Cigar Snob Magazine November December 2024

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024

MONEY Matters p. 26

EUROPEAN Vacation p. 33

Holiday

Gift Guide p. 22

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editorials NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024

22 GIFT GUIDE This holiday present guide is small but solid, featuring a book on whiskey that will please the novice AND the schooled, a stylin’ sweater/jacket, a travel case that is a go-to travel humidor and a slick, fashionable dual cutter.

24 PERFECT PAIRING TEELING WHISKEY - SMALL BATCH / ESPINOSA CREMA The Teeling brothers joined forces to bring back the family’s distilling heritage with a modern twist. So we paired it with Espinosa’s twist on a Connecticut shade cigar.

26 MONEY MATTERS - STATE TAXES - INFLATION BUSTER - ULTRA PREMIUM CIGARS

33 EUROPEAN VACATION We went to a trade show in Germany, took a few turns and ended up driving through Switzerland and France, all the while smoking cigars in the coolest places, indulging in the local cuisines and enjoying the best elements of the Old Country.

61 VOLITION AMERICA An accomplished entrepreneur is taking his skills to give back to the nation’s warriors through a brand that is more than just a name - it’s a mission. We talk with John Sapiente about his journey.

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features NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024

14 LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

16 FEEDBACK

18 WHAT’S BURNIN’

46 SMOKING HOT CIGAR SNOB REDUX FEATURING DEADWOOD TOBACCO THE GIRL WITH NO NAME

65 RATINGS

80 X SCOREBOARD

82 INSTAGRAM SCOREBOARD

84 EVENTS 84 TAMPA CIGAR BASH 86 VCF DINNER AND PARTY 88 CIGAR SMOKING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 90 LAUNCH OF THE FUENTE THE OPUSX SOCIETY CIGAR 92 SABOR HAVANA DINNER WITH OLIVA HELPING HANDS 94 NICE ASH FEST 96 QUESADA CIGARS AT NEPTUNE 98 CITY CIGAR BY THE BAY GRAND OPENING

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024

VO L . 16 IS SU E 6 www.cigarsnob.com PUBLISHER & EDITOR Erik Calviño SENIOR EDITOR Steve Miller COPY EDITOR Michael LaRocca SALES & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Oscar M. Calviño

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Ivan Ocampo ART DIRECTOR Andy Astencio ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jamilet Calviño DIGITAL RETOUCHING SPECIALIST Ramón Santana CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Florin Safner DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGEMENT Gianni D’Alerta Diana Rita Cabrera CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS David Benoliel Andy Astencio Ramon Adato EVENT PHOTOGRAPHERS Jamilet Calviño Diana Dimbueni Omar Vega Greg Corbi Cover Photography by David Benoliel www.davidbenolielphotography.com Cover Model - Kristina Sheiter Cigar Snob is published bi-monthly

by Lockstock Publications, Inc. 1421-1 SW 107th Ave., #253 Miami, FL 33174-2509 Tel: 1 (786) 423-1015 Cigar Snob is a registered trademark of Lockstock Publications, Inc., all rights reserved. Reproduction in part or full without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Cigar Snob is printed in the U.S. Contents copyright 2006, Lockstock Publications, Inc. To subscribe, visit www.cigarsnob.com

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In some ways, 2024 was the year of the $100 cigar. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of excellent cigars released this year below that elevated price point, but there were also more $100 and over cigars released this year than ever before. Like several readers who have written to the magazine this year, it can feel like you’re being priced out of the market.

While it is troubling to many consumers, who feel like the skyrocketing cost of living has left them with less “cigar dollars” to spend, I don’t see it that way. In other words, I don’t feel like those consumers are being priced out of the market. I say that because while more pricey cigars have hit the market this year, cigars out of your price range have always been part of the market. There has always been a place for them - even if that place is not in your humidor.

How did we get here? For one, Cuban cigars have hiked their prices over the past several years, resulting in a growth in revenue with conversely low levels of production. For example, according to the Habanos 2024 price list, a Cohiba Siglo VI in Spain went from ¤37.80 in 2022 to ¤100 in 2024, a staggering increase. This, along with exceptional quality and consistency, has resulted in a boom for nonCuban cigar sales all over the world. But stateside, it has influenced cigar makers to release new and more expensive products, believing that there is a market for them.

Typically, premium cigars in other parts of the world are aimed at a more affluent consumer, while in the U.S. they are for everyone. It’s one of the aspects of the American premium cigar industry that I love so much. In the U.S., a premium cigar is, despite the optics, the most affordable luxury product. Here’s what I mean: if you buy a 100% handmade cigar, in a toro, for $10, you can enjoy it for 1.5 hours on average. Assuming the cigar is to your liking, that’s 1.5 hours of pleasure, contemplation, and perhaps camaraderie with like-minded individuals. What other luxury product returns a value anywhere near that?

Yes, 2024 saw price increases across the board. But compared to everything else, non-Cuban cigars have maintained a respect and appreciation for the consumer that is unrivaled and beyond reproach.

For proof, pop over to our Inflation Buster section on pg. 28, you’ll see a list of exceptional cigars below $15. And if you’d like to see more Inflation Buster sections in the future, let us know at feedback@ cigarsnobmag.com. *** As this is the last issue of the year, I’d like to give a special thanks to our incredibly devoted and talented team. They wear a lot of hats at Cigar Snob, and they are the ones who make the magic happen, although I’m the one who gets to write this letter. The number of hours poured into this publication by everyone is staggering and humbling. We’ve also taken on new initiatives in social media that I hope you’ve been

14 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

enjoying and that is possible thanks to the work of our newest team member, Diana. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, tune into any of our social media channels; Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or X, on Friday at 3 p.m. eastern. Or simply follow our accounts and watch our social media coverage of the cigar business’ biggest events. I want to thank our collaborators and advertising partners who believe in and support our work; without them, none of this is possible. Lastly, I want to thank you, the reader; without you there is no reason for doing this work. Thank you all.

Keep ‘em lit,

Erik Calviño ecalvino@cigarsnobmag.com

CIGARS ON ICE Hello Gentlemen, I live in New York City, where we experience four months of pretty cold weather. My Friday night ritual is to stoke the fire pits, pour myself a cognac, play some Carlos Santana on the speaker and enjoy a good cigar.

My question is, does the cold weather have an effect on the cigars, and are there certain cigars that may fare better under colder situations? Some of my favorite cigars are Aganorsa Aniversario, Alec Bradley Prensado as well as Partagas & Bolivar. I do enjoy my local lounge, however nothing beats being outside by a fire decompressing from the work week and quietly contemplating life’s issues - not to mention the cost savings of smoking my own cigars. I love learning from you and hopefully you will shed some light on this topic as well.

Thank you, Joseph C Via email As with all things in cigars and perhaps life in general—it depends.

The subjective impact of cold weather on cigar flavors can vary greatly from one Joe to the next. However, from a scientific perspective, the natural oils in tobacco tend to solidify at colder temperatures, leading to muted and flatter-tasting cigars. Additionally, as the oils in the cigar begin to solidify, the wrapper may crack, resulting in a frazzled, unsmokable stogie. The same can happen if you smoke cigars in

extremely dry conditions, like out in the desert. Can you smoke cigars in extreme conditions? Yes, of course. Is it optimal? Probably not. Is it worth it? HELL YES. Nothing beats enjoying a cigar out in the elements, even if it means sacrificing a bit of flavor.

That said, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of having an enjoyable smoke by prepping your cigar to tough it out with you—just like you’d put on a jacket and grab a cocktail before heading outside to sit by the fire pit. First, make sure your cigars are stored at the proper temperature and humidity levels to start with. Your cigars won’t stand a chance if they’re dry before you even light up. Also, as you mentioned, the type of cigar you choose matters when it comes to cold weather. Maduro cigars, for example, tend to have a heartier wrapper with more oils thanks to their longer exposure to the sun. They tend to hold up to the weather better than most.

Take, for instance, one of your favorites: the Aganorsa Aniversario—an excellent choice. This cigar comes in three wrappers: Maduro, Corojo, and Connecticut—all of which are exceptional.

If you had to pick one to enjoy outdoors on a cold day, the Maduro and the Corojo should hold up, while the Connecticut may struggle. But like we said earlier, it depends, and since you’ve got the fire going with your cognac and Santana, perhaps your Aganorsa Aniversario Connecticut will hold up just fine.

Anywho—thanks for the feedback, and stay tuned for more episodes of the Cigar Snob Podcast.

WRITE US AT FEEDBACK@CIGARSNOBMAG.COM 16 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

THE CARNEGIE CLUB ENTERS COLLABORATION WITH OLIVA CIGARS Oliva Cigars and the Carnegie Club, a New York City cigar and cocktail lounge, are collaborating to create the Carnegie Club cigar, a 6 x 52 torpedo. “[This is] two exclusive brands joining forces to honor the ultimate cigar experience: one that creates a union of taste, sophistication, social encounter and celebration of lifestyle,” Frederik Vandermarliere, owner of Oliva Cigars, said in a press release. “This is what it means to pursue ultimate quality,” This is where we aim to be with Oliva.”

S.T. DUPONT & CASABLANCA: L’ART DU SPORT S.T. Dupont is teaming up with luxury sportswear maker Casablanca for a series of accessories. The Ligne 2 lighter, cigar humidor, and ashtray are adorned with colored lacquer squares, reinterpreting the lines of tennis courts and decorative historic Greek architecture. Slimy, Biggy, accessories, and the Line D Eternity pen are adorned with a metal mosaic guilloche or a mosaic pattern, sometimes enhanced by a layer of transparent lacquer. Casablanca and S.T. Dupont have also developed a line of leather goods for this collaboration. A cross-body cigar pouch, document holder, and, in slightly grained leather, a case for two cigars and a pen case are highlighted with Casablanca’s primary colors and the white lines borrowed from tennis courts.

telí and Corojo 99 Ligero from the Dominican Republic’s La Canela region, and Jalapa binder from Nicaragua.

“This cigar represents our journey over the last 15 years,” Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, founder of E.P. Carrillo, said in a press release. “It reflects the challenges we’ve overcome, the progress we’ve made, and the passion we bring to every cigar we create. We wanted to craft something truly special to commemorate this milestone.”

Nica Rustica Broadleaf features a Connecticut River Valley wrapper, with Mexican San Andres Negro binder, and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos from Estelí and Jalapa.

J.C. NEWMAN CIGAR CO. INTRODUCES THE PERSONAL RESERVE PROGRAM

“Considered a straight-forward power puncher, the new Gordo 6 x 60 is a big cigar with big, fat flavors, it’s just a flavor bomb,” Jonathan Drew, founder and president of Drew Estate, said in a press release. “The new Gordo size will be available in 25-count boxes, which helps us keep the box costs down per stick. We are a blue-collar company, and we must address the value equation every day. The Nica Rustica front mark is the key to this challenge.”

J.C. Newman announces its Personal Reserve Program, allowing cigar fans to create their own personal blends or select from a staff blend.

J.C. Newman will hand roll these cigars at its El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa.

The Nica Rustica Broadleaf Gordo has an MSRP of $7.95 per stick.

Plasencia Cigars announces the Cosecha 151 in a 6 x 54 Salomon size ($19.50). The name of the Honduran puro honors the 151st tobacco crop from the Plasencia farms, which was harvested in 2016.

The 7 x 56 H. Upmann Banker Ingot features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican filler. It comes in 12-count, gold ingot-shaped boxes ($180).

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My Father is releasing the Corona Especial 6.5 x 44 and Corona Extra 5.5 x 48 which are soft box-pressed.

Drew Estate announces the addition of a 6 x 60 Gordo to the Nica Rustica Broadleaf family.

H. UPMANN BANKER INGOT

E.P. Carrillo announces the release of its 15 Year Anniversary Cigar. The 6 1/2 x 54 Gran Toro ($20) features a 10-year-aged Mexican San Andres wrapper, with an eight-tobacco blend of filler including Criollo 98 Ligero from Es-

MY FATHER RELEASES NEW LIMITED PRODUCTION SIZES OF LE BIJOU 1922

Like the core line Le Bijou 1922, which was No. 10 in Cigar Snob’s Top 25 Cigars of 2023, these two new sizes feature a Habano O.O. wrapper and Nicaraguan binders and fillers. Unlike the main line, these two sizes will have a second release in boxes of 22 units, to keep what symbolizes the year 2022.

DREW ESTATE INTRODUCES NEW BROADLEAF GORDO FOR NICA RUSTICA

PLASENCIA CIGARS ANNOUNCES THE COSECHA 151 TAA EXCLUSIVE SALOMON BOXES

E.P. CARRILLO UNVEILS A 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CIGAR

not just the experience of an iconic brand, but an investment in quality and craftsmanship.”

Altadis U.S.A. announces the H. Upmann Banker Ingot.

“Each H. Upmann Banker is a testament to the 180-plus years of the brand and exemplifies our commitment to exceptional taste and innovation,” Gabe Diaz, brand manager, said in a press release. “This new offering provides a unique smoking experience that reflects the spirit of today’s discerning cigar connoisseurs, just how the Upmann brothers would have wanted it. With H. Upmann Banker Ingot, we offer consumers

J.C. Newman has curated a selection of 24 cigar tobaccos from nine countries from its tobacco library. Cigar connoisseurs can use them to create a variety of unique cigar blends. Custom blended cigars are offered in a package of four leather cabinet humidors containing a total of 80 custom cigars for a total price of $2,400.

Cigars rolled with a staff blend are available in a leather cabinet humidor containing 20 cigars with custom bands for $500.

Creating a custom-blended cigar begins with an in-person or virtual consultation with a master blender who will guide the cigar connoisseur in creating a personal blend. J.C. Newman will prepare the luxury cigar tobaccos selected, and a master roller will hand roll them. The cigars will be aged in El Reloj’s underground aging room to the customer’s specifications. Lastly, they will be wrapped with custom cigar bands and packed in personalized leather cabinet humidors. Throughout this journey, J.C. Newman will share photos documenting the creation of these special cigars. From start to finish, the process will take at least six months.

