Monday, December 26, 2011

Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Toro Gordo Review


Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Toro Gordo - 6 X 60. Wrapper - Dominican Republic Criollo 1998, Binder - Dominican Republic Olor, Filler - Dominican Republic Criollo & Nicaragua. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Cinnamon and wood.

First third - Spice, leather, citrus and woody notes.

Second third - The spice increases along with the citrus leather and wood.

Last third - Spice, citrus, leather, and woodiness. Nice long finish of spicy citrus and leather.

Construction - nice oily sheen, dark brown wrapper with no major veins. Burn was straight with a gray and black colored ash that was solid and held on. Draw was very good allowing plenty of smoke.

Another very good cigar from Gurkha that was complex and balanced. Flavors were very well pronounced and lasted long on the palette. The woodiness remained throughout the entire cigar instead of fading out in the first third as many other cigars do. I have been very impressed with the latest releases coming out of Gurkha and 2012 promises to bring more interesting cigars from them. MSRP is $10.00 for this vitola. If you are a fan of tangy, spicy leather with continued woodiness, than I definitely recommend this cigar for you.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Canimao "Jibaros" Review


Canimao "Jibaros" - 5/5/8 X 50. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Sumatra, Binder - Ecuador, Filler - Dominican Republic & Nicaragua. Between medium and full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry woodiness.

First third - Spice, dry cedar, leather and a very nice citrus flavor emerges.

Second third - Spiciness continues with the tangy citrus coming to the forefront followed by leather and now a raisin flavor reveals itself.

Last third - Spice, tangy citrus, raisin and leather. Very nicely balanced. Long coating finish of spice and citrus leather.

Construction - Nice looking, light-brown wrapper with a silky sheen texture and no major veins. Burn was sharp with a salt & pepper colored ash. The ash is solid and held on. Draw was very good and the cigar had plenty of smoke.

An excellent little cigar packed with bold flavors. I found it to be very well balanced as with all Canimao cigars and with very good complexity. This flavor profile is among my favorite. The citrus raisin flavors were very tasty and enjoyable. I would say that this line is my new favorite in the Canimao portfolio followed by the Robusto and the Torpedo. It is also the fullest bodied in terms of flavor. MSRP is a consumer friendly $7.20. This is a perfect cigar for those cold winter days when you want a short smoke. A definite recommend to try for yourself.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

La Flor Dominicana Factory Press IV Press Release


Factory Press IV

National Release - December 2011



The 4th in the series of highly acclaimed Factory Press cigars by La Flor Dominicana. The tobaccos used to construct these wonderful cigars are from special small crops that have been retained and aging for use in this very limited production.

Total Production: 250 Boxes

Size: 60 X 6.5 inches

Packaging: Chest of 10 trays of 12 cigars.

Wrapper: Mexican Maduro

Binder: Ecuadorian

Filler: 100% Dominican grown at Estancia La Flor De Palma in La Canela, Dominican Republic

Body: Full

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Oliveros Sun Grown Reserve Paco No. 3 Review


Oliveros Sun Grown Reserve Paco No. 3 - 7 X 48. Wrapper - Havano Sun Grown aged over 5 years in Nicaragua, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaragua. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Woodiness.

First third - Spiciness with leather, some citrus and raisin notes.

Second third - Spice, citrus moves up to the forefront followed by leather, sweet raisins and wood notes.

Last third - Spice continues, Tangy citrus, leather, raisin sweetness and wood notes. Long finish of tangy spice and leather.

Construction - Dark-brown wrapper with a slight sheen texture without any major veins. Good cap. Burn was fairly straight with a salt & pepper colored ash that was solid and held on. Draw was perfect with a good amount of smoke.

I was very impressed with this cigar's complexity and balance. Loved the sweet raisin taste and of course the tangy citrus and leather. Smooth, tasty and a wonderfully long finish make this cigar another winner for Oliveros Cigars. MSRP for this vitola is $7.30 which is an excellent value. I would smoke this cigar anytime from midday on - definite recommend for a medium bodied, complex and smooth smoke that won't hurt your wallet.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Torano "Vault" Torpedo Review


Torano "Vault" Torpedo - 6 1/8 x 52. Wrapper - Shade-Grown Nicaraguan Colorado. Binder - Ometepe, Nicaragua and Jamastran, Honduras, Filler - Esteli and Condega, Nicaragua. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry cedar and spice.

First third - Spice followed by leather and cedar with notes of citrus.

Second third - Spice, Tangy citrus, leather and cedar notes.

Last third - Spice continues along with the wonderful tangy citrus leather and cedar notes. Long finish of spicy citrus and leather.

Construction - Attractive oily brown wrapper with a smooth texture. No major veins were visible. Burn was straight with a very dark gray, solid ash that held on a couple of inches before falling off. Draw was spot-on with plenty of smoke.

Another fantastic cigar from Torano - I really like what they have been coming out with lately. As many of you know, I am a big fan of this flavor profile - spice, citrus and leather. The complexity was very good and the balance was perfect. MSRP for this vitola is $7.95 which is a great price point for a cigar of this quality. Best enjoyed from the middle of the day on. A definite recommend to try yourself, I think you will be very happy you did.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Gurkha "Seduction" Toro Review


Gurkha "Seduction" Toro - 6 X 55. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Habano, Binder - Dominican Olor, Filler - Columbian Corojo. Medium - full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry woodiness and spice.

First third - Spice, Earthiness, cocoa and wood notes.

Second third - Spice continues but now a citrus and raisin flavor emerges along with the Earthiness and cocoa.

Last third - More of the same - Spicy citrus, raisin, Earth and cocoa. Long wonderful finish of spicy Earth and cocoa that coats the palate.

Construction - Good looking, smooth textured dark-brown wrapper. Nice oily sheen without any major veins. Burn was straight with a black and gray colored solid ash that held on. Draw was perfect with just the right amount of smoke produced.

A wonderful cigar with excellent complexity and smooth balance. I really liked the citrus raisin and cocoa flavors balanced with the spice and Earthiness. I would have to put this cigar as my all time favorite of the Gurkha lines just ahead of the Evil and Regent - in that order. MSRP is a very good $7.60 for this vitola which makes it a reasonably priced cigar to smoke often. Definite two thumbs up.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve Review


Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve - 6.25 X 52. Wrapper - Connecticut Broadleaf, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaragua. Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Spicy Earthiness.

First third - Spice, citrus, Earth and leathery notes.

Second third - Spice with tangy fruit-like citrus, Earthiness and leather on the back end.

Last third - Spiciness continues with the tangy fruitiness, Earth and now a very nice chocolate flavor emerges followed by the leather. Long finish of citrus spice & Earthiness.

Construction - Beautiful darkish-brown wrapper with no major veins. Silky sheen and smooth in texture. Triple capped. Burn was pretty much straight with a light-gray, semi solid ash that did hold on despite not being totally solid. Burn was very good with the average amount of smoke produced.

