CigarCraig's Blog

by Craig Vanderslice | June 17, 2020 · 10:24 pm

A Visit to Best Cigar Pub and Best Cigar Prices Exclusive Rare Select Cigars

Pic from PCB’s website

Yesterday my wife and I took a drive to Scranton to pick up a cool cigar lamp that she won in an auction, so on the way back we stopped in to Best Cigar Pub in Drums, PA for lunch. I had visited here briefly over the winter and gotten a tour and had a cigar (you can read about it here), today we enjoyed a meal at the pub. They had just re-opened last Thursday, and were observing all of the precautions we need to become accustomed to. Fortunately it was a beautiful spring day, and they had copious outdoor seating, even extending into the parking lot. My first stop was into the retail shop, masks required, with only three patrons allowed in a a time and no handling the product. Charlie was very helpful, recognizing me behind my cigar mask (which coordinated with my shirt, I’m a dork). I picked up some of their exclusive 601 Pennsylvania Toros and joined my wife outside. The Pub has an excellent menu of fresh food, My wife had a Cuban sandwich, and I had a Short Rib with Provolone sandwich and both were delicious served with potato chips made there. I enjoyed one of the 601 Pennsylvanias while we enjoyed the views. Kyle was our server and did an excellent job, everyone there was very friendly and accomodating, although I am having trouble getting used to hearing people speaking through masks. I have enough trouble hearing as it is. I really like the 601 PA Edition, by the way, but it was a bit breezy and I had trouble with the burn, leading to a bit of a tunnel. Best Cigar Pub is a destination, I can imagine when restrictions are lifted it will be a great place for events, or just to hang out and have a nice meal.

Papier-mâché cigar lamp

By the way, here is the cool lamp we picked up. While we were eating, Charlie from the humidor came out and very kindly handed me a bag with one each of their Rare Select series from General Cigar. I selected the CAO Rare Select when I got home for my evening walk. After spending the day in the car I needed to stretch my legs. The CAO Rare Select was a 6″ x 50 toro with a Sun Grown Honduran wrapper, Honduran binder and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. I’ll preface this by saying there are some CAO cigars I like, and some I don’t, and the ones I don’t are typically the Criollo and Gold series. this cigar performed very well, and was not a bad cigar by any stretch of the imagination. It was a medium bodied cigar, with flavors on the leathery side, not a lot of sweetness. It was a good smoke, and I enjoyed it, and I think if you like cigars that fall more on the floral/leathery side, this is a cigar you’ll like.

Today I selected the Macanudo Rare Select. I was surprised by a Macanudo with a Sumatra wrapper as opposed to a shade wrapper. I wonder about the through process here, I see that green Macanudo band and I expect a Connecticut Shade Wrapper over a Mexican Binder. In this case, we have an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder with fillers from the DR, Nicaragua and Jamaica. I was also expecting a milder cigar than I got, this was a medium bodied cigar with some interesting flavors. Again, the construction was right, the burn and draw were perfect. The Jamaican tobacco adds a little something interesting to the blend. I’ve had a Macanudo in the past couple years with Jamaican tobacco, one of the Estate Reserves I think, but prior to that I have to go back to the 90s when I had a box of Price Philips from Jamaica. Considering those had the Connecticut wrapper, there’s no way to make a comparison, not sure why I mentioned it. This was a pretty good smoke!

Tonight I smoked the Punch Rare Select. Looking at this, I knew I was in for a treat. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper was dark and oily. It has a Nicaraguan binder, and, get this, fillers from Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic! I didn’t have to light it and the flavor on the lips made me happy. It had a nice, chocolaty taste, and when I lit it those flavors intensified. This is a hearty cigar, loads of flavor and good to the last drop. All those great tobaccos combined to make for a delicious cigar, and the whole Rare Select series is very reasonable priced, making these a great bargain. Punch is another brand that I’ve enjoyed for a long time, almost always in the darker expressions. I can’t tell you how many maduro and double maduro Rothschilds smoked in the 90s. This one competes favorably, and it’s a cigar I’ll smoke again. I smoked it to a finger-burning nub and was sad when it was finished. Thanks to Charlie at Best Cigar Prices shop for sharing these three cigars with me!

