I’m going to tie these two things together, because they are directly related! Last month I had the pleasure of attending Michael Giannini’s rolling event at the PA Barnsmoker, and I applied the wrapper on an Archetype Axis Mundi toro. To be honest, Henry from Drew Estate jumped in and over my protestations, helped a little more than I would have liked, not understanding that I had done this before and really wanted to just have advice and not as much help. I didn’t 
want to be rude and say “dude, back off”, but I did make remarks like, “sorry, I haven’t done this since Willy showed me in 2013”. Anyway, I applied the wrapper and it came out pretty good, but it wouldn’t win any beauty contests. I struggled throughout the process to figure out which side of the leaf was the outside and which was the inside. Yesterday I decided to smoke the cigar and see how it was, and follow it up with the production version to compare. I watched a movie on the porch and smoked the cigar I “rolled”, and I enjoyed it a lot. The burn and draw were perfect, although it burned faster than I would have liked, although, now that I look up the running time of the movie, it did burn for an 
hour and forty-five minutes, so it didn’t burn that fast. It tasted great, just like the production Axis Mundi I smoked later in the evening. I have to say, I liked the draw on the one I rolled better than the production version, it was more easy and open, and the regular version had a firm draw, and needed a few relights. It was a humid day yesterday, so it’s hard to knock a cigar when the ambient conditions aren’t optimal. These have a nice espresso flavor with a tangy spice, very nice cigars made at Drew Estate, hence their presence at the Barnsmokers. The Toro is 6″ x 52, although my version seemed a tad fatter. It was a fun experiment, and who can argue smoking two great cigars in one day!
If you happen to be in Colorado Saturday, I’d encourage you to go to the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival. I attended this event back in 2014 and it was a fantastic event. There are going to be a ton of great folks there, and Michael Giannini will be doing a rolling event as well (see below). RMCF is really one of the great events in the country, I’m fortunate to have attended and would love to go back to that beautiful area.
News:
Ventura Cigar is Rolling into the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival
Michael Giannini to Host rolling event at this year’s festivities
Bringing their signature unconventional approach to their cigars, Ventura Cigar Company will be hosting a cigar rolling event at this year’s Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival. Held on August 24, 2019 in Broomfield, Colorado, the Rocky Mountain Cigar festival brings together aficionados of spirits, cigars, wines, and food, with a full day of sampling, music, games, and activities. It’s an ideal setting for Ventura Cigar Company to showcase products with attendees, but they’ve decided to take it to the next level by holding a rolling event to share the craft behind their blends. Led by Michael Giannini, industry icon and General Manager for Ventura Cigar Company, the rolling event is expected to draw several hundred people, offering a hands-on approach to cigars.
Guests of the rolling event will be treated to a VIP experience, as they roll their own Axis Mundi cigars, a popular blend from Ventura Cigar Company’s popular Archetype brand.
“Sometimes, to really appreciate the experience, you have to get your hands dirty,” says Giannini. “It’s not enough to simply smoke a cigar. To really savor it, really understand it, you have to know the backstory. We’re giving people a chance to be part of the backstory. To roll the cigar themselves, engage in the process of creation, and then truly enjoy the smoke. It’s going to be great, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Michael Giannini Rolling Event at Pennsylvania Barn Smoker.
To find out how to reserve a spot at Michael Giannini’s Rolling Event, please visit https://rmcigarfestival.com/tickets/. For more information about Ventura Cigar Company events, or any of our cigars, please visit venturacigar.com.
About Ventura Cigar Company
Ventura Cigar Company (VCC) is a unique cigar brand born in sunny Southern California that is on a mission to create memorable, complex cigar blends that excite the senses and reward discriminating palates. Their flagship Archetype, Case Study, Project805, and PSyKo SEVEN brands offer multiple award-winning blends that earned 90+ ratings in Cigar Aficionado, Cigar & Spirits, and Cigar Snob. And Archetype’s Axis Mundi won #13 Cigar of the Year for 2017 from Cigar Aficionado. Ventura Cigar Company also distributes Tommy Bahama Luxury Cigar Accessories and the 4th Generation Tobacconist and Comoy’s of London lines of pipe tobacco products, extending its reach and tradition of offering top-quality tobacconist products. Pipes and blends under these brands are cultivated through generations of craftsmanship, making them longtime favorites of pipe tobacco enthusiasts.
That’ all for today,
Until the next time,
CigarCraig
