Agape Lifestyle Inc. Launches Freud Cigar Co.

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The new-to-market cigar brand unites the experience and talents of proven cigar industry luminaries.

Delray Beach, FL – Agape Lifestyle Inc., an emerging corporation specializing in luxury goods, specifically a portfolio of cigars and spirits, today announces the launch of Freud Cigar Co., a new-to-market luxury cigar house built by a group of the industry’s leading executives and master blenders. Taking inspiration from Dr. Sigmund Freud, one of the most prominent cigar enthusiasts and public intellectuals in world history, founders David Stadnyk and Luis Torres conceived of Freud Cigar Co. from a shared passion for premium tobacco and elevated experiences. The result is expert-crafted, innovative, small-batch blends, the first of which will be available in May.

Freud Cigar Co. launches with its debut collection, SuperEgo, blended by Wiber Ventura, blending prodigy and son of William Ventura, the renowned grandmaster blender and currently Freud’s Head of Production, Quality Control and Chief of Factory. The name SuperEgo is inspired by one of the three agents in Freud’s model for psychoanalytic theory, namely, the moral standards by which the ego operates. Crafted at the Dominican Republic’s industry-leading Tabacalera William Ventura, the debut SuperEgo Collection features a blend that is a combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler, with a Sumatran binder and Ecuadorian wrapper that add to the complexity during the smoking experience. All tobacco has been aged for at least 3 and a half years or more. SuperEgo will launch in four sizes: Toro (6 x 52), Robusto Extra (5 x 54), Lonsdale (6.5 x 42) and Magnum (6 x 60). Cigars will be available for purchase nationally beginning in May, and will be distributed by Illusione Cigars out of Reno, Nevada, under the direction of Founder and industry icon Dion Giolito.

“I have been elated to blend and develop the SuperEgo collection for Freud Cigars,” says Wiber Ventura, Master Blender, Freud Cigar Co. “The opportunity to work with my peers across the industry on this bold new project has been an incredible experience, and I’m really looking forward to sharing what we’ve created with the cigar community.”

A seasoned luxury sales, retail and marketing executive with a decade of experience in the cigar space, Torres has led architecture, national operations, and growth strategy for some of the most prominent luxury cigar brands, spanning roles such as General Manager of Davidoff of Geneva’s US flagship store in New York, National Director of Retail for Davidoff of Geneva, and CEO of the largest luxury cigar retail chain, Casa de Montecristo. Torres brings a wealth of connections and knowledge that will support the future of the Freud brand, drawing upon additional sought-after talents in the industry who have experience crafting some of the world’s finest and rarest cigars.

“It has been an unbelievable journey to build this new and innovative brand with old friends and new friends, who are some of the most talented and respected leaders in the industry. I am thrilled for this first step, and for what is to come,” says Luis Torres, Co-Founder, Freud Cigar Co.

Under the umbrella of Agape Lifestyle Inc., Freud Cigar Co. has a strategic growth model with sales projections and product innovation into 2024 that will establish its status well beyond entry to the category and position it for sustained growth over the next 24 months.

The brand will expand with its next release to come later this year. For more information, please visit freudcigars.com.

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ABOUT FREUD CIGAR CO.

Owned by Agape Lifestyle Inc., Freud Cigar Co. was founded by Luis Torres and David Stadnyk, born from a shared passion for premium tobacco and elevated experiences. Uniting cigar industry talent, Freud Cigar Co. provides a rare opportunity for cigar industry luminaries to collaborate on their own collection for the luxury market. The result: innovative small-batch blends for discerning cigar consumers, rooted in the namesake of one of the most prominent cigars enthusiasts and public intellectuals of all time, Dr. Sigmund Freud. For more information, please visit freudcigars.com.

ABOUT AGAPE LIFESTYLE INC.

Agape Lifestyle Inc. is an emerging corporation with a growing collection of unique brands created for – and by – global tastemakers. Founded by leading financier and philanthropist David Stadnyk, Agape aims to serve as a global leader in luxury lifestyle products for discerning patrons. Curating products and experiences that are bold, sumptuous, and truly original, Agape Lifestyle Inc. launches its portfolio with the introduction of new-to-market luxury cigar house, Freud Cigar Co.

