Category Archives: Events

by | October 24, 2021 · 11:12 am

A Visit To Best Cigar Pub with The Cigar Hacks and Diesel Sunday Gravy News

Nearly Four years ago when I went to New Hampshire for the Cigar Authority’s 400th show I met Dave, who was launching a new podcast called The Cigar Hacks. They do a panel style podcast, (often large) with a cast of characters which has morphed over time. They concentrate on promoting events and shops local to them in the New Hampshire and Massachusetts areas, along with events at other places they have visited in their travels. They also do a blind review of a cigar just about every week. I find them entertaining, as long as they don’t get too political. Dave has also managed to get his hands on a stretch limo, which they call the Oscuro III, as there have been others before this one, which the load up into to visit the various shops and lounges in their area. Like Pennsylvania, New Hampshire is loaded with cigar shops, because there’s no cigar tax. This is one of the reasons that the Hacks made a trip to the northern part of my state of PA to visit a few stores. There are also a few friends of the show, and fellow Hacks, I guess, in PA who hosted the New Englanders.  These guys like to party too. I decided to drive up to Best Cigar Pub in Drums, PA to surprise them. I beat them there by about twenty minutes,  which allowed me time to hit the humidor where I picked up some of the new CAO 60 Torque for some reason. What compelled me to get, and light up, an 8″ x 60 cigar, I can’t tell you, I suppose I wanted something that was going to fill the right amount of time for me, nd it was new and I really couldn’t find anything else I wanted to smoke in the humidor at the time. I really wasn’t paying too much attention to it, but it wasn’t bad, I smoked the second half on the ride home and it was actually quite tasty. More on that cigar another time, but it’s easily a three hour cigar. I ended up being a guest on the podcast episode that they recorded there, which should be released tomorrow, so if Podcasts are your thing, check out The Cigar Hacks where ever fine podcasts are sold. If you’re in the northeastern part of PA, you need to visit Best Cigar Pub. It’s quite the place. They have a full bar and restaurant, along with a well appointed humidor and an outstanding staff. I’d stop in more often if it weren’t an hour and forty minute drive! It was great to finally meet the Hacks from NH/Mass, Joe and his family, and Alex from PA. 

There have been some news items that have come across my desk over the last week that I have passed on posting because they were shop exclusives or “just shipped” or stuff like that. I figure others are passing that info along, my readers don’t need to see it here. However, one I didn’t get a chance to pass along, and it was sent kind of late, as the cigar had already started to show up in stores I’m led to believe, is this one: 

DIESEL LAUNCHES SECOND “SUNDAY GRAVY” EXPRESSION

Diesel is rolling out the first follow-up to Sunday Gravy with “Pecorino,” a three-country blend that’s just begun shipping to retailers nationwide. Pecorino takes its name from a deliciously rich and flavorful Italian cheese often substituted for a more expensive variety. Here again, the culinary world and the cigar category collide, as Sunday Gravy Pecorino offers a satisfying smoking experience at a surprisingly affordable price.

Blended by AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews and handcrafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua,  Diesel Sunday Gravy Pecorino features a Mexican San Andres wrapper over a Cameroon binder and bold Nicaraguan Esteli Habano filler. This is a medium-plus smoke brimming with character. The Mexican wrapper delivers a peppery note and when combined with the subtle sweetness from the Cameroon binder and the boldness of the filler, the experience is unique and dimensional. 

Justin Andrews said, “AJ and I had a lot of fun blending Diesel Sunday Gravy Pecorino. And as often happens over  Sunday sauce, we brought our opinions to the table. ‘Pecorino’ represents what he and I both believe is the best of our palates: AJ’s nod to a bold smoke is there on the Nicaraguan ligero filler and my style is represented through the complexity and balance of the Mexican San Andres wrapper. This is the perfect cigar to enjoy, share or gift this holiday season and the size makes Pecorino the perfect smoke for any occasion. ”

Pecorino is being released in a robusto gordo size only, which both AJ and Justin agree is the best expression of the blend.

Pecorino (5” x 56); SRP per cigar $4.99

Diesel Sunday Gravy Pecorino will be available nationally from October-December 2021, or until the cigars are sold out. The next Sunday Gravy blend will be released in January, 2022.

Diesel cigars are produced by Scandinavian Tobacco Group and distributed by Forged Cigar Company.

About Diesel Sunday Gravy

Diesel Sunday Gravy launched in August 2021 as a full-time line of seasonally-released, Nicaraguan-forward smokes, blended and handcrafted through Diesel’s winning partnership of AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews. Blends will be released quarterly, sold until their limited supply is deleted and offered at an unbelievable SRP of less than $5.00 per cigar.

