Tag Archives: Tabernacle

by | October 15, 2023 · 11:25 am

Some Foundation Cigars, a Big Payback and a Little Papas Fritas

I went and got a flu shot and a Covid vaccine yesterday and the combination has really kicked my ass.  Can’t recommend that pairing. Not sure which one gave me the fever and chills, but it was a miserable night last night, and I’m not exactly Mr. Happy this morning. We’ll see if the grass gets cut today or not, or if any cigars get smoked. Anyway, I stopped in to Cigar Mojo Thursday for their Foundation Cigars event with Eduardo Aguilar and Miguel “La Chaveta” Montanez for a quick visit. I probably could have stayed for a while, but I wanted to watch the Flyers game in the comfort of my own lounge, and I was fighting off a migraine, and a smokey lounge isn’t great for that.  So I did the grab and go thing, and went home and fired up a Tabernacle Havana Seed No. 142 Doble Corona and watched some hockey. The Doble Corona is a 7″ x 54 cigar, good for the pre-game show and into the second period. The wrapper is a Connecticut grown Havana No. 142, obviously, which is a hybrid seed which is dark and oily and really quite beautiful. The binder is San Andrés and the fillers are from Estekli and Jalapa in Nicaragua and JAmastran in Honduras.  This is a rich, spicy cigar with some sweetness. I also picked up a toro and a lancero, which I haven’t gotten around to smoking yet.  really looking forward to those. I love the original Tabernacle, but this one is something special.

 

Friday I grabbed a Foundation The Wise Man Maduro in the Robusto size. I like their Robusto because it’s 5½” x 50 and skirts the line between toro and robusto.  This was the sequel to the El Güegüense, which people fumbled over pronouncing. It seems it was easier to just call the maduro version by the translation: The Wise Man. Hard to argue the logic. This has a San Andrés wrapper, a COrojo 99 binder from Jalapa and fillers from Nicaragua. Being a fan of the Mexican wrapper, it’s hard for me not to love this cigar, it’s one of my favorites in the Foundation line.  It checks all the boxes for me, coffee, cocoa, some spice. I dig it.  I was disappointed that the new offerings from Foundation were a couple weeks out at the time they had this event. I was hoping to get the new Charter Oak offerings, even though I’m not sure I get the trend of budget lines coming out with premium offerings (Rocky Patel Edge, Brick House come to mind).  I still want to try them, I’m desparate for anything new at this point!

 

So desperate I am for something new that I decided to smoke the new Room 101 Big Payback Redux while watching hockey yesterday afternoon.  I figured this would be good for the better part of the game. Here’s what Matt Booth has to say about this cigar: “It has been my life’s mission to produce a combustible vessel so engorged and far more magnificent than its standard counterpart in cylindrical presentation, and it’s my greatest honor to offer our people such a product that overflows with both girth and grandeur.” If you’ve ever heard Matt, you just read that in his voice. This is a 7″ x 70 cigar, outside my usual comfort zone. I’ll do a 60 no problem, but a 70 is just unwieldy. I can count the number of 70 ring cigars I’ve smoked on one hand. This is a $9 cigar, and that’s the point of the brand, to give back to the loyal Room 101 supporters with a good cigar at a reasonable price.  I have to say, mission accomplished, it’s a tasty cigar. This is made in Honduras, using a Honduran Olancho San Augustin wrapper (STG must grow a crapload of this as it’s been popping up on just about everything in their portfolio for the last dozen years, including Cohiba), a Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan, Dominican and Honduran fillers. I actually really enjoyed the cigar, which is good, because it’s a three hour commitment (a colleague noted a smoking time of 4½ hours!  In a row?). Smooth, sweet nuts and creamy coffee notes.  I can’t say this will be a regular for me, but if I find I need a three hour cigar, I won’t hesitate to grab one of these.  

 

In an effort to balance things out, and since the effects of the vaccines were beginning to kick in, I decided to have something small for mey Saturday evening smoke. I hadn’t gotten around to smoking the Drew Estate H99 Papas Fritas yet, and I had bought a few several weeks ago.  I figured I had smoked a behemoth cigar earlier, might as well off set things with something on the small side.  This is 4½ x 44 with a pigtail cap, and made from the trimmings of the Liga Privada line. Steve Saka launched this line when he was at DE to utilize some of the valuable bench trimmings, and named it after one of his favorite things.  Oh, I know, you think I’m being mean, but I’ve known Steve for over 25 years, and his favorite things are cigars, food and booze, gimme a break.  Anyway, the H99 version came out last year as one of the Freestyle Live packs, and I’m not sure it would have been a big mystery, although I never saw the Freestyle Live pack, it’s a fairly distinctive format.  This isn’t a pretty cigar, but it is tasty, and it burns well for a short filler cigar.  I like having some short smokes around, and this and the original Broadleaf version are good ones to have. I still haven’t had the Nasty Fritas.

