Archive for December, 2011

Cigar factories closing and one fights back by Frank Seltzer

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

Ok so the headline is a little misleading…(I want to see if Google picks this one up). Yes, cigar factories are closing…pretty much all of them. But it is normal, they take a break for the holidays and will reopen after the new year. But there is a worry about the proposed FDA take over of the premium cigar business so one manufacturer is throwing a Molotov cocktail into the fight.

“Coup d’etat”

Quesada Q D'ETAT

Quesada Q D'ETAT

The Quesadas — makers of the Cubita Dominican, Fonseca and Cubano Limitado lines in the Dominican Republic — are stepping up the fight against the FDA rules by coming out next month with a new addition to their Quesada line with Q d’etat. This limited edition represent a symbolic revolt against government intrusion into the premium cigar industry. There will be 1,000 ten-count boxes for each of the three sizes to be released over the coming year. According to the company’s release, “The brand is intended to create awareness of the dangers increased government regulation and taxation will produce, specifically the FDA’s desire to regulate premium cigars.” Each box also will contain a membership form for the Cigar Rights of America which along with the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers are leading the fight on Capitol Hill against the FDA.

The first cigar in the line will be a figurado called the Molotov, measuring 5 x 38/58/44 at $7.50 and is a Dominican puro. The name comes from the Finns who during the Winter War in 1939 were fighting the Soviet Union. Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov went on the radio to deny the Soviets were dropping bombs on the Finns and said they were bread baskets. The Finns started calling the bombs Molotov Bread Baskets and then used the improvised incendiary weapons against the Soviets. They were called Molotov Cocktails because the Finns said you need a drink to go with the bread.

The Quesadas say they chose a shorter smoke for the initial release because “this cigar is a great size for the thousands of us who will have to smoke outside in the freezing cold this winter because of draconian smoking bans that prevent us from enjoying a cigar indoors at our favorite bars, restaurants, and, often times, even cigar shops.”

New York New York

Montecristo New York Edition

Montecristo New York Edition

Altadis USA has launched a new Montecristo, especially for New York. The New York Connoisseur Edition debuted at the annual Big Smoke in Manhattan and it is in shops across the state now. It features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Dominican fillers and a Nicaraguan binder. The stick is a corona gorda measuring 6×60 and has a price tag of about $14.

Bye Bye Blue

Original Matasa Factory

Original Matasa Factory

Since 1974, MATASA has been headquartered in the original free trade zone in Santiago. It was the second building in the facility. But when it officially closes this week for the Christmas break, it will be the last time the Quesadas go there. The decision to move was made about a year ago. The Quesadas rented the blue building in the free trade zone and as patriarch Manuel Quesada puts it , “we have probably paid for the building several times over.”

Since 1961, the family has owned a building out in Licey which has its own free trade zone. The building was once home for the company’s Manipuladora de Tabaco – a tobacco brokerage business founded by Manuel’s father. But in 2002, the company stopped selling leaf and it solely existed to acquire tobacco for the factory. Having a trade zone of their own and a building, the Quesadas decided it made economic sense to really use it.

Beginning early last year, Manuel’s nephew Jose Manuel Bermudez, also known as Blondy, began the massive construction to increase the size of the existing buildings — after all the facility now would be home to not only the stored tobacco but also the factory.

Building the new Matasa factory last February

Building the new Matasa factory last February

The roofs were raised and second levels were added. The goal was to have the factory ready in October. Most of the operations were moved over to the new facility this fall, but like any move, there is always more stuff to take over. Between now and the end of the year, the family will completely empty whatever is left in the old factory since their lease ends December 31. The Quesadas will officially debut their new facility at Pro Cigar in February.

There’s an app for that

Finally, Drew Estate has been busy working not only on cigars but also on technology. The company has just released its iPhone app and is working on one for the Android platform. The app lets you browse all of the company’s cigar brands, lets you buy stuff from the Kult Shop, find Drew Estate events based on location and see more about its Cigar Safari program. The app is free and available in the iTunes store under Drew Estate.