An impressive tasting cigar with excellent complexity and balance. As the cigar progresses, it builds in complexity until it reaches a crescendo of wonderful bold flavors. The chocolate flavor in the last third really was a very nice surprise. MSRP for this vitola is $12.00. Definitely a cigar for after a full meal. A must try for those looking for a very complex, balanced and full-bodied smoke.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Alec Bradley to Release “Fine & Rare” Cigar on 11-11-11


IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

Alec Bradley to Release “Fine & Rare” Cigar on 11-11-11
New, very limited edition 10 leaf blend will debut this November

DANIA, FL – October 21, 2011 – No, it's not a new Broadway musical, a reality TV series, or a law office. Fine & Rare is the name of the latest and perhaps the most ambitious cigar yet from the award-winning Alec Bradley Cigars. Scheduled to arrive in cigar stores on November 11th, 2011, Fine & Rare is made in just one size, a 6” x 52 Toro format, and will be a limited edition release of only 1,111 boxes.

Known for pushing the envelope when it comes to marketing premium handmade cigars, Alec Bradley's Fine & Rare is no different. Produced at Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas, the cigar boasts a shimmering Honduran Trojes wrapper leaf that conceals dual Honduran and Nicaraguan binders plus seven long-filler tobaccos which the company prefers not to disclose. To ensure the consistency of every cigar, Raíces Cubanas assigned only one team for the job which was supervised by Alex Miguel Artica. The cigars are meticulously rolled, and each vitola has been assigned a serial number which is imprinted on the band.

Alec Bradley believes this cigar is the only cigar in the world made with 10 different tobaccos; moreover, the cigars have been aging since production was completed in August of 2010. Since then, the master team has moved on to another special project that will be released in 2012.

Each of the 11,110 cigars bear the signatures of Alan Rubin (President), Ralph Montero (Vice President), Alex Miguel Artica (Supervisor), Antonia Baquedano Aluarenga (Master Roller), and Juan Miguel Rodriguez (Master Buncher).

“1000 boxes are already pre-sold for retail cigar stores, said Alan Rubin, “They sold out in 15 minutes back in July.”

100 boxes containing 10 Toros and 10 torpedos will be used at Mr. Rubin’s discretion, while another 11 boxes containing 30 cigars (10 Toros, 10 Torpedos and 10 Perfectos) will be used to raise money for Alec Bradley supported charities.

“Since we were only able to make 1,111 boxes, we thought it would be fun to release the cigars on 11-11-11,” said Alan Rubin. “I'm really excited about this cigar, too. We've done a lot of special things over the years, but this cigar is really in a class by itself. We took as much time as we needed to carefully select only the best of the best tobaccos. It's one of the reasons we could only make a limited number of boxes. As for the smoke itself, it's aromatic, full-flavored and as about complex as it gets.”

Fine & Rare will be presented in boxes of 10 cigars with an MSRP of $14.00 per cigar (pending taxation).

For more information on Alec Bradley Fine & Rare cigars, visit the www.facebook.com/alecbradleycigar
* * *
About Alec Bradley Cigars
Founded by Alan Rubin in 1997, Alec Bradley Cigars 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 Family Blend, Maxx, Tempus, Select Cabinet Reserve, Vice Press and Prensado premium cigars. Their commitment to satisfying cigar enthusiasts worldwide is demonstrated by their passion for excellence, creativity, and the highest quality standards.

Alec Bradley Cigar Co.
3400 SW 26th Terrace, Suite A-1
Dania, Florida 33312
www.alecbradley.com

Contact: Sam Phillips | Ph: 239-682-4080

Monday, October 17, 2011

Zino Platinum Z Class Series 546P "Piramides" Review


Zino Platinum Z Class Series 546P "Piramides" - 5.25 X 46. Wrapper - Dominican Republic, Binder - Peru (Pelo De Oro), Filler - Nicaragua & Honduras. Medium - full but closer to full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Peppery & woody.

First third - Tingly spice, citrus & Earthy leather.

Second third - Pepper spice with tangy citrus, Earth and leather. Very nice balance.

Last third - The tingly spice continues with the citrus and Earthy leather. Nice long finish of spice and tangy leather.

Construction - a somewhat bumpy, light-brown wrapper with a couple of moderate sized veins. Burn was good with a salt & pepper colored ash that was solid and held on. Draw was slightly tight but otherwise good overall with a good amount of smoke.

An excellent cigar with the type of flavor profile that I really enjoy - spicy, lemony leather with the added bonus of the Earthiness. Very good complexity and balance. Draw could have been a bit looser but did not really affect the smoking experience. MSRP on this size is $8.00 which is pretty good considering it is a Zino and they tend to be on the pricey side. Definitely a cigar for after a heavy meal. By far the best and most fullest bodied Zino I have tried.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto Review


Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto - 5.25 X 54. Wrapper - Nicaragua, Binder - Sumatra, Filler - Panama, Honduras. Medium-full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Earth & wood.

First third - Spice, Earth, woodiness, leather with some bitterness and a chocolaty sweetness emerging about halfway through the first third.

Second third - Spice, bittersweet chocolate Earthiness and leather. The woodiness has now diminished during this part of the cigar. Smooth with nice balance.

Last third - Spice, bittersweet chocolate earthiness and leather. Nice long finish of spicy Earthiness.

Construction - Beautiful silky sheen, dark-brown wrapper with no major veins. Burn was decent with a darkish-gray colored ash that held on and was solid. Draw was good with a good amount of smoke.

When I first learned that this cigar has Panamanian tobacco in it, I was a bit concerned as to how it would affect the cigar as it is a leaf that if not blended correctly, can really make the cigar profile taste bitter. I did experience this in the first half inch of this cigar, but then the balance kicked in and really gave this cigar great smoothness. Excellent complexity as well - I really liked the spiciness blended with the bittersweet chocolate. The Earthiness (from the Panamanian tobacco) was deep and rich and really worked very well with the other flavors. MSRP for this size is $8.00 which is pretty much the price point you would expect from an Alec Bradley Cigar. I would put this cigar near the top of their portfolio as one of my favorites right beside the Tempus Maduro. Definite recommend.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale -"Club" Review


La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale -"Club" - 5.75 X 47. Wrapper - Honduras Connecticut Seed, Double Binder - Nicaragua & Mexican, Filler - Nicaragua & Dominican Ligero and proprietary leaf. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry cedar wood.

First third - Spice and cedar with sweet creamy notes.

Second third - Spice, and now the sweet maple creaminess increases with underlying cedar. Excellent balance.

Last third - Spice, maple-sweet cream and cedar wood. Medium finish of spice and sweet cream.

Construction - Light-brown wrapper with three major veins visible. Very slight sheen. Burn was uneven producing a very dark gray (almost black) colored ash that was loose and flaky. Draw was perfect with good amounts of smoke.

I am usually not a big fan of Connecticut wrapped cigars but this cigar is definitely among the best that I have tried. It is actually a very good cigar - tasty, with good complexity and great balance. I really enjoyed the creamy maple sweetness balanced with the spiciness. I could see this cigar becoming part of my regular rotation and with an MSRP of $7.00 for this size, it makes even more sense to stock up on these cigars. With it being just about medium in body, this cigar can be smoked anytime of the day from morning with your coffee, to after a substantial dinner. Wether you are normally a Connecticut cigar smoker or not, I think that this is a cigar that would appeal to many different smokers.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Quesada Oktoberfest Bavarian Review


Quesada Oktoberfest Bavarian - 5.5 X 52. Wrapper - Dominican Cibao, Binder - Dominican Republic, Filler - Dominican Republic. Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Black coffee and pepper.

First third - Peppery, Earthy leather with sweet fruity notes.

Second third - Pepper with a Earthy, sweet fruitiness and chewy leather. Very nicely balanced.

Last third - Peppery spice continues along with the Earthiness, sweet fruitiness and thick leather. Very nice long finish of spice and sweet Earthiness.