 

That’s all for today, I feel like the fever has made me drone on a bit.  I’ll read this later and maybe do some editing (probably not). Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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by | November 22, 2020 · 11:04 am

Tabernacle Goliath and a Mi Querida Triqui Traca Cigars

Let me start out by bitching a little about the USPS messing with my plans for this post a little. I had ordered some of the new Triqui Traca sizes because I was unable to find them locally, and they were supposed to have been delivered yesterday and they weren’t. How USPS manages to goof up Priority Mail that ships Tuesday and is scheduled to be delivered Saturday (already a stretch), is beyond me. A few weeks ago I sent a box to Washington state on a Saturday and it was delivered on Monday. Sure, it cost me more than $8, but c’mon. And I recently cashed in some rewards points for an Amazon gift card and they are mailing it….what sense does that make? OK, now I’m just bitching about stuff for for the sake of bitching…forget about that last part. Point is, I had to switch up my whole plan for this post at the last minute. Fortunately, it’s not hard for me to convince myself to smoke a great cigar, so I made other plans.

 

Last week when I was at Cigar Mojo, one of the cigars I picked up was the Foundation Cigar Co. Tabernacle Goliath. I probably should have gotten both the David and the Goliath, but I was trying to moderate my spending. In retrospect, it would have made this post easier, and perhaps, more interesting. Apologies. The David and Goliath are perfecto shaped cigars, both have a gorgeous Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, San Andrés binder and Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers. I would venture a guess that the blend is the same as the regular Tabernacle line. The Goliath is a 5” x 58 perfecto, it’s chubby. The David is 5” x 54 and is more of a pointy perfecto. This is where I regret not buying both and comparing the two, because the shape can make a big difference in the flavor. The Goliath was a wonderful cigar. Despite the fact that once it burns past the first quarter inch its basically a gordo or fat robusto, the burn was perfect. It was loaded with the rich espresso and cocoa that I love, with the spice and earth from the San Andrés and the fillers. This was such a good cigar, and burned nice and cool all the way down to the nub. Again, now I need to go get the David, because I can imagine that the smaller ring and the pointy shape would sharpen the flavors some and cause a different experience. Darn my frugality. So if you like the Foundation, you should love the Goliath!

 

As I alluded to above, I was hoping to receive some of the new sizes of the Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust Mi Querida Triqui Traca, the 652 and the 764. So I followed the Goliath (after dinner, of course, not immediately) with a Triqui Traca 552. I realized that I had never really featured that size on these pages, and I’ve smoked a few. I like the 648, it’s close to a Toro, and I’ve been looking forward to trying the 652, and I just figured “Why not” on the 764. It’s a ridiculous size, but people rave about the Mi Querida Gran Buffalo (same size, next on my list to try). The Triqui Traca is another Broadleaf wrapped cigar that is based off of the Mi Querida Firecracker blend (of which a third, and tweaked, release is imminent. Damn, that’s another order I’m going to have to place with 2 Guys…) which is an amped up version of the Mi Querida. I’ll be honest, I love them both. If the Mi Querida is a Hershey’s Special Dark bar, then the Triqui Traca is one of those dark chocolate bars with the hint of cayenne pepper. It’s got some extra kick, but not too much, just enough to keep things interesting. Of course, it burns perfectly, if it didn’t, Saka wouldn’t sell it. Here’s a secret, because I’ve known him as long as I have, and he’d kill me for revealing this: he makes each cigar a half an inch longer than advertised and personally smokes a little bit each one to make sure it’s right before the cap is applied and it’s banded and packaged. That’s how much he cares! :-). (Before someone believes this and Saka comes after me for defamation and slaps me with a cease and desist, it’s a joke. He only does it with about half). If you like the Broadleaf cigars, you can’t go wrong with either cigar mentioned in this post, and of course they share some common ancestry.