The program is limited to 10 participants per

month. For more information, visit J.C. Newman’s Personal Reserve Program website or create your own custom blend virtually with J.C. Newman’s unique online Blending Tool.

CIGARS INTERNATIONAL HOSTS A PAIR OF GRAND OPENINGS Cigars International in November opened superstores in South Fayette, Penn., and Jacksonville, Fla., bringing its domestic total to 13.

The Pennsylvania location - the brand’s fourth Quaker State store - is built to resemble a tobacco barn, with 5,000 square feet, a full-service bar and an outdoor patio. The Florida store features a 1,772-square-ft. humidor, a 2,193-square-ft. lounge, 21 TVs and a full-service bar. The outdoor area has a 1,729-square-ft. patio.

QUESADA CIGARS OFFERS NEW CASA MAGNA MADURO LINE Quesada Cigars is offering Casa Magna in Maduro Mexican San Andres wrapper as a new product line.

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The Casa Magna Maduro will debut with a TAA 6 x 54 Toro Box Press ($13), a 5 x 54 Robusto ($11.50), a 6 ½ x 52 Toro ($12), a 5 ½ x 52 Belicoso Box Pressed ($12), and a 7 x 40 Lancero ($13).

They feature a Mexican San Andres wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and filler from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and the U.S. “This Casa Magna Maduro cigar is extra special for me because it was a blend that I got to work hand in hand with my father and the team this year, I’m very excited to present this maduro cigar to all of you, I’m sure that you will be very amazed as I am too,” Raquel Quesada, president, said in a press release.

MACANUDO GETS INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH INSPIRADO AND M SAMPLERS In preparation for the holiday season, Macanudo is offering an Inspirado variety pack and a flavored cigar sampler box from the M

by Macanudo line.

The Inspirado Holiday Windowbox includes a

collection of Inspirado cigars and a quad-torch lighter in a box. The cigars include Inspirado White, Orange, Black, Green and Red, all in a 6 x 50 Toro vitola with an MSRP of $59.95.

The Perfect Sampler from M by Macanudo includes five flavored cigars, three of the original M Coffee and two M Espresso with Cream, each in a 6 x 50 Toro with an MSRP of $44.99.

EL GALAN CIGARS APPOINTS JR BROKERS AS DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTOR El Galan Cigars in October appointed Miamibased JR Brokers as its distributor for El Galan products in the U.S. El Galan’s portfolio includes El Galan Maduro, El Galan Reserva Especial, Doña Nieves, Vegas del Purial, and Campestre.

“We are very excited to be working with the JR Broker team to enhance the accessibility of El Galan Cigars to new and existing markets and continue to focus our efforts on making world class cigars,” El Galan founder Felix Mesa said in a press release.

FOUNDATION CIGARS

ROOTED IN TRADITION

CRAFTED FOR TODAY

WWW.FOUNDATIONCIGARS.COM NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 21

WE’RE AWASH IN THE GOOD STUFF AT CHRISTMAS, AS USUAL. THIS YEAR’S THEME IS MULTI-PURPOSE GIFTS. THE CLASSY CUTTER IS DUAL PURPOSE, THE UTILITY CASE CAN CARRY TOOLS, OR AS WE CALL THEM, CIGARS. THE JACKET CAN GO UNDER A HEAVIER COAT, OR MAKE THE SCENE AS IS. AND THE BOOK CAN SERVE AS A STUDY GUIDE AS WELL AS PLEASURE READING.

GIFT GUIDE

THE WORLD ATLAS OF WHISKY 3RD EDITION octopusbooks.co.uk

$55 This is the latest go-to for whisky fanatics. Lush layout, plenty of color pictures and tips on how to be the most informed imbiber at the rail.

The World Atlas visits 500 distilleries from Scotland to China, from Spain to Mexico in these 350 pages. Author Dave Broom has been documenting fine spirits for two decades, and brings that authority to the reader. If you’ve been reading the fine pairings we’ve run this year in Cigar Snob, this is the logical, expansive next step.

NOBIS KEPLER MEN’S BERBER ZIP FRONT SWEATER us.nobis.com

$595 Hail the always-necessary double zipper, which connects from both the bottom and the top. But that’s not all this heavy duty sweater offers; the flaps on the side pockets close magnetically, the side pockets at the waist and the inside zipper pocket provide space for cigars AND accessories, and the thing scans warm.

But maybe the crowning jewel is that along with offerings in blue and black, this sweater comes in a coveted heat map color. That’s right, you’re stylin’ like a cardcarrying Weather Channel anchor. Is fashion a blast or what?

XIKAR FLIP DUAL CIGAR CUTTER Xikar.com

$84.99

PELICAN PERSONAL UTILITY RUCK CASE Pelican.com

$69.95 We know this is a durable container for anything you need to cart around for easy access provided its small size - - dimensions are roughly 9 x 6 x 3 inches. It’s waterproof, rubberized hinge-latched and comes in four colors. Many consumers will think of tools as cargo. But we can’t help but insist that this is the coolest carrier of cigars and accessories, with its durable divider tray and built-in pressure valve.

Hey, we’re a cigar magazine, what do you expect? Great price, btw.

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Full disclosure; We have the VX2, just used it, use it a lot. This next generation of the VX2 gives the user two options, straight cut or V. It features dual V and straight cuts, small enough to take along anywhere, handles up to 64 gauge, spring-loaded and the blade are sharper than your sushi chef’s blade. Comes in six colors, aluminum body, with a texturized underside.

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Teeling Whiskey – Small Batch Espinosa Crema We’ve written about the rise, fall and rebirth of Irish whiskey at length over the years. It’s a topic that has always interested our readers as well as our editorial staff. The history is a rollercoaster of successes, failures, and being taxed almost to the point of extinction. Today the Irish whiskey category is experiencing a period of resurgence exhibited by a healthy rise in Irish whiskey’s global market value of approximately $2 billion in 2013 to $5.1 billion in 2023. More telling is the growth of operating distilleries in Ireland, from a handful in 2013 to 47 at the time of this tasting.

One of the distilleries built during that stretch was the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, which opened in 2015 in Dublin. But that’s only the latest chapter in this family’s distilling history, which like the country’s whiskey industry, has risen from the ashes.

The original Teeling distillery was started in 1782 by Walter Teeling on Marrowbone Lane in Dublin. Teeling was eventually acquired by their neighbors on Marrowbone Lane, William Jameson & Co., makers of the No. 1 selling Irish whiskey, Jameson. By 1976 due to a series of local and global factors taking their toll, the entirety of Irish-made whiskey was coming from a single distillery, Middleton Distillery in County Cork.

The return of Teeling was driven by brothers Jack and Stephen Teeling, who set out to bring world-class whiskey distilling back to Dublin, where their family’s distilling heritage is rooted. Their concept was to celebrate what makes Irish whiskey special while pushing the envelope of innovation. Their flagship spirit, Teeling Small Batch, is the personification of the concept. It combines classic pot still distilling with more modern column still distillation and it’s finished in Central American rum barrels.

The whiskey has 46% alcohol by volume, employs no coloring or additive, and is non chill-filtered.

THE PAIRING

In the glass, the Teeling Small Batch has a natural looking, light straw color while the nose jumps out of the glass with tons of spice and vanilla up front along with delicate hints of dried fruit and apple. The palate opens with sweet, intense spice balanced by creamy vanilla, and a touch of oak and citrus on the finish. A very interesting dram in that it has characteristics of a classic, light Irish whiskey but with a layer of vanilla cream that differentiates it.

Pairing the Teeling Small Batch with the Espinosa Crema is optimal in a preferred sequence. Sip the whiskey, then draw the smoke in. You’ll find that the whiskey’s combination of spice, dried fruit, and vanilla add a wonderful dimension of sweetness and complexity to the cigar.

LOCATION: CITY CIGAR LOUNGE MIAMI

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Clark Fork

WASHINGTON

Dworshak Reservoir

MONEY MATTERS

STATE TAXES

ino

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All eg

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a b ama

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HIGH TAX

Lake Superior

Georgian Bay

ive r

Lake G rand River Michigan

ke La ie Er

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Hudson River

St. Law ren ce R

NEW YORK

ny River

R iver

Wabash River

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Salton Sea

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Cape Fear River

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Maui Island

Riv e r

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Lake George

Kentucky Lake

Pe e

Apalachicola River

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Lake Barkley

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Halifax NOVA SCOTIA

Ottawa

Lake Simco

TORONTO

Winnebago Lake

Mi ss

Moosehead Lake

MAINE

River

Lake Nipissing

Lake Huron

CANAD

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NEW BRUNSWICK

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QUEBEC Québec

Mille Lacs Lake

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r

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Rainy Lake

Des Moines River

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Great Salt LakeGrand White

C A Nr A D A

Lake of the Woods R Dee

Molokai Island

Lanai Island

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Leech Lake

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Pathfinder Reservoir Seminoe Reservoir

Pyramid Lake

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Green River

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Lake George

Galveston Bay

ALASKA

ZERO TAX

LOW

MEDIUM

Source: Cigar Snob Research

HIGH TAX

C o lville

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Lake Okeechobee

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Lake Winnipeg

Winnipeg

bi n e Sa

a

Galveston Bay

er

KahoolaweToledo Bend Island Reservoir

er

no

Ho

n e Riv

o rad

ko Yu

Grand White Lake Lake lu lu

n

am

Lake Manitoba

Pe e

n Ka

Cape Fear River

Sa Kawaihae Bay bi

ws t o n llo

Ri

FLORIDA y Riv

Riv er James

e

e oh

Texoma

Malheur Lake

Colora do

Clear Lake Lake Lake Tahoe Berryessa

Ye

R oanoke

Halifax NOVA SCOTIA

MAINE

Grand White Lake Lake

Sheyenne River

Island

Kahului

Kahoolawe Island Lake Albert

TEXAS

sR

Kentuc k

Regina

R i v er

Kentucky Lake

R oanoke Arkaayns as Ri Dworshak Ri v er Reservoir ve iB r ulu ah Maui KSalmon River

ve r Ri

Poipu Beach

Lanai Island Lake

C olo

Niihau Island

Oahu Island

Molokai Island

River

River

Toledo Kauai Island Bend Reservoir

ine cup Por

Ta n

iver M i s s i s sippi R

olora Sea C eaufort do

HAWAII

ve r Ri

XAS

i ne R iv e r

R ed

Sa b

nds

Pe co

Goose Lake

r ive

Re

Lake Texoma

NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN

er

Gr e en

Flathead Lake

St Joe River

r ive

ive r

A l e u t i a n I sl a

no HdoRiv e r

Summer Lake

Klamath River

e oh

R ed

r Ri v e

C Arkans as R O

Riv e r

Ohi o R

issi s si p

iver M i s s i s sippi R

G

Juneau

y Riv

R i v er

Apalachicola River

Lake Barkley

Clark Fork

R Dee

ra

nd Gulf oe f Alaska

M

Pe e

Kentucky Lake

Rio

XI

u lul

Re

a

ME

St. Matthew Island

Deschutes River

Lake Barkley

Kentuc k

Moosehead Lake

Galveston Bay

R i ver

Sjpokane River

ne

Ka

ver Ri

er am

ve r Ri

ko

Ta n

wi

R i v er

ce

Fredericton

VT.

Hudson River

R ed

Gr e en

Muskingum River

NEW BRUNSWICK

N.H.

v er

ny River

Muskingum River

er

er

Yuiv pi R

e pin n

o usk

Wabash River

r ive

er

Gr e en

Toledo Bend Reservoir

er

Ohi o R

Oahu y Island Ba WASHINGTON

Kentuc k yR Poipu iv Niihau Lake Beach Island Meredith

bi n e Sa

cu Por

St. Lawrence Island

r ive

issi s si p

er

er

o rad

Noatak

sR

ny River

ke La ie Er

Kentucky Lake

Lake Ontario

TORONTO Lake Texoma

Colora do

iv pi R

Kauai Island

i

M

C o lville

s ou r

BRITISH COLUMBIA HAWAII Columbia River

Beaufort Sea

R i ver

C olo

Salton Sea

Muskingum River er

Ohi o R

Ottawa

S keab i La ie n e River Er

ILLINOIS Arkansas R iv

Québec

issi s si p

N.H.

VT.

