Category Archives: PCA

A Cigar Adventure: a Visit to Up Down Cigars and a PCA Event in Chicago

I did something wild this week, for me at least.  I attended the Premium Cigar Association‘s Democratic National Convention event at Up Down Cigars in Chicago, IL.  I I made the whole trip within a 24 hour window.  Here’s how it went down:  I flew from Philly to O’Hare on Tuesday, arriving in Chicago around 1PM local time.  I walked about 22 miles from the gate to the train that would take me, eventually, to the Blue Line train into the city.  The “L” train stop was about 2 miles from the shop, so instead of trying to take a bus, I figured I had time to hoof it. Said bus passed me several times. Anyway, I got to Up Down Cigars around 3:30 for the 6:00 PCA event.  Rats, I’ll have to hang around a cigar shop for a couple hours.  The staff at this shop is quite knowledgeable and attentive, it’s not a large shop, cabinet humidors around the perimeter (actually fronts for the walk in behind it where the backstock is stored), with some cabinets here and there with accessories, pipes and humidors.  It’s rather cramped, by suburban store standards, but fairly typical for a city shop with a long history (The original owner, Diana Silvius, is a legend in the cigar business. Phil Ledbetter is the current owner, an instantly likable guy).  I perused the humidors looking for something to fill the time.  I was directed to a store exclusive, the Fausto 10/50.  

 

I’m going to pause here to talk about the cigar, the Fausto 10/50.  This was made for the 50th anniversary of the shop back in 2013, which was also Tatuaje Cigar‘s 10th anniversary.  This is a 6 3/8″ x 42 lonsdale, with an Ecuador Habano Maduro wrapper, and Nicaraguan binder and fillers, made at the My Father Factory in Esteli.  This is an exceptional cigar, I smoked two this week, one a the shop and one when I got home.  Smaller ring cigars need to be smoked slowly, this is one to be savored, first because over drawing it will make it burn hot and ruin it, second because it has some strength, and in the case of the one I smoked at the shop, I was pacing myself because it had already been a long day and I had a long night ahead of me.  It’s a heavy cigar with cocoa and some spice, an absolute bargain at $10.50, although with applicable Chicago taxes it was more like $13.75.  I really like the Fausto line, and this was a really good version. I bought 3, smoked two, have one left to savor at a future time!

 

Back to the trip.  Shortly after I arrived at the shop, Boston Jimmie of Stogie Press showed up and we hung out until the event at 6.  The PCA hosted events at both political conventions, I was unable to attend the one in Milwaukee for the RNC.  The event was held in the patio area behind the store, a maybe 30′ x 50′ tented area. Drew Estate was the cigar sponsor, so I had a Liga Privada No. 9 while there, although there were many choices available.  Ben Pearson, the area rep was there.  I finally met Josh Habursky who was recently appointed Executive Director after Scott Pearce left to head the Cigar Association of America. Scott was there as well and I had a chance to talk to him a bit.  I also got to hang out with my friend Luigi Lucente, the man behind the Cigar Medics Humidimeter, The Baller cigar cutter, and the Guillotina de Saka cigar cutter, among other

Photo Courtesy of Boston Jimmie

clever cigar accessories. I imagine there were somewhere around 100 people there.  It was a nice event with various hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and liquor.  After the event Luigi dropped me at the train and I made my way back to O’Hare to await my 6am flight.  

 

They had issued something like 350 free tickets for this event with a waiting list of 200.  If everyone had showed up it would have been a disaster.  It occurs to me that they should have put a nominal fee on the tickets, which would incentivise people to attend if they really wanted to, and raise some money for the association.  I don’t know that any of the Democratic legislators who are key to the cigar industry fight against taxation and regulation were there, I have to think that holding it during the convention hours (and the convention center was 7 miles away, which might take 2 hours in Chicago traffic!) might have deterred their attendance.  It was a nice event, I’m glad I put myself through what I did to attend, but I can see how it could have been better.  I understand that the Milwaukee event was more elaborate, given the way many in the cigar industry lean politically, I can see where more might have gone into that one.  Anyway, good event, great people and a really nice shop. I discovered that walking through a deserted O’Hare was surreal, and I’m too old for pulling all nighters!

 

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

CigarCraig

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Validating Some Aganorsa Leaf La Validacion Cigars

I’ll admit it, I’ve struggled to find Aganorsa branded cigars that hit my palate right.  Not sure what it has been about the ones that I’ve sampled that I haven’t cared for, I’ve tried. I think  Terence Reilly is a fine gentleman and I’ve known him a long time and feel like I can say we are friends, so I want to find something in the portfolio I like.  I also like a lot of cigars that have been made in conjunction with Aganorsa. In my continuing quest I picked up a couple cigars in the La Validacion series last week when I stopped in New Tobacco Village in Whitehall, PA. As sometimes happens, I am remorseful that I didn’t pick up more. I started, as is my modus operandi, with the Maduro ( I threw some Latin in there for Terence). I selected the Gran Toro size, which is 6″ x 58, a nice compromise between a toro and a gordo.  This has a San Andrés wrapper over Nicaraguan Aganorsa tobaccos in the binder and fillers.  I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar!  It was really good.  It checked all the boxes for me, cocoa, coffee, some earth and spice, and I found it to be solidly medium bodied. This is the Aganorsa Leaf cigar for me!