Construction - One of the best in the business when it comes to beautiful and strong wrappers - oily and dark brown in color with no major veins. Straight burn with a dark gray solid ash that holds on. Draw was very good as well with the perfect amount of smoke produced.

A fantastic cigar that takes you on a wonderful journey of complex, rich and bold flavors. The balance was excellent as well. The pepper along with the Earthy, fruity sweetness and leather made for a very enjoyable profile that coats your palate with lingering tasty flavors. MSRP for this size is $7.95 which is a great price point for a cigar with super premium taste. Best enjoyed after a full meal accompanied of course by a hearty ale. I absolutely recommend.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

J. C. Newman Brick house Robusto Review


J. C. Newman Brick house Robusto - 5 X 54. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Habano Sun Grown, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaragua. Medium - Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Oak wood & spice.

First third - Spice, oak with a black coffee & Earthy flavor.

Second third - Spice, but now the Earthiness is more pronounced with a slight sweetness and the oak in the background. Nicely balanced.

Last third - Spice continues with the Earthy sweetness and the underlying oak wood. Nice long finish of Earth and spice.

Construction - A good looking, oily, dark brown wrapper with several moderately sized veins. Straight burn with a gray colored ash that was pretty much solid and did hold on an inch or so at a time. Draw was very good with the correct amount of smoke produced.

The Brick house line has been a favorite regular rotation cigar for me since it first came out a couple of years ago. I enjoy the spicy, sweet earth flavor profile, along with a very consumer friendly MSRP of $5.00 for this particular size. If you are looking for a tasty inexpensive cigar that can be enjoyed on a regular basis, I recommend giving this line a try.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale


La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale

Continuing its tradition of innovation, Team La Gloria is proud to introduce La Gloria Cubana® Artesanos Retro Especiale, a collection that spent eight years in the making.

Inspired by an antique humidor found at the El Credito® Cigar Factory, Michael Giannini and Team La Gloria toiled for nearly a decade to replicate the antique humidor. Inclusive of a two-year process that encompassed cultivating a new wrapper, the development of the blend for Artesanos Retro Especiale was approached with an equal amount of creativity and commitment.

According to Michael Giannini, director of marketing for La Gloria Cubana, “It gives me great pleasure to debut La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale. We set out to create a product that was as unique in its packaging as it is in its taste and I believe we’ve delivered that in spades. I stand with Team La Gloria, fully confident that this collection will be a welcome addition to the smoking repertoires of today’s most discriminating premium cigar smokers.”

Team La Gloria set out to break the mold with the blend by cross-breeding a Connecticut seed, which was then cultivated in Honduras. The maiden crop yielded a hearty, golden wrapper as noteworthy for its color as it is for allowing each of the cigar’s components to enjoy equal bearing on the overall taste of the cigar.

Despite the golden appearance of the wrapper, the blend is brash in its full flavor and engages the entire palate. The double binder of bold Nicaraguan and Mexican leaf is further enhanced not only by Nicaraguan and Dominican ligero but also through an additional peppering of proprietary Nicaraguan and Dominican leaf.

Each of the four frontmarks is uniquely packaged in a 25-count box with a different design and bears a classic name that hearkens back to the early days of La Gloria Cubana. Taino (7” x 52) will be available for a suggested retail price of $7.50 per cigar, or $187.50 per box. Habanero (6” x 52) will sell for an SRP of $7.25 per cigar, or $181.25 per box. Cubano (6 1/2” x 58) will carry an SRP of $8.15 per cigar, or $203.75 per box and Club (5 ¾” x 47) will sell for $7.00 apiece, or $175.00 per box.

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale will debut in mid-August, with private tastings to be held throughout the country. The product will ultimately ship in late September.

About La Gloria Cubana
La Gloria Cubana cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo®, Cohiba®, La Gloria Cubana, Punch®, CAO, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.

® La Gloria Cubana, El Credito, Macanudo, Cohiba, Punch, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

DiFazio Cigars Barroco "Inmenso" Review


DiFazio Cigars Barroco "Inmenso" - 6 X 60. Wrapper - Nicaragua (Habano Claro), Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaragua. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Cedar spice.

First third - Spice with cedar wood and an Earthy quality emerging.

Second third - Spice continues with cedar and Earthiness. Smooth and very well balanced.
Last third - Spice, cedar and the Earthiness, some cinnamon notes as well. Long finish of spice and Earthiness.

Construction - Beautiful chocolate brown wrapper with a silky smooth texture. No major veins were visible. Burn was razor sharp with a solid, white-colored ash that held on inches at a time. Draw was very good with a good amount of smoke produced.

A superb cigar with good complexity and excellent balance. I found the cedar along with the earthiness to be a very nice combination in a flavor profile that I do not experience too often. MSRP is $11.00 for this vitola. A perfect cigar for anytime in the day - especially a crisp fall afternoon or evening.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

TORAĂ‘O FAMILY CIGAR CO. TO GIVE AWAY 25 WINE REFRIGERATORS AND A GRAND PRIZE TRIP TO ARRINGTON VINEYARDS IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE


TORAĂ‘O FAMILY CIGAR CO. TO GIVE AWAY 25 WINE REFRIGERATORS AND A GRAND PRIZE TRIP TO ARRINGTON VINEYARDS IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

(Miami, FL) October 4, 2011—Toraño Family Cigar Co. has partnered with Arrington Vineyards for a spectacular contest that combines two of the finer things in life: premium handmade cigars and award winning wine. This contest awards 25 lucky winners a stainless steel wine refrigerator that holds twenty-four bottles of wine and qualifies them for a Grand Prize trip to Arrington Vineyards in Nashville, Tennessee.

The idea for this exciting collaboration sprung from the personal relationship between Bruce Lewis, Toraño’s VP of Sales and Marketing, and Kip Summers, the winemaker and one of Arrington Vineyards’ partners with Kix Brooks (of Brooks & Dunn fame). Lewis and Summers have had a mutual admiration for each other’s respective industry for a very long time. The scenic beauty of the vineyards, coupled with an array of incredible wines, has led to many cigar smoking occasions at Arrington. Toraño Family Cigar Co. wanted to share this special experience with one of its consumers.

Toraño Family Cigar Co. is ready to award 25 Toraño branded wine refrigerators in a raffle at select stores around the country. The wine fridge promotion will last for thirty days at each store and will culminate in an end of the month grand event to award the wine refrigerator. Toraño will offer unique merchandise and specials at each store during the month long promo. The most unique item is a bottle of Arrington Vineyards-Toraño Antebellum private barrel reserve wine. This Toraño private label wine was created by Arrington Vineyards and was made specifically to compliment the fine cigars created by the Toraño family. This distinctive wine has been aged for 16 months in oak wine barrels then aged a further 6 months in Tennessee whiskey barrels. The pairing of Toraño cigars with the Arrington Antebellum can be experienced only at select tobacconists.

The grand prize trip to Nashville, Tennessee will be an all-expense paid weekend experience that will feature a grand tour of the Arrington Vineyards facility complete with a tasting of their exquisite wines. The contest winner will be treated to a gourmet lunch on the outdoor bistro tables overlooking 75 acres of sheer beauty. The contest winner will enjoy some of Toraño’s finest cigars as they are joined by Charlie Toraño himself. The experience of smoking some of the finest cigars, while sipping on award winning wines, will surely be a treat for a true cigar & wine enthusiast.

