Molina Cigar Co.

Don Alejandro Robaina passes away at 91

2010-04-17T21:36:00.003-05:00

reprinted from Reuters.com. Click Here for the webpage

Jeff Franks

HAVANA

Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:04pm EDT

(Reuters) - Cuban tobacco legend Alejandro Robaina, known in international cigar circles for producing the best of his country's famous tobacco leaves, died on Saturday at the age of 91, a family friend said.

Robaina, the only Cuban grower with a cigar bearing his name, had been in ill health after being diagnosed with cancer last year and had declined in recent days, said friend Sergio Hernandez, a cigar distributor living in Havana.

He died at his modest home on his 40-acre (16 hectare) farm near the town of San Luis in Cuba's Vuelta Abajo tobacco region near the western city of Pinar del Rio.

A frail Robaina celebrated his 91st birthday at his farm on March 20 surrounded by two dozen friends and family. He sat quietly in a chair smoking one of his famous cigars.

He told Reuters in a brief interview that the secret to growing the best tobacco was simple.

"You have to love the land and care for it," he said.

As the tobacco grows, he said "it talks to you, it tells you what it needs and you must listen."

Robaina spent his life mostly on his farm, tending to the surrounding tobacco fields. But he also traveled the world as Cuba's unofficial ambassador for tobacco.

He once attended a function with King Juan Carlos in Spain where the musician Sting asked for his autograph.

In recent years, he passed on his knowledge of tobacco growing to his family, and grandson Hiroshi had taken over most of the day-to-day management of the crop.

As his fame grew, Robaina's farm became a favorite destination for cigar lovers from all over the world, and until his health failed he would regularly welcome them into his home or for talks on the front porch.

"He once told me he was a millionaire because he had a million friends all over the world. He had a big heart and he treated everyone the same," Hernandez said.

Now, he said, "the godfather of Cuban tobacco is gone."

Funeral arrangements were pending.

(Editing by Anthony Boadle)

Tasting Havana's Perfect Smoke - A Preview of the 12th Annual Habanos Festival

2010-02-18T22:39:00.003-06:00

reprinted courtesy of the Wall Street Journal

by Will Lyons - Wall Street Journal

In the Embajadores room at the Habana Libre hotel the air is thick with the sweet, honeyed smoke of cigars. Outside, Havana's La Rampa street bustles with the sound of the early-evening crowd. A queue forms around Coppelia's parlor, a favorite with the locals, reputedly making the best ice cream on the island. Beyond, a short walk away, lies the Malecón, the weathered promenade that snakes its way around Havana's northern coastline, busy filling up with Cubans who go there to meet, flirt, smoke and exchange gossip.

Getty images A Cuban man smoking a cigar gathers tobacco leaves for drying.

Back inside the Habana Libre, once the headquarters of Fidel Castro's revolutionary armed forces, the Embajadores room is virtually full. Around 500 cigar aficionados, a mix of distributors, importers, specialists and enthusiastic smokers have gathered for the premiere of Trinidad's Robusto T.

On that evening a year ago, it is the first time the cigar is smoked anywhere in the world. Among the aficionados it is well received. Of the many descriptions heard that night is woody, spicy, full-bodied and creamy. Many people compliment it on having a wonderful draw.

As the cigars are handed out on trays, all eyes turn to a small group of VIPs notable for their late arrival. Among them is David Soul, better known as the actor who played Hutch in the television series "Starsky and Hutch." For a moment he's in danger of upstaging Fidelito, Fidel Castro's son, a regular at such occasions. Welcome to night three of the Festival del Habano, a week-long celebration of the Cuban tobacco industry. If you thought the world of wine appreciation was niche, try cigars.

One year on, anyone who is anyone in the cigar world will this weekend be flying into Havana's Jose Marti International Airport for the 12th annual festival. They will get five days of cigar tastings, tobacco-plantation visits, seminars, factory tours and smoking, lots and lots of smoking.

It is, says Simon Chase, a former director of London-based cigar importer Hunters & Frankau and a festival regular, a chance to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers in the Cuban tobacco industry and experience the tradition of Cuba's cigar lineage first hand.

It was through Mr. Chase that I enjoyed my first experience of cigars in 2004. My first lesson was not to inhale -- as with wine, cigar appreciation is all about the taste. (Although it is worth pointing out that the U.S. National Cancer Institute warns that there is no safe tobacco, and cigar smoke, like cigarette smoke, contains toxic and cancer-causing chemicals that are harmful to both smokers and nonsmokers.)

"One tastes a cigar and smokes a cigarette," Mr. Chase told me. "In that sense it is an entirely different experience. Like a fine wine, each cigar is a blend of aged tobacco. So one doesn't inhale, one gently puffs, rather like sipping vintage Bordeaux."

With this in mind I was invited a few years ago to judge in a contest to ascertain which brand of Cuban cigars matched best with Scotch whisky. After sipping and puffing my way through a number of combinations, I found that the sweeter the beverage the better the match. So port and rum work very well with most cigars. Some whiskies and particularly red wine (although premium aged blends and sweeter single malts tend to be an exception to the rule) do tend to dry the palate, which can leave a nasty, bitter flavor. In the end we chose Macallan, a whisky noted for its mahogany color and distinctive nose of dried fruit, chocolate orange, wood spices and full, rich oak flavor; which we paired with a Partagas Piramides cigar.

It was on that first trip to the Festival del Habano that I was struck by the similarities between wine appreciation and cigar appreciation. Both are agricultural products, have long and distinguished histories, command the same attention to detail in production and packaging, and can age for many years.

Moreover, as a great wine is defined by the terroir of its vineyard, so the character of a fine cigar is intimately connected with the land where the tobacco grows.

A key fixture of the festival is a visit to one of Cuba's tobacco-growing regions. The early-morning drive from Havana to Vuelta Abajo in the westernmost corner of the Pinar del Rio tobacco-growing province passes through a patchwork of fields filled with lush, green plants.

Visually, I found it reminiscent of Chile's Maipo valley, although instead of vineyards there are tobacco fields. Around 80,000 acres of tobacco are planted each year in the region. The growing process lasts around 10 months ending with the harvest between January and March.

After the harvest, the leaf is taken to the farmer's curing barn where it is hung, dried and gathered together before undergoing a natural fermentation. This process sweats out the impurities, reducing acidity, tar and nicotine, and creating a finer, purer flavor. The leaves are then hand-sorted into sizes before being baled up and transferred to the warehouse, where they are left to age for three years.

The next step mirrors the blending art found in the wine and Scotch whisky industry as each tobacco plot produces a variety of flavors, which the master blender, or ligador, selects. The final blend is then rolled in the many factory houses dotted around Havana. In that sense, it is one of the world's last luxury-goods items to be produced on a mass scale by hand.

As a shorthand guide, those wanting a full-bodied rich cigar should look out for Partagas, Cuaba, Bolivar and Ramon Allones. Perhaps a little lighter, but still heavy are Cohiba, Montecristo, Vegas Robaina and Trinidad. Romeo y Julieta, Quintero, Punch and H. Upmann offer a lighter smoke. The most delicate flavors are achieved by Hoyo de Monterrey, San Cristobal de la Habana and Guantanamera, which creates a nutty, intense and fragrant flavor.

This year, at the 12th festival, there will be a presentation of a new size of Romeo y Julieta cigar created with women smokers in mind. Mr. Chase welcomes the development but says, ironically, it is the male interest that has fueled the recent interest in the product.

"One thing about cigar smoking is that it is predominantly a male preserve," he says. "Over the years there have been quite a lot of male bastions assailed and taken over by the other gender. Here is one [cigar smoking] which is still a male preserve."

Ranald Macdonald, managing director of the London-based restaurant group Boisdale, has been taking a group to the festival for the past 10 years. He says that the pace of economic change in Havana has been such that a decade has been comparable to 40 years in Europe. As a result there has been a general improvement in cigar manufacturing, and thus the overall quality of cigars has never been higher.

"Cigars now taste so much better than they did 10 years ago," Mr. Macdonald says. "This is down to a number of improvements but to give one example, from 2002 they have been freezing cigars which has eliminated tobacco-eating pests such as weevil."

This weekend, Mr. Macdonald's group will be scouring the cigar shops of Havana to stock up on a year's supply of tobacco.

"Havana is one of the most enigmatic places on earth," he says. "And everything about it, from where it sprung from in the 17th century to what it went through in the 20th century to where it is now, makes Europe feel rather dull." I'll smoke to that.

The 12th Festival del Habano takes place in Havana from Feb. 22 to 26.

Write to Will Lyons at wsje.weekend@wsj.com

Churchill cigar sells for $7,000 at auction in England

2010-02-06T21:44:00.004-06:00

reprinted courtesy of BBC News

A half-smoked cigar, abandoned when Sir Winston Churchill dashed away to an urgent wartime Cabinet meeting, has sold at auction for £4,500 (a little over $7,000 USD).

The ex-prime minister's cigar, picked up by a member of the 10 Downing Street staff 69 years ago, had been expected to fetch up to £350.

The 9.5cm (3.74ins) cigar, embossed with the owner's name, was sold by Keys auctioneers in Aylsham, Norfolk.

It was bought by a private collector from Hertfordshire.

After picking up the stub, Downing Street valet Nellie Goble grabbed a sheet of 10 Downing Street notepaper and scribbled a note to a friend.

She wrote: "To Jack, with all good wishes from Nellie. Just a small souvenir to remind you at some future date of one of the greatest men that ever lived in England."

"Jack" treasured the letter and cigar until his death in 1987 when it passed to his daughter.

The woman kept it wrapped in the note in a drawer at her north Norfolk home.

In November, a butter dish used as an ashtray by Churchill at the London dining and debating club he co-founded was sold at Keys for £4,200, almost three times its estimate.

A New Year and a New Customer

2010-02-01T12:53:00.003-06:00

Greetings Friends,

It has been a while since our last post and I wanted to update you all. We have been out of cigars since last August and have been re-organizing our operations since then. Molina Cigar will be up and running again and we hope to get a new shipment of cigars in the next few months and will post here when we finally do.

You can find some of our cigars though (if your Devil's Weed retailer has already run out). Cigars International, one of the largest cigar retailers, has picked up some remaining stock and they are passing on the savings to you. We are excited that they have picked us up as some of you may have retailers in your area that are not carrying our product. A little note: don't worry about the description they have written about us. It was a joke and we are not going out of business. C.I. even offered to drop the description but we feel it creates some buzz and interest.

Let us know what you think of the cigars. To order from Cigars International, click here.

Saludos,
Luis

Cigar Reviews Interview

2009-09-09T15:05:00.004-05:00

Greetings Friends,

And yet another great cigar blog has mentioned our company and cigars on their site. Matthew from the cigar blog, Cigar Reviews, interviewed me to find out what we are about and why smokers enjoy our cigars. Check out this blog as it is well-laid out and filled with interesting pieces. To read the interview, click here.

I want to thank Matthew again for the interview and for spreading the good word of the Devil's Weed. So long for now.

Saludos,
Luis

A Nice Tight Review

2009-08-27T15:22:00.006-05:00

Greetings Friends,

The cigar blog that posts reviews about cigars and other industry-worthy news known as Nice Tight Ash (@NiceTightAsh on Twitter) has just added a video reviewing our Devil's Weed Cabinet Selection Raleigh (our robusto, 5x50). We at Molina Cigar would like to thank Charlie (the reviewer and @mountchuck on Twitter), and all the guys at Nice Tight Ash (@tight_ash, @bulldogrifleman, and @btmisles). Take a look at the video review below.

Click here for the actual video on their website, and I highly recommend checking out this cigar blog. It is well laid out, clean and informative. Brothers of the leaf like these keep the cigar industry fresh and invigorated. Thanks again, fellas, and I look forward to other reviews and posts!

Saludos,
Luis

AP Story on the Increase in Home-Growing Tabaco

2009-08-19T23:51:00.004-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Maybe we are so far ahead of the curve or maybe citizens are so fed up with high taxes on cigars and other tobacco products that the Associated Press (AP) just released a story about the increasing trend of Americans growing their own tobacco lately. To read the story just click here.

Let's hope the feds do not make home-growing illegal. But they should know that the more they tax a particular item, the more dire consequences they cause (namely a large loss of tax revenue and/or a large loss of revenue from American business).

