Tag Archives: Cigar Safari

by CigarCraig | May 5, 2013 · 1:26 pm

Trip Report: Drew Estate Cigar Safari – Part 1

On April 28 I began what would be my second Drew Estate Cigar Safari. This time was a little different than the last time, as this was a trip composed entirely of the media, bloggers and print media. I was fortunate to have already known all but 2 of my fellow Safarians, and it didn’t take long to get to know them. Present on this trip were Will of Cigar-Coop.com, Stace of LeafandGrape.com, Tony of CasasFumando.com, Brian and Ben from StogieReview.com, Jay and Dan from Cigar Press Magazine and Steve from Tobacconist Magazine and myself. After an uneventful couple of plane rides, we landed in Managua and got through immigration without issue. Pedro was, of course, waiting for us with the bus to take us on our journey. Because this was a media trip, we skipped the sightseeing portion usually present on the Cigar Safari, and, after a delicious lunch, headed to Esteli. Sunday evening was pretty laid back and after dinner we just kind of sat around socializing over cigars.

Monday we arose bright and early to an excellent breakfast, then loaded onto the bus to visit the Oliva Tobacco Company‘s farm in Esteli, Finca La Joya. This late in the season most of the crop has already been harvested, but there were still some crops coming in and being hung in the massive curing barns. It’s here where one really starts to appreciate all the steps that go into making a premium cigar. On the farm the plants are raised from a seed, tended, weeded and thinned out, then planted in the field, then tended, weeded and thinned out. After several months they start methodically taking the leaves from the bottom of the plant, and hanging them in the barns. But they aren’t just randomly hung, they are paired and hung over sticks back to back and handled in such a way as to prevent damage and promote even coloration. The conditions in the barn are carefully monitored, the floor is soaked with water if it gets too dry, and charcoal is burned if it gets too humid. This is all just the first leg in the journey the tobacco takes on it’s way to becoming a cigar that we will spend an hour or so enjoying.

Fast forward about 6 months from when that tiny little seed is planted, and the tobacco is sorted for texture and size. They make bundles of leaves called “hands” and build very well organized piles called “pilons”. These pilons weigh about 5000 pounds and are closely monitored for temperature. When they reach a certain temperature for a certain amount of time they are taken apart and rearranged so the hands in the middle are on the outside, the top on the bottom and so forth. This takes a great deal of manpower and enough room to move 5000 pounds of tobacco around. This can be done several times over a course of months before the tobacco has properly fermented. I took a bunch of pictures while there, here’s the slideshow for your viewing pleasure. I’ll try to get some captions in there at some point, but please ask any questions you may have in the comments.

httpv://youtu.be/MtjxWS2IEXw

When the leaves are done doing their thing in the pilons, they are sorted once again for size, texture and color and compressed into more manageable bales which will be stored, typically by whomever purchased the tobacco, for several years. The tobacco continues to rest in these bales until it’s time to make cigars, at which time it’s sorted again. a few hundred hands have already touched each leaf and it’s not even close to being a cigar yet. There’s no way I can cover every aspect of the process, so these have just been the highpoints. It definitely illustrates the care and expense that goes into a bundle of leaves to which we set fire!!

Here’s a little video with Steve Saka and Nicholas Melillo of Drew Estate discussing some ways that conditions are maintained in a curing barn.

httpv://youtu.be/3HdpyCY–Rs

It’s at this point that we broke for lunch, and it’s a logical stopping point for today. Next time we will visit one of my favorite places, the Joya de Nicaragua factory. It’s a beautiful Sunday here in PA and I intend to make the best of it before having to go back to the office tomorrow after a week off.

