Tag Archives: Arandoza

by CigarCraig | February 5, 2017 · 9:46 am

Merlion Maduro, Arandoza Defcon and Norteño Edicion Limitada Cigars

The cold I managed to get after traveling to California somehow morphed into a sinus infection mid-week, so I took a few days off from cigars. In truth, smoking was the last thing I wanted to do. But before that all set in, I smoked a Merlion Maduro robusto from La Sirena Cigars. These are made at the La Aurora Factory, and are the maduro version of the Merlion made at the same factory. This was a sample from the 2016 IPCPR show where I got to spend a little time hanging out with Arielle and her family, who are all involved in the brand. Previous to this release, the only glimpse we had at what a Merlion Maduro might be was the single maduro version that was in the limited edition Sea Lion box. The Sea Lion is a cool little perfecto cigar, and I finally smoked the maduro version last year and was amazed by it (which was my fear, considering these were impossible to come by). Luckily, this years Sea Lion release, although limited, is the opposite, with nine maduros and one with the original Ecuador Corojo wrapper. So I was excited to smoke the Robusto, and put a box of the toros in the humidor anyway. The maduro wrapper in a San Andrés from Mexico, and the Brazilian Sumatra binder and Brazilian, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers from the original release stay the same. To be honest, I liked the Ecuador Corojo Merlion, but about as much as I like a lot of the La Aurora output, which is to say I want to like them, but most don’t suit my preferred flavor profile. However, slap a San Andrés wrapper on it and I’m in. I found the smoke to be milder than I thought it would be, but that could have been the impending nose condition. I love the sweet earthy flavor and look forward to smoking this in the toro size with healthy sinuses and maybe warmer weather. I have almost filled the top shelf of the cabinet with La Sirena cigars, I haven’t found one I didn’t like yet. I still have some of the old My Father made Churchills and Salamones hanging out there too, and I need to get some of the new Connecticut Shade to have on hand as well.

My first cigar back after the sinus thing eased up was an Arandoza Defcon from the 2015 IPCPR show. This was too strong a cigar for having taken a few days off, but it’s a great smoke and I really like Robert and Pilar Arango, they are super nice folks and it was great spending some time with them at the show last summer. They are dog people too! The Arandoza line is made at La Zona, and it I had been smart and motivated, I might have taken a drive up to CI in Hamburg where Erik Espinoza was doing an event. I needed a home day though. I love the Arandoza line, especially the Red, which is also quite strong, but I think it’s sweeter than the Defcon, with the Defcon having more savory flavors. As I said, it was a poor choice for the first cigar back after a few days hiatus. Maduro Broadleaf wrapper on this cigar.

Yesterday I went with another San Andrés wrapped cigar, the Herrera Esteli Norteño 2015 Edicion Limitada, a pressed Churchill from Drew Estate. The Norteño line has the Mexican wrapper, a Honduran binder and fillers from Esteli and Jalapa. It’s got a flat, tongue depressor, kind of feel to it, comfortable and fun to smoke. Again, perhaps my taster is off, but this one struck me as “savory” more than sweet. It was a really satisfying cigar though, nice amount of smoke, rich and tasty. I’d smoke more of these if they weren’t so darned pricey.

As I’m getting ready to head in to Philly today to see the Philly Pops play Sgt. Pepper, and probably stop by Holt’s, I’m going to keep this brief. I’ll probably look for some of their exclusives, the Tatuaje Maduro that is a Holts exclusive looks very interesting, or the San Cristobal or La Aroma de Cuba. I tend to default to either Tatuaje or Fuente when I’m at Holt’s for some reason. Anyway, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Arandoza, cigar, cigars, Defcon, drew estate, La Sirena, Merlion, Norteño

by CigarCraig | August 10, 2016 · 9:52 pm

IPCPR Cigars – Arandoza 5th Anniversary Toro

My appreciation for the Arandoza line goes back to early in 2013 when I smoked my first Arandoza Blue. I have since smoked a number of Blues, a bunch of Whites, my favorite, the Red, and some of the Defcon they released last year. I love them all, but particularly the Red, which is a heavy, lush San Andrés maduro with some horsepower. This year Robert Arango celebrates his fifth year with his fifth release, the limited edition 5th Anniversary. This is limited to 500 boxes of ten, is a Nicaraguan puro with a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper. It’s offered in a 6″ x 52 toro only, and, like the rest of the line, is made in Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory. At the show I spent the better part of an hour just hanging out with Robert and his wife Pilar just talking about dogs and family and normal, regular stuff. It was one of my favorite moments of the show, just having real life conversations with friends.

