JULY / AUGUST 2019
p. 61
p. 43
54 p. 81
Wagyu Bavette p. 37
Sweep the Leg with
MARTIN KOVE p. 100
editorials JULY / AUGUST 2019
30
PERFECT PAIRINGS
MONTECRISTO ESPADA OSCURO / ROGUE ROLLING THUNDER IMPERIAL STOUT When we got these cigars before their official release, we got to work on finding just the right beer to go with it. It’s tough work, but somebody’s got to do it.
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37
CUT, COOK, EAT
43
DESTINATION - WASHINGTON D.C.
61
Q&A WITH ED REED
Get into the weeds with Chef Miguel Massens and prepare to bring fine dining technique — and an American Wagyu Bavette steak — to your home kitchen.
There’s no way to see it all in a short trip to D.C., but we did our worst. From world-class cigar bars to sprawling art galleries to the city’s favorite chili, come along on our snobby field trip.
The greatest safety who ever played football wants in on the cigar game — and he’s studying the tape to make sure he does this right.
100
FIRST CIGAR WITH MARTIN KOVE
104
CRA COLUMN
The sensei you loved to hate in The Karate Kid is back and bringing new depth (along with great cigars) to the character in the YouTube original series Cobra Kai.
Beverly Hills, California is ushering in a new era that threatens the enjoyment of a cigar.
JULY / AUG 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |
11
features JULY / AUGUST 2019
16
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
20
FEEDBACK
22
WHAT’S BURNIN’
32
BRAND BREAKDOWN
70
SMOKING HOT CIGAR SNOB
81
RATINGS
AJ FERNANDEZ BELLAS ARTES MADURO
FORBIDDEN FRUIT
102
TWITTER SCOREBOARD
107
EVENT COVERAGE 107 MOUNTAIN ON FIRE 114 AMPARO EXPERIENCE CIGAR SNOB AFTER PARTY 116 BURN ATLANTA GRAND OPENING 118 GALIANO CIGAR LOUNGE GRAND OPENING 120 SABOR HAVANA DINNER FEATURING ESPINOSA CIGARS 122 C. A. T. S.
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Maduro
Especial
Centered around formidable Nicaraguan Ligeros, which lay beneath a sweet and spicy San Andres wrapper, the Serie V Maduro carries the consistency in quality and flavor all of our cigars are known for. This combination renders layers of richness and complexity, in spite of its power, making it A Must Smoke! www.olivacigar.com
JULY / AUG 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |
13 www.olivacigar.com
JULY / AUGUST 2019
VO L . 11 IS SU E 4 www.cigarsnobmag.com PUBLISHER & EDITOR Erik Calviño SENIOR EDITOR Nicolás Antonio Jiménez COPY EDITOR Michael LaRocca SALES & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Oscar M. Calviño PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Ivan Ocampo ART DIRECTOR Andy Astencio DIGITAL RETOUCHING SPECIALIST Ramón Santana CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Florin Safner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Glynn Loope CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS David Benoliel Andy Astencio Jim Pollock Natalia Aguilera EVENT PHOTOGRAPHERS Jamilet Calviño Justin Sicard Syndikat Medienpool Lighthouse Productions Cover Photography by David Benoliel www.davidbenolielphotography.com Cover Model - Natalie Golba 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.cigarsnobmag.com
(SUBSCRIBE TODAY) - Only $18 for one Year (six issues) of -
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14 | CIGAR SNOB | JULY / AUG 2019
If I’m being honest, the July/August issue rivals the January/February issue as the most difficult issue for us to publish. You see, we always launch the July/August issue at the cigar industry’s annual convention and trade show. So aside from always wanting to make a splash at the show, which impacts the content that we put in this issue, it ties our production schedule to the show dates. So when this year’s trade show dates were announced, everyone at Cigar Snob HQ circled this issue like a college football team circles a game against a bitter rival. So to stick with that metaphor, we kicked this issue’s butt this year in a close, hard fought game. We were down by at least two touchdowns to start the 4th quarter and Ed Reed blocked a punt, returned an interception 106 yards for a touchdown, and for good measure caused a fumble on a strip sack, which he recovered and took to the house for the win. Not coincidentally, our senior editor Nicolás Antonio Jiménez and our production director Ivan Ocampo sat down with the Ball Hawk, the guy who humbly does not want to be