Weekly news week 29 2020. We dove into the history of the Condega brand. In the last few years, the brand is exploding all over the world. Great quality cigars for affordable prices. But what’s the story behind this Spanish Nicaraguan collaboration? Who are the people behind it? And why is it gaining traction now? Our article about Condega explains that. 

Reviews and events

We reviewed a vintage Davidoff Puro d’ Oro Eminentes and the Liga Privada 10 Anniversario. With those two cigars, you can say it was a very good week for us. And something else that is good is the return of offline cigar events. In most parts of the world, the covid-19 pandemic is under control. Life starts to get back to normal. In Slovakia, distributor Dom Cigar starts to organize its cigar dinners again starting next week. But in other parts of the world, things are moving in the wrong direction. Honduras is going back into lockdown. Cigar factories are closed on government orders.

General news

The international news this week came from A.J. Fernandez, Onyx, Paul Garmirian, Crowned Heads, and Sinistro. A.J. Fernandez is adding a 6×60 Gordo to the New World Connecticut line. Now all four New World blends come with a Gordo vitola. A.J. Fernandez is also responsible for the production of the new Onyx. The originally Dominican brand comes with the Onyx Bold. But this one is made in Esteli, at Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez. Also from Nicaragua hails the new Crowned Heads Juarez Chihuahua. This is a line extension for the Crowned Heads Juarez line. There are also new cigars from the Dominican Republic. Paul Garmirian introduced the PG Gourmet III series to celebrate his 30th anniversary in the cigar industry. And Sinistro Cigars is releasing three limited editions of cigars they claim are found in the bowels of cigar factories on the Dominican Republic.

International news

Angolan cigar enthusiasts can enjoy two new brands. Foundation Cigars from Nick Melillo is new in the country. Also new for Angola is the Costa Rican brand Meluha. VegaFina Ometepe, a limited edition from VegaFina, is now available in Italy. Cigar Aficionado’s #1 cigar of the year is the Aging Room Nicaragua. That cigar is on its way to The Netherlands in all four available vitolas. Switzerland gets two new cigars. Both made in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Belgian collaboration El Coyote is now available in Central Europe. Arnold Andre and Cigarmundi released the value cigar Monsota in Switzerland as well.

Trade show

Two of the major cigar and tobacco trade shows are canceled due to the covid-19 pandemic. In America, PCA is canceled. Europe saw the cancellation of the world’s largest tobacco trade show Intertabac. But Intertabac is hosting a hybrid event this November, ITShub. With fewer exhibitors, so that social distancing is no issue. And an online element to the trade show as well, for all potential visitors that can’t visit the Messe Dortmund.