Tag Archives: Kristoff

by Craig Vanderslice | October 20, 2024 · 9:23 am

Kristoff, Joya de Nicaragua, and Illusione Cigars

This week I smoked a bunch of cigars that I picked up at various shops in my area. I’m fortunate, I guess, to live in an area with an abundance of cigars shops, and one of them (a chain, actually, with about five shops within a ten mile radius of my home) is a TAA member. Every now and then I stop in one of he shops to find something new and interesting, sometimes I find both, sometimes neither! I’ve been picking up some of the TAA exclusives lately, as regular readers will have noticed. I picked up a Kristoff TAA Exclusive from last year, a neat perfecto shaped cigar. It’s 6 ¼” x 60, tapered at both ends, like cigars in old cartoons. It has an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Dominican fillers. This was a really fun cigar to smoke. I was surprised to read that this was a Connecticut Shade wrapper varietal. While I had sweet woody notes, it didn’t make me think of shade. I really enjoyed this, it was smooth, rich and quite enjoyable. I wish more cigars came in this shape!

At another shop nearby I was there for a Drew Estate event, so I was looking for something new-to-me in their portfolio, no easy task. I spied the Joya de Nicaragua Classico Media Siglo and picked one up. I got the Toro size, naturally, but they offer those in some interesting sizes: a 6″ x 41 and a 5½” x 42. This cigar is supposed to be an homage to the first cigars JdN produced fifty years ago, which I have no frame of reference for, but I’m sure I have smoked the classico, it’s on the milder side. This cigar was on the light side of medium, with leathery, woody notes, which aren’t normally my thing. It was OK, not my cup of tea, necessary. I’m more a fan of the Antaño lines, if I want a milder JdN I usually go for the Numero Uno or Cinco Decadas (with the Joya Silver close behind).

Friday I did what I said last year that I wouldn’t do again, and got both a Flu shot and a Covid Vaccine at the same time. This time, apart from the sore left arm, I had a dull headache all day and that was about it. I get migraines, and this wasn’t one of those, and Aspirin, Tylenol, etc. don’t do a thing for me. I did, however, power through and selected an Illusione Cigares Prívé PCA Exclusive, a box pressed 5 ½” x 56 robusto. This I smoked while watching a movie on the porch (the first Captain america movie, I’ve seen bits and pieces of a lot of Marvel movies, I’m trying to watch them all start to finish. I might have the only Captain America travel humidor on the planet, by the way). This is one of my favorite things to do on the weekend, relax with a cigar and a movie. I believe this cigar was the 2020 version, based on the shape and the band. I may stop back in the shop where I got this and take a closer look at the box. It has an Ecuador (Habano Claro) wrapper, over a Nicaraguan binder with Nicaraguan (Criollo 98 & Corojo 99) fillers. It was a beautiful cigar, nice cafe con leche colored wrapper with a nice box press. This started with a bright citrus tang, and them mellowed a bit. It was very nice once I got past the sharpness of the start, I wouldn’t hesitate to smoke this again. I’m a bit negligent in sampling Illusione cigars, I need to get try some more.

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

CigarCraig

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Tagged as cigar, Cigares Prive, cigars, Classico, joya de nicaragua, Kristoff, Medio Siglo, PCA, TAA

by Craig Vanderslice | October 6, 2024 · 9:29 am

Jaime Garcia, Kristoff and Stolen Throne Cigars

Once again I picked up some new-to-me cigars at various shops. I can’t quite remember why, but I stopped in to the Cigar Mojo shop nearest to me and came across the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Suceser, which I initially misspelled, my mind saw the english version, which is “successor”. From what I can devine, this comes in two sizes with two different wrapper, which is interesting. I got the 6″ x 56 Toro with a Sumatra seed wrapper and there’s also a 6 1/8″ x 52 Torpedo which has a Habano seed wrapper. I have to hunt down a torpedo, I guess. I was unable to find any more information about the blend than that! I recently smoked the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial and was really into it, this was a very different cigar. I found it to be very spicy, much more so than the Broadleaf counterpart. The spice held on throughout the cigar. I liked it well enough, but I think I’ll stick with the Broadleaf, but I still want to try the Suceser Torpedo.

