Tag Archives: general

by CigarCraig | October 8, 2011 · 9:42 am

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale Club

My love affair with La Gloria Cubana started in the mid 90s. You could buy them right from the El Credito factory on Calle Ocho in Miami, and for $5 less you could get a bundle instead of a box. Then they opened the factory in the Dominican Repuplic and there were the people that preferred the Miami rolled cigars over the ones from the DR, even though they were using the exact same raw materials. I could never tell the difference, but that really doesn’t mean anything. Then the company changed hands, the Serie R came out, another excellent cigar, more transitions in management, and now, under General Cigar, the team is coming out with one hit after another, most recently with the Artesanos Retro Especiale. I received a couple of samples at the IPCPR show and Friday night was the night to fire one up. First, it’s a really nice looking cigar. The band is beautiful, keeping the general theme of the traditional La Gloria band, but giving it a more retro look to compliment the gorgeous packaging. The wrapper is Connecticut grown in Honduras and is golden brown. It burned perfectly from start to finish, and it was smooth and elegant in flavor and appearance. Like it’s siblings, the Artesanos De Miami, Artesanos De Tabaqueros and Artesanos De Obelisco, this is a unique and special cigar.

I know this video is a rerun, but it’s certainly relevant to this post as it features Yuri Guilllen, General Manager at El Credito, and one of the masterminds of La Gloria Cubana talking about the Serie N, the Artesanos De Obelisco and the Artesanos Retro Especiale.

Don’t forget to visit my sponsors, and get on over the IPCPR.org, or CigarRights.org (or use the link in my sidebar) and send letters to your elected officials regarding the FDA and Premium Cigars! If the FDA has their way, we’ll never again see wonderful works of art like the packaging for the Retro Especiale, not to mention having premium cigars to enjoy in the first place!

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

CigarCraig

2 Comments

Filed under IPCPR, Review, Video

Tagged as cigar, Cigar Rights of America, cigars, connecticut, El Credito, general, general cigars, IPCPR, La Gloria Cubana, retro especiale

by CigarCraig | October 2, 2011 · 5:18 pm

October Is Here: Berger & Argenti, Chateau Real and Macanudo Contest Winners!

It’s autumn here in south-east PA, and the evenings are getting shorter. This time of year I tend to gravitate toward maduro cigars more, not sure why that is, I just do. I have my winter stock of smaller, maduro cigars in half of a box of Chateau Real Small Clubs and three quarters of a box of Hoyo de Monterrey Sabrosos all ready for the cold winter walks. I have a severe dislike for fall and winter, so next spring can’t come soon enough.

Earlier this week I had a yen for a Berger & Argenti cigar, so I grabbed a Classico Belicoso that I received at the IPCPR show. This one wasn’t quite as tasty as the Mooch Schnorr, but it was still very nice, and for some reason the 5¾” x 50 belicoso shape felt very elegant in the hand. I know, that sounds a little un-manly, but it’s seemed like it would feel just right while wearing a tuxedo, and what’s more man;y than a tux. I don’t know where that while line of thought came from, but it did, and there it is. As I said, this was a very tasty smoke and burned nicely. I have enjoyed the heck out of the recent samplings from Berger & Argenti. I’ve still got some Mooch maduros and Entubar Quad Maduros to look forward to. The Entubar is a very good candidate for my annual Halloween cigar.

Friday evening I just wanted something good and familiar, that I wouldn’t have to think about much, so I grabbed a Chateau Real Maduro Gran Cru Perfecto from my dwindling supply. I love the Mexican maduro wrapper on this cigar. I don’t think they are making the Chateau Real in maduro any more which is a shame, I guess I didn’t buy enough of them to keep them in production. It’s a nice, medium cigar that always hits me right, always draws well and burns straight, and I will be sad when these are gone! Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the Claro version of this cigar, but it’s quite a bit different with the maduro wrapper. Thinking about it makes me want another! Will power….

I need to select a pair of winners. The Macanudo Millionaire contest closed last week, so I hope everyone got their entries in. These Macanudo four packs are quite unique in that the cigars are all 6 x 60 versions of the regular line, the maduro, the 1968 and the Crü Royale. So, the winners, as selected at random using the random number generator at Random.org. The numbers generated were 1 and 6, which correspond to kekoa kai and Kyle! Congrats gentlemen! Make sure you get in touch with me with your contact info so I can send out your prize!

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

CigarCraig

Comments Off on October Is Here: Berger & Argenti, Chateau Real and Macanudo Contest Winners!

