Smoke Magazine - Summer 2016 (Vol.19, No.3) by Smoke Magazine - Cigars & Life's Burning Desires

CIGARS

& LIFE’S BURNING

DESIRES

S ! ARE G I C IEW D REV

JONATHAN DREW’S REPRISE:

RUM & WHISKEY DOMINICAN REPUBLIC’S

STUNNING 2016 CROP CUBA’S

COHIBA TURNS 50

CASA TURRENT’S ALEJANDRO TURRENT www.smokemag.com

THE GLORIOUS RISE OF

SAN ANDRES, MEXICO

EXPERIENCE THE SPIRIT OF THE VALLEY

Its vintage 2008 Connecticut Shade Wrapper, nurtured on Montecristoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company farms in the Connecticut River Valley USA, is prized for its silky texture and delicate taste. Creamy smoothness, rich aroma and complex lavor sensations

> CONTENTS

FEATURES

2016

Volume 19, No. 3

CASA TURRENT MEXICAN CIGARS

The Turrent family of Mexico is renowned for its highly prized San Andrés Negro tobacco—a dark, oily leaf that covers some of the world’s best cigars. The family is also known for its Te-Amo brand, but over a year ago, the father-and-son team of Alberto and Alejandro headed in a new direction, creating high-end lines under the Casa Turrent brand: Serie 1901, Serie 1942, and Serie 1973. For the first time, the family is distributing these new blends directly to cigar shops as it steps into the future. > By Frank Seltzer

34 GREAT WEATHER YIELDS FLAVORFUL DOMINICAN CROP At the annual Dominican Republic cigar festival, Procigar 2016, cigar lovers from around the world smoked, dined, and partied with the Caribbean nation’s top cigar makers amid a stellar tobacco crop. The bountiful harvest was enabled by glorious sunshine, a dry growing season, and advanced irrigation and fertilization techniques that just might be the envy of the struggling Cuban cigar industry that’s been battling poor harvests.

> By E. Edward Hoyt III

JOSE “JOCHY” BLANCO

He may not be a household name among cigar smokers, but the fourth generation tobacco grower, blender, and cigar maker is the talent behind many top boutique brands.

FESTIVAL DEL HABANO

The famed post-revolutionary Cuban brand Cohiba celebrated its 5oth anniversary, while Cuaba marked its own 20th anniversary, at the 2016 edition of the annual Cuban cigar festival.

VOL. 19, NO. 3 | SMOKE 3

> CONTENTS

2016

Volume 19, No. 3

IN EVERY ISSUE

8 48 62 64 66

EDITOR’S LETTER CIGAR REVIEW CIGAR REVIEW PANELISTS SMOKE SCENE THE LAST WORD

SMOKE FRONT A group of famed boxers join together to create a line of premium cigars, each a reflection of their former boxing personas. Plus, an Ernest Hemingway sipping rum that will knock your socks off; and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog chews his way through the presidential election primary season.

12 20

SMOKE RANT Conservative republican, sometime political consultant, sometime lobbyist, aspiring novel writer, and full-time cigar lover Aaron Gulbransen waxes poetic over the amazing melting pot of race, culture, economic stature, and education that defines the social community that is the cigar shop. It breaks down barriers. It is humanity at its best.

SMOKE DRINK

Drew Estate co-founder Jonathan Drew moved into a Nicaraguan cigar factory not knowing a single word of Spanish and lived there for years to bring his unique and authentic vision of hand made cigars alive. He now sets out to turn the world of craft spirits on its side with a new line of rums.

SMOKE CITY Husband and wife cigar store owners Jeff and Tanya Borysiewicz of Corona Cigar Company fame have now created the world’s largest Davidoff of Geneva store in Tampa in partnership with the Swiss-based luxury retailer. It’s big, it’s stunning, and it’s appropriately located in “Cigar City.”

SMOKE ESSENTIALS Smoke editors reveal their latest picks, including the floating, fireproof SureSeal humidor, a special 20th anniversary edition of the venerable Xikar Xi1 cigar cutter, specialty grade Honduran coffee that supports cigar freedoms, a stylish and affordable Timex, and the ultimate coffee table desktop cutter.

4 SMOKE | VOL. 19, NO. 3

www.sublimescigars.com

E. Edward “Ted” Hoyt III EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lily Lee ART DIRECTOR YiLing Yen GRAPHIC DESIGNER Zachery Bridgeman EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CONTRIBUTING WRITERS William Gordon, Aaron Gulbransen, Ron Maltin, Seth Schwartz, Frank Seltzer Robert M. Lockwood PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Rob Lockwood, Jr. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Roxanne Cordova-Melendez BOOKKEEPER Melinda Ayala PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Curtis Circulation NEWSSTAND CIRCULATION Creative Commons “Cigar Store ‘Indian’” (page 15) by David Horowtitz is licensed under CC BY 2.0

ADVERTISING SALES Contact at our New York office:

North & Central America, Caribbean BOB OLESEN Advertising Sales Director Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 134 b.olesen@smokemag.com

Austria, Cuba, France, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom ROBERT M. LOCKWOOD Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 109 robert@lockwoodpublications.com

Benelux, Italy, Portugal, South America, Spain FREDERICK A. LOCKWOOD Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 107 f.lockwood@lockwoodpublications.com

North & Central America, Bulgaria, Greece, Scandinavia, Turkey ROB LOCKWOOD JR. Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 130 rob@lockwoodpublications.com

Eastern Europe & Special Sales FRANK SCHUETZE Tel: +(49)(30) 645-7212 Fax: +(49)(30) 6409-1350 f.schuetze@lockwoodpublications.com

Special Sales Representative GEORGE E. LOCKWOOD Tel: (413) 548-9700 Fax: (413) 548-9722 lockwood.george@gmail.com

LOCKWOOD PUBLICATIONS, INC. 3743 Crescent Street, 2nd Floor Long Island City, NY 11101 Tel: (212) 391-2060, Fax: (212) 827-0945 editor@smokemag.com, sales@smokemag.com www.smokemag.com

SMOKE (ISSN 2331-8570) is published quarterly by Lockwood Publications, Inc., Postage paid in New York, NY and additional mailing offices. USPS #014-737. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SMOKE, P.O. Box 424, Congers, NY 10920-9907. SMOKE is a registered trademark of Lockwood Publications, Inc., all rights reserved. Reproduction in part or full without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. SMOKE is printed in the U.S. Contents copyright ©2016, Lockwood Publications, Inc. To order back issues, call (212) 391-2060. For permission to reuse material from Smoke, ISSN: 2331-8570, please access www.copyright.com or contact the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Tel: (978) 750-8400. CCC is a not-for-profit organization that provides licenses and registration for a variety of uses.

Subli mesCig ars.com

6 SMOKE | VOL. 19, NO. 3

Join CRA Today! Visit cigarrights.org

> editor’s LETTER > “Hands” of tied tobacco leaves stacked into a fermentation pilón at Tabacalera Palma, Tamboril, Dominican Republic. Photo: Procigar

Unfortunately, FDA never really seemed on board at all with “Option 2,” which presented inherent conflicts with the agency’s mission, in its own eyes. “All cigars pose serious negative health risks,” said Mitch Zeller, head of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, after the rules were announced. “To exclude some would be neglecting our duty to protect public health.” Despite OMB’s red flags, FDA didn’t buy the whole craft production, low volume of consumption, small business retailer argument. So, with Option 2 now dead, the industry is taking two simultaneous paths: working on complying with the staggered deadlines for the various portions of the 499page regulation as they come into effect in stages, while at the same continuing to work like hell to get the whole thing tossed out, lobbying for legislative relief through Congressional bills that essentially revoke

FDA Clamps Down on Premium Cigars; Was “Option 2” Just a Cruel Tease?

FDA’s authority over premium cigars. There is also a third option, of course, and that is to sue, sue, sue. There have been five lawsuits filed so far against FDA, mostly

he FDA sure seemed to have taken

credence had indeed been given to the reali-

from the vaping sector, and there’s little rea-

its time in deliberating the release

ties of the how business and pleasure of hand

son to doubt that various cigar associations

of the final version of the so-called

rolled cigars is inherently different from those

and manufacturers won’t pursue their own

“deeming regulations” which extend the

of cigarettes. Maybe FDA finally understood

litigation, perhaps individually but most like-

agency’s authority to include cigars, as well

that same set of regulations would be an ill fit.

ly as a united front. In fact, the major asso-

all other tobacco and vapor products that

In fact, Option 2 wasn’t FDA’s idea; it was

ciations have already stated that a common

were not previously regulated.

the White House Office of Management and

approach is critical, joining together with

Perhaps all of those self-imposed time-

Budget (OMB) that added that language to the

a single, loud, and focused voice, and that

lines that the FDA missed encouraged pre-

proposal. OMB in theory takes an objective

options are being weighed.

mium cigar interests to believe that all of its

view of regulations and weighs the costs/ben-

For many smaller cigar companies,

efforts to educate regulators and lawmakers

efits, whereas agencies like FDA are guided

unable to afford the financial and logistical

as to just how horrible a fit the proposed reg-

purely by their principles.

demands of premarket review and effectively

ulations would be given the manner in which

To be sure, there were some flaws with

unable to ever launch new cigars, their very

premium cigars are crafted and marketed

Option 2, including an awkward new defini-

survival may be at stake. It’s truly ironic

were actually be paying off. The fact that

tion of premium cigars as those costing over

that small American cigar makers would be

there was even an inclusion of an “Option

$10, that would have reshaped the cigar mar-

at a worse disadvantage than Cuba (if the

2” that would largely exempt premium cigar

ket in its own right, but the benefits of a clear

embargo is every lifted), which would have

from the proposed regulations in-and-of-itself

exemption for cigars meeting the definition

the financial resources of its deep pocketed

seemed like a promising sign, suggesting that

would have been an immense victory.

European investors to meet the rules. —EEH

8 SMOKE | VOL. 19, NO. 3

> smoke FRONT

IN PURSUIT OF LIFE ’ S BURNING DESIRES

MONTECRISTO SOCIAL CLUB EXPLORES CUBA As mainstream media continue to report on Cuba, premium cigar smokers are endlessly teased with cloying headlines implying that Cuban cigars are now legal in the U.S., which isn’t exactly true: Americans can now purchase and consume Cuban cigars anywhere in the world, as long as they don’t bring them back home, and U.S. citizens returning from sanctioned travel to Cuba can

FAMED BOXING CHAMPS JOIN FORCES TO CREATE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPS CIGARS

bring back up to $100 worth of habanos.

Sports icons are no strangers to premium cigars—many are huge fans, and quite a few

renowned culture and cigar heritage,

have even created their own brands over the years. But never before have five world cham-

become a free member of Montecristo

pion boxers come together to develop a cigar line…until now.

Social Club and check out the new

Heavyweight Champs Cigars are a collaboration of James “Lights Out” Toney (2005

Domestics sales remain illegal. For a far better read on Cuba’s

Exploring Cuba knowledge hub hosted

WBA World Heavyweight Champion); Ray “Merciless” Mercer (1988 U.S. Heavyweight

by Altadis U.S.A., which owns the U.S.

Boxing Team Olympic Gold Medalist, 1991 WBO Heavyweight champion); Lamon

trademarks to numerous Cuban heritage

“Relentless” Brewster ( 2004–2006 W.B.O. World Heavyweight Champion); Chris “Rapid

cigar brands including Montecristo,

Fire” Byrd (2003–2005 IBF Heavyweight Champion); and Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe (1995

Romeo y Julieta, and Trinidad. In addi-

WBO Heavyweight Champion).

tion, its parent company, Imperial

The hand made, premium cigars were exclusively developed for the partners by Alec

Brands, holds a 50 percent stake in

Bradley Cigars, and there are two separate lines. Heavyweight Champs Cigars Shade-Grown

Cuban cigar marketer Habanos S.A.

(green band) are made at Tobacco de Orient in Danlí, Honduras and feature a Honduran shade grown-wrapper, two year-aged Trojes, Honduras binder, and a filler blend of tobacco from Jamastran, Honduras and Estelí and Jalapa, Nicaragua. It is a mild- to medium-bodied smoke; mellow and smooth with a soft aroma with floral notes. Heavyweight Champs Cigars Sun-Grown (red band) is made by the Plasencia family in Nicaragua and is a Nicaraguan puro with a sun-grown Jalapa wrapper, double Jalapa/Estelí

lifestyle, history, and cigar heritage, highlighting everything from the island

binder, and three-year aged Condega and

nation’s tobacco growing regions to

Jalapa filler. It is medium- to full-bodied

the anatomy and creation of Cuban

with a rich hearty and spicy character

cigars, perfect for immersing oneself in

that’s complex yet smooth.

the island’s renowned cigar heritage.

The cigar rings are designed to

10 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

Exploring Cuba features a wealth of information about Cuba’s culture,

Montecristo Social Club members can

resemble heavyweight belts and, accord-

learn about everything from must-see

ing to Heavy Champs Cigar’s Charles

Cuban travel destinations to authentic

“Chico” Sherwood, you won’t find either

street foods and even recipes for classic

of the blends online: the company is

Cuban cocktails through a series of arti-

working exclusively with brick-and-mor-

cles that will continue to grow weekly.

tar cigar shops. thechampionscigars.com

montecristosocialclub.com

> smoke FRONT

SMART-ASS CIGAR-SMOKING COMIC DOG RETURNS FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

An Auckland Favorite:

It only seems fitting that Triumph the Insult Comic Dog would burst back onto the scene

STOLEN SMOKED RUM NOW IN USA

to cover a U.S. presidential election that could easily go down in history as one of the

Many flavored rums are sweet and

most un-presidential primary seasons in modern history. Dubbed by The Daily Beast as

laden with vanilla. But the world’s first

the “Best Political Satirist of 2016,”

smoked rum (humbly dubbed by its

the cigar-chomping puppet (mouthed

founders as a re-invention of rum) is

by comic Robert Smigel) hit the road

smoky with hints of coffee.

over the winter for a two-week tour

And now, its counter-culture owner—

of primary states to cover speeches,

an independent spirits company founded

rallies, debates, town halls, and more

in Auckland, New Zealand—is bringing

and wasn’t shy about taking the can-

its rum to America. Started in 2010 from

didates, campaigners, political opera-

a one-bedroom apartment by two out-of-

tives—basically anyone who made the

work friends, a lawyer and an architect

mistake of catching the dog’s eye—to

who baled out on financially repressed

task. In February, the first-ever Triumph

London, Stolen Spirits was from its

the Insult Comic Dog Election Special

earliest concept envisioned as

debuted, produced by FunnyOrDie and

an anti-establishment answer

streamed on Hulu. There is something

to inauthentic corporate brands,

decidedly surreal watching Triumph question actual presidential candidates, but given

inspired by the Jim Jarmusch film

the absurdity of this primary season, it all seems to fit in. Smigel told The Daily Beast he

“Coffee and Cigarettes,” where

hopes the special will be a jumping-off point for some kind of Triumph series.

the characters just sit around and talk, drinking coffee and

PAPA’S PILAR RELEASES CUSTOM LIMITED EDITION BARREL-AGED DARK RUMS

smoking cigarettes.

Papa’s Pilar, premium sipping rums inspired by Ernest Hemingway and developed in con-

tillery in Trinidad & Tobago,

junction with his estate, is releasing 2,300 cases of custom barrel-aged dark rum in select

taking column-distilled rum

markets. The offering’s team of master blenders created two special edition expressions of

aged in ex-whiskey barrels

custom barreled Papa’s Pilar Dark, which—after solera aging in American oak bourbon bar-

in the Caribbean and adding

rels, port wine casks, and Spanish Sherry Casks—were further aged in bourbon oak barrels

a combination natural ingre-

for an additional 90 or 120 days (both retail for $39.99), which adds a spicy finish on the

dients including re-fraction-

back of the palate, explains Ron Call, Head of Rum Production at Hemingway Rum Company.

ated arabica coffee beans from

For this release, Stolen works with a world-class dis-

“The flavor is magnitudes more complex, and the longer we age, the

Columbia, vanilla from Madagascar,

more the sweetness drops. Each sip reveals a new discovery.”

and fenugreek from Morocco. The rum

Papa’s Pilar Dark is a bold and complex sipping rum, which is both pot and column distilled, a blend of hand-selected rums that are up to 24 years old, originating from ports-of-call in the Caribbean, Central America, and the U.S.A. and chosen

is then ‘smoked’ using American hardwood to create a smokiness that is usually associated with whiskey. As for the mysterious label, the

for their age, character, and maturity. At 86 proof, it fea-

brand was originally envisioned as

tures a long, velvety finish.

Cigarettes & Coffee Spiced Rum, but the

Pilar was the name of the fishing boat Hemingway used

word “cigarette” is illegal in commerce

across Florida, Cuba, and Bimini. The Hemingway Estate

in Australia, so the founders scribbled

donates 100 percent of their royalty profits to organizations

it out. The company ended up running

that “embody the likes of adventure, literacy, and conserva-

with its off-the-cuff name when the

tion causes dear to Hemingway and his heirs,” including the

U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade

Coastal Conservation Association of Florida.

Bureau also rejected the name.

12 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

DAVID ORTIZ: “THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES (AND THE CIGARS)” When Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz’s farewell season ballpark tour rolled into U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago in May, marking his last regular season appearance there, White Sox pitcher Chris Sale presented Ortiz with a cigar-filled humidor before the start of the third game of the series. The farewell gift was hand crafted by former White Sox outfielder (and fellow slugger) Jeff Kittle and contained 50 Dominican cigars, according to MLB. And—just in case it slips Otiz’s mind as to which ballpark the stogies came from—half of the cigars had Red Sox logos, while the other half had White Sox logos. Ortiz says they’ll all have to wait until the end of the season for him to enjoy, as he hasn’t cracked open any of the retirement gifts he’s collected along the way this season, which include a cowboy hat from the Astros, barbecue sauce from the Royals, peanut butter from the Twins, and a belt

SANTO DOMINGO GETS A HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO

buckle and boots from the Rangers.

“Cigar Country” is getting a little trendier. Hard Rock

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, recently hinted on Twitter that a line of

International has broken ground for its second hotel (and

“Big Papi” cigars is “coming soon,” with a reference to Tabacalera El Artista.

As it turns out, Ortiz might be able to fill up the rest of his new humidor with his own line of cigars in the near future. The slugger, who’s a native of

first casino) in the Dominican Republic, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Santo Domingo, located in the heart of the capital will feature 400 hotel rooms and suites, a state-of-the-

SILENT HAWKERS: THE TRADITION OF CIGAR STORE INDIANS

art casino, a myriad of restaurants and bars including a

Long a ubiquitous presence outside the entrance of tobacconists shops,

celebrity-chef specialty restaurant, and a cigar lounge,

colorfully depicting various Native American tribe members from squaws to

among a host of amenities. The company already oper-

chiefs, carved wooden cigar store Indians grew in popularity in the 1800s

ates a Hard Rock resort in the beach resort of Punta Cana.

as a means to identify cigar and tobacco shops amid a rapidly expanding

city. The full-service hotel, slated to open in late 2017,

The Dominican Republic is the region’s most-visited

non-English speaking—and sometimes illiterate—population. Historian’s

country and continues to be the top performing destina-

dubbed them “silent hawkers,” universally recognized by customers

tion in the Caribbean, according to Hard Rock. The nation

regardless of education or ethnicity.

accounts for 19 percent of the record number of 26.3 million visitors to the Caribbean region in 2014. The new hotel’s ultra-modern casino will offer Hard

These likenesses of Native Americans, ranging from a few feet in height to fully life size, held a symbolic connection with tobacco

Rock guests a world-class gaming experience, featur-

that dates back to the very discovery of the

ing two bars—including Hard Rock’s signature Center

Americas by European explorers, when they

Bar—a race and sports book, high limit slots, 400 slot

first learned of the use of tobacco by the native

machines, and 40 table games. In addition, a private

population and eventually parlayed the crop into

gaming room on the exclusive suite floor will be avail-

a valuable trade commodity.

able for guests with select access. Ideal for groups and weddings, the new facility will

As the statues became increasingly synonymous with cigars, they could also be found

also include 33,000 square feet of meeting space, a Rock

anywhere cigars were sold or enjoyed,

Star Suite, and a Rock Royalty Level floor. Many brand-ex-

from hotel lobbies to smoking parlors.

clusive offerings will be featured, including a Rock Shop—

Commercial wood carving essen-

home to Hard Rock’s legendary merchandise—Rock

tially ceased after World War I, leaving

Spa’s Rhythm & Motion treatments, and the Body Rock

a shrinking base of authentic period

gym. The Lobby Bar will offer signature cocktails, while

statues whose resale value can

the pool will feature a bar and grill. hardrockhotels.com

exceed $85,000 among collectors.

