Cigarslovermagazine summer 2017

MAGAZINE

Summer 2017

CigarsLover

Whisky the aging coffee the strongest in the world Cola & cigars the pairing

STEVE SAKA boutique brand

in nicaragua

blind tasting: 48 cigars - 12 rum

CigarsLoverMagazine | Summer 2017

CigarsLoverMagazine | Summer 2017

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TEAM & EDITORIALE

Lover Cigars

Magazine

Editor: Deputy Editor:

Luca Cominelli Michel Arlia

Graphic Designer: Graphic Designer Assistant:

Mario Amelio Renz Mauleon

Authors:

Marketing:

Translations:

Cigars Blind Tasting:

Whisky Blind Tasting:

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Didier Houvenaghel Federico Bosco Giuseppe Mitolo Luca Cominelli Michel Arlia Nicola Ruggiero Roberto Canzi Simone Poggi Luca Cominelli Michel Arlia Rachelle Mauleon Simone Poggi Aaron Reddy (U.S.A.) Daniel Hardinger (U.S.A.) Dustin Wall (U.S.A.) Giuseppe Mitolo (Italy) Luca Cominelli (Italiy) Michel Arlia (Switzerland) Nelson Campos (El Salvador) Nicolas Joseph Bevilacqua (U.S.A.) Richard Frazier (U.S.A.) Simone Poggi (Italiy) Alder Repizzi (Italiy) Federico Bosco (Italiy) Luca Cominelli (Italiy) Davide Bettini (Switzerland)

Editoriale Boutique brands have been under the spotlight through the years. They are not a mystery and they do not surprise most of the people anymore. Being limited productions, often synonymous of incredible care to details and use of super selected tobacco, they are more than an affirmed reality. Nowadays, one of the main character of this type of brands is Steve Saka. We had the chance to meet him several times, in Nicaragua and Germany, and we came up with the idea that a long talk, together with some secrets and details, could be very interesting. The result was an interview, where Steve talks about his career and how he ended up being the producer of the so acclaimed La Sobremesa. He also told us also about his experiences in the tobacco world and his future projects.

Despite it being summer here, a drink is always an excellent smoke companion, especially in the evening.

This time, we focused the attention on the Rum. Together with the blind tasting, we’ll be featuring an easy-to-make-cocktail recipe that is also so tasty and refreshing: the Ti’ Punch.

Before getting to the cigars blind tasting, which is on three different sizes this time, we decided to write a special article on the whisky aging in cask. To make a quality product, a very long maturation it is not always needed, but when you are in front of something aged for decades, the emotion has an important role, giving the tasting experience something more. Let’s find out why whisky owe so much to the cask, and in particular what type of barrels are capable of giving the best to the maturation.

”Passion moves us”

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INDEX

Contents Team

CigarsLover people ..................................................... 3

9

Editorial

thoughts about the magazine ................................ 4

Rating

how to read the scoring scale ............................... 8

Dried cigars

do you have to throw them? ................................... 9

11

Cigar transport

cigars prefer business class ................................11

Metal bands

no more paper ........................................................... 15

Silky wrapper

19

how to do it naturally? ............................................ 19

Aging

the importance of the maturation in cask ..... 21

Cola and cigars

tobacco meets the most common drink ....... 27

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Rum

blind tasting ................................................................. 30

30

Ti’ Punch

more than a simple cocktail? .............................. 37

Steve Saka

how to create a boutique brand ......................... 41

Black Insomnia

the strongest coffee in the world ...................... 49

Lancero

blind tasting ................................................................. 53

Robusto

blind tasting ................................................................. 59

Toro

41

blind tasting ................................................................. 65

Cigar World Lounge

Dusseldorf ................................................................... 71

Vocabulary & Sections

what you can find on the magazine .................. 83

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THE BEST HUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM

Available on CigarsLoverStore.com

SECOND GENERATION. EVEN MORE EFFICENT.

INFO

Rating

HOW TO READ THE SCORING SCALE The cigars/distillates reviewed are valued using a 100 point scale. This helps giving every cigars/distillates a sharp rating, collocating it in a wide scoring scale. The final score results by the average scores of the tested products given by the people in the panel.

The products tested in the blind tasting are tried without bands/labels, to have the most objective possible evaluation. The final score and the description are the result of the comparison of different tasting.

95-100:

memorable. Great product under every single aspect. It delivers a pleasure tough to forget.

excellent. High quality cigar/drink, 90-94: very satisfying.

good. Despite some little defects, it 86-89: very is very enjoyable.

decent. The product exhibits both virtus 81-85: and vices.

Not very enjoyable, due to a <80: mediocre. lot of poor characteristics.

best buy. Excellent quality/price ratio.

CigarsLoverMagazine | Spring 2017

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PILLS

Dried cigars DO YOU HAVE TO THROW THEM?

by Luca Cominelli

Forgetting a cigar outside of the humidor or not humidifying it correctly, lead to the same result: the cigar dries out, irreversibly losing its oils and therefore its aromas. There is no number of hours or days marking the point of no return, beyond which the cigar will be simply recommended as an ornament, but nothing more.

The variables that fall into this process are not a few, but principally it is time, temperature and humidity. A warm and dry environment is the worst situation. In these conditions, lets imagine a desert, it extracts in a small amount of time all the humidity of the cigar, that will quickly loose its oils. Different damages, but still irreversible, are provoked by a very warm and humid ambience. In this case, the process is the opposite: the cigar will absorb a lot of water in no time, swelling so quickly that it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow the wrapper to adapt and thus breaking it.

Can a cigar be brought back to the initial situation?

Not if an extreme situation happens. A breaking of the wrapper leaf affects the smoking mechanics, while losing the oil reduces the aromatic perception. The longer the cigar remains in a â&#x20AC;&#x153;harmfulâ&#x20AC;&#x153; environment, the more it will be irreversibly damaged, becoming less enjoyable. To remedy a poor conservation, the only thing you will have to do is to gradually re-humidify or de-humidify the cigar, so as to avoid abrupt changes in humidity, that would stress the wrapper leaf, visibly damaging it.

The wrinkles that are often noticed on some cigars, visibly and perceptible to the touch, they are nothing but the demonstration of the exhaustion of the elasticity of the wrapper leaf, which leads to the formation of small waves. The more they are evident, the more the cigar has been subjected to a stress, which has definitely compromised, partially or totally, the capacity to generate a good smoke.

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Modern in spirit, fuller in flavor and stronger in attitude.

Specially designed and blended for those who want more.

Xikar Volta: 5,4 x 10,1 cm.

www.joyacigars.com

@joyacigars #JoyaBlack

MEDIUM BODIED

MEXICAN SAN ANDRES WRAPPER

NICARAGUAN BINDER & FILLER

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SLOW ATTITUDE

4 1

5 2

3

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Cigar transport CIGARS PREFER BUSINESS CLASS

by Giuseppe Mitolo

We as aficionados are quite used to associate summer to the highly desired open-air smokes, enjoyed at the seaside, on the mountains or simply having a tour in the city. When the smoke is supposed to take place in a short time, it is sufficient before leaving our home to choose the cigar from one of our humidors, and bring it directly to the mouth, in order to be hands-free. However, how can we transport cigars from the humidor to the designated vacation spot? Or how can we bring the cigars from the vacation spot to the actual place where we plan to relax and smoke?

We compared for you, esteemed readers, the aficionados most widely used transport methods, considering pros and cons and, whenever possible, also evaluating the cost of the solution.

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1. “ZIP-LOCK” BAGS Cost: € Benefits: * Transparent or colored, normally these bags are provided by the tobacconists at the moment of purchase, or they are used at home to store food.

At first sight they may appear as a very good compromise: they are cheap, practical, and convenient. However, they do not protect cigars from mechanical risks such as squashes or hits.

2. HUMI-POUCH BAGS Cost: € € Benefits: * * It is a variation of the “zip-lock” bag, with an internal

membrane allowing the cigars to be kept humid for several days, a duration which is mentioned by the manufacturer (normally 90 days). Depending on the manufacturing company, different types are available on the market, with different humidity levels to be maintained, different dimensions and number of cigars to be placed inside. Even though they are declared as single-use, it is possible to reset them by keeping them open into a humid environment. This operation can be repeated up to the moment that the membrane behind has hardened.

They are slightly more robust during transport, and allow to bring some cigars with you in a relatively relaxed way, but they are not fully squashes and hits-free.

3. TUBOS Cost: € Benefits: * * * The aluminum tube is another quite cheap solution, as most of the times this is a purchased cigar recycled tube. It is however evident that the tube can only house inside a similar, or inferior size cigar, when compared to the original one. If you take this limitation into account however, the advantages are a great resistance to squashes and hits, as well as a good airtight closure.

On the market (more as advertisement than as real tools commonly available for purchase) rigid plastic, odorless, and even telescopic units are available, which can adapt to the length of the cigar to be housed. Overall, these are useful and

quite functional tools. Negative aspects are to be found in the lack of elegance and in the rigid axiom “one tube = one cigar”, which means that if you have to carry more than a cigar, this solution is not too comfortable.

4. TUBULAR OR RIGID CASES Cost: € € € Benefits: * * * Quite similar to tubos, aluminum or carbon cases (which are shaped to house two or three cigars) and the tubular models made of steel or silver, which are more similar to joined tubos than to pouches, are sold for the most popular vitolas (robusto, corona, julieta n. 2, etc.) and their cost depends on the used material.

For sure they are very resistant, they can efficiently preserve cigars humidity, and they are out of conventional / standard tools.

5. LEATHER CIGAR TRAVEL CASE Cost: € € € € € Benefits: * * * * This is the benchmark of elegance and style. The global market offers different brands, materials, dimensions, colors and costs, also taking into account the different leather types and manufacturing techniques, thus pricings can vary from relatively cheap to quite expensive. They can house from one to five/six cigars. At the moment of purchase, for obvious reasons, we recommend to select the products featuring the least prominent

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SLOW ATTITUDE leather scent in the internal part.

