Cigar Snob Magazine September October 2021

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021

Añejo TEQUILA p. 35

SAN

ANTONIO Travel p. 25

MICHAEL VICK'S

NFL SEASON

PREVIEW p. 57

with Vintner

JOSEPH WAGNER p. 80

Leather Rose p. 42

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editorials SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021

25 ALAMO CITY We found a lot to dig into in San Antonio, from the generous smoking scene to the Tex Mex cuisine, along with a detour to a historic monument that doubles as Ozzy Osbourne’s favorite watering hole.

32 INFINITI Q50 Sometimes a stranger straps you into the driver’s seat and surprises happen. In this case, that stranger is Infiniti, and its premier sedan really took us for a ride.

35 5 TO TRY: AÑEJO TEQUILA 36

HERRADURA LEGEND / A. FUENTE MAGNUM R

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MAESTRO DOBEL AÑEJO TEQUILA / MONTECRISTO WHITE SERIES

38

DON ROBERTO EXTRA AÑEJO / OSCAR VALLADARES SUPER FLY CONNECTICUT

39

CINCORO TEQUILA AÑEJO / DAVIDOFF ANIVERSARIO

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CENOTE TEQUILA AÑEJO / EP CARRILLO NEW WAVE CONNECTICUT

54 STEP BACK IN TIME Tombstone, Arizona is our kind of desert oasis, complete with a combo smoking/gun shop and friendly desert hospitality. The place has mellowed some since the OK Corral incident, but the scenery still resonates with Old West flavor.

57 NFL SEASON PREVIEW The crowds are back and pro football is exciting again, so we get the knowledgeable lowdown on the new season from Fox NFL Kickoff analyst Michael Vick.

62 FIRST CIGAR MICHAEL VICK The ex-QB turned commentator talks with us about his burgeoning embrace of premium cigars and his journey of redemption.

80 Q&A WITH JOSEPH WAGNER The man who has developed some of the top pinot noirs to come out of California tells us about his life with fine sticks and his own foray into creating a wine-friendly smoke.

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features SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021

14 LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

16 FEEDBACK

18 WHAT’S BURNIN’

42 SMOKING HOT CIGAR SNOB OUTLAW FEATURING DEADWOOD LEATHER ROSE

65 RATINGS

82 TWITTER SCOREBOARD

84 INSTAGRAM SCOREBOARD

86 EVENTS 86 PCA WELCOME COCKTAIL 88 EMPIRE SOCIAL LOUNGE (DADELAND) 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY

90 AVO SYNCRO CARIBE LAUNCH PARTY AT THE WHARF

92 ROCKY MOUNTAIN CIGAR FESTIVAL

94 ASHFEST CIGAR FESTIVAL 96 TRUE CIGAR LOUNGE GRAND OPENING

98 STUDIO CIGAR LOUNGE

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021

VO L . 13 IS SU E 5 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 DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGEMENT Gianni D’Alerta Natalia Marie García CONTRIBUTING WRITER Michael Vick CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Florin Safner CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS David Benoliel Andy Astencio Jim Pollock Manuel Hernandez EVENT PHOTOGRAPHERS Jamilet Calviño Ramon Santana Alec Thomas Cover Photography by David Benoliel www.davidbenolielphotography.com Cover Model - Bailey McCrackin 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

(SUBSCRIBE TODAY) - Only $18 for one year (six issues) of -

- Magazine delivered to you Visit: www.cigarsnob.com or write: subscribe@cigarsnobmag.com

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I don’t know about you all but I feel like I’ve been on one of those old roller coasters for the last few months, the kind that jostles you around too aggressively and leaves you all achy when you get off. We’ve been coming off one crisis, getting on another, and before that one is over, -wham- here comes a new one.

The population of my native Cuba took to the streets to protest against the Communist dictatorship that has controlled every aspect of its life since 1959. It’s hard for us in the United States to truly grasp the level of courage that it took for people to do that since we are afforded the right to peaceful protest by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and we use it often. They are not allowed to do that, nor is there a free press to keep the government in check.

If you want to try to understand it, think about this: from 1959 until the protest in 2021, people easily chose to risk their lives by getting on a makeshift raft and crossing the shark-infested Florida Straits over protesting. That’s how detrimental to your well being protesting is.

Think about that; they could’ve protested and tried to bring about change but the repercussions of doing so would have meant certain incarceration, torture, and likely death. Instead they took to the water, in 1994 alone some 35,000 Cubans landed in the United States by raft, a number that doesn’t account for the untold number who lost their lives in the crossing in that year alone. As you might imagine I felt an overwhelming combination of admiration, fear for their lives, and hope that one day Cuba could be healed from the cancer that is socialism, all at the same time. I don’t cry much but I did that day.

I know this is a controversial topic, but if you’ve ever wondered why the Second Amendment, which protects our rights as Americans to keep and bear arms, is so indispensable you need not look farther than 90 miles south of Key West. One of the very first things that Castro’s regime did upon taking power was to remove the risk of an armed uprising by outlawing firearms. Castro knew all too well what an armed revolt could accomplish because the revolt that he led was an armed one that succeeded. It’s painful to think about but if the citizenry of Cuba were somehow still armed, that heinous and murderous government would have been long gone years ago. Sadly all that they have to keep the government in check are rocks and fists and that simply does not cut it. Cubans were hopeful that cellphones used to send videos of the beatings of peaceful protestors would help their cause but those poor souls couldn’t have imagined the disinterest that met their videos when they landed in the hands of the major news networks. Many of you didn’t even know that people are still being beaten, tortured, and killed as we speak because it simply is not talked about in the media.

While that was happening, the U.S. military hastily withdrew from Afghanistan leaving the Taliban in power and armed to the teeth with our equipment. How is that for unfathomable? I still have a hard time believing that we not only left with our tails between our legs but gifted them a base and an arsenal of weapons and military equipment on the way out. I’m sorry but don’t feed me the nonsense that what we left behind was decommissioned and inoperable when the Taliban can be seen on video using our equipment to defeat rebels. As someone who worked on the 102nd floor of Tower 1 and lost nearly an entire office

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of co-workers, I am disgusted by the way that we have botched the withdrawal. To look at that and say, “Oh but it could not have been handled any better,” is an insult to the memory of the men and women who paid the ultimate price on the battlefields of Afghanistan. It’s a spit in the face of the first responders who ran into the towers to rescue strangers until they collapsed on them. What was it all for? Why even hunt down and kill Osama Bin Laden if in the end we were going to empower his successors? I pray that we somehow come to our senses as a country and remember what it felt like to be an American on September 12, 2001 without having to experience September 11 again. *** Thanks to everyone who worked their tails off to make this issue happen.

To the photo shoot crew led by Ivan Ocampo who put together an incredible Day of the Dead meets the Wild Wild West photo shoot on p.42. A special thanks to Deadwood Cigar Co. and Drew Estate for the Leather Rose cigars that you see in the shoot. To the City of Tombstone, the Tombstone Monument Guest Ranch, Motel Larian, the Gunfighter Hall of Fame, and the Goodenough Silver Mine I thank you for your hospitality and generosity. To our model Bailey McCrackin, you are an amazing young woman and an absolute pleasure to work with.

We sent our intrepid editor Steve Miller to Alamo City in an Infiniti Q50.

You can read about his experience and the car on p. 25. A Mexican-ish issue would not be complete without tequila and thanks to our friends at Total Wine & More, we got to try 5 outstanding añejo tequilas. Read about that on p. 35. As the NFL season kicks off, we asked Fox’s NFL Kickoff analyst Michael Vick to give us his thoughts on the upcoming season on p. 57. And lastly I got to drink wine and smoke cigars with winemaker Joseph Wagner. The guy makes unbelievably flavorful and balanced pinot noirs that pair extremely well with cigars.

I hope you all enjoy this issue with old friends, your favorite beverage and the best cigar you’ve ever had.

Keep ‘em lit,

Erik Calviño ecalvino@cigarsnobmag.com

TAKE A HIKE Erik, thanks for the heartfelt thread on the US women soccer team. These scum bags deserve nothing. Myself like many other veterans have grown tired of all the social injustice bullshit going on in our country. My advice to those women: turn in your stars and stripes and go live somewhere else.

Joseph L Via feeback@cigarsnobmag.com

Our editor Erik loves to vent in his editorials and what we’ve noticed from the feedback is that most of our readers appreciate the candor with which he writes his bi-monthly piece. We appreciate your candor also. Thank you for your service, and thank you for reading our magazine sir.

YOU’RE INTO THE TOPLEZZ EH? Hello, I just read a hilarious story on the Cigar Snob site about a “toplezz” model and a park ranger. What a great publication!

What a fantastic industry we get to be in. I love the culture and would love to connect.

Regards, Scott M Via feeback@cigarsnobmag.com

Doing semi-illegal things involving people with heavy French accents is always a great foundation for any good story. Luckily, we try to put ourselves in enough predicaments to keep the material flowing.

But seriously, we absolutely agree with you that the industry we are in is simply awesome. We attempt to capture that in every issue and hope it comes across on our pages. Thanks for the kind words.

WINK WINK My question is, sometimes I don’t have the time to enjoy a cigar all the way through. What are your thoughts about cutting cigars in half and smoking a portion while saving the other half for later?

Thanks Long Ashes Jerry P Via feeback@cigarsnobmag.com

For a sec I mistakenly read your signature as saying “Long Lashes,” but I digress. Great question Jerry. If you listen to the Cigar Snob Podcast, as you should, we read your very question on episode 137 and bantered a bit on the topic. After much debate, the resounding conclusion was it all boils down to personal preference. And while cutting a cigar in half to conserve your stogie for future consumption is unorthodox, it is perfectly acceptable to do if you wish. However, letting your eyelashes grow up past your eye brows is a whole other story. Cheers.

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SPACE ODYSSEY LIMITED EDITION REACHES FOR THE STARS The space race in 2021 is a little different than the one between the U.S. and Russia that began in the 1950s. Today, it’s a race between billionaires reaching for the stars and beyond.

Enter into that mix a space-themed mission from French luxury product maker S.T. Dupont, which sails into the market with its Space Odyssey collection featuring two limited-edition packages of lighters and writing instruments, the Prestige and the Premium.

The goods are threaded with the grand designs of space exploration.

The collection is designed using lacquer, palladium, and micro-engravings. All pieces are crowned by a globe in transparent glittersprinkled resin. On the rocket-shaped lighter and writing instruments, a galaxy effect is given to the natural lacquer with the use of a pearlescent spray on a black background and an iridescent spot of glittery lacquer. These pieces are crowned by a globe in transparent glitter-sprinkled resin. The cap of the lighter features a radar and each of the four corners of the body are decorated with palladium engravings of solar blankets.

The writing set comes with a base recalling the launch pad of a rocket before take-off, and an inkwell in addition to a fountain pen and a roller block.

Designers and engineers at S.T. Dupont used the galaxy, space missions, rocket design and space suits for inspiration. Some packages include a set of yellow, gold and palladium astronaut-shaped cufflinks. All the products, except for cufflinks, are presented in black lacquered boxes.

While some might recall NASA’s Mercury, Gemini and Apollo, Space Odyssey wants to take its patrons into the 21st century.

millions of viewers, albeit via iPads, streaming and space-specific portals.

“The fascination of space is still on everybody’s mind,” Mann said, adding that the modern design of the Space Odyssey packages is in keeping with today’s futuristic space travel.

“I was watching Musk’s takeoff, then Googled the Apollo 13 instrument panel,” he said. “And now, they’re using an iPad for the instruments.”

The collections will be released in October.

DREW ESTATE UNVEILED NEW SUBCULTURE SIZE, ACID CONTINENTAL, AS SMOKER FRIENDLY EXCLUSIVE Drew Estate unveiled the new Subculture size, Acid Continental, as a retailer exclusive for Smoker Friendly during the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival on August 28th in Boulder, Colorado.

ACID Continental, a 5.5 x 52, is produced at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua, using an Indonesian wrapper and binder surrounding Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. It is medium-bodied with a sweetened tip.

The ACID Subculture Continental will be available in 24-count boxes and 5-count packs at $180.34/box, $37.49/pack, or $7.51/cigar.

“We are genuinely excited to add ACID Continental to Smoker Friendly’s amazing list of exclusive products,” Drew Estate’s founder and president, Jonathan Drew, said in a statement.

“I suggest banging some EPMD, Rakim or LL when you spark ‘em up. Bless!!”

Smoker Friendly has hosted the single-day Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival in Boulder since 2009, which has in the past drawn crowds of more than 2,500. Attendees meet cigar makers while enjoying premium cigars, handcrafted beers, wines and spirits and live music.

“Right now, we have the privatization of space with Bezos, Musk and Branson going to space, in front of everybody,” said Les Mann, VP of sales at S.T. Dupont. He recalls growing up in a time when kids dreamed of being astronauts and any rocket launch drew a wide television audience.

THIEVES NAB SMOKES FROM MIAMI WAREHOUSE

Today, the private missions have likewise drawn

C.L.E. President Christian Eiroa said that the

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Thieves broke into the Miami warehouse of C.L.E. Cigar Company on Saturday night, making off with an unknown quantity of cigars.

industrial park that houses his operation is considered secure, with a locking gate in the front and shock sensors all around the complex.

“The shock sensors did not go off,” Eiroa said.

“I could have had ten Dobermans back there and they still would have gotten in. They broke right into the cold room.”

It allowed the burglars to access his stock, although the specific targets of the theft are suspicious. At this point, the purloined cigars appear to be mostly Asylums, he said.

“It almost looks targeted,” Eiroa said. He said many of his cigars are backordered and he is only able to ship about ten percent of the orders he is receiving right now, due to a tight supply chain. He said he has sent out a mass mailer to customers, alerting them of the theft and to be cautious of who they buy the cigars from.

Cigar heists are not necessarily uncommon.

Earlier this year, thieves in New York made off with $60,000 worth of premium cigars from Davidoff of Geneva after entering through a vacant building next door to the store. In June, shoplifters stole $500 worth of cigars from a Total Wine humidor in Knoxville.

J.C. NEWMAN RELEASES YAGUA, A CIGAR RECREATED FROM 1940S CUBA J.C. Newman Cigar Co. has reintroduced Yagua, a cigar from the tobacco fields of Cuba that the Newman family first recreated in Nicaragua last year.

