Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 496

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 will apparently not have exclusive rights to the sun-grown Floridian tobacco produced by Jeff Borysiewicz, owner of the Orlando-area Corona Cigar stores. This week, Davidoff announced a cigar that will use his tobacco in a new limited edition release that commemorates Corona’s 20th anniversary. Sold exclusively at Corona’s three locations, the cigar will be a belicoso (6 x 52) with an Ecuadorian Connecticut Rojiza wrapper, a San Andrés binder, and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Florida. “We are very proud to be working with Davidoff and there is no way better to celebrate our 20-year milestone of becoming a leader in premium cigar retailing,” said Borysiewicz. “Our unique and exclusive Florida tobacco farm has truly allowed our company to come full circle as a premium cigar retailer, as well as the world’s only grower of prized Florida cigar tobacco. We are excited to be able to share with fellow aficionados this unique Davidoff cigar that is blended with our 2014 crop of heirloom Florida Sumatra-seed tobacco that was grown on our farm in Clermont, Florida.” Two years ago, StogieGuys.com broke the news that Borysiewicz was growing tobacco in Florida out of love of the leaf, and to avoid paying residential taxes on the land.

2) The second Burn by Rocky Patel cigar lounge will open in Pittsburgh, this one nearly twice the size of the original location in Naples, Florida. “Patel had always intended to expand the Burn concept to other cities like Washington DC and Las Vegas, but plans never came to fruition before now,” reports Cigar Aficionado. “As the second location, this marks the first expansion of Patel’s Burn concept. The venue features a complete portfolio of Rocky Patel cigars (plus third-party cigar brands), full bar, cocktail program, and food all set in a stylish, smoker-friendly nightclub environment.” The establishment is expected to be up and running by the spring. Patel is eyeing Indianapolis as the next potential Burn location.

3) Just in time for the kickoff of the NFL season, Nomad Cigar Co. is expanding distribution of the GB-19, a Candela-wrapped toro (6 x 60) that celebrates Nomad founder Fred Rewey’s favorite team, the Green Bay Packers. The cigar, which was previously relegated to mostly Wisconsin shops and retails for $10, is made at the Oveja Negra factory in Estelí with a green Honduran wrapper, an Ecuadorian binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua.

4) Inside the Industry: MBombay announced the Vintage Reserve Lancero 1973. The yearly release weighs in at 8.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 38, and it features an Ecuadorian wrapper, Dominican binder, and filler tobacco from the Dominican Republic and Peru. Only 13,800 cigars are being made (500 boxes of 25).

5) From the Archives: In our Cigar Spirits articles, you’ll find everything from inexpensive, bottom-shelf bourbon to super-rare, high-end whiskey. Perhaps none we’ve written up is rarer than the A.H. Hirsch 16 Year Old Bourbon. In our article, we noted it is “refined and balanced with tons of oak and fruit and hints of mint, walnut, and maple syrup. The finish is long and spicy, with pepper, oak, and cedar.” At the time (2008), we also noted “two years ago bottles were available for around $80 [but today] expect to pay well over $100.” Now, in 2016, expect to pay around $2,000 to acquire a bottle.

6) Deal of the Week: In 2012, as part of the TAA exclusive offerings, My Father Cigars released the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial TAA 2012. Even though it has been sold out for years, you now have a rare chance to acquire this limited edition cigar with four years of age. A box of 16 runs you $136.95 while supplies last.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Davidoff