September 11, 2019 — Black Works
Studio (BLK WKS) is pleased to announce the release of NBK “LIZARD KING:” Hand
crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua at Fabrica Oveja Negra.
The Lizard King will be available at
select BLK WKS retailer events beginning this month.
“NBK has always been a favorite
of mine. It is the cigar that started Black Works Studio. The Lizard King is an
amped up version of the original with more strength and spice. The duel
wrappers also change up the profile quite a bit and add to the complexity of
this unique cigar.These cigars will be
released as event only in very limited quantities. I wanted something special
for our retailers who support us with events,” said James Brown, creator of
BLTC & BLK WKS and owner at Fabrica Oveja Negra.
NBK “LIZARD KING”
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador Maduro and Ecuador Rojiso Barber Pole
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaragua
Robusto – 5 x 50 Box Press (20 count) MSRP $10.50
These cigars are an expression of art showcasing the talent, technique and tobacco behind our boutique cigar factory; Fabrica Oveja Negra. BLK WKS cigars are available for purchase through Oveja Negra Brands. For more information visit OvejaNegraCigars.com.
Why on earth would anyone want to buy an ENTIRE barrel of bourbon? How expensive is that? Are you a bunch of alcoholics? All questions I have been asked. The answers are a bit more complex than one would think but also pretty simple.
First of, I didn’t buy an entire barrel for me and me alone. Will I keep some of the bottles for myself, of course I am. This barrel purchase is a way to celebrate our group, represent our group, bring people with a common interest together and a way to share experiences and memories for a long time to come.
Is it expensive? Well, yes and no. Collectively it’s a large sum of money upfront but when you have individual people sharing the cost, it breaks down to about what you would pay MSRP per bottle anyway with the biggest exception being that these are the only bottles from this barrel in existence. You cannot buy them in stores and once they are gone, they are gone.
Are we a bunch of alcoholics? LOL. I debated even entertaining this one as I do every time someone ask me this. I hardly think that 1 2 oz. pour at the end of some days (not every day) qualifies one as an alcoholic. I also think that the ability to go days and even weeks without a drink speaks for itself. So moving on… We enjoy good bourbon and decided to do something as a group that was just for us. It’s more about bringing people together and having this in common. Believe me when I say this would not fit in the budget for most alcoholics. There are much cheaper routes to go if that were the case. Excuse me while I fix myself a drink…oh wait.
So why New Riff? There are a number of reasons for this if I am being honest. First and foremost, I was introduced to their product from a member of our cigar group (Thanks Erick B) and I really liked their product. I did some research and found out their story, which is very cool, and I reached out to them. Through months of back and forth, their rep (Aly) was extremely helpful and always took the time to answer questions and help us navigate all of the things we needed to get done. She was/is absolutely terrific to work with. Living in NC and having alcohol run through the ABC stores created a challenge so we had to find a way to make this work. I presented a problem and New Riff gave us a solution that worked. It was legal, it was simple, and it was easy. So for the most part, this was another leading factor for the decision. My wife and I made a trip to meet Aly and tour the facility back in July and the experience just confirmed that we were making the right choice. I was able to try more of their product and get to know more about the company and the people that work there. New Riff is everything that is right about “small” business and a start up company just knocking it out of the park. You can feel when you walk in the place that everyone wants to be there and they have a great sense of pride in the work they do. “Well they should, they are making bourbon.” Making and enjoying it are completely different things and while I am sure there are perks to the job, the work and science, trail and error that goes into making their product is still work.
