News: 262 Cigars to Launch Revere Lancero

262 Cigars will be adding a new vitola to its Revere line.  This cigar will come in the form of a lancero.  According to a press release, the 262 Revere lancero will be unveiled at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas this July.  First news of this cigar was first mentioned last December by 262 President Clint Aaron on the CigarChat show.

It was at the 2012 IPCPR Trade Show where 262 Cigars announced the Revere line.  The Revere was the first all-Nicaraguan puro announced from the Lynchburg, Virginia based company.  The cigar was also the first from 262 to be made at the Plasencia factory in Nicaragua. The Revere line finished as our #14 Cigar for 2012.  The Robusto scored a 93 this past November on Cigar Coop.

The Revere lancero will become the fourth regular offering in the Revere line - joining the Robusto, Corona, and Box-Press Toro.  A retail exclusive lonsdale offering was released to J. Shephard Cigars in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Revere's blend consists of a Jalapa wrapper, a double binder from Jalapa and Esteli, and a mix of fillers from Esteli, Jalapa, and Condega.

The Revere Lancero is expected to start shipping this Fall.

Source: Some Information for this article was provided via press release by 262 Cigars.  

Cigar Preview: Viaje Summerfest 2013

Viaje Summerfest 2013
(Photo from Andre Farkas'
Facebook page)

For the fourth consecutive year, Viaje Cigars will be releasing its Summerfest blend.  Company founder Andre Farkas posted a picture of the new Summerfest blend and the cigar will be a 5 1/2 x 54 Robusto.

The genesis of this cigar release can actually be traced back to a conversation that Leaf and Grape editor Stace Berkland and myself had with Andre Farkas at the 2012 IPCPR Trade Show. During that conversation, we discussed the original release of the 2010 Viaje Summerfest.  The original plan was for the Summerfest 2010 to be released as a torpedo with a shagged foot.  It turns out that a unshagged robusto vitola was made by mistake.  As a result, 50 boxes of that Summerfest 2010 Robusto were released, but the torpedo was still produced. Both Berkland and I were blown away by that particular blend in a Robusto-size vitola.  Farkas listened to our feedback in terms of the robusto .  He then gave us an opportunity to select the size for the 2013 Summerfest.   After some discussion, we agreed on a 5 1/2 x 54 robusto and this one would feature the Summerfest's trademark shagged foot.  Farkas wrote it down on an index card.  About six months later, Farkas contacted us and told us that the Summerfest 2013 was a go in the size selected.

As will all Viaje releases, these are being released in limited production small batches.  If past history is an indicator, this will be the only batch released during 2013.  Yesterday the company announced the return of the Viaje TNT and Viaje C-4, which traditional have been released with the Summerfest.

We scored the Summerfest 2010 Robusto a 94 back in June, 2012.

Blend Profile

Like a good number of Viaje releases, the Summerfest blend is a Nicaraguan puro.  It s highlighted by its Cafe Rosado wrapper:

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99 (Cafe Rosado)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan   

Vitolas Available

For completeness, we list the incarnations of the Summerfest blend since its release in 2010.  All vitolas contain the shagged foot except for the 2010 Robusto.

Summerfest 2010
Robusto: 5 x 50 (Unshagged foot)
Torpedo: 6 1/2 x 50

Summerfest 2011
Torpedo: 5 1/4 x 52
Churchill: 7 x 50

Summerfest 2012
Toro: 6 3/4 x 50

Summerfest 2013
Robusto: 5 1/2 x 54

Cigar Preview: Kristoff Galerones

Kristoff Galerones DR4 Inside Box Label
(Image provided by Kristoff Cigars)

Glen Case's Kristoff Cigars will undergo a major expansion in its portfolio of cigars.  At the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show, Case will launch the Kristoff Galerones.  The Galerones will add four new blends to the company's portfolio. The line marks a major change in a lot of ways for Kristoff.  The Galerones will feature a very different look from the existing Kristoff line in terms of its packaging. The Galerones will also be made in a different factory not used by Kristoff before.  Finally, the line will feature some tobaccos not incorporated into previously released Kristoff blends.

In a conversation we had with Case, he told us much of the reason for the changes was that he felt "it was time for something new for Kristoff".

