It’s hard to believe that it’s been an entire decade since I first heard of the brands of Selected Tobacco. Owned by Nelson Alfonso, Selected Tobacco today takes its rightful place among the best luxury cigar brands in the world. 2022 probably saw Selected Tobacco’s most significant expansion as it introduced several new lines – notably the new Alfonso brand and Byron 1850 line. 2023 wouldn’t see quite as many surprises, but at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, several previously announced projects now come to life. Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-pWI

Coming in at #3 is the 2020 edition of Perdomo Firecracker. This is a cigar that is a part of United Cigars' Firecracker Series. The Firecracker Series started out as the brain-child of Two Guys Smoke Shop owner Dave Garofalo. It's a series where he would work with leading manufacturers to produce a small 3 1/2 inch cigar with a long-fuse resembling a Firecracker. Before you ask why a shop-exclusive is on the Countdown, this is not the case. In recent years, the Firecracker Series has moved over to United Cigars and now is available for a national limited release to authorized retailers. The Perdomo Firecracker feature 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. The wrapper from the Firecracker is the one that is featured on the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown. The cigar is a 3 1/2 x 50 vitola - easily the smallest cigar to land a Cigar Coop Countdown. The 2020 edition features the long fuse tucked under the cigar band. There was also a 2021 edition which didn't have the fuse tucked under the band. The Perdomo Firecracker might be small, but there is a ton of complexity loaded in this cigar. The cigar delivers notes of earth, nut, grapefruit, natural tobacco, coffee bean, wood, and black pepper. This is also a bold little cigar - delivering strength and body in the medium to full range. This is the second year in a row Perdomo Cigars has landed on the Countdown. This is also the third cigar Perdomo Cigar and third cigar from Tabacalera Perdomo to land on the 2021 Countdown. It's also the second cigar for United Cigars on the Countdown. Nicaragua continues to dominate the 2021 Countdown. Of the 28 cigars unveiled thus far on the 2021 Countdown, this is the 21st one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lOm

Coming in at #19 is the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Décadas Fundador. In 2018, Joya de Nicaragua celebrated 50 years in the cigar business. To mark the occasion, Joya de Nicaragua introduced a line appropriately called Cinco Décadas (five decades). The line was originally introduced in two sizes (Diadema and El General). Line extensions would follow with each size paying tribute to the people and events that have shaped the country’s history. The first line extension was in 2019, and it’s called Fundador, a 6 x 54 box-pressed Toro. The word fundador is Spanish for “founder” and in this case, it pays homage to the two gentlemen who founded Joya de Nicaragua – Simón Camacho and Juan Francisco Bermejo. Joya de Nicaragua has not tipped its hat in terms of what tobaccos are used in the Cinco Décadas. As for the Fundador, it is the first and currently only box-pressed offering in the line. The various sizes of Cinco Décadas are released in smaller batches on a semi-regular annual basis. The Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Décadas Fundador delivers notes of natural tobacco, earth, mixed pepper, wood, and what I would describe as a signature cherry-cream note. The flavors delivered are medium-bodied countered by medium strength. Joya de Nicaragua has become the first company to place two cigars on the 2021 Countdown (the other being the Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno Le Premier at #24) Historically, this marks the fifth year Crowned Heads has secured a spot on the Countdown. This is also the third vitola from Cinco Decádas to land on a Countdown (El General was #11 in 2018 and the Diadema was #28 in 2020) Nicaragua continues to be a dominant country of origin for cigars making the 2021 list. Of the twelve cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the eighth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lER

Tonight it’s our 11th installment of our cigar industry panel. This is where we bring in different people from different segments of the cigar industry to discuss cigar industry topics. Tonight’s panelists joining Aaron and Coop are: Jay Davis, Blue Smoke of Dallas; Eric Guttormson of Cigar Dojo; and Erron Nielsen of the Cigar Coop Coalition. We will challenge our panelists and get their opinions on a wide variety of topics. Tonight’s cigar industry panel topics include: -- Pricing and discounting of cigars -- Accessories (Cutters, Lighters, and Storage units) of Choice -- Single Store and event only releases (Coop’s favorite topic!) -- A series of rapid fire questions including: who needs a new release, who shouldn’t do a new release, who needs a packaging refresh, why the cigar industry is obsessed with loud music at events, and more. Plus, we will have our FSG Question of the Night, Tabacalera USA Ties That Bind, Alec Bradley Live True, Espinosa Today in Sports History, and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Deliberation segments.