NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018
Chef
p. 52
p. 69
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editorials NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018
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5 TO TRY: OLD WORLD WINE Five wines: a traditional Barolo from the very heart of the region, a Ribera del Duero from the area’s highest elevation vineyard, a Bordeaux from Saint-Émilion with a distinct style, a 20-year-old tawny Port, and a classic Hungarian dessert wine from Tokaj.
42 2013 PIRA BAROLO VIGNARIONDA 44 2011 VALTRAVIESO VT TINTA FINA 46 2015 PETIT-FIGEAC 48 OFFLEY 20-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORTO 50 2013 CHATEAU MEGYER TOKAJI
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Q&A WITH CHEF THOMAS KELLER Thomas Keller is one of the world’s most celebrated chefs. He sat with us to talk about food, cigars and his role in Davidoff Chef’s Edition.
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CINCO DÉCADAS
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BOOK IT
You can’t tell Nicaragua’s cigar story without Joya de Nicaragua. As the company celebrates its fiftieth year, we look back at the resilient company’s origins and its close ties to Nicaragua’s roller coaster history.
The lines spilled into the halls on June 14 at the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City. Players nursed their beers, necks craned to the TVs and betting boards above. Some of the race book’s regular handicappers were annoyed their regular space had been invaded by newbies. But these new bettors weren’t there to bet on thoroughbreds or greyhounds.
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features NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018
16 18
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
22 26
WHAT’S BURNIN’
FEEDBACK
BRAND BREAKDOWN 26 CHINNOCK CELLARS PRESSOIR 27 LA GALERA 1936 BOX-PRESSED 28 DANIEL MARSHALL RED LABEL 30 SINDICATO PARTICULARES 32 FSG BY DREW ESTATE
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ESSENTIALS: S.T. DUPONT LA GRAND
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SMOKING HOT CIGAR SNOB
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
LIVE FOR THE RENAISSANCE
77 104
RATINGS
106
EVENT COVERAGE
TWITTER SCOREBOARD
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LOS CAIDOS AT CLUB MACANUDO DAVIDOFF DINNER AT SABOR HAVANA DAVIDOFF DINNER BY ULTIMATE CIGARS NESTOR MIRANDA’S 75TH AT CAVA CIGARS ROCKY PATEL AT CASA DE MONTECRISTO BY PRIME CAMACHO CIGARS AT CAVA CIGARS TAMPA CIGAR BASH OLIVA AT DOWNTOWN CIGAR BAR SUDS & STOGIES FEATURING PLASENCIA HALLOWEEN AT INDUSTRIAL CIGARS
TRUE STORY.
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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018
VO L . 1 0 IS SU E 6 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 WRITERS Sean Chaffin CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS David Benoliel Andy Astencio EVENT PHOTOGRAPHERS Jamilet Calviño Brandon Frakes Alyson at J Amado Photography Cover Photography by David Benoliel www.davidbenolielphotography.com Cover Model - Uliana Malyshko 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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VENTURA SHIPS ARCHETYPE MINISERIES
Ventura Cigars announced that the Archetype Mini-series is shipping to American tobacconists. The line includes three cigars (Crystals, Curses, and Cloaks) and made its debut at July ’s IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas.
San Andrés binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. According to a Davidoff press release, the four-country blend is “sophisticated, complex and flavourful.” Production of the cigar is limited to 9,300 boxes. In addition to the cigar, Davidoff is introducing a limited edition Year of the Pig ashtray. Only 300 of these aluminum pieces were made. It ’s a sleek design inspired by what a Davidoff release described as “the Pig ’s voluptuous curves.” While we at Cigar Snob don’t tend to think of porcine curves as “voluptuous,” we can kinda see what they’re getting at. In any case, it’s an attractive, minimalist ashtray that’s sure to turn heads. MSRP is $395.
FLORIDA SUN GROWN LIMITED EDITION TRUNK PRESS TORO SHIPS
All the cigars are made in a 5x50 format and feature Nicaraguan fillers and binders. The Crystals feature sun grown Habano wrapper. Curses has Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Cloaks features Broadleaf, and is the only box-pressed Robusto in the line. All these cigars carry an MSRP of $9. “We invite Archetype enthusiasts to be sure to check out all three cigars in the miniseries,” said Ventura GM Michael Giannini in a press release. “If you enjoy Archetype, you’ll relish Crystals, Curses, and Cloaks. And if you haven’t tried an Archetype cigar yet, the mini-series is a great place to start. Like a good story, you can always go back to re-read the beginning.”