From a packaging standpoint, the Galerones line will get away from what Case calls the "rustic elegance" look - namely rough cut cedar boxes, loose packing tobacco, and pig-tail caps.  The new Galerones will have what Case called a "sleek, rich look" featuring gloss painted boxes, no loose packing tobacco, and traditional triple capped cigars.  The banding will also have a more sleek look as he will incorporate things such as gold foil.

For the Galerones series, Case will collaborate with Abe Flores and his PDR Cigars factory in Tamboril in the Dominican Republic.  For his current offerings, Case working with the Charles Fairmorn factory which will continue to make those cigars.

While the Galerones line will be launched at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show, Case says he expects all four lines to start shipping in late August.

Blend Profile

In terms of the blends, there will be four blends released.  While each of the four lines features a different wrapper, Case told us these are also four distinct blends.  He described the blends as starting from "mild to 3/4 full".  He mentioned the flavors are very different than anything he's released in the past.

-San Andres (Mexico)
-Brazilian Arapirica
-Brazilian Cubra
-DR4: Ecuadorian Connecticut

The DR4 gets its name from having four distinct Dominican Habano tobaccos in the binder and the filler.  Case described the DR4 as the mildest of the four new blends.

The other three lines incorporate tobacco from Nicaragua.  Case told us he has primarily worked has been Jalapa valley.  This time he is utilizing Esteli in the Nicaraguan binder and filler.  He said these tobaccos all contribute to the unique flavor profile and will add more pepper and spice to the flavor profile.

Vitolas Available

Each of the four lines will be made in four sizes.  Each line will feature a toro, torpedo, and robusto vitola.  The DR4 will have a Churchill size offering while the remaining three blends will have a 6 x 60.

Robusto: 5 x 52

Toro: 6 1/4 x 54

Torpedo: 6  1/4 x 52

6 x 60 (San Andres, Brazilian Arapirica, and Brazilian Cubra releaes)

Churchill: 7 x 52 (DR4)

Cigar Review: Ortega Wild Bunch 2013 Honest Abe "Ringmaster"

The Ortega Wild Bunch 2013 Honest Abe "Ringmaster" is the sixth installment in a monthly series of cigars being developed by Ortega Premium Cigars. The Ortega Wild Bunch 2013 series is a unique limited production cigar concept that was introduced by Ortega Premium Cigars.The concept behind the Ortega Wild Bunch is to dedicate a cigar to various cigar enthusiasts whom company president Eddie Ortega has personally met during his time in the cigar industry. During 2013, each month a different cigar - in a different size and blend will be released as a tribute to these various people. The Honest Abe "Ringmaster" is the June installment and marks the halfway point of this 2013 series.  One thing that has been a pattern in this series is that each smoke not only differs greatly from the others, but it also brings its own unique qualities to the table.  The Honest Abe "Ringmaster" is no exception.  This proves to be an outstanding addition into this series.

At press time, the following are the names confirmed for the first ten months of the Ortega Wild Bunch series.  Currently the series looks as follows:

January: Big Bad John "Jackhammer"
February: Iron Mike "I Beam"
March: Island Jim "WaHoo"
April: Tony The Boss "Enforcer"
May: Dandy McCoy "Empire State"
June: Honest Abe "Ringmaster"
July: Wild Bill
August Fast Eddie
September: Gearhead Gary
October: DA Byrdman

While some of the characters of the Wild Bunch 2013 series have been anonymous, the Honest Abe is not one of them.  This is one of many nicknames for South Florida retailer and Kiss My Ash Radio host Abe Dababneh.  This marks the second cigar released that incoporates one of Dababneh's nicknames.  Earlier this year, Dababneh's Smoke Inn released his retail-exclusive Room 101 Big Delicious (Big Delicious is another nickname for Dababneh).  The inner part of the box that houses this cigar reads as follows to describe the character of "Honest Abe":

Abe is indomitable character with an imposing facade but a heart of gold.  He is simultaneously a successful retailer, radio host, graphic designer, and master marketer. Eight days a week he can be found at one of his many South Florida cigar shops or entertaining aficionados world-wide on the airwaves of KissMyAsh radio. In this industry if you don't know Honest Abe you're out of touch because he truly is The Ring Master!

Without further ado, let's break down the Ortega Wild Bunch Honest Abe "Ringmaster" and see what this cigar brings to the table.