If you are a member of our FaceBook group then you probably read the post I made about the story behind the bottle and the name we chose for it. Our first barrel is named “The Gonz” for a member, admin and really good personal friend of mine that really got me into bourbon and is battling this terrible disease that starts with C. (Disclaimer: F*CK CANCER). You can read more about it in the group. I really don’t want to add all of that here in the blog. Long story short is that this started out as just a group pick that we would do with a group of 10 members that was scheduled for 2020 and things happened to expedite this date, Stolen Throne Cigars joined the mix to help us move things up (those guys are amazing) and thus “The Gonz” came to be. He had no idea why, and all was revealed at the pick, which was awesome to be part of. This story has humbled me, opened my eyes to the fact that there are still some absolutely generous and honorable people in the world and I am honored to have them in our group and consider them friends. Some of them I have yet to meet in person. When people ask why an entire barrel? This is why. This is exactly why and exactly what this community is about.
So fast forward to Sept 6th, 2019. We arrive in Newport, Ky and we are greeted by our single barrel Ambassador Alina A. and we gather in the lobby where we are greeted by a sign that welcomes us to our pick. We started our day with an in depth tour or the entire process from the story of how they came to be all the way through production. Alina did a fantastic job with the tour. When we finished there, we took the short drive over to the West campus for the pick. Our tour continued as we went through the history or the West campus building (I won’t spoil any of it in case you want to visit) and through the process of the barrels, storing, dumping and bottling process.
Once that was done, it was time to get down to what we went there to do. Drink bourbon! We walked into the open area where 24 amazing barrels patiently waited to see if it was there time to shine. We were given clip boards with tasting notes of each barrel and we were asked to pick our individual top 5 that we were interested in. After 10 minutes or so, we went down the list and narrowed those 24 down to 5 that received the most votes. Once that was done, those 5 were opened and we were able to “thief” liquid from each one and they were placed in unmarked bottles and taken into the tasting room. Once everyone had an opportunity to thieve, we were taken into a beautiful room and were seated at a large conference room table with 5 glasses in front of us, a tasting book, pen, water, pretzels, etc.
We were given instructions, given samples of all 5 barrels we picked and were left alone to sample, debate and narrow our choices. Going in I think every one of us had some concern and reservation about this part of the process. We discussed this afterwards and agreed that we all had the same concerns. You are trying to get 8 individual people, all with different taste buds to agree on the same thing. Luckily for us, this part was much easier than we could have imagined. Right out the gate as we nosed each glass, one glass really stood alone from the others. As we started to taste each one, 2 were pretty much eliminated quickly, and then there were 3.
In the end 6 of us all agreed that glass number 5, the one that stood apart from the rest in color and on the nose, also stood alone in flavor and the other 2 had it as their second. Glass number 5, barrel #15-4835 was selected as the very first CigarHawk/Stolen Throne group pick.
I cannot put into words properly just how amazing this process was. 5 of the guys I had never met before and I couldn’t have hand picked a better group of strangers to do this with. New Riff really made our experience one that we will never forget. To top that off, of course, being able to have “The Gonz” himself be there to be part of it was the main reason it happened when it did so that just pushed an already amazing experience over the top.
This will forever remain as one of my most favorite days and memories. All because 2 groups that had never met before, who were united through the love of cigars and bourbon decided to spend a bunch of money on an entire barrel of bourbon. If I could replicate the experience, the emotion, the brotherhood, the enjoyment, and sell it for what that barrel cost, it would be a steal and I would become a billionaire overnight.
I cannot wait for our trip back to pick up the bottles and the empty barrel and see the response and feedback we get from the selection we made. Some probably won’t like it and that’s always the risk right? We are talking taste buds and flavors. What we all agreed on and decided on may be something those that pitched in to be part of will not like. For those people, I can only offer this. It is all subjective, we cannot please everyone and a group of 8 people collectively made this choice so I feel we had a pretty good range of palates making the decision. If nothing else, know that you are part of history and a part of a great group that pulled together for a great cause and made a bucket list trip happen for a great person.
We intend to do these picks at least once a year so we will open up spots for people that want to attend one and be part of a pick with us. We will have to navigate the rules of NC as each distillery does things a bit different and it isn’t always this easy to make happen. Personally I have every intention of working with New Riff and building that relationship for a long time to come. As there products age, they bring more and more product to the market, I can definitely see us being able to do enough with them to keep us all very happy.
