Life Goes On

(Miami, Florida)  April 29, 2016 —  Villiger North America   celebrated their re-launch and the opening of their new headquarters in Miami with a by-invitation-only red carpet event, at its new location at  8107 NW 29 ST. Doral, FL. 33122 . The Villiger North America re-launch was hosted by  Mr. Heinrich Villiger  himself and new Villiger NA President  Rene Castaneda . The event featured notables to include:  Guillermo Leon  of La Aurora,  Alejandro Martinez Cuenca  of Joya De Nicaragua,  Carlos Torano Sr . of the famed Torano cigar family,  Felix Mesa  of Galan Cigars,  Scott Chester  of ACID Cigars,  Albert Montserrat  of Cigar Rings,  Kris Kachaturian , formerly of A.J. Fernandez Cigars,   and  Ferdinand Kurt  of the Swiss Consulate. During his speech, Mr. Villiger communicated of his continued commitment to the North American market. After thanking colleagues, friends and the new Villiger North American team, Mr. Villiger was presented a certificate by Doral City

The newest addition to the Brickell Downtown area is coming into the neighborhood  ready to introduce the public to "Sophisticated relaxation" (Miami, Florida) April 29, 2016 - Casa De Montecristo by Prime Cigar & Whiskey Bar, is about to open in one of Miami’s most dynamic neighborhoods, where commerce and nightlife combine seamlessly. The 4,700 square foot location at the new Millicento tower, 1106 S Miami Ave Suite 202, is soon going to show the public what “sophisticated relaxation” really means. The term coined by owner-operators Jason Reznik and Ryan Leeds is actually a culture they developed at the first Boca Raton location. Very soon, Miami cigar enthusiasts, and active movers and shakers, will experience the Prime- lifestyle. Prime Cigar’s first location set them apart as the premier cigar bar in South Florida. This second location will be in partnership with Altadis USA, one of the world’s top premium cigar manufacturers. In just two weeks, this one

April 27, 2016 - Jason Holly will unveil the release of “Ivy” at an exclusive event at Casa de Montecristo in Countryside, IL on Thursday, April 28th. “Ivy” is a project that although under parent company Viva Republica will boast a completely different personality - initially Ivy will only be sold in 100 specially selected retail shops. The first batch of “Ivy” is an Ecuadorian Habano Corojo wrapped expression of a complex but balanced set of earthy and fruity flavors partly derived from its double binder of tobaccos from Cameroon and the Dominican Republic. Inside the alluring wrapped is a blend of high primed filler leaves from the Dominican Republic’s Cibao Valley and Nicaragua’s Estelí and Condega regions. The Ivy concept was born out of sort of transfixing the style and mannerisms of the Ivy League. Jason Holly said, “I used to smoke cigars in Harvard Yard when I was in school. In a store on the square I saw an old picture of JFK smoking a cigar in the Yard, the hi

According to Willy Herrera, master blender for Drew Estate , this TAA Exclusive is "spicy, meaty and rich:" What a perfect description of a great cigar. Read on to see what I found. Quick Details Size: 6 x 52 Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina Filler: Nicaraguan This beauty starts off with an oily, and I do mean oily, Colorado Maduro colored wrapper. It's probably the oiliest cigar I've smoked and that's pretty sweet. Besides the oil sheen, the wrapper is seamless and contains only the finest of veins. From the cold foot there are rich, sweet aromas of fruity fermented tobacco that will get your senses rocking. After clipping the tight triple cap the cold draw is free, with notes of sweet and spicy fruit while the wrapper leaves behind a spicy after taste on the lips. After toasting and lighting the foot, the first puffs are medium bodied and full flavored with sweet notes of brown sugar, spice and stone fruit. As t

DESIGNED TO IGNITE. BUILT TO PERFORM. BORN TO EXPERIENCE. Introducing the NEW Master-Built Camacho Powerband™ TAMPA, FL (THURSDAY, APRIL, 28TH 2016) –– Camacho , the world’s leading brand of bold cigars, is proud to announce the newest release under its Master-Built Series, Camacho Powerband™. An intense, adrenaline-fueled cigar experience inspired by the power, performance and acceleration associated with a classic V-twin engine, built to galvanize a brotherhood of freedom seekers. The power and muscle of a classic V-twin engine. Peak performance from spark to exhaust. Earth-rumbling sound pulsing through your bones with each revolution. This is the experience of gripping an 800-pound American made icon. This is the experience of Camacho Powerband™. Built with a tandem of legendary powerhouses, this latest edition in our Master-Built Series is defined by the high-octane intensity of Nicaraguan tobacco and the full-throttle flavor of our Honduran grown Original Corojo.

