT Jack Priestly is still puffing on cigars and downing whisky at the age of 100. The retired baker has puffed an estimated 153,000 cigars and 715,400 cigarettes since his first drag at the tender age of nine. His other vice is whisky, which he took up on the advice of his mother-in-law. He has taken a tot in his tea for 75 years and never looked back. Read more...

Cigar Weekly 2008 Blind Review #1

July 07, 2008

The following description of the Casa Toraño Lancero Maduro was provided by Bruce Lewis, Brand Manager – Toraño and Dunhill Cigars: The Casa Toraño Maduro was introduced late last year but first orders were filled in the early part of this year. It is not a limited release, but what I would refer to as an exciting new release for Toraño. In the first few months of this brand being available to the public, the response and feedback has been extremely positive. Cigar Aficionado have already awarded it two ratings in the 90’s. The cigar features a naturally fermented CT Broadleaf maduro wrapper which brings a sweet, rich flavor and aroma to this medium bodied smoke. A Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican filler complete the blend. As you are aware, there has been increasing interest in the Lancero size and this was one of the reasons to introduce this cigar in this size. More importantly, though, the Lancero size in this blend allows consumers to fully appreciate the rich, sweet characteristics of the maduro wrapper. The Lancero is 7” x 38 and all sizes in the Casa Toraño Maduro line are handmade in Nicaragua. Read more...

Imperial Tobacco Interim Report

June 18, 2008

Imperial Tobacco has issued their 2008 Interim Report. Click where it says "Read more...." to see highlights and a link to the entire report. Read more...

Story of the Tatuaje Black

June 13, 2008

Pete Johnson tells a lovely story on how he came to the decision to make the Tatuaje Black in homage to a Gentleman. Read more...

If I feel like having a cigarette, why shouldn't I?

June 06, 2008

Another editorialist, from the Independent" begins to push back at the encroachment of the "Nanny State" and "advocates." Read more...

Cigar Rights of America

June 04, 2008

Finally, someone besides the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR,) formerly the RTDA (Retail Tobacco Dealers Association,) is organizing to defend cigar smoking, cigar smokers, and the cigar industry. FIGHTING TO PROTECT YOUR FREEDOM TO ENJOY CIGARS * “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” * “Land of the Free” * “No Taxation Without Representation” Read more...

For the Love of Cigars in Tulsa

June 03, 2008

The lore and allure of a fine cigar smoked in a great venue with good friends and exemplary libations, tempts smokers to drive hours for their refuge. Read more...

Capitol Hill Premium Cigars Leads WaPo Report

May 30, 2008

In a feature article on private gatherings and clubs at Washington D. C. pubs and watering holes, the lead group is the upstairs lounge at Capitol Hill Premium Cigars & Tobacco. Chris Utley, a mechanical contractor, pays $450 a year to belong to an exclusive members-only lounge above Capitol Hill Premium Cigars & Tobacco, where cigar aficionados can hang out and enjoy a drink and a smoke. Utley estimates he has been in almost every day since December, when the tobacco shop opened. "It's the whole atmosphere," he says between puffs on an enormous Cuba Aliados cigar and sips from a snifter of cognac. He gestures at the leather couches, the flat-screen TVs, the older men joking at the bar. "It's real relaxed. Everybody knows your name." Read more...

Interviews

Cigar Weekly Interview with Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuenca

May 12, 2008

On February 13, 2008, Rich Perelman's CigarCyclopedia reported that Tabacos Puros de Nicaragua, manufacturer of Joya de Nicaragua had reached an agreement to end their distribution relationship with SAG Imports, headed by Manuel Quesada. On March 28th Cigar Weekly broke the news that TPN had reached a distribution agreement with Drew Estate. The new partnership became active on Monday April 28, 2008, ironically, the day we finished this interview with TPN president, Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuenca. Read more...

A Conversation with Jose Blanco

March 10, 2008

CW Contributing Editor Frank Seltzer (mowee) sits down with Jose Blanco of La Aurora Cigars to answer questions about La Aurora and its many vitolas. Read more...

Cigar Weekly Interview With Don Kiki Berger

February 18, 2008

The news recently hit the forums at Cigar Weekly: "Cupidos are BACK!" This set off a long thread and a feeding frenzy among members, quite a few of whom jumped on the web and on the phone to order what was thought to be gone forever from Cuban Crafters. Cigar Weekly Editor-in-Chief Thomas Bender (TommyBB) recently spoke to Cuban Crafters' driving force, Don Kiki Berger, about his Cupidos, Cuban Crafters and cigars in general. Read more...

Cigar Weekly Interview with Jon Huber

January 21, 2008

Cigar Weekly editor Thomas Bender (TommyBB) recently had the opportunity to interview the Director of Lifestyle Marketing for CAO Cigars, Jon Huber. They discussed his new title and the changes occurring within CAO, Henri Wintermans and the takeover of the marketing arms of Carlos Toraño and Alfred Dunhill. Read more...

Cigar Weekly Interview with Carlos Diez

December 17, 2007

There is an old, often cited aphorism, "Blood is thicker than water," which aptly expresses the human yearning for and value placed in family. By and large, people set great store in doing what's best for their families, and see them as being at the center of their own efforts. Hardly any field of business endeavor is more family-oriented, or professes to be, than the premium cigar business, especially when one refers to the non-Cuban cigar industry. Read more...