I hope you enjoyed this article. I know I didn’t do the experience justice but I tried. Enjoy the photos. If you aren’t part of our FB group, make sure to apply (FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS). Failure to answer the questions will result in you being denied.
PRESS RELEASE
September 9, 2019 — Black Label Trading Company is pleased to
announce the release of Hawaii KATO as an R. Field Wine Co. exclusive;
hand crafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua.
“Hawaii KATO is our third Hawaii exclusive For R.Field Wine Co. and
I’m very excited about it. It’s a tweaked version of our event only “Kato”
cigar, with a larger vitola and a stronger version of the original blend. We
will be launching this cigar at an R. Field Wine Co. event at the Prince
Waikiki Hotel in Honolulu, October 4, 2019,” said James Brown, creator of
BLTC and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra.
Hawaii KATO will be available at R. Field Wine Co. Honolulu, HI.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Ecuador Maduro with a Candela Swirl Binder: Nicaraguan Habano Filler: Nicaragua Robusto– 5 x 48 (10 count) MSRP $10.00 Black Label Trading Company is redefining the standards for cigar making. With a “less is more” philosophy, Black Label Trading Co. creates hand crafted premium cigars of the utmost quality in small batch, limited quantities. For more information email Marvin Chang, machang@foodland.com or Instagram marvinc808.
Disclaimer: This is simply my opinion. These are either things I have done or wished I had done as a new cigar smokers years ago. There are plenty of other options/opinions out there so take it for what it’s worth. Of course this is the internet so we get all the “know it all” types pointing out all sorts of things from things we should have mentioned to spelling errors. It’s a cigar and bourbon blog for God sake. If you have that much time and concern to critique a personal blog, well…I ‘ll just leave it at that. If this was a term paper I might be a bit more concerned but anyway…moving on.
So I often get asked about the best cigars for beginners or I want to get into cigar and bourbon pairings, etc. As recently as today I had someone reach out to me about what cigar to pick, what site to order from etc.
First things first, forget pairings. That will come. You have no idea what your cigar profile is at this point so trying to find a cigar you like is priority #1 right now. Trying to match something you have no idea you will even like to a bourbon you may be familiar with is pointless. Let’s try to narrow down the cigar first.
Instead of trying to randomly order something online, my suggestion is to research articles like this online or take a drive to a reputable cigar shop/lounge and work with someone there. Do your home work and read reviews online about the staff, knowledge, and selection before going down to Brad’s Vape’s and Sticks (disclaimer, random name I picked here and no way represents any actual business. If there is a store out there by this name this is solely coincidental and I accept no liability for slander). Take a trip and be honest with the person in the shop and explain that you are new and are curious about trying cigars. If you have tried them before and you have an idea of what you had before, tell them honestly what you liked and didn’t like about it. If you are brand new I would expect them to offer you something mild or even something like a Drew Estate Acid infused cigar. I can’t smoke them now but truth be told I started with a Monte Cristo White Series and fell into Acids for a bit as I worked into enjoying non infused cigars. For about the first 6 to 9 months, I tried Acid, Natural, Isla del Sol, etc. Slowly my taste changed and I was able to try some mild to medium, then medium to full and now my flavor profile is full blown full bodies cigars almost exclusively. Great story I know. Back to our regularly scheduled program. My point to all of this is try non-infused and if you like it cool but don’t be afraid of the infused stuff and don’t feel like you will be there forever. Some people simply don’t have the palate for it and that is ok too. The cigar snobs will disagree. Ignore the noise. Your money, your palate, your experience. If they want you to smoke other things by all means request they purchase them for you, then simply move away. Cigar etiquette 101 is never criticize other smokers choices. You like what you like and don’t try to impress anyone.