Besides esthetics and personal taste, the rigidity of the case grants a safe transport and a reasonable squashes and hits-free solution.

Concerning humidity control, unfortunately leather, being a hygroscopic material, tends to absorb cigars humidity. Absorption is, however, not instantaneous, thus cigars could be stored for one, even two days, without experiencing too abrupt humidity changes. Leather cigar travel

feature is robustness, in fact the ABS external shell keeps cigars safe even when experiencing the most traumatic hits, also thanks to the internal shaped foam inserts.

Humidity preservation reaches a maximum level, granted by silicon seals at closure: if properly humidified cigars are positioned in the case, the internal foam will not require to be poured with water, or to use any different humidification method, if cigars are not left for a much extended duration there.

Models differ on the maximum number of cigars which can be housed (from 2 to more than 80!) case is, according to us, a very valuable short-time transport tool, which properly integrates different solutions, when bringing with you (and possibly offering) cigars in the most fancies way.

Out of this ranking, the cigar cases having internally a cedar wood cladding and a small humidification system: only by convention we can define as travel cases these little portable humidors.

6. CIGAR CADDY Cost: € € € € Benefits: * * * * * These small cases are real humidors. Their key

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However, in order not to jeopardize the possibility to transport and the easiness of handling, while still keeping intact the possibility of bringing with us more than one cigar to choose from, the right suggested compromise is the five cigar model.

It is overall an excellent transport method, only having a not extremely elegant design (even though today many different and colored models are available) and not fully pocket-fitting.

Overall, just using an analytical method of judgment, the travel humidor is in our view the best transport method. We are anyhow sure that each of us, knowing our necessities and our style, will find the best solution among the ones offered by the market. Combining different ones together may also be the best option.

LIFE IS SHORT TAKE THE TRIP SMOKE A CIGAR

HAVE A COFFEE ENJOY YOUR LIFE WELCOME TO OUR WORLD.

Gurkha

www.importadoracorazza.ch

SLOW ATTITUDE

Metal bands NO MORE PAPER

by Michel Arlia

This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t about Metal bands in the musical sense, but Metal bands that are used on cigars.

We are not talking about the cigar rings that can be custom made for die hard aficionados, we are talking about metal rings that come on commercialized cigars and are a part of their presentation, as it happens with the classic bands.

Cigar bands in general have always been a piece of art, they can range from simple and traditional to fancy and heavily decorated. All these bands have one thing in common, they are printed on paper. It is a totally different story when metal is involved in the process There have been a few actual rings used as cigar

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bands. Macanudo, for example, used a heavy metal ring on their Vintage cigar series. Foundry Cigars, have used them on different occasions: the main Foundry line, which had a ring that looked like a gear, and the Foundry War of Currents, which had two cigars in the line with a metal fuse on them.

Another type of metal, which is a far more intricate material to use for a cigar band, is pewter metal. Pewter metal is relatively soft and once it is thinly pressed, it can actually wrap around a cigar and can also be embossed, just like it happens to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;normaleâ&#x20AC;? paper band.

It was first used on a cigar called Terroir, by Chinnock Cellars, and showcases a rather simple

look compared to the most recent ones.

Now, there has been a new incarnation of these pewter metal bands and it is brought to you by a small cigar brand called Viking Cigars, out of Norway. Hakon Aanonsen told us that it was a difficult process to get to the final product. They make the bands in SĂĽnum, Norway, and had to procure the machine and molds for said bands.

The softness of the metal is also crucial, it has to be just right or else it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work. After a few trials and errors they had their finished product, a highly detailed and embossed band, with a beautiful design. It is so well done that it could be mistaken for a paper band. However, once you touch it, the feeling it gives is completely different compared to the most traditional paper bands.

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PILLS

Silky wrapper HOW TO DO IT NATURALLY?

by Michel Arlia

As many of you know, the wrapper is the most expensive part of the cigar. It is also the main selling point of any cigar. The better they look, the more youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll gravitate towards buying them.

There are different selling points on the wrapper alone, for example: oiliness, tonality, uniformness and veining. While all these points are important, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll focus on one in particular and that is veining.

Veining on a tobacco leaf, any leaf for that matter, is unique. Not a single leaf is like the other. They come in different forms and shapes, some leafs have many small veins, while other have fewer and thicker ones. When it comes to wrapper leaf, the thick veins are a problem. Once a wrapper with pronounced veins is rolled around the cigar and these veins lay over each other, the result is a bumpy, esthetically unpleasant and overall rough

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looking cigar. From a technical point of view, a thick vein burns slower then the rest of the wrapper leaf and can mess up the combustion.

During our many visits to different Non-Cuban cigar manufacturers, we came across a simple, yet effective, method to get rid of that problem.

They get rid of these thick veins by simply rolling them out. The torcedor spreads out the wrapper on the wet surface and then rolls a piece of pipe, a plastic roller, over the protruding veins. This procedure is done right before the wrapper is applied on the cigar.

Many of you may have already seen them, but for those that havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, it is fairly easy to do. The veins are still very visible, but they look and feel flat. So, the next time you buy or smoke a Non-Cuban cigar look out for these flat veins.

For Don Tomás Nicaragua, Master Blender Leader Agustín Garcia worked closely with the blending team in Estelí, Nicaragua and with tobacco grower Pedro Gurdian, who specializes in growing tobacco within the virgin soils of the Nicaraguan regions Jalapa, Condega Pueblo and Estelí. Filler tobaccos from these regions are blended with Dominican Piloto Cubano, held together by a binder from

Arapiraca, Brazil and covered with a shade-grown wrapper from Jalapa.

Don Tomás Nicaragua showcases a nice, spicy and nutty flavor, paired with sweetness, woody, and salty notes and has nicely defined colors and very little, thin veins. It has significant body and features fantastic construction which leads to the perfect smoking experience.

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DRINKS

Aging

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MATURATION IN CASK

by Federico Bosco

Whisky aging is a production process transforming the virgin spirit, the so-called new make spirit, into the final product we are going to pour in our glass.

This process, for Scotch whisky, is of variable duration, which is often decided, even though not completely, by the manufacturing company.

The spirit has in fact to experience a minimum 3 years aging (as mentioned by law). The max limit is, on the contrary, not established by law, however a spirit legally named whisky needs to comply with another rule: it is required to be at least 40° alcoholic percentage.

Let us start from the extreme cases, to make sure the initial impact is bold: Gordon&MacPhail

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recently released a 75-years old, single cask Mortlach bottle, distilled in 1939, before Second World War. Similar products are not only rare, but rather unique. The Mortlach fwe were talking about above, lanks other products, such as 1940 Glenlivet, 70-years old, and the 62-years old Macallan.

Prices are, obviously, dictated by a series of variables, including the extreme rarity and unicity of these selections, and are almost prohibitive. In the end, similarly limited amount of product would in any case drive the same logic.

Other distilleries, including Glendronach and Glenfarclas, are more frequently releasing 60’s and 70’s products.

The longer aged a whisky is, the better the taste?

This is a frequent and no single-answer question.

Normally the person in charge for casks selection in a distillery mainly chooses standard products casks, thus the ones reserved to host a minor aging (10/20 years), probably leaving a very limited selection of casks to be used for longer, maybe goals-related, celebrative casks. Examples such as Macallan 40 or Bowmore 40 are rare and rather expensive, with the high price due to maintenance and stocking of casks in the distillery deposits.

In the Single Casks cases, a rather rare practice when compared to the large percentage of whiskeys assembled using multiple casks, it is up to the cask owner to decide the best moment to bottle the spirit. Young products are not rare, mainly 7 or 8 years, as well as longer aged bottles.

It depends on the personal taste of the individual selecting the cask, or on the needs of the manufacturing company.

However, what is aging actually impacting on?

This phase creates an exchange among spirit, cask wood and external environment, conditioning the liquid and providing it with a variety of unique characteristics. Each cask has no identical one, and shows its own specific distinctive tracts.

Let us talk now about casks: these are wooden structures able to contain from 40 to 700 spirit liters. Dimensions, as well as wood type, influence aging. Barrels are normally made of oak wood, mainly of American or European origins. The American oak casks are the most widely used, while the ones of European origins are rarer and more expensive. Generally barrels previously used are taken into account, such as the ones previously containing bourbon or Spanish sherry.

Even products exclusively aged in virgin barrels are available, the so-called Virgin Oak. The previously stored spirit infuses the wood with peculiar characteristics (obtaining back an

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DRINKS equivalent amount of those), to be later transmitted the following spirit: this means aromas, tastes and color. These specificities will provide the whisky a specific footprint, thus barrels selection is critical for each distillery.

Today approx. 90% of the casks are â&#x20AC;&#x153;ex-bourbonâ&#x20AC;? ones, which means barrels which have stored American bourbon. These are the most costeffective ones, with a standard 250 l capacity.

The bourbon aging barrels, according to USA legislation, can only be used one time, thus every bourbon distillery sells them, dismantling and shipping them into all the whisky manufacturing countries. European oak barrels are rarer and their standard capacity is around 500 l. Rarity justifies the higher cost, not only for the barrels, but also for the resulting aged whisky. Some distilleries, such as Glendronach, are renowned for almost total usage of these casks type. Many distilleries exploit both the casks types to create aged products combining the different characteristics.

Casks are normally used more than one time,

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normally three times, to pay off their costs and since they become real assets of the distillery.

This is the step by step procedure: after the first bourbon (or sherry, or port wine, wine or other) aging step, the barrels reach the whisky distillery and are used several times, three to four, characterizing less and less the spirit. After three/ four fillings the cask can be renovated and used again (this can be achieved by a carbonation procedure, bring it to new life).

