Author

Leaf n Grain

Browsing

Wolf Spirit’s Puncher’s Chance® Bourbon Wolf Spirit Re-Enters Whiskey Ring with Heavy Weight Card: Puncher’s Chance® The Unified  Belt Bourbon/Irish Blend Limited-Edition Blends the Best of America and Ireland in this Three Cask Knockout  EUGENE, OREGON – December 5, 2023 – Today, Wolf Spirit’s Puncher’s Chance® Bourbon announces the fifth release in its award-winning portfolio of fine whiskeys. Puncher’s Chance THE UNIFIED BELT is a limited-release, three-cask blend of fine Bourbon and Irish Whiskey, serving as the follow-up to Puncher’s Chance THE UNDISPUTED Bourbon, which won a Platinum Medal and Best in Show 2nd Runner-Up honors at Tony Abou-Ganim’s heralded TAG World Spirits Awards in the American Bourbon Single Barrel category. With barrels sourced by IJW Whiskey Company of Louisville, KY, and crafted by IJW Master Blender Steven Hughes, THE UNIFIED BELT is the first cross-category whiskey blend from Wolf Spirit. First into the ring is a four-year-old high-rye base Kentucky Straight Bourbon distilled with a proprietary yeast and aged to four years in barrels featuring a #4 alligator char aged at a traditional rickhouse in Danville, KY; the mash bill being 70% corn, 20% rye, 10% malt. That is married to a four-year-old Irish Whiskey crafted from 100% malted barley and proprietary yeast, then aged in former Bourbon barrels in a palletized warehouse in Ireland. To add further complexity and depth, a third cask joins the lineup, this being a 14-year-old Bourbon finished in first-fill Pedro Ximenez and Olorosso Sherry casks for up to 15 months. The mash bill of this precious liquid is 84% corn, 8% rye, and 10% malt. “Like we did with Puncher’s Chance THE LEFT CROSS, which was finished in Jamaican rum casks, we wanted to push our creativity to create a truly multidimensional whiskey experience,” said Umberto Luchini, Founder of Wolf Spirit. “The Bourbon and…

Crowned Heads: Danny Hennessy as Midwest Regional Sales Mgr Crowned Heads is proud to announce the addition of Danny Hennessy to the sales team, where he will serve as Midwest Regional Sales Manager. Effective December 1, Danny will service the states of Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and South Dakota. Hennessy began his career in the premium cigar industry in 2018, when he was hired by Casa de Montecristo (Nashville). In January 2022, he was promoted to Assistant Store Manager, and soon entered into the Manager in Training Program where he has served since. This new appointment to the Midwest marks the third new sales hire in the last three months for the Crowned Heads sales team. “I’m thrilled to welcome Danny to the Crowned Heads team,” commented National Sales Manager, Miguel Schoedel. “Danny brings a combination of retail and managerial experience to our group, along with a level of customer service that is perfectly aligned with our goal of providing unparalleled customer support to our retail partners.” Crowned Heads is a premium cigar company headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, with factory partners in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Crowned Heads was founded in 2011 by Mike Conder and Jon Huber, and has product representation in over 1,200 stores in the United States, along with an international presence that includes Germany, Canada, Norway, Venezuela, Belgium, UAE, Hong Kong, and the Dominican Republic.

Black Star Line Cigars moving to retail exclusive sales Black Star Line Cigars has ceased sales direct-to-consumer. Owner Aric Bey states, “ It’s time to make a change. We are a bigger company, and we don’t need to sell direct-to-consumer anymore. When the company started we sold direct-to-consumer to help spread the brand. We have grown tremendously so now we are letting our retail partners exclusively sell our brand. We fully support our retail partners in every way”.  Bey states, “Our website will continue to sell coffee, and various other swag for those that want branded items from us.” Here is a list of the retailers that sell Black Star line online:

