CigarCraig's Blog

by CigarCraig | September 22, 2013 · 12:49 pm

A MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured, a J. Fuego, a Villiger and an Editorial

It’s been a weird and busy week. The onset of Autumn bums me out. There were events I could have gone to, but just wanted to be at home. On weekdays I’m happiest to come home from work and stay there. I skipped the Delaware Cigar festival yesterday because we were supposed to pick up our son st the airport after a 23 day trip, and I’ve been there the last couple years. Its a great event, don’t get me wrong, and I love seeing old friends, but do you guys really want to hear about it again? So I’m working on some new and unique cigar adventures in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Thursday evening I was rummaging through the IPCPR samples and came across a Drew Estate My Uzi Weighs a Ton Kentucky Fire Cured “Just a Friend”, which is the toro size in the line. This is another cigar that utilizes the fire cured tobacco from Kentucky. I figured since I had just smoked another cigar utilizing this tobacco that it would be interesting to compare. This cigar is made in the Joya de Nicaragua factory, and, like the Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta, it has a two inch wrapper overlay on the head of the cigar. Jumping ahead a bit, I’ll mention that whatever this leaf is, it doesn’t burn. I’ll also mention that when I smoked this cigar at the factory a few months ago I found it to be unique and interesting, but not entirely to my liking. This hasn’t changed. I personally find what strikes me as a campfire aroma off the unlit foot to be off putting. That flavor isn’t overpowering in the smoke once it’s lit, it gives it a savory flavor that is interesting. Obviously, this is just me. Everyone raves about this cigar and it certainly is well made and something that should be experienced. If I said I loved everything that comes out of my favorite factories I’d be lying. Smoke it yourself, it may be a cigar you love!

Editorial

You, no doubt, have read on other cigar media sources of the resignation of Bill Spann as president of the IPCPR. This probably has little or no relevance to the majority of cigar smokers, but since I interacted with Bill quite a bit over the last couple years, I’m going to bore you for a few minutes with my thoughts on this. I first “met” Bill in March of last year after I posted a rant on the IPCPR Internet Media Membership (http://www.cigarcraig.com/?p=3605). Bill worked with those of us involved to try to make things right with this IPCPR membership category. We came to an agreement, although there’s still quite a few wrinkles to be ironed out (more on that later). Bill gave me an open line of communication, even though the president of the association had much better things to do than dealing with the smallest category of membership. When I did have to contact him, he produced results, and I did my best not to bother him. Of course, the internet media members are members as much as your local tobacconist is, and this is where my rant begins. I hope Bill’s successor gets new media as much as Bill did, and I hope he is able to convince the board to accept us as members, because the Internet Media, and I am going out on a limb speaking for everyone, sti

buy flomax online https://longislandcarecenter.com/PhotoGallery/gallery/lg/jpg/flomax.html no prescription pharmacy

ll feels unwanted. I’d like to see one of two things happen: either do away with the membership category and invite the media and bloggers That the IPCPR wants to have at the show, or give us the same consideration as the retail membership gets. Both would require the IPCPR to have one person in charge of the media, one point of contact. I, for one, am tired of spending a boatload of money to join an association who doesn’t know I’m a member, and travel to the annual show. Unlike a retailer, my income is not derived from the cigar industry, I do what I do because I love doing it, not because it’s my job, and that’s the same with most if not all of the IPCPR New Media members. Anyway, I wish Bill Spann the best of luck in his future endeavors. I can imagine that he had a thankless job, but I want to say “Thank you” to him.

Back to the cigars! Yesterday afternoon I dug into the trade show samples and came out with a J. Fuego Connoisseur Classique Toro. First, if anyone from J. Fuego is reading, the size is incorrect on the site, it’s a 6″ x 50 and not a 5″ x 60. This has a nice looking Ecuador Sumatra wrapper over a San Andrés binder with Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers. All of this makes for a nice, medium bodied cigar that smoked for almost 2 hours. I really love the 777 Maduro line, and have enjoyed a bunch of other cigars made by Jesus Feugo, this one is probably in the middle for me. It was good, well behaved, and enjoyable, but not entirely up my alley. Looking at this post so f

buy addyi online https://longislandcarecenter.com/PhotoGallery/gallery/lg/jpg/addyi.html no prescription pharmacy

ar, I really need to adjust my attitude, the Autumn thing is really getting to me! This was a very nice cigar though and I enjoyed smoking it on a beautiful late summer afternoon on the deck.