called the GOAT but whom we all feel is the best safety to play the game, for an interview titled Win, Lose, or Draw on p. 61. Aside from his on the field exploits, Ed is humble, thoughtful, and an absolute joy to smoke a cigar with. Thanks to Casablanca Cigars in Miami Beach for hosting the shoot and to our team for producing a top-notch interview and photo shoot in record time. I also would like to take a moment to congratulate Ed Reed on his upcoming induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Congratulations and see you in Canton my friend. Allow me to return to the metaphor for a moment. The fashion shoot in this issue features a five-star recruit who had everyone watching the game film over and over and then a little more. For our cover and fashion shoot, we gave the starting nod to dual threat Natalie Golba. She is a rare find in that besides being unapologetically beautiful, she is also an amazing chef! If you haven’t done so already, head over to p. 70 for the photo shoot titled Forbidden Fruit featuring Herrera Esteli Norteño. Thank me later. The secret weapon in this issue is one of the most exciting young chefs in America. Miguel Massens cut his teeth under the tutelage of fine dining icons Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller and has brought his talents back to his native Miami, where he will be opening Antilia. Check out the dish he helped us create in Cut, Cook, Eat on p. 37. Senior editor Nick and art director Andy Astencio blitzed Washington D.C. for our travel editorial. You may think I’m using the term just to keep the metaphor alive but the truth is that they ran through the city in a couple of days and saw more in that time than most people see in an entire week at our nation’s capital. How Nick managed to drag Andy out of the National Gallery of Art in less than two hours will remain one of life’s great mysteries. Whatever means he used to
16 | CIGAR SNOB | JULY / AUG 2019
accomplish this probably goes against the NCAA’s concussion protocol. Thanks for bearing with my metaphor for this long and for being loyal readers of our work. If you’re a subscriber to this publication, you are our MVP! Ha! Had to get one more in there. Enjoy the issue and enjoy your summer. Drop us a line telling us what you think at feedback@cigarsnobmag.com or via Twitter at @cigarsnobmag.
Keep ‘em lit,
Erik Calviño ecalvino@cigarsnobmag.com
JOYA DE NICARAGUA INTRODUCES ANTAÑO CT
Joya de Nicaragua is expanding its offering of Antaño cigars with the Antaño CT, an Ecuadorian Connecticut-wrapped extension that the company says will be deceptively full-bodied thanks to its Nicaraguan filler and binder. “Today, Antaño is not just one cigar blend, it is a family of products that invite smokers to Keep Daring, to try powerful and intense blends with distinctive Nicaraguan character. That is why we invite cigar lovers to dare to try the Antaño interpretation of what a Connecticut wrapped cigar should be,” said Juan Ignacio Martínez, Executive President at Joya de Nicaragua, in a press release. The Antaño CT will be packaged in 20-count boxes in four vitolas: Belicoso (6 x 54),Toro (6 x 50), Robusto (5 x 52) and Corona Gorda (5 1/4 x 46). The cigars range in price from $8.00 to $9.90 and shipments will start making their way to stores in July 2019, immediately after the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas.
lineup. The Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua sports a sungrown Nicaraguan Habano wrapper and is made at the Royal Agio factory in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic. “The new Añejo XO Nicaragua is a special blend that has been in development for quite some time because, as usual, we wanted to ensure that we had the perfect combination of unique and exclusive, aged premium tobaccos that would make this Nicaragua blend truly stand out,” said Royal Agio CEO Boris Wintermans in a press release. “Our curious approach to blending has once again led us to an exceptional, one-of-a-kind discovery sure to delight cigar lovers everywhere.”
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“The blend is fantastic” states Terence Reilly, VP of sales and marketing at Aganorsa Leaf. “Equally important, the unique vitolas combine with the dark beauty of the wrapper to create a powerful visual impact and make the Lunatic Loco immediately stand out in the humidor.”