Each distillery has its own historical casks registry, allowing to exactly know the number of times a barrel has been used. The first filling most intensely characterize the spirit. Before being barreled, its alcoholic percentage is lowered to reach 63,5°, which is considered ideal for aging. After that it is poured in the barrel, which is positioned in the storage for aging.

Storage can be done in two ways: dunnage, which means up to three rows of barrels one on top of the other, or rack, which means that metal structures are used which can reach the ceiling.

In order to avoid the losses caused by natural

(and unnatural) disasters (bonfires being the first ones), distilleries are used to exchange barrels, or to use specific precautions, such as placing storages one distant from the other.

The wood in the cask absorbs an average of 2% of

the new make spirit and then, annually, the spirit also loses a variable percentage of alcohol, the socalled angelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s share: this can vary between 1-2% for Scotland, up to the much higher percentages experienced in Taiwan (Kavalan distillery) or in India (Amrut distillery).

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DRINKS

SIDE NOTES - In addition to American and European oak, a third type can be found, the Mizunara one, a name typical of Japanese oak. This is even rarer wood, and provides unique characteristics to the spirit.

Bowmore, as an example, has launched on the market a special bottle only aged in these barrels.

Several Japanese whiskeys make usage, at least partially, of this cask type.

A distillery renowned for these experiments is Arran, which has even used Italian Amarone wine barrels to finish its whisky aging.

Also Bruichladdich often proposes experiments of this kind.

- A recent, yet more and more common practice is to finalize the maturation in different casks. These are the so-called finishes and several are available.

- Distilleries, during guided tastings, propose new make spirit tasting as well: pay attention to the alcoholic percentage!

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- It has been mentioned that approx. 70% of whiskyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s characteristics are due to aging.

Importato e distribuito da Compagnia dei Caraibi | www.compagniadeicaraibi.com | info@compagniadeicaraibi.com CigarsLoverMagazine | Summer 2017

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DRINKS

Coca Cola and cigars TOBACCO MEETS THE MOST COMMON DRINK

by Giuseppe Mitolo

With summer temperatures increasing, pairing a smoke with alcohol is more difficult. Somebody chooses “on the rocks” drinks, others prefer minor alcoholic percentage cocktails, such as daiquiri, mojito, etc… However, in those cases when even the most refreshing alcoholic drinks are giving up, the unusual pairing with a very common beverage can be the perfect solution: Coca-Cola and its competitors (mainly Pepsi).

World-wide most famous soft drink was created by US pharmacist Mr. Pemberton in Atlanta on 1886, May 8th, with the initial name of Pemberton’s French Wine Coca, since initially, together with coca leaves, the beverage recipe was alcoholic.

Some years after the initial recipe was refined, and alcohol was substituted with an extract from kola nuts, the fruits of a tropical plant. The drink got thus its name from the combined usage of coca and cola. The next and most important change in the recipe took place after coca ban and, in order not to completely change the tasting profile, it was decided to remove the psychotropic alkaloid from the leaves extract.

Coca-cola taste is widely renowned: intensely sweet, with a minor acidic component, with bold sparkling sensation.

This beverage is most of the times served chilled (4°C), with little ice and a lemon slice, adding aroma. What is however making the most famous soft drink the perfect, easy-going partner for our summer smokes? First of all the combination of fresh and sparkling helps in cooling and cleaning the palate after each puff. Its sweet-acidic mix, in addition, balances and sometimes efficiently pairs most of the tastes of the Caribbean products. Moreover, elaborating on cola’s sweetness, this is sometimes able to mitigate or smooth the edges which may be present in cigar fruitions, such as tannic or piquant sensations. Regarding the way to drink it, we suggest to avoid lemon (which is increasing the acidic profile) and to prefer a straw compared to sipping, both to better direct coke to the palate areas which are to be “cleaned”, and since straw allows a better quantity control. Give it a chance!

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DRINKS BLIND TASTING

Rum Blind Tasting The summary blind tasting is on Rum. We carefully selected many products, which differ from each other by characteristics and price.

The tasting confirmed some of the already well-known products but also highlighted some of the nowadays emerging companies that are making excellent rum.

LEGEND € - below 50€ €€ - below 100€ €€€ - below 250€ €€€€ - over 250€

LEGEND € - below 50€ €€ - below 100€ €€€ - below 250€ €€€€ - over 250€ CigarsLoverMagazine | Spring 2017

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DRINKS BLIND TASTING

NOSE

It develops spicy notes of white pepper and cinnamon, followed by a roasted coffe beans aroma and cocoa. Then it is the time of candied fruit, together with ripe fruit (apricot and peach).

It delivers notes of chestnut honey and dried fruit, especially hazelnut. Then ripe fruits and banana get developed as well.

Very harmonius and refined.

Rich and harmonious.

Rich notes of dried fruits are perceivable at first, in particular the walnut is very present, followed by dark chocolate and seasoned wood, together with with some vanilla hints.

PALATE

Once again the ripe fruit notes are present, now even richer and more structured. The spicy notes of white pepper and cinnamon are still well perceivable, completing the aromatic palette of this Trinidad rum.

Sweet. The chestnut honey is still present, accompanied now by rich notes of sugar cane and balsamiche herbs. Wood, candied fruit and dried fruits, complete the aromatic bouquet of this Venezuelan rum.

A mix of mellow notes melt together with a very light bitter vein, giving birth to a particular and complex mix. There are caramel aromas aswell, accompanied by deep aromatic herbs and hits of liquorice.

FINISH

Long persistence. Spices (black pepper), cocoa and ripe fruit are perceivable.

Medium persistence. There are refined spices, among which the cinnamon is the richest.

Medium persistency. Liquorice root and seasoned wood notes are perceivable.

SCORE

CARONI 17 (55%) - € € €

89 HAVANA CLUB MAXIMO (40%) - € € € €

92 DIPLOMATICO AMBASSADOR (47%) - € € €

94

Intense, balanced and explosive.

A complex and well structured rum, capable of an exceptional persistency. Remarkable.

Very harmonious. Round, intense and refined, it delivers a good complexity. Incredibly easy to enjoy and appreciate.

Intense. It delivers a very deep aromatic palette but not too ample. Not easy to drink, it deserves a lot of attention.

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87 PLANTATION 2002 JAMAICA (42%) - €

87

MATUSALEM 15 yo (40%) - €

FLOR DE CAÑA 18yo (40%) - € €

87

Since the beginning it develops rich notes of vanilla and wood.

There are also some butter and caramel aromas. Hints of cocoa, complete the aromatic palette.

Very harmonious.

Vanilla and spicy notes (in particular white pepper) are perceivable since the beginning.

Then it is the time of rich candied fruit aromas, that complete the aromatic palette.

Intense and harmonious. It develops molasses and cinnnamon notes, accompanied by spices, among which the black pepper is the richest one. Fruity hints complete the nosing.

Wood and vanilla are still well perceivable, together with hints of caramel. There are also some spicy notes, accompanied by light aromas of dried fruits. It reflects what perceived during the nosing.

Very sweet. It develops mellow notes, together with vanilla, wood and cocoa. In the background are perceivable also piquant hints. An aroma of tropical fruits (especially mango and pineapple) is perceivable as well.

Very spicy to the palate, this Jamaican rum delivers a mix of paprika and black pepper.

It results slighlty sweet, it exhibits also fruity notes (melon and yellow peach, together with hints of red fruit).

Medium-long persistence. A lot of woody notes and with some vanilla hints.

Medium short persistence.

Sweet, with notes of wood and spices (white pepper).

Long persistence. It is peppery and mellow, with hints of sugar cane. Remarkable.

It delivers a good intensity. This Nicaraguan rum results very harmonious. A balanced rum, easy to appreciate.

Harmonious and with a decent aromatic palette. Not particulary structured by easy to enjoy and to appreciate.

Well structured and harmonious, with a good aromatic intensity. The ABV is perfect for this Jamaican rum.

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DRINKS BLIND TASTING

NOSE

Rich notes of caramel are perceivable at first, followed by dried fruit and peanut butter. Vanilla and hits of red fruit complete the aromatic palette. Very rich and attractive.

It delivers caramel and cocoa notes, together with aromatic herbs. There are also dried fruits aromas. A vein of condensed milk completes the aromatic bouquet. Refined.

Since the beginning it develops an explosive mix of pickles and citrus fruits, followed by the spices (mainly cinnamon) and light floral notes. Intense and pungent at the same time.

PALATE

It results floral, with aromatic and balsamic herbs. The aromatic palette of this Colombian rum is definitely less developed compared to the one perceived during the nosing. Also the intensity is more conteined.

It develops cocoa and caramel, accompanied by spicy notes of black pepper in the background.

It reflects what perceived to the nose. Hints of honey complete the aromatic palette. The balance of this rum is great

Acidulous and with a characteristing salty vein. There are some vegetal notes, spices and camomilla aswell. Lastly, sour red fruit comes to the palate. The alcoholic component is well perceivable if the ABV is not very high.

FINISH

Medium short persistence. It delivers wood and spicy notes of white pepper.

Medium persistence. It results particulary wood. Caramel is present as well.

Medium persistence. Aciduolus.

It develops notes of vanilla, cinnamon and wood.

SCORE

ZACAPA 23 SOLERA (40%) - €

85

MAGNIFICA DE FARIA CACHACA (43%) - € €

87

DICTADOR 20 yo SOLERA (43%) - € €

87

Very harmonious and intense to the nose. A way less developed to the palate. It is, however, a balanced a enjoyable rum.

Harmonious. Round and very easy to enjoy, this Venezuelan rum that can be appreciated by almost everyone.

Very particular to the nose, less punchy to the palate. It is a product with a very particular aromatic palette.

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BARCELO IMPERIAL (38%) - â&#x201A;Ź

KRAKEN SPICED RUM (40%) - â&#x201A;Ź

SMITH & CROSS (57%) - â&#x201A;Ź

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It develops vegetal and herbal notes, accompanied by a briny vein. It is perceivable also a solvent hint. The alcoholic component is very perceivable. A little bit sharp but intense.