 

So far there is a tie for the CigarCraig Readers Poll Cigar of the Year, so get your votes in! Please e-mail me at craig@cigarcraig.com with your choice for the 2020 cigar of the year. I’ll compile the results and post them on December 31. Please be as specific as possible. Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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by | November 8, 2020 · 9:35 am

Tabernacle Lancero, La Palina Pasha and El Titan de Bronze Redemption Maduro Cigars

My wife gave me a great idea for the end of the year which involves the cigar of the year and a contest, but I’m going to save that for Wednesday’s post. Today I want to talk about a few cigars that treated me right this week! the first of which was a Tabernacle Lancero from Foundation Cigar Co.. This was an older example, easily a few years old, probably from the initial run. I likely bought this at an event with Nick at the Wooden Indian. I also have an El Güegüense Lancero from the same event. It’s funny that the Tabernacle Lancero is 7” x 40 while the El Güegüense Lancero is 7 ½” x 40. I guess one factory has one mold and one has another. Neither, by the way, are 38 ring gauge, a slight nit to pic. The Tabernacle is Broadleaf wrapped, San Andrès bound, and Esteli Jalapa/Jamastran filled, and is delicious. I think the larger ring cigars in this line are richer, of course, but the Lancero is special. When smoked slowly, as one needs to do with small ring cigars, the combination of sweetness, spice and earth really makes for a great tasting smoke. It may actually have been my last Tabernacle, a situation I soon need to remedy.

 

Yesterday was an uncharacteristically warm November day, so I took a walk with a La Palina Family Series Miami Pasha. I don’t think this is even part of their current portfolio, or how old it was. I have two that are in coffins, and this one was in cello, perhaps an IPCPR sample from 2016? This is a 7” x 50 Churchill with a shaggy foot, made at El Titan de Bronze in Miami. I was looking for American made cigars yesterday, and this was one I came up with. Besides being made in the US, the brand has American roots, and I was feeling patriotic. This has a wrapper and binder from Ecuador and fillers from Nicaragua. I have learned to be careful with shaggy footed cigars, they seem designed to burn shirts. This one did not, and, like many, it was relatively bland until the wrapper and binder started burning. This was a nice tasting cigar. It was subtle, not overpowering with strong flavors, largely woody and leathery with some honey sweetness here and there. It was a very nice cigar, although I wonder now if the coffin variety will be far more cedary after years of storage.

 

In keeping with the theme of the day, I finished my Saturday with an El Titan de Bronze Redemption Maduro Corona (actually a Corona Gorda) from a Sampler I bought there when we visited a year ago last September. Why I haven’t smoked this yet, I have no clue. Their corona is 5 ½” x 48, which is even bigger than a Corona Gorda actually. It’s a really nice size in my opinion. This came in a five cigar sampler that they sell in the factory on Calle Ocho for $45 and is a really nice way to sample their line. This cigars has a San Andrés wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. It’s a nice tasting, medium bodied Maduro cigar. It has the flavors one expects to get from a cigar of this make-up, Espresso, some pepper spice, with excellent construction. Considering that it’s made in the U.S., it’s not priced out of line for the quality that you get! I can think of a bunch of cigars made at this factory and I can’t think of any that aren’t really good. A definite e destination if you find yourself in Miami.

 

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

 

CigarCraig

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by | February 10, 2019 · 10:53 am

Nothing New This Week! Some News and “Comfort Food” Cigars

I was a slug this week, I just grabbed cigars I felt compelled to smoke because I wanted to smoke them. I went back to the Bolivar Heritage 550, an Ecuador Sumatra wrapped cigar that was a Michael Giannini creation when he was still with  General Cigar Co. They did a thing with Bolivar and Ramon Allones under the Foundry line, which they recently sold to Ventura, obviously without those two trademarks, and I loved the Bolivar, but the Ramon Allones was distasteful to me. The packaging was creative, but I don’t know that it was embraced by the traditionalists. Like I said, I love the Bolivar Heritage, it’s a full-bodied smoke that I find rich and satisfying, and it’s very reasonably priced.

 

Speaking of Ventura, I received the following news item from them this week:

         

Kretek International, Inc. Now Exclusive Importer of Gawith Hoggarth Pipe Tobacco Products

Kretek’s specialized subsidiaries to be utilized for expanding reach of the historic premium pipe tobacco brand.