V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 13

> smoke FRONT

REQUIRED READING

CIGAR RAPPER Q Camacho has released the 2016

Mexico by Motorcycle: An Adventure Story and Guide by William B. Kaliher (Sombrero Book, $19.99 paperback). A regular contributor to Mexico Today, William Kaliher has been traveling Mexico’s highways and byways since 1964. A born storyteller, he holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of South Carolina, but it’s his hands-on experience and street smarts that lend true authenticity to his insights about the changes in Mexico over the years, the cultural differences between the USA and Mexico, and Mexican motorcyclists and bike clubs. Kaliher shares driving tips; historical facts about Mexico; and insight on the best cities, regions, and sites travelers might want to visit; all gleaned from six decades of visiting Mexico. This 272-page book also includes a handy fold-out map showing the routes described in the text.

Camacho Liberty Series, the 14th annu-

The Golden Leaf—How Tobacco Shaped Cuba and the Atlantic World by Charlotte Cosner, (Vanderbilt University Press, $35 hardcover) Through the rise and fall of empires, ideologies, and economies, tobacco grown on the island of Cuba has remained an enduring symbol of pleasure and extravagance. Cultivated as one of the first reliable commodities for those inhabitants who remained after conquistadors moved on, tobacco quickly became crucial to the support of the swelling Spanish Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries. Eventually it became one of the final stabilizing forces in the empire, shrugged off the Empire’s collapse, and pressed on into the 20th century as an economic force that any state or political power had to reckon with. Cosner explores this history through the personal narratives of farmers, bureaucrats, and laborers, all struggling to build an independent and lucrative economic engine. Through conquest, rebellion, colonial, and imperial schemes, and ultimately the Communist revolution, Cuban tobacco and cigars became a luxury that commanded loyalty that defied mere borders or embargoes.

the brand’s master blenders. The 2016

al limited edition inspired each year by one of the best concept blends of the year

developed by release is a rich and powerful smoke featuring tobaccos from five different origins, rolled in a proprietary 11/18 figurado format (48 x 54 x 48 x 6) and medium-to-full in intensity. At its core are two powerful ligero tobaccos combined with two seco tobaccos from Ometepe, Nicaragua and San Vicente, Dominican Republic for added complexity, all finished with an authentic Honduran Corojo binder. Each matte black Spanish Cedar box contains 20 limited edition cigars

Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki by Martin Cate & Rebecca Cate (Ten Speed Press, $30, hardcover) Whether you’re looking for a new favorite cocktail, tips on how to trick out your home tiki grotto, help stocking your bar with great rums, or inspiration for your next tiki party, Smuggler’s Cove has everything you need to transform your world into a Polynesian Pop fantasia. The fantastical world of tiki is one of the most alluring and often misunderstood movements in American cultural history. Who better than Martin and Rebecca Cate, founders and owners of the most acclaimed tiki bar of the modern era— Smuggler’s Cove—to take readers on a colorful journey into the lore and legend of tiki including its birth as an escapist fantasy for Depression-era Americans; how exotic cocktails were invented, stolen, and re-invented; Hollywood starlets and scandals; and tiki’s modern-day revival. It features more than 100 original and historic recipes, plus a groundbreaking new approach to classifying rum. How to Talk Dirty and Influence People An Autobiography by Lenny Bruce, with Lewis Black (Da Capo Press, $15.99, paperback) During the course of a career that began in the late 1940s, Lenny Bruce challenged the sanctity of organized religion and other societal and political conventions and widened the boundaries of free speech. Critic Ralph Gleason said, “So many taboos have been lifted and so many comics have rushed through the doors Lenny opened. He utterly changed the world of comedy.” Although Bruce died when he was only 40, his influence on the worlds of comedy, jazz, and satire are incalculable. How to Talk Dirty and Influence People remains a brilliant existential account of his life and the forces that made him the most important and controversial entertainer in history.

14 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

packed and individually numbered in their own cedar coffins. Only 2,000 boxes are being released in the U.S., and—for the first time—1,000 boxes in Europe. Retail is $18 per cigar. Q Anthony “Tony” Serino has teamed up with Omar González Alemán, owner of the La Corona Cigar Factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, to create Serino Royale 20th Anniversary, a “world-class” release under the new Serino Cigar Company label. Serino narrowed the blend development down to four distinct selections, all of which will debut simultaneously. Each features a distinct wrapper, taste, strength, and selection of sizes. The variations, all featuring different Ecuadorian wrappers, include: Connecticut, mild- to medium-bodied but very satisfying with an “abundance of flavors not typically found in a Connecticut-wrapped

> smoke FRONT

cigar;” Medio, a medium-bodied Habano

50 Robusto) $13.25 each; and Porcellian

Q Nat Sherman has added three new

(7 1/2 x 50 Double Corona), $14.50 each.

larger “modern” sizes to its Panamericana

Ivy will start shipping by the end of July in

line, bringing the total number of facings

ten-count boxes, and Holly says additional

to seven. The new sizes—Robustico (4 x

sizes have already been produced and are

54), Belicoso Fino (5 1/2 x 52), and Gordo

currently aging. While the cigar is a full

(6 x 60)—packed in the same 10-count

production brand, it is only being offered

boxes as their predecessors and priced in

initially through 100 retail stores.

the $10-$12 range, in keeping with the rest

blend; Maduro, a medium to full-bodied

of the line. “The Panamericana is a very

dark Ecuadorian Habano; and a full-bodied

exciting blend that we felt strongly about

Habano Maduro XX. La Corona Cigar Factory

debuting in very traditional sizes,” said

grows, harvests, ferments, and ages all of

Michael Herklots, Vice President of Retail

the tobacco that its rollers use to produce

and Brand Development at Nat Sherman.

its cigars. The cigars are double banded

“However, after working closely with our

with foot rings and packed in premium-qual-

Q Maya Selva Cigars is debuting the Grand

retail partners over the past year, and lis-

ity 20-count lacquered boxes with Boveda

Pressé, a new 6 x 56 “prensado” vitola in its

tening to their feedback, it was clear we

two-way humidification packs.

Flor de Selva Maduro collection, featuring

needed to offer these more current and

a naturally-fermented Honduran Habano

popular formats as well.” Panamericana

Q Ivy is a new premium cigar line from

wrapper, Brazilian Mata Fina binder, and

is a full-bodied blend of aged tobaccos

Viva Republica under the Ivy Cigar

Honduran fillers. Presented in 10-count

from Costa Rica and Nicaragua, with a

Company moniker featuring a completely

cedar boxes, the new shape will be offered

Nicaraguan binder and an Ecuador Sumatra

different personality than the company’s

at $11.75 suggested retail.

wrapper. The cigar line is made in Estelí,

other releases to date. Focused on well-

Nicaragua by the Plasencia Family.

aged and nuanced tobacco rather than

Q Black Works Studio announced the

the typical power-forward blends that Viva

upcoming release of Green Hornet, a former

Republica is known for, Ivy is described as

event-only cigar in the company’s Killer Bee

a “complex but balanced” blend of “earthy

line that’s hand crafted in Estelí, Nicaragua

and fruity” flavors using high-primed filler

at Fabrica Oveja Negra. The cigar will debut

leaves from the Dominican Republic’s Cibao

in July and will be released in small batches

Valley and Nicaragua’s Estelí and Condega

throughout the year. Company president

regions; a double binder of Cameroon and

James Brown says the blend is a touch

the Dominican Republic tobaccos; and an

stronger than the Killer Bee to compliment

Ecuadorian Habano Corojo wrapper. All

the larger 5 x 50

Q Kafie 1901 Cigars has added a new

tobaccos used in the Ivy Habano blend

robusto size, while

Petit Perla (5 1/2 x 40) format to its Don

have been aged a minimum of five years.

the closed cande-

Fernando Maduro line. The new shape

The first batch uses filler tobacco from

la-leaf foot creates

comes packaged in 50-count solid

2007 and 2009 and wrapper leaf grown in

a very unique pro-

Spanish cedar boxes and joins the

2008. Three sizes are offered: Lamont (5

file from the first

existing five frontmarks: Robusto

1/4 x 43 Corona), $12 each; Dudley (5 x

draw. The filler is

(5 x 50), V Sixty (5 x 60), Torpedo (6

all Nicaraguan,

1/2 x 52), Toro Bello (6 x 54), and a

paired with a

VI Sixty (6 x 60). The line is made at

Nicaraguan Habano binder and Ecuador

Danlí, Honduras-based Tabacalera

maduro wrapper. “The Green Hornet is big,

Puros Aliados from a blend of

bold, rich, and spicy,” said Brown, “every-

Nicaraguan, Honduran, and

thing you expect from a cigar in the Killer

Dominican Republic tobaccos with

Bee lineup.” A single 5 x 48 robusto shape

an authentic Cuban seed Habano

will be offered, packed in 20-count boxes

maduro wrapper that’s been aged

and retailing at $9.50 per stick.

for five years.

16 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

SWEET T IP F ILT ERED C IG ARS

Classic

E V ERYONE L OV E S A

TOBACCO

INTRODUCING

T W O N E W F L A V O R S T O T H E L E X 12 ® L I N E U P

TEMPTATION APPL E

RED KRUSH CHERRY

WHAT’S YOUR STYLE?

Check out all 7 ﬂavors at lex12.com or call 1(800)766-5342 to ﬁnd a retailer near you. Available in premium embossed 12-Count Tins and convenient Grab ‘N Go 4-Packs. LET US KNOW YOUR FAVORITE FLAVOR A N D L I K E U S O N FAC E B O O K FOR NEWS AND SPECIAL OFFERS!

WARNING: Smoking cigars regularly poses risks of cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus similar to smoking cigarettes. This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects and other reproductive harm.

/LEX12CIGARS

SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Cigar Smoking Can Cause Cancers Of The Mouth And Throat, Even If You Do Not Inhale.

> smoke FRONT Q After two years of developing and testing

sports a Cameroon wrapper

various torpedo sizes, Sublimes Cigars

over an Ecuadorian binder,

Gorgeous Vodka founder) Bryan Mussard

says it has perfected the format for its blend

and fillers from the Cibao

has teamed up with Philip Zanghi of

with the release of a 6 x 55 torpedo, retail-

Q Montana cattle stockman (and

Valley and Nicaragua. It’s

Debonaire Cigars and Indian Motorcycle

ing for $9.50 each.

characterized by “wooden

Cigars to create Cattle Baron Cigars.

This latest addition

and cocoa notes with

Zanghi produces all three brands at

is the sixth size in

hints of cinnamon.”

De Los Reyes Cigars, operated by sixth

the brand’s product

Black Lion Maduro

line, which is crafted

(red bands) features

by Tabacalera A.J.

generation tobacco family member Nirka Reyes, in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

a Cubra wrapper over Brazilian

Cattle Baron Cigars feature a fill-

Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. from a

binder and fillers from Cibao Valley, Brazil,

er blend of Dominican Seco and

blend of Nicaraguan-grown filler, Honduran-

Nicaragua, and Peru highlighted by citrus,

Nicaraguan Viso with a Dominican

grown binder, and an Ecuadorian Habano-

cocoa, and cedar notes. Lastly, Black Lion

binder and a Nicaraguan Habano

Rosado wrapper, delivering a medium-bod-

Corojo (green bands) taps a Corojo wrapper

wrapper. The line is available

ied, full-flavored smoke.

over an Ecuadorian binder with fillers from

four sizes: Trail Boss

the Dominican Republic’s Cibao Valley and

(6 x 54), Stockyard

Q Gran Habano’s Colección de Elegancia

Nicaragua. It has honey and floral notes.

(5 x 52), Cowboy

was created for the “discerning smoker

Each blend is offered in four sizes: Robusto

(4 1/2 x 44), and

seeking a unique Corojo #5 experience.”

(5 x 50), Churchill (7 x 50), Toro (5 1/2 x 54),

Bull (4 1/2 x 58)

The Corojo #5 Elegance sizes have the

and Gran Toro (6 x 58).

with retail prices

strongest blend in the Gran Habano profile

ranging from $6.25

with rich, full-bodied

Q General Cigar Company has launched

flavors further enhanced

a new small-batch version of its Honduran-

to $7.75 each.

by the smaller ring gauge.

made Hoyo de Monterrey exclusively for

Q AVO Cigars has unveiled the second

Rolled at G.R. Tabacaleras

brick and mortar cigar shops called Hoyo. It

release under its Syncro Series, the Avo

Unidas, S.A., Danlí,

uses the same Estelí-grown Habano shade

Syncro Nicaragua Fogata, featuring a

Honduras, they feature a

wrapper used in last year’s limited edition

more intense taste than the first blend.

Nicaraguan and Costa Rican

Hoyo Edición de Cumpleaños 150, grown

Brand founder Avo Uvezian explains that

filler blend with Nicaraguan

exclusively for Hoyo by the Plasencia group

fogata, which means bonfire or campfire

Corojo binder and wrapper.

but with extended fermentation of two years

in Spanish, was a significant inspiration,

The $280 sampler con-

to deepen the flavor. The peppery leaf is

being one of

tains 50 cigars—10 each

billed as the first Cuban-seed, shade-grown

Avo’s favorite

of the two existing ring

wrapper and is one of the heaviest wrap-

social settings

gauge sizes (4 1/2 x 40 Lunch Break, 7 1/2

pers used in premium cigars. The blend was

for sharing

x 38 Lancero)—as well as three new sizes

also updated and additionally aged from the

a cigar with

that Gran Habano is releasing as part of the

150, consisting of Pennsylvania Ligero plus

friends. The

Corojo #5 Elegance Collection series: the

Nicaraguan Estelí and Nicaraguan Ometepe

filler blend is Estelí Ligero and Condega

5 1/2 x 42 Petite Corona, the 6 x 44 Corona,

leaves each aged more than 18 months. The

Visus both from Nicaragua, with Yamasa

and the 5 x 48 Figurado #200.

binder is an aged Ecuadoran Sumatra leaf.

Visus, Piloto, and San Vicente Ligero from

Hoyo is available in four

the Dominican Republic, paired with Negro

Q La Aurora, of Santiago de los Caballeros,

sizes in sleek, 20-count

San Andreas from Mexico and Habano

Dominican Republic, has launched Black

black boxes: Rothschild

2000 Clara from Ecuador. Avo describes it

Lion, in four blends. Black Lion Connecticut

(4 1/2 x 50), Robusto

as “an intense yet perfectly smooth and

(yellow bands) features a Connecticut

(5 x 54), Toro (6 x

balanced cigar” with a “wildly exotic flavor

wrapper over an Ecuadorian binder and

50), and Gigante

profile.” It’s offered in four sizes: Short

fillers from the Cibao Valley, Nicaragua

(6 x 60), ranging

Torpedo (4 1/2 x 42), Robusto (5 x 50), Toro

as well as Peru for a “very well-rounded”

from $5.49 to

(6 x 54), and Special Toro (6 x 60), ranging

blend. Black Lion Cameroon (blue bands)

$6.99 each.

from $8.90 to $11.90 per stick.

18 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

YOUR DAILY CHOICE. follow us on

Sealed-In Humidity JM’S DOMINICAN | JM’S NICARAGUAN AVAILABLE IN SUMATRA AND MADURO CHURCHILL 6.75 x 50 FOR ORDERS CALL TOLL FREE 888 377 2667 FAX 323 644 3810 www.jmtobacco.com

@JMTobacco

smoke RANT

Smoke Filled Rooms One would think our government has bigger battles to wage than attacking a pleasurable pastime. > By Aaron Gulbransen

magine a place where it truly doesn’t matter if you’re black or white, rich or poor, educated or uneducated. Imagine a place where everyone is accepted and everyone’s an equal. Imagine a place where people can discuss and disagree about politics, God, and even sports without throwing chairs at each other. Imagine a place where people of all backgrounds show each other respect, share stories about life, tell all kinds of jokes, and laugh with one another. I know what you’re thinking. This is the year 2016. I have just described a place that doesn’t exist. Drink some coffee and sober up, buddy. We’ve got terrorists blowing things up all over the world. We’ve got division being stirred up in every corner of American life, from race to religion. Basic things that we used to take for granted, like gender, are now blurred lines. Simply put, the world’s going to hell in a hand basket. It’s hard to find a respite. Well, I’ve found a place like I’ve just described. I’ve spent most of my adult life in that community. That place is your local cigar shop. There’s a fairly diverse group of guys (and the occasional gal) that spend their time in these places. Our community consists of published authors, political hacks, college professors, musicians,

20 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

chauffeurs, construction workers, doctors, techies, soccer moms, unemployed people, military, jocks, nerds, students, and retirees. We include people of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds, There are some really rich and successful people that hang out in the cigar shops but 99% of them do not have an ego, at least in that space. You wouldn’t know what these people did for a living unless you asked them. The shared interest of smoking a quality cigar civilizes everyone and brings us all together in the shop. It’s a family, the brothers and sisters of the leaf. If you’ve never been in a cigar shop, never smoked a cigar, and just don’t get it, I’ll explain it to you. It’s no secret that Americans live the fastest paced lives on the planet. Our veins are filled with coffee and caffeine. We’re amped up. We never slow down. Smoking a cigar makes us slow down and notice the forest through the trees. It relaxes us. The act of slowing down and smoking a cigar forces people to forget their own baloney and have real genuine conversations with the people around us. It is a powerful and wonderful starting point that creates human connection. It’s like sports but we’re all on the same team. We don’t get high and our senses don’t get dulled like some other hobbies. Also, premium cigars are not like cigarettes. They’re com-

posed of all natural tobacco and contain none of the cancer causing additives like tar that the cigarette companies put into their products. The companies that produce and/or sell hand-made cigars are generally family owned and run businesses. Premium cigars are not marketed to and neither are they appealing to minors. Cigar shops also are far more diligent and have an astronomically higher success rate in not selling to the underage than other tobacco selling stores. These are wonderful places that give a positive contribution to society, not a negative one. The cigar community is a place where people take their problems, discuss relationship issues, and talk about work, family, and career issues. Really anything else you can think of is discussed. We take care of each other. If there’s a death in a community member’s family, the whole group from that shop will show up at the funeral. They will generally be the last people to leave. If someone’s car’s broken down, there’s always someone willing to give a ride. If someone’s having a bad day, they go to the shop and laugh with the friends they’ve made there. If someone has a kid or gets married, cigars all around! Life is shared and not just talked about. There’s no such thing as political correctness in a cigar shop. There’s no need for it. The jokes and stories fly with such frequency that it’s impossible to not leave the shop with a smile on your face. No one tiptoes around the tulips. No one gets offended by jokes because no one’s looking for a hidden meaning or a political agenda. The customers just like to make each other laugh or have an honest discussion. In short, in your local cigar shop, you’ve got a great group of people acting the way everyone else should. It is like this all around the country. It’s a shame the FDA and the federal government want to shut the cigar industry down and close down our community. The regulations they are likely to impose on us are imminent, and would force many neighborhood shops to close. With all the hate, unrest, and general baloney going on in the world, I have to ask, why in the world would the government destroy something S that brings people together? Aaron Gulbransen is a cigar aficionado, a conservative Republican, a sometime political consultant and lobbyist, and aspiring author.

smoke DRINK

Jonathan Drew Sets his Sights on the World of Spirits With the same dose of anti-establishment zeal that led to his “rebirth of cigars,” Drew tackles liquor. > by William Gordon

ever one to sit idol, Drew Estate co-founder Jonathan Drew has jumped into liquor and spirits with a new business venture, John Drew Brands, which he explains he created to focus on spirits, craft beverages, and food. Considering his passion for spirits, it’s a natural progression that builds upon his exploration of flavors after having spent two decades reinventing cigars. Drew, of course, sort of turned the premium cigar industry on its head with his self-proclaimed “market disruption” approach to blending and selling hand rolled cigars that often puzzled and perplexed the establishment. Cigar smokers at first—and eventually the rest of the industry—came to see the light of Drew’s vision, even if it wasn’t necessarily obvious at first, and certainly not with a good dose of trial-and-error learning. But he persisted, and always through complete immersion. 22 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

Can Drew recreate some of the same magic he spun with cigars and groudbreaking brands like Acid, Liga Privada, and Kentucky Fire Cured when it comes to liquor? To hear Drew recall his origins as a fledgling cigar maker, it’s never been about the glory, but challenging himself to create something unique. As a non-distiller producer (NDP), Drew’s new startup venture depends on strategic partnerships with respected distillers, to which he brings his well-known sense of adventure in seeking out intriguing distillations that he can blend to his vision—a “reckless spirit to destroy,” as he describes it. Drew’s new company is initially focused on developing rum and whiskey brands, what he calls “second birth craft spirits.” The effort debuts with a trio of brands: Brixton Mash Destroyer, Dove Tale Rum, and John Drew Rye. After sourcing the desired component spirits, Drew has each selected distiller

ship its liquid to Florida Caribbean Distillers, where he and his team embark on the blending process and “wisely finesse [the] core, high quality spirits into new taste profiles,” explains Drew. Of the three new spirits he’s launched, Brixton Mash Destroyer, or BMD, is the most creative and most reminiscent of Drew’s inclination to eschew the status-quo. “Think of it as a mash up collaboration between high quality spirits,” says Drew of Brixton Mash, in this case Kentucky Bourbon that’s been “mashed” with Florida sugarcane dark rum “for an experience unlike anything ever created. Not better… just crazy different and smooth.” It’s the first of additional “mashups” that will be released. Dove Tail Rum shares some inspirations, if not actual lineage, with BMD. Drew selects sugarcane exclusively from the Florida Everglades to create blackstrap refiner’s-grade molasses, which is distilled and aged four years in spent, hearty oak bourbon barrels yielding a smooth dark rum that has developed layers of sweet caramel flavors. Drew describes it as “sweet and vibrant, yet dark and mysterious… a true Florida Rum.” Finally, John Drew Rye Whiskey is distilled in Alberta, Canada, then aged in oak barrels for four years before being shipped to Florida and held for Drew for an additional three years. Drew describes it as “smooth and balanced, with robust layers of rich caramel, vanilla, and spice.” “My life’s journey has been hard, and sometimes painful,” reflects the 45-year-old Drew. “Permanently moving to war-torn Nicaragua in 1998 without speaking a word of Spanish was emblematic of the risks I embraced to have access to the raw materials we required for our cigars. While I’m proud of the successful brands and culture we’ve birthed at Drew Estate, my greatest pride and joy was living inside the factory for 14 years, only steps away from the daily production, packaging, and leaf processing. On a daily basis, I was working on the factory floor before breakfast. The dedication and hard work from the DE team in the U.S.A. allowed me to remain laser focused on brand ideation…on the factory floor, not from a whack corporate office.” If Drew successfully brings that same approach beverages, we’re S all in for some treats.

