Famous for his love of premium cigars, comedian Ron White’s broad and successful portfolio will now expand to include Zino Platinum Ambassador. Zino Platinum, the premium cigar brand, known for its creative approach to marketing, has joined forces with White in 2011 in an innovative relationship designed to expand both brands’ audiences by creating awareness in new markets. The extent of White’s involvement will include, but not be limited to, special appearances at Zino Platinum events and a Zino Platinum Ron White Signature cigar blended to his tastes and preferences for his personal use.

White’s first appearance as an Ambassador will be at the March 29^th nationwide launch of the new Z-Class Series in Palm Beach Gardens, Fl, where he will take part in the unveiling of the product, the first new line of Zino Platinum Cigars in 8 years. As the partnership evolves, White will be making appearances at select retail outlets and supporting various creative marketing efforts.

In 2002 Zino Platinum was developed by the Oettinger Davidoff Group in partnership with American marketing specialists, revealing an entirely new approach to design, marketing and publicity. Zino Platinum represents a fusion of time-honored cigar tradition and the hip culture of today and tomorrow. Zino Platinum Cigars’ various shapes, tastes, blends and aromas are all respectfully drawn from the best of classic cigar customs. Zino Platinum cigar smokers are youthful, ambitious, strong, proud, successful, fashionable and bold. Today Zino Platinum is still at the forefront of pop culture and the leading lifestyle brand in the cigar industry. Zino Platinum uses the best traditions of the old school and the innovations of the new school to create a dynamic market opportunity.

Ron began his career two decades ago and now is one of the most successful comedians, recording artists and entrepreneurs in the United States. Best known for his uninhibited comedy shows, White shot to fame after his appearance on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. His career includes two Grammy-nominations, a Gold Record, numerous one-hour specials, a New York Times Best Seller and CD and DVD sales over 10 million. White will make special appearances alongside Zino Platinum at retail events across the US in support of the brand.

CUENCA CIGARS OF HOLLYWOOD, FL TO CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING OF MONTECRISTO LOUNGE

Cuenca Cigars’ elegant Montecristo Lounge in Hollywood, Florida will hold its Grand Opening Celebration on Friday, February 25th. This much anticipated event will begin with a ceremonial ribbon cutting by Mayor Bobber and Altadis U.S.A. executives at 6:30 P.M.The evening’s festivities will continue until 10:00 P.M. and will include a raffle for an array of sought-after cigars and accessories including a beautiful humidor, signature ashtrays, lighters, 5-packs of Montecristo 75th Aniversario cigars and caps featuring the iconic Montecristo logo.

The beautiful new Montecristo Lounge, features a connoisseur’s selection of the world’s most prestigious brands, including Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, Trinidad, Siglo, A. Turrent Triple Play, Warlock and many others – all made or distributed by Altadis U.S.A. Cigar aficionados will relish the lounge’s warm, gracious atmosphere, where they can sit back in handsome leather armchairs and enjoy their favorite smokes. Cuenca Cigars is very excited about the significance of this Grand Opening to the community. “Our goal as a local and striving business is to demonstrate that local businesses are ready to welcome visitors with open arms,“ says owner Ana Cuenca.

Strong community support for Cuenca Cigars Montecristo Lounge is demonstrated by its success in attracting business partners, such as Timeless Destinations, Connection for Business, and Jorge L Rodirgues, MBA Allstate Exclusive Financial Advisor. “The more we attract successful companies and entrepreneurs to our city,” says Cuenca, “the more revenues we will generate for surrounding businesses.”

The Montecristo Lounge is located at 1928 Harrison Street, Hollywood, Fla. 33020.
For more information, contact Janelle Rosenfeld at (954) 938-7837 or jrosenfeld@altadisusa.com

Uncovered: Whiskey Row store owners find wall-sized century-old cigar ads

By Joanna Dodder Nellans, The Daily Courier

PRESCOTT, Arizona – Rich and Jenny Schulte thought it would help boost the historic look of their new Whiskey Row store to remove the pegboard and plaster on one long wall to uncover the old brick. But they never suspected what else they’d find.

Two huge cigar ads were painted onto those bricks about a century ago when the store was the Grand Saloon. The Schultes will leave the ads in place and display their Western items in front of the ads at their Jenny Longhorn store.