The cigar was created by J.C. Newman PENSA’s General Manager, Lazaro Lopez, who was inspired by his grandfather, who took fresh tobacco leaves from the curing barns and rolled cigars without using molds or presses. To give his cigars a traditional shape, he tied a handful of them together using pieces of the Cuban royal palm tree, known as the yagua. The cigars are pressed together while still wet, giving each one a different, sometimes irregular shape.

The roughly 6 x 54 Yagua has a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and filler and comes in 20-count boxes.

“Yagua is a difficult cigar to roll because we use an under fermented Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, blend the filler tobaccos differently, and do not use the usual tools and techniques of a

cigar factory,” Drew Newman, fourth generation owner of J.C. Newman, said in a statement. “As the wrapper is not fully fermented, we age the cigars for a full year after they are rolled.”

JOYA DE NICARAGUA LAUNCHES TAA RETAILER EXCLUSIVE CUATRO CINCO EDICIÓN AMERICANA Since its founding in 1968 as the first premium cigar company in Nicaragua, Joya de Nicaragua has enjoyed strong ties with American cigar lovers and their retailers. During the administration of Richard M. Nixon, Joya de Nicaragua’s Clásico was even the official cigar distributed to guests attending functions at the White House.

In 2021, the United States continues to be one of Joya de Nicaragua’s most important markets and the company is celebrating its strong ties to America by releasing Cuatro Cinco Edición Americana, the second regional edition of its

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legendary Cuatro Cinco cigars, which will be available exclusively at Tobacconist Association of America (TAA) member retailers.

Since its original release to celebrate Joya de Nicaragua’s 45th anniversary in 2013, the limited edition Cuatro Cinco cigar has been one of Joya de Nicaragua’s most popular cigars and it has consistently been one of the company’s highest rated cigars as well. The highly acclaimed blend features a Nicaraguan Criollo wrapper and select Grade A Nicaraguan filler tobaccos.

The finished cigars are aged inside vintage white oak barrels that were used by a world-renowned rum distillery for at least one year. The Cuatro Cinco Edición Americana TAA Exclusive is a 6 x 54 Belicoso.

“When we were deciding what the next TAA product should be, we knew it had to be special,” says Joya de Nicaragua’s Executive President, Juan Ignacio Martinez. “When the team proposed the Belicoso, the decision was made, there’s no other vitola in the Cuatro Cinco fam-

ily that smokes closer to the original limited edition than this one.”

Cuatro Cinco Edición Americana TAA Exclusive is limited to 500 10-count boxes and features special artwork incorporating a bald eagle in the company’s logo on the box, as well as a second band on the foot denoting it as a TAA exclusive cigar.

“These are some of the best cigars that come out of our factory,” says Daniel Barrios, Joya de Nicaragua’s Global Commercial Manager. “The stories we tell with them need to be special. We have selected the bald eagle because of what it represents to our American friends, an example of stamina, power and freedom. In 2021, JDN is celebrating Nicaragua’s independence bicentennial, and what a better symbol to connect us both than the symbol of freedom.”

The Cuatro Cinco Edición Americana TAA Exclusive was formally presented to the trade during the TAA Virtual Conference earlier this year.

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ALAMO City

Photo: DenisTangneyJr / iStock

By Steve Miller

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t 2,200 square feet, the smoking space at Redland Cigar Club & Lounge in suburban San Antonio is big enough to suitably house five Brooklyn millennials. But never fear – there’s smoking, some man-ribbing and open air just outside the garage doors – all kryptonite to a lot of citybillies under 40.

The northern expanses of San Antonio offer respite from the jammed streets of downtown, with its vaunted historical attractions, hotels and bars and constant barrage of star-studded entertainment in and around the Alamodome.

The streets are wider as you head north and begin to explore the burgeoning commercial and residential developments, carved into the limestone ridges and across the barren prairies at the edge of the Texas Hill Country.

Cigar lounges form a ring along the outer northern band of the city, a connectthe-dots stretch of establishments with a variety of smoking experiences.

Along with the cigar joints, new hotels and shopping areas continue to pop up as the population shifts. The newness is shiny and clean, the roads often jammed but the journey, as usual, is worthwhile.

For a summer trek to San Antonio, the state’s second-largest city after Houston, we headquarter in the near north reaches of the city at the Estancia del Norte San Antonio, a retooled Doubletree that opened in April after a $10 million facelift.

The five-story hotel is an expansive throwback to Mexican-style resorts, with a white stucco exterior, lots of black metal lattice work, low slung ceilings, terra cotta and Pueblo rugs, with a color scheme of brown and all its varieties. It is a hospitality hacienda, featuring an open court in the middle that defines the space, with a full-sized

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Photo: 400tmax / iStock

“This is like an exclusive club, except everyone is welcome,” says Travis Young, one of eight people – half of them military veterans – who collectively own Redland, which sits at the end of an industrial park 20 minutes north of downtown, 100 yards off the main road. “That’s the thing in this area, there are places to smoke everywhere.”

pool, outside dining and areas to just hang to soak up the sun. An imposing antique black iron elevator creaks slowly up from the pool.

The surrounding area is filled with corporate headquarters and singlefamily neighborhoods – some with tentacles to California, somewhat disdained by locals. The landscape is filled out by an endless blur of shopping and eating, and the highways, while crowded at certain hours, provide smooth access to any place in the city.

The well-done roads, a steady influx of new residents and new money give rise to a lively, varied cigar culture that includes a large number of military, both active and retired, who mix in

the lounges with local merchants, musicians, business folks and plain old retirees.

The locals usually stick with their nearby smoking places, which are never far away. Club Humidor and Finck Cigars both have three locations, while places like Cigar Pointe, 1911 Cigars and Redland keep their outposts solo. On the west side, 1911 Cigars, which opened in 2019, is opening the door to smoking establishments in other parts of the city.

Redland opened in 2014, and the cooperative went to work to create a suitable space to smoke and socialize, with TVs and traditionally enveloping

Clockwise from top: The front of Misión de Álamo, more commonly known as The Alamo; A broad offering of brands in the humidor at Redland Cigar; Estancia Del Norte is a boutique hotel by Hilton centrally located in San Antonio. leather sofas and chairs. Redland claimed for some time it was the largest cigar lounge space in Texas, until Cigars International created two superstores in North Texas with mega lounges.

The Redland humidor features plenty of mainstream brands, but prides itself on its stock of lesser knowns. MJ, the Redlands on-site expert, makes a smart suggestion: an Esteban Carreras Connecticut White Label Coronita.

It pairs favorably with a Dr. Pepper.

While San Antonio is permissive on smoking, it doesn’t allow bar service, so alcoholic refreshments are BYO everywhere.

The lounge is big enough to make it feel like a high-ceilinged clubhouse, with lights on dim, the AC purring and everything, including chatter, on low volume. A couple of guys sit in theater chairs watching a series of athletic things, while a handful of folks consider the world in another section.

Travis Young traveled the world during his 21 years of duty, including stints in Tucson, Arizona, Alaska, Omaha,

Nebraska and Italy. He started smoking 20 years ago, encouraged by a neighbor in Italy and a brother-in-law who works in the industry.

At Redland, the talk on a Tuesday night goes from geography to local customs to sports to cigars.

“We get people from all over town to come in,” Young says. “And you see different crowds at different places, and clearly Finck and Club Humidor are the big gorillas.”

The Redland, with its comfortable, clubby friendliness, is a starkly different place than Club Humidor, which features elaborate sponsored lounges and humidors that are dedicated to the big brands.

San Antonio to know this is where you come for those cigars.”

The clientele includes lots of military, as does the staff. Joint Base San Antonio includes five military installations, including Lackland Air Force base and Fort Sam Houston.

Veterans drive a lot of the cigar demand in the area.

“I moved here from Virginia after retiring from the military,” says Jeffrey, who works at the Thousand Oaks Club Humidor. He developed a love of cigars while serving in Afghanistan, the evening smoke and bottles of Heineken

He opened Cigar Pointe after noticing an empty retail space in the upscale Stone Oak area, just off a busy thoroughfare.

it was cool, making cigars in its local factory, then moving into retail. It now has three prospering stores with lounges around the city.

Garcia courts a regular customer base of around 20, people who come in week after week, while others come in almost every day.

The west side store opened in 2006, a red brick cigar bastion with a tworoom humidor, a spacious porch and a small lounge. The other stores are also standalones.

“There are always things here you don’t find anywhere else,” says Turner, a 29-year-old regular, who pitched in to buy the television in the small lounge at the back of Cigar Pointe.

The lounge features a rotation of regulars that includes David, a retired

The humidor has to be large to accommodate all the Finck product alone – a wall devoted to the Commerce, the Havana Blend, the 1893, and more, 35 brands in all. Most of the brand smokes are priced under $4.

The Club Humidor farthest north, the Thousand Oaks store, sits in a strip shopping center off a winding road, a settlement of commerce surrounded by single-family homes and apartment complexes. What Redland is to the obscure, this is to the establishment, a humidor filled with the top-notch cigars that most everyone cites when naming their faves: Fuente, My Father, Rocky, and of course Perdomo, which has branded the two-room lounge. The centerpiece of the lounge is a red-felted pool table. In the other room, there are nine leather easy chairs, some big tables and six dudes are watching some gymnastics competition, talking about fishing and motorcycles.

Out back is the Rocky Patel outdoor space, a fine place for morning coffee, but the Texas heat has everyone indoors.

The music is soft and solid: Gil-Scott Heron, Sly and the Family Stone, psychedelic-era Temptations.

Next door is a liquor store that gives patrons a 10 percent discount and customers rumble up to the shop in pickup trucks, Jeeps and motorcycles.

Club Humidor started when owner Keith Rumbo’s father, Ralph, bought a small smoke shop in 1982. Keith moved through the business as it prospered into one of the city’s most prominent cigar names.

The branded lounges and the mainstream brands are exactly what Rumbo wants in his lounges.

“We have carried the upscale brands ever since the move in the cigar world moved from the lower end to higher end,” he says. “We want people in

0.0 – near beer, as the real thing isn’t allowed in the country – providing a suitable way to unwind.

“It’s a big reason you see so many people come out of the service and into the cigar world,” he says.

Fifteen minutes northwest is Cigar Pointe, with a humidor filled with boutique brands, some you’ve never heard of, but will at some point. Gabe Garcia is a former culinary student who turned cigarist, opening Cigar Pointe in 2009.

“I finished culinary school and realized I didn’t want to work in the [restaurant] industry,” Garcia says. At the same time, he was a cigar smoker and noted that while the bigger lounges had the top names in premiums, “I could do a better job with the boutique niche market.”

military officer who smokes seven to ten sticks a day, and Larry, a retiree who dabbles in real estate. The leisure class is a favorite at Cigar Pointe, and they are devoted to the off brands, buying obscure cigars for new visitors and spreading the word of the lesserknown.

Garcia goes to cigar trade shows explicitly to see what kind of underground there is and what he can discover to bring back to Texas.

“I am always looking for new things,” he says. “I have customers that are nerdier than I am. But my palette can weed through some of the stuff that’s not so good. I’m a good judge of that, and while I don’t always land gold, I feel like I have a good percentage.”

Finck Cigars was selling sticks before

The company for 70 years cranked out hand-rolled cigars in its downtown building before switching to machines in 1963. It shut down production in 2014, as federal tax increases hiked its prices 50 cents almost overnight, making it impossible to meet the low price point through in-house production. It now produces cigars at General Cigar in the Dominican Republic.

“Forever, we were the oldest cigar factory in the U.S.,” says Bill Finck Jr., whose great-grandfather, Henry, started Finck Cigar in 1893 with $1,000 borrowed against a life insurance policy.

He places his stores with a strategy to serve in places that will pay for the pleasure. The store closest to downtown, on Broadway, taps “old

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store, the lure of the city’s historical mecca, The Alamo, is overpowering.

It’s in the heart of the city, a place overrun with people at all times, but at a little more than two miles away… sure.

Amid the ice cream shops, the t-shirt vendors and the chain restaurants is the Alamo Plaza, a heartening educational facility and to a committed autodidact, a rival to the most esteemed university.

A walk through the small village of the Spanish mission, which served as a fort to soldiers on both sides of the Texas Revolution in the early 1800s, is a well-done history lesson. The low-slung buildings are impeccably maintained, and the six information boards to the west of the gift shop – revolution can’t hinder that money grab – break down the history of the place, from its construction in the early 1700s to its various historical designations as the origin of Texas statehood.

Top to bottom: The Perdomo lounge at Club Humidor; Cigar Pointe in the Blanco Pointe neighborhood.

cigar merchants,” Finck says. The store, Finck says, is to be built in a northwest section of the city near a Topgolf and the Six Flags Fiesta Texas entertainment park.

San Antonio money, the oldest part of the city,” Finck says. This is in addition to drawing on the stray flock of tourists or conventioneers, who tend to stay in hotels near the city’s Riverwalk, a tourist-infested area that winds through the center of town.

“San Antonio is a growing city with a rich heritage and a vibrant cigar culture,” Sarah Santos, president and senior vice president of Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s North America

The Broadway shop is a loner stop for a lot of folks, who might take a lunch break for a smoke and to catch up on emails on the large front porch overlooking the street. It’s the only one of the three Finck stores that he rents, preferring to own.

“And that real estate is very expensive to rent,” he says. The city is popping with cigar interest, though, and he’s got a bigger problem than high rent right now.

“Cigar International is coming into town and building a store,” Finck says. He’s a big customer of General Cigar – both Cigar International and General are owned by the publiclytraded Scandinavian Tobacco Group. With its corporate marketing muscle and national name, he thinks it’s going to take a bite from his business.

“I think what has held them back from coming in earlier is that they knew it would create problems for the local

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Online and Retail Division, said in a statement, responding to a query from Cigar Snob for this story. “We have had a number of CI Nation customers in that region ask us to open a Cigars International Super Store, and we are extremely pleased that we will soon bring our unique retail concept to the community.”

Sitting on the deck of Finck’s midtown

There is construction going on – yes, get this: to accommodate “the priceless Alamo collection of British rock star Phil Collins,” according to the Alamo’s website.