DAVIDOFF YEAR OF THE PIG CIGAR AND ASHTRAY 2019, the Chinese zodiac’s year of the pig, is nearly upon us, and Davidoff is marking the occasion, as they always do, with a corresponding limited edition cigar and accessory. The $39 cigar is a pigtailed 6x54 Gran Toro featuring an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper,
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in growing, harvesting and curing, right here in America.” The Florida Sun Grown Limited Edition Trunk Press Toro is packaged in 10-count boxes with an MSRP of $157.99 per box.
CIGARS INTERNATIONAL HAS A NEW DALLAS SUPER STORE The Dallas-Fort Worth area got a whopper of a new cigar shopping destination when Cigars International opened a store there. This is the company’s fourth retail store and its first outside the company’s home state of Pennsylvania. The shop is located in a mixed-use development called Grandscape in The Colony. Craig Reynolds, president of Cigars International, said in a press release, “Given that the handmade cigar category was built on the kinds of personal interactions that can only be had in-store, our new location gives cigar lovers a unique venue for experiencing the camaraderie of fellow smokers. Our stores are meant to complement the traditional cigar shop experience and enhance the cigar lover’s appreciation for handmade cigars.” At more than 7,000 square feet, the store is sure to become a destination for area smokers looking for massive selection. That selection is housed in a 2,500-square-foot glass-enclosed humidor that is the main feature of the space.
Drew Estate announced that Florida Sun Grown Limited Edition Trunk Press Toro has shipped to Drew Diplomat retailers. The cigar features Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Mexican binder, and fillers from Nicaragua, Honduras, and — naturally — Florida (from the Florida Sun Grown farm run by Jeff Borysiewicz of Corona Cigar). In a press release issued by Drew Estate, FSG’s Jeff said, “The entire FSG Farm Team here in Clermont, Florida is excited to see cigar enthusiasts be able to enjoy something so special that we take great pride
As if all that weren’t enough, the store is also home to a bar and a Club Macanudo lounge, not to mention the array of accessories you might imagine would be available in a shop this big. “The design of the Super Store mimics that of a curing barn,” according to a Cigars International release. “The rectangular shape and shades on the sides of the building represent the characteristic look of the Northeast’s iconic tobacco sheds, and the truss work is a design element that was carried over from two of Cigars International’s other stores.”
DREW ESTATE SHIPS THIS YEAR’S PAPPY VAN WINKLE TRADITION RELEASE The Pappy Van Winkle Tradition — which honors Julian Van Winkle, founder of the legendary Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery — has shipped to retailers nationwide in coordination with the release of the distillery’s coveted Bourbon and Rye. The annual release from Drew Estate brings one of the most revered names in whiskey into the world of premium cigars. The Tradition features an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper, Indonesian binder, and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. ”The Pappy Van Winkle Tradition is an ultra-complex cigar that honors the history and craftsmanship of the Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. We chose to age these cigars an additional year for this release, as Willy Herrera wanted to amplify the smoothness,” said Drew Estate founder Jonathan Drew in a press release. The cigar is available in five formats: Coronita (4 x 46), Robusto Grande (5 ½ x 54), Toro (6 x 50), Belicoso Fino (5 x 50) and Churchill (a 7 x 48 available exclusively at Drew Diplomat spirits retailers). 10-count boxes range in price from $145.97 to $245.97.
DAVIDOFF CHEF’S EDITION NOW AVAILABLE Davidoff announced the launch of its second installment of Davidoff Chef ’s Edition cigars, which are the product of collaboration with some of the most renowned chefs in the world: Thomas Keller, Alvin Leung, Klaus Erfort, Heiko Nieder and Shaun Rankin. The elite group has earned a total of 12 Michelin stars. “In bringing together the creative powers of international kitchen pioneers with Davidoff ’s cigar visionaries in the Dominican Republic, we intended to create an extraordinary cigar experience inspired by flavours from the four corners of the world,” said Davidoff CMO Edward Simon in a press release. “These highly acclaimed Chefs and Master Blenders, whose mission is continually to push the boundaries of taste, have truly excelled in creating a blend and experience second to none.” The cigar, which is made in a Toro format, draws inspiration from the five chefs’ home countries (Germany, Switzerland, the United States, Great Britain and Hong Kong) as well as the Dominican Republic, according to Davidoff, which describes the smoking experience as “multi-layered and exquisite, rich and deep in flavour. Liquorice, oakwood, Szechuan pepper and leather give way to the warm intensity of coffee, cumin and chocolate with sweet, spicy undertones and culminate in end notes of eucalyptus and spice.” The cigar features Dominican wrapper, Mexican binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Production is limited to 5,000 boxes, which are available only at Davidoff Flagship stores and select Appointed Merchants. Turn to p. 52 for an interview with Thomas Keller of The French Laundry. 24 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2018
HOLIDAY
THE HOLIDAYS ARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. WE COMPILED SOME OF THE COOLEST ITEMS WE’VE COME ACROSS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. IF THERE’S NOTHING HERE FOR THE CIGAR LOVERS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE WEIRD FRIENDS, SO TREAT YOURSELF!
