General Cigar Company has confirmed that the CAO Arcana Mortal Coil will be making a comeback to the market on August 1st. Originally launched in February 2021, this unique cigar has become well-known for incorporating “Andullo”, an age-old tobacco fermentation method indigenous to the Dominican Republic.
Responding to persistent fan demand, the company decided to bring the Mortal Coil back. “The fans of CAO spoke, and we listened,” stated Ed Lahmann, the senior brand manager of CAO cigars. He added, “We previously brought back Mortal Coil, yet the fans kept wanting more. So with this year’s release of the blend, we’re showing the fans of CAO that we’re willing to go the extra mile for them.”
The Andullo tobacco is notable for its unconventional fermentation process, differing from traditional techniques typically used for sungrown Habano-seed tobaccos. Instead, Andullo tobacco is wrapped tightly in handcrafted pods made from palm tree leaves, known as “yaguas”. These pods are then compressed with a coiled rope, which facilitates a lengthy fermentation process of around two years. This method results in a rough, leathery-looking leaf with a distinctive thickness and an earthy sweetness.
The CAO Arcana Mortal Coil cigar features a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, a Connecticut Shade binder, and a filler composed of Dominican Andullo, Honduran Jamastran, Nicaraguan Esteli, and Dominican Piloto Cubano. This 6 1/8” x 50 Toro vitola cigar comes with a suggested retail price of $11.99, and is packaged in a 20-count box.
Camacho has officially unveiled their newest addition to the core line, the Camacho Broadleaf. This cigar blends Honduran and Dominican tobaccos, notably featuring a signature Broadleaf wrapper grown in Honduras. This is a departure from the norm, as the conventional wrapper of choice is usually sourced from the Connecticut River Valley. The previous well-known Camacho cigar featuring a Broadleaf wrapper was the Camacho American Barrel-Aged, which included American tobaccos aged in spent bourbon barrels.
Edward Simon, CMO at Oettinger Davidoff, commended the master blenders in Honduras for their work, stating, “They created a cigar line which is not only excellent in taste, but also bold and fearless in attitude.” Simon also highlighted the darker Broadleaf wrapper, describing it as lending “an oily, almost silky appearance and a creamy note to the taste profile.”
The Camacho Broadleaf will be available in three sizes at launch: Robusto (5″ x 50, $9.25 per cigar), Toro (6″ x 50, $9.75 per cigar), and Gordo (6″ x 60, $10.50 per cigar). Packaged in boxes of 20 cigars, the blend is described as a “medium intense smoke.” Shipping to retailers will commence in early September, with an official release date of September 7, 2023 in the U.S. and September 15, 2023 in Germany and Switzerland.
Drew Estate has announced that VIP attendees at their Barn Smoker events will be given exclusive access to the new Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Flying Pig cigars. The announcement was made during their latest “Freestyle Live: Special Edition” broadcast on April 27.
The new Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Flying Pig will be included as part of the VIP ticket package, with each VIP attendee receiving a 12-count box of the new product. In addition, Drew Diplomat Program retailers who register and attend any Barn Smoker will have the opportunity to purchase up to five 12-count boxes of the H99 Flying Pig cigars for resale in their stores, with each box retailing at $246. However, this offer is limited to 50 per Barn Smoker event.
Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate, has high praise for the new product, describing the blend as a “true masterpiece”. According to him, the hybrid wrapper of the H99 Liga Privada combined with the Flying Pig vitola gives the product a distinctive appeal.
The H99 Connecticut Corojo Flying Pigs’ capa, debuting at the Pennsylvania Barn Smoker on July 15, is a unique combination of Stalk-Cut Habano and Corojo seeds. The blend is intended to provide a rich and sweet flavor. The capa is grown exclusively for Drew Estate by one farmer in the Connecticut River Valley. The cigar’s robust character is completed by the spicy Mexican San Andres Otapan Último Corte capote and a blend of well-aged Honduran, Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Green River One Sucker tobaccos, offering luxurious notes of earth, espresso and leather.
For more information about the Barn Smoker events and the new Liga Privada H99 Connecticut Corojo Flying Pig cigars, visit barnsmoker.com.
Quality Importers Trading Company debuted a handful of new lighters at PCA 2023, including the Palió Pistola, Palió Pro Line, and Xikar Ion.