Once you make your selection, I suggest finding reviews or tasting notes from different sites about that specific cigar. Make sure you find the exact cigar, same size etc. as tasting notes do vary with different vitolas (sizes). I encourage you to find videos about proper cutting and lighting of a cigar as well. Improper cutting and lighting can ruin your cigar and experience with it. Take your time to properly cut your cigar and try pulling (sucking) through it prior to lighting it. Watch video reviews or read up on reviews about it. Try learning about how different cuts will give you different draw options. If you have a cigar that is super tight and hard to get air through, it is likely plugged and will ruin your experience. Let the shop you bought it from know and hopefully they make it right. I have reviewed a tool here called the PerfecDraw and it can be great for those issues. The draw can make the experience great or horrible. Too open and too tight are both a problem. Take note of this. There should be a little resistance, similar to drinking a milkshake through a straw. It should not be wide open like sucking air through a straw of so hard you practically turn blue trying to get smoke through it.
Once the cigar is lit, (make sure you do not inhale cigar smoke into your lungs) try to understand what notes you might be tasting. It will be overwhelming at first and you may be like “I have no idea” and that is fine. If you decided to follow a reviewer wither through a blog or a video, try to identify the things they are describing. Even if it is just one or two things, that’s great. Most importantly, take notes. a written journal will help tremendously. I did this and I actually started putting them on FB for my own tracking purposes. Whatever you chose to do, this is very beneficial. Keep in mind that every reviewers palate is different and you may not pick up anything they are describing. Always take reviews with a grain of salt. Some of the top reviewers out there have palates that just aren’t compatible with mine so there is no value in me reading/watching them because I cannot identify with what they are describing. They aren’t wrong and neither am I. Note what you like and what you don’t like.
Make notice of strength as well. If you feel yourself getting sick, there are a couple of things that may be in play here. You can be inhaling into your lungs, which is common for cigarette smokers, or you may be smoking too fast. You should try to take a puff of your cigar every 1 minute or 1 minute 30 seconds or so. Enjoy it but do not rush it. It is meant to be enjoyed and if you take your time with it so what? I am by far one of the slowest smokers I know and I really don’t care. I know that when I smoke fast I get sick so what is the point in rushing it and ruining the experience? If you do start to get sick, sugar helps. I have also found that peppermints help to calm an upset stomach (but it will destroy your taste buds) and lots of water as well.
Cigar flavors will change from third to third. (Cigars are generally referred to in thirds.) If you like a cigar in the first third and it changes, stick with it because it will likely change again. On the flip side, if you don’t like it, if you can stick with it, wait for the halfway point or last third. Some cigars just aren’t for you and that is fine too. I have had a number of cigars that I really wanted to like and they didn’t fit my profile. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad stick, it just simply isn’t for you. However, WRITE THAT DOWN or note it, take pics whatever, because that info is super valuable to you and the person helping trying to narrow your profile.
I try to identify beginner cigar smokers palates to a shotgun filled with buckshot. You are all over the place. The goal of any good tobacconist is to narrow that down each time you smoke and report back to them so they can start to narrow that down to a single shot from a hand gun and you are hitting the bulls eye every time. Once you find what you really like, start looking for alternatives to that cigar that stick within that general profile.
I did the exact opposite of this and I tried everything I could find and what it got me was a bunch of wasted money and no real idea of what I liked.
Your best friend is a good employee that understands tobacco and listens to you. Unfortunately they can be hard to find. If you get a suggestion from them that you don’t like, let them know. If it happens again, it may be time to consider a different option. Regardless, track the cigars the tried and didn’t like. Again, this is good info. As you navigate your way into what you like, keep in mind that your taste and palate may very well change.
