Issuu

MAY / JUNE

2019

editorials MAY / JUNE 2019

FIVE TO TRY: AGED RUMS 28 ZAFRA MASTER RESERVE 21 YEARS / OLIVA SERIE V MELANIO 29 OPTHIMUS 25 YEARS MALT WHISKY FINISH / CASA CUBA 30 BACARDI GRAN RESERVA LIMITADA / DIAMOND CROWN 32 FOURSQUARE RUM 2005 SINGLE BLENDED RUM / AJ FERNANDEZ MADURO 34 CLEMENT X.O. RHUM AGRICOLE / LIGA PRIVADA NO. 9

DESTINATION – NEW ORLEANS

WHAT MAKES AN AMERICAN RUM?

AMPARO EXPERIENCE

104

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We visited distilleries, drank with sharks, and took a cocktail tour of New Orleans. Come along with us to the Crescent City for a few days of music, shellfish, cigars and good times.

Booze beat journalist Wayne Curtis explores the question of what defines the emerging category of American rums and whether geography is as significant as it once was in the global rum landscape.

Immersive theater is the latest way that the Bacardi and Arechabala families are making the case that they — not the Cuban government — own the name “Havana Club.”

MONEY MAKER Chris Moneymaker turned the poker world on its head when he qualified for the World Series of Poker in online play and ended up winning it all in real life. Sean Chaffin sat with him to talk poker, celebrity and cigars.

MAY / JUNE 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |

features MAY / JUNE 2019

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

FEEDBACK

WHAT’S BURNIN’

SMOKING HOT CIGAR SNOB

RATINGS

RUM DIARIES

102

TWITTER SCOREBOARD

106

EVENT COVERAGE 106 MIAMI OUTBOARD CLUB PIG ROAST CHALLENGE FEATURING OLIVA CIGARS 108 DOWNTOWN CIGAR BAR’S 4TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURING ESPINOSA CIGARS 110 ISLAND JIM AT SMOKE INN WELLINGTON 112 CIGAR FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION DINNER HOSTED BY ULTIMATE CIGARS 114 SABOR HAVANA RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK DINNER FEATURING EL GALAN CIGARS 116 CIGAR SHOP OF BIRD ROAD FEATURING STEVE SAKA OF DUNBARTON TOBACCO & TRUST 118 MIAMI MEGA HERF CLIP & SIP CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT 120 100 YEARS OF BENTLEY FEATURING DAVTIAN CIGARS 122 COHEA ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT FEATURING OLIVA CIGARS

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MAY / JUNE 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |

MAY / JUNE 2019

VO L . 11 IS SU E 3 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 Wayne Curtis Sean Chaffin CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS David Benoliel Andy Astencio Neil Stoddart EVENT PHOTOGRAPHERS Jamilet Calviño Ramón Santana Cover Photography by David Benoliel www.davidbenolielphotography.com Cover Model - Isabelle Cutrim 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

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14 | CIGAR SNOB | MAY / JUNE 2019

This is one of those issues that you circle on the calendar as equally difficult and unabashedly fun to publish. Rum is one of those spirits that has been on the cusp of being the next big thing in the U.S. market for at least a decade, but has yet to go through a Bourbon-like explosion. That’s likely a painful pill to swallow for rum distillers, distributors, and their investors, but for us rum-loving cigar smokers, it’s a beautiful thing. You see, part of the fun of being into something like rum, whisky, wine, and cigars is the discovery. When a category, as they’re referred to in the liquor trade, blows up like Bourbon or Scotch, the number of bogus brands you find on your journey takes away from the experience. That doesn’t mean your journey is over; it just means you’ll have to do a little more research and at times use some street smarts to separate the wheat from the chaff. In doing my research for this issue, one of the resources that proved most helpful was a wonderful book titled “And a Bottle of Rum” by Wayne Curtis. It’s my second time reading it. The book does a deep dive into the fascinating history of the rum trade as well as explaining why each country’s rum style is the way it is. Not by coincidence, we ran an article written by Mr. Curtis about American Rum on p. 55. I also leaned heavily on my friends in the liquor business for advice and direction. You know who you are; I can’t thank you enough. Their invaluable input went into a breakdown I wrote featuring five highly regarded, aged rums from five different countries called 5 to Try – Aged Rums on p.27. That recurring section is a collaborative effort with our friends at Total Wine & More, headed up by Pablo Estades. Thanks Pablo. The responsibility of tasting all of these excellent rums and pairing them with the right cigar is something I took very seriously and I stand behind every one of those pairings, albeit a bit wobbly. The parallels between rum and cigars are innumerable, especially as it relates to Cuba. Cuban rum distillers, just like cigar makers, left the island when their businesses were nationalized and re-established in countries with climates and growing conditions similar to their native Cuba. And then there are the brands that, due to their global brand recognition and the U.S. embargo towards Cuba, exist in a confusing duality. The similarities are remarkable but think about this; imagine how different the rum or cigar landscape would look if these dual brands were consolidated into singular global brands. The market-share pie chart would look quite different. And how those brands’ ownership and distribution rights get divvied up will be the most interesting thing to watch from this side of the fence. One such story is playing out as we speak with the Havana Club Rum, and our own Nicolás Antonio Jiménez wrote about it and the immersive theatrical production that brings that tale to life in a piece called Cuban Spirit on p.59. And on the amazing set of that theatrical production is where we shot the photo shoot for this issue titled Rum Diaries on p.70. Thanks to the models and our crew for pouring your heart and

