Friday, April 30, 2010

NY Launch of the La Aurora 107

On Wednesday April 28, 2010 at Tobacco Plaza (Great Neck, NY) in the United States first official La Aurora Lounge, the highly anticipated 107 was officially launched. Of course a debut of this magnitude commands the precense of some of the big names in the industry such as Guillermo Leon, Nestor Miranda and Jose Blanco.

First let me say that Danny and the boys do a fantastic job with their events, food was outstanding (shredded pork Hawaiian style, BBQ chicken breasts, Hamburgers, Hotdogs and homemade potato salad). Ice cold Presidente beer was plentiful and of course the smooth Ron Barcelo Rum. The event started off with the tasting seminar conducted by Jose Blanco to a packed lounge. I have been to one of Jose's seminars last year and it really is quite an interesting and educational experience. After the seminar, everybody was enjoying the food and trying the new 107. I was asking around what all who attended thought of the new cigar and the feedback was excellent.

It was great to see Guillermo again as I have only met him once before and of course Nestor Miranda, whom by the way has some very interesting new projects coming out soon whose pricepoints are very consumer friendly - Nestor Miranda 1989 and the Caliber 58. I will have more information on these two lines (tease) in the near future but suffice it to say that I have tried one of them and it is a very good cigar and I think that you will enjoy it very much.

As for new projects from La Aurora, you will have to wait and see when I come back from the Dominican Republic in a few weeks. I will be giving them feedback on some new prototypes that they are working on as well as touring the factory, fields and their operations. Well that is all for now, next stop Cigar Fest 2010!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Gurkha Evil Robusto Review

Gurkha Evil Robusto 5 X 50. Wrapper - Brazil, Binder - Dominican, Filler -Nicaragua. Medium - Full bodied.

Once lit, initial taste of dry wood and pepper. Smoking into the first third of this cigar, flavors of wood, cinnamon and leather with a peppery spice background were present.

At the halfway point, predominate flavors of leathery cinnamon and spice with a nice sweetness coming in as well. I also noted some hints of nuttiness as well.

The last third revealed the sweet spice taste picking up in intensity along with the continuted cinnamon and leather. Again there were hints of nuts coming in and out every so often. The woodiness was pretty much gone. Full bodied smoke at this point. Long finish of Cinnamon, leather and sweet spiceiness on the palate.

Construction was just average as the wrapper split on me at the halfway point - not enough to adversely affect the cigar. Draw was so-so, I had to draw on the cigar a couple of times to get a decent amount of smoke. Burn was uneven and had to be corrected a couple of times.

A good complex and well balanced cigar that I enjoyed. MSRP on this vitola is $8.00 which makes this a somewhat expensive value in my opinion. All in all a good, enjoyable cigar but somewhat pricey. I recommend trying as long as price isn't a major factor in your decision.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Perdomo Lot 23 Punta Gorda Maduro Review


Perdomo Lot 23 Punta Gorda Maduro 5 X 60. New size. Wrapper - Nicaraguan Maduro, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaragua. Medium - Full bodied.

Initial taste of cedar and dark coffee quickly turning into a sweet cedar, leather and spice combination. Smoking through this cigar, chewy flavors of sweet molasses, tangy leather, cedar with an underlying spiceiness are present. Flavors are rich and very well balanced. Long finish of sweet molasses, tangy leather and some spice which coated the palate very nicely.

A complex cigar that is balanced to the very end. No bitterness as the cigar never got hot. Construction was excellent, burn and draw were perfect with a razor sharp dark grey ash that held on for about the first 2.5 inches before falling off. MSRP on this vitola is $4.90 which makes this a very good value. A fantastic cigar that I give a definite recommendation to try.

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rediscover La Aurora with the 107

La Aurora 107 Nationwide Giveaway


Miami Cigar & Company, the exclusive distributor for La Aurora brands in the ...United States, announces the release of the La Aurora Serie 107 Anniversario to mark the company’s 107th year of operation in ...the Dominican Republic. As part of a year-long campaign to Rediscover La Aurora, 107 retailers across the U-S will be giving away 107 robustos on April 30th

Miami Cigar president Nestor Miranda says, “We have represented La Aurora for over 20 years and feel this is one of the best cigars they have made so far. We believe so much in the 107 that we are giving cigar smokers the chance to try it for free. All anyone has to do is buy a cigar, any cigar, at one of the participating retailers on April 30 and we’ll give you a free 107.”

La Aurora vice president Guillermo Léon adds, “We realize that while our family has been making fine handcrafted cigars for more than a century, some cigar smokers still have not tried our products and others remember when we only made cigars in the mild range. La Aurora has been developing medium to full bodied cigars with full flavor and we want to let people know how we have changed. The Rediscover La Aurora is part of our outreach to those smokers.” The 107, which uses a Sun Grown Ecuador wrapper over 6 year old fillers and binder from Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, will come in boxes of 21 with a suggested retail price between $6 to $8, plus any local taxes.