If you gravitate towards medium rare rib-eyes, high proof bourbons, and dark red wines, black coffee, you may not enjoy a mild cigar. Connecticut cigars are generally the mildest of the cigars on the market, however, do not fall for the “darker the wrapper, the stronger the cigar” saying and vice versa.This is not always true. You might enjoy something more medium to full but this is all trial and error. As you move through your cigar journey you may want to revisit something you didn’t like before. What may have started out as too heavy or harsh may be right in your wheelhouse months/years later. This is the beauty of the industry. As someone that smokes very dark cigars almost exclusively, there are times that I really enjoy light colored Connecticut cigars. You will learn over time and research that mild cigars with coffee can be a great way to start the day and open up your palate to other cigars you will smoke throughout the day.
Once you have your profile narrowed down and you have 3 to 5 cigars that you really like/love, then and only then would I experiment with trying to pair them. This is another world all of its own. Just like cigars, everyone’s taste buds are different so even doing pairing with guys I know that have similar taste as myself, we find ourselves picking up different notes and enjoying pairings to different degrees.
The final thing to understand about cigars and cigar pairings, is like what you like. Don’t try to force yourself to taste things you hear or read in reviews. This is all 100% subjective as I stated before. And, while cigar manufactures try hard to be consistent, not all cigars are the same. I have had entire boxes of the same cigars and very few were consistent.
Like I said before, this is simply some tips and pointers I wish someone had shared with me. If this the be all end all of Cigars 101, no. Not even close. This is one opinion and a recommendation that you do your research and explore. I do suggest narrowing that exploration with the help of someone that has some knowledge and not just looking to sell you cigars. Otherwise, you will end up spending a ton of money as I said.
Hopefully this helps. My final suggestion is to join a solid cigar group like CigarHawk Group on FB and now on MeWe since FB has banned cigar and alcohol content to some degree. We are on Instagram and Twitter as well.
Feel free to ask questions, drop some comments and suggestions. Until next time, #LongAshesFull Glasses. Peace.
Friday, June 14, 2019 — Miami, FL- Drew Estate announces today the Rebirth of the BOTL, Brothers Of The Leaf as a Drew Diplomat Retailer brick and mortar exclusive. BOTL will be displayed in Drew Estate’s Booth at the IPCPR Convention and Tradeshow, held June 29-July 2, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Harkening back to the early days of the interweb, a number of cigar communities formed that all shared one common bond, their love of the leaf. One of those early communities, BOTL.org, truly captured the spirit and passion we all share for our beloved cigar culture. Today, Drew Estate brings back BOTL, a passion project dedicated to every cigar geek around the world.
With a lineup of three aficionado sizes including Corona 5 1/4″ x 42, Corona Gorda 6 x 46, and Lancero 7 x 38, we are truly catering to a targeted market of core traditional, discerning consumers. Each cigar is wrapped in a bold broadleaf wrapper, layered in complexity with an Ecuadorian Connecticut binder and capping off the nuance are rich fillers from Nicaragua.
From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew President and Founder of Drew Estate notes, “This project occupies a special place in our hearts at Drew Estate. Not only were we very active members on the BOTL forum since the beginning, but we were very involved with promoting it so that cigar heads worldwide could participate and connect. This is definitely a passion project that we dedicate to the great members who’ve been so good for the culture.”
BOTL cigars are shipping in August in the following 3 vitolas:
Thursday, June 20, 2019 — Miami, FL- Today Drew Estate and Crowned Heads announce their partnership in the release of “La Coalicion”, manufactured by La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate and sold through Crowned Heads. “La Coalicion” will be displayed in the Crowned Heads Booth at the IPCPR Convention and Tradeshow, held June 29-July 2, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“La Coalicion” is a spectacular collaboration brand for the premium cigar fanatic. The brand is wrapped in rich, dark Connecticut Broadleaf, with a spicy Sumatran binder and aged fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. “La Coalicion” is available in 4 sizes: Corona Gorda (5” x 46), Gordito (5 1/2” x 50), Siglo (6” x 52) and Sublime (6 1/2” x 54). Each vitola brings a very specific and unique nuance and complexity, carefully blended by Willy Herrera and Jon Huber.