LA AURORA 115TH ANNIVERSARY SHIFTS TO REGULAR PRODUCTION
The Añejo XO Nicaragua serves to further round out the Añejo X stable, which includes the core Añejo XO (Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper), Connecticut and Oscuro (San Andrés wrapper). Añejo XO Nicaragua will be available in Torpedo Mk52 (6 1/4 x 52), Gran Toro (6 x 52), Rothschild Masivo (5 x 55), Corona (5 7/8 x 42) and Petit Robusto FT (Flagtail) (4 1/4 x 48). They’ll range in price from $8.50 to $11.25 per cigar.
JFR LUNATIC GETS A GIRTHY EXPANSION
La Aurora Cigars released a limited-edition cigar to commemorate its 115th anniversary at the 2019 ProCigar festival in the Dominican Republic in February. This year, they’re unveiling a regular-production blend that will be available on an ongoing basis. “We created 115th Anniversary to commemorate this very special occasion in the history of our company,” said La Aurora president Guillermo Leon in a press release. “Throughout our 115 years, we have held to the highest standards in cigar making and this commitment to excellence is at the very core of who we are. La Aurora 115th Anniversary is a standing ovation to the hard work and dedication of each and every member of the La Aurora family.”
ROYAL AGIO RELEASES BALMORAL AÑEJO XO NICARAGUA
Royal Agio announced the release of a new component in the Balmoral Añejo XO
Corojo Maduro — earn their name before you’ve even lit them: Lunatic Loco.
Aganorsa Leaf is expanding the JFR Lunatic brand with a new blend that will be made available in three perfecto formats. Those formats are entirely in line with the “Lunatic” idea, to be sure. The three vitolas — El Loquito (4¾ x 60), El Loco (4¾ x 70), and El Gran Loco (5½ x 80), all of which are wrapped in Aganorsa’s own
This regular production La Aurora 115th Anniversary blend features an Ecuadorian wrapper, Brazilian binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Brazil. It will be available in four formats: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (5 3/4 x 54), Belicoso (6 1/4 x 52), and Gran Toro (6 x 58). Packaged in 20-count boxes, they’re priced from $9.50 to $11 per cigar.
e
BALMORAL’S SECOND SERIE SIGNATURAS RELEASE, CALLED PASO DOBLE, IS A COLLABORATION WITH LITTO GOMEZ OF LA FLOR DOMINICANA
The Paso Doble, featuring an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, will be packaged in 10-count boxes and come in three vitolas: Robusto (5¾ x 50), Gran Toro (6¼ x 54) and Brindis (Figurado) (7 x 55). The cigars are set to ship in August and retail prices are set from $11.25 to $16.50.
CUEVAS REVIVES CUEVAS RESERVA BRAND IT FIRST INTRODUCED IN THE EARLY 2000S
back well over a decade ago,” said Luis Cuevas, Jr., President of Casa Cuevas Cigars, in a press release. “As with all things in life, plans always change. I am proud to have worked closely with my father and my son Alec Cuevas, who is now part of the family business recreating this blend. I am ecstatic that this brand has come full circle, as we can now present it as a family project to the consumer.” Both variants of the brand will be available in 20-count boxes of each of three vitolas: Toro (6 x 50), Torpedo (6 1/4 x 52), and Robusto (5 x 52). They ’ll range in price from $9.50 to $10.50.