GROWLERWERKS UKEG 64 STAINLESS growlerwerks.com
$149
MARK AND GRAHAM - THE BOND COLLECTION markandgraham.com
Keep a half-gallon growler’s worth of beer cold, fresh and carbonated with this mini keg. Durable stainless steel and excellent insulation make this the perfect vessel for the drinker who won’t sacrifice quality for a beer-soaked adventure.
Overnighter - $399 / Travel Pouch - $139 Folded Wallet - $89 / Leather Charger Roll Up - $49 Utility can look stylish, too. Made from soft leather with a camo print, this set is inspired by the style of James Bond. Whether it’s daily use items like the wallet or the overnighter, you’ll get durability and design worthy of 007 himself.
MYCHARGE UNPLUGGED 8K mycharge.com $60 Cords? We don’t need no stinkin’ cords! As long as you have a cell phone capable of wireless charging, this is far and away the most convenient way to charge your phone on the go, whether you’re on the road or just sick of hunting outlets to keep your phone alive while you hang out at your neighborhood cigar lounge.
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SEAN CHRISTIAN MINI COPPER COGNAC LEATHER CASE sccases.com
$180 Sometimes your pockets just aren’t the right place to keep your cigars on the go. For those times, carry your stogies in style. The premium hand-stitched leather makes it a respectable way to carry your premium cigars, and there’s storage for the tools of the trade.
BOVEDA BUTLER SMART SENSOR bovedainc.com
$20 You want to check on your humidor, but you don’t want to open and close it all willy-nilly. That’s where Boveda has come in with this brilliant sensor that uses Bluetooth to beam up to 10 days of data right to your phone, so you can always keep tabs on your cigars. The device will also send you alerts when temperature and humidity need your attention.
RON BARCELÓ IMPERIAL PREMIUM BLEND 30 ANIVERSARIO ronbarcelo.com $99 The rum is delicious — sweet enough to bring balance to a peppery cigar, with enough of a boozy kick to stand up to any stogie. It’s also syrupy enough that it lingers on the palate while you smoke. Tailor made for pairing! And since this is a gift guide, it bears mentioning that it is packaged gorgeously. Don’t bother with wrapping.
OLD NEWGATE ROAD BY KEITH SCRIBNER penguinrandomhouse.com
$27 We don’t put very many books in our gift guides. It’s not that we don’t read — it’s just that books so seldom feel like they have a place in Cigar Snob. But Old Newgate Road is a rare novel that puts you in the tobacco fields of northern Connecticut. Cole Callahan spent his youth here, but bolted when his own mother was murdered by his father. Thirty years later, Cole returns to the family home, where he finds his father suffering from dementia. It’s a moving, suspenseful story set against the backdrop of an iconic tobacco valley. A must-read for Shade and Broadleaf lovers alike.
ÜLLO WINE PURIFIER ullowine.com
$80 It’s an aerator, but this gadget is more than that. It’s designed to restore your wine’s natural taste by capturing sulfites, so your experience of the bottle is exactly what the folks at the vineyard intended.
CASIO EDIFICE EQB900DB casio.com
$320 This sporty solar-powered watch connects to your smartphone, but not in that overbearing way that so many smart watches do. Instead, it gets online to make sure time settings stay accurate and eliminates the need for clunky watch button operation. Less really is more.
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A TRADITIONAL BAROLO FROM THE VERY HEART OF THE REGION, A RIBERA DEL DUERO FROM THE AREA’S HIGHEST ELEVATION VINEYARD, A BORDEAUX FROM SAINT-ÉMILION WITH A DISTINCT STYLE, A 20-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORT, AND A CLASSIC HUNGARIAN DESSERT WINE FROM TOKAJ.
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The Epic Archetype Saga Continues...
Introducing
venturacigar.com
#archetypecigars
@venturacigar
/venturacigar
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including tobacco smoke, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Smoking cigars causes lung cancer, heart disease, and emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy. 68 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2018 WARNING: Cigar smoking can cause lung cancer and heart disease.
