Cigar Coop Prime Time Show

PCA 2022 Report: Gurkha Cigars

Over the years, Gurkha Cigars has been known for delivering some of the most ornate packaging in the industry. In recent years, Gurkha has been working to showcase themselves as delivering quality and innovative brands to the market. At the same time, Gurkha hasn't totally taken its foot off the pedal in terms of packaging. Gurkha has delivered its products in a few different ways: first tapping into the innovation capabilities of its key manufacturing partners; and second leveraging its heritage brands from the past. For its new 2022 releases, Gurkha would leverage from all of these angles.

PCA 2022 Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-nu1

PCA 2022 Report: Illusione Cigars (Audio)

There was quite a bit happening at Illusione Cigars at the 2022 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. For the most part, owner Dion Giolito used the show to showcase a major overhaul of his Original Documents lines. The overhaul was done in response to feedback from Illusione retailers. Owner Dion Giolito incorporated the feedback into the rebranding. It features new packaging, new logos, and new vitola names. The Original Documents Corojo, Original Documents Maduro, and Original Documents Candela lines have all been recomceptualized, but in addition the Ultra line has now been brought under the Original Documents line, and there is a new Habano offering coming next year. In addition Singularé has also undergone a rebrand and will now be a regular offering. Other lines such as Cigares Prive and Epernay will also be rebranded.

PCA 2022 Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ntY

PCA 2022 Report: Illusione Cigars

There was quite a bit happening at Illusione Cigars at the 2022 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. For the most part, owner Dion Giolito used the show to showcase a major overhaul of his Original Documents lines. The overhaul was done in response to feedback from Illusione retailers. Owner Dion Giolito incorporated the feedback into the rebranding. It features new packaging, new logos, and new vitola names. The Original Documents Corojo, Original Documents Maduro, and Original Documents Candela lines have all been recomceptualized, but in addition the Ultra line has now been brought under the Original Documents line, and there is a new Habano offering coming next year. In addition Singularé has also undergone a rebrand and will now be a regular offering. Other lines such as Cigares Prive and Epernay will also be rebranded.

PCA 2022 Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ntY

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 76 Audio: Album Archaeology #9: Nevermind, Nirvana

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 76 features our ninth installment of our Album Archaeology Series. On his episode, we break down Nirvana’s landmark album Nevermind. This album won our 2022 Battle of the Bands – 90s Madness Tournament, and was the album drafted by Espinosa Cigars’ Hector Alfonso. To celebrate Nirvana’s win, we devote an Album Archaeology show to Nirvana. We are also joined by John McTavish of Developing Palates who also participated in this year’s tournament

Much like an archaeologist digs and hunts for gems, on Album Archaeology we dig into the Nevermind album. We go deep into each of the tracks of this album looking at the music, lyrics, and stories behind this album.

Plus we reflect on the life and career of Olivia Newton John and Archie Roach.

On this show, John smokes Murcielago Rabito, Hector smokes an Espinosa test blend, Dave smokes the Knuckle Sandwich Maduro Toro, and Coop smokes the Espinosa Crema Box Press Toro.

As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlists:

• Full Episode 76 Playlist

References

• Olivia Newton-John Dead at 73
• Australian Indigenous Artist, Activist and Icon Archie Roach Dies at 66
• The Blog: Twelve Years
• 90s Madness: Nirvana Defeats Pearl Jam to Claim Title
• Nirvana: MTV Unplugged in New York

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 76: Album Archaeology #9: Nevermind, Nirvana

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 76 features our ninth installment of our Album Archaeology Series. On his episode, we break down Nirvana’s landmark album Nevermind. This album won our 2022 Battle of the Bands – 90s Madness Tournament, and was the album drafted by Espinosa Cigars’ Hector Alfonso. To celebrate Nirvana’s win, we devote an Album Archaeology show to Nirvana. We are also joined by John McTavish of Developing Palates who also participated in this year’s tournament

Much like an archaeologist digs and hunts for gems, on Album Archaeology we dig into the Nevermind album. We go deep into each of the tracks of this album looking at the music, lyrics, and stories behind this album.

Plus we reflect on the life and career of Olivia Newton John and Archie Roach.