From Little Havana in Miami, Willy Herrera Master Blender at Drew Estate highlights, “Huber and I have always had a similar palate for what notes we are looking for in our blends. Working together, we knew from the beginning we wanted to utilize the dense, oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper which is the inspiration for this killer smoke. La Coalicion is a passion product that Huber and I are really proud of.”
From Crowned Heads HQ in Nashville, Jon Huber adds, “I’ve personally wanted to work with Willy for years now, as I feel that our aesthetic towards cigars are similar and we also share a common respect and passion towards the tradition of premium cigars. Further, being able to tap into the creative juggernaut that is Drew Estate has been an amazing experience. I’ve long respected what the DE brand has achieved, and I believe their personal brand extends far beyond just ‘cigars;’ they’re truly an innovator, disruptor, and a game changer within our industry.”
From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew President and Founder of Drew Estate notes, “I am proud to report that Drew Estate always remains “Boutique in the Heart” in everything we create. This collaboration with Crowned Heads has been gratifying, mostly because of their passion and intensity. Plus, their hat game is on point!”
“La Coalicion” is manufactured at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate and is sold through Crowned Heads. It will be shipping in October in the following vitolas:
If you have followed me over the last few years you know that I am a HUGE fan of this factory, the people behind it and the cigars coming out of the factory. I found them in 2015 and to see the continued rise and success has been amazing and no surprise at all. I am very happy to share the following information and if you don’t know about them, we can point you to some great shop that carry them and offer discounts. Congratulations to James, Angela, Stephanie and the rest of the Oveja Negra team.
PRESS RELEASE
June 24, 2019 —Oveja Negra Brands announces its arrival to the premium cigar industry. Consisting of Black Label Trading Company, Black Works Studio, Emilio Cigars, and Dissident, each brand maintains its own unique identity while combining talents and resources to bring a formidable representation and marketing strategy to the cigar world.
Oveja Negra Brands produce cigars for the next generation. Each brand shares a passion and dedication to providing innovative, cutting edge cigars that are unsurpassed in quality. Each line is hand-made by Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli and is represented by a team of sales reps across the states. Oveja Negra Brands utilizes a central distribution warehouse with high-tech facilities for streamlined shipping and convenience for its retailers. Distribution is handled by L.J.Zucca, tobacco distributors since 1947.
The brands formerly represented by Boutiques Unified have transitioned to Oveja Negra Brands to better communicate their focused vision and provide better service to retail partners.
A new website has launched to give consumers and retailers a base for exploring Oveja Negra Brands cigars, retail merchandise and an interactive retailer map. Please visit www.OvejaNegraCigars.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Claudio Sgroi President & Master Blender E: claudio@mombachocigars.com MOMBACHO CIGARS ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF IT FIRST AFRICAN MARKET Mombacho Cigars S.A. to serve Angola in partnership with Primazia Decorama (SU)
GRANADA, NICARAGUA. – (June 21, 2019).
