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TO SUBSCRIBE GO TO WWW.CIGARINSIDER.COM Cigar Insider internet only FEATURED CIGAR BEST CIGARS THIS ISSUE IN THIS ISSUE: CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TASTING REPORT: VERTICAL BRAND TASTINGS: n Aging Room Small Batch M356ii [page 2] n Fratello [page 3] n La Mission du L’Atelier [page 3] NEW SIZE: n Montecristo Media Corona [page 2] SPECIAL REPORT: THE NEW CIGARS OF 2015 (PART THREE) n Gurkha Cigar Group Inc. [page 4] n House of Emilio [page 4] n Illusione Cigars [page 5] n J. C. Newman Cigar Co. [page 5] n Klin Tobacco LLC [page 5] n Kuuts LLC [page 5] n Kristoff Cigars [page 6] n La Flor Dominicana [page 6] n La Hoja Cigar Co. [page 7] n La Palina Cigars [page 7] n La Sirena Cigars [page 7] n Las Cumbres Tabaco [page 8] n L’Atelier Imports [page 8] n Miami Cigar & Co. [page 9] n Mombacho Cigars S.A. [page 9] n My Father Cigars [page 10] n Nat Sherman International [page 10] n Padilla Cigar Co. [page 10] n Padrón Cigars Inc. [page 11] n PDR Cigars [page 11] n Quesada Cigars [page 12] n Roberto Duran LLC [page 13] La Mission du L’Atelier 1959 Nicaragua 92 Aging Room Small Batch M356ii Mezzo Dom. Rep. 91 Fratello Corona Nicaragua 91 Aging Room Small Batch M356ii Rondo Dom. Rep. 90 Fratello Timacle Nicaragua 90 Montecristo Media Corona Cuba 90 Four Tied At Various 89 A MINI CUBAN MONTE THE MONTECRISTO MEDIA CORONA from Cuba is just that—half a corona. At 3 1/2 inches long by 44 ring gauge, it is intended to be a short, but intense smoking experience. Now that the Montecristo Media Coronas are available globally, Cigar Insider has rated them. See page two for results. MORE COVERAGE OF THE 2015 IPCPR TRADE SHOW ANNIVERSARIES, CONCEPTS AND LIMITED EDITIONS. Vying for distinction, many of the new releases this year have some sort of interesting backstory or novel theme. From left, Padrón makes the Dámaso, its first Connecticut-wrapped cigar, which is named after a family ancestor; Freyja brings some Norse mythology to the cigar world; Nat Sherman has been in business for 85 years and the 85th Anniversary marks the milestone; La Palina brand owner Bill Paley has a new lady in red—the La Palina Red Label, whose blend spans three countries; L’Atelier’s La Mission du L’Atelier is inspired by France’s Bordeaux wine region. Coverage begins on page four. LA MISSION DU L’ATELIER 1959 NICARAGUA n PRICE: $8.00 n BODY: MEDIUM TO FULL For a full tasting, see page three. SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 n VOL. 20, NO. 17 n FROM THE PUBLISHER OF CIGAR AFICIONADO MAGAZINE POINTS 92

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Page 1: Cigar Insiderfratellocigar.com/uploads/News/CI090115.pdf · Montecristo Media Corona [page 2] SPECIAL REPORT: THE NEW CIGARS OF 2015 (PART THREE) n. Gurkha Cigar Group Inc. [page

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FEATURED CIGAR

BEST CIGARS THIS ISSUE

IN THIS ISSUE:

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TASTING REPORT:VERTICAL BRAND TASTINGS:nAgingRoomSmallBatchM356ii[page2]nFratello[page3]nLaMissionduL’Atelier[page3]

NEW SIZE:nMontecristoMediaCorona[page2]

SPECIAL REPORT: THE NEW CIGARS OF 2015 (PART THREE)nGurkhaCigarGroupInc.[page4]nHouseofEmilio[page4]nIllusioneCigars[page5]nJ.C.NewmanCigarCo.[page5]nKlinTobaccoLLC[page5]nKuutsLLC[page5]nKristoffCigars[page6]nLaFlorDominicana[page6]nLaHojaCigarCo.[page7]nLaPalinaCigars[page7]nLaSirenaCigars[page7]nLasCumbresTabaco[page8]nL’AtelierImports[page8]nMiamiCigar&Co.[page9]nMombachoCigarsS.A.[page9]nMyFatherCigars[page10]nNatShermanInternational[page10]nPadillaCigarCo.[page10]nPadrónCigarsInc.[page11]nPDRCigars[page11]nQuesadaCigars[page12]nRobertoDuranLLC[page13]

LaMissionduL’Atelier 1959 Nicaragua 92

AgingRoomSmallBatchM356iiMezzo Dom.Rep. 91

FratelloCorona Nicaragua 91

AgingRoomSmallBatchM356iiRondo Dom.Rep. 90

FratelloTimacle Nicaragua 90

MontecristoMediaCorona Cuba 90

FourTiedAt Various 89

A MINI CUBAN MONTETHE MONTECRISTO MEDIA CORONA fromCubaisjustthat—halfacorona.At3 1/2incheslong by 44 ring gauge, it is intended to be a short,but intense smoking experience. Now that theMontecristo Media Coronas are available globally,Cigar Insider hasratedthem.Seepagetwoforresults.

MORE COVERAGE OF THE 2015 IPCPR TRADE SHOWANNIVERSARIES, CONCEPTS AND LIMITED EDITIONS. Vying fordistinction,manyofthenewreleasesthisyearhavesomesortofinterestingbackstoryornoveltheme.Fromleft,PadrónmakestheDámaso,itsfirstConnecticut-wrappedcigar,whichisnamedafterafamilyancestor;FreyjabringssomeNorsemythologytothecigarworld;NatShermanhasbeen inbusiness for85 yearsand the85thAnniversarymarksthemilestone;LaPalinabrandownerBillPaleyhasanewladyinred—theLaPalinaRedLabel,whoseblendspansthreecountries;L’Atelier’sLaMissionduL’AtelierisinspiredbyFrance’sBordeauxwineregion.Coveragebeginsonpagefour.