Hudson River

Lake Ontario

i

s ou r

Chukchi Sea

Lake Huron

er

s Mi

s Mi

Lake Mead

er

Halifax NOVA SCOTIA

MAINE

Barkley

ans as R ArkSimco Lake i

River

Pe co

is

Lake Powell

QUEBEC

R i ver

i

Re

r

Wabash River

ALASKA ILLINOIS

CALIFORNIA

d Ri v

Lake G rand River Michigan

Walker Lake

is

Georgian Bay

Mi sso

r Rive uri

Riv e

n

r Ri v e

t te

s ou r

RiverLake

Winnebago Lake

r ippi Rive iss

G

Great Salt Lake

Rio

r Rive uri

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Riv er

DesdyeMoines iver n RRiver

ke La ie Er

Lac St.- Jean

Montréal Connecticut

Wisconsin River

Mi ss

ra

NP la

Lac Abitibi

M

ver Ri

es

Riv er James

r ippi Rive iss

Lake G rand River Michigan

Pathfinder Reservoir Seminoe Reservoir

Reservoir Gouin

Moosehead Lake ONTARIO

Lake Meredith

Hudson River

Lake ario o t Ont a

Wabash River

is

Lake Nipissing

bi n e Sa

er

Yellowstone

Green River

Lake G rand River Michigan

ce

Connecticut Arkansas R River iv e r

Mille Lacs Lake

o rad

Mi nn

Boysen Reservoir

Des Moines River

Lake Superior

Leech Lake

Lake Simco

Winnebago Lake Lake

Mi ss

Pyramid Lake

Rainy Lake

Upper and Lower Red Lake

Lake Huron

Salton Sea

a RMalheur ive Lake r

Des Moines River

d Ri v

ce

Ottawa

Lake Simco

TORONTO

Winnebago Lake

Mi ss

r ippi Rive iss

Georgian Bay

ive r

s Mi

n ows t o ell

iver eR

es

Riv er James

Lake Albert

Goose Lake

Y

Wisconsin River

ot

Lake Sheyenne Nipissing River

Lake Mead

aR

Mi sso

r

Lake Nipigon

Lake of the Woods

Lake Powell

Dworshak Reservoir

ot

Lake Huron

ren

St Joe River

r ive

G u lf o f L a w St

Lake Superior

Flathead Lake

eR ive

Lake Winnipeg

MANITOBA

C olo

Mi nn

Lake Manitoba

Winnipeg

Lac St.- Jean tt

NP la

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Lac Abitibi

Regina

Clark Fork

Pathfinder

Reservoir Reservoir Seminoe Gouin Reservoir

Great Salt Lake

Walker Lake

River

Summer Lake

Green River

Georgian Bay

Wisconsin River

Mi nn

r Rive uri

Lake Lake Lake Tahoe Berryessa

Mille Lacs Lake Salmon

Clear Lake Mi ss Lake Lake Tahoe o Berryessa

Moosehead Lake

River

Lake Nipissing

NEW BRUNSWICK

Fredericton

Montréal Connecticut

Mille Lacs Lake

Boysen Reservoir

Sjpokane River

Leech Lake

Klamath River

QUEBEC Québec

Leech Lake

Yellowstone Lake

Pyramid Lake

Columbia River

Upper and Lower Red Lake

Deschutes River

Lac St.- Jean

Lac Abitibi

Lake Superior

es

Lake Nipigon Clear

Lake of Rainy the Woods BRITISH COLUMBIA Lake

Sheyenne River

Rainy Lake

iver eR

Riv er James

Lake Winnipeg

Malheur Lake

Lake Albert

Goose Lake

Klamath River

Winnipeg

ws t o n llo

ONTARIO

proval. Washington’s 95% tax is fierce, but they cap it at $0.65, so… thanks?

In what should be considered normal and expected behavior, people in high-tax states get NEW YORK creative when procuring their smokes. What do these high-tax policymakers expect? Are they NEW CANADA aware that we can freely cross state lines, order online or by catalog? The ones hurt most by BRUNSWICK ONTARIO QUEBEC these taxesFredericton are the brick-and-mortar retailers who struggle to keep their businesses afloat in Québec C A N West A D A of tax policy, axes on premium cigars in the U.S. are all over the place. It’s the Wild an unfair environment. ILLINOIS Halifax NOVA SCOTIA but without any cowboys or tumbleweeds—just a jumble of conflictingMontréal motivations and MAINEOrganizations like the Premium Cigar Association, Cigar Rights of America, and Cigar AssociaWASHINGTON CALIFORNIA double speak. Some states tack on a 75% excise tax on cigars,Ottawa begging you to quit enjoytion of America work with local and state governments to remove or at least lower the impact N.H. ing them altogether. New York and Utah, we're looking at you. Meanwhile Florida, Pennsylvathese tax policies have on the cigar business. It’s an onerous and never-ending battle.

VT. nia, and New Hampshire do not apply any additional cigar-specific tax.

How does your state’s cigar tax rank with the rest of the country?

TORONTO Vermont is up there with a 92% cigar tax, though they cap it at $2 for cheaper cigars and at $4 NOTE: We used theNEW EdgeYORK

by Rocky Patel and the Oliva Serie V Melanio as our benchmarks NEW YORK ME for any cigar with a wholesale price over $10. InX Ithe great state of Texas, it’s a straightforward for calculating the level of taxation. Many states differentiate their tax policy by the wholesale CO TEXAS penny per stick, letting folks enjoy a cigar without feeling like they need a loan officer’s apprice of the cigar, these two widely available cigars covered both ends of the spectrum.

Summer Lake

MANITOBA

Ye

Reservoir Gouin

Lake Nipigon

Upper and Lower Red Lake

Sheyenne River

Salmon River

Deschutes River

Lake Manitoba

Flathead Lake

St Joe River

CANADA

Lake of the Woods

r ive

ren

Winnipeg

St. Law ren ce R

MANITOBA

Sjpokane River

CANA DA

Columbia River

Lake Winnipeg

St L a w

Lake Manitoba

Regina

G u lf o f

BRITISH COLUMBIA

K

a

St. Matthew Island

Gulf of Alaska

y Ba lui hu Maui Ka

Kahului

Kahoolawe Island

Juneau

Kawaihae Bay Mauna Kea

Kilauea

A l e u t i a n I sl a

nds

ZERO TAX

Island

NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN

Kahoolawe Island

Mauna Loa

lo Hi ay B

LOW

MEDIUM

HIGH TAX

OLIVA SERIE V MELANIO / VITOLA: CHURCHILL / MSRP: $17.80

PRICES AFTER TAX IN EACH STATE CIGAR

FLORIDA

NEW YORK

ILLINOIS

TEXAS

CALIFORNIA

WASHINGTON

ANCHORAGE, AK

HAWAII

The Edge By Rocky Patel

$8.55

$11.75

$9.05

$8.56

$10.81

$9.20

$10.89

$10.68

Oliva Serie V Melanio

$17.80

$24.48

$18.30

$17.81

$22.51

$18.45

$22.69

$22.25

26 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 27

MONEY MATTERS

INFLATION BUSTER

here’s a new administration incoming but prices are still sky high, so we’ve put together a combination of cigars rated 92 or higher in three groups: under $10, $10 to $12, and $12 to $15. Only cigars rated 92 or above during 2024 were considered for this section.

CIGARS UNDER $10 92 HVC SELECCION NO. 1 MADURO $8.80

92 OSCAR VALLADARES 2012 SUMATRA $9.30

92 WARPED GUARDIAN OF THE FARM $9.50

NICARAGUA

HONDURAS

NICARAGUA

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52

VITOLA: Esenciales WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Nicaragua LENGTH: 5 5/8 FILLER: Nicaragua RING: 46 A well-balanced and flavorful blend covered with a dark brown wrapper with a coarse feel. Consistently draws and burns beautifully while delivering a core of earth, smooth pepper, and cedar accompanied by notes of bittersweet chocolate and roasted nuts. Medium plus strength.

WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Nicaragua & Honduras

Box-pressed and covered with a supple, light brown wrapper, this medium strength blend provides an open draw and an even burn while leaving behind a slightly flaky ash. Produces a smooth core of unsalted almonds, mild coffee, and smooth pepper.

VITOLA: Apollo LENGTH: 6 RING: 44

WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

A flavorful blend finished with an oily, toothy wrapper and a covered foot. This consistently well-made corona produces an excellent output of medium plus strength smoke with notes of black pepper, cedar, lightly toasted almonds, and a hint of cinnamon.

CIGARS $10 TO $12 92 AJ FERNANDEZ BELLAS ARTES

$10.50

NICARAGUA VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 54

WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Brazil, Honduras & Nicaragua

Beautifully pressed and finished with a flawless, milk chocolate colored wrapper, this medium plus toro delivers a well-balanced core of roasted nuts, cinnamon, and smooth pepper accompanied by subtle touches of caramel and sweet cream.

92 FONSECA BY MY FATHER EDITION MX $11.00

92 ESPINOSA LARANJA RESERVA

NICARAGUA VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 50

$11.45

NICARAGUA VITOLA: Corona Gorda LENGTH: 5 5/8 RING: 46

WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

A dark, beautifully constructed robusto with a sweet and earthy profile complemented by roasted nuts, a prominent pepper note, and sweet cream on the finish. Draws and burns impeccably with a slow burn that leaves behind a solid, compact ash. Medium plus strength.

WRAPPER: Brazil BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

A creamy blend with a powerful combination of flavors highlighted by cedar, sweet cashews, and smooth pepper. This well-made corona produces an excellent output of medium to full strength smoke along a perfect draw and burn.

CIGARS $12 TO $15 92 AGING ROOM QUATTRO NICA SONATA $14.00

NICARAGUA VITOLA: Concerto LENGTH: 7 RING: 50

WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Nicaragua

Opens with a balanced combination of chocolate, roasted nuts, smooth pepper, and baking spices complemented by a touch of butterscotch on the finish. This medium plus strength box-pressed Churchill is covered with a near perfect, dark brown wrapper.

28 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

92 AKSUM CLARO

$14.50

NICARAGUA VITOLA: Corona Gorda WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: USA LENGTH: 5 1/2 FILLER: Nicaragua RING: 48 A flawlessly built, box-pressed corona finished with a neat pigtail. Draws and burns beautifully while producing tons of thick, aromatic smoke with a complex core of smooth pepper, toasted almonds, earth, and cinnamon complemented by a rich creaminess on the finish. Medium plus strength.

93 A. FUENTE AÑEJO RESERVA

$14.96

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC VITOLA: No. 50 LENGTH: 5 1/4 RING: 50

WRAPPER: USA/Connecticut BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

Expertly constructed and flawlessly balanced with a flavorful core of cedar, cinnamon, roasted nuts, and bittersweet cocoa complemented by a touch of ripe fruit. Draws and burns perfectly while leaving behind a solid ash.

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 29

MONEY MATTERS

ULTRA PREMIUM CIGARS

ike other adult consumables, the premium cigar business has been going through a period of “premiumization.” It wasn’t long ago that a $25 cigar was considered the top end of the market and anything higher was a novelty or just plain crazy. The cigars in the list that follows range in price from $60 up to $750. There were so many to choose from that we’re showing a selection of our favorites. In the eyes of some consumers, the race toward higher prices, accelerated by the pandemic and Habanos’ drastic price increases is

FUENTE Y PADRÓN LEGENDS

off-putting, even offensive. Others feel that this is the space in which premium cigars belong.

How you choose to spend your cigar dollars over the following months and years will be the only worthwhile barometer of whether the industry was ready for this price jump or if the whole idea was a miscalculation. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. In the meantime, here's a list of our favorite, ultra-premium cigars, in no particular order.

MONTECRISTO 1935 $150 ANNIVERSARY EDICIÓN DOBLE DIAMANTE

$178

$750 DAVIDOFF ORO BLANCO SPECIAL RESERVE 111 YEARS TOTAL PRODUCTION: 5,000 Cigars

Photo credit: Jamilet Calvino

With a filler blend that boasts a combined age of 111 years, the latest iteration of the Davidoff Oro Blanco is easily one of the most aged cigars available today - the price point clearly reflects that. Only the company’s master roller supervisors with a minimum 20 years of experience have a hand in producing these.

The Fuente y Padrón collaboration was the most anticipated product of 2024. Announced in 2021 and presented at PCA Trade Show in 2022, the cigars began to appear at retailers in March 2024. Each company, represented by owners Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr. and Jorge Padrón respectively, produced a cigar to honor the other’s legendary patriarch, José Orlando Padrón and Carlos Fuente Sr. The Padrón-made Churchill is box-pressed while the Fuente-made Churchill is round and wrapped in cedar. Proceeds from the cigars go to each company’s charitable foundation, Fuente’s Cigar Family Charitable Foundation and the Padrón Family Foundation.

ROCKY PATEL CONVICTION

FUENTE FUENTE OPUSX $90 LA EDICIÓN DE LA SOCIEDAD

$100

(FUENTE THE OPUSX SOCIETY)

A luxuriously produced, limited edition cigar that features filler tobacco grown on Rocky Patel’s farms and harvested in 2014. The Mexican San Andrés wrapper undergoes a traditional, tercio-aging process to elevate its complexity.

30 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

TOTAL PRODUCTION: On-going Production Covered with a dark, flawless wrapper, this tweaked OpusX blend uses a seed variety that was previously unused but grown at the esteemed Chateau de la Fuente.

Only 268 select retailers have been authorized to carry the Edición de la Sociedad, which comes in a luxurious, 20-count box designed by Manny Iriarte.

TOTAL PRODUCTION: 20,000 Cigars

TOTAL PRODUCTION: 5,000 Cigars This special run of Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Double Diamante is produced at AJ Fernandez’s award-winning factory. Although the tobacco that makes up the filler for these cigars come from the same farms used to make countless AJ Fernandez blends, these have been specially selected then aged for a minimum of 10 years. This highly-limited release comes in individually numbered humidors containing 20 cigars.

MUESTRA DE SAKA UNICORN

Photo credit: Fuente The OpusX Society

Photo credit: Rocky Patel Cigars

TOTAL PRODUCTION: 50,000 Cigars

Photo credit: Altadis USA

INITIAL PRODUCTION: 30,000 Cigars

PLASENCIA ALMA $100 DEL FUEGO OMETEPE EDICIÓN LIMITADA

$100

Tobacco from Ometepe, the volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua, has been used by Plasencia as binder and in the fillers of the Alma del Fuego line. But this is the first time that the island has produced wrapper tobacco good enough to be used on a cigar. The box-pressed torpedo comes in a uniquely shaped glass tube with an interesting magnetic base while the red, elegant, numbered box features volcanic motifs throughout.

LA UNION MY FATHER & TATUAJE BLACK HUMIDOR

$60

TOTAL PRODUCTION: On-going limited production

TOTAL PRODUCTION: 60,000 Cigars

When Steve Saka set out to create the Unicorn, he asked himself, “what if you did everything physically possible to spend as much money and effort as is humanly possible to make 1,000 ultra ultra-premium handmade cigars?” This list is made up primarily of newly-released ultra premiums, but since the Unicorn is an on-going production, it fits the bill. The result was a 6 ¼ x 60 perfecto made using molds that Steve Saka made himself. The cigars are the jewel of the Muestra de Saka collection and as such, come in individual cedar coffins.

