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Smokeasy Noteworthy News Clips


Courtesy of Altadis USA

New Limited Edition H. Upmann Ingot TheBANKER Private Holding Debuts



This month, Altadis USA is launching the H. Upmann Ingot TheBANKER Private Holding, a limited-edition extension to TheBANKER by H. Upmann line introduced in 2014.


Manufactured in the Dominican Republic, the blend features a Mexican Criollo '98 wrapper from a 2012 harvest, a 2011 Nicaraguan seco binder, and Nicaraguan filler from three different harvest years: 2011, 2010, and 2009. Each 8-count box (which resembles a gold bar) is individually numbered and contains cigars individually wrapped in gold foil with two matte-gold cigar bands. Only one vitola has been produced: a box-pressed 6" x 54 Toro. The MSRP per cigar will be $9.25 and only 4,500 boxes have been produced.


The packaging for this new release was inspired by the German bankers who established the Cuban H. Upmann brand in 1844, Carl and Herman Upmann.

 

Camacho Expands Its Master Built Series With New "Powerband"

Courtesy of Camacho Cigars/Davidoff of Geneva US

In June, Camacho Cigars will release Powerband, their newest addition to their Master Built Series, which includes the American Barrel-Aged and Triple Maduro lines. Created by Camacho's "master builders", Powerband has a biker theme and is inspired by the powerful V-twin engine found in many motorcycles. In keeping with the overarching theme of the Master Built Series, which is "defined by unapologetically pushing the boundaries in the name of bold and limitless experiences", the company states that the cigar was bunched using a proprietary process that can only be performed by a handful of skilled rollers. This process allows the cigar to deliver bursts of accelerating flavor and strength intensity while maintaining even combustion throughout the smoke, much like how a V-twin engine motorcycle performs.


The Camacho Powerband is composed of an Ecuadoran Habano 2000 wrapper, two Negrito San Andrés binders from Mexico, and five filler tobaccos - three ligeros (Corojo from Honduras and Estelí, Nicaragua and Dominican San Vicente), a Dominican San Vicente viso, and Dominican Piloto Cubano. The new line will launch in three vitolas: Robusto (5" x 50), Toro (6" x 50), and Gordo (6" x 60). The cigars will retail between $11 to $13.


The Powerband will ship to retailers in the US on June 13; however, will not hit the international market for another year (May 2017).

 

Warped Cigars To Launch New Maestro del Tiempo Line at IPCPR


Courtesy of Warped Cigars

Warped Cigars will debut their new Nicaraguan puro, Maestro del Tiempo, at the upcoming International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) trade show in July in Las Vegas. The blend, which took years to perfect according to the company, is composed of a Corojo ’99 Clara wrapper from Jalapa, binder from Condega, and fillers of Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 tobaccos. Maestro del Tiempo, translated as Master of Time, will be available in:


Two regular-production vitolas

5205 (6⅜' x 42) - MSRP $8.99

5712 (4½" x 52) - MSRP $9.65


One limited-edition IPCPR trade show exclusive

6102R (5¼" x 48) - MSRP $10.50


The 6102R will be available solely to retailers attending the trade show, and will come packaged in 100-count cabinets, of which only 150 cabinets will be released. The blend for this exclusive differs from the 5205 and 5712 lines, as it contains Medio Tiempo filler from Estelí.

 

Holt's Cigar Company is Calling on BOTL/SOTL of Pennsylvania to Take Action


Yesterday, Holt's Cigar Company, one of the oldest family owned and operated cigar retailers based in Philadelphia, sent out a mass e-mail requesting resident cigar enthusiasts to contact their local state representatives and request that they vote against a proposal to increase the taxation rate on premium cigars. Senate Bill 13, which was introduced in the Pennsylvania State Senate, would increase the rate of taxation to 40% of the wholesale cost. Currently, there is no excise tax imposed on premium cigars in the state. Below is a copy of the e-mail from Holt's:


DEAR VALUED CUSTOMER,


Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf is again proposing a 40% tax increase on cigars. We urge you to take action now by contacting your local State Representatives and Senators to ask them to OPPOSE ANY NEW CIGAR TAXES. Your voice is critical and time is of the essence. Thanks to your active support in 2015, we were able to stop the same cigar tax proposal and we can do it again this year, but you have to act NOW.


If Governor Wolf's proposed cigar tax passes, prices on your cigars will skyrocket overnight by 40%! That means the price of a $100.00 box of cigars will increase to $140.00 – all in new taxes!


Punitive and reckless cigar taxes have no place in Pennsylvania. TAKE ACTION NOW and urge your local State Representatives and Senators to OPPOSE ANY NEW CIGAR TAXES in Pennsylvania.


Thank you for your support,

Holt's Management


PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS ONLY: Click here to send a pre-written message and voice your opposition to any increase on the proposed cigar taxes.

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