With overwhelming speed, more than 37,300 Americans signed the petition; achieving the minimum 25,000 signature threshold in just 15 days.

Although we have reached our first goal, it’s important to keep going. Let’s further increase the visibility to our cause by continuing to send a message that cigar enthusiasts will take action to protect their freedom.

If you have not signed the petition, CRA would like to encourage you to do so. Also, please share this call-to-action with all your friends and family.

Send a message and fill out the petition by going to www.wh.gov/Qtz.

We are offering a special discount to our members. To get the 15% discount you MUST enter the following code MAR29E at checkout and click on “APPLY CODE” to get the savings. (We cannot apply the discount unless you apply code at checkout and cannot apply once the order is placed. NO EXCEPTIONS)

Offer ends Tuesday, April 2, 2013.

NEW – Here are two additional ways to be notified of specials and discounts.

1 – MEMBERS AREA – If you signed up as a member at TheCigarStore.com we have a new feature in your member area. When you log in you will see in the upper right hand side the discount code and the date of expiration when we are offering a discount or special. We will still be sending out the emails on this as well. Log in to see this new feature and let us know if you like it and if it works for you.

2 – SMARTPHONE – If you would like to be one of the first to know about special discounts via a text message to your cell phone then text “CIGAR” to 87365 We send out 15% off everything codes at random to select customers only.

3 – Want to receive 15% off anything at TheCigarStore.com? Click the Facebook LIKE US and you will start to receive these offers. http://www.facebook.com/thecigarstore/app_200743156617852

http://www.TheCigarStore.com

TheCigarStore.com is offering a special 15% discount. To get the 15% discount you MUST enter the following code MAR14E at checkout and click on “APPLY CODE” to get the savings. (We cannot apply the discount unless you apply code at checkout and cannot apply once the order is placed. NO EXCEPTIONS)

Offer ends Monday, March 18, 2013.

NEW – Here are two additional ways to be notified of specials and discounts.

1 – MEMBERS AREA – If you signed up as a member at TheCigarStore.com we have a new feature in your member area. When you log in you will see in the upper right hand side the discount code and the date of expiration when we are offering a discount or special. We will still be sending out the emails on this as well. Log in to see this new feature and let us know if you like it and if it works for you.

2 – SMARTPHONE – If you would like to be one of the first to know about special discounts via a text message to your cell phone then text “CIGAR” to 87365 We send out 15% off everything codes at random to select customers only.

3 – FACEBOOK – Want to receive 15% off anything at TheCigarStore.com? Click the Facebook LIKE US and you will start to receive these offers. http://www.facebook.com/thecigarstore/app_200743156617852

http://www.TheCigarStore.com

The Flor de las Antillas Toro was awarded Cigar Aficionado’s Top Cigar of 2012

From Cigar Aficionado

The story of Cigar Aficionado’s 2012 Cigar of the Year begins in Cuba, the island home of José “Pepin” Garcia, his son Jaime and daughter, Janny. Pepin began rolling cigars at the age of 11 in his hometown of Baez. He rose to prominence in Cuba as a talented cigarmaker, but yearned for freedom and opportunity. One by one the Garcias left, eventually making their way to Miami where they began producing cigars.

Their beginnings were humble: the factory was tiny, with all of a dozen rollers, and they didn’t own the entire operation. But they had their first taste of glory with the Tatuaje brand, which they made for Pete Johnson. It brought critical acclaim as well as increasing demand, which led the family to venture out on its own, eventually constructing the massive and gorgeous My Father Cigars S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Today, Pepin focuses his energies on growing tobacco in Nicaragua, trying various seed varieties. Jaime is the company’s master blender. They released the Flor de Las Antillas brand in May 2012, using a variety of Nicaraguan tobaccos, their trademark double binder and a wrapper leaf grown in the open sunlight. They named the brand for Cuba, the largest of the Antilles Islands, which are called Antillas in their native Spanish.

The standout of the four-size brand is the Toro, which has a gentle, rounded box press and a beautiful and evenly colored wrapper. The smokes are delicious from the first puff, with notes of nutmeg, white pepper and just enough strength without being overpowering. They are hard to put down. They are classics, 96-point smokes on our 100-point scale.

The Garcias have worked long and hard since coming to the United States, coming a long way in a very short time. Their cigars have made numerous appearances on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 list, but this is the first time they have won Cigar of the Year.