N O O S G IN M O C

Sun drenched Ligero leaves are selected, then through the extensive fermentation process the dark colour for the Dunhill Aged Maduro cigar portfolio is achieved. This wrapper then complements the existing Dunhill Aged blend from the Cibao Valley for a more intense, sweeter, yet still balanced smoking experience.

SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Cigar Smoking Can Cause Lung Cancer And Heart Disease.

smoke CITY

World’s Largest Davidoff Store Opens in Tampa by Corona Cigar Tapping Davidoff’s sleek global design expertise, Orlando husbandand-wife cigar retail team Jeff and Tanya Borysiewicz give “Cigar City” a shot of adrenaline with new Davidoff franchise.

ocated in the MetWest International Retail Village—a 32-acre mixeduse development in the heart of Tampa’s Westshore Business District—the new 5,000 square foot Davidoff of Geneva Since 1901 Tampa store is the largest Davidoff flagship store in the world, and is also the company’s first licensed flagship shop outside of Las Vegas, owned by Jeff and Tanya Borysiewicz, the husband-andwife owners and operators of Orlandobased Corona Cigar Company. “The ‘Cigar City’ of Tampa has a long and storied history with cigars,” explains Jeff, president and founder of Corona Cigar Co., who, promises an “ultimate cigar experience” at the new store. “This great community deserves a world-class cigar destination

24 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

where all are welcome to enjoy cigars and spirits with family and friends,” he added. The entire interior of the shop is humidified, featuring premium cigar retail space, multiple indoor and outdoor lounges, two different private humidor locker areas, an elegant full-service bar serving premium alcoholic beverages, and a conference area. Building upon Tanya Borysiewicz‘s successful efforts sourcing many hard-to-find spirits for Corona Cigar’s three Orlandoarea retail locations, the bar at Davidoff Tampa features an extensive collection of whiskies and small batch bourbons “The MetWest center is certain to become a luxury retail and dining destination,” says Davidoff of Geneva U.S.A. President Jim Young of the store’s urban-in-

spired setting, which continues to expand its base of office space, residences, hotels, retail shopping, and restaurants, all connected with a series of recreation-centric parks and plazas. The complex is already home to numerous restaurants including Del Frisco’s Grille, Cooper’s Hawk Restaurant and Winery, Kona Grill, and Texas de Brazil. Founded in 1996 by Jeff Borysiewicz as a mail order company that he first operated out of his home, and later his father’s auto service center where Borysciewicz worked for over a dozen years, Corona Cigar Company has grown into a leading online and brick and mortar retailer, operating three Orlando-area locations, all with full liquor service. The longest-established store at Sand Lake Rd./Dr. Phillips Boulevard, opened in 2002 and today includes a Drew Estate Lounge. The Lake Mary/Heathrow location opened in 2005 and hosts a Montecristo Lounge, while the Downtown store with its Diamond Crown Lounge opened in 2007. All three locations are situated near concentrations of restaurants, convenient

for after-diner socializing. Borysiewicz has brought a number of established traditions from his experience building his Corona Cigar locations, including the same extended operating hours: Davidoff Tampa opens at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. on Sundays, staying open until midnight Monday and Tuesday; until 1 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. To celebrate the grand opening, Davidoff Cigars unveiled the Exclusive Edition Tampa, the latest entry in its ever-expanding Davidoff Exclusive series. A collaboration between Davidoff Cigars and Jeff Borysiewicz, the cigar is available exclusively at the Davidoff Tampa location. The 6-inch by 52 ring gauge belicoso features a creamy, mild blend to appeal to the largest selection of store customers. “Like all Davidoff cigars, the Tampa Exclusive is exceptionally crafted,” says Borysiewicz. “However, the flavor profile of this particular cigar is somewhat different. We wanted a mild, creamy cigar that is a little softer on the palate…something

approachable for folks just entering in the world of cigars or for those who are looking for mild, pleasing smoke.” Made with a blend of Dominican fillers and binder and finished with a Connecticut Ecuador Rojiza wrapper, the cigars come in 10-count white lacquer boxes of 10 and retail at $20 each, or $200 per box. The cigar debuted in November at the Ybor City Cigar Festival in Tampa and at Cigar Dave’s Alpha Pleasurefest at The ‘Rock at Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa.

In addition to his active involvement serving on industry trade association boards, Borysiewicz is co-founder and longtime chairman of Cigar Rights of America (CRA), the only consumer, grassroots organization in existence fighting to protect the rights of cigar consumers to be able to buy, S afford, and smoke fine cigars. Davidoff of Geneva Since 1901 Tampa, 4142 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, Fla. Tel: (813) 513-7560, Web: davidofftampa.com.

> A new bespoke Exclusive Edition Davidoff Tampa cigar is available only at the Davidoff Tampa store.

> Like the Corona Cigar Co.’s other store locations, the full liquor bar at Davidoff Tampa carries many rare and exclusive whiskies, bourbons, and rums, thanks to the expertise of co-owner Tanya Borysiewicz.

V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 25

> smoke CITY

Deadwood Tobacco Co.’s Annual Summer Biker Pilgrimage The lawless days of Wild Bill Hickok are recalled in the bustling historic tourist town of Deadwood, S.D. > by Ron “Doc” Maltin

ach August, Deadwood Tobacco Company owner Vaughn Boyd faces an exhilarating surge of business at her cigar and tobacco shop and bar in Deadwood, S.D.—population 1,300— in the heart of South Dakota’s Black Hills. For a gold rush-era town whose fortunes had surged for decades but had severely dwindled by the 1980s when it became only the third city in the nation to legalize gambling alongside Atlantic City and Las Vegas, Deadwood’s rebirth as a popular tourist destination in a region of scenic tourism has been nothing short of amazing.

26 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

Only 13 miles to the east, the nearby town of Sturgis, population 6,600, happens to host one of motorcycling’s longest-running rallies, injecting a shot of summertime adrenaline into the entire region. Last summer was the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and attendance estimates for the seven-day event ranged from 739,000 to over 1 million visitor throughout the area. Boyd estimates that the local population is about 30,000 people within a 20 mile radius of her shop, so the “Sturgis Surge” is pretty amazing. It’s an “all hands on deck” week at

Boyd’s shop, where store staff and friends and business partners all help out. Deadwood Tobacco’s Main Street corner location not only offers a well-stocked walk-in humidor, but also a full service bar and live music at night by the house band of five years, the Brandon Sprague Blues Band. It’s pretty much a non-stop party. Keeping the humidor full of all the major manufacturer’s premium cigar lines, as well as Deadwood’s own house brands, boutique, pipe tobaccos and, accessories is no easy task during Sturgis, and cigar companies themselves play a special role in making that happen. “We have a great relationship with all our suppliers,” explains Boyd. “They have really understood our marketing season and the huge inventory and supply challenges that come with the territory,” she adds. One company in particular that lends a hand each year is Drew Estate, not surprising, since the Drew team has worked with Vaughn to develop her own line of cigars—Sweet Jane, Crazy Alice, and Fat Bottom Betty—that the company manufactures at its Nicaragua factory. Each has a unique size and flavor profile to suit a huge range of smoker’s preferences. Sweet Jane originally began as a limited edition annual release celebrating the rally, but is now available year-round. The approximately 100-mile-radius tourist region surrounding the towns of Deadwood and Sturgis offers some of the best riding roadways for bikers, who are drawn there year round to soak in the expansive scenery and the constantly changing vistas as travelers crest the rolling hills and sweep out of turns at their bases. Numerous national memorials, monuments, and parks including Mount Rushmore, Custer battleground site, and Devils Tower, can be found in the area. In recent years, a television series of the same name focused on the sometimes brutal lifestyle that came with the deluge of fortune seekers and roustabouts, but Deadwood’s actual history is kept in high esteem, with a large number of pre-1900 buildings and landmarks faithfully restored and maintained. The entire town was designated a National Register landmark in 1961, and tourists can visit Saloon 10 whose sign states “This is where Wild Bill Hickok was shot, Aug. 2, 1876,” just a few doors down from Deadwood Tobacco. S

smoke Q&A

Alejandro Turrent, President, Casa Turrent Cigars

Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premium Cigar Leader, Evolving for the Future 28 SMOKE | VOL. 19, NO. 3

The Turrent family of Mexico is renowned for its highly prized San Andrés Negro leaf. The dark, oily tobacco covers some of the world’s best cigars. The family is also known for its Te-Amo brand distributed by Altadis U.S.A. But over a year ago, the family—father Alberto and son Alejandro—headed in a new direction, debuting several new lines under the Casa Turrent brand that it is distributing directly to cigar shops. The first release, Serie 1901 which came out in 2015, has now been followed up with two additional lines—Serie 1942 and Serie 1973, each offering their own distinct characteristics. Alejandro sat down with Frank Seltzer to talk about the family’s history and its future. SMOKE: Why have you decided to come out with your own line of cigars? TURRENT: We want consumers to know that Mexico makes excellent cigars and that they are made by us. We thought we needed to be on our own because nobody else can promote one’s own creations as well as oneself. There is a lot of competition right now; the market is saturated, there are lots of brands, but not much shelf space. The success of a brand comes from the face behind it, a person or a family. That is the reason we wanted to go direct. SMOKE: Your family has a long history of growing tobacco, but also has a tradition of making cigars. TURRENT: We are five generations of growers. My great-great-grandfather came over from Spain and spent some time in Cuba before settling in Mexico to begin growing tobacco in San Andrés valley. We grow San Andrés Negro, Criollo 98, Sumatra, and some Connecticut. Our biggest operation is the growing. We do about 500 tons annually with three different seeds: Sumatra, Criollo, and Negro. We have a brand in the Te-Amo World Selection where we use Connecticut grown in Mexico for wrapper. SMOKE: Was Te-Amo your biggest brand? TURRENT: Yes. Te-Amo started in 1962-63 but it was made by other people. We bought Te-Amo in 1973 and began making it. While it was a huge seller, it still was very much a regional brand being big in New

York City. We also sold a lot in New Jersey and the New England region. The Te-Amo maduro was big in Chicago and Detroit. SMOKE: But the Te-Amo is no longer as big as it was? TURRENT: In the New York area, Te-Amo was an 80-cent cigar. That segment is gone. The generation that smoked Te-Amo maybe died or quit, and the new smokers don’t think about it, though it has nothing to do with the taste. You just get a Te-Amo, take off the band and let them smoke it and they will not put it aside. I think they like it, but it is perception since the Te-Amos were very inexpensive cigars. SMOKE: The A. Turrent line of cigars was the first with your name on it and was distributed by Altadis? TURRENT: The A. Turrent line started in Mexico and then came to the U.S. in 2003. It was in the market for nine years, but it is gone now. We made that line in Mexico. We have been working with Altadis since 1989 and we will continue to do so. We love them and they are great people. We continue to make the Te-Amo World Selection for them along with Revolution. SMOKE: Do Mexican cigars seem to have a stigma beyond the price? TURRENT: Mexican cigars, after the boom, did not catch up with the market. We did not supply the different tastes that the market started to demand. We didn’t catch up with the packaging and formats. And on the opposite side, the other manufacturers in other countries started to come up with different blends. Before, you could only find 10 different blends, today you have like 80 different blends, different formats, different types of wrapper, different colors, different types of packaging and concepts. I think we didn’t catch up with that. One of the reasons is because we were not in direct contact with the market. We, as the manufacturer, were not so close to the market and I think for example in this case, Consolidated then Altadis, they have many brands and there was more outside the responsibility of them not pushing us to suggest to us different ideas. We didn’t push them to let us know what was happening.

SMOKE: What makes Casa Turrent unique from your past Turrent projects? TURRENT: We are making a cigar that is smooth because of the long fermentation on the tobacco. Over the years, I began to realize there was a huge difference between tobacco that spent eight months in the pilón and tobacco that had 12 months. In the past, maybe that was OK, but then you realize if you leave that tobacco another four to five months, good tobacco becomes great. I started to develop my palate and get more knowledgeable about the fermentations and the flavors. We really got into it. This blend was developed probably two years ago, but we worked about a year on it. We tried tobaccos at different stages of the fermentation until I got the flavor I was looking for. It was not that hard because I knew what I wanted. When you don’t have any idea of what you are looking for, when you don’t have an idea for the blend and you just want to make a different cigar, that leads to trouble. How do you know when you have the right cigar if you are only looking for a new blend? I was very convinced and completely sure of the flavor I wanted. Again, it is a smooth cigar that is more enjoyable and yet still offers a lot of flavor and just the right strength.

> Casa Turrent’s new lineup continues to grow, and currently has three entries: Casa Turrent Serie 1901, Casa Turrent Serie 1942, and Casa Turrent Serie 1973, each with a different blend.

VOL. 19, NO. 3 | SMOKE 29

> smoke Q&A

30 SMOKE | VOL. 19, NO. 3

> The father-and-son team at Casa Turrent, Alejandro (left) and Alberto (right) are entirely reshaping the company’s brand portfolio, even as its farming operation enjoys surging demand for top-quality San Andrés tobacco.

climates are different and the soil is different. So we tried to do something similar. Usually you leave the tobacco for filler 70, 80, 90 days in the fields; sometimes more than 100 days. In our case, we cannot leave it that long, but we used to leave it 70 days and now we are leaving it 90 days. The first production of Casa Turrent was very small because we only had a few pounds of the tobacco we needed. Now, we have grown more tobacco.

SMOKE: Does being a grower help you in finding the right tobaccos? TURRENT: Absolutely. For example, in this cigar we are using Criollo ‘98 and San Andrés. We used to grow Criollo tobacco for wrapper—whatever you got for filler was not that strong. So what we had to do was to grow tobacco just for this brand. We had to get the tobacco stronger. We had heard people leave the tobacco in the field longer to get the tobacco heavier, darker, and stronger. You cannot do the same thing as Nicaragua and replicate it in Mexico; the

SMOKE: But in the new Casa Turrent you are also using Nicaraguan tobacco in addition to your own leaves. Does that help the result? TURRENT: The tobacco from Nicaragua is great for blending. A maduro cigar coming from Mexico made of 100 percent Mexican tobacco, I think, is delicious. It is something exceptional. The Mexican tobacco we use can have a very good taste even though it is from only one country. But if you blend it, it becomes spectacular. SMOKE: Will there be more lines under the Casa Turrent brand? TURRENT: Yes. We have to grow the brand and two more lines were added early this year.

Each one has a different Serie name. This first one was Serie 1901 which we released at last year’s cigar industry trade show. My grandfather was born then. It uses a Negro San Andrés Maduro wrapper over double binders of Criollo San Andrés and Negro San Andrés with fillers Criollo San Andrés, Negro San Andrés and from Nicaragua. The second is Serie 1942 for the year of my father’s birth. It uses Negro San Andrés Colorado for the wrapper with a Criollo San Andrés binder and Negro San Andrés and Nicaraguan fillers.. The Casa Turrent Series 1942 has even more complexity than the 1901 and a bit more spiciness, without being aggressive. The third line is Serie 1973 for my birth year and it uses a Criollo San Andrés wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Criollo San Andrés and Nicaraguan fillers. Most of the cigar has at least four-year-old tobacco. They are all under the Casa Turrent name and in the same price range. The sizes will be robusto at 5 1/4" x 50, gran robusto at 6" x 52, doble robusto at 5 1/4” x 56, and for the Serie 1901 there is a torpedo at 5 1/2" x 50. The prices run S from $8.50 to $10. VOL. 19, NO. 3 | SMOKE 31

smoke ESSENTIALS

Gifts, Gadgets, and Goodies

Smoke’s authoritative guide to all the stuff you need, even if you don’t know it yet.