Regarding the same subject, if you're wondering why we have not posted any recent updates about the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, there is a reason and namely that is because our digital camera broke and we have yet to replace it. But just know that as of Day 121, the plants are about 3 feet high and have had plenty of small caterpillars and eggs taken from them. Those pests are persistent!

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 104

2009-08-02T18:09:00.012-05:00

Day 104. A voracious tabaco-consuming caterpillar.

Greetings Friends,

Today's post will reinforce to you Green Thumbs what can happen to your crop if you don't keep constant vigil.

Before we describe the dangers of a ruined crop let us give you an update of our experimental plot. We are in the midst of a typical New Orleanian summer pattern: hot and humid days with a temporary downpour (usually in the afternoon). As a result, we haven't had to spend money (or time) on watering the crop. In addition, the water quality is better than tap. It is amazing to literally watch the growth of these plants. Unfortunately, the wind can pick up before a downpour and some of the plants get turned over. However, the plants that bend in the wind correct themselves and begin to grow straight again. Take a look at the pictures to see the progress.

Day 104. Full-view of the crop.

Day 104. The Eastern Half.

Day 104. The Western Half.

Day 104. The MVP is about 9 inches in height.

And now to illustrate to you faithful some of the dangers of gardening (especially if you take the organic route of farming). FYI, the plant shown here is one that has grown in the backyard since last November. It is well over 7 feet tall and has already flowered. Anyway, pests are a constant danger to your tabaco plants and are a fine food for many caterpillars and other bugs. I took a look at the plant today and found about 5 caterpillars of the same species, each in a different stage of its life cycle before the cocoon stage. I am not sure what species this is but can only guess it is a type of butterfly. If any of you DW faithful know what species this is, let us know in the comments section.

First, if you find a small globe on a leaf, this is an egg. This is the time to prevent any damage to your plant. Get rid of it or transplant the egg to another spot (if you're the PETA type). A butterfly or moth has just laid an egg on top of the food source for the caterpillar that will soon hatch. Once it hatches, the particular species likes to eat the leaves of the plant. If left alone, entire leaves can disappear thus decreasing your harvest yield for fine smoking tabaco. This species, once hatched, has a spiky thorn on its backside (most probably for protection and defense). The more it eats, the faster and larger it grows. The largest one I found today is about 3 inches long. This particular caterpillar is actually quite an interesting specimen.

I have yet to see its cocoon stage and can only guess it will form the cocoon somewhere on the plant. I am letting these pests stay here so as not to lead them on to our fledgling crop. Again, a little oversight goes a long way in yielding a successful tabaco crop. Take a look at the caterpillars below.

Day 104. A caterpillar egg lying on its food source. Smart mom.

Day 104. A newly-hatched caterpillar. About 1/4 inch in length. Notice the hole it ate in the leaf.

Day 104. A medium-sized specimen.

Day 104. A full-grown caterpillar. Next is cocoon time.

Day 104. The damage these guys can wreak.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 100

2009-07-29T12:45:00.001-05:00

Day 100. A close-up of a fine specimen.

Greetings Friends,

It is Day 100 of the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment and we are still here and thriving. It is safe to say that the transplanting was a success. The tabaco plants have grown tremendously since the last post (6 days ago) so this means that the roots have taken hold of their new terrain. It has also rained the last 4 days so the plants are receiving good natural water and thus have exploded in size. Everyday, I am inspecting whether there are any signs of pests and, luckily, the plants have not been discovered by herbivorous insects.

Now as long as there aren't any major storms or wind, insects or other acts of nature to damage the plants, we can expect to harvest the leaves for smoking consumption in another 45 to 60 days. The "drainage system" works well and we can expect a great harvest. Now we play the waiting game and smoke some cigars (preferably Devil's Weed cigars) as we watch the tabaco plants grow! Take a look at the photos.

Day 100. Field-view of the crop. Nice.

Day 100. Western-half of the crop.

Day 100. Eastern-half of the crop.

Day 100. Is this the MVP?

Day 100. Or is this plant the MVP?

In case, you couldn't tell which of the photos was the long-running holder of the MVP, it was the first one. All the plants are getting plenty of water, nutrients and space for the roots to thrive that nearly all are MVPs.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 94

2009-07-23T16:15:00.014-05:00

Day 93. Tabaco in the rain.

Greetings Friends,

Today marks the 2nd day since we transplanted the tabaco plants to the garden plot in our backyard and the specimens seem to be doing fine so far. Yesterday (Day 93) was a little worrisome since a shower passed through the area and I wasn't sure how the transplants would respond so soon after transfer. In the end, they were fine.

I failed to mention in the last post a little tip regarding the laying of the ground tarp. In order to maximize the use and control of water, I recommend punching a few holes in the "valleys" of the ground tarp. This way the water that is collected from rain is drained and absorbed into the soil which will in turn be absorbed by the tabaco roots. Otherwise the water will just stay, stagnate and create a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

At this stage of tabaco cultivation by the professional commercial growers, it is ideal that the plant does not receive water directly onto the leaves. It is better if the plant absorbs the water from the ground via its roots. Why is that you ask? Water applied onto the leaves can result in water spots and commercial growers try to avoid this since the goal of tabaco cultivation is to have the highest wrapper yield (the most profitable grade due to its high aesthetics). But again, since this experiment is only teaching you how to grow tabaco for your own use, it is entirely up to you how you are to water the plants (as long as they receive some H2O).

Moreover, you want to be sure to not over-water the plants because if they absorb too much, then the leaves can wilt due to the oversaturation. (Again, I suppose if you do not care about wrapper yields, it may not matter if your leaves have some slight damage due to wilting). The commercial growers in Central America call the tabaco plants that have received too much water and result in wilted leaves drunk tabaco. In addition, too much water can also result in mold or fungal growth. Just be sure to monitor the condition of your crop.

Enjoy the pictures as we took some during the shower on Day 93 and the drier aftermath on Day 94.

Day 93. Singin' in the rain.

Day 93. Notice the valley collecting the rainwater.

Day 93. Ah, refreshing.

Day 93. Close-up.

Day 93. Watch the wilting.

Day 93. Drying off.

Day 93. Let the growing commence.

Day 94. Overall crop view. Notice the drainage from the valleys has occurred.

Day 94. Wilting can occur from too much heat or water. Take care!

Day 94. Not bad.

Day 94.

Saludos,

Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 92

2009-07-21T13:10:00.002-05:00

Day 92. A couple of happy tabaco plants.

Greetings Friends,

We have just completed an all-important step in the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment: transplanting. We will divide this entry into 2 parts for a simpler illustration: 1. preparation of the land and 2. transplanting. Enjoy the read!

Preparation of the Land:

As I mentioned yesterday, the preparation for the actual plot of land to contain the tabaco plants was done around Day 30. The first step at this stage is to choose the part of your backyard that is to be used as a garden. The highest part of the backyard is ideal but more importantly, the area has to have plenty of sunlight and no aerial obstructions. Next, if the chosen area is just dirt, you're good. Otherwise, if your situation was like mine, there was grass. If this is the case, then I recommend a good plower or other similar gardening equipment to pull out the grass and expose the soil. In my case, I went old-school and used a shovel to lift out the top-layer of grass. After some back-breaking work, I tilled the soil so that there were a series of "valleys" and "mountains". As you can see in the illustration below, this layout is ideal as it allows for water to be contained and not flood the tabaco plants in case you are hit with a shower storm or two. The plants will be placed on top of the "mountain" for maximum protection. Next (although not necessary), I placed a garden picket fence around the border of the plot. I was forced to do this as we have a couple of Labs that like to roam the backyard. If you do not have dogs or other backyard pets, this is not necessary (but it is still good form).

The steps up to this point were actually done last year when I used this layout for the last growing season. What I did on Day 30 of the GABTE was this next step: laying down the black "garbage bag" plastic tarp on the ground. Although this step is not necessary as well, I highly recommend implementing this cover. Reason One: you do not have to worry about weeds and pulling out weeds so often. The tarp kills off and prevents any grass, weeds or other plants from growing underneath its surface (the reason I do this early on is to deprive sunlight to any grass and weeds on the plot and to let them die off and ferment before we transplant our tabaco plants). Reason Two: the tarp is able to contain and store water from a shower or hosing session. Reason Three: the likelihood of any pests getting to your plants is lower. Many strawberry farmers use this tactic to grow their fruits (especially here in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, the strawberry capital) for the previous reasons and also to retain heat in the ground. Again, this step is not mandatory but it helps you out in the long run.

Take a look below at the cross-section of the plot to better understand how we will prepare our plot.

Cross-section of tabaco plot.

As far as the dimensions and where we will physically place the plants, look below at the bird's-eye view of the plot. It is important to leave enough space in between plants so that each can develop in peace and quiet without infringing on the next plant's space and nutrients. Notice that we leave about 4 feet between plants in the same column and when we look at column-to-column, we stagger the placement of the plants (like many houses that use brick on their facades). This is illustrated by the dotted lines "connecting" every other column. I have also left some space between the plants and the fence (if you decide to use a protective barrier of some kind).

In the end, the preparation is rather simple but very important. Once we transplant, expect an exponential growth rate from these "unconfined" plants. I have noticed that the growth rate of tabaco can be controlled by how long and in what size container you place the plants. Since the root system of tabaco grows out extensively, once the roots hit a boundary, the plant does not grow as much. I believe we could have shaved off 2 weeks in this experiment if I transplanted the tabaco earlier and if I transplanted the seedlings from the common plastic bin (during germination) to each individual plastic container earlier, as well. However, I left the plants as long as I did for their protection. Regardless, we are here now and ready for the transplant.

Bird's-Eye View of the tabaco plot.

Transplanting:

After checking the prepared plot of backyard, I was ready to transplant the all-stars. I recommend doing this step at dawn or dusk so the plants don't have to worry about the daytime heat of the sun (this step is a stressor for the tabaco anyway; plus you are more comfortable as well). I water the plants in their containers so that when I actually pull out the plants, it is easier and the plants are held intact.

Day 92. One quick survey of the plot.

Day 92. The plants are ready.

According to the drawn layout, I go to the spot where the transplanting process is to occur. Secondly, I use a small gardening hoe to cut out a small hole in the trap. This is where the plant will be placed. Next, I dig out enough soil so the plant (with its container soil) can be placed level with the ground. After the ground is prepared, I carefully dig out the tabaco plant from its plastic container. Do not worry if some soil is left behind with leftover roots. The plant has a dense root structure. Next, I place the plant in the hole and pack the soil around it in place. This keeps the plant intact and secure.

I repeat these steps with the other plants and lay them out according to the plan. When I am done, I lightly hose the plants with water (not putting the stream into direct contact with the tabaco but rather letting the ground around the plant absorb the water). From this point on, when you water the plants, it is better to water them in this way. Water spots are more likely to form on the leaves if you water directly onto the leaves.

From here on out, the growth rate should be quick. As long as the soil is moist, the bugs are kept at bay and the plants get an adequate amount of sunlight, the crop will be plentiful and the leaves thick. Stay tuned for updates regarding the open-field growing stage. Happy planting!

Day 92. Ready for liftoff.

Day 92. Pierce the tarp for plant entry.

Day 92. Opening the entry.

Day 92. The open hole.

Day 92. Dig out some soil for the plant.

Day 92. Taking out the plant.

Day 92. High above ground in a ball of soil.

Day 92. Notice the impressive root structure.

Day 92. Packing the soil to secure the plant.

Day 92. This is the last home for the tabaco plant.

Day 92. Another successful patient.

Day 92. Expect major and fast growth now.

Day 92. An illustration on the "staggering" placement of the plants.

Day 92. The all-stars have been transplanted.

Day 92. Full-view of the crop.

Day 92. Another angle of the plot.

Day 92. A job well done.

Saludos,

Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 91

2009-07-20T14:27:00.007-05:00

Day 91. A curious toad enjoys the tabaco garden plot.

Greetings Friends,

And so we have just completed three full months in our humble project, the Great American Tabaco Experiment, and we are ready for the next stage: Transplanting. This will be done tomorrow but we wanted to show you the progress up until this next step. The plants are about 5 to 6 inches in height and should withstand the inherent stress that comes with this stage.

Take a look at the plants and their healthy state. With every new level of leaves that appears, comes thicker and greener leaves. Many of the leaves at the bottom (the first leaves to appear) of the plant are becoming lighter (whiter) as they are deprived of sunlight. This is natural and I recommend pruning/picking them off if they are too weakly. This assures that the energy going into the plant from the roots (from water and soil) is allocated to the strong and newer leaves.