LA MISSION DU L’ATELIER 1959NICARAGUA n PRICE: $8.00 n BODY: MEDIUM TO FULLFor a full tasting, see page three.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 n VOL. 20, NO. 17 n FROM THE PUBLISHER OF CIGAR AFICIONADO MAGAZINE

POINTS92

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TASTING REPORT

95-100:Classicn90-94:Outstandingn80-89:Verygoodtoexcellentn70-79:Averagetogoodcommercialquality

Below70:Don’twasteyourmoneynN/A:NotAvailableNote: Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail, before taxes.

AGING ROOM SMALL BATCH M356ii

NEW RELEASE—VERTICAL BRAND TASTINGCountry:DominicanRepublic

Maker:TabacaleraLaPalmaS.A.

Distributor:BoutiqueBlendsCigars

Filler:Dom.Rep.

Binder:Dom.Rep.

Wrapper:Dom.Rep.

Release Date:April2015

MEZZO91 POINTS n 6" x 54 n $9.32 n Humidor SelectionWithafullandeasydraw,thiswell-madecoronagordaoffers notes of leather, salt and spicy red pepper thatdeveloptouchesofvanillaandcinnamon.Body:MediumtoFull

RONDO90 POINTS n 5" x 50 n $8.88Thisdarkcigarhasabitofalumpyhead,butdeliversbracingspicinessandablackcherrynotebeforeawarm,toastyfinish.Body:MediumtoFull

FORTE89 POINTS n 5 7/8" x 56 n $9.52Elegantly tapered on both ends, this perfecto has aneasydrawandevenburn.It’saprimarilyearthysmokewithhintsofcoffee,whitewineandaslightbitterness.Body:MediumtoFull

MOTIVO89 POINTS n 6" x 46 n $8.66This thin,veinycoronagorda feelssolid to the touch,butdrawsevenly.Itshowsnotesofcedarandearthwithtouchesofstrongcoffee,butthefinishisrathershort.Body:MediumtoFull

PACO89 POINTS n 4 1/2" x 48 n $8.38Asmallrobustowithanoilywrapperandabitofawavyburn.Thecigarispredominantlyearthyandspicy,withhintsofgingerbreadandcoffee.Body:MediumtoFull

MAJOR88 POINTS n 6 1/2" x 60 n $9.82Mostly woody and earthy in character, this fat cigarburnswell,butcoulduseabitmorecomplexity.Thefinishiswheatyandslightlycharry.Body:MediumtoFull

BRAND SUMMARY: The sequel to the popular Aging Room Small Battch M356, Boutique Blends has introduced the M356ii, a cigar line that sports a similar all-Dominican blend to its pre-decessor. Because of the success of the original line, brand owner Rafael Nodal wanted to continue making the M356 blend even though the tobaccos used in the first production had run out. As a solution, Nodal developed a new blend that he says is very similiar to the original. He notes, however, that the M356ii is a bit stronger. The cigars are made at José “Jochy” Blanco’s Tabacalera La Palma in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. The Mezzo was the most interesting and complex, earning 91 points.Average Rating: 89.3points

NEW SIZECountry:Cuba

Maker:N/A

Distributor:HabanosS.A.

Filler:Cuba

Binder:Cuba

Wrapper:Cuba

Box Date:May2015

MONTECRISTO

MEDIA CORONA90 POINTS n 3 1/2" x 44 n £10.06Ashort,well-rolledcigarcraftedwithathree-seamcap.The earthy, wheaty smoke also leaves impressions ofcoffeeandahintofgrahamcracker.Body:Medium

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95-100:Classicn90-94:Outstandingn80-89:Verygoodtoexcellentn70-79:Averagetogoodcommercialquality

Below70:Don’twasteyourmoneynN/A:NotAvailableNote: Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail, before taxes.

NEW RELEASE—VERTICAL BRAND TASTINGCountry:Nicaragua

Maker:MyFatherCigars,S.A.

Distributor:L’AtelierImports,LLC

Filler:Nicaragua

Binder:Nicaragua

Wrapper:Mexico

Release Date:July2015

LA MISSION DU L’ATELIER

195992 POINTS n 4 3/4" x 52 n $8.00 n Humidor SelectionAdark,pressedrobustowithapigtailcapthatsmokesevenly,showingnotesoflushwood,sweetFrenchpeanutsandblackpepper.Boldandcomplex.Body:MediumtoFull

200988 POINTS n 6 1/2" x 56 n $10.00Largeandbox-pressed,thisrustic-lookingcigaristoppedwithapigtailcap.Strongnotesofsweetearth,woodandvanillabeanloseintensityasthecigarissmoked.Body:MediumtoFull

198987 POINTS n 5 5/8" x 54 n $9.00Thispressed,pigtailedcigardeliverslotsofdry,mineral-ladensmokewithhintsofearthandvanillabean,butthefinishleavesthepalatefeelingdry.Body:MediumtoFull

BRAND SUMMARY: Inspired by Château La Mission Haut Brion, a winery in France, L’Atelier created La Mission du L’Atelier, a line that the company says is its most full-bodied brand to date. The 1959 scored the highest, with 92 points.Average Rating: 89.0points

FRATELLO

VERTICAL BRAND TASTINGCountry:Nicaragua

Maker:FábricadeTabacosJoyadeNicaraguaS.A.