Spicy notes are well perceivable, among which there are rich cinnamon notes. Then it is the time of caramel, vanilla and ginger, with a smoky touch. The spicy vein is remarkable.

Since the beginning, sugary notes and caramel are perceivable. It is then the time of ripe fruit (pear) and citrus hints. Wood and spices complete the aromatic profile.

The notes of brine are the fist ones perceivable, together with wood, liquorice and rosemary.

It is present also a peppery vein.

This Jamaican product delievrs a good intensity. It resuls a little bit too dry.

It develops a mix of spices, especially cinnamon and cloves.

Follows caramel and aromatic herbs, together with vanilla, that complete the aromatic profile of this rum made in Trinidad and Tobago. Very sweet.

This Dominican rum develops notes of caramel and honey, together with rich balsamic herbs notes (mint in particular).

The sweetness is contained.

There is also a light bitter vein.

Slighlty dry.

Medium-long persistence. Dry and herbal nots are followed by light fruity notes.

An easy to drink rum. The aromatic palette is wide, even if not particulary structured or deep.

Medium persistence. It develops notes of caramel, together with a rich balsamic aroma.

Compared to many other rum, this one is definitely less sweet.

The herbal notes and the brine give birth to a attracting mix.

This Trinidad and Tobago rum is easy to drink: the aromatic palette is wide, even if is not particulary structured and deep.

An harmonious Dominican rum, easy to enjoy. The Barcelo is a good entry level product even if it is not very easy to enjoy.

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Tom Hardy CigarsLoverMagazine | Summer 2017

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DRINKS

Ti’ Punch

THE SIMPLEST COCKTAIL OR MORE THAN A SIMPLE COCKTAIL?

by Nicola Ruggiero

• 2 oz. Agricole Rum, light or dark • 1 sugar cane syrup splash • 1 lime slice Preparation: directly in the glass with ice, stir and garnish with lime.

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Typical of French Caribbean, Ti’ Punch is a balanced and refreshing drink, a real ritual of everyday life, starting in the morning with the “Decollàge” to fight the cold temperatures, up to the evening with the “Vaten-Coucher” (the one intended to help sleeping).

On every table rum, sugar and lime are present.

Ti’ Punch literally means small punch: “Ti’” is just the short form of Petit, small in French; this adjective probably refers to an incomplete beverage, since both spices and dilution (which are typical of the English punch) are absent here, or to a drink to be served in small quantities, due to its alcoholic grade, between 50° and 60°.

This cocktail preparation is nowadays a vivid part of French culture and tradition. Still today is not critical which rum is used, being the same white or aged, nor its alcoholic grade, while the usage of Agricole Rum is still fundamental.

small branch of Turbinata Quararibea plant, having at the end a small knot with 3 to 5 tips, named “Bwa-lélé” in Creole language.

Other variations, extremely thirst-quenching and refreshing, are Arrangè rhums prepared punches, which means the Blanc to whom, by infusion, tropical fruit or spices such as cinnamon and vanilla has been added or, especially during the evening, the so-called “Ti Vieux”, including aged and ambercolored rhums.

Pairing a Ti’ Punch?

Certainly the Creole cuisine, even though this is a fusion of different gastronomical styles which drastically changed in time, while Ti’ Punch, Caribbean creature, has been unchanged.

There is a kind of magic in thinking that, in a continuously changing World, rich in technology and fantasy, only few ingredients can create such a refreshing and tasty one.

It is thus tradition dictating a small tumbler, ice, favorite rum, sugar cane syrup and drops of the juice of citron vert slices (local lime) as sufficient ingredients to create a Ti’ Punch.

In reality many Ti’ Punch versions can be found, all of them based on the same recipe, but mixing ingredients in different proportions, looking for subjective balance and intensity. Caribbean bars are used to bring ingredients directly at customers table, leaving utmost freedom to prepare a drink with the preferred proportions.

All the ingredients are discreetly mixed; some prefer to use few of drops of citron vert juice, while others only use essential oils obtained from the fruit peel once the white part has been removed, avoiding thus the bitter notes which are contrasting and limiting the fresh aromas of the oils.

Originally prepared without ice, Ti’ Punch is a drink where the rum reaches a maximum in terms of expression, having a central role.

The first Ti’ Punch with ice was served in Martinique, the first Caribbean island to receive ice in 1806, while in the small Marie-Galante island even the stirring straw has to be, with no exceptions, a CigarsLoverMagazine | Summer 2017

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DISCOVER THE FLAT FLAME.

VISIT WWW.CUBADORO.CH

INTERVIEW

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Steve Saka

HOW TO CREATE A BOUTIQUE BRAND

by Michel Arlia

During last year we had the opportunity to taste some of Steve Saka’s cigars, that scored very high in our blind tastings, finding even a place in the 2016 AWARDS. Let’s find out the story of Steve, to understand where all this success comes from.

You have had, and still have, a pretty unique career. Around 20 years ago you were one of the first Cigar Bloggers in the world and now you produce your own cigar brands. Tell us about those years up to Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. What was “the moment” that got you hooked to cigars?

The “big moment” was not really all that spectacular. I think I am like most cigar smokers, who received their introduction to handmade cigars courtesy of another lover of cigars. In my case, I was a Senior Chief Gunner aboard the USS Connole FF-1056 while I was enlisted in the Navy, it was some no name, no band Maduro bundle stick, which probably in hindsight wasn’t all that good. Anyhow, our boat’s Ops Officer, Lt. Walter Laird, took pity on me and said something like: “If you are going to smoke cigars, you might as well smoke good ones!” He started inviting me to join him, along with other junior officers, to smoke much better cigars in his tiny stateroom.

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INTERVIEW You’ve mentioned your love for Nicaragua and its tobacco many times. You have been traveling there for decades now.

How did the industry change compared to your first visits?

My first trip to Nica was in the early 90’s, back before the guns were fully collected in Esteli from the war and before there was any pavement anywhere for many, many kilometers.

There was water for only 2 hours each day and power was something of an extremely intermittent luxury. This was a few years before the boom, so there were very few factories and even fewer gringos like myself. To see it today, it is totally different - not only is there power, water, and pavement, but many restaurants, hotels and even a mall. Esteli has exploded into the bustling center of commerce, for all of Northern Nicaragua, and much of it is due to the cigar and black tobacco industry. Honestly, it is barely recognizable and for good. What was once an area of the country with little hope for the local people to get ahead in life, it has transformed into a place of opportunities and possibilities. What was once ground zero for the Sandinista Revolution has become the epicenter of capitalism, it is kind of ironic.

You were President and CEO of Drew Estate for 8 years and are regarded as the person that changed how Drew Estate was perceived in the premium cigar market, thanks to the Liga Privada. What were the most challenging aspects you had to tackle?

Hmmm, this is a loaded question…

Everything at Drew Estate was a challenge. When Jonathan Drew and Marvin Samel brought me in to run the company, there was very little that was right except the vision to be something

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different. The company lacked focus, organization, operational functionality, tobacco, cash… well, almost everything. We were broke, literally, we were operating month to month in those early years of my tenure. But as a team, we just kept working, grinding it out, taking the problems as they surfaced and solving them, but always staying true to who we were. In hindsight, they were very exciting times, but during the constant storm I don’t think any of us really realized how incredible our accomplishments were.

We went from being a near bankrupt, small infused cigar company, many joked scornfully about, to becoming the largest manufacturer of handmade premium cigars in Nicaragua, with the hottest handmade traditional cigar in the world, in just 8 years. We managed to become a juggernaut, that not only earned the respect of others in our industry, but also changed how cigar consumers perceived our company and our products. I am extremely proud of what we accomplished as a team during my tenure as the president of Drew Estate.

You left in 2013 and came back in 2015 with your first offering under DTT, Sobremesa.

How long did you work on the blend? Did you already have specific types of tobacco in mind you wanted to use for it?

I started tinkering with the notion of the Sobremesa liga by mid 2014, but the actual blending window was quite short. Most of the work was accomplished inside of a week, followed by months of minor tweaking as the cigars aged. I have made hundreds of different ligas over the years, so I have personal methods that work very well for me, to go from start to finish in a much shorter time span, than most blenders. In fact, I believe if you ask both the Joya de Nicaragua and NACSA

factories, in which I created my last two ligas, they would tell you that I am one of the most efficient ligadores they have ever worked with, but that I also craft totally unique, excellent tasting blends.

As for the first step with Sobremesa, I knew I wanted to create a sophisticated, complex liga utilizing some highly-prized Grade 1 Dark Rosado Ecuador Habano capa I had secured. All the other tobaccos were selected to achieve my desired goal.

Cigar Smokers, that knew your work, were surprised that Sobremesa was your first release, since many were expecting something wrapped in Connecticut Broadleaf. Why didn’t you go the obvious route and what does Germany have to do with Sobremesa?

I was always very forthright with everyone, that Sobremesa would not be in any way similar to Liga Privada, other than the fact that both ligas were created for my own personal palate. I did this for a few reasons. First, after spending the previous six years making LP-style cigars, I wanted to create something elegant and refined, something with complexity, balance and intricate nuances. Second, I am extremely particular about how the broadleaf is selected and fermented, to create the type of earthy, stronger cigar I personally enjoy. And to do this, I couldn’t buy the leaf needed on the spot market, but rather needed to buy it from the farm and then to have it “piloned” per my instructions. And finally, I left Drew Estate by choice and on very good terms, I did not want to create an alternative to “LP”, to directly compete

with my friends. Of course, this is no longer a concern for me as Drew Estate has since been bought by Swisher International and now, with the time needed to work the leaf, I have been able to introduce Mi Querida to the market.

