by | February 11, 2023 · 7:43 am

News: Diesel Fools Errand Simple Fool Due For Release

I’ve liked a lot of the Diesels over the years, this one looks fun.  Not only is there s a cool shaped cigar, but they’ve included an online game with it!  Pretty cool, read on: 

 

 

DIESEL RELEASES SECOND FOOL’S ERRAND ITERATION WITH INTERACTIVE GAME

Diesel is set to roll out the second release in its Fool’s Errand trilogy with Simple Fool, a new, limited edition expression that blends cigar mastery, storytelling and interactivity in one. 

 

Simple Fool will ship to retailers on March 6.

 

Blended by AJ Fernandez and Justin Andrews, Diesel Fool’s Errand Simple Fool is a Nicaraguan-forward smoke. Crafted with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and a blend of proprietary tobaccos cultivated by AJ in Nicaragua’s celebrated growing regions, the binder and filler tobaccos are all Nicaraguan Habano harvested from various primings. Simple Fool is a full-bodied, dense smoke with espresso, earth and spice notes balanced by a rich creaminess.  

 

Justin Andrews said, “There is nothing foolish about simplicity and this cigar echoes what AJ and I believe to be true about life in general: that less can often be more. Think about the aroma you smell when you first open a box of cigars. Or a relaxing place to unwind with a great smoke. These are simple things that mean a lot. Simple Fool is no different. This cigar exercises restraint beautifully with proprietary, full-bodied tobaccos blended to perfection. Nothing more, nothing less.”

 

Simple Fool is being released in one size, a 5” x 58 tapered perfecto that tells the blend story perfectly.

 

For this, the second release in the Fool’s Errand series, the Simple Fool character will be introduced via a collectible tarot card inside the box. The card contains a QR code that, when activated, will launch an interactive game which invites the cigar smoker to complete the Simple Fool’s errand by solving a series of riddles. Special Diesel Fool’s Errand prizes created specifically for the Simple Fool character will be awarded at random to the top 10 participants. 

 

The Diesel Fool’s Errand trilogy is released annually in early Spring, and includes the introduction of a new character with a unique backstory and a customized interactive game and prizes. The line debuted in 2022 with Diesel Fool’s Errand Stubborn Fool. The third and final release in the trilogy is planned for Spring 2024. 

 

Justin Andrews hints, “A simple fool is still a fool yet a wise person thinks ahead. Wise cigar smokers among us will put the Simple Fool tarot card in a safe place for safe keeping…”

 

Diesel Fool’s Errand Simple Fool is handmade at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua. The cigars will come in 10-count boxes.

 

Diesel Fool’s Errand Simple Fool (5” x 58); SRP per cigar $9.99

 

Diesel cigars are distributed by Forged Cigar Company.

 

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.

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by | February 5, 2023 · 10:02 am

Oliva Serie V, Cuba Aliados and La Patissier Cigars

Last Sunday I was out and about and came across a couple cigars that I hadn’t tried yet, so I bought them.  I smoked a couple this week, although by Saturday it had gotten ridiculously cold, so I opted for a shorter smoke so as not to over-tax my propane heater.  I started off with the Oliva Serie V 125th Anniversary Edicion Limitada. I thought this would be priced higher, but it was reasonable $10, and well worth it.  It wasn’t all that long ago that I felt like I was really going top-shelf spending $8-12 on a cigar.  Times have changed.  Still, what else could I do for an hour and a half or more that costs less than $10?  This is an interesting figurado, it’s tapered at the foot, once you burn past the first inch and a half it may as well be a parejo.  It measures 5½” x 54 overall and is Nicaraguan filler and binder wrapped in a Sungrown Ecuador Habano leaf.  That narrow foot not only makes it easy to light, but seemed to make the opening few puffs pretty sharp and powerful.  It settled into leathery and earthy with some cocoa sweetness.  Overall I really enjoyed this cigar. I haven’t smoked a lot of Serie Vs lately, they have to be priced higher than this one.  It’s highly recommended.  By the way, the 135 refers to the anniversary of when Melanio Oliva started in the tobacco business, Oliva cigars has only been around for about 30 years.