We spent time considering the fine work of another British rock star: Alamo Plaza is where a drunken Ozzy Osbourne publicly pissed on a Friday afternoon in February 1982, causing

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shredded cabbage with cilantro and lime as the shrubbery topped with a poblano sauce fresh enough to smell the peppers roasting. It was only a balmy 95 degrees, so we sat in the courtyard, a wide expanse of picnic tables, wooden booths and lots of awnings and table umbrellas.

An outdoor bar, long enough for six stools and standing room, took up a corner. The place, relatively empty on a steamy afternoon, looks like a festival waiting to happen.

Naco Mexican Brunch, one of what may be millions of taco trucks in the city, knocked out a Chilaquil Mexican brisket taco jammed with avocado that was ripe and ready with the torn corn tortilla turning the whole thing into a messy feast.

We wrap up in San Antonio and head north, but instead of taking the road most traveled, we take U.S. Route 281, rather than do battle with the superhighway that is Interstate 35.

U.S. 281, like Interstate 35, will take you from the Mexican border to near the Canadian border, but the expanse just north of San Antonio is a welcome treat, miles of beautifully maintained two-way with rises that show to the west the vaunted hill country that is now beckoning outsiders to the state. You can see the construction and the truck traffic that will inevitably make the Hill Country into another charmless destination for living and visiting, but for now the road has more flavor than such bustle indicates. Taco shops, hot rod outfitters, coffee joints, breweries and upscale indie eateries dot the landscape, a much preferred state of things than the malls, super truck stops and touristy landmarks on the interstate.

Top to bottom: Midtown Cigar’s large humidor; La Gran Pachanga at El Bucanero. his arrest for public intoxication.

Directly across from the plaza is one of many entries to the river walk, a destination for sightseers who wander the walkway along the San Antonio River for food and booze as it winds through five miles of downtown.

You’ll find good food there, just as you will in any congestion of eateries in the world. The odds are with you.

But San Antonio’s best food is elsewhere.

We’ve visited places that feature food as part of their destination and message, but San Antonio stands up to any place in America just on the merits of its Latin cuisine alone. The intoxicating array, from taco stands to lofty-aired, small-plated delicacies, keeps the palate primed.

“Hey, that place looks great, but I just ate.” That happened.

We’d read of a thing – shrimp ceviche on a beer. This is as good as it sounds, combining two of civilization’s best taste treats.

So at El Bucanero, a Mexican seafood stalwart with three locations

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Drive from San Antonio to Blanco – 50 miles – and you can get a slice of Texas served straight up.

in the city, we ordered Pachanga, which is a mess of red onion, peanuts, cucumber and fish over a can of Modelo, swimming in hot sauce and sprinkled with chili-lime salt. It’s well known in coastal Mexico, but not as easy to find even in the ethnic areas in the states. We could have ordered more, as the messy mix blasted with flavor. Instead, we added to the meal

onward

Circle back to San Antonio and you’ll find a group hug among most of the cigar purveyors, an unspoken stay-in-your-lane ethos that allows Redland to create a prospering haven tucked at the back of what looks like a storage facility, along with Cigar Pointe to celebrate the underdog with its humidor full of up-and-comers and Club Humidor and Finck to hold steady at the top.

Beto’s Alt-Mex dishes up fish tacos with grilled haddock as the center,

“It’s not cutthroat,” says Travis Young, of Redland. “But we aren’t exactly sending people elsewhere.”

tostada de pulpo, which was two corn tortillas topped with a healthy helping of octopus mixed with diced cucumber and tomato and finished with a spritz of lime.

Our gullet moved throughout the visit.

us

CIGARS 1. Club Humidor - San Pedro

SAN ANTONIO

7074 San Pedro Ave.

5

4

clubhumidor.com 2. Club Humidor - Thousand Oaks

1604

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368

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hilton.com

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37 NE Loop 410, McCullough Ave.

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123 Losoya St.

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14. On The Bend Oyster Bar and Cigar Lounge

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finckcigar.com

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19186 Blanco Rd. #101 cigarpointe.com

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steering to prove it. The tight turning and small steering wheel take some adjusting, especially if you have a German car as your primary whip, but with the responsive engine, it became routine within ten minutes of city driving.

By Steve Miller

The luxe brands of the Asian automakers suffer from an inferiority complex. Clearly, the Europeans rule the luxury segment, with BMW, Audi, Volvo and Mercedes far bigger in name recognition and overall performance stats. Infinity is Nissan’s luxury entry, and while the edge may go to the Europeans in dynamics, we got into a sedan that had road capabilities to burn. We’re still wondering why it took so long.

e got into this car, drove about a mile, and felt like going back to the rental car counter.

“Someone put an Infiniti badge on this Tesla.”

The turbo charged V6, at just 300 horsepower, was that quick.

So the surprises began and just kept giving, with a couple of blips.

Nissan’s luxury brand, Infiniti, kicks out a slate gray four-door, rear wheel drive sedan. The ride is smooth, even with the standard 18-inch wheels, which become 19 inches on the sport model. The run-flat tires should be switched out to get the best ride.

The long hood reminds a little of the BMW, but this is a purely Asian model, born in a factory north of Tokyo, and has the rigid

32 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

The Q50 is in one of the headiest spaces in sedans, where the BMW 3-series, the Lexus IS and the Audi 4 play, and it keeps the pace with gusto. This model came with rear-wheel drive, as we mentioned, but AWD is also available.

Ahem. Anyone who has driven in the snow or ice knows that being caught with rear-wheel drive is a problem, and you’ll be slipping on or off the road unless you’ve outfitted it with snow tires. Even then, the fact that the engine is only engaging the rear wheels gives rise to trouble in tight spots.

The biggest gripe in the Q50 is the so-called safety features, which include lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and

2021 Infiniti Q50 Luxe

STRAP IN

The tech is easy and adaptive, mostly controllable via steering wheel buttons, with two touchscreens, an 8-inch up high and a 7-inch below. The sound through the Bose speakers is thundering and clear. We paired the phone easily and Apple CarPlay worked easily, and the cockpit is clean and simple, the black leather giving out a familiar warmth.

forward collision warning.

What it means is you may be driving in cruise control and when you come up behind another vehicle, the car automatically slows down. If you change lanes without signaling, beepers go off. This can seriously mess with your driving, so watch it.

One more thing: The 22 mpg we got from a blend of highway/city driving is the cost of the turbo engine. We understand it doesn’t have to be this way, but until sanity returns to fuel policies prices, we’ll make do.

We’ve driven the Infiniti SUV line and came away unimpressed, feeling there was too much American-wannabe-ism in the design and drive. Infiniti can’t be an Escalade, so why try? Better, who would want to be a clunky fat American? In the sedan segment, Infiniti is in its lane.

While some esteemed car reviewers have been less than kind to the Q50 over the years – “Q50 is neither as luxurious nor as fun to drive as its best competitors” says one – parting with the herd is sometimes called for. We found it stylish and comfortable, and using it made it a pleasure to drive in traffic, on rural roads and superhighways. The quiet cabin, the scary quick engine and the luxe vibe makes this a victory.

Engine

3.0 L / 300 hp

Transmission

Automatic 7 sp.

Fuel Thirst, mpg

23 / 20 / 29 combined/city/highway (mpg)

Dimensions

189.6 L, 71.8 W, 57.2 H

Leg Room

44.5 inches (front), 35.1 inches (rear)

Curb Weight

3,685 lbs

MSRP

$ 41,800

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"Collect them all, limited edition”

TEQUILA

TEQUILA IS ONE OF THOSE SPIRITS THAT DESPITE ITS UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH AND CELEBRITY APPEAL STILL ELICITS SOME NEGATIVE REACTIONS FROM THE UNCONVERTED WHO REMEMBER THE ILL EFFECTS OF SPRING BREAK TEQUILA-LACED PARTIES. IF THAT’S YOU, FEAR NOT THESE AGED TEQUILAS; THEY HAVE SURPRISINGLY LITTLE IN

COMMON WITH THAT COLLEGE MIXER OF CHOICE THAT STILL HAUNTS YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS. THESE AÑEJO TEQUILAS ARE ALL DISTILLED FROM 100% BLUE AGAVE AND HAVE BEEN AGED BETWEEN 1 TO 3 YEARS IN FRENCH OR WHITE OAK BARRELS. THEIR BOUQUET, FLAVOR, AND MOUTHFEEL WILL SURPRISE EVEN THE MOST ARDENT OBJECTORS.

HERRADURA LEGEND radura, our fantasy sort of lines up with reality.

You see, Herradura is produced in a hacienda that has been producing tequila since 1870.

A tahona at the original Herradura distillery, now a museum.

A “hacienda” is basically a large estate built during the Spanish colonial period. They are surrounded by expansive lands, are self-sufficient, and most of their workers usually live within the hacienda where they produce all manner of goods for the profit of the lord or hacendado. During colonial times the lord exploited workers in ways not dissimilar to the feudal system in medieval Europe. Thankfully, in the early 20th century the hacienda workers revolted against their exploitative lords and the traditional hacienda system collapsed.

Only about a dozen or so “real” haciendas still exist today; some are in ruins, some are preserved as historic sites, one of them is even a hotel and golf course, and one as you have just learned is a tequila distillery.

TEQUILA AÑEJO 40% ABV

CASA HERRADURA As consumers we like to imagine that the spirit we’re enjoying comes from an old distillery. In our fairy tale picture of the place, the distillers are all dressed in period garb, speaking patiently to one another in their native tongue, and using ancient machinery and know-how to produce an artisanal tequila worthy of this fantasy we’ve built up for it. In the case of Tequila Her-

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As interesting as the hacienda history is to me, what truly drove me to Herradura is the way it produces its tequila. Unlike many of Herradura’s competitors who use modern, faster stainless steel autoclaves to cook the agaves, Herradura slowly roasts its agaves in traditional brick ovens. This slower cook develops more fermentable sugars in the agave hearts. When it’s time to ferment, Herradura again eschews the modern method of using commercial yeast, instead allowing the local wild yeast to perform its magic. This way of fermenting takes longer and is much more variable in nature but the longer fermentation times allow more complex flavors to develop. Using local wild yeast rather than a more consistent, commercial yeast strain gives Herradura’s tequilas a true and inimitable connection to the land that surrounds them.

TEQUILA PIONEERS The tequila category is enjoying a boom unlike anything the jimadores have ever seen. More specifically, though, during the pandemic consumers traded up from the silver to the more expensive reposado and añejo tequilas. As tequila producers rejoice in these increased sales of more expensive expressions, they should probably raise a copita to Casa Herradura’s Gabriela de la Peña. Aside from presiding over the company during its modernization and expansion, it was under her guidance that Herradura Añejo was released in 1962, widely considered the first commercial añejo tequila. Still under her watch in 1974, Herradura Reposado was released and you guessed it, it was the first commercial reposado tequila. Talk about a legend.

TASTING NOTES The Legend has a wonderfully complex nose with tons of oak, dried fruit, butterscotch, and peppery agave. Herradura employs a revolutionary method for aging Legend by cutting deep grooves into the barrel allowing for more contact between the spirit and the barrel. The result is a smooth and flavorful tequila with delicate notes of vanilla, banana, and dry sherry accompanied by a touch of pepper.

A. Fuente Magnum R Rosado Sungrown

PAIRING NOTES THE CIGAR OPENS WITH NOTES OF CEDAR, ROASTED NUTS, AND PEPPER, WHICH STAND UP BEAUTIFULLY TO THE TEQUILA’S RICH VANILLA AND AGAVE FLAVORS. THE SMOKE CUTS THROUGH THE SWEETNESS AND BRINGS OUT A DELIGHTFUL, TOASTED OAK CHARACTERISTIC IN THE SPIRIT WHILE THE SWEETNESS BINDS NICELY TO THE CIGAR’S PROFILE ADDING A VANILLA CREAM COMPONENT TO THE SMOKE.

MAESTRO DOBEL AÑEJO TEQUILA and are willing to give Juan Dobel’s tequila a chance. After all we love cigars with names like Rocky Patel, Pete Johnson, and Jonathan Drew on them. It’s when you dig a little deeper that things get interesting.

Tequila of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions.” The partnership debuted at The Players Championship where they unveiled “Diamante Tee Time” featuring the world’s first Cristalino tequila, aged tequila that is filtered giving consumers a clear spirit with an aged flavor.

TASTING NOTES

One of the aging rooms at Jose Cuervo’s La Rojeña Distillery.

Juan Dobel is actually Juan Domingo Beckmann Legoretta; Dobel is actually an acronym/ nickname that combines DOmingo BEckmann Legoretta. Juan Domingo Beckmann Legoretta is the CEO of José Cuervo; yes the same José Cuervo that messed you up on spring break.

Their flagship product, José Cuervo Gold, is the world’s best-selling tequila in spite of the fact that it isn’t made from 100% agave and tastes like it can strip the paint off the hood of your car. In fairness José Cuervo also produces several fine products like their Reserva de la Familia series but the name certainly carries baggage.

TEQUILA AÑEJO 40% ABV

DO-BE-L The bottle of Maestro Dobel Añejo Tequila proudly states this tequila is made by Juan Dobel. It says so on the neck of the bottle with a signature and all. It’s striking because you don’t associate a surname like Dobel with tequila. It’s like walking by a pizza joint named Pedro Pérez Pizzeria. You’d likely keep walking. However, we’ve evolved as consumers,

It’s no surprise that Mr. Domingo Beckmann Legoretta, the 6th generation at the helm of the world’s biggest tequila company, decided that Maestro Dobel would be a separate project, a separate company altogether. The truth is that Maestro Dobel is being produced differently. For one thing, it is made of 100% blue agave from the family’s lowland fields.

The agaves have to be fully matured before harvest, roughly eight to ten years. The agave juice is extracted by a roller mill, which is a modern, mechanized version of the stone tahona used by artisanal distilleries. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the tequila wort goes through a double distillation before it ends up in American white oak barrels for aging. The difference is immediately evident at first sip.