There will be 3 sizes: Robusto (4.5x50); Toro (5.5x54); and a Belicoso (6.25 x 52). The 107 will only be available at brick and mortar tobacconists

Monday, April 12, 2010

Nestor Miranda Selection Dominicano Oscuro Robusto Grande Review

Nestor Miranda Selection Dominicano Oscuro Robusto Grande - 5.5 X 54. Wrapper - Dominican Oscuro, Binder - Nicargua, Filler - Nicaragua. This is a very well balanced and complex cigar that is slightly to the right of medium bodied.

Initial taste of dry oak & leather which quickly becomes a sweet cream, leather, oak and an underlying spice.

As I continued through the cigar, flavors of sweet cream, leather, spice and oak remained but now I was getting some notes of nuts as well.

The last third revealed even more complexity. In addtion to the sweet cream, leather, oak & the underlying spice, I also noticed a consistent earthiness and some notes of vanilla every now and then. Slight hint of rum flavor as well. Long finish after each draw of sweet cream and leather.

Construction & burn were good - the wrapper did get a slight crack towards the end and the burn had to be corrected twice, but that was it. The draw however, was perfect. Price point on this vitola is approx. $7.50. I have to say that this is another fantastic, complex and well balanced Nestor Miranda cigar that I once again have to recommend trying.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Giralda Tablado (Robusto) Natural Review

Giralda Tablado (Robusto) Natural - 5 X 50. Wrapper - Ecuador, Binder - Nicaragua & Honduras, Filler - Nicaragua. Between Medium and Full bodied. Blended and made by Don Pepin.

Initial taste is a blast of pepper and cedar which quickly becomes a creamy sweet caramel flavor with cedar, coffee and an underlying spice. Very balanced. As the cigar progressed, the smooth flavors of sweet caramel, coffee, cedar and spice continued with all of the flavors balancing together very nicely.

Somewhere during the last third of the cigar, I began to feel the strength picking up along with the spice. Coffee and cedar increased a bit as well, along with the creamy caramel still present. Very long finish of caramel, spice and coffee coating the palate.

This was a very good, balanced and complex cigar that delivered nice distinct flavors. Construction, burn and draw were perfect. MSRP on this vitola is $6.05 which makes a cigar of this caliber a very good value. A definite recommendation to try.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Alec Bradley Press Release 4/5/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Alec Bradley Family Blend Delivers Quadruplets

Expanded selection will now be offered in five frontmarks
Summary: Alec Bradley Cigars have expanded their critically-acclaimed Family Blend selection to five frontmarks. Recently, the Family Blend VR1 Robusto was the second Alec Bradley cigar in as many years to be included in Cigar Aficionado's "Top 25 Cigars" of the year. Family Blend is produced at Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas in Honduras with a full-flavored, three-nation blend rolled in specially aged Trojes wrapper leaves. The cigars are presented in boxes of 20 that are also signed by the fathers of Alec Bradley's three principle partners. SRP will range from $5.95 to $7.25 a cigar.

DANIA, FL -- April 2, 2010 -- Alec Bradley Cigars, makers of the highly-acclaimed Tempus and new Prensado premium cigar selections, have been handing out cigars to celebrate the newest arrivals to their family. The Alec Bradley Family Blend selection VR1 Robusto, the second Alec Bradley cigar to make Cigar Aficionado magazine's coveted "Top 25 Cigars" of the year, now has four new siblings.
Alec Bradley Family Blend debuted last year in honor of the fathers of Alec Bradley's three principal executives, Alan Rubin (President), Ralph Montero (Vice President), and George Sosa (Director Of Sales).
Blended at Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas in Honduras, the factory that also produces Alec Bradley Tempus, Family Blend consists of specially selected Honduran and Nicaraguan longfillers, plus an Indonesian binder, seamlessly rolled in a very carefully aged Honduran Trojes wrapper leaf. Cigar smokers can expect a medium-bodied smoke with a rich, dark tobacco flavor and subtle earthy undertones.
Following are the names of all the cigars in the expanded series and their suggested list prices:

D3 - 41⁄2" x 58 @ $5.95 SRP/cigar VR1 - 51⁄2" x 50 @ $6.50 SRP/cigar BX2 - 6" x 54 @ $6.95 SRP/cigar M23 - 7" x 50 @ $7.25 SRP/cigar T11 - 6 1/8" x 52 @ $7.25 SRP/cigar

If the names appear unusual, it shouldn't be so surprising. Many premium cigar manufacturers use numbers and letters for some of their releases. But since the inspiration for this line came from three different families, there's more to the cigars' names than meets the eye. According to George Sosa, the letters and numbers for each vitola refer to names and dates that are significant to certain family members. "We've become so fond of this line, we thought it would be interesting to add a 'family secret' kind of element to the cigars," said Sosa.
Presented in boxes of 20 cigars, all of the new sizes in the Alec Bradley Family Blend selection will feature a pigtail cap, with the exception of the T11 Torpedo. The boxes and trays will also bear the signatures of David Rubin, Miguel Montero and Reinaldo Sosa.

