Image Courtesy of StogieReview.com

Just how does Twitter get involved? Well, at the cocktail hour, accompanies live music and a choice of social lubricants, attendees begin sampling the items in their press kits and then engaging each other, and the social community at large, with reviews. On Twitter, you can use the # symbol, called a “hashtag” in Twitter speak, in front of a group of words or an acronym to thread together like-minded conversations. Imagine the possibilities this year as you’re watching your favorite football game, following a news trend, or learning about the latest cigar launched by your favorite brand.

Think it’s a fad. Consider this: all of the  TBOTLCH press kits sold out within 24 hours. The brands monitored the #TBOTLCH, reviewers volleyed back and forth over the complexities of a particular stogie, and aficionados everywhere, like this blogger, watched the live action unfold as if we were there. Bonus: you can know which products launched are must-have’s, which ones paid too much attention to packaging and marketing over flavor, and which ones can wait for improvements before they are enjoyed. #Awesome.

We’re on Twitter, too, if you want to follow us: @cigarlibre is our handle and we’ll be glad to tweet you about your favorite smoke, recommend a particular product to you, or send you some #FollowFriday love.

Fresh from  the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Association tradeshow, this week’s blog updates will be rolled in highlights from the show.

Image Courtesy of IPCPR

In case you might not know, the IPCPR tradeshow was held August 9 – 13 in the great state of Louisiana, New Orleans to be exact. That’s right, four days of all things tobacco-related. Was it hot in the Big Easy? Oh yeah, and humid too. But you know premium tobacco has to be kept in temperature-controlled environments, so the good people organizing the tradeshow made sure the air conditioning was pumping. You can almost smell the aromas, can’t you?

Probably the most eye-catching was the  19-foot cigar that weighed over 2,500 pounds with a 1620 ring gauge. Located at the Gran Habano booth, the show stopper made headlines across cigar blogs and news releases everywhere. Part homage to great cigars and part promotional item (Gran Habano debuted their Azteca at the tradeshow), the world’s largest stogie is attention-grabbing if nothing else. And yes, aficionados, the cigar was definitely smoke-able.

This year it seemed like the manufacturers were all announcing something. New products, new line extensions, revivals of old favorites; the opportunity to sample some new smokes on the market was everywhere you looked. If you came to  IPCPR and left empty-handed, it was not for lack of trying on behalf of all the great exhibitors.

The rest of this week we’ll be covering all the new products that made their debut at this year’s tradeshow, and we’ll be including links where you can make purchases or learn more about these enticing new smokes. In the meantime, we’ll be sampling the ones we purchased and will be sure to include reviews as well.

In case you didn’t make it to this year’s show, we hear  IPCPR 2011 will be held in Vegas.

A private tradeshow open only to members of the IPCPR, the annual convention is all about learning and discussing trends in tobacco, unveiling new merchandise, and showcasing the best products and ingredients on the market. And you can imagine the quality stogies being enjoyed, accompanied by jazz music in the after-show lounges. Ah, membership has its perks.

One of the best things to come from IPCPR are the new company and product announcements. New lines roll out, limited time smokes become available again, and everyone – from the biggest manufacturers, to the newest guys on the street – stand shoulder-to-shoulder in dedication of their lives’ appreciation of quality tobacco. Check back here for new announcements as details are sent around; we’ll be covering the breaking news from the biggest tobacco event of the year.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

On behalf of the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR for those in the know), General Cigar has pledged $20,000 for cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. General Cigar will donate the money to  Ducks Unlimited, the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. General Cigar spokesperson Debo Mukherjee, VP of Marketing, states in a press release that General Cigar chose Ducks Unlimited to receive support funds because they have been “particularly pleased with their response to the oil spill.”

Those following this blog, and aficionados in general, all know that Louisiana and the entire Gulf region are hosting the IPCPR events, which run from August 9 – 13th this year. General Cigar will be formally presenting a check for the donation on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at the tradeshow.

We applaud  General Cigar, Co. and their effort to make a difference in one of the messiest oil spills in history. During a time when lawmakers are imposing taxes on tobacco enthusiasts, and enjoying a smoke is becoming a taboo, we’re proud to see one of the biggest names in cigars stand tall among the crowd. General Cigar is a subsidiary of Swedish Match and produces Macanudo, Partagas, Cohiba, Punch, Excalibur, Hoyo de Monterrey, La Gloria Cubana, as well as numerous other cigar brands.

Way to go General Cigar, today’s puff is for you. Many thanks to Patrick Lagried for the article.

Formerly using CAO International, as their preferred distributor, Torano has already set plans in motion for the distribution takeover by hiring new staff at their base in Miami, Florida. Spreading the word of company changes, Torano’s marketing plans for the brand include using social media and a busy tradeshow and conference schedule in 2011 with planned appearances by Carlos Torano himself.

Torano will also be rolling out three new cigars to their lineup and including a line extension – the “Torano 50 Years” line complete with new box pressed vitola.

We’re looking forward to seeing the new lines and watching the evolving Torano Family Cigar Company as they make big changes, all in the name of good cigar smoking.