GOLF ANYONE? In March, 2021 the PGA Tour announced that it had entered into a multi-year partnership with Maestro Dobel Tequila, naming it the “Official

This añejo tequila has a light amber color in the glass with excellent viscosity. The nose is loaded with a balanced attack of caramel, vanilla, cooked agave, and oak barrel. The palate delivers a ton of whiskey flavors; there are moments when you have to remind yourself that it’s tequila. However the agave flavor comes in on the finish along with cinnamon, caramel, and vanilla. There is a delicate spicy pepper note that sneaks in just before the door closes that manages to add a little balance. This tequila would work extremely well for whiskey lovers wanting to try tequila. It would also work well as an interesting twist to classic cocktails like a Manhattan or a Boulevardier if you sub out the whiskey for Maestro Dobel Añejo.

Montecristo White Series

PAIRING NOTES THE CIGAR IS SMOOTH AND CREAMY WITH NOTES OF WOOD, SOFT SPICE, AND A TOUCH OF CITRUS THAT COMPLEMENTS THE TEQUILA’S MORE RICH CHARACTERISTICS. THE PAIRING IS FLEXIBLE IN THAT IF YOU PREFER TO KNOCK DOWN THE TEQUILA’S CARAMEL AND VANILLA, YOU TAKE THE PUFF BEFORE THE SIP. THIS COMBINATION LEAVES YOU WITH MORE AGAVE AND OAK BARREL NOTES IN THE SPIRIT. IN REVERSE, THE CIGAR’S CREAMINESS IS AMPED UP TO 11 AND THE TEQUILA’S SWEET NOTES AND VISCOSITY COAT YOUR PALATE COMBINING PERFECTLY WITH THE CIGAR’S WOOD AND SPICE.

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DON ROBERTO EXTRA AÑEJO

It wasn’t until the company opened Hacienda La Purísima, one of Mexico’s largest distilleries, that Casa Don Roberto was able to catch up with demand and consequently begin expanding globally.

VALLEY AGAVE

TEQUILA EXTRA AÑEJO 40% ABV

TEQUILA ROYALTY Along with the venerated Cuervo and Sauza families, the Orendain clan has been an integral part of the foundation and growth of the tequila industry. In fact it’s not uncommon to find transactions between the three families from the 1880s, where distilleries changed hands from one to the other.

The Orendain family left Spain for Mexico in 1840 and settled in the town of Tequila where they quickly took to the tequila business. The namesake of this brand, Don Roberto Orendain González, began his distilling career in 1924 at the La Arenita distillery. His son Don Roberto Orendain Jr. launched his first commercially successful project with Tequila Virreyes in 1963.

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Casa Don Roberto distills its tequila from mostly estate-grown blue agave from the lowlands.

There are different thoughts and preferences as to whether the best tequila agave is grown in the lowlands or highlands but I have no desire to get into that argument. I will say, however, that the town of Tequila, for which the spirit is named, is in the lowlands. The funny thing is that the “lowlands” are not really so low. The lowland town of Tequila sits at roughly 3,900 feet of elevation and has dark, volcanic soil. The highlands are a little higher at roughly 5,000 feet and the agaves are planted in what can only be described as red clay.

On the palate the differences are noticeable if you know what you’re looking for and the tequilas you’re comparing are of high quality. Lowland tequilas or what some call “valley” tequilas have a noticeable peppery, herbaceous, and earthy quality in the background. In a well-made spirit, these notes are incorporated with the typical crisp agave notes that tequila is broadly known for. Agave grown in “Los Altos,” or the highlands, tend to produce more fruity notes of apple and pear.

If you want to test your palate on this lowland vs highland topic, I would try it on silver expressions rather than with reposado or añejo tequilas. The extra time in the barrel for reposados and añejos introduces too many new characteristics, making it quite difficult to find those nu-

anced notes among the rich caramel and vanilla typically imparted by the barrel.

TASTING NOTES If you closed your eyes and nosed the Don Roberto Extra Añejo, you’d think that someone had poured a little Oloroso sherry into your tequila.

The bouquet is quite complex with intense dried fruit, the aforementioned sherry, quite a bit of oak, and a touch of raw agave. On the palate the agave comes through much more and is joined by caramel, almond, and more dried fruit.

Oscar Valladares Super Fly Connecticut

PAIRING NOTES THE SUPER FLY CONNECTICUT BY OSCAR VALLADARES IS A WONDERFULLY SMOOTH BLEND WITH A PROFILE OF NUTS, CEDAR, AND SWEET CREAM BALANCED BY NOTES OF EARTH AND PEPPER. THE CIGAR CRANKS UP THE VISCOSITY OF THE DON ROBERTO GIVING IT A MORE ROUND, BUTTERY FEEL WHILE THE TEQUILA ALMOST COMPLETELY WIPES AWAY THE CIGAR’S PEPPER AND EARTH.

CINCORO TEQUILA AÑEJO lionaires can come up with, which somehow leads me to believe it may actually be true or close to it. The story is that back in 2016 the dinner reservations for these five NBA owners at New York’s Pasquale Jones was mistakenly made for the wrong date and they had to wait 40 minutes for their table. The five – Hornets owner Michael Jordan, the Lakers’ Jeannie Buss, the Bucks’ Wes Edens, and the Celtics’ Wyc Grousbeck and his now wife Emilia Fazzalari – had never really spent time together so they got into small talk. The small talk led to the topic of MJ’s favorite spirit, tequila.

ference as center court on a regulation NBA floor. If you’ve collected enough of these and are able to make this happen, I’d love to see the proof.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Within Jalisco, where the majority of tequila is produced, blue agave plants are grown in two basic regions, the highlands and the lowlands. The highlands feature a red clay soil that produces agaves with fruitier characteristics while the lowland agaves are earthier in nature. In an effort to produce a more balanced final product, Cincoro is made from both regions. Agaves from each region are harvested, cooked, fermented, and distilled separately, and then combined in equal parts before entering the barrel for aging.

TASTING NOTES

Cincoro’s ownership team of Michael Jordan with Wyc Grousbeck, Emilia Fazzalari, Jeanie Buss and Wes Edens.

Before long they were critiquing tequilas and found themselves imagining a “better” tequila, one that has the crisp flavors of a world-class tequila but a long finish reminiscent of a fine cognac. This long night of drinks and trendy pizza discussing the merits of tequila brought the group together to the point that they decided to join the ever-expanding universe of celebrity spirits.

This is an ideal tequila for non-tequila drinkers who want to be eased into the category slowly and with plenty of warm, sweet flavors. The nose is rich with vanilla, toffee, and an ever so subtle hint of agave. The aromas from the nose follow you directly into the palate and are joined by cinnamon and subtle spice.

Davidoff Aniversario

HOMAGE AFTER HOMAGE

TEQUILA AÑEJO 40% ABV

CINCO + ORO = CINCORO To be completely truthful, the origin story of Cincoro is about as lame as a group of bil-

The group created Cinco Spirits Group as the parent company and enlisted the help of Jordan’s longtime collaborator, Nike’s Mark Smith, to design the bottle. Together they designed an elongated bottle for Cincoro that evokes the image of agave leaves while paying tribute to the five owners by making the bottle fivesided. The bottle angles up from the bottom at 23 degrees, a subtle nod to MJ. The crystal stopper also angles at 23 degrees and there is an indentation at the bottom of the bottle so that you can sort of interlock one bottle with another. If you lay enough bottles out on the floor interlocked, they form the same circum-

PAIRING NOTES THE CINCORO AÑEJO’S OVER THE TOP SWEETNESS COATS YOUR PALATE, BEAUTIFULLY COMPLEMENTING THE CIGAR’S DRY CEDAR AND SPICE NOTES. THIS IS THE TYPE OF PAIRING THAT SHOULD BE ENJOYED AS AN AFTER-DINNER TREAT. THE SMOKE PREVENTS THE CINCORO’S VANILLA AND TOFFEE FROM EVER BECOMING OVERWHELMING.

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CENOTE TEQUILA AÑEJO much of the area’s fresh water came from cenotes but it was much more than just a water supply. Mayans believed that cenotes were a portal to the underworld and if you’ve ever been diving in one, it’s easy to see why an ancient civilization would believe that. I remember being absolutely captivated by cenotes when as a child I visited the sacred cenote of Chichen Itza.

ARTURO FUENTES Cenote Tequila is owned and produced by Fabrica de Tequilas Finos in Tequila, Jalisco. Appropriate to the name, the distillery uses a local well as the water source for the tequila. Water plays an important role in the making of tequila.

Once the agaves have been cooked to bring out the sugars in the agave hearts, it goes through an extraction process that involves crushing and tearing the cooked agaves. The mashedup sugar-rich agave fibers are combined with the aforementioned well water and the resulting sweet liquid provides the base that will be fermented and later distilled.

ing wisely in the operation, recently adding a new copper pot still as well as a new highspeed bottler. The trick is to use technology to increase production and efficiency but never at the cost of quality. So far so good.

TASTING NOTES An añejo with a bright, golden color, it’s only slightly darker than most reposados and this is good thing. Too often we see tequilas with an impossibly dark amber color that can only be obtained with artificial coloring. On the nose the Cenote has a well-balanced combination of vanilla bean, caramel, oak, and cooked agave while the palate delivers rich caramel, creamy vanilla, and oak tannins accompanied by a bit of mint and earth.

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PAIRING NOTES

The artisans behind Cenote Tequila, Master Blender Alejandro García Páez and Master Distiller Arturo Fuentes.

TEQUILA AÑEJO 40% ABV

EL GUAPO, WHAT IS A CENOTE? A cenote, pronounced seh-note-eh, is a natural sinkhole filled with crystal clear fresh water.

They form when the porous limestone bedrock collapses and reveals an underground river system. Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is likely the best place on earth to see and experience a cenote.

The word is of Mayan origin and the cenote played a critical role in Mayan civilizations. The lack of rivers in the Yucatan Peninsula meant that

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The man at the head of the process for Fabrica de Tequilas Finos is Arturo Fuentes. Despite having a name that is similar to a legendary cigar maker, this Arturo has over 42 years of experience in making tequila. He and his team oversee the production from the moment an agave is planted in the field until the last case of tequila leaves the warehouse.

Fabrica de Tequilas Finos was founded in 2000

by Federico Cabo and Luz Maria Cabo. This was their second distillery. They launched a number of tequila brands in 2001 including Don Camilo and La Prima de Pancho, which are still selling today. The Amber Beverage Group, which is part of Stoli Group, the international spirits powerhouse, acquired Fabrica de Tequilas Finos in 2016. The company seems to be invest-

THE EP CARRILLO NEW WAVE CONNECTICUT IS SMOOTH AND CREAMY WITH A BALANCED COMBINATION OF PEPPER, VANILLA, AND CEDAR. THE CIGAR BRINGS OUT A TOASTY CARAMEL NOTE IN THE TEQUILA THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STOP TAKING SIPS. ON THE FLIP SIDE, THE TEQUILA AUGMENTS THE CIGAR’S PROFILE BY CRANKING UP THE CEDAR AND VANILLA FLAVORS TO NEW HEIGHTS, A DELICIOUSLY COMPLEMENTARY PAIRING.

EDITOR’S NOTE WE PARTNERED WITH TOTAL WINE & MORE (TOTALWINE.COM) TO PUT THIS FEATURE TOGETHER AND PABLO ESTADES WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING IT HAPPEN. THANKS, PABLO.

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Tombstone

BY ERIK CALVIÑO

e travel a lot in this business of making magazines but I don’t think we’ve ever been anywhere like Tombstone Arizona. This historic city a little over an hour’s drive southeast of Tucson is stuck in the 1880s in the best way possible.

Walking through the center of town feels like a drunken and rowdy Johnny Ringo is about to bust out of a bar and challenge someone to a duel.

Maybe it’s because we were there during the off-season but walking down the dark and deserted Allen Street at night was as thrilling as any part of the visit.

There are plenty of places that lean into their past but it’s hard to stay on that trail.

Boston and Philadelphia come to mind; the American

horse hooves and boots on wood, and even the smells of the 1880s are inescapable.

If you’ve ever been in the deserts in the American southwest, especially during monsoon season, you know the smell of creosote. It smells like the West, and you recognize it even if it is your first time smelling it.

We visited Tombstone for the specific purpose of shooting the cover and fashion pages in this issue and we were incredibly fortunate that the fine folks at Tombstone Monument Guest Ranch took in our eclectic photo shoot crew as their own. When you pull up to the hotel, it looks like a small frontier town. You check in at the saloon and make your way to the rooms, which line the streets of the town. You may stay in the

Clockwise from top: Arizona Bill telling tales over cowboy coffee; Main Street at Tombstone Monument Guest Ranch; David Benoliel getting the right shot of Bailey McCrackin; the site of the historic gun fight; Smoke Signals is located right on Allen St. in the historic district.

Revolution plays a leading role in those large cities but they’re so populous and there’s so much more to do that the historic events and sites get lost. You can spend the morning at a Boston Tea Party re-enactment and were immersed in it but then you have lunch in the very Italian North End and you immediately lose the revolutionary feel.

In Tombstone the tales of gunfights, the sound of

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“Marshall’s Office,” the “Post Office,” or perhaps “Jail,” and the experience is as unique as any we’ve ever had. In the morning you can have a cowboy coffee with Arizona Bill, let him regale you with stories of the West, then walk back up to the mess hall and have a killer breakfast with a beautiful view of the Dragoon Mountains. As much as I enjoyed all of the amenities; the food, the saloon, and coffee with Arizona Bill, I think that what hit me the deepest was the freedom of it. I had forgotten what it felt like to stay in a place that didn’t constantly hit me over the head with all the things I couldn’t do and instead just let me breathe.

While shooting in the city of Tombstone, we needed a place in town for the model’s makeup and styling to take place between shots and we couldn’t have picked a better spot than the Motel Larian.

Situated right on Fremont Street, the Larian’s rooms were clean, well appointed, and centrally located for all of our “in town” shots. Again we found the staff to be incredibly friendly and helpful.

There’s just an easy, no frills feeling to your stay at the Larian.

During the course of the photo shoot, we visited and shot at the Gunfighter Hall of

Clockwise from top: Not much has changed since the 1880’s in Tombstone; Ivan Ocampo and “Wild Bill” pose for the camera; the dining room at Big Nose Kate's Saloon; Bailey enjoying a Leather Rose.

Fame. We didn’t stick around for the gunfight show but I swore I’d be back to see our new friends Hunter, Kaiden and Festus do their thing.