About Diesel

Handcrafted by artisans in Esteli, Nicaragua, Diesel cigars are “bold by design.” The brand challenges the current conventions of the handmade cigar category through the bold, unapologetic style of its Cigar Master, AJ Fernandez. Diesel cigars are unified by their deeply complex flavor which is achieved through AJ’s steadfast adherence to time honored cigar making techniques and his insistence on using the highest quality tobacco. The Diesel portfolio includes Hair of the Dog which was released in 2019; Whiskey Row which launched two expressions, one in 2019 and one in 2018, and Diesel Grind which debuted in 2017. For more information, visit www.dieselcigars.com.

I’m starting to see a pattern, are they naming these after tomatoes? I don’t like tomatoes, but I don’t mind a good sauce (my wife’s Italian, I only hear her refer to gravy when turkey is involved). I’m picky, I don’t like chunks or skin in the sauce. I did smoke a couple of the San Marzanos, and they were pretty good cigars. The wrapper is Ecuadoran Habano, the binder is Nicaraguan Esteli and the filler is Nicaraguan Jalapa. These are inexpensive cigars by today’s standards and are definitely on the high side of quality when it comes to cigars in that price range. The flavor is fairly linear, not an overly complex cigar, but the flavor is good, thankfully no tomato flavors (which reminds me, I grew some Habano 2000 in the greenhouse this summer and a tomato plant was in there too, think they cross pollinated? Wasn’t that a Simpson’s episode?). If you are looking for a good, inexpensive smoke, pick some of these up. I’ll be looking forward to trying the subsequent releases, which are actually limited, when they are sold out that’s it.

That’s all for today, until the next time, 

CigarCraig 

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by | October 10, 2021 · 10:39 am

Some ATL Cigars and a BLTC Event at Son’s Cigars

The title is out of order chronologically, but I felt compelled to put it in alphabetical order, regular readers will understand! Wednesday evening I went to Son’s Cigars to their Black Label Trading Company event where they were hosting James Brown, the owner of the company. You’ll notice that I’ve been frequenting Son’s as of late, it’s 8 miles from home, and while note the closest shop, certainly the nicest and has a great selection of cigars that I want to smoke. I’ve known Vince and Brian for a long time too, so I’m very comfortable there. I was surprised to find the lounge crowded, relatively. Considering it’s still only about 50% completed, there were about 25 or 30 people there, and several I talked to from out of town. I bought a few of the new Viaticum, and smoked the box pressed Lancero,  an absolutely delicious cigar with a high priming Ecuador Habano maduro wrapper. Burn and draw were exceptional and it was just perfect. I also bought the Toro and look forward to enjoying that as well. It’s bold and spicy and really quite a nice smoke. Last night I had a Royalty Robusto, one of their core line cigar that I had never had before. This has a Corojo wrapper that was very dark and oily. I smoked it late, after watching a movie, Papa Hemingway in Cuba, which I enjoyed. The cigar was bold, but not overly so. I was concerned that too strong a cigar late would cause me problems sleeping, but the cigar wasn’t an issue. It had rich flavors of dark fruits and cocoa. Delicious. Certainly a BLTC cigar I will revisit. I really haven’t come across an Oveja Negra cigar that I haven’t enjoyed, and the only reason I haven’t smoked a bunch of them has been a lack of steady supply, which has now changed. I’ll definitely be working my way through the portfolio. 

 

I recently received some cigars from the folks at ATL Cigars. While  doing some research on the brand, I come to find that ATL has something to do with Atlanta (and you really have to dig deep into Google to find anything ATL that doesn’t!), and the company is, indeed Atlanta based. I had a fortunate shortcut in my research in that the three owners of the brand were just on Cigar-Coop’s Primetime show, so I listened in my sleep and absorbed all the information through osmosis. I’m kidding, I didn’t do that. I’m only going to talk about the Libertad and Magic here, because I want to give the Good Trouble more attention.  The Libertad is made by Aganorsa, which, ironically, I had just smoked a couple of the Lunatics last week and enjoyed them. I was going to write an article about them, but I want to pick up a few more to enjoy first, because, as can happen, I got distracted while smoking the ones I had and didn’t take notes. I smoked this 5″ x 50 robusto before lunch yesterday. It has a Corojo wrapper and has a nice, woody, nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness. It’s a nice smoke and didn’t bother me early in the day. Strange things fascinate me. The menu line on their website, for instance. They have the cigars on the far right, instead of the left, as if they aren’t first thing that you’d be looking for on their site. I guess I’m weird, but when I’m parsing a site for info, I look left to right across the screen. Like I said, I’m weird and a bit of a nitpicker. Great cigar.