As for the German connection, the artwork utilized on Sobremesa is a reprisal of a beautiful piece of art that graced a brand called La Lunda, in the early 1900’s. What made this piece particularly spectacular was the incredible sculpted embossing within its vista. We tried to recreate it, using modern digital files and CNC machines, but ultimately there was no way to recapture the beauty of the original using technology. So, in the end, we commissioned a German Master Engraver, who primarily hand engraves bespoke shotguns, to hand craft the bronze embossing plates we needed – the level of craftsmanship is beyond exceptional and really is in keeping with the spirit and quality of Sobremesa.

Talking about blends, how do you approach them? What about the tobacco selection?

Do you already have a set idea/concept for what you want to achieve with a blend?

This is impossible to answer within an interview question, plus a “girl must keep her” secrets! <snicker> Let’s start with the last question first: Yes, almost always I have a particular idea of what type of cigar I am hoping to achieve, when I begin the process. That being said, sometimes the tobacco ends up leading me to create something

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INTERVIEW

entirely unexpected. As for my approach, I have a unique style of blending, that focuses solely on the tobaccos as independent ingredients, that are entirely separate of the actual blending process. It is during this phase of my process, that all the romance occurs. Afterwards, my method is very focused and systematic when creating the muestra ligas, the process is far more like an engineer, rather than being an artist. Over the last few decades I have come to realize this methodology for me is not only the most economical, time wise, but results in far superior blends. It removes the “got lucky” element from the process and ensures I am always able to get the best out of the leaf.

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Some of your brands are made in different factories; one being Joya de Nicaragua and the other being NACSA. What are you looking for in these partnerships?

It is a unique relationship between me and my factories. Most people that have cigars crafted for them do not have my level of expertise or experience; I know what everything costs, I know how a factory operates daily, I know the myriad of different techniques employed by the torcedors, I know… well you get the idea. So I always approach these projects in a manner that sets everyone up for success, each factory has its own

style, things that make it better at certain tasks and techniques, so I do my best to match the product to benefit from these inherent operational truths within a factory. Ultimately though, for me, the most important criteria are: attention to detail, uncompromising work ethic, and an absolute commitment to quality. For me, these are not bumper sticker slogans, they are genuine expectations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no one is more critical than me. I am brutally critical of everyone I work with, all of my products and in particular, myself.

myself working on some ligas, that take this a step further and focus on the blends being comprised of a single tobacco seed strain, grown entirely on just one farm. It really helps me to better grasp the impact of leaf positioning and how selective backfilling can change the smoking experience.

Muestra de Saka has a very interesting concept behind it. Can you shed some light on this single sized release?

Muestra de Saka is a pet project, of little commerThe FDA strong-armed many in pushing there future cigar projects forward and like many you were forced to reveal a couple of projects already: Todos Las Dias, Sin Compromiso, Mi Querida, Muestra de Saka and Umbagog.

Three of these blend are Nicaraguan puros (Todos Las Dias, Sin Compromiso, Muestra de Saka). What are the differences in blending a puro next to a blend with tobaccos from different countries?

Actually, I have not formally disclosed the ligas for Todos Las Dias, Sin Compromiso and Muestra de Saka has always been a multinational liga, as each vitola, within the line, is its own unique blend.

That being said, I will confirm Todos Las Dias is a Nicaraguan puro.

In my opinion, it is much more challenging to craft a puro liga as you are sacrificing the advantage of having a diversity of tobaccos to utilize. While you can make a fine cigar utilizing the tobacco of just one nation, it becomes far more difficult to create complexities and transitions with the cigar. Although, the counterpoint to this is, a puro allows you to drive home a particular flavor and aroma profile much more decisively and cleanly, to the benefit of a cigar consumerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s palate. Lately, I have found CigarsLoverMagazine | Summer

2017

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INTERVIEW cial consequence. During the course of working on other blends, an odd tobacco may catch my eye, or maybe there is a tobacco I tend to not typically like, such as Candela capa, and I say to myself: “Wonder what I could do with this?” So MdS is a collection of totally disjointed sample ligas I have made over the years, there is no rhyme or reason for any of them other than I found them personally interesting. I make them available in a single vitola in very small batches, for others to sample, with no promise of them being enjoyable.

Tobacco & Trust is for just one cigar smoker: Me. I make cigars that I personally love and that I would buy to stock in my own humidor. Then, I just hope that others share in my appreciation for them and understanding for the cigars I craft. So far, this approach has served me very well.

Last year was your first time at the Intertabac, the European tobacco fair. How was your impression of the European market? What differs from the American to the European consumer?

At this moment, this is impossible to know. There are so many unanswered questions regarding the FDA and how it might impact a small, independent cigar maker, like myself. Currently, we are approaching the situation with a clear head and open eyes, by actively engaging in the compliance process and preparing for potential regulations. I would like to be able to unequivocally state: “DTT will be around no matter what”, as some others have done, but I refused to engage in rhetoric of the foolish. That being said, there is no single small cigar company in the marketplace, that has my level of executive experience, so if there is a pathway for a craft company, like ours, to operate within the regulations, I am very confident that I will be able to navigate DTT to continued success.

You are trying to get me into trouble? Honestly, I know nothing about the European market other than the fact that cigars are ridiculously expensive and your available selection is far too limited, for my personal tastes. As for the consumers, I am not even sure I understand my fellow American consumers, so for me to pretend to intelligently draw differences between the “old world” and “new world” consumers, would be pure foolishness on my part. This is why everything I do at Dunbarton

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Coming to our final question. Although the FDA may have changed your plans, what can we expect from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust in the future?

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DRINKS

Black Insomnia THE STRONGEST COFFEE IN THE WORLD

by Roberto Canzi

You love cigars with intense aromas and pronounced strength? You only drink alcohol of high gradation? Then, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say no to the strongest domestic coffee in the world (or better, with highest caffeine content): Black Insomnia.

This new mix was born in South Africa and can contain up to 702 milligrams of caffeine per single cup; this means that the consumption of a single dose of Black Insomnia equals 10 cups of espresso coffee.

This result is achieved with a specific variety of Robusta, which gives off the maximum strength thanks to a particular toasting procedure of the coffee beans. The founder of the brand declares that he is capable to obtain even stronger blends,

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but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t procede with the production and selling because it would be potentially harmful to ones health.

What is the average consumer maximum daily limit of caffeine consumption?

The recommended maximum is to not surpass ranges from 300 and 440 mg per day (approximately five cups of espresso coffee); from this we deduce that even a single cup of Black Insomnia reaches more than double of the recommended daily consumption.

In a daily routine, other than coffee, other foods and drinks bring caffeine into our organism:

• Chocolate, 30/40 mg per bar (approx. 60g), • Drinks like Coke, 35/50 mg per can (33 cl) • Tea, 40/50 mg per cup (25 cl) • Energy Drinks, 50-100 mg per can (25 cl) • Espresso coffee, 40/80 mg a cup (3 cl) • Instant coffee, 65-100 mg a cup (25 cl) • American coffee, 65/120 mg a cup (25 cl)

157 coffees for somebody who weighs 80 kg. The owner of the bar informs the customer by writing the risks you may incur by consuming AssKicker on a blackboard.

Black Insomnia holds the World record for highest caffeine contained in a domestic coffee, but the absolute record goes to a bar in Australia, the “Viscous Coffee” in Adelaide, where you can order a drink containing the equivalent of one hundred espresso coffees!

The Australian energy drink, called AssKicker, is composed of four espresso coffee, Cold Brew (obtained by instilling fresh grounded coffee into 12 cl of water for ten days), 8 ice cubes of Cold Drip (produced by drip extracting grounded coffee through a process that lasts for 48 hours).

Available in three sizes: Small, Medium and Large, a diluted intake over a certain period of time, between one to four hours depending on the orders size, is recommended.

The amount of caffeine produced by this drink is at the limit of “lethal“ for the body, in fact a dose between 5 to 10 g can lead to serious damage if not even death. This quantity is comparable to 97 espressos for an individual weighting 50 kg or CigarsLoverMagazine | Summer 2017

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The Finest Philippine Cigars Since 1881.

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www.tabacalera.com.ph cigars@tabacalera.com.ph

U.S.A. DISTRIBUTION Daughters & Ryan Inc. 207 Johnston Parkway Kenly, NC 27542 TEL (919) 284-2058 FAX (919) 284-2305

The Finest Philippine Cigars Since 1881.

BLIND TASTING

Lancero During the years, the Lancero size has become less and less popular in the terroir which launched it: Cuba. In the new millennium, you can count on the finger of one of your hands the available brand producing this format. Now, in 2017, Lancero is a size that got very hard to find.

However, in the other Caribbean Terroir, a few brand started celebrating this format in some limited releases, making it a true protagonist of some lines.

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El Gueguense Lancero - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 40x190 mm (7,5”) - EUR: - € | USD: 12,5 $ Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Medium-full strength. The smoke of this Lancero is thick and almost chewable. A structured, full bodied and balanced smoke. An exceptionally satisfying Nicaraguan puro.

A blaze of black pepper, aged wood and earth. Progressing in the smoke, it adds also leather and flavorful balsamic herbs, as well as hot spicy peaks. Cinnamon and cocoa alternate in the finale.

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/100

Cain F Straight Ligero Lancero - Nicaragua Size: cepo 38x178 mm (7”) - EUR: 8 € | USD: 7 $ Wrapper: Habano Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

Medium-full strength. The intensity is remarkable and the aromatic palette results balanced and ample. Complexity is good and captures the attention of the smoker.

Notes of leather, hazelnut and coffee. The latter becomes the main flavor in the second half. Followed by earth and it turns to black pepper and leather, accompanied by nuances of chili.

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/100

Crux du Connoisseur No.1 - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 38x190 mm (7,5”) - EUR: € | USD: 9 $ Wrapper: Habano Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Medium strength. Reveals a smoke characterized by sweet notes. It results balanced and harmonious, with a well perceptible component of complexity.