Distributor:FratelloCigars

Filler:Nicaragua,Peru

Binder:Ecuador

Wrapper:Nicaragua

Release Date:July2013,June2014

CORONA91 POINTS n 5 1/2" x 46 n $7.70 n Humidor SelectionMadewithadarkwrapperandlumpycap,thiscigaroffersnotesofwoodandtoastedmarshmallow,balancedbytea-likeintonationsandasavoryleatherfinish.Body:MediumtoFull

TIMACLE90 POINTS n 6" x 60 n $8.80This fat, oily cigar draws and burns evenly, deliveringheavynotesofwood,nutsandtoast.Thefinishisrichandredolentofespresso.Body:MediumtoFull

BOXER89 POINTS n 6 1/4" x 52 n $9.00Apointy,slightlybox-pressedtorpedo.Richwoodsandearthdominatethepalatebeforesegueingintoaspicyfinishwitharawalmondaftertaste.Body:MediumtoFull

TORO87 POINTS n 6 1/4" x 54 n $8.70Draped inadarkwrapper, this cigar imparts anearthysmokewithtracesofsweetberries,buttheheavymineralfinishalsoleavesagummyaftertasteonthepalate.Body:MediumtoFull

ROBUSTO86 POINTS n 5 1/2" x 52 n $8.30An oily cigar with some minor discoloration to thewrapper.Initialnotesofcharcoalandbitterwoodsleadtoamuddledfinish.Body:MediumtoFull

BRAND SUMMARY: Fratello, the flagship cigar line from Fratello Cigars, first debuted at the IPCPR trade show in July 2013. Brand owner Omar de Frias added a figurado to the line in June 2014. The name means ‘brother’ in Italian. The Corona scored the highest with 91 points.Average Rating: 89.0points

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SPECIAL REPORT: THE NEW CIGARS OF 2015, PART THREEBY DAVID CLOUGH, GREGORY MOTTOLA, ANDREW NAGY AND

DAVID SAVONA

The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show was a platform for premium cigarmakers

to exhibit their products and all the themes, concepts and backstories that go with them. Cigar Insider continues its coverage of new and upcoming releases.

GURKHA CIGAR GROUP INC.GURKHA CASK BLENDMade by: Cuevas Cigar Factory, Dominican RepublicWrapper: N/ABinder: N/AFiller: N/APrice: $7.99, $8.99Details: These fat perfectos come in 200-count cases built to resemble the boxes often found in cigar aging rooms. They come in two sizes, 5x58 and 6x58, but the “cask blend” is a secret.

GURKHA CELLAR RESERVE PLATINUM EDITIONMade by: American Caribbean Cigars, NicaraguaWrapper: EcuadorBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $8.99–$10.99

Details: The Platinum Edition is the fourth line in the Gurkha Cellar Reserve series. Platinum sets itself apart with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos that Gurkha claims are aged for 12 years. It comes in three sizes: Solara, 5 inches by 58 ring; Hedonism, 6 by 58; and Kraken, 6 by 60.Also: Gurkha released the most expensive cigar at the entire IPCPR trade show—The Maharaja. They cost $2,000 per cigar and come in cases of 10, with each cigar individually boxed in a coffin.

GURKHA HERITAGEMade by: American Caribbean Cigars, NicaraguaWrapper: EcuadorBinder: NicaraguaFiller: Nicaragua, U.S.A./Penn. Broadleaf, Dom. Rep.Price: $7.99–$9.99Details: Fitted with a cedar sleeve, each Heritage cigar consists of a rosado Ecuador Havana wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and a filler combination that includes Dominican Piloto Cubano and Pennsylvanian broadleaf. It comes in six sizes: Robusto, 5 by 55; Toro, 6 1/2 by 54; XO, 6 1/4 by 60; Figurado, 6 1/2 by 52; Prince, 5 by 58; and Kingsman, 7 by 54. They come in either boxes of 10 or boxes of 35. Also: Four Gurkha brands are now offered in sealable, 5-count fresh-lock pouches. The 125th Anniversary, Cellar Reserve, Royal Challenge and Ghost all come in 5-packs retailing from $35 to $52.80 each.

HOUSE OF EMILIOEZRA ZION ALL MY EX’SMade by: Tabacalera Aromas de Jalapa, NicaraguaWrapper: EcuadorBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $8.50–$8.95Details: A limited-edition release from Ezra Zion, All My Ex’s wears an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder and a filler blend of Criollo and Corojo tobaccos from Nicaragua. The cigar ships in three formats: Robusto, at 5 inches by 50 ring; Toro, 6 by 52; and Lancero, 7 by 42. All three sizes come in boxes of 25, but only 300 boxes of the Robusto and 300 boxes of the Toro will be made. The Lancero will be limited to 200 boxes total. Ezra Zion All My Ex’s is on store shelves now.

CIGAR NEWS

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ILLUSIONE CIGARSILLUSIONE FUME D’AMOUR JUNIPEROSMade by: TABSA, NicaraguaWrapper: NicaraguaBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $9.95Details: The first addition to the one-year-old Fume d’Amour line, which had a superb intro-duction. (The Clementes size debuted last year, and is Cigar Aficionado’s reigning No. 3 cigar of the year, with a classic rating of 95 points.) The Juniperos mea-sures 7 1/2 inches long by 40 ring gauge and is made with a mix of Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 tobaccos grown in Estelí and Japala. They come in boxes of 25.

ILLUSIONE ~33~Made by: TABSA, NicaraguaWrapper: NicaraguaBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $6.95Details: A small addition to the core Illusione line, which will celebrate 10 years on sale in 2016. The ~33~ measures 6 1/4 by 32, a vitola known as ninfa. The smokes come in boxes containing 14 cigars.Also: Each year Illusione releases a limited-edition smoke known as Singulare. The 2015 version, dubbed Miserere, is made almost entirely with tobacco from one Aganorsa field. It measures 6 3/4 by 48, retails for $13 and comes in boxes of 15. Look for it in November. Production will be limited to no more than 1,200 boxes (18,000 cigars).

J.C. NEWMAN CIGAR CO.DIAMOND CROWN BLACK DIAMONDMade by: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., Dominican RepublicWrapper: N/ABinder: N/AFiller: N/APrice: N/ADetails: In celebration of J.C. Newman’s 120 years of business, the company is preparing to launch a new brand called Diamond Crown Black Diamond. Shanda Lee, vice president of marketing for J.C. Newman, said the cigar is slated for release sometime later this year, but blend, pricing and vitola count have not yet been revealed.

