Cigar Coop Prime Time Show

PCA 2023: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust

When we started to compile our "Cigar Big Board" for the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) of what new products are being showcased and launched, one of the first companies to make their announcements was Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. At that time, the company announced seven different products it would be introducing to market. What's interesting is there is quite a wide range of products - from the $7.95 mixed filler Polpettas to the new $100.00 ultra-premium Unicorns. It was no surprise that the Dunbarton booth was bustling with activity. Despite being a very busy booth, owner Steve Saka has been quite generous with his time, as he gave us a 36-minute interview at PCA. We also used this interview to present Saka with the  2022 #2 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year for Sin Compromiso Paladin de Saka and a special award by Bear Duplisea for the "most watched Take" on El Oso Fumar in 2022.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qm0

 

PCA 2023: Foundation Cigar Company (Audio)

Foundation Cigar Company often themes its cigars around different cultures. Over the years, the branding of Foundation has paid homage to the cultures of Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Egypt, Jamaica, and England as well as Melillo's home state of Connecticut. That continued in 2023 as the owner Nicholas Melillo's company's new releases honored Nicaragua, Ethiopia, and Connecticut. A couple of the releases showcased this year were quite personal for Melillo, as there is a release honoring Melillo's grandfathers and one for a special honor that Melillo received from the country of Ethiopia. Foundation has worked with the Aganorsa and AJ Fernandez's factories to handle his production. This year, the focus was on the AJ Fernandez-produced brands.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qlf

PCA 2023: Foundation Cigar Company

Foundation Cigar Company often themes its cigars around different cultures. Over the years, the branding of Foundation has paid homage to the cultures of Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Egypt, Jamaica, and England as well as Melillo's home state of Connecticut. That continued in 2023 as the owner Nicholas Melillo's company's new releases honored Nicaragua, Ethiopia, and Connecticut. A couple of the releases showcased this year were quite personal for Melillo, as there is a release honoring Melillo's grandfathers and one for a special honor that Melillo received from the country of Ethiopia. Foundation has worked with the Aganorsa and AJ Fernandez's factories to handle his production. This year, the focus was on the AJ Fernandez-produced brands.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qlf

 

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 106 Audio: Singers Who Became Actors / Actors Who Became Singers

On Prime Time Jukebox Episode 106, Dave and Coop look at some of musicians who decided to try their hand at acting and those actors who tried their hand at music. We also discuss music and cigar news including the death of Robbie Robertson, and the recent win by the cigar industry in U.S. Court. Dave will talk the Australian concert scene – and yes, Barbie!

In this episode, Dave smokes the Espinosa 601 La Bomba Warhead IX while Coop smokes the West Tampa Tobacco Red

As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlists:

• Episode 106 Playlist

References

• The Band’s Robbie Robertson Dies at 80
• Bob Dylan Pays Tribute to Former Bandmate Robbie Robertson
• Paul announces Australian dates for the 'Got Back' tour
• Petbarn has released hilarious Dolly Parton pet apparel and toys
• Judge Mehta Orders FDA’s Deeming Rule to be Vacated
• Developing Palates - Team Cigar Review: Davidoff Millennium Lancero Limited Edition 2023
• Ryan Gosling’s I’m Just Ken: Exploring Masculinity in a Bleach Blonde Ballad

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 106: Singers Who Became Actors / Actors Who Became Singers

On Prime Time Jukebox Episode 106, Dave and Coop look at some of musicians who decided to try their hand at acting and those actors who tried their hand at music. We also discuss music and cigar news including the death of Robbie Robertson, and the recent win by the cigar industry in U.S. Court. Dave will talk the Australian concert scene – and yes, Barbie!