“Prescott is an historic town and it’s part of its history,” Jenny said. “It tells a story.”

The building went up in 1903 after a huge 1900 fire torched much of downtown Prescott including Whiskey Row. The Grand Saloon and soon the Grand Hotel upstairs were the first businesses in the structure now at 152 and 154 1/2 Montezuma St.

The original owner was H.D. Stuthman until the property went to his wife Amelie during their divorce in 1908, according the City of Prescott’s Courthouse Plaza Historic District Survey by retired Prescott historic preservation specialist Nancy Burgess. A 1907 phone book at the Sharlot Hall Museum lists the Grand Saloon, but it’s not in the 1923 and 1942 books.

The saloon undoubtedly had to change its name to something else when Arizona’s liquor prohibition started in 1915 until 1933 when the prohibition ended nationwide.

The front part of the building was a retail store when his late father bought it in 1949, former county judge Howard Hinson said. In the back was an assay office, locksmith and moving/storage place. His father found a gambling table in the basement.

“I guess there was a good bit of gambling in the 1940s as well as prostitution,” Hinson said.

His father opened the Holiday Shop there. The late county supervisor Gheral Brownlow became his father’s partner in the late 1960s. Brownlow later became the shop’s sole owner and moved the shop to another downtown location in about 1984, Hinson recalled.

The upstairs remains a rooming house today called the Grand Highland Hotel.

The store already had plastered walls when his father bought it, so he didn’t see the cigar ads until they were uncovered last week.

“It’s really interesting,” he said.

When the Jenny Longhorn store first opened in September, the Schultes exposed only a small portion of one of the ads near one of the front display windows. Passersby could see only two letters – “ur” – so they’ve been curious for months to see the entire ad.

“You wouldn’t believe the number of people who had their face against the window to see what it is,” Jenny said.

“Arthur” was the word containing the “ur” – that’s for Chester Arthur, the country’s 21st president. The entire ad, about 10 feet by 10 feet in size, says “Try a Gen. Arthur” and features a man pointing at onlookers.

President Arthur was a Civil War brigadier general who was vice president until President James Garfield was assassinated. He was known for accompanying White House meals with cigars and champagne.

The company that sold Gen. Arthur cigars, called General Cigar Corp. at the time, went out of business in 1917.

The other cigar ad is even larger – about 30 feet long and 6 feet high. It says “Owl 5¢ cigar” and features a painted owl. Between the ads is painted “Connelly S.F.,” possibly the name of the artist.

The ads are extensively pocked with chipped spots, probably from nails that held the plaster to the painted brick, Rich surmised.

The brick is likely from Prescott because it has the telltale signs of soft, low-quality brick. Most of the brick that business owners used to rebuild their structures after the 1900 fire was the low-cost Prescott brick, said Prescott Historic Preservation Specialist Cat Moody. The local firing facilities were inferior, she said. The bricks have an orange tint, and are chalky and powdery in places.

“If it’s ever painted, it can’t be stripped,” or that would “undermine the integrity” of the structure, Moody warned. It’s also impossible to pressure-wash and restore it on the outside, she said.

So it sounds like the ads will stay where they are. Who knows what’s hidden behind the other long wall.

“Ultimately, we’d like to expose that too,” Jenny said.

The bead shop in back also remains covered with the plaster.

Photos by Les Stukenberg/The Daily Courier

The highly successful 12th Annual Montecristo Cup Charity Pro-Am golf tournament, which benefits the Montecristo Relief Organization, was held this past December 1st through 5th at the world class Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Over 100 amateurs and professionals from the PGA tours attended the pro-am, which is known as “the ultimate marriage of golf and cigars” and has earned a reputation as one of the finest pro-am golf events of its kind. Participants enjoyed three days of tournament golf on the resort’s renowned Ocean Club course as well as fabulous food and spirits, unlimited luxury cigars and the camaraderie that brings people back year after year.

In addition to the spectacular golf – amateurs played with a different pro each day – guests enjoyed the resort’s many amenities including the exhilarating water sports, spectacular marine life exhibits and, of course, the Caribbean’s largest casino.