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 3, 2023) – Rich cigars and classic cocktails are now served at Paris Las Vegas. Montecristo Cigar Bar has officially opened its doors, and industry leaders from top-level cigar brands and Caesars Entertainment executives joined together to commemorate its grand opening celebration on Thursday, Nov 2. “Cigar enthusiasts can now visit the newest lounge on The Strip, and we are excited for our guests to enjoy a premium experience at Montecristo Cigar Bar,” said Jason Gregorec, SVP and General Manager of Paris Las Vegas. “Paris Las Vegas continues to transform with elevated food and beverage destinations, and Montecristo is an excellent addition to our resort.” The gold standard of cigar lounges, Montecristo Cigar Bar at Paris Las Vegas features a premium selection with more than 300 industry-leading brands, including Romeo Y Julieta, H. Upmann, Padrón, La Flor Dominicana, Arturo Fuente, My Father, and its namesake, Montecristo. Guests can indulge in the perfect pairing with specialty cocktails, such as the Parisian Paloma, made with Maestro Dobel Diamante tequila, Fever-Tree grapefruit soda, lime juice and simple syrup. For a smoky cocktail, the Rolling Smoke features Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon, Laphroaig Islay Scotch whisky, coffee bean-infused Caprano Antica Formula vermouth and vanilla. Designed by the world-class architectural and interior design firm Bergman, Walls & Associates (BWA), the French-inspired décor features a fresh green color palette and stone finishes. Montecristo Cigar Bar spans 2,835 square feet with a state-of-the-art ventilation and air purification system, ensuring a comfortable guest experience. The new venue seats more than 70 guests and offers eight bar-top games. The destination is perfect for watching live events with eight televisions and an oversized LED TV wall measuring approximately 16 feet by 9 feet. Cigar connoisseurs can appreciate a walk-in, climate-controlled humidor featuring custom Spanish cedar shelving that store…

Crowned Heads Mil Dias Belicosos Finos Le 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CROWNED HEADS ANNOUNCES MIL DIAS BELICOSOS FINOS LE 2023 Crowned Heads is pleased to announce a very special holiday limited edition release, the Mil Dfas Belicosos Fines LE 2023. The Mil Dfas Belicosos Fines LE 2023 showcases the highly-acclaimed Mil Dfas blend in a classic 51/2″ x 52 Belicoso Fino vitola, drawing inspiration from the legendary Bolivar Belicoso Fino (CUBA). “This year has been so successful for Crowned Heads, and we wanted to close it out not only with a bang, but also with offering something special to everyone who’s supported us,” commented Crowned Heads co-founder, Jon Huber. “Historically, we’ve only utilized the Belicoso Fino vitola in our Le Careme blend as a limited edition, and recently as a sampler exclusive size in our Las Calaveras EL 2023 sampler. The size really lends itself brilliantly to the Mil Dfas blend, and the result is a flavor experience packed with layers of cream, wood, tea, and an underlying floral quality, as well.” The blend is comprised of a Nicaraguan binder, filler tobaccos from Nicaragua, Peru, and Costa Rica, and is finished with a gorgeous Ecuadorian (Habano) wrapper. Production is limited to 1,500 (12-count) boxes, i.e., a total production of 18,000 cigars for the global market. The suggested retail price for the Mil Dfas Belicosos Finos LE 2023 is $12.95 per cigar. Mil Dfas Belicosos Fines LE 2023 is manufactured at the TacaNicsa factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, under the supervision of Eradio Pichardo. Shipping will begin mid-November. CROWNEDHEADS.COM 748 FREELAND STATION RD• NASHVILLE, TN 37228

Cavalier Genève Cigars 2023 LE White Series 6.25X48 Cavalier Genève Cigars announced today that it is releasing its second Limited Release cigar: 2023’s release is under the White Series line as a 6.25×48 vitola. Cavalier’s Limited Release Series consists of limited runs of cigars derived from their core lines, but with interesting twists only available in one size with limited supply. These cigars are made available only once before moving on to the next project. The Limited Release White Series comes in a unique 6.25×48 parejo vitola with a pig tail. This is the first cigar by Cavalier in this size. The blend was tweaked and now features a Habano seed wrapper from Jalapa, replacing the classic Habano seed from Jamastran on the core line release. 500 boxes of 15 cigars were produced. As usual for all limited Cavalier releases, every box is numbered by hand. Wrapper: Habano Jalapa Binder: Connecticut Fillers: Nicaragua, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Honduras The cigars are expected to ship to US retailers early November. The Limited Release White Series 6.25×48 was produced at Cavalier’s Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco SA in Danli, Honduras. For any inquiries, please contact Brian Motola at brian@cavalier-cigars.com