The Goodenough Silver Mine also found its way onto our shoot and had we not been so spent at the end of it, we would have returned to take a proper tour of the mine. After all, silver was the reason that Tombstone grew as much as it did during its heyday.

We managed to hit a couple of the bars in Tombstone like The Crystal Palace and Big Nose Kate’s and dined twice at Vogan’s Alley, which impressed everyone in the crew with their food, selection of hooch, and creepy pictures on the wall.

If you’re reading this it’s obvious that you enjoy fine smokes, and you’ll be pleased

to know that there is a great little cigar and gun shop right in the center of town called Smoke Signals. Shop owner Suzanne Wilson has stocked her cabinet humidors with brands like AJ Fernandez, Oliva, JFR, and Espinosa among others. Sit and smoke while watching the gunfight re-enactments just outside or shop for a new six-shooter of your own. If you’re coming in from outside of Arizona, they’ll work with your local gun store and ship your new piece out to you.

Like many boys who grew up in this country, I loved Westerns. Heck, I must’ve loved them even before. My mom has a picture of me at 5 years old in full cowboy gear at the airport in Havana about to board the flight that would ensure that my sister and I would grow up in a free country. A bit older, I read every Louis L’Amour novel I came across and even later memorized every line in Kurt Russell’s Tombstone. Most people who visit this place say it feels like they’ve walked back in time to the 1880s, but for me it felt like I’d walked back into the shoes of that innocent 5-year-old boy at the airport and for that I will be eternally grateful to Tombstone.

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NFL SEASON PREVIEW

By Michael Vick

At last the regular season is finally here! I’m happy to say that this year marks my fifth year as an NFL analyst on the FOX NFL Kickoff show, which I have enjoyed tremendously. The interesting part about being in-studio after my 13-year playing career is that I still feel the same excitement on game days as I did when I strapped on a helmet on Sundays. This NFL season will be no different with plenty of things to look forward to. Here are some of the storylines that I’ll be following throughout the league.

Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

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NFC South Tampa Bay Buccaneers The defending Super Bowl champion returns all of its starters, which means they could actually be better in all facets. I saw wide receiver Antonio Brown working out in Florida, and he had that look on his face. He was smiling, and couldn’t wait for the season to start, knowing they could be special. I don’t know who they’ll be playing against, but the Bucs will be competing in the NFC Championship Game.

New Orleans Saints Tom Brady is no doubt the quarterback of the Buccaneers, but that position is not so certain for other teams. That’s especially true for the Saints after Drew Brees retired. Jameis Winston is the opening day starter. However, Taysom Hill is a competent backup in case anything should happen. Knowing you have a capable backup behind you actually makes you better and tougher.

You end up finding out a lot about yourself after battling it out as Jameis did.

Atlanta Falcons It’s a make-or-break year for Matty Ice on the Falcons, but I think Matt Ryan will put my former team in a position to succeed. They traded away franchise great Julio Jones. That’s just part of the business, but it means wide receiver Calvin Ridley has to step up. The question with them, though, is their defense.

Carolina Panthers I’m a big fan of CMac. Christian McCaffrey could be my RB1 any day of the week. He’s explosive and shifty to say the least. I’m also interested to see quarterback Sam Darnold as their new starter. Let’s see how he does in a new environment.

Chicago Bears Head coach Matt Nagy is my guy. He used to be my coach in Philadelphia, and I love him to death. He faces a crucial year. Not a lot of people are talking about the Bears, but I think they have a real chance. Quarterback Andy Dalton can be a steadying force to go along with that great defense that has Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks and Eddie Jackson.

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Kirk Cousins has to be the cornerstone of the team.

However, they also have to give the ball to Dalvin Cook and let him rock out.

Justin Jefferson was great last year catching 88 balls for 1,400 yards as a rookie. They have all the pieces, and Minnesota is always a tough place to play, but they’re my No. 3 team in the NFC North as of right now.

Detroit Lions

North

Playing quarterback for the Lions will be a culture shock for Jared Goff. He has to embrace what he has around him this year. It’s going to be tough for them, and they’re going to have to grind out games as best as they can.

Green Bay Packers

West

The big question is what happens with quarterback Aaron Rodgers after this year. Things quiet down over time, so we’ll have to wait and see. He’s an enigma sometimes, but that’s the cool part about him. They’re a really good team that has a chance to make something big happen this year.

San Francisco 49ers

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The NFC West is the division I’m most excited about. There’s so much talent and so many storylines. I think the 49ers will have a bounce-back season.

Jimmy G is a good quarterback; he knows what he’s doing. Garoppolo

Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals will have to play their best to win the division in a tough NFC West.

especially Isaiah Simmons, who started to come on as a rookie last year.

East just has to stay healthy. Coach Mike Shanahan just breeds success, and this team definitely can win the division.

Seattle Seahawks For the Seahawks it’s about everyone else besides Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner because we know those two will be great. Shaquill Griffin, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, is a big loss at cornerback. But Pete Carroll knows talent, he’s a great coach and will have his team flying to the ball.

Los Angeles Rams I’m so excited about the Rams. Their new quarterback, Matt Stafford, is a gunslinger and he’ll love executing Sean McVay’s plays. On the defensive side of the ball, they have one of the best corners, Jalen Ramsey, and one of the best defensive players of all time, Aaron Donald. They without a doubt have a chance to win the division.

Arizona Cardinals For quarterback Kyler Murray, it doesn’t get better than having the combination of DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green at wide receiver. Hopkins finished second in the NFL with 115 catches last year and third with 1,407 yards. He’s a special talent, and not many wide receivers can measure up to him. They lost Patrick Peterson at cornerback, but I like their linebackers,

Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott is back for the “boys.”

They’ve got a lot of offensive talent around him, but the D will have to be much better for them to return to the playoffs.

Washington Football Team They just need a quarterback — plain and simple. They need to do what the 49ers and New York Jets did: trade or draft a guy. Sure, Ryan Fitzpatrick will bring the FitzMagic at times, but he’s not the long-term answer. That defense, though, is going to cause problems for teams in the NFC East.

Philadelphia Eagles I like the potential of Jalen Hurts at QB for the Eagles and am looking forward to checking him out in person during my visits. I’m excited to see the start of his career. The Eagles are in a bit of a rebuilding phase, but they’ve still got my former teammate Fletcher Cox to anchor the defensive front.

New York Giants Getting Saquon Barkley back at running back will help the G-men, but it’s all on Daniel Jones. I can’t think of an NFL quarterback with more pressure on him than Jones. It’s his third year, and the Giants have plenty of draft picks to go after another quarterback if he doesn’t produce this season.

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South Florida just down the street from me, and he’s definitely in tip-top shape.

He looks great and threw the ball well.

I think they can build something in Denver.

AFC

Las Vegas Raiders It’s a crossroads type of season for Vegas QB Derek Carr. If he doesn’t take the Raiders to the playoffs, head coach Jon Gruden will have a decision on his hands since Carr’s entering his 30s, and the quarterback’s contract is close to wrapping up. Gruden’s contract, of course, means he’ll be the calling shots for some time.

South Tennessee Titans The Titans made a splash in the offseason and quarterback Ryan Tannehill should be one happy camper.

After acquiring star receiver Julio Jones, they now have two of the hardest wide receivers to tackle in the NFL in Jones and A.J. Brown. It reminds me of when I had Roddy White and Michael Jenkins in Atlanta. They’ll make it tougher for defenses to focus on Derrick Henry. I like this team in the division. The question is whether they can beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs.

East Buffalo Bills

play. Things will be entertaining in Jacksonville.

Cleveland Browns

From left to right: The NFL's leading rusher, Derrick Henry, should have the Tennessee Titans in contention come playoff time; The Browns have solidified their team in the offseason and will be a tough out in the AFC North.

The simple truth is the Browns are going to be a hard football team to beat. They have to remain true to themselves and run the ball with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. They’ve also added some pieces to the defense, including what seems like half of the Rams’ secondary in John Johnson, a top 10 safety, and Troy Hill.

think they’re going to be competitive.

I love the confidence that quarterback Joe Burrow brings. Rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who caught passes from Burrow at LSU, is an extraordinary talent and should give them an immediate boost.

Baltimore Ravens

West

The similarities between QB Lamar Jackson and myself are there. He knows exactly what he needs to do for the team to take that next step. And if he ever needs to reach out, he knows where to find me and vice versa. I like the fact that they brought in wide receiver Sammy Watkins to help him.

Now the challenge is for offensive coordinator Greg Roman to expand the offense even more.

Kansas City Chiefs

North

Indianapolis Colts All eyes will be on Colts quarterback Carson Wentz. He just needs to return to having fun playing football again. I think he’ll be rejuvenated and refreshed although he sustained an injury to his foot during training camp which required surgery. He has a strong foundation around him with his former coach, Frank Reich; a good offensive line; a strong running back game led by Marlon Mack and Jonathan Taylor; and a tough defense. Linebacker Darius Leonard is a beast.

Houston Texans The question in Houston is whether Deshaun Watson will play football this season. Tyrod Taylor is scheduled to be the opening day starter. If Watson does not return, I believe Taylor can carry the load. They’re in a rebuilding phase, but I love their new head coach David Culley. He was my coach with the Eagles, and he’s a great personality.

Jacksonville Jaguars Urban Meyer was a very interesting head coaching hire for the Jags. I can’t wait to watch their rookie quarterback, No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence,

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Pittsburgh Steelers The team I ended my NFL career with needs to look in the mirror. They probably think that they failed last year after ending the season losing five of their last six games, but that’s in the rearview mirror. The bottom line is it all starts and ends with QB Ben Roethlisberger who could be in his last year. Their defense is still really good. At defensive back Joe Haden is a cornerstone, and Cameron Sutton is ready to emerge.

Cincinnati Bengals It’s all about changing the culture in Cinci, and if they’re able to do that, I

Needless to say there are high expectations in Kansas City this year.

I happen to have a great relationship with Andy Reid, who coached me in Philadelphia, and I don’t think Coach Reid is done by any means. He has a once-in-a-generation talent in Patrick Mahomes — similar to what we saw with guys like John Elway, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers. He’s only going to continue to get better and grow with Coach Reid.

The sky’s the limit.

Los Angeles Chargers Justin Herbert is the young quarterback I’m most excited to watch this season.

He threw for 4,336 yards and 31 touchdowns while winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, and I want to see what he does for an encore in year two.

Denver Broncos Another QB I’m excited to see play is Teddy Bridgewater. I’ve been with him this offseason while he trained in

The Bills are going to be hard to beat in the East. Sean McDermott was the defensive coordinator when I won Comeback Player of the Year with the Eagles in 2010. He learned under the great Jim Johnson and it shows. His defenses are always fast, exciting and aggressive. The Bills play the same way.

They’re also fundamentally sound. On offense that combination of Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs is really something.

Diggs led all receivers in catches (127) and yards (1,535) last year.

New England Patriots All eyes will be on rookie quarterback Mac Jones who beat out Cam Newton for the starting QB spot. It’s unfortunate for Cam who’s such a tough guy and has had to bounce back from so much adversity. Now it’s up to Jones to see if he can give the organization the success they have grown accustomed to. He will have to be productive to have any chance of getting them back to the playoffs.

Miami Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has got to be the most motivated quarterback in the NFL because of what he went through last year. There was a lot of speculation that the Dolphins might draft a quarterback after he threw four interceptions in his last three games.

However, he goes into the season with a vote of confidence from his head coach Brian Flores and renewed enthusiasm for the upcoming season.

New York Jets Being a former player I’m encouraged about the direction the franchise is going after they drafted Zach Wilson No. 2 overall. I like him. His college tape is electric and he’s got a lot of bravado and swag. He’s the right guy to be the quarterback of the Jets. I think this team can be good, but it all starts with their #1 draft pick.

Images: (Left) Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 - photographer: Chipermc / (Right) Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 - photographer: Erik Drost

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Michael Vick ichael Vick was electrifying on the football field. He was drafted first overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL draft. In only his second year in the NFL, he led the Falcons to the playoffs. In the 2003 season the Falcons made it to the NFC Championship Game and although they lost, his star was on the rise.

In many ways his life off the field was inversely proportionate to his life on it. While he was winning games and putting up huge numbers at the highest level in his sport, his chronic bad decisions and questionable circle of friends eventually lead him to a world of trouble. Vick served 23 months in prison for his role in a dog fighting ring and was suspended indefinitely by the National Football League.

Having served his debt to society, the then 28-year-old Vick set out on a new path.

He was reinstated by the NFL and signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. After a year backing up Donovan McNabb, Vick was named the starter in Philadelphia and was named Comeback Player of the Year by the Associated Press and Sporting News. He worked with animal welfare charities, and partnered with the Humane Society to help bring an end to dogfighting.

He settled down in more ways than one; he dedicated himself to his family and what was left of his NFL career, becoming a positive veteran presence on several teams.

In 2012 Vick married his longtime girlfriend Kijafa Frink and in 2017 he retired from professional football. Today Michael Vick continues his work with animal welfare charities and when he isn’t working as an analyst on Fox’s award-winning NFL Kickoff show, he’s smoking cigars and playing golf. We caught up with him at Crandon Golf Course in Miami.

When did you start working on Fox’s NFL Kickoff?

I started in 2017. It’s funny, because a lot of people don’t know I’m on Fox. Just being an analyst is super cool. It’s very time consuming, as you know, and we have to put a lot of work into it. However, we have fun with it.

I’m looking forward to another season. I’m always excited about the start of it. I love the game. I like watching it as a passionate fan. Wholeheartedly I can pull a lot out of it when I analyze it. So I wake up on Sundays as if I’m still playing.

I think quarterbacks have an advantage over most analysts when commenting on games. What makes you different than the majority of analysts that we see out there?

As a quarterback you have to prepare – all throughout training camp, mini camps, and definitely during a normal week of practice. We have to process a lot of information on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. We have to learn each and every position, including all the moves teams like to make whether calculated or uncalculated. Throughout all my years, I’ve gathered so much information that when I see someone make a mistake, I know why it’s wrong. It’s such a cool experience to be able to shed light on things that I see and then draw back on my experiences that I personally had in order to be the best analyst that I can be. From there you just let your personality shine and by speaking the truth, I think that’s what people admire.

We all know the problems that you dealt with, and we know you’ve addressed them. You did your time in addition to all the other different things you had to do.