Charlie Toraño is proud to share his Toraño -Arrington private label wine as he knows the value of “making time to burn” with a great cigar while being able relax with a fine bottle of wine. He looks forward to being able to award 25 lucky winners a stainless steel wine refrigerator and is excited to make his way to Arrington Vineyard with the grand prize winner.

For more information on the 25 participating stores, prizes, and Toraño -Arrington in store specials please go to www.Torano.com. Also, for more information on Arrington Vineyards, please go to www.Arringtonvineyards.com

A leader in the cigar industry, Toraño Family Cigar Company is a four generation company currently based in Miami, FL. It enjoys a rich heritage and history in tobacco growing and manufacturing. For more information: www.Toraño.com. Please also follow Toraño on Face book: Toraño A family Cigar Company or on Twitter: @TORAÑO FAMCIGARS.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

CAO La Traviata Intrepido Review


CAO La Traviata Intrepido - 7 X 54. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Habano, Binder - Cameroon, Filler - Nicaragua & Dominican Republic. Medium - Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry cedar wood.

First third - Spice, sweetness, cedar and leather.

Second Third - Spice continues with a nice cedar sweetness, leather and some notes of nuttiness.

Last third - More of the same - spice, sweet cedar, leather and nutty notes. Long tasty finish of spicy cedar and leather.

Construction - Good looking, light-brown wrapper with a couple of moderate size veins visible. Dry texture. Burn was good with a salt & pepper colored solid ash that holds on. Draw was perfect as has been my experience with this line.

Once again I find this cigar line to be a wonderful, tasty smoke. Plenty of complexity and the balance is always spot-on. The only difference that I found with this size as compared to the smaller ring gauges is that the cedar flavor seems to be a bit more dominant than the leather. MSRP is a very affordable $5.75 which is especially good for a cigar this big. If you like to smoke outside as much as I do, I would recommend this particular size from springtime until fall while the weather is still nice as it is a long smoke. Otherwise, I would go with the robusto or the Animados size ( 5 5/8 X 46) for when the days get colder.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

TORAĂ‘O FAMILY CIGAR CO. CONTINUES TO STREANGTHEN ITS TEAM AS JACK TORAĂ‘O JOINS THE FAMILY BUSINESS


TORAĂ‘O FAMILY CIGAR CO. CONTINUES TO STREANGTHEN ITS TEAM AS JACK TORAĂ‘O JOINS THE FAMILY BUSINESS

(Miami, FL) September 29, 2011— Toraño Family Cigar Co. has taken another step to strengthen its team as President Charlie Toraño is proud to announce the hiring of fellow family member Jack Toraño as the Marketing & Customer Relations Manager. Jack Toraño brings along an excellent reputation for customer service, branding, and public relations. The addition of Jack Toraño is the latest in many big moves made by the Toraño Family after taking back their distribution.

Jack Toraño, a native of Miami, Fl. got his start in the tobacco business when he was employed with Lopez Leaf Tobacco in the early 80’s. With a last name like Toraño it isn’t a surprise that he started his career in the tobacco business, but where he went next is quite an interesting tale. Jack Toraño found himself in Chicago for the last 16 years working along-side his brother Sandy Toraño in a company called Scandal Music. Scandal Music wrote jingles for television and radio commercials. Jack’s strong sense of branding and marketing in addition to his lively personality allowed him to help create ads with companies such as McDonalds, Nintendo, and was even part of the team that created the very successful “Real Men of Genius” campaign for Bud Light. A highlight for Jack was when Scandal Music had the privilege of creating music for the Oprah Winfrey Show. Jack’s love of premium cigars brought him back to Miami and into the family business.

Charlie Toraño felt that Jack’s background in advertising and his personable manner made him a perfect fit for the new look and direction of the Toraño Family Cigar Co. ”Jack is the prodigal son of the Toraño family. It took us 16 years to get him back in Miami”, Charlie Toraño continued,” it’s always a great feeling to work alongside family members as we all carry that same passion for cigars”.

The past year has been one of great change for the Toraño Family. New logo, new company name, new brands, and new faces round out the positive changes that the company has undergone. Charlie Toraño said,” I feel strongly that we have all the right pieces and persons in place to move Toraño Family Cigar Co. into a position to provide retailers and ultimately our customers with the best cigars and service possible.

Jack Toraño will replace Oliver Hyams who is going to work with his father, Gary Hyams. “Oliver is a great friend and a fantastic person. Oliver has been an important member of our team but I, more than most, understand Oliver’s desire to work with his father. I wish him much success,” said Charlie Toraño.

A leader in the cigar industry, Toraño Family Cigar Company is a four generation company currently based in Miami, FL. It enjoys a rich heritage and history in tobacco growing and manufacturing. For more information: www.torano.com. Please also follow Toraño on Facebook: Toraño A family Cigar Company or on Twitter: @TORANOFAMCIGARS

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Corona Review


H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Corona - 5 1/2 X 44. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Cubano, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Dominican Republic. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Cedar and spice.

First third - Spice, sweetness, citrus and leather.

Second third - Spice and sweet, tangy leather.

Last third - Spicy, sweet citrus leather. Long enjoyable finish of spicy, tangy leather.

Construction - Attractive dark-brown wrapper with a slight oily sheen. No major veins visible. Burn - uneven burn that corrected itself by the middle of the first third. Draw was perfect with just the right amount of smoke produced.

A fantastic little smoke that had great balance and complexity. This flavor profile is what I really enjoy - spicy, tangy leather with sweetness sandwiched in between. MSRP is a very good $5.25 for this size. Perfect for a short smoke before or even after a substantial meal from lunchtime on.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Swag Limitado 99 "Infamous" Review


Swag Limitado 99 "Infamous" - 6 X 54. Wrapper - Dominican Ligero Habano, Binder - Dominican Ligero Habano, Filler - Dominican Ligero Habano. Medium - full bodied. Limited release of 2,000 boxes made from an uncovered 1999 bale of tobacco. Made by Oliveros Cigars.

Initial lighting taste - Oak wood and spice.

First third - Spice, oak, tangy leather, raisin and some sweetness emerging.

Second third - Spice, tangy sweet leather, raisin and oak fading into the background. I'm really enjoying the complexity and balance.

Last third - Continuation of the spice, lemony-sweet leather and raisin. Nice long finish of tangy, spicy leather.

Construction - Beautiful reddish-brown wrapper with a silky texture. Only one major vein was visible. Triple capped. Burn - razor sharp burn with a salt & pepper colored ash that held on for about an inch at a time. Draw - As always my experience with Oliveros cigars was perfect with the right amount of smoke.

A delicious cigar with wonderfully bold flavors, lots of complexity and excellent balance. If compared to the regular Swag line, I would have to say that this cigar has a bit more complexity with the added raisin taste, and the flavors seemed to be richer and more distinct. MSRP for this size is $9.50. An excellent cigar.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Imperiales By Leon Jimenes Maduro Toro Review


Imperiales By Leon Jimenes Maduro Toro - 6 X 50. Wrapper - Dominican Republic Corojo Maduro, Binder - Dominican Republic, Filler - Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Brazil. Medium - full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Charred wood and spice.

First third - Spice, sweet earthiness with a tangy citrus and leather.

Second third - Spiciness continues with the sweet earthiness, tangy leather and black cherry notes emerge.