YOU CAN’T TELL NICARAGUA’S CIGAR STORY WITHOUT JOYA DE NICARAGUA. AS THE COMPANY CELEBRATES ITS FIFTIETH YEAR, WE LOOK BACK AT THE RESILIENT COMPANY’S ORIGINS AND ITS CLOSE TIES TO NICARAGUA’S ROLLER COASTER HISTORY. - BY NICOLÁS ANTONIO JIMÉNEZ & ERIK CALVIÑO Above: Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca and Juan Martínez at the Joya de Nicaragua factory
NOV / DEC 2018 CIGARofSNOB 69 Photos |courtesy Joya de |Nicaragua
GRAN TORO
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AJ Fernandez New World Puro Especial
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VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:
$ 9.50
N I CA R AG UA Gordo 6 58 Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua
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El Galan Reserva Especial
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$ 7.00
N I CA R AG UA VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:
Obesos 6 60 Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua
Camacho Coyolar
Soft-pressed and covered with a dark, clean wrapper with a velvet feel. This medium-plus strength blend delivers flavors of earth and smooth pepper accompanied by cocoa, oak, and dark roast coffee. Produces an excellent output of thick, aromatic smoke.
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$ 9.50
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90
VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:
H O N D UR AS Titan 6 60 Honduras Honduras Honduras
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CAO Flathead Steel Horse
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A smooth and earthy blend complemented by notes of black pepper, molasses, cocoa powder, and charred oak. This medium-plus strength gran toro is covered with a dark brown wrapper with a velvet feel.
$ 9.39 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:
Apehanger 5 1/2 58 USA/Connecticut Brazil Honduras, Nicaragua & Dominican Republic
La Galera Habano
N I CA R AG UA This flavorful blend is covered with a dark, oily wrapper and finished with a unique, flat head. Delivers a core of intense earth and espresso complemented by notes of dark chocolate, wood, and smooth pepper.
$ 7.00
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D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C
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VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:
El Lector 6 54 Ecuador Dominican Republic Dominican Republic
Brick House Maduro
Opens with a blast of sweet cedar and red pepper. These flavors continue throughout the smoke, joined by notes of cinnamon, tanned leather, and almond cream on the long, lingering finish. Medium strength with an easy draw.
$ 7.20
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N I CA R AG UA
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88
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An ultra-flavorful blend with a profile loaded with rich chocolate, roasted almonds, and caramel balanced by smooth pepper and charred oak. This well-constructed, large cigar consistently produces an excellent smoke output.
VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:
Mighty Mighty 6 1/2 60 Brazil Nicaragua Nicaragua
Covered with a dark, slightly coarse wrapper, this mild to medium strength gran toro has a core of earth, wood, and sharp pepper. Draws and burns exceptionally well while leaving behind a solid, compact ash.
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A LOOK INSIDE THE EXPANDING WORLD OF SPORTS WAGERING AND HOW THE SUPREME COURT BOOSTED BETTING - BY SEAN CHAFFIN -
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EVENTS SUDS & STOGIES FEATURING PLASENCIA CIGARS AND THE TANK Denver
Emily Zangen, Carlos Padrón and Gus Fernández
PHOTO CREDIT: Alyson at J Amado Photography
The Great American Beer Festival held an after-party at Tap Fourteen’s rooftop beer garden featuring Plasencia Cigars and TANK Brewing that was rocking. Guests enjoyed live music and beautiful views of the Denver skyline, all while enjoying the Plasencia Reserva Original, great brews (including Tank’s gold medal winning La Finca Miami) and food from chef Josh Bonazza.
CIGAR SNOB PODCAST
LISTEN NOW cigarsnobmag.com/podcast 120 | CIGAR SNOB | NOV / DEC 2018
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CIGAR COMPANIES COMPETING TO BE 2018 LECHÓN CHALLENGE GRAND CHAMPION A. FUENTE – OLIVA CIGARS – VILLIGER CIGARS – ESPINOSA CIGARS – AJ FERNANDEZ SAMPLE THE COMPETITORS’ LECHÓN, VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE, AND ENJOY HORS D’OEUVRES, TOP-SHELF BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITS. YOU’LL EAT, DRINK, DANCE, AND SMOKE WITH A VIEW OF BISCAYNE BAY AS THE TEAMS COMPETE FOR CHARITY.
VIP $150
at Hotel InterContinental Miami
YOU MUST BE 21+ TO ATTEND
• Xikar travel humidor containing 20 PREMIUM CIGARS • Xikar Xi cutter • Xikar torch lighter • Access to the Villiger/Gentleman Jack Hospitality Suite with OPEN BAR till close • 2 special VIP cigars • Additional Lechón Challenge swag • Waitresses bring you your lechón tastings without having to leave your spot • 3 raffle tickets ($10/additional ticket)
GENERAL ADMISSION $100 • Xikar travel humidor containing 20 PREMIUM CIGARS • Xikar Xi cutter • Xikar torch lighter • 1 raffle ticket ($10/additional ticket)
COMPANION/NON-SMOKER TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE
www.lechonchallenge.com
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