> With so much attention paid to visual style—and rightly so—not many watchmakers can say the real beauty of their craft is on the inside. But Timex boasts that its Intelligent Quartz Chrono Timer watch ($225), boasting six dial hands like nothing you’ve ever seen before, owes its genius to the independent bi-directional motors and the world’s most sophisticated quartz movement drive held within. All together, this timepiece’s “Perfect Date” perpetual calendar means you’ll never have to set the date again. A genuine leather strap complements the matte pewter stainless steel case, and the timepiece is water resistant to 100 meters. timex.com

> The Kafie family, which has been in the coffee business in Honduras since 1933 and teamed up with Tabacos Puros Aliados in Danlí to create the first of its connoisseurgrade cigars in 2013, is launching a specialty grade organic coffee line this summer, Kafie 1901. This 100 percent Arabica bean Grade 1 coffee from select farms in Honduras will be small batch roasted and packaged in the United States, available exclusively through select brick and mortar stores. To coax the maximum amount of subtle flavors from the beans’ essential oils, Kafie chooses a medium roast, making this blend an ideal pairing for premium cigars. Even better, Kafie has partnered with Cigar Rights of America (C.R.A.) and will donate a percentage of each sale to the grass roots organization to help it protect the premium cigar industry in the United States and raise awareness of the dire regulatory threats facing craft cigar makers. kafiecigars.com

32 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

> If you select a fine cigar from a full box, are you obligated to smoke the entire box before they go bad? Of course not. So why can’t you enjoy a single glass of wine from your wine cellar without committing to a full bottle? That’s precisely the challenge that wine lover Greg Lambrecht dedicated a decade of development and testing to until he had created Coravin, a system that allows wine to be poured but leaves the cork in place, and the bottle ready to safely return to the cellar, magically giving consumers and wine professionals alike the freedom to pour and serve the wines they like in any quantity, without the pressure to finish the bottle. The new Coravin Model Two Elite ($345) comes in a choice of colors and an updated needle that safely penetrates the cork and pours 20 percent faster than the original, and a textured grip for a more secure. The system utilizes proprietary gas capsules of 99.9 percent pure argon gas to safeguard the remaining wine, glass after glass, from the oxidation. coravin.com

For the ultimate in cigar protection, the SureSeal humidor from FireKing International— the world’s first fireproof and waterproof desktop humidor—has you covered. SureSeal’s uniquely designed fireproof case with proprietary insulation is fitted with compression latches that seal the box completely: the unit even floats. Each box carries a 30 minute UL Class 350°F rating: a test burn of a box with 12 cigars at 1500°F for 45 minutes destroyed the box, but the cigars inside were completely intact, protected inside by the inner lining. Each unit comes with a handle, key lock, soft foam cutout trays, a digital hygrometer/temperature gauge, Boveda aluminum packet holder, and Boveda 69% humidification packet. Choose from 30, 60, or 120-count sizes, retailing from $130 to $225 each. Each unit carries a seven-year factory warranty on workmanship and a lifetime after-fire full replacement warranty. fireking.com

> As any lover of authentic Toscani cigars from Italy—or the many worthy Tuscanstyle cigars from the U.S. or Caribbean—knows, the ritual of cutting the cigar in two and smoking each half separately is part of the style’s tradition, but born of necessity: times were in the late 19th century, and Italian cigar dealers used to cut them in two because customers could only afford to buy one half of a cigar at a time. Italian knife crafter David Berti created the perfect solution: a meticulously sharp table cutter that not only safely clipped the heads of Cuban cigars, but smoothly sliced Tuscan-style cigars in half. Today, Coltellerie Berti still hand crafts fine knives in Italy, including a modern-day version of Berti’s original cigar cutter ($245) featuring a precision stainless steel knife with ox horn handle and is mounted on a sold wood block for secure control, combining the craftsmanship of the Berti knives with one of Berti’s passions. emporioberti.com >

> Where does the time go? It’s been 20 years since Xikar co-founders Kurt Van Keppel and Scott Almsburger set out to create an innovative, cool-looking cigar cutter that looked and performed unlike anything else available at the time. Working at first from their garages and selling to their local cigar shops, the team turned their Xi cutter into an entire company. To celebrate two decades of innovation, Xikar, has designed a limited edition 20th Anniversary Retro Xi1 cutter available in four original finishes (black, titanium, silver, and champagne). The cutters feature a 20th anniversary logo and Van Keppel’s and Alsmberger’s signatures. Just in time for the celebration, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office determined that the Xi cutters possess “iconic” status in the cigar industry and awarded them trademark on their shape. xikar.com

If you’re a fan a large ring gauge cigars and simply can never have too much firepower at hand, then the Firebird Qu4d Burner ($14.99) from Colibri is just the ticket. This quadruple-jet flame lighter has initially debuted as a special limited production series for Asylum cigars, which knows a thing or two about large ring gauge smokes and the extra firepower needed to efficiently light them. Lighters feature a protective flip-top cap, extra-large transparent fuel tank, and an easyto-use flame adjustment need to tame or crank all those jets. Choose from red, silver, orange or blue versions, and look for more regular production models to follow this summer. colibri.com

There’s something to be said about gathering around a roaring fire—the perfect way to extend your outdoor season. Unlike traditional wood fire pits, the self-contained gas Patioflame Tables from Napoleon are the perfect solution for decks or patios. These self-contained Canadianmade units are the perfect height for entertaining, providing plenty of space for drinks, dishes…or ashtrays. Choose from several different tabletop designs and shapes, and customize with a choice ember beds including artistic glass, river rock, or logs too much your style. An optional wind deflector is also available to help keep the heat in on windier days or when placed in a wide-open area. napoleonproducts.com

V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 33

The Dominicanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bumper

CROP Brilliant sunshine, dry weather, and modern irrigation have bestowed growers in the Dominican Republic with a bountiful crop of rich, flavorful tobacco this past growing season, the perfect backdrop for the 2016 Procigar Festival. >By E. Edward Hoyt III

34 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

hile Cuba has struggled with crop issues in the past few seasons, the Dominican Republic has benefited from great growing conditions, a feather in the country’s cap in light of its already growing stature on the global market for premium cigars. “It is not a surprise to anyone that to make a good cigar you need good tobaccos,” explains Nirka Reyes, president of De Los Reyes Cigars, in sharing her insight to this year’s Dominican tobacco crop. While little can be done about excessively rainy growing seasons that often wreak havoc on crops with mold and disease, the opposite is true on modern, irrigated farms when there’s little rain. And the difference at harvest time is immense.

“Basically, we had a very dry season, and this is a good thing because on farms that have irrigation systems, the tobacco gets better,” due to the abundant sun combined with root-level irrigation, Reyes explains. “The tobacco is [a] friend of dryness, because with an irrigation system, the plant tends to eat more and the roots grow… Plants will have lots more ligero and viso this year than seco.” And in a market that increasingly favors flavor over smooth blandness, an abundant harvest of rich tobacco is a great prize. While not all tobacco farms in the Dominican Republic feature irrigation systems, those growing for premium cigar makers are nearly universally equipped—the risks associated with such valuable crops are too high not to be. So while the total harvest of Dominican

V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 35

Learning the Craft of Cigar Making… Hands-On from the Experts

Each February, cigar lovers descend upon the Dominican Republic for the annual Procigar Festival, a complete immersive experience on premium cigars.

> Left: Planting tobacco seedlings at a Davidoff farm in Jicomé; Right: Hand-stripping stems from filler leaf at Altadis USA leaf supplier José Mendez SRL.

> At a tour of Davidoff in Villa Gonzalez (left/ above) and at Quesada Cigars in Tamboril (right), participants are shown the tricky craft of bunching longfill before giving it a try for themselves.

> Think you have what it takes to be a rollero? At De Los Reyes in Santiago (above) and at Davidoff (right), participants finish the bunches by applying the wrappers—both a technical skill and an art. 36 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

> Nirka Reyes, President of tobacco grower and cigar maker De Los Reyes Cigars, examines leaf curing from the stellar 2016 crop in the barn.

tobacco was down last year due to the dry weather—as much as 20 percent, according to Reyes—the impact on the premium cigar segment will actually be negligible, according to members of the Dominican Republic’s cigar manufacturing association Procigar. “The good thing is, with the dryness, a lot of diseases don’t get to the plants, so we’re going to have very good tobacco this year,” said Reyes; “…a lot of ligero to make a lot of good, flavorful cigars.” Reyes also reports that there are currently about 20 different tobacco varieties being actively cultivated in the Dominican Republic, a number that fluctuates depending upon the hybrids and proprietary strains pursued by manufacturers. And throughout the world, cigar smokers seem to be taking a shining to the taste of Dominican cigars, markets where Cuban cigars have long dominated. A mere two years ago, Dominican Republic cigar maker Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana was only selling his hand made cigars in two countries outside of the United States—Germany and Norway, despite having toiled for over two decades in the cigar business. Today, Gomez reports that La Flor Dominicana can be found in 48 countries, from Europe to Asia to Latin America and the Middle East. Gomez isn’t the only one who’s seen a growing global interest in high-quality non-Cuban cigars: so have his colleagues, and it’s all part of a growing industry-wide trend. “I see a major change in the world markets,” Gomez said at a presentation at this year’s annual Procigar Festival in Santiago in February that included leading figures of Procigar. “It’s not happening in only one part of the world, it’s happening all over… And our company is not the only one.” Premium cigar brands from the Dominican Republic are enjoying a higher profile than ever, thanks in no small part to the global reach of Davidoff of Geneva, Gomez noted, something that has benefited the entire Dominican cigar industry. “All these parts of the world have been traditionally smoking

Cuban cigars for many, many decades,” Gomez explains, noting that in the past, many international premium cigar consumers didn’t smoke Dominican cigars for no other reason than they didn’t taste like Cuban cigars. “They are coming to realize that’s not a problem, that’s a good thing. And now they are not only enjoying the flavor profile of Cuban cigars, but also Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic— especially the Dominican Republic, which has much more presence in most of the international markets.” Gomez compares the growing desire among cigar smokers in international markets to experience new flavors to the trajectory of the wine industry over time. “Traditionally, it used to be [mostly] French wines, but now people are enjoying wines from Italy and Spain and Latin America and all over the world. They are all great wines and they all have different taste profiles—people are having a much richer experience,” Gomez said, adding that the same phenomenon is happening in cigars and the trend is very positive for consumers who are having a “much broader, richer experience and a lot more choices of flavors to enjoy cigars.” In addition to the high level of consistency and quality among Dominican cigars, Gomez says the other characteristic that defines them is the great variety of flavors. “There’s multiple choices of great Dominican blends,” he points out. “The great difference of flavors from manufacturer to manufacturer, from brand to brand, I think is one of the great assets here in the Dominican Republic.” Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, c.e.o. of Oettinger Davidoff AG, also noted an encouraging gain for Dominican cigars in the global market, while acknowledging that overall last year was challenging. “I think it’s fair to say 2015 turned out to be a lot tougher than we anticipated just one year ago. The overall American market was probably the only market that lived up to expectations with a growth in sales of about two percent, but in Europe the overall market clearly declined further.” V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 37

> Litto Gomez, founder and president of La Flor Dominicana, started as an outsider to the cigar industry over 20 years ago, but the talented visionary has become as impassioned a force in the Dominican cigar industry as many of his multi-generational cigar making colleagues.

“In general, Cuban cigars had a tough year,” said Hoejsgaard. “They have had a very bad harvest the last couple of years and they have out-of-stocks in many areas.” Hoejsgaard notes that 55 percent of Cuba’s cigar exports went to Europe in 2015, “so one can just sort of reflect on the fact of what [will happen] when and if the American market is opening up.” To Reyes’s point, Cuba has had too much rain in recent seasons, and crops have suffered, but it comes at a terrible time as it relies more heavily on notoriously scant inventories of properly aged leaf as it struggles to meet current global demand for its cigars. The thought of a surge of U.S. demand in a post-embargo world spells potential chaos for the global Cuban cigar market. Given the recent, unprecedented developments by the Obama administration to normalize relations with Cuba and ease more and more of the travel and commerce restrictions that have been in place for over 50 years, the question of what will happen to the premium cigar industry once the trade embargo falls and Cuban cigars are freely available on the U.S. market is more timely than ever. The thaw has been moving quickly since President Obama’s announcement in July 2015 that U.S. would end the diplomatic isolation of Cuba and reopen the nation’s respective embassies. But the truth is the cigar industry doesn’t foresee Cuban cigars reaching U.S. retail stores any time in the immediate future as the potential hurdles are still formidable. “I think we all realize that it will happen,” says Hoejsgaard, “and depending on who wins the U.S. presidential election this year, it can be shorter or longer, but I don’t think anybody thinks…the actual lifting of the embargo, which is the key [barrier]…is going to happen before three to five years.” When it does, the premium cigar industries in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras will all face a new “big competitor,” Hoejsgaard admits, “but it’s a competitor we know from the rest of the world. It will bring new excitement around the entire cigar market. I think that’s just positive. The issue, of course, is supplies, because as we all know the Cubans need a bit of help and their production has basically declined over the past couple of 38 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

years. So, if they have to supply and provide product for the U.S. market, other markets around the world will suffer.” As far as cigar companies returning to Cuba, either buying tobacco there or helping to grow tobacco in Cuba, Gomez stresses “that all depends.” If only the embargo falls, but not the communist system, there would be lots of limitations still in place. Davidoff, which used to have all its cigars produced in Cuba up until 1989 when quality issues compelled it to establish its own production in the Dominican Republic, sees plenty of potential should the opportunity to go back to Cuba arise. “Yes, we are certainly one of those companies that would be delighted to return,” says Hoejsgaard. “We would not go there to replace what we have because Dominican Republic, Davidoff Nicaragua are extremely important. So it’s not about replacing what we have, but obviously adding an additional pillar to the brand when that opportunity may arise.” Hoejsgaard agrees it’s not likely to happen in the very short term, but says it’s an exciting prospect. “The train has left the station definitely, but it needs a lot more than Obama going to Cuba or opening an embassy. We need really that lifting of the embargo before anything is going to happen.” Manuel Quesada—whose family company owns the rights to the Cuban-born Fonseca brand outside of Cuba—is pessimistic that the fall of the embargo would signal a return to pre-revolutionary free-enterprise, where foreign cigar companies, large or small, could return to the island to farm tobacco or buy premium Cuban tobacco to blend in their cigars. He cites a February 2016 Cigar Aficionado interview with Habanos S.A. co-president Nuñez Blanco, who said, “No. That will never happen. That is not part of our strategy, nor part of our thinking.” As if the U.S. embargo on the importation of Cuban goods and the need to first solve complicated trademark ownership issues weren’t problems enough for Cuba’s dream of someday making huge inroads in the U.S. market, the newly enacted FDA deeming regulations toss in yet another wrench, one of costly applications, premarket reviews and, ultimately, unknown delays even after all the other hurdles have been cleared. Procigar and cigar associations from other cigar producing countries worked with the various U.S. trade associations over the past two years in an effort to oppose the FDA’s deeming regulations, but ultimately the efforts fell short, and the FDA made no special concessions for premium cigars, treating them the same as cigarettes under their regulatory approach. “Tough regulations have always been part of our life, part of our industry,” stressed Hoejsgaard back in February, before the regulations were unveiled, “and we have always managed in the premium cigar industry, and we will also overcome this next round. But it’s important that we all stand together, not only in the Dominican Republic but Honduras, Nicaragua, and Cuba, to make sure we speak with one voice and we stand together and we are not being lumped together with mass machine-made product.” Cuba, he noted, has been entirely absent from the efforts to combat the FDA regulations. If the U.S. government and its various agencies failed to understand the traditions and artistry that surround the crafting of hand made cigars before they unveiled their crushing regulations, rest assured the industry won’t stop its efforts to defend its rights to continue their livelihoods just as wine makers, spirit makers, and culinary artisans pursue theirs. “Let the populations of the world decide where to draw the lines,” is the industry’s desire—a distinct irony as the U.S. works to encourage freedoms and free market principles in Cuba while severely limiting business at home. S

> Above: The rolling gallery at Ernesto Carrillo’s Tabacalera La Alianza, producer of E.P. Carrillo brands. Left: Sampling SAGA cigars at De Los Reyes Cigars. Below: Cigar rollers at General Cigar Dominicana.

> Above: At the Quesada Cigars factory in Licey, Dominican Republic, tour guests were led through a tasting exercise illustrating how blenders must continuously tweak each cigar’s blend over time to maintain consistency of taste as characteristic change from crop to crop.

> Above, left: Keeping Procigar Festival tour participants amply supplied with cigars at all times is a common mission for every participating cigar maker as well as the numerous hard working tour guides throughout the week-long festival. Above, right: Celebrants at the highly anticipated annual White Dinner at The Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración, located on a hilltop affording great views of the city of Santiago de los Caballeros. V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 39

40 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

Tabacalera Palma’s

“JOCHY”

A talented fourth generation tobacco grower, blender, and cigar maker, the “other” José Blanco is increasingly stepping out from the shadows and building his own brands as his reputation and marketplace success continue to grow. > By Frank Seltzer

hen you hear the name José Blanco in the cigar industry, you most probably think of the man who worked for years with La Aurora, and more recently launched Señorial cigars. But there is another José Blanco, one who is younger and makes the cigars for his older cousin with the same name. He goes by the nickname Jochy, one he has had since childhood. “I decided to keep Jochy because my cousin José is well known in the market,” explains Jochy. The fourth generation José Blanco in his family, 54-year-old José Arnaldo “Jochy” Blanco runs Tabacalera Palma in Tamboril, just outside of Santiago in the Dominican Republic. While not known very widely up to this point, Tabacalera Palma is actually marking its 80th year in 2016. Says Jochy, “My grandfather started growing tobacco but he never produced cigars. My father was the one who started making cigars in 1936 and in big quantities too. But it was not known in the U.S., because it was a very different cigar and it was made for the local market here in the Dominican Republic. It was 100 percent for the local market and the tobaccos we used for those cigars was different than what we grow today for premium cigars.” As for his heritage, Jochy says he has been around tobacco all his life. “Since I was a kid I have been in tobacco. I worked with my father and played among the tobacco bales. I loved it…jumping from one bale to another.” His former play space today is the site of the expanded factory and Jochy’s free trade zone. The land is what used to be one of his family’s farms. There remains a small experimental farm on the property, but mostly it consists of Tabacalera Palma; Abe Flores’s PDR factory which Abe rents from Jochy; and three other factories that Jochy rents to other manufactures. Jochy grows tobacco at the Flor de Palma farm in La Canela, in partnership with Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana. He has many other farms throughout the Cibao valley that provide him with excellent tobaccos, ones that attracted many cigar companies eager to have Jochy make their cigars for them, including Rafael Nodal, who formerly operated his own Habana Cuba Cigar Company / Oliveros factory. Oliveros was, in fact, one of the first companies to call Tabacalera Palma home. Starting in 2009, Nodal partnered with Jochy to form Boutique Blends. The first cigar they launched was SWAG. That

cigar sold well and in 2011 Nodal and Jochy launched the small batch Aging Room series that has subsequently been named one of the best cigars of 2011 and again in 2013. Nodal’s marketplace success attracted other makers. Villiger, for a time, ventured into premium cigars made at Jochy’s factory. Fabian Barrantes, who had worked for Boutique Blends as vice president of SWAG cigars and director of marketing for Aging Room,

V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 41

> Tabacalera Palma launched La Galera Connecticut and Ecuadorian Habano blends in 2015. For 2016, Blanco is adding La Galera Maduro, a special Tabacalera Palma 80th anniversary limited edition under the La Galera brand, and another limited edition La Galera that is box pressed. 42 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

knew the factory well and when he joined Villiger North America he developed and produced a number of new cigar lines there. When Jochy’s cousin, José Blanco, launched Las Cumbres and its Señorial cigar in 2014, Blanco knew he wanted Jochy to make it. The following year, Jochy was provided with recognition when Procigar—the prestigious Dominican cigar makers group— inducted him as one of their own. Early this year, another legend in the business, José Seijas— the former head of Altadis U.S.A.’s Tabacalera de Garcia and now owner of La Matilde brand—moved his production from La Romana to Tabacalera Palma. Seijas is known for his strict quality standards and felt Jochy was the one to provide the high standards and the capacity he wanted. While Jochy likes making cigars for others, for many years he also wanted to have his own brand. “I think it is time for people to realize we have a long tradition of growing tobacco and producing amazing cigars. It is my passion to make cigars and grow tobacco. But we need to show what we love to people who are outside the

farms and the factory.” And now Jochy is doing just that. At the end of 2014, Barrantes left Villiger and came to see Jochy, who shared his ideas for a brand of his own and proposed the possibility of the two men acquiring another U.S. company. The two went to Miami a week later to look over the company’s operations and to analyze whether the move made sense. It did, and a few days later Jochy purchased IndianHead Cigars. He reasoned that given the FDA regulation of cigar and the ominous 2007 “predicate date,” the acquisition would be a good fit. “IndianHead gives us brands that have been in the market since the 1990s; that was one of the reasons I bought it,” says Jochy. Also, the owner of IndianHead, Bill Bock, was a friend of Jochy’s for the past 30 years. Jochy adds, “When Bill wanted to sell the company, he wanted to sell it to someone he trusted to continue the tradition he had begun.” The acquisition included many value-oriented brands such as Cuban Aristocrats in Connecticut, Maduro, and Habano; medium-fill Cuban Twists; mild Connecticut Rough Rider Sweets with a sweet tip made from honey, sugar cane, and wine; American Stogies War Hunter; and Cuban Corojos in three sizes. Armed with “grandfathered” pre-2007 brands, Jochy went about creating his own line, La Galera—which translates from Spanish as “the gallery” or “rolling room” in a cigar factory where, as Jochy puts it “the magic happens.” In February 2015, Jochy with Fabian as his director of marketing and sales began work on the packaging to complement the blends for La Galera. The band designs had personal meaning for Jochy and his family, according to Fabian. The picture of the lector is from a painting in Jochy’s office. The painting of the field hangs in the factory’s packaging room, and the coins are Dominican. There is a ballerina for his daughter, who is a ballerina; a basketball because his middle son José junior is a basketball freak; and a heart for Daniel, who had a successful heart transplant a few years ago. And for his wife there is a beach with a palm tree that represents Jochy—it is their happy place.” The cigars began shipping to retailers in the U.S. and overseas in February in two blends—Connecticut and Habano. The cigars come in seven sizes for the Habano and eight for the Connecticut. One of the things notable about La Galera is its price point. The Connecticut begins at $3.50 retail before taxes, toping out at just over $6, and the Habano starts at just under $5 peaking at just over $8 for a 6 1/4" by 60. Says Jochy, “We want to give to the people the opportunity of a great cigar, an excellent cigar at a lower price.” Jochy is able to keep the costs down because he controls everything—from the fields, to production, and now with IndianHead Cigars, to distribution in the U.S. Jochy loves both blends, but if asked to choose, confesses, “I prefer the Habano. To me it has more flavor and complexity and is a little bit stronger.” The Habano uses a Habano Ecuador wrapper with a Dominican Corojo binder coupled with Dominican Piloto Cubano, Criollo 98, and Pelo de Oro fillers. The Connecticut uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over a Piloto Cubano binder and Dominican T-112, Piloto Cubano, and Criollo 98 fillers. These cigars are a far cry from what his father made, says Jochy. “Back in my father’s day, the consumer wanted one seed of tobacco— Olor Dominicano—and one specific to a certain growing region. When we began with new cigars we came up with new tobaccos.” Not only is Blanco using new seeds but he is also keeping a tight watch on where those seeds are grown. “We are working very hard in tobacco to separate the leaves in small areas based on