 

Speaking of a great cigar, the ATL Magic, is…Magical. First it’s a 6″ x 54 toro, we know this is the perfect size, right? It’s made at Tabacalera Pichardo and blended by Luciano Merielles. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Luciano yet, and I’ve only smoked a couple of his cigars, but by all accounts he’s a very nice man, and seems to be doing OK in the cigar blending department. If he doesn’t know what he’s doing, he know the right people who do. The cigar has a San Andrés wrapper, Pueblo Nuevo binder and Pueblo Nuevo, Esteli and Jalapa fillers. This Pueblo Nuevo tobacco must be the secret sauce, because there’s a distinctive and unusual flavor in this cigar, a totally yummy flavor, to use technical terms, that sets this cigar apart from any other cigar. There’s the rich, earthy cocoa from the Mexican wrapper, and the Jalapa sweetness, but then there’s a unique, exotic spice that’s super interesting and really excites the palate. Once in a while a cigar comes along like this, I remember another one but I can’t remember what it was! This is a great smoke. These guys are doing a great job for a small cigar company.

 

There was something else I was thinking of, but I can’t remember what it was. I suppose I can edit this post, or write another post if and when I remember it!  Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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by | October 3, 2021 · 10:41 am

Visits to Son’s Cigars and Famous Smoke Shop

Busy week this week!  First, some housekeeping. If you’ve been a subscriber to my email notifications, and have noticed the lack of emails over the last several months, hopefully that is at an end. Since I “upgraded” the site to SSL, to provide a secure browsing experience for everyone, Something had been broken that made the whole e-mail thing work, and I think it’s finally been fixed. Cross your fingers. I also notice there are about 78 people who initially signed up to received e-mails, but never responded to the confirmation e-mail, so they are not receiving the e-mails, and they probably think ill of me. When you sign up you get an e-mail  from Feedburner which you need to respond to to be subscribed, it’s to prevent people from signing you up without your consent, nothing nefarious! There are people who have been subscribed for over ten years, and I appreciate that! I hope it’s not filtered into their spam folders! 

 

Wednesday evening I went over to Son’s Cigar Lounge in Exton, PA and met up with Barry Stein from The Cigar Authority and 2 Guys Cigars, who was passing through. He had his wife, Heidi, along with him, I suppose to prove her existence (I kid, I’ve known Barry over a decade, he’s a good dude, and Heidi is obviously a saint). We were joined over the course of the evening by cigar company rep, an independent broker, and a major cigar company owner. There were a couple customers there too! I bought some cigars I haven’t had yet, as I do when I’m there, and their selection is growing by leaps and bounds. They have a rather large range of house blends made by Noel Rojas, and Brian, the manager there, recommended the Sumatra, which I bought and smoked immediately, being a fan of the wrapper. it was not at all disappointing, as a matter of fact, I liked it much more than the Street Tacos Barbacaoa I smoked after it. I’ll pick up more the next time I’m there, if there are any left! I also snatched up a couple of the Bangarangs, which are made by Espinosa at the AJ Fernandez San Lotano Factory for the folks at Powstanie Cigars (Pospiech Cigars). This is another cigar I should go back and buy more of. I’m to understand that they sold all of these and didn’t even keep enough to have in their own store, Cigar Hustler, in Florida. This is a very strong cigar, lots of pepper spice and nicotine. I enjoyed it, in the way one enjoys hot wings that make you sweat while your eating them. It’s 6″ x48 format, which is probably just about right, as any more would be too much of a good thing. This is a short paragraph, and I have several pictures I want to put in, so I should think of more words to say, but I have none! Oh! I know, Barry was kind enough to gift me an Aladino Box Pressed Toro, which had a United Cigars secondary band on it, so I gather that it’s exclusive. Aladinos always remind me of the old Camacho Corojos, this is no different, and the box press is nice. It was smooth, rich and full of flavor. I like these. 