Filed under Contest, Review

Tagged as Argenti, Berger & Argenti, cigar, cigars, Classico, Contest, drew estate, Entubar, general, general cigars, IPCPR, Kiki Berger, macanudo, Macanudo Millionaire, Millionaire, Mooch

by CigarCraig | September 28, 2011 · 6:30 pm

A Trip to the Wooden Indian, a Cain, an A.Turrent and a Monte Pascoal

Sunday afternoon I decided to take a ride to see my daughter and son-in-law and my 5 month old grand-daughter. I visited with them until it was nap time (the baby’s, although I could have taken one myself!). Anyway, they happen to live in the same town as one of my favorite area cigar shops, the Wooden Indian. I got there within a half hour of their closing, so I took a look through the humidor to see what was new. They have a very nice stock, which includes a smattering of nice boutique brands that aren’t always available in stores closer to home. Normally I’ve visited this store on days when they are having events, and haven’t really taken a close look at their stock. Neither needing more cigars, or wanting to spend a lot of money, I settled on a pair of Cain Daytona coronas, which ended up under $5 each. I hadn’t yet smoked the Daytona, although I do have a couple lanceros in the humidor at home. I had a nice ride home and after dinner I sparked one up. This is now my favorite Cain. I love the flavors in the line, but the Maduro and Habano and “F” series tend to be stronger than I prefer. Somehow nausea detracts from the cigar experience. Anyway, the Daytona is full flavored, yet not so strong as to cause the world to spin. Top notch cigar and priced fairly. It’s all I can do to not smoke the lanceros now!

Monday was a long day at work so my evening was slightly shortened. I grabbed a shorter smoke in an A. Turrent Tripple Play Robusto. I had the good fortune of meeting Enrique Seijas at the Altadis booth at the IPCPR show and he gave me a thorough tour of the booth. One of the sample pack s he gave me included this cigar. The Triple Play is an all maduro cigar, with a San Andreas wrapper, a Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and fillers from Nicaragua, Mexico and Honduras. Since I love Mexican maduro, and broadleaf, I figured this would be a good fit for me. I did enjoy the cigar quite a bit, although I had to touch up the burn a few times. Nice cigar that I look forward to trying again, although I can see where it may not be for everyone.

Tuesday evening I grabbed a Monte Pascoal Minuto on the heels of an e-mail from Wesley Gensel announcing an article in Smokeshop Magazine about the brand. I met Wes at the IPCPR show in New Orleans and spent some time with him at the show this year, where I first enjoyed this cigars. The Monte Pascoal was also awarded the best Brazilian cigar by Cigar Journal magazine at an awards ceremony at this years show in Las Vegas, which I was privileged to attend. These cigars are Brazilian puros, made with Mata Fina and Mata Norte tobaccos. I really enjoy this little 4 3/8″ x 42 petit corona. It had a very rich flavor and was quite satisfying. I look forward to trying the larger sizes, but this Minuto is a very nice little smoke.

Here is a video of Wes from the IPCPR show last July:

That’s it for now! Don’t forget to enter this weeks contest to win a Macanudo Millionaire 4-pack! Leave a comment on my last post to enter. I failed to mention that there would be TWO winners again!

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

1 Comment

Filed under Contest, IPCPR, Review, Stores, Video

Tagged as A. Turrent, altadis, Brazil, cain, cigar, cigar store, cigar stores, cigars, Contest, Daytona, general, general cigars, IPCPR, macanudo, Monte Pascoal, oliva

by CigarCraig | September 25, 2011 · 8:45 am

G.A.R., Liga Privada, Veritas, a Contest Winner and Another Macanudo Contest!

This nice looking G.A.R. Opium STK toro was handed to my by my old friend Frank Seltzer at the Drew Estate blogger party at this years IPCPR show. He gave it to me without any comment at all, and I’m sure he has no affiliation with Gran Habano. I started removing bands (three of them in all, the foot band had to go first!) and lit this puppy up. To start out, it’s a nice looking cigar, 6” x 50, which oddly felt larger than 50, but I measured it and it certainly was a 50 ring gauge. It smoked very well, and while I didn’t taste poppy seeds or any other interesting flavors, it was a nice, solid, tobacco flavored cigar. It’s a good cigar although not one I think I’d go out of my way to find. I need to try more cigars from George Rico and Gran Habano.

Friday I celebrated the end of another week with a Liga Privada No.9 Parejo. I’ve been sitting on this particular one for about 2 years, and, wow, what a wonderful cigar. Perfectly made, perfect balance of flavor and strength. I actually purchased this at an event at the Wooden Indian (the old store) where we first met Marvin Samel. Just a super cigar that I smoked to within a half inch of it’s life. I still have one of the first Liga Privada No.9 cigars with a plain band from 2007. Mike Staiber, formerly of Drew Estate, presently of Oliva, gifted me this cigar at an event a while back. I’ll probably let it get to five years old or so before I fire it up, just to see how well it aged. It’s all I can do to keep my hands off the meager supply I have, they are so good.