KLIN TOBACCO LLCTHE CALEANOCH 25Made by: N/A, Dominican Republic

Wrapper: EcuadorBinder: Dom. Rep.Filler: Dom. Rep.Price: $12.50Details: Brand owner Eric Hanson says The Caleanoch 25 is the world’s first peat-fired cigar. While the tradi-tional method of fire curing tobacco relies on the lighting of hardwood fires inside a barn to dry and cure tobacco leaves, Hanson chose peat imported from Scotland to fuel his curing fires. He isn’t revealing the name of the factory where the cigar is made, though it is located in the Dominican Republic. The

Caleanoch 25 comes in one size (6 by 50) and features an Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper, Corojo binder and filler tobacco composed of 25 percent peat-fired Corojo and 75 percent air-cured Corojo.

HAMMER + SICKLE TRADEMARK MADUROMade by: TabaDom Occidental, Dominican RepublicWrapper: MexicoBinder: Dom. Rep.Filler: Dom. Rep.Price: $8.75–$9.10Details: The Hammer + Sickle Icon has been rebranded as Hammer + Sickle Trademark—and a companion line of cigars featuring a San Andrés Maduro wrapper has launched alongside it. Trademark Maduro ships in three sizes: Robusto, at 5 by 50; Toro, 6 by 50; and Churchill, 7 by 48. The cigars are shipping to retailers now.

KUUTS LLCKUUTS CONNECTICUTMade by: Compañia Hondureña de Tabacos, HondurasWrapper: EcuadorBinder: NicaraguaFiller: Dom. Rep., Nicaragua, HondurasPrice: $6.70–$8.10Details: Kuuts Connecticut is the first Kuuts brand to feature an Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper. John Gonzalez, vice president of Kuuts, says the cigar is medium in strength. Kuuts Connecticut will launch in three sizes: Robusto, at 5 inches by 52 ring; Toro, 6 by 52; and Gordo, 6 by 60. The cigars come in boxes of 20 and started shipping to retailers at the end of August.

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MIRÓ CAPA NEGRAMade by: Compañia Hondureña de Tabacos, HondurasWrapper: MexicoBinder: NicaraguaFiller: Nicaragua, HondurasPrice: $6.80–$8.90Details: Miró Capa Negra is the maduro successor to the Kuuts Miró line featuring a Mexican San Andrés tobacco leaf. The cigar comes in five sizes: Momento, at 4 inches by 48 ring; Lonsdale, 6 1/4 by 42; Robusto, 5 1/4 by 50; Toro, 6 by 52; and Gordo, 6 by 60.

KRISTOFF CIGARSKRISTOFF CAMEROONMade by: Charles Fairmorn Factory, Dominican Republic Wrapper: CameroonBinder: Dom. Rep.Filler: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep.Price: $9.00–$10.00Details: Kristoff’s new Cameroon blend contains a hearty amount of Cuban-seed tobaccos, held together by toothy Cameroon wrapper. The cigar, described by brand owner Glen Case as medium to full bodied, comes in three sizes: Robusto, 5 1/2 inches by 54 ring; Churchill, 7 by 50; and Matador, 6 1/2 by 56. What makes it special: Cameroon wrapper, once an industry mainstay, isn’t seen on many new cigars.

KRISTOFF SAN ANDRÉSMade by: PDR Cigars, Dominican RepublicWrapper: MexicoBinder: EcuadorFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $8.00–$9.50Details: This medium- to full-bodied cigar has an Ecuador Habano binder beneath dark Mexican San Andrés wrapper and comes in three sizes: a fat Robusto, 5 1/2 by 54; Churchill, 7 by 50; and the ever-popular 6 by 60.

KRISTOFF CLASSIC RESERVA Made by: PDR Cigars, Dominican RepublicWrapper: EcuadorBinder: NicaraguaFiller: Nicaragua, HondurasPrice: $8.00–$9.00Cigar Insider brand average: 88 pointsDetails: A limited line from Kristoff that combines tobaccos from Ecuador, Nicaragua and Honduras in what Kristoff describes as medium to full in body. It comes in three sizes: Robusto, 5 by 52; Toro, 6 1/4 by 54; and Magnum, 6 by 60.

LA FLOR DOMINICANALA FLOR DOMINICANA AIR BENDER MADUROMade by: Tabacalera La Flor S.A., Dominican Republic Wrapper: EcuadorBinder: Dom. Rep.Filler: Dom. Rep.Price: $7.60–$9.20Details: The Air Bender line extension has been a popular one for La Flor Dominicana, and the company has branched out by adding a maduro version. It is available in three sizes: Matatan, 5 by 50 ring; Chisel (the wedge-headed figurado), 6 1/2 by 54; and Valiente, 6 1/4 by 60.

LA FLOR DOMINICANA CORONADOMade by: Tabacalera La Flor S.A., Dominican Republic Wrapper: NicaraguaBinder: Dom. Rep. Filler: Dom. Rep.Price: $8.80–$10.50Details: Coronado by La Flor was a critical success (the Double Corona size ranked No. 2 in Cigar Aficionado’s 2006 Top 25 ranking) but consumers never embraced it. Feeling it wasn’t seen as part of the La Flor portfolio, Litto Gomez pulled it off the market for a year and a half, changed the name, and has re-released it as La Flor Dominicana Coronado. The blend (a combination of Gomez’s Dominican tobaccos with a sun-grown Habano seed wrapper from Nicaragua) remains unchanged. As before, the cigar will come in six sizes: Double Toro, 7 inches long by 54 ring gauge; Corona Gorda, 7 by 60; Double Corona, 7 by 50; Lancero, 7 1/2 by 38; Corona Especial, 5 1/8 by 47; and Toro, 6 by 52.

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LA FLOR DOMINICANA LA NOXMade by: Tabacalera La Flor S.A., Dominican Republic Wrapper: BrazilBinder: MexicoFiller: Dom. Rep. Price: $11.00Details: A single-size only release for now, La Nox mea-sures 6 1/2 by 50. Nox is the Latin word for night, and the cigars have dark bands featuring a crescent moon. It’s the creation of Anthony “Tony” Gomez, son of La Flor blender and co-owner Litto Gomez.