Last third - Spice, sweet earthiness, tangy leather and black cherry. Very long finish of spice and an earthy leather.

Construction - A dark brown attractive oily wrapper with bumpiness throughout. No major veins visible. Burn was straight with a solid dark gray ash that held on. Draw was a slightly on the loose side but otherwise good with plenty of smoke.

A fantastic cigar that had excellent complexity, balance and body. I was surprised at how tasty this stick was especially with an incredible MSRP of $5.00 for this size. This could have easily been an $8.00 cigar and I would still consider it worthy. I found it to be medium - full bodied so I suggest smoking anytime after lunch. This line will be sold in boxes or bundles. A perfect cigar for the everyday smoker.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

El Primer Mundo Epifania Robusto Review


El Primer Mundo Epifania Robusto - 5 X 50. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Habano, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Dominican Republic & Nicaragua. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Spicy, dry woodiness.

First third - Spicy with a flowery, floral taste, wood and some caramel notes.

Second third - Spice, floral, woodiness and caramel notes. Very nice balance - smooth.

Last third - Spice continues with the flowery floral flavor, wood and caramel. Moderately long finish of spice and wood.

Construction - Pretty brown wrapper with a slight sheen. No major veins or soft spots were visible. Triple capped which is always nice to see. Burn - sharp burn with a dark gray solid ash. Draw was perfect.

An excellent cigar with a unique flavor profile that was both complex and very well balanced. The floral notes were very enjoyable with the spice and wood. The Robusto size is not available yet so there isn't an MSRP for it but the Toro size is $10.00 available in Toronto. Definite recommend.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Velazquez Cigars Cuatro G Torpedo Maduro Review


Velazquez Cigars Cuatro G Torpedo Maduro - 6 X 52. Wrapper - Brazil, Binder - Dominican Republic (Cuban Seed), Filler - Dominican Republic (Cuban Seed). Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Spicy cedar.

First third - Spice, citrus, leather and a plum sweetness.

Second third - Spice, tangy citrus leather and sweet plum. Very nice balance.

Last third - Spice, tangy leather and the plum sweetness. Very long finish of tangy leather and spice.

Construction - Slightly bumpy, dry, dark-brown wrapper with a couple of moderate veins visible. Burn was razor sharp with a dark gray colored solid ash that holds on. Draw was perfect - not too loose, not too tight with a good amount of smoke produced.

An excellent cigar that surprised me at how good it was. Great flavor profile, very good complexity and balance. It had me at tangy citrus and leather. MSRP on this vitola is $8.00 which this cigar is definitely worth. A cigar best enjoyed after a hearty meal later in the day - definite recommend.

Velazquez Cigars is based out of Puerto Rico by Angelo Velazquez and can be ordered by calling 787-396-0941 or email: velazquezcigars@hotmail.com. You can also visit his website: www.velazquezcigars.com

Thursday, September 15, 2011

CAO La Traviata Animados Review


CAO La Traviata Animados - 5 5/8 X 46. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Habano, Binder - Cameroon, Filler - Nicaragua & Dominican Republic. Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry cedar wood.

First third - Pepper, cedar, leather and a sweetness emerges somewhere in the middle of this third of the cigar.

Second third - Pepper settles down to a nice spice followed now by a sweet leather, cedar and nuts.

Last third - Spice, sweet leather, cedar and nutty notes. Long finish of spicy leather and cedar.

Construction - Attractive oily, smooth light-brown wrapper with no major veins. Burn was razor sharp with a salt & pepper colored solid ash that did not want to fall off. Draw was perfect..

I am a big fan of the La Traviata line since it's debut in 2009 and this size does not disappoint. Wonderful flavor profile with excellent balance and complexity and the size. I really enjoyed the sweetness that the Cameroon binder offers with the leather. MSRP for this size is $4.95 which is a great price point for this cigar. I think I found my new "go-to" smoke for the fall.

General Cigar Announces Sherwin Seltzer’s Retirement


General Cigar Announces Sherwin Seltzer’s Retirement

General Cigar announces today that industry veteran Sherwin Seltzer will retire at the end of October, thus concluding a storied career spanning more than half a century in the premium cigar category.

“There comes a time when you have to stop and do something else. I’ve had a great run in this business but at this stage in my life, I want to devote my time to Iris, my wife of 51 years, and my children and grandchildren,” comments Seltzer, who will continue to serve as General Cigar’s vice president of trade development until October 31.

Dan Carr, president of General Cigar remarks, “Sherwin is one of those people you meet in life and never forget. He has a great sense of humor and always makes people feel at ease. Because of this, he made great contributions to General Cigar, particularly in developing relationships with our trade partners and in acting as a mentor to people in all areas of the business. While we will all miss working with Sherwin, we consider him family and look forward to hearing about his adventures during retirement.”

Sherwin began his career in the industry in 1956, working for Brown Williamson, a cigarette company, before joining Faber, Coe and Gregg, best known for importing Cuban cigars to the U.S. After a stint in California, during which time he launched Faber’s national products division, Sherwin returned to New York in 1978 to work for Joel Sherman of Nat Sherman & Company.

In 1980, Sherwin joined Villazon & Company, maker of iconic Honduran brands such as Punch®, Hoyo de Monterrey® and Excalibur®, and was quickly promoted to vice president of sales and marketing, working with Danny Blumenthal and Frank Llaneza. When General Cigar acquired Villazon in 1996, Sherwin’s career flourished. He worked hand in hand with industry icons including Edgar Cullman, Daniel Nuñez and Benji Menendez. He ultimately concentrated on sales and trade development, an entrepreneurial position which allowed him to focus on trade relations and channel expansion.

Sherwin remembers, “When General Cigar acquired Villazon, it was a turning point in my career. Edgar Cullman was like a godfather to me and together with his son Edgar and grandson David Danziger, they developed what I feel are the best brands in the industry. They also built a tremendous foundation for today’s General Cigar Company.”

Sherwin feels he’s leaving the company at the right time. “I have complete confidence in Dan Carr. He’s a terrific guy, and I know he’s going to keep moving the business forward to even bigger and better things. He has also developed a really talented management team, along with great people in the factories, and in sales and marketing. I’m retiring knowing that the company will continue to be the best in the business.”

When asked what advice he would give to someone who wants to enter the cigar business, Sherwin simply answers, “Get a job with General Cigar.”

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Alec Bradley Introduces New Black Market Cigar


*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

Alec Bradley Introduces New Black Market Cigar
New edition boasts a rich, complex character and "edgy" packaging design

DANIA, FL – September 8, 2011 – What do you think of when you hear the term "Black Market?" Something "forbidden" perhaps? Though they may look like something that entered the country under the radar, Alec Bradley's Black Market cigars, which debuted at this year's IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas to encouraging praise, the new line extension is anything but taboo.

Handmade in Danli, Honduras the Alec Bradley Black Market cigars boasts a blend of Honduran Jamastran and Panamanian longfillers, Sumatra binder, and a Jalapa-grown Nicaraguan wrapper cured to a dark, shimmering patina. Cigar lovers can expect a medium-bodied, yet full-flavored smoke with stunning complexity and a head-turning aroma.

Presented in rustic-looking, gray crate-style boxes, Black Market takes Alec Bradley's packaging to new heights. The eye-catching boxes are well-built enough to serve as humidors, and will very likely be sought by collectors. Even the bands are atypical. Rather than using the traditional band at the neck of the cigar, the cigars are wrapped in paper sleeves that cover only the bottom half of each vitola. Once the sleeve is removed a band is revealed positioned in the middle of the cigar.