Available at The Cigar Store.

Offer ends Wednesday, October 25, 2012.

NEW – Here are two additional ways to be notified of specials and discounts.

1 – MEMBERS AREA – If you signed up as a member at TheCigarStore.com we have a new feature in your member area. When you log in you will see in the upper right hand side the discount code and the date of expiration when we are offering a discount or special. We will still be sending out the emails on this as well. Log in to see this new feature and let us know if you like it and if it works for you.

2 – SMARTPHONE – If you would like to be one of the first to know about special discounts via a text message to your cell phone then text “CIGAR” to 87365 We send out 15% off everything codes at random to select customers only.

3 – FACEBOOK – Want to receive 15% off anything at TheCigarStore.com? Click the Facebook LIKE US and you will start to receive these offers. http://www.facebook.com/thecigarstore/app_200743156617852

http://www.TheCigarStore.com

“The decision to ship internationally came about through consistent requests from all over the world to ship cigars and related products to potential customers. Not having the means of doing this we contacted Bongo US, and their business model fit very well with what we needed,” says Robb Capielo, Pedro Capielo’s grandson.  The partnership with Bongo opens their doors to over 220 global destinations and offers complete protection against fraud.  Substantial shipping discounts as well as a user friendly shopping cart for international customers are also provided by Bongo’s Checkout Solution.

In addition the solution benefits mentioned above, there are other advantages to Bongo’s service.  “The attraction to Bongo US was the no charge to set it up and their full responsibility for overseas orders. The integration into our custom shopping cart went very smooth and the service from Bongo was very professional,” adds Mr. Capielo.  

The countries they have received the most requests from at this point include; Canada, UK, Australia, Russia, Germany, France, and numerous others.  This list is certain to increase as international eCommerce figures continue on their steady climb.  This growth is in addition to the holiday shopping boost that is also certain to arrive.  Already, September retail figures have surpassed industry estimates.  An recent article appearing on Bloomberg.com confirms, “The median forecast of 77 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 0.8 percent rise.  The 1.1 percent advance followed a revised 1.2 percent increase in August, the best back-to-back showing since late 2010, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington.” 

Online retailers should act now to make the most out of online holiday sales this season.  Excluding international sales is a costly oversight, especially when Bongo makes expanding globally such a smooth transition for domestic retailers. Visit www.BongoUS.com for more information on Bongo’s international solutions.  Visit TheCigarStore.com for a complete list of their cigars and related products.

About TheCigarStore.com:

TheCigarStore.com is an outlet for premium cigars and cigar products.   The product list includes cigar samplers, cigar bundles, humidors, tobacco pipes, and more.  The original store opened in Queens, New York through the efforts of Pedro Castegon Capielo.  The online store has maintained the quality and service levels that the business was founded on.  The goal of The Cigar Store, is to continue the tradition of creating and an outlet for fine cigars and related products.  Visit TheCigarStore.com to select from their list of superior products.

Yesterday, I reviewed the Condega F Corojo stick. Today is the Condega Maduro’s turn. Now I had smoked the Corojo before I reviewed it but no such preview with this stick.

So here we go…The San Andres wrapper is more like an Oscuro than a maduro. It is close to jet black and probably won’t photograph well…at least not with my equipment. LOL!

This stick is extremely rustic. Lots of veins. The cigar is almost an oval and I’m not sure they intended it that way. The Nicaraguan Cigar Co needs to get more info on their web site because I am just guessing away. There is one thing noticeable…it looks like the torcedor that rolled this cigar screwed up and fixed the wrapper and I can see the glisten of the cigar glue on the wrapper. But if the stick is great, who cares?

The cigar is as hard as a rock. Just the tiniest amount of give.

I do the sniff-o-rama and detect barnyard, ammonia, cedar, and leather.

I light ‘er up.

The first puffs bring a tiny bit of spice. The draw is good allaying my fears that the tightness might make it difficult.

The first part of the cigar is just a hearty tobacco flavor. Then I get a bit of sweetness.

While no flavors jump out at me, the cigar can seen as a premium cigar, not a yard ‘gar.

Then half an inch in, the spice explodes on the tip of my tongue. The char line is close to perfect. And the ash is close to snow white…

The tightness of the tobacco makes me suck a little harder than I normally would, but at this point, I am hopeful, it will loosen up soon.