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soul into this. Thanks to George Cabrera and Michael Sheehan for allowing us to use the set. Thanks to the cast and crew of The Amparo Experience for coming in to work on your day off to help make this happen. And to retired South Florida news anchor Bob Mayer for letting us shoot his pristine ’57 Thunderbird, also Luis Fiallos for connecting us in the first place. And finally, a huge thank you to the team at Altadis USA for getting behind this project with the excellent new Trinidad Espiritu. And there’s more great content in the issue like our New Orleans travel story on p.39, a Q&A with poker superstar Chris Moneymaker on p.104, and of course our ratings; we rated 48 cigars starting on p.85. Always remember that you can follow us on most social media platforms under @cigarsnobmag and you can tell us how you feel about what we do here via: feedback@cigarsnobmag.com. Enjoy the issue, smoke great cigars, and at least to follow along with this one, drink good rum!

Keep ‘em lit,

Erik Calviño ecalvino@cigarsnobmag.com

PLASENCIA AND DAVIDOFF OF GENEVA SINCE 1911 LAUNCH EXCLUSIVE CIGAR There’s a new cigar for you to check out at Davidoff’s flagship stores. The Plasencia Cigars for Davidoff of Geneva Since 1911 is a limited-edition belicoso (6 x 52) made by Plasencia Cigars in Estelí. Effective May 2, the cigar will be available for sale exclusively at Davidoff of Geneva Since 1911 flagship stores in the United States, and online at us.davidoffgeneva.com.

Both cigars come in Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50) and Grand Toro (6 x 58). The AF2 comes in an additional 5 1/2 x 42 Corona option. All the cigars are packaged in 20-count boxes and range in price from $8.50 to $10.50 per cigar.

THREE JOYA DE NICARAGUA 4 X 32S SHIP

The cigar is a Nicaraguan puro made with tobaccos aged seven years or more. Production is limited to 300 boxes of 20 cigars. “We are honored to partner with Davidoff of Geneva Since 1911 to share the ideal combination of flavors and blends that perfectly represent both of our brands, in one savoring cigar,” said Nestor Andrés Plasencia, CEO of Plasencia Cigars, in a press release. “Plasencia Cigars for Davidoff of Geneva Since 1911 symbolizes the commitment of both brands to serve and provide consumers with the highest quality products in the industry.”

EMILIO CIGARS RELEASES AF1 AND AF2 Emilio Cigars announced the release of AF1 and AF2. Both cigars are made in Estelí, Nicaragua at Fabrica Oveja Negra. “I am very excited to have these cigars hitting the market,” said James Brown, owner of Fabrica Oveja Negra and Black Label Trading Company. “The AF1 & AF2 are classics that have been given the Oveja Negra makeover in appearance and flavor. Both are medium bodied with the AF1 highlighted by the rich, earthiness of the San Andrés wrapper and the AF2 is more spice forward with a Ecuador Habano wrapper.” The AF1 is a Mexican-wrapped blend with a Nicaraguan Habano binder and Nicaraguan fillers. The AF2 is a similar blend, except that the wrapper is Ecuadorian Habano.