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Blind Review: Plasencia Cosecha 149 Gordito

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The Plasencia family has long grown massive amounts of tobacco for the industry’s largest cigar brands. It is only in recent years that the company began developing its own core line of cigars, beginning with Plasencia Alma Fuerte (a tremendous cigar) and most recently the Plasencia Cosecha 149. Cosecha 149 translates to “harvest 149” in English and represents a Honduran puro from the company’s 149th harvest in 2014.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Plasencia Cosecha 149 Gordito
  • Wrapper: Honduran
  • Binder: Honduran
  • Filler: Honduran
  • Size: 4 7/8 x 60

Blind Review: Plasencia Cosecha 149 Gordito

Appearance and Construction

The wrapper is dark chocolate in color with a box press shape and solid in hand. To the touch it’s rustic and dry with several veins across the sides. With a squeeze there’s a spongy quality to it as its not fully packed with tobacco. The foot smells of pepper which hits my sinus and I’m picking up cocoa notes as well.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

I take a straight cut with my Xikar cutter and clip the head of this thick cigar. The dry draw delivers raisins, berry, and oak on the tongue. I gently toast the foot with my Lamborghini lighter and the first puff is toasted marshmallow with wood and char. The ring gauge of this large smoke is not comfortable in my mouth and is a less than pleasurable beginning. There’s some allspice on the next puff along with more toasty notes. I take a retrohale where I’m getting leather and a dry sensation as I exhale. Thus far the cigar is in the medium range with barnyard, earth, and wood on the short finish.

Halfway through and the ash is firm which is predominantly white in color. The burn line is razor sharp and the quality and combustion is spot on. The flavors are becoming deeper with coffee, spice, and toffee on the finish. The retrohale gives off the same drying sensation as before with leather and spice taking over the palate. Toast and char return on the next puff which is very similar from the cigar’s beginning. Thus far there hasn’t been a tremendous change in the flavor profile which makes the smoking experience lackluster. Taking a slow draw there’s black pepper and some minerality on my tongue which has elevated the cigar to a mid to fuller range.

There’s graham cracker along with cedar on the final third with a longer finish that has been present with this smoke. I’m picking up some maple which has sweetened the cigar balanced by earth and leather. The retrohale delivers upfront espresso bean with cedar and a bitter finish. There are red fruits alongside citrus and pepper that feels disjointed on my palate as I take another puff. Bakers’ chocolate comes through with that cocoa bean and bitterness combination. With a final draw the cedar dominates with a creamy finish that lasted longer than most of the cigar.

Conclusion

Not being a fan of such thick gauges in general, this was a challenge to smoke. I find the girth uncomfortable while I’m smoking. Nevertheless, I can objectively speak to the flavors I did receive and base my review on such. The cigar started off with toast and oak followed by leather that dried my palate. The more pleasant notes were the coffee, cedar, and pepper notes that I got while I took a long draw. The cigar stayed in the medium range and the construction was solid. There wasn’t much complexity in this smoke and it came off one dimensional. The blend didn’t quite do it for me which is surprising as I’ve enjoyed several Plasencia lines especially the Alma Fuerte. I would recommend picking up some of those or maybe a Cosecha in another vitola that may represent the tobaccos better.

Final Rating: 87

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Ferio Tego Timeless TAA 2022 Announced for Spring Release

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(Ramsey, NJ Monday March 22, 2022) Ferio Tego is pleased to announce details of their first limited release of 2022, the Ferio Tego Timeless TAA 2022.  The announcement came during the 2022 meeting of the Tobacconists Association of America in Los Cabos San Lucas Mexico today.

“The Tobacconists Association of America is a wonderful organization, and their Exclusive Series Products is a critical part of the association’s success.”, said Michael Herklots, Co-Owner of Ferio Tego, LLC.  “Personally, this year’s release is quite special because, while it is the fourth time I’ve developed blends for TAA Exclusive products, this is the first time I’m doing it under my own brand.”

