Cigar Federation

Tripp interviews Jose Ortega, VP of sales for My Father Cigars. Jose talks about the Connecticut Shade offering of The Judge, the Flor de Las Antillas, Le Bijou 1922, and the predicate blend Vegas Cubanas. The La Opulencia brand gets national distribution and Jose talks about what makes the blend so special. 

Tripp talks to Rene Castaneda. Rene talks about the La Libertad, the oldest brand in the Villiger portfolio. The Sandoro Connecticut, Claro, and Maduro. Rene also talks about the latest Villiger offering, the La Flor De YnClan, which has been brought back in a Robusto, Torpedo, and Churchill vitola. It incorporates tobacco that is at least 5 years of age. The Villiger 1888 was on display, released at the IPCPR 2016. 

Tripp talks with Santana in the D'Crossier booth about some new packaging launched at the IPCPR and the move to the Dominican Republic for production. The Selection 512 available in sealed cans has been revamped with an updated color scheme and printing. The binder tobacco also gets updated from Costa Rican Sumatra to Piloto Cubano from the DR, available for wide distribution in September. Santana also announces the Selection 512 Maduro available in a brown tin with an updated band, and a new blend featuring a San Andres Negro wrapper. The Golden Blend from 2009 is back with 3 new vitolas.

Tripp sits down with a very busy Omar de Frias talks about the new celebratory cigar, the Fratello Navetta. Omar also talks about the surprise front page article in the Washington Post.

Trip interviews Jose Blanco of EP Carrillo. Jose talks about the 2016 packaging redesign across the brand. Jose talks about the return of the Elencos Don Rubino line. The Encore release should be widely available in early 2018. 

Tripp talks with Santana in the D'Crossier booth about some new packaging launched at the IPCPR and the move to the Dominican Republic for production. The Selection 512 available in sealed cans has been revamped with an updated color scheme and printing. The binder tobacco also gets updated from Costa Rican Sumatra to Piloto Cubano from the DR, available for wide distribution in September. Santana also announces the Selection 512 Maduro available in a brown tin with an updated band, and a new blend featuring a San Andres Negro wrapper. The Golden Blend from 2009 is back with 3 new vitolas.

Tripp talks to Dion of Illusione to catch up and see how the IPCPR show is going. Dion talks about his annual Singulare release. He also talks about the packaging redesign on Cruzado and Garagiste. Dion talks about his philosophy of focusing and maintaining the core line of cigars. 

Tripp sits down with Dean Parsons of Epic Cigars. Dean introduces the Smoking Shields a special blended cigar for the Smoking Shields non-profit organization. Dean talks about the Project E, the San Andres Maduro wrapper with a smokeable band. The Maduro Fuerte which is an extension to the existing Maduro line. The La Rubia had widespread distribution at the end of 2016, introducing a Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar. 

Tripp sits down with Eddy Guerra of Gurkha Cigars. Many of the products showcased at the IPCPR were vintage products being brought back into the market. The Cellar Reserve 12 and 15 available now in tubos, and 3 count boxes. The Royal Challenge is now available in tubos as well.

The 10th Anniversary available as a 1,000 numbered humidor release, each containing 50 cigars, with production out of the new factory in Nicaragua. It will be available as a 6x52 parajeo shape.

The Havana Legenda also returns, available in 4 sizes with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.

The Masters Select OVB (Original Vintage Blend) gets a re-release as well, with the original blend, and original box design. Inventory was located of the Aged Cabinet Selection, which originally was limited, and will released in 3,000 boxes as a robusto vitola only. 

Tripp talks to David Blanco of Blanco Cigar Company. David talks about the Blanco Nine, now with a lancero vitola. The Primos Estates Selection which was voted best value cigar of the year. Liga Exclusiva de Familia Connecticut Shade, and the follow up Pennsylvania Broadleaf maduro version.