LITTO GOMEZ 2015Made by: Tabacalera La Flor S.A., Dominican Republic Wrapper: Dom. Rep.Binder: Dom. Rep.Filler: Dom. Rep.Price: $8.80–$12.80Details: La Flor Dominicana is vertically integrated, and the Litto Gomez line (known as LG) is made entirely from La Flor’s Dominican tobacco. The 2015 vintage comes in boxes of 20. There are five sizes: Oriental, 4 7/8 by 38; Cubano, 5 by 50; Chisel Puro, 5 1/2 by 54; Americano, 5 3/4 by 46; and Lusitano, 6 by 52. Also: La Flor added a new size to its 1994 line called the Tango, measuring 4 1/2 by 48. It retails for $6.80. The company has also brought back the Salomon Especial, with an added twist of incorporating lightly hued Ecuador Connecticut wrappers to part of the foot, giving them an attractive barber-pole design.

LA HOJA CIGAR CO. 1962LA HOJA EDICIÓN CREMA 1962Made by: Tamboril DBL S.A., Dominican RepublicWrapper: EcuadorBinder: Dom. Rep.Filler: Dom. Rep., NicaraguaPrice: $11.00–$13.50Details: J. Carlos Gomez, executive vice president at La Hoja

Cigar Co. 1962, says that La Hoja Edición Crema 1962 is a creamier smoking experience compared to his other brands. The cigar features an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper over a Dominican binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The cigar is launching in four sizes: No. 1 Robusto, at 5 1/4 inches by 52 ring; No. 9 Toro, 5 3/4 by 56; No. 6 Toro Gordo, 6 by 60; and No. 2 Belicoso, 5 1/2 by 54. La Hoja Edición Crema is slated for an early September release.

LA PALINA CIGARSRED LABEL COLLECTIONMade by: PDR Cigars, Dominican RepublicWrapper: EcuadorBinder: EcuadorFiller: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep.Price: $9.00–$11.50Details: The blend of this new cigar consists of filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua enveloped in a Cuban-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador. The new Red Label, which brand owner Bill Paley says is mild to medium bodied, comes in four sizes, each packed in 20-count boxes: Gordo, measuring 6 inches by 60 ring gauge; Toro, 6 by 50; Robusto, 5 by 52; and Petit Lancero, 6 by 40. It’s already appearing in some cigar shops now.Also: Two sizes were added to La Palina’s Family Series Miami: The Babe, a 5 1/4 by 50 Robusto, $16.50; and The Alison, a 6 by 52 torpedo, $18.

LA SIRENA CIGARSMade by: La Zona Cigars S.A., NicaraguaWrapper: EcuadorBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $6.30–$6.90Details: This brick-and-mortar exclusive will come in two versions that differ by their respective wrappers, but sport the same Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan filler tobacco. The dark, oscuro Cuban-seed Ecuadoran version will ship in a size called Gordo, measuring 6 1/8 inches by 58 ring gauge, and Corona, 5 by 42. The Ecuadoran Connecticut version will ship in one size only, a 6 by 52 Toro.

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LAS CUMBRES TABACOFREYJAMade by: Tabacalera La Palma S.A., Dominican Republic Wrapper: Dom. Rep.Binder: MexicoFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $7.00–$10.00Details: Named after the Norse goddess of love, war and fertility, Freyja is composed of a Dominican Criollo ’98 wrapper, a Mexican San Andrés binder and filler from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. It’s the creation of Emma Viktorsson of Las Cumbres and comes in four sizes all themed with Nordic mythology: Sessrúmnir Corona Larga, 5 3/4 inches by 42 ring gauge; Valhalla Robusto, 5 1/2 by 50; Thor’s Toro, 6 by 54; and Valkyrie Pyramid, 6 1/2 by 52.

SEÑORIAL MADURO NATURALMade by: Tabacalera La Palma S.A., Dominican Republic Wrapper: MexicoBinder: Dom. Rep.Filler: Dom. Rep.Price: $7.50–$10.00Details: According to Las Cumbres, the Señorial Maduro is called Natural because the wrapper is rustic in appearance. It’s the darker offshoot of the core Señorial line, which debuted last year, and comes in four sizes: Lonsdale Refinado, 6 1/2 by 44; Robusto Digno, 5 1/2 by 50; Toro Coloso, 6 by 54; and Opulento, 6 by 60. Also: The core Señorial line now has a 7 by 38 Lancero that retails for $9.

L’ATELIER IMPORTSLA MISSION DU L’ATELIERMade by: My Father Cigars, S.A., NicaraguaWrapper: MexicoBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $8.00–$10.00Details: La Mission, which L’Atelier’s K.C. Johnson says is the most full-bodied cigar yet from the company, was inspired by Château La Mission Haut Brion, a winery in France. Using tobaccos grown by the Garcia family, the blend is a Nicaraguan filler mixture, including

a bit of Sancti Spiritus leaf (L’Atelier’s signature varietal), covered by two binders from Nicaragua and wrapper leaf from San Andrés, Mexico. Each of the three debut sizes— 1959, measuring 4 3/4 by 52; 1989, 5 5/8 by 54; and 2009, 6 1/2 by 56—are box-pressed and rolled with a pigtail cap. The names of the sizes refer to the years that the La Mission winery received 100-point designations, and the company is already planning four future sizes for missing 100-point years: 1955, 1982, 2000 and 2005. See page three for a vertical brand tasting.

EXTENSION DE LA RACINE 2015Made by: My Father Cigars, S.A., NicaraguaWrapper: NicaraguaBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $9.25Details: The third iteration of the La Racine cigar project, which is available only to those retailers who attended the IPCPR trade show, is a 6 3/4 inches by 43 ring gauge lonsdale. A sun-grown Criollo wrapper covers two Sancti Spiritus binders and Nicaraguan filler. The Extension de la Racine 2015 is expected to ship in October.

LEGEND CIGARSJOHN STARKS #3 SIGNATURE SERIESMade by: Charles Fairmorn Factory, Dominican Republic Wrapper: EcuadorBinder: Dom. Rep. Filler: Dom. Rep. Price: $7.60–$8.75

Details: New York Knick fans know the name John Starks. The former bas-ketball star is also a dedicated cigar lover who has his own cigar lounge (Stamford Cigar Lounge, in Stamford, Connecticut) and several cigar lines. The new John Starks #3 Signature

Series, which is cloaked in a Connecticut-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador, comes in four sizes: Churchill, 7 inches long by 50 ring gauge; Gordo, 6 by 60; Robusto, 5 by 52; and Toro, 6 by 54.