Quality Importers provides wholesale quality cigar humidors, smoking accessories, and custom cigar box packaging. They cater to everyone from brick-and-mortar retailers to international cigar manufacturers. Since being established in 2000, Quality Importers has made its name by creating innovative accessories for the cigar world and providing their clients with top-notch customer service.
The Palió Pistola is a budget-friendly angled double torch lighter priced at $14.99 and can light up to 150 cigars. It comes in four colors (red, white, smoke, and blue), and Quality Importers offer a customization option for brands to add logos to the lighter. Quality Importers graciously gave each person a Pistola when they attended the PCA Opening Night Party.
The Palió PRO series is a trifecta of lighters: Scorpius, Antares, and Polaris, designed with the daily cigar smoker in mind. With entire metal bodies, these lighters were built to last. They provide high-quality performance without breaking the bank. The Scorpius is a single jet-angled flame lighter, but it comes with a punch and a draw tool with an MSRP of $29.99. The Antares has a side-squeezed ignition, double torch, and inline lighter that comes in five colors with an MSRP of $44.99. Rounding out the Palió PRO series is the Polaris, a triple torch inline lighter with pull-down ignition. It has an MSRP of $44.99 and comes in five colors.
The Xikar Ion is a large push-button ignition dual-flame torch lighter. It comes in five beautiful matte colors, and its oversized fuel tank can light up to 80 cigars. Besides being beautiful, the Ion isn’t huge, so it’ll fit perfectly in a leather travel humidor. XIKAR®’s Limited Lifetime Warranty backs the XIKAR® Ion.
The city that never sleeps is also the city that always smokes. Not just any smokes, mind you, but premium, hand-rolled cigars enjoyed in the hallowed, hazy haunts of some of the best cigar bars in the world. Today, I’m taking you on a sophisticated puff-filled journey through these must-visit stogie sanctuaries scattered throughout the majestic island of Manhattan.
But before we begin: a word about credibility. I’m not some staff writer at yelp or Gothamist. I’ve been hosting cigar events at New York City’s best cigar lounges and bars for nearly 15 years, and, as of this writing, have hosted nearly 190 events. All that to say: I’ve visited these and other bars over the years many times. I’ve seen them change, and in many sad instances, close down for good (as was the case with Nat Sherman in 2020, read my farewell letter). But the point is: I know a thing or two about the best spots to smoke cigars in New York City – and I’m sharing them here for your benefit, and also to attract new New York City cigar smokers to our website so that you can hear more about and hopefully join us in our monthly cigar events. We are, after all, the largest in person cigar group in the United States, and there’s always room for new enthusiasts!
Back to the topic at hand – here are my top ranked spots to enjoy a cigar and/or a glass of whisky in NYC.
Casa de Montecristo
My initial stop is the famed Casa De Montecristo, an oasis for cigar enthusiasts tucked away in the bustling maze of New York City. A luxurious den for aficionados and novices alike, this cigar shop boasts the city’s largest selection of cigars. From globally recognized brands to hidden boutique gems, the possibilities are endless, and so is the assistance. The staff, knowledgeable and engaging, have an uncanny knack for matching you with your ideal cigar, something akin to a smoky sommelier.
At Casa de Montecristo, the experience isn’t just about the cigars, it’s about the environment. As I sink into one of their plush seats, the ambiance is impossible to ignore. Nine TVs, four of them a whopping 54″ in size, dot the lounge, each broadcasting different games, making it a utopia for sports fans. Wrapped in the pleasant hum of chatter, the soft flicker of the screens, and of course, the enveloping aroma of fine tobacco, it’s a slice of stogie heaven in the heart of NYC.
Location: 1016 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022
Ph: +12127500809
The Carnegie Club
A stone’s throw from Central Park and Time Square lies my next destination, The Carnegie Club. This luxurious lounge feels simultaneously grand and intimate. The minute you walk in, the meticulously carved 18th-century bookcases, the roaring stone fireplace, and the towering 20-foot ceilings leave you in awe. If the setting evokes an older, grander New York, the selection of cigars reminds you that the Carnegie Club is very much in the present.