Crowned Heads–Four Kicks

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

Headed by Jon Huber, this cigar was highly anticipated by smokers all over the blogosphere. After leaving CAO we were curious what he’d come out with. Four Kicks is the first blend offered by Crowned Heads. It is made by Ernesto Perezz Carrillo in the Dominican. I admit I was looking forward to trying this cigar as well. They are limited in availability, which tends to peak interest with many.

Thanks to John G. for picking up a couple and sending them to me. I was sent the Corona Gorda and Robusto sizes. With a glass of water, I reviewed the Robusto.

 

Wrapper: Habano Ecuador

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: Robusto 5 x 50

Price: Around $7.50

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had a nice velvety appearance, with minimal veins or flaws. The smell of the wrapper was a bit earthy and leathery. The cigar was pretty evenly packed, with a slight tightness towards the head. The pre-light draw had a little resistance, and had a woody and earthy flavor.

The ash held for about an inch, and the burn required one minor touch up.

1 Crowned_Heads Four_Kicks Cigars

Flavor:

The first third had a smooth earthy flavor with a nutty component. As I progressed further, woody notes came into the picture. Through the noes there was almost no spice at all. Simple but nice.

2 Crowned_Heads Four_Kicks Cigars

The second third developed into a richer flavor profile. The woody flavor became more hearty and thicker feeling, and the earthiness took a  back seat. Passing smoke through the nose revealed an easy spicy pepper. The woody aftertaste had a tangy zing that made the lips tingle. The smoke feel was crisp, but felt thick and hearty at the same time.

3 Crowned_Heads Four_Kicks Cigars

The last third basically had the same flavors as before, but they became fuller and stronger. Very nice…

4 Crowned_Heads Four_Kicks Cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good, solid, slow burning medium bodied cigar. It had a nice build up to a rich flavor profile. Construction was good, the draw was good, and it burned well. There is really nothing bad I can say about this cigar. Does it live up to the hype? I don’t know… While I liked this cigar, I can’t say that I was wowed by it. But it was good. You’ll have to try it for yourself and see what you think. If I ran across these at a local shop, sure I’d smoke them again.

Hey Cigar Smokers – This Reprieve is What We Need, by Tommy Zman

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Wow… sometimes if you make enough noise, ruffle enough feathers, and turn over a slew of apple carts, you just might get people to take notice. What am I talking about you may ask? Well cigars is what we talk about on this here blog and the issue of the day has been the Food & Drug Administration’s attempted takeover of the cigar industry, a move that you all are aware would cause great harm, putting 85.000 jobs in peril.

TakeActionEagleOriginally, this past Thursday, December 8th was the deadline that the FDA set for taking public input on this smoky matter. But the tobacco gods have smiled upon us all, as the date has been moved to January 19, 2012, proving to me that our voices may not be falling on deaf ears after all.

Now, I hope you don’t for a moment think I’m beating the proverbial dead horse with all of this FDA talk, cra-logo-colorbecause there couldn’t be a more serious issue that needs all of our attention.

Okay, back to my first point… who exactly is making all this noise and ruffling all them feathers? WE ARE – you and I, the cigar lovers of our great nation. Through the valiant efforts of Cigar Rights of America, close to 130,000 petitions have been sent to Washington letting the legislators know that in no uncertain terms they are NOT going to mess with a legal product that we hold in the highest regard. There is no passion I know of like that of the cigar smoker and we are letting the politicos know exactly how we feel… but, guys… I’m sorry to say that it’s not enough. While the time extension is a very good thing, we must remain vigilant in letting the D.C. dumbasses know that we’re gonna fight this tooth and nail, through hell and high water, yada, yada, yada, and any other colloquial expressions that I might possibly think of.