H. UPMANN HISPANIOLA LAUNCHING AT IPCPR 2019 Last summer, Balmoral introduced its “Serie Signaturas” concept to the market. The idea is simple enough — it’s a line characterized by collaboration between Royal Agio and other cigar makers. The first release, called Dueto, was made in tandem with Ernesto Pérez- Carrillo. The cigar earned a spot on this magazine’s list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2018. This summer, Balmoral is releasing the second installment in that Serie Signaturas line. Royal Agio joined forces with La Flor Dominicana to create a blend that, according to a press release, “intertwines each cigar makers’ most coveted tobaccos and blending signatures.” “Last year we partnered with Boris and his team at Agio to distribute our products in Germany and The Netherlands, and we were so impressed with their professionalism and dedication, that when Boris asked me to collaborate on a blend with him, I did not think twice,” said Litto in a press release. “This is not something we normally do, in fact we never do it, but for Boris I made an exception because we share the same simple philosophy, to be the best and do things the right way. The process behind Paso Doble has been an absolute pleasure, from concept, to design, to blending, Boris and his team have been phenomenal throughout and the result is a very special cigar that smokes just as beautifully as it looks!”
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When Luis Cuevas, Sr. first introduced the Cuevas Reserva brand, he ended up faced with the choice of continuing to put his resources into building it or redirecting his efforts into private labels for the sake of financial stability. He chose the latter, passing (at least for the moment) on the potential for a hit cigar with his own family name on the band. It wasn’t until 2016 that his son Luis Jr. convinced his father they should launch their own brand — Casa Cuevas. Now at the 2019 IPCPR trade show, the Cuevas family will be reviving that brand that had been put on the back burner all those years ago, Cuevas Reserva. It ’ll be available in Maduro and Natural variants, with the Maduro featuring a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Dominican Piloto binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The Natural has an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Habano binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and the United States. “The Cuevas Reserva for my father was supposed to be the Cuevas signature brand
Altadis U.S.A . announced the release of H. Upmann Hispaniola by Jose Mendez. Hispaniola is the name of the island that both Haiti and the Dominican Republic call home. “Jose Mendez & Co. has an amazing library of rare and special Dominican tobacco,” said Rafael Nodal, head of product capability for Tabacalera USA, in a press release. “Together with Siegfried Maruschke, grandson of Jose Mendez and President of the company, we have created a cigar which highlights the spirit of Hispaniola and takes us on a journey through the most representative tobacco varieties of the island.” The H. Upmann Hispaniola features Dominican fillers and binder within an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Andullo tobacco is mixed included in the filler blend. Hispaniola will be available in 20-count boxes in three different vitolas: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 1/8 x 52), and Belicoso (6 x 50). They’ll be priced from $8.50 to $8.95.
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H. UPMANN 175TH ANNIVERSARY
Few names in cigars have histories as long as H. Upmann. Altadis U.S.A. is marking the 175th anniversary of H. Upmann with a limited edition cigar, the H. Upmann 175th Anniversary. Production will be limited to 14,750 boxes of 10 cigars, with 50 specialedition humidors containing 50 cigars each thrown into the mix as well. The cigar is a Nicaraguan puro manufac-
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tured by A.J. Fernandez. “One of the things that I love about creating new blends is the constant learning about tobacco. Working with AJ Fernández and the rarest wrapper in the world, Medio Tiempo, has definitely been a unique and rewarding experience. There are great cigars and then there is the H. Upmann 175th Anniversary blend. An unforgettable cigar,” said Rafael Nodal, head of product capability for Tabacalera USA. The 175th Anniversary will only be available in a 7 x 50 Churchill format and is priced at $18 per cigar.
ARCHETYPE CHAPTER 3 Ventura Cigar Company announced today the addition of Chapter 3 to its Archetype Cigars lineup. Chapter 3 comprises two blends, named Sacred Scales and Dawn of Destiny. Both
are made by Ernesto Perez- Carrillo at his Dominican factory, Tabacalera La Alianza. Ernesto and Ventura Cigar GM Michael Giannini have a long history and this Chapter 3 release is their third cigar collaboration. Sacred Scales features a San Andrés Maduro wrapper, Ecuadorian binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. It will be available in Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52) and Gordo (6 x 60). Dawn of Destiny has an Ecuadorian wrapper with binder and filler from Nicaragua. It will be available in Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52) and Gordo (6 x 60). “Ernesto Perez- Carrillo is one-of-a-kind,” said Michael in a press release. “He and I go way back. We are champions of each other’s work in the cigar industry, and creative collaborators at points along the way. It made sense for us to team up and begin this new chapter of Archetype, forging a new path in its story, and celebrating a new phase in our careers.”