Wood and spices are quickly followed by red pepper. While the smoke becomes gradually sweeter, notes of coffee and vanilla reach the palate as well, followed by earth and hazelnut in the finale.

90

/100

Patoro Serie G. Añejo Reserva Lancero - Dominican R. Size: cepo 38x171 mm (6,7”) - EUR: 14,9 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R.

Strength slightly over medium. It surprises with an interesting evolution and a marked intensity. Balanced and equipped good aromatic complexity.

The smoke presents rich nutty notes, well perveivable from the first to the last puff, accompanied first by citrus and spices, afterwards by honey and wood. Cocoa appears in the finale as well.

89

/100

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BLIND TASTING

La Aurora 107 Lancero - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 40x175 mm (6,87“) - EUR: 6,7 € | USD: 7,5 $ Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra Sun Grow | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dom. R. & Nicaragua Medium-full strength. Strong and equipped with a remarkable aromatic intensity. The only defect is the lack of evolution from the second to the last third. Satisfying.

It opens up with vegetal and peppery flavors. Continuing in the smoke, leather and black pepper alternate each other. There are also notes of earth and aged wood perceptible.

88

/100

Davidoff 702 Signature No.2 - Dominican R. Size: cepo 38x152 mm (6“) - EUR: 20 € | USD: 20 $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R.

Medium strenght. The balance and the harmony are its best characteristics. The aromatic intensity is remarkabl, the evolution decent.

A mix of spices, mainly white pepper and piquant peaks, and earth starts out the smoke. The spices get more intense during the fruition. Dried nuts are added in the second half.

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/100

Montague Brazil Lancero - Indonesia

Size: cepo 38x186 mm (7,3“) - EUR: 5,2 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Sumatra | Binder: Indonesia | Filler: Mata Fina (Brazil) & Indonesia Java Strength is light. Characterized by an unusual and particular aromatic palette, which overall has a good aromatic complexity. It delivers a very uncommon smoke.

The beginning is spicy and reveals notes of walnut, earth and coffee. A mineral note is also present, which is quickly followed by rich metallic flavors and wood. Slightly sweet.

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/100

Por Larrañaga Montecarlos - Cuba Size: cepo 33x159 mm (6,3“) - EUR: 4,8 € | USD: $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

Medium-light strength. A suave and creamy smoke, equipped with a good aromatic complexity and an exceptional balance. Persistency is pro longed.

Peppery notes and caramel quickly trade their place with rich flavors of milk chocolate and cappuccino, accompanied by cedar.

Hints of red pepper complete the aromatic palette.

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/100

Warped La Colmena Amado No.36 - USA

Size: cepo 36x152 mm (6“) - EUR: 0 € | USD: 0 $ Wrapper: Ecuador Deflorada | Binder: Ecuador | Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican R. Medium-light strength. Well balanced and harmonious. Reveals a suave smoke, equipped with a rather contained aromatic intensity. A barely hinted evolution.

It releases toasted notes and nuts, hazelnut in particular. Wood and honey result perceptible as well, which, together with nuances of vanilla, complete the aromatic bouquet.

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/100

La Galera Habano Pirillas - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 38x184 mm (7,25“) - EUR: 8,3 € | USD: $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Dominican Republic | Filler: Dominican Republic Medium strength. Intensity is discrete, but the evolution results contained, as well as not particularly ample aromatic palette.

It develops wood and roasted coffee notes, that are quickly followed by hazelnut and hints of black pepper. In the finale, earthy notes reach the palate as well.

85

/100

1502 Ruby Lancero - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 40x178 mm (7“) - EUR: € | USD: 7,5 $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Medium strength. The aromatic palette presents a discrete complexity, while the balance, in parts, isn’t optimal. Aromatic intensity results rather contained.

Earth and cocoa are quickly accompanied by nuts (walnut) and nuances of candid fruits. Peppery notes take shape in the finale.

85

/100

Saga Golden Age Lancero - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 40x178 mm (7“) - EUR: 10 € | USD: 9 $ Wrapper: Dominican R. | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R. Strength is light. The strength component is particularly contained and the cigar lack character. Evolution and the aromatic palette are somehow not too pronounced.

Suave notes of spices and wood make way in the first part, followed by walnut, hazelnut and balsamic herbs. The second half of the smoke doesn’t present any changes.

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Triple-aged & hand-selected by all the Maestros del Ron Cubano

From left to right: Juan Carlos GONZALES, Manuel CALDERON, Cesar Augusto MARTI, Asbel MORALES, Maestros del Ron Cubano

BEVI RESPONSABILMENTE

BLIND TASTING

Robusto The blind tasting revealed a huge homogeneity regarding the scoring of the tried products. Some of them are well known cigars, others belong to new brands.

There is not just a high scoring producer country, but many brands, capable of developing very interesting smokes.

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Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2 - Cuba Size: cepo 50x124 mm (4,9”) - EUR: 10,4 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

Strength slightly over medium. Although the aromatic palette isn’t particularly ample, the harmony and intensity are exceptional. Long persistency and great balance.

Initially it reveals cedar and notes of white pepper, accompanied by roasted coffee and spicy notes. Hints of cocoa reach the palate as well.

93

/100

Viking Robusto - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 52x127 mm (5”) - EUR: - € | USD: 12,5 $ Wrapper: Connecticut Broadlef | Binder: Sumatra Ecuador | Filler: NIcaragua Medium-full in strength. Creamy and equipped with a structured aromatic palette. The Broadleaf wrapper is very perceptible. Marked persistency. Satisfying.

It starts out with earth and wood, followed by hints of red fruits. It then changes to cocoa and nuts (almond and walnut). In the finale it reveals herbs and black pepper.

92

/100

Davidoff Millenium Robusto - Dominican R. Size: cepo 50x133 mm (5,2”) - EUR: 20 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R.

Medium strength. Balanced, with great intensity, it presents a harmonious and particularly spicy aromatic palette. Evolution is perceptible and persistency is prolonged.

It reveals notes of cedar, accompanied by cocoa and spices: white pepper and spicy peaks. Continuing in the smoke, ripe fruits and coffee appear. The spices intensify step by step.

91

/100

Joya de Nicaragua CuatroCinco D. Robusto - Nicaragua Size: cepo 56x127 mm (5”) - EUR:12 € | USD: 10,5 $ Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Nicaragua

Strength slightly over medium. The aromatic palette is well structured, ample and well delineated. Balanced and equipped with a great balance and complexity.

It reveals notes of peanut and walnut, wood, leather and black pepper. In the second half appear earth, coffee and hints of cinnamon that, together with the omnipresent peppery note.

91

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Serino Royale Maduro XX - Nicaragua Size: cepo 48x130 mm (5,1”) - EUR: - € | USD: 9 $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

Full in strength. Intense and balanced, it is equipped with a prolonged persistency. A peppery and very satisfying smoke.

A blaze of hot spices and black pepper start out the smoke. Quickly followed by notes of roasted coffee, wet earth and hints of herbs.

The finale is an alternation between nutmeg and vegetal notes.

91

/100

Flor de Selva Maduro Robusto - Honduras Size: cepo 50x120 mm (4,7”) - EUR: 7 € | USD: 9 $ Wrapper: Honduras | Binder: Honduras | Filler: Honduras

Medium strength. Very balanced, creamy and elegant. The evolution is well perceptible and the smoke reveals a satisfying and structured aromatic palette.

Notes of wood and white pepper are quickly taken over by cocoa and earth, followed by nuts (hazelnut and almond) and cappuccino.

Finale is slightly spicy.

90

/100

Campesino Robusto Definitivo - Dominican R. Size: cepo 52x127 mm (5”) - EUR: - € | USD: 7 $ Wrapper: Dominican R. | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R.

Medium-full strength. Intense and equipped with a great persistency, it is particularly spicy in the first half, then it turns in to a more structured aromatic palette.

It opens with black pepper and chili, that are accompanied by notes of wet earth. Then is the turn of coffee and herbs. The final part is spicy and reveals leather and hints of nutmeg.

89

/100

Tabernacle Robusto - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 50x127 mm (5”) - EUR: - € | USD: 10,5 $ Wrapper: Conn. Broadleaft | Binder: San Adres (Mexico) | Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua Medium-full strength. Equipped with a deep and structured aromatic palette. The flavors are well amalgamated and the persistency is excellent.

It reveals rich notes of nuts (in particular walnut and almond), followed by wood and cocoa. In the secon half vegetal nuances get delivered aswell.

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89

/100

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos P. Reserve - Dominican R. Size: cepo 50x133 mm (5,2”) - EUR: - € | USD: 13 $ Wrapper: N/A | Binder: N/A | Filler: N/A

Full strenght. A very satisfying and fulfiilling smoke. The aromatic intensity and the strength are very balanced.

It delivers earthy notes, followed by spices (black pepper) and roasted aromas. Leather hints and piquant peaks get developed aswell. The finale exhibits aroamtic herbs.

88

/100

El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme - Cuba Size: cepo 48x127 mm (5”) - EUR: 10,5 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

Medium strenght. The evolution results decent. The aromatic palette is good and the persistence is long.

It delivers floreal and vegetal notes, accompanied by herbs. There are also some spicy hints (pink pepper). Seasoned wood and honey complete the aromatic palette of this Cuban.

88

/100

EP Carrillo La Historia El Senador - Dominican R. Size: cepo 52x136 mm (5,4”) - EUR: 8,6 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: San Andres (Mexico) | Binder: Ecuador Sumatra | Filler: Nicaragua

Medium-full in strength. Intense and satisfying, revealing a slightly dry smoke. The evolution is perceptible. Persistency is very prolonged.

Earth, black pepper and nuts (walnut) open up the smoke, followed by wood and hazelnut. In the final part of the smoke, notes of earth and coffee alternate between each other.