 

Yesterday I took a drive up to Famous Smoke Shop as they were having an event releasing the latest Dunbarton Famous 80th Anniversary in a Robusto size. I think it’s Famous’ 82nd anniversary by now, but who’s counting. Dave Lafferty was there, and I guess that Saka guy showed up eventually. Of course, Saka was there, I’ve known him so long that I’m a little over-familial with him and people maybe mistake it for something it isn’t. So I did get to talk to Steve, mostly he asked how my family was doing and stuff friends who haven’t seen one another in a while do. I keep wanting to ask him why the hell he didn’t put the Dunbarton D on the back of the Stillwell Star bands like the Sin Compromiso and Sobremesa, so he could avoid them being put on the cigars upside-down, but I forgot again. There were other personalities there, and I met a fellow Craig who is a reader and social media acquaintance who lives a few miles away from me there. I will have to smoke the toro and robusto side by side, but I believe the robusto to be stronger. I bought a bunch, and still have several of the original toros, so I’m in good shape. I doubt they sold out, so Famous should have them available soon on their website. If I may vent, the Leaf, which is the bar portion of the Famous shop in Easton, is no longer a restaurant. They have converted the dining area to a lounge, which is OK, they didn’t really have enough lounge space before, in my opinion. My beef was that they had live entertainment yesterday (a solo guitarist/singer). It always befuddles me why places that are based around a product that is about sitting, relaxing and having conversation, and the seating area is actually designed for this, they have loud music that makes it difficult to have conversation! WHY? It’s neither fair to the patrons nor the performer, really. I don’t get it.

 

Well, that’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

 

 

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by | August 15, 2021 · 10:33 am

A Padron Damaso at Diner en Blanc and a Couple of New All Saints Cigars

Thursday evening my wife and I attended the Philadelphia Diner En Blanc, which is a large, organized pop-up picnic of sorts. This is something that happens in cities all over the world where everyone has to wear white, bring their own tables and chairs and a picnic dinner, and meet at pre-arranged spots in the city where they guide the groups to a “secret” location. It’s usually a historic landmark, in years passed it was Philadelphia’s Boathouse Row, City Hall, and the Art Museum steps (think “Rocky”). We’ve been doing it for the last several years and it’s a hoot, and, of course, I work cigars into it and I try to make appropriate choices. This year I packed my travel humidor with the Macanudo Inspirado White Robustos that I had gotten for the event two years ago (of course, last years was canceled), and left said travel humidor at home. What a dunce. Of course, I didn’t realize this problem until we had finished eating. Fortunately, the secret location was Rittenhouse Square in Center City Philadelphia, and I realized in time to walk 2 blocks to Holts. Of course, the only cigar they had with “white” in the name of the cigar was the Montecristo White, which is one of the few cigars I actually dislike, and just about every cigar with a white band is a Connecticut shade. So I went with some Padrón Dámaso No. 8s since I had not smoked the Dámaso yet amazingly enough. There have been venues in the past where smoking was a problem and this one was not one of those venues, and the folks around us were very cool, so I was able to enjoy that Dámaso comfortably seated at our table. It was quite warm, high eighties at night, so we weren’t wandering in the crowd (3000 people, limited by the pandemic, it’s been upward of 6000 in the past), or dancing or anything, and I really enjoyed the cigar. It was very rich in flavor, the cocoa one expects from a Padrón, with the creamy, nuttiness of the shade wrapper. It was perfect for the occasion! I’ve actually grown quite apathetic where Holts retail store is concerned, but them being there saved the day for me! 

 

I received a message a few days ago from Mickey Pegg of All Saints Cigars that he left a couple cigars for me at the new Son’s Cigar Lounge in Exton, which is up the road from me. Funny thing is, Mickey would have pretty much driven past my house going home from Son’s, but he doesn’t know that, and I appreciate it because it gave me an excuse to stop in to see Vince and Brian now that the place is actually open. They still need to stock the front with accessories, and the humidor is maybe 15% filled, but they still have a great selection as it is. Mickey left me his newest cigars, which I promptly smoked. Actually, the Saint Francis looked so good I bought a few assuming I’d dig it, more on that later. I ran home and fired up the newest size of the All Saints Dedicación, the Mitre. This is a 5″ x 54 torpedo in the round, which I note because I believe the rest of the vitolas are box pressed. It has a San Andrés wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers and is made at TAVICUSA. I cut this to leave about a 13mm opening, which worked well. 13mm is a guess, I didn’t measure.  This is a nice smoke, medium bodied, with a little more punch than the other sizes, save maybe the Berkey. More earthy than sweet, I enjoyed it. I like the fact that it’s named after the Pope’s hat. 