Tonight I pulled out the Arandoza 5th Anniversary for my evening walk. As it was hot and humid, I left Macha at home in the air conditioning, sometimes it’s too hot for doggies. The cigar started out with a blast of strength and spice, a great sign as far as I’m concerned. After about an inch or so the cigar either settled down, or my palate adjusted and the cigar became a smooth and delicious smoke, with good savory flavors. I really enjoyed the cigar and look forward to finding some in stores. IPCPR samples are fine, but they’ve often been through a lot of environmental changes. It seems like most cigars I’ve smoked from La Zona have been quite good. It was nice that several of the brands made at that factory were clustered together in one area. Good stuff.

The cigar industry lost a giant this past weekend, Carlos Fuente passed away. I never got the opportunity to meet him, but his legacy is left, not only in one of the great cigar companies and cigars, but in the humanitarian work he did in the Dominican Republic, building schools and giving the children of his factory workers a chance to improve their place in the world. My sincere condolences to the family. I smoked a delicious Magnum R on Sunday (I had no Don Carlos on hand).

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

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Arandoza, cigar, cigars, IPCPR

by CigarCraig | November 6, 2015 · 9:13 pm

First Wednesday Contest Two Days Late, and a Kilo Cigar

I missed the Wednesday post, it’s been a hellish week at work, so I blew it off. I asked on the Cigarcraig.com Facebook page if anyone minded if I posted it late and the sentiment was positive. It seems people love the chance to score some freebies! So I rummaged through the humidor and pulled out about 10 cigars and found some other odds and ends. More on that later, I have a couple of cigars I want to talk about first!

I signed up for The Cigar Authority Care Package, which is a monthly care package of cigars that they are going to smoke on the show during the course of the month, so I dropped the folks at 2 Guys a note asking to include a couple of the new Kilo cigar (and charge me for them) that is the creation of Barry Stein. Barry created a version of this cigar when he was working for Miami Cigar and Co., and it’s been re-imagined through the United Cigar Group and made by Noel Rojas who makes the Guayacan line. I received the care package along with the Kilo cigars last week and smoked a robusto this week. The cigar is made up of an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, with Nicaraguan Corojo 2006 binder and three ligero fillers from Aganorsa and Rojas’ farms. This is a strong cigar, with lots of flavor. It burned perfectly, much like the Guayacan toro I smoked later in the week to compare. Kudos to Barry for realizing a dream and bringing a very nice cigar to market. Good smoke, but not for the feint of heart. The idea behind the care package is to smoke the cigar that corresponds with the show, preferably while watching The Cigar Authority show live on Saturdays. I generally find myself listening to the podcast version during the week, so I try to remember to smoke the cigar while listening. there have been some spectacular cigar included in the packages I’ve received. It’s an entertaining show and is in my regular rotation.

Contest

I pulled some favorites out of the humidor, as well as a sampler of Southern Draw cigars, and a Stage V Cigar Clinger. The Southern Draw sampler includes a Kudzu, a Firethorn and a Quick Draw Pennsylvania, all tasty smokes from the A.J. Fernandez factory. Also included is a Nica Rustica Belly, an Arandoza White Robusto, a Classic Cigar Habano Blend from East India Trading Co., a Tortuga Reserva Cedro Belicoso, a Buena Vista Short Churchill, a Six-Sixty Robolo and a Black Abyss Toro (the last two from the factory that makes Aging Room and Señoreal). All cigars I like to smoke. It’s hard to say what else might fall into the shipping box when it goes out. Usual rules apply, if you’ve won in the past few months you’re out, just leave a comment here to enter. I’ll pick a winner next Wednesday (maybe), November 11, 2015.