On this show, John smokes Murcielago Rabito, Hector smokes an Espinosa test blend, Dave smokes the Knuckle Sandwich Maduro Toro, and Coop smokes the Espinosa Crema Box Press Toro.

As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlists:

• Full Episode 76 Playlist

References

• Olivia Newton-John Dead at 73
• Australian Indigenous Artist, Activist and Icon Archie Roach Dies at 66
• The Blog: Twelve Years
• 90s Madness: Nirvana Defeats Pearl Jam to Claim Title
• Nirvana: MTV Unplugged in New York

PCA 2022 Report: Cavalier Genève (Audio)

For Cavalier Genève, the past year has been one of big changes. For starters, the company moved its operation into an all-new factory, Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco S.A. In addition, Brian Motola has joined Cavalier Genève as a partner in the company. Finally, the big news is the company has added a new brand called Inner Circle, which marks a big change in direction for Cavalier Genève. There also is a new event cigar called "This Blend is Undisclosed," and once again Cavalier Genève has its latest annual limited cigar. Retailers were obviously interested as this was another booth at the 2022 PCA Trade Show that was quite busy.

PCA 2022 Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-nsT

PCA 2022 Report: Cavalier Genève

For Cavalier Genève, the past year has been one of big changes. For starters, the company moved its operation into an all-new factory, Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco S.A. In addition, Brian Motola has joined Cavalier Genève as a partner in the company. Finally, the big news is the company has added a new brand called Inner Circle, which marks a big change in direction for Cavalier Genève. There also is a new event cigar called "This Blend is Undisclosed," and once again Cavalier Genève has its latest annual limited cigar. Retailers were obviously interested as this was another booth at the 2022 PCA Trade Show that was quite busy.

PCA 2022 Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-nsT

PCA 2022 Report: Aganorsa Leaf (Audio)

Over the past four years, Aganorsa Leaf has been undergoing a transformation in terms of their branding and portfolio structure. As opposed to doing a massive rebrand at once, the company has taken iterative approach. At the 2022 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, we saw the latest iterations. This year the company has mostly focused on its core lines, rebranding them under the title "La Validación.". This includes giving the packaging vibrant colors that make the cigars easy to identify on retailer shelves. Meanwhile, Aganorsa Leaf made a slight change to its Aniversario series. Over the past year, these cigars had been rebranded from Casa Fernandez to Aganorsa Leaf. Now the Aganorsa Leaf Maduro gets new black bands and packaging to make it easier to identify. From observations of the high level of activity at the booth, one thing was clear - retailers were quite excited about the changes.

PCA 2022 Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-nsJ

PCA 2022 Report: Aganorsa Leaf

Over the past four years, Aganorsa Leaf has been undergoing a transformation in terms of their branding and portfolio structure. As opposed to doing a massive rebrand at once, the company has taken iterative approach. At the 2022 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, we saw the latest iterations. This year the company has mostly focused on its core lines, rebranding them under the title "La Validación.". This includes giving the packaging vibrant colors that make the cigars easy to identify on retailer shelves. Meanwhile, Aganorsa Leaf made a slight change to its Aniversario series. Over the past year, these cigars had been rebranded from Casa Fernandez to Aganorsa Leaf. Now the Aganorsa Leaf Maduro gets new black bands and packaging to make it easier to identify. From observations of the high level of activity at the booth, one thing was clear - retailers were quite excited about the changes.

PCA 2022 Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-nsJ

 

PCA 2022 Report: Codio Cigars (Audio)

While Codio Cigars is a newcomer to the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, the company is not new to the premium cigar business. Codio Cigars is a family-owned business that has been active for 60 years in the Dominican Republic. In addition to making their own cigars, they grow their own tobacco. Codio Cigars has a retail operation in Clifton, NJ and has sold many of its family-made cigars there. This year the company showcased all of its cigars at the 2022 PCA Trade Show, but in particular, it was highlighting three new releases. One was for Fausto Codio's 50th birthday which took place last September. Fausto talked with us about his "My 50th Birthday" cigar, but there were also two other cigars showcased at PCA 2022.

PCA Report 2022: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ns6