This is a collaboration between My Father and Tatuaje Cigars that will be released in two parts, a black humidor in 2024 and a red humidor in 2025. Considering that the two companies have been essentially collaborating for 20 years, these releases are meant to celebrate the years of respect and admiration they have for one another. The black humidor, which started shipping in February 2024, contains 40 cigars; 20 are “for My Father” and 20 are “for Tatuaje.” The blends are different but naturally, both are produced at My Father’s Estelí factory.

European Vacation

SCHNITZELS, CIGARS, AND ALPINE PEAKS WHAT BEGAN AS A BUSINESS TRIP TO INTERTABAC TURNED INTO AN UNFORGETTABLE 700+ MILE LOOP THROUGH GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, AND FRANCE

VIEW OF WENGEN FROM THE GONDOLA RIDE UP TO MÄNNLICHEN

BY ERIK CALVIÑO / PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAMON ADATO

he 2024 InterTabac Trade Fair drew 800 exhibitors and 14,500 attendees from 70 countries to Dortmund, Germany. The annual event, in its 45th year, is the world’s largest such event for tobacco products.

From the 19th of September to the 21st, my sister Jamilet, our technical guru Gianni, and I crisscrossed the Westfallenhalle’s more than 500,000 square feet of exhibits to bring coverage of this “for trade-only” show to our social media followers. By the time it was done, we were ready for a vacation. What follows was not meant to be published as a travel story. But that vacation turned out to be such a perfect trip for cigar smokers that we decided to share it.

Before we dive in, some explanation of fundamental constraints and decisions is required. To attend InterTabac, we flew nonstop from Miami International to Frankfurt Airport. From there we drove to Dortmund and returned to Frankfurt after the event, making the city our entry and exit point. It was also where our spouses met us to start our vacation. We chose to drive rather than travel by train because it allowed us the freedom to do things on our own timeline and adjust the itinerary without the stress of train arrangements. Also, I enjoy driving in Europe. When planning

the itinerary, I chose destinations with every member of our party in mind. One wanted to take pictures of old castles and half-timbered houses, others wanted to visit wine regions and quaint small towns, and I wanted to meet up with an old friend in a Swiss alpine village and smoke a cigar with a breathtaking view.

We accomplished all of it and so much more.

A quick note on cigars during the trip.

Smoking cigars is widely accepted throughout this part of Europe. This doesn’t mean you can always smoke indoors but most bars and restaurants’ outdoor terraces allow smoking, and while we walked through every city, town, and village with a cigar in hand, we never got as much as a dirty look or annoying fake cough.

Germany/Frankfurt The city on the Mainz River is Germany’s financial capital and home to the European Central Bank, earning it the nickname “Mainhattan.” Don’t be fooled

by Frankfurt's skyline and Wall Street vibes, this is still an old city with loads of history. Today, Frankfurt is where the Euro currency is managed, but during the Holy Roman Empire, kings and emperors were crowned in this city.

Frankfurt's paradoxical history makes it intriguing. During World War II, much of the city was leveled by Allied bombings. One of the city’s most significant areas, Römerberg, was rebuilt and restored after the war. Römerberg has a long legacy that includes hosting holy coronations. The square hit a low point in 1933 when it was the site of the Nazi book burning, and rose again to be-

34 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

From top to bottom: The Fountain of Justice surrounded by half-timbered houses on Römerberg Square; the view of modern Frankfurt in the background as the tram passing under the Langer Franz arch come one of the most visited Christmas Markets in all of Europe. You can cynically look at Römerberg as a “fake” old town because while the buildings look old, they are fairly recently built, but I choose to see it as an inspiring example of cultural resilience. The city’s commitment to preserving its heritage, good and bad, then learning and improving from it, should be praised.

Don’t expect to be wowed when dining near Römerberg. It’s a high-traffic tourist area but one place that stood out among a sea of touristy gastronomic mediocrity was Alten Limpburg, located right on the square. We tried the apfelwein (apple wine) because it is a cultural staple of the city but let’s not kid ourselves, beer is king in this part of the world and for good reason; it’s excellent. We ordered sausages and the massive brezel (German for pretzel) and enjoyed the view of the iconic halftimbered houses on the square.

Afterwards, we fired up a cigar and walked a few steps away from the square to The Holy Cross Brewing Society. The coffee is superb, full stop. It

was easily the best we had on the trip, and I’d be selling it short if I didn’t say that I’ve had dreams with this coffee since returning. True story.

For nightlife and entertainment, the city’s Train Station District,Bahnhofsviertel, is the city’s most diverse and vibrant area. Traditionally known as the redlight district, recent efforts to clean things up have helped, although there are sections of the area that are still sketchy. On the cleaner side, there’s a hidden gem called Mercedes Reyes Cigar Bar & Cigar Factory. The Mercedes is ensconced on the second floor of what looks like an office building and offers a full bar. The lounge has the feel of a tropical island home’s living room, complete with family pictures and mementos from the Dominican Republic and Cuba. No TVs means this place is strictly for conversation and the enjoyment of its house blends made on site.

Shout out to Gianni for finding it.

Germany/Heidelberg About an hour south of Frankfurt lies the historic and highly walkable city of Heidelberg. The ruins of Heidelberg

Castle, one of the most important Renaissance structures in Europe, overlook the city and the surrounding areas.

Unlike Frankfurt, which was hit hard during World War II, Heidelberg’s troubles came in the 17th century when it was caught in the crossfire of the Thirty Years' War and 40 years later, the Nine Years’ War. The castle took the brunt of the damage and despite restoration attempts in the years following the conflicts, it was never fully rebuilt.

The view of the Old Town and Karl Theodor Bridge from the Great Terrace at Heidelberg Castle

In 1751, however, locals rebuilt the Heidelberg Tun, a 58,000-gallon wine barrel located in the cellar of the castle, one of the largest wine barrels in the world. The impressive vessel was used to store wine during the time of the Holy Roman Empire when winegrowers paid part of their dues to the Palatinate in wine. The fact that a barrel so massive was engineered and built for this purpose speaks to the importance of wine to the region. Above the barrel is a small platform that at one time hosted courtly celebrations and dances. Visitors can climb the stairs to enjoy the view from above.

Heidelberg University’s Alstadt Campus is the country's oldest, having been established in 1386. Its reputation for academic excellence and research innovation make it one of Europe’s most prestigious. Don’t miss visiting the university’s museum and student prison.

Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently, Eagles fans are not the only ones who’ve had a prison built specifically for them. That’s a joke, Philadelphians.

After leaving the castle, we made our

way to the Alstadt (old town) where you can enjoy a cigar while walking the cobblestone streets and admiring the medieval architecture and charming shops. There’s a great energy to the town thanks to the mix of town elders, young families, university students, and a relatively low number of tourists.

A five-minute walk from the Studentenkarzer (student prison) is the spot to check out for a bite and more, Weinstube Schnitzelbank. This weinstube, which means wine tavern, is located inside what used to be a cooperage and

still preserves that old-world workshop feel. According to its history, around 1900, the owners of the cooperage came to the realization that it was more profitable to sell wine than wine barrels. The history and feel of the place wouldn’t mean much if the food and wine don’t hold up their end of the bargain but they do. The curated selection of local wine is excellent and the garlicschnitzel, which they nicknamed “lonely nights,” was one of the best schnitzels we’ve ever had.

PRO TIP: To make sure it’s not a “lonely night,” convince your date to order the same thing.

Germany/Villingen-Schwenningen As we made the trek southward towards Switzerland, bad weather forced us to skip our planned visit to Hohenzollern Castle. And it was still pouring when we pulled into Villingen-Schwenningen, our stopover for the night. We were stuck inside the hotel all night but thankfully we had chosen the Sombea Hotel for its solid restaurant, bar, and killer little cigar lounge.

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 35

We weren’t the only ones who had chosen wisely that evening. We spent most of our time in the cigar lounge and covered smoking terrace chatting with luxury car technicians from all over Europe who were in Villingen-Schwenningen for a training course. Cigar smokers are the same everywhere in the world; once you have the enjoyment of cigars in common, it’s only a matter of time before you become lifelong friends.

Switzerland/Mount Pilatus The bad weather followed us into Switzerland, and we arrived at the base of Mount Pilatus near Lake Lucerne under auspicious skies. Not sure if we’d even be allowed up, we soldiered on and purchased the Silver Round Trip tickets from Alpnachstad to the summit station on the world’s steepest cogwheel train.

While we waited for the next train, we sheltered from the weather at the little café near the station and the group’s spirits were less than chipper. We drowned our bad weather fortunes in Eichof Lager, local beer, and pretzels.

The beer and pretzels did the trick.

We emerged from the café in a good mood and found that the weather had started to break. Soon we embarked

36 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

The view of Grindelwald from Rotstöckli Viewpoint on the Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Panorama Trail on a 30-minute train ride to the summit along the impressively steep 48% grade covering almost three miles and serving up views that make it hard to stop taking pics. At this point in the journey, it’s hard to imagine how much better the views will be when you reach the top.

In other words, don’t fret if you miss a shot here, they don’t compare to what you’ll see at the summit.

ALTERNATIVE PLAN: Because of time constraints and bad weather, we opted to start our Mount Pilatus adventure at Alpnachstad, taking the Silver Round Trip. However, under different circumstances, we would have taken the Golden Round Trip, which starts with a boat cruise across Lake Lucerne, then Alpnachstad, etc.

At the summit station area, Pilatus Kulm, you have options for activities and dining. We opted to get outside to take in the views immediately. There would be

time for souvenirs and refreshments later. With more time at our disposal, we would have opted to stay overnight at the Hotel Pilatus-Kulm, a historic, 30-room hotel built in 1890. To have the opportunity to wake up to that view is something I won’t pass up again.

It was time to explore Pilatus’ summit, and we eased our way into it by starting with the Dragon Path. This short, easy trail combines Pilatus’ dragon mythology with stunning views of the Swiss Alps, Lake Lucerne, and the surrounding valleys. At the trail’s end, you can turn back towards the station or continue up the stairs and paths that take you ever higher into the clouds. We didn’t come here to turn back.

As we carried on, we could see the surreal Klimsenkapelle about 600 feet below us – a lonely, small chapel, built on the edge of a ridge at 6,253 feet of elevation. While it no longer holds regular mass, it serves as a place for spiritual retreat and worship for hikers and pilgrims.

Continuing up the Dragon Path, we found a spot with a bench to relax and breathe in the cool, clean, mountain air away from the crowded areas. As we sat taking it all in, we were engulfed by

clouds moving across the peak. There is no picture, video, or written language that can encapsulate this moment. You must experience it.

We finished the Dragon Path and continued to Esel Peak, a shorter but steeper path that is Pilatus Kulm’s highest accessible point at 6,949 feet. It offers 360-degree panoramic views from its observation platform.

There are a variety of other outdoor activities on Mount Pilatus, like a toboggan ride, zip-lines, and hikes of varying degrees of difficulty, including one to Klimsenkapelle.

Switzerland/Wengen After returning to the parking lot at Alpnachstad, we hit the road towards Wengen in a bit of a rush. We had reservations at the Hotel Jungfraublick Wengen that evening but getting there isn’t as straightforward as it may seem, nor is the drive through Brünig Pass to get there. It could be the windiest road I have ever driven, and I loved every minute of it in the rented, stick shift Peugeot 5008 GT. The alpine village of Wengen is a car-free village, therefore we needed to drive to

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 37

Lauterbrunnen, park the Peugeot at the train station, and take a train up to Wengen. We had a dinner reservation at the hotel’s restaurant, The Deck. The park and train thing is nothing to be worried about. It isn’t terribly complicated, the train runs every 30 minutes, with a brief 12-minute ride to Wengen.

The village makes an exception for the small cars the hotels use to transport your luggage from the train station to the hotel. We arrived, called the hotel, and minutes later we were checked in and enjoying a much-needed warm meal and glass of wine. We heard about a bar in the town that allows smoking on its patio, but this was the one night of the week that it wasn't open. So, we ordered a second bottle of wine from the restaurant and enjoyed cigars on the balcony until the temperature dropped to the point that it stopped being fun.

We are, after all, from Miami.

In the morning we explored Wengen while we waited for an old friend to meet up with us to go for a hike. My friend Thierry and his family live in Lausanne, and he and I worked together more than 20 years ago. While we’d kept in touch over the years, we hadn’t seen each other in person since we parted in 2004. He hopped off the train and, to our surprise, he’d brought his Jack Russell terrier Tati along for the hike. Our friendship seamlessly picked up where it left off – the same quickwitted humor, our own lexicon of goofy phrases still worked, and Tati the Jack Russell was a riot to be around.

We decided on the Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Panorama Trail for its low difficulty, and its sweeping views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks. We packed sandwiches, beer, and stogies, and took the gondola up to Männlichen.

But rather than ride the gondola like normal people, we paid an extra five Swiss Francs per person and took the “Royal Ride;” this means you get to ride on the roof of the gondola. If you’re wondering about Tati the Jack Russell, she wasn’t allowed on the roof, so my wife Barbara happily took one for the team and rode inside the gondola with Tati. The “Royal Ride” is a must, although it is a little nerve-wracking every time the gondola approaches the sheaves.

The hike to Kleine Scheidegg is breathtaking. My sister’s husband, Ramon, an amateur photographer, took most of the photos in this story and the shots he took during the hike were some of

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his most striking. But despite his best efforts, there is no way to capture the beauty of this place through a lens. I think it’s because the sensation is more than visual, there’s an energy and a feeling of awe that can’t be captured.

