Cigar Coop Prime Time Show

PCA 2023: My Father Cigars

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

 

PCA 2023: Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale (Epic Cigars, Audio)

The premium cigar industry always loves when a mainstream celebrity enters the business, and this year, Oscar-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri has come on board. Palminteri is teaming up with Epic Cigars and Paul DiSilvio of La Casa Grande Tobacco company to launch A Bronx Tale. It is named for the play that was written by and starred Palminteri. This play would go on to become a motion picture and really put Palminteri on the map. In the movie, there is a character named Calogero, which happened to be the name of Palminteri's grandfather.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q98

PCA 2023: Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale (Epic Cigars)

The premium cigar industry always loves when a mainstream celebrity enters the business, and this year, Oscar-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri has come on board. Palminteri is teaming up with Epic Cigars and Paul DiSilvio of La Casa Grande Tobacco company to launch A Bronx Tale. It is named for the play that was written by and starred Palminteri. This play would go on to become a motion picture and really put Palminteri on the map. In the movie, there is a character named Calogero, which happened to be the name of Palminteri's grandfather.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q98

 

PCA Report: La Flor Dominicana (Audio)

The 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show was quite special for La Flor Dominicana. There was a lot of excitement over the return of owner Litto Gomez's eponymous line, the Litto Gomez (LG) Diez. It's the first time we've seen the LG in nearly eight years. This year we talked to owner Litto Gomez and his son Tony, in what we have been told is the only interview that Litto recorded at this year's PCA. While we did talk some about the LG and last year's groundbreaking NFT project, the discussion evolved into one about stories and family.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q95

 

PCA 2023: La Flor Dominicana

The 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show was quite special for La Flor Dominicana. There was a lot of excitement over the return of owner Litto Gomez's eponymous line, the Litto Gomez (LG) Diez. It's the first time we've seen the LG in nearly eight years. This year we talked to owner Litto Gomez and his son Tony, in what we have been told is the only interview that Litto recorded at this year's PCA. While we did talk some about the LG and last year's groundbreaking NFT project, the discussion evolved into one about stories and family.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q95

 

Prime Time Special Edition 144 Audio: 2023 Cigar Coop Coalition PCA Post Game Show

Tonight the Cigar Coop Coalition Team gathers together for Post Game Show on the 2023 PCA Trade Show.

We will talk about what we saw, what we liked, what we didn’t like – and we will take you behind the scenes on what the happenings and drama that is associated with a PCA Trade Show. Plus we have our U.S. History segment, Tabacalera USA Great Things are Happening Here, and Espinosa This Day in Sports History segments.

References

• She Lost Her Father’s Ashes but a Stranger Digs 4 Hours Through Trash to Find Them
• Woman Brings to Life Fashion Sketches Made By Her Grandma After 80 Years on Paper

Prime Time Special Edition 144: 2023 Cigar Coop Coalition PCA Post Game Show

Tonight the Cigar Coop Coalition Team gathers together for Post Game Show on the 2023 PCA Trade Show.

We will talk about what we saw, what we liked, what we didn’t like – and we will take you behind the scenes on what the happenings and drama that is associated with a PCA Trade Show. Plus we have our U.S. History segment, Tabacalera USA Great Things are Happening Here, and Espinosa This Day in Sports History segments.

References

• She Lost Her Father’s Ashes but a Stranger Digs 4 Hours Through Trash to Find Them
• Woman Brings to Life Fashion Sketches Made By Her Grandma After 80 Years on Paper

PCA 2023: Trinidad (Audio)

Trinidad is a brand in the Altadis U.S.A. portfolio that has ben brought back to life in the past few years. In 2019, the Trinidad Espiritu Series was launched. First up was the Trinidad Espiritu No. 1, a cigar that paid tribute to the Caribbean region. This was followed up a little over a year later with the Trinidad Espiritu No. 2, a cigar that pays homage to Brazil. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 releases are known for their vibrant colors representing the region. This year at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Altadis U.S.A. would showcase the Trinidad Espiritu No. 2 Ipanema Humidor. The Ipanema Humidor also contains the 7 x 55 Ipanema size of Trinidad Espiritu No. 2 - a size exclusive to the humidor. Finally, Rafael Nodal, Director of Product Capability, did confirm that the next installment - the Trinidad Espiritu No. 3 is not going to be far behind.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q8k

PCA 2023: Trinidad

Trinidad is a brand in the Altadis U.S.A. portfolio that has ben brought back to life in the past few years. In 2019, the Trinidad Espiritu Series was launched. First up was the Trinidad Espiritu No. 1, a cigar that paid tribute to the Caribbean region. This was followed up a little over a year later with the Trinidad Espiritu No. 2, a cigar that pays homage to Brazil. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 releases are known for their vibrant colors representing the region. This year at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Altadis U.S.A. would showcase the Trinidad Espiritu No. 2 Ipanema Humidor. The Ipanema Humidor also contains the 7 x 55 Ipanema size of Trinidad Espiritu No. 2 - a size exclusive to the humidor. Finally, Rafael Nodal, Director of Product Capability, did confirm that the next installment - the Trinidad Espiritu No. 3 is not going to be far behind.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q8k

 

PCA 2023: Ferio Tego (Audio)

Ferio Tego, the company founded by Nat Sherman International alumni Michael Herklots and Brendon Scott, attended its third PCA Trade Show in 2023. For the past couple of years, Ferio Tego has focused on the launch of its eponymous brand and reintroducing the former Nat Sherman International brands. This year was a big year as Ferio Tego introduced two regular production offerings. These were the first "new" regular production offerings since the company first launched in 2021. One of those items is a new Ferio Tego branded line called Summa. The other is a petite lancero line extension to the Timeless Prestige line.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q8q