"We've always wanted to do things that were more edgy," said Alec Bradley Cigars president, Alan Rubin." Starting with our triangular-shaped Trilogy cigars, to our extra-wide body Maxx line, to our personalized Family Blend cigars, the Black Market fits right in that groove from the blend to the box."

Alec Bradley Black Market cigars are offered in the following sizes:
Robusto - 5¼ x 52
Toro - 6 x 50
Churchill - 7 x 50
Torpedo - 6 1/8 x 54
Gordo - 6 x 60

The cigars will retail between $7.40 and $8.00 per cigar, and are expected to arrive on cigar store shelves mid September.


For more information on Alec Bradley Black Market cigars, visit the Alec Bradley Cigars Fan page@ HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/alecbradleycigar" http://www.facebook.com/alecbradleycigar.

* * *
About Alec Bradley Cigars
Founded by Alan Rubin in 1997, Alec Bradley Cigars 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 Family Blend, Maxx, Tempus, Select Cabinet Reserve, Vice Press and Prensado premium cigars. Their commitment to satisfying cigar enthusiasts worldwide is demonstrated by their passion for excellence, creativity, and the highest quality standards.

Alec Bradley Cigar Co.
3400 SW 26th Terrace, Suite A-1
Dania, Florida 33312
HYPERLINK "http://www.alecbradley.com" www.alecbradley.com
Contact: Sam Phillips | Ph: 239-682-4080

Perdomo Exhibicion Corojo Double Robusto Review


Perdomo Exhibicion Corojo Double Robusto - 5 X 54. Wrapper - Nicaragua (Cuban seed), Binder - Nicaragua (Cuban Seed), Filler - Nicaragua (Cuban Seed). Medium - full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry cedar.

First third - Peppery spice, cedar and underlying leather.

Second third - Pepper settles down to a spice, cedar continues followed by leather and now some sweet caramel emerges. Nice balance.

Last third - Spice, cedar, leather and sweet caramel. Really enjoying the this flavor profile. Long finish of cedar and caramel.

Construction - attractive light-brown wrapper with a couple of noticeable veins. Dry texture. Burn was sharp with a solid gray ash that holds on an inch or so at a time before falling off. Draw was perfect and produced copious amounts of smoke.

Another winner in my opinion from Perdomo Cigars. Very good balance and complexity and I especially liked the caramel sweetness offset by the spicy cedar/leather - very nice. MSRP is a very affordable $6.50 for this size. Perfect cigar from the middle of the day on.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Buena Vista Edicion Limitada 2008 Short Churchill Review


Buena Vista Edicion Limitada 2008 Short Churchill - 4 7/8 X 50. Wrapper - Ecuador, Binder - Ecuador, Filler - Ecuador. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Cedar.

First third - Spice, toasty cedar, sweetness emerging an cinnamon notes.

Second third - Spice, sweet toasty cedar and cinnamon notes.

Last third - More of the same - spice, toasty sweet leather and cinnamon notes. Nice long finish of spice and cinnamon.

Construction - Attractive light-brown wrapper with a silky sheen and a triple cap. Burn was crooked and had to be corrected several times. The ash was flaky with a dark gray ash color. Draw was perfect with plenty of smoke.

A very good cigar with good complexity and balance. I had a very enjoyable experience with this cigar - the only issue was the burn on the cigar. The flavor profile was very tasty and the sweet toastiness was very good. Perfect from the middle of the day and on. MSRP for this vitola is $9.00 and can be purchased at WWW.MOCIGARS.COM Definite recommend.

ANGELO DUNDEE CELEBRATES 90th BIRTHDAY WITH A BOX OF CIGARS FROM TORAĂ‘O FAMILY CIGAR CO.


ANGELO DUNDEE CELEBRATES 90th BIRTHDAY WITH A BOX OF CIGARS FROM TORAĂ‘O FAMILY CIGAR CO.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Miami, FL) September 12, 2011- Hall of Fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee celebrates 90 years of age with a reunion with a piece of his glorious past and a gift from the Toraño Family Cigar Co. The legendary Dundee who trained 12 world boxing champions (most famously Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard) had the chance to slow down for one of the few times in his 90 years to reminisce about days past as he was presented with mounted brick from the original 5th Street Gym which was torn down in 1994.

Turning 90 this Tuesday August 30, 2011 Angelo Dundee was all smiles over the weekend as invited friends and fans came into the new incarnation of the 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach which opened last year. Dundee who is still spry at 90 can’t get away from his passion of boxing as he sat ringside giving pointers to young boxers hoping to one day be Dundee’s 13th world champion. Friends wished him well for his birthday as he posed for pictures and signed autographs. Two special surprises came his way as boxing fan Ken Drodvillo surprised Dundee with a brick from the original 5th Street Gym and Torano Family member Carlos Llaca Toraño presented him with a box of Toraño Reserva Selecta.

Dundee seemed to get a bit nostalgic as he had a physical piece of a building which represented the golden age of boxing in his hands and the box of cigars took him back to the days of a free Cuba which is where he spent much time working with Cuban fighters. Dundee joked about his travels to Cuba using his “dirty-Spanish” which was a mix of his bad Spanish and his bad Italian to communicate with Cuban fighters. Dundee recounted how he started smoking cigars because of his frequent trips down to Cuba. Dundee looked over the glass tubes which encased the Torano Reserva Selecta cigars and was excited to call his son Jimmy over to show them and talked about plans to smoke them during their next poker night.

Carlos Llaca Torano said,” It’s an honor to represent the Torano family during special moments like these. To be in the presence of a living legend like Angelo Dundee as he turns 90 is quite humbling.”

A leader in the cigar industry, Toraño Family Cigar Company is a four generation company currently based in Miami, FL. It enjoys a rich heritage and history in tobacco growing and manufacturing. For more information: www.torano.com. Please also follow Toraño on Face book: Toraño A family Cigar Company or on Twitter: @TORANOFAMCIGARS.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

San Lotano Habano Toro Review


San Lotano Habano Toro - 6 X 54. Wrapper - Brazilian Habano, Binder -Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaraguan, Honduran & Dominican Republic. Medium - Full bodied. Made by A.J. Fernandez.

Initial lighting taste - Cedar.

First third - Spice and cedar with some leather and mineral notes.

Second third - Spice, leather and cedar. Towards the end of this third, a citrus flavor emerges.

Last third - Continued spice, leather, citrus and cedar. Long finish of spice and leather.

Construction - light brown wrapper with a silky, oily sheen. A couple of major veins were visible. Burn was good with a salt & pepper colored ash. The ash was slight flaky but still held on for inches at a time. Draw was perfect with plenty of smoke.

A good, solid smoke that was enjoyable. I would put this cigar just behind AJ Fernandez's La Cuna and his Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet. Complexity and balance were very good as you would come to expect with AJ's products. MSRP for this size is $8.50. If you are a fan of a good amount of cedar/wood flavor in your cigar, then I recommend.

CAO OSA "Lot 54" Review


CAO "OSA Lot 54" - 6 X 54. Wrapper - Honduras (San Augustin), Binder - Connecticut Broadleaf, Filler - Nicaragua & Honduras. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - A very dry woodiness.

First third - Spice, dry wood and cinnamon. Balance is off with too much woodiness and cinnamon.