The last photo is of the plot of the backyard that will contain the tabaco plants until they mature and its smokeable leaves are ready for harvest. I will go into more detail tomorrow, but essentially I wanted to show you how it looks and what the plants can expect. On a side-note, I began preparing this plot on Day 30 and this is what it looks like today. But as I said I will go into more detail tomorrow; as a matter of fact you can expect tomorrow's post to be separated into 2 parts: 1. how to prepare the plot of land that you will use to grow tabaco plants and 2. the actual transplanting steps. Important stuff so stay tuned and enjoy these pictures. Oh and that toad you saw in the beginning of the post was pretty friendly. I just hope I don't catch any warts.

Day 91. One more day until transplant day.

Day 91. The first group looks good.

Day 91. The second group looks good.

Day 91. The third group looks good.

Day 91. The prepared plot that will be the site for the mature tabaco plants.

Saludos,

Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 86

2009-07-15T12:22:00.007-05:00

Day 86. I'm ready for my close-up.

Greetings Friends,

Another week has gone by and the progress continues. These plants have more than doubled in size and they seem eager to be transplanted to the open backyard. And thus, our little project, the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, continues its straight course. The plants average a height of about 5 inches and they are a healthy green color with thick leaves. In terms of maintenance, not much has changed . I check the plants at least twice a day (once in the morning and one more time in the afternoon or early evening), make sure the soil is hydrated, and see that pests are not present.

There have been no problems except that the area has not seen showers so I am forced to water the plants everyday. I have also taken the tarp off the last 2 days to see how the plants respond to direct sunlight. I saw some slight wilting this afternoon but nothing major. I am doing this to prepare the plants when I transplant them and leave them out in the open backyard. At this point, you will definitely see an exponential increase in growth (as the roots are not constricted to any closed-off area). You can see that the roots right now are dense and even showing themselves at the surface.

I had originally planned to transplant them by this point but maybe I will wait until this weekend as this will leave the plants with enough time to acclimate to life without the shade-tarp. Before then, I will add a post about how the area of the backyard is to be prepared for your tabaco garden. So until the next post regarding the GABTE, check out the photos taken on Day 86.

Day 86. The All-Stars.

Day 86. The guys in the middle are standing straight.

Day 86. The MVP (in the back) is getting some competition.

Day 86.

Saludos,

Luis

Devil's Weed Merchandise powered by CafePress

2009-07-13T20:33:00.011-05:00

Greetings Friends,

as if a couple of DW threads weren't enough, we at Molina Cigar Company have decided to satiate those who crave more DW-labeled items. Thanks to CafePress.com, we are able to offer some cool extras for you fans. Besides the plethora of shirts (Tees, golf shirts, ladies, etc), we are offering clocks, mugs (including a cool stein for those beer aficionados), a dog shirt, buttons, postcards, a great print of our Discovery Scene and magnets. Click here to visit our official shop. Check out pictures of some samples.

The classic cool tee.

Swing the golf club with this DW polo.

We didn't forget you ladies!

Be the cool kid this fall/winter season!

What better way to carry your boxes of Devil's Weed!

A great way to pair your coffee and a DW Cabinet.

Ordering product is smooth and easy and since we have our own online shop, you can rest assure that you will receive authentic officially-licensed Devil's Weed product. Be sure to look at a couple of our "surprise" items. Enjoy and sport your love for the cigar with any of the DW merch! Especially if your girlfriend wears a thong. Yeah, we have DW-branded thongs, too.

Saludos,

Luis

Devil's Weed O.S. T-Shirt

2009-07-08T01:02:00.009-05:00

"Original Style" Tee on a Smoke-Grey background (Click to enlarge)

Greetings Friends,

I wanted to quickly notify all that we are offering a new Devil's Weed T-shirt which is called the "Original Style" (or O.S. for those abbreviation-savants). Like our first shirt (the "Crown-Style" Tee) the Original Style is a comfortable 100% pre-shrunk cotton shirt that will announce to the world of your support of not only Devil's Weed, but of the handmade cigar. The shirt color is a smoke-gray (no pun intended) color and the text is a brighter ash-white (I can go all day). They come in L, XL, 2X and 3X. You can purchase these shirts by clicking the checkout button on the side of this blog or you can email us at blog@molinacigar.com for an order.

The MSRP will be $24.95 plus 3.95 shipping and handling for every order (even if you order multiple shirts). Or request the shirts from your tobacconist for better pricing! Thanks and let us know what you think of the O.S.!

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 73

2009-07-01T23:14:00.018-05:00

Day 72. The results of 1 day without water. Beware!

Greetings Friends,

Here is the latest update of our Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment which features the events from Day 72 and Day 73. Enjoy!

Day 72:

The past few days have been great for the growth of the plants and it finally rained one day (although we have been watering everyday except on this day). So here is some evidence of what happens when these plants in very hot weather go without water for one day: they can wilt dramatically to protect themselves from the heat. Again, tabaco is a water hog and loves the stuff so make sure they're hydrated especially at this stage. Don't worry though; I watered them late in the afternoon and expect the plants to straighten right back into shape by tomorrow. Any further delay without water however would certainly have caused severe damage; so remember to always keep the soil in these containers moist.

Day 72. Wow! The MVP has let his leaves down to escape the heat.

Day 72. Remember to love your tabaco plants. Water them!

Day 72. The remains of the fallen. RIP, sprout.

Day 72. Now we wait to see the rise of the thirsty...

Day 73:

And so to no surprise, the plants are alive and doing well. Look at the growth of them all. I anticipate that another 8 - 15 days will suffice for the final transplanting out to the open field. The goal is for each plant to be at least 6 inches tall so that they will be strong enough to develop fully out in the open heat. The MVP which showed the most dramatic effects after receiving water is standing straight today and looks taller than before (he's about 4 inches tall right now), but the other plants are also doing well and have seen dramatic growth. Even the guy who had some caterpillar damage has new leaves and offshoots. The GABTE is going well right now and the forecast calls for a good transplanting. Until next time, get out there and grow your own!

Day 73. The All-Stars jump back!

Day 73. In the left corner...

Day 73. In the middle ring...

Day 73. In the right corner...

Day 73. The MVP is up and running again.

Day 73. Grow and prosper.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 68

2009-06-27T18:12:00.013-05:00

Day 68. An example of the great growth thus far.

Greetings Friends,

The transfer has been a success for the most part. Any time you transplant/transfer plants, the shock is a stressor and can kill a plant (especially if the plants are very young). This post features pictures and notes from Day 64 and Day 68. Enjoy the update!

Day 64:

This past week saw record-breaking high temperatures in the Greater New Orleans area so it was imperative to keep a close watch on the tabaco plants. Even though tabaco thrives in hot and tropical climates, these plants are still young and the heat should be minimized.

The tarp definitely helped out, but it was important to make sure the plants had water at all times. On Day 62, the plants did not receive water and it showed. Unfortunately, I do not have pictures but little guys were wilting and not as green. However, everyday after, I made sure that the plants had plenty of the H2O and by Day 64, the plants were growing fast and getting greener. The only plant that caused some concern was the guy on the lower-right hand corner and I knew he was struggling and might not make it. Check out the photos.

Day 64. Looking good even in the 100+ degree weather.

Day 64. Notice even that the MVP shows signs of wilting in the extreme heat.

Day 64. Grow baby grow.

Day 64. This guy is growing even with some of the prior caterpillar damage.

Day 68:

Wow! Constant watering and vigilance pays off. Even though we are not talking about a lot of water (about a 16 oz bottled water's worth per day spread among the three trays), if the plants are well-hydrated, nature will take care of the rest. It is amazing to see how rapidly they are growing; new shoots and leaves are appearing and they are growing fast! The MVP is about 4 inches tall now and the green is very deep right now. Unfortunately, there is one plant that did not make it. I deduce that the combination of transferal, the heat and how small it was caused the plant to wither and die. But all is well otherwise. The remaining 11 plants should suffice and result in a good crop regardless. Also, there have been no signs of any caterpillars or other pests so the plants have been able to thrive.

Check out the blog next week for an update as we continue the Great American Tabaco Experiment.

Day 68. What progress...

Day 68. A nice specimen.

Day 68. Notice the little leaf in the center that is appearing.

Day 68. The MVP.

Day 68. Even with the heat, the leaves do not wilt as much during the day.

Day 68. This guy did not make it.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 59

2009-06-18T15:22:00.028-05:00

Day 43. An example of a tabaco pest. Damn caterpillar.

Greetings friends,

As I mentioned last time regarding our little experiment, you must maintain a constant watch to protect your tabaco crop. In this post I will give you a quick summary from Day 43, Day 49 and Day 59. Enjoy the stories and the pictures from each of these updates.

Day 43:

Here we go again! I found some more evidence of pest damage. I quickly scanned through the plants but these caterpillars are well-camouflaged. (I suppose they have to be as they are prey for birds). I found 4 and quickly disposed of them. You can see an example of one at the beginning of the post. If you miss even one, your plants are in danger, so again, either inspect your plants regularly or use insecticide (but you all know my thoughts on the latter option). Anyway, there were plenty of plants that survived. This is the reason tabaco has evolved over time to produce so many seeds. The probability of just one surviving from seed to mature flowering plant is low, so the plant produces thousands and thousands of seeds. And so after cleaning house (or garden), I wait for the plants to grow some more.

Day 43. Some damage but not too bad.

Day 43. A survivor.

Day 43. A nice survivor.

Day 43. A victim. Or two. Or three. Or...

Day 49:

By this time the sprouts have had a chance to recover from the caterpillar damage and have regained their color and strength. Again, all I did was check on the plants at least once a day. I personally checked the plants once in the morning and once at dusk. Any hint of damage resulted in me scouring for pests. I found a couple today and quickly terminated them. I apologize, PETA...not. Anyhow, at this point I felt that in another week, the plants would be strong enough for transfer to individual containers.

Day 49. Greener and denser.

Day 49. The MVP is doing well. Notice the veins.

Day 49. A nice scene.

Day 49. A healthy return.

Day 59:

We have approached the day of transfer. Selection Sunday! (well today is Thursday, but I love March Madness). Not to be confused with transplanting to the open field, transferring is quite simple. What I did today was choose the best-looking candidates from the hundreds of sprouts. I do this so that the plants can have a few more days under their belts and be strong enough to survive the hot, open weather. All I did was inspect each potential candidate and if it looked healthy, strong and green and without damage, I delicately pinched the sprout from the base and dug my fingers beneath the soil and pulled it from the container. TIP: Moistening the soil before pulling the sprouts causes less damage to the plant and root system.

I had soil containers ready (you can buy these at any garden center or Home Depot) filled with the backyard soil (this helps reduce shock to the plant during the transplanting step) and gently planted the sprout. What you have to notice during transfer is the root structure of each tabaco plant. It is simply amazing. Tabaco by its nature is a nutrient-water-hog. Tabaco loves to take from the earth as is evidenced by the impressively abundant root systems.

All-in-all, there were 12 plants that I chose. After transfer was complete, I put the little guys back on the table out back, added life-sustaining water and covered the plants using the homemade see-through tarp. Now that there are less plants from the hundreds that were available, it is even more essential that I maintain a constant watch. At this point the VIPs should thrive as each has its own container of soil and is not competing with crowded neighboring plants. I will let these plants stay as they are anywhere from 10-15 days before we transplant out to the open "field" (ahem, I mean backyard).

It is very hot right now, so the tarp is important in providing shade, but every day these plants survive only makes them stronger. Until next update, check out the Day 59 pictures and let us know what you think. Hopefully, we have inspired a few of you to catch that greenthumb and begin your own tabaco crops.

Day 59. Bird's eye view before we transfer.

Day 59. The best sprout. The MVP.

Day 59. Some nice specimens.

Day 59. Prepping up for Selection (sun)Day.

Day 59. A chosen sprout is up-rooted for transfer.

Day 59. Look at the root system!

Day 59. Going into the soil.

Day 59. The All-Stars have been chosen and transferred to individual containers.

Day 59. Creme de le creme each in its own container.

Day 59. Back to the shade.

Saludos,

Luis

WWNO: WTC of New Orleans Examines Trade with Cuba

2009-06-09T19:14:00.005-05:00

WWNO: World Trade Center of New Orleans Examines Trade with Cuba (2009-06-01)

Click the above link to read the report concerning a possible trade relationship between Cuba and the States (particularly how Louisiana plays into this).