Effective immediately, Kretek International, Inc., the United States’ largest importer, marketer, and distributor of specialty tobacco products, is pleased to announce their new role with the legendary Gawith Hoggarth brands. Established in Kendal, England, in the mid-1800s, Gawith Hoggarth has a longstanding tradition of excellence within the pipe tobacco industry, offering a line of products that are highly sought-after by both tobacconists and consumers. Kretek International, Inc. already imports and distributes its related brand, Samuel Gawith, and aims to increase the reach and accessibility of Gawith Hoggarth through the well-established sales channels of their subsidiaries.

Gawith Hoggarth has maintained their top-shelf foothold in the tobacco business for almost two centuries with the time-honored techniques of pressing and twisting tobaccos to bring out their robust flavors. They are especially known for creating small-batch tobacco blends that carry unique, old-fashioned essences, like licorice, geranium, and rose.

Kretek International, Inc. will be utilizing the sales forces of Ventura Cigar Company and Phillips & King to distribute about 30 tobacco blends from Gawith Hoggarth. The Ventura Cigar Company sales team will focus their efforts on the premium tobacconist channel, and the Phillips & King sales team will offer the products to smoke shops and other pipe retailers.

The Gawith Hoggarth products join 4th Generation, Comoy’s of London, and Samuel Gawith as another high-quality pipe tobacco offering in the Ventura Cigar Company and Phillips & King portfolios.

“Gawith Hoggarth is a natural fit for Kretek,” says Erik Stokkebye, Brand Manager at Kretek of pipes and pipe tobacco. “As a fourth-generation master crafter at 4th Generation, I know a thing or two about pipe tobacco. Gawith Hoggarth is a brand my family has long-admired for its traditions and its quality. It has the values of a Kretek product, and using its distribution arm will only strengthen the brand even further. I’m very pleased to welcome them to the Kretek family.”

“We’ve been going through a lot of changes at Ventura Cigar,” says Michael Giannini, General Manager at Ventura Cigar Company. “As a newly-formed standalone subsidiary of Kretek, we’ve been building a sales team that is hyper-focused on reaching and growing the tobacconist channel. Gawith Hoggarth has a long history of performance for retailers and is a top draw for consumers. It’s a brand that we are proud to present to our retail customers.”

Ventura Cigar Company plans to begin shipping the Gawith Hoggarth products in late spring/early summer 2019. For more information about Gawith Hoggarth, please visit venturacigar.com.

# # #

About Kretek International, Inc

Kretek International Canada was founded in 2000, as a branch of Kretek International, Inc, which is the United States’ number one importer, marketer, and distributor of specialty tobacco products to convenience, mass, and national retailers. For over 30 years, Kretek has enjoyed a strong reputation for providing exceptional customer relationships and top quality goods. Kretek International Canada has followed in the path of its parent company, offering the same outstanding service and specialty tobacco products to the Canadian market.

About Ventura Cigar Company

Ventura Cigar Company (VCC) is a unique cigar brand born in sunny Southern California that is on a mission to create memorable, complex cigar blends that excite the senses and reward discriminating palates. Their flagship Archetype, Case Study, Project805, and PSyKo SEVEN brands offer multiple award-winning blends that earned 90+ ratings in Cigar Aficionado, Cigar & Spirits, and Cigar Snob. And Archetype’s Axis Mundi won #13 Cigar of the Year for 2017 from Cigar Aficionado. Ventura Cigar Company also distributes the 4th Generation and Comoy’s of London line of pipe tobacco products, extending its reach and tradition of offering top-quality tobacconist products. Pipes and blends under these brands are cultivated through generations of craftsmanship, making them longtime favorites of pipe tobacco enthusiasts.

About Phillips & King International

Phillips & King International, a division of Kretek International Inc., is the leading distributor of premium cigars, specialty tobacco, vapor, and alternative smoking products and accessories in the United States. Since 1906, the family-owned company has built a strong reputation by focusing on independent brick-and-mortar shops, priding itself on offering top products and the best service to their customers. Their highly experienced sales staff works with thousands of shops in all 50 states, US Virgin Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and globally to US military bases. The company distributes over 21,000 SKUs, warehoused in a 150,000 sq. ft. semi-automated facility. In addition, they have a portfolio of proprietary brands including Ventura Cigars, Ventura Vapor, Greenhouse, EZ Cig, FasFil, and more. Phillips & King also distributes the Price Kutter, a monthly buying guide that outlines best-selling products, deals, and information for the tobacco and tobacco-related industry. For more information, please visit phillipsandking.com.

