halfwheel
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halfwheel.com launched Jan. 1, 2012. Its content includes the archives of TheCigarFeed.com and SmokingStogie.com, sites previously published by co-founders Charlie Minato and Brooks Whittington. It combined the obsessive industry news coverage of TheCigarFeed and the in-depth reviews of SmokingStogie into a singular place for those passionate about cigars.
For 2014 our goal is simple: we want to be the place where people in the cigar industry turn to daily. There are plenty of shop owners who start their day with coffee, a cigar and our daily morning emails—this year is all about growing that audience.
We believe that by providing a combination of in-depth news, high-quality reviews and editorial content we can easily become that site. More importantly, we believe that we will reach the most coveted end consumers on the market by becoming the site known as the blog where people in the industry find their news. Source
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| Scope | Trade/B2B, Consumer |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesLure The Wahoo The Kingfish
Family is one of the major sources of inspiration in the cigar industry, from brand names like My Father to specific releases commemorating family members; there is no lack of examples, and new products are released seemingly every year. Lure Cigars is another example of this trend: the company was founded by Lou Cross III in 2023 as an homage to his late father, Lou Cross Jr., who passed away in June 2023 at the age of 90.
OZ Family Cigars Limited Edition World Cup 2026
In case you might not have heard, there was a pretty important soccer tournament held earlier this summer, a little gathering of 48 countries with games played across three countries and more than a dozen stadiums called the FIFA World Cup. As has become increasingly common, cigar companies have been celebrating major sporting events with limited-edition cigars, and this year, OZ Family Cigars joined the celebration with the OZ Family Cigars Limited Edition World Cup 2026.
Platinum Nova Begins Shipping Royal Falcon
The Platinum Nova Royal Falcon has taken flight and is on its way to stores. The new line, which debuted at the 2026 PCA Convention & Trade Show in April, is a full-bodied blend featuring a dark Ecuadorian habano wrapper, a Dominican corojo binder, and Nicaraguan filler. “This blend is focused on power and aroma, with rich notes of herbs, dark spice, and roasted espresso, delivering a bold yet balanced profile,” said Leonor Abzaradel, ceo of Platinum Nova, when the line was announced.
Diesel Uncaged Arrives at Stores
This week, a new Diesel line is arriving at stores. The new Diesel Uncaged is described as a medium-full-bodied blend. It uses a habano criollo wrapper from an undisclosed country over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers. Like the rest of the Diesel portfolio, it is made by AJ Fernandez in Nicaragua. Uncaged is offered in three vitolas, with pricing ranging from $6.29-7.39 per cigar.
Viso Horny Ligador Fantasma Ships
Viso Horny’s new barber pole is off to stores. The Viso Horny Ligador Fantasma is a 5 x 50 robusto that was made at Fábrica Oveja Negra in Estelí, Nicaragua. The wrapper is a combination of a corojo-seed leaf and a green candela leaf to create the barber pole appearance, with the two different colored leaves creating a unique spiral appearance.
El Mago Releases The Offender & The Defender
A pair of new blends coming from El Mago Cigars was created to complement each other. The cigars are The Offender and The Defender, both of which are being released as 6 1/2 x 52 toros that were rolled at the MGE Cigars Factory in Nicaragua. Blend-wise, the Offender is made with an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed wrapper, while the Defender incorporates a Cameroon wrapper; both cigars feature a Nicaraguan criollo binder and Nicaraguan fillers.
Luciano The Maker Heads to Stores
Luciano The Maker, the newest line from Luciano Meirelles and Constella Group, has begun shipping to retailers. It’s a new core line that Meirelles developed with a focus on the difference between intention and execution. “In any field, there is a clear separation between those who think about doing something and those who actually do it,” he said in a press release. “That distinction is often overlooked, but it defines outcomes.
Brizard & Co. Releasing Cuba Libre Cigar Case, Lighter
Tomorrow, Aug. 4, Brizard & Co. will ship a pair of Cuba-inspired cigar accessories. The new Cuba Libre Collection uses the Cuban flag for the motif. Brizard & Co. says that, unlike most cigar cases, which have designs that are printed onto the exterior material, this design is made using pieces of cut Italian leather. While the manufacturing of the Cuban flag might be unique, the case is not new. It’s the same as many of Brizard & Co.’s other three-cigar cases.
Hooten Young Midnight Hammer Returning in October
Hooten Young’s limited edition, named after a U.S. military operation involving B-2 stealth bombers, is returning this fall. The Midnight Hammer 2026 will be the same cigar as last year’s debut release: a 6 x 60 torpedo made with a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper covering a binder and filler blend of Nicaraguan tobacco. It has an unfinished, “shaggy” foot, and the cigars are being rolled at the Tabacalera CM factory in Nicaragua. Pricing and production numbers have not yet been announced.
Casa Carrillo Releases Second Batch of La Historia Silk
Casa Carrillo is bringing its limited edition La Historia Silk line back to the market, and this time it has a charitable aspect to it. It’s the same cigar as the one released in August 2025, a 6 x 52 toro with an Ecuadorian habano wrapper from the Quevedo region, aged and fermented for more than 18 months, according to the company.