At the midway point of the trail is the Rotstöckli Viewpoint, where there is a long bench that looks out at the peaks to one side and the valley town of Grindelwald in the distance. This was the one thing I wanted to do on this journey.

We took a seat, enjoyed our provisions, and Facetimed our family back home.

And when all of that was finished, I lit a cigar and just sat there enjoying the moment a little longer.

NOTE: I shouldn’t have to do this, but I feel it is a duty. Whenever we smoke cigars in nature, we must be extra cognizant of what we do with it. Never throw a lit cigar out into nature, period.

Hang on to it until you are 100% certain that it has gone out or pour water on it to be sure it is out. Take the label off before you toss it; while the tobacco from the cigar will decompose rapidly, the paper from the label will not.

And lastly, put any packaging like cellophane or tubes in your pocket until you get to a spot with a trash bin. We can’t complain about non-smoking policies if we are creating unnecessary waste or, at worst, causing a fire.

We completed the hike at the picturesque mountain pass of Kleine Scheidegg, elevation 6,762 feet. There are several dining options, a bar, and a hotel, Hotel Bellevue des Alpes, which appeared in Clint Eastwood’s Eiger Sanction. At the shops attached to the hotel, we found a small humidor loaded with Villiger products. Although we did not need them, I purchased two Villiger La Meridiana torpedos for 15 Swiss Francs each.

ALTERNATIVE PLAN: Kleine Scheidegg is the starting point for the Jungfrau Railway, which ascends to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe. At 11,332 feet, it is the highest railway station in Europe.

From Jungfraujoch, you can visit attractions like the Ice Palace and Sphinx Observatory, and access the Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the Alps.

We returned to Wengen and as we

Mainz

1 Frankfurt 9

Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt Airport

Germany

2 Heidelberg

Strasbourg 8 Hohenzollern 3 Castle

Alsatian vineyards

Colmar 7

France Basel 6

4

Lucerne

Mt.Pilatus Wengen

5

Switzerland

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Photo credit: Visit Alsace

Photo credit: Maennlichen Royal Ride by David Birri

walked down Dorfstrasse, the town’s main thoroughfare, we saw a sign for a bar named On the Rocks, beckoning us.

As we approached the door, we could hear the unmistakable sound of American rock n’ roll and the din that emanates from a bar full of patrons having a good time. Luckily, there was a table in the back that fit our large party, and we plopped down. There was all manner of American memorabilia on the walls including pictures of Elvis, Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix among others. I was pleasantly surprised to see Brooklyn Lager on draft – but the day called for a pint or three of Guinness. They were perfectly poured.

After dinner, we said goodbye to Thierry and Tati and we promised not to let another 20 years go by before we connected again.

The following morning after breakfast, we were checking out of the Hotel Jungfraublick when the front desk informed us that in a few minutes there would be a “cow parade.” As fall turns towards winter, the farmers whose cows spent the year grazing on the sweet mountain grass guide the herd down to the relative warmth and safety of the valley.

They do this on foot through the Alpine villages, in a time-honored tradition they call “Alpabzug” or alpine descent. We could hear the trychels, the large, flat,

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ceremonial cow bells that the cows wear for this annual event. We hustled down to the corner in time to see the first of the cows making the turn onto Dorfstrasse led by a farmer and his family. The sight of the family’s young boys and girls helping to guide the massive bovines down the street was something to behold. It was a fitting and heartwarming end to our Wengen adventure. While the cows were heading down the hill, it was time for us to turn our journey northward.

Switzerland/Basel After the return train into Lauterbrunnen, we headed north on the A6 motorway for a couple of hours until arriving in the city of Basel. We planned to only stop here for lunch and a quick exploration of the city, but it was hard to leave.

There is much to see but first things first. The troops were hungry, and we found a great spot with a name we struggled to pronounce, Gifthüttli, with a Swiss comfort food menu we could all get into. Great selection of beers and every variation of cordon bleu you can think of with a side of traditional rösti, a Swiss version of hash browns that we couldn’t get enough of.

It was drizzling again but it wasn’t so bad that we couldn’t enjoy the city. We popped out of the restaurant, and a few

paces on the Sattelgasse towards the marktplatz (central square) is the Davidoff of Geneva Since 1911 store. The shop has an excellent selection of Davidoff products and accessories as well as several non-Davidoff cigars. Like most European cigar stores in 2024, the selection of Cuban cigars has been whittled down to a handful of facings.

We picked up a couple of Davidoff Nicaragua robustos, this magazine’s 2013 Cigar of the Year, and set off to explore.

Basel is the cultural capital of the country, boasting over 40 museums and a mesmerizing mix of architectural styles.

The city’s location as a tri-border town between France, Germany, and Switzerland adds to its eclectic feel. Simply walking along the cobblestone streets makes you feel like you should return and spend more time going down the cultural rabbit hole.

France/Ribeauvillé We didn’t drive far from Basel’s city center when we crossed the border into France on our way to Alsace, the eastern region of France that gracefully blends French and German influences into a singular expression of food, wine, and traditions. The region’s picturesque villages dot the landscape amidst nearly 40,000 acres of vineyards. White wine rules the roost in this area, including

From left to right: The Royal Ride ticket allows riders to enjoy the views from the roof of the gondola from Wengen to Männlichen; view down a row of Riesling grapes in an Alsatian vineyard Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat. A meager 10% of the wine from the region is red, almost all of it pinot noir.

Nearing the town of Ribeauvillé, I steered onto a vineyard trail, perhaps illegally, between rows of bright green vines plump with grape clusters. I don’t know why I chose to turn into that trail but as we went deeper into it, looking for a spot where we could turn around and head back out of there, we spotted an American flag on top of a hill.

Surprised and happy to see Old Glory proudly waving in the middle of the Alsatian countryside, I drove toward it.

When we reached the flag, we learned it was a memorial for four highly decorated American soldiers from World War II: Lt. Col. Keith Lincoln Ware (Medal of Honor), Capt. Martin Joseph Higgins (Silver Star & French Croix de Guerre Vermeille), Capt. Wilbur F. Nutting (Silver Star), and Lt. Whiteley Eli Lamar (Medal of Honor). Do yourself a favor, look these men up and read their histories.

Each one is more inspiring than the last.

Then fire up a cigar in their honor.

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After all that wine, it was time to eat, but I didn’t want to settle for the first place we saw. Whenever possible, I try to avoid places that cater to tourists. I find that the food in those restaurants is like a dumbed-down version of the real cuisine. The group was starting to get hangry, I could see dissent growing in the ranks, but the waiting paid off when we found Au Passage de la Tour. A cozy little eatery with a country-house feel run by a father and son where the menus are handwritten and nobody, not even the owner/waiter, speaks English.

Using a combination of Spanish mixed with occasional mispronounced French words and a lot of pointing and head nodding, we got through the ordering process. If you want places that aren’t tourist traps, then you must embrace the potential communication struggles.

Everything we had that night was fantastic and I can’t wait to return to this little gem.

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ALTERNATIVE PLAN: Aside from being in the heart of Alsatian wine country, the medieval town of Ribeauvillé is also home to three castles that are free to access. Rent a bike in town and ride up the trails to the castles. If you have to pick one, make it Chateau Saint Ulrich.

Photo credit: Restaurant Gifthüttli Basel

Eventually we arrived at Cave de Ribeauvillé for a wine tasting. Their tastings are incredibly informative and generous. If you keep asking, they keep pouring. Take the ideas you have about white wine, specifically Riesling, and throw them out the window. We left there loaded up on bottles that we weren’t sure we could fit in our suitcases.

France/Colmar The Alsatian towns are so charming that it seems a crime to pass them by.

Not stopping in Riquewihr, often listed among the “most beautiful villages in France,” or Eguisheim, with its unique, circular layout, was a necessary but rueful omission, though. We were on a mission to get to Colmar, “Le Petite Venise” or Little Venice. It didn’t disappoint.

Most of the time on a trip like this, rain and bad weather have the potential of spoiling a day, but on this occasion, it did the opposite. A storm had just rolled through Colmar leaving the streets mostly deserted when we pulled into town. Stepping out of the car, it felt like we had walked into a fairy tale. The uniquely shaped half-timbered houses, bridges, and fountains all along cobblestone streets combined in a magical way. The fact that Colmar survived

World War II largely unscathed preserved its medieval and Renaissance feel unlike many towns in Alsace.

As Americans, Colmar has another attraction. It was the birthplace of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi – sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. Born in 1834, Bartholdi was immensely proud of his Alsatian heritage. His artistic fingerprints are all over the city in the form of sculptures and fountains along with a museum dedicated to his life and works. To ensure visitors are aware of Bartholdi's international influence, a 40-foot-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty at Colmar’s northern entrance hammers the point home.

The following day we wandered the

From top to bottom: The Quai de la Poissonnerie is a romantic bridge in Colmar, the translation is less than romantic, Fishmonger’s Bridge, but the view certainly is; a classic chicken cordon bleu in Basel’s Gifthüttli restaurant. town just getting lost in the setting.

Walking the streets on a crisp September morning with the shops slowly coming to life gives you the sense of being in a classic Disney animated movie.

It’s no mystery that Colmar and other Alsatian towns were Disney’s inspiration for their adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. I am the farthest thing from a Disneyphile. I've never seen Beauty and the Beast, but I fell hard for this city and more importantly, this region.

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go live from Mainz but we also needed to have dinner.

It was also the second week of Oktoberfest, so finding a table at a traditional German establishment was a challenge.

We managed to score one at Brauhaus zur Sonne, around the corner from Wolsdorff Cigarren. The restaurant specializes in schweinhaxe, a roasted pork knuckle that looks just as much at home on a medieval table as it does in 2024.

Brauhaus zur Sonne also serves schnitzels, sauerkraut, and burgers. Sadly, Wolsdorff Cigarren was closed but considering that it is one of the first Davidoff Appointed Merchants in Germany, I expect the selection to be excellent.

Photo credit: Oettinger Davidoff

Now fully loaded up on pork and beer, we headed to the Gutenbergplatz to do the live show, which anyone can play for free. That day we gave away an awesome Davidoff Travel Humidor Explorer.

PRO TIP: To enjoy Colmar to the fullest, don’t visit on the weekend.

The crowds of tourists are borderline unbearable.

For cigar purchases in Colmar’s old town, you have Tabac Obrecht. It’s not a big selection but there’s enough there for you to find something enjoyable if your stocks are running low. Outside of that, it’s slim pickings in the old town.

But the next stop on our way towards Frankfurt improved significantly in this category.

France/Strasbourg The capital of the Alsace region, Strasbourg is also the seat of the European Parliament, Council of Europe, and European Court of Human Rights. It’s no wonder they have a stronger cigar scene.

Cigar in hand, we walked around the Grande Île, the city center that UNESCO designated a World Heritage Site in 1988.

We spotted a group of fellow cigar lovers taking advantage of the beautiful weather with a fine smoke and asked where they got their smokes.

Through broken English, one of them directed us toTabac La Régence Cave

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à Cigares on Rue du 22 Novembre – a short walk from the square. The ground floor was mostly a newsstand with a selection of cigarettes and cigarillos but when I asked about cigares - I got pretty good at saying that one with a French accent -they led us down some stairs to a walk-in humidor in the basement. The humidor, like many in Europe, looked like it was reluctantly transitioning out of a heavy rotation of Cuban cigars, to more Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran offerings.

For a humidor that is farther along in this transition, seek Le Comptoir du Cigare (The Cigar Counter), a few blocks south past the square dedicated to Strasbourg’s favorite adopted son, Johannes Gutenberg. This was one of the most well-appointed cigar stores we visited during our travels. The store is also located across from a couple of restaurants and bars with spacious outdoor seating areas. One of them is The Dubliners, an obviously Irish pub where you can order solid bar food as well as a great selection of Irish and Alsatian brews.

Strasbourg deserved much more time than we were able to give it. This is code for, 'I plan to return to this amazing city at the crossroads of German, French, and Alsatian culture and traditions

The interior of the Davidoff of Geneva Since 1911 retail location on the Marktplatz in Basel, Switzerland soon.' For now, it was time to cross the border into Germany for our final night of the trip.

NOTE: If you haven’t visited this part of Europe since 1985, when the Schengen Agreement was signed, you may not be aware that there are no longer any border controls between these countries. If it wasn’t for the changes in street sign language and the occasional, “Welcome to enter country name here!” sign, you would not even be aware that you’ve crossed.

Germany/Mainz We pulled into Mainz on a Friday in the early evening when everyone was seemingly out and about. We’d needed to get there in time to set up for our weekly social media game of Win, Stuff, Live, which goes live on our Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X feeds every Friday at 3 PM Eastern. For us, that meant we had to go live at 9 PM local time. We checked in, dropped off our bags, and set out to find a good spot to

As for the square where we did the show, the Gutenbergplatz, it was the second square we visited dedicated to Johannes Gutenberg. As previously mentioned, he is Strasbourg’s adopted son but was in fact born in Mainz. And it was in Mainz that he perfected the printing press and produced the famous Gutenberg Bible around 1455.

This city was chosen for its proximity to Frankfurt, and it turned out to be a fun town. There was a healthy mix of families, young couples, and college students enjoying the city’s restaurants and bars late into the night. And there was no shortage of good cigar stores.

In addition to the aforementioned Wolsdorff, which has two locations in the city, there is Tabak Galerie and TabaCasa, the latter of which is next to the Gutenberg Museum.

The End of the Journey Our trip came full circle when we pulled into the airport rental car return in Frankfurt, and it hit me suddenly. Our jaunt through Germany, Switzerland, and France had come to an end.

Visiting these cities and villages with so much preserved history and experiencing their culture and traditions through food and drink has a way of giving you a fresh pair of eyes with which to look at the world.

Spending a day hiking an alpine trail with my family, a dear friend, and his charismatic little dog was icing on the kougelhopf.