Second third - The cigar settles down in this third - spice picks a bit and there is now a sweet bready quality coming into play with cinnamon and an very interesting and surprising sour apple flavor. Balance is now very good with all the flavors meshing together nicely.

Last third - Spice continues with a very enjoyable sweet creaminess, sour apple and notes of cinnamon. Long finish of creamy spice and cinnamon.

Construction - Smooth textured, dry brown colored wrapper with no major veins. Attractive in appearance. Burn was straight with a salt & pepper colored ash that was solid and held on. Draw was a bit on the loose side but otherwise good.

A very interesting smoking experience - the first third I did not particularly enjoy - balance was off and I really thought that this cigar was not for me. By the end of the first third, the cigar was beginning to make an amazing transformation to a very well balanced, complex and tasty smoke. The sour apple flavor that I detected is one that I have not experienced before but I really liked a lot. It may not sound like a flavor that one might want in their cigar, but it really works very well with the other flavors in the OSA. In fact, the last two thirds of this cigar was so good, that it more than compensated for the first third so that this can still be considered a fantastic cigar. MSRP on this vitola is a consumer friendly $6.25 which makes this an affordable regular rotation cigar for those of us on a budget.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Flor De Gonzalez 90 Miles Reserva Selecta #4 Review


Flor De Gonzalez 90 Miles Reserva Selecta #4 - 5 3/4 X 48. Wrapper - Ecuadorian Habano 2000, Binder - Nicaragua Habano, Filler - Nicaragua & Dominican Republic. Medium - Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Oak wood.

First third - Oak, spice, orange peel and leather.

Second third - Now things get interesting - spice picks up, tangy citrus and leather. Notes of raisin/fruit. The oak flavor fades out.

Last third - Spice, citrus, leather and raisin. Long finish of tangy spice and leather.

Construction - beautiful silky brown wrapper with no major veins and a pigtail cap. Burn was razor sharp producing a white solid ash that held on inches at a time. Draw was perfect with just the right amount of smoke.

An excellent cigar. Loved the complexity, loved the balance, loved the flavor profile. As my followers know, I am a big fan of the tangy leather and spice flavor profile. The raisin flavor is a bonus for me. MSRP for this size is $6.80 which I feel is a very good price point for a cigar with super premium qualities. Best enjoyed from midday on. Highly recommended.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Martin Family of Cigars Fiera Super Toro Review


Martin Family of Cigars Fiera Super Toro - 6 X 54. Wrapper - Nicaragua (Dark Corojo), Binder - Nicaragua (Criollo), Filler - Nicaragua (Corojo). Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry oak wood.

First third - Spicy, toasted wood, leather and some cherry notes.

Second third - Spice continues with the toasty woodiness, leather and cherry notes. Smooth and complex.

Last third - Spice, toasty oak wood, leather and cherry notes. Very nice balance. Long finish of spice and oak.

Construction - Attractive reddish-brown wrapper with several major veins visible. Bumpy cap. Burn - good burn with a solid light-gray ash that holds on. Draw was perfect with just the right amount of smoke.

A fantastic full bodied cigar with an interesting and extremely enjoyable flavor profile. In particular, the cherry notes were a unique and very welcome addition to this cigars profile. Balance and complexity were excellent as has been my experience with all of the Pedro Martin cigar lines. MSRP for this vitola is a very economical $7.30 which easily makes this cigar a regular rotation smoke. Another great job by Martin Family of Cigars.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Forcade Cigars Seminar - U.S. Tour 2011


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Forcade Cigars

E: claudio.sgroi@forcadecigars.com
P: 305.233.5104

Forcade Cigars will reveal all the history and expertise hidden inside cigars during their first Seminar Tour around the United States starting this September 2011.

This Seminar Tour is part of Forcade Cigars’ complete renovation of the image of the Forcade brands and its best interest to support the diffusion of the tobacco culture in the United States.

MIAMI, FL.- (15 August 2011). Forcade Cigars today announced its first “Forcade Cigars Seminar US Tour”, a 2-hour event that instructs cigar aficionados and connoisseurs on the culture, internal details of the manufacturing and tasting of cigars. Claudio Sgroi, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing at Forcade Cigars and internationally renowned tobacco expert, will host the seminars that will visit top tobacco retailers nationwide providing valuable information applicable to cigar lovers and general audience with an interest on cigars.

The seminars will be held around the 50 states and will present easy-to-understand terms including technical information, and insider facts from the business and consumer angles of the industry, and will give attendees a solid foundation beyond the basics, transforming the smokers’ approach to cigar tasting in a new and attractive way.

Each stop of the tour will consist of:

1-Seminar:
-History of the origin and diffusion of the tobacco plant
-Cure and fermentation of tobacco
-The Art of Blending
-Construction of a cigar

2-Cigar Tasting:
-Taste, aroma and persistence

3-Pairing Cigars:
-Tasting by association
-Tasting by contrast

Claudio Sgroi, started working in the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic in 2001, guided by the internationally famous master of tobacco Henki Kelner. After gaining valuable knowledge about tobacco production and cigar manufacturing, he moved to Geneva, where he was Cigar Stock Manager & Sales Assistant at the famous Davidof & Cie, in Switzerland. Then he was promoted to Davidoff Brand Manager at the International Tobacco Agency (ITA) in Treviso, Italy, title that he held for three years and six months, before he decided to move to the United States and work as a Director of National Sales and Consultant for local brands, now joining Forcade Cigars, as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing.

“Claudio has a deep experience in the tobacco field and cigar industry, during his stay in the Dominican Republic he acquired a unique knowledge and with these skills he has learned to charm all the attendees” said Chistrian Forcade, President of Forcade Cigars. “People talk a lot about how but not about why, I want to share my passion with all cigar aficionados adding something new in the way we approach cigars” added Claudio Sgroi, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing.

To host one of the “Forcade Cigars US Seminar Tour” dates please contact Claudio.sgroi@forcadecigars.com

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Cigar Spotlight - Buena Vista Cigars


For several years they have searched the Western Hemisphere to find the one location that most resembles and replicates the famous Pinar del Rio tobacco-growing region of Cuba. Their research resulted in a small valley located in Ecuador, where the soil content, the daily temperatures, and the atmospheric conditions all combine to deliver a tobacco leaf that we feel mirrors identically, the world’s most desired tobacco — CUBAN.

Additionally,their entire production process is being overseen and managed by highly skilled Cuban tobacco professionals. Even the rollers are Cubans, who are on special visas from Cuba, working in our their factory located only an hour-long plane ride from Cuba. Each has been trained in the great tobacco factories of Havana, to be the finest torcedores in the industry, and now they roll cigars exclusively for Buena Vista.

We are a proud seller of Buena Vista Tobacco company cigars. The worlds finest Cuban seed cigars made by Cubans........http://www.mocigars.com

Price are for boxes of 10......
Coronas - $86.50
Prominentes - $127.50
Corona Larga - $86.50
Petite Piramide - $105.00
Piramide - $127.50
Double Robusto - $105.00
Short Churchhill - $86.50
Sublimes - $127.50
Robusto - $105.00

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Aging Room M356 by Oliveros "Presto" Review


Aging Room M356 by Oliveros "Presto" - 4.5 X 48. Wrapper - Dominican Habano Ligero, Binder - Dominican Habano Ligero, Filler - Dominican Habano Ligero. Full bodied. The name :M356" is derived from the discovery of the limited tobacco used in this cigar on Monday (M) December 22, 2008 (The 356 day of the year).