What else do you do nowadays to atone for those mistakes? Is that something you still feel responsible for?

Absolutely, responsibility is very important. Taking onus for one’s actions and specifically being more compassionate towards animal welfare is the message I try to educate kids with. In my case I grew up in an environment where it did not exist, we didn’t care. We didn’t look at it as right or wrong. Unfortunately we didn’t grow up with those types of morals and values. I grew up in poverty-stricken areas in Virginia, and that’s not an excuse.

However, we need more people that come out of these areas and lead us. Educators. That’s PHOTO BY: MANUEL HERNANDEZ

LOCATION: CRANDON GOLF AT KEY BISCAYNE

what I’m trying to accomplish now.

How hard is that?

What you’re trying to accomplish is that kids are doing the right things when the doors are closed and Mom’s not looking. What type of character comes out within you? That’s the key.

I was raised in a hostile environment. There are a lot of things that I wish I would have never done. I made mistakes, but now I know. My kids on the other hand live a different life. I see kids now growing up in different environments, and even in the same type of environment as I did, but have more critical thinking skills nowadays. I think they are taught better, and they have better mentors. Moms and dads in the household who don’t let them go out and just roam the streets. In my case I was nine years old and would be 20 blocks away from home. Not to say that my mom didn’t care – it wasn’t her fault. I was just curious and was far away from any type of supervision. So I’ve seen a lot of things, and now I’m thankful that my kids don’t have to go through what I did. Now I try to fight as hard as I can in terms of animal welfare. I recently met with the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, VA. I’m coordinating to help them out with renovations there. I do it because I love the museum. I’m there all the time with my kids. We go and visit all of the exhibits and I want to help them out. It’s a great place. I’m going to help them rebuild. They have various types of classes and curricula for kids of all ages. Kids go on field trips and learn about animal welfare and what it takes to raise animals – all really cool stuff. That’s what I enjoy doing. I’m into making change and being an instrument of change and nobody has to coach me on doing that, you know, it’s my life and I could do it myself.

What about the cigar world? Who introduced you to cigars?

Yeah, Ray Lewis is my cigar mentor. [chuckles] Ray and I have gotten close over the last couple of years. And obviously he’s a Rocky Patel guy. So he’s always educating me on cigars, and we’ll go hang out and just smoke. How do you tell Ray no? For the most part though, I like my cigars mild. Sometimes sweet, even the flavored sweet ones. But those can be a bit too much sometimes and it’s too sweet.

Yeah man I love a good cigar, especially with a glass of wine. Usually when I’m just hanging out with the guys. I’m always intrigued by new and different brands and I’m always trying to educate myself.

So you stay on the mild side of the street, so mostly Connecticut shade wrappers?

Yeah I’ll always go for a lighter shade. And I don’t care what it is. It could be a Cuban or whatever. It could even be the best cigar on the market, but it better be light. And if it’s light for me, then I can work it for sure.

What was that spark that got you to start smoking?

I started maybe seven or eight years ago. A lot of my friends that I hang around with would smoke them on the golf course, which I thought was cool. It’s the perfect thing to do when you’re out there on the course. But when I started to hang out with Ray we would sit down and smoke different brands and really analyze all the different wrappers and all the different flavors. I love the process as I continue to educate myself on what I like or what I can potentially like. I have a better understanding now when a cigar is too strong and it overpowers my palate.

So what has you excited about this upcoming season?

I’m always interested in the quarterbacks and just the current state of all the different franchises. I’m very excited about newcomers like Justin Herbert. I’m always excited to see Lamar Jackson because you never know what he has in store. Patrick Mahomes will be on the bounce back; Brady will be doing his thing. Aaron Rodgers as he continued to work through the differences he has in Green Bay. Hopefully that works itself out. When he puts that Pack uniform back on I think it’s just good football. What do the Cowboys have to offer in the NFC East? Hopefully that division should be much better. The NFC North should be better also with some young quarterbacks there, specifically Justin Fields. So that’s where my excitement is. As you can see I’m more excited by the offensive side of the ball, but I love the defensive side of the ball too, because that’s what makes the game the game.

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

63

48 CIGARS KNIFE: Winkler Knives II Caswell CPM3V (winklerknives.com)

TORPEDO Davidoff Yamasa

$ 21.70

92

VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER:

Piramide 6 1/8 52 Dominican Republic Nicaragua & Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

Plasencia Cosecha 146

A complex profile of cedar, nuts, maple syrup, and soft spice complemented by a rich, creamy texture on the finish. This consistently well-made figurado draws and burns impeccably while leaving behind a solid, compact ash. Medium plus body.

$ 13.50

92

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

San Agustin 6 1/4 52 Honduras Nicaragua Honduras & Nicaragua

Don Lino Africa

H O N D UR AS Impeccably balanced with a profile of almonds, sweet spice, and cedar accompanied by hints of pepper and dried fruit. Superbly constructed and covered with a supple, reddish brown wrapper. Medium bodied with an excellent smoke output.

$ 10.50

91

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

Kifaru 6 1/4 52 Ecuador Cameroon Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos

91

N I CA R AG UA An ultra-flavorful blend highlighted by flavors of roasted nuts, pepper, oak, and American coffee held together by an earthy background note. Perfectly box-pressed and finished with an impeccable wrapper. Medium plus strength.

$ 13.50 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

No. 2 6 55 Cameroon Dominican Republic Dominican Republic

Perdomo Lot 23

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Delivers a core of cedar, salted nuts, and cinnamon accompanied by a soft spice on the finish. This medium bodied torpedo is covered with a thin, light brown wrapper with an excellent sheen. Consistently leaves behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 7.50

90

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

Belicoso 5 54 Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua

Fratello Classico The Boxer

90 66 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

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

N I CA R AG UA A balanced and consistent torpedo covered with a clean, reddish brown wrapper with excellent sheen. Draws and burns well with a core of earth and pepper complemented by notes of cedar, leather, and a touch of floral.

$ 10.00 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Torpedo 6 1/4 52 Nicaragua Ecuador Peru & Nicaragua

N I CA R AG UA Beautifully box-pressed and covered with a reddish brown wrapper with a leathery feel.

Powerful and flavorful with a core of cayenne pepper, earth, and toasted nuts complemented by a rich, sweet cedar note in the aroma.

TORPEDO Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro

$ 16.00

N I CA R AGUA This impeccably constructed, box-pressed torpedo provides a perfect draw and flawless burn while producing a balanced and complex profile of dark chocolate, espresso, wood, and caramel complemented by a roasted almond finish. Medium plus strength.

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

Figurado 6 1/2 52 Mexico Nicaragua Nicaragua

93 My Father Le Bijou 1922

$ 12.10

N I CA R AGUA An ultra-flavorful and complex blend with a core of smooth pepper and earth complemented by dark chocolate, toasted almonds, and a touch of cream on the finish. A firm draw and razor sharp burn leave behind a solid, compact ash.

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

Torpedo 6 1/8 52 Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua

92 Padrón 1926 Serie

$ 19.22

N I CA R AGUA This well-balanced, box-pressed blend is covered with a dark brown, toothy wrapper and topped with a unique pointed head. Consistently delivers flavors of smooth pepper, earth, chocolate, cedar, and a hint of roasted nuts.

Medium strength.

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

No. 2 5 1/2 52 Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua

92 Herrera Esteli Norteño

$ 10.95

N I CA R AGUA Finished with a soft box-press, this flavorful, dark figurado has a core of roasted nuts, cocoa, and coffee balanced by a smooth pepper and earth base. Consistently provides a perfect draw and burn leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

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

Piramide Fino 5 50 Mexico Honduras Nicaragua

91 Aladino Corojo Reserva

$ 16.00

H O ND U R AS A powerful blend with dominant notes of earth, roasted nuts, and oak complemented by more subtle flavors of coffee and vanilla bean. This soft-pressed torpedo is covered with a clean, medium brown wrapper with only slight veins.

Full strength.

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

Figurado 6 1/4 54 Honduras Honduras Honduras

90 Tatuaje Havana VI

$ 8.50

N I CA R AGUA This medium to full strength, classic looking, round torpedo is finished with an oily, dark brown wrapper. Opens with a core of red pepper, bitter coffee, and oak complemented by subtle notes of toffee and cocoa powder.

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

Artistas 6 1/8 52 Ecuador Nicaragua Nicaragua

89 SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

67

GRAN TORO My Father Fonseca

$ 11.20

92

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

Toro Gordo 6 55 Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua

San Cristobal Quintessence

91

An impeccably balanced blend with a profile of roasted almond, cedar, caramel, and a bit of mocha accompanied by a creamy texture on the finish. This consistently well constructed gran toro produces an excellent output of mild to medium strength smoke.

$ 9.75 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Majestic 6 60 Ecuador Nicaragua Nicaragua

Espinosa Habano

N I CA R AG UA Draws and burns beautifully with a subtle core of wood, cashews, and sweet cream complemented by a touch of pepper. This medium strength blend produces an excellent smoke output and leaves behind a solid, gray ash.

$ 8.30

91

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

No. 8 6 1/8 58 Ecuador Nicaragua Nicaragua

Hamlet 2020

N I CA R AG UA Flavorful and creamy with notes of cedar, pepper, nuts, and sweet spices complemented by a touch of coffee on the finish. Covered with a good-looking, medium brown colored wrapper with minimal veins. Medium strength.

$ 12.50

90

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

Sixty 6 60 Ecuador Honduras Honduras & Nicaragua

Alec Bradley Project 40

N I CA R AG UA A thick, flavorful blend with a profile of pepper, earth, and caramel complemented with notes of oak and savory spices. Well made and covered with a neatly applied, reddish brown wrapper. Delivers an easy draw and a good smoke output. Medium plus strength.

$ 5.99

89

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

Gordo 6 60 Nicaragua Brazil Nicaragua

CAO Flathead V21

N I CA R AG UA Notes of wood and spice dominate the profile accompanied by subtle notes of salted peanuts, red pepper, and earth. Medium bodied and finished with a neatly applied, reddish brown wrapper showing minimal veins.

$ 13.99

89 68 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

N I CA R AG UA

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

Carb 6 60 Mexico USA/Connecticut Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

N I CA R AG UA Opens with a smooth profile of sweet pepper, soft spice, and cedar accompanied by notes of floral and tanned leather in the aroma. This thick, box-pressed gran toro is finished with a flat head and covered with a supple, medium brown wrapper.

LIGHT UP THE GAME You got this.

RATED

93

RATED

93

RATED

90

RATED

92

RATED

90

Perfected over 156 years, yours to enjoy now. #LightUpYourSoul PlasenciaCigars.com SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

69

TORO Montecristo Epic Vintage 12 Blue

91

$ 1 7.75 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Toro 6 52 Ecuador Dominican Republic Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

RoMa Craft CroMagnon Aquitaine

91

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

Blockhead LE 6 54 Ecuador Cameroon Nicaragua

N I CA R AG UA Earthy and powerful. Box-pressed and covered with a good-looking, dark brown wrapper with a velvet feel. Notes of espresso, roasted nuts, and oak complemented by black pepper and a touch of molasses.

$ 12.50 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Sublime 6 54 Mexico Ecuador Nicaragua

La Aurora 1985 Maduro

N I CA R AG UA Opens with a blend of dark chocolate, cedar, ripe fruit, and black pepper. This medium plus strength toro is finished with a dark and slightly discolored wrapper with a coarse feel. Provides an excellent draw and burn leaving behind a white ash.

$ 6.00

90

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

Toro 5 3/4 54 Brazil Dominican Republic Dominican Republic

Gurkha Revenant

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Covered with a dark, toothy wrapper with a somewhat coarse feel. Consistently provides a firm draw and an excellent smoke output with notes of ripe fruit, charred oak, sweet spice, and a touch of dark chocolate.

$ 8.50

89

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

Toro 6 54 Mexico Cameroon Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Buffalo Trace

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A dark, box-pressed toro with a core of earth, molasses, and pepper accompanied by a touch of roasted nuts. Consistently produces tons of medium strength smoke and leaves behind a dark gray ash.

$ 8.00

88 70 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

This well-made blend draws and burns impeccably while delivering notes of oak, white pepper, and wheat balanced by subtle hints of dried fruit and clove. Covered with a clean, dark brown wrapper. Medium strength.

$ 19.95

Crowned Heads CHC Reserve XVIII

90

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

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

Toro 6 52 Ecuador Brazil Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Delivers a profile of wood, earth, and sweet spice complemented by subtle hints of caramel and leather on the finish. This medium strength toro is wrapped with a dark brown cover leaf with a slightly coarse feel.

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

71

TORO San Lotano Requiem Habano

92

$ 8.50 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Toro 6 54 Brazil Nicaragua Honduras, Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Liga Privada H99

Delivers a core of pepper, earth, and wood balanced by notes of nutmeg, toffee, and almond cream. Consistently well made and covered with a nearly flawless wrapper with a toothy texture. Medium to full strength.

$ 1 4.33

92

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

Toro 6 52 USA/Connecticut Mexico Honduras & Nicaragua

Rocky Patel Sixty

N I CA R AG UA An ultra-flavorful blend with a complex combination of sweet spice, cedar, caramel, and dried fruit. Produces an abundant amount of thick, highly aromatic smoke and leaves behind a solid, compact ash. Medium plus strength.

$ 15.70

91

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

Toro 6 1/2 52 Mexico Nicaragua Nicaragua

Casa Cuba

N I CA R AG UA A beautifully box-pressed toro covered with a clean, medium brown wrapper and finished with a neat triple cap. Draws and burns perfectly while producing a rich and creamy core of pepper, roasted nuts, and cocoa. Medium strength.

$ 11.70

91

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

Doble Seis 6 52 Ecuador Dominican Republic Dominican Republic

Aladino Vintage Selection

90 90

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Covered with a beautiful, reddish brown wrapper with excellent oils, this medium bodied blend delivers flavors of cedar, spice, and roasted nuts accompanied by a subtle sweet and creamy note on the finish.

$ 8.80 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Toro 6 50 Honduras Honduras Honduras

Diesel Crucible Limited 2021 Edition

72 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

N I CA R AG UA

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

H O N D UR AS This medium bodied blend is highlighted by notes of cedar, spice, salted peanuts, and dried fruit held together by a smooth, earthy background flavor. Consistently well made and covered with a clean, light brown wrapper.