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

CigarCraig

5 Comments

Filed under Review, Stores

Tagged as Best Cigar Prices, Best Cigar Pub, CAO, cigar, cigars, macanudo, punch

by Craig Vanderslice | June 14, 2020 · 10:48 am

Cubanacan, Serino and Lighthouse Cigars and an Editorial

I did some wandering through the humidors this week and came across a few older cigars that I smoked, but first I selected a cigar that came from the TPE show, a Cubanacan Habano Toro. Interestingly, Eddie Tarazona introduced me to Cubanacan at a Delaware Cigar Festival back around 2013 or 14, I guess (as will be a recurring theme in this post, dates are fuzzy for me today). I’m not sure what his involvement was at the time. Lawrence Miltenberger, who is a principle at Cubanacan, was also at that Delaware Fest, but with another company, so I’ve known him for a while, so when I saw him at the TPE, he laid a few samples on me to try. Now, it seems to me I’ve heard some not great things about Cubanacan’s business practices, but I can’t confirm those rumors and have no first hand knowledge. It seems to me that they’ve had a rough time over the past several years. I’m sure someone will let me know one way or the other if I’ve crossed a line. I smoked the Habano Toro, and it was pretty spectacular. The construction was right, it burned straight as an arrow and the draw was perfect. The flavor was really nice with some sweet notes and nuttiness. I dug it and would smoke it again.

Speaking of cigar companies that have had issues, Gurkha seems to have crapped where it eats over the last week. I’m not going to recap the incidents, check Halfwheel, Coop or other sites for the blow by blow, but I have a few observations. First, Gurkha has always been polarizing. They have a side that has cheap, bundle cigars that are marketed like they are super-high end cigar that are the best deal ever in the catalogs, on the other hand, they have some really nice cigar that are good quality, made in the same factories that a lot of other great cigars are made in and are perfectly good. Heck, they have a new cigar (that I haven’t smoked) that’s made by Aganorsa that is supposed to be great. There have been quite a few of their cigars that I really liked, Cellar Reserves, Ghost, Seduction. The first mistake they (the Company and Kaizad Hansotia, and I’m not convinced the two can be separated) made was claiming that the Kaizad’s social media account was “hacked” and the racially insensitive posts were not his own. They should not have made that claim. When that BS wasn’t bought into, they went with the distancing tactic. Kaizad steps down and removes himself from day to day operations of the company, and they even go so far as to claim he’s selling his interest in the company. I’m going to be so bold as to speculate that if he owns 50% of the company, the other 50% is owned by a company that’s owned by him. Conspiracy theory: he sells his 50% to a holding company that is owned by one of his other companies. I doubt I’ll be getting any more cool Gurkha swag. He’s a smart guy, he’s built a large, successful brand that sell a ton of cigars and has a large following. Here’s the other thing, for as many people saying they won’t buy another Gurkha cigar because of the perceived racism, there’s a whole opposite side that is giving up on them because they “caved in to the liberals”. Gurkha had a diverse following, apparently they alienated two sides. The positive side of this is that only a small percentage of cigar smokers pay attention to what’s going on on the internet, so maybe this won’t really hurt the bottom line too much. There are good people who work for Gurkha, I’d hate to see them suffer.