88

/100

Macanudo Inspirado Black Robusto - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 50x127 mm (5”) - EUR: - € | USD: 5,5 $ Wrapper: Habano Connecticut | Binder: Dom. R. | Filler: Dom. R., Honduras & Nicaragua Light in strength. The smoke is characterized by sweet flavors, which are present from the first to the last puff.

Balanced cigar, equipped with a good evolution. Very creamy. It developed sugary notes, which at points are reminiscing of maple syrup. Suave hints of spices are also perceptible.

88

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AJ Fernandez Enclave - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 52x127 mm (5”) - EUR: 7,5 € | USD: 7 $ Wrapper: Ecuador Habano | Binder: Cameroon | Filler: Nicaragua Strength is medium-full. Intense and powerful, the first half of the smoke results to be better, where it develops an ample aromatic palette. Satisfying.

Earth and roasted coffee are accompanied by rich notes of piquant spices (chili). Continuing, the spices tend to decline, leaving room to nutty notes.

88

/100

Corrida Honduras Robusto - Honduras

Size: cepo 56x127 mm (5”) - EUR: - € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua Strength is slightly over medium. Intense and equipped with a good evolution, as well as a good complexity.

It begins with wood, white pepper and cocoa. Herbal notes result perceptible as well. Notes of cinnamon and roasted coffee are added at the half.

88

/100

Saint Luis Rey Regios - Cuba

Size: cepo 50x124 mm (4,9”) - EUR: 8,9 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba Medium strength. Balanced cigar, equipped with a discreet persistency. The aromatic palette, albeit not particularly ample, is very harmonious.

It reveals notes of leather and spices (black pepper), accompanied by herbs in the middle section. Earthy in the finale and the spices increase in intensity.

88

/100

Padron Serie 1926 No.6 Natural - Nicaragua Size: cepo 50x120 mm (4,7”) - EUR: - € | USD: 13,5 $ Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

Full strenght. Intense and fulfilling. The balance results on the edge in some puff, especially in the last sector, due to the very high strength.

It delivers notes of earth, seasoned wood ans spices (mainly black peppper). Going on, dried fruit notes come in, together with herbs; the latter gets more intense int he finale.

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87

/100

Romeo y Julieta Exihibicion no.4 - Cuba Size: cepo 48x127 mm (5”) - EUR: 10 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

Medium-full strength. A rustic smoke, it doesn’t surprises with a particularly ample aromatic palette, but very intense and satisfying. Long persistency.

Earth, wood and chili spices open up the smoke and are quickly followed by herbs. Cappuccino and coffee complete the bouquet.

The last third is slightly bitter.

87

/100

Gurkha Seduction Robusto - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 55x127 mm (5”) - EUR: 5,5 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Ecuador habano | Binder: Olor (Dominican R.) | Filler: Colombia Medium strength. It delievers an harmonious smoke, equipped with a good balance. The evolution and the complexity are not too developed.

It exhibits earthy notes, followed by roasted notes and wood. In the last sector a rich cocoa aroma get delivered aswell. The base get sliglthy bittery.

86

/100

Ashton Symmetry Robusto - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 50x127 mm (5”) - EUR: 14 € | USD: 11 $ Wrapper: Ecuador Habano | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R. & Nicaragua Medium strength. Creamy and equipped with a discreet balance. The evolution results particularly linear and during the smoke, there aren’t many changes of rhythm.

It reveals vegetal notes, together with cedar wood and spices (white pepper). In the second half it turns to leather and earth.

Spicy in the finale.

85

/100

Izambar Robusto Sovereign - Nicaragua Size: cepo 56x127 mm (5”) - EUR: 10 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

Medium-light in strength. The smoke results not very flavorful, as well as from an evolutionary point of view. Good balance.

It reveals notes of wood and spices (black pepper), that during the smoke are accompanied by roasted notes of coffee. The finale delivers an earthy aroma.

84

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Toro Overall, among the tested Toros we tried, the Nicaraguan ones have been the better performing.

The first part of the ranking is almost exclusively fulfilled by Nicaraguan cigars, that confirmed the potentiality of this terroir one more time. Many are the cigars that scored high.

The exception is hold by the winner of the blind, a Dominican one, that has been recently introduced to the market: Avo Syncro Fogata

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AVO Syncro Fogata Toro - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 54x152 mm (6”) - EUR: - € | USD: 10 $ Wrapper: Habano 2000 | Binder: S. Andres Negro | Filler: Dominican R. & Nicaragua Medium-full strength. It reveals a satisfying smoke, equipped with an ample and structured aromatic palette as well as a well perceptible evolution. Exceptional intensity.

Gives off notes of burned wood, accompanied by leather and spices, including white pepper and cinnamon. Base is sweet. Continuing, flavors of coffee, earth, sugary notes and hints of nut.

93

/100

Brickhouse - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 52x152 mm (6”) - EUR: - € | USD: 6,5 $ Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Medium-full strength. Complex smoke paired with an exceptional balance. Very creamy, evolutive and able to give rise to a remarkable persistency. Intense and satisfying.

Peppery notes and coffee start out the smoke. Added then by flavors of bread and cocoa, followed by floral nuances. Continuing, vanilla appears as well. Sweet base and in some puffs even salty.

92

/100

Herrera Estelì Toro Especial - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 52x152 mm (6”) - EUR: - € | USD: 9 $ Wrapper: Ecuador Habano | Binder: Honduras | Filler: Nicaragua Medium-full strength. Intense and creamy, it gives rise to a highly satisfying smoke.

Balance is great with no compromises. Persistency is noteworthy.

It reveals spicy notes of white pepper, accompanied by a mix of nuts, in which hazelnut stands out. Progressing, the spices become hot and coffee, wood and balsamic notes are added.

92

/100

Oliva Serie V Melanio Desocio Toro Extra - Nicaragua Size: cepo 54x165 mm (6,5”) - EUR: 8,6 € | USD: 7 $ Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

Medium-full strength. Elegant and harmonious, revealing an aromatic palette of great quality. Intense and evolutive, as well as very creamy.

Wood and white pepper start out the cigar. Quickly added by roasted coffee and cappuccino notes, accompanied by vegetal hints.

Hazelnut and walnut close out the smoke.

92

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Plasencia Alma Fuerte Nestor 4 - Nicaragua Size: cepo 54x159 mm (6,25”) - EUR: - € | USD: 20 $ Wrapper: Maduro | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

Full strength. Strong and equipped with a rich aromatic palette. Despite its linear evolution, the intensity moves that aspect into the background. Very satisfying.

Reveals a blaze of black pepper, cocoa and nuts (walnut and peanut). Continuing in the smoke, notes of wood and earth are added.

In some puffs appear mineral notes. The base is savory.

91

/100

Romacraft Wunderlust - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 52x152 mm (6”) - EUR: 9,2 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Mata Fina, Brazil | Binder: Besuki dell’Indonesia | Filler: n/a Full strength. Intense smoke and particulary masculine. The aromatic palette isn’t among the most ample ones, but the persistency results incredibly prolonged.

Cocoa and wild pepper start out this smoke. Quickly added by chili spices, earth and nuts (walnut). The spices are outlined in black pepper. Finale is earthy.

90

/100

Caldwell Savages Toro - Dominican R. Size: cepo 54x152 mm (6”) - EUR: - € | USD: 12 $ Wrapper: Habano | Binder: n/a | Filler: n/a

Medium strength. Great balance, it gives rise to a refined smoke in the first half and masculine in the second. Simple but satisfying.

Develops cedar and hazelnut, with peppery hints in the background.

In the second half it turns to earth and roasted notes. The spices, always present, intensify, specially in the finale.

89

/100

Camacho Powerband Toro - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 50x152 mm (6”) - EUR: 13,8 € | USD: 11 $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: San Andres (Mexico) | Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras & Dom. R. Strength is slightly over the medium. Intense and balanced, it is equipped with a good harmony. However evolution is not particularly developed.

Cedar and suave spicy hints of black pepper open up this smoke.

Cocoa and toasted notes are then added. In the final part, the smoke turns to balsamic notes with mineral hints.

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89

/100

CDR Toro - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 50x150 mm (5,9”) - EUR: 12 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: | Binder: | Filler: Medium strength. Equipped with a good balance and harmony. The persistency is prolonged and the evolution is perceptible.

The sugary notes of the opening are quickly accompanied by herbal and peppery flavors. It then turns to cocoa and leather. In the last part it develops rich roasted notes of coffee.

88

/100

Mi Querida Ancho Largo - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 52x152 mm (6”) - EUR: - € | USD: 9 $ Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Medium-full strength. It reveals a full bodied smoke. The smoke is almost chewable and this Toro results balanced and satisfying. The evolution is instead rather limited.

Peppery notes, mainly black pepper, start out the smoke. Nuts (walnut) and earth alternate afterwards. The black pepper accompanies each puff throughout the entire fruition.

88

/100

CAO Amazon Basin - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 52x152 mm (6”) - EUR: 12 € | USD: 10 $ Wrapper: Sumatra (Ecuador) | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Dom. R., Colombia & Amazon Medium-full strength. Good intensity and evolution, the aromatic palette results is unusual and definitely particular. The balance is not always up to par.

Toasted notes of coffee, wet earth and suave hints of wood open up the smoke. Flavors of chestnut and mineral follow, accompanied by walnut. The base becomes acidulous. Slightly peppery in the finale.

88

/100

Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de San Juan - Cuba Size: cepo 54x150 mm (5,9”) - EUR: 15,9 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

Medium strength. Reveals a smoke of good aromatic intensity, equipped with a balance that never fails. Refined and elegant.

Reveals notes of cedar, accompanied by toasted coffee and spicy hints (white pepper). In the second half caramel reaches the palate as well. Finale is balsamic and earthy.

88

/100

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Padron Damaso No.15 - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 52x152 mm (6”) - EUR: - € | USD: 15 $ Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Strength slightly under the medium. The smoke is balance and harmonious, equipped with a discrete evolution. Persistency results rather contained.