©2019 ALTADIS U.S.A. INC.
@hupmann_usa
A SMOKY FIELD TRIP TO OUR NATION’S CAPITAL BY NICOLÁS ANTONIO JIMÉNEZ / PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY ASTENCIO
3301 M St. NW georgetowncupcake.com
15. Founding Farmers DC 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
tgcigar.com
1539 7th St. NW passengerdc.com
19. Martin’s Tavern 1264 Wisconsin Ave. NW
675 15th St. NW ebbitt.com
20. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
900 Ohio Dr. SW
1405 T St. NW
nps.gov
22. World War II Memorial
9. Rasika
1750 Independence Ave. SW
633 D St. NW
nps.gov
Constitution Ave. NW
707 7th St. NW
nga.gov
24. Ulysses S. Grant
25. National Portrait Gallery
1078 Wisconsin Ave. NW
8th St. NW & F St. NW
paul-usa.com
npg.si.edu
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W AV EN
AVE
NW
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TON ME MO RIA
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CONSTITUTION AVE NW CONSTITUTION GARDENS
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12. PAUL
LITTLE ISLAND
LINCOLN 20 MEMORIAL
RIV
aoc.gov/capitol-grounds/ulyssess-grant-memorial
HI
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kramers.com
T H EODO
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First St. SE
VIR GI N
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Memorial
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1517 Connecticut Ave. NW
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SYL VAN IA 15
THEODORE ROOSEVELT ISLAND
AS G. W
11. Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe
MA
23. National Gallery of Art
10. Clyde’s clydes.com
P OTO
nps.gov/vive/index
8. Colada Shop
4
PEN N
5 Henry Bacon Dr. NW
21. Korean War Veterans Memorial
rasikarestaurant.com
HI RE
OTHER
charliepalmersteak.com
coladashop.com
3 14
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101 Constitution Ave. NW
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IV
7. Charlie Palmer Steak
13
martinstavern.com
RESTAURANTS 6. Old Ebbitt Grill
19
HA MP S
18. The Passenger
19Th St NW
1118 9th St. NW
hayadams.com
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5. TG Cigar
800 16th St. NW
NE
casademontecristo.com
17. Off the Record
P St NW
W C PKWY N
22Nd ST NW
1132 19th St. NW
P St NW
23Rd ST NW
4. Casa de Montecristo
densondc.com
23Rd ST NW
gttobacco.com
11
600 F St. NW
OT OM A
3144 M St. NW
16. Denson Liquor Bar
W
3. Georgetown Tobacco
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N AVE
shellysbackroom.com
FL
BARS
wcurtisdraper.com
1331 F St. NW
W
EN V A
CUT
699 15th St. NW
2. Shelly’s Back Room
MONTROSE PARK
wearefoundingfarmers.com
TT SA VE N
TI NEC CON
1. W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist
US E
KA ND P
CIGAR SHOPS
filomena.com
DUMBARTON OAKS PARK
19Th St NW
1063 Wisconsin Ave. NW
M AS SA CH
O RID A
14. Filomena Ristorante
ROC KC REE
WASHINGTON D.C.