Not only is Blanco using new seeds but he is also keeping a tight watch on where those seeds are grown. where they are grown, because sometimes you grow in one area and the taste is one thing, but if you grow the exact same seed two to three kilometers away, it changes the taste because of the microclimate,” Jochy explains. “You have the same process and same everything, but the taste is different. We are playing with those different tastes and now after of years of blending tobaccos with the different micro-climates, we know which ones make better complexity for premium cigars.” For the summer 2016 cigar industry trade show, where manufacturers typically debut new merchandise, Tabacalera Palma will introduce several new cigars: a La Galera Maduro, a special Tabacalera Palma 80th anniversary limited edition under the La Galera brand, and another limited edition La Galera that is box pressed. Jochy says this is ambitious for his factory, as he continues to make cigars for Nodal, his cousin José, and now Seijas, but believes the production demands are not a problem. “We will be adding a few more buildings to our free trade zone and already have bought a building in Villa Gonzales to ramp up production. It is a lot of work, but we have an excellent team and a lot of young people. We have some who have been with us 35 years, starting here since they were 16. They are always learning. They have made mistakes over the past, but they have learned from those mistakes. We have great blenders who we work with and a lot of times we have different opinions, but S at the end our goal is to make our blends the best.” V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 43

44 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

Habanos Festival 2016

Cohiba at

While U.S.-Cuba relations have been thawing at a record pace, the smart money still puts the fall of the embargo itself several more years down the road. For now, Cuba’s view of the American market remains from a distance. > By E. Edward Hoyt III

Photos: Habanos S.A.

espite less-than-ideal economic conditions globally last year, Habanos S.A.—the sales and marketing arm of the Cuban state-owned tobacco monopoly Cubatabaco—reported that demand for habanos grew in 2015. The company posted a small sales gain of four percent for the year, a rate higher than that of the overall luxury segment, noted Luis Sánchez-Harguindey, Co-President of Habanos, S.A. in remarks made on the opening day of the week-long 18th annual Habanos Festival, held in Havana, Cuba from February 29 through March 4, 2016. Cuban cigars also maintained their global market share of approximately 70 percent—excluding the U.S. market. Habanos S.A. exclusively markets 27 brands of habanos (hand made Cuban cigars) around the world, with turnover $428 million in 2015. While not every new release for the year debuts at the festival, it’s safe to say that all of the major ones are unveiled there, sharing the spotlight in front of the international audience. With such a large portfolio of brands, anniversaries are a constant, but 2016 is particularly unusual given it marks milestones for two post-revolutionary brands—the blockbuster Cohiba, which marks its 50th anniversary with several special releases that dominated the buzz for the week, as well as Cuaba which marks its 20th anniversary. “In just 50 years, Cohiba has become a symbol of exclusivity, distinction, and innovation,” said Inocente Núñez Blanco, Co-President of Habanos, S.A., explaining that the company set out “to pay a befitting tribute to this authentic icon” with several new brand launches, especially the Cohiba 50 Aniversario. Other special releases were also announced for the Hoyo de Monterrey and H. Upmann brands, the Edición Limitada cigars for 2016, and additions to the Habanos Añejos line. Given the blockbuster lineup of new releases, it was no surprise that festival officials anticipated 1,500 visitors this year up from 1,300 in 2015. Festival officials didn’t waste any time getting details—and at least a few samples—of all the major cigar launches into the hands of the international press corps early on the first day of the festival, which then officially got underway with the opening of the trade fair and Habano gallery. With only about 70 exhibitors, it’s quite small by trade show standards, but since there is only a single cigar maker represented, one can argue it’s fully focused on Habanos. The trade fair draws a bigger crowd overall, about 2,000 visitors in 2015, which included a higher concentration of Cuban cigar business partners from around the world versus the festival’s draw of Habano enthusiasts.

> Opposite: The iconic El Laguito factory in Havana, which produces Cohiba. Above: The welcome evening cocktail reception, devoted to Hoyo de Monterrey Reserva, Cosecha 2012, held at the Old Tobacco and Wood Warehouse, Port of Havana.

Until now, Hoyo de Monterrey was the only global Habanos brand that did not include a Reserva or a Gran Reserva in its portfolio, no longer the case with the unveiling of its first Reserva in the iconic Epicure No. 2 Robusto 4 7/8 in. (124 mm) by 50 format. It is one of the most popular Habanos vitolas worldwide, what Habanos officials call a “trend format,” bringing together Hoyo de Monterrey’s most recognized characteristics such as the softness of its blend and its sweet, delicate and aromatic character, to give this Habano incredible elegance and complexity. This new Reserva delves into the unique character of Habanos as Protected Denomination of Origin V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 45

> Above, left to right: Hoyo de Monterrey Reserva, Consecha 2012; Cohiba Medio Siglo; and H. Upmann Magnum 54. Below: Cohiba 50 Aniversario.

(D.O.P.), since all of the tobaccos used in this release were selected from leaves harvested in 2012 in Vuelta Abajo and Pinar del Rio region, and underwent an extra-long three-year aging process. Only 5,000 individually numbered varnished boxes of 25 cigars are being released in the Special Series (SPB). Cohiba Medio Siglo marks the 50th anniversary of the Cohiba brand with an all-new vitola, the first new launch within Línea 1492 since 2002 when the Cohiba Siglo VI debuted. Medio Siglo is a tribute to two other classic vitolas in Línea 1492. It has the same 52 ring gauge of the Cohiba Siglo VI and the same length, 4 inches (102 mm) of the Cohiba Siglo I, delivering a modern, small format Habano that is completely new for the brand. It has a smoking time of around 30 minutes and a medium strength flavor. All Cohiba Habanos are made from tobaccos picked from the five best vegas de primera in the tobacco-growing districts of San Juan y Martinez and San Luis in Vuelta Abajo. Medio Siglo will be released in two presentations—25-count slide lid boxes (SLB) as well as in three-count aluminum tube packs. The new H. Upmann Magnum 54 is also a completely new vitola joining the brand’s regular portfolio and the third vitola in Línea Magnum, after the classic Magnum 46 and Magnum 50, presented in 2008. The new 4 3/4 in. (120 mm) by 54 ring gauge format has a refined and elegant blend with a nuanced character, and the softto medium-strength flavor that characterizes the brand. The H. Upmann brand dates back to the early 19th century, named after the German banker Herman Upmann who founded both a bank and a Habanos factory in 1844. The bank closed, but the brand lived on. Magnum 54 will be available in both 25-count slide lid boxes and in three-count aluminum tubes packs. Without a doubt, the show stealer was the most exclusive and luxurious Cohiba ever unveiled, one marking the 50th anniversary of the brand. The Special Edition Cohiba 50 Aniversario represented the first-ever 60 ring gauge Cohiba, with a unique 7 in. (178 mm) 46 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

by 60 ring gauge vitola that was design especially for this special celebration of the brand. An incredibly small production of only 2,500 Habanos of this edition will be released, rolled at the near-mythical El Laguito factory in Havana, and presented in 50 limited-edition humidors each containing 50 cigars. The cigar is said to deliver the well-known medium- to full-strength flavors most characteristic of the brand over its five decades of existence. Following Cohiba tradition, the tobacco used to produce the cigar have been selected from the best fields in the tobacco-growing districts of San Juan y Martínez and San Luis in Vuelta Abajo, and the Seco and Ligero leaves of its blend have also undergone additional fermentation in casks. The habanos feature a beautiful new primary band design in black and gold with the 50th anniversary seal, each cigar individually numbered. Some characteristic elements of the Cohiba brand, such as the grid design, have been reinterpreted in a contemporary way. Meanwhile, a separate foot band takes smokers back 50 years, showcasing the very first commercial design of the Cohiba brand, a colonial-inspired insignia

> Cohiba 50 Aniversario Humidor features Vuelta Abajo tobacco leaves coated with 24-carat gold leaf; Right: Cuaba 20 Aniversario, a new doble figurado.

with a decorative typeface that was used only briefly, replaced shortly after by the logo that is still in use today. This commemorative edition is presented in an exclusive luxury cabinet humidor made by Elie Bleu from different precious woods, including makassar ebony, sycamore and guarea cedrata or scented guarea. The innovative external marquetry decorating its doors is the result of a long process of experimentation, in which carefully selected authentic Vuelta Abajo ligero leaves were coated with 24-carat gold leaf, delicately carried out by expert Parisian artisans. This unique collector’s item features a range of accessories inside including a travel humidor for five habanos, a handmade leather cigar case, and an ashtray made with the same marquetry technique used on the exterior and finished in Armenian obsidian. Each humidor will be numbered from 1 to 50 and personalized with the owner’s name. Each buyer will also receive a certificate of ownership and authenticity issued by Habanos S.A. Cabinet No. 1 was auctioned for $357,000 at the traditional humidor auction at the festival’s gala closing night dinner. The remain-

ing 49 humidors were auctioned blind among exclusive Habano distributors, with about half of the eligible distributors worldwide participating. The final price for each of the remaining cabinet humidors was set at a minimum of $223,000 each. All proceeds from the auction benefit the Cuban Health System Also launched was the Cohiba Majestuosos 1966, a unique heavy ring gauge vitola whose dimensions of 5 7/8 in. (150 mm) by 58 ring gauge do not appear in any other Cohiba product nor in the standard range of sizes of Habanos. The exquisite full strength blend was created for smokers who like complex, intense flavors. This commemorative edition is presented in an elegant, gleaming black lacquer 20-count humidor featuring a subtle vintage curved design as a tribute to cigar’s 1966 launch. Only 1,966 individually numbered pieces make up the series. A special Cuaba 20 Aniversario vitola featuring a doble figurado format, measuring 6 3/4 in. (170 mm) by 56 ring gauge will be released in an artisan humidor containing 50 Habanos and crafted from precious Cuban woods features a clean design symbolic elements related to the discovery of tobacco and the origin of the Cuaba brand. All Cuaba Habanos have their own doble figurado shape, a format that represents the pinnacle of the torcedores’ art, due to the complexity involved in creating them. Three 2016 Edicion Limitadas, featuring vitolas not in the brands’ regular portfolios and featuring leaf aged a minimum of two years, were also announced: Montecristo Dantés 6 1/2 in. (167 mm) by 48; Romeo y Julieta Capuletos 6 1/8 in. (153 mm) by 53; and 5 in. (125 mm) by 56 Trinidad Topes. Finally, two new Habanos Añejados that have been aged in Cuba for five years or more have been added: Partagás Coronas Gordas Añejados 5 5/8 in. (143 mm) by 46 and Hoyo de Monterrey Hermosos No. 4 Añejados 5 in. (127 mm) by 48. In both cases, these are new benchmarks that are not present in either brand’s standard portfolio. They are being launched on the S market as a Special Edition in limited quantities. V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 47

> THE CIGAR REVIEW

> Opening night welcome cruise at the 5th Annual Nicaraguan Cigar Festival, held in January 2016 in Managua and Estelí, Nicaragua.

Have a Cigar…Because You Can

re government legislators as completely clueless as they seem? Do they just not get it? I mean, do they never have any fun? It is said that the massive regulatory machine will someday become so completely burdensome that everything will just come to a grinding halt. Or that society as a whole will just reject the ever-growing assault on personal freedoms. We hope neither scenario

ever comes to fruition, as reasonable oversight has its place. But when it comes to calculated risks, gosh, there’s only so much we can be bear being told what to do. We like cigars, and so do the artisans who craft them. There’s got to be a better approach. So, to hell with them. Have a cigar. Please! There’s plenty to choose from. Smoke’s panelists cleared their schedules, stopped mail delivery, and hunkered down in their backyards with libations of choice to take one for the team and puff away on another round of cigars for your edification, dear cigar lover. Among the highest scoring cigars that charmed this issue’s reviewers were the Dram Cask No. 2 (92), one of a series of cigars blended specifically to pair with different profile whiskies; Dunhill Heritage (92), a much more flavorful, medium-bodied Honduran than the brand’s typically super-smooth mild profile; The Widow’s Son from Battleground Cigar (93) that delivered a mouthful of flavor and just the right kick; and White Chapel (93) from Evil Genius Cigar Company that was called out for its rich flavors and spice. Other cigars receiving the highest individual (unaveraged) scores were Psyko Seven Maduro (“tons and tons of flavor without a killer head rush of strength”); Belmore Maduro (“rather complex. Intriguing cigar”); Joya Red Robusto (“a great cigar”); Southern Draw Firethorn (“The tobacco is aged perfectly”); CAO Colombia (“abundant tobacco flavor and robust”); and the Cuban Montecristo 80 Anniversary (“strong, balanced flavors demand this cigar is reserved for experienced smokers”). –EEH

48 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

SCORING GUIDE SCORING RATING

QUALITY

96 – 100 91 – 95 86 – 90 80 – 85 70 – 79 60 – 69 Under 59

Superior Excellent Very Good Good Average Fair Poor

OFFICIAL HUMIDITY CONTROL of SMOKE MAGAZINE

www.natcicco.com

> THE CIGAR REVIEW 92

1881 PERIQUE MADURO Torpedo PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Dark cigar, almost black wrapper; a short torpedo.

Robusto size torpedo with a natural wrapper. Black blemishes, oily texture.

A robusto torpedo-shaped stick. Dark clay brown wrapper. Oily sheen.

A very well-rolled cigar with no soft spots. Makes for an even burn and the ash is silvery.

No hard or soft spots, very well rolled, taut but not tight. Excellent draw, burns evenly from start.

Draws easy, burns cool and even producing a long ash. It’ packed tight with tobacco leaf but smokes flawlessly

From the beginning the cigar had a spice flavor, lots of smoke. Profile builds and lingers in the mouth.

Full-bodied, nice bold tobacco flavor. Very consistent and delicious; got better as I smoked it.

Enticing sweet rich scent. Medium bodied, buttery nut base, good lingering licorice notes, peppery finish.

This short torpedo is dark, oiled wonderful goodness. A real eye-opener in morning, like a strong cup of joe. 91 Excellent

Wonderful for those who like robust cigars with tobacco flavor. I recommend especially with a bourbon. 93 Excellent

Memorable from start to finish. Could smoke these all the time; I smoked all three samples within two days. 93 Excellent

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Nice smooth, consistent coloring in leaf, no veins, light brown in color.

A well-marbled brown wrapper with many veins; solid cap.

Good-looking small cigar with a smooth, chocolate brown wrapper.

Smooth even roll, well-balanced, no soft spots, light aroma and even burn with light gray ash.

Soft between fingers, rich chocolate smooth cold draw. Cool, slightly uneven burn showing dark gray ash.

Fairly soft roll with great draw, plenty of smoke. Mostly straight burn with dark gray ash. A few minor touch-ups.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Light in flavor and strength, no real flavor high points; smoke was overall nondescript.

A hint of nuts at the end of each puff of woody smoke; medium to mild. Easy flavor from beginning to end.

A bit grassy and earthy with hints of cocoa and vanilla. Mild-bodied with a clean finish.

GENERAL COMMENTS

A small stick with not much flavor; well-constructed and eye-appealing; a good girlfriend smoke. 84 Good

Easy, balanced cigar. Softened once warmed up. A great first cigar of the day; not as quick as it looks. 89 Very Good

Smooth, easy-going cigar with a big profile. Good with a beer or morning coffee, or for a quick smoke. 90 Very Good

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

GENERAL COMMENTS

CONSTRUCTION

MAKER Tabacalera Incorporada FILLER Brazil, U.S.A., Philippines BINDER Philippines WRAPPER Indonesia SIZE 6 x 52 PRICE $10.32

FOYLE Epee

AESTHETICS

ORIGIN Philippines

ORIGIN Honduras MAKER Alliance Cigar FILLER Nicaragua, Honduras BINDER Honduras WRAPPER Honduras SIZE 4 1/2 x 40 PRICE $6.50

BRUN DEL RÉ LIMITED EDITION Churchill PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

AESTHETICS

Well-rolled, no veins or oil. A big cigar: I felt like Castro smoking it.

A pale dry brown wrapper with large veins; bumpy, ugly cap.

Good-looking long stick with a smooth leathery wrapper.

CONSTRUCTION

Nice even roll, looks like one continuous leaf; no soft spots, mild in aroma, with an even burn.

Mostly solid with a soft spot or two. Smells of hay on unlit foot. Easy draw; once lit burn was cool, firm tan ash.

This cigar had a firm roll; the draw was good, the burn was straight, and the ash was solid.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Very mild, almost not there. Perfect for a long drive with a nonsmoker because of light flavor profile.

Musty notes on the cold draw. Mild tobacco notes with hints of wood. Smooth creamy clouds of smoke.

It had medium strength with the flavors of well-aged tobacco, both vanilla and black cherry.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Felt like a pre-Castro old-timer sitting in Havana with this long smoke. Light and airy flavor, kind of a bummer. 85 Good

There was not a lot of character but I enjoyed it. Went well with my morning cup of coffee. 86 Very Good

Cigar had great construction and flavors. Makes for a highly recommended cigar. 92 Excellent

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Dark brown wrapper, extremely smooth with only very fine veins.

Reddish-tinged Colorado maduro wrapper, some minor veins. Triple cap.

Dark mahogany wrapper, fairly evenly colored, some darker marks. Few veins.

Very even roll, firm construction but drew very well. Straight burn but did canoe. Strong, white-grey ash.

Firmly rolled, excellent construction, cool draw, straight burn. Firm, light grey ash, easy puffs of smoke.

No construction concerns experienced with single sample; straight burn, easy draw. Only a few touch-ups needed.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Full-bodied with early cream and woody notes joined by increasing flavors of white pepper. Balanced sweetness.

Medium to full-body earthy smoke with notes of chocolate, nuts with leather and muted spice that subtly grow.

Rich, full-flavored cigar with notes of cedar, cocoa, coffee, nuts, and a hint of sweetness. Medium in strength.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Strong, balanced flavors demand this cigar is reserved for experienced smokers to appreciate this incredible cigar. 96 Superior

While its strength doesn’t hit you right away, this is a powerful cigar with a young edge. Age will make it superior. 93 Excellent

Delicious smoke overall that was fairly complex and multi-dimensional…not a quickie, but made to savor. Will get more. 90 Very Good

ORIGIN Costa Rica MAKER Brun del Ré Cigars FILLER Nicaragua BINDER Indonesia WRAPPER Costa Rica SIZE 7 x 48 PRICE $7.90

MONTECRISTO 80 Aniversario

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

50 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

ORIGIN Cuba MAKER Habanos S.A. FILLER Cuba BINDER Cuba WRAPPER Cuba SIZE 6 1/2 x 55 PRICE N/A

> THE CIGAR REVIEW 90

BRICK HOUSE Mighty Might Maduro PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Big dark flavor bomb. Visually mouthwatering; oiled dark goodness.

Large, dark almost-black cigar. Dry, toothy, with a soft seam.

Big, heavy cigar with a mottled brown rustic wrapper, several veins.

Nice, even roll, no soft spots, medium flavored aroma; flavor begins with light. Ash is platinum silver.

A heavy, dense cigar. Strong notes of tobacco on the un-lit foot that had a flawless draw. Cool burn, sharp ash.

Tight roll but good draw with a medium amount of smoke. Burn is pretty sharp and ash is solid and light gray.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Full-bodied flavor with spice and chocolate. Every draw is like a cup of fresh-brewed espresso.

Medium strength smoke, lots of rich tobacco with each puff. Had a slight sweetness on the lips.