After dinner I grabbed a Villiger Selecto Corona Gorda. This cigar comes in only Corona Gorda and Lancero, and I would have taken the Lancero for a walk if it wasn’t going to rain. This is a line extension to the Talanga line, as it has the beautiful Talanga Connecticut wrapper, similar binder and fillers. It’s a refined cigar. It is buttery smooth with loads of nice, mild flavors that dance across the palate. After smoking the 5″ x 46 Corona Gorda, I can’t wait to try that Lancero. It’s not a super mild, grassy Connecticut, it’s got a lot more. Perhaps the Nicaragua Ometepe filler leaf makes the difference. All I can say is it’s damned good, and I’d say that even if I didn’t like the Villiger company as much as I do. They are a good bet whether you need a quick machine made cigar or a fine premium. Another job well done with the Selecto!

Also, From the folks at NewestCigars.com:

NewestCigars.com is finally official and we’re pretty excited about our new website. Please see the attached press release. We’re having a website launch party with Asylum, CLE, Edgar Hoill and Wynwood in Detroit, and we’re also giving away a 5 pack of new cigars each week for a year in The Great Cigar Giveaway, visit our website to enter.

That’s enough of my nonsense for a beautiful Sunday. I have to go to the airport later today to pick up the son who I had to reschedule flights for yesterday! I may get a walk in before having to leave!

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

4 Comments

Filed under Editorial, IPCPR, Review

Tagged as cigar, cigars, drew estate, Fire Cured, IPCPR, J. Fuego, KFC, MUWAT, Villiger

by CigarCraig | September 18, 2013 · 8:18 pm

IPCPR 2013 – Leccia Tobacco, a CAO and JetbagCigar Evaluation

I had a comment on last Wednesday’s installment taking me to task on my use of the name “San Andreas”. Doug said:

“Cigar leaf wrappers do not come from San Andreas –that is a small town in California that (to my knowledge) does not grow tobacco. However, San Andres in Mexico is the prime tobacco growing region of that country. “

Of course, Doug is right. This is my favorite wrapper variety and I really should have my facts straight. I checked with an unimpeachable source just to be sure, and my friend Steve Saka, former El Jefe of Drew Estate, promptly confirmed what I already assumed:

“San Andrés Tuxtla is the correct name and spelling of the location.”

“”Andreas” is a very common english adaptation of the same, albeit not 100% grammatically & geographically correct, it is imo an acceptable use for an English speaker to an English audience. Basically it is a conversion of the word to eliminate the accent mark which are not used in English and replace it with a “ea” vowel combo to result in producing the desired phonetic pronunciation.”

“But for 100% correctness and authenticity I suggest you start using San Andrés.”

“And while we are at it – the tobacco us actually San Andrés Negro but is the US is often referred to as “Negra” so as to avoid the racial connotation of the word Negro…”

“Silly, but true.”

I’m not going to go back through 4 years of posts and make changes, but from now on I’ll use the correct name, San Andrés, when referring to a tobacco wrapper. Now, if some manufacturer uses “San Andreas” in the name of a cigar, I can’t be held responsible! I appreciate Steve taking a moment away from fishing to answer my inane question! <snicker> Thanks to Doug for setting me straight!

In the beginning of July I started an experiment. I had received a sample of a product called Jetbag Cigar. This is a heavy ziplock bag containing a perforated foam insert and a humidity packet. The point is to have a way to protect three cigars for a few days. The same company makes a similar product for transporting wine bottles. Before leaving for Las Vegas last July I put a few cigars in one of these bags and activated the Water Pillow. One of the cigars was a CAO OSA Sol Lot T, which is a 4½” x 50 box pressed torpedo. This is probably my favorite size in the line. It’s loaded with flavor and a fun shape. I probably stuffed more than the recommended three cigars in the bag and tossed it in my luggage. When I got to Vegas I carried this around everywhere with me, smoking from it, moving various cigars in and out, except the little CAO OSA Sol. It was the constant. It stayed there until this week, obviously far longer than this product was designed for. I would be stretching the truth if I said this was all planned out, because it was largely out of sheer laziness, and the fact that I decided to smoke the Lot T just happened that the size would fit into that day’s schedule perfectly. Well, the Lot T smoked perfectly. It had the nice, bright flavor that I love in that blend, and it burned well. No signs of damage from two months worth of travelling to less than environmentally friendly locations, in and out of luggage and pockets and another month or so on a shelf in the living room. I can honestly say it works.

