Clint Aaron, Nagem Ahman, Omar Alkatout, J. Manuel Alvarez, Adam Aprim, Sam Atalah, David Berk, Joey Bowen, James Burke, Rudy Ced, Bassem Chahine, Theresa Cox, Paul Cronin, Jay Davis, Scott Elrad, Yeniv Erez, Marlies Fernandez, Geri Feverstein, Bill Fink, Jr., Gilbert Flores, Lionel Gadwa, Jr., Eduardo Garcia, Luis Garcia, George HaFoury, Patsy Hasley, Gary Heathcott, Brad Heider, Frank Herrera, Chip Hight, Wesam Ibrahim, Mohidul Islam, John Jain, Ali Jawad, Todd Johnson, Kris Kachaturian, Fayez Karroum, Jason Katz, Matt King, Chaz Kline, Randy Kniss, Jacob Knopke, Fatos Koleci, Patrick Kunish, Issam Latif, Maria Martin, Jon McCabe, Fred McCarthy, Michael McCoy, Trevor McDowell, Scott Menefee, Marc Miclette, Mark Miyahira, Daniel More, Johnny Muheizen, Joey Nickels, Arthur Notini, John O’Neill, Maria Pantaleone, Joe Petrasek, Ken Pope, Michael Powell, Aaron Purser, Peter Quercia, Jose Ramos, Kenneth Reid, Lou Rodriguez, Bryan Roth, Ryan Salem, Jack Sanzeri, Nicholas Scarcella, David Scott, Philip Segal III, William Sheldon, Kelsey Tedeschi, Matt Urbano, Gonzalo Valiente, Joe Van Dudenhove III, Darrel Vigil, Josh Weltmer, Hall Wilson, and Todd Wilson.

As members of IPCPR, they have access to IPCPR resources for market research, trade shows, products, services, publications, and participation in community, constitutional and legislative action programs. The 79th Annual Convention and International Trade Show of the IPCPR will be held July 17-21, 2011 in Las Vegas. The trade show is not open to the public.

With more than 2,000 members throughout the U.S. and 31 foreign countries, IPCPR is the leading non-profit industry organization representing retailers, manufacturers and distributors of hand-made cigars, pipes and accessories. Stores displaying the IPCPR logo are recognized as premier purveyors of premium tobacco products.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gurkha-cigar-brand-steps-up-as-leader-in-luxury-segment-97587729.html

Some excerpts…

‘If you thought that the Cubans are leading the world in brand identity with cigars, think again. Right now, the number one buzzword in the cigar industry is Gurkha.’

‘What they are selling is an exclusive experience, when you see a Gurkha band on a cigar you know that smoker is serious’

‘You smoke a Gurkha when you are looking for a guaranteed positive experience and you know your tobacco,” as he puffed away on an ‘Evil.’ “Yes, it has become a status symbol to be seen smoking the Gurkha name, but that is not why I smoke them; I love knowing I can have a luxury that many cannot.”‘

This is the store’s second house blend, following the Grand Reserve by Pepin Garcia, which was released in late 2003. Unlike the Nicaraguan cigar, the new blend is banded and sold in boxes (the Grand Reserve is bundled). But, that’s just the beginning of the difference. The Selection Premium is a fundamentally different cigar. It’s made by Davidoff, which owns De La Concha – and it tastes very much like a Davidoff product. There are some clear similarities to the Millennium, with which the Selection Premium shares a wrapper, and it is more complex than the Grand Reserve, which tends to be a tad more linear and emphasizes boldness over complexity.

Continue reading New Cigar: De La Concha Selection Premium

The global recession, combined with anti-smoking laws, have put the squeeze on Cuba’s hand-rolled stogies, one of the quintessential symbols of privilege.

International sales fell 8 percent in 2009 to $360 million following a 3 percent drop in 2008, according to Habanos S.A., a joint venture between Cuba and Britain’s Imperial Tobacco Group.

Julieta, with its handsome gold and red bands, impressed distributors at Havana’s annual cigar festival.

“I think to come up with a product that is appealing to women in terms of it’s size, it’s blend, it’s packaging, can only be positive,” said Jemma Freeman, of the UK-based Hunters & Frankau distributors.

