Tag Archives: DOn Juan Calavera

by | December 31, 2019 · 9:55 am

CigarCraig’s Favorite Cigars of 2019

This is going to be pretty easy, but not because I haven’t smoked a lot of great cigars this year. I have to say, considering the year I’ve had, cigars were the least of my worries, and I had a great many more excellent cigars than bad ones. It’s been said that this was a down year for cigars, and I am not as up on the newest cigars as I should be, but I had very few bad cigars. It could also be that I’ve been smoking cigars that I have in my collection, and I’ve been smoking a higher proportion of cigars that I want to smoke lately. It’s been a strange 18 months or so in my life.  Anyway, there was one brand that I became enamored with this year that I am going to call my brand of the year, and my cigar of the year, and it’s a very under the radar brand. It started with an unsolicited sharing of some samples, which led to working out a deal to put some of their cigars in my humidor, which I shared with some friends and readers. The company is Danli Honduras Tabaco out of Honduras (obviously), and the brand is Don Juan Calavera.  I’ve smoked the Sumatra, Maduro and Connecticut, and it’s really hard to choose a favorite! Every one I’ve smoked, and I’ve smoked a bunch of each of them, and I’ve never had a bad burn or draw, as a matter of fact, these cigars burn better than most cigars I’ve smoked. The Connecticut is creamy, but not mild, it’s a flavorful medium Connecticut, the Maduro has some strength, kind of like a semi-sweet chocolate with a hint of cayenne pepper, and the Sumatra is rich and spicy.  I think, and this will surprise my loyal readers, but the Sumatra is my  favorite of the bunch, so I’m declaring it my favorite cigar of 2019!  

Don Juan Calavera  Sumatra by Danli Honduras Tabaco is CigarCraig’s Favorite Cigar of 2019!

 

OK, I got that out of my system. I’ve included a video below of my friends CigarProp Kevin and Jessica’s review of the  Don Juan Calavera Maduro (I actually think I sent them a Maduro and a Sumatra and Kevin had the Sumatra and Jessica had the Maduro, which explains a lot in the video) Danli Honduras Tabaco also has another line, Flor Maya, in Connecticut, Maduro and Habano. I’ve smoked several Connecticuts and they are OK, but I smoked a Habano yesterday and it was outstanding! I can’t wait to try the maduro now, and I need to get my hands on more of these now! Last I heard, the Danli HOnduras Tabaco cigars are available direct from the manufacturer, and at two Virginia retailers,Blacksburg Pipe & Tobacco (Blacksburg VA) and Milan Tobacconists (Roanoke VA). So, those are my favorites of the past year! Say what you want about it, but if I had to smoke one brand, I could be happy with the cigars from this company with the variety and quality! As soon as I get a job, I’m getting more! 😁 The best thing about them is that they only have one size and that size is a toro! It’s like they make cigars just for me. 

 

https://youtu.be/gXyqZtlY0Rk

 

That’s all for today, Happy New Year to everyone, be safe, smoke a great cigar, and I hope 2020 brings great things for everyone! 

 

CigarCraig

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by | December 8, 2019 · 10:39 am

Random Cigars and a Dunbarton Event at BnB Cigars in Philly

I already posted this week about the new cigar I smoked,  and I’ll get to the other one in a bit, but first I want to recap a few other cigars I revisited during the course of the week. I’ve been busying myself helping out a friend and continuing my job search. It’s a bad time of year for this sort of thing, but I did it once in 2002, so I should be able to pull it off again. so I’ve been continuing my evening routine of having a cigar and taking a walk, weather permitting. It’s been cold (or advancing age has reduced my tolerance), so I’ve been choosing more robustos, so one day this week I grabbed a La Aurora 1962 Corojo Robusto. Since I bought my first box of cigars in 1996 (La Aurora Bristol Especiales), I’ve always had some La Auroras in the humidor. It’s a sentimental choice for a few reasons. My celebration cigar when my grandchildren were born was the 2003 Puro Vintage, and I have two stashed for the next two grand children, but I suspect they will be very well aged by the time I’ll be smoking them. My daughter’s name is Aurora, which might be important information in this story, ties it together, I suppose. She may still have that old box from 1996 someplace. Anyway, the 1962 Corojo uses a Dominican Corojo wrapper, Ecuador binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers and is a medium bodied cigar with nice flavor. It’s one of those cigars that I can’t really pinpoint flavors but it’s flavors I like, and I know I can just grab one and have a good experience. Honestly, I’ve only ever smoked the 5″ x 50 robusto, so I’d solve to try this in the toro or Churchill size one of these days. I want to say the the 1903 Cameroon and 1987 Connecticut have the same binder and filler, with only the wrapper being different, I like all three.