Saturday I took a walk with a Veritas MMXI 6” x 60 Maduro, which I got at the Delaware Cigar Festival. This was about the blackest maduro I’ve seen in a long time. I’ll be honest, my first thought is that it was dyed, and the contrast between the fillers and wrapper was quite stunning. Whatever the process involved, I enjoyed the cigar quite a bit, it needed a couple touch-ups but burned nicely. I’m told that these are made by Blue Mountain Cigars in Esteli, and the maduro cigars pictured on their website look just as black. Like I said, I enjoyed the heck out of the cigar. This is the cousin of the Veritas DEA 7¼” x 58 Solomon Connecticut cigar that is accompanying the Rosie Napravnik bobblehead that some lucky reader is going to win.

Contest!

Thank you to everyone who entered. It’s been a little amusing to me to see how many visits I had this week from people searching the phrase “Rosie Napravnik Bobblhead”, or something similar. Thanks go to Delaware Park for unwittingly providing part of the prize, and Veritas Cigars for allowing me the opportunity to purchase the other part of the prize! So, as usual, I assigned each entrant a number based the time of their entry. Swede214, please send me your contact information so I can send you your prize!

Another Contest!

I still have some Macanudo Millionaire 4-packs to give away, and I better do it quick since the deadline for entry is September 30, 2011. So I’ll hold my October contest a little early. Leave a comment on this post to enter, I’ll select a winner next Sunday, October 2. Don’t forget to visit MacanudoMillionaire.com to enter to win the trip to Vegas and a chance at a million bucks!

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

CigarCraig

12 Comments

Filed under Contest, Events, IPCPR, Review

Tagged as Blue Mountain Cigars, cigar, cigars, Contest, delaware cigars, Delaware Park, drew estate, esteli, general, general cigars, IPCPR, liga privada, macanudo, Macanudo Millionaire, Veritas

by CigarCraig | September 18, 2011 · 11:18 am

The Delaware Cigar Festival and Another Contest!

Saturday, September 17 marked the long awaited fifth annual Delaware Cigar Festival, organized and hosted by Gary Griffith, the Premium Cigar Manager of Delaware Cigars and the creator of Emilio and Grimalkin Cigars. The event took place at Delaware Park, which is already one of our favorite places in the area to go and waste some money on the ponies, or drop some pennies in the slots. The event was unique, as it is a big herf disguised as a charity event, although Gary won’t use the charity aspect to promote it. The format is that the manufacturers and reps sell their samples for $3 each, with all of the proceeds going to charity, which this time benefited the family of a slain police officer (news report here), this was just in the last few days and quite tragic.

Photo Courtesy of Charlie Greenbacker

For your entrance price you got a bag with about 20 or 25 cigars (nice stuff too, I looked!) and assorted swag, a nice picnic buffet with burgers, dogs, chicken, ribs and beans, and the opportunity to talk with the assorted cigar makers and reps who were there. Brands represented were: Inked Magazine, Rocky Patel, Arturo Fuente/JC Newman, Emilio Cigars with brand creator Gary Griffith, Drew Estate, Altadis USA, Oliva, Perdomo, La Sirena with Brand Ambassador Arielle Ditkowich, La Flor Dominicana, Cigar Rights of America, EO Brands with Eddie Ortega, Miami Cigar, General Cigar, 262 Cigars, Kristoff Cigars, El Primer Mundo with Sean Williams, Veritas Cigar Co., and The Cigar Agency. Keith Park from Prometheous was also there. All of these companies donated TONS of stuff, either cigars that were sold for $3 each, or stuff to be raffled off (we bought 10 tickets didn’t win a darned thing!). The attendance was capped at 300 people, including staff, press and exhibitors, so it was a nice sized crowd. It was rarely a problem to have a chat with the vendors.

In addition to getting to schmooze with some of my friends on the manufacturers side, I was able to hang out a bit with some fellow blogger types such as Barry from ACigarSmoker.com, Walt from StogieReview.com and Michael from CigarEvents.com. I also had the great pleasure of meeting one of my readers, Charlie, who won big in the raffle give-aways! These events are always about the people, and you just don’t meet nicer folks that those associated with cigars for some reason!

What a wonderful event that I would recommend highly next year if you are within a 3 or 4 hour drive. Gary is a fine gentleman and I appreciate him welcoming myself and my wife for the afternoon. It’s refreshing to see a retailer put on a “not for profit” event, and to have so many people there enjoying cigars and camaraderie. I’d love to see more manufacturers participate in the future as the event is for good causes and shows the cigar business in a positive light. The only downside was that the weather could have been a little nicer, it was overcast and under 70 until we drove off the premises, then the sun came out and it was nice! Hardly anyone’s fault. I managed to win about $4 on the ponies over the course of the day too!

In honor of the event, I’m going to have another quick give-away! I know, I JUST had one that ended this week, but we got a couple Rosie Napravnik Bobbleheads at the park for Racing Fan Appreciation Day and I thought I’d combine it with a beautiful Veritas Connecticut Salamone that I purchased from the Delaware based Veritas Cigar Co. at the event. So leave a comment to enter, and I’ll pick a winner next Sunday, September 25th.