13. Georgetown Cupcake
TON ING ARL
R MO ME
IA
RID LB
GE
LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTIN
21
INDEPENDENCE AVE SW
U St NW
9Th St NW
PEN 9 NSY LVA NIA AVE NW
THE ELIPSE PARK
22
NG POOL
MADISON DR NW
JEFFERSON
W DR S
NATIONAL MALL
First St NE
St N E 2Nd
K St NW
H St NW
E NATIONAL L.E ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL
395
E St NW
D St NW
D St NW LOWER SENATE PARK
7
CONSTITUTION AVE NW SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY
L St NW
23 SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM
CONSTITUTION AVE NW
UNITED STATES CAPITOL
395 24
INDEPENDENCE AVE SW
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2Nd St NE
16
E St NW
M St NW
1 St N
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NW
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F St NW
7Th St NW
2
9Th St NW
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10
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11Th St NW
12Th St NW
13Th St NW
1
NORTH CAPITOL ST NW
7Th St NW
LO
15Th St NW
17Th St NW
AV NW
VER MO NT
W AV N ON T
15Th St NW
VER M
16Th St NW
18Th St NW
18Th St NW
SET TS AVE
W AVE N
MA SSA CH U
NW
PRESIDENT’S PARK
WASHINGTON MONUMENT
NW
EY JERS
NE THE WHITE HOUSE
NEW
VE KA R YO
NE W
VE TA ICU
17
VE KA R O WY
NEW
P St NW O St NW
395 FRANKLIN SQUARE
R ST NW
N St NW
5
FARRAGUT SQUARE
W
P St NW
W AVE N
OD AVE RH NW
18
S ST NW
Y ERSE
T NEC CON
N St NW
T TS
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N CIRC GA
LE
P St NW
USE
LA E IS
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RHO
Q ST NW
MA SSA CH
. AVE D N
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D
RHO
AA VE NE
1 St NW
R ST NW
ID
1 St NW
S ST NW
OR
6Th St NW
8 13Th St NW
T ST NW
14Th St NW
HA MP S W NE
FL
J NEW
16Th St NW
HI RE
AV EN
W
U St NW
60 | CIGAR SNOB | JULY / AUG 2019
BY NICOLÁS ANTONIO JIMÉNEZ PHOTOS BY NATALIA AGUILERA LOCATION: CASABLANCA CIGAR LOUNGE
Win Lose or Draw
ED REED SPENT HIS COLLEGE AND NFL CAREERS BUILDING A STRONG CASE THAT HE’S THE BEST SAFETY WHO EVER PLAYED FOOTBALL. THROUGH ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS ALONG THE WAY, ED HAS MAINTAINED ONE CRITICAL RITUAL: CIGARS.
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Forbidden
FRUIT featuring
HERRERA ESTELI NORTEÑO
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54 cigars KNIFE: Shun Premier 8-In. Chef’s Knife (shun.kaiusaltd.com) LIGHTER: Le Grand S.T. Dupont (st-dupont.com) JULY / AUG 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |
81
The cigar world is on Twitter and we aim to keep track of who’s leading who. The following is a scoreboard of the cigar world’s most relevant Tweeples. The list is sorted by number of followers and broken into groups: Top 20 Twitter Cigar Companies & Reps, Top 10 Twitter Retailers, Top 10 Online Cigar Tweeps, Top 3 Twitter Cigar Organizations, and Top 3 Cigar Radio Twitter accounts. If you have the numbers and belong in one of these groups, stand up and be counted! Set us straight via Twitter @cigarsnobmag.
TOP CIGAR COMPANIES (sorted by Twitter followers) Rocky Patel @RockyPatelCigar......................................... Drew Estate Cigars @DrewEstateCigar............................. Padron Cigar @PadronCigars............................................ CAO International @CAOCigars......................................... Alec Bradley Cigars @AlecBradley.................................... La Flor Dominicana @LFDCigars....................................... Jonathan Drew @JonathanDrewArt.................................. Camacho Cigars @camachocigars.................................... Ashton Cigars @ashtoncigar............................................. Pete Johnson @TatuajeCigars........................................... Xikar Inc @XIKARinc......................................................... La Gloria Cubana @lagloriacubana.................................... Punch Cigars @punchcigars............................................. Miami Cigar Co @miamicigar............................................. Nick Perdomo @PerdomoCigars....................................... Ernesto Padilla @PadillaCigars......................................... La Palina Cigars @La PalinaCigars.................................... Avo Cigars @AvoCigars..................................................... Nat Sherman Intl. @Nat42nd............................................. AJ Fernandez @ajfcigars..................................................