Also: The cigar comes in a maduro version, which is slightly more expensive and has a Brazilian wrapper. It comes in Toro, Robusto, Gordo and Gran Gordo.

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MARCO V U.S.A.MARCO V SUMMIT SERIESMade by: Fabrica Marco V, NicaraguaWrapper: U.S.A./Conn. ShadeBinder: Nicaragua Filler: NicaraguaPrice: $3.88–$4.99Details: Brand owner Marc Keiser decided to create the Summit Series after scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. The line contains seven vitolas, in reference to the Seven Summits (the highest mountains on each of the seven continents) and include: Gordo, at 6 inches by 60 ring; Torpedo, 7 by 54; Toro, 6 by 52; Robusto, 5 by 50; Churchill, 7 by 52; Corona, 6 1/5 by 44; and Salomon, a hefty 8 by 58 figurado. Originally slated for a 2013 release, the Summit Series was delayed because Keiser was not satisfied with one of the tobaccos in the blend. The brand should be out in October.

MIAMI CIGAR & CO.DANNOMade by: My Father Cigars S.A., NicaraguaWrapper: VariousBinder: Dom. Rep., Nicaragua, Brazil, PeruFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $12.00Details: This cigar, which has iterations dating back to 2009, pays tribute to Miami Cigar & Co.’s Daniel Luis Miranda, who died in 2008. Like past versions, the 2015 Danno measures 7 inches by 56 ring gauge and is rolled at My Father Cigars in Nicaragua, but this year’s Danno is not an entirely new blend. It riffs off the three lines that comprise the Nestor Miranda Collection—Connecticut, Habano, Maduro—that was released last year. Habano sports a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan binder with a filler of tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Brazil. The Connecticut is composed of an Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The Maduro line utilizes a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Dominican, Nicaraguan and Peruvian fillers. Only 1,000 boxes of Danno will be released in each format and they are already in stores.

UNTAMED XTREMEMade by: La Aurora S.A., Dominican RepublicWrapper: U.S.A./Conn. BroadleafBinder: Dom. Rep.Filler: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep., U.S.A./Penn. BroadleafPrice: $7.50–$11.00Details: After releasing Untamed last year, La Aurora is

ramping up the blend even more with a new line extension dubbed Xtreme. Master blender Manuel Inoa boosted the strength of the original Untamed by replacing one seco leaf and one viso leaf from the filler with two stronger ligero leaves from Pennsylvania and Nicaragua. A nearly oscuro broadleaf maduro wrapper grown in Connecticut covers the Dominican binder. Two of the three sizes—Robusto, 5 inches by 50 ring gauge; Toro, 5 1/2 by 54— will come packed in 24-count boxes while Gran, 7 inches by 60 ring , will be offered in boxes of 16. The Untamed Xtreme cigars should begin shipping October 3.

VIVA REPUBLICA ADVANCED WARFAREMade by: La Aurora S.A., Dominican RepublicWrapper: EcuadorBinder: U.S.A./Conn. BroadleafFiller: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep, U.S.A.Price: $5.00–$6.00Details: Viva Republica, which is owned by Jason Holly and distributed by Miami Cigar & Co., calls Advanced

Warfare an extension of its Guerrilla Warfare line. Advanced uses the same Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador as its predeces-sor, but the binder and filler components are entirely different. The cigar is being packed in 50-count crates and comes in only two sizes for now: Petite, 4 inches by 41 ring gauge; and Corona, 5 1/4 by 43. Advanced Warfare should be reaching store shelves now.

MOMBACHO CIGARS S.A.TIERRA VOLCÁN FINOMade by: Casa Favilli, Nicaragua Wrapper: NicaraguaBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $9.25Details: Mombacho cigars started quietly in 2006 but didn’t get any U.S. distribution until 2013. Although the company itself is still called Mombacho, the cigars were renamed Tierra Volcán last year due to a trademark issue. The newest addition is a classic lonsdale size called the Fino, which measures 6 inches by 44 ring. Also: A five-pack of Tierra Volcáns includes all five sizes of the line: Corto, Clasico, Grande, Volcanito and the new Fino. It retails for $49.95. The long-filler, hand-made cigarillos called Volcanitos come packaged in wooden boxes of six that retail for $24.95, or in larger boxes of 100 for $2.90 each.

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MY FATHER CIGARSEL CENTURION H-2K-CTMade by: My Father Cigars, S.A., NicaraguaWrapper: U.S.A./Conn. HabanoBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $7.10, $8.10Details: An offshoot of the original El Centurion, H-2K-CT sports a Cuban-seed wrapper, which the company says is pro-prietary, grown in the open sunlight of the Connecticut River Valley. The new Connecticut version is box-pressed and comes packed in 20-count boxes in two sizes: Corona, 5 1/4 inches by 48 ring gauge; and Toro, 6 by 52. Jaime Garcia of My Father Cigars says the cigar is medium bodied.Also: The company has added a box-pressed, 6 by 60 Toro Grande ($9.10) to its Flor de las Antillas line, of which the Toro was Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year in 2012. My Father has released the Limited Edition 2015 5th Anniversary Toro. It measures 6 1/2 by 52, retails for $23 and celebrates the fifth anniversary of the company’s first limited edition. This year’s version is a toro whose blend consists of all Nicaraguan fillers and two binders: a Nicaraguan Corojo 2006 and a Nicaraguan Habano. The wrapper hails from Ecuador. Only 4,200 boxes of 14 were produced and are in shops now.