At the IPCPR show in July I sat down with my fellow Pennsylvanian, Sam Leccia of Leccia Tobacco. Sam was in one end of the Toraño booth and was very busy debuting his two new lines, the Leccia Black and Leccia White. I’ve smoked a few of each, and had one of each over the last two evenings. Last night featured the Leccia White ,which is made in Nicaragua and has some Pennsylvania tobacco in the filler blend. This is a very nice smoke, although the robusto I had was badly cracked at the head. I generally lack the patience to repair a crack so I smoked it anyway. I carefully punched the cigar so as to reduce the possibility of the cigar totally coming apart on me. I admit, function can be as important to me as flavor. Fortunately, the crack didn’t totally detract from the excellence of this cigar. It’s quite good. It’s got a unique flavor which makes it my favorite of the two. The Leccia Black robusto I smoked was perfect. I used a V-cut on this one, which is made in the Dominican Republic and features the Dark Fire fire cured tobacco from Kentucky/Tennessee. This gives it a definite smokey, campfire flavor that’s also quite different. Both cigars fall into the higher end of medium to me, and both are good smokes worth trying. These were my last two, which I had purchase a few months back at an event Sam and Jack Toraño appeared at about an hour away. They were also on the Over A Cigar radio show/podcast that night. Here’s the video from IPCPR:

It was really nice to sit down and chat with Sam, as well as his wife, Sasha, who was working the booth along with him. As someone who drags his own wife along to things such as this (and forces her to be the camera operator), I can really appreciate her being there with him. Super nice folks! I truly appreciate getting a chance to catch up with them.

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

CigarCraig

1 Comment

Filed under IPCPR, News, Review, Video

Tagged as CAO, cigar, cigars, JetbagCigar, leccia, Leccia Black, Leccia White

by CigarCraig | September 15, 2013 · 4:06 pm

Berger and Argenti, Smoke Inn’s Quesada Micoblend and Fratello Cigars

I’m still working on smoking IPCPR show samples, but a couple smokes came into my possession since the show that I thought needed mentioning. Thursday evening I smoked a Berger and Argenti “Fatso” Dipper. This funny little 4″x 62 perfecto is severely square pressed. It actually measures about one inch x one-half inch, giving it the same proportions as a 2×4. The first example I smoked a couple weeks ago left me in quite a quandary as to how to cut it. I tried the V cutter and ended up butchering it pretty good. This time I used my new Xikar MTX scissors and was able to get a clean cut. I’ve been getting used to using these scissors and they are razor sharp. The last thing one should to is try to wipe any bits of scrap tobacco off the blades with ones finger. Just saying. Anyway, back to the Fatso. This cigars have Nicaraguan fillers, an Ecuador Sumatra binder and a Nicaraguan maduro wrapper. I’ve enjoyed a bunch of cigars from these guys, the Mooch Schnorr being my favorite, but this little cigar is fun to smoke and has some interesting and unique flavors that keep my attention. The unusual shape in the hand and mouth take a little getting used to.

Abe Dababneh at Smoke Inn has had some terrific smokes in his Micro Blend series. Of the couple I’ve had the pleasure of smoking, most have been right up my alley in flavor, notably the Tatuaje Apocalypse and the Room 101 Big Delicious. This week they are releasing the next in the series, the Quesada Octoberfest Dunkel. Full disclosure: I’ve not smoked any of the previous Octoberfest cigars, and my experience with Quesada cigars is limited to he Casa Magna lines to the best of my recollection. The Dunkel wraps the standard Quesada Octoberfest blend with a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper, finished with a thin strip of Ecuador Connecticut at the foot. This makes it look a little like a dark beer with a head on it. This cigar is blended to pai

buy ventolin inhaler online https://medical.iftitah.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/png/ventolin-inhaler.html no prescription pharmacy

r with beer. I quit drinking 20 years ago so if I were to pair this with anything it would be root beer or ginger beer. Having neither of these on hand, I just hitched up the dog and took a nice long walk. The little bit of Ecuador Connecticut at the foot makes it start out with a creamy flavor, which gives way to the sweet, rich broadleaf quite quickly. For me, this was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I loved the flavor. It probably would have burned perfectly if not for the breeze, and the fact that I was lazy and threw the bag with the cigars and a Boveda pack with a 72 on it in he humidor instead of talking them out. I have a second one that I’ll let dry a little. Smoke Inn is launching this cigar on Friday, so I figured if they were nice enough to send me a couple, I should write about it before then. Thanks to Abe and his gang.