 

Since I don’t really care about pipe tobacco, I didn’t give it it’s own post, and I really wasn’t going to post it here, but I didn’t have much to write about today.

 

I was in the mood for some Broadleaf, which is kinda normal, so I smoked a Foundation Cigar Co. Tabernacle Toro, the 6″ x 52 in the line. It drives me nuts when people get Foundation and Foundry confused, I hear it pretty often. I think if you’re going to the trouble of either writing about cigars, or talking about them on a podcast, you should have your facts straight and not mix easy facts like that up. The Tabernacle is a great smoke, it probably beats out Nick’s previous work on the Liga Privada No. 9, which I also smoked this week, and is right there with the Mi Querida (and Umbagog) as one of my favorite Broadleaf cigars these days. It reminds me that I need to get my hands on the Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142.

 

Speaking of Drew Estate, I almost missed this because no matter how many times I’ve asked them to change e-mail addresses, they don’t listen. As I’ve said before, little cigars aren’t my thing anyway.  But, since they are friends of the site, here is the latest from DE:

ACID and Tabak Especial Release “Frenchies”, a New Quick Smoke

Drew Estate announces today the launch of a new series of quick smokes, the ACID and Tabak Especial “Frenchies.” These small cigars will be introduced at the Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE) held in Las Vegas, Nevada February 11-13th.

The ACID Frenchies are small cigars wrapped in a lush Sumatran wrapper with Nicaraguan fillers, producing a delightful, sweet smoke with a pleasing room note. The Tabak Especial Frenchies are wrapped in smooth Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade with Nicaraguan fillers that are perfect to pair with your cup of coffee in the morning.The ACID and Tabak Especial Frenchies are 3 1/4” x 20 small cigars. ACID Frenchies are packaged in both 5 and 10 count packs, while the Tabak Especial Frenchies are sold in 10 count packs only. Each is shipped in a shelf merchandising sleeve of 10 packs for retailer convenience, with each pack individually humidified with Boveda for placement both inside the humidor or at the register.

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate notes, “Frenchies are the mega start to kick off the 20th Anniversary of ACID, and a perfect way to enjoy ACID in any moment during your day. For you coffee freaks, we also have the Tabak Especial in this new mini size. Why Frenchies you ask? Well, French is the language of romance and people are going to LOVE these sticks.”

The ACID and Tabak Especial Frenchies will be shown at TPE in February with Phillips and King taking pre-orders, and shipping to retailers in June. Kwik Trip will sell the ACID and Tabak Especial Frenchies in a first to market period of 60 days, starting March 1st, throughout their 650 locations. A full introduction of these small cigars will take place at the 2019 IPCPR for all customers and sales channels.

The ACID Frenchies are available as follows:

  • ACID Frenchies 5-Count pack MSRP $5.99/pack, shipped in shelf sleeves of 10
  • ACID Frenchies 10-Count pack MSRP $9.99/pack, shipped in shelf sleeves of 10

The Tabak Especial Frenchies are available as follows:

  • Tabak Especial Frenchies 10-Count pack with an MSRP of $9.99.
ABOUT DREW ESTATE

Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world. Under their mantra “The Rebirth of Cigars”, Drew Estate has led the “Boutique Cigar” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that attracting new and traditional cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Herrera Estelí Norteño, Isla del Sol, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Larutan by Drew Estate, Nica Rustica, Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, Tabak Especial, Undercrown, Florida Sun Grown, and Java by Drew Estate.

 

Honestly, there’s zero chance I’d smoke these. I’m not opposed to enjoying one of the tinned coronitas from time to time, the Undercrowns are tasty, but they seem too much like “catching a smoke” to me, when cigar smoking represents taking an hour or so to relax and unwind, a forced slow-down. But that’s just me, who am I to tell people how to enjoy their tobacco time! I’m in a curmudgeonly mood this morning!

 

That’s all I have today. I need to find something interesting to smoke for the next time. I have a fiver of cigars a neighbor sent me from Key West that look interesting, and if I get bored mid-week I might have to put a little contest together or something. Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

 

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by | October 7, 2018 · 1:36 pm

Foundation Cigars at Gilbertsville Cigar Factory, a Marzio Cigar, and the Contest Winner!