Source: WWNO.com

Belicoso Brothers Interview

2009-06-09T15:03:00.003-05:00

Greetings Friends,

I had the opportunity to speak to Zach at the cigar-related website and podcast site called Belicoso Brother's Cigarcast. He interviewed me last week and we chatted all things cigars and Devil's Weed. It was a treat and as I told him during the interview, it is nice to see cigar aficionados like him and his partner-in-crime, Peter, create and maintain these type of websites. They are integral in spreading the good word of the cigar and they inform other interested cigar smokers about our industry and culture. And since the creators are part of the younger generation of smokers, they are important in continuing the tradition of cigar-smoking. Their website also includes a blog. It's a beautiful thing, so listen to what these geometrically-inclined cats have to say.

To check out their website click here or to download the Itunes podcast which aired our interview, click here (episode number 2).

Good luck, Belicoso Brothers, and keep up the great work!

Saludos,

Luis

DogWatch Social Club Interview

2009-06-08T18:55:00.003-05:00

Greetings Friends,

We at Molina Cigar Co. and Devil's Weed wanted to inform you of our interview with Bob at the all-informative DogWatch Social Club (Cigar Radio) website. If you would like to see the summary of the show and listen to our interview click here and scroll down to Show #221 (May 9, 2009). Or if you would like to download the show (caution: it's a big file), then click here.

Devil's Weed LP-1803 was also featured as the cigar of the month for these guys so we are very honored. Check out this website if you haven't and stay informed about the cigar industry's latest news, updates and features. Thanks again to Bob and Dale at DogWatch Cigar Radio!

Saludos,
Luis

Smoking Ban in LA Fails!

2009-06-02T16:00:00.004-05:00

A bill to ban smoking in Louisiana bars and gambling facilities failed to pass the House 29-71. For continuing coverage on this breaking news event, please refer to http://www.wwltv.com.

At least Louisiana politicians have not totally lost their minds.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 37

2009-05-27T13:55:00.009-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Day 36. Some of these sprouts are fine, but look at some of the damage.

It has been close to 2 weeks since our last update regarding the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment but we are back. It is Day 37 and boy has there been a hard lesson learned and this is it: if you do not maintain a constant vigilance on your crop, then expect the plants to be subject to the harsh elements. I was out of town the last 11 days so I wasn't able to check on the fledgling plants. Before my departure, I watered the plants and I put the holding container under my outdoor patio to protect them from any strong rain.

On my return, however, this was not enough. First of all many of the plants lost their lush green color because of the lack of sunlight (Botany 101: plants need the sun light to produce chlorophyll which accounts for a plant's green color; a lack of sunlight, causes a plant to turn white and eventually die). Secondly, a pest or two did major damage to the majority of the plants. Many of the little sprouts have disappeared and some larger plants have had leaves subject to a fine meal. Now, I did not want to use any sprays or insect repellents on the plants so I know this could have been an issue, but the first few weeks that saw my supervision may have prevented any major insect intrusion. I could have taken natural steps to prevent any further damage on first sight (for example, ladybugs are great defenders of crops; they eat plant-eating pests and they themselves do not have a desire for tabaco. Also, pouring a boundary line of salt around the perimeter of the plants creates a barrier for small slugs and other ground insects from entering the breeding grounds).

Anyway, upon my return, I put the plants in the sunlight and watered them again and hopefully the ones that made it (I should have enough for a dozen good ones) will make a fine recovery. But, man, what a scare when I saw the sprouts! Take a look at the damage below, friends, and remember: if you are going to grow your own tabaco, do not ignore the little guys. They can be fragile but with a little supervision, this is no sweat.

At this point, I will let the plants recover for about 7 days (at most) before we select the creme de la creme for transplanting each plant into its own individual containers to allow further growth.

And I learned that when I leave for a long duration, I will have to hire a tabaco nanny.

Day 36. Upon my return, the density is not as high as it should have been.

Day 36. The hot spot has seen some stress.

Day 36. Don't worry little guys, we'll survive this.

Day 37. Even one day sees a slight improvement, but we're not out yet.

Day 37. Here are a few good candidates for transplanting.

Day 37.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 26

2009-05-16T22:13:00.006-05:00

Greetings Friends,

On Day 26, I have some good news and bad news regarding the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment. The bad news is that some of the seedlings seem to have been targets for some voracious plant-eating insects (probably the same ones that love your backyard tomatoes). The good news is that the damage wasn't too bad and there are still scores and scores that are untouched. I suppose that is why tabaco plants produce so many seeds: the odds of a plant surviving to produce its own seeds is small (there are many insects that love to feed on them and mold and other diseases are always a threat). I refuse to use sprays or other artificial means to keep away pests. I hate the stuff and I feel the plants that survive naturally will produce seeds that I would want to collect anyway (in other words, I am implementing a sort of selective selection in order to breed plants that exhibit strong and desirable characteristics, i.e. disease-resistant and insect-resistant plants; step aside Darwin).

I will gather some information concerning these issues from a tabaco master later this week. Details will come in over a week as I may not have access to a computer (hint, hint). But don't worry my fellow faithful of the DW...we will provide details when they come available. In the meanwhile, check out these pictures of Day 26 that I took earlier in the day.

Day 26. The top view. Becoming dense.

Day 26. The strong one is getting company. Notice the plants are leaning towards the left. They are following the path of the sun.

Day 26. The hot spot is getting larger and larger. Which plants will make the cut?

Day 26. Makes you want to cry, huh?

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 22

2009-05-12T11:59:00.018-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Boy do we have plenty of pictures for you today! Our little experiment is going fine and the weather here has been fantastic for growing tabaco. It has been a little hotter than what is ideal for the plants but the tarp provides the right amount of sunlight needed for the growing sprouts without having them shrivel. I rigged the shade tarp by cutting some tarp material that you can buy at Home Depot or Lowe's and affixing two slim pieces of wood to provide some support. Then I put a stick in the center of the container to provide the support for the "tent" that is to go up. So essentially I have built a mini circus top or tee-pee and this is great to keep out most of the pests and to block the extra sunlight all around the perimeter.

We have profiled the setup from Days 18, 19, 21, and 22 (today). What I have learned is that during these days you see very noticeable changes in the growth of these plants. Today I saw a sprout that has 2 levels of leaves! As I have mentioned before, I don't know what we're going to do with the extra plants. Maybe I can be the next Johnny Tabacoseed and plant the tabaco sprouts all over the city! Check out the pictures. If you would to see a close-up of any picture, just click on it.

Day 18, the top view.

Day 18, the biggest sprout is on the top right-hand corner of the diagonal front of sprouts.

Day 18, the hot spot.

Day 18, under the tarp.

Day 19, the top view.

Day 19, the hot spot. You can see the middle stick which provides support for the tarp in the background.

Day 19, the strong plant.

Day 19.

Day 21, the top view.

Day 21, the hot spot.

Day 21, the strong one is getting some company.

Day 21, here is the circus top. Nice.

Day 22, the top view.

Day 22, the hot spot is showing dramatic growth.

Day 22, the strong one and company.

Day 22, I wonder if tabaco sprouts can be used in a salad. Hmm.

Saludos,

Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 16

2009-05-06T22:59:00.013-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Check out these pictures which include photos from Day 12, 15 and 16 of the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment. I am happy to say it is going effortlessly and better than expected. Better than expected because more tabaco sprouts are appearing than I had first forecast. These seeds are over a year old and I was afraid many may have "died" thus I overplanted to compensate. Boy, was I wrong. There is also a picture of my homemade shade tarp that I use on extremely hot and sunny days. This is to protect the sprouts from shriveling and drying out. Anyway, I check the sprouts everyday waiting impatiently for the "separation" stage at which point I will choose the best dozen or more tabaco seedlings so that each can grow in its own container. Come back for more updates!

Day 12. The homemade shade-tarp covers the sprouts.

Day 12. The original areas of concentration see more growth.

Day 12. They are growing!

Day 15. Now more areas are seeing sprouts! What a difference 3 days makes.

Day 15. A hot spot.

Day 16. I spotted this blue jay eyeing my sprouts. It was on the table looking like it wanted to ravage the little guys on the previous day.

Day 16. The top view sees an explosion in sprouts.

Day 16. The hot spot is growing.

Day 16. What a view as new sprouts pop up.

Saludos,

Luis

The Herf on Harang 2009

2009-05-06T22:34:00.011-05:00

Greetings Friends,

here are some pictures of the herf that Cigar Weekly's own Thomas Bender (TommyBB) hosted at his house this past Saturday, May 2. He graciously opens his home to the cigar-smoking elite that is CW every spring and he throws on a mean crawfish boil complete with snacks and suds! I look forward to this event every year and it is always a pleasure chatting it up with the crew that makes it down to NOLA. I went this year with my buddy, Mike (who is mtusa312). I was also able to pass out some sticks of Devil's Weed to my dear friends. (Last year, they missed our first shipment by a week!) It is always great to hear their opinions about and their take on the industry and personal reviews regarding other cigars. Boy, do they have excellent palates! Thanks again to TommyBB and Mrs. TommyBB. Can't wait until next year!

The crawfish boiling technicians are hard at work.

The gang is foaming at the mouth to dig in!

A typical New Orleanian crawfish pile!

Saludos,
Luis (Mr. Puro)

Tinderbox Metairie Event

2009-05-06T22:07:00.016-05:00

Greetings Friends,

I wanted to post some pictures of the event we had in Tinderbox Metairie's store on April 23, 2009. Thanks to Joe, Larry, Bill and Ed for hosting us and making this event successful. It was a pleasure meeting the great customers at Tinderbox Metairie and we hope to come back soon! By the way, the Scotch was a nice complement with a stick of Devil's Weed.

Spreading the good word of the leaf at TB. I especially like the anti-smoking sign next to ours.

Whew! Mr. Lee gives his approval of Devil's Weed!

Getting the scoop with a cigar in hand.

Out of focus, but loving the DW.

Helping answer some questions.

The security guard is making sure everyone is smoking.

He told me he was going to smoke a DW after his pipe session.

Light it up!

The crowd is enjoying it!

Oh, the shenanigans at Tinderbox!

Some Devil's Weed T-shirt winners.

The gentlemen of Tinderbox Metairie

Saludos,

Luis

Passing out Virtual Cigars on FB

2009-05-05T16:51:00.004-05:00

Greetings Friends,

here is another Facebook application we wanted to share with you. It is called Excellent Cigars. Essentially, you pick out cigars or accessories and choose which Facebook friends you would like to receive the gift. Mind you they aren't real but they do let your friends know that you care enough for them to pass out virtual smokes. And be sure to pass out Devil's Weed sticks on here as we are featured as well! Click here to take a break with a virtual Devil's Weed cigar! Thanks to Andrew Kolesar who created this application and graciously added us here!

Saludos,

Luis

Louisiana for Fair Tobacco Reform

2009-05-05T16:30:00.005-05:00

Greetings Friends,

please join this cause on Facebook called Louisiana for Fair Tobacco Reform. These smoking bans are too draconian and now Louisiana, a state that has usually advocated individual choice, wants to ban smoking in all indoor places except casinos and smoke shops. We at Molina Cigar Co. believe it should be up to each individual business owner what to do with his or her establishment. The government should stay out of our affairs! Join this group and spread the word! Or visit their official website here.

What else can you do? If you are a Louisiana resident, call your rep and let him or her know that you oppose these smoking bans! Let your voice be heard!

Saludos,

Luis

2009-05-02T01:23:00.006-05:00

First Mobile Post

Greetings Friends,

This post is our first attempt at mobile blogging. This will provide useful when we can't get to a computer. -Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 10

2009-04-30T10:44:00.009-05:00

Day 8 shows the first signs of germination

Greetings Friends,

it has been a treat to watch the process of life unfold before our very eyes especially when the subject is a tabaco plant. The first few steps of germination and sprouting have already begun by Day 10 of our project, the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment. It is amazing how the handmade cigar starts as an infinitely tiny object: a tabaco seed (which is no larger than the head of a pin). Even the sprouts are delicate and small requiring that the gardener keep a constant vigil in order to protect the plants from the harsh elements. Anyway, we wanted to post some pictures of the progress of our experiment and to show you how simple it is to grow your own tabaco. Come back for more updates!

Day 8. The strongest plant at this point already has its 1st 2 leaves. Can you see it?

Day 10. The 2 highlighted areas show the most growth right now.

Day 10. Notice the amount of sprouts and growth just seen in 2 days!

