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PCA 2023: Oveja Negra Brands

The tenth anniversary for Black Label Trading Company is this year. Black Label Trading Company is the brand that started it all for James Brown and today remains the cornerstone of Oveja Negra Brands. Just prior to the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Black Label Trading Company would release its tenth-anniversary cigar, La Madonna Negra - and it's a cigar that garnered high praise from many. As always, at the Oveja Negra Brands booth, all of the brands would be showcasing new products. Not only is there a compelling portfolio of small-batch limited releases, but this year would also see Oveja Negra continue to build up its core lines. As always, all of the products showcased come from Fabrica Oveja Negra in Estelí, Nicaragua.

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

 

PCA 2023: Serafin de Cuba (Audio)

Serafin de Cuba might be a newcomer to the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, but the company has a long history in the tobacco business. The company is run by Arnold Serafin, along with his son Brandon. Arnold's great-grandfather Don Antonio Serafin arrived in Cuba as a soldier in the Spanish Army and would eventually start working in tobacco farming and rolling cigars. Don Antonio's son, Don Ramon Serafin Sr., would found Tabacos Serafin, and his son Don Ramon Jr. later entered the business. When the Cuban Revolution nationalized the cigar business in 1967, Don Ramon left for the United States and settled in the Tampa Bay Area. In 2007 Don Ramon Jr. and his son Arnold would resurrect the family legacy by opening Serafin de Cuba, a tobacco factory located in Tarpon Springs. They would create a couple of brands to honor Don Ramon Sr. and Don Ramon Jr. and have also worked to resurrect some of Tampa's classic cigar brands. Now Serafin de Cuba is eyeing the future, hoping to take their brand national. The PCA 2023 Trade Show provided an excellent stage to introduce people to the brands and the Serafin family's rich history. For the Cigar Coop Coalition Team, this was one of the revelations of the Trade Show.

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

PCA 2023: Serafin de Cuba

Serafin de Cuba might be a newcomer to the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, but the company has a long history in the tobacco business. The company is run by Arnold Serafin, along with his son Brandon. Arnold's great-grandfather Don Antonio Serafin arrived in Cuba as a soldier in the Spanish Army and would eventually start working in tobacco farming and rolling cigars. Don Antonio's son, Don Ramon Serafin Sr., would found Tabacos Serafin, and his son Don Ramon Jr. later entered the business. When the Cuban Revolution nationalized the cigar business in 1967, Don Ramon left for the United States and settled in the Tampa Bay Area. In 2007 Don Ramon Jr. and his son Arnold would resurrect the family legacy by opening Serafin de Cuba, a tobacco factory located in Tarpon Springs. They would create a couple of brands to honor Don Ramon Sr. and Don Ramon Jr. and have also worked to resurrect some of Tampa's classic cigar brands. Now Serafin de Cuba is eyeing the future, hoping to take their brand national. The PCA 2023 Trade Show provided an excellent stage to introduce people to the brands and the Serafin family's rich history. For the Cigar Coop Coalition Team, this was one of the revelations of the Trade Show.

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

 

PCA 2023: A.J. Fernandez Cigar Company (Audio)

AJ Fernandez Cigar Company exhibited at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show after a one-year absence. While much has been made about the return of Altadis U.S.A. and Forged Cigar Company, it was equally good news to see AJ Fernandez's own brands back at the 2023 PCA Trade Show. Last year, AJ Fernandez added a new blend under its New World brand known as the New World Dorado. This year Dorado got a line extension and a new sampler offering. Plus, AJ Fernandez would showcase a cigarillo offering with its New World Oscuro line.

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

PCA 2023: A.J. Fernandez Cigar Company

AJ Fernandez Cigar Company exhibited at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show after a one-year absence. While much has been made about the return of Altadis U.S.A. and Forged Cigar Company, it was equally good news to see AJ Fernandez's own brands back at the 2023 PCA Trade Show. Last year, AJ Fernandez added a new blend under its New World brand known as the New World Dorado. This year Dorado got a line extension and a new sampler offering. Plus, AJ Fernandez would showcase a cigarillo offering with its New World Oscuro line.