Blend Profile

This particular blend seems to have been kept somewhat under wraps.  While the binder and filler have been listed as undisclosed, we've seen some unofficial reports that it is Nicaraguan.  The wrapper was documented in the inside of the box.  The Ortega Wild Bunch 2013 series is made at the My Father Cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.

Wrapper: Esteli Habano
Binder: Not disclosed
Filler: Not disclosed

Vitolas Available

As mentioned above, each monthly release of the Wild Bunch is a unique blend. The vitola is named "Ringmaster" and measures 6 1/2 x 52.  In this case, this is the same vitola dimensions as the March release, Island Jim WaHoo.

It is worth noting that of the first six releases of the Ortega Wild Bunch, the only vitola that was less than 6 inches in length was the Iron Mike I-Beam.

Appearance

The wrapper to the Honest Abe "Ringmaster" is a medium brown wrapper with a touch of rosado to it. The wrapper itself has somewhat of an oily complexion, but it also has a bumpy feel to it. The wrapper seams and veins are both visible on the surface.

As with the other installments of the Ortega Wild Bunch 2013, the band of the Honest Abe is highlighted by an illustration of the "Honest Abe" character done by Neal Wollenberg. Wollenberg also did the art work for the boxes. 

The rest of the band is similar to the layout of the other bands in the Ortega Wild Bunch 2013 series.  To the left of the illustration is the text "TABACOS ORTEGA, HECHO A MANO" in white font on gold background. Below that is the text "Premium Ortega Cigars" in white font on a red background.  On a third row is the text "GRUPO SALAJE - THE WILD BUNCH" - also in white font on a gold background.   To the right of the illiustration is the text 6 of 12" in white font on a gold background.  Below that is a white "12" that is circled in white on a (darker) red background. Toward the bottom of the band it says "Honest Abe" in modern white font on a lighter red ribbon

Preparation for the Cigar Experience

As I usually do I opted for a straight cut to begin my cigar experience.  Once the cap was removed from the Honest Abe "Ringmaster", it was time to move on to the pre-light draw.  The cold draw provided a mix of earth, pepper, and some natural tobacco sweetness.  Overall, I considered this pre-light draw to be satisfactory.  At this point, I was ready to light the foot of the Honest Abe "Ringmaster" and see what the actual smoking experience would bring to the table.

Flavor Profile

As I said up front, the Ortega Wild Bunch 2013 does a great job at bringing unique qualities to the table.  This is reflected in each of the flavor profiles of the blends.  The Honest Abe "Ringmaster" follows suit here.

The start to the Honest Abe "Ringmaster" gave me a combination of cedar and pepper.  This spice combination quickly transitioned to more classic pepper.  The pepper was soon joined by grass and natural tobacco flavors.  By the five percent mark,  the grass and natural tobacco became the primary flavors.  Meanwhile, I found the pepper to be prominent on the retro-hale.  The pepper was also present on the retro-hale.  As I went through these early phases, this cigar actually had a Dominican flavor profile to it.

In the second third, the cigar changed from Dominican to more of Nicaraguan profile.  I detected some notes of coffee in the background.  The coffee notes would increase and as the Honest Abe entered the second half, they joined the natural tobacco in the forefront.  The pepper flavors also increased and were close behind.  The grass flavors diminished.

The last third saw the pepper notes really take control on both the tongue and on the retro-hale. There were points where I actually had a little water in my eyes.  The coffee and natural tobacco became secondary notes.  While the pepper was strong, the cigar never got harsh. This was the way the flavor profile would hold until the end.  The resulting nub was cool in temperature, but soft to the touch.

Burn and Draw

From both a burn and draw perspective, the Honest Abe "Ringmaster" scored quite well.  The burn line remained relatively straight from start to finish - requiring only a few touch-ups along the way. The resulting ash was firm with a salt and pepper color.  The ash was not prone to any significant flaking or flowering. The burn rate and burn temperature were both ideal.

I found the draw to be excellent on this cigar.  This was a very low maintenance cigar to puff on from start to finish.

Strength and Body

From a strength perspective, I found the Honest Abe "Ringmaster" had some kick to it.  The cigar settles into medium to full strength in the early phases.  It remains like that for most of the cigar experience.  By the last third, the strength does kick up into full strength.  While it becomes full strength, it never becomes overwhelming.

From a flavor standpoint, the flavors have some nice depth to them.  I assessed this to be a full-bodied smoke from start to finish.  Overall, the Honest Abe "Ringmaster" will have a slight edge over flavor over strength - except at the very end where the two attributes are on par with each other.