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Filed under Trip Report

Tagged as cigar, Cigar Safari, cigars, curing barn, drew estate, farms, oliva, sorting

by CigarCraig | April 24, 2013 · 8:33 pm

C-Gars Ltd., Club Macanudo, the New Palio Lighter, the La Palina Maduro Toro and a Cain F Cigar

Sunday my wife and I drove up to Manhattan to meet up with our good friend Mitchell and his wife, along with some of his other friends at Club Macanudo. We got into the city early, so we wandered around Central Park a bit, even rode the Merry Go Round, visited Tiffany’s and just enjoyed a nice spring day. For those who don’t know, Mitchell operates C.Gars Ltd., the mail order division of Turmeaus Tobacconists established 1817, along with Robert Graham, Global Whisky Shop, Agedcubans, Humidorsonline, Havana Samplers, LCDH Hamburg, Great Gifts Etc. Mitchell is also the international distributor outside of the US for Palio, as well as several other brands that he sells in the UK and the rest of the world. We settled into Club Macanudo to smoke some cigars and socialize. The club is a beautiful space with a bar, private lockers and a full restaurant, serving a Sunday brunch menu until 7 pm. Jenn and I shared a delicious french toast and fruit bowl after I finished my first cigar, a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2, which Mitchell had handed me when we arrived. This was a delicious cigar, on the milder side for a Havana, but full of flavor and perfectly constructed. I don’t smoke many Havanas any more, as much as I enjoy that distinctive little flavor that only a fine Havana has, a twang, if you will. I think the cigars coming from Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Honduras are more interesting and superior in many ways. This was an exemplary smoke though, very nice. Looking at the cigar menu there was a bit startling. New York cigar prices are already high, but the prices there were more than double NY retail prices. I was going to joke that their prices were higher than Mitchell’s, but I try to avoid insulting my host if I can manage it! I didn’t take detailed notes, but I recall seeing a cigar that is $6.00 here in PA being $25. As I said, shocking. Fortunately, I had cigars with me, but Mitchell shoved a Partagas Serie D No. 4 in my paw so I had to smoke that. He mentioned that it was young and possibly quite strong, but I’m a fan of the Cuban Partagas line and found this to me a nice smoke. On the fuller side of medium with a very nice flavor. Perhaps with five years of age this will be a stellar smoke, but it was pretty darned tasty now. It’s always a great time hanging out with Mitchell, his lovely wife and his group of friends, and it’s nice to get a day away with my wife!

As if these special cigars weren’t a treat enough, Mitchell gifted me the new Palio Lighter in matte black, with “Seleccion Orchant 2013” inscribed on it. I’ve been lusting after this lighter since I spoke with Marc Aub of BOTL, LLC at the IPCPR show last August and he was showing it off (video here). This is a substantial lighter with a large fuel capacity, a fuel window and covers over the jet, as well as the filler hole. They’ve made it very easy to adjust the flame height with a little drop down turny thing on the adjustment screw (pardon the technical jargon). This is a brilliant lighter which I’m proud to have in my possession. It lights a cigar very nicely too. I’ll use it non-stop (except when I travel) and report on how it performs, but I have no doubt it will be flawless.

The first cigar I lit with the Palio lighter was a La Palina Maduro toro. I fell in love with the Robusto in this line last year when it was released, although I only smoked a few samples. Its everything I desire in a San Andreas wrapped cigar: smooth, chocolaty, and delicious. Of course it’s well made, although the draw could have been a little bit better. I enjoy the heck out of most of the La Palina cigars I’ve smoked, but this maduro is my favorite hands down (who among you who reads regularly is surprised?).

Tonight I grabbed a Cain F 5.75×50 that probably came from the IPCPR show last year. This turned out to be a poor choice for me, not because it wasn’t a great smoke, it was, but it was just too strong for me tonight. I’m tired and it kind of kicked me in the butt. It made it more difficult to sit down and write this post! I should have chosen something milder! Still a nice smoke, but strong. I think I like the tubed lancero best in this line.

News

I came across this in my inbox today and thought I’d pass it along since it struck me as a unique promotion that I’ve never seen before:

On Thursday, April 25th, cigar superstar Rocky Patel will be here at BestCigarPrices taking your calls!* Order any in-stock box of Rocky Patel cigars between 4-5pm ET for a chance to talk to Rocky LIVE while he personally hand-signs your box of cigars. CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-41-CIGAR.