 

Next up was another cigar connected with Oliva, from the  recently acquired Cuba Aliados brand. I smoked a bunch of these in the ’90s when they were made by Rolando Reyes and existed alongside Puro Indios in their lineup. I can’t say I remember too much about them, but I know the Cuba Aliados brand was a favorite of Steve Saka back then.  This one is made by Ernesto Carillo, it has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. Ernesto is kinda famous for using Sumatra, and I like Sumatra. The cigar I smoked was a 6″ x 54 torpedo, and I probably selected that because it was the only vitola the shop had available. This was a really nice tasting cigar with a sweet spice.  It’s burn and draw were perfect and I quite enjoyed it.  It was closer to $15, so I don’t think I’ll smoke a lot of them, but it was worth the money.  I’m a fan if EPC from way back, so that probably worked in the cigar’s favor.  

 

Like I said, Saturday was super-cold, and I know we weren’t along in this weather pattern, a lot of the country seems to have had a cold snap. below a certain temperature, my propane heater doesn’t do as good a job.  This is the perfect time for shorter cigars, so I had a La Patissier No. 50 from the PCA show that would fit into this scenario perfectly.  It’s 4 3/8″ x 50, not tiny, but not huge.  I don’t smoke a lot of Crowned Heads cigars, and this particular one was made at the Pichardo factory before they had the falling-out. I don’t recall where they will be having this made, it might be made by Ernesto Carillo which would connect all three of today’s cigars in some circular way.  Anyway, this cigar has a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Jalapa binder, and fillers from Costa Rica, as well as the Ometepe and Pueblo Nuevo regions of Nicaragua. My guess would be that future iterations of this cigar will not have the Puebla Nueva tobacco, as that seemed to be a favorite of Luciano Marielles. This cigar was really good, although I’m a little surprised to see it was Broadleaf, it didn’t smoke that way to me. It started out bold, and had an exotic spice that I couldn’t put a label on.  It was very good, I may see if I can find some of these older ones so I can see if it changes.  

 

A week or so back I smoked a La Gloria Serie S, their new San Andrés offering, and I guess I bought a couple of them and forgot that I had, because I couldn’t remember where it came from. Last week I got some samples of these and smoked one yesterday.  I’m going to set them down for a while, lets just say that I had pretty much the same experience the guy who smoked one on Dojo’s last Smoke Night Live show had.  I like San Andrés and I love La Gloria, so I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. More to come on that. That’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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by | January 31, 2023 · 5:48 pm

News: Smokin Tabacco Cigar Family Charitable Foundation Fundraiser

I don’t generally post news from other media outlets, I figure they have plenty of reach as it is. This is different, because Matt and Nicole have been hosting a raffle for the last couple years for a great cause, and it’s been wildly successful.  Get in on this, CFCF is a wonderful organization.

 

Smokin Tabacco is proud to announce the third annual Smokin Tabacco Cigar Family Charitable Foundation fundraiser raffle. In their first two years, Smokin Tabacco has been able to raise a total of $57,000 for the cause that is run and operated by the Newman and Fuente families of J.C. Newman and Arturo Fuente, respectively. This was something that Matt and Nicole first started in 2021 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of their first podcast, The Smokin Tabaco Show. Instead of more traditional methods of marking an anniversary, they decided to use their media platform to host a raffle that would benefit a cause they both felt strongly about. While going through many different foundations and causes, they ultimately decided upon hosting a raffle that would benefit The Cigar Family Charitable Foundation.

 

 

In year one the fundraiser finished at $7,000. In year two however, things heated up when nearing the $20,000 line, Carlito Fuente called Matt and Nicole and told them he would personally match the finalt otal bringing the final amount for 2022 to $51,000. The goal for 2022 was $10,000 and was easily exceeded. Now, going into 2023, Smokin Tabacco is proud to announce a third round and hopes to pass the amount raised from the year before.

 

 

In November 2022, Matt and Nicole traveled to the Dominican Republic to visit the Cigar Family campus and met all the amazing kids, teachers, personnel and even some former students who return to the school to give back. It was a life changing experience and gives you a new sense of how important this organization is once you see how far this money goes. “It is such an honor to be able to play a small role in this great organization. We are so proud of everyone who came out and donated these past two years and hope to see another amazing year in 2023.” says Matt Tabacco, owner of Smokin Tabacco.