32998 31459 27204 25199 21125 19730 19189 18980 17516 16714 14784 14491 12963 12886 12867 12283 11705 11685 11628 11605
TOP CIGAR ORGANIZATIONS CRA @cigarrights............................................................. 14625 IPCPR Staff @theIPCPR.................................................. 8010 Tobacconist University @tobacconistU............................. 4612
TOP CIGAR RADIO Cigar Dave Show @CigarDaveShow................................. 11573 Smooth Draws @SmoothDraws....................................... 4382 KMA Talk Radio @KMATalkRadio...................................... 2323
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE TWEETS, MENTIONS, AND RANDOM SOCIAL MEDIA GOODNESS.
TOP CIGAR RETAILERS & REPS Famous Smoke Shop @FamousSmokeShop...................... Mulberry St. Cigars @MulberryStCigar............................. Cigar Hustler @cigarhustler.............................................. Cigar Row @CigarRow..................................................... Jeff Borysiewicz – Corona Cigar Co @CoronaCigarCo....... Michael Herklots–Nat Sherman @MichaelHerklots............ Barry – Two Guys Smoke Shop @Barry2Guys................... Cheap Humidors @cheaphumidors................................... Lindsay Siddiqi @TheCigarChick....................................... Palm Desert Tobacco @palmdsrttobacco.........................
13889 13629 11576 8265 7413 6633 6314 5469 5290 5132
@cigarcavesd via Instagram Cigar Cave If your wife doesn’t like the aroma of your cigar, change your wife. #cigarsmokers #cigarphotography #cigaroftheday #cigarnation #cigarsociety #cigarbossdiva #cigarporn
TOP ONLINE CIGAR TWEEPLES David Voth–Sex, Cigars, & Booze @SexCigarsBooze......... Cigar News @CigaRSS .................................................... Cigar Events @CigarEvents............................................... Cigar Federation @CigarFederation.................................. Robusto Cigar Babe @RobustoBabe................................. Stogie Boys @StogieBoys ............................................... Cigar Evaluations @CigarEvaluation................................. Cigar Inspector @CigarInspector ..................................... The Stogie Guys @stogieguys........................................... Tom Ufer @cigarsmonkingman..........................................
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149281 15458 14617 12390 10217 8849 8785 8411 8082 6568
@cigarcoder via Instagram Ligero Tobacco House San Isidro by @hvccigars #hvccigars #barrelburners #burnersmafia #barrelburnersup #barrelburnersfamily #cigarsofinstagram #cafebustelo#colibri #cigarsnobmag #webdeveloper
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message as a form letter for such battles confronted by every cigar shop across the nation, because our prediction is that Beverly Hills just set a horrible national precedent for local governments across the nation to entertain similar ordinances. And it has begun. On a 4-1 vote within a week of, and based upon the action in Beverly Hills, the City Council of Manhattan Beach, California started the process of drafting their own tobacco sales ban. Councilman Steve Napolitano called it “a logical next step,” following banning smoking in all public places. Of course, governments have a creative way of defining “public place,” you know, to mean a private place of business.