 

If I were going to do something crazy, like have a cigar of the year, my next cigar would be in the running, or at least the brand would. I might just do it, because the Don Juan Calavera line from Danli Honduras Tabaco has really captured my corozón! I smoked the Connecticut this week, because it’s hard for me to not smoke these all up. I’m at a serious crossroads as to which of their three offerings is my favorite, Connecticut, Sumatra, or Maduro. The Connecticut is atypical, it is creamy, but not grassy, and not at all mild. Like every cigar I’ve smoked from the line, the construction has been excellent, burn and draw have been perfect. I’m trying to find out the best pathway to purchase these, so far e-mailing them, using the form on their website, or contacting them via Facebook seems to be the only way to buy them. As soon as can provide an easy to follow guide to purchasing these I’ll post it, because everyone should be enjoying these. Edit: I just received word that at this time contacting the manufacturer is one way to get them, but two stores in Virginia carry them, Blacksburg Pipe & Tobacco (Blacksburg VA) and Milan Tobacconists (Roanoke VA). Try calling these stores to purchase the cigars.  I should save some gushing for that cigar brand of the year post! Shh…don’t tell anyone! 

 

Yesterday I finally had the opportunity to smoke the Mi Querida Triqui Traca, and I did so at BnB Cigars in Chestnut Hill, PA. They were having an event there with Steve Saka and Dave Lafferty (Cindy Saka was there too) of Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust, with a bunch of test blends that Steve had accumulated over the years as add-ons to purchases. I smoked one which was obviously a Mi Querida Gordita with some variation of the wrapper, although who could tell? It was delicious. Of course, I always learn stuff hanging with these guys, and the store is a cornucopia of boutique cigars. I highly recommend a visit there, if not in person, check them out for your online shopping, as Vince has curated an amazing selection of cigars. The lounge is comfortable and the clientele is friendly as well (which will mean nothing if you shop online). Anyway, the Mi Querida Triqui Traca I smoked was the 648, which is a clever name, as it’s 6″ x 48. This blend is based off of the Mi Querida Firecracker blend that Steve made for Two Guys Cigars last year, so it’s got a little more oomph than the Mi Querida line. I really enjoyed it, although it’s too early to tell if I like it more than the regular line, I don’t think I really need to have a preference actually, I can like them both equally! The Triqui Traca had the great espresso and spice that I love with more of the ligero power. I was told that the strength manifests itself more if you keep it in your mouth while smoking, which I don’t, so I guess I missed out on that aspect. It, as always, is great seeing my friends and spending time with them. I was surprised there weren’t as many Saka fans there, but I’m sure many wish they could have been. 

 

That’s plenty for today. I have a Sobremesa Brulé on the menu for today, I actually haven’t smoked regular production versions yet, so I’m looking forward to it. If I have the time there might be other goodies from yesterday to smoke. Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig 

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by | September 22, 2019 · 8:25 am

Macanudo Heritage Nuevo and Various Cigar Musings

It’s been an interesting week. I actually worked Monday through Friday this week, the first time in almost a year! Since take a vacation last week, and needing the weekend off to go to a wedding in Massachusetts this weekend, The schedule worked out that way.  Next week I’ll get back to working weekends and having weekdays off.  So I posted so quick news items, one of which was relevant to one of my favorite local shops, who’s annual charity event which I usually report on here I missed. I also only slipped one new cigar in. I did smoke some great cigars though. The Alec Bradley Magic Toast has quickly become my favorite AB cigar, passing the Nica Puro.  That’s a cigar that is rich, full of flavor and complexity. It’s another cigar that is sweet and makes a great desert! I also had a late night that called for a short smoke, so I dug into my collection of Firecrackers and smoked a Kristoff Pistoff Firecracker. This is another little cigar that hits the spot. It’s got some pop like it should, but it’s not too strong.  Burned perfectly and was good for about 45 minutes or so of relaxation after a long day. As I type I’m smoking a Don Juan Calavera Maduro, and I really am enamored with this line. I haven’t picked a favorite yet, The Maduro, Sumatra and Connecticut all smoke great. I brought a bunch of the Connecticuts for the wedding tomorrow, believe it or not, the presentation of the cigar fits in with the wedding theme, more or less.  These are a really good Honduran cigar that hits my palate right. 

 

Macanudo Heritage Nuevo is a new release this year from General Cigar. They claim to be using this line to be remaking Macanudo’s popular brands with unique tobaccos. In this case, they’ve based this off of the Café blend, but used an Ecuador wrapper instead of Connecticut. It has a Mexican binder and Mexican and Dominican fillers. I lit this cigar expecting a mild cigar, but I was surprised that it was fairly full flavored.  As I got into it, I continued to be impressed with the strength. I’ve smoked many Macanudos in the past that I’ve had to over-smoke and they’ve become bitter and nasty and this one never got that way. It was a pleasure to smoke, with no bitterness at all, just creamy, smooth caramel flavors that were quite pleasant and  fulfilling. This was another late night cigar that was very enjoyable.  