The cigar begins to soften. The red pepper is ramping up. The inside of my mouth feels the fire.

I am forced to use my ice pick tool to open up an airway for the cigar. This helps.

A new creaminess enters the picture taming the spice a bit.

It is really hard to draw on this cigar. I am going to light up the other one I have and see how that goes.

The new one has all the same flavor characteristics as the first one. And it also has that overly packed tobacco problem. I’ve got a plug near the cap that I must fix. I think I got rid of the plug but we shall see.

The cap on this one is a little sloppy.

I am still having a hard time with the draw. I am sucking so hard that I’m beginning to get the spins. Very little smoke emits from the foot while I smoke.

I use the ice pick tool once more.

I can’t smoke this cigar. I am going to have an embolism.

Written by Katmancross

UPDATE: NOV 6, 2012

It is now a few weeks since I wrote this review and have allowed the balance of the cigars some time to rest. And I have been rewarded handsomely. The cigar has changed so much, in a positive way, that I felt I must annotate the original review. The cigar now has a very well balanced character. Creaminess has now become the dominant flavor…with some spice and an earthiness that is just wonderful.  The burn line is dead nuts. The construction has been enhanced by time. It is very sweet now. It is a solid meaty cigar. I highly recommend this cigar. The Katman.

The Nicaraguan Cigar Co is something of a mystery. Information about the Condega Serie F Piramide is almost non existent. They have a web site but not much there. No history of the cigar or the company.

I smoked the Petit Robusto and it was a real fire cracker. But now I will see what a larger size does for me.

All of the cigars tend to be oval rather than round…almost a box press. The wrapper is a bit on the rustic side. Lots of veins. Seams are good and tight. The color looks Ecuadorian but I’m guessing as the only info I could find is that the wrapper is Corojo but no country of origin. It is a tan with a nice reddish hue.

I do some sniffing and I get spice, cocoa, and a bit of barnyard. The stick is very solid. And firm in the hand.

I clip it and light up…

Like the petit robusto, I get that Garcia blast of pepper. But not quite as intense as the robusto. The draw is excellent and loads of smoke come from the foot.

I’m guessing that the corojo is Nicaraguan, not Ecuadorian.

And then I get some nice sweet tobacco flavor. And right after that, some buttery smooth creaminess. And on its heels; some cocoa. So I grab the Diet Coke for that chocolate phosphate experience. This is the perfect stick for that.

The burn may need some correction but I will give it an inch before I decide what to do.

The stick is a solid medium body. Another thing I don’t know about is why it is called Serie F. What does the F stand for? Fuerte? On a medium bodied cigar? Probably not.

The char line corrects itself at the one inch mark. I’m a happy man.

Oooh…the creaminess and cocoa are a dream. The spiciness has tamped down a bit. Overshadowed by the above profile.

The first third ends with the introduction of hazelnut. Now I have some Nutella spread. Cocoa and hazelnut and creamy.

And then as the second third begins, another flavor shows up…what is it? I can’t write and think at the same time so I stop typing.

I have to take the dogs out back to do their business which gives me a few minutes to figure out the new flavor and it comes to me: Maple. Its sweetness was beginning to get syrupy and then the maple creeps up.

I’m having a small burn with this stick. The other two I tried had dead nuts burn lines so this must be an aberration.

I take a swig of my Diet Coke and all the flavors explode…..the creaminess and cocoa work as a team…the sweetness is delightful…and the waffle flavor is enhanced by the maple component. Yeah, waffle flavor. It’s yeasty.

The second third burns down and as I start the last third, the spice returns in trumps. What at first was a black pepper flavor, turns to red pepper as my tongue tingles and my sinuses clear.

This is a delicious cigar. It has all the goodness of an infused cigar without any infusion…it’s all natural. A good sign.

I should mention that this cigar is a slow burner. Being jam packed with tobacco will do that. I have a maduro I will review tomorrow and I really look forward to that. The spiciness is making my nose run. LOL! My kind of stick!

This stick has a very long finish and is very well balanced. If this was a hyped boutique cigar, it would go for more than $5 or $6.

As I get down to the last couple inches, everything swells in proportion…one of the creamiest sticks I’ve ever had. I smack my lips and get that hot cocoa on the palate.