I have a shelf in the NewAir humidor that has a bunch of coffin boxes, and one that’s been there for a while was a Lighthouse Special Edition that came from an IPCPR show back in 2014 0r 15 (see above about the dates). All I can remember about this interaction was being approached in an aisle while walking by, as happens at trade shows, by a salesman who thought I was a retailer. Small outfits sometimes don’t read badges, and I always explain to these guys that I’m media and I’m not buying and it’s probably not worth their time talking to me. However this interaction worked, I ended up with this cigar and no information about it or the company survives. I’ve just been moving it around all these years until I finally decided there’s no reason not to smoke it. I hoped it was going to be a decent cigar and not a waste of my time, while also hoping it wasn’t going to be a great cigar that I was going to regret never being able to smoke again. It was a darker cigar, 6″ x 50ish, and as you might imagine, the flavors were predominantly cedar. Not a big surprise after five or so years in that little coffin. I’m thinking now I should pay attention to some other cigars on that shelf, and making a note to date cigars like that moving forward. I’m not a huge fan of the mostly woody flavors in cigars, it’s OK, I like a sweeter profile. The cigar was well behaved, it smoked very well, and was pleasant and satisfying, leaving me neither disappointed, nor wishing I could find more. I wish I had more information, and I don’t think this had anything to do with the cigar store in New Jersey.

Finally, last night I smoked a Serino Royale Medio Robusto Gordo last night. Serino was up-and-coming a few years ago and I haven’t heard much about them lately, but they seem to still be available. I’ll be honest, when I posted this on Instagram and tagged Serino, I trolled them a little for comment on whether they were still in the premium business. I didn’t get a bite. I’m not sure how this one escaped my notice for the last four years, as it came with it’s three siblings in June of 2016 in a sampler. This cigar has an Ecuador Habano Claro wrapper, very light, it almost looks like a Connecticut shade. The size was 5½” x 60, which is a strange size, so I guess Robusto Gordo is an appropriate name. Sadly, when I looked at the one retailer I knew carried these, this particular line wasn’t listed. This was a very tasty smoke. It was rich and creamy, almost like a shade cigar, with more body, less grassiness, and a nice sweetness. It burned perfectly and was a pleasure to smoke. I actually was looking for a milder cigar when I selected this and chose wisely, it wasn’t mild, but it was perfectly medium and suited me just fine. IF you run across one of these, give it a shot, and if you find the Maduro XX, definitely try it!

If you partake in Instagram, and follow @cigarcraig, please follow @cigarcrag1. I’ve been unable to log in to the original account for some reason, and IG’s support system sends me in circles. Until I get it sorted out I’ve decided to rebuild. Any help in this area is appreciated. I’d love to get my millions (or 1700ish) followers back! Anyway, that’s all for today, until the nex time,

CigarCraig

2 Comments

Filed under Editorial, Review

Tagged as cigar, cigars, Cubanacan, Gurkha, Lighthouse, Serino

by Craig Vanderslice | June 11, 2020 · 5:02 pm

News: Drew Estate Launches “Sun Grown” Undercrown Dojo Dogma

One more! This is interesting. Is there a Sungrown Corona Viva? Because the original Dogma was based on the Corona Viva blend, which had some extra ligero giving it some more oomph. I might have to check out this Facebook Live event…

Drew Estate Launches Undercrown Dojo Dogma in “Sun Grown” and “Maduro” Wrappers

Drew Estate announces today in partnership with Cigar Dojo, the national release of Undercrown Dojo Dogma Sun Grown exclusively to DDRP retailers, in addition to the 2020 release of Undercrown Dojo Dogma Maduro. This release will be showcased on the upcoming Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11^thfrom 7:00-9:00pm EST.

The Undercrown Dojo Dogma is the manifestation of the continued fellowship between Drew Estate and the Cigar Dojo online community. The original Undercrown Dojo Dogma (Maduro Wrapper) was released in 2014 to mass fanfare to celebrate Cigar Dojo’s One Year Anniversary. In 2017, the Undercrown Sun Grown was named Cigar of the Year by the team at Cigar Dojo. The unique box-pressed size that we celebrate today marks the next chapter in the Dojo Dogma story.