Final Thoughts

As I've said a couple of times when reviewing the Ortega Wild Bunch 2013 series, company President Eddie Ortega has undertaken an enormous task with this line of cigars.  It has to be a great challenge taking twelve different blends to market in a one year span.  This is underscored by the fact that Ortega Premium Cigars is a small company.  With the Honest Abe "Ringmaster", Ortega succeeds in delivering a high quality, enjoyable smoke.  I found the Honest Abe to have great flavor, great construction, and some nice complexity.  While the strength is medium to full for most of the cigar, I still would recommend this to even a novice cigar enthusiast who wants to graduate to a stronger cigar. Experienced cigar enthusiasts will appreciate the flavor and complexity this cigar brings to the table.  As for myself, this is a cigar I would definitely reach for and smoke again.

Summary

Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: High
Strength: Medium to Full (Full at end)
Body: Full
Finish: Good
Assessment: Nice to Have
Score: 91

Source: One cigar for this assessment was given to be by a friend, a second was purchased at Outland Cigars in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Cigar Preview: Rocky Patel Edge Habano Battalion 6 x 60

Edge Habano - this Torpedo vitola will now
have a 6 x 60 sibling in the Battalion

Rocky Patel Premium Cigars has announced a third vitola in their Edge Habano line.  This one will be a 6 x 60 called the Battalion.  The cigar is expected to ship on June 21st.  A picture of the packaging was posted on the company's Twitter account.

The Edge Habano was launched at the 2012 IPCPR Trade Show and released shortly afterwards. The Edge Habano was the first all Nicaraguan puro incorporated into the line.  The Edge Habano was also the sixth blend in Rocky Patel's Edge line joining:    Corojo, Maduro, Sumatra, Lite (Connecticut Shade), and Candela.  The announcement of the Edge Habano Battalion precedes what will be a very busy 2013 IPCPR Trade Show for Rocky Patel. 

The Edge Corojo and Edge Maduro lines already have Battalion size vitals in their line.

Last November we scored the torpedo vitola of the Edge Habano a 90.

Blend Profile

For the binder and filler, the tobaccos originate from Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Seed
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Vitolas Available

Battalion: 6 x 60
Toro: 6 x 52 
Torpedo: 6 x 52

Cigar Preview: Nomad LE Esteli Lot 1386

Nomad LE Esteli Lot 1386 (Cigar Coop Photo)

Fred Rewey's Nomad Cigar Company is getting ready to release a new line at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas.  The company, which produces its Dominican-based Nomad line is now turning to the country of Nicaragua for this release.  The cigar is called the Nomad LE Esteli Lot 1386 and as the title indicates it will be a limited production run, and of course have the influence of Esteli Nicaragua in the blend.

The Nomad LE Esteli Lot 1386 will be made in Nicaragua as well as contain Nicaraguan tobacco.  Rewey told us the name "Nomad" is indicative to why he chose to go from the Dominican Republic to Nicaragua for this release. - to basically "wander" into another part of the tobacco world to make a cigar.

There will be 307 boxes of 12 of the LE Esteli Lot 1386.  According to a recent press release, Rewey said that the 307 represents the approximate area in miles of this tobacco growing region. Rewey also indicated that he "chose “Lot 1386” by also paying homage to the region  - How exactly I will leave to those who speculate the topic over a cigar."

Packaging of the Nomad LE Esteli Lot 1386
(Photo used with permission by Nomad Cigar Company)

Our initial sampling of this cigar found it to be of outstanding construction, and an outstanding flavor profile.  We found it to have some great Nicaraguan spice on the pallet and retro-hale. There was also an underlying creaminess that really gave this cigar a unique edge.  There also is some nice strength to this cigar - particularly at the end.

There is another blend out of Nicaragua that is targeted post 2013 IPCPR.  Rewey also told us that other countries could be on his radar for future blends.  Earlier this year, Rewey entered into an agreement with Gary Griffith's Emilio Cigars to handle his distribution.

Here are some of the particulars of the Nomad LE Esteli Lot 1386.

Blend Profile

Like his Dominican core line, Rewey uses an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, including tobacco from Esteli.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Vitolas Available

The Nomad LE Esteli Lot 1386 will be produced in a single size - a toro.