Initially, vegetal notes and hazelnut alternate, accompanied by spices (white pepper). It slowly turns to toasted coffee and cappuccino, with the omnipresent hazelnut in the background.

88

/100

Rocky Patel Nimmy D - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 52x152 mm (6”) - EUR: - € | USD: 8 $ Wrapper: Nica Habano | Binder: Honduras | Filler: Nica Strength is medium-full. Equipped with a great intensity and persistency, it reveals a very spicy aromatic palette, with the balance sometimes on the razor’s edge. Very satisfying.

Peppery notes, leather and earth start out this smoke. The spices are very marked from the first to the last puff, some puffs are accompanied by mineral nuances. The base is savory.

87

/100

Montecristo Double Edmundo - Cuba Size: cepo 50x155 mm (6,1”) - EUR: 13,7 € | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

Strength is light. Dull smoke, equipped with a contained intensity and the evolution is impalpable. Balanced, but nothing more.

It reveals suave notes of cedar, accompanied by roasted notes and faint hints of spices. It doesn’t present variations during the smoking. Only in the finale the spices increase slightly in intensity.

84

/100

Victor Calvo Cañonazo - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 52x152 mm (6”) - EUR: - € | USD: 8 $ Wrapper: Ecuador Sun Grown Sumatra | Binder: USA | Filler: Dominican R. & Nicaragua Medium-full strength. In parts the balance becomes lesser, because of the strength that tends to overwhelm the aromatic palette. Persistency is decreed.

It reveals earthy notes, accompanied by nuts, hazelnut in particular. It also presents a fruity component, mainly perceivable in the aftertaste.

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84

/100

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LOUNGES

CigarWorld Lounge DUSSELDORF, GERMANY

by Simone Poggi

“How often a joke masks sadness.”

Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm (Hanau, 1785 – Berlin, 1863) and Wilhelm Karl Grimm (Hanau, 1786 – Berlin, 1859)

Globalization. Few words have been used (and sometimes abused) as much as this one nowadays. A direct effect of globalization is today’s International events gigantism. Every newspaper, blog, tweet more and more focuses on planetaryscale shows, having millions of people flocking with no pause to specific places across the Globe in order to “participate” to Olympic Games, Expos, Football Championships, and Fairs. And rarely these are true cultural events, rather sport-food festivals. We are of course not against the latter, but dimensions are currently so large that budgets

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match small nations’ GDPs, making impossible to manage even the decision of submitting a candidature (let us think about the extensive discussion on Rome as a candidate for the Olympic Games, which have been recently filling the newspapers for months).

Dusseldorf hosts every year the World largest Biomedical Devices Fair, 20 pavilions reaching all together the dimensions of a small-sized town (115’000 m2), with average 125’000 visitors in the 4 days of program. And each year the city, having normally 600’000 inhabitants, shows major changes to its already quite cosmopolitan atmosphere, with more than 10 different languages heard in less than 30 minutes in a late stop at the bar. Some years ago that would have been

perceived as over-exaggerated and not required, today this is just another global event.

Cigars are no difference, and the new FDA regulations concerns are based on the fear that the slow smoke World will end by obeying to the “global market of the firsts”, being the firsts the only ones affording to approach certain markets or rather affording certain tests costs, penalizing the “non-global” boutique brands.

This tornado of ideas is whirling in our minds when we reach Marc Benden’s CigarWorld Lounge, which is quite welcoming place. As soon as we enter the large building, the cerebral mechanism managing the “reward” process is immediately activated: the walk-in humidor is the most spectacular we have ever seen, with entire walls of every Cuban cigar currently available in the market, and moreover an incredible choice of sticks coming the entire Latin America, including at-risk boutique brands. Our Virgilio (even though we are experiencing Paradise, he cannot match our expectations on Beatrice’s role) is a competent and kind Greek in origin sales guy, whom we are delighted to put in charge for part of our funds, however not before having chosen tonight’s smoke, a Liga Privata N.9 Toro, dressed in a very dark and thick capa, magnificent in its contrast with the white anilla.

The first unusual sensation is the weight of the cigar, which is remarkable, a sign of the large quantity of tobacco used, without this fact impacting negatively on draw. The nose is reached by cocoa and leather, really stimulating. The only drawback is when Marc informs us that due to German law they can not serve any drink directly

at the tables, and that in the nearby “kitchen” we can only help ourselves with coffee and tea; a new strategy to further hamper smokers’ lives. Not too bad, we will then explore the non-alcoholic pairing, choosing a green tea. Maybe not an ideal selection with the chosen cigar, expected to be a full-bodied one, but we already had our fifth coffee, and we will call it a day, despite caffeine and theine being the same molecule.

The stick is beautifully crafted and, despite some brazier corrections required during the long fruition, immediately gives off intense, maduro capas characteristics tastes: cocoa, leather, peppery spices. Strength is, as expected, medium-high, rewarding since the first draws, with a chewy, rich smoke. Nicaragua is present at each puff.

Conversation with Marc, enjoying a Hoyo de Monterrey Hermoso Anejado near to us, is pleasant as he shows his expertise, both in tobacco qualities as well as in the related market. He is capable of explaining to us how a German Casa del Habano (as his own one) can also feature such an offer of non-Cubans, which are representing 50% of the Teutonic market. And we really feel “connected” when he shares his concerns on the small, high quality recognized brands; will they survive without accessing the rich US market?

Are we going to maintain our peculiar identity, despite the global events making Athens similar to Beijing? The Liga Privada dense smoke, magnificent and intense, persistent though not featuring a remarkable evolution of the aromas palette, is not answering our questions, but anyhow the cocoa taste, “cleaned” by the green tea sips is contributing to make the night one of the best ever experienced.

POSITION

REACHABILITY

CIGARS

SPIRITS

SERVICE

peripheral

not difficult

everything

no spirits

careful and

to reach

you wish

service

qualified

CigarWorld Lounge Burghofstraße, 2840223 Düsseldorf, Germania https://www.casabenden.de/ueber-uns/la-casa-del-habano http://www.cigarworld.de/en/content/lounge

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INFO

Vocabulary

MEANING OF THE TERMINOLOGIES USED Anilla: paper band on the cigar, which is used to identify the brand.

Calibre (cepo or ring gauge): diameter of the cigar.

Capa (wrapper): the leaves used to wrap the Tripa and the Capote.

Capote (binder): the leaves used to wrap the Tripa.

Catadores: from the factory assigned employees, which try the cigars on a daily bases, to verify the quality.

Cepo: ring gauge.

Claro: tonality of the light brown color of the wrapper.

Colorado: tonality of the chestnut brown color of the wrapper.

Colorado claro: tonality of the light brown color of the wrapper.

Colorado maduro: tonality of the dark brown color of the wrapper.

Figurado: a cigar which presents a pointed end.

Fortaleza: the sensation of the strength, which the smoke provokes in the throat of the smoker with every puff.

Galera: a place where the cigars are prepared.

I.S.: International Shape.

Largo: length of the cigar.

Liga: the mixture of the leaves used, which characterizes the cigar.

Ligero: leaves that are harvested in the higher part of the tobacco plants and that give the strength to the cigar.

Maduro: tonality of the mahogany-dark brown color of the wrapper.

Medio tempo: leaves that are harvested in the top part of the tobacco plants.

Puro: a cigar, which is exclusively prepared with leaves from the resulting country.

Seco: leaves that are harvested in the interim part of the tobacco plants and give aroma to the cigar.

SLD: short for Slide Lid Box. Tercio: ball of untreated tobacco.

Thirds (first, second and third): parts in which the cigar gets divided.

Torcedore: employee who rolls the cigars.

Tripa (filler): leaves which compose the filling of the cigar.

Tripa corta: a filling which is composed of the cuts, pieces and damaged leaves.

Tripa larga: a filling with whole leaves.

Vitola: module or format of the cigar with an established diameter and length.

Vitola de galera: unique name which is attributed to distinguish the different formats, independent of the name which is will be given to the cigar (Marevas, Prominentes, etcâ&#x20AC;Ś).

Vitola de salida: name attributed to the commercial end and changes from each brand (Siglo VI, Serie D no. 4, etc...).

Volado: leaves which are harvested at the bottom part of the tobacco plant. Fundamental for the combustion of the cigar.

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Sections

WHAT YOU CAN FIND ON CIGARSLOVER MAGAZINE DRINKS The better beverages reviewed and explained. The new products and the old fascinated ones, with a hint of history.

PAIRINGS The best alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks which perfectly match with cigars. When pairing becomes a source of absolute pleasure.

EVENTS The main international events.

Fairs, meetings and everything having the cigar as the main character.

PILLS A brief article that goes straight to the heart of the matter. A topic to be read in one breath, a small pill.

FAMOUS SMOKERS Biographies and curiosity about famous people of present and past days, that all have in common just one this: a huge passion for cigars.

SLOW ATTITUDE Technical ar ticles for a better understanding of the product cigar secrets and insights of use for both beginners and aficionados.

INTERVIEW Stories of passions narrated directly by the protagonists: interviews with insiders, tobacconists, importers, collectors, and so on and so forth.

TOBACCO HISTORY Stories from the tobacco world: the big brands, the crops, the manufacturers of the past, and the city grew on the tobacco business.

LINE UP Insights, reviews and evaluations about all the cigars that belong to the same line, plus details about its making.

TOOLS Accessories are an essential element for the modern smoker: cutters, humidors, lighters, cigar holders, furnishing accessories.

MADE IN ITALY Reviews, discussions and insights regarding the cigars made in Italy. The tradition of Tuscani, the novelty of Nostrano del Brenta and more!

VINTAGE The world of collecting: cigars aged for decades, the great classics of the past and rarest cubans.

The charm and the quality of the impossible.

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