Beverly Hills, California
Ushering in a New Era that Threatens the Enjoyment of a Cigar By J. Glynn Loope, Executive Director Cigar Rights of America etween 1920 and 1933, America experienced the notorious period of Prohibition. With the grassroots movement against alcohol led by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League, the United States government enacted its sweeping ban. Even though the federal government did not prohibit private ownership and consumption, some local and state governments went as far as banning actual possession. Fast forward to June 22, 2009. The President of the United States signs the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, giving the U.S. Food & Drug Administration sweeping regulatory powers over all things tobacco. Although they are prohibited from any outright ban on a product, they can create barriers that make the introduction of new products virtually impossible. However, there is a little known codicil in the act that allows local and state governments the authority to implement more stringent ordinances and legislation on tobacco, especially in the arena of sales and distribution restrictions. Like the January 16, 1919 ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, or the June 22, 2009 signing of the Tobacco Control Act, perhaps June 4, 2019 should also be enshrined in the annals of nanny state history. It was on that evening that the City Council of Beverly Hills, California became the first jurisdiction in America to ban the sale of tobacco within its community. Twenty-eight local businesses that sell perfectly legal tobacco products will be prohibited from do-
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ing so. Now at least in many cigar circles, most know that the City Council heard the plea to exempt two premium cigar shops and a private cigar club. For that, we are grateful – concerned about the attack on free markets, private property rights, and personal choice, but grateful. Cigar Rights of America endorsed the request for those exemptions, and released a petition to the City Council making that request as well. The most renowned plea for exemption came from former California Governor and cigar enthusiast Arnold Schwarzenegger. Writing for the Grand Havana Room cigar club, the Governor stated that the club “provides a treasured home away from home where community members, businessmen and business women, artists, authors, educators, film makers, priests, pastors, rabbis, doctors, lawyers, and political leaders all gather, and where they can share the company of one another over the enjoyment of a fine cigar.” The Governor also noted that the club was “an altogether rare venue…where the sharing of a meal, drink, and premium cigar promotes camaraderie, relaxation, and the healthy exchange of ideas and experiences.” To me, I guess that makes virtually every cigar shop and lounge in the nation a “rare venue” – 327 million people in America, maybe 3 million occasional cigar consumers, 2,000 premium cigar shops, and fewer than that with a lounge or cigar bar – I would say they are each rare, unique, and should be recognized as nothing less than a sanctuary for those among us who wish to gather for such moments as the Governor described. We would like to use Governor Schwarzenegger’s
Bad ideas have a way of spreading fast in the arena of tobacco politics. Especially at this juncture, with the legislative plate being full for the industry with state and national issues, the last thing America’s cigar shops (and consumers) need is a city hall to city hall slate of proposals and ordinances, where free enterprise has to be defended, proverbial exemptions have to be justified, choices limited, entrepreneurship stifled, and a new era of prohibition launched. CRA is currently working with a coalition of cigar shops in the St. Louis, Missouri region in an effort to prevent a smoking ban, due to the consistent threat of a public referendum. We call it “Operation Sanctuary,” because America’s cigar shops are truly becoming the last refuge from the agenda of the nanny state. For them, the cigar shops and lounges of America, these “rare venues” for camaraderie, conversation and relaxation, need to be defended in a manner that makes them non-negotiable in such battles – so that local and state governments will not ban the enjoyment of premium cigars in such defined places of business, nor threaten the sale of great premium handmade cigars. All it takes is one Michael Bloomberg to enable “The Beverly Hills Model” to be bankrolled and spread across the nation, and the next wave of battles truly begins. Perhaps it’s time to use some language of the Constitution for our side, for a change – Congress shall make no law respecting or prohibiting the right of the people peaceably to assemble. The Freedom of Assembly seems central to the passion for cigars.
GLYNN LOOPE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CIGAR RIGHTS OF AMERICA (CRA), WHICH IS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE GROWERS, MANUFACTURERS, RETAILERS, AND CONSUMERS OF PREMIUM CIGARS.
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cigarsnobmag.com/podcast
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EVENTS BURN BY ROCKY PATEL GRAND OPENING Atlanta
BURN by Rocky Patel in Atlanta, the company’s 4th such club, held their grand opening celebration on May 10th. The posh 5,000 square foot lounge is located in The Battery Atlanta, the city’s hottest shopping and entertainment district. The full-service cigar bar features spirits, beer and wine, elevated bar food, and a broad selection of premium cigars, both Rocky Patel brands as well as others.
Max Bichler, Rocky and Nish Patel
Shawn Dirksen and LouAnn Steffens
Alden Weiler and Matt Zarin
Kevin Bowles and Emily Mendyha
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Richie Castiano, Nish Patel and Shorty
Sahar and Ashley Tolisano
Monet Hall and Theanthony Curry
Angela Everett and Michelle Wright
Stephen, Max Bichler, Rick Baumgartner and Mike Hicks
Tracy Cole and Binyam Belay
It’s party time!!!
Dave Bullock, Shorty and Brett Harrington
Tanya and Thaddeus Hobson
Angeline Lewis and Ithaca Butts
McKenzi Alford and Nish Patel
Angela Everett and Michelle Wright
G.C. Wine and Carey Grainger
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