Amendola Family Cigar Co. has announced the upcoming release of The West Side Story, a first in a series of brands that will pay homage to the brand owners’ New York roots. The West Side Story was blended and rolled at Martinez Cigar Factory, located in Manhattan, New York.
Amendola Cigar Co. owners Jeffrey Amendola and Christopher Monaco are both New York natives that have set out to create brands that represent their roots. Both are proud Italian Americans that wear their heritage on their sleeves and feet it was time to create a series of blends that will honor their home state.
Amendola and Monaco wanted to make two blends that were true-born New York cigars. The West Side Story will be comprised of two different blends and both will come packed in 20-count boxes. The Switch Blades and the Baseball Bats blends were inspired by the two gangs featured in the popular broadway play and film West Wide Story.
Amendola Family Cigar Co. chose Martinez Cigar Factory to help bring The West Side Story blends to life. Martinez Cigar Factory was established in 1974 in Manhattan by Dominican native Antonio Genaro Martinez. Now it is owned by his son, Jesus Martinez, who is the factory’s master blender. Today, Martinez Cigar Factory is the oldest cigar factory new New York. The factory is located on the West Side of Manhattan at 171 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001. Aside from Martinez Cigar Factory being in New York, the factory holds special meaning to Jeffrey Amendola.
“In 2014, I met Jesus Martinez; at the time, I was working to start my own factory in Durham, N.C. I reached out to Jesus for advice and guidance. Martinez became monumental in making my dream a reality by introducing me to a cigar roller and gifting me many tools of the trade I needed to get my operation running,” shares Jeffrey Amendola. “To this day, I am still rolling cigars with chavetas, tuck cutters, and cigar molds that Martinez gave me.
“Chris and I are honored to produce this project with the Martinez Cigar Factory crew. Special thank you to Dave Rivera, head of product development and marketing for Martinez Cigar Factory.”
The Apirica blend, known as Red Switch Blades, is a medium to medium/full-strength cigar presented as a 6 x 52 torpedo. This cigar is wrapped in a Brazilian Apirica wrapper accompanied by an Indonesian Sumatra binder and Nicaraguan/Dominican fillers. The West Side Story Red Switch produces rich, buttery, silky smoke with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and graham on the front end accompanied by nuances of roasted nuts, earthiness, and a dash of crushed red pepper/spice on the backend. This blend boasts full of complexities while being distinct in flavor due to its rich Apirica wrapper. Sure to indulge any palette for any occasion.
The Mexican San Andrés blend, known as Blue Barbwire-wrapped Bats, is a medium to full-strength cigar presented as a 6 x 52 torpedo. This cigar has a Mexican San Andreas wrapper accompanied by an Indonesian Sumatra binder and Nicaraguan/ Dominican fillers. The West Side Story barbed bat is named that for a reason, as it boasts strong and hearty flavors. This slugger hits you in the face from beginning to end. With tantalizing earthy flavors like leather, barnyard, and chocolate powder on the front end, followed by nuances of expresso, milk chocolate, and a touch of baking spice to finish it off.
The West Side Story comes in 20-count boxes with 10 of each blend inside. The suggested retail price per cigar is set at $14, or $280 per box.
For all the latest from Amendola Family Cigar Co., visit amendolafamilycigars.com.