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Three tins — each containing a different Joya de Nicaragua 4 x 32 cigar — have begun shipping to retailers nationwide. The blends shipping in that format: Antaño 1970, Joya Black and Joya Red. In all, this makes 27 varieties of 4 x 32 tins in the Drew Estate distribution portfolio. Joya Red is wrapped in Nicaraguan Habano, the Joya Black features San Andrés Maduro wrapper, and the Antaño 1970 has a Criollo wrapper. “Antaño has been the favorite JDN blend for Americans for over the last 15 years,” said Joya de Nicaragua president Juan Martínez, “and consumers will love being able to enjoy a quick smoke in this blend. As we say at the factory, sometimes you’re so busy you don’t even have time even to smoke a machito, but there is always time for a mini Antaño. Also, for those who need a quick smoke and enjoy a medium body profile cigar, we have two great options - Joya Black and Joya Red minis - both providing a lot of flavor but without the robust fullness of an Antaño.” Jaya Red and Joya Black tins retail for $13, while the Antaño 1970 tins carry a retail price of $18.

ALAN RUBIN ACQUIRES LARS TETENS BRANDS Alec Bradley founder Alan Rubin announced his acquisition of Lars Tetens Brands, which will now be solely distributed by Alec Bradley. “Lars has always intrigued me,” Alan said in a release, referring to Lars Tetens, the founder and namesake of the company Rubin acquired. “His guerilla marketing, unique products and creativity inspired me while I was coming up in this business. 15 years ago I searched Lars out, just to meet with him. I couldn’t make this story up if I tried. We scheduled some time to sit down for a cigar at a shop one night - we set the time for 11pm. Waiting, waiting, waiting, finally, at 2am, Lars shows up and tells me to join him, he wanted to make me lobster mac & cheese. Ummmm, ok, sure - this was the greatest lobster mac & cheese I ever had! Anyway, we ate, smoked cigars and talked until about 6am like we had known each other forever. We became quick friends and stayed in touch since then.” Alan continued, “Lars brings tremendous energy and excitement, as well as a product line that Alec Bradley doesn’t have in its portfolio. This partnership allows us the opportunity to bring the Lars name back to prominence where it belongs.”

CIGAR SNOB HITS AIRWAVES Excuse the shameless plug, but we have some news over here. Cigar Snob’s publisher Erik Calviño and senior editor Nicolás Jiménez have been hosting a radio show. It’s called The Draw and it airs Monday through Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. on South Florida’s 1210 AM The Man. On Tuesdays, Erik and Nick are joined by cigar lover, renaissance man and friend of the magazine Carlos “Carluba” Rodríguez. The crew talk cigars, sports, news and whatever else happens to be on their minds. You can listen live on the radio, stream the live show on 1210TheMan.com, or subscribe to the show in podcast form on Spotify ( just search for “The Draw 1210” and our show should come up).

CASA CUEVAS TO RELEASE LIMITED-EDITION LA MANDARRIA Casa Cuevas is bouncing back from a breakin at its Miami warehouse with a limited edition cigar whose name is a reference to the crime that took place earlier this year. In February, thieves broke into the Casa Cuevas headquarters’ humidor, getting away with more than 25,000 cigars, including half the company ’s inventory of Limited Edition Flacos, according to a recent release from the company.

6 x 52 Toro that Cuevas says will be the company’s first full-bodied, full-strength offering. Production will be limited to 500 20-count boxes and the cigars will retail for $12 each.

ALTADIS ANNOUNCED TRINIDAD ESPIRITU AND SPECIAL EVENT TOUR

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“The original Trinidad cigar brand was used exclusively for dignitaries and diplomats as gifts,” said Brad Winstead, Altadis’ head of consumer marketing, in a press release. “Fifty years later, we’re celebrating the venerable brand’s half century anniversary by taking adult smokers back to the late ‘60s-early ‘70s era — which many consider the ‘Golden Years’ of cigars.” The cigar – a Nicaraguan puro — is being released in a nationwide tour of events (kicking off in June in Miami) that feature Latin music, cocktails, and domino tournaments. Those events will also feature an event-exclusive lancero expression of the cigar called “Fundador” (7 1/2 x 40).

Now, in its first product announcement since the event, Cuevas says it is ready to release a new product at the IPCPR trade show this summer. La Mandarria (Spanish for sledgehammer, which is how the thieves got into the building) is an Ecuadorian Habano-wrapped

laboration with A.J. Fernández.