Initial lighting taste - Cedar wood and peppery spice.

First third - Pepper spice and a tangy citrus with a plum fruitiness and earth.

Second Third - Continuation of the peppery spice (the kind that grabs you in the back of your throat), citrus, plum fruit and a deep earthiness.

Last Third - More of the same wonderful flavors - Spice, citrus, plum fruitiness and the deep earthiness. Very nice long finish of spice and tangy citrus.

Construction - An attractive light-brown and somewhat coarse wrapper. No major veins were visible. Burn was sharp with a tightly packed solid gray ash. Draw was perfect.

This was a fabulous cigar - I loved the flavor profile, the complexity and the balance. The spicy citrus was offset very nicely with the earthy fruitiness. This limited small batch line comes in 3 other vitolas - "Major" - 6.5 X 60, "Mezzo" - 6 X 54 and "Rondo" - 5 X 50. MSRP for the size in this review is $7.15. A cigar that should be smoked later in the day or in the evening after a substantial meal. Excellent cigar.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Hoja De Flores Torpedo Review


Hoja De Flores Torpedo - 6 X 50. Wrapper - Dominican Corojo, Binder - Dominican Criollo '98, Filler - Dominican Criollo '98. Medium bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Dry woodiness.

First third - Spice, wood and leather.

Second third - Spice continues, with wood, leather and floral notes. Nice balance.

Last third - Spice with a continued strong woodiness, leather and floral notes. Nice long finish of spiciness and leather.

Construction - an attractive brown wrapper with a few noticeable veins. Burn was razor sharp with a solid dark gray ash. Draw was just right and produced just the right amount of smoke.

I enjoyed this cigar and it had an interesting flavor profile with the floral notes - I usually do not detect this flavor in most cigars. Complexity was very good. Perfect for anytime after lunch to smoke. Balance also was very good. MSRP is $10.00 for this vitola. This is a new company that I have to say is definitely on the right track with this line. I have to give this cigar a "recommend" rating to try for yourself.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Macanudo Millionaire Contest

GET LUCKY WITH MACANUDO AND PLAYBOY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN $1,000,000

Richmond, VA www.macanudomillionaire.com America’s best-selling premium cigar brand, is teaming up with www.playboy.com/world-of-playboy/in-the-magazine/usa" to give two lucky consumers a chance to win a cool million dollars in the third annual www.macanudomillionaire.com contest.

Between now and September 30, consumers 21 year of age or older can enter to win an all-expense paid, three-day, two night trip to the www.palms.com/" Resort in Las Vegas. While in Sin City, each winner and their guests will be treated to a VIP evening at the www.palms.com/playboy. There, a trio of Playboy Playmates will stand in for Lady Luck when each of the contestants and their guests play a high-stakes round of poker. If either the contest winners or their guests have a straight flush or higher, Macanudo will award the $1,000,000 prize.

Alison Waite, Playboy’s Miss May 2006, will serve as the Macanudo Millionaire contest spokesperson and will entice consumers to enter the contest. Alison brings a wealth of experience, and may very well be Lady Luck herself. Prior to her work with Macanudo, she was the official hostess for the Club World Poker Tour, and as a former case model on “Deal or No Deal,” she awarded an at-home-player $1,000,000. When Alison’s not doling out millions of dollars or hosting poker tournaments, she herself is quite lucky, as the reigning champion of her fantasy football league.

Consumers can enter the promotion by visit www.macanudomillionaire.com" or through participating online cigar retailers. No purchase necessary. For official rules, visit http://bit.ly/qXpynI

Playboy Playmates Shannon James (Miss May 2007) and Jennifer Pershing (Miss March 2009) will join Alison in Las Vegas to host the Macanudo Millionaire winner and friends. The sexy trio of Playmates are all featured on the contest’s website where the girls encourage entrants to visit their favorite U.S. www.macanudomillionaire.com cigar shop to purchase a specially-marked four-pack containing Macanudo CafĂ©, Macanudo Maduro, Macanudo Cru Royale and Macanudo 1968 cigars. On the specially-marked-four-pack, consumers will find details about how they can enter the contest by submitting brief essays that describe their favorite Macanudo cigar smoking experience – whether it was their first time smoking a Macanudo cigar, sharing a smoke with a friend or celebrating one of life’s milestones – Macanudo wants to hear the story.

The website also includes behind-the-scenes videos and personal interviews with the Playmates, shot during the Macanudo and Playboy promotional photo shoot.

“With the excitement and buzz that was generated with the previous Macanudo Millionaire contests, we’re excited to reunite two iconic brands—Macanudo and Playboy—together for this year’s contest,” said Bill Chilian, director of marketing for General Cigar, parent company of Macanudo. “The Macanudo lifestyle represents everything that this contest’s grand prize promises—luxury, sophistication and decadence. Factor in the chance to win a cool million dollars and we’re confident that the Macanudo Millionaire contest is a once in a lifetime opportunity that’s not to be missed.”

Following the grand prize winner selection on October 31, the winners and their guests will be whisked away to Vegas from November 4 – November 6, 2011 for an extravagant stay at sexy Sin City hot spot, the Palms Casino Resort. Additional details about the Macanudo Millionaire weekend in Vegas will be posted on the official contest site.

Macanudo Millionaire contest updates will be posted to its dedicated http://on.fb.me/mCdAmh Facebook and Twitter "http://bit.ly/oJDQ2X" accounts.

-more-


2/2/2

About Macanudo Cigars
Since their introduction in 1968, Macanudo cigars have been a favorite among premium cigar connoisseurs. The brand continues to be the best selling premium cigar brand in the U.S. and also sells in more than 90 countries worldwide. In addition to the base brand of Macanudo cigars, the brand also features these collections: Macanudo Maduro, Macanudo Robust, Macanudo Gold Label, Macanudo Vintage and Macanudo 1968.

General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo®, Cohiba®, La Gloria Cubana, Punch®, CAO, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.

® Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur, La Gloria Cubana and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
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Turrent Triple Corojo Belicoso Review


A. Turrent Triple Corojo Belicoso - 61/8 X 54. Wrapper - Mexican San Andres Corojo, Binder - Nicaragua Corojo, Filler - Nicaragua Corojo. Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste - Oak wood and pepper spice.

First third - Tingling pepper spice with leather, citrus and the oak woodiness.

Second third - Spice continues with the tangy citrus, leather and woody notes..

Last third - Spice, citrus - almost an orange peel citrus and chewy leather. The woodiness has pretty much faded in this last third of the cigar. Very nice long finish of spice, citrus and leather.

Construction - bumpy light-brown wrapper with no major veins. Very slight sheen to the wrapper. Burn was sharp with a solid salt & pepper colored ash that would not fall off easily. Draw was very good and allowed for plenty of billowy smoke.

A great cigar that had a flavor profile that is among my favorite with the spice and citrus leather along with the leather. The complexity was very good and the balance was spot-on. I really feel that this is one of those cigars that will get even better with some more aging. Altadis has been coming out with some really interesting lines and this cigar is sure to please but be forewarned - this cigar is FULL bodied and not for the weak. I even got a bit of the nic buzz myself which does not happen that much anymore. MSRP on this size is $8.00 which I feel is a good price point for this cigar. I would definitely recommend this cigar if you can handle a cigar with some raw power and after a full meal.