I’ve been hearing about the Kristoff Guardrail for quite a while and finally picked one up at a Cigar Cigars shop a couple towns over. I went there to meet a guy who wanted me to try out some Dominican cigars that he has an idea that he wants to import and give a go at selling. Young guy, filled with optimism…I’ve got my thoughts on the cigars which I’m going to share with him, but I’m not sure how to tell him it’s probably nore a great idea. Anyone in the industry want to offer this guy some advice? Anyway, the Guardrail is an homage to Kristoff’s owner, Glen Case, having a horrific motorcycle accident returning from a charity ride on a rented Harley. He was banged up pretty good, and we’re lucky he’s still with us (he’s genuinely a very nice man). This was the 6 ½” x 56 Matador size, has a Brazilian Maduro wrapper, bindier from the Dominican Republic and fillers from the Dominican Republic & Zimbabwe. I’ve honestly smoked more Zimbabwe tobacco in the last few weeks than I have in my life (and that could be said if I had only smoked one cigar with that tobacco, and I’ve smoked this and the CAO Thunder Smoke). This has a hint of the mesquite flavor that the CAO had, not as prominent bu there, along with some sweetness from the Brazilian wrapper. This was very nice, I’d smoke it again.

In another recent shop visit, this time the Wooden Indian, I got a couple of the new Stolen Throne Argos, this one is 6″ x 52 with a pigtail cap and a semi-closed foot. This is an interesting project with started as an exclusive to Winston’s Humidor in Midlothian, VA, with proceeds going toward animal rescue organizations. I don’t know if this is still the case, but knowing Lee Marsh as I do, I wouldn’t doubt that it is. Lee hates that I love the Three Kingdoms and Crook of the Crown, but am not a fan of the Call to Arms and Yorktown Fleet, the latter of which is growing on me. I think this Argos falls somewhere in between. It has a sour note that I find in the Yorktown, perhaps that’s the “roasted oranges” that is mentioned on the website (one roasts oranges?). I also got some leather and some dry baking cocoa sort of flavor. I found it enjoyable, and very much appreciate Dave at the Wooden Indian for hooking me up with these. I just wish these had bands, maybe whip something up on a laser printer or something? 🙂

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

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Argos, cigar, CIgar Cigars, Cigar Mojo, cigars, Guardrail, Jaime Garcia, Kristoff, Reserva Especial Suceser, Stolen Throne, wooden indian

by Craig Vanderslice | 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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Tagged as Alec Bradley, cigar, cigars, DOn Juan Calavera, Kristoff, macanudo

by Craig Vanderslice | 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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Tagged as 2 Guys Smokeshop, Alec Bradley, cigar, Cigar Prop, cigar store, CigarCigars, cigars, Contest, DOn Juan Calavera, Firecracker, Foundry, Kristoff, padron, Pistof, RoMaCraft, Suburban Cigar Lounge, Uranium

by Craig Vanderslice | June 18, 2019 · 8:58 am

News: Two Guys Smoke Shop Announces Release of 2019 Firecracker

I’m a sucker for the Firecrackers, they are a great little smoke with a big cigar taste. One of my favorite cigar memories was smoking a Fratello Firecraker on the Spanish Steps in Rome. I just thought there was so much irony in that, and it was a great cigar for walking around that wonderful city. I’ll look forward ordering some of this year’s Kristoff Firecrackers too!

2019 Edition of the Firecracker To Be Released On June 24th

In 2006 Two Guys Smoke Shop owner David Garofalo came up with a concept that would become one of the most sought after limited edition cigars each Independence Day. The cigar came to fruition when Don Pepin Garcia was visiting Two Guys Smoke Shop for a series of events. It was at one of these events that Garofalo asked Garcia to roll a cigar with a fuse on it. After some hesitation Garcia rolled the cigar that would become a signature release for the New Hampshire based retailer.

Since 2006 the cigar has seen versions from My Father Cigars, Tatuaje (in the form of an M80), La Flor Dominicana, RoMaCraft, Fratello and DTT’s Mi Querida. In addition the cigar sees an ongoing production version from Jose Dominguez.

This year the first Firecracker release comes from Glen Case and Kristoff Cigars. It’s based off the Pistoff Kristoff blend which features a San Andres wrapper over Indonesia binder and Nicaragua fillers. The blend starts off with a bang and continues right through the explosive finish.