 

Last week when I was on KMA Talk Radio, Adam asked me what I though of the PCA’s consumer day, and I, as usually happens, got sidetracked in my answer.  What I wanted to say was that, although I have no skin in the game, I really think it was a bad idea, presented and communicated badly, and not thought through.  Abe actually has the best idea, issue Consumer badges and charge for them. My rebuttal to that, however, is that they effectively tried to do that with the media, and it’s been a bit of a failure in my eyes. The IPCPR, now PCA, presented the Media membership as a “membership”, and I fear that Abes idea would be seen as the same.  More on this another time.

 

That’s all for today. I’ve got a long day ahead of wedding followed by driving back to PA. I still need to hear from Michael Lanier, the second winner of the last contest. I also need to send a package to PJ, who I declared a winner when I met him in Florida last week, just because! Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig (on location)

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by | July 7, 2019 · 9:53 am

A Couple of Shop Visit, a Couple of Cigars and a Contest Winner!

Happy Sunday! I suppose it’s the end of a holiday weekend for a lot of people, I had Thursday off, and stopped into the CigarCigars shop in the King of Prussia Mall and picked up a couple cigars, one of which I smoked later to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Sure, I have plenty of natural Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivos, but I hadn’t had a Maduro in quite some time, so I picked one up. My wife spied a Foundry Compounds, Elements and Musings Uranium box with two cigars left in it, so I bought them and got the box. I’m pretty sure I’ve smoked Uranium before, although I don’t smoke many 7″ x 70s. The artwork is cool and I’ll rig a light in the box and it’ll be a nice shelf piece. Gotta give Mike Giannini credit for creative design!  So my wife got a ring from Tiffany, and I got some cigars, it was a good day. The Exclusivo was exceptional, of course. I remember smoking my first one probably 20 years ago and they haven’t changed. 

 

Friday evening I took a ride up to Suburban Cigar Lounge in Mount Penn, PA, which is near Reading. This is a really nice lounge run by Gary, over top of what is, by all reports, a very nice restaurant, which, if I’m not mistaken, his wife runs. I went to meet up with Boston Jimmie, of Stogie Press fame, who took his sweet time showing up. If you advertise that you’re going to be someplace from 7-10, showing up at 8:30 is not acceptable, I don’t care how things are done in Florida.  😜Anyway, Gary has a nice lounge with a friendly clientele, and his humidor has a modest but diverse selection from which I purchased some Alec Bradley Magic Toast Gordos, and RoMaCraft Aquitaine Mode 5s, and lit up a Magic Toast.  I love this Magic Toast, it’s my kinda smoke. The dark, oily Honduran wrapper is beautiful, and the flavor is equally dark and lush. I smoked a Mode 5 next, and while I prefer the CroMagnon, the Aquitaine is damn tasty. This is a great example of how the wrapper can completely change the flavor of a cigar, as the wrapper is the only difference between the CroMagnon and Aquitaine lines. Jimmie finally showed up and hung out for a while. I hadn’t seen him since the 2017 IPCPR show, so it was nice seeing him again. Suburban Cigar Lounge is a great place to hang out of you find yourself in the area. I’m sorry I didn’t let long time reader Corey know I was going!

 

Last night I smoked the 2Guys Smokeshop exclusive Pistoff Kristoff Firecracker. Every year they do a special Firecracker release, last year it was the Mi Querida, prior to that it was the Fratello. I’ve managed to smoke a bunch of them, except for the original ones. It’s a small format, 3½ x 50, in a stronger blend. This was the second Pistoff Firecracker I smoked and I thought it was very good. I’m OK with the Pistoff blend to begin with, so I figured I’d be OK with this, and if I wasn’t, it wasn’t going to be a large time commitment. I do, generally, get an hour out of the Firecrackers, smoking them slowly. Because of the closed foot, a trademark of Kristoff, and usually a Firecracker trait, it starts with a blast of wrapper flavor, and some concern that the draw will be tight, once the wrapper burns, this one opens up to a perfect draw and has a good, bold flavor. It was strong, but well balanced. It looks like these are sold out, as is the case with most of the limited Firecrackers, but often the have second runs, and I would recommend these and others if you like small, strong cigars. They have all been exceptional in my opinion. 