Today I smoked a cigar that was new at this year’s IPCPR show. Fratello Cigars made quite an impression at the show. Omar de Frias is a former professional basketball player, worked for NASA, and grew up next to a cigar shop in the Dominican Republic. He’s also very tall. I came home from the show with a Fratello corona, and an appreciation for Omar and his cigar line. First off, the band is not shaped like a normal band. Off of the cigar it has a chevron shape, and must take some extra effort in the factory to apply properly. It’s red and clearly states the name of the cigar. The wrapper is a Nicaraguan Habano, the binder is Ecuador Sumatra and the fillers are Nicaraguan and Peru

buy arimidex online https://medical.iftitah.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/png/arimidex.html no prescription pharmacy

vian. These tobaccos all team up to make for a very nice smoke, medium to full bodied with loads of flavors. I enjoyed this cigar for a little over an hour on this beautiful, late summer Sunday on the back deck. If you happen to find yourself in the Washington D.C. area on Friday, September 20, 2013, stop in to W. Curtis Drapers in Bethesda, MD for the release party. Omar is a terribly nice gentleman and he’s making some very tasty cigars! The video interview I did with Omar tells the story better than I can:

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

CigarCraig

2 Comments

Filed under IPCPR, Review, Video

Tagged as Berger and Argenti, cigar, cigars, Fratello, Octoberfest, Quesada, Smoke Inn

by CigarCraig | September 11, 2013 · 7:11 pm

PDR and Primer Mundo Cigars Were On The Menu This Week

I’ve not knowingly smoked many cigar from the PDR portfolio, but after this weeks sampling, I may have to re-think that position. I recently received some samples from them and decided this would be a good time to smoke them and see what the forks at PDR (which used to be Pinar del Rio Cigars) have been up to.

The PDR AFR-75 Edmundo is a limited edition with a San Andreas maduro wrapper, which tells me right away there’s a darned good chance I’ll be a fan. Outwardly, the size, shape and even the band, bring to mind the Cuban Cohiba Behike. This one was a 6” x 58 with a pigtail cap with a nice, dark brown wrapper. Just because I’m a cynical bastard, I automatically take off points for any similarity to the Cuban Cohiba on general principle. However, this cigar was a redeems itself from what I consider a marketing mis-step in flavor and performance. It’s rich, heavy and dark, and it drew and burned perfectly. I should have paid more attention to PDR! This was a yummy smoke!

I had the good fortune to smoke a La Hermandad from the 2012 IPCPR show last year that was fantastic. So I was quite excited when I received the Primer Mundo La Hermandad Costa Fuerte in the samples from PDR. I saw Sean Williams, Director of Sales for PDR, and Owner of El Primer Mundo at the show this year, he was in the PDR booth, which was busy every time I went by. I barely got a “hello” in, let alone an interview. Busy is good! This cigar was, once again, right up my alley. It had deep, dark flavors and a terrific burn and draw. This was a heavy duty smoke that made it a little difficult to get out of my chair when it was done. It looked like it had a quadruple cap, which was about a half an inch up the head of the cigar. The Brazilian maduro wrapper is both beautiful and flavorful. Another winner!

When I lit the A. Flores Gran Reserva robusto up after removing it’s cedar sleeve, my first thought was: “this is a Dominican cigar?” Thatsa spicy meata ball! Loads of tongue-tingling spice, it was ALMOST too much to bear! I noticed the same finishing touches that the La Hermandad had, the long, quadruple cap, which holds the Dominican Corojo wrapper in place. This cigar probably took nearly half of the length to settle down into a heavy, full bodied smoke. I was really enjoying it after the heavy spice subsided, not that I didn’t enjoy the spice, it was just a bit of a surprise! It even held up to me being knocked flat on my back by the dog while we were playing in the yard. The burn was straight as an arrow and it required little more attention than drawing on it. I have the half corona left from the samples and will be very interested to see if it serves up a similar experience. This is a small batch release, along with the AFR-75, so if you see them snag one or two and give them a try.