In this episode, Dave smokes the Espinosa 601 La Bomba Warhead IX while Coop smokes the West Tampa Tobacco Red

As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlists:

• Episode 106 Playlist

References

• The Band’s Robbie Robertson Dies at 80
• Bob Dylan Pays Tribute to Former Bandmate Robbie Robertson
• Paul announces Australian dates for the 'Got Back' tour
• Petbarn has released hilarious Dolly Parton pet apparel and toys
• Judge Mehta Orders FDA’s Deeming Rule to be Vacated
• Developing Palates - Team Cigar Review: Davidoff Millennium Lancero Limited Edition 2023
• Ryan Gosling’s I’m Just Ken: Exploring Masculinity in a Bleach Blonde Ballad

PCA 2023: Matilde Cigars (Audio)

For the third consecutive year, Matilde Cigars was a part of the Sutliff Tobacco pavilion. During this time, Sutliff has provided distribution services for many companies, including Matilde. It had been almost 6 1/2 years since Matilde Cigars has released a new regular production line, but earlier this year, Matilde released the Matilde Serena Maduro. The Matilde Serena Maduro is the fifth regular production line for Matilde, and it's meant to complement the Matilde Serena, which is a Connecticut Shade offering. Meanwhile, Matilde is continuing its Limited Exposure project - a series of limited-production cigars from Tabacalera La Isla that feature small production runs in different sizes. This year the Matilde Limited Exposure No. 1 was released in a Robusto size. In what has become a Cigar Coop Coalition tradition, the Matilde booth was visited as the Trade Show was getting ready to shut down for 2023.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qky

PCA 2023: Matilde Cigars

For the third consecutive year, Matilde Cigars was a part of the Sutliff Tobacco pavilion. During this time, Sutliff has provided distribution services for many companies, including Matilde. It had been almost 6 1/2 years since Matilde Cigars has released a new regular production line, but earlier this year, Matilde released the Matilde Serena Maduro. The Matilde Serena Maduro is the fifth regular production line for Matilde, and it's meant to complement the Matilde Serena, which is a Connecticut Shade offering. Meanwhile, Matilde is continuing its Limited Exposure project - a series of limited-production cigars from Tabacalera La Isla that feature small production runs in different sizes. This year the Matilde Limited Exposure No. 1 was released in a Robusto size. In what has become a Cigar Coop Coalition tradition, the Matilde booth was visited as the Trade Show was getting ready to shut down for 2023.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qky

 

PCA 2023: Powstanie Cigars (Audio)

Pospiech Cigars is an operation run by Mike and Greg Szczepankiewicz out of Deltona, Florida, where they also have their Cigar Hustler retailer operation and Hustler Universe Podcasts. Pospiech is best known for the Powstanie Cigars made at RoMa Craft Tobac’s Nica Sueño factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. This year, they were a part of the RoMa Craft Tobac booth for the first time since 2019. This year Powstanie was front and center as the featured brand from Pospiech Cigars. For the first time since the brand launched, Powstanie is launching a regular production cigar. The Powstanie Connecticut is the brand's first Connecticut Shade release. Meanwhile, ongoing popular limited edition lines, the Wojtek and SBC, are also seeing new releases.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qjH

PCA 2023: Powstanie Cigars

Pospiech Cigars is an operation run by Mike and Greg Szczepankiewicz out of Deltona, Florida, where they also have their Cigar Hustler retailer operation and Hustler Universe Podcasts. Pospiech is best known for the Powstanie Cigars made at RoMa Craft Tobac’s Nica Sueño factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. This year, they were a part of the RoMa Craft Tobac booth for the first time since 2019. This year Powstanie was front and center as the featured brand from Pospiech Cigars. For the first time since the brand launched, Powstanie is launching a regular production cigar. The Powstanie Connecticut is the brand's first Connecticut Shade release. Meanwhile, ongoing popular limited edition lines, the Wojtek and SBC, are also seeing new releases.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qjH

 

PCA 2023: Luciano Cigars (Audio)

Luciano Cigars is a company that has undergone some significant changes. Last year, the company was known as ACE Prime, but since then has taken on the name of its CEO and blender, Luciano Meirelles. As a part of that rebranding, the company has also made significant changes, setting up a new factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, its own distribution and fulfillment center in Florida, and establishing its own sales force. Along the way, the company has still focused on product innovation. At the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, plenty of new products were showcased. One of the most exciting things about Luciano Cigars is it has established a network of partners and collaborators that are a part of its business model. This has allowed these partners and collaborators to leverage the production capabilities at the Luciano Cigars factory and the sales and distribution the company has established. This model reminded me quite a bit of what C.L.E. Cigar Company had done with the Fabricas Unidas model - serving as an "incubator" for its partners and collaborators. Now it's fascinating to see it happening again in the cigar industry.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qjy