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VOLITION [voh-lish-uhn] noun:

the act of willing, choosing, or resolving

John Sapiente's "patriotic awakening" was an unexpected epiphany. It led the Chicago businessman on a new path, as he launched a brand devoted to helping our country's service members and their families.

BY STEVE MILLER

ike tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, John Sapiente’s dream was to see his brand logo on a random passerby. To do so would confirm he was on the path to making a difference, he thought.

“I would be blown away if that happened,” he told a friend as they walked through Los Angeles International Airport in 2016.

A couple years later, as he sat on an airplane watching others board, a fellow passenger walked on with his logo on a tee shirt, the winged red, white and blue design of Volition America, the brand he founded to honor veterans.

Sapiente was with his wife, and they looked at each other, “with a bit of shock and probably a ‘holy shit,’” he says.

Dream realized, he keeps moving forward.

Volition America is dedicated to making patriotism non-partisan again, supporting a major veterans’ charity and stitching inspirational messages that espouse a fealty to country on its various commissioned items, which include sunglasses, joggers, baseball and golf gear, watches, and its most recent accomplishment, cigars.

on its homepage as “timepieces with a mission.”

Baseball equipment producer Marucci, which will next year be the official bat of Major League Baseball, produces a baseball mitt with the Volition logo in the palm.

Volition America’s patriotic fervor comes with a story, an existential awakening with an ambitious doorknocking campaign.

And it all began with Sapiente’s golf game.

Sapiente as a youth aspired to be the “next Bob Costas,” taken with sports broadcasting while majoring in communications at the University of Kansas. But that fell away, and he found himself working in sales for a major lighting producer and distributor. It was unremarkable and Sapiente, young and ambitious, wanted more.

lessons the auto sector made to accommodate higher quality Asian practices.

He was successful, married, had four kids – three boys and a girl – and when he got some spare time, Sapiente golfed, smoked and attended social functions. He was a member of the Inverness Golf Club and one summer evening he attended a Folds of Honor Foundation dinner with a club colleague, Larry Robinson.

“I was traveling all over America,” he says. “I did five years there and decided that I am not a corporate guy.”

He was a high school wrestler in Arlington Heights, Ill., a Chicago suburb.

But he needed a warm weather sport, and his dad suggested golf.

But he was still a golf guy; “I was playing golf socially the whole time,” he says. “When I golfed, I smoked cigars, it was my spare time and that time on the course was my Zen spot, I could just play golf and smoke cigars.”

“You’ll thank me later for it,” said his father, the founder of Elgin Die Mold Co., which Sapiente now also helms.

The elder knew that golf was not just a relaxing pastime but also an entrée into business opportunities and good social contacts.

He returned to the Chicago area and accepted his dad’s offer to join the family business in sales. Elgin was an equipment manufacturer for the auto industry, selling injection molded parts to producers including Chrysler and Ford.

He didn’t know that it would, three decades later, open the biggest door of his son’s life.

In 2010, Sapiente bought Trident Manufacturing, a medical device maker, applying some of the lean production

“It was at the home of one of the members and we just went to see what it was about,” says Robinson. “Dan [Rooney, Folds founder] spoke.”

Folds of Honor was founded in 2007

by Rooney, an Air Force major who did three combat tours of duty in Iraq, to support the spouses and children of disabled and fallen military families.

Rooney, also a PGA golf pro, was inspiring. Both Sapiente and Robinson wanted to help.

By chance, Sapiente won an auction to play golf at the Folds of Honor premier event, the Patriot Cup, the following spring with 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler.

“When I won the auction, I didn’t realize we would be playing golf on Memorial Day,” Sapiente says. “I really wanted to play with Stadler. I had no idea I would be spending the whole weekend with all of these military members and their families.”

The brand donates varying percentages of its revenue to Folds of Honor Foundation, a non-profit founded to benefit the families of veterans who have died or become disabled through their service.

The Patriot Cup was in fact a big deal and drew from a large field of golf professionals as well as various other celebrities to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Folds is headquartered.

Volition does so in union with long established institutions including Cobra Puma Golf (golf gear), Puma (clothes, shoes),Luminox (watches), Maruchi (baseball bats and gloves) and most recently Gurkha Cigar, ensuring they aren’t just slapping a logo on something.

Entertainment came from Dierks Bentley and a classic war plane flyover, while Sapiente got to play with Stadler, who was joined by pro golfers Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden and actor Craig T. Nelson.

Cobra, for example, has created the Darkspeed X Volition Driver, developed by the same teams that create its revered golf gear portfolio. Luminox features the Volition America watches

62 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

Photo credit: Folds of Honor

“The way to do this was to partner in various sectors with someone who knew that side of the business,” Sapiente says.

Fighter pilot, PGA Professional, and founder of Folds of Honor- Lieutenant Col. Dan Rooney

The golf, the cigars and the company were fine. But the lesson was lifechanging.

“Before my experience that day, Memorial Day had just been for BBQ and golf,” Sapiente says.

That had to stop, he decided. His weekend spent talking with veterans

terest across the spectrum. Was this going to fly?

Then he was connected with Jim Colucci, Marine, Vietnam veteran and chief operating officer of Gurkha Cigars.

It was an instant ‘yes.’

“It’s been a long time, 55 years, since I was in Vietnam, but I lost a lot of friends,” Colucci says. “When you’ve been in the military and seen people die, when the war is done, you really feel for people.”

The deal was not a collaboration, but instead, Gurkha wanted to just do a private label Volition America cigar.

Photo credit: Gurkha Cigars

The cigars come with three different wrappers – Connecticut, Maduro, Habano –and come in three different boxes, red, white and blue. The boxes hold 13 of the 6 x 54 cigars. Why 13?

and their families schooled him on the travails endured by our military members. He had to help in whatever way he could.

“It was a revelation to me, and I walked out of that and made up my own term, ‘patriotic awakening.’ Every American benefits from the less than one percent of us that [enter the service].

Why are we not rallying around them?

We are enjoying this life because of what they do. I knew I needed to spread the word.”

In the fervor of his epiphany, Sapiente became a regular, reliable Folds donor, and networked, along with Robinson, with a considerable web of contacts, encouraging them to join him in supporting Folds.

Sapiente forged a deeper friendship with Rooney and at a Darius Rucker concert in 2014 outside Chicago. With an assist from beers, they hatched Volition America.

The first concept was a clothing line, with Top Gun-style garb – tee shirts, jeans, belt buckles, hats. It sounded simple but Sapiente’s first spot of research found a field filled with variety

that an upstart would have a hard time tackling.

“I went into a Lucky brand store and saw all these sizes and shapes and realized that from a manufacturing perspective, that was going to be very difficult,” he said.

Next, he and Rooney considered golf accessories. But 80 percent of those go through pro shops, which means someone would have to make sales calls on the estimated 8,800 golf courses and country clubs in the U.S. No one had the bandwidth for that.

Sapiente was discussing his dilemma with a business associate when the idea of a “collab” was mentioned. He was an industrial guy, and the term went over his head.

“I had no idea what that was, but it was a collaboration,” he says. “That made sense.”

He made cold calls, sent cold emails, cold everything looking for a brand that might feel his passion for helping veterans. Sapiente struck gold with Puma, which in 2010 had acquired Cobra Golf, creating a formidable golf

arm of the famed shoe brand.

Cobra/Puma would create its own line of Volition America golf goods. The ball was rolling.

Athleisure clothing later took shape, his own line of garb including sweats, shorts, and shirts.

Cigars entered the picture as a brainstorm of logic. While golf has always been an important part of Sapiente’s life and Folds of Honor has based its fundraising on the sport, cigars struck Sapiente as an obvious move.

Folds of Honor is named after the 13 times the American flag is folded, representing the 13 original colonies, resulting in a visual that looks like a cocked hat. Each box of cigars features a rice paper insert explaining more fully the meaning of the 13 folds.

Anyone who has lost a loved one in service to their country is heartbreakingly familiar with the wooden triangle, a burial flag case. Gurkha, based on an idea hatched by Colucci, created a desktop humidor to go with the Volition cigar featuring the burial case on the top.

“We’re going to ship the humidor with an American-made flag in it,” Colucci says. “The flag is removable for someone who has their own and can put that in there.”

“My first cigar was in the early 90s, I was 20-something, living in Chicago when it was getting trendy,” he says.

Up Down Cigar on Wells was his place, bagging Ashtons, mild to medium, double coronas.

Gurkha is joining the esteemed ranks of both Volition America and the Folds of Honor, two names that are becoming iconic in the growing movement to ensure our veterans and their survivors are taken care of.

Sapiente was in Florida, playing golf and he went to the golf club humidor and saw a box of CAO America cigars.

Good cigar, American flag on the box, he thought, but…

For Sapiente, the small dinner at a friend’s house in 2012 turned his life upside down in the best way possible – a chance to be part of a service to his fellow man. “It was time and place,” Sapiente says of that summer night.

“I had no idea that it would catapult me on such a journey. I think we can build a power brand, where everyone knows what it means to help people.”

“I thought, maybe I can do a cigar that has something more than just a flag on it, which would be a Volition cigar.”

Back to the cold calling, with zero in-

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 63

`

48 CIGARS

CHURCHILL Sobremesa Brulee

$ 15.95

92

VITOLA: Elegantes en Cedro LENGTH: 7 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Mexico FILLER: Nicaragua & USA

E.P. Carrillo Encore

Covered with a clean, golden-colored wrapper with a velvet feel. Delivers a medium strength combination of cedar, lightly roasted nuts, and granola balanced by notes of smooth pepper and earth in the background.

$ 1 4.25

92

VITOLA: El Primero LENGTH: 6 7/8 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Original

91

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A beautifully balanced blend with notes of almond cream, cedar, sweet spice, and smooth pepper accompanied by an aroma of tanned leather. Consistently draws and burns exceptionally well while leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 9.00 VITOLA: Churchill LENGTH: 6 7/8 RING: 48 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

La Flor Dominicana Solis

N I CA R AG UA Creamy and well balanced with a combination of nuts, cedar, and smooth pepper. This medium strength blend is consistently well-made, with a flawless draw and burn while producing an excellent smoke output.

$ 13.90

91

VITOLA: Toro Extra LENGTH: 6 1/2 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Ecuador FILLER: Dominican Republic

AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Connecticut

90

VITOLA: Churchill LENGTH: 7 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

La Aurora 120th Anniversary

89 66 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

N I CA R AG UA

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Opens with a shot of black pepper and molasses, later joined by more delicate notes of caramel, cedar, and lightly toasted almonds. This complex smoke is consistently well-made and covered with a supple, reddish-brown wrapper.

Medium plus strength.

$ 10.00

N I CA R AG UA Delivers a balanced core of smooth pepper, raw almond, and vanilla cream accompanied by notes of earth and subtle cocoa. Impeccably constructed, this medium strength Churchill draws and burns perfectly, leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 16.75 VITOLA: Churchill LENGTH: 7 RING: 47 WRAPPER: Dominican Republic BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A classic Churchill covered with a clean, reddish, light brown wrapper with slight veins showing.

Opens with a flavorful combination of cedar, sweet pepper, and cinnamon along a good draw and burn. Medium strength.

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 67

GRAN TORO The Oscar Connecticut

$ 1 4.00

91

VITOLA: Sixty LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Honduras BINDER: Honduras & Nicaragua FILLER: Honduras

Camacho Connecticut

Finished with a clean, golden-colored wrapper with a supple feel, this mild to medium strength gran toro draws and burns flawlessly while producing an excellent smoke output with notes of wood, soft pepper, and a touch of honey-like sweetness.

$ 10.50

91

VITOLA: 60X6 LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Honduras & Dominican Republic

Aladino Classic

H O N D UR AS A flavorful and balanced blend with a core of sweet spices, lightly toasted nuts, cedar, and a touch of cream. Covered with a clean, light brown wrapper with a supple feel, this medium strength gran toro consistently leaves behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 11.00

90

VITOLA: Gordo LENGTH: 6 1/2 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Honduras BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Honduras

Perdomo 30th Anniversary Connecticut

90

VITOLA: Gordo LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Hoyo de Monterey Excalibur

88

H O N D UR AS Thick and well-constructed, this mild to medium strength gran toro delivers a core of lightly toasted nuts, delicate spice, and a touch of vanilla cream. Provides an easy draw and leaves behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 13.50

N I CA R AG UA Consistently well-constructed and covered with a clean, light brown wrapper with a velvet feel.

This soft-pressed gran toro draws well while producing an output of medium strength smoke with a core of earth, light cedar, and pepper accompanied by a touch of black tea.

$ 10.89 VITOLA: No. 660 LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: USA/Connecticut BINDER: USA/Connecticut FILLER: Nicaragua, Honduras & Dominican Republic

Flor de Selva Tempo

H O N D UR AS A mild, understated cigar with a profile of smooth earth, cedar, gentle spice, and a hint of black tea on the finish. This thick blend is covered with a thin, light brown wrapper showing some veins.

Produces a good smoke output along an easy draw.

$ 1 7.65

87 68 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

H O N D UR AS

VITOLA: Tempo LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Honduras BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Honduras

H O N D UR AS Covered with a light brown wrapper with a slightly orange hue. Produces a mild to medium strength core of white pepper, earth, and wheat complemented by a touch of cream. Burns wavy and leaves behind a dark gray ash.

GRAN TORO Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Medio Siglo

$ 10.50

N I CAR AGUA An ultra-flavorful gran toro covered with a clean, medium brown wrapper with thin veins.

Consistently draws and burns exceptionally well while delivering a core of earth, smooth pepper, oak spice, and sweet cream. Medium strength.

VITOLA: Gordo LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

91 Leaf by Oscar Corojo

$ 11.50

H O ND U R AS Opens with a smooth core of cocoa, cashews, and baking spices balanced by a one-two punch of pepper and oak. Consistently provides an easy draw with a somewhat wavy burn that leaves behind a slightly flaky, light gray ash.