Accomplished cigar and spirits consultant brings his expertise to one of the most recognized cigar brands on the map. (Miami, Florida) April 26, 2016 – Gurkha Cigars , known for producing fine cigars for the sophisticated palate, hires Eddy Guerra as new Director of Marketing. Gurkha Cigars’ hiring of Eddy Guerra was a strategic move to strengthen their position in the luxury market. A native of Miami, Florida Guerra brings with him an impressive resume, which includes the title of Marketing Director for the world renowned Nikki Beach brand, in Miami and Thailand. Guerra followed his passion and entered the cigar industry in 2010, by becoming partner in the Thailand-based ChindAsia Capital Partners, which grew to become the largest distributor of non-Cuban cigars, in Southeast Asia. Under the ChindAsia Capital Partners umbrella, Guerra helped created the Whisgars Cigar/Whiskey lounge concept, which catered to the high-end market. Under Guerra’s watch, Whisgars was an imme

In an effort to best represent what's happening on this blog our domain name will soon be changing to CigarAndCoffee.com . When this blog started several years ago the main focus was on reviewing budget cigars. While I'm still a Cheap Ash and finding great budget cigars is still a passion, the number of premium cigars well out weigh the number of budget cigars being reviewed. In addition, the name CheapAshCigar.com has nothing to do with the premium coffee's that are being reviewed.  The change will take place some time this week, probably Wednesday night since Tuesday is Legends of Fire night and Thursday is Prohibition GastroPub night (I have a post coming soon about the pub and Cigar Train ). Because smoking cigars with friends is way more important than changing domain names around.  CheapAshCigar.com will be redirected and still point to this blog, but CigarAndCoffee.com will be the primary name that appears.  Over the next few weeks there are so

On Wednesday April 20th, Legends of Fire , the cigar and fine spirits lounge at Northern Quest Resort & Casino held a Room 101 Brand Cigar party. I've missed a couple of these events in recent months and it appears Legends of Fire is doing things a bit different now. Ticket sales are now limited to a maximum of 50 per event and locker holders are allowed into the event 15 minutes early. Both these changes are positive and enhance the experience of these smaller events. Plus now I want to become a locker holder so I get early access. Each attendee was greeted upon entering with a bundle of 3 Room 101 cigars (2 from the HN line and 1 Big Payback), plus a sample cocktail created with Hennessy Cognac . The cigars and the cocktails we quite tasty. I did get to spend a bit of time with Matt Booth talking cigars, life and a wide assortment of other topics. While I didn't learn any insider secrets, I did find out that Matt is working on another limited edition that wil

I don't know how they do it, but Famous Smoke Shop came up with another amazing exclusive. This one blended by Jesus Fuego, the Vudu Dark No. 3 . With a great price point and a deluge of tasty flavors it's a near perfect match for my palate and wallet. Quick Details Shape:  Robusto 4 3/4 x 50 Country:   Honduras Wrapper:   Pennsylvania Sun Grown Dark Natural Once the Vudu is free from the cellophane you'll instantly notice two things. the oily, seamless, dark Maduro colored wrapper and then just how full this stick is stuffed full of fillers. It's backed so firmly you'll think the draw may be tight, but surprisingly it's not.  From the cold foot there are floral nuances of fermented tobacco to the nose and once the tightly wrapped triple cap is clipped the free cold draw has notes of toasty, sweet red wine. After toasting and lighting the foot, the first puffs are medium bodied with full sweet flavors of cocoa and fruit with a dash of black pepp

Davidoff Cigars teamed up with six international chefs to create its first ever Limited Chefs Edition Basel, April 2016. Davidoff Cigars has unveiled its new Limited Chefs Edition in a spectacular white gourmet night on Saturday 20th February at Minitas Beach, Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic. The event was highlighted by the global launch of the Limited Chefs Edition, a special cigar line, created exclusively by six international chefs. “The Davidoff Chefs Edition offers fine dining and an exceptional cigar for connoisseurs to enjoy after a culinary tour de force. This unique partnership with some of the world's greatest chefs has inspired Davidoff master blenders to blend this truly memorable cigar,” explained Charles Awad, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing & Innovation at Oettinger Davidoff AG.  “When I first met with my colleagues and the Davidoff team to discuss the blend of Davidoff’s first Chefs Edition, it was important to me that every connoisse

Oettinger Davidoff AG has appointed Olaf Ruf as the future general manager of the subsidiary it intends to create for Germany, Davidoff of Geneva Germany. The experienced manager comes from the tobacco industry and brings many years of experience in the German market as well as a strong sales and marketing background. He will now apply this to the gradual setting-up and development of the Oettinger Davidoff business in Germany.    Basel/Switzerland, 18th April 2016. Oettinger Davidoff AG, the world-leading producer of premium cigars headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, has appointed Olaf Ruf as the future General Manager and Vice President of Davidoff of Geneva Germany. The 43year-old German has extensive experience and a close-knit network in the German and international tobacco business that he will put to good use in the development of the German sales company to be established. In the period leading up to the company’s foundation, Olaf Ruf will initially act as an externa

