Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 362

As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) Rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z has made his first foray into the premium cigar industry, partnering with General Cigar to launch a new Cohiba line called Comador. Available in one size, a Toro (6 x 52), Comador is a project two years in the making that includes a Connecticut Havana wrapper and will be sold in a humidor of 21 cigars ($999), a travel humidor of 7 cigars ($350), or a box of 7 cigars ($210). “I worked with Cohiba because I knew they’d take my vision of a luxury cigar and bring it to life in the right way,” said Jay-Z. “We took our time working on this, to get the blend to exactly where I wanted it to be. Comador looks and tastes the way I think a cigar should.”

2) You still have time to bid in Xikar’s charity auction for the 1,000th Xi3 Fossil Mammoth Ivory cigar cutter with free inscription and induction into the Xikar for Life Hall of Fame. It’s to support the company’s relationship with Cigars for Warriors, which collects and disperses premium cigars to U.S. military personnel serving in a designated combat zones. All auction proceeds will go to the project, and you can bid here.

3) Inside the Industry: Illusione announced its Singulare 2013 is now shipping to retailers. In a tweet, Illusione owner Dion Giolito describes the cigar as “sweet hickory, black cherry, mild spice, and leather through the nose. Complex as hell.” We’ve reviewed past Illusione Singulare cigars from 2010, 2011, and 2012.

4) Deal of the Week: Looking for a last-minute cigar Christmas gift, or just something to treat yourself? Please consider purchasing it from one of our retail sponsors, each of which has a number of holiday specials: Smoke Inn, Signal Cigar, Corona Cigar, Emerson’s Cigars, or Cigar Place. Thank you for your support.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Comador