VITOLA: Sixty LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Honduras

Caldwell Long Live the King

$ 15.05

D OM I NI CA N REPUBLIC A medium strength gran toro covered with a clean, medium brown wrapper and topped with a tight pigtail. Opens with a flavorful combination of cedar, ripe fruit sweetness, cinnamon, and slightly sharp pepper. Draws and burns well and leaves behind a solid ash.

VITOLA: Marquis LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Dominican Republic BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

Delivers a creamy and flavorful combination of roasted nuts, red pepper, oak spice, and molasses accompanied by a hint of cocoa. This well-made gran toro draws and burns well while producing an excellent output of medium plus strength smoke.

91 Cuba Aliados E.P. Carrillo

$ 16.30

D OM I NI CA N REPUBLIC

91

VITOLA: Regordo LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

90 AVO Syncro Ritmo

$ 15.10

D OM I NI CA N REPUBLIC A consistently well-made, box-pressed gran toro covered with a medium brown wrapper with a velvet feel. Produces an excellent output of medium strength smoke with notes of cedar, cinnamon, and light pepper complemented by a rich creaminess on the finish.

VITOLA: Special Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Mexico FILLER: Brazil, Honduras, Nicaragua & Peru

90 Curivari Buenaventura

$ 8.50

N I CAR AGUA A thick, soft-pressed gran toro with a flavorful profile of red pepper, cocoa, currant, and wood spice complemented by a touch of cream.

Draws well and produces a wavy burn while leaving behind a dark gray ash. Medium to full strength.

VITOLA: BV 600 LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

89 NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 69

TORO AJ Fernandez Dias de Gloria Brazil

93

$ 15.00 VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 1/2 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Brazil BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Espinosa Laranja Reserva Escuro

92

An impeccably box-pressed toro with an ultraflavorful and well-balanced core of dark chocolate, earth, roasted nuts, and smooth pepper accompanied by a touch of sweet creaminess.

Draws and burns flawlessly while leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 13.50 VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Brazil BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Red Meat Lovers

N I CA R AG UA Beautifully constructed and covered with a dark, even colored, maduro wrapper with an inviting sheen. This medium to full strength toro produces an excellent smoke output with a core of dark chocolate, strong espresso, smooth pepper, and a hint of oak spice.

$ 15.45

91

VITOLA: Ribeye LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: USA/Connecticut BINDER: Mexico FILLER: Nicaragua & USA

Blackened M81

N I CA R AG UA Consistently well-made and finished with a reddish brown wrapper with a neat pigtail. Opens with a blast of earth and somewhat sharp pepper later joined by rich notes of dark cocoa and roasted nuts. Develops in strength, topping out at medium to full.

$ 10.50

90

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: USA FILLER: Nicaragua & USA

Conspiracy Maduro

N I CA R AG UA A balanced and flavorful toro with a core of sweet earthiness complemented by smooth pepper, molasses, dark chocolate, and a touch of oak. Consistently well-constructed, this medium strength blend produces an excellent smoke output and leaves behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 12.99

90

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Undisclosed FILLER: Undisclosed

Diamond Crown Black Diamond

89 70 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

N I CA R AG UA

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C An ultra-flavorful toro covered with a dark, oily wrapper with some tooth. Produces tons of medium strength smoke with a core of raisins, sweet pepper, and earth balanced by a note of smooth pepper in the background.

$ 23.10 VITOLA: Emerald LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: USA/Connecticut BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Covered with a dark brown wrapper with excellent oils, this medium strength toro has a smooth profile highlighted by notes of cedar, ripe fruit, and sweet spice. Consistently provides an easy draw and a wavy burn leaving behind a dark gray ash.

TORO Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Sucesor LE 2024

$ 1 4.00

N I CA R AG UA

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 56 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

An attractive, soft-pressed toro that opens with a shot of molasses and black pepper that is soon joined by slightly sweeter notes of dark chocolate, roasted almonds, and a touch of cream. Produces tons of thick, aromatic smoke with medium to full strength.

Gurkha Year of the Dragon by Oscar Valladares

$ 25.00

92 92

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Honduras BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Honduras

Kristoff Veinte 20th Anniversary

90

H O N D UR AS A flavorful, well-balanced blend with a core of dark chocolate, smooth spice, tanned leather, and a rich, almond cream finish. Produces an excellent output of medium strength smoke along a perfect draw and even burn.

$ 1 4.00 VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 1/4 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Brazil BINDER: Indonesia FILLER: Nicaragua & USA

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Delivers tons of flavor highlighted by notes of dark roast coffee, charred oak barrel, and bittersweet cocoa accompanied by a hint of pepper. This medium strength blend is covered with an exceedingly dark wrapper with oils and topped with a neat pigtail.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

Blackbird Cactus Wren

$ 13.72

88

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua

Vega Fina Exclusivo USA Patriot

88

72 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

Opens with an earthy combination of flavors accompanied by notes of wood, black pepper, and licorice. This medium strength toro is covered with a dark brown wrapper with a toothy feel and produces a thin smoke output along a wavy burn.

$ 13.00 VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua & Domincan Republic

Macanudo Inspirado Tercio-Aged

87

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Delivers a medium strength combination of earth, bitter coffee, and soft pepper notes accompanied by a touch of sweetness on the finish. Covered with an even-colored, medium brown wrapper with a reddish hue.

$ 10.49 VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Indonesia FILLER: Colombia & Dominican Republic

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Covered with a dark, somewhat rustic looking wrapper with a coarse feel, this mild to medium bodied blend produces a unique profile with notes of sweet earth, pepper, and spicy wood.

CMY

K

TORO Davidoff Yamasa

$ 23.40

91

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Dominican Republic BINDER: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

Onyx Vintage Nicaragua

Impeccably balanced, with a core of cedar, sweet spice, and black tea accompanied by a sweet, creamy note on the finish. This medium plus strength toro is consistently well-constructed and covered with a supple, reddishbrown wrapper. Excellent smoke output.

$ 10.00

90

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Oscar Valladares Wild Hunter Natural

90

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Honduras BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Honduras

A. Fuente Rosado Sungrown Magnum R

89

VITOLA: R54 LENGTH: 6 1/2 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

Brick House Bricktoberfest 2024

89 87

N I CA R AG UA Flawlessly constructed and covered with a glistening, medium brown wrapper. Draws and burns perfectly while producing an excellent output of medium plus strength smoke with notes of wood, black pepper, and hazelnut with a clean finish.

$ 10.00

H O N D UR AS A somewhat rustic-looking toro covered with a dark, reddish-brown wrapper. Consistently draws and burns well while producing a solid output of medium strength smoke with notes of cedar, cocoa powder, and earth complemented by a touch of hazelnut on the finish.

$ 11.30

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Delivers a flavorful combination of roasted nuts, sweet cream, cedar, and cinnamon balanced by a slightly sharp touch of pepper. This medium strength toro draws well and produces an excellent smoke output leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 10.00 VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Hiram & Solomon The Treaty

74 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C

N I CA R AG UA A medium strength blend covered with a nearly flawless, reddish-brown wrapper finished with a triple-cap and a neat pigtail. Delivers a core of earth, smooth pepper, and cedar complemented by notes of rich caramel and nuts.

$ 1 4.00 VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Undisclosed BINDER: Undisclosed FILLER: Undisclosed

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Opens with a profile of cream, cedar, and cashews soon joined by notes of bitter oak, slightly harsh pepper, and earth. This medium strength toro is covered with a clean wrapper with a supple feel.

ROBUSTO Umbagog

$ 10.25

92

VITOLA: Robusto Plus LENGTH: 5 RING: 52 WRAPPER: USA BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Illusione The Group of Five

91

VITOLA: RB LENGTH: 5 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Undisclosed BINDER: Undisclosed FILLER: Nicaragua & Undisclosed

VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

A. Fuente Don Carlos

N I CA R AG UA Delivers an ultra-flavorful combination of black pepper, toasted almonds, oak, and a touch of sweet cream. This well-made robusto draws well and burns evenly while producing a good output of medium to full strength smoke.

$ 10.33

N I CA R AG UA A consistently well-constructed blend covered with a neatly applied, medium brown wrapper.

Provides tons of aromatic smoke along a flawless draw and burn with notes of smooth pepper and earth accompanied by a touch of sweet baking spice.

$ 12.60

90

VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Cameroon BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

ADVentura Blue Eyed Jack’s Revenge

89

VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

CLE Habano

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A flavorful robusto covered with a medium brown wrapper with a slightly toothy feel. The profile offers some subtle cinnamon sweetness underneath the layers of black pepper, cedar, and bitter earth. Draws well and leaves behind a solid, chalk-white ash.

$ 1 4.20

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A rustic-looking, soft-pressed blend covered with a toothy, dark brown wrapper. Consistently draws and burns well while producing a profile of sharp pepper, earth, and oak accompanied by a hint of sweetness. Medium to full strength.

$ 10.16

88 76 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

A firmly packed robusto covered with a toothy, reddish-brown wrapper. Produces a medium to full strength core of earth, sweet pepper, oak, and a touch of molasses while leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 16.95

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua

90

N I CA R AG UA

VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Honduras BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Honduras

H O N D UR AS A flavorful robusto with an earthy core accompanied by notes of sharp pepper, sweet wood, and a touch of graphite. Produces an abundance of medium plus strength smoke and leaves behind a slightly flaky ash.

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 77

CORONA El Titan de Bronze Redemption

92

$ 15.99 VITOLA: Corona Extra LENGTH: 5 5/8 RING: 46 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Herrera Esteli Habano

An attractive corona covered with a clean, reddish brown wrapper with sheen and topped with a neat triple-cap. Delivers a well-balanced combination of red pepper, roasted nuts, and burnt caramel accompanied by a rich aroma of leather. Medium to full strength.

$ 10.95

91

VITOLA: Lonsdale Deluxe LENGTH: 6 RING: 44 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Nicaragua

La Flor Dominicana Coronado

91 90

N I CA R AG UA Intense yet complex, this medium plus strength corona delivers a blend of pepper, cedar, and roasted nuts complemented by a hint of sweet cream and black tea. Draws and burns exceptionally well while leaving behind a compact ash.

$ 11.30 VITOLA: Double Corona LENGTH: 7 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

Plasencia Reserva Original

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Covered with an attractive, light brown wrapper with a supple feel. From the onset, this medium strength corona delivers a shot of black pepper and cedar that settles to incorporate roasted nuts, ripe fruit, and a touch of marzipan.

$ 9.60 VITOLA: Corona LENGTH: 6 1/4 RING: 44 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

La Aurora Especiales

N I CA R AG UA An intensely flavorful corona covered with a neatly applied, medium brown wrapper. This medium plus strength blend delivers a core of earth, peppery spice, and toasted almonds complemented by a touch of citrus on the finish.

$ 13.00

89

VITOLA: Corona Gorda LENGTH: 6 RING: 47 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: USA

ADVentura La Llorona

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Opens with intense notes of cayenne pepper, wood, and cinnamon, later joined by flavors of bitter coffee. Draws and burns exceptionally well while producing an abundance of medium strength smoke and leaving behind a compact, dark gray ash.

$ 16.00

88 78 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

USA

VITOLA: Corona LENGTH: 6 RING: 44 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A consistently well-constructed corona that draws well and produces an excellent output of medium strength smoke with notes of lightly roasted nuts, sharp pepper, and wood accompanied by a touch of cream.

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 79

SCOREBOARD We started paying attention to the platform formerly known as Twitter in our March/April 2010 issue when we had our friend and co-founder of Stogie Review Walt White write a story about Twitter’s impact on the cigar world. The following issue was the first to run a Twitter Scoreboard and ever since we’ve been keeping tabs on the Twitter accounts of cigar companies, personalities, retailers, and more. We have transitioned from calling it the Twitter Scoreboard to the odd-sounding X Scoreboard. We’ve also traded the powder blue and bird for the minimalistic, modern X on a black background but as always, if you believe you have the numbers to be on this page, let us know via @cigarsnobmag.

TOP CIGAR COMPANIES ( sorted by Twitter followers ) Drew Estate Cigars @DrewEstateCigar ....................................

Rocky Patel @RockyPatelCigar ...............................................

CAO International @CAOCigars ................................................

Padron Cigar @PadronCigars ..................................................

Ashton Cigars @ashtoncigar ...................................................

Alec Bradley Cigars @AlecBradley ...........................................

La Flor Dominicana @LFDCigars ..............................................

Jonathan Drew @JonathanDrewArt .........................................

E. Perez-Carillo @EPCarrillo ....................................................

Camacho Cigars @camachocigars ...........................................

La Gloria Cubana @lagloriacubana ..........................................

Oliva Cigar Company @OlivaCigar .............................................

JC Newman Cigar @JCNewmanCigars .......................................

Pete Johnson @TatuajeCigars ..................................................

Xikar Inc @XIKARinc ...............................................................

Davidoff Cigars @Davidoff_Cigars ...........................................

Nick Perdomo @PerdomoCigars ..............................................

Punch Cigars @punchcigars ....................................................

AJ Fernandez @ajfcigars .........................................................

Ernesto Padilla @PadillaCigars ................................................

TOP CIGAR ORGANIZATIONS

43686 42785 30162 28660 26403 21615 20080 17237 17168 17015 16288 15937 15516 15359 15115 14771 13784 13397 13269 12922

TOP CIGAR RETAILERS & REPS Famous Smoke Shop @FamousSmokeShop .............................

JR Cigars @JRCigars ..............................................................

Mulberry St. Cigars @MulberryStCigar ....................................

Cigar Hustler @cigarhustler ....................................................

Jeff Borysiewicz – Corona Cigar Co @CoronaCigarCo................

Cigar Row @CigarRow ............................................................