Altadis U.S.A. is introducing the Trinidad Espiritu, a cigar that’s born out of a col-

Outside of those events, the cigar will be available in four vitolas: Robusto (5 x 52), Toro (6 x 52), Belicoso (6 1/8 x 52) and Magnum (6 x 60).

AGED RUMS FIVE AGED RUMS FROM FIVE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES: ONE FROM PANAMA AGED 21 YEARS AND MATURED IN BOURBON CASKS, A SOLERA-AGED 25-YEAR-OLD RUM FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, A LIMITED EDITION PUERTO RICAN OFFERING FROM ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN SPIRITS, A COMPLEX RHUM AGRICOLE FROM MARTINIQUE, AND FINALLY A CASK-STRENGTH POWERHOUSE FROM BARBADOS.

CRAFT DISTILLERIES, TIKI COCKTAILS AND PLASTIC SHARKS. THERE’S NO PLACE FOR DRINKING LIKE THE BIG EASY. BY NICOLÁS ANTONIO JIMÉNEZ / PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY ASTENCIO

that’s a favorite among Cubans) that I wish we’d had room to try, but it’s on the to-do list for my next visit. Next up: an Uber ride north to Old New Orleans Distillery (oldneworleansrum.com). It’s one of the oldest craft rum distilleries still operating in New Orleans, and though the facility isn’t huge, you can tell as you go through their tour (you can book online for $15) that the people who work here are passionate about rum and sharing their work and their history. It’s an excellent experience, especially if you’ve never taken a deep dive at a distillery — complete with a tasting of their unaged distillate and almost everything they bottle. In the end, Andy and I fell in love with their 1718 Tricentennial Blend (named for the year New Orleans was founded), which is described on the Old New Orleans site thusly: “a composition of our polished distillate soaked in cherry staves and finished in Madeira barrels. This rum has notes of morning dew, honey, and vanilla. The Madeira barrels were home to Verdelho grapes, imparting a golden hue to the rum.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Smoke On the Water might have the largest selection of cigars in the French Quarter; Beachbum Berry’s Latitutde 29 (left) is a destination for tiki cocktails like the ones below

balaya that any time I spent not eating it was spent wondering whether I could get away with expensing a second bowl. You know… for the photos.

when he was leading bands and parades with his instrument on New Orleans streets at five years old. In our short visit, we saw people on the street who left me wondering whether I’d just heard the next big thing. Move toward the water and there are plenty of other views to take in. The Mississippi River winds through the city, creating opportunities for steamboat rides, river photos, or just a change of scenery while you drink your morning coffee from Café Du Monde (although those beignets are a little messy to eat on the go). After a quick scan of The French Market (it’s not nearly as interesting or worthwhile as similar markets in other towns), we made our way to Coop’s Place (coopsplace.net). It’s a small tavern that is always — absolutely always — full, but the line outside the door moves pretty quickly because they do a good job of serving people quickly and turning over tables. This is one of my favorite spots for jambalaya, which even a lot of locals will tell you is some of the best in town. Specifically, you’re here for the Rabbit & Sausage Jambalaya. It’s hot (as in spicy), it’s hearty, and it’s unlike any pub food you have in your town. We chased the jambalaya with some fruity rum drink that I honestly can’t remember the name of. It might have had strawberry in it. The truth is I was so into the jam-

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A running theme that regular readers might have caught onto in our travel stories: the hunt for decent Cuban coffee. Our time in the French Quarter took us to Manolito, a Cuban bar and restaurant near the corner of Decatur and Dumaine. It’s tiny, and being in there felt a lot like being in a Havana paladar (one of the independently run eateries that dot the map of that city). The verdict? Pretty good! Not great. Not a cup of coffee I’d go back to if I were in Miami. But good enough while on the road! We also had an incredible frozen daiquiri without having realized this place has been written about on liquor.com as having perhaps the best frozen cocktails in the country. Manolito also serves family-style ropa vieja (shredded, stewed beef