 

I also picked up the Aganorsa Leaf La Validacion Corojo, also in Gran Toro.  This one has an Aganorsa grown Corojo wrapper, over more Aganorsa binder and filler, making it a Nicaraguan Puro.  Aside: Friday evening an old friend going back to the days of the alt.smokers.cigars Usenet group days stopped by for a cigar or two. Bruce lives a few miles away now and we’ve kept in touch over the years.  I think I met Bruce in the late ’90s, so I’ve probably known him for 25 years.  Yesterday I met up with a friend I’ve known for much longer for a cigar at the new Cigar Mojo location (a mile from my house). I met Jeff when I was 7, so I’ve known him more than twice as long as I’ve known Bruce! We smoked Stolen Throne Three Kingdoms toros in the lounge while we caught up. Anyway, the Corojo is another cigar I want more of, I really liked it.  The wrapper change gave it a lighter spice, and, although I wish the cigar had been a tad drier (it was a humid evening, rain, thunder, stuff like that), it was very tasty.  I’ll buy more of these, and I now am anxious to try the Habano (and I’d probably try the shade if it were presented to me). I’m happy that I found cigars in Aganorsa’s portfolio that appeal to me, I was feeling bad. There seem to be companies that come along that you want to like their products but can’t find common ground, I suppose it’s better than loving cigars made by a company that you don’t like personally! 

 

That’s all for today Good news for the cigar industry with the FDA regulations being vacated.  Plenty of other sites covered this. I originally thought regulation was inevitable, I’m happy to have been wrong. Between all the hard work the family owned cigar companies and associations did fighting this and the FDA screwing up, it turned out good. I don’t think it’s over so keep supporting the efforts and we can’t let our guard down. You can start with the PCA site for details.  Aaso Halfwheel has very good insights on the issue as always. Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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PCA 2022: Powstanie/Cigar Hustler with Mike Szczepankiewicz

Mike Szczepankiewicz of Cigar Hustler/Powstanie Cigars is another one of those guys in the cigar industry who’s a triple threat. Mike has a podcast, a store and a brand (the later two co-owned with his brother, Greg). I’ve known Mike for a few years and I find him to be a likable fellow. It’s nice when you find someone who has the same muscular physique (of course, I kid. I haven’t set foot in a gym since high school).  After an interesting interaction with Mike, which I may or may not go into some day, we had a brief chat about all of his various projects.  

 

 

Again, thanks to Ed O’Neal for manning the camera for me. I think the videos he shot look much better than the ones I do solo (the front facing camera has a lower resolution, and the angles are a problem, I need to get a better tripod). Also thanks to Mike and his crew for taking a few minutes and having my back.  

 

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

 

CigarCraig

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PCA 2022: Platinum Nova Cigars and a Nova 484

Believe it or not, I’m nearing the end of the PCA show videos I took.  As I’ve said before, I’m not competing with other media sites, I do things my way. I’ve maintained that I’m a blogger first, not a media site, I just love cigars and write stuff about them.  I do enjoy doing the video interviews though, it’s fun talking to my friends in the cigar industry. My approach to the PCA show this year was casual, yet I had some goals and targeted a select few personalities to interview. I hope you’ve enjoyed the videos.  This one was with Leo of Platinum Nova cigars, who I first met at the 2020 TPE show.  These folks make some really tasty cigars, and their model is one blend/one size, as opposed to having a line with numerous vitolas.  It’s an interesting and probably costly way of doing things. The cigars are pricey, but they are really quite good. I like the way this video turned out, I hope you do too.

 

 

While I was writing this I decided to smoke the Nova 484 (which I incorrectly described as 4×44 on the video) that Leo gave me after the 2022 TPE show. As the name indicates, it’s 4″ x 48, and comes in a Dominican and Nicaraguan version.The Dominican has an Ecuador H2000 wrapper, Dominican Piloto Cubano binder and Olor Dominicano, while the Nicaraguan Has Ecuador Habano wrapper, Habano Esteli binder and Habano Jalapa filler.  My one complaint is that the cigar I am smoking doesn’t indicate which one it is, although I’m fairly confident that it’s the Nicaraguan. It has a nice sweetness and some coffee flavors, and I like it a lot. I am not a huge fan of Olor, which is why I’m confident in my assumption. Some indication, if even on the barcode sticker, would be nice. The cigar burns perfectly, and  was about the perfect size for composing this article.  As I said in the interview, I’m fortunate to have time to smoke larger cigars, but once in a while I need something short, and this was a great option.  At $25 for a 4-pack, I may keep some on hand (and I might try the Dominican!). BTW, Leo, if I’m wrong please spare me the embarrassment and correct me privately! 🙂 

 

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

 

CigarCraig

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PCA 2022: Stolen Throne Cigars

Continuing along with the video interviews I did at the PCA show, here’s a few minutes with Lee Marsh of Stolen Throne Cigars.  This was my first time meeting Lee in person, I’ve talked to him via video chat plenty over the last year, but our paths finally crossed in the physical world.  You may remember that one of my favorite cigars of last year was the Stolen Throne Three Kingdoms, and it remains amongst my favorites. I need to get more!  The Crook of the Crown is tasty too. I sampled the new Phantom Queen at the show (while recording this video), and it was really good. I don’t gravitate toward Connecticuts, but this one had some oomph and was very tasty.  

 

 

Stay tuned for more, I didn’t do many interviews, but I tried to get the best!  Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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