NAT SHERMAN INTERNATIONALNAT SHERMAN 85TH ANNIVERSARY Made by: Quesada Cigars, Dominican RepublicWrapper: Dom. Rep.Binder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $19.00Details: Rolled at the Quesada Cigars factory in the Dominican Republic, the Nat Sherman 85th Anniversary cigar celebrates the company’s 85th year in business. It measures 6 1/2 inches by 54 ring gauge and will be limited to 2,500 boxes that each hold 10 cigars. The Dominican wrapper comes from the country’s Navarette region, and according to Michael Herklots, Nat Sherman’s vice president of retail and brand development, the filler is 50 percent ligero.Also: Nat Sherman has introduced three new sizes in its Sterling line: Short Robusto, which measures 4 by 52; Robusto, 4 3/4 by 50; and Churchill, 7 by 48. The new formats range from $12 to $16.

ORLEANS GROUP INTERNATIONALDRAM CASK NO. 4Made by: Tabacalera Alianza, Dominican Republic Wrapper: U.S.A./Conn. BroadleafBinder: EcuadorFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $11.00–$12.50Details: The fourth cigar blend in the Dram series of cigars, Cask No. 4 was created to

be paired with the peaty, smoky scotches from Islay and Skye. The complement is achieved by a combination of Connecticut broadleaf, Ecuadoran Sumatra and Nicaraguan filler. It comes in four

sizes: Robusto, 5 inches by 50 ring; Toro, 6 by 54; Churchill, 7 by 50; and Gigantor, 6 by 60.

PADILLA CIGAR CO.PADILLA COROJO-99Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L., HondurasWrapper: HondurasBinder: Nicaragua Filler: NicaraguaPrice: $6.00–$7.00Details: Draped in a Corojo ’99 seed wrapper from Honduras, the Padilla Corojo-99 features two binders from Nicaragua and fillers from Aganorsa farms in Nicaragua. The cigar is part of Ernesto Padilla’s latest effort to release cigars priced less than $8, but match the quality and construction of a much higher priced cigar. Padilla Corojo-99 ships in three sizes: Robusto, 5 inches by 54 ring; Toro, 6 by 52; and Double Toro, 6 by 60.

PADILLA CRIOLLO-98Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L., HondurasWrapper: HondurasBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $6.00–$7.00Details: Padilla Criollo-98 is composed of a Criollo ’98 seed wrapper grown in Honduras, two binders from Nicaragua and fillers from Jalapa, Nicaragua. The cigar ships in three vitolas: Robusto, 5 by 54; Toro, 6 by 52; and Double Toro, 6 by 60. In a similar philosophy to his other new releases this year, “The idea was to make a premium cigar at a reasonable price, without compromising on quality,” Padilla said.

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PADILLA LA PILARMade by: Tabacalera Aguilar, HondurasWrapper: EcuadorBinder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep. Price: $5.50–$7.10 Details: Like the other new Padilla brands, owner Ernesto Padilla says he wanted to create a portfolio of cigars that retail for less than $8 without compromising on blend qual-ity or construction. His first creation is Padilla La Pilar, and he chose a high-priming Ecuadoran wrapper, a double binder from Nicaragua, and fillers consisting of Nicaraguan Corojo and Cuban-seed Criollo from the Dominican Republic. The cigar comes in three sizes: Robusto, at 5 by 54 ring; Toro, 6 by 52; and Churchill, 7 by 57.

PADILLA SAN ANDRÉSMade by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L., HondurasWrapper: MexicoBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $6.00–$7.00Details: Featuring a dark wrapper from San Andrés, Mexico, Padilla San Andrés combines two binders from Nicaragua with fillers from the Jalapa, Condega and Estelí growing regions of Nicaragua. Part of Padilla’s latest value-priced portfolio, the cigar ships in three sizes: Robusto, at 5 inches by 54 ring; Toro, at 6 by 52; and Double Toro at 6 by 60.

PADRÓN CIGARS INC.PADRÓN DÁMASOMade by: Padrón Cigars Inc., NicaraguaWrapper: EcuadorBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $12.50–$17.50Details: Padrón Cigars have long been known for their robust Nicaraguan flavor. Eying the large number of cigar lovers who eschew stronger cigars for milder smokes wrapped in Connecticut-seed leaves, the Padrón family crafted Padrón Dámaso, which is named for an influential ancestor of the Padrón family who started the tradition of growing cigar tobacco in Cuba. In the late 1800s, Dámaso Padrón emigrated from the Canary Islands to Cuba and began farming a rental property in Las Obas, part of the Pinar del Río province in Western Cuba. After a time, he saved enough money to buy his own land, and eventually fathered 12 children, one of whom, Francisco Padrón, would father José Orlando Padrón, the founder and patriarch of Padrón Cigars. The Dámaso brand differs from other Padróns in body (they are mild to medium, from our test smoking), shape (they are round, rather than pressed), color (a light tan, rather than brown or dark brown) and blend (Ecuador Connecticut wrappers rather than Cuban-seed wrappers). The cigars are packed in boxes of 20 and come in four sizes: No. 17, 7 inches long by 54 ring gauge; No. 15, 6 by 52; No. 8, 5 1/2 by 46; and No. 12, 5 by 50. They began shipping in small batches immediately after the trade show. What makes it special: Several firsts for Padrón Cigars.

PDR CIGARS FLORES Y RODRIGUEZ CONNECTICUT VALLEY RESERVE MADUROMade by: PDR Cigars, Dominican Republic Wrapper: U.S.A./Conn. BroadleafBinder: NicaraguaFiller: Dom. Rep., NicaraguaPrice: $16.00–$19.00Details: This cigar is another collaboration between brand owner Abe Flores and his factory partner Juan Rodriguez. It features a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper and comes in four sizes: Robusto, 4 inches by 52 ring; Gran Toro, 6 by 54; Belicoso 5 1/2 by 54; and Figurado, 6 1/2 by 52.Also: The A. Flores Gran Reserva Sun Grown is now a full line. It started in a single half corona size, but now has three new sizes: Robusto, Gran Toro and Double Magnum. It’s a Dominican and Nicaraguan blend finished with an Ecuador Habano wrapper. The original Flores y Rodriguez 10th Anniversary now has a shapely Figurado size.