The Timeless TAA 2022 is a Nicaraguan Puro, handmade with the Plasencia family in Esteli, Nicaragua.  The cigar is available only in a 6” x 50 toro, in limited mazos of ten cigars.  The 2022 release features a black and dark grey motif for the Timeless branding that debuted on the Timeless TAA 2020 but introduces a touch of red for the year.  Only 700 mazos of ten cigars will be available.  Suggested retail price is $15.00 per cigar.  The cigars are expected to ship to retailers later this spring.

“The 2020 TAA Limited was launched just as the nation went into lock down.  So much has happened over these last two years.  This year’s Timeless TAA 2022 is largely inspired by the 2020 blend, utilizing very special tobaccos from Nicaragua, filler tobaccos and a binder from the Jalapa region and a wrapper from Esteli.  We worked closely with the Plasencias to create complexity and nuance, but also vivaciousness. The result is a blend experience that is savory but also full of life… perfect for 2022 and looking towards a bright future.”

Ferio Tego is distributed in the United States by Davidoff of Geneva, USA.

About Ferio Tego

Ferio Tego, LLC is a premium cigar and accessories company launched in 2021 by Michael Herklots, former Vice President of Nat Sherman International, LLC and Brendon Scott, former Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Nat Sherman, LLC.  In addition to their flagship Ferio Tego brand, the company also owns the Metropolitan, Timeless, and Epoca brands of premium cigars as well as the Ancora accessories brand all formerly owned and distributed by Nat Sherman International, LLC.

FERIO TEGO is the Herklots family motto, found on the family’s coat of arms. While there are many interpretations and translations for this phrase, “Ferio Tego” loosely translates to “Strike and Defend.”

For more information:

info@feriotego.com

http://www.feriotego.com 

http://www.facebook.com/feriotego

http://www.instagram.com/feriotego

Blind Review: Davidoff Year of The Tiger 2022

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To celebrate the Chinese New Year Davidoff has once again added to its Zodiac Series. 2022 is the Zodiac year of the Tiger and this cigar uses a unique method of naturally treating the wrapper to give the appearance of the stripes on a tiger. I don’t know the process as well as Davidoff of course, but I’ve heard it involves pressing the stems of tobacco leaves onto the wrapper leaf, leaving the impressions you see on the photo above. The size is dominating in its ring gauge and powerful piramides shape. I’ve smoked most of the Chinese New Year releases and they’ve all smoked well which certainly helps justify their high price tags. Technically I smoked this cigar blind but of course there was never any question as to the identify of the cigar.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Year of The Tiger 2020
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian/Connecticut
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican
  • Size: 52” x 5 ½ (Piramides)

Appearance & Construction

The wrapper on this cigar is meticulous and stunning to the eye. There are dark lines draped smoothly across it resembling almost a camouflage like appearance. To the touch it feels like silk and as I roll in my hand the cigar moves effortlessly. I give the smoke a squeeze and its packed full of tobacco. The foot smells of barnyard, earth, and white truffle. The construction alone is some of the best out there.

Taste & Smoking Characteristics

I take a short clip off the tip using my Xikar cutter. The dry draw gives off toast, cedar, and sandalwood. I take my Lamborghini lighter and as I torch the cigar, I take a puff which delivers full-bodied earth driven flavors with fresh tobacco rounding it out. The mouthfeel is dense and chewy with almond and cherries as I take another relaxed draw. With a retrohale there’s fresh roasted espresso coming through and the exhale is nutty with a long finish. The cigar is in the medium to full range at present.

The draw is excellent and at midway the nutty characteristics seem to dominate and linger long after the smoke wafts out of my mouth. I’m getting some sweetness directly from the tip of the wrapper and cinnamon with another puff that tingles the sides of my mouth. The burn line is razor sharp with a solid white/gray ash. I take a retrohale where I pick up mustard seed followed by leather and cedar. What began as a medium to full bodied smoke is now lying steadily in the medium range. As I take another draw toffee and cashew become a bold new take on the complexity of the smoke.