Saludos,

Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 1

2009-04-21T19:19:00.011-05:00

Greetings Friends,

To underscore our obsession with the history, culture and processes of the great cigar industry, we at Molina Cigar Company would like to show you how you can grow your own tabaco for personal consumption... right in your own backyard. What!? Yes, yes, we admit that we are a bit obsessive but this further illustrates our passion for the great devil's weed.

But wait a minute... isn't it illegal to grow tabaco?! It depends on your state laws but federally speaking you may grow tabaco for personal consumption. If you want to sell, then you are considered a commercial grower and will need a permit from the TTB (or the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau which is part of the Department of the Treasury) for that. Don't quote us but we believe this is legal in most if not all states. I know as far as Louisiana is concerned (where we will be conducting this experiment), it is legal. Again, if you attempt to grow your own tabaco, check your state's laws, and never sell it without checking with the TTB and your state! This experiment will only result in tabaco grown for our personal consumption and not result in subsequent sales. In fact, we invite any TTB agent that would like a free sample of our crop to call us!

Now that the legal jargon is addressed, we will take pictures and update you of our step-by-step experiment. We have grown our own in years past but now want to spread the word to everyone on how easy it is to grow your own!

So Part One involves germinating the seeds. First, we get a small plastic bin that you can find in any garden center (if the economy has got you down, you can use Styrofoam cups!). We fill it with potting mix (soil with nutrients, as tabaco is a natural drainer on the soil's content), then water the soil.

Tabaco seeds are pinhead-sized, so be careful about not spilling them all over the place. For this year's crop, we went ahead with seeds that we picked from last year's crop, it is a mix of Connecticut and Havana strains that is about two generations old and has been grown in Metairie, LA. As far as we know, this may be the first Metry tabaco in years!

So next, we simply disperse seeds on top of the soil and then cover the top layer with a thin coat of soil. And voilà, there we have it! And to make it official, we knock the ash from the cigar we were smoking while planting onto the top of the moist soil for a little good luck and to add a little nutrients to the mix (although this is not necessary, we did this for a little personal tradition of ours. Ash is loaded with nutrients and may help out those sprouts that will receive the ashy goodness in this area; remember that many commercial tabaco growers plant in farms near volcanoes since the soil is loaded with nutrients from volcanic ash from the past).

Now we play the waiting game until the seeds germinate and begin sprouting.

A few pointers: be sure not to have the container/soil exposed to hot direct light. We will use a tarp/cheesecloth to let in just the right amount of sun, so the heat doesn't fry the little sprouts. Be sure not to overwater (a good mister is recommended). We put the container high above ground to deter any would-be pests from eating the tasty sprouts that will soon pop out. Tabaco is a god-send for voracious insects and they love to consume the leaves of the plants. There is a saying: if you can grow tomato plants, then you can grow tabaco. Insects love these two plants.

Before we close, here are some resources for your research. You can search the internet to find businesses that sell tabaco seeds (especially strains for growing tabaco specific for cigars) and there are forums that can advise and help you out with the details (www.howtogrowtobacco.com is a good place to start). We are simply illustrating what we are doing to grow tabaco for our own pleasure.

Email us any pictures if you decide to undertake a similar venture and we will post them here on our blog. Be sure to check here in the future for regular updates on the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment!

Saludos,
Luis

DW Tweets

2009-04-20T13:50:00.003-05:00

Greetings Friends,

I suppose we are going along with the crowd as we are announcing to you of our Twitter page. Yes, yes, we may seem pathetic but hey, for those that care what we at Molina Cigar are doing, thinking or saying at any moment, Twitter will now let you know. So if you would like to follow us, click here to go to our Twitter page. I have a feeling we will be addicts at this...

Saludos,
Luis

Devil's Weed Event at Tinder Box Metairie

2009-04-20T13:37:00.003-05:00

Greetings Friends,

We apologize for the lack of posts recently but we have much going on behind the scenes. We will keep you posted though with future updates and further details.

We just quickly wanted to announce that Tinder Box Metairie (a suburb of New Orleans, LA) will host Devil's Weed cigars for an in-store event this Thursday. We will be giving out complimentary LP-1803s. We will also give away some door prizes (like shirts and cigars) and have in-store specials and sales, so don't miss out!

If you aren't aware, Tinder Box is New Orleans' oldest active-running tobacconist and these guys have great prices and a nice selection. I used to shop here years ago before I got into the game professionally to buy my Davidoffs as they are the area's only appointed White-Label merchant. Boy, these guys are good! Anyway we can't wait to come in and chat it up with the hometown crowd. We are featuring Tinder Box Metairie as our merchant of the month so check their web page out or call and ask for Joe or Larry! We hope to see you there!

Saludos,
Luis

NERF 2009

2009-03-13T18:55:00.013-05:00

Greetings Friends,

We wanted to share with you news of a recent herf that took place in Massachusetts last Saturday. The social cigar-smoking event is called NERF (New England Herf) and this was the 8th time they held their annual forum. Devil's Weed and our local ambassador, Karl Renneker (univibe88 on many forums), were able to represent us in this event (which also raises money for charity). Karl gave out our limited blend, the LP-1803s, and raffled off some DW "crown" shirts. Click here to check out the photo gallery or scroll below to look at some sample photos.

Chuck Berry (rockridge on the forums scene) organizes this event and he wrote this email to us explaining the success of the event:

Dear NERF 2009 Supporters:

Thank you. New England Herf [NERF] 2009 was the best ever!Saturday, March 7th, the event crew squeezed in yet another 100+ capacity crowd into Churchill's Lounge in Boston and thanks to your support, we brought New England's cigar faithful the latest and best of the cigar world once again.

Karl, on right, and Greg from Lafite, LA, on left!

This year (our 8th), NERF guests represented 19 different online cigar boards! The most boards ever! NERF 2009 event photos are already posted on many of these boards, but we have collected a few of our favorites for you to enjoy:

http://alanwigderdesign.com/2009nerf

Jack Williams on left, whose charity Wednesday's Child, received proceeds from the event.

Also, CBS-TV 4 veteran news anchor Jack Williams joined the crowd. NERF 2009 raised more than $2,300.00 for Wednesday's Child, which finds adoptive homes for special needs children.

Winner of a DW shirt and a 5er of LP-1803

Many thanks again for supporting the New England Herf [NERF]. We hope you will consider supporting us again next year!

Best regards,

Chuck

Thank you, Karl, for your help and, Chuck, thank you for organizing NERF and for inviting us at Molina Cigar Company and Devil's Weed cigars. Can't wait till next year!

Saludos,
Luis

Devil's Weed Merchandise

2009-03-03T17:58:00.005-06:00

Greetings Friends,

I wanted to quickly notify all that we are starting to sell official Devil's Weed merchandise. Our first one is this "crown-style" t-shirt. They come in L, XL or XXL. These comfortable 100% pre-shrunk cotton shirts will announce to the world of your support of not only Devil's Weed, but of the handmade cigar. You can purchase these shirts quickly on eBay using PayPal or by clicking the checkout button on the side of this blog or you can email us at ebay@molinacigar.com for an order.

The MSRP will be $24.95 plus 3.95 shipping and handling but we are offering an opening special of $18.95 on eBay (with free shipping). Or request the shirts from your tobacconist for better pricing! Thanks and let us know what you think of our first shirt!

Saludos,
Luis

2008 King of Smokes Awards

2009-02-03T13:59:00.003-06:00

Greetings Friends,

We at Molina Cigar Co. wanted to inform you that the cigar blog, World of Cigars, has awarded the Devil's Weed Cabinet Selection Nicot as the #2 Best Dominican cigar for 2008 in their King of Smokes Awards. We are honored to have received this distinction and hope to produce more award-winning smokes for 2009. Thank you, World of Cigars!

Check out the post and the other award-winning cigars for 2008 right here!

Saludos,
Luis

C.I.G.A.R. / Devil's Weed Event

2009-02-02T16:58:00.017-06:00

Greetings Friends,

I wanted to post some pics and a link to a photo gallery of a cigar event we did with C.I.G.A.R., San Antonio's premier cigar shop on January 24, 2009. This was a great event and I was amazed at the layout of C.I.G.A.R.

I want to thank Allen Shelton for taking the great pictures of this event. Check out his website at www.allenshelton.com as he takes beautiful photos. And again, check out the gallery for all of the photos. Thanks, Allen!

the front part of C.I.G.A.R.'s shop

the specials for the DW event

part of the great spread

Stan, Jimmy and Joe command quite a ship and it was enlightening to talk to San Antonio's smoking crowd. The food and drinks were a welcome addition as well. We tasted our limited line, the LP-1803 (we are still backordered on our Cabinet Selection) and the people embraced this blend. Many smokers described the blend as a mild-to-medium in strength cigar with more earthy notes (cocoa and coffee were some descriptors used).

the setup for the DW AshWar contest

I also have to commend the guys for a unique side event called "AshWars." This is a mini-contest (that developed from ash-flicking wars between the staff) open to any smoker in which the contestant builds an ash and stands behind a marked line. At this time he aims for a cup (in our case, 2 pitchforks held a cup together) and flicks the ash towards the cup. The person who flicks the cigar ash in the cup wins a lottery ticket for a particular prize; during this event, only one person successfully threw an ash in the cup and won the prize.

San Antonio is lighting up the Devil's Weed

Anyhow, this was a great event and Devil's Weed is proud to partner up with C.I.G.A.R. I hope to come back soon and party with the C.I.G.A.R. crew.

Saludos,
Luis

A Customer Review

2009-01-31T11:19:00.002-06:00

Greetings Friends,

A fellow follower of the DW sent us this written review of the Cab Selection and I have forgotten to post this. Here it is regardless. Thanks again, Adrian A.!

May 1, 2008

The Devil's Weed Cigar line is made by the Molina Cigar Company. I recently had the chance to try one of these cigars and I was, frankly, quite impressed.

I tried the Colón which the website (www.molinacigar.com) touts as "the crown jewel of Devil’s Weed."

The aroma was light and pleasant. The smell gave a hint to the smoking experience I was about to enjoy. I found it to be slightly woody, nutty, toasty, creamy and, believe it or not, minty! Yes, minty, but we'll get to that later. The taste was easy and mild. Very pleasant, soothing, and tasty. Before I lit the Colón it was pleasant and light. After I lit it, it seemed to "pop" and make the aroma jump out and get noticed. The aroma matched the tastes perfectly.

The first thing you'll notice is the packaging. It comes in a paper tube instead of a cellophane wrapper. It really appealed to me. It almost look like it was gift wrapped. I'm not sure if the "gift" allusion was intentional, but their slogan says something like tobacco is God's gift to us.

The cigar was very well constructed. It has a very light brown wrapper, lighter than most connecticut wrappers I've seen. The cigar is also very tight and will need a good sharp cutter to make an even cut. Although it is a tight little bundle (Capped at both the foot and head) it has an amazingly perfect draw. That's where the mint comes in. Some cigars are so tight, it's a battle to get a good draw (think malt through a straw) Some are so loose, it's hard to tell you're smoking (think air through a straw. This was the perfect balance and drew very, very cool. I've never experienced anything like this. It gave it a mintish hue to the taste. Very refreshing! I tried to ignore the draw and focus solely on my palate and could not taste the mint. I think it was coming solely from the draw.

The burn was perfect. I was tempted to say "near-perfect," but there was no unevenness at all. The ash was equally amazing providing yet another tribute to this beauty's construction. I'm usually worried about when the ash will fall, but I like to leave it alone and not knock it off. This ash simply would not fall. I had to break it off at about 60% smoked. You read that right. It wouldn't flick off. I had to break it against the side of the ashtray. The balance of the ash stayed on until I had to put the tiniest nub down.

Because it was such a neat little bundle it was tougher to light than an uncapped foot usually is. The initial first couple of puffs produced a fair amount of smoke. Not too thick and not too thin. The taste was smooth and mellow. Getting into the 2/3 of this cigar, it was still as smooth as ever but with a little more "heft" to the taste. So far, so good. Coming down the home stretch capped off the rest of the experience. I knew this was going to be a winner. I picked up a small flavor of chocolate towards the end. What shocked me was this cigar did not once get too hot. The ash was still holding strong as was everything else. I didn't want this to end.

If you have the chance to get these, do yourself a favor and buy a box. You will not be let down. At least pick a couple up and you'll see what I mean. If you can't find these yet, ask your tobacconist to look into ordering some for you. This is a definite "must have" in your humidor. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed the taste and experience of smoking this fine work of craftsmanship and art.