By the time we got through our tasting, we were feeling pretty good. Old New Orleans was generous with the samples! But the drinking wasn’t over; we went directly from the distillery to the back patio of a restaurant called Jewel of the South, where we met with author Wayne Curtis (whose piece on American rum appears on p. 55 of this issue) for a mini cocktail tour of the French Quarter. Wayne says he had no interest in writing about booze when he got into it, but after more than a decade as a New Orleans resident and loads of freelance bylines under his belt (with all the research that has to have entailed) we couldn’t have asked for a better guide to give us a well-rounded view of the area’s cocktail scene. Jewel of the South is a charming, small restaurant that — as the name suggests — oozes Southern hospitality. The patio in the back feels like it could belong to a family home (if you forget about the wait staff and the hostess at the entrance). I started with the Sherry Cobbler (Palo Cortado and Amontillado sherry with orange and quince paste), which was easily my favorite cocktail of our stay in this town. From there, I moved on to the Brandy Crusta (Remy 1738 Cognac, Pierre Ferrand Curacao, maraschino liqueur, and Angostura Bitters). Having formulated our plan of attack for the rest of the night, we joined Wayne on a walk to Bourbon Street. It was about 6:30 p.m. by then and the revelers were already pouring into the streets. Jazz Fest was starting the next day and loads of out-of-towners were working hard to get into the spirit of things. We made a wild, hard shift from the subdued charm of Jewel of the South to the Bourbon Street’s Tropical Isle (at the corner of Bourbon and Orleans). The bar — which seems like it was designed to make you feel like you’re at a pool party in a young boy’s fish tank — is every kitschy, unpretentious, awesomely low brow thing you want from the Bourbon Street bar that invented the hand grenade. On this visit, though, Wayne made sure to treat us to a Shark Attack.

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10. Arnaud’s 813 Bienville St. arnaudsrestaurant.com

11. Paladar 511 511 Marigny St. paladar511.com

12. Willa Jean

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1005 Canal St therubyslippercafe.net

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520 Frenchmen St. 3090-nola.com

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508 Frenchmen St. Maisonfrenchmen.com

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1026 St Louis St. crustapunks.org

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TIMELESS SUPREME Boxed pressed Nicaraguan puro.

1.800.MY.CIGAR www.natshermanintl.com Site limited to smokers 21 years of age or older. 54 | CIGAR SNOB | MAY / JUNE 2019WARNING: Smoking cigars regularly poses risks of cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus similar to smoking cigarettes. Â©2019 NAT SHERMAN INTERNATIONAL, LLC NSI448

As the lines between geographically-defined rum styles blur, can U.S. distillers carve out an identity for themselves?

ÂŠ Viacheslav / stock.adobe.com

by Wayne Curtis

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Havana Club’s immersive theater performance takes you through a Cuban rum family’s compelling story of loss, exile and legacy. BY NICOLÁS ANTONIO JIMÉNEZ

MAY / JUNE 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |

do Amparo, which is a show about a family who lost it all and had to start over and did not give up… That’s his story.” That the people behind the play have such a personal connection to Cuba and the pain of exile helps make it all the more powerful with Cuban American audiences. After I saw the performance for the first time, I spotted Juan, the guy from that boat scene who’d been crying while my hand was on his shoulder. We’d each just ordered cocktails at the bar in The Amparo Experience Rum Garden (again, we’ll get to that in a bit). “Hey. Kind of weird, but my name is Nick and I’m writing something about all this for Cigar Snob. I’m also the guy who had his hand on your shoulder in that one scene. Would you mind if we talked for a bit for this article?” It can be uncomfortable asking people for their help in working what’s clearly an intense, emotional moment of theirs into your work. Juan didn’t hesitate, though. “Come with me. I have a story to tell you,” he said. Bertha Leal (right) plays the title role of Amparo Arechabala in The Amparo Experience.

United States. That affected not only the owners of brands and farms, but also the workers, who were doomed to less promising futures in the cigar industry (if any at all) when it shifted into the hands of a state-run monopoly. The Oliva Cigar family was among those that lost everything in Cuba. Marcela Paguaga is the granddaughter of the late Oliva patriarch Gilberto Oliva, Sr. and she plays singer Margarita María Mendoza in The Amparo Experience. “Cigars have a huge part in my life. From a young age I remember the cigar talk, I remember the smell. It’s one of my favorite smells in the entire world,” Marcela said. “My grandfather always had a cigar in his hand. If it was lit, if it wasn’t lit, he always had one until his last day here. I walk into bars or lounges or restaurants, and if there’s a cigar humidor I go to see who they have. Do they have Olivas? I have this pride, because he worked so hard for it that it makes me smile every time I see them.” Marcela doesn’t come from a family of distillers. But she did grow up with people who know what it means to make a living from the land, selling a product that takes its deep, personal meaning from the fact that it tells a family’s — and even a country’s — story. In fact, the Oliva story runs through armed political conflict in two different countries, as Gilberto, Sr.’s cigar journey was among those affected by the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. Still, Gilberto, Sr. had a reputation for not complaining, and as a result, Marcela says she never heard much from him about his struggles.

