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Macanudo Releases Vintage 2006

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News from Macanudo. For those of you familiar with Macanudo’s more recent releases, their vintage line is my favorite of all of their lines (my favorite being the Macanudo Vintage Maduro 1997).

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General Cigar is proud to present Macanudo Vintage 2006, a phenomenal cigar showcasing only the most refined Connecticut Shade wrapper leaves from the 2006 crop.

More than 30 years ago, General Cigar created its first Macanudo Vintage cigar to spotlight an exceptional wrapper developed in part by Mother Nature herself. Today, guided by meticulous aging and precise maturation techniques which have been handed down throughout the years, the Vintage tradition continues with the release of Macanudo Vintage 2006.

“The Vintage 2006 Connecticut Shade wrapper was cultivated under perfect weather conditions.  Ideal sun, rainfall and temperatures yielded an extraordinary crop of shade tobacco that is beautiful to see, and even better to smoke,” said Bill Chilian, director of marketing for Macanudo.

A strikingly lustrous golden wrapper takes center stage in Macanudo Vintage 2006. Imparting a wonderfully balanced and complex flavor which is punctuated by the traditional Vintage blend, Macanudo Vintage 2006 will debut with just two frontmarks, as dictated by the leaves themselves.

Macanudo Vintage 2006 Robusto (5 ½” x 50) will make its retail debut in November, and will be available for a suggested retail price of $8.39 per cigar, or $100.68 for a box of 12. It will be complemented by Macanudo Vintage 2006 Toro (6” x 54) which will carry an SRP of $8.99 per cigar, or a box price of $107.88.

These exceptional cigars will be protected in handsome mahogany boxes. When the lid is lifted, the fragrant cedar aroma and eye-catching golden metal cigar bands take over the senses, beckoning the true cigar lover to savor the indulgence that can only be had with a time-honored classic.

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Press Release: Zino Platinum Collaborates with Urban Artists UR New York For Collector’s Edition Commemorating 10 Year Anniversary

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In celebration of the ten-year anniversary of Zino Platinum, the brand has produced a premium collector’s edition set of four custom boxes in collaboration with urban artists UR New York. Dubbed “The Make”, this collector’s edition celebrates the self-made man and his success, as well as ten years of redefining cigars and a new generation of cigar smokers.

Zino Platinum teamed up with UR New York—an urban artist collective who have redefined themselves and the landscape that surrounds them—to help capture the same maverick spirit of Zino Platinum. Brooklyn based, Mike Baca aka 2ESAE and Fernando Romero aka SKI originally joined forces with the goal of transforming the perception of street art and have become internationally successful artists. The dynamic New York duo went to work on the collector’s edition Zino Platinum boxes with the same passion and artistry that brought them success. The Zino Platinum Ten Collector’s Edition Toro X, a 5 ½” x 60 Toro Especial, features four custom graffiti-inspired pieces on the box. Limited to 500 pieces each design, “the collection is inspired by the innovators, the risk takers, the mavericks—those who capture the spirit of Zino Platinum,” said Richard Krutick, Davidoff’s head of marketing.

UR New York will be appearing at select locations in support of the product on the Zino Platinum Tenth Anniversary tour and at the industry tradeshow, IPCPR, on August 3rd and 4th.

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Cigar Wars: Saudi Arabia Bans Smoking

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If you were planning on enjoying a stogie anywhere in Saudi, things just got a bit complicated.

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Saudi Arabia Orders Smoking Ban

July 31, 2012

[Washington, DC] –  Interior Minister Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz announced this week that Saudi Arabia will begin enforcing the royal decree banning smoking in public places effective immediately.  Under the official order, smoking, including shisha (waterpipe), is banned in all government facilities and most commercial areas, including restaurants, supermarkets, and shopping malls. The order also prohibits the sale of tobacco to those under the age of 18.

“This ban represents a significant step in the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to decrease the smoking population in Saudi Arabia,” said Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. “Saudi Arabia is committed to improving the overall health and well-being of its citizens, and continues to focus considerable efforts on health initiatives throughout the Kingdom.”

Saudi Arabia has launched several anti-smoking campaigns in recent years, including the elimination of all smoking in airports.

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Reinado Featured on NJGreats.com

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Just a few days ago, one of the industry’s newest and most impressive cigar manufacturers, Reinado Cigars, was featured on NJGreats.com.  I met Antonio Lam, the founder of Reinado Cigars, a few years ago when he was just getting off the ground. I’m always skeptical of new brands (so many seem to be junk), and I was skeptical then. After trying his first officially released blend, I was sold. If you want to know a bit more, I recently conducted a review of his “Habanito” line.

In any case, take a minute and read the article for some background on the company, which is based in New Jersey.

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Gold For Glendronach and Benriach in London

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Every now and again a press release drops through my inbox that I have to share. This one is worth sharing for sure. I have a lot of good friends who are now going to be keeping a closer eye Glendronach and BenRiach Scotch Whiskey (and a few who are now going to pick some up).  Take a look at the awards below.

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ON the opening day of the Olympics, the BenRiach Distillery Company is delighted to have won two golds, five silvers and a bronze medal!

The Edinburgh-headquartered company is celebrating eight awards, not at London 2012 of course, but at this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition, the world’s most prestigious wine and spirit contest.

The results were announced today (27 July) in London.

The company’s full list of awards is:

Gold Medal
BenRiach 25YO
GlenDronach 12YO

Silver Medal / Outstanding
BenRiach 12YO
BenRiach 17YO Peated – Septendecim
GlenDronach 8YO – Octarine
GlenDronach 15YO
GlenDronach 15YO Tawny Port Finish

Bronze Medal
GlenDronach 21 YO

IWSC medals and trophies are the most highly regarded in the trade, representing the best of the best in the world of wines and spirits. The IWSC is judged by a panel selected from 300 fully-qualified and experienced industry judges. Noted for its intense and unrivalled judging process, the IWSC is proud to be the only competition of its kind that conducts a full blind tasting with extensive technical analysis.

BenRiach’s Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We are really pleased by the results of this year’s competition and I suppose it’s quite fortuitous that the medals were awarded on the opening day of the Olympic Games!

“A number of these products are relatively new releases, such as the GlenDronach Octarine, 21YO and Port Finish, and the BenRiach Septendecim, so it’s nice to see them getting some industry recognition. We’re particularly delighted with the Gold Medal for the GlenDronach 12YO – this is our flagship GlenDronach expression, and we’ve invested heavily in the wood management programme at the distillery, so it’s satisfying to see that effort come to fruition.”

The tasting notes for the two gold winners are:

BenRiach 25 yo

NOSE
Rich honey, spices, apples and peat, in combination with superb oak-wood notes.

TASTE
A rich cocktail of honey, Oloroso sherry, cocoa and apples, supported by a fascinating presence of citrus, sweet peat and wonderful wood notes.

GlenDronach 12 yo

NOSE
Sweet, creamy vanilla, with hints of ginger. Autumn fruits.

TASTE
Rich, creamy, silky-smooth. Warm, rich oak and sherry sweetness, full mouth feel, raisins and soft fruits. Spicy with medium length and a dry finish.

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