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

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Arandoza, cigar, cigars, Contest, East India Trading Co., Kilo, Nica Rustica, Southern Draw, The Cigar Authority, Tortuga

by CigarCraig | August 9, 2015 · 7:19 am

Defcon from Arandoza, El Gueguense, and Epic Maduro Reserva

No events this week! I was going to stop at a local shop that was having a Rocky Patel event, but I wasn’t feeling particularly well and wanted to spend the evening at home. I have been able to get back to smoking some trade show samples and really enjoying them. I admit, as I’ve been going through the samples looking for something to smoke there are some cigars I come across that I don’t remember getting! I suppose I’ll have to do some research when I decide to smoke them. So far I haven’t run across any duds, but I try not to select bad cigars if I can help it. Thursday evening I grabbed a cigar that I’ve been looking forward to trying. I’ve been quite enamored with the Arandoza line, and made a point to meet Robert Arango and his wife, Pilar, at the show. They are really nice people and they are responsible for some really nice cigars. They debuted their fourth cigar in the Arandoza line, Defcon, at the show and after loving the Arandoza Red last year, I was excited to try this one. The cigar has a rustic Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, with Nicaraguan binder and fillers. I really enjoyed the cigar. It may have been a little bit less refined than the Red, which is a powerful smoke on it’s own, but it had the power accompanied by some bitterness with a hint of sweetness that I really like. This is a really nice addition to a line of cigar that I really appreciate. One more to add to the list of great cigars from Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory. If you find yourself in the Easton, PA area this Thursday, there is an Arandoza event at Famous Smokeshop. If it had been Wednesday, I would have gone, but it’ll be hard for me to get there Thursday. Tell Robert I said hello!

After working my first 5 day work in a month due to travelling to the IPCPR and then the Drew Estate Nica Rustica Belly release event in Kentucky, I needed a great cigar to close the week. This is when I would normally shy away from an unknown, and smoke a tried and true favorite, but the lure of a new cigar from a cigar blender who’s previous work many times falls into the “tried and true” category was too much to resist. Nick Melillo brought his new cigar to the show, El Güegüense, which took me some practice to pronounce (and even remember) It’s pronounced something like”Gway gwen say”, and means “The Wise Man”, which is also on the classic and ornate band depicting these wise men from Nicaraguan folklore. El Güegüense was actually the first literary work from Nicaragua after it was “discovered” by Columbus, and was a dance/drama protesting colonial rule and poking fun at the conquistadors. I found this cigar to be quite different from what I’ve sampled before from “the chief of broadleaf”, it was quite a bit more delicate and refined, with some earthieness, maybe a bit of fruity sweetness, nicely balanced and flavorful, but not overpowering. Solidly medium. Although this sample maybe could have used another month or two in the humidor, as it’s burn was less than perfect, this is going to be a really great cigar when it hits the shelves in the next couple months. I smoked the 6″ x 56 Toro Huaco vitola, and I think I still have a Robusto floating around. This cigar is loaded with Corojo 99 from Jalapa, and is made in the same factory as Casa Fernandez, along with Dion Giolito’s Illusione cigars. Interestingly, they all shared the same tradeshow booth (they were at either end, and, in my opinion, overshadowed the Casa Fernandez offerings). This cigar rate’s another thumbs up from me, very enjoyable and worthy of a Friday evening.

Yesterday, after once again moving furniture (this time in and out of the garage as we tried our hand at a yard sale. We sold a good bit of stuff, but much remains…anyone need some really nice oak and glass display cabinets? We have three, but that aren’t going cheap…), and grabbing a bite at a local place, I, once again, craved a satisfying smoke. I met Dean Parsons of Epic Cigars last year at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival in Colorado, and tried and enjoyed his cigars. You really have to admire a guy who serves Altadis with a cease and desist order for using “Epic” on their Montecristo line, and coming away a winner! He played pro hockey too! Anyway, when I saw Dean at the trade show he handed me an Epic Maduro Reserva lancero, a new size in the line. I almost always enjoy the interplay between a maduro wrapper (in this case, Arapiraca from Brazil) and a Cameroon binder, and I was not disappointed. As happens with the smaller ring gauge, the flavor is a bit sharper and more focused, and you get more from the wrapper and binder as there’s just less filler (Domican Piloto Cubano seco and ligero and viso from Nicaragua). For what it’s worth, this lancero felt like more of a 40 or 42 ring gauge, but it was still a cool and elegant size and I enjoyed it to a finger-burning nub. This hit the spot after eating a tasty Italian Oval, which is basically a personal size pizza that’s not perfectly round). I love the dark, rich flavors, like an after dinner espresso.