$ 9.99 Toro 6 52 Ecuador Nicaragua Honduras & Nicaragua

N I CA R AG UA Impeccably box-pressed and finished with a gorgeous, reddish brown wrapper with excellent sheen. A flavorful blend with notes of intense pepper, chicory, burnt caramel, and roasted nuts along a perfect draw and an even burn.

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

73

TORO Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT

92

$ 9.70 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Toro 6 50 Ecuador Nicaragua Nicaragua

H. Upmann Classic

A smooth and well-balanced blend covered with a neatly applied, supple, light brown wrapper.

Consistently draws and burns well producing a profile of cedar, almonds, and cream joined by soft spice and a hint of vanilla sweetness.

$ 7.70

91

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

Toro 6 54 Ecuador Honduras Honduras

Southern Draw Rose of Sharon

91 90

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

Toro 6 52 USA/Connecticut Nicaragua Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

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

Toro 6 52 USA/Connecticut USA/Connecticut Nicaragua

N I CA R AG UA Impeccably box-pressed and covered with a supple, light brown wrapper with minimal veins. Loaded with flavors of cedar, spice, and smooth pepper complemented by vanilla and cashew. Mild to medium strength.

N I CA R AG UA This flavorful blend opens with creamy and smooth flavors of vanilla, cashew, and wood complemented by a soft pepper note on the finish. This mild toro is covered with a light, golden colored wrapper with minimal veins.

$ 9.50 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Toro 6 52 Honduras Honduras Honduras

La Palina Classic Connecticut

89

Covered with a clean, golden colored wrapper with a velvet feel, this thick, flavorful blend opens with earth and sweet spice complemented by notes of cedar, peanuts, and a hint of orange zest. Medium strength.

$ 7.10

Leaf by Oscar Connecticut

90

H O N D UR AS

$ 10.66

Brick House Double Connecticut

74 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

N I CA R AG UA

H O N D UR AS Consistently well constructed and covered with a thin, light brown wrapper. Provides a perfect draw and an even burn producing an excellent output of medium bodied smoke with subtle notes of sweet spice, wood, earth, and a touch of vanilla.

$ 6.99 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Toro 6 1/4 50 Ecuador Dominican Republic Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

H O N D UR AS Covered with a thin, light brown wrapper with a velvet feel. Provides a firm draw and leaves behind a solid ash. Notes of wood, pepper, and a touch of cream complemented by an aroma of leather and spice. Medium strength.

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

75

ROBUSTO Tatuaje Miami Reserva

$ 12.00

92

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

J21 5 50 USA/Connecticut Nicaragua Nicaragua

AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro

92

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

Robusto 5 1/2 52 Brazil Mexico Nicaragua

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

N I CA R AG UA Delivers a core of smooth pepper, dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and sweet espresso accompanied by a note of earthiness in the background. Consistently draws and burns perfectly while leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 10.00 Robusto 5 52 Mexico Dominican Republic Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Kristoff Ligero Maduro

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A smooth and consistent robusto finished with a dark brown wrapper with a bit of tooth.

Draws and burns well while producing a good output of medium bodied smoke with flavors of wood, subtle pepper, and a touch of bittersweet chocolate.

$ 9.60

89

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

Robusto 5 1/2 54 Brazil Dominican Republic Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Black

88 87

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Beautifully produced with a dark, oily wrapper finished with a neat pigtail and a covered foot. This medium strength robusto opens with a combination of earthy and woody notes accompanied by a touch of black American coffee.

$ 8.49 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

Robusto 5 50 USA/Connecticut Ecuador Honduras & Nicaragua

La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro

76 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

Loaded with flavors of cocoa powder, roasted nuts, red pepper, and earth accompanied by complex aromas of grilled meats, toffee, and charred wood. Construction is impeccable and smoke output is plentiful. Medium to full strength.

$ 9.50

Caldwell Blind Man’s Bluff This is Trouble

90

USA

H O N D UR AS Opens with intense black pepper, earth, molasses, and ripe fruit accompanied by background notes of oak and burnt caramel. This medium plus strength robusto is covered with a dark brown wrapper with a coarse feel.

$ 8.59 VITOLA: LENGTH: RING: WRAPPER: BINDER: FILLER:

No. 5 5 1/2 54 USA/Connecticut Nicaragua Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Covered with a jet-black wrapper with a coarse feel and sweetness on the lips. Produces an abundant smoke output with notes of earth, wood, and sugarcane accompanied by a touch of licorice. Medium strength.

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

77

ROBUSTO Sobremesa

$ 11.45

92

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

Robusto Largo 5 1/4 52 Ecuador Mexico USA & Nicaragua

AVO Syncro Caribe

Beautifully balanced and complex, this wellconstructed robusto produces an abundant smoke output with flavors of cocoa, smooth pepper, roasted nuts, and sweet earth complemented by a rich, creamy texture. Medium bodied.

$ 10.90

91

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

Robusto 5 50 Dominican Republic Ecuador Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

E.P. Carrillo Encore

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Opens with a flavorful combination of cedar and smooth pepper notes balanced by hints of roasted nuts, wheat, and earth. This medium strength blend is impeccably constructed producing an abundant output of thick, aromatic smoke.

$ 11.50

91

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

Majestic 5 3/8 52 Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua

Blackbird Crow

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A good-looking, pressed robusto covered with a light, reddish brown wrapper with minimal veins. Provides an excellent draw and produces tons of medium bodied smoke with notes of almond, cedar, and pepper joined by a rich, creamy note.

$ 7.52

90

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

Robusto 5 50 Mexico Dominican Republic USA & Nicaragua

Casa Magna Liga F

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Covered with a clean, neatly applied wrapper and finished with a covered foot. Delivers a medium plus strength profile of chicory, white pepper, earth, and roasted almonds accompanied by a subtle touch of sweetness.

$ 9.00

88

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

Robusto 5 54 Ecuador Dominican Republic Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Bohekio

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Opens with a blast of bitter wood and red pepper flavors accompanied by notes of anise, nuts, and a subtle sweet cream. Covered with a medium brown wrapper with excellent oils, this well-made robusto consistently draws and burns well.

$ 9.00

87 78 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

N I CA R AG UA

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

Robusto 5 50 Dominican Republic Haiti Haiti

HAITI Delivers a sharp core of pepper and allspice accompanied by notes of wood, grass, and sugar cane sweetness. This mild robusto is beautifully constructed and finished with a neat, round head. Produces an excellent smoke output.

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

79

WITH

JOSEPH

WAGNER

Joseph Wagner has made a name for himself by consistently bringing quality wines to market since he followed in the footsteps of four generations of Napa growers and winemakers. He’s taken the teachings of his legendary father, Chuck Wagner of Caymus, and paid homage to the land that has brought his family and droves of wine lovers so much joy. Along the way, he developed an acute affinity for fine cigars, even going as far as blending a couple of wine-friendly smokes for friends and family.

INTERVIEW BY ERIK CALVIÑO / PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM POLLOCK

a farming family. During the 80s and 90s is when Napa really started to see its cabs hit the world stage and people take note of them. But along with that, the rise in awareness of luxury wine and great cabernets coming out of Napa Valley elevated the whole area. I grew up working in the vineyards. Every once in a while when I got into my mid-teens, they’d let me go in the winery and work in there.

So learning from the ground up. My dad taught me a lot especially in the farming side of things and of course in winemaking, but I think the most important thing he taught me was to always push the limit, always try new things and always evolve. I think to this day, any wine that I’ve ever made and he’s tasted, he’s never said it was a perfect wine, there’s always something better you can do.

And that’s kind of what continues to drive us today is that innovation and trying to create something better. It could be something small or something major in our process and grape growing and winemaking. So I think that that’s the most important part. But it was a different world here. I mean, yeah, it’s, it’s beautiful out here in Napa. And you know, as the dot-com boom came and more people came with a lot more money, the beauty and elegance of the place elevated, which is a great thing but overall it still is an agricultural community and that’s where it is in my heart and that’s where I’m raising my kids.

Your affinity for the farming and agricultural component comes through in your products. You use it in your naming and you sometimes have quotes in there about farming and the land.

What’s interesting about wine is I really can’t think of any other product or very few other products that can capture a sense of time and place and hold onto it for years to come. And interestingly cigars are similar to wine in that sense.

Cigars are one of the only other products I can think of that you can go back and let’s say find a Cuban cigar from 1962 and experience to some degree the year that cigar was made. If you want to call it a vintage of cigar, you’re going to experience that year in that place. And I think that having this intrinsic tie to the land between wine and cigars is one of the most unique elements of it being a product. The quote you referred to was Daniel Webster, who stated: “Farming is the foundation of human civilization.” If you really think about it, this is very true.

Without farming you are a nomad, you’re walking around scavenging for berries and food. So farming really has you literally put down roots, and having a product that brings people around a table and enjoy life and brings up the communication like wine. Having that tie to the ground is just something that inherently we really appreciate as humans.

So let’s dive into cigars. When did you first get introduced to cigars?

Let’s start with your family. Anyone who drinks Napa cabs knows the Wagner name but what was that like growing up? Did you know what your family meant to the wine business?

In my youth it was much more of an agricultural focus. My family didn’t make wine under the Caymus label during those years and Napa Valley wasn’t really as world-renowned as it is today. Napa was a farming community and we were

80 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

Growing up, my family would have friends over and inevitably we would end up on the porch. My dad and his friends would always have a cigar. Typically, my dad would have it with port. And that’s where it all started. He taught me how to actually taste the cigar rather than just breathe it in and cough up a lung. And so that’s kind of how it began. And then as I grew up and I got into making wine, I started smoking more cigars. Part of it was I would travel to the central coast where we grow grapes for Clark and Telephone and the Las Alturas vineyard.

It’s about a six-hour drive from here, so most of the time, I leave really early in the morning, get down there and do my rounds. And then stay the night, hit the next county and then come back late that second night. Inevitably I’d be tired and driving so I’d turned the music way up and smoke a cigar while I was driving to keep me awake. And then as I continued to smoke more cigars I would learn more about them. Every harvest night, at the end of the day, it could be nine or 10pm, I would go back to my office and do my paperwork, just trying to catch up and get ready for the next day. And I’d have a cigar every time I was doing that. During harvest I’d go through dozens of cigars, if not more. It got to the point where around 2010 I wanted to start looking at making our own cigars.

And so I ended up going through about four cigars a night during that period and focused more on tasting than just smoking. So it was a great learning experience and I was able to take my notes and understand what I really liked about certain cigars. At this point is when I started to evolve the idea of what it would take to create the perfect cigar for a wine pairing. Because oftentimes certain cigars, a Maduro for example, will overpower some wines and you want something a little bit lighter, a little creamier. And so that’s what we really started focusing on when we started to blend our own cigars. That was a fun process, but that’s

what really got me into it. It started with my dad as a kid and then just kind of taking that and rolling with it. But you know, cigars are a great product; it’s a great thing to enjoy. It doesn’t need to be just for celebrations.

Agreed! The car ride story you tell is perfect; there are so many guys that smoke cigars like that. It’s a late night after work and the cigar gets them home safely and relaxed. My favorite however is what you mentioned about doing paperwork.

I tell people all the time because we work while smoking cigars, obviously daily.

When you’re doing work, and you’ve got a cigar, man it makes that time a little more pleasurable than it otherwise would be.

Way more pleasurable! Yeah. You’re like, okay, here’s my relaxation while I get everything prepared for tomorrow and it really is a good just kind of wind down moment. Yep, paperwork and cigars are better than paperwork and wine! [laughing]

Can we dig just a little deeper into when you went down the path of creating your own cigar brand? I know there isn’t a product that people can buy but I’d still like to talk about it. We don’t often interview winemakers who’ve tried their hand at cigar making. How did that take place?

I got in contact with somebody I met through the wine business and we started playing with different blends and we eventually settled on the first blend that we just call the Habano. Then one with a Connecticut wrapper; two different styles of cigars but both complementary to wine. And this was really just for personal family use and enjoying with friends in business. And at some point we thought we’d like to bring it out into the marketplace and see what people think about it.

However, wine is our business. And tobacco is something that’s a completely different ballgame.

But we’re learning about it. The process was just dialing in blends, and this probably went over for a two-year period, we were in no rush. We’d adjust little things and adjust big things and eventually settled on these two blends. They’re made down in the Dominican but they also work with Nicaraguan and a little bit of Mexican tobacco.

Does it have a name?

We call it Avrae. The tube it is packaged in has a similarity to the wax dip that we have on our Belle Glos, which was going to be the intention. We do a light box press on the Habano, and then the Connecticut is round. Both are individually packaged and they’re great little wine cigars. So that was the process, and the reason for it was to create something that really did pair well with pinot noir in particular. And I’m really happy with how it turned out.

Tell us a little bit about Copper Cane. Why you started it? Why the name? I like the name, I think it’s a cool reference but maybe most people won’t get it.

People ask me “Was that name chosen because that’s what your dad beat you with as a child or something?” No, no, there’s a whole story to it. Allow me a brief history here; my family actually immigrated to Napa in the 1850s from Alsace.

They got into growing grapes and making wine but they were unfortunately shut down by Prohibition, so they resorted to prunes and walnuts. Then in the late 1960s they weren’t making ends meet and decided to try their hand in the wine business again. So in 1972 they had their inaugural vintage of Caymus vineyards.

Within a few years they realized cabernet was king, it was the right fit for the land here. And they started to kind of shed off the other varietals they were producing.

Now fast forward a few decades into the late 90s. I got involved and started learning about the business, starting in vineyards, then getting into winemaking, and then learned all the other aspects of it. I started with pinot noir. It was the first vineyard I planted and we had fruit coming off of it within a few years, and had no plans for that fruit. I just took it in the corner of a cellar and started playing with it, asked my dad a lot of questions. I tried to learn about it as much as I could. It’s a very different variety than cabernet. It’s a thin skinned variety that tends to take that sense of time and place to an extreme, which can be a positive and a negative. The positive is that it is the most expressive of that site in place and time, but also it tends to show its flaws much easier. So I realized the cabernet focus was not going to be how we approach pinot noir, but I’d also say there was a time back into the 70s and 80s when people were trying to emulate Bordeaux with Napa cabernets. Bordeaux was looked at as the benchmark and

so winemakers were trying to make wines that tasted like that. And eventually Napa cabernet decided it had its own unique style, as it should. That became the beginning of Napa Valley cabernet and this kind of cult style that we look at. It was no different with pinot noir, just a few decades later. So I wanted to express to the fullest extent what Mother Nature gave us, and started to come up with my own processes and how to make these wines that are going to be more mouth-filling than your typical pinot noir, but still have grace and elegance with this beautiful acidity to carry the back end through. Inherently pinot noir doesn’t have a lot of structure. So you really need to rely upon the acidity to get it balanced.