While the decision to extend the date on public opinion is a surprising one, I really have to believe that the actions of the cigar smoking populous may have raised an eyebrow or two, causing the FDA-holes to to stop from sweeping our ashes under the rug so quickly. While I have no tangible proof of this, I do know that proposition H.R. 1639 / S. 1461 – Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act has garnered the support of a great number of U.S. Congressmen and Women. And the really cool thing is that while a number of these politicos don’t even smoke, they do see this proposed takeover as an infringement upon our rights and just another ransacking of our personal freedoms.

Picture 1While none of us can really predict how this will all pan out, I have to believe that the cigar lobby has made a pretty strong case in the fact that the FDA’s iron fist takeover would be genocide to an industry that has existed for hundreds of years, and as I said earlier, employs a tremendous amount of people -including yours truly. Yeah, this one has gotten personal, my friends.

So keep sending your pals those emails, post about it on FaceBook, Twitter, and all your favorite social media outlets, and support Cigar Rights of America in their patriotic grass roots fight in saving the world of cigars as we know it. Thanks again for listening, my buds, and continue to kick those ashes that need to be kicked.

Like I always say…Stay Smoky My Friends.

TZ.Sig.2

Tommy Z . JR Cigars Blog With the Zman

Tom’s Favorite Cigars of 2011

Friday, December 9th, 2011

It’s getting to that time of year when every blogger starts posting their top 10 cigars of 2011. I am jumping on the bandwagon a little early and doing just that, sort of… While there were quite a few good cigars in 2011, only a few really stood out from the pack in my opinion. They were just so far above the pack that they dominated and knocked everyone off of the list.

T-Logo-2

So without further ado, here are my top three cigars of 2011. Everything else just fell by the wayside.

 

3 – Tatuaje Anarchy

This is one of the few cigars that I called “Great.” It is full bodied with flavor and full strength with power. Everything just seemed to be in perfect balance. This cigar proves you can have power and flavor in harmony.

2_Tatuaje_Anarchy

 

2 – Quesada Oktoberfest

I called this cigar “Damn good.” I liked it so much, it was reviewed twice. I reviewed HERE and again with Ed HERE. While the flavors aren’t terribly complex, this full bodied cigar was simply a beautiful smoking experience. My only complaint is their limited availability.

1 Quesada_Oktoberfest cigars

 

1 – Casa Magna Domus Magnus

I summed up this cigar as “Damn Good.” I don’t even know if my review does it justice. This medium to full bodied cigar packed in the flavors and complexities that just hit the spot. What more can I say? It is just a great cigar. Like the Quesada, my only complaint is it’s limited availability.

1 Casa_Magna_Domus_Magns_Limitada cigar

 

And there you have it. My top cigars of 2011. While I had many good cigars in 2011, these three really stick out at the moment. That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

New Cigars and a New Shop by Frank Seltzer

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

As we approach the holidays, things usually get quiet. But there is some news going on. There is new cigar out from Altadis USA, one not officially announced from Pepin Garcia’s My Father factory and Davidoff is renovating a bunch of their shops.

La Duena

In Spanish it means the owner, and in this case it is a special cigar made for Janny Garcia, daughter of Pepin, sister of Jaime from My Father Cigars in Nicaragua. Pete Johnson, whose Tatuaje cigars are made in the factory, worked on the blend with Janny to come up with a special line just for her. Pete has been developing the blend in secret for about a year and recently mentioned he was smoking one, as did Janny.

In talking to Janny before she headed to London for some events, the cigars will come out just before the IPCPR show this summer and most likely will be in 4 sizes…A Belcoso Fino, Petit Lancero, Petit Belicoso and a Robusto. Pete says the cigars are kind of a cross between the Jaime Garcia and his La Casita. The blend uses Connecticut Broadleaf for the wrapper and in the filler along with Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar will be a medium strength smoke, but sounds delicious.

Vega Mas Fina

Altadis USA has been making Vega Fina cigars at the huge Tabacalera de Garcia in La Romana, Dominican Republic. While the cigars have been big sellers in Spain (second only to Montecristo) they have not been known much in the U-S. They often get overlooked for more popular brands from Altadis like Montecristo or Romeo y Julieta.