“I think it’s the right thing to do, I think there’s a demographic out there hat’s interested in smoking cigars, particularly women,” she added as she it up.

But others, like Cigar Aficionado’s James Suckling, were not optimistic.”It’s a bit of a girly cigar,” he said puffing on the thin cigar. “I find it little bit patronizing really. I mean the women I know who smoke enjoy great cigars just like the cigars that guys smoke.”

Women represent less than 10 percent of current consumers, something Habanos vice-president Manuel Garcia hopes to change.

Habanos produces 27 premium brands that can fetch more than $500 a box.

They get their start in the western province of Pinar del Rio, thanks to a combination of soil, climate, humidity and hundreds of years of tobacco-growing tradition.

“We’re looking at another quality year,” plantation director Maria Luisa Alvarez told CNN as she walked among the neatly planted rows of leaves.

The tobacco is then hung up in wooden drying houses that dot the lush countryside.

The cigars themselves are hand-rolled in traditional factories and converted mansions in Havana amid the clatter of tiny guillotines and the rich smell of tobacco.

Cuban stogies dominate the market for high-end cigars despite the U.S. trade embargo, which bans their sale in America.

Some U.S. consumers still manage to get their hands on the coveted merchandise, and even turned up at the recent Havana cigar festival, despite travel restrictions.

“It’s been a dream come true for me to be in the land where it all happens,” said a man, who declined to give his name.

“I hope in the not too far future, trade opens up and that Americans can enjoy like the rest of the world a product that they really desire,” he said.

Cuban cigar makers no doubt agree, considering the United States is by far the biggest market for stogies.

By Shasta Darlington, CNN

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/30/cuba.cigar.julieta.habanos/

Shot on location in the Cuban provinces Pinar de Rio and Havana, where socialistic workers need three to four years to produce a Havana, and in London, Madrid, and Berlin, where Havana afficionados whiff these expensive toys in forty-five minutes, this entertaining documentary takes a look at the history and tradition of the finest cigar in the world. Some of the more famous smokers of the Havana were Winston Churchill, Fidel Castro, Groucho Marx, and John F. Kennedy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHazLBTZUEs

Prelight
Decent looking small cigar with a slightly soft and spongy roll.  Very light tobacco aroma.  Musty flavor on the prelight draw.

First third
Very light flavors of tobacco and leather with a peppery spice nose exhale.  The aftertaste is mostly woody flavors.  Good draw with a nice amount of smoke.  Burn canoes a bit.  Quickly picking up flavors of caramel and a light vanilla.  The crooked burn eventually fixes itself by the end of this third.

Second third
The cigar presents very creamy notes at this point with a nice rich tobacco flavor.  Smooth aftertaste of cedar and licorice.

Last third
Very smooth mouth feel.  The peppery nose exhale is still present and quite enjoyable.  Finishes with an increasing mocha and coffee aftertaste.

Conclusion
This is a very nice short smoke.  Light initial flavors give way to a satisfying depth of body.  Medium in strength toward the end and enjoyable flavors throughout.  Recommended.

I picked up a 4pack sampler.  The wrapper is grown in Lancaster, PA so I had to give it a shot. There were a couple of large veins…one being right down the middle. Extremely firm feel. Aroma is perfume’ish and tobacco. Prelight draw is very chocolaty.

First third
The initial draw was slightly dry. Flavors of cedar and tobacco. Spicy nose exhale. Also coming into the picture is a very woody flavor. Decent amount of smoke present. Very short and light aftertaste. Eventually this moves into a full on tobaccco flavor.

Second third
Mainly tobacco flavors now with hints of leather. The aftertaste is gaining in intensity of strength and length. The smoke turns very smooth with chocolaty flavors. Aftertaste now full of mocha flavor with only the smallest hint of spiciness.

Last third
Continues to increase in length and intensity in the aftertaste. Smooth chocolaty smoke packed with tobacco flavors. Good burn throughout.

Conclusion
This was a pretty darn good smoke if you’re into the flavor profile. Builds in strength throughout. Recommended to pick up a 4pack sampler from cigarmonster (I think mine was $12)…at least to try 4 different wrapper cigars with the same filler and binder blend.