We have been having unseasonably nice weather here in south-eastern PA, so I’ve taken to smoking some larger cigars than I normally would this time of year. Last winter we’d had probably four feet of snow, not conducive to enjoying a fine cigar. Daytime highs near 60 have left the evenings prime for long walks with excellent cigars.
Sunday afternoon I selected a Toraño Loyal BFC, and I think, like the Emilio BMF, I know what the letters stand for. This 6″ x 60 cigar could be considered a Big Fricken Cigar. I had picked this up sometime over the last few months at a local shop, and it wasn’t awfully expensive, because, let’s face it, I don’t buy too many cigars that are awfully expensive. This was a nice, medium bodied cigar that smoked very well. At the price point around $5, this is a really tasty, well made cigar.
For Tuesday’s evening walk I was joined by a La Palina El Diaro Torpedo, which I receive a month or so ago from the folks at La Palina, who is also an advertiser on this site. The cigar is a classic torpedo size, 6 1/8″ x 52, which is always a favorite of mine. I have to say that I think I like the robusto better in this cigar. The torpedo was good, don’t misunderstand, but is lacked something that the robusto had. I think i found the smaller size slightly more refined than the torpedo. As I was smoking it, I couldn’t help but wonder what this blend would be like with a maduro wrapper. Again, a very nice cigar, but something was missing for me.
Tonight’s cigar was a Vegas de Santiago Secretos de Maestro Don Luis Laguito No.1 maduro. This cigar came into my possession over a year ago after a conversation with Rudi and Lani, the manufacturers in Costa Rico. I have had an association with this folks going back to a couple of events my wife and I hosted which they generously donated their cigars for the attendees. Vegas de Santiago makes some really nice cigars at a very reasonable price. They send me some of these cigars in what they refer to as a maduro wrapper. This is maduro in the sense that the Cuban maduro cigars are, darker than their “natural”, but not the dark, heavy wrapper that we see in a broadleaf or Mexican maduro. The cigar is a beautiful chocolate brown, and it well made with a nice pigtail cap. I enjoyed the heck out of this cigar, except that there were a couple hints of ammonia near the end, which confused me since these have been buried in the humidor for over a year. An enjoyable smoke on a relatively balmy evening (for February 1st, light jacket and no gloves is a treat!).
My wife has been doing some research and in so doing came across the Philadelphia news papers archives. Here’s a comic from the Philadelphia Inquirer dated June 6, 1922 that is as relevant now as it was then. You may need to click on the image to open it in a new window to read it.
On a final note, I’d like to welcome my newest advertiser, 1st Class Cigar Humidors. They have some really nice stuff on their site if you are in the market for a humidor or accessories!
That’s about all I have for now, until the next time,
CigarCraig