-Adrian A.

We welcome any and all comments positive or negative as our goal is to give everyone a great smoking experience with our cigars.

Saludos,
Luis

A Tale of 2 Cities - The NOLA and Houston

2009-01-21T17:52:00.008-06:00

Greetings Fellow Followers,

Don Juan Cigar Co. and Devil's Weed had three events last week in their stores to launch their exclusive size, called the NOLA. I'll post some pictures of this vitola when I can. It is a 6 by 54 candy-cane (two wrappers that intertwine) that is a blend of the Cab Selection with an additional maduro wrapper. The body is a but fuller and has more toasty sweet notes. Everyone seemed to enjoy the blend and they loved the dimensions (as you know we don't have anything over a 50 ring gauge currently). So if you are interested in the NOLA, call Don Juan Cigar Co. (504-889-2600) and they can help you out!

We also sampled a limited release called the LP-1803 (in honor of the Louisiana Purchase). I will publish another post describing this blend in more detail as well. Thanks again to Don Juan Cigar Co. for the launch event. Check out some of the event pictures:

In addition, I just came back from Houston visiting some great cigar shops including Richmond Avenue Cigar. I came across a fellow cigar enthusiast named Robert who was kind enough to do a YouTube video of his commentary on the LP-1803. Check out the video below:

I did not realize how dense Houston is with cigar shops. My brother, friend and I ended the night at Downing Street Cigar Bar/Pub with some D-Dubs and a nice small-batch whiskey from California called St. George. It was a great pairing. We hope that Houston will welcome Devil's Weed in the coming months (Cigar Cigar! in SugarLand already carries us so if you live there, you can visit them!).

Saludos,
Luis

A Happy New Year, 517 AT!

2009-01-05T21:54:00.007-06:00

Greetings Friends,

now that Holiday Season 2008 has gone and past and we are probably getting back into the mix of things, we at Molina Cigar wanted to take the time to thank all of the Devil's Weed faithful (both smokers and tobacconists) for their support.

We anxiously await 2009 and its upcoming events. Devil's Weed cigars continue to gain support and acclaim and we await new blends, sizes, merchandise and accessories this year. Check back here all year for the latest company updates.

Before we part, we must inform you all of our obsession with time (as a new year is a fitting time to reflect on such a subject). I am sure all of you geometrically-inclined, substantive folk have meditated on this phenomenon. Time is a commodity we can never have back or hoard. We can lose it but never accumulate. Time is precious and everything is temporal.

We at Molina Cigar Company obsess over time and history, especially as it relates to the tabaco/cigar industry. Thus it is fitting that we announce that this year is 517 AT (anno tabacum; in the year of tabaco).

Why 517 AT? The year in which tabaco was discovered by Columbus (and effectively the Old World) marks the year 0. The years after that point puts us in the time/year of tabaco or anno tabacum. The years prior to the "discovery" of tabaco are labeled as BC (before Colón or before Columbus).

So in keeping with Devil's Weed's ultimate tribute (and obsession) to the cigar and tabaco, we herald this year as 517 AT! Have a happy one, fellow followers!

Saludos,
Luis

New Review from Gary Arzt

2008-12-08T12:36:00.006-06:00

Greetings Friends,

I hope the holidays are going relatively stress-free for you all. We at Molina Cigar / Devil's Weed have been at it promotions-wise and we are waiting for another big shipment of cigars to flood the country again.

Meanwhile, Gary J. Arzt, who has a very informative column concerning the world of cigars on Cigar Review (called Cigar Lifestyle), wrote a small feature on Devil's Weed cigars. He had a positive feedback on our Cabinet Selection (even though Connecticut wrapper of any kind is not his cup of tea).

Check out the article right here!

Thanks, Gary! We're glad you enjoyed our cigars! And, friends, be sure to stay tuned to Gary's monthly columns as he gets the inside scoop on much of the industry.

Also, feel free to post a comment here on our blog and let us know what you think about Devil's Weed Cab. Selection!

Until next time, saludos.

-Luis

Wall Street Smoke - Miami Photos

2008-11-14T17:20:00.010-06:00

Greetings Friends,

here are some pictures from the Cigar Report's Wall Street Smoke in Miami that took place on October 14, 2008. Enjoy!

the Cigar Report bulldog greets Miami

the Cigar Report Wall Street Smoke issue

an attendee with a great bag!

DW samples and give-aways

the hustler working the booth

Luis Molina with a DW fan!

Luis Molina with a few more D-Dub fans!

Wall Street Smoke - NYC Photos

2008-11-11T17:25:00.010-06:00

Greetings Friends,

here are some pictures from the Cigar Report's Wall Street Smoke in New York that took place on October 7, 2008. We'll post some more photos of the event in Miami that took place the week after. Enjoy!

the view from the outdoor VIP section

the board of sponsors

caviar and cigars...nice

the outdoor patio atop the Manhattan skyline

the Cigar Report bulldog

a great crowd

a DW fan enjoying a Nicot

Happy (belated) Tabaco Appreciation Month!

2008-10-29T15:49:00.003-05:00

Greetings Friends,

I apologize for the lack of posts this month but I have been on the road spreading the good word of Devil's Weed. We have been everywhere from NYC to Miami, Orlando, Houston and New Orleans visiting shops, hosting events and kicking back with like-minded cigar smokers. We will post these events and their pictures over the next week to re-cap to you each party.

I also want to announce to you of our mission to make October "Tabaco Appreciation Month." In keeping with the history and background of Devil's Weed, we at Molina Cigar want to underscore and create awareness about the great history of tabaco and cigars. We chose October because appreciating tabaco and cigars should be kept in line when we celebrate Columbus Day (the great discoverer of tabaco). It was fitting when I was in NYC a few weeks to be at Columbus Square and meditate for a moment about out great discoverer of tabaco -- Cristobal Colón (or Christopher Columbus). It would have been more appropriate if the statue of Colón was holding some leaves of tabaco. Regardless, we at Molina Cigar want to begin our ambassadorship of tabaco and cigars to the rest of the world by first paying tribute to Colón (who by no coincidence is the namesake of our doble perfecto).

So when you relax this month with a cigar, remember to pay tribute to the venerable history of tabaco and that it began with the great voyage of Colón 516 years ago.

Saludos,
Luis Molina

A New White Suit

2008-09-30T12:58:00.006-05:00

Greetings Friends,

I have attached some pictures of how Devil's Weed Cabinet Selection will now be packaged. The blend has not changed however. It is only the way the cigar is presented.

In keeping with a traditional "cabinet selection" style of packaging, each stick of Devil's Weed is naked once the white tissue is taken off. The band is adorned on the outside of the tissue. We feel that the white soft tissue is better than cellophane because it is more breathable and allows for better aging of the cigar (for the extreme connoisseurs who enjoy buying cigars by the box and putting them away for long-term aging); however, the tissue is better than leaving the cigar naked because it protects the wrapper from tearing or drying out too fast if left in drier conditions. The tissue also underscores the presentation of such a fine cigar that is high in quality.

Keep a lookout now as this shipment of cigars is hitting the country as we speak. If your local retailer does not carry our cigars, then request it! Your voice has more weight than our sales calls; but we are in over 40 stores around the country and are continuing opening more appointed merchants.

Check back on this blog as we will post some events that we have lined up in October. We will be hitting New York, Miami, Houston, Boston and New Orleans next month.

As you can see, Robbie and John of Cordova Cigars in Pensacola proudly bear the new packaging of Devil's Weed Cabinet Selection cigars. And the amount of back-up boxes they keep on hand in their walk-in humidor ain't too shabby either.

Saludos,
Luis

DogWatch Cigar Radio

2008-09-22T21:12:00.005-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Click here to hear the interview administered by Bob and Dale of the great podcast, DogWatch Cigar Radio, of Devil's Weed cigars and myself. It was a pleasure having them interview us and discuss the cigars from our booth in Las Vegas during the IPCPR. Molina Cigar looks forward to future dialogue with Bob and Dale. Thanks again, gentlemen!

Saludos,
Luis

Devil's Weed Room by Cigar Live!

2008-09-21T16:27:00.003-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Daniel at the great cigar forum Cigar Live has informed me that they have dedicated a room to Molina Cigar / Devil's Weed. This allows us to interact directly with Cigar Live members. We will answer questions in a timely fashion and you can even send us a PM (private message for the newbies).

We look forward to making our company more accessible to you, the fine cigar smoker. Remember, you have to create a log-in ID and password to post on Cigar Live (don't worry, it's really easy). Let us know what you think and be sure to post a shout-out to us! (Click here to access the Devil's Weed room)

Saludos,
Luis

An Ashy Review!

2008-09-19T21:34:00.005-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Here is a post from a Devil's Weed fan, Samuel B., reviewing the Raleigh. He is a member of a great forum called Cigar Live, where members discuss all things cigars. This was amusing since the pictures Sam took of the cigar burning were from his cell phone, while he was driving. Although I do not recommend multi-tasking while driving, I believe the Devil's Weed consumed this fan in such bliss that he had to document the experience right away! Check out the ash on this cigar! Here is his review:

"I was gifted a Devil's Weed Raleigh and it was the best mild cigar I have ever had...full of flavor. I am typically a tatuaje and opus x smoker, but I must say that I will adding you to my rotation. I also roll cigars (for weddings and events, nothing fancy - I don't have a line I sell or anything) and live in Tampa, so I can appreciate your cigar more than most will.

I have attached pictures detailing my smoking experience. I also did a review of your cigar on CigarLive.com... here is the link...you might have to be a user to see the pics (same ones I am emailing you!).

http://www.cigarlive.com/forum/showthread.php?p=383981#post383981

Thanks for producing the BEST mild cigar out there. And by the way, it was also the longest ash I have ever had and I smoke 2 cigars a day!

Good luck in your endeavor to grow the brand. If you need assistance in that area, I would love to help.

From one cigar roller to another,

Samuel Brunt

PS - My camera is a cell phone camera..sorry for the low quality."

Feliz Cumpleanos, Tigre

2008-09-12T14:03:00.005-05:00

Greetings Friends,

I just wanted to give a birthday shoutout to Abraham Flores, factory owner/manager of Tabacos Leoncio. He is kicking it back in the D.R. right now but we at Molina Cigar wanted to wish our tigre a happy birthday! Keep smoking, brother and enjoy your homecoming.

-Luis

Domino & D-Dub Fans

2008-09-06T19:44:00.009-05:00

Greetings Friends,

After some business in P-Cola the last few weeks, I was able to go back to New Orleans to check up on things after Hurricane Gustav. Before I came into town, our cigar-makers, the brothers Rodriguez (Juan and Luis) stopped by Cordova Cigars and played a game of domino with Mr. Tom and John. Boy did they teach us a thing or two about the game! Dominicans are kings of the game.

Anyhow, I left for NOLA and am back for the weekend. Fortunately, our area was free of any major damage. The power was out for awhile and some branches and stoplights were on the streets but after today, things are getting back to normal in Metairie / New Orleans. We are thinking of the people in the lower parishes, like Lafourche and Terrebonne, and know they will make it back!

I stopped by Don Juan yesterday and today and found some new Devil's Weed fans. As I told you earlier, Mike T., stayed back and here is a picture of him smoking Devil's Weed while he dropped off ice at a Salvation Army drop-point in Metairie for Gustav victims. Always smoking a D-Dub cigar; that's Mike for you!

And we also have a picture of two National Guard soldiers who are smoking Devil's Weed Queen Bess and they complimented us on the blend. Well, gentlemen, we thank you for all that you do for us and we appreciate and support you. Enjoy the cigars and let us know how things come along! By the way, you can always count on a soldier who enjoys the fire of a gun and a cigar!

Saludos,
Luis

Zen Part II & Gustav's Smoke

2008-09-02T15:43:00.004-05:00

Greetings Friends,

I just wanted to let you know Zen & the Art of the Cigar posted a Q & A that involved me so check out what was discussed right here! Thanks again to such an insightful cigar blog!

Also, I hope the people affected by Hurricane Gustav have made it out okay. Being from Metairie, LA (a suburb next to New Orleans), I am always concerned about storms that pass through the region (lest we forget Katrina). My parents have actually been staying with me the last few days, since they still have a home there. Thankfully, everything seems okay and our area made it out relatively fine. But we simply want to extend our regards to those who live near the coastline and others who received damage and hope that they come back to their homes safe.

