PRESS RELEASE: CAO La Traviata “Luminoso” Maduro Announced
CAO La Traviata will introduce the popular “Luminoso” frontmark in a new Maduro version, making its retail debut later this week.
Following in the footsteps of the highly successful Ecuadoran-wrapped CAO La Traviata Luminoso, the new Maduro version features a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper to lend a touch of sweetness to the critically-acclaimed blend. (more…)
The General Cigar Dominican Republic Blogger Tour 2011 Slideshow & Video
If they say a picture is worth a thousand words, here’s 1/2 a million words for ya 
My fellow bloggers are much more gifted at the text of our trip than I so I’ll just stick to what I’m good at!
You can read my highlights of each day below and that will step you through the photos. Also included is a video, which has extras like a ton of clips throughout showing things as we were there as well: (more…)
CAO OSA Sol Lot 54 Cigar Review
CAO OSA Sol Lot 54 Cigar Review
This 6×54 stick features a medium brown sungrown wrapper with small veins, tight seams, slight tooth, a firm even construction, double cap and a faint musty tobacco aroma. (more…)
Press Release: GENERAL CIGAR ROLLS BACK PRICE OF MACANUDO 1968
Press Release: GENERAL CIGAR ROLLS BACK PRICE OF MACANUDO 1968
Richmond, VA—General Cigar announces today that the company is reducing the price of all Macanudo 1968 cigars, representing an average price savings of more than $3.33 per cigar, and an average cost savings of more than $32.00 per box.
The new pricing of Macanudo 1968 is currently being made available exclusively at brick and mortar retailers across the U.S.
Bill Chilian, director of marketing commented, “Since the debut of Macanudo 1968 in August of 2008, the brand has enjoyed critical acclaim and has received high praise from brick and mortar retailers across the country. We recognize that Macanudo 1968 is a strong product with tremendous potential and decided to revise the pricing structure to make the brand accessible to a broader range of cigar enthusiasts.â€
Under the new pricing structure, Macanudo 1968 Churchill (7†x 49) will now be available for $7.69 per cigar or $153.80 per 20-count box (previous price was $10.00 per cigar or $200 per box). Macanudo 1968 Toro (6†x 54) will now carry an SRP of $7.49 or $149.80 per box (previous price was $9.50 per cigar, or $190.00 per box).
At 5†x 50, the Robusto frontmark (5†x 50) will now retail for $6.49 per cigar, with a box price of $129.80 (previous price was $8.50 per cigar and $170.00 per box). Rounding out the collection is Macanudo 1968 Gigante (6†x 60) which will now cost $7.99 apiece or $159.80 per box (previous price was $11.00 per cigar, or with a box price of $220.
About Macanudo 1968
Macanudo 1968 is made completely of tobaccos which are either grown by General Cigar or cultivated for the company under an agreement of exclusivity. Harvested one sun-ripened leaf at a time, aged in tercios and charcoaled wooden barrels to further enrich its flavor, the blend marries proprietary Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco to a tobacco cultivated solely for General Cigar in the remote Nicaraguan island of Ometepe. These tobaccos were developed expressly to complement the hearty Connecticut Habano binder and flawless, lustrous Honduran San Agustin wrapper.
Macanudo 1968 is aesthetically pleasing, with the brand’s characteristic round head and immaculate construction evident at the first glance. From the first draw to the last, deeply complex yet balanced flavor envelops the palate with a freshness that celebrates inherent natural sweetness from the soils that bore each tobacco.
About General Cigar
General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo, Cohiba®, La Gloria Cubana®, Punch®, CAO®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.
® Macanudo, Cohiba, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, CAO, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
# # #
CAO Gold Robusto Cigar Review
CAO Gold Robusto Cigar Review
This 5×50 stick offers a medium tan soft wrapper with a fairly firm pack, small veins and good tight seams with a double cap. The aroma is a soft tobacco and slight pepper. First light reveals a perfect draw, lots of medium bodied smoke with very dry tobacco flavors, finishing a bit bitter. The first third develops to slightly sweet, oily, buttery leather flavors on the draw with a long finish of just the leather. Burn and draw are perfect putting out rich thick smoke. The 2nd third yields no changes, but the last third shifts from the creamy leather to a touch of licorice on the draw with a slightly sweet caramel with an deeper earthy finish and a bit of black pepper. Ending at the 1 hour mark, it proved to be a solid performer!