I find the problem of the burn….there is a tiny little plug near the cap. I use my little ice pick tool and dislodge it and now we’re cooking. Should have caught this in the beginning.

What can I say? This is a very good cigar. A great price point. Excellent flavor characteristics….I definitely recommend this cigar.

I get to the nub and it never gets harsh or bitter. Ends up a winner.

 ADDENDUM TO ORIGINAL REVIEW (10-18-2012):

It’s been over two weeks and I am smoking another one.

In a nutshell, the cigar starts of with that Pepin Garcia Pepper Blast.

The cigar’s flavor profile has intensified in all manner of possibilities….Much earthier, richer, very well balanced, and loads of flavor. The strength has increased as well.

This unusual cigar turned out to be a big surprise. It smokes masterfully. And while the packaging is somewhat startling, the package inside is a very well made cigar.

You’ve all seen the promo for this cigar. This is all the info I could find on the blender: “Our master tobacconists are the Puentes brothers (Gonzalo and Daniel); third generation Cuban cigar masters now residing in Esteli and creating some of the most disruptive blends for Humo Del Diablo, LLC (Recon Cigars’ parent company). They bring a long legacy of tobacco growth (Gonzalo is an agricultural engineer) and cigar production to and industry where commonplace is everyday practice. We could not be more pleased to be teamed up fellow innovators.”

So, thanks to the wonderful Robb Capielo of The Cigar Store, I have 3 of these sticks in my possession…including the behemoth aluminum tube meant to look like a 25mm anti-aircraft round. Now what everyone is supposing is that the fancy bullet, that is 10” long, and the gimmicky notion of placing 3 types of tobacco leaves on top of the wrapper to look like forest camo, is a total gimmick…and that the cigar is probably not that good.

The company that makes these sticks is called Humo del Diablo and is based in Florida, no city given.

The cigars are also available in real ammo boxes of 20 sticks.

The PR photo of these sticks show vibrant colors. In reality, they are a drab color and the veins of the cigar show through the patches making the patches look wrinkled.

I pick the most aesthetically pleasing of the three and do the sniff-o-rama and detect some hay, barnyard, some citrus, and cocoa.

I light it up and get a flavor of spice, cocoa, woody, cedar. My cigar gut instincts tell me this is going to be a good cigar.

The char line is perfect and so is the draw.

Mind you, I am smoking the cigar one day off the truck and out of the tube. Substantial resting would make this a horse of a different color.

I am getting some cinnamon. So far, very pleasant. The spice and cocoa continue to ramp up at the 1” mark. The body is a light medium.

This is a big cigar and will take some time to smoke and review…and since I smoke as I review, I will be coming back and forth to the written word as the cigar burns down.

Just after the 1” mark, some creaminess shows up. This cigar is turning out to be a big surprise. It’s good!

The little patches of Candela, Cameroon, and Criollo Maduro don’t really have any impact to flavor. Just too small.

The first third comes to a pleasurable end. The spiciness comes from a black pepper profile….black pepper always hits me in the back of the throat and cheeks; while red pepper on my tongue.

The cigar is showing a pattern. It continues to be a worthy cigar. My only issue is two things: The first is that I saw some unreliable info that some portion of the proceeds will go to soldiers, vets…not clear. The Recon website is terribly devoid of information; Just plenty of mission statement.

I am at the halfway mark and the body is medium in strength. Everything is building in the flavor department. The cocoa is strong; the spice is becoming both black and red peppers.  There is some sweet tobacco flavor.

If I had to compare this cigar to another brand, I’d have to say that based upon the potential I foresee, this is in the same family as the Young Turk category. The modern blenders seeking new and exotic methods of blending. Nothing old school about this cigar.

The sweetness is highly complimented by the ever growing creaminess. The entire flavor profile and strength profile are growing simultaneously, and in harmony.

The draw continues to be perfect. The burn line is pretty close to dead nuts the entire first half.

The second half will either become a show off or it will go downhill.

Time for a break.

When I come back to the cigar, there is some finite coffee flavor which the creaminess really compliments alongside the cocoa.

A citrusy component enters. Lemon zest.

It is advertised as high quality torcedores doing the hard work on this cigar. The placement of patches has to be a pain in the ass…but it is done well as none of the patches come loose…so job well done.