Nevertheless, a fan of Devil's Weed, Mike T., sent us this great picture this morning! He stayed behind at his family's warehouse in an industrial area near New Orleans next to the Mississippi River and he has been in touch with us the last few days. He says there was only wind damage but no flooding. They had generators and even had some great Louisiana cooking and some nice drinking occurring. But he tells us that "he couldn't have survived Gustav without some Devil's Weed." (See the photo that Mike submitted to us)

Ha ha! Thanks again for the kind words, Mike. There are always some people who stay behind and we're glad he made it out okay and that our cigar was able to give him some solace.

Again, we hope Louisianians make it back and get back to their feet. Knowing that they are a resilient people, I am confident they will.

Saludos,
Luis

Zen & The Art of the Cigar

2008-08-29T14:43:00.003-05:00

Greetings Friends,

We at Molina Cigar Co. wanted to update you on yet another fan of Devil's Weed cigars! Jamie Sprenkel of the cigar blog, Zen & the Art of the Cigar, has graciously featured us on his informative and great site! Mr. Sprenkel will also publish a review of the Devil's Weed Raleigh and we will post another update as soon as he writes his thoughts. We have also put a link to his blog on the right-hand side of our blog for future, quick reference. Thanks again, Zen Cigar, who finds peace in the cigar! You are in good company!

Click here for the Spotlight!

-Luis

Dos Jefes Cigar Bar

2008-08-28T13:45:00.005-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Molina Cigar is proud to announce that Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar in Uptown New Orleans has Devil's Weed as its featured cigar on their website and in their humidor. It is an honor to be featured in what we consider a cool place to hang out.

If you are not familiar with Dos Jefes, this great cigar bar epitomizes the cool and quirky Uptown area of New Orleans. The two owners, Shawn and Richie, personify the local New Orleanian: relaxed cool cats who enjoy life and all the fruits it offers (ask Richie if he loves surfing and going to Costa Rica!).

A spacious and comfortable lounge, Dos Jefes boasts a great music scene. There is a back part to the cigar bar if you're in the mood to be close and personal to your woman or if you're in the sporting mood to shoot some billiards. New Orleans banana trees line the back outdoor patio of Dos Jefes and there are even swings in which one can lazily relax.

Next time you are in New Orleans, check out Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar and smoke some Devil's Weed while listening to some great local music and imbibing in some adult beverages.

until then, saludos
Luis

Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar
5535 Tchoupitoulas St.
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 891-8500

www.dosjefescigarbar.com

The Cigar Report Spotlight

2008-08-18T15:26:00.005-05:00

Greetings Friends,

here is a link to The Cigar Report's spotlight on Devil's Weed in their Summer 2008 issue. If you are not familiar with this great magazine, check out their website version. This magazine is devoted to the true epicurean and lover of the fine leaf. With contributors like Rich Perelman and Michael Herklots, this magazine is a true authority on the handmade cigar.

We are honored to have received a feature on our brand and hope the rest of the cigar-smoking world takes notice of our cigars! Until next time, ask for us in your local smoke shop!

Saludos,
Luis

Cigar Press Rating

2008-08-15T13:57:00.005-05:00

Greetings Friends,

The reviews for Devil's Weed just keep coming in and we at Molina Cigar want to share them with you. If you haven't checked out the new cigar magazine called Cigar Press, be sure to check it out at your local smoke shop. It is a great magazine and it has informative articles regarding the cigar industry. They even have some funny cigar-related cartoons. It is truly the voice of the next generation.

Check out this great review they gave us in their latest issue! (you can click on the picture to see the enhanced version)

-Luis

The World According to Stew

2008-08-11T23:28:00.003-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Check out the review of Devil's Weed Nicot written by Stew and the fine folks at The World According to Stew. I especially enjoy his description of his tasting and flavor notes. Sounds so good I may have to eat one (I mean smoke it!).

Flavors: The flavors of this cigar consisted of cinnamon, cedar wood, spice, nutmeg, creamy peanut butter “goodness”, and hints of rich chocolate. All these flavors blend well together, and will keep your pallet not only guessing but begging for more.

-Luis

SmokeShop Magazine's Update

2008-08-08T15:43:00.006-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Click the link to see what SmokeShop Magazine wrote about us in their June 2008 issue! Or click on the picture on the right to see the hard copy!

-Luis

Stogie Review's Post about Devil's Weed

2008-07-30T02:39:00.005-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Click the link to see what Jerry and the fine folks at Stogie Review are saying about us!
-Luis

Las VegASH TV Interview

2008-07-28T13:01:00.002-05:00

Greetings Friends,

I simply wanted to post this video that our friends at LasVegASHtv.com taped. This was the interview J.C. and Justin did at our booth during the IPCPR Show a few weeks ago. Enjoy and check out their website for other interviews and reviews!

-Luis

Post 2008 IPCPR Update

2008-07-24T13:57:00.011-05:00

Greetings Friends,

Las Vegas was great for Molina Cigar Company and Devil's Weed cigars! We met some new and old friends at the show and people enjoyed our cigars. Some new sales reps have joined our team and they are selling our cigar throughout the country so distribution will increase now. We have been featured in some magazines and other online media types (LasVegASHtv.com and Dogwatch Social Club both did interviews with us from our booth). For sure, the loyal following of Devil's Weed smokers are ever increasing. Take a look at some of the pictures below!

I met up with Pete at Tatuaje and Jonathan Drew at Drew Estate (he even called me Mr. Devil's Weed! That joker, haha!) and they both had positive comments about us. That is one aspect I love about this business...it is small and close-knit and our fellow peers are cordial and adhere to the old-school values, philosophy and respect; those that are passionate about this business love to see what other cigar companies are doing. Pete gave me his latest, La Riqueza to try out and I must say it was a tasty treat (I believe it is the first broadleaf wrapper he has implemented in his lines; great job, Pete!).

Needless to say Vegas was great to us and we can't wait to be back home in New Orleans for IPCPR 2009 in August. We will be planning some parties every night so we hope to see you there for those in New Orleans!

In other Devil's Weed news, we are working on a stronger blend for the more discriminating smoker and hope to have them in stores by November. We will have a contest through this blog so the lucky few of you loyal readers can get a sneak preview of the cigar and smoke some pre-release samples.

We will talk to you soon but forgive me if I don't post more often. The cigar world does not rest and Molina Cigar and Devil's Weed are on the move!

Saludos!
-Luis

IPCPR 2008 - Las Vegas

2008-07-15T20:44:00.004-05:00

Greetings Friends,

I apologize for not getting back to you sooner with more updates, but in the last seven days I may have received a grand total of 15 hours of sleep! Well, maybe not that little but the days have been long! Anyway, after the long trek out west to Las Vegas and after months of hard preparation, Molina Cigar Company's first attendance at the annual International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Convention located in the Sands Expo and Convention Center has been in full swing and the response has been overwhelming!

Many of the attendees (who are cigar shop owners and other retailers of cigars) are familiar with Devil's Weed and we have you, our loyal follower, to thank. The word-of-mouth about our cigar brand has taken off and we are noticing the buzz. The cigar media (including The Cigar Report, Cigar Press and Smokeshop) have written about Devil's Weed and they enjoy the history and story of this cigar brand!

Our booth, which is also hosting our cigar-maker and factory, Tabacos Don Leoncio (and showcasing its brands like Don Leoncio Gran Reserva, Pinar del Rio, and Flor de Cesar) has seen much traffic and the shopowners have given us great feedback on all the factory's brands.

Be on the lookout at your local smokeshop for Devil's Weed soon and if your shop owner did not attend, be sure to request the cigar!

We should post another update tomorrow as well!

Saludos,
Luis

Devil's Weed Ashtray Sneak Preview

2008-07-07T14:18:00.004-05:00

Greetings Friends,

I just wanted to post some pictures and notify you of Devil's Weed's premiere ashtray which is set to be shipped to stores across the country right before Christmas 2008. This would be a great addition to your cigar ashtray collection (as this will be a future collector's item for sure).

Our creative Cigartisans™ and I researched some old ashtrays and this ashtray's exterior design is based on an old ashtray that was made for the Masons in the late 1890s/early 1900s. We incorporated our company seals on the rim in the same fashion as the Masonic ashtray. Let us know what your thoughts are regarding the look of the ashtray. We intend to release different ashtrays, using the Devil's Weed look, every few years. We already have some prototypes that I'm sure will create some interest and knock the ashes off of your cigar (I apologize for the lame pun, but I had to do it).

Counting down the days until we hit the road for Vegas,
Luis

IPCPR Prep, a Day at the Movies & Chess

2008-06-30T14:29:00.008-05:00

Greetings Friends,

As we prepare for the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Trade Convention in Las Vegas on July 14, Molina Cigar and Devil's Weed are heavily promoting the cigars. We will keep you up-to-date throughout the show everyday from our booth, so be sure to keep an eye on this page during that week.

Devil's Weed and my friends at Don Leoncio in New Orleans were asked yesterday by a movie studio that's in town to do a rolling event and pass out cigars to their actors and crew members. They were excited to see us there! The movie industry and cigars have historically always been close partners and everyone stopped by our rolling table after they had their lunch break. It was a pleasant sight to see so many people enjoy their short break as they relaxed with Devil's Weed and Don Leoncio Gran Reserva. They were also entertained to see Luis roll some cigars for them. There was also a New Orleans brass band present and people enjoyed dancing to those local rhythms while at the same time smoking smooth cigars and drinking some fresh fruit frozen beverages (it was another hot and humid New Orleans day). Needless to say, the event went well and the studio graciously treated their staff with a great event. People enjoyed the cigars and offered positive feedback on the blends as well and many were interested in the history of Devil's Weed and its homage to the cigar industry!

Afterwards, Luis and I headed back to Don Leoncio's Cigar Bar on 430 Canal Street (just in time too because it began pouring rain and the event was outdoors). We relaxed with some of our smokes and Ysidoro challenged me to another game of chess. Every time I go see the brothers Rodriguez, there is always time made for our games of chess (or domino) and Ysi endured some beatings by my mental ability (4 games in a row). Ha ha! Maybe next time, Ysi. Regardless, our Devil's Weed smokes made the chess session more enjoyable. All in a day's work.

Saludos!

East Coast Travels

2008-06-09T23:11:00.007-05:00

Greetings Friends,

The last week has seen Molina Cigar and Devil's Weed on the move on the East Coast.

First off, I personally want to congratulate Abraham Flores who is overseeing our National Accounts Sales. He brings with him generations of experience in this great industry (his family has been involved in tabaco in the Dominican Republic for over three generations) and he is a valued asset to Molina Cigar Co. On a side note, he is working with our cigar-maker, Juan Rodriguez, on their own project (called Pinar del Rio, which promises to be a great blend of a cigar! Pinar's Official Website)

I also want to welcome John Toscano who is representing us in New Jersey and North Pennsylvania. He has over a decade of experience in the cigar industry and we are honored that he is the face of Molina Cigar in that region.

Well friends, as I mentioned, I have been on the East Coast spreading the word about our great cigars and it has been a pleasure re-visiting this part of the country. I have been situated in the South for awhile and it is refreshing to see another part of this great country and all its beauty. I forgot how hilly Pennsylvania is! I stopped in Friday night at BnB International in Philadelphia to help with PA's first Devil's Weed event. And how lovely the shop is! Brian DeCesare was warm enough to invite us and his shop is beautiful. Before we even set up, I was introduced to his dogs, Maduro and Ashton (nice cigar names!) who are regular fixtures at the shop. The store is located in the beautiful Chestnut Hill area of the City of Brotherly Love and it is a gem of an area. Anyhow, the event went well and people enjoyed the cigars as many bought them by the box! I can't wait to get back and enjoy another night with Brian, his sales associates and wife! Thanks again, Brian!

On my way back down I-95, I stopped in Saint Mary's, Georgia and visited Cumberland Cigar Co. What a shop! Standing in the idyllic southern Georgia setting, dotted with moss-draped, ancient oaks, Cumberland Cigar was established by the late Ed Guevara, who was a dear friend of mine from my Don Juan Cigar days, and is now run by his amazing wife Carrie and dear friend Richard (Mealstrom on Cigar Weekly). I was honored to finally meet them both in person and pay witness to Ed's legacy. I can't wait to do an event with them (especially when it is cooler!).