Cigar Weekly Interview with Pete Johnson

March 19, 2007

March 19, 2007 -- Meet Tattoo Pete of Tatuaje Cigars Pete Johnson started enjoying cigars while he was in his band back in the early 90's. He first got into the business back in 1992 working for Gus' Cigar Shop in Los Angeles. Cigar Weekly's Dave Preston (Mr. Goodlife) caught up with Pete on a visit to Dion Giolito’s Fumare in Reno, NV and here’s what he had to say: Read more...

Cigar Weekly Interview with Nick Perdomo

August 14, 2006

August 14th, 2006 -- Cigar Weekly moderator Thomas Bender (TommyBB) sent a series of questions to Mr. Nick Perdomo, owner of Tabacalera Perdomo of Miami, Florida. This new written interview was a follow-up of an interview conducted by phone in 2003 by Rod Gwinn (Nice Ash). Read more...

Cigar Weekly Interview with Don Benigno

July 29, 2005

Don Benigno learned the art of hand rolling cigars as a child with his father and uncles. His grandfather, who was born in 1871, opened a small tobacco shop at the age of 29 and produced a cigar caled CENIZA. Living in a time of world crisis, all of his children, including 14 sons, spent their days going to school then working at the shop. By the age of ten they were all proficient in the art of hand rolling cigars. Read more...

Cigar Weekly Interview with Luis Sanchez, craftsman

May 01, 2005

Luis Sanchez began selling La Tradicion Cubana cigars in 1995. Sanchez' family has been involved in the cigar business since 1928 in the Pinar del Rio province in Cuba. Sanchez adheres to the tradional Cuban cigar making techniques and is committed to producing quality cigars at an affordable price. Made in the heart of Little Havana, the cigars are made with a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos with a Honduran binder and an Ecuadorian wrapper.The maduro version features a Mexican wrapper. Read more...

Cigar Weekly Interview with Arlin Liss, craftsman

March 01, 2004

Arlin Liss is the proprietor of Arlin Liss humidors. Recently Rod Gwinn (Niceash) of Cigar Weekly received the exact humidor that Steve Saka reviewed and that has caused much controversy in Cigar Afficionado. Rod contacted Arlin to get some background on his business. NiceAsh: I just received in the mail a desktop humidor handmade by Mr. Arlin Liss. Mr. Liss has been making humidors for the last 10 years. At first glance you wonder how something that looks so nice could be used to store something like cigars. The material is a burl wood and you can visually see the attention to detail. Click here for the First Look TM review and pictures of the humidor. Read more...

Lifestyles

“Smoking” the Corners

July 14, 2008

CW Contributing Editor Neil Noffsinger (“Road Hawg”) recently completed a motorcycle tour around the perimeter of the United States to each of the “Four Corners.” He combined this 12,000 mile road adventure with a selection of smokes and has chronicled his journey for CW readers. Join him on this trek as he fires up his Harley, fires up some cigars and hits the road. Read more...

A Rich Pour – Column No. 13: All For One & One For All

June 16, 2008

In this instalment of A Rich Pour, Cigar Weekly Managing Editor Doug Kuebler (jazznut) offers up ideas and techniques for creating some very tasty whiskies at home as he addresses one of his favourite subjects, the blending of single malt Scotches. Read more...

The Virtual Gourmand 12: Heavy Metal

June 11, 2008

CW Editor-at-large and Executive Chef BigO (Jason Clabaugh) walks us through the tedious task of selecting cookware, offering sage suggestions for sizes and types of cookware to have in a well-equipped kitchen. Read more...

Irish Smoking Up After Ban

June 09, 2008

In Ireland last month a piece of news was quietly slipped out through the back door that you've probably not heard about. The number of smokers among the population has RISEN significantly since the introduction of the Irish smoking ban. In 1998 rates were at 33%, smokers having decreased to 27% of the population by 2002. I can't find figures for 2003 but it's reasonable to assume the downward trend continued until the smoking ban was introduced in 2004. Since then, according to the Government-commissioned National Health and Lifestyle Survey (SLÁN 2007), the rate has leapt back up to 29%! Now before the antis start bleating "2% ain't a significant rise,innit?", when you consider the previous yearly fall one would expect the rate to be around 21% by now, indicating a potential yawning gap of 8% - a rise created directly as a consequence of the ban. Read more...

Friends Remember Red

June 04, 2008

Red Auerbach is remembered fondly by his close friends, the members of his former weekly lunch group. This, from Michael Lee of the Washinton Post. Read more...

The Virtual Gourmand Number 11: Ribs Redux

May 22, 2008

CW Editor-at-large and Executive Chef BigO (Jason Clabaugh) revisits the subject of barbecued ribs, the subject of an earlier column on the subject, and updates the technique to apply to upgraded equipment and knowledge. Read more...

A Rich Pour – Column No. 12: Off the Beaten Track

May 19, 2008

In this instalment of A Rich Pour, Cigar Weekly Managing Editor Doug Kuebler (jazznut) veers from the tried and true to highlight a few of his red wine discoveries from less renowned regions of the globe. Read more...

Travelling With Kids: Savannah

May 05, 2008

Cigar Weekly Executive Chef and Editor-at-large Jason Clabaugh (BigO) takes a turn at being 'Editor-at-leisure', dispensing some helpful advice for traveling with children as he gives us a tour of Savannah, GA. Read more...

Pittsburgh Wine Festival to Begin Friday

April 30, 2008

Sponsored by many wineries and other companies, Pittsburgh Wine Festival to kick off at the end of the week."Bringing the Best Wines in the World to Pittsburgh for the Sixth Straight Year" Read more...

Pittsburgh Wine Festival Announces Seminars

April 29, 2008

A number of wine seminars will be held during the Pittsburgh Wine Festival. Read more...