 

The other cigar Mickey left for me was the newest line in the All Saints portfolio, the Saint Francis. This is the one I picked up a few in the Toro size on speculation, Mickey left me a Churchill which I eagerly smoked last night. This has dark, oily Ecuador oscuro wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and fillers, it’s a beauty. The Churchill is 7″ x 48 and box pressed, making it feel closer to a traditional 47 ring Churchill. This is the best cigar I’ve smoked all week. My instinct was correct in buying some of these, it remains to be seen if I should have gotten Churchills, but I know where I can get them! This cigar had the quintessential flavors I love: the dark, rich coffee, cocoa, dark fruit flavors. Construction was perfect, it was, overall, an ideal smoking experience. This is my new favorite All Saints cigar, and it’s a sure thing one of those Toros will go up in smoke later today. This is on the CigarCraig recommended list, smoke with confidence. I liked it. 

 

Contest

Last week I had a contest for the Wooden Indian Exclusive Cafe Cubano LCA cigar and Coffee. I’ve consulted the random number generator and paul1954 is the winner! Please send your address! I’ll get your package out and see what else might fall in the box out of my humidor while I’m packing it up! That’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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by | July 4, 2021 · 10:07 am

A Plasencia Cigars Sampler and the LouLiga Lounge Grand Opening

At the end of last year when everyone was posting their top ten cigars of the year, I, being the rebel, posted my top cigars I hadn’t smoked yet. A little bit of me did it to test Halfwheel’s Consensus process, to see how closely they paid attention, and it appears they either do, or I’m just that far under the radar any more, I have made appearances on the consensus in the past though when I’ve done a list. Anyway, I had said that I hadn’t smoked any of the Plasencia Alma series last year, so I ordered a nice sampler from my friends at Fox Cigars, and smoked them this passed week. I had smoked the AlmaFuerte Sixto II not long ago and was thrilled to get my hands on another one. Somehow getting one as a part of a sampler felt better than buying one at

the store for $22, and I don’t see the sampler listed anymore, and I forget what I paid for it. It was five cigars, the Alma Fuerte in Robustus I and Sixto II, Alma Del Fuego in Concepciòn Toro and Candente Robusto, and an Alma Del Campo Tribu Robusto.  I always joke that these are named after my grandmother, Alma Vanderslice, but I’m sure that’s not the case. I quite enjoyed the flavors in all of these, although I thought the Alma Fuego was just too darned strong for me, that is to say I became tired of it being so strong by the end. The Del Campo seemed to be to more medium bodied to me, and all three were excellent examples of Nicaraguan cigars.  They all had rich dark tobacco flavors, with the Fuerte especially having a slight sweetness on the lips pre-light. The weird thing was that, and it might have been the weather or something unrelated, but I got migraines each night after I smoked one of these. Probably a coincidence, as I’ve smoked plenty of Nicaraguan puros before without issue, and gotten plenty of migraines before without having smoked Plasencia cigars! Anyway, Thumbs up on both Plasencia cigars and Fox Cigars for exceptional customer service! 

 

Yesterday I took a drive into the Fishtown section of Philadelphia to visit the grand opening of the LouLiga Cigar Lounge. If you follow cigars on social media, I’m not sure how you could avoid having heard about this place, or at least it’s owner, Luis Rodriguez. Luis has been a long time cigar ambassador, and had realized his dream with this new lounge in a very cool area in the city. It’s in the same block of buildings as The Fillmore, which is a music venue, The Punch Line comedy club, and Philadelphia Distilling, with the Rivers Casino and Convention Center more or less across the street. When I arrived, the place was packed. To be honest, if I hadn’t seen my old friend Antonio Lam (Reinado Cigars, watch for his new cigar, the Grand Apex), I probably would have bought a handful of cigars, snapped some pics and gone home. However, I lit up a Stolen Throne Crook of the Crown Toro and hung out with Antonio and his fiancé for a few hours.

The Lounge is nice. The air handlers work well, it has an industrial feel which is consistent with the building. The furniture is comfortable, there’s plenty of TVs and the humidor is huge. While the humidor shelves were fairly sparsely stocked, what was there was very high quality and fairly pried for a city location. Luis knows his stuff and is very in tune with the boutique brands. I’m not sure how this will relate to the casual, fresh out of the concert, distillery, comedy club, etc, patron who is stopping in for a cigar and know Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta and Cohiba and that’s about it, but it’s going to be a great place for cigar geeks. Luis was an excellent host, greeting everyone who came in warmly. When I got home I tried one of Luis’ own cigars, from an undisclosed, yet prominent, factory. It was quite good, a robusto with some spice in the beginning, and some floral near the end. It’s certainly a place to visit if you find yourself in Philadelphia. 

 

That’s all for today. It’s the Fourth of July, so, as with every year, it’s also my wedding anniversary (34), so I’ll be finding something good to smoke. Be careful out there!  Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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