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QUESADA CIGARSQUESADA RESERVA PRIVADAMade by: Quesada Cigars, Dominican RepublicWrapper: EcuadorBinder: Dom. Rep.Filler: Dom. Rep., U.S.A.Price: $12.95–$14.95Details: Brand owner Manuel Quesada, who has been making cigars in the Dominican Republic since 1974, calls Privada “the best blend of my life.” Conceived around a bumper crop of San Vicente tobacco harvested 18 years ago that has been aging ever since, the Quesada Reserva Privada sports a Connecticut-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador, with binder and filler tobacco from the 1997 San Vicente harvest, plus a bit of ligero from Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania ligero, Quesada notes, “brings a little intensity to the older tobaccos.” The cigar began trickling into retail cigar shops in boxes of 10 around April 1 in three formats—Robusto, 4 3/4 inches by 52 ring gauge; Toro, 5 5/8 by 54; and Toro Gordo, 6 1/2 by 56. The cigars are adorned with holographic bands.What makes it special: Rolled with tobaccos harvested in 1997.

CASA MAGNA D. MAGNUS II MARCUS AURELIUSMade by: Plasencia Cigars, S.A., NicaraguaWrapper: NicaraguaBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $8.95Details: Quesada has added a new size to its D. Magnus II line, a bulbous 6 inch by 64 ring pyramid that has been slightly pressed so that it resembles an elliptical shape. Named after Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the cigar is a Nicaraguan puro. The release is limited to 1,000 boxes, each packed with 10 cigars, and has already begun shipping.

QUESADA OKTOBERFEST DAS BRAUHAUSE, DOUBLE BOCKMade by: Plasencia Cigars, S.A., NicaraguaWrapper: NicaraguaBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $7.50, $9.75Details: The company added two, limited-edition Nicaraguan puros to its Oktoberfest line: Das Brauhaus, which measures a stout 4 1/2 inches by 60 ring gauge and sports a coil cap, and Double Bock, a 7 by 47 classic Churchill. Both puros are covered by the same wrapper, a high-priming, Cuban-

seed leaf grown in Nicaragua’s Jalapa Valley. Das Brauhaus, though, includes a Nicaraguan Cuban-seed viso binder from Estelí and a filler combination of Cuban-seed ligero from Estelí and Condega. In turn, Double Bock features a Cuban-seed viso binder from Jalapa, with a filler blend of seco (which is a higher-priming leaf than viso) from Ometepe and ligeros cultivated from Estelí and Condega. Das Brauhaus will be packed in boxes of 24 that resemble an Alpine mountain house, while Double Bock comes in 10-count, semi-boite nature boxes. The cigars will begin shipping later this month.What makes it special: First all- Nicaraguan blends to be released in the formerly all-Dominican

Oktoberfest line.

MATILDE OSCURAMade by: Tabacalera La Matilde, Dominican RepublicWrapper: MexicoBinder: SumatraFiller: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep., Nicaragua, U.S.A./Penn. BroadleafPrice: $7.50–$8.50Details: Earlier this year, industry veteran and brand owner José Seijas announced that Quesada would be distributing his Matilde brands. Seijas says Oscura is fuller in body than the Renacer brand, which debuted as Cigar Aficionado’s No. 14 best cigar of 2014. The blend is a dark wrapper from San Andrés, Mexico, Sumatran binder and ligero from Pennsylvania for strength. Oscura comes in three sizes: Corona, 5 1/2 by 44 ring; Robusto, 5 1/2 by 50; and Toro Bravo, 6 1/2 by 54.

REGIUS ORCHANT LIMITED EDITIONMade by: Plasencia Cigars, S.A., NicaraguaWrapper: NicaraguaBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $9.95–$10.95Details: Regius brand owner Akhil Kapacee, whose cigars are distributed by Quesada, blended this three-size, limited-edition brand with United Kingdom cigar purveyor Mitchell Orchant. (A secondary band denotes the merchant’s name.) The blend consists largely of tobaccos from Jalapa and Condega, with some leaf from Estelí, too. The cigar comes packed in boxes of 10 and is available now in three sizes: Robusto, 4 3/4 by 52 ring; Hermoso, 5 by 48; and Campana, a torpedo measuring 5 1/2 by 52.

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ROBERTO DURAN LLCAZAN BURGUNDY TOROMade by: Nicatobacco Factory, NicaraguaWrapper: EcuadorBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $5.00Details: Roberto Duran has added a new vitola to its Azan Burgundy line, Toro, at 5 7/8 inches by 52 ring gauge. Azan Burgundy features an Ecuadoran Corojo wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Jalapa, Nicaragua.Also: Two other brands in the Azan portfolio (Azan Maduro Natural and Azan White Premium) gain new vitolas. Azan Maduro Natural adds Supremo, at 5 inches by 58 ring ($10.50); and Toro de Luxe, 6 1/2 by 56 ($11.00). Azan White Premium also adds Toro de Luxe, but the size and price are slightly different than its Maduro Natural counterpart, at 6 1/2 by 54 ($9.00).

NEYA F8 PATRIOT, LOYALIST, GRINGO, BIG JACKMade by: Nicatobacco Factory, NicaraguaWrapper: EcuadorBinder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaPrice: $6.00–$8.00Details: The Roberto Duran Neya F8 line has four new vitolas: Patriot, at 5 inches by 52 ring; Loyalist, 6 1/2 by 54; Gringo, 5 by 58; and Big Jack, at 7 by 70. The cigars feature an Ecuador Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The imposing “Big Jack” vitola is named after company sales representative, Jack Toraño.

ROBERTO P. DURAN SIGNATURE PUNTICA, SALOMONMade by: Nicatobacco Factory, NicaraguaWrapper: EcuadorBinder: NicaraguaFiller: Nicaragua, N/APrice: $18.00 (3-pack), $25.00Details: Roberto Duran has added two new sizes to its Signature line: Puntica, a 4 3/8 inch by 46 ring cigar, which comes in packs of three; and Salomon, a massive 7 1/4 by 57 figurado that the company says has been personally rolled by Crisanto “Santo” Cárdenas, the master blender at Roberto Duran. While the Puntica launches as a regular-production vitola, the Salomon is positioned as a limited-edition, with only 3,000 cigars to be released. The Signature line features an Ecuador Habano Criollo wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua and other undisclosed Latin American countries. n

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