It’s fun to do these theme weeks from time to time. I smoke so many different cigars it’s very unusual for me to smoke the same cigar twice in a couple month period. I find it interesting to compare and contrast cigars from the same factory from time to time. This week has been a revelation. While I’ve sampled Sean’s Primer Mundo line and enjoyed them, the PDR line has escaped my notice, with the exception of meeting Abe Flores on a flight to the DR once. Abe is doing wonderful things in his factory, including Eddie Ortega’s Mini’s which are awesome. I appreciate the opportunity to try their newest offerings and look forward to smoking more!

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

3 Comments

Filed under IPCPR, Review

by CigarCraig | September 8, 2013 · 12:18 pm

Azan White and Burgundy from Roberto Duran and a Drew Estate Event

While at the IPCPR show last month I managed to end up with samples of the Azan line of cigars from Roberto Duran. The booth was busy the times I came across it, but a friend gave me some samples, and I think there was someone around the booth handing them out. These were highly recommended and I was looking forward to smoking them, but I really didn’t know much about them. It turns out that Azan is an old Cuban trademark that has been out of production for so long nobody remembers it! Interestingly, the brand was created in Cuba by Chinese immigrants back in the 1920s. So, after hearing from Gabriel Piñeres of Creativas, the PR firm that handles Azan, as well as Toraño Family cigars, I figured it would be prudent to smoke some of these up.

I started with the White Premium Line Campana. This is a traditional belicoso size at 5½ x 52 with a tapered head. It was a very nice looking cigar, the Corojo wrapper was flawless and was smooth and symmetrical. It’s burn was perfect, just the way I like it with a straight, flat burn. It was a very enjoyable cigar to smoke both in the aesthetics as well as the flavor. The flavor was clean, smooth, with a nice spice and great, rich body. I really enjoyed smoking this cigar and will be on the lookout for more. I have a robusto remaining which may not last long. This was a hidden gem and thanks to my friend Joe and whoever else handed me samples!

I figured the logical thing to do the following evening was to smoke the Azan Burgundy line robusto. This cigar is a little more rustic in appearance than the White line. According to the website they use a lower grade of Corojo wrapper on this, and the appearance is a little lumpier. The flavor was nice. It shared a certain sweetness I came across in it’s classier sibling, and the burn and draw were just as good. This is certainly a nice alternative to the White, which I can assume carries a higher price tag. Laziness on my part leads to this assumption as I haven’t yet had the chance to shop these yet. I can conclude that Roberto Duran is doing things right. He’s reviving a historic brand with quality cigars that are smoking well. I look forward to smoking more of both of these.

Saturday brought yet another trip up to Hamburg, PA to the Cigars International store. My friend Bacon Jams Bruce and I went up for the Drew Estate Event. We smoked some fine cigars, including my favorites, the Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta #13 Lancero and an Undercrown Corona Viva. I used some gift cards I received for my birthday to pick up the Xikar MTX multi tool/cigar scissors. Thanks guys, you know who you are. This tool will requite some practice, but I’ve hear and seen really good things about it. My concern is that it’s too small and I’m worried about losing it. Perhaps I’ll put it on a lanyard and wear it around my neck! Anyway, the Drew Estate event was well attended, but it didn’t look like the silent auction items were getting a lot of bid action. There was another custom carved humidor but Jessi Flores, the director of Subculture Studios that was a work of art. The auction was again supporting TECHO. This isn’t a criticism, but an observation, but I really think a store like CI is a place people go looking for bargains, not necessarily the well heeled clientele that you find at some upscale shops. I hope they raised a lot of money for this worthwhile charity. Also there were the Operation: Cigars for Warriors folks, and the local Drew Estate Rep, Chris Stone, donated 10″ of his hair to Locks Of Love. Well done, once again, to the generous cigar community. I admit, my reason for going in the first place was to see the Drew Estate crew, and say hello to Jonathan Drew, who hobbled in around 6:30. We had a nice little visit on my way out the door. My apologies to the line of guys waiting to meet him. He’s a good friend and a heck of a nice guy. There were also the usual Drew Estate ambassadors and fans present, always nice to see that cast of characters.