The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) convention is officially underway, and to the cigar fanatic that means one thing: new cigars! Every shop owner, cigar manufacturer, cigar blender, and even cigar celebrities are in attendance, basically what we have here is Comic Con in cigar form.

Now, what was I saying about new cigars?… Ah yes, the ICPCR (which I call the acronym from hell) is where it all goes down, cigar manufacturers big and small are here to show off what they’ve got – new cigars, old favorites, tweaked blends, and everything in between. I’ll be compiling some of the more interesting aspects of the show into one short, easy-to-follow list throughout the day.

SEE ALSO: Cigar Dojo IPCPR coverage throughout the years

Check below for updates as to what’s new, and more importantly, what’s good at the 2013 IPCPR

Merlion Sea Lion by La Sirena

Okay so I know what you’re thinking, “Wow that’s a lot of sea creators stuffed into one cigar!” and to be fair, you’re right. So what’s the deal behind this strange new creature from La Sirena? It’s actually the new size from the Merlion series by La Sirena, but when you put all the names together it does get a little confusing.

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Sold in boxes of 10, the Sea Lion is a 5.5 x 47 double perfecto with an extended filler, or shaggy foot. Unique to say the least, the Sea Lion boxes arrive with nine Ecuadorian Corojo wrapped cigars and one maduro, Mexican San Andrés wrapped cigar in an effort to promote box sales.

With such an unusual cigar one might wonder, “Is it any good? Or simply a bunch of gimmicks.” well let me assure you, this cigar is the real deal! Loaded with creamy milk chocolate flavors, Cigar Dojo’s own Master Sensei is already considering this a top contender for 2013’s cigar of the year.Merlion Sea Lion by La Sirena

Tatuaje

As you might expect, Tatuaje has a number of new cigars on the way for 2013, as you might also expect, most are limited edition cigars. The 6th addition to Tatuaje’s Monster Series, Jason (or JV13), was perhaps the biggest crowd pleaser, with the attractive white coffin, detailed with a Jason Voorhees hockey mask. The cigar will come in a double corona size and be released near Halloween as usual.Tatuaje Monster Series JV13 Jason

Also new from Tatuaje is a rereleased Tatuaje Black Label Corona Gorda, a 10th Anniversary Brown Label in two sizes (Bon Chasseur 5 3/8 x 52  and Belle Encre 5 3/8 x 42), and the new Avion 13 (which is a 6 7/8 x 52 Perfecto). Tatuaje Black Label 2013Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Brown Label cigarsTatuaje Avion 13

D’Crossier Cigars

Possibly the best cigars you’ve never heard of – D’Crossier Cigars are finely crafted, classy cigars for the afficiando.

Owner Santana Diaz spares no expense in crafting these cigars, made to honor his families legacy. The tobaccos are some of the best money can buy, the boxes are real Spanish cedar, even the box hinges are of the finest quality, outsourced from Germany.

Santana takes pride in his families history, using their original blends that date back to the 1800’s! The cigars speak for themselves, with delicate flavors that subtly evolve throughout, a top-quality smoke no doubt.20130720-155211.jpg

Viaje Exclusivo Double Edged Sword II

As you might expect, at Viaje’s booth it was all about the limited edition. Like the original 2010 release, this year’s DES II arrives bundled in a beautiful ceramic jar, which is then packaged into a large, decorated box.

According to the Viaje rep, the DES II has a tweaked blend that attempts to differentiate itself from the other cigars in the Exclusivo series. Like the original, it is a double perfecto – a gorgeous cigar, no doubt. This cigar certainly isn’t for everyone, but I think it’s always fun to try the ultra-limited releases, it’s the thrill of the chase!Viaje Double Edged Sword II cigar

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Crowned Heads J.D. Howard Reserve

Crowned Heads has added a new cigar to their core lineup, and I’ll tell you straight off, it’s tasty!

Open the box of the new J.D. Howard Reserve and you’ll notice right away, this is a good looking cigar. Printed on the inside of the box in a retro, Wild West style are the letters J.D. (Which doesn’t stand for Jonathan Drew by the way). The band is bold and classy, with a modern feel to it.

The cigar is in the medium-plus body range, filling the gap between the Four Kicks and Headley Grange. Initial thoughts on the flavor profile are of leather, spices, and hickory smoke. It arrives in five sizes near the end of July and will retail in the $8 – $10 range.
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OSOK One Shot One Kill 2013

A huge hit among cigar smokers in 2012, the OSOK was a limited production cigar thought to never return. If you were a fan, like me, you’ll be excited to hear the beloved OSOK has returned.

Edgar Hoill has picked up the brand under his new EH cigar line and refreshed the look and blend. While retaining the essence of the original, OSOK now has a redesigned band and an added “shaggy foot”.

The blend of the new OSOK is reminiscent of the original, but is noticeably tweaked. Retaining the oily quality of the original, but largely replacing the savory aspect of the original with a creamy chocolate. This is definitely a cigar that should be on your hit list of 2013.

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Nica Rustica by Drew Estate

An entirely new brand is coming out of Drew Estate this year, it’s called the Nica Rustica and yes, it is quite “rustic”. It has the look and feel of a cigar you’d expect to find an early, native Nicaraguan tribe smoking. It’s a raw, earthy cigar with an expected medium-plus body.

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Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro

Oliva seems to be working on expanding their core line, rather than adding new products. Last year we saw the addition of the Melanio to their Serie V, this year that Melanio receives a nice maduro wrapper. Is it groundbreaking? No, but do I want to try it? Yes please!

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La Jugada Habano by Moya Ruiz Cigars

Over the winter a new cigar company splashed onto the scene named Moya Ruiz. Danny is the “Moya” and Nelson is the “Ruiz”. Their first effort was the La Jugada Prieto which is a tasty dark cigar that gets better and better with age in your humidor. At the 2013 IPCPR they introduced their Habano and shocked all of us. The light tan habano packs a PUNCH! This cigar grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. These tasty sticks are made at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Esteli.

Erik Calvino (Cigar Snob Mag), Danny Moya, and Nelson Ruiz

 

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About The Author

Jordan Sumatra Samurai avatar
Managing Editor

I am the managing editor at Cigar Dojo, making sure all cigar reviews and articles meet the Dojo standards. Aside from my major passions (premium cigars and Kentucky Straight Bourbon), I enjoy photography/videography and video editing, as well as playing ice hockey and spending time with my family—which currently includes one boy, two girls, and one amazing wife.

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