Starts out milder than expected with notes of hay and cedar. Strength stays mild and tobacco flavor predominates.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Flavor delivers in this big boy smoke. Perfect for before, during, after dinner. Get a box because I will not share. 91 Excellent

Larger than my liking but still was enjoyable. Not a lot of depth but consistent. Smoked it to the nub. 89 Very Good

A lot less intimidating than expected; good option if you want a big cigar that won’t test your limits. 89 Very Good

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

MAKER J.C. Newman Cigar Co. FILLER Nicaragua BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER Brazil SIZE 6 1/4 x 60 PRICE $6.75

JOYA RED Robusto PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

AESTHETICS

Incredibly even medium brown color wrapper with no blemishes, tiny veins.

Medium-light roast coffee-colored wrapper. Impeccably neat, Smooth.

Satiny smooth. Wrapper has very few veins; not too dry, not too oily.

CONSTRUCTION

The way a cigar should be: zero distractions. Great draw and burn; lots of smoke, and a strong ash.

Well constructed, determined slow burn. Smoke was a bit thin at first, but builds nicely. Razor straight burn.

This cigar was made with a nice, firm roll. There is a great draw and burn with a strong white ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

A well balanced, medium-bodied smoke anchored by flavors of cedar, mild leather, muted spice, sweet latte.

Medium smoke on the mild side. Slightly sweet roasty flavors of nuts, pepper, coffee, toast.

Full-bodied cigar with a lot of spice. White pepper and cinnamon flavors abound. A clean, sweet finish.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Very classic taste profile reminiscent of stronger cigars but in a milder, relaxed version. A keeper. 90 Very Good

Nice everyday cigar that would be perfect on the golf course or fishing, or perhaps to start the day. 89 Very Good

This is a great cigar I’d definitely buy and recommend to anyone looking for a full-bodied, flavorful cigar. 94 Excellent

ORIGIN Nicaragua MAKER Joya de Nicaragua FILLER Nicaragua BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER Nicaragua SIZE 5 1/4 x 50 PRICE $5.75

QUESADA 40TH ANNIVERSARY Salomon Press PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Crazy format unlike anything I’ve ever seen—a partial box press figurado.

A particularly shaped cigar. A “center box-pressed” perfecto.

Extremely unique box pressed perfecto with a slightly oily, dark wrapper.

Despite the challenging shape, it had a firm roll throughout, no soft spots, and drew/burned surprising well end to end.

Well-rolled with a few soft spots. Barely had any weight. Perfect draw. Rich tobacco on the cold foot.

Surprisingly uniform roll throughout; draw is good but doesn’t produce much smoke; burn inconsistent.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Medium body and strength, earthy and fairly peppery with notes of spice, chocolate, and leather.

Medium smoke on both areas. Lots of tobacco and leather with a hint of acidic woody finish.

Medium strength with slightly spicy peppery and earthy core. Prominent flavors are coffee and cocoa.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Set plenty of time aside to smoke this—it takes a while, but you won’t be disappointed. Great flavors. 91 Excellent

Had a great time smoking this cigar. Never bitter, slow and cool. A full bang in the last quarter. Good with Scotch. 90 Very Good

Apart from some burn issues, the good flavors and unique shape make this cigar worth trying. 90 Very Good

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

ORIGIN Nicaragua

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Quesada Cigars FILLER Dominican Rep., Nicaragua BINDER Dominican Republic WRAPPER Mexico SIZE 6 3/4 x 50/33 PRICE $12.95

AVANT GARDE Melange PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Average looking wrapper, fair amount of veins, some color variation.

A veiny, brown cigar, with a bumpy wrapper and a cap.

Smooth, shiny wrapper which contained a few prominent veins.

A fairly light but consistent roll, nice construction, burned well—razor straight and good draw on all samples.

Solid but lightweight cigar with lots of “lines.” Lightly musty note on pre-lit. Burned nice, cool, with sharp ash.

Well-rolled with a great draw and a near-perfect burn. Cigar is very firm with a solid white ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Medium-to-full bodied, bold and strong. Tobacco dominates; peppery, earthy, leather flavors, some floral notes.

Sweetness on the lips, leather and light tobacco on unlit foot. Dry smoke on the palate. Woody long finish.

Solid, medium-strength cigar. Starts out spicy and evolves into salty-sweet, like a chocolate covered pretzel.

GENERAL COMMENTS

A solid smoke with good, but not complex, flavors. At the right price, could be decent addition to my humidor. 90 Very Good

Easy first cigar of the day. Pairs well with morning coffee. Didn’t coat mouth, every day cigar for novices. 89 Very Good

This cigar was very good and had some great flavors. I would definitely recommend it. 92 Excellent

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

52 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Cornelius & Anthony FILLER Dominican Republic BINDER Dominican Republic WRAPPER Brazil SIZE 6 x 54 PRICE $8.33

> THE CIGAR REVIEW 91

BELMORE MADURO RED SEAL Toro Grande PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

AESTHETICS

Evenly colored, very deep dark wrapper, very neatly applied wrapper.

Char-broiled almost black. A bumpy looking brute. Looks like a beast

Oily toothy dark chocolate brown wrapper has a sandy texture to it.

CONSTRUCTION

A bit on the light side in the hands, and bit on the soft side. Decent draw, burned well. Good ash.

Pretty caps. Excellent draw and burn. Firm, well-balanced feel. Stayed cool and smooth. No soft spots.

Firm between the fingers. Nicely applied wrapper. No issues with the burn or draw.Dense dark gray ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Flavors seemed in sync with the appearance—dark espresso, roasted nuts, rich caramel. Medium all around.

Mild- medium. Hay-like with notes of espresso, that gains in intensity and strength. Mild start medium full finish.

Fairly strong but balanced flavors, spicy taste with notes of pepper, spice, wood, and nuts. Medium bodied.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Wasn’t sure what to expect from the looks, and had a unique flavor profile, rather complex. Intriguing cigar. 94 Excellent

A fine smooth, Grew a little bitter but not unbearably so, although I wouldn't smoke it past the band. 89 Very Good

While the appearance may be a bit intimidating, this was actually a medium strength smoke not overpowering. 90 Very Good

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Golden wrapper, extremely smooth with tiny veins. Round double cap.

Neutral brown color, hint of red. A bit of oil sheen. Few, thin veins. Quality.

This cigar has a brown, smooth wrapper with an oily sheen.

Some softer spots and burn was a little wavy on one sample, may have been random; good draw on all samples.

Had a good, firm draw. Burned great, stayed lit, and generally burned pretty straight. Firm, strong dark gray ash

Appetizing leafy aroma. The stick carries a tangy, fruity flavor with a mild spiced peppery finish.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

A milder medium body cigar with minimal spice, lots of woody, earthy notes with a touch of bready sweetness.

Medium-bodied, medium strength, medium complexity. Sweet and creamy flavors, spicy notes.

The stick holds an even, long ash. Decent flavor, but downfall is cigar starts to loosen as smoked.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Intriguing array of flavors. I typically go for meatier cigars but found this very engaging, not the same-old. Nice! 92 Excellent

Unique combination of slightly unfamiliar flavors and wonderful balance that left me wanting to smoke another. 93 Excellent

Begins to implode and becomes airy, taking away from enjoyment. Binding and construction not up to par. 86 Very Good

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Golden brown Connecticut shade wrapper. Wins on looks alone.

Toro with a natural wrapper, smooth and even colored; minimal veins.

Supple, smooth, silky Connecticut shade wrapper, very few veins.

CONSTRUCTION

Smooth, oily surface. Leafy, subtle spicy bouquet. Packed and rolled firm. Wrapper uncut and folded at foot.

No hard or soft spots; well rolled with an abundance of tobacco. They draw well with an even burn.

World-class construction, drew almost flawlessly with a straight burn and clouds of smoke. Strong ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Burst of vanilla and coffee flavors from first puffs. Bold, mild-bodied, burns cool with a medium dark grey ash.

These cigars are mild with a pleasant taste; a slow and even burn. Tobacco flavor perfect until the last puff.

Leather, oak aroma on pre-light. Milder nutty sweet flavors at first with with added pepper, spice, cocoa later on.

Earthy and aromatic cigar with slight tug to draw. Peaks and loses pizazz with bitter licorice finish. Enjoyable. 90 Very Good

Excellent; simply elegant. The tobacco is aged perfectly. Would definitely buy and pair with single malt scotch. 94 Excellent

Warm creamy flavors back up a solid medium-bodied cigar with no distracting construction issues. 90 Very Good

CONSTRUCTION

FILLER Dominican Rep., Nicaragua BINDER Dominican Republic WRAPPER Brazil SIZE 6 1/8 x 60 PRICE $6.00

ORIGIN Peru MAKER Inca CIgar Company FILLER Peru BINDER Peru WRAPPER Peru SIZE 6 x 50 PRICE $9.50

SOUTHERN DRAW Firethorn

AESTHETICS

GENERAL COMMENTS

MAKER Charles Fairmorn S.A.

INCA SECRET BLEND Tambo

AESTHETICS

ORIGIN Dominican Republic

ORIGIN Nicaragua MAKER Southern Draw Cigars FILLER Nicaragua BINDER Mexico WRAPPER Ecuador SIZE 6 x 52 PRICE $9.00

PSYKO SEVEN MADURO Robusto

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

GENERAL COMMENTS

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

A very inviting dark fudge-colored wrapper; reasonably oily, not shiny.

Toro shaped with a maduro wrapper, inviting oily sheen, slightly coarse.

Rugged, veiny, handsome and oily maduro wrapper.

Very solid, densely rolled cigar, but that didn’t weigh down the draw very much if at all. Great burn, tons of smoke.

Well-rolled, no soft or hard spots; perfectly filled, packed and capped. Even burn with dark gray ash.

A perfect meaty rolled stogie. There is a light tug to the draw. Rolled a little tight but man.

A parade of chewy flavors, including dried fruit, coffee, nuts, wood, spice. Medium/full flavor, medium strength.

Bitter at first, cigar settled down to a mature tobacco flavor. Medium bodied and smooth, burns slowly and evenly.

Leafy chocolate bouquet; smells delicious. Espresso and molasses are complementary contrasting flavors.

Tons and tons of flavor without a killer head rush of strength translates into a smoke I couldn’t put down. 95 Excellent

I would recommend these cigars to members of my cigar club. I enjoyed after a steak dinner and glass of port. 82 Good

A quality aromatic smoke. Medium bodied, a hearty dark roast chocolate delight. Even burn, long ash. 92 Excellent

54 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Ventura Cigar Company FILLER Nicaragua, Peru, Honduras, Dominican Rep., USA BINDER Ecuador WRAPPER Mexico SIZE 5 1/2 x 50 PRICE $7.00

THE CIGAR REVIEW 85

WORM HOLE 2064 Hell-i-en PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

AESTHETICS

Luscious, delicate medium brown wrapper, very even in color. Few veins.

Toro shaped with a natural wrapper. Course with numerous blemishes.

Colorado dark shape semi oily wrapper. Lightweight, well-rolled.

CONSTRUCTION

Firm, even roll; not too soft, not too hard. Good draw, even burn. No identifiable construction flaws.

With the finger roll there are no hard or soft spots. They are well-rolled and dense cigars.

A handsome stick; initially a little harsh from not being aged enough. On the mild side, this blend is a bit flat.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Not a terribly demanding smoke; mild to medium bodied. Breezy flavors of toast, grass, hay, wood.

With uninspired flaws that were somewhat bland, these cigars are mediumbodied with firm gray-white ash.

A peppery spice with hints of wood and espresso, start to finish. Draws easily, burns slightly uneven.

GENERAL COMMENTS

While mild, not bland; what this cigar lacks in depth, it makes up for in smoothness. Excellent for newbies. 88 Very Good

Needs more aging, maybe six months, before recommending. I predict they would pair well with a gin and tonic. 82 Good

The second and third quarters of smoke are most enjoyable; flavor blanketed by under aged tobacco. 85 Good

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Well-rolled torpedo, dark brown in color, mildly veined and oiled.

Pyramid shape with colorado-maduro wrapper; unevenly rolled head.

Medium brown torpedo that feels like sandpaper; veiny and ugly.

Nicely done; cigar had end to end consistency from the first draw to the initial ash.

Very firm and packed evenly. Somewhat rustic in appearance; even distribution of tobacco.

Nice firm feel, fine draw. Some soft spots appeared during burn, but ash is also a firm and solid.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Flavor builds from beginning to end, profile contains spice and wood, reminiscent of BBQ.

Medium-bodied cigars which are mature with a robust tobacco flavor; clean and light aftertaste.

Medium-bodied; started somewhat harsh but did mellow. Wood flavor with fruity notes throughout.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Torpedoes away, this smoke from the cut to the nub is the winner. A keeper for any lover of a full-flavored smoke. 89 Very Good

100% consistent cigars that have enough flavor for novices and experienced cigar smokers alike. 85 Good

I had an IPA while I reviewed this stick. I don’t know if it was the best choice, but it wasn’t a bad one. Nice smoke. 90 Very Good

CONSTRUCTION

MAKER Foundry Tobacco Co. FILLER Undisclosed BINDER Undisclosed WRAPPER Undisclosed SIZE 6 x 52 PRICE $8.45

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Pure Cigar Group FILLER Dominican Rep., U.S.A. BINDER Dominican Rep. WRAPPER Ecuador SIZE 6 x 54 PRICE $7.30

CAO COLOMBIA Vallenato

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

GENERAL COMMENTS

ORIGIN Dominican Republic

CESAR MADURO Torpedo

AESTHETICS

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Cigar has a natural (medium-light brown) wrapper, is slightly veined.

Robusto with a natural wrapper that is smooth with nice oils.

Robusto with Connecticut wrapper; veiny, coarse. Appealing look overall.

Well-rolled with no soft spots; mild aromas and flavor from the start. Ash is light gray in color.

No hard or soft spots. Cigar is perfectly filled, packed and capped. Excellent construction, well-rolled.

A few soft spots here and there but feels tight in hand. This cigar provided a nice draw and an even burn.

Unfortunately this cigar was mild, mild, mild from the beginning to the end. Not a cigar for me.

Medium-bodied cigars with rich tobacco flavor throughout; superb draw with sturdy gray ash that held up.

Mild to medium smoke that was woodsy with hints of spice. Good aroma; pleasant aftertaste.

While it is a nicely rolled product, the flavor never delivers. This could be a nice beginner’s smoke. 87 Very Good

Great for those who like abundant tobacco flavor and robust cigars. I could smoke these every day. 94 Excellent

Consistent samples.This cigar is enjoyable when relaxing with friends or reading a book on your own. 91 Excellent

ORIGIN Nicaragua MAKER General Cigar Company FILLER Colombia, Brazil BINDER Cameroon WRAPPER Nicaragua SIZE 5 x 56 PRICE $6.00

PRINCIPIA Robusto

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

GENERAL COMMENTS

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Small box press cigar that is dark in color, hints of spice on lips.

Box-pressed with a maduro wrapper. Nice, smooth, unblemished and firm.

Box-pressed corona-sized stick. Maduro with smooth surface.

Well-rolled small box press. Light is even and the burn is consistent. The ash is platinum colored.

No hard or soft spots. Fairly tight construction; these cigars draw well and burn evenly with solid gray, white ash.

Some noticeable glue fused to wrapper; strong chocolate scent; fine surface that is smooth to the touch.

Nice flavor with spice and hints of cocoa. It was consistent even after relighting tip at the end.

Medium to full-bodied; the beginning and end tasted bitter. Tobacco flavor develops mid-smoke.

Tobacco packed tight but light in weight. Slight tug to draw; slight uneven dark long ash.

Big things come in small packages. Great from beginning to end, ideal for morning smoke on way to office. 90 Very Good

I could smoke these every day; very consistent. A good cigar to pass onto the club. Pairs with Asti Spumante. 91 Excellent

I would define as a dessert cigar. punch of chocolate creaminess; bittersweet and smooth treat. 91 Excellent

ORIGIN Nicaragua MAKER La Pluma FILLER Nicaragua BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER Mexico SIZE 5 x 50 PRICE $8.00

V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 55

> THE CIGAR REVIEW 90

1907 BY DUNHILL Titan

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

GENERAL COMMENTS

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

A velvety maduro, smooth and oily with just enough veins for character.

A blotchy brown wrapper with a couple of veins a slight sheen texture.

Lightweight with an easy draw and an even burn. Medium gray ash held on well. Some hotness towards the end.

Solid and well-constructed, rolled dense with no soft spots. This cigar has a nice draw and an even burn.

No soft spots and a tight feel in hand. Very good draw with plenty of smoke. A razor sharp burn, an ash that holds.

Starts off medium-bodied and produces a lot of smoke. Builds in strength but not in flavor.

Full-bodied smoke with an earthy taste. Leaves a nice aroma. It was a little hot and bitter at the end.

Initial notes of dry cedar followed by notes of leather and mineral. Medbodied finish of spice and mineral.

I enjoyed this full-bodied smoke, but I wish it had a little more flavor. I would recommend it to a friend. 88 Very Good

The samples were consistent. A good cigar; construction is excellent but the smoke a bit strong for my taste. 92 Excellent

A good cigar with plenty of complexity and balance. Not my favorite flavor profile but it was still enjoyable. 89 Very Good

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Dunhill Cigars of London FILLER Dominican Republic, Brazil BINDER Dominican Republic WRAPPER Honduras SIZE 4 1/2 x 60 PRICE $9.65

HEADLINES MADURO 2ND EDITION Page 1 PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

AESTHETICS

Saddle brown in color with a touch of oil to go with mild veins.

A large robusto with a natural wrapper. Rough, dry with dark blemishes.

Meaty yet lightweight Toro sized stick; fragrant fruity bouquet.

CONSTRUCTION

Some unevenness in roll. Cigar leaf is flaky in spots but fortunately this did not affect the burn.

Hard feel on finger roll; rough but well rolled. Cap construction firm and even distribution of tobacco.

Well-rolled; dark blemishes on the semi-veiny, oily wrapper. Smooth with subtle fruity spices.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Flavor is medium-bodied with hints of coffee and cocoa combined, like a decaf coffee.

Medium-bodied and lacking in complexity. The flavor did not have much to say, but the draw was easy.

Softens up as smoked, but does not become an issue. On milder side with a little extra punch.

GENERAL COMMENTS

This smoke is a builder of flavor. Starts mild and only after relighting does it deliver. A golf course keeper. 88 Very Good

These cigars have little depth or complexity. They are not an everyday smoke and need to be nursed. 81 Good

If you have the times, makes for a good afternoon treat. A good introduction cigar that won’t disappoint. 90 Very Good

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Antillian Cigar Group FILLER Dominican Rep., Nicaragua BINDER Dominican Republic WRAPPER Dominican Republic SIZE 5 1/2 x 60 PRICE $7.65

THE PEACEMAKER The .45 PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

I am not sure if I am supposed to smoke it or paint with it.

An oily wrapper which has a ruffled end, making it resemble a party favor.

Great looking with no major veins and a silky, oily texture. Well made cap.

Wasn’t sure how to light at first. Firm in hand, light to no draw. Once I cut unfinished foot, improved draw.

Once ruffles were cut off, the cigar was lightweight and soft. Draws well and burns evenly; solid ash.

Well-rolled and dense with a tight feel in hand. Perfect draw, plenty of smoke. Ash holds on until tapped off.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Starts off medium-full and builds to an all out full-bodied smoke. Robust, earthy flavors with a little sweetness.

Despite its looks, the cigar tasted pleasant. The smoke was woodsy and left an enjoyable aroma.

Initial taste of oak wood and spice followed by more citrus and leather notes. Long, smooth, tangy finish.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Funky, naked foot seems gimmicky. Without any flavors that wowed me, I’m not sure I would smoke this again. 85 Good

Samples were consistent. A good cigar that I would buy, despite the fact that the ruffled end did nothing for me. 85 Good

Excellent tasting cigar with good complexity and balance. I really enjoyed this flavor profile and would purchase. 90 Very Good

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

PANELIST #1 A smooth, dark brown leathery stick. Nice looking for an odd size.

ORIGIN Nicaragua MAKER Table 36 FILLER Honduras, Nicaragua BINDER Brazil WRAPPER Nicaragua SIZE 5 1/2 x 45 PRICE $6.40

DUNHILL HERITAGE Robusto

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

GENERAL COMMENTS

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

I’m a sucker for a good, well-made box pressed. Nice leather brown wrapper.

I do love a box-pressed cigar! Oily, coarse, veiny wrapper. Good looking.