Mombacho Cigars S.A. announced today that it will start distribution in Angola through Primazia Decorama Import & Commerce in June 2019. “In the last year I’ve been in constant contact with Primazia Decorama’s executives about distributing Mombacho Cigars in Angola, one of the largest economies in Africa. Our goal in 2019 is expanding our worldwide presence; therefore we are ready to serve our African aficionados. I’m thrilled that Mombacho Cigars are represented by such a serious and renowned company and that we are now available in five continents”, said Claudio Sgroi, President and Master Blender of Mombacho Cigars. “I’ve met Claudio at the Intertabac Dortmund and right from that moment I felt it was the time to initiate first contacts in order to bring Mombacho to Angola to be part of our portfolio. It’s a great honor for us to import, distribute and represent this great brand in the Angolan market. Thank you Mombacho Cigars for the opportunity.” said Ermen Soares, Primazia Decorama Angola’s General manager. Primazia Decorama will receive the first shipment at the end of June 2019 and including all Mombacho lines: Tierra Volcan, Liga Maestro, Casa Favilli and Cosecha 2014. Mombacho Cigars are already distributed in 14 other countries around the world. The company will welcome US retailers at the IPCPR in Las Vegas at the booth #2867 and will be present at the Intertabac Trade Show in Dortmund at booth E.30, Hall 4. ABOUT MOMBACHO CIGARS Mombacho Cigars S.A. is a “totally made by hand” cigar company established in 2006 that entered the US market in 2013. The international interest in Mombacho has grown rapidly and Mombacho Cigars are now available in 15 countries around the world. Mombacho produces all of its cigars at its state-of-the-art factory Casa Favilli, in Granada, Nicaragua. For more information, please contact Claudio Sgroi, President & Master Blender of Mombacho Cigars, at claudio@mombachocigars.com.
The one thing I regret about my years of living in Pa is that I did not know or get to meet Vince Hill and visit BNB Cigars. The beauty of social media is that it allows us to connect with people much easier. Vince has been a great supporter of the Cigar Hawk brand, blog, and we have developed a friendship via social media. Hopefully we get to hang out one day soon and enjoy some smokes together. I could not be any happier to see this event to celebrate 15 years in business. For those that don’t know, Vince and BNB Cigars are hands down one of the best shops for everything boutique in the cigar world. I wish I could make it there for the event because I know it will be amazing. Anytime Juan Cancel shows up to an event, it’s a party of a different level. “Ain’t no party like a Protocol Party”! Congratulations on 15 years and Cheers to many more!!
Message from Vince: Starting tomorrow Friday 6/21/2019!!!! BnB Cigars is celebrating our 15th Anniversary with a weekend packed with great events with some of our best friends in the industry.
Friday June 21st starting at 4 PM we welcome Erik Espinosa from Espinosa Cigars and the owner of the La Zona Cigar Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua along with Juan Cancel and the Protocol Cigar Gang for a night of fun and great cigars. Great deals on all La Zona made cigars.
Saturday June 22nd we welcome back our good friend James Brown owner of the Oveja Negra Factory and blender of Black Label Trading Company and Black Works Studio Cigars for an exclusive Blending Seminar from 12-3 PM and a BLTC/ BWS Event starting at 3PM. James produces some of the most sought after boutique cigars on the market including our very own Flor de Cesar brand. This is a chance to get some great cigars never available before ( NBK Lizard King and Santa Muerte Barrio Santo) and ones that won’t be available again including Factory Exclusives you can only get at the factory in Nicaragua. Also making a special one time return is the BLTC Redemption which hasn’t been available in 3 plus years.
Sunday June 23rd we welcome back our good friends from RoMa Craft Tobac for another great event featuring Danny Vazquez in his first appearance at BnB. Our RoMa events are always a great time and a chance for you to enjoy great deals on some of the best cigars available. Our inventory of RoMa Craft cigars is second to none and we have a large amount of their CroMagnon line which is going to be in short supply until the beginning of next year. We will have some great raffles on tons of RoMa swag and HTF cigars.
This is a don’t miss Weekend of events, great food, beer and raffles at every event!!
I could not be happier for owner Benjamin Holt. I have interacted with Ben through social media and through BLTC/ BLK WKS which he is a rep for and I am really excited to watch this journey unfold. I am very curious to see how he and James Brown push the envelope with these creations. Best of luck and I cannot wait to try these blends.
Press Release June 20, 2019 – Dissident to Launch Core Line at IPCPR 2019 The new Dissident cigar brand under the ownership of Benjamin Holt will launch at IPCPR 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dissident will showcase two core line blends at this year’s trade show; Soapbox and Bloc. All lines are completely new blends produced at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua. Both blends will be available in three sizes. Benjamin stated, “I am very excited about this. A lot of thought, time and work as been put into making this happen and I’m ready to show it to the world. I think these blends are very unique and offer a special smoking experience for those who love cigars. They really highlight the quality of tobacco that’s used at Oveja Negra.” Dissident will be distributed by LJ Zucca Distributors and will be present in Booth 2463 at the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show.
