Posts Tagged ‘La Aurora’

News: Jose Blanco Named Senior Vice President of Joya de Nicaragua

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On August 29, 2011, Joya de Nicaragua, S.A. (JDN) appointed Jose Blanco, formerly a director of La Aurora Cigars, as Senior Vice President. Blanco is bringing his 29 years of marketing, public relations, and tobacco blending experience to this legendary Nicaraguan cigar company. He will be responsible for overall brand and blend development and will be reporting directly to its owner, Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuenca, and the company’s Board of Directors. Working closely with Drew Estate, their US Distributor, and their worldwide partners, Blanco will also be responsible for interacting with the public. He will be relocating from the Dominican Republic to Nicaragua in order to fulfill his duties.

La Aurora Cameroon – Cigar Review

La Aurora Cameroon Band

Since the spring of 2010 I was lucky enough to develop an ongoing relationship with the distributor of La Aurora in the United States, Miami Cigar & Company. It was through that relationship I became close to Guillermo Leon as well. Our friendship goes beyond that of a blogger/manufacturer and we often spend time together when he is in New York City. In my eyes there is no one more down to earth and refined with a sense of humour, dignity and class then Senor Leon. Perhaps it is because of these relationships that I have become a fan of La Aurora. However, when it comes to reviewing cigars they know I can be brutally honest.I share this little story with you, to offer full disclosure.

Earlier this year I helped out at the La Aurora booth at Cigar Fest, and I will be doing the same at Cigar Carnival so say hello. At Cigar Fest the cigar we gave out were the La Aurora Cameroon and I smoked my fair share that day . Today I smoke the re-blended version of the cigar that has been slightly tweaked to make it a more full bodied cigar.The cigar was introduced at IPCPR and you can tell the difference by the new band that adorns the smoke.

Breakfast at Drapers for this year’s Little Puff

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It looks like there’s some buzz about this year’s “Little Puff” in Washington DC. The little puff is only little name and it’s actually kind of a big deal:

The “Little Puff” is Draper’s signature fundraiser, an intimate gathering of cigar lovers (limited to 300 people). Proceeds from ticket sales and the auction benefit three local academic scholarships (The Erik Kristensen Memorial Scholarship in honor of a Navy SEAL killed in action; The Pat Krimm Scholarship & The Anne Berman Memorial Scholarship).

Q & A with Jose Blanco

Jose, thank you for taking the time to teach me more and more about tobacco everytime we meet. As a fellow Yankee fan we share a common bond that is only surpassed by our love of cigars. I look toward the time when we can sit back and enjoy a cigar together.

News recently rocked the cigar world that Jose Blanco was stepping down from his position at La Aurora and retiring. Now that the dust has settled we got to catch up with Jose Blanco who is currently enjoying himself on a European vacation. During our brief conversation, one can read between the lines and say he left the door open a bit for a return to the cigar industry and this might not be the end of his career.

IPCPR 2011: La Aurora Sneak Peak

With the trade show in Las Vegas inching closer and closer, some details were released exclusively to acigarsmoker.com about the new offerings from La Aurora. This trade show will be the first with Guillermo Leon as the new owner of the oldest factory in the Dominican Republic. Not much should change as Senor Leon has been at the helm for a while, but the amount of new releases coming from the company shows they are ready to proceed full steam ahead.

The production of the La Aurora 107 Maduro may not be ready for sampling at the show, but there are plenty of others to keep those interested as it looks like another banner trade show should be in the cards.

MSRP is to be determined, and more details to follow!

Jose Blanco Retires – The End Of An Era

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I found out a while ago about Jose Blanco retiring but despite that, yesterday’s news still hit hard. I took a while to compose my thoughts before writing this entry as Jose Blanco is more to me then the Director of Sales for La Aurora, he is also a friend in the truest sense of the word.

I first met Jose Blanco at Tobacco Plaza in February of 2010. A short time after that I was in Santiago, Dominican Republic where I began a friendship with him. A friendship that had us discuss everything from baseball to politics. In fact rarely did we discuss cigars unless at an event. Our emails, tweets and texts were the platform for a friendship that has and will continue to mean so much to me even without his position at La Aurora.