From the Cigar Dojo studios in Lakewood, Colorado Master Sensei Eric Guttormsom adds, “How could we possibly follow-up the original Undercrown DOGMA? We did it by taking our Cigar of the Year from 2017 and DOGMA-fying it! The Dojo team can’t wait to drop the details on Drew Estate’s Freestyle Live Facebook show TONIGHT!”

Undercrown Dojo Dogma Sun Grown is a 5 x 54 box pressed robusto chosen by Cigar Dojo Master Sensei Eric Guttormson and Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera for its bolder profile. The Sun Grown Dojo Dogma features an Ecuadorian Sumatra seed, Sun Grown capa, with Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut/Cured Sun Grown Habano binder, and a complimenting, powerhouse blend of Nicaraguan premium fillers. One leaf of extensively aged Ligero from the Nueva Segovia region along the border of Honduras has been selected to enhance the strength of the blend. It is packaged in a 24 count wooden box, featuring the dual emblems of Undercrown and the Cigar Dojo community.

In addition, Drew Estate is launching the 2020 edition of the Undercrown Dojo Dogma Maduro. Like the Undercrown Corona Viva, the Undercrown Dojo Dogma Maduro features a Mexican San Andres wrapper, Connecticut Stalk Cut Habano binder, and filler leaves from Nicaragua and Brazil. Unique within the core vitolas of Undercrown Maduro, the 6 x 56 Dogma is box pressed and packaged in a stunning 10 count petaca.

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew Founder and President of Drew Estate highlights, “Community is a huge part of our soul at Drew Estate. We rely on each other through ups and downs; we lean on one another, disciplined, determined, and accomplish tremendous feats while enjoying the ride. Our partnership with Cigar Dojo has never been stronger and together we bring you the str8 fire that is the Undercrown Sun Grown Dojo Dogma! It’s definitely Muy Caliente!”

The Undercrown Dojo Dogma Sun Grown is packaged in 24 count wooden boxes with an MSRP of $244.80 and shipping in August.

The Undercrown Dojo Dogma Maduro is packaged in a 10 count petaca with an MSRP of $107.87 and shipping in September.

For full coverage of Undercrown Dojo Dogma Sun Grown and Maduro and all of Drew Estate’s upcoming national releases check out our 2020 #DESummerTakeover promotion at www.drewestate.com/summertakeover and be sure to tune in to Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

ABOUT DREW ESTATE

Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world. Under their mantra “The Rebirth of Cigars”, Drew Estate has led the “Boutique Cigar” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that attract new and traditional cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Herrera Estelí Norteño, Isla del Sol, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Larutan by Drew Estate, Nica Rustica, Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, Tabak Especial, Undercrown, Florida Sun Grown, and Java by Drew Estate.

Comments Off on News: Drew Estate Launches “Sun Grown” Undercrown Dojo Dogma

Filed under News

Tagged as cigar, Cigar Dojo, Dogma, drew estate, Sungrown, undercrown

by Craig Vanderslice | · 9:39 am

News: Drew Estate Annouces Undercrown ShadyXX 2020 Release

Here’s the Drew Estate news item I figured would come in yesterday that did, but I had already done five posts and one more was going to be overkill! So here’s one ahead of DE’s Facebook tonight. This is one Undercrown cigar that I have not yet had occasion to sample. I know one or two local shops that have them, I just never got around to picking one up. I’m itching to, Just not sure when I’ll get around to it. Heck, I haven’t gotten around to the new Dogma yet either, and I still have an original one in the humidor.

News: Drew Estate Annouces Undercrown ShadyXX 2020 Release

Drew Estate announces today the return of the Undercrown Maduro ShadyXX for Drew Diplomat retailers nationwide. This release will be showcased on the upcoming Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigarfacebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11^th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew President and Founder of Drew Estate sounds off, “Detroit to Nicaragua, Brooklyn to Havana … stand up, represent your hood … and “In Shady We Trust!” This collaboration is emblematic of the conceptual lens that defines Drew Estate. The fact that we keep our ShadyXX as a limited edition, small batch, specialty product reinforces our proud, cult brand roots. The product is straight mastermind material in both taste and class. It’s undeniable.”