 

There are also some amazing items being raffled off including items from the OpusX Society, La Flor Dominicana, Tatuaje, Aganorsa Leaf, Drew Estate, Room 101, Red Meat Lovers Club, J.C. Newman, Arturo Fuente, Cigar-Coop, Hiram & Solomon, Rabbit Air, a box of TGS 2021 Opus X from Smoke Inn and more. The fundraiser begins on March 17 th at 9 AM EST and will run until April 26 th at 5PM EST. The website for the raffle can be found at go.rallyup.com/smokintabacco2023 or by texting SMKTAB to 855- 202-2100. For questions about the fundraiser, email Matt at Matthew@smokintabacco.com or call us at
978-886-1574.

 

ABOUT CIGAR FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

The Cigar Family Charitable Foundation (CF-CF) began in 2001 when long time cigar industry business partners, the Fuente and Newman families, formalized the dream of improving people’s lives in the mountainous Bonao region of the Dominican Republic. By focusing on families, they hoped to give the children in this cigar producing region an opportunity for a better future.

 

ABOUT SMOKIN TABACCO

Smokin Tabacco began as a simple social media page in September 2019. Since then, the name has become known as the place where cigar smokers can go to find the latest and most exciting news and information on what is happening in the cigar industry, be entertained by one of our amazing shows or for reviews on cigars and other products from the industry.

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by | January 29, 2023 · 9:14 am

Protocol, Hoyo de Monterrey and Diesel Cigars

A few weeks back I bought a five pack of Protocol Churchills from Discount Cigar Warehouse.  From what I know, this was exclusive to them and Churchills aren’t available in all the blends regularly.  I happen to be a big fan of the Churchill size, although these are only 6½” x 48, not quite the 7″ x 47 that is truly a Churchill. Call it what you will, it’s still a great size in my book. I’m pretty happy with anything from 5½” to 7″ and 46 to 60 ring.  I’m pretty happy with a lot of cigars to be honest.  Anyway, of the five blends in the sampler, I hadn’t smoked two of them, the aforementioned Cyber Crimes Unit, and the Official Misconduct. The Official Misconduct has been around since 2018, not sure how I haven’t smoked it yet, but I really quite enjoyed it. It has an Ecuador Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and fillers, made in the La Zona factory. Two of my favorite cigar brands make (or made, as in the case of the latter) cigars in this factory, La Sirena and Cornelius and Anthony. I enjoy many of the Espinosa cigars too, I just don’t seem to smoke as many of them as I should, I guess. Arandoza is another defunct brand that I really liked that was made there.  Anyway, this cigar made me happy. It was a nice, spicy Habano that hit the spot for me. I toy with the notion of ordering another five pack, these “Churchills” were very good. 

 

I made a stop on the way home from work the other day and picked up a couple new-to-me cigars that looked interesting.  First of which was the Diesel Atonement, a TAA exclusive.  This is a fairly priced cigar at $10 (in PA), has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan fillers.  It’s made in the AJ Fernandez factory, as I believe all Diesel cigars to be. It’s a 6″ x 52 which made it an easy sell for me. It’s a nice looking cigar, smooth and dark with some oiliness to the wrapper. It was loaded with pepper from the light.  It reminded me a lot of the Puro Esteli, which I found to be fairly strong. I have a pair of those set aside, now that I think about it, one I took the cedar sleeve off, one I left it on, with the intention of seeing how the cedar sleeve affects the flavor after aging, a project for warmer weather.  The Atonement remained strong, the pepper remained throughout, although it deadened my palate after a while.  I’ve smoked my share of Diesel Cigars, and this was a pretty good one.  I have a hankering for a Whiskey Row Sherry Cask now, which is probably my favorite Diesel.

