Tag Archives: Quality Importers

Some Wise Man Cigars, a Conspiracy and a Panacea

Last week I dropped by the Wooden Indian in Havertown, PA and picked up a couple of new cigars.  I was actually looking for something else, which they had sold out of, so I had to pivot.  I got some of the new Foundation Cigar Co. Wise Man cigars.  The original El Güegüense and Wise Man Maduro cigars have been retired, and replaced by two new ones, both carrying the Wise Man name.  These are being made by My Father Cigars.  I started with the Wise Man Corojo in Toro size.  This is a 6″ x 52 cigar with a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper, Estelí & Jalapa binders and fillers from Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa. I really liked this cigar!  It had what seems to me was a confectioners sugar sweetness. It had bright flavors, some light spices and really appealed to me.  I was surprised and looked forward to the Maduro.

 

The following night I smoked the Wise Man Maduro, also in the 6″ x 52 Toro.  This is the same blend as the Corojo: Estelí & Jalapa binders and fillers from Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa, but with a San Andrés Maduro wrapper.  I expected to like this more than the Corojo, oddly, I was mistaken.  This started out spicy and remained so through the cigar.  I wanted some earthy, chocolaty coffee, but it was more like spicy burnt dark roast.  It wasn’t completely off-putting, but I have to say that I liked the old blend better.  Heck, I loved the Corojo, probably more than the original El Güegüense.  Perhaps some aga will help the Maduro, but it didn’t appeal to me, I’m afraid.  It’s very unusual that I don’t like a Maduro over something else, but it seems to be happening more and more lately.  Is this a reflection of the maduro cigars or of my palate?  

 

When I was at the Smoke-onos event, I talked to my old friend Michael Giannini, who was manning the Quality Importers booth with Alex Goldman.  He showed off some of their newest accessories, and some of the things they can customize in their “Swag Bunker”.  He also handed me a cigar with a plain white band (pre-production, I assume) that said Conspiracy (with a backwards N that I can’t manage to pull off with a standard keyboard). This cigar was shown at the PCA show, and was a collaboration between Alex Goldman (House of Oxford, Royal Gold Cigars), Michael (La Gloria Cubana, Foundry Cigars, Ventura) and Ernesto Carrillo (EPC, La Gloria, Etc.), made at the Casa Carrillo factory.  I had the Ecuador Connecticut in the 6″ x 60 size because that’s what Michael handed me. I’d love to try the San Andrés version. Both of these have undisclosed binder and fillers, except that the tobaccos are from Ernesto’s factory.  This was a decent cigar, with a darker shade wrapper.  I  enjoyed it while watching the Phillies play in London. If I’m honest, like it was hard to differentiate the baseball game being played in another country from one played here, the cigar was good, but not remarkably so.  Both were a good product.  Bring on the Maduro.

 

I pre-gamed game one of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals with a Flatbed Tobacco Co. Panacea Green 560 from the Grande line.  Speaking of Panacea, please take note of their Daily Deal on my left sidebar. You can get some great deals on some great cigars.  I’ve taken a shine to the Green Label, it has a Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper, Dominican Habano binder and Piloto Cubano, Olor Dominicano, and Nicaragua ligeros in the filler.  This is a reasonably strong cigar, but not overwhelming. It has the flavors I look for in a cigar like this, some cocoa and coffee, with some spice.  I rather enjoyed the 5″ x 60 format, it fit well into the time I had for a cigar, a little over an hour.  It looks like today’s (Sunday, June 9), deal of the day is a 560 sampler, which would be a great way to try the Panacea offerings.  I just might bite.  Great line of cigars from a small, family company right here in PA.

 

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

CigarCraig

 

 

 

Share

1 Comment

Filed under Review

News: Quality Importers Trading Company Launches Palio Gift Sets

Here’s some news from Quality Importers, the folks behind Xikar, Palio, Cigar Caddy, Humidor Supreme and Stinky Ashtrays.  I think I have a Cigar Caddy that’s 20 years old, several Xikar products and a few Palio items.  The Palio cutter does a great job, I should pull it out of the car and use it more.  These look like a good deal:  

 

Quality Importers Trading Company (QI) announces the  launch of two Palio branded gift sets, just in time for the holiday season. The gift  sets are shipping to retailers nationwide as of today. 

 

The perfect stocking stuffer or gift for your loved ones, each Palio gift set features  a Palio Vesuvio Triple Torch Lighter in green and a Palio original 64 RG straight  cutter in either Black or Grey. These two elegant accessories are packaged together  in a timeless windowed gift box.  

 

 

Michael Giannini, Chief of Consumer Engagement, adds “When you are in need of  that perfect gift for your cigar enthusiast loved one, and don’t know where to turn,  QI is here to save the day! These gift sets are the perfect price point for all  consumers featuring the iconic Palio cutter and one of the best triple torches in the  game with the Palio Vesuvio. Happy Holidays from the entire QI Family!” 

 

Both the Palio Gift Set featuring a Palio Vesuvio Triple Torch Lighter in green and a  Palio Straight Cutter in black or grey retail for $34.99. 

 

 

Share

Comments Off on News: Quality Importers Trading Company Launches Palio Gift Sets

Filed under News