Pete Johnson, the creator of Tatuaje cigars, is continuing his Halloween tradition by releasing the Tatuaje Monster Series, a set of cigars that resemble monsters from cinema packed in dynamic, individually numbered boxes.

The demand created for the cigars by collectors has made the series a commercial success but a “distribution nightmare” for the monster-loving Johnson, who limits the sale of the numbered boxes to 13 retailers chosen by lottery.

This year’s creation is called the Tatuaje Monster Series Wolfman, a torpedo measuring 7 1/2 inches long by 52 ring gauge. It has a rough, uncut foot that exposes the filler tobacco, a first for the Tatuaje brand.

The blend for the cigar is based on Johnson’s Tatuaje Cojonu 2009. Rolled at the Garcia family’s My Father Cigars S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, The Wolfman is made with all-Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos with a Sumatra Ecuador wrapper. The suggested retail price is $13 per cigar.

“The Monster release is out of control,” Johnson Tweeted on October 5. “Problem is people want the box when really the cigar is the only thing that should be of concern.”

Johnson said that collectors are having a hard time getting the cigars, resulting in complaints. Due to the demand, he now also ships additional Monster Series cigars packed in plain boxes of 10.

The “Unlucky 13″ list of retailers who have received boxes of The Wolfman are:

Havana Connections–Richmond, VA

Casa de Montecristo–Countryside, IL

Rain City Cigars–Seattle, WA

Castro’s Back Room–Nashua, NH

Belle Meade Premium Cigars–Nashville, TN

Holt’s Cigar Company–Philadelphia, PA

Tinder Box #208–Charlotte, NC

Monte’s Pueblo Pipe Shop–Albuquerque,NM

Pheasant Cigars–Las Vegas, NV

Ruben’s Smoke Stack–Hackensack, NJ

Just For Him–Springfield, MO

Good Karma Cigar–Amarillo, TX

Gloucester Street Cigars–Boston, MA

(Via Cigar Aficionado…)

This week, Cigar Rights of America added another much needed full time employee. Mike Copperman has been named Legislative Director for Cigar Rights of America. Previously CRA had only two full-time employees.

Copperman was the longtime owner of the Bethesda Tobacco shop just outside Washington, DC where he spent countless hours educating people on the artisan aspects of premium cigars.

He will initially be concentrating on the CRA federal effort to advance legislation that will exempt premium cigars from regulation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Specifically, he is a noted authority on the health care debate surrounding tobacco, and cigars and will be a leading expert challenging many of pseudo-scientific  reasons given for extending smoking bans and tobacco taxes that hurt consumer choice.

In a statement released announcing his appointment Copperman stated, “As a professional tobacconist, it was and is important to respond to the erroneous health claims put forth by those in the field of Tobacco Control, and to do so with sound science, and the use of epidemiological evidence to support our arguments. That effort will be critical to the effort to pass H.R. 1639 and S. 1461.”

FDA Exemption Bill Adds Support in Congress

The push comes as CRA’s central legislative effort continues to add support in Congress. CRA and other pro-cigar associations, continue to lobby members of congress to support the “Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011″ which would protect cigar consumers and cigar manufacturers from FDA oversight which could cripple the industry.

Since its introduction in April 2011, “Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011″ (H.R. 1639) has added 81 cosponsors in the House. The companion bill in the Senate (S. 1461) has three co-sponsors: both Senators from Florida (Democrat Bill Nelson, the lead sponsor, and Republican Marco Rubio) as well as Senator Pat Toomey (Republican) of Pennsylvania.

To further efforts to push for this important legislation, Cigar Rights of America has recently added a webpage to make it easy for cigar smokers to contact their representatives in support of H.R. 1639 and S. 1461. Concerned cigar consumers should contact their elected officials here.

(Via Stogie Guys…)

A month later than expected, the Padrón Family Blend No. 85 is leaving Miami today and heading to cigar stores. The cigar was held up because of the packaging.

Jorge Padrón, president of Padrón Cigars Inc. in Miami, stressed there would be “limited” amounts of the cigar, and that they would be shipping slowly, in batches. “We’re going to start shipping today, but it’s going to take us a while to get them out there. They will go out little by little.” The cigars are made in Nicaragua by two bunchers and two rollers, who are still making cigars.

“They are mostly maduros,” Padrón told Cigar Aficionado, “with some naturals, too.”

The cigars are pressed parejos measuring 5 1/4 inches by 50 gauge ring, with a suggested retail price of $20. Previous incarnations of the Family Reserve (No. 44, No. 45 and last year’s No. 46) have been named for the anniversary year of Padrón Cigars, but this new size is named after the 85th birthday of José Orlando Padrón, who created Padrón Cigars back in 1964 in Miami.

(Via Cigar Aficionado…)

If you’re hungry and in the mood to spend some money, you might be interested in the Oscheriyori lunch box, which just happens to be the world’s most expensive meal box served at the Takashimaya Restaurant in New York. The price tag encompasses the 20cm x 20cm 18K gold plated container, custom artwork, engraving and traditional Japanese sushi rolls and sashimi.

The lunch box is part of a promotion for the New Year, when the item will be made for 3 special customers who order before Tuesday, October 11. If the demand should rise, a draw will take place for one additional winner.

(Via BornRich…)

Acclaimed accessories maker Xikar has gone big with its HC Habano Colorado line of cigars before, but now it’s adding a little more shape.

The HC Series Habano Colorado Salomon, a seven-inch long by 58 ring gauge figurado, is expected to start appearing in tobacco shops starting on November 1.