 

The other cigar I picked up was the Hoyo de Monterrey El Torcedor.  I was surprised that I hadn’t heard of this one, apparently released in 2019. I searched my archive of press releases and came up with nuthin.  This is a rustic 6½” x 49 Figurado, very much like the Cuban Partagas Presidente (the vitola de galera on that one is Taco, by the way). It seems like I smoked another cigar in a similar shape, but I’ll be darned if I can remember what it was. I dig the size and shape.  It lit easily, the foot has a small surface area, not a formed “nipple” like a Hemingway. it burned perfectly and had a pleasing flavor.  It had some sweet spice and wood. I bought the last one the shop had in this size, I may stop for a couple of the larger size one day.  It’s a wonder I hadn’t heard about this one before.  I still need to try the Illusione/Excalibur cigar, anyone know where I can buy a couple?  I just looked, and Fox Cigars sells singles, but they are no cheap date!

 

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

 

CigarCraig 

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by | January 22, 2023 · 10:12 am

Art of Magic, Terra Nova and Casa 1910 Cigars

This week I smoked another Secret Santa gift and a couple cigars from the PCA show.  My Secret Santa sent me a bunch of fantastic cigars, all but maybe one of which I hadn’t smoked before.  Some might think this is no easy feat, but there are actually a lot of limited editions and regional stuff I don’t get because I don’t chase them down. Considering my friendship with Steve Saka, there are a bunch of his cigars I haven’t smoked.  The Vintage Rock-a-FArteller Art of Magic cigar is a cigar I hadn’t smoked, although I could easily have picked up some last year.  A percentage of sales of this cigar helps out Jessi Flores and his daughter’s health issues. He is responsible for the artwork as well. This is a toro, 6″ x 52, with a San Andrés wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers. I though it had some earthy flavors with a lot of cocoa notes.  I liked it a lot.  Kevin Schweitzer is the owner of the company, and  in addition to a background in finance, is a magician, hence the name.  This cigar made me think of my friend Frank Seltzer, who passed away last year. I actually thought I was going to have a hard draw on this pre-light, but it was fine, although it inexplicably got tight for a stretch around half way through. 

 

I’ve been putting off smoking this brand since the PCA show, mostly because I was so thoroughly unimpressed with its sibling brand, Montosa.  I found both Montosa examples I smoked to be incredibly sub-par, and was surprised when Two Guys Smoke Shop/The Cigar Authority named it their cigar of the year.  So I was concerned that the Terra Nova would give me a similar experience.  I have both the Terra Nova Dark Fired Kentucky and the Arapirique blends in a torpedo shape, so I chose the Dark Fired first.  The wrapper is an Ecuador Connecticut, the binders are Bahia and Sumatra (actually I’m guessing its a double binder, maybe it’s Brazilian grown Sumatra?), and the fillers are Dominican, Nicaraguan, Brazilian and Dark Fired Kentucky.  I took a good whiff o this before lighting, expecting the campfire-like aroma one gets from a Drew Estate Kentucky Fire Cured.  I found no such aroma, thankfully.  I find that heavy campfire aroma off putting.  This was a woody tasting blend, but a sweet wood, and it wasn’t bad!  I kinda liked it and look forward to smoking the Araparique.  

 

 

The Casa 1910 brand is fairly new to the market. Someone encouraged me to visit their booth at the PCA show, I don’t remember who I was with at the time. I came across this sample of the Chuchillo Parado, which is a 5″ x 50 robusto and seems to be only available in this size.  It’s a Mexican puro, with San Andrés Negro tobaccos wrapped in a Mexican Sumatra wrapper.  It was a very nice looking cigar, not at all like the Mexican puros I started out smoking in the 90’s.  Nor did it taste like those cigars, which were almost a dirty flavor.  This had a unique spice component, which stuck to the palate, almost, like licorice, but not licorice, if that makes sense.  This cigar smoked really well, and was quite satisfying.  I’d pick up more if I saw them.  

 

The giant guitar sculpture I talked about last week made its way to Joliet, Il and was affixed to the front of the Rock and Roll Museum and Rick Nielsen was there for the lighting ceremony. Rick Nielsen is a cigar smoker, and his son actually works with the Cigar-Coop team. My wife met him quite a few years ago and gave him a cigar, and we ran into him six years ago when we were at the NAMM show. I would have loved to have been in Joliet for the ceremony. That’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

 

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