The stick stays in the medium range as I enter the last third. I am getting a little nicotine buzz but I think it is because it really takes some puffing on such a large ring gauge.

The cap gets a bit funky but a little snip with some scissors and all is well.

I discover something odd. The cap on the aluminum tube says that the cigar is a 6.5 x 52. But their web site calls it out as a 6.5 x 56. I measured it and it indeed is a 56 ring gauge. But to complicate things, the initials “mm” follow the size and gauge. Cigars are not sized in millimeters, but rather, inches. The ring gauge is in 64ths of an inch. So this makes no sense whatsoever.

That’s sort of a big boo boo.

I would characterize the last third as a much more intense version of the second third. This is not a complex cigar but it makes up for that by being very full flavored. And…this cigar has not received any time to rest; so common sense tells me that a few months in the humidor; without the tubes, will do wonders for the taste and complexity.

Buying a few sticks is something cool to show off to your friends. Would I buy a box? No. If you are bucks up, why not?

I believe what everyone guessed at has been dispelled in this review. It is not a piece of junk. Yes, it is a gimmick. But the makers of this gimmick did the right thing and put a quality cigar into its PR package.

Recon Cigar by Humo del Diablo AVAILABLE AT THE CIGAR STORE

Written by Katmancross

Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial Belicoso

When I get cigars delivered by truck, no..not the truckload, but by the mailman or UPS…I try a cigar right away. I want it to talk to me. And it does. It tells me its potential. And it tells me roughly how long I will let it rest before I get the full blossom of the cigar’s flavors.

I didn’t think much of this stick on receipt. It was less than blah.

I waited a couple weeks and nothing had changed.

I waited 6 weeks, and KAPOW!

Let us start from the beginning.

Construction is good. The stick is firm without soft spots. Seams are tight. But there are some pretty ugly veins that look like they came from the Frankenstein Monster running up the length of the cigar.

The color is gorgeous. A very light tan with a beautiful reddish hue. The red and gold band compliments the color of the cigar nicely.

This is a belicoso so the shape is very difficult to roll. A torpedo cap but the from that point downwards towards the foot, there is a gentle widening of the circumference of the cigar…very nice looking. No #4 torcedor did this.

I do the sniff-o-rama and I get a faint aroma of coca and apricot. At the foot, the tart/sweet apricot aroma is strong.

I clip the puppy with my Xikar. And ohh…the aroma of apricot, where I just cut the cap, is like opening a fresh jar of apricot jam.

I get a perfect draw. And smoke billows like a Pennsylvania coal chimney. The char line is looking pretty good.

And then the spice hits. Plus a sweet tobacco flavor. The sweetness coats my lips and makes them feel almost sticky.

There is also a cereal component. A rich bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon. The strength is just about medium.

This cigar is nothing like I thought it would be when I received it. I admit, I am a schmuck. The blend combos are simply bizarre. But it works.

Because this is an inexpensive cigar and because it is an old school cigar, it doesn’t get much respect on the internet. Not hip enough. But I am telling you that this cigar deserves your attention. The price is right and all you need to add is patience.

An inch in, I get a bit of citrusy…or more like orange zest. The spice continues to ramp up incrementally.

I know from the last cigar, that the first third is tasty, but unremarkable. It is not until the second half begins, that we see some action.

As I enter the second third, the body goes into overdrive. It is more than medium but less than full. The Netherworld.

I take a big swig of water and my palate becomes awash in sweet fruitiness. I was hoping the apricot aroma would translate to one of the flavors, but alas, it does not.

I recently did something that most cigar smokers already know, or do. I bought a pipe. Those little gizmo skewers that you stick through the nub of your cigar may work like a roach clip but it does not keep the cherry from burning your mouth. Stuffing the nub into the pipe allows me the opportunity to finish the cigar in a nice cool fashion milking the flavor to the very end.

At the second half, some creaminess shows up complimenting the other flavors nicely. And following that, I get some cocoa and coffee. Very typical of Nicaraguan leaves.

There is definitely a cappuccino taste going on.

The last third takes the cigar to full on full on full on….LOL. I am getting a nicotine buzz. Time to slow down a bit.

The creaminess brings the last third to its zenith. The spice of red pepper is strong and making my nose run. The sweetness component is hanging tough.

This is a very good cigar. And the price point makes it an extra treat.