Press Release: THE NEW G.A.R. RED: MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2013

THE NEW G.A.R. RED: MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!

Gran Habano announces the release of G.A.R. Red full-bodied, big-ring gauge premium cigars.







Miami, Florida, September 25. 2013 – Santa Cruz Tobacco has unveiled an addition to the G.A.R. by George A. Rico lines, the G.A.R. Red Trays that are nothing but amazing in size and price.

These robust smokes come in a complex blend containing 100 cigars in each tray, in three sizes that are now tradition in the Gran Habano Family: 6 x 60, 6 x 66, and the incredibly popular 7 x 70. The most impressive of all is the price, the 7 x 70 size coming in at a MSRP of $5.00.



This fully-loaded, 100% Puro Nicaraguan blend combines a beautiful Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, with a Habano binder from Jalapa, and a filler blend of Habano and Corojo tobaccos from Esteli. G.A.R. Red comes in three sizes that range in price from $4 - $5 MSRP.

The G.A.R. Red is a medium to full-bodied smoke experience with a rich dark chocolate flavor infused with black peppery notes in the finish. George Rico once again delivers complexity and balance, thus becoming the kind of experience that only Gran Habano can create at such a value for the consumer.
This newest premium long-filler cigar joins the ranks of the highly rated G.A.R. collection,
including G.A.R. White and G.A.R. Opium.

 Gran Habano Cigars
3261 NW 82nd Avenue
Doral, FL 33122
(305) 436-5960 or Toll

CAO Flathead V554 Camshaft

Size: 5 1/2 X 54

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder: Habano Connecticut
.
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero and Piloto Cubana Ligero

Today, I asked my boy James to pick me a cigar out of the humidor to review. He picked the CAO Flathead 554 because he thought it looked cool and like the box pressed look.. A cool looking stick that had a label that is reminiscent of a retro time. It reminded me of the 1950's. This boxed pressed dark chocolate robusto was a well-constructed, minimally veined cigar with a mild oily sheen to it.

I placed the foot under my nose and smelled the aroma of chocolate and hay. The stick had a sweaty barnyard smell to it. I clipped the cap and tasted notes of spice and hay. Toasting the foot, it lit easy and I tasted cedar and a flowery note in my first few drags of full smoke. Later in the first third, I tasted hints of coffee, cedar, wood and leather. The ash was dense and light grey. The smoke pumped out full and creamy and the burn was even.

The second third and a sweetness note entered into the mix along with white and black pepper. The ash almost held on until the halfway point and the burn was almost even as the smoke continued to pump out full and creamy. The large band came off without incident. No glue, defects or tears underneath.

The last third and the ash fell again right before and the smoke was still kicking out full. The burn evened out and the flavor cavalcade ended with just notes of black pepper and a slight bitterness dominating the last section.

This cigar was a nice bold stick and would be great for a person that likes a strong peppery cigar. If only the notes from the first half continued throughout the whole stick I would have enjoyed it more. I'm not a fan of the peppery flavor dominating half a cigar and probably wouldn't smoke another one. - September 25, 2013

Video Review

Press Release: Monte by Montecristo – A Modern Classic

Monte by Montecristo – A Modern Classic

Altadis USA introduces Monte by Montecristo, a modern classic with a new twist in the US Market. 

One of the best known and trusted cigar brands in the world, Montecristo has always been revered for its excellent quality and sophisticated image.

Now, a new chapter of Montecristo history is being written with Monte by Montecristo, a classic cigar with a twist not only on the taste but also with its price positioning.  With this new edition, Monte is aimed to attract a new consumer group both with its attractive pricing and also with its distinctive smoking profile.  The new trend – Luxury value.

The new Monte by Montecristo features a double binder.  The use of two binders makes the new Monte rich, flavorful and satisfying. Selected for its astounding aroma and strength, a Nicaraguan binder adds depth to a second, spicy Dominican Olor binder, perfectly complementing one another. The Cuban seed Ecuadorian wrapper and aged Dominican fillers complete the cigar delivering a well-balanced combo of rich aromas and robust, hearty flavor.