Sunday’s post will be a rare guest post, since I will be travelling to Nicaragua for Cigar Safari. I’ll be touring the Drew Estate operation along with several of my blogging brethren (and some real journalists :-)). Expect another full report akin to my last report from March of 2011. Many thanks to the folks at Drew Estate for this opportunity! So stay tuned, I’ll try to get something posted while I’m there, internet access willing!

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

9 Comments

Filed under News, Review, Stores, Trip Report

Tagged as Best Cigar Prices, cain, Central Park, cigar, Cigar Safari, cigars, Club Macanudo, drew estate, hoyo de monterrey, La Palina, macanudo, NYC, palio, Partagas, rocky patel

by CigarCraig | December 5, 2012 · 9:41 pm

A La Palina, a Recluse, an Oja and a Nub (and a little Oliva too)

I had this great idea that I’d try out the WordPress app on my iPod Touch. It looked like it would be a handy idea, and I already use that device every day. I used it for the majority of the videos from IPCPR show which I though turned out pretty good. Unfortunately, I ran into a little glitch where it wouldn’t connect and sync with the server, so I decided to abort that idea and do it the old fashioned way. I could have easily gotten away with not boring you with that story, but I decided to do it anyway! I’ve smoked a few cigars since Sunday, so here’s the recap.

Sunday evening I was, once again, in the mood for a San Andreas wrapped cigar, so I grabbed the La Palina El Maduro from the IPCPR show. I really wish I could have gotten a few minutes to talk to Bill Paley this year at the show, but both times I went by his booth it was very busy. Great for them, lousy for me! Considering my affinity for the San Andreas leaf, I was sure I’d enjoy this one. This is a dark, sweet and spicy cigar, very well made and smoked perfectly. I really enjoyed the heck out of this smoke, it made me happy.

We had a couple days of nice weather, I’ll take 50s and 60s in December any time. I decided to celebrate with an Iconic Leaf Cigar Co. Recluse Kanu #1. I got this one at the show as well, and I may not have decided to smoke it if I hadn’t gotten a couple more in the mail recently. This is a very special cigar, this shape is unique in the industry. Smoking it was akin to smoking a lancero, it’s a very narrow ring gauge on the ends with a swollen middle. The box press also makes it unique. It’s a fun cigar to smoke and it is so full of deliciousness that it’s not funny. It smokes a little bit different than it’s parejo siblings, which are wonderful cigars, and the Brazilian maduro wrapper is savory. This is a very nice cigar.

Continuing on the Brazilian maduro theme, I decided to fire up the last Oja Anniversary perfecto that I had on Tuesday. The weather continued to be unseasonable, so I took my usual walk and sat outside when I was done to savor every last bit of the cigar. This is another hard to find cigar, but it’s another tasty maduro that’s perfectly constructed. I first encountered the owner of this brand on my trip to Cigar Safari in March of 2011, Luis was staying at Drew Estate while he was working with Kiki Berger on his cigars. I’ve enjoyed quite a few of his cigars, but none quite as much as the Anniversary, which he made to celebrate his first year. It’s a darned good smoke.

On my way home tonight I stopped at a cigar shop that’s on my way home. I’ve been to this shop several times and had mixed experiences. Since I moved, I actually pass this store every day and today is the first time I’ve stopped in. I was actually on a special “12 Spectacular Days of Cigar Giveaways” mission where I met my friend and local Oliva rep Mike. I picked up a couple of the little Oliva Serie G perfectos and enjoyed one while I waited. This is a great little smoke and was really enjoyable. Mike and the folks at Oliva out did themselves, by the way. Stay tuned for their offerings in the contests starting next week. When I got home I took my walk with a Nub Cameroon 464T to continue the Oliva and Cameroon theme. This was a great little smoke, but was gone too soon. I always joked that these would be better if they were longer, but it’s a great tasting cigar that hit the spot. I love that special little something that Cameroon leaf brings to a cigar. There’s a nice, sweet kinda nutty flavor that hits the spot. It’s not often that I smoke two cigars in an evening, but, in my defense, they were both pretty small.

