GARY HYAMS LEAVES CAO INTERNATIONAL

And another one bites the dust. In a recent series of organizational changes within General Cigars and CAO, Gary Hyams has announced he is stepping down from his current role as chairman of CAO International. Below is the press release in full.

~Richmond, VA—General Cigar announced today that with completion of the integration of CAO® international and General Cigar Company, Gary Hyams will step down from his role as chairman of CAO International, effective today.

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Size: 6″ x 60
Wrapper: Connecticut/Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: n/a

Behind the Stick:

In 2009 the Nub cigars were still a new cigar on the market having only been released two years prior in 2007. Originally released with three wrappers, the Habano, Cameroon, and Connecticut, it wasn’t until 2009 that a Maduro wrapper was finally released. For the release Sam Leccia, the creator of Nubs, was touring the country to do promotional events at local cigar shops. The events were called Nub Live 2009. For coming to these events, you received a Nub Live backpack with a shirt, hat, guitar pick, backstage pass type badge, some other swag, and a Limited Edition Nub Live 2009 Barber Pole cigar. I’ve heard only 3000 of them were rolled, but luckily after the tour was over they had some left over swag bags, which were then given away to members on their forum during various contests. I was able to win two different contests which is how I received this cigar.

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Size: 6.5 x 52 (Belicoso)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder and Filler: Costa Rica, Honduran and Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium – Medium Full
Price: Just over $20.00 a piece

Just A Taste

I ended up rooting around through the humidor and found this beauty hiding down near the bottom and figured why the hell not. I don’t remember when I got it but it was a ‘preview’ smoke from the IPCPR in August so 5-6 months of age in the humidor. I am doing a just a taste review because although the history is rich and deserves all the attention, I only had a single to try. If your wanting to find some great info on the history of the smoke please check out The Cigar Feed – La Palina The ‘Alison’ review, as always he did an amazingly detailed and well done write up.

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Size: 5 x 50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Habano Criollo (Nicaragua)
Binder and Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium
Price: About $20.00 a pop

Behind The Stick:

Pete always seems to be coming out with new and exciting products and fun ‘twists’ that really keep you on your toes. This cigar, the Tatuaje L’Esprit de Verite which means “The Spirit of the Truth” is no different in that respect. This is a Nicaraguan puro that has taken an idea that has been common place within the wine industry for years – all of this product is produced from a single farm in Esteli and as you can tell by the large 2008 on the front, has been dated to mark the vintage – as I said, similar to the wine industry. From what I have been able to hear in the shadows, Pete is planning on continuing this trend over the next few years – something to look forward to! I was able to purchase a group of 3, one to hold onto and 2 to smoke for review. Lets see how the Tatuaje L’esprit de La Verite performs!

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Size: 7″ x 52
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: ?
Price: n/a

Behind the Stick: There was a thread started on Cigar Asylum last year by a BW Kent Cigar Co rep who was offering samples to members of the forum of their new cigar called the Los Volcanes. Of course I signed up (hey, free cigars!) and three months later the samples, a robusto and this salomon, arrived in my mailbox. The robusto was smoked and reviewed a couple months after receiving them, and the salomon has been sitting in my humidor for right about six months now. The original post said that the company, BW Kent Cigar Co, was located in Mission, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. The line was going to be called Los Volcanes and have several different blends. Unfortunately, their projected launch time of the summer of 2010 came and went, and not much was heard from them past that. The BW Kent website is little more than a front page with a single contact that I haven’t heard back from. Some on the forums say they’ve heard rumors that the company has gone under, which I can’t confirm or deny since I can’t get a response from the company themselves, but it appears this will be the first and last Los Volcanes Salomon that I will get to smoke.

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Brian B’s Intro

David asked me to write a bio about myself, so here we go! My name is Brian and I live in Fort Worth, Texas. I’m 27 (at least until March 18th, hah) and work in health care IT. Melissa, my beautiful girlfriend, and I have been together for almost two years now. With her came a little yorkie, which was a fun addition to the two big labs that I already had. There are many hobbies that I enjoy, but the two that I spend the most time (and unfortunately, money) on are video games and cigars.

…oh, you wanted more? Ok, well I guess I can oblige!

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