After a few cigar stops in Jacksonville, FL, I headed back in my chariot to P-Cola and will be back at it preparing for IPCPR's Trade Show in Vegas in a few weeks. Energized by the cigar-smoking activities on the East Coast, Devil's Weed promises to support the B&Ms and Molina Cigar will make sure to spread the cigar throughout the rest of the country! Salud!

-Luis

May's Update

2008-05-26T22:44:00.005-05:00

Greetings Friends,

First of all, I wish everyone a great Memorial Day. I also want to thank all those who serve and have served in the greatest country's military. I especially want to thank my brother who is proudly serving in the Navy. You are the guardians of freedom and protectors of the great virtues of America.

Now to bring you up-to-speed: there were a few reasons the blog hasn't been updated. Devil's Weed cigars made their American debut on April 28, 2008 and ever since then, demand has been hard to supply. But all is well. There are many fine shops that carry Devil's Weed and our website will soon be updated to let you know who near you carries the jewels of tabaco we proudly carry.

Speaking of our website, it has been updated for you to view in Flash (very cool, I might add). Let us know what you think and what we can do to improve your virtual smoking experience of Devil's Weed!

As I mentioned, it has been a blur (just last week, Devil's Weed hosted three events on my stomping grounds, a.k.a. Don Juan Cigar in Louisiana and the turnout was tremendous). People are speaking highly of the cigar and making great positive comments. The first week of June, I'll be hitting PA with my tigre, Abe, and hosting an event at BnB International Cigars.

We are gaining steam for our official launch at IPCPR's Trade Show in Vegas in July where Molina Cigar / Devil's Weed will have exhibitor space (along with our cigar-maker Tabacos Don Leoncio).

In addition, we have been featured in the great news/information source regarding the world of cigars: Cigarcyclopedia. Mr. Perelman was gracious enough to inform cigar-smoking enthusiasts of Devil's Weed.

At this time, I would like to personally thank everyone who has contributed to the immense interest thus far (in the spirit of a true boutique cigar company, this entire process has been a grass-roots effort) and we hope to make our mark in this industry I love so much.

Keep checking back on this blog to get the latest news; as long as men and women want to relax and enjoy life (which should be all the time), the world of Molina Cigar Co. will never rest.

-Luis

Update of Our First Shipment

2008-04-02T17:22:00.004-05:00

Friends,

I know many of you are anxious to try Devil's Weed but I have good news for you. Our first shipment has been delayed a bit (we were expecting a late January release) but the silver lining in the cloud is appearing: Juan Rodriguez, the cigar master of Tabacos Don Leoncio who is responsible for the production of Devil's Weed, has assured me that the cigars will leave the D.R. this Friday for a receiving date into the States for next week.

So hopefully, fellow followers of Devil's Weed, we are closer to seeing the sticks at your local tobacconist. For your viewing pleasure I have some pictures of our first packaged samples. The cigar bands came out great and we feel the quality has met our high expectations.

Let us know what you think. By the way, the cigars have aged longer than our minimum aging requirements thus producing a supremely smooth blend. I ask you to be a bit patient more, now that the cigars are on their way. Thanks for your continued support!

-Luis

March Madness and FREE Sticks!

2008-03-17T15:03:00.003-05:00

Greetings fellow followers of Devil's Weed,

We at Molina Cigar are anxiously awaiting our first shipment of Devil's Weed hopefully to hit the U.S. in a few weeks now!

We wanted to up the ante and make March Madness a bit more interesting. Go to www.espn.com and log in. Join our group and create a bracket. THE WINNER WILL WIN A FREE BOX OF DEVIL'S WEED COLON!!

Our group name: Devil's Weed
Group password: molinacigar

I believe you can create more than one entry, so fill them brackets out soon and increase your chances at winning 25 free sticks of Colon. I have filled out a bracket so if I happen to win (haha!) the second-place finisher will win the box! Good luck and fill those brackets by this week!

Here's a direct link to our group: http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?groupID=58421

-Luis

Hats and Hooters

2008-03-12T17:14:00.005-05:00

Friends,

I just got back from an embroidery shop to pick up a test batch of Devil's Weed apparel. They came out nicely and we'll be going into mass-production mode soon. We'll be sure to have a promotion for you loyal lovers of the leaf that support Devil's Weed so that you can get some of this customized merchandise. Keep tuned in to the blog for updates to get free goodies.

In other news, I would like to share a story with you guys. A friend of mine and I were driving from Molina Cigar headquarters in P-Cola (Pensacola for the anti-brevity types) to our homes in NOLA (New Orleans), and it was dinner time. My friend, Joey, is a big fan of Hooter's and there happened to be one in Gulfport, Mississippi. We stop in and the waitress asks us whether we want to sit in the smoking or non-smoking section....WHAT? It must be 10 years running since I have heard that question uttered in a restaurant in this country! Joey, being a Camel man and I being pro-tobacco (at this point I wasn't sure if cigars were allowed), obviously respond enthusiastically, "SMOKING!"

So we give our order and Joey lights up a cig at the table. No one gives us any trouble. We were shocked. Even New Orleans, a rather liberal life-style embracing type of a city does NOT allow smoking in restaurants (bars and casinos, yes, but no restaurants). I ask our waitress if cigar smoking is allowed. She is puzzled and says of course. This is the smoking section. I freeze. I cannot seem to comprehend the situation. I can actually sit at the same table to eat AND smoke? So we finish our meal and I ask the waitress the same question once more before lighting up. She laughs and assures me that the staff would not throw me out if I light a cigar. So I blaze up....nothing happens. Not even a lift of eyebrows from other smokers. I am smoking a cigar in a restaurant and not getting the outcast's treatment. Wow.

This is amazing and I have a great smoking session. I even meet up with fellow statesmen from Lafayette and we exchange business cards so that I can send them some Devil's Weed samplers. It's great knowing that there are parts of the country that still allow a business to make its own decisions and actually run its own operations. Kudos to Hooter's of Gulfport and to the rational Mississippians. I hope they do not change their smoking laws because it seems to good to be true.

And for those wondering, the caliber of the staff was actually better than the New Orleans area Hooter's restaurants. 8 out of 10. Nice. Salud, friends.

-Luis

Cigar Smokers, North & South

2008-02-27T16:53:00.002-06:00

Friends,

I have noticed a great thing from calling on customers and cigar shops in order to sell Devil's Weed. I have called people from all over the country from deep in the heart of Georgia to the Pacific Northwest, from Chicago to San Antonio, New Hampshire to New Mexico and everywhere in between.

And what I have noticed is that cigar smokers (and this really should come as no surprise) are laid-back and easy to talk to. Sure we all have our problems and annoyances, but cigar smokers are a bit more relaxed and open-minded. I feel fortunate to work in an industry that embraces such a philosophy. That is the power of the handmade cigar. The non-smokers cannot fully comprehend our great ritual. That is why I firmly believe a cigar a day keeps the heart-attack away. I firmly believe that pure tabaco is negligible when it comes to adverse health effects. I know that even many cigar smokers may raise an eyebrow at this statement, but remember the de-stressing component of our passion. Smoking relaxes us and slows our heart rate which is healthy for our cardiovascular system. We, as busy Americans, need to unwind sometimes and smoking a puro helps indeed. It's usually the cigar-Nazis that always point their fingers at us and are always so angry that their veins in their neck pop, no wonder they die young.

So, friends and enthusiasts of the leaf, (people who are generally rational, cordial and of consequence, no matter from what part of the country you hail) remember that cigar smoking is truly good for you; mind, body and soul.

-Luis

A Sweet Spot

2008-02-25T15:04:00.002-06:00

Friends,

I just found a great resource on the web. It's called Cigar Places (http://www.cigarplaces.com/). When I used to work at Don Juan Cigar Co., I had many out-of-towners ask me where there was a place to drink and smoke or eat and smoke (Don Juan has a lounge in-house but they don't serve alcohol or food). This was a common question and I'm sure many retailers around the country are asked this as well.

In this time of tribulation and persecution for the cigar smoker, Cigar Places is an easy-to-use reference for just a list of safe havens. You can do a search in a particular city to see where the cigar-friendly places are and when they come up, yellow markers pop up on the map. You can add places that you know, in order to help the community. If a restaurant or bar no longer allows cigar-smoking, you can suggest the removal of the advertised location.

Check out Cigar Places, before you hit it out for a night on the town, so you know where you can smoke your cigar in peace and avoid those smoke-Nazis. http://www.cigarplaces.com/

-Luis

Another Castro, Same B.S.

2008-02-24T15:12:00.004-06:00

A glorious day for Cuba as it is embracing democracy! Oh wait, I thought Communism had just collapsed in Cuba and the people
(Castro with another crazy, Chavez.)
would actually enjoy freedoms we Americans take for granted. Never mind. I'm sure we rationals are sadly giggling to ourselves as Cuba is proving its democratic inclinations to the world as it voted in another Castro.

Now I know many Americans may have a hard time locating Cuba on a map (am I cynical or what?) or that their indifference prevents them from being aware of a Cuban embargo (I can't tell you how many people ask me why we can't purchase Cuban cigars), but I hope you at least paid attention to today's events in Havana.

It's not really that historical of an event: Fidel Castro, dictator extremus, the father of lies, has relinquished his seat a week before after first taking over Cuba in 1959. And today, elections for the President of the State have taken place and Fidel's younger brother, Raul Castro, has won (after serving as interim President when Fidel got sick a few years ago). I say today's election isn't that significant because this election was a sham. One Castro for another. Communism with the mask of democracy. I doubt the conditions for the Cuban people will improve. Many Americans argue that we should lift the embargo; that it isn't effective.

Obviously, these same people have fallen for the propaganda out of the island (they probably adore Che as well). Now please understand that I love Cuba; its history, its culture, its food, its people (the non-Commies; the rationals). But allowing economic trade between our two countries only helps those at the top in Cuba. The masses don't see any benefit. That is why America has implemented and practiced the embargo. But wait, Cubans get free education and free health care (which is superb). WRONG! They get free education; but what they are teaching is skewed in favor of the Commies. (example: they teach Cuban children that Americans are devil-worshippers; that they hate Cubans and are envious; I am not exaggerating. Health care? It's free but it is not the same famous health care that is given to foreigners with money; there is a difference.)

One day over some cigars, I spoke with a Cuban-American whose grandmother just escaped from the clutches of Communism on the island. The first time she went to a supermarket in America (it was in Miami), she fell to her knees and started bawling inside. Her relatives picked her up and asked why she fell and began crying. She replied that in Cuba she was always told that Americans do not have great access to markets like this. Obviously the truth was too much for her to bear. This is the garbage the Communists have created for the innocent people in Cuba.

I love Cuba and I cannot wait to use Cuban tabaco on our cigars. But until that day, when a true democracy is in place and the Cuban people are free, I do not support cutting off the embargo; even after this sham election has taken place. Hasta la victoria. Siempre.

-Luis

Our Website

2008-02-24T04:57:00.004-06:00

Friends,

I forgot to mention that if you are interested in checking out more detailed information about our company and cigars, go to our official website: http://www.molinacigar.com/.

Below is our illustration of the discovery of tabaco (some of you know it as the landing scene or the discovery of the New World; unto each his own, I suppose).

-Luis

An Introduction

2008-02-24T04:29:00.001-06:00

Friends,

Allow me the pleasure of introducing myself to the world wide web. My name is Luis and I represent Molina Cigar Company. I have enjoyed the pure plant product that is the handmade cigar since I lit one on the levees of Lake Ponchartrain when I was sixteen. Over a decade has passed and I still find myself enjoying cigars and I am ready to introduce the world to our company's first brand, Devil's Weed.

For those who are not history-inclined (shame on you, first of all), the term Devil's Weed was coined by the world's first anti-tabaco group: the Spanish Inquisition (sorry Pelosi, you don't win that title). The fundamentalist extremist group hated tabaco so much they even imprisoned Rodrigo de Jerez (one of Christopher Columbus's sailors who was credited for the discovery of tabaco--as an Old World native since we know the Indians have practiced tabaco consumption for hundreds of years prior to the landing) because he enjoyed the plant product so dearly.

515 years later, things have not changed in regards to the views against tabaco. Many people still despise such a harmless and glorious object and would gladly crucify the geometrically-inclined souls that are cigar smokers. At Molina Cigar, we honor the lovers of tabaco and the handmade cigar; and our first brand, Devil's Weed is a tribute to you. Enjoy life, family and friends with a cigar. You'll live longer.

Take that Pelosi (mongoloid supreme).

-Luis