Friday I took a long overdue drive up to the Gilbertsville Cigar Factory, a shop in Gilberstville, PA which used to be called Sir Stogies, and occupies a building which was the W.K. Gresh & Son’s Cigar Factory, and Gilbertsville Cigar Factory No. 95 in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The shop is owned by Chris and Amber, and Chris is wears another hat as the area’s rep for Miami Cigar and Company. GilbertsvillerCigarFactoryI’ve known Chris since I met him in 2011 when he gave me a special cigar on the day my first granddaughter was born. The store is beautiful, with spacious lounge areas, two walk-in humidors, and an attentive staff. The historic building offers a very nice ambiance. Gilbertsville Cigar Company is one of the few shops around, due to their close ties to Miami Cigar and Co., that carries Marzio Cigars, which is an interesting sort of joint venture between Toscano and La Aurora. I have wanted to try this cigar since I Marzio Robustoheard about it, out of curiosity. Considering the tobacco they use from the Toscano cigars is basically Kentucky or Tennessee fire cured tobacco, it compares to the KFC, and it’s a bit unfortunate that there’s nothing else to compare it to. It started out to be overwhelmingly smokey and didn’t appeal to me, but it mellowed over time and wasn’t that bad after a while. I think, like the KFC, some humidor time would mellow these out, but I’m not sure I’d go too far out of my way to find out. I’m reminded that I bought some various Toscanos in Rome when I was there that I still have to open up and try.

 

Tabernacle_RobustoAnyway, The last time I visited this shop was in 2010, and just like that occasion, I ran into Walt White, whom you know as one of the founders of Stogie Review, and I spent a good deal of the evening catching up with him. I always enjoy hanging out with Walt. The reason I decided to make the trek to Gilbertsville was because they were having an event with Foundation Cigar Company and Nick Melillo. I knew Nick was going to be at a closer shop the next day, but I had other plans, and I always go to events at that shop anyway. It was a very busy event, lots of traffic and it looked like they sold a lot of cigars. I fully enjoyed a Tabernacle Robusto, and picked up a few cigars that I didn’t need. Of course, the Tabernacle is a favorite of mine, it’s Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, San Andrés binder and fillers from Jamastran in Honduras and Jalapa and Esteli Valleys in Nicaragua. I was hoping the new Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 was going to be there, but I didn’t see it and I forgot to ask Nick when it would be around.  The Tabernacle is such a great cigar, dark, rich espresso and cocoa, right up my alley. They don’t call Nick the Chief of Broadleaf for nuthin. It was a great event in a great shop, highly recommended if you find yourself in that neck of the woods.

 

CharterOak_CTBroadleaf_ToroOne of the Foundation cigars I picked up was the Charter Oak Maduro in the Toro size. I think I paid a whopping $5.50 + 6% sales tax for this cigar here in Pennsylvania, a state with no cigar tax  for a 6″ x 52 cigar wrapped in the same Connecticut Broadleaf used on the Tabernacle, with Nicaraguan (Habano, Sumatra, the website says both) binder and fillers from Esteli and Jalapa. Even though it may have burned a little faster than the Tabernacle, and the ash wasn’t quite as sturdy, but for the price this was a really great smoke. Similar coffee and cocoa flavors, not as deep and rich, less refined, milder, but a very nice cigar. this is certainly a cigar that I would put in my regular rotation if I had such a thing. Top notch, and previous experience with the Connecticut Shade version, which is also actual Connecticut leaf, not Ecuador (how this is done at this price is anyone’s guess), was also very good.

 

Contest Winner!

 

ContestWrapping up another contest!  this is another one which I noticed there weren’t as many entries as there used to be. I might put up a poll to see if I can figure out whats up with the contests. Do people no longer want free cigars? What’s the deal?  I’ll keep giving stuff away, fewer entries just means better odds for my faithful readers who enter year after year, and I thank you all who enter! And special thanks to people like Kevin of Cigar Prop who not only provide cool stuff for me to give away, but have the creativity and ingenuity to create cool tools like this and make them a reality. Honestly, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t use a lighter bleed tool or a one of Kevin’s Cigar Props! He has some cool ideas coming up that I’m excited to share when I’m allowed!  Anyway, I’m also always happy to share cigars that I’m into, even if it means depleting my own supply :-)! No big deal, the fun of smoking cigars is sharing them with others, and this time, I’m sharing them with Karl Brooks! The random number generator told me comment number 6, and Karl’s comment was the 6th one. Karl, please send me your contact info so I can pack up these goodies and send them out to you!  Thanks again everyone! I need to start scrounging some things together as the holidays approach! 

 

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

 

CigarCraig 

 

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