The cigar burns fast even though I’ve been taking it slow, however it has not been hot at any time. In the final third the smoke has progressed with notes of tea and honey. The sweetness combines with oak and leather which lingers on my palate. Taking a retrohale, vanilla and sweet tea tingle my sinus along with white pepper on the exhale. The burn remains excellent and the smoke billows in the air while I take a long draw that brings almond and toast on my tongue then surrounds the sides of my mouth. The finish is a bit short at present however the flavors remain intense upfront. With a final puff there’s earth, forest floor that ends with truffle and honey. A sweet and savory experience.

Conclusion

Along with its eye-catching appearance this cigar delivered a pleasurable medium bodied smoke throughout. What began with a full blast of dense earth and fresh tobacco, transitioned into leather, cherries almond and espresso. The finish lingered up until the last third where it ran a bit short. All the flavors such as the honeyed and tea notes yielded a complex profile. Finding out this was Davidoff’s Year of The Tiger I was not surprised by the excellent construction, draw, and burn line. Most of the Davidoff New Year cigars have been quite tasty and if you can find them and are willing to pay you will be in for a treat.

Final Rating: 92

Blind Review: J. London Box Pressed Churchill

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Jonathan Fiat, boutique cigar maker and creator of J. London Cigars, recently added to is Gold Series a box pressed Churchill. This vitola has the same Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, binder, and Dominican filler as the rest of the line. I’ve been fortunate to smoke a few cigars in the J. London portfolio and have enjoyed the quality, construction, and flavors they deliver. Since this was a blind review, I didn’t know anything about the blend or brand, but the experience itself surprised me. Read on.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: J. London Box Pressed Churchill
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
  • Binder: Ecuadorian Connecticut
  • Filler: Dominican 
  • Size: 7” x 50 (Churchill)

Blind Review: J London Box Pressed Churchill

Appearance and Construction

This is a beautiful lightly tan Churchill that’s smooth and silky to the touch. The wrapper is seamless across the entire cigar and construction appears excellent. There’s an ample amount of tobacco in the filler as I give it a light squeeze. The foot smells of hay, earth wood notes. 

Taste and Smoking Characteristics

With my Xikar scissors I take a slice off the squared head of the cigar. The dry draw is a combination of sweet and salty. Using a long match, I slowly toast the foot and as I take a draw there are full, earthy notes that quickly transform to a creamy finish.  There’s pencil lead followed by floral with each puff I take. I’m already impressed with the transitions this cigar is delivering. The retrohale is full of vanilla bean that leads to a saltiness that wafts through my sinus and clings to the sides of my mouth. The ash is flaky and white, and the cigar is in the mild to medium range.

I’m getting loads of almonds midway with a savory finish that’s as lengthy as the cigar itself. The nuttiness from the cool draw ends with toast and cedar. Notes of wheat, currants and earth give a medium complexity via billows of thick smoke. I take a retrohale where cardamom hits my nose followed by graphite and barnyard. The ash continues to be flaky with a white sheen to it. While the almonds came on full force previously, there’s marzipan and cashew with another creamy finish that hangs on for a while. This Churchill is delivering some distinct flavors that are a pleasure to take in. Another puff and cedar and floral linger in my mouth revitalizing my palate.

Upon the last third there’s a salinity to the wrapper followed by hay and some minerality on the finish. The burn line has been on the money and the whiteness from the ash is solid. With another retrohale cedar, nuts and cream come through with grain on the back of throat. The medium body is the constant of this large smoke which makes it easy to smoke leisurely and really take in the flavors. Vanilla returns on the draw which works in harmony with the currant and wood that is now prevalent. With a final puff there’s creaminess and floral that ends with a long woody finish. A fine Churchill.

Conclusion

What a seriously flavorful medium bodied Churchill. The creaminess, wood, and floral impressions to start were the foundation for the vibrant and complex flavors to follow. The construction from the wrapper and filler were excellent which boosted the wood and nutty notes and gave the cigar a continuously long finish puff after puff. This reminded me of a choice Cuban Churchill: when the flavors are on, they can be lengthy and delicious. The price point for this cigar at $20 or so isn’t cheap, but it’s worth at least grabbing a fiver and if you can afford more you are in for a treat. The J London brand nailed this one.

Final Rating: 92

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