Alec Bradley Cigar Company, known for producing MAXX, Trilogy, Occidental Reserve and others, has decided to bring all future premium cigar releases to market under the Alec Bradley name. “Consumers request our cigars, but may not realize who is the maker behind many of our nationally marketed brands,” states Alan Rubin, founder and president of Alec Bradley Cigar Company. In a move to bring cohesiveness to its portfolio, Alec Bradley’s new releases will showcase a new look and a new Alec Bradley label.

Alec Bradley Tempus is the first release of the company’s new strategy of using the Alec Bradley name as the primary brand. Rubin explains, “I decided to put our company’s name on Tempus, because I know this cigar is something special. When I saw this wrapper tobacco on a small Nicaraguan farm in 2001, I could see it was extraordinary, something memorable. I checked back on it periodically over the next two years. Finally in 2003, I knew it was ready, and was thrilled by its appearance, flavor, and strength. Two more years followed, for the exhaustive process of sorting and selecting only the finest tobaccos and ageing the limited amount of wrapper to produce the Tempus line. Cigar enthusiasts will be equally impressed with the immense flavor and complexity, and the robust but very subtle power. Tempus is full-bodied but smooth ... its strength sneaks up on you.”

The company’s new flagship cigar, Tempus is available in 5 popular Cuban shapes ... 5-1/2" x 42, 5" x 50, 7-1/2" x 41, 7" x 49, and a 6-1/8" x 52 Torpedo. Alec Bradley Tempus is scheduled for release in April of this year with retail prices ranging from $6.25 to $8.50. Alec Bradley will host retailer parties nationwide to introduce the new Tempus line following its release.

Rubin sums up with: “The long period of time in developing this tobacco and cigar became a central theme in naming the cigars Tempus, Latin for ‘time’. That theme is equally a tribute to the precious little time we take for ourselves ... we’ve created Alec Bradley Tempus to make the most of it.”

New Alec Bradley Tempus features 5-year old small-farm wrapper, fully fermented for deep complexity and full, but subtle strength

Esteli, Nicaragua – Joya de Nicaragua S.A. (JdN), the makers of the venerable JOYA DE NICARAGUA® brand of premium handmade cigars, announced today that Drew Estate will replace SAG Imports as their new distributor for all the cigars it manufactures for import and sale within the United States.

On January 25, 2008, Joya de Nicaragua S.A. notified SAG Imports of their decision to change their US distributor. Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuenca, owner and CEO of JdN, emphatically expresses, “For seven years we have been working with SAG as our distributor in the US, and I must say it clearly and loudly: it has been a gratifying experience having had the opportunity to work together with Sr. Manuel Quesada and his team; they are all wonderful people. However in order to increase our market share and strengthen our position in the US market, we felt it was imperative to introduce changes in our marketing and distribution strategies.” He continues adding, “JOYA DE NICARAGUA is an exemplary Nicaraguan puro which has earned a privileged place with experienced cigar smokers. The task before us now is to achieve a market presence which is consistent not only with its value, but more importantly, its soul.” Both JdN and SAG mutually agreed to terminate their business relationship cooperatively on April 25th, 2008 o facilitate a smooth transition.

Multiple companies were considered by JdN to be SAG Imports successor including the option of forming its own US based sales and distribution operation before arriving at the decision to designate Drew Estate as its new US distributor. “Drew Estate's commitment to adopt my vision of JOYA DE NICARAGUA and its goals was the key factor in my decision,” states Dr. Martinez Cuenca, “The fact that they have their own in-house sales force and marketing department were important ingredients also. Plus the most obvious factor is the success they are having in increasing their own market share within the highly competitive US market. We feel an alliance between our two companies will be a win-win situation for all including cigar stores and consumers nationwide.”

Drew Estate is best known as the innovative cigar manufacturer and importer of premium infused brands such as ACID®, Natural® and Java by Drew Estate®. The company is often regarded as one of the most successful in its marketing and sales initiatives which is reflected by its reported 25% growth during 2007. Steve Saka, president of Drew Estate commented, “We are deeply honored to have been chosen to represent JOYA DE NICARAGUA and other JdN made brands in the US and look very much forward to working with Dr. Martinez Cuenca. JdN is a brand with tremendous historic significance in our industry and the cigars themselves are exceptional in quality and flavor, one of my own personal favorites. Our job is simple: get them in the mouths of cigar smokers, because these cigars speak for themselves.”

As before, all aspects of the manufacture including blending, tobacco selection and fermenting and production will continued to be completed exclusively by JdN in their own Esteli, Nicaragua factory. JdN will retain and continue to service all their International and Duty Free accounts directly. Drew Estate will assume US distribution responsibilities on April 25, 2008. Until this date, all wholesale orders are to be placed with SAG Imports.

Joya de Nicaragua Antano - Click Here to Shop & Buy

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About JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A.
JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A., is a family owned, Nicaragua-based cigar factory that handcrafts traditional cigars for the premium luxury cigar market. First opened in 1968, it is Nicaragua’s eldest factory in operation and home to JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A. March 25, 2008 JdN is regarded by many as the patriarch crafter of robust, unique puro blends of locally grown black tobaccos.

For more info, please visit www.joyadenicaragua.com.ni.

About Drew Estate, Inc.
Established in 1996, Drew Estate Inc. is a privately held manufacturer and distributor of innovative and classic premium handmade cigars for today’s cigar smoker. Regarded as the pioneer and leader in the infused cigar® market, Drew Estate handcrafts in its Esteli, Nicaragua factory ACID®, Natural®, Java by Drew Estate®, and other unique cigars along with its traditional Chateau Real®, La Vieja Habana® and Liga Privada® marks. For more information, please visit: www.drewestate.com.