Festivities included the popular silent auction featuring Altadis U.S.A. cigars and humidors, original artwork by renowned artists, fine jewelry and watches, autographed sports memorabilia, golf equipment and apparel and much more.

Funds raised at the live auction will build additional homes at the Montecristo Village, currently under construction in Honduras. When completed, the Village will consist of more than 100 homes, schools and community services. The Montecristo Relief Organization was founded in 1999 to provide ongoing aid after two devastating hurricanes caused unimaginable death and suffering in the Dominican Republic and other areas of the Caribbean.

Over the years, the charity has raised over $4 million to fund the building of homes, schools and medical facilities. Hundreds of  wheelchairs have been donated for the sick and injured. Scholarships have been provided for children who would otherwise have not received educations. Economic opportunities, such as tilapia fish farms, have been created to provide the needy with sustainable incomes. Funds have been donated to Operation
Smile to bring new hope to children with severe facial deformities. Additional aid has included over $1 million raised by the charity together with Altadis U.S.A. to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.

For more information about the Montecristo Relief Organization or the Montecristo Cup Charity Pro-Am, please contact Janelle Rosenfeld at (954) 938-7837 or jrosenfeld@altadisusa.com.

Just when you think you’ve seen it all in the baconsphere, we now give you Bakon Vodka. We’ve been hearing some rave reviews so we took a little visit to their website to see what its all about!

The Story: Is Bacon Really a Strange Ingredient in a Cocktail?

People have been mixing savory ingredients with alcohol as long as we have been drinking alcohol. Writers from the 17th century, including John Locke and Samuel Pepys frequently imbibed and wrote about savory infused ales. It turns out that mixing sweet and savory in food and beverage is not a new idea.

Carnivorous Cocktails

Around the world today, high-end lounges are serving a variety of “carnivorous cocktails.” The best mixologists are like chefs behind the bar and they don’t want to be limited to standard fruit-flavored infusions. These bartenders have found that the savory aspect of bacon makes a great dominant profile in a cocktail like a Bakon martini with a blue cheese-stuffed olive. But it can also take the back seat, with bacon’s smoky flavor subtly enhancing the taste in a concoction like a Chocolate Martini.

Our Story

We started out testing various infusions in our kitchen in the fall of 2007. We wanted to do it right, to create a premium-quality vodka you’d enjoy drinking. To match an infusion, we tested recipes for over two years, finally landing at the one true “Bakon Vodka”.

We start with a superior quality potato vodka. Distilled in Idaho from potatoes, it is smooth, slightly sweet with the well-rounded flavor that you only get from a quality potato distillation, with no strong burn or aftertaste. Our vodka is column-distilled using a single heating process that doesn’t “bruise” the alcohol like the multiple heating cycles needed to make a typical pot-still vodka. Getting the perfect savory bacon flavor took us a while to get right too. We wanted it to have the essence of a delicious crisp slice of peppered-bacon.

After numerous recipes and a lot of testing, we got it right. And we think you’ll agree.

You’ll never want to use another vodka for your Bloody Mary… and you’ll be amazed with the versatility of Bakon Vodka – see our Recipes page for more ideas!

Check out the website for yourself @ http://www.bakonvodka.com/

Part One of this Outstanding Video Interview

Michael Gladis plays the pipe smoking copywriter, “Paul Kinsey” on AMC TV’s, Award Winning, Mad Men. Not only does his character Paul smoke a pipe on screen, but Mr. Gladis smokes a pipe in real life.

PipesMagazine.com Editor & Publisher, Kevin Godbee sat down with Michael Gladis in the private smoking lounge at Davidoff of Geneva in midtown Manhattan on November 14, 2009. They talked about pipe smoking, his role on Mad Men, and his acting career in general. Michael is charming, friendly, and witty while he enjoys smoking his pipe and giving us the inside scoop on Mad Men and telling us how he is similar to Paul Kinsey. See Part I of our video interview with Michael Gladis here and see if you can get the trivia question right at the end.

Watch Part One of Kevin Godbee’s Interview by CLICKING HERE

Creating world Class Scotch Whiskies is an arduous task that takes the proper ingredients, time, and a tremendous amount of god-given patience.

There is a freedom an outsider has in a tradition bound business. After many years in the wine trade, John Glaser, an American, entered the world of Scotch Whisky.

