Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 469

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) Drew Estate is adding to its popular Herrera Estelí line by launching the Herrera Estelí TAA Exclusive, which will begin shipping to Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA) members in April. The single-vitola (6 x 52) release will be sold in 12-count boxes for $144, or $12 per cigar. Whereas the original Herrera Estelí features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around a Honduran binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua, the TAA Exclusive—also blended by Willy Herrera—will sport a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Brazilian Mata Fina binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. “This is my first blend since joining Drew Estate that utilizes Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco,” said Herrera in a press release. “Drew Estate fans know that we’re famous for our use of Connecticut Broadleaf tobaccos, especially in our Liga Privada No. 9 and Nica Rustica lines. I’ve been experimenting with blends that incorporate this incredible wrapper since coming on board and finally have a blend I’m really excited about.”

2) Davidoff has announced the Golf Scorecard Edition 2016, a Gran Toro (5.9 x 55) with a Habano Ecuador wrapper, Dominican Piloto binder, and Dominican filler tobaccos. The cigars, which will be available this month, will be sold in five-packs with an MSRP of $24 per cigar. One of the cigars will have a gold secondary band (the other four will have white secondary bands) intended for the winner of the round. “The majestic Gran Toro format of this Davidoff Golf Scorecard Edition 2016 allows the aficionado to enjoy the cigar’s intensive but balanced and nuanced taste over its entire length,” reads a Davidoff press release. “The front nine delivers oaky, coffee notes, whilst the back nine brings it home with sweet honey tones.”

3) Inside the Industry: Foundry Tobacco Company, a subsidiary of General Cigar, is expanding its staff by adding two dedicated sales brokers along with Justin Andrews, formerly of Lou Rodriguez Cigars, who will take the position of creative director for Foundry. In events this weekend at W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist in Washington, L’Atelier is debuting Côte d’Or La Tâche, a follow-up to last year’s Côte d’Or release, which sports an Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus wrapper.

4) From the Archives: After taking advantage of a nearly too-good-to-be-true deal on ten Don Pepin Original Generosos for about $4 each, George E looked to see what we’d written about them in the past. Nearly nine years ago, we reviewed the original line, praising its complex blend and awarding four and a half stogies for the “rich, complex, Cuban-like flavor.” The current iteration remains a knockout.

5) Deal of the Week: Quesada fans should check out this Big Bang Sampler, which includes one each of the Cubita Imported, Quesada 40th Anniversary, Oktoberfest, and Cubano Limitado Fonseca, plus a special unbanded Quesada blend. Use our special discount code “Stogie10” at checkout and land the five-pack for under $27.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Drew Estate