Gorgeous chocolate-brown, slight silky sheen, no major veins, beautiful cap.

Wonderfully-pressed, evenly-burning goodness. Well constructed. ash is full and even and holds until flicked away.

Densely rolled, nice and tight in hand. No soft or hard spots. Good draw; nice even burn. Messy, dark grey ash.

No soft spots, tight feel in hand. Well rolled, dense. Draw is good, adequate smoke. Straight burn, solid white ash.

Not as full as I usually care for, but still delivers enough punch for its size without having to try to over deliver.

Full-bodied, wonder earthy, chary taste. Very flavorful,builds throughout. Roomfilling heavy strong earthy aroma.

Initial espresso & wood, then pepper, & espresso, Earthy caramel notes. Long earthy spice finish.Full bodied.

Happily smoked this down to my fingertips. Medium flavored goodness, Perfect with single barrel bourbon. 91 Excellent

Pleasantly surprised. Has a great balance of taste and aroma that will keep you coming back for more. 91 Excellent

Fantastic tasting cigar with excellent complexity and balance. I would definitely purchase this cigar. 93 Excellent

56 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Dunhill Tobacco of London FILLER Honduras, Nicaragua BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER Ecuador SIZE 5 x 50 PRICE $6.75

THE CIGAR REVIEW 88

DRAM CASK NO. 3 Churchill PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

AESTHETICS

Coarse and a little rough to the touch; dark with some color inconsistency.

Good-looking cigar. Veiny leaf, but the wrapper is smooth and oily like leather.

An attractive brown wrapper with some minor veins visible.

CONSTRUCTION

Well-rolled with no hard or soft spots. A nice draw and even burn. Ash was light gray with some white spots.

Tight roll makes for a nice construction. There were no loose spots, the draw was good and the burn even.

No soft spots and a tight feel in hand. Well-rolled and medium density. Good draw with an ample smoke amount.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Starts off medium-bodied and produces a lot of smoke. Great flavor and draw to keep your attention.

Mild, woodsy smoke with a taste of cedar. Pleasant, with no harsh aftertaste even at the end. Nice aroma.

Initial taste of oak and spice followed by flavors of earthiness, citrus and wood. Long finish of spice and earth.

GENERAL COMMENTS

I would definitely recommend and look forward to smoking this again, maybe next time on a full stomach. 88 Very Good

The samples were consistent. This cigar is great to savor while having some drinks with friends. 88 Very Good

Med-full bodied cigar that has a nice balance of flavors and a complexity to keep it interesting. I would purchase it. 89 Very Good

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Rich dark reddish brown wrapper, moderate veins, a bit course.

Nice-looking aesthetic with a maduro torpedo that looks appealing.

A nice-looking medium-brown colored wrapper with no major veins.

Youthful aroma at pre-light. An easy draw that produced a lot of smoke, even when not puffing on it.

Well-rolled and constructed. Just the right firmness with a good draw. Burns evenly with a very tight ash.

A good cap; no soft spots and a tight feel in hand. Draw is perfect; plenty of smoke. Razor sharp burn, lengthy ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

This was all about strength, borderline harsh. The strength will definitely stay with you awhile after you are done.

Medium to full-bodied cigar in strength. Rich tasting and leaves behind a nice aroma.

Initial taste of pepper and wood followed by flavors of leather and black cherry. Medium to full-bodied.

GENERAL COMMENTS

If you like strength with little flavor, this is the cigar for you. It was just too harsh without enough flavor for me. 84 Good

The samples were consistent. I really enjoyed this cigar and would like to know the brand so I can buy more. 94 Very Good

A fantastic flavor profile with excellent complexity and balance. I would definitely purchase this cigar. 92 Excellent

CONSTRUCTION

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Orleans Group FILLER Filler BINDER Binder WRAPPER Wrapper SIZE 7 x 50 PRICE $10.50

PUNCH SIGNATURE Torpedo

AESTHETICS

ORIGIN Honduras MAKER General Cigar Company FILLER Dominican Rep., Nicaragua BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER Ecuador SIZE 5 3/4 x 52 PRICE $6.99

CANIMAO Coloquiales PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

AESTHETICS

Veiny stick with some bumps from top to bottom. A large double cap.

This cigar was very appealing. It contained a light, oily smooth wrapper.

A nice-looking oily wrapper with a silk sheen, small veins and a pigtail cap.

CONSTRUCTION

Firm but not hard. Sweet, woody, barnyard aromas at pre-light. Effortless draw; light gray, flaky ash.

Well-constructed cigar with no soft spots. The draw was good; the ash was uniform, solid and white.

One soft spot and tight feel in hand. The draw is a little tight with minimal amounts of smoke produced.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

This one starts off medium but builds very quickly to have a significant punch.

More mild to bold in strength. The flavor was woodsy with some back-end harshness. Pleasant aroma.

Initial taste of oak followed by spice, earth and citrus flavors, with hints of coffee bean. Tangy and full-bodied.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Good flavor and strength on this one. Aesthetics and construction held it back. Besides that, cigar is enjoyable. 88 Very Good

The samples for this cigar were consistent. Would characterize as a good cigar to enjoy with a drink. 88 Very Good

Complexity and balance were just right. Best smoked after a meal. This cigar’s flavor profile was great. 89 Very Good

ORIGIN USA MAKER Canimao Cigars FILLER Filler BINDER Binder WRAPPER Wrapper SIZE 6 1/2 x 56 PRICE $12

CESAR MADURO Robusto PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

AESTHETICS

Dark, leathery stick that feels sandy; triple cable is well done.

Deep mahogany brown wrapper, very even color, few veins. Nice triple cap.

A good-looking, oily brown wrapper with some medium sized veins.

CONSTRUCTION

Aroma at pre-light says ‘smoke me.’ Felt hard, though no draw issues. Solid light gray ash, lots of smoke.

Densely rolled but not packed too hard; consistent “give” throughout. Great construction. Good draw, burn.

No soft spots and a tight feel in hand. Well-rolled and dense. The draw is a bit tight with minimal smoke.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Started medium-bodied and built to medium-full. Lack of flavor and complexity hurts this cigar.

Very aromatic pre-light. Rich, earthy core of tobacco flavors with notes of chocolate, coffee, pepper.

Initial taste of cedar followed by spice and notes of bitter mineral and wood. Long finish of spice and mineral.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Great looks and good construct help this cigar. With more flavor I would move it up to an excellent smoke. 87 Very Good

Medium to full in strength, flavor, and body. Many layers of pepper spice throughout, with a touch of sweetness. 90 Very Good

Complexity is okay but the balance is off; too much of the mineral brightness. This is not my type of flavor profile. 87 Very Good

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Pure Cigar Group FILLER Dominican Rep., U.S.A. BINDER Dominican Rep. WRAPPER Mexico SIZE 5 1/2 x 52 PRICE $6.80

V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 57

> THE CIGAR REVIEW 87

DIAMOND CROWN Torpedo No. 8 PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Natural wrapper with no veins or oil, nice short torpedo.

Nut-brown, bulbous torpedo. Silky tightly wrapped; near-perfect cap.

A stout torpedo with a light colored thin wrapper; nicely finished cap.

CONSTRUCTION

Nicely rolled short torpedo. There were no soft spots. Aroma was mild and the burn was even.

Solid, veiny, hefty in hand. Firm cold draw showed nutty notes. Once lit wrapper cracked; creamy smoke.

Good firmness in roll, but torn wrapper wanted to unravel. Decent draw, not a lot of smoke, solid ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Light flavor from this short torpedo, not overwhelming. Pleasantly surprised by hints of cocoa and spice.

A medium strength cigar full of woody, tobacco flavors with a graphite note on finish. Stayed steady throughout.

Mild cigar with fairly flat flavor profile. There is a decent tobacco taste there, but not much more.

I am a sucker for a torpedo. Well constructed cigar that delivered enough flavor in the end. 87 Very Good

Other than it dismantling, this cigar was an easy smoke. I would place in regular mix; nice flavor combo. 88 Very Good

This cigar is a decent choice for a day at either the golf course or working around the yard. 87 Very Good

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Bumpy and veiny, medium-brown wrapper with a slight oil sheen.

A oily, tan, leathery wrapper with a large vein line going down one side.

Medium reddish-brown wrapper with lots of veins, soft, oily, soft to touch.

No soft spots and a tight feel. Medium weight and well-rolled. Draw is very good with plenty of smoke.

Very light stick that felt firm before I lit it. It has a strong medium grey ash. An even burn that had an easy draw.

A densely packed, formidable cigar that draws very well, burns slow (if occasionally crooked). Tons of smoke.

Initial taste of pepper and cedar followed by spice, orange peel and leather. Medium to full-bodied.

Starts off medium, builds to a medium-full. Some earthy notes that will definitely stay with you awhile.

Very well balanced, flavors of cocoa, cedar, dried fruit and undulating pepper spice. Medium plus body.

I enjoyed this cigar. It has good complexity and balance as well as a tasty flavor profile. I would buy this cigar. 88 Very Good

Enough complexity and memorable flavors to keeps me coming back for more. Will smoke again. 91 Excellent

Not a quick smoke, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good thing, as the strength and spice ebb and flow several times. Never dull! 89 Very Good

AESTHETICS

GENERAL COMMENTS

CONSTRUCTION

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

GENERAL COMMENTS

FILLER Dominican Republic BINDER Dominican Republic WRAPPER U.S.A. SIZE 5 x 58 PRICE $12.30

ORIGIN Nicaragua MAKER General Cigar Company FILLER Nicaragua BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER Honduras SIZE 5 1/2 x 54 PRICE $13.99

E.P. CARRILLO NEW WAVE RESERVA NATURAL Robusto PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Light brown in color, smooth in texture, like a nicely aged leather.

Undersized robusto with EMS wrapper, slightly veiny, perfectly shaped head.

Flawless Connecticut shade wrapper. Exquisite cap. A real beauty.

Evenly rolled and balanced through the finger tips. Burn is even with a light sliver ash. Mild in aroma and taste.

Well-made, solid cigars, no evidence of blemishes or spots. Smooth, effortless draw. Particularly rich smoke.

No soft spots, lightweight feel, aboveaverage draw. Slightly uneven burn, required no attention. Grayish-white ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Mild in flavor and aroma, but still has some hints of chocolate that adds to the depth of otherwise simple smoke.

Very mild in strength, tobacco flavor is superb. They are very easy to smoke with a pleasant finish.

Peppery, tad harsh at outset but mellowed into an earthy flavor with hints of leather. Medium strength.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Stick was well built, where it lacks in flavor profile it will appeal to the newcomer. Nice introductory smoke. 89 Very Good

Samples were absolutely consistent. Smoke these any time of day, paired with any beverage. Definitely recommend. 90 Very Good

A very enjoyable, under-30-minute delight. I think a hoppy IPA would partner particularly well here. 91 Excellent

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

MAKER J.C. Newman Cigar Co.

COHIBA NICARAGUA N54

AESTHETICS

ORIGIN Dominican Republic

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER EPC Cigar Company FILLER Nicaragua, Dominican Rep. BINDER U.S.A. WRAPPER Ecuador SIZE 6 x 58 PRICE $12.50

DRAM CASK NO. 2 Toro PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Long lean smoke with mild veining. Nice color and solid aesthetic.

Oily, dark, coarse wrapper; feels good to hold. Excellent pre-lit aroma.

EMS colored wrapper; some blemishes and veins. Oily, smooth to the touch.

Nicely rolled, no true soft spots leading to an even burn with a nice ash. Draw has even ash, kept shape, well-rolled.

Well-rolled; no soft or hard spots. Dense construction, burns evenly. Nice cool smoke, good draw. Solid grey ash.

No hard nor soft spots; well-rolled, draws well, burns evenly and warm. Lots of thick, white smoke.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Thumbs up. Surprises with construction as well as flavor. Lengthy smoke you can put down and return to.

Great flavor; robust and rich. Intense spicy taste grows throughout; great finish leaves excellent taste on palate.

Mild-to-medium strength. Bold tobacco flavor but not too aggressive, has power. Flavor, aroma grow with each puff.

GENERAL COMMENTS

The length of this smoke enables you to put it down and come back to a whole new round of flavors. 92 Excellent

All this one needs is a comfy chair and a snifter of brandy; as bonus, excellent heavy aroma fills the whole room. 93 Excellent

My favorite size; would enjoy these any time of the day. Pairs well with XO cognac. Highly recommended. 91 Excellent

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

58 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Orleans Group FILLER Undisclosed BINDER Undisclosed WRAPPER Dominican Republic SIZE 6 x 54 PRICE $10.00

THE CIGAR REVIEW 90

EVIL GENIUS TIME MACHINE TORO

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

GENERAL COMMENTS

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Chestnut-colored. Rough, dry wrapper with veins. Cuban-style caps.

Rich warm brown wrapper glows with a touch of natural oils; rough texture.

Tightly packed roll, but has a great draw. Burns dead-straight with long, fairly strong medium gray ash.

Constantly having to apply the lighter to correct the burn tends to spoil the experience.

Construction was a non-issue—the draw was fine, the burn was fine, and the ash was neither loose nor strong.

Lots of earthy flavors from cedar to leather with notes of spice, nuts, espresso. Sweetness fades at the end.

Mild. Light and nutty to start. No harshness but tended to be bitter. Sorry to say, nothing special here.

While not complex, plenty of creamy, earthy, nutty flavors. Would say it’s overall mild-to-medium in strength.

There’s far more body and flavor (medium) than strength (very mild), perfect for frequent smokes. 91 Excellent

A good early day smoke for its mildness. I had coffee with it and I don't think I could have made a better choice. 87 Very Good

Tasty without an overwhelming nicotine kick that’s great before dinner, in the morning, or just out and about. 90 Very Good

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Very few veins; smooth wrappers with the proper amount of oil; no blemishes.

Light-brown, silky-smooth wrapper, no major veins; nice looking triple cap.

Dry with very faint veins. Great looking saddle tan double robusto

Very well-rolled, wonderful triple cap. The burn is even and warm and the draw is smooth.

No soft spots; tight feel. Well rolled, Good draw, plenty of smoke. Straight burn, light gray-colored, flaky ash

Little pre-light aroma. Well balanced with a firm feel. Very easy draw, moderate amounts of smoke. Strong ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Mild taste. Flavor in first inch is slightly bitter; rest of the smoke is pleasant with a wonderful tobacco flavor.

Initial taste of dry cedar then spice, cedar, some cream. Medium finish of spicy cedar. Medium bodied.

Mild and very smooth, not much in the way of flavor however. Slightly floral. If mild is your thing grab this stick.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Consistent samples; remind me of a Cuban cigar. Would definitely would buy a box. Pair with rum on the rocks. 92 Excellent

Good cigar with decent complexity and good balance. Probably best enjoyed about midday. 89 Very Good

Cigar has superior construction, but there’s not much else going on. Very good early day smoke 90 Very Good

CONSTRUCTION

PANELIST #1 Inviting, neatly applied reddish-brown wrapper with a sandy texture.

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Evil Genius Cigars FILLER Nicaragua, Cameroon BINDER Dominican WRAPPER Nicaragua SIZE 6 x 50 PRICE $7.50

KUUTS NICARAGUAN BLEND Toro

AESTHETICS

ORIGIN Origin MAKER Kuuts Cigar Co. FILLER Nicaragua BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER Ecuador SIZE 6 x 52 PRICE $6.10

QUICKDRAW HABANO Petite Corona PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

AESTHETICS

Dark chocolate stick with a few veins. Very nice looking and eye catching.

Attractive medium brown wrapper with no major veins. Nice pigtail cap.

This cigar is good-looking. Smooth, oily wrapper makes it appealing.

CONSTRUCTION

Smooth in hand. Effortless draw. Light grey ash held well, especially for such a small ring gauge.

No soft spots and a medium tight feel. Lightweight and rolled well. Perfect draw with plenty of smoke.

Nice job on construction. Slightly loose but with an even burn. Smoked on the hot side with a decent solid ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

No big aroma at pre-light. Pow, right off the bat and mellows after an inch. Rich and robust without being harsh.

Initial taste of dry cedar followed by spice, wood, coffee bean and leather. Medium finish of spice and coffee.

Full-bodied smoke overall with a harsh flavor. No particular taste that I could tell. Cigar got hotter as it burned.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Great smoke if you don’t have a lot of time. Grab one after lunch and still have time to get back to the office. 91 Excellent

An enjoyable medium-bodied cigar with good complexity, balance and flavor profile. I would buy this cigar. 89 Very Good

To be honest I did not really enjoy this one. I smoked it until it got too hot. This will not be one of my favorites. 82 Good

ORIGIN Nicaragua MAKER Southern Draw Cigars FILLER Nicaragua BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER Ecuador SIZE 4 1/2 x 44 PRICE $5.26

MONTECRISTO OPEN EAGLE PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Quality looking cigar…double robusto size? Medium-light smooth wrapper.

Colorado-hued wrapper with very precise cap. A few large veins.

Silky, medium brown wrapper over a lumpy bumpy roll. Mostly thin veins.

Great quality construction. Very even bunch throughout. Draw was loose and easy to pull. Burned evenly.

Straight burn, loose draw. Fairly strong ash. Easily generated a good volume of smoke.

Decent draw; a crooked burn on two of three samples, but correctable in both cases. Flaky loose ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Pretty mild cigar with creamy notes of cedar and milky coffee but not much transition from start to finish.

Fair amount of power that turns a bit harsh at the very end. Rather onedimensional flavorwise. Lots of coffee.

Chocolate aroma pre-light; very smooth creamy smoke with cedar flavors. Medium bodied, not complex.

GENERAL COMMENTS

An enjoyable smoke if you don’t overthink it. Great for the yard, a hike, or such. Not a one for deep brooding. 88 Very Good

Pretty large ring gauge for such a lack of complexity. Rather odd. Decent, but wouldn’t search this one out. 85 Good

Very enjoyable, if not challenging. Great morning choice, or high quality selection for new/occasional smokers. 87 Very Good

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

ORIGIN Cuba MAKER Habanos S.A. FILLER Cuba BINDER Cuba WRAPPER Cuba SIZE 5 7/8 x 54 PRICE N/A

V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 59

> THE CIGAR REVIEW 93

THE WIDOW’S SON Grand Torpedo PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Beautiful dark chocolate color on this well crafted torpedo. Looks powerful!

Good looking figurado. Oily, smooth, dark wrapper. Good pre-lit aroma.

Smooth maduro torpedo with perfectly rolled cap. Some minor veins.

CONSTRUCTION

Evenly balanced and rolled; leather and soil permeate the prelit aroma, not to be disappointed after she is lit.

Feels great,densely rolled, no hard or soft spots. Excellent draw, smoke pulls effortless. Solid light grey ash.

Well-rolled, no soft nor hard spots. The burn is nice and even. A well-balanced draw with a powdery and white ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Nice full flavor that lingered in the back of my throat like nice tannins from a full California Cabernet, cha-ching!

Medium-bodied with dry, grassy, vegetal flavors. Strong heavy aroma; excellent, strong aftertaste lingers on palate.

Mild to medium strength that builds; rich in tobacco flavor that stays consistent throughout the smoke.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Finally a cigar that delivers; you expect full flavor and it delivers with a strong kick. Send me a box! 93 Excellent

Surprised me, got much more than expected. Cool smoke, great even burn, aroma filled the whole house. 93 Excellent

Would buy these and recommend them to my buddies without reservation. Paris well with a tawny port. 92 Excellent

AESTHETICS

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Light Colorado / Connecticut shade wrapper. Very neat cap. Few large veins.

Connecticut shade double robusto. Dry, smooth and no veins.

Golden tan Connecticut wrapper, but a bit on the rustic side visually. Even color.

CONSTRUCTION

Soft with loose draw, but burned slow, not a lot of smoke. Burn was straight, however. Solid ash.

Pre-light aroma of dry grass. Firm, light feel. Draw was strained, labored. Fine ash. Roll seem a bit tight.

Didn’t notice any roll issues prelight, seemed evenly crafted. Loose draw but even burn. Ash held on average.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Very classic taste profile, aromatic and mild, smooth and balanced. Some sweet, grassy notes. Quite mild.

Mild. Hay-like much like its aroma. Grew somewhat harsh.

Very mild, not much complexity.Creamy, mildly nutty flavor, pleasant aroma.Fairly even mild strength throughout.