Learning his art through one of the industries largest companies, John developed a passion for Scotch whisky and dreamt of starting his own company. In 2000, he started the Compass Box Whisky company, fine tuning his first whiskies in his kitchen. Known for seeking evolutions of traditional techniques, particularly in oak maturation, he says, Our role at Compass Box is to nurture the roots of tradtition, in order to grow the possibilities.” Today, John Glaser is considered one of the most respected whisky makers of his generation.

Compass Box makes a variety of Scotch Whisky in two main ranges, their signature range and their limited release range. Today we’ll look at the three amazing world-class whiskies that make up their Signature range.

The Signature Range from Compass Box.

The three Scotch whiskies in this range offer the spectrum of Scotch whisky style, from the delicate, sweet character of Asyla, to the rich, spicy, malty character of Oak Cross, to the peaty-smoky character of Peat Monster. Each is made from casks chosen individually, cask-by-cask, to ensure perfect maturity. The casks are combined according to recipe and returned to wood for “marrying” up to 12 months before bottling. Steps like these enhance complexity, flavor integration and soft mouth-feel. Extra steps, but they’re worth it.

PEAT MONSTER

For those who love big, rich smoky-peaty malt whiskies, this is your whisky. Peat Monster combines very smoky and peaty whiskies from the island of Islay with rich, medium-peated Speyside whisky. The result is a balanced, very drinkable peaty malt.

Complex and Multilayered. A malt whisky for real peat heads, and for lovers of complex, multilayered whiskies. What makes it fit into the Compass Box house style is the balance of richness and subtle sweetness that the old casks of Ardmore provide to the smoky-peaty Islay malts. This is the great benefit of combining single malts from different distilleries. They are not limited to the produce of one distillery. Like a wine maker blending grape varieties, they can create layers of complexity. And, as of late 2007, they have introduced even more complexity by adding some south shore Islay malt to enhance the peatiness and earthiness.

OAK CROSS

They call this malt whisky Oak Cross because it offers the best characteristics of both American and French oak aging. A rich, medium-bodied malt whisky, Oak Cross combines vanilla characters from American oak and spicy, clove-like characters from French oak.

Innovative New Oak Casks – Compass Box works with a small mill in France that produces some of the highest quality cooperage oak in the world. It was our work with this mill that led us to experimenting with secondary maturation of malt whiskies in casks fitted with new French oak heads. This is something no one else in Scotland does. The result is malt whisky with more character and complexity. We use this technique on about 50% of the malt whisky in Oak Cross and it results in a superior finished product.

ASYLA

The ultimate “everyday,” “before dinner” or “Sunday afternoon” Scotch whisky. With just a splash of chilled water, this blend of soft, sweet grain whiskies and elegant, refined malt whiskies epitomises deliciousness in the world of Scotch.

The Secret is in the Oak – The secret to making Asyla is the quality of the casks. Only whiskies aged in first-fill American oak casks are used because these yield whiskies with more vanilla character, more richness and more sweetness than refill casks. There is no other blended Scotch whisky on the market that uses whiskies of this quality. Also, there are few blended Scotches that use 50% malt whisky as we do (all unpeated malt whiskies). The result is a carefully crafted, elegant Scotch whisky that makes the perfect aperitif.

If you want more information about Compass box CLICK the ad on the right side of our site in order to visit their site.These great whiskies can be found in fine spirits stores everywhere.

Our good friend Robin Robinson is the Brand Ambassador for Compass Box Whisky. Robin first came upon single malt Scotch whiskies in 1984 when he faked his way through hosting a Scotch whisky dinner for a bunch of Park Avenue swells while knowing absolutely nothing about the subject he was talking about. After cleaning off the tar and feathers, he bought his first single malt Scotch and a love affair was born. Since then, Robin has cast a wary eye on anyone calling themselves an “expert”.

Mr. Robinson edits the whisky blog found at  www.onemalt.com.

Read this entire story @ www.jrcigarblogs.com

Since John F. Kennedy signed the Cuban Embargo in 1962, nine straight U.S. presidents have come and gone, with so much talk of lifting it. Now we have the most liberal president in the history of mankind, and the question isn’t “if” the embargo will end, the only question is “when.”