I started Belle Glos first in 2001. Just a small side project before the movie Sideways hit. And from there, as you know, it was an uphill battle; I’ll say that it was hard to get American consumers to try out pinot noir at that time. But we were able to make some inroads and got some people in the restaurant world that really liked our wines and saw what we were doing. Then when Sideways hit, the world changed. So through that beginning of Belle Glos, we also created a brand that is now known as Meiomi. It’s no longer part of our portfolio, we sold it in 2015, but that one was intended to expose the general public to California Coastal pinot noir and it really did a fantastic job of that. So much so that it kind of changed the way that I look at how we should be operating in the wine business as far as how we get our wines out there and really focusing on restaurants getting these wines by the glass so people can enjoy them, try them and experience a number of different wines and styles. That’s what really created the beginnings of the Copper Cane philosophy when it came to what we wanted to bring out and that was really a philosophy of going off your palate to try wines and figure out what you enjoy. I don’t care if it’s Two Buck Chuck white zinfandel or a $2,000 burgundy.

If you like it, you like it and that’s your palate and I’m glad you’re drinking wine so that at the end of the day, that is the most important thing.

When we started Copper Cane in 2014, we started with mostly pinot noirs, Belle Glos being one of them. We started with the Quilt cabernet shortly before that vintage with the 2013, then Elouan pinot noir, and later on the chardonnay focusing on Oregon. Then of course Böen being our most recent addition to the lineup which came in the wake of the sale of Meiomi in 2015.

So what Copper Cane stands for is a kind of foundational component to how we look at and how we make our wines. This is more about maturity of the grapes.

So in the typical wine world we look at sugar levels or brix and you look at that and say okay, we’re going to pick at 25 or 26 brix of sugar. Well, the difference is every year, you might have a light crop or a heavy crop, the dynamics in the season, your sugar accumulation is not going to equate to the same amount of hang time you have for that fruit to be developing on the vine. So a light crop year with a lot of heat spikes, sugars are going to come quick, but you might not have that what we call physiological ripeness of the fruit, then in opposite years, the same is true. So we started looking at those physiological attributes, the seed and the maturity of the seed, I know that sounds odd, the flavors of the juice in the skin, of course, the texture coming out of the skin because that is really where all of those textures and color compounds come from. Then the vine itself, we want to see some elements of a kind of turning of the season.

We want to see that base of the canopy going from green to yellow but most importantly we have these green vines, and as we go into ripening, which is probably going to occur in mid-July, we want to see the vines or canes move from green and succulent to a pale yellow color and eventually start as a copper color at the base and migrate all the way up to the tip. When we see that, which is actually called lignification, a fully lignified cane we have now seen that the vine has kind of purged itself of the green characters and therefore will purge itself of the green characters in the resulting wine. So that’s where the name copper cane comes from.

I love that. Maybe it’s a little geeky for some but I love that low-key way of referring to quality.

I mean, the core of it is consistency in quality and style and that’s how we’re able to achieve it. We may see variations from vintage to vintage on alcohol levels, not drastically, but we’re maintaining a consistent style and that’s what’s really most important to me. I love consistency in vintage to vintage wines.

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

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TWITTER SCOREBOARD 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 ORGANIZATIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Miami Cigar Co @miamicigar ...................................................

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

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

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

La Palina Cigars @La PalinaCigars ...........................................

Avo Cigars @AvoCigars ...........................................................

35986 34344 28350 26264 20468 20281 19054 17975 17921 15988 15232 14744 13551 13012 12822 12585 12546 12544 11516 11069

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

Slippery Rock Cigars @SlipperyRockCig ....................................

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

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

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

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

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

Barry – Two Guys Smoke Shop @Barry2Guys ...........................

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

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

16316 14848 12693 10631 7489 7439 6233 6194 4961 4897

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stogie Boys @StogieBoys .......................................................

82 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

140756 17058 15220 15178 11463 10889 10631 8746 8196 8067

Cigar Rights of America @cigarrights ...................................... 14342 Premium Cigar Association @PCA1933 .................................... 8531 Tobacconist University @tobacconistU ................................... 4365

TOP CIGAR RADIO Cigar Dave Show @CigarDaveShow ........................................ 10242 KMA Talk Radio @KMATalkRadio ............................................. 2145 Cigars and Scotch @CigarScotch ............................................ 1950

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

@lilsiscokidd21 Oh hey there! For those who have been here a while, thanks for stickin’ around! And for the newbies, I hope you like excessive cigar pics!

@gregfrood It’s been a minute since I spent anytime sipping on a #coffee and smoking a cigar on the #balcony #balconylife reading my favorite magazine @cigarsnobmag !!! So I have some catching up to do this morning.

Hope everyone is having a great morning. BIELY CONNECTICUT TORO BY @tiradorramoscigars #cigarsnobmag #cigarpxrn

HANDMADE IN ESTELI, NICARAGUA W W W. D R E W E S TAT E . C O M SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

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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 )

TOP CIGAR ORGANIZATIONS

Padron Cigar @padroncigars ...................................................

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

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

Rocky Patel @rockypatelcigar .................................................

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alec Bradley Cigars @alecbradleycigar ....................................

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

E. P. Carrillo Cigars @epcarrillo_cigars ....................................

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

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

Premium Cigar Association @PCA1933 .................................... 14113 Tobacco Plus Expo @tobaccoplusexpo ..................................... 5052 Cigar Rights of America @cigarrightsofamerica ......................... 3451

151313 123983 119365 96958 91385 86992 74465 73459 71254 68627 62297 58917 56730 56613 52786 51999 48182 47173 47023 43978

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

Privada Cigar Club @privadacigarclub .....................................

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

54846 51965 47164 29945 27377 26437 24809 24729 20913 18419

TOP ONLINE CIGAR INFLUENCERS ON INSTAGRAM Delicia-Creator-Influencer @cigarvixen ...................................

Cigar Lover @cigarlover12 ......................................................

Eric Theoneandonly @scotchandtime ......................................

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

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

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

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

Elaine Lilley @elainelilleyhawaii ...............................................

Girls With Cigars @girlswithcigars ...........................................

HERficinado / Cigar Lifestyle @herficionado .............................

84 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

84799 63784 49126 39011 38644 34552 30619 28256 27797 27565

TOP CIGAR RADIO Cigar Dave Show @cigardave ................................................. 3265 KMA Talk Radio @KMATalkRadio ............................................. 1565 Cigars and Scotch @cigar_and_scotch .................................... 825

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

@cigarlover12

SMILE! TOMORROW IS FRIDAY WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PAIRING? #CIGARLOVER12 #MACALLAN #PLASENCIACIGARS

@thecigarbanker

Today’s smoke & libations are dedicated to my grandmother!!

Today makes two years since you left for heaven. You are deeply missed & forever loved

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

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EVENTS PCA WELCOME COCKTAIL Sands Convention Center Las Vegas

The Premium Cigar Association kicked off its 2021 trade show in Las Vegas with a party that started with a welcome cocktail presented

by ACE Prime Cigars, Espinosa Cigars and Crowned Heads. That escalated into more fun with an open bar providing specialty drinks, a spread of food, raffle prizes and music by DJ Nino Brown. Espinosa Cigars gave away t-shirts and goodies promoting its designation as Cigar Snob’s #1 Cigar of 2020.

Josie Ortega and Michael Herklots

Aaron and Chrisie Leland and Omar Fernández

Rocky Patel, Paul Gro and Shorty Koebel

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Erik Espinosa and Hector Alfonso

Bélgica Suares and Néstor Andrés Plasencia

Jara Murphy and Jon Ortiz

Luz Normand and Alfredo Cruz

Tony Gómez

Bree Thomas, Jen Irons and Oscar Valladares

Mick Bieker, Marisa Scharfman, Suzanne Wilson and Andy Scharfman

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

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EVENTS EMPIRE SOCIAL LOUNGE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY Miami

Empire Social Lounge’s Downtown Dadeland location held its one-year anniversary party, called “A Night at the Tropicana.” The welcome cocktail for the Cuban-themed event was a Hemingway Daiquiri and the Cuban orchestra that provided entertainment featured 1950s music and was led by four-time Grammy winner Tomasito Cruz. Showgirls, casino gaming and cigars all around rounded out the good time.

Margerie and Joel Capín

Roxy Colchado and Janet Rivas

John and Nieves Diaz

Carlos Temperan, Gio Bertolotti and Gus Ibarra

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Aly and Carlos Escalona, Albert and Patty Sosa and Dan Markovich

Luis Roque, Janet Bravo and Mauro

Manny and Macarena Iriarte

Austin and Emily Gan

Cecilia and Jack Toraño, Denise and Luis Cuevas

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

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EVENTS AVO SYNCRO CARIBE LAUNCH AT THE WHARF MIAMI Miami

Avo launched its Syncro Caribe at The Wharf Miami with an all-day soiree featuring music from DJ Tony Touch and $25 bottles of Côtes de Provence Rosé. Avo gave away branded straw hats, champagne and of course you were able to try firsthand the guest of honor, the Avo Caribe. The Davidoff/Avo team were joined by friends from all over to celebrate the Caribbean-themed release, set along the Miami River.

Carlos Escalona and George Rami

Dean Parsons and Alex Berezowski

Yesi Sao, Tony Guerra and Christy Stripling

90 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

Amy Baynard, Eddy Guerra, Lana Fraser, George Rami, Alberto Rosario, Shiah Goldberg and Dan Markovich

@cigar_bosslady and Janette Diaz

Missi Escobar, Fabian Barrantes, Ali Ribeiro, Christine Mauriello and Dylan Austin

Jacqui Ingar, Cheryl Morgado and Lana Fraser

Juan and Jenny Barboza

Will Perry and Dan Markovich

Debra and Michael Brown

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

91

EVENTS ROCKY MOUNTAIN CIGAR FESTIVAL Omni Interlocken Broomfield, Co.

The 12th Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival at the Omni Interlocken Hotel in Broomfield, Colorado was sold out and for good reason: the 2,500+ attendees had their choice of 32 beers and spirits and products from 49 cigar companies both major and boutique. They also took in some excellent live music and several event parties. Every ticket holder got some goodies, including smokes, accessories, drink taster tickets, t-shirts, glassware and a festival bag.

Mary Gallagher Szarmach and Windy Gallagher

Danny Szarmach and Jeremy Weiner

Lauryn East, Lonnie David and Christine Tomkiel

Kevin Olsen and Micah Megargee

Javi Carranza, Tom Chavers and Ibis Lu

Chris Hill and Brian Speindel

Nai and Steev Merriam

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Keith Anderson, Dean Hopkins, Kevin Mauch, Lance McCullough and Neil Neilmac Kinnon

Nish Patel and Nimish Desai

Amanda Hammond and Cody Goodsom

Matt Jad, Michael Helgeson, Mark and John

Faron Hall and Mitch Hohstast

Michael Maffie, Alex Raikes and Paul Damiani

Jennifer Fraley and Nate Beck

Christopher Holmes and Greg Schamp

Dan Jenkins, Paul McDonald, Thomas Wurtz and Mike Daly

Juan López and Cristina Santana

Rob Sims and Jim Sevalt

Austin Quiring and Wyatt Scruggs

Mark and Mitch Ferguson

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

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EVENTS ASHFEST 2021 Rochester, N.Y.

AshFest 2021 at Nice Ash Cigars in Rochester, New York, featured live music, a pig roast dinner, local beer and a raffle with $3,000 in giveaways. That happened as the 200 patrons checked out the 12 on-site vendors and started smoking the 15-20 cigars given to everyone with an admission ticket. Plus, special guest Rocky Patel walked the grounds greeting and smoking with attendees, some of whom proudly donned t-shirts proclaiming “I smoked a stick with Rocky at AshFest 2021.”

The event is a charity festival that raises funds for veterans’ outreach to provide all kinds of assistance to veterans. This year, AshFest doubled its donation from previous years.

Rob and Patti Roth

Sam Tischer, Kim and Todd Norton

Alex and Scott Winner

Terri and Chris Ercole

94 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2021

Tony Patti, Joe Francher, Todd Norton and Tom Mastro

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

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EVENTS ATLANTA’S STUDIO CIGAR LOUNGE HONORARY LOCKER DEDICATION Fairburn, Ga.

Brian Boulware and Zelda Hyde

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George Brooks, Brian Boulware, Eric Stacu and Roger Henderson

Brian Boulware and Louis Gossett, Jr.

Norman Brown, Mayor Elizabeth Carr-Hurst, and James Whitmore

PHOTO CREDIT: Alec Thomas

Studio Cigar Lounge in the Atlanta suburb of Fairburn celebrated a private honorary locker dedication with actor Lou Gossett Jr. and Fairburn Mayor Elizabeth Carr-Hurst stopping by.

The event also served as a fundraiser for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, drawing 200 people who came to hear live music, including a performance by Grammy awardwinning guitarist Norman Brown, smoke fine cigars and enjoy some good food. The booze side was sponsored by Macallan.

SEPT / OCT 2021 | CIGAR SNOB |

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EVENTS TRUE CIGAR LOUNGE GRAND OPENING Boca Raton, Fla.

True Cigar Lounge in Boca Raton, Florida, celebrated its grand opening with a sushi carving by the pros from Neo Sushi, True Cigar’s inhouse sushi bar, who sliced a 300+ pound tuna in a live demonstration of the fine art. Patrons enjoyed drinks to go along with the truly fresh sushi, with vodka from True Premium Vodka.

Of course there were plenty of premium cigars to go around and music was provided by Salty, featuring DJ Lee Kalt and vocals from Xandra K, while guests enjoyed the 1,800-square foot outdoor patio.

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Jeremy Fondi, Albert Saputo and Vincent Cotona

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