Not for deep thinking or complexity, but for a mild cigar, it was very good quality. Easy going if that’s what you want. 87 Very Good

Great for the golf course. Burned well but draw was a draw-back, pardon the use of words. 91 Excellent

A quality mild cigar; perfect for new or occasional smokers, or those seeking a light smoke for whatever reason. 90 Very Good

GENERAL COMMENTS

FILLER Dominican Republic BINDER U.S.A. WRAPPER Brazil SIZE 6 1/4 x 50 PRICE $6.50

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Charles Fairmorn FILLER Dominican Rep., Nicaragua BINDER Dominican Republic WRAPPER U.S.A. SIZE 6 x 50 PRICE $6.00

MIRO Toro PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Medium, oily, smooth wrapper. Good looking cigar. Excellent pre-lit aroma.

Good looking toro with smooth, EMS colored wrapper with very few veins.

Beautiful, flawless wrapper. a couple of pronounced veins. Love the looks.

Densely, well rolled cigar, nice tight feel.Firm draw, even burn. Smokes cool with almost perfect dark grey ash.

No hard nor soft spots. Well rolled, firm, but not stiff and have an easy draw. The head is well proportioned.

Solid, very well-balanced feel. Hard as a rock. Exquisite Cuban-style cap. Top shelf burn and draw. Wow!

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Medium-bodied, earthy tastes with hints of coffee, chocolate. Well-balanced, Left good aftertaste on palate.

Mild to medium strength; tobacco flavor is bold and pleasant. A rich smoke throughout with a smooth, creamy finish.

Very hay-like initially, but rapidly grew into an earthy, apple fruit flavor.

GENERAL COMMENTS

A good anytime smoke. Just the right amount of flavors to grab the smoker’s attention and keep interest. 91 Excellent

Enjoyable at any time. I would recommend them and definitely would buy them regardless of price. 89 Very Good

This is one rockin’ smoke; can’t remember having one as good on a first try. Scored high on all criteria!! 94 Excellent

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

MAKER Battleground Cigar

BELMORE RED SEAL CONNECTICUT Double Corona

AESTHETICS

ORIGIN Dominican Republic

ORIGIN Honduras MAKER Kuuts Cigar Co. FILLER Nicaragua, Honduras BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER Ecuador Sumatra SIZE 6 x 52 PRICE $7.10

THE OLD QUITO RESERVA NO. 2 Torpedo Maduro PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

AESTHETICS

Veiny, coarse chocolate-colored wrapper. Spotty pre-lit aroma.

Pyramid with irregular shaped head. Dry, veiny maduro with blemishes.

Very dark brown torpedo. No real prelight aroma to speak of.

CONSTRUCTION

Very good! Densely rolled, no hard, soft spots. Draws, burns well, cool smoke. Solid dark grey almost black ash.

Some hard spots evident (below head, above tip). Burn is even, warm and the draw is smooth. The ash is solid white.

One big soft spot prior to fire up which spread and entire cigar became soft all over. Draws through on its own.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Full-bodied, earthy with peppery hints. Begins sharply, settles down, pepper and flavors build throughout.

Mild in strength with light, inoffensive, no distinctive flavors. A simple smoke, average finish. clean aftertaste.

Mild. Floral and cinnamon. Grew somewhat bitter, but not unpleasant. Loved the flavor and strength.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Excellent! Doesn’t overwhelm. Good, heavy aroma is pervasive, not overpowering. Great flavor, complexity, balance. 93 Excellent

Appropriate for mid-day smoke. More aging would help develop the tobacco flavor. Pairs well with a gin and tonic. 85 Good

Construction left a little something to be desired. A fine port would go very well indeed with this cigar. 88 Very Good

60 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

ORIGIN Nicaragua MAKER Palacios Cigars FILLER Undisclosed BINDER Mexico WRAPPER U.S.A. SIZE 6 1/8 x 52 PRICE $9.75

THE CIGAR REVIEW 89

1907 BY DUNHILL ROTHSCHILD PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Attractive brown wrapper, mildly veined, sharp short robusto.

Shiny, tight wrapper with soft veins and seam. Solid triple cap.

Smooth, leathery wrapper. Minor veins and nice milk chocolate color.

Even roll, well-balanced, no soft spots, light aroma with even burn and light gray ash.

Perfect cap cut, flawless pre-light draw; notes of grass/hay. Firm, nearly white ash from razor-straight burn.

Firmer roll at head than foot, but good draw with decent smoke quantity. Great burn and solid ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Mild flavor from beginning with a little boost of chocolate in the middle; no harshness from relight.

Earthy, slightly harsh start, but smoothed after 15 minutes into wood nuances. Finished with a woody taste.

Starts our peppery, followed by roasted coffee and raisin flavors. Strength in the medium range.

GENERAL COMMENTS

A pleasant lunch-time smoke outside the office that surely will not offend non-smokers. 89 Very Good

Smoked well, but unfortunately flavors and notes weren’t there. Needs a long nap in aging box to mellow the edges. 87 Very Good

Well-made medium-bodied cigar with good flavors. Its versatility allows it to pair with just about anything. 92 Excellent

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Dark saddle brown, smooth and dry wrapper. Shows potential.

Good looking, smooth, oily, natural wrapper. Minimal pre-lighting aroma.

Colorado-maduro perfectly oiled, very few veins with some dark blemishes.

CONSTRUCTION

Nicely rolled evenly balanced in the fingers; rich leather aroma pre-smoke, coffee-like when list. Even platinum ash.

No soft or hard spots; tight, dense in the hand. Well-rolled. Very good draw, cool smoke. Solid dark grey ash.

Perfectly rolled. Good size, good feel, no hard or soft spots to be found. Burn evenly, wonderful light-gray ash.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

Medium flavor from such a small package, gives a little punch without the bitterness of trying to pack in too much.

Good tasting, medium-bodied cigar. Rich, earthy, hints of chocolate. Good aftertaste. Light, pleasant aroma.

Mild strength. The flavor is pleasant, but slightly bland, however the aftertaste is warm and rich.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Wonderfully surprising small cigar; great yang to my coffee ying with just enough to get you going in the morning 90 Very Good

A good mid-day smoke. Just enough flavors to keep the smoker interested without overpowering the senses. 89 Very Good

The appeal of these cigars was after lunch. Overall a good, solid cigar. Pairs well with a glass of chablis. 91 Excellent

MAKER Dunhill Cigars of London FILLER Dominican Republic, Brazil BINDER Dominican Republic WRAPPER Honduras SIZE 4 1/2 x 48 PRICE $8.97

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER EPC Cigar Company FILLER Nicaragua, Dominican Rep. BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER Nicaragua SIZE 5 x 50 PRICE $6.75

NESTOR MIRANDA COLLECTION MADURO Coffee Break

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

GENERAL COMMENTS

ORIGIN Dominican Republic

E.P. CARRILLO SHORT RUN 2015 Napoleon

AESTHETICS

PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

A dark, rustic, toothy wrapper, some large veins and bumps. Tasty looking!

A deep, rich chocolate wrapper. Short robusto, toothy, veiny, nice cap.

Dark brown wrapper that is smooth and shiny with minimal veins.

Despite a pretty firm bunch, the cigar had a pretty good draw if slightly tight, burned well throughout. Solid ash.

Hefty and firm in hand. Leather, fruity, tobacco notes on the unlit foot. Burn was ok; odd brown/gray ash.

Nice firm roll and a great draw with plenty of smoke. The burn was good with a firm gray ash.

Medium- to full-bodied and strength. Rich, meaty flavors of pepper, spice that mellow to creamy coffee notes.

Strong body; full of tobacco, earth, red pepper. Mellowed halfway through. Long pepper finish on tongue.

Medium strength that starts with nice flavors of cocoa and cream, followed by a bit of spice. Light finish.

No complaints at all; a fairly interesting smoke that mellows a bit in the middle but starts and end with a rich bang. 90 Very Good

This was a chore to smoke. Good flavor but burned hard. Could use more aging in the humidor. 85 Good

This cigar was nice and smooth with great flavor. It would pair excellently with a stout dark beer. 92 Excellent

ORIGIN Nicaragua MAKER Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Peru FILLER Dominican Republic BINDER Nicaragua WRAPPER USA SIZE 4 1/2 x 50 PRICE $7.50

WHITE CHAPEL Gigante PANELIST #1

PANELIST #2

PANELIST #3

Lustrous reddish-brown wrapper, matte with very small veins.

Fine looking double robusto. Slightly bumpy and dry, with flecks of black.

Good looking cigar, lighter medium brown wrapper. Nice construction.

Firm roll, good draw, straight burn. Strong, long ash. No construction issues noted.

Solid. Great feel. Easy fire-up, superior draw. Burn initially uneven, but quickly righted itself. Stayed cool. Nice ash!

Very good all around. Awesome burn, and the ash held on strong.

FLAVOR AND STRENGTH

A very rich, medium- to full-strength, medium-flavor blend with notes of earth and cedar, and hints of pepper.

Full. Tart with leathery tones, then succumbed to spice. Almost peppery. The longer it smoked the better it got.

Wow, the appearance faked me out. Much closer to medium-full-boded than I thought. Earth, pepper, cedar.

GENERAL COMMENTS

A stick with a distinct peppery kick, and a good dose of creamy, nutty flavors joining the dense tobacco taste. 93 Excellent

This stick packs a bit of a wallop. Not for a neophyte or casual smoker. A vintage port after a large meal works. 91 Excellent

Some notes of spice detected as the smoke progresses, and there’s a spicy pepper bite on the exhale. Tasty! 94 Excellent

AESTHETICS

CONSTRUCTION

ORIGIN Dominican Republic MAKER Evil Genius Cigars FILLER Dominican Rep., U.S.A. BINDER Ecuador WRAPPER Dominican Republic SIZE 6 x 58 PRICE $9.50

V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3 | S M O K E 61

> Review PANELISTS

Sarah E. Betz

Edward Dowd

James Garcia

Daniel Goodwin

Frank Larson

Mike Lemongello

RJ Metski

Drake Paben

Jason Page

Mike Pepino

Mike Pierro

George Proios

Mark Sandagon

Scott Smyth

Jerry Terranova

George Welch

David Zinaman

> Sarah E. Betz and her husband Mike McCauley have co-owned and managed Bayou Tobacco in Baton Rouge since 2001. She is president of the Louisiana Ind. Tobacconists Assoc. and a member of the CRA and NRA. > Edward Dowd is the father of three girls, and currently resides in Westchester County in New York state. A 21-year veteran of the retail wine and liquor business, Edward has been a cigar smoker for the past 15 years. > James Garcia is a senior IT specialist in New York who started chewing cheap sugarcoated cigars as a kid and has smoked premiums for 30 years. A recording artist, film maker, and paranormal investigator, he is host of the reality series, “My Haunted Diary.” > Daniel Goodwin is co-owner of Cigar Towne, a full-service cigar shop and lounge located in Houston. He has been married to his wife, Andrea, for 11 years. > Frank Larson is a training specialist and healthcare professional residing in Hampden County, Massachusetts. A cigar lover for 25 years, he and his wife Kate have two wonderful Tibetan Terriers, Aidan and Gillian. > Mike Lemongello is a retired 42-year teacher and education administrator who’s been smoking cigars for 50 years. A member of New Jersey’s Puffin Cigar Club, his cigar 62 S M O K E | V O L . 1 9 , N O . 3

band collection is over 8,000 samples strong and includes about 1,000 Cuban bands.

enjoys relaxing with his friends and smoking a cigar over a couple of drinks.

> RJ Metski is a retired police officer who smokes cigars throughout the day. He splits his time between New York and Florida and recently completed a transcontinental tour from New York to Alaska on his Harley.

> Mark Sandagon lives in Massachusetts and has been smoking cigars for about 10 years. He considers them a big part of his life and maintains a self-built 3,000 cigar humidor.

> Drake Paben is a passionate cigar connoisseur who travels frequently worldwide. He always takes the opportunity to find local cigar-friendly establishments and cigar stores. > Jason “Buddha” Page lives in Denver, Colo. with his dog. He has been smoking cigars for 12 years and enjoys an eclectic mix of smokes. He works as a polygraph examiner, and enjoys improv comedy and spending time performing on stage. > Mike Pepino is a New York City-based casting director for television, film, and commercials. Originally from Philadelphia, he’s been savoring good cigars for over 10 years. > Mike Pierro has been a photographer for 45 years and owns New York-based Vita Studios, specializing in corporate and product photography, model portfolios, weddings, and websites. He’s been enjoying great cigars with friends for 30 years. > George Proios is an attorney who lives in Westchester and works in New York City. He

> Scott Smyth has organized and run annual cigar charity events to raise money for children with autism. He reviews cigars and blogs at ScottSmythsWorldof-Cigars.blogspot.com. > Jerry Terranova is a 60-year cigar smoker and master woodworker living with his wife in Portchester, N.Y. He is heavily involved in cigar paraphernalia and cigars, and at one point owned one of the world’s largest collections of cigar cutters and lighters. > George Welch has been with Universal Leaf for 28 years, where he heads up worldwide corporate communications. A Virginia native with Cuban roots, George lives in Richmond with his wife and two sons, ages 13 and 10. He enjoys cigars, river boating, fishing, snow skiing, and scuba diving. > David Zinaman is founder and president of VIP Cigar Tours, having gained “insider’s access” to cigar factories and farms in the Dominican Republic. He also co-founded InsideTheHumidor.com, an online cigar lounge, social media hub, and entertainment channel.

smoke SCENE

> Clockwise, from left: Michael Herklots liberating Cigar Rings President Alberto Montserrat’s handkerchief and bow tie; Herklots and Manuel Quesada as c0-auctioneers; a replica Santiago horse coach humidor earned the second-highest winning bid; Jochy Blanco donned clippers to shear Quesada’s mustache as Litto Gomez looks on.

PROCIGAR FESTIVAL AUCTION RAISES THE ROOF AT $201,000 The closing night of the 2016 (9th Annual) Procigar Festival was once again celebrated at the Centro Español, a private Spanish Club in Santiago, with a gala dinner and live music performed by Samuel González. PDR Cigars founder and president Abraham Flores, a Dominican Republic native who manufactures cigars in Tamboril, was introduced as the newest active member of the cigar manufacturing association. The evening is traditionally capped with humor and highjinx-filled live auction co-hosted by Manuel Quesada, President of Quesada Cigars, and Michael Herklots, Vice President of Retail and Brand Development of Nat Sherman. This year’s fund raiser featured 14 official lots, primarily one-of-a-kind humidors or limited edition cigars all donated by their respective manufacturers, as well as several unannounced lots. Quesada and Herklots coaxed the crowd to raise a record-breaking $201,000, more than doubling the amount raised last year. The auction opened with a warm-up lot, a bow-tie and handkerchief stolen from Cigar Rings President Alberto Montserrat, which despite a bidding war to win it back was sold to table-mate Litto Gomez, President of La Flor Dominican Cigars, for $1,000.

64 SMOKE | VOL. 19, NO. 2

A custom Trunk Humidor filled with long-sold-out limited edition Davidoff Cigars offered by Oettinger Davidoff AG’s Tabadom Holdings fetched $58,000, the highest amount paid for a lot during the evening. A highly-detailed humidor sculpted as a scale replica of a typical Santiago horse coach and filled with cigars from De Los Reyes Cigars, brought in the second-highest closing bid of $50,000. The highlight concluding the auction, however, was an “unscripted” challenge by Litto Gomez to Manuel Quesada to shave his mustache. The bidding began at $4,700—one hundred dollars per year that Quesada had sported the mustache. Through a group effort of contributions, $15,000 was added to the evening’s total, and Jose “Jochy” Blanco did the honors. All of the proceeds benefit The Voluntariado de Jesus con los Niños (a non-profit organization for ill children), The Sociedad San Vicente de Paul (a retirement home for low income elderly), and The Monumento a los Heroes de la Restauración. “Enjoying some of the world’s greatest cigars, food, music, rum and beer, together with some of the world’s greatest people, in the middle of the Dominican Republic… it is really tough to beat,” said Herklots. “But, when you can do all of those things and raise money to help those less fortunate at the same time, it becomes a magical experience that is, frankly, impossible to beat.”

DANIEL MARSHALL DEBUTS GLENFIDDICH PAIRING CIGARS AT LONDON’S CIGARS AT NO. TEN

Cigars at No. Ten, one of the finest cigar venues in London was the site of the unveiling of Daniel Marshall’s newest creation: a special three-tier cigar designed to pair with a three-expression flight of Glenfiddich Single Malt Whiskies. Marshall partnered with master blenders and cigar creators Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia to develop the special cigar featuring three different blends of tobacco in each cigar. “I am absolutely honored to have been chosen to partner with Glenfiddich, the world’s number one rated whisky in developing this special cigar,” said Marshall. “My wish is for cigar and whisky lovers alike to enjoy, converse, and savor two of life’s most wonderful pleasures—fine cigars and whisky—around the modern day campfire.” The first section of the DM Red Label cigar is blended with a Connecticut Shade wrapper leaf grown in Ecuador in 2010, to complement Glenfiddich 12 years. The second section features a Broadleaf Maduro wrapper leaf grown in Pennsylvania in 2010, to complement Glenfiddich 18 years. The final section is blended with a Sun Grown Sumatra/Indonesia leaf grown in 2010, to complement Glenfiddich 21 years. These special cigars were made in Nicaragua for Daniel Marshall and Glenfiddich and aged in Davidoff of London’s humidor for six months. The event was hosted by Daniel Marshall alongside Joel Eastman, Commercial Whisky Specialist from William Grant & Sons, owner of The Glenfiddich.

KNICKERBOCKER ROOF GETS CLUB MACANUDO AT THE KNICK

After a brief lapse, the rooftop cigar lounge at New York City’s historic Knickerbocker Hotel has returned under a new partnership with Manhattan’s Club Macanudo, which opened Club Macanudo at The Knick at the hotel’s rooftop bar, St. Cloud, on July 7. Nestled in one of St. Cloud’s three corner rooftop seating “pods” overlooking Times Square, guests at Club Macanudo at The Knick can enjoy a connoisseur’s selection of premium cigar brands including Macanudo, Cohiba, CAO, along with signature drinks and small plate cuisine created by renowned Chef Charlie Palmer, all within a sleek outdoor urban retreat amidst sweeping skyline views. The also lounge also offers signature cigar and drink pairings, cut-and-light demonstrations, and special events, all with unmatched views of the famed Waterford Crystal Ball in Times Square, standing just 150 feet away. “The brand and philosophy of Club Macanudo compliments The Knickerbocker’s ongoing reputation as an elegant haven for socializing, business networking, and indulging in the very best that New York City has to offer,” said Shawn Hauver, managing director of The Knickerbocker. Club Macanudo, which recently marked its 20th anniversary, is an exclusive cigar lounge in the heart of New York’s Upper East Side providing an elegant oasis for smokers and non-smokers to conduct business or socialize. Expanding its presence to The Knickerbocker strategically places Club Macanudo in a scenic outdoor location that caters to New Yorkers and elite travelers from across the globe. Alan Willner, v.p. of marketing for General Cigar, parent company of Club Macanudo, said the partnership with The Knickerbocker extends Club Macanudo’s passion for creating memorable moments and curated experiences with an even broader clientele. > Top: Gavin Murphy (left), General Manager of Club Macanudo and Charlie Parker (right), Executive Chef of the Knickerbocker Hotel’s various restaurants, including the rooftop lounge St. Cloud, celebrate Club Macanudo at the Knick during a private grand opening party on July 12.

VOL. 19, NO. 2 | SMOKE 65

smoke THE LAST WORD 100 Years Ago: Ramblings from SMOKEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s History Archives

66 SMOKE | VOL. 19, NO. 3

ZZZ MPJLQWHUQDWLRQDO FRP

- C ig a r A f ic ion ado

TOP 5 BEST BU YS 2 0 15 - C ig a r A f ic ion ado

TOP 2 5 BEST C IGA R S 2 0 15 - C ig a r Jou r n a l

SublimesCigars.com

TOP 2 5 BEST C IGA R S 2 0 15

Smoke Magazine - Summer 2016 (Vol.19, No.3)

Articles inside

THE LAST WORD

smoke SCENE

smoke ESSENTIALS

smoke CITY

smoke CITY

smoke DRINK

smoke RANT

CIGAR WRAPPER

smoke FRONT

Editor's Letter

Habanos Festival 2016

Tabacalera Palma’s “JOCHY”

The Dominican's Bumper Crop

smoke Q&A