I don’t know what today will bring, but there will be a cigar or two involved for sure. Don’t forget to go back to Wednesday’s post and enter to win a huge General Cigar sampler! I’ll be back this Wednesday to announce the winner. So until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Arandoza, cigar, cigars, El Gueguense, Epic, Foundation, IPCPR

by CigarCraig | March 11, 2015 · 9:44 pm

A Great Big Toxic Cigar, Half a Toscano 1492 and an Arandoza

This isn’t going to be too long a post, we went to a local Vietnamese restaurant for dinner tonight and apparently Vietnamese cuisine isn’t a good match for my digestive tract! Scratch that one off the list! We have a shopping center within a half mile of the house that has a bunch of interesting eateries, and we’re working our way through. So far Cheeburger Cheeburger is a winner for dinner, and The Bacon Press is an obvious choice for breakfast and lunch (not open for dinner, the Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Jalapeño was really good). Something about the rice noodle wanton soup didn’t do it for me. Anyway, if you want to hear about digestive woes tune into The Cigar Authority show, we’re here to talk about cigars! 🙂

Tuesday I was late getting home due to traffic, and figured it wound be a good time for a short smoke. I have had some Toscano 1492 cigars in the humidor for a month or two now, and have been waiting for the right time, this was it. Toscano cigars are Italian cheroots, and are very rustic. They are hand rolled with out molds, and are meant to be cut in half and smoked that way. Of course you can smoke the whole thing if you want, but the tradition is to halve them. These are the cigars that use the majority of the Kentucky Fire Cured tobacco that was all the rage in premium cigars last year, and, if there was any doubt about that, the unlit flavor and aroma removes that doubt. They smell like a campfire. Sadly, I’m not enamored with this flavor profile, but once again I soldiered on, for science. It’s been my experience that this style of cigar burns longer than one would expect, and it took me nearly an hour to smoke the half of the 1492 (the unbanded half in the picture). THIS is an in your face, powerhouse of a little cigar, very smoky in flavor and not without some acidity and bitterness. This will certainly appeal to a group of folks who like that sort of thing, and certainly satisfy the need for a strong smoke. These and other Toscano style cigars are available at ItalianSmokes.com. Everyone should at least give this style of cigar a try to see what pure Tennessee grown Kentucky Fire Cured tobacco tastes like, and to look cool like Clint Eastwood.

Tonight I enjoyed an Arandoza White Label Robusto after dinner as Macha and I took a walk on the first warm day of the year (I think it may have hit 60). I love it when it’s still light at 7 PM, and not having to suit up with hat and gloves and layers is a welcome change. The Arandoza White is a tasty smoke from the La Zona factory in Esteli. I seem to be amassing cigars made there recently, as I’ve gotten a box of La Sirena Divines in the past couple weeks which are also very nice (I smoked one Sunday, more on that as I smoke a few more and actually pay attention, now and then I need to just smoke a cigar without thinking about it!) I’ve talked about the Arandoza White Label before, and it’s a well balanced, dignified cigar that I find quite pleasant and flavorful, I’m a fan of the whole line. I’m very much looking forward to meeting Robert Arango at the IPCPR show this summer.

That’s enough for now. My new humidor shipped from Florida yesterday, so I’m hoping it arrives by Friday. Expect and update one way or the other on Sunday. I have to figure out how it’s going to get unloaded from a truck, the new house has no loading dock, nor do I own a forklift (fun fact: I am a licensed forklift driver!). I cant wait to finally get this thing and get it up and running!

Have a great week, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Arandoza, cigar, cigars, Toscano, Toxic