However, the company is reinvigorating the Vega Fina line. This past summer it changed the packaging, making it look cleaner and just like the ones sold in Europe. The blend is Ecuadorian Connecticut over an Indonesian binder with Columbian, Dominican and Honduran fillers. It is a mild to medium smoke, at an affordable price, but now for the first time Altadis USA is introducing the Vega Fina Seijas 2011 Limited Edition.

Jose Seijas 2011 Limited Edition Vega Fina

Jose Seijas 2011 Limited Edition Vega Fina

In 2010, when I was at the factory, Jose Seijas gifted me a box of the Seijas 2010 limited edition series that went to Europe. They were sold in Spain and France and were quickly gone. This is a meatier smoke than the usual line and is very flavorful and I have been slowly smoking them since they were not available here. Now with the new 2011 series (a 6 x 56), which will be available in the U-S, I can smoke more. The 2011 series uses a San Andres Criollo wrapper over Dominican binders and fillers. They run about $6.50 each.

Swiss Store

Davidoff has been around for 100 years and to mark the anniversary, the company last week unveiled its first of its kind Davidoff Flagship Store in the Zurich Airport.

New Davidoff store Zurich Airport

New Davidoff store Zurich Airport

The 600+ square foot lounge features a 300 square foot humidor.The new design also incorporated an iPad app that can help customers find the right cigar or the nearest cigar lounge. Davidoff not only makes its namesake but also the Avo line of cigars.

The company says it will roll out this design beginning next year at all the flagship Davidoff stores around the world. The company is making the push in the U-S, China and the Duty Free markets.

The lounge is meant to recreate the feeling of the Dominican Republic, which is where Davidoff cigars are made. Alas, like parts of the D.R. there appears to be no smoking in the airport shop.  However, the airport itself does have 16 smoking lounges.

Good News

County councilmen in St. Charles, Missouri, last week rejected putting a smoking ban on the ballot. Hero council Chairman Joe Brazil said it was about protecting businesses choices as he fought to defeat the proposal. It is likely that the antis will try for a petition to eventually put the issue on the ballot. But for now a win for our side.

But remember the FDA is about to act on premium cigars…have you voiced your opinion? Please contact your Representatives and Senators now. It is easy…go to the Cigar Rights of America or the IPCPR website and do it today!

Tatuaje Monster Series-Wolfman

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Another Tatuaje review? Yes… I know I’m a little late on reviewing this annual Halloween series, but Ed got a late shipment. The only other Halloween series cigar I’ve had is last years “The Face.” I remember it being a very good cigar, so I jumped at the chance of trying the 2011 release called the Wolfman. This is a very limited cigar that fan boy’s seek and some obsess over. Personally, I think it’s about the cigar, not the hype. So let’s see how the Tatuaje Wolfman went. 

 

Wrapper: Sumatra

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: 7.5 x 52

Price: $13.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was blotchy looking and had a shiny yet rough look to it. The wrapper had a cedary sweet smell. The foot smelled similar but had a little spice that made the nose tingle. The cigar was pretty evenly packed, and had a little give when squeezed. The pre-light draw had a little resistance, and had a dark bitter flavor (not the bad kind).

The burn required a couple minor touch up’s, and the ash held for around an inch.

1 Tatuaje_Wolfman cigars

Flavor:

The first bit of the cigar has no wrapper. The initial first draws had a simple peppery spice with woody notes. Once I got to the wrapper, the pepper mellowed out a bit. The flavor felt smoother, with a dominant cedary flavor. Up next was a bitter sweetness that boarded on being dark chocolate.

2 Tatuaje_Wolfman cigars

The second third definitely had a sweet dark chocolaty core. The peppery spice was almost gone, and turned into a smooth sweetness that boarded on creaminess. A bitter sweet aftertaste clung to the inside of the mouth for quite a while. As this third came to an end, coffee notes were noticed.

3 Tatuaje_Wolfman cigars

The last third didn’t change too much in terms of flavor. Black coffee increased a bit, but the flavors I mentioned before remained. They all increased in body and strength. Speaking of strength, at this point I had a pretty good nicotine buzz.