 

Contest

It’s time to select a winner in last weeks contest.  To recap, I am giving away some great, in my opinion, Don Juan Calavera cigars from Danli Honduras Tabaco (from my own humidor, to protect the innocent), a Herics Cigar Tape, and a Cigar Prop and Light Bleed Tool from CigarProp.com. It’s possible some other goodies could fall into the box while I’m packing it up.  There were 42 entries, and according to the random number generator, the winner is Bob Langmaid! I seems like Bob wins everything all the time, but I could only find one instance of him winning one of my contests, and that was almost 4 years ago. I’d rather have someone who hasn’t won before win, but Bob’s name came up, and he’s been fanatically religious about entering my contests for many years, so fair is fair!  Please send me your address Bob! 

 

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

 

CigarCraig

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by | June 30, 2019 · 7:10 am

CigarCraig Contest! Don Juan Calavera Cigars, Cigar Prop and Cigar Tape, and a Rant

Since IPCPR is in full swing (scroll down for the rant), and I have a full physical inventory at work tonight that has been taking up a lot of my time this week, I figure it would be a great time to have a contest. I also was anxious to share some of these Don Juan Calaveras cigars, and I always like sharing my buddy Kevin’s Cigar Props and Lighter Bleed Tools. Now, the Cigar Prop and Lighter Bleed Tool are Cigar Prop’s legacy products!  Kevin has been expanding his product offerings with some really unique and different materials lately, but I’m old school and love the traditional materials. Read on for the contest details:

 

Included (for now, you never know what else I might add), are two each of the Don Juan Calavera in Sumatra and Maduro from Danli Handuras Tabacos. You can read my thoughts on these cigars here. They have recently added an English translation to their website, and Their cigars run $175 a box of 20 and can be bought directly from them by contacting them through their website or Facebook page. So you can check to see if they are definitely 6″x52, I’m including a Herics Cigar Tape measuring tape to use to measure cigars. I reviewed this handy item here.  Of course, you’ll want to Give Your Cigars the Props they Deserve© with an original Cigar Prop from CigarProp.com, and you’ll also want to treat your butane lighters right by using the CigarProp Lighter Bleed Tool every time you fill your lighter. I use the Bleed tool all the time, it’s preferable to jamming some foreign object like a screwdriver into the fill valve of your expensive lighter and risking damage to it and ruining your lighter as it’s purpose built to do the job. I can’t fathom not using one of these. I think Kevin would have sent me more stuff to give away if I’d have asked him, maybe for the next giveaway 😉, but I had these here and I don’t like to ask.  So, leave a comment on this post for a chance to win, and I’ll select a winner at random next Sunday, July 7, 2019. Muchos Gracias to Danli Honduras Tabacos, Cigar Prop, and Herics for the goodies in this contest! 

 

A Little Rant

I have to do a little IPCPR rant.  I relinquished my IPCPR Media membership several years ago for a couple of reasons. I was a member in good standing for five years, which means I paid my dues, which were the same as the dues would be if I owned a retail store. A retail store owner received more benefits for that membership, and the trade show admission is always positioned as free with your membership. Given that there are no real benefits of membership to the media other than trade show admission, this translates to me as an expensive trade show ticket. Travel expenses, time off work, I spent a lot of years busting my ass running around for very little return on investment, and quite a bit of frustration from the organization I was spending time, money and effort trying to promote. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed myself to some extent, and love spending time with a great many friends I’ve met in the cigar industry, but it wore me down so I no longer felt the desire to spend my vacations covering the IPCPR show. I still receive e-mails from the IPCPR, and the day before the show started I receive an e-mail addressed to “Our Valued Media Members” asking that we (the media) make appointments and limit interviews and try to do interviews outside of the show hours. Basically they are saying that the retail members are there to do business with the manufacturer/distributor members, so we don’t want the media members getting in the way of that. OK, now, if the IPCPR were issuing press passes to the media for free entry to the show (like many other trade organizations), I wouldn’t have a problem with this request, a day before the show is stupid, we’re supposed to make appointments now?. The time for that was months ago, when, by the way, those of us who have done this before had already made our appointments. They are now asking paying members to not do the only business that they are able to do on the show floor. There is zero chance to do interviews after the show floor closes with any but a few cigar people. After a long day on the show floor, the exhibitors just want to go to their rooms and decompress, clean up and get ready for the long night ahead, and maybe get some rest for the long next day. They aren’t looking forward to a group of camera wielding cigar media people swarming the exits ready to pounce TMZ style because they are discouraged from doing the business that they are paying to do on the show floor. I know a few manufacturers who look forward to the show specifically to connect with the media. It’s just one more blatant slap in the face of media by the IPCPR, who hasn’t wanted them there from the get go, and only tolerated those who ponied up the cash, as long as they toed the line. I was a proud member for several years, and fought with them for a lot of privileges, but none of it was worth the aggravation, it seems. It might be just as valuable for me to go to Vegas while the show is underway and hang out at the Circle Bar in the Venetian after show hours, or go to the Tobacco Plus Expo next year.  I guess that wasn’t that little of a rant…

 

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

 

CigarCraig

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