Many a cigar fan wants this embargo that is approaching half a century to end for selfish reasons. If you love your smokes from Havana, then you are excited about the availability of real-deal Monte #2’s, Hoyo DC’s, Bolivar Gigantes, and Partagas Serie D Robustos becoming a reality at a cigar shop near you.

If you are a pro-Castro Cuban, you want this to come to an end so you can visit your homeland and family again. If you are anti-Castro and your family came over in the Mariel Boat Lifts, then you are for the embargo and want the U.S. government to continue to squeeze Fidel’s cajone’s until he is as dead as a doornail.

As you can see, there’s a lot of mixed sentiment here and…

Read the rest of my breaking story by clicking right here at@ www.jrcigarblogs.com

Cubatabaco Wins Longstanding Battle

By Jonathan Perlow, Courthouse News Service

(CN) – A Cuban government-owned tobacco company won its 12-year legal battle to stop a U.S. cigar producer from using the Cohiba name and trademark in the United States. A federal judge in Manhattan once again backed up Cubatabaco, which accused General Cigar of “exploiting the reputation and goodwill of the Cuban Cohiba.”

Cohibas are among the world’s most famous and sought-after cigars, and were originally produced exclusively for Fidel Castro.

U.S. District Judge Robert W. Sweet barred General Cigar from using the Cohiba name in the United States, but allowed it to keep using the name on its Dominican-made cigars, pending appeal.

Judge Sweet said his most recent opinion was “nearly identical” to his previous finding that General Cigar Holdings had tried “to plagiarize the mark” and engaged in “intentional copying.”

His decision was reversed by the 2nd Circuit, which dismissed the federal claims, saying the embargo between the two countries barred the Cuban company from acquiring property in the United States, including trademarks.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

But when New York’s highest court clarified its position on what constituted unfair competition, Cubatabaco’s state law case was back on. The New York Court of Appeals found that “bad faith” wasn’t necessary to prove unfair competition by appropriation, only that “deliberate copying” had taken place.
Cubatabaco argued that on the cusp of the 1992 cigar boom, General Cigar selected the “Cohiba” name for a new line of premium cigars “in order to exploit the reputation and goodwill of the Cuban Cohiba,” according to the ruling.

Judge Sweet agreed, and said the U.S. company’s choice was “in part to capitalize on the success of the Cuban Cohiba brand and especially the good ratings and notoriety that it had received in Cigar Aficionado,” a magazine for cigar enthusiasts.

The debut issue of the magazine proclaimed Cohibas to be Cuba’s finest cigars, in an article called “The Legend of Cohiba.”

Cubatabaco further claimed that the Cohiba name was protected under the Lanham Act by the “well-known marks” doctrine, even though the company held no U.S. trademarks.

Judge Sweet agreed that this was the case, but said Cubatabaco’s challenge of the Cuban Asset Control Regulations was obsolete after the state court’s ruling.

“The New York Court of Appeals held that plaintiff could be entitled to relief against use of its foreign mark if it could establish deliberate copying and secondary meaning, even though the plaintiff had no U.S. trademark rights,” Sweet wrote.

“For certain kinds of cases … goodwill can, and does, cross state and national boundary lines.”

Our friends at Ego Tv have a terrific article up on their site that should appeal to PlanetZman fans everywhere!

A Man Cave is kind of like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. It’s the place where us guys go to escape the world of estrogen and embrace the testosterone that the good Lord has bestowed upon us. But this dwelling place can be so much more than just a humidor, a keg, and an cruddy old 13 inch tv from your parent’s basement.

There’s no reason your Man Cave can’t be equipped with the latest and hottest electronic devices that will have your pals knocking on your door at all times in the night. Why not surf the net, crank that new Kiss album, and watch the game in style? Well, the boys at Egotv.com have done their research and given us all some incredibly cool options for ramping up our playpens.

Click the link and check out some incredible techno-gadgetry that will turn your fossil den into a modern manly hangout that even George Jetson would be jealous over.

CLICKY HERE> The Techno Man Cave

Holy, good God… is that testosterone I smell burning? Toss in a couple of finely aged Cougars and I would never leave this friggin place!

- Zman