Initially launched to only 10 Detroit area retailers in 2014, the Undercrown Shady continues to be one of the most consumer demanded limited editions in the Drew Estate portfolio. This powerhouse blend, similar to the Undercrown “Corona Viva,” features a toothy Mexican San Andres wrapper, spicy Connecticut Stalk Cut Habano binder and showcases the highest quality plantation filler leaves from Nicaragua and Brazil. The ShadyXX is a 5” x 50 box pressed belicoso that is well aged and packs a punch, while remaining smooth and sophisticated during the entire smoke. ShadyXX is packaged in an elegant, gold embossed 10 count petaca that signifies the 2020 Limited Release.

The Undercrown ShadyXX is packaged in a gold embossed 10-count petaca with an MSRP of $104.00/petaca.

For full coverage of Undercrown ShadyXX and all of Drew Estate’s upcoming national releases check out our 2020 #DESummerTakeover promotion at www.drewestate.com/summertakeover and be sure to tune in to Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigarfacebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

ABOUT DREW ESTATE

Comments Off on News: Drew Estate Annouces Undercrown ShadyXX 2020 Release

Filed under News

Tagged as cigar, cigars, drew estate, ShadyXX, undercrown

by Craig Vanderslice | June 10, 2020 · 8:56 am

News: Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero Goes Nationwide

Last one, I promise (unless I get another e-mail this morning!) This one has my attention. Stogies in Houston has an amazing track record of curating a fine selection of lanceros, I’ve had the good fortune of having sampled a few. Willie Herrera has an amazing track record of having blended some fine cigars, even a few in the lancero format, and I’ve been fortunate to have sampled a few of those as well. One doesn’t see a great many Connecticut Broadleaf lanceros, so I’m really looking forward to getting my paws on some of these.

Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero Goes Nationwide

Drew Estate announces today the national launch of the Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero Tienda Exclusiva, exclusively to Drew Diplomat Retailers. This release will be showcased on the upcoming Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11^th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

Initially launched as a Tienda Exclusiva to STOGIES World Class Cigar in 2016, the Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero is a testament to those aficionados who obsess over the smaller ring gauge vitola for its unique smoking experience. Every year Drew Estate pulls aside exceptional, higher priming broadleaf to use for limited edition releases, including this meticulously blended cigar. Featuring a high priming of Connecticut Broadleaf capa, with a bold Brazilian Mata Fina binder and rich Nicaraguan fillers, this Broadleaf Lancero is packaged in 15-count boxes and is a masterpiece from the mind of Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera.

From El Titan de Bronze in Little Havana, Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera exclaims, “There is always a challenge to blending lanceros. Sure, you have amazing broadleaf that’s going to really provide that burst of rich flavor, but the trick is how you bunch the filler leaves in a way that provides the complexity, so the cigar doesn’t become one dimensional. I knew when I first sampled this blend it was going to be loved, and now is the time to unleash it through our Drew Diplomat Retailers.”

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew President and Founder of Drew Estate adds, “Our Pre-Industry Team at La Gran Fabrica work Connecticut Broadleaf very hard in the pilones, using air flow, bulk pressure, water, and heat over years to reach the maximum flavor and color. Willy and the Production Team then follow up this process in blending this beautiful material into majestic blends for Liga Privada No. 9, Nica Rustica, as well as this very Herrera Lancero that we’re bragging about today. The Herrera Lancero hits a whole new broadleaf profile, super delicious. As An Phan, our Senior Brand Manager says, “APPROVED.”

The Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero Tienda Exclusiva is sold in 15-count boxes with an MSRP of $186.96 and will be shipping in September.

For full coverage of Herrera Esteli Connecticut Broadleaf Lancero and all of Drew Estate’s upcoming national releases check out our 2020 #DESummerTakeover promotion at www.drewestate.com/summertakeover and be sure to tune in to Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.