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In the end, booking the Amparo gig brought her closer to her grandfather’s stories, even after his death.

That the people behind the play have such a personal connection to Cuba and the pain of exile helps make it all the more powerful with Cuban American audiences. “I don’t know if it’s a Cuban thing or if it was just my grandfather, but he never talked [about] the bad. At least to us, he never spoke bad about Cuba or the bad things he had to go through. It was always, ‘I went through this and it taught me this.’ When he was eight years old, he was really sick. That didn’t stop him; it showed him that he had to work harder. When the revolution happened and he lost everything, he went out and he started over. I would hear these stories. I lost him a month before booking Amparo. I remember booking Amparo and kicking myself saying, ‘Why didn’t I sit down and ask more and learn more?’ So I sat down with my grandmother and I sat down with my mom and I said, ‘You guys need to tell me more stories. You need to tell me what he went through.’ I think hearing those stories and hearing those connections and then being able to

Juan told me all about the pivotal time in his life that he’d been sucked back into as we swayed to the sound of waves in the show. He was ninegoing-on-ten when he learned that not only were he, his brother and his parents going to leave Cuba on the Mariel Boatlift (along with about 10,000 other Cubans who made the same journey from April to October 1980), but that he couldn’t say a word about it to anyone, lest someone try to sabotage his family’s escape, be it out of spite or out of some perverse loyalty to the revolution. He remembers being in school as a young boy, where teachers would strike fear into students, warning them that if their parents spirited them away to the United States, they’d be headed to a place where the streets were crawling with gangsters waiting to shoot you and your parents would become criminals. Eventually, it was time for him and his parents to leave. The idea was to get a cab at Juan’s grandmother’s house. They’d been found out by the neighborhood Castro loyalists, who had come out to the street to throw rocks and anything else they could hurl at Juan and his family as they walked the few blocks to his grandmother’s. “My dad’s friends formed a circle around us. My brother and I were protected by my dad’s friends, who took the brunt of it,” Juan said. He remembers seeing his grandmother and singing the tangos she loved to share with her grandkids for what would be the last time for many years. He remembers the long car ride from his home-

MAY / JUNE 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |

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WWW.DREWESTATE.COM 84 | CIGAR SNOB | MAY / JUNE 2019

48 cigars

GUITAR: Gibson Les Paul Standard (gibson.com)

MAY / JUNE 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |

TORO Tatuaje Negociant Monopole

$ 11.00 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

No.3 6 1/4 48 Ecuador Mexico & Nicaragua Nicaragua

Davidoff Aniversario

A beautifully balanced and flavorful toro covered with a glistening, shade grown wrapper topped with a neat triple-cap. A profile of soft earth and pepper accompanied by notes of toast, coffee, and cedar with a rich, buttery sweetness on the finish.

$ 25.40

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No. 3 6 50 Ecuador Dominican Republic Dominican Republic

H. Upmann Connecticut

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Silky smooth and exceptionally well-balanced with a profile of almonds, cedar, and toast accompanied by a soft, sweet spice note on the finish. Produces an excellent smoke output and leaves behind a compact, light gray ash.

$ 8.94

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Toro 6 50 Ecuador Dominican Republic Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

La Galera Connecticut

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Superb construction and flavorful profile. Covered with a clean, light brown wrapper with minimal veins and topped with a maduro cap, this medium strength blend has a core of pepper, oak, and sweet spice accompanied by a rich, leathery aroma.

$ 6.40

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El Lector 6 54 Ecuador Dominican Republic Dominican Republic

Henry Clay War Hawk

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Consistent and smooth with a profile of wood, spice, and vanilla complemented by a hint of orange zest. Features superb construction and a beautiful, golden colored wrapper. Medium bodied and leaves behind a compact, white ash.

$ 8.00

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Toro 6 50 Ecuador USA/Connecticut Honduras

Cohiba Connecticut

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Produces an abundant smoke output with a core of wood, cinnamon, and soft pepper balanced by a touch of sweet cream and honey. Impeccably constructed providing a perfect draw and an even burn leaving behind a compact ash.