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

 

PCA 2023: Montecristo - Part 2 of 2 (Audio)

One of the most exciting things about Altadis U.S.A. returning to the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show is that the Montecristo brand was also back at the show. Montecristo can be considered the most premium brand in the Altadis U.S.A. portfolio, which is exactly how Altadis U.S.A. positioned it. The focus for Montecristo was around the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua line. Made by AJ Fernandez, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua line was released during the pandemic, and this was the first time it was on display at a PCA Trade Show. Altadis U.S.A. also showcased a luxury humidor known as Tesero de Oro. In addition, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante, a new blend under the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary line, got a full launch. The Diamante is being positioned as a more premium release than the 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua. Not only was the Diamante the star of the Altadis U.S.A. booth, but it also was one of the stars of the Show.

In part one of our Montecristo coverage, we take a look at the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q9F

PCA 2023: Montecristo - Part 2 of 2

One of the most exciting things about Altadis U.S.A. returning to the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show is that the Montecristo brand was also back at the show. Montecristo can be considered the most premium brand in the Altadis U.S.A. portfolio, which is exactly how Altadis U.S.A. positioned it. The focus for Montecristo was around the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua line. Made by AJ Fernandez, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua line was released during the pandemic, and this was the first time it was on display at a PCA Trade Show. Altadis U.S.A. also showcased a luxury humidor known as Tesero de Oro. In addition, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante, a new blend under the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary line, got a full launch. The Diamante is being positioned as a more premium release than the 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua. Not only was the Diamante the star of the Altadis U.S.A. booth, but it also was one of the stars of the Show.

In part one of our Montecristo coverage, we take a look at the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q9F

 

PCA 2023: Montecristo - Part 1 of 2 (Audio)

One of the most exciting things about Altadis U.S.A. returning to the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show is that the Montecristo brand was also back at the show. Montecristo can be considered the most premium brand in the Altadis U.S.A. portfolio, which is exactly how Altadis U.S.A. positioned it. The focus for Montecristo was around the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua line. Made by AJ Fernandez, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua line was released during the pandemic, and this was the first time it was on display at a PCA Trade Show. Altadis U.S.A. also showcased a luxury humidor known as Tesero de Oro. In addition, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante, a new blend under the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary line, got a full launch. The Diamante is being positioned as a more premium release than the 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua. Not only was the Diamante the star of the Altadis U.S.A. booth, but it also was one of the stars of the Show.

In part one of our Montecristo coverage, we take a look at the Montecristo Tesoro de Oro humidor.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q9F

PCA 2023: Montecristo - Part 1 of 2

One of the most exciting things about Altadis U.S.A. returning to the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show is that the Montecristo brand was also back at the show. Montecristo can be considered the most premium brand in the Altadis U.S.A. portfolio, which is exactly how Altadis U.S.A. positioned it. The focus for Montecristo was around the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua line. Made by AJ Fernandez, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua line was released during the pandemic, and this was the first time it was on display at a PCA Trade Show. Altadis U.S.A. also showcased a luxury humidor known as Tesero de Oro. In addition, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante, a new blend under the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary line, got a full launch. The Diamante is being positioned as a more premium release than the 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua. Not only was the Diamante the star of the Altadis U.S.A. booth, but it also was one of the stars of the Show.

In part one of our Montecristo coverage, we take a look at the Montecristo Tesoro de Oro humidor.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q9F

 

PCA 2023: My Father Cigars (Audio)

Don Pepin Garcia set up shop at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in Little Havana in 2003. That year, he created a cigar for a newcomer named Pete Johnson and released his own brand called Don Pepin Garcia. That first Don Pepin Garcia (aka the Don Pepin Garcia Original or Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label) would eventually lead to the formation of My Father Cigars - a powerhouse vertically integrated operation out of Nicaragua. This year, the Garcia family and Pete Johnson are both celebrating their 20th anniversary - and the two released a collaboration called La Union which might have been the most exciting release at the 2023 PCA Trade Show. Meanwhile, the Garcias have a couple of limited edition cigars to commemorate 20 years of the Don Pepin Garcia brand. They have also decided to take one of their older brands, Vegas Cubanas, and bring it fully into the Don Pepin Garcia brand as the "Green Label." Finally, there are some new and exciting sizes for the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial brand. All of this made the My Father Cigars booth one of the most impressive ones at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. The icing on the cake for the Coalition Team was to present our selection for Large Factory of the Year for 2022 to the Garcia family.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q9z