Made by Jesus Fuego inside the Plasencia Cigars S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, the HC Series Habano Colorado sports a Nicaraguan wrapper and binder with filler from Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras. The Belicoso size of the blend cracked Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 cigars of 2009 list, coming in at No. 24.

Only 10,000 Salomons will be rolled, and they will come in boxes of 10 and sell for $10 apiece. Like other HC series cigars, the Habano Colorado Salomon features a decorative footband with the name of the blend on it.

Once the Salomons ship, xikar.com will post a list of tobacconists that carry the size.

(Via Cigar Aficionado…)

Two grand British marques—Bentley and Linley—have launched their first collaboration with the unveiling of a new automobile at the showrooms of Jack Barclay in Berkeley Square in Mayfair, London. They have come together to produce the Linley limited-edition Bentley Continental Flying Spur, a four-door car of such stunning elegance you can easily believe that it is a project that has been six years in gestation.

Inside the car, you quickly see the design and skills of Linley craftsmen. The waist-rails and the picnic tables of the car feature Santos rosewood, which contrasts with four beautiful inlayed veneers of marquetry with the iconic Linley Helix design, featured in the distinctive Linley Helix Furniture Collection to the fore. The Linley logo is inset into the wood of the glove compartment and the beauty of the wood sits elegantly with the fine white leather seats.

The whole effect is stunning, and as your feet sink into the deep carpets in the rear of the car you have the added luxury of being able to lift the polished wooden lid of the bespoke Linley humidor that sits between the two rear seats. The size of the humidor can be tailored to the cigars favored by the car’s owner. The model on launch day held some very tempting Cohibas. For the cigar-smoking passenger every detail has been thought of, as there are also snug homes for a lighter and a cutter.

Only 10 of these stunning cars will be made and because of the huge demand for Bentley’s four door models in China, it looks as though all ten of them will be shipped out to the Far East.

For those of us who don’t live in China, or who aren’t in the market for one of the finest automobiles in the world, Linley also produces a magnificent range of humidors, including the Flag series, which includes the American flag, and the Skyline series, featuring both the New York and London skylines. These are available exclusively in New York at Nat Sherman and in London at the Linley showrooms in Belgravia and Mayfair.

(Via Cigar Aficionado…)

Go ahead and remove that cellophane.

Cellophane is a moisture barrier. It keeps humidity out as well as sealing it in, but not perfectly. Its primary purpose is to protect the fragile wrapper of the cigar when you buy it. The cellophane should be removed to let the cigars maintain their proper humidity and to allow them to age properly

However, if you are planning on going out for a night of dinner and drinks and you don’t own a cigar case, it would be a good idea to keep the cellophane on. The cellophane will give the cigars an extra layer of protection in your jacket pocket. The cigars will dry out, even in cellophane, after a day or so outside a humidor.

(Via Cigar Aficionado…)

Charlie Toraño, president of Toraño Family Cigar Co. announced Jack Toraño as the Marketing & Customer Relations Manager.

Jack Toraño is a Miami native who got his start in the tobacco business with Lopez Leaf Tobacco in the early 1980s. He replaces Oliver Hyams, who is going to work with his father, Gary Hyams, who became president and CEO of Gurkha Cigars in June. In a statement, Charlie Toraño said that “Oliver is a great friend and a fantastic person” who has been “an important member of our team.”

With the addition of Jack Toraño, Charlie Toraño said that he feels strongly that “we have all the right pieces and persons in place to move Toraño Family Cigar Co. into a position to provide retailers and ultimately our customers with the best cigars and service possible.”

(Via Examiner…)

Matt Booth, who partnered with Camacho to create Room 101 Cigars, is tearing through the country on what has been billed as the Cigarmageddon Tour, promoting his line of cigars city-by-city like Godzilla. Or at least, that’s how he feels.

“Now that we are blossoming—actually elevating our presence within the premium tobacco class—I feel mad amounts of positive energy,” said Booth today on a visit to the offices of Cigar Aficionado. “It would be impossible to truly express just how honored I feel, so impossible, I felt it was appropriate to illustrate the raw Godzilla-like emotion coursing through my veins.”

The tour began in late August. Booth is now in New York City, leveling the Big Apple with his new Room 101 Connecticut line as well as the stronger Room 101 Namakubi cigars—a Samurai themed series of smokes packaged in eye-catching lacquered boxes. Attendees of the tour will have the chance to try his unreleased One Shot One Kill, a small perfecto.

After New York, Cigarmageddon will descend on Denver, Washington D.C. and then Chicago. The tour is scheduled to wreak havoc well into next year.

Room 101 Cigars are made in Honduras by Camacho, which is owned by Davidoff of Geneva.

(Via Cigar Aficionado…)

Sherwin Seltzer, the vice president of trade development for General Cigar Co., maker of Macanudo, Punch and various other brands, is stepping down on October 31 after 50 years in the business.

“There comes a time when you have to stop and do something else. I’ve had a great run in this business but at this stage in my life, I want to devote my time to Iris, my wife of 51 years, and my children and grandchildren,” said Seltzer, 76.

In a statement, Seltzer said he was retiring “knowing that [General] will continue to be the best in the business.”

Said Dan Carr, president of General: “Sherwin is one of those people you meet in life and never forget. He has a great sense of humor and always makes people feel at ease. Because of this, he made great contributions to General Cigar, particularly in developing relationships with our trade partners and in acting as a mentor to people in all areas of the business. While we will all miss working with Sherwin, we consider him family and look forward to hearing about his adventures during retirement.”

(Via Cigar Aficionado…)