$ 21.99

89 96 | CIGAR SNOB | MAY / JUNE 2019

N I CA R AG UA

VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Toro 6 1/2 52 Ecuador Mexico Brazil, Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Delivers a profile of oak, soft spice, and hazelnut balanced by notes of vanilla cream and leather. This well-constructed, mild to medium strength toro draws perfectly and burns evenly while producing an excellent smoke output.

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Born from passionate curiosity, Balmoral invites you to discover the optimal balance of sophisticated complexity and smoothness. Each meticulously crafted, extensively aged Añejo XO cigar blend is the result of a relentless global search for the top 5% of select premium tobaccos available, including our exclusive, signature Brazilian Mata Norte. Crowned with a shade-grown wrapper from the Connecticut River Valley, Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut provides a luxuriously creamy experience that embraces your palate with complex notes of vanilla, toasted caramel and white pepper that finish with a smooth, underlying natural sweetness.

“Passionate curiosity is essential to discovering and enjoying the best experiences in life.”

BALMORALCIGARS.COM MAY / JUNE 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |

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............................................. Nick Perdomo @PerdomoCigars....................................... Miami Cigar Co @miamicigar............................................. Ernesto Padilla @PadillaCigars......................................... Avo Cigars @AvoCigars..................................................... La Palina Cigars @La PalinaCigars.................................... Nat Sherman Intl. @Nat42nd............................................. AJ Fernandez @ajfcigars..................................................

32855 31282 27090 25288 21133 19667 19216 19044 17468 16729 14758 14442 12967 12869 12859 12282 11722 11710 11675 11538

TOP CIGAR ORGANIZATIONS CRA @cigarrights............................................................. 14602 IPCPR Staff @theIPCPR.................................................. 7981 Tobacconist University @tobacconistU............................. 4621

TOP CIGAR RADIO Cigar Dave Show @CigarDaveShow................................. 11574 Smooth Draws @SmoothDraws....................................... 4392 KMA Talk Radio @KMATalkRadio...................................... 2329

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............ Cheap Humidors @cheaphumidors................................... Lindsay Siddiqi @TheCigarChick....................................... Palm Desert Tobacco @palmdsrttobacco......................... Buckhead Cigar @BuckheadCigar.....................................

13808 13674 11614 8309 7380 6657 5516 5300 5167 4421

@debonairecynthia via Instagram Like what you do and enjoy every second of it. #IndianMotorcycle #IndianCigars #cigars #cigar #cigarsnob #cigarlife #cigarlifestyle #cigarian #cigarsociety #cigarworld #cigarlover #luxurycigars #cigarluxury #luxury #lux #cigarsnoblife #cigaroftheday #dominicanrepublic #tobacco

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..........................................

102 | CIGAR SNOB | MAY / JUNE 2019

149559 15438 14631 12390 10189 8871 8811 8442 8106 6578

@rockypatelpersonal via Instagram No Scotch like it in the world!!!

Right here is where the real magic takes place to create the most authentic smoking experience every single day. Handmade by and for working class heroes just like you. UNDERCROWN - Nuestros Puros

HANDMADE IN ESTELI, NICARAGUA W W W. D R E W E S TAT E . C O M

MAY / JUNE 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |

103

EVENTS SABOR HAVANA RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK DINNER FEATURING EL GALAN CIGARS Doral, Fla.

Another spectacular Ruth’s Chris Steak House dinner at Sabor Havana in Doral, this time with El Galan’s Felix Mesa. Each person received a cigar three-pack, including one Vegas Del Purial lancero, Cigar Snob’s 2018 No. 3 Cigar of the Year. The other stars of the evening were the Ruth’s Chris ribeyes and filets and the healthy pours of Woodford Reserve Bourbon.

Jorge Valdés, Félix Mesa, Magela Montoya, Michael Bulnes and Aquiles Legra

Eli Borlado and Magela Montoya

José Barrera, Jorge Reyes, José M. Díaz, Sergio Robles and Yasser Pichardo

Gus Martínez, Juan Rodríguez, Fernando Martínez and Robert Singer

Frank Sotero, Jorge Reyes and Andrew Hernández

114 | CIGAR SNOB | MAY / JUNE 2019

Jorge Valdés, Helen Meneses, Musa Wassar and Ernie Paredes

Félix Mesa and Eduardo Delmonte

Julio Morales and David Delancy

MAY / JUNE 2019 | CIGAR SNOB |

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Cigar Snob Magazine May June 2019