E. P. Carrllio Cigars recently hosted a contest to promote their new Seleccion Oscuro line and guess what? I won a 5-pack of these outstanding new cigars. Hand-made in the Dominican Republic this Seleccion Oscuro features a Mexico San Andres wrapper over a binder from Ecuador and long fillers from Nicaragua.  So that's how it's made it's made, but how does it smoke? From the cold foot I found a pleasant aroma of sweet, fermented tobacco and after clipping the triple cap, the draw is free with the same sweet fermented tobacco flavors. Along with this, the hearty, toothy Oscuro wrapper left behind a nice sweet cocoa aftertaste on my lips.  After toasting the foot, the first medium bodied mouthfuls of smoke had a flavor mix of sweet fruit, cocoa and a hint of toast.  As the sharp burn line moved toward the cigar's mid point other flavors of nuts, oak and mild black pepper moved in to dominate the tasty flavor mix.  In the final third the flavors

Believe it or not but this is not only the first A. Fuente cigar I've reviewed it's the first I've ever smoked. Why? I don't really know, but I did discover that at $4.95 a pop (if you buy them by the box from Famous Smoke Shop ) I've been missing out on a really tasty cigar.  Quick Details Shape: Rothschild 4 1/2 x 50 Country: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro Under the cedar sleeve of this Arturo Fuente Rothschild you'll find it wrapped in a hearty and stout looking dark maduro colored wrapper. From the cold foot there's a faint aroma of cocoa to the nose and once the triple cap is cut you'll find a smooth even draw with notes of spicy cocoa. Once the cigar was burning the first mouthfuls of medium bodied smoke were smooth with notes of cocoa, spice and a hint of fruit. As the slightly uneven burn progressed up the body, nuances of earth, oak and leather dominated the mix. By the final third the burn had strai

Bright nuances of fruit followed by smooth notes of cocoa and caramel with an added hint of spice make this coffee an excellent choice as a breakfast brew.  Captive Coffee Spokane, WA India Monsooned Malabar Origin: India Brewing Method: Pour-over Price: $11.00 - 8 ounce bag. Captive Coffee is new to the roasting scene here in Spokane and I've been lucky enough to procure several samples to review over the next couple of weeks. This first sample of India Monsooned Malabar is a Full City + roast and knew it was going to be good just breaking the bag's seal. From the bag, as well as the ground beans, there are vivid notes of sweet fruit and toasted pecans that radiate to greet my nose. Several feet away from the brewed cup there's a pleasant aroma of toasted pecans with a hint of cocoa. The first sips give a splash of bright fruit and a hint of earthy spice that provides a cleansing, mouthwatering palate wash that lasts until the next sip. As the coffee

Santiago de los Caballeros 6 March .- This past January, La Aurora Factory faithful to its strategic planning focused on the pillars of training and development in the culture of the Dominican cigar –announced one of its launches that is undoubtedly the most important of 2016: La Aurora Cigar World. As part of the company’s strategic plan, this concept emerged from La Aurora Cigar Institute, the world’s first institution dedicated to training and teaching everything about the cigar in an educational setting with instruction from recognized industry professionals who share their knowledge of the culture of Dominican tobacco. The first course, lasting three days, began on 29 February with the visit of the Executive Director of the Tobacco Institute, Juan Francisco Caraballo, to sign with the President of La Aurora, Guillermo Leon, the document certifying the first agreement between a government agency and a private company. After the signing, the first day of class began wi

(Miami, Florida) March 5, 2016 – La Aurora is pleased to announce that the La Aurora 1962 Corojo and the La Aurora 1987 Connecticut are now in stores. La Aurora is celebrating their 113 years in existence. These two blends are dedicated to the years in which they began working with the types of wrappers used on each. The La Aurora 1962 features a corojo wrapper, from the Cibao Valley in the Dominican Republic, wrapped over an Ecuadorian binder, and fillers from the Cibao Valley and Nicaragua. The La Aurora 1987 sports a Connecticut shade grown wrapper, over a Dominican binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers.    La Aurora offers both cigars, in four sizes in 20 count boxes: Robusto (5 x 50), Churchill (7 x 50), Toro (5 1/2 x 54) and Gran Toro (6 x 58). The low MSRP of $5.50 to $6.00 is to pay tribute to the consumers who have supported La Aurora for 113 years. About La Aurora Cigar Factory La Aurora is the oldest cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. Ma