Michael Herklots @MichaelHerklots ........................................

Lindsay Siddiqi @TheCigarChick ..............................................

Cheap Humidors @cheaphumidors ..........................................

Buckhead Cigar @BuckheadCigar ............................................

22118 12854 12194 9957 8136 6927 5941 4677 4523 3917

Cigar Rights of America @cigarrights ...................................... 14997 Premium Cigar Association @PCA1933 .................................... 10533 Tobacconist University @tobacconistU ................................... 4146

TOP CIGAR RADIO Cigar Dave Show @CigarDaveShow ........................................ 10101 Cigars and Scotch @CigarScotch ............................................ 2034 KMA Talk Radio @KMATalkRadio ............................................. 2031

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE TWEETS, MENTIONS, AND RANDOM SOCIAL MEDIA GOODNESS.

@bandabox.francesca

New York City @cigarsnobmag #SOTL #CigarSnob #NYCCigars #CigarWoman #CigarGirl #CigarsNewYork #CigarEnthusiast #CigarPhotography #CigarLifestyle #Cigars #CigarMagazine #WomenWhoSmoke

TOP ONLINE CIGAR TWEEPLES David Voth–Sex, Cigars, & Booze @SexCigarsBooze .................

Cigar News @CigaRSS ............................................................

Cigar Events @CigarEvents .....................................................

Blind Man’s Puff @BlindMansPuff ............................................

Cigar Dojo @CigarDojo ............................................................

Robusto Cigar Babe @RobustoBabe ........................................

Cigar Federation @CigarFederation .........................................

Stephen LaPre, Sr. @CigarChairman .........................................

CigarHustler.com @CigarHustler .............................................

Cigar Vixen @CigarVixen .........................................................

80 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

132070 21060 15936 14312 14137 12385 11072 9986 9957 8498

@ brothers_of_the_leaf Hoja de Cienfuego If you’re in the mood for a dark spicy earthy cigar with hints of sweetness, then this is it.

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 81

INSTAGRAM SCOREBOARD Since its launch in October of 2010, the cigar world has become enamored with Instagram. Today the ‘Gram is unquestionably the most popular platform on which to share snaps of what you’re smoking and drinking. This scoreboard is sorted by number of followers and broken into groups: Top 20 Cigar & Cigar Accessory Companies, Top 10 Retailers & Reps, Top 10 Cigar Influencers, Top 3 Cigar Organizations, and Top 3 Cigar Radio accounts. If you have the numbers and belong in one of these groups, stand up and be counted! Set us straight via Instagram @cigarsnobmag.

TOP CIGAR & ACCESSORY COMPANIES ( sorted by Instagram followers ) Padron Cigar @padroncigars ...................................................

Davidoff Cigars @davidoffcigars .............................................

Drew Estate Cigars @drewestatecigar .....................................

Arturo Fuente @arturofuentecigars .........................................

Rocky Patel Premium Cigars @rockypatelcigar ........................

Raquel Quesada @raquelquesadaofficial .................................

Boveda @BovedaInc ...............................................................

Oliva Cigar Co. @olivacigar .....................................................

Epic Cigars @epiccigars .........................................................

My Father Cigars @myfathercigars ..........................................

Gurkha Cigars @gurkhacigars .................................................

La Flor Dominicana @LFDCigars ..............................................

Xikar Inc @xikar .....................................................................

Camacho Cigars @camachocigars ...........................................

Plasencia Cigars @plasenciacigars .........................................

AJ Fernandez @ajfcigars .........................................................

Nick Perdomo @Perdomocigars ..............................................

Ashton Cigars @ashtoncigar ...................................................

E.P. CarrilloCigars @epcarrillo_cigars ......................................

Joya de Nicaragua @joyacigars ...............................................

171605 161529 148284 124471 116668 102181 88773 87964 82712 81854 81064 79898 77531 76775 71674 68594 68357 66635 58443 58073

TOP CIGAR RETAILERS & REPS Havana Phil’s Cigar Company @havanaphils .............................

Famous Smoke Shop @famoussmokeshop ...............................

Mulberry St. Cigars @mulberrystcigars ...................................

Michael Herklots @michaelherklots .........................................

Master Sensei @cigardojo ......................................................

Cigar Hustler @cigarhustler ....................................................

The Cigar Culture @thecigarculture .........................................

Jeff Borysiewicz – Corona Cigar Co @coronacigarco ................

La Casa Cigars & Lounge Vegas @lacasavegas ........................

Angela Yue @angela_yue .........................................................

75231 56517 44589 32225 29049 28331 27470 25290 24638 24608

TOP ONLINE CIGAR INFLUENCERS ON INSTAGRAM Cigar Lover @cigarlover12 ......................................................

Liz Cigar Life Style @remarkable_liz ........................................

Delicia-Creator-Influencer @cigarvixen ...................................

Whiskey Girl Josie @whiskeygirl_josie .....................................

Angela, CCST & IACS CCS @cigarsmokingchick .......................

Cigar Social Club @cigarsocialclub ..........................................

Eric Kim @scotchandtime ........................................................

Nikki @cigarpassionista ..........................................................

Melanie Sisco @lilsiscokidd21 .................................................

Cigars / Smoke.Laugh.Live @world.of.cigars ............................

82 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

110681 97936 89576 88222 69740 66158 63085 40211 37894 34334

TOP CIGAR ORGANIZATIONS Premium Cigar Association @PCA1933 .................................... 25622 Total Product Expo @totalproductexpo ..................................... 9859 Cigar Rights of America @cigarrightsofamerica ......................... 6661

TOP CIGAR RADIO Cigar Dave Show @cigardave ................................................. 3562 KMA Talk Radio @KMATalkRadio ............................................. 1581 Eat Drink Smoke @eatdrinksmokepodcast .............................. 1584

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE TWEETS, MENTIONS, AND RANDOM SOCIAL MEDIA GOODNESS.

@ cigarspiritwine

Palma De Mallorca – San Agustin Celebrando que he vuelto a ser Papá de una preciosa niña!!! #Drewestate #ligaprivada #selecciondemercado #nicaragua #cigar #sotl #cigarporn #botl #cigaroftheday #tomatin #whisky #singlemalt #scotch #whisky #cigarsnob #luxury #mallorca #moment #instacigar #cigaraficionado #lifestyle #spain #cigarboss #drewestatecigars

@ cigarlover12

Sometimes, the greatest growth happens just outside our comfort zones Embrace the unknown and take that leap your future self will thank you! #fridaymotivation

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 83

EVENTS TAMPA CIGAR BASH 2024 Tampa, FL

Tampa Cigar Bash 2024 was held at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, hosted by Casa de Montecristo. Music was provided by the Street Spirit Band. Guests received an event bag loaded with smokes and swag from brands including Oliva, Montecristo, Arturo Fuente, Plasencia and Drew Estate, which went well with the fine food and drink.

Mike McKinney, Cynthia Fuente and Camilo Iriarte

Sean Williams and Steve Rosalia

Sari and Colm Conway

Randy Rivera and Tony Mason

Nimish Desai, Heath Hill, Dave Bullock and James Lee

84 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

Joe Gro

Chris Jones, Victor González and Ken Caroline

Rita Guagliardo and Michelle Bird

Ramon Adato and Mike Howe

Oliver Hyams, Tyler Walrabenstein, Ryan Bendell, Thomas LaMalfa, Charlie Doc Watson, Jaxx Guevarra and Olivia Saad

Law Ream, Joe Holtman, Scott Kolesaire, JT Guagliardo and Alen Bradaric

Barb Watters, Stefanie Faber and Gabrielle Winkler

Jeremy Harding and Alex Merick

Chris Szeglowski, Craig Hylton and Eric Newman

Sharon and Robert Holt

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 85

EVENTS VCF DINNER AND PARTY Dortmund, Germany

The Vandermarliere Cigar Family hosted its annual party for colleagues and friends. The year's event was held at Mercure Hotel Dortmund Messe and Kongress. The party began with the VCF team doing a dance before guests were seated for dinner. After dinner, guests enjoyed dessert and cigars while French pianist Paul Montag performed on stage. After dessert and Montag's classical treatments, the party moved to the dance floor for a different kind of music and Oliva Cigars.

Fred Vandermarliere, Tony Gómez, Ernesto Pérez-Carrillo, Jochy Blanco, Maya Selva, Omar Frías, Justo Eiroa and Oscar Valladares

Anabelle, Aglyn and David Pérez Jr.

Fred Vandermarliere, Justo Eiroa, Brian Shapiro and Erik Calviño

Dorin Chitiba and Marko Bilic

Jandy and Janny García

Diana Dimbueni, Marie Klaphake, Maaike Van der Sluis, Thomas Klaphake and Samed Okutua

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Photos by: Diana Dimbueni

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 87

EVENTS CIGAR SMOKING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Dubrovnik, Croatia

The 15th anniversary of the Cigar Smoking World Championship brought together competitive cigar smokers from over 45 countries, all vying for the esteemed grand prize.

The Rixos Hotel in Dubrovnik provided the backdrop for the event, adding some extra sophistication. The victor was Hauke Walter of Germany, who smoked the Rocky Patel Mareva cigar for two hours and 52 minutes to claim his third world championship.

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NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 89

EVENTS LAUNCH OF THE FUENTE THE OPUSX SOCIETY CIGAR Doral, FL

Guests were among the first to enjoy the collaboration between Arturo Fuente and Manny Iriarte Enterprises as each received one Fuente The OpusX Society Cigar in a blue and yellow coffin, which was held at Tabacon Cigar Lounge. During the celebration, Carlito Fuente Jr. and Manny Iriarte were awarded keys to the City of Sweetwater, where Manny Iriarte Enterprises is based. The cities of Doral and Sweetwater designated October 19 as the Fuente OpusX Society Day, proclaimed by Doral Mayor Christi Fraga, who was among the guests.

Ricky Menéndez, Manny Iriarte and Alexis León

Romero Brito and Aymeric Bianchi

Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr. and Manny Iriarte

Elías Michelen, José Ovalles, César Villanueva and models

Arturo Pérez, Francys Aguilera, Ileana Borlado, Barbara Iriarte and Victor Serrano

Elissa Noyes, Frank Herrera, Arnold Serafin and Diab Ellan

90 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

Photos by: Omar Vega

Damir González and Alana Wilson

Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr., Alonzo Mourning and Manny Iriarte

David Levy, Anil Partridge, Carla Levy, Arturo Sandoval and models

Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr., Christi Fraga and Manny Iriarte

Luis Melo, William Flores, Gilberto Estupiñan, Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr. and Manuel Martin

Michael Correia, Marylou and Michael Reynolds

Michael Wang, Jose de Castro, Jack Astacio, Kristo Bernar and David Fernández

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 91

EVENTS OLIVA CIGARS AT SABOR HAVANA Doral, FL

Guests enjoyed a steak dinner from Ruth’s Chris, a whisky tasting from The Glenlivet, and premium smokes from Oliva Cigars. Proceeds went to benefit the Oliva Helping Hands Foundation. The event marked the start of the season of giving back, bringing people together to support those in need.

Jorge Valdés, Yadira Creighton, Albert Sosa and Fidel Valdés

Gabriella Henemann, Héctor Capo and Aquiles Legra

Arthur Viani, Fernando Martínez and Juan Mesa

Gianni D'Alerta and Ralph Quintero

92 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

Eliana and Diana Osorio

Noel Rodríguez and Alex

Jovy Morales and Alfredo Pérez

Rodney Triana and Victor Hernández

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 93

EVENTS ASHFEST 2024 Penfield, NY

AshFest is the annual charity event for the Nice Ash Cigar and Lounge. This year's was the sixth, as the group raises money for local veterans through the local Veteran's Outreach charity. Sponsors included Romeo y Julieta, Davidoff, Kristoff, and Foundation Cigars. In addition to the smokes, attendees received a swag bag and beer tickets, and once inside, could bid on the silent auction items including a gift basket from Skip’s Meat Market.

94 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

Photos by: Greg Corbi

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 95

EVENTS QUESADA CIGARS AT NEPTUNE Pinecrest, FL

Neptune Cigars hosted the Quesada sisters, Raquel and Patricia Quesada, in their first event since announcing their transition to full ownership and operation of Quesada Cigars.

The evening included drinks, food, and live music from Yanko Tortolo. Quesada Cigars also showcased its full line including the Quesada Oktoberfest Cigar Limited Edition.

Raquel Quesada, Luz Holguin and Patricia Quesada

Domenico and Ida Di Pietro

Ruth Bueno and Mayerling Villar

Raquel Quesada, Claudia Tagliaferro and Patricia Quesada

96 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

Ralph Marmolejos, Enrique Fermin, Luz Holguin, Leonor Abzaradel and Abe Flores

Ronny López, Juan Goncalves and Tony Jiménez

Jesse and Stephanie Jiménez

Yesi Rosa and Leonor Abzaradel

Claudia and Francisco Jiménez, Christian and Evenor Alemán

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 97

EVENTS CITY CIGAR BY THE BAY GRAND OPENING Miami, FL

City Cigar's second location in Miami sits on the bay between Regatta Grove and Bayshore Club. The grand opening packed the house with plenty of family and friends enjoying cocktails and taking in a humidor loaded with rare and hard-to-find smokes.

Alexis Domínguez, Carlos Garced, Tommy Soberon and Tico Gutiérrez

Sandra Sketnevsky and Brittany McNeil

Ibis Lu and Jill Meyers Rubenstein

Yan and Ana Pérez, Lurlaine González, Angie Bolaños and Irving Díaz

Ray Lanza, Tom Jelke and Erik Calviño

Erick Martínez, Ramon Antelo, Carlos Garced and Clemente González

98 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2024

James Thomas and Michael Zucchi

Eddy Lara, Danny Hernández, Lissy and Chris Sowers and Eric López

NOV / DEC 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 99

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