About Alec Bradley Cigars
Founded by Alan Rubin in 1997, Alec Bradley Cigars (www.AlecBradley.com) has been acknowledged as one of the world's leading producers of fine, handmade premium cigars. Alec Bradley has received the cigar industry's highest critical acclaim for its Occidental Reserve, Trilogy, Maxx, and Tempus cigar selections. Their commitment to satisfying cigar enthusiasts worldwide is demonstrated by their passion for excellence, creativity, and high quality standards.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Cuban Stock Royal Selection Corona Review


Cuban Stock Royal Selection Corona - 5.5 X 44. Wrapper - Ecuador, Binder -Dominican, Filler - Dominican.. Medium - Full.

Initial taste of of dry oak and espresso coffee which quickly turned into flavors of earthy, dark coffee with a wine-like sweetness and an underlying spiceiness.

At about the halfway point of this cigar, the red wine sweetness took on some notes of chocolate flavor along with the coffee and now some leather coming into play along with the spicy undertone.

The last third of this cigar had a tangy, leathery taste dominating, spiceiness still present and the continued wine-like sweetness. Long finish of spicy, tangy leather.

Construction was good, burn was razor sharp with a light grey ash and the draw was perfect. Pricepoint is $6.50. I was a bit surprised at the amount of complexity given that it is a cigar with a 44 ring guage. A very enjoyable cigar and I do recommend giving this cigar a try.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Press Release: Perdomo Cigars lowering their prices

April 2, 2010

Dear Cigar Lovers,
At this very same time last year, we were all hit with the punitive SCHIP, a 700% tax increase on premium cigars.
Our company, Tabacalera Perdomo, made a courageous decision and absorbed this ridiculous tax on more than 70% of our brands and also reduced the price of our famous Perdomo Reserve line, by $25.00 to $37.50 a box! When manufacturers were again raising prices in these tough times, we went completely against the industry trend and lowered our price points last April. As we approach the completion of the first year since that dreadful “cigar tax day,”
I am proud to say that the huge risk we took paid off as you spread the word and supported Perdomo Cigars.
With today’s poor economy and the continued attacks of taxation and smoking bans, I spend most of my days asking: What can I do to ensure you will have the opportunity to enjoy Perdomo cigars every day? My solution is complex and difficult, but it’s simply the right thing to do. This year, as you continue to experience numerous price increases again – in addition to last year’s outrageous taxes - I ask myself, “Aren’t we in this together?” My answer is an unequivocal “Yes!” That’s why, starting in April, we will reduce the prices on even more of our most popular brands, including our Perdomo Lot 23, Perdomo Grand Cru, Perdomo 2 (Squared) L.E. 2008!
As we roll back our prices on Perdomo cigars to levels not seen since 2007, you may ask yourself: “Why is Nick doing this again?” My answer is quite simple: I trust that cigar smokers are smart with their hard earned dollars and will recognize Tabacalera Perdomo’s efforts to provide premium quality cigars at very affordable prices.
A year ago, when we reduced our prices, many of you called or emailed to thank me. Our sales team also received numerous handshakes and compliments. I sincerely thank you and I will always remember your kind words. As one of the few remaining family owned and operated American cigar companies, we control every aspect of the agricultural, manufacturing, and distribution of our brands. Efficiency and total quality control continue to be our top priorities, and this will not change, I assure you!
On behalf of the “Perdomo family” in Miami, Nicaragua, and across the United States, we want to thank you for your loyalty and support. We look forward to many more years of offering you outstanding Perdomo cigars at affordable prices!

Sincerely,

Nick Perdomo, Jr.

President, CEO
Tabacalera Perdomo
http://www.perdomocigars.com

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Cigar reviews

People ask me, "do you really taste all of those flavors that you put in your reviews" and my answer is: yes, of course. When I first started doing reviews, I didn't get many of the subtle flavors. What I do is to concentrate on flavors and when I think I taste a certain flavor, I write it down on a pad and then I continue to smoke and see if that is in fact the flavor that I taste. When I review a cigar, I am usually in my backyard, on a lounge and I always drink cold water, seltzer in particular because I feel that it really cleans the palete. So there I am on my backyard lounge, seltzer water on the table, paper and a pen and I just jot down flavors that I detect. I exhale through the nose quite often as this helps me discern flavors. I have to say, the more you do these reviews, the more refined your palete gets and thus, the easier it is for me to do the reviews. There you have it.