Luciano Lounge Sponsorship Program Luciano Cigars Ignites New Brand Strategy, Sponsoring Lounges Nationally and Worldwide  Fort Lauderdale, FL, 10/16/23 Luciano Cigars is proud to announce the recent and upcoming opening of brand-sponsored lounges across the US and the launch of its global Lounge Sponsorship Program. The company has established itself as a world-class, vertically integrated premium cigar business, crafting award-winning cigars from seed to smoke. By collaborating with well-established marquee local cigar retailers to develop branded luxury spaces, Luciano Cigars plans to expand its brand presence. “We are absolutely ecstatic with the recent lounge of the Dreamer VIP Lounge at LIT Cigar Lounge in ST Louis, MO, as well as the upcoming launch of a Luciano Cigars-sponsored lounge at Industrial Cigars in Frisco, TX. This endeavor symbolizes the incredible partnership between our families and the future we are building together. As we venture into sponsoring  lounges, our vision is to invite our clients to experience the artistry and complexity of our cigars, bringing these spaces to life through shared experiences.” Luciano Meirelles, President and Co-Founder of Luciano Cigars The recent announcement of a Luciano-sponsored lounge at Industrial Cigars in Frisco, TX and the inauguration of The Dreamer VIP Lounge at LIT Cigar Lounge in St. Louis marks the first two steps of this global initiative. This partnership celebrates the shared values and commitment between Luciano Cigars and these two award-winning establishments renowned for their top-tier cigar experience and customer service. “It is a true privilege to join forces with Luciano Cigars in introducing the Dreamer Lounge. This collaboration signifies not only our deep connection with Luciano and his family but also our commitment to creating something extraordinary for our Industrial Cigars community.” Dave Frakes, Co-Founder of Industrial Cigar Co.  In addition, to celebrate the Fourth Anniversary and Grand Opening of…

Blue Run Double Rickhouse 8-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon Blue Run Spirits Unveils Double Rickhouse 8-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon Barrels Hand Selected by Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge GEORGETOWN, KY (October 5, 2023) – Georgetown, Kentucky-based Blue Run Spirits today announced a special collection of 8-Year-Old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys. The collection hails from ten six-year-old barrels that received a final aging of two years in the “sweet spot” of a second rickhouse to create additional harmony and balance. Blue Run 8-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbons are now available at select fine spirits retailers and at http://www.bluerunspirits.com/shop starting tomorrow, Friday, October 6 at 3 pm Eastern. The bourbon found in Blue Run 8-Year-Old Single Barrel will be familiar to many, as it was one of the exceptional whiskeys featured in the recently released Blue Run Trifecta, which received a Double Gold Medal and was named a finalist for the Best Straight Bourbon in the prestigious 2023 New York Wine and Spirits Competition. The barrels standing proudly on their own in this eight-year-old expression were hand selected by Blue Run Liquid Advisor Jim Rutledge. The last two years of their aging journey were spent on Floor 3 of Warehouse G at Bardstown Bourbon Company. “Floor 3 is what I would call the sweet spot of Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Warehouse G,” said Coors Spirits Co. Head of Whiskey Development and Innovation Shaylyn Gammon. “This is where all of the flavors, including wood, spice and floral top notes, develop evenly, creating a truly balanced and refined whiskey. Two years in this prime location really rounded out these already exceptional barrels that Jim Rutledge selected.” Blue Run 8-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon features a mash bill of 75% yellow corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. It is aged in barrels with a #3 char…

Emilio Cigars releases the Grimalkin Seasonal Edition October 3, 2023 — Emilio Cigars is pleased to announce the release of the Grimalkin Seasonal Edition: Hand crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua at Fabrica Oveja Negra. Grimalkin Seasonal is being released in time to enjoy for Halloween and fall festivities. “To celebrate one of my favorite times of year, Grimalkin seasonal is back. We changed things up a bit this time around. The blend of filler tobacco has stayed the same, but we did a dual wrapper, closed foot and a rabito cap.  The Grimalkin has rich, intense flavors of dark fruit, herbal cedar notes and mild baking spice on the layered, complex finish,” said James Brown, of Black Label Trading Co and Fabrica Oveja Negra. Grimalkin Seasonal Limited Edition will be available in limited quantities at select retailers beginning this week. Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Ecuador Maduro and Corojo dual wrapper Binder: Nicaraguan Habano Filler: Nicaragua Robusto 5 x 50 (25 count) MSRP $11.00 Emilio Cigars is a brand with old school roots and new school attitude. With an eclectic portfolio, Emilio is sure to have something for everyone. For more information, visit our website featuring a comprehensive retailer map. OvejaNegraCigars.com.