La Aurora 1495 Sumo Robusto – Cigar Review

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Last September I flew down to Miami to hang out with Jason Wood and the Miami Cigar Crew. While there a person was interviewing for a job as a sales representative by the name of Raphael Delgado. The two of us hit it off and became friends. He was assigned the Maryland/West Virginia/Delaware/Washington DC territory and did a lot of his training up in New York. We became good friends, and this past week I got some bad news that he was being shipped to Texas to take over that area. So to all my Texas readers when you see him out there, take good care of him. He is as good as they come.

Another plus is when I left I was given a box of La Aurora Sumo Robusto cigars. These cigars were available in the European market and are now set to be release here in the states. I smoked the box pretty quick and before I knew it they were gone …

Cigar News: Jose Blanco to Retire from La Aurora

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In the cigar industry, as in life, all good things must come to an end. When it comes to cigars, Jose Blanco is one of the industry’s greatest friends. So naturally, the news that Jose is retiring comes as a surprise to me.

I’ve had the great fortune of attending one of his blending seminars, where I was repeatedly humbled by the intricacies of the cigar blending process. It was easy for those who had attended the seminar to establish a deep respect for Jose’s craft. Jose has had a hand in creating some of the industry’s most prized blends, for example, the

Monday Cigar News Roundup

Guillermo Leon Purchases La Aurora

Memorial day is for remembering those who sacrificed for our Freedom. Hope yours was very relaxing. Today, I bring to you cigar news from all over the world. We take a look at the NYC smoking ban after a week, big changes in La Aurora, French and Chinese cigars, and more.

Come on inside, and read all about it in the Monday News Roundup

Para Japon – Cigar Review

Para Japon Band

Back in March of 2011 a group of bloggers were invited to the La Aurora cigar factory and while events that surrounded me might live in infamy the best thing to come out of the trip was the birth of Para Japon. One of my esteemed colleagues Mario Takeyama from Cigar Explorer is of Japanese heritage. He was born there, and is still a legal resident of the island nation. With the catastrophic earthquake still fresh in our minds Mario began to seek support for a cigar to raise money for the people of Japan. We all jumped on board and once La Aurora made the cigar an official project we all tossed our weight behind the project.

Event Recap: Primo Cigar Shop, Santa Fe, NM

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This past week I took a flight out of New York to escape for a while with some friends in the mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico. A place I’ve been to once before that had me eager to return. With the mountains in every direction and low humidity I was able to kick back and relax while taking part in the re-branding/re-opening of Primo Cigar Shop. The shop which is open daily from 11-7 features a walk in humidor full of the top brands and a large selection of pipes and pipe tobacco is truly heaven on earth when the surroundings are taken into consideration.

Cigar Event: A Final Puff In Central Park

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So do you have any plans on May 21st, 2011 at 1:00PM? If you’re free, I think you might want to go this event:

You won’t be able to smoke your fine luxury tobacco in public parks and beaches after May 23rd. But before NYC’s oppressive outdoor smoking ban goes into effect cigar companies including Alec Bradley, Graycliff, La Aurora, Altadis, General Cigar and Plasencia invite you to have A Last Cigar In Central Park.

This event is hosted by Aaron Sigmond, the founding editor of Smoke Magazine and the Cigar Report, and television personality Bill McCuddy to commemorate the end of an era as it is one of the last times cigar smokers can legally enjoy a cigar in Central Park.

Event: Michael Herklots Birthday & Charity Fundraiser

The Carnegie Club

For the last six years Michael Herklots has opted to celebrate his birthday differently then many. Instead of making it a day about him, he chooses to give back to the experiences that made him the person he is today. As a graduate of Killingly High School he knows first hand how funding isn’t always there for the students as states struggle to pass budgets that often remove programs. Each year he has put together a stellar fundraiser that makes those in attendance happy to give to the cause.

4/29 Para Japon Release Party

Para Japón Virtual Release Party

On April 29 (Fri), 2011 at ParaJapon.com, with special guest Guillermo Leon, President of La Aurora and Miami Cigar & Co., La Aurora US exclusive distributor, will host a virtual release party for the La Aurora benefit for Japan cigar “Para Japón”.

Date & Time: April 29 (Fri), 2011 from 7PM
Live Location: in Miami Cigar & Co. Headquarter
Streaming via: http://www.paraJapon.com/
You can communicate@: Ustream Chat, Twitter, Facebook

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