CAO L’Anniversaire Cameroon Robusto Cigar Review
CAO L’Anniversaire Cameroon Robusto Cigar Review
This 5.50 box pressed stick offers a dark tan soft wrapper with slight tooth, a firm press, minimal veins and a slight barnyard aroma. First light reveals a firm draw, minimal smoke output and a mild dry tobacco flavor. The first third quickly develops into a perfect draw, plenty of rich smoke output, very thick and creamy flavors of sweet leather with a medium body. At the 1/2 way point flavors shift slightly adding a tiny pepper kick on the finish. Ending at 50 min where it started to get soft and hot, the experience had not changed again. Thank you very much to Brad Perkins for generously sending this sample in for review!
CAO La Traviata Radiante Cigar Review
CAO La Traviata Radiante Cigar Review
This 6×52 sick offers an extremely oily, toothy rich dark chocolate wrapper with tight seams, minimal veins and a sweet chocolate and earth aroma. First light reveals a very oily medium bodied earthy flavor with a ton of rich smoke and a perfect draw. The first third develops to a mild-medium body of slightly sweet and nutty earth with a deep finish. 50 min in at the 1/2 way point flavors were very consistent, however the stick liked to tunnel and went out prompting a relight without further incident. The stick ended at 1:35 with slightly different but overall consistent flavors at the last third, moving to a slight caramel and nut combo, with the same great smoke draw and finish.
CAO Escaparate Ecuador Robusto Cigar Review
CAO Escaparate Ecuador Robusto Cigar Review
This 5×50 stick offers a light tan, paper thin wrapper that has some minor problems. The shoulder peeled off after cutting, a couple small cracks appeared above the band and there is a large patch below. The burn however was not compromised and it went just fine all the way down with a great draw slightly on the tight side. Smoke output was very good, producing ample volume with slow short puffs. Flavors in the first third were of a medium body creamy leather and an undertone of aged tobacco. The 2nd third shifted to a buttery toast and leather, with a bit of pepper flavor and zing that held on through the long finish. The last third transitioned to a medium-full smooth smoky leather with a bit of oil, that finished long and dry with a deep earthy aftertaste. Burn time to the nub was 55 minutes. Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for sending this for review!
GREAT Sampler on Cigar.com
I’m not sponsored by cigar.com or anything, but just have to say this latest catalog that came today has what I consider to be a GREAT sampler deal, especially for anyone relatively new! Not only is the price very good at $199 for 60 sticks – but they are ALL really good sticks! No $2 duds or house blends. I have had most of them and REALLY like almost all of them. If I had the funds I would pick one up just for pleasure smoking right now! Check this thing out:
Includes two each of the following:
CAO Black (reviewed here)
Graycliff 1666 (reviewed here)
Padilla Miami
Torano Signature
Oliva Serie ’O’ (reviewed here)
Perdomo Habano
Puros Indios Viejo
601 Oscuro
Bahia Blu (reviewed here)
Gurkha Regent
And five each of:
5 Vegas Limitada ’09
G.A.R.
Padilla 1932
Nub Habano
Romeo y Julieta Viejo
Rocky Patel Vintage 1990
Man O’ War
Gurkha’s Park Avenue (reviewed here)
CAO Lx2 Belicoso Cigar Review
This 7×56 stick started out promising, albeit with simple flavors of pepper, tobacco and a hint of sweetness. By the 2/3 point 45 min in though, the flavors had changed to a nice smooth nut but then unfortunately the stick became unsmokeable in a matter of seconds prompting a recut and relight, with horrible flavors afterwards. Full details shown in the video.
CAO Italia Ciao Cigar Review
This dense, pressed 5×56 stick offers a nice blend of flavors, comprised of a chocolate nuttiness with a touch of pepper on the draw and short finish. The draw is on the firm side, and it needed quick double puffs to get any smoke and flavor out. It had burn issues all the way down, requiring multiple touch-ups. Overall a medium bodied experience worth trying if you get a good deal on them.
CAO Brazilia Lambada Toro Cigar Review
Great draw on the firm side, very good burn. Started medium-full ended medium. Started with a spicy finish that went away by final 3rd. Started chocolate and nutty ended nutty and coffee with oil.