That’s it for now, as I said above, the 12 Spectacular Days of Cigar Giveaways starts in one week. I have a lot of work yet to do, but it’s shaping up to be pretty spectacular, so don’t forget to check back every day and enter. As the kids are saying (and the folks at Montecristo, evidently) it’s going to be “epic”!!

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

1 Comment

Filed under Review

Tagged as cigar, Cigar Safari, cigars, Contest, Iconic Leaf, IPCPR, La Palina, nub, Oja, oliva, Recluse

by CigarCraig | June 10, 2012 · 9:39 am

It’s Been a Long Week: J.Fuego, Partagas, My Own Blend, News, and a Contest Winner!

I had a long week! I worked at my second job last weekend, went to a one year old’s birthday party, we went to NYC on Tuesday, and my youngest son graduated from high school Friday night. I still managed to get a few cigars in though!

Going way back to Sunday, I sat down that afternoon with a J. Fuego 777 Zero robusto. Jesus gave me this cigar at the IPCPR show last year, and I’ve been looking forward to smoking it. I’ve really enjoyed the maduro and Corojo in the 777 line, so I was sure I’d like this one. Visually, the cigar is stunning. The wrapper is flawless and the triple cap was very prominent, a certain sign that it was the work of a skilled torcedor. I loved this cigar. Like many Ecuador Connecticut wrapped cigars these days, it leaned more to the side of medium than mild. As I suspected, it burned beautifully and was a perfect smoke for a fine Sunday afternoon after coming home from the birthday party. I can highly recommend the entire 777 line, give them a try.

I dug into the samples of the new Partagas 1845 cigars this week. these arrived just after Memorial Day, so I wanted to let them rest a little after spending the long weekend in the hands of the USPS. I couldn’t resist any longer and selected the robusto, which measures 5½ x 49, as it does in the regular Partagas line. I like the size quite a bit. A quick aside: the Partagas 1845 website is well done. It presents all the information, sizes, blend information, bios of the team, very well done. I was critical of the CAO website and was told it was a work in progress, but they still don’t have any size information and they should take a look at their sister site for some inspiration! The cigar is well done also. It’s a solid, satisfying medium smoke with loads of flavor. It’s reminiscent of the Partagas line, with a little something extra. A fine smoke and I look forward to working through the rest of the sizes.

Friday evening was my son’s graduation ceremony, and before we left I had time for a special smoke. I selected one of the cigars I blended on my Cigar Safari trip last March. I’ve smoked a couple of these and been really happy. For those who don’t recall, the blend was a Mexican Oscuro wrapper Indonesian binder, seco from both Esteli and Dominican Republic, half a leaf of Esteli ligero and filled it out with Brazilian Mata Fina viso. The size is 5×44, and they were rolled by the team that rolls that Liga Privadas. The construction was perfect, the flavor was dark and delicious and it was the perfect cigar to celebrate the end of an era, our participation in the public school system!

Yesterday I went back to Partagas, but this time it was a Partagas Black Magnifico. This is a big, ugly cigar, but boy, is it good! I love the Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, great smoke. I sat on my front porch for nearly 2 hours enjoying this cigar. I can’t actually recall a Partagas cigar I didn’t like, from either manufacturer, they all bring something a little special to the table. It’s an iconic brand, it’s usually reasonably priced and readily available.

