Thursday, June 18 2009
Miami, FL -- Espinosa y Ortega and Miami Cigar & Company have determined that the final two sizes of the limited edition series
Mi Barrio cigars are being released simultaneously this month.
"Mi Barrio," a limited edition of four sizes, which have been released quarterly following the 2008 IPCPR trade show, are packed in an exquisite box with art created by the Cuban artist Edin Gutierez. The production was limited to 1,000 boxes of each edition.
"El Puro," a double corona was released July 15, 2008. "El Acere," (6" x 50) was released October 15, 2008. Having delayed the release of "El Forro," (7" x 48) from its originally scheduled February 15, 2009 release date. The delay was due to the need to increase production of their highly successful Cubao cigars.
Espinosa y Ortega is now combining the release of El Forro with the release of the final cigar in the series, "El Billetero," a 5.5" x 52 Belicoso. The names of the last two cigars reflect very traditional Cuban happenings in the barrio ("neighbourhood").
El Forro is a move in dominos, not necessarily respectable, where a player tries to sneak the wrong tile onto the table. He has a 6/3, the available dominos are 4 and 8 – he uses the 6/3 in the hope that no one will notice. It happens!
El Billetero is a 'lottery ticket seller', and one is depicted in Gutierrez's art in a traditional street scene. "La Bolita" is somewhat like a lottery, on a smaller scale. Playing La Bolita is an everyday occurrence in Cuban culture.
While these releases bring an end to the Limited Edition Series, Eddie Ortega of Espinosa y Ortega said, "The cigar smoking community truly liked the Mi Barrio blend. I am not sure what the future will hold for that particular bland. Erik (Espinosa) and I will be discussing it with Rene Castañeda (Miami Cigar & Company Vice President), and come to a decision regarding how we might use it. We have additional tobacco available."
"These were truly limited editions and tobacconists and smokers were eager for the blend, so we decided to ship the last two sizes now. We have been filing orders since Monday, 15 June," remarked Rene Castaneda.
