|
BOLIVAR AND PARTAGAS READY FOR THEIR SUMMER CLOSE-UPS |
|
|
 Plus: Chicago anti-smoking hearing set for Tuesday
Los Angeles, July 11 – Bolivar is one of Cuba’s great brands. Since its introduction in 1895, 1901 or 1902 – depending on which version of its beginnings you believe – it has been known for its full-bodied, unrestrained power, a tradition which continues today. There are some smokers who will tolerate nothing less.
General Cigar, which has held the Bolivar trademark in the U.S. since 1984, has marketed the brand on and off with modest success. Its last incarnation was introduced in 1998 as a mild-to-medium-bodied, Dominican-made brand. Cigars by Santa Clara introduced a heavier blend from Honduras, called Bolivar Fuerte in 2000. Neither has been a force in the market.
Now, General has pulled out the stops and introduced what it calls “the boldest, most full-bodied cigar in the General Cigar portfolio.” That’s quite a statement for the maker of Cohiba XV, Excalibur, Hoyo de Monterrey, La Gloria Cubana and Punch, all known for their robust flavor.
But new General president Daniel Nuñez got together with blending legends Benji Menendez, Estelo Padron and Ernesto Perez-Carrillo and the new Bolivar was the result.
Still made at General Cigar Dominicana in the Dominican Republic, this new Bolivar will be introduced at the upcoming Retail Tobacco Dealers of America Convention and International Trade Show in New Orleans in August. It features a Honduran San Agustin Ligero wrapper and the powerhouse Connecticut-grown Havano Medio Tiempo wrapper from the Partagas Black Label brand is used for binder!
Filler leaves from the Dominican Republic and from Nicaragua – from Esteli and the volcanic island of Ometepe – complete the blend. To alleviate any confusion, the Bolivar Fuerte brand will be renamed “Bolivar Cofradia” after its Honduran city of origin, and will continue to be marketed by Cigars by Santa Clara.
General’s new Bolivar will be offered in four sizes:
• Churchill: 7 inches by 49 ring, in boxes of 25;
• Lonsdale: 6 1/2 x 45, in boxes of 25;
• Robusto: 5 1/2 x 50 in crystal tubes in boxes of eight and
• Toro: 6 x 52, in boxes of 25.
Will this blend be harsh? The Cuban version can be and is a favorite of those who age their cigars before enjoying them. We’ll have a full report from the RTDA.
Partagas ready for summer:
The limited-production Partagas Cifuentes Fall Blend 2004 was a hit, offering marvelous, rich flavors at reasonable prices in elegant boxes of 20. Now the concept continues with the Partagas Cifuentes Summer Blend 2005.
It’s once again a Dominican-made, three-shape collection named after the summer months of June (“Junio”); July (“Julio”) and August (“Agosto”). This is a medium-to-full-bodied blend with the same Honduran-grown, San Agustin wrapper as on the new Bolivar, a Connecticut-grown, Havana-seed binder and filler leaves grown in Mexico, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
The three sizes are:
• Junio: 5 1/2 inches by 49 ring, offered in boxes of 20;
• Julio: 6 x 54, also in 20s, and
• Agosto: 4 1/2 x 60 torpedo, also offered in 20s.
First shipments have been made and will be showing up in stores soon. Suggested retail prices (before applicable local tobacco taxes) range from $5.25 to $6.25 each.
Chicago considering draconian anti-smoking law:
Diana Silvius of UpDown Tobacco warns all smokers in the Chicago area to be active in opposing the “Chicago Clean Air Ordinance of 2005" now under consideration by the City Council.
For decades one of the great cigar-smoking cities in the world, Chicago smokers are now threatened with a brutal invasion of their ability to enjoy a legal product. As proposed by Alderman Ed Smith (28th Ward), it would not only ban smoking in all restaurants and bars, but also in the common areas of all residential buildings, private clubs and private rooms, sports arenas and within 25 feet of the entrance to non-smoking facilities, including private homes!
The first hearing of this proposed monstrosity is at the City of Chicago Health Committee on Tuesday, July 12 at 9 a.m. CDT. You can register your outrage to Mayor Richard Daley by telephone at (312) 744-3300 or by fax at (312) 744-8045.
The members of the Health Committee include:
• Ward 03: Dorothy Tillman
• Ward 12: George Cardenas
• Ward 15: Theodore Thomas
• Ward 16: Shirley Coleman
• Ward 25: Daniel Solis
• Ward 27: Walter Burnett, Jr.
• Ward 28: Ed Smith (author)
• Ward 32: Theodore Matiak
• Ward 33: Richard Mell
• Ward 34: Carrie Austin
• Ward 35: Rey Colon
• Ward 40: Patrick O’Conner
• Ward 46: Helen Shiller
• Ward 49: Joe Moore
All can be reached by e-mail at:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
where”xx” stands for the two-digit ward number.
With the Health Committee meeting on Tuesday morning, send your view right now!
~ Rich Perelman
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