Soapbox Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Brazil Binder: Ecuador Filler: Nicaragua Petite Corona – 4 3/4 x 46 (20 count) MSRP $8.00 Robusto – 5 1/2 x 52 (20 count) MSRP $10.00 Toro Gordo – 6 3/4 x 54 (20 count) MSRP $11.00
Bloc Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Ecuador Maduro Binder: Ecuador Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Box Press Robusto – 5 5/8 x 46 (20 count) MSRP $10.25 Box Press Toro – 6 1/4 x 52 (20count) MSRP $10.50 Box Press Lonsdale – 7 x 42 (20 count) MSRP $10.00 For more information contact info@smoke-dissident.com.
June 19, 2019 — Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) will be showcasing a new release at this year’s IPCPR in Las Vegas.
LAST RITES VIATICUM will be available to BLTC retailers at this years IPCPR.This is a small batch release offered on a first-come, first-serve basis to retailers attending IPCPR 2019. Shipping will commence this fall.
“We wanted to release a cigar exclusively for IPCPR attendees as a way of showing our appreciation for the retailers who come to support our brands and the show. Last Rites has always been a special cigar to me. It was the first cigar I blended on my own, and I blended it to my personal tastes. It’s everything I wanted out of a cigar and a perfect representation of Black Label Trading Co. To celebrate our sixth anniversary, I wanted to do a Special Edition of the Last Rites. The Viaticum is an evolution of the Last Rites blend. It uses most of the same tobaccos but in different proportions and primings. It’s rich, dark and elegant just like Nicaraguan tobacco. We also box pressed the cigar like the original 2013 release,” says James Brown, creator of BLTC and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra.
Last Rites Viaticum
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador Maduro
Binder: Honduras Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan / Honduran
Robusto – 5 x 54 Box Press (20 count) MSRP $15.00
“Black Label Trading Company is redefining the standards for cigar making. With a less is more philosophy, Black Label Trading Co. creates hand crafted premium cigars of the utmost quality at their own factory in Nicaragua.”
Visit BLTC Booth #2463 at this year’s IPCPR 2019 for more information. info@blacklabeltrading.com.
I really hope hope I am able to try these. Last Rites is my favorite cigar from the Black Label lineup and I am sure this one will be amazing. More great things coming out of Fabrica Oveja Negra. #LongAshesFullGlasses
June 18, 2019 — Emilio Cigars is pleased to announce the release of Suave at this year’s IPCPR. Emilio will also be featuring La Musa for shipment later this year. Both are hand crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua at Fabrica Oveja Negra.
Suave is a core-line product for Emilio that has been redesigned. The artwork and blending for these cigars has been done by James Brown. James, owner of BLTC and Fabrica Oveja Negra, stated, “I am very excited to release these cigars. They that have been given the Oveja Negra makeover in appearance and flavor.”
Suave will be shipping to select retailers later this month. Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Connecticut Binder: Nicaraguan Habano Filler: Nicaragua Robusto – 5 x 50 (20 count) MSRP $9.00 Toro – 6 x 50 (20 count) MSRP $9.50 Churchill – 7 x 48 (20 count) MSRP $9.50
La Musa, a limited release, will be featured at this years show. This will be the first edition of this cigar from the Oveja Negra Factory. Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown Binder: Nicaraguan Habano Filler: Nicaragua Robusto – 5 x 50 (25 count) MSRP $10.50 Toro – 6 x 50 (25 count) MSRP $11.00
Visit Booth #2463 at this year’s IPCPR 2019 for more information. info@OvejaNegraCigars.com.
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