The new Monte by Montecristo is priced in the $9 - $10 retail price range.

Monte by Montecristo will be available in three innovative gauge sizes – Conde (48X5 1/2), Jacopo No.2 (54X6 1/8 square pressed Torpedo), and Monte (60X6 Magnum) – in presentation boxes of 16 cigars.

Monte by Montecristo Product Specs:

Manufactured in: Tabacalera De Garcia, Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder:  Dominican Olor & Vintage Nicaraguan

Filler: Aged Dominican Tobaccos

Frontmarks, Sizes and Prices:

Conde (Pig Tail)                                                 48X5 1/2               è           $8.95

Jacopo No.2 (Square Pressed)                           54X6 1/8                è           $9.25

Monte                                                                 60X6                      è           $9.50

 

 The Cigar Assessor Review.
http://cigarassessor.blogspot.com/2013/08/montecristo-monte.html

Altadis USA Premium Cigars

Altadis U.S.A. Inc. | An Imperial Tobacco Group Company

5900 N. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

http://www.altadisusa.com

Altadis USA introduces a completely new 100% Nicaraguan Juan Lopez cigar!

Introducing the new 100% Nicaraguan Juan Lopez.

 

Altadis USA introduces a completely new Juan Lopez cigar at an affordable price in USA Market.  Made in Nicaragua entirely of Nicaraguan tobaccos.  The new line is introduced to meet the increasing demand for the Nicaraguan tobacco among the premium cigar smokers in the market.

It is planned to hit the shelves in mid-August, the Juan Lopez is priced right at sweet spot $5-$6 retail price range.

 

Juan Lopez range will be made available in three gauge sizes in line with market trends – Seleccion No. 1 (54X5), Seleccion No.2 (54X6), and Seleccion No.3 (60X6) – in presentation boxes of 16 cigars.

 

The cigar perfectly captures the renowned boldness and richness of Nicaraguan tobacco. The Cuban seed Nicaraguan grown wrapper is combined with a hearty Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos from the three growing regions of Nicaragua.  A complex blend that is sure to impress. The result is a wonderfully balanced, complex, robust and flavorful smoke.

Juan Lopez Product Specs:

Manufactured in: Agroindustrial Nicaraguense Tabacalera S.A, Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Frontmarks, Sizes and Prices:

Seleccion No.1                                  54X5      è           $5.50

Seleccion No.2                                  54X6      è           $5.75

Seleccion No.3                                  60X6      è           $6.00

 

Altadis USA Premium Cigars

Altadis U.S.A. Inc. | An Imperial Tobacco Group Company

 

Drew Estate Nica Rustica

Size: 6 X 52

Wrapper:Connecticut Broad-leaf Mediums

Binder: Mexican San Andreas Negro

Filler: Grade A Nicaraguan Esteli & Jalapa

Today, I reviewed a cigar that I received from the Drew Estate Booth at IPCPR. The Nica Rustic.  A rustic looking, well-constructed, dark chocolate brown, minimally veined cigar with a pig tail and shaggy foot. The band reminded me of a roadside billboard. It makes you look at it.  I sniffed the foot and smelled leather and wood. I also smelled leather and wood from the stick. I clipped the pig tail and took a nice open draw of hay and leather. I tasted hints of cocoa and cedar from my first full creamy puffs of smoke. Later on in the first third, I tasted notes of roasted coffee, wood, cocoa and a tanginess. The burn was even and the dense gray ash held on for almost the whole first third before it fell. The smoke was full and creamy throughout.

The second third and the burn remained even and the smoke continued kicking out full and creamy. Hints of leather, white pepper and honey were the dominate notes I tasted in this section. 

The last third and spice, leather and sweetness were the notes I tasted. The band came off and had too much glue and opened a crack underneath it. It didn't effect smoke or flavor and it didn't unravel the wrapper. The burn continued and finished even and the smoke was still full and creamy.
 

I really enjoyed this cigar and give it the Cigar Assessor Approved Cigar. When you get a chance to get one, get a couple. You'll be glad you did. -September 18, 2013

Video Review