As I light up a cigar and settle into a plush chair, the ambiance is enhanced by the smooth, velvety strains of New York City’s longest-running Sinatra Show. Steven Maglio and the Stan Rubin 11-Piece Orchestra have been captivating audiences for more than two decades here, their music the perfect complement to the refined elegance of The Carnegie Club. This place is a piece of living history, a cherished part of New York City’s vibrant cigar culture.
Location: 156 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019
Ph: +12129579676
Web: http://www.carnegie-club.com/
Soho Cigar Bar
My next stop takes me downtown to the Soho Cigar Bar. Stepping inside is like being whisked back to the Roaring Twenties. Once known as the iconic Circa Tabac, it has seamlessly blended old-world elegance with modern comfort. The recently renovated space exudes a golden age charm; plush leather furnishings and a warm art deco interior wrap you in an ambiance that’s at once comfortable and chic.
At the Soho Cigar Bar, every detail has been painstakingly curated. The state-of-the-art ventilation system hums almost imperceptibly in the background, maintaining the air quality to ensure you savor every puff. Contemporary touches are sprinkled throughout, like the flat-screen TVs hidden behind timeless photography. With a meticulously selected range of cigars, a cocktail list that reads like a love letter to mixology, and a menu that caters to both epicureans and casual nibblers, Soho Cigar Bar is a remarkable blend of the past and the present.
Location: 32 Watts St, New York, NY 10013
Ph: +12129411781
Web: http://www.sohocigarbar.com/
Barclay Rex
As I venture downtown, Barclay Rex awaits, beckoning with a rich assortment of tobacco treasures. Nestled above the retail tobacco shop, the Rex Club – named after Rex, the Great Dane – offers a modern, intimate space to unwind. Entering, you’re greeted by a life-size statue of Rex, standing guard over the space with a regal air. This is more than a gimmick; it’s an embodiment of the club’s commitment to quality and uniqueness.
The club’s features – high ceilings, personal lockers, an advanced ventilation system, and a cozy fireplace – feel both luxurious and welcoming. Their house brand, Yaxel Ortiz, a Nicaraguan-made cigar line housed in their walk-in humidor, is a must-try. Just a few blocks from Wall Street and Stone Street, Barclay Rex stands as a tribute to the traditions of cigar smoking. With daily passes and monthly memberships available, it invites you to become part of its rich heritage and partake in its superior offerings.
Location: 126 Pearl St, New York, NY 10005
Ph: +12129623355
Web: http://www.barclayrex.com
Hudson Bar & Books
Next, I find myself at Hudson Bar and Books in the city’s coveted West Village neighborhood. Established in 1990, this bar pioneered the cigar bar scene in New York City, predating many of its now well-known counterparts. True to its trailblazing status, it has remained dedicated to the art of cigar smoking through the ebb and flow of the cigar trends.
One step into Hudson Bar and Books, and I’m engulfed by a continental aura, replete with playful monkey sconces, leopard print cushions, classic wood paneling, and a shiny copper bar. Outside, a fine pavement café awaits those who prefer to enjoy their cigars alfresco during the season.
Location: 636 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
Ph: +12122292642
Web: http://www.barandbooks.cz/hudson
Club Macanudo
Just uptown, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Club Macanudo has been a beacon for cigar enthusiasts for over a quarter of a century. Conceived by Edgar M. Cullman Jr., CEO of Culbro Corp., it was created to fill a void in the city’s burgeoning cigar scene. The objective was simple but ambitious: to construct a sanctuary where cigars reigned supreme, and everything else came second.
And reign they do. Club Macanudo is an island of elegance and relaxation in the metropolis, its appeal undimmed by the passage of time. The Food Network and USA Today have praised its upscale atmosphere, which combines food, drink, and, of course, cigars, in a fusion of epicurean delight. It’s here, among the mahogany and leather, that you feel a sense of privilege, an initiation into a club that’s about more than cigars. It’s about style, refinement, and the sheer pleasure of the smoking experience.
Location: 26 E 63rd St, New York, NY 10065
Ph: +12127528200
Web: http://club-macanudo.com/
In the end, each of these cigar bars has carved out its niche New York City. All bear a distinct charm and an unyielding commitment the art of cigar smoking. So whether you’re a seasoned smoker or a neophyte looking to explore the world of cigars, New York City’s cigar bars are a passport to a world of smoke-filled sophistication and pleasure.