® JOYA DE NICARAGUA is a registered trademark of Joya de Nicaragua S.A. and/or affiliated companies. ®ACID, Natural, Java by Drew Estate, Chateau Real, La Vieja Habana and Liga Privada are registered trademarks of Drew Estate and/or affiliated companies.

Havana, Mar 24 (Prensa Latina) Casa del Habano of Partagas will welcome cigar fans from around the world at its 16th Encuentro de Amigos (Friends´ Meeting).

A release says the April 21-25 meeting includes a field trip, a tour of Cayo Levisa, in western Cuba, and a closing gala.

Casa del Habano Partagas emerged in 1993 as the first Cuban member of La Casa del Habano retail chain ran by Habanos S.A.

Spaniard Don Jaime Partagas founded this world famous business in 1845.

These meetings help highlight the best efforts by Cuban producers to improve the quality of their cigars.

Miami, FL—Russell Cecala, a periodontal surgeon from Chicago clinched the top spot in the sixth annual Super Roll® cigar rolling championship which took place on March 14-16, 2008 in Miami.

For the first time in Super Roll history, the second and third place spots were given to the same person, Jon Liss, a sales representative from Southern Wine and Spirits who resides in Springville, Staten Island.

Cecala’s winning cigar beat out those submitted by five other finalists during two days of the cigar rolling competition. In order to make it to the Super Roll, Cecala beat out thousands of other first-time cigar rollers at La Gloria Cubana® Super Roll competitions held across the U.S. in 2007.

When asked if it was his skilled surgeon’s hands that gave him a leg up on the competition, Russell commented, “My hands are my life and I take great pride in doing what I do. I work in a field where I am constantly dealing with very fragile anatomy, so when it came to the cigar rolling competition, working on an inanimate object was really very relaxing and enjoyable for me.”

In being crowned the ultimate rolero (cigar roller), Russell was inducted by Cigar Master Ernesto Perez-Carrillo into the El Credito Cigar Factory Hall of Fame, and received a custom-made humidor filled with 100 hand-crafted La Gloria Cubana cigars, each boasting its own secondary band emblazoned with the title “Super Roll Champ 2008.” Russell also walked away with an authentic El Credito cigar mold from the 1960s which Ernesto autographed during the awards ceremony. For his final prize, Russell was given a commemorative drawing created during the Super Roll by renowned Cuban artist Edin Gutierrez.

Media coverage of the event blanketed South Florida. Russell and his fellow contestants were featured on FOX and Univision television in Miami, and were covered in the Miami New Times, and Sun-Sentinel, as well as two leading radio programs which broadcast in the greater Miami area.

Cecala plans to adorn the Northwest Chicago office of his practice called PerioCare with the Gutierrez original and is still deciding whether to put the cigar mold in his Wrigleyville office or to display it at home.

The 47-year-old father of three was accompanied in Miami by his wife Shaun, who helped to cheer her husband to victory. The family resides in Mount Prospect, IL, a suburb of Chicago.

About General Cigar
General Cigar Co., Inc., a subsidiary of Swedish Match, manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Passionate about delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar produces Macanudo®, Partagas®, Cohiba®, Punch®, Excalibur®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, La Gloria Cubana® and several other industry-leading brands, which are sold through tobacconists nationwide. In addition, the company grows its own proprietary Connecticut Shade wrapper tobacco, as well as natural and candela wrapper in the Dominican Republic. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com

®Super Roll, Macanudo, Partagas, Cohiba, Punch, Excalibur, Hoyo de Monterrey, La Gloria Cubana and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co., Inc.

TAMPA, FL - Isla de Cuba Cigar, Inc., a Tampa based cigar manufacturer and seller of premium cigars, today announced they are launching an old Havana classic cigar to the U.S. market – Isla de Cuba.

Isla de Cuba Cigar, Inc., is led by President Darryl Lieser and National Sales Manager Dan Ramirez. Lieser has over 20 years of Senior Management experience, and has been a cigar lover his entire adult life. Ramirez has held senior retail, in-house and field sales positions, and has over 25 years experience in the premium cigar industry.

“The Isla de Cuba cigar is based on the legendary 1956 MontecristoTM #3,” said Lieser. “I’ve been a cigar lover for a long time, and the Isla de Cuba cigars are a special blend that I’ve had made exclusively for me and my friends for years. Everyone that tries an Isla de Cuba cigar loves it, and I’m finally taking everyone’s advice and sharing this fantastic blend with the rest of the world.”

Manufactured in Central America, each Isla de Cuba is hand made using a proprietary combination of wrappers, binders and fillers, which gives the cigars a unique, smooth creamy body when enjoyed. The initial line of products will include 5 sizes: Corona, Robusto, Toro, Belicoso and Churchill. Isla de Cuba will come in both a Connectucut Ecuadorian Wrapper – Classic, and a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro – Aged Maduro. The Isla de Cuba Classic cigars will be enjoyed for their smooth, rich body. The Isla de Cuba Aged Maduro cigars will feature the same smooth flavor, with a stronger more full-bodied taste. 2008 will see the launch of four highly-anticipated new product lines from Isla de Cuba Cigar, Inc., each very unique in the taste they deliver to the cigar connoisseur.

“The initial response from tobacconists across the country has been fantastic. They are familiar with Dan and they know a high quality premium, hand-rolled cigar when they try one,” added Lieser. “Everyone who has tried Isla de Cuba wants to make it the newest addition to their humidor.”

About Isla de Cuba, Headquartered in a historic 103-year-old cigar factory in Tampa, Florida, Isla de Cuba Cigar, Inc., www.IslaCigar.com, manufactures, markets and distributes high quality premium cigars. Isla de Cuba cigars can be found at fine retail tobacco shops as well as through online premium cigar retail websites. Montecristo is a registered trademark of Cuban Cigar Brands, N.V.