News

I’ve received a ton of press releases this week, and everyone else has gotten them published, so here’s a little recap:

CAO Cigars and Two Foot Fred to Rock CMA Music Festival – TheCigarmy.com

Butthead’s Tobacco Presents a Virtual Cigar Workshop – Cigar-Coop.com

Dona Flor Cigars Reaady To Unveil Its “BRAZILIAN BLACK TREASURE” To The U.S. Market – ACigarSmoker.com

Emilio Cigars Upcoming Releases – Halfwheel.com

Thanks to all of my fellow bloggers for taking care of this so I don’t have to! 🙂

Contest!

Today is the day we announce the winner of the contest. The winner will receive a signed copy of the book “Once Upon a Time in Cuba” , by Mitchell Orchant and Micheal Mirecki. I’ll, no doubt, include some other goodies with the book as well. I return to Random.org to select a number between 1 and 31. The number is 28, which corresponds to the 28th comment which was made by “Tonbofrogman”. Please e-mail me your address so I can get this out to you! Thanks to Mitchell for contributing this great prize and for his support and kindness!

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

CigarCraig

2 Comments

Filed under Contest, News, Review

Tagged as 1845, 777, broadleaf, c-gars ltd, CAO, cigar, Cigar Safari, cigars, Contest, drew estate, Emilio, IPCPR, J. Fuego, Partagas

by CigarCraig | June 6, 2012 · 7:54 pm

A New York City Cigar Dinner Cruise and a Contest!

For the third year in a row my wife and sons and I were invited on a three hour New York City dinner cruise hosted by our dear friend Mitchell Orchant and his wife and daughter, along with Guy Hancock. Mitchell and Guy are international cigar merchants and host this party for their friends and customers. The venue was the Cabana, a Marco Polo Cruises boat out of the New York Sky Ports marina. We were able to board about an hour early, which was great since we had left home plenty early to avoid traffic and delays. We were each given really cool goodie bags with a couple cigars, some candies, little bottles of whiskey, cutters, matches, a lighter, all sorts of terrific stuff. There ended up being over 90 invited guests, and the boat had plenty of room on two decks. My sons both lit up the Grafton Reserva corona from their gift bags, which is a house brand for the Decent Cigar Emporium in Dublin, Ireland. This is made for them in the Dominican Republic and the boys enjoyed it and reported that it was a nice, mild smoke. I lit up a Room 101 Connecticut that I had gotten at the event I attended several weeks ago. The Room 101 Connecticut is a very nice cigar, rich and flavorful with a perfect draw. After we set out to cruise the East River, and we finished our first cigars, sushi was being served and a jazz combo was playing on the lower deck. A lavish buffet was set out with salad, chicken, eggplant and manicotti, everything one could want. Once again, Mitchell outdid himself and pulled off a fabulous evening. After dinner my son, Corey, and I lit up some special cigars that we brought back from Cigar Safari last year, Liga Privada Dirty Rats in a 7″ x 44 size. The additional length seemed to mellow the blend a little and it was a fantastic smoke, loads of flavor and the extra two inches really added to the cigar. My son Christian enjoyed an Acid Kuba Kuba. The weather, which was threatening, held off and it ended up being a really nice night, kudos to the captain for steering around what little rain there was. Of course, the views of the city from the river are spectacular. The new Freedom Tower is stunning and we got good views of the Statue of Liberty as well as the East River bridges. We saw some old friends, and met some new ones, as usually happens at these sorts of events. We always enjoy getting together with Mitchell of C.Gars Ltd. and his family, and thank him once again for including us. Thanks, as well to Guy of The Decent Cigar Emporium for also being a gracious host. All great folks whom I’m proud to call friends.

Contest

Mitchell was kind enough to provide me with an autographed copy of his book, “Once Upon a Time in Cuba” to give away to a lucky reader. Don’t worry, it’s mostly pictures! I’ll throw in some assorted goodies along with the book as well. Usual rules apply, leave a comment to enter, if you’ve won in the past six months you’re ineligible (excluding the Christmas Giveaways). I’ll close the contest and announce the winner on my Sunday, June 10, 2012 post. Many thanks to Mitchell at C.Gars Ltd. for providing these goodies.