4 Tatuaje_Wolfman cigars

Conclusion:

This was a very good full bodied cigar. It definitely isn’t for the mild smoker. I enjoy a good full strength cigar, but I don’t like when flavors suffer as a result. The Wolfman delivers in all areas – strength and flavor. This proves yet again that you don’t have to sacrifice one to have the other. If you run across this limited release, it is worth picking a few up.

CIGAR LOVERS: Don’t Let Everyday be a Blackened Friday by Tommy Zman

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

One week ago last Friday, I, Tommy Z did the absolute unthinkable. No, I didn’t smoke pineapple flavored White Owls with a Thunderbird 100 proof chaser… but I can honestly say that it was almost as bad. What could it be, you wonder aloud while gasping for breath as I keep you in suspenseful agony? Well I’ll tell you guys, but you’d better be sitting down because it’s not very pretty.

11-15-black-friday_full_600Here’s the low down…I was forced at wife-point to stand on line at Walmart on Thanksgiving night from 10pm until 2am to complete the world’s most horrendous Black Friday experience EVER.

Four hours… thousands of crazed shoppers… as I became one of the PEOPLE OF WALMART. If you’ve ever really imagined what hell is like, well, I can tell you, my friends… it’s not fire, brimstone, and a guy with horns and a pitchfork… oh no, it’s something much worse. It’s hour and a half long register lines filled with more nationalities than a U.N. summit, people who feel they have accomplished a feat greater than conquering Mount Everest – all by bagging that Samsung LED 46 inch TV for $200 below the regular retail price.

Picture 4Now why would a cigar smoking, football watchin’ beer guzzling, ball scratching, man’s man of a man subject himself to such morbid debauchery? Because my wife said I had to. I know… pathetic. I’m still at a loss for words, myself.

If you watched the news the following day you saw that a crazed woman at a California Walmart pepper sprayed a group of shoppers that she felt were eying up the items she somehow believed were rightfully hers. And an innocent guy was shot by a group of thugs who wanted his newly acquired holiday pickens. Yes, indeed people, it certainly was a most BLACK Friday.

What the bloody hell is going on here? Well, I think the economy being in the tank has a lot to do with people’s insane behavior on the night that they consumed mass quantities of turkey and a variety of goodies I spoke of in last week’s Thanksgiving Blog. And now, to make it all a lot more horrendous, we cigar smokers are being pushed to the brink by the FDA, who seriously wants control over the cigar industry, a move that just might cause a public outcry greater than any Black Friday ransacking. This is the destruction of out personal freedoms we’re talking about here, guys, and we have to make sure that our voices are heard.

So if you didn’t yet contact your local politico representatives, DO IT NOW! I’ll even make it easy for you… click the link below that the Cigar Rights of America Group has created and within a minute you can let the stooges in jolly old D.C. know that we really don’t appreciate them trying to save us from ourselves.

> CIGAR RIGHTS of AMERICA FDA LINK

Let’ em know that they are NOT gonna take away our right to enjoy the fruits of Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Let ‘em know how much we value our RIGHT as over-taxed American citizens to smoke our H. Upmann Sun Grown, Oliva Connecticut Reserve, Rocky Patel Edge, La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor, and Partagas Spanish Rosado. I am sick and tired of this crap and not a one of us should stand and take it any longer.

I have read that December 8th is the date the FDA has said that they will stop taking feedback from the public on this matter. That’s only a few days away, guys, and like I said, if you haven’t let these Washington wing nuts know how you REALLY feel, you still have time and NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!

Picture 3While I solemnly vow before you that I will fight the politicos tooth and nail to protect the leafy passion I love and hold so dearly, I also vow to NEVER, EVER stand on a Black Friday line again, and if I do, you have permission crack a Samsung over my thickened, cigar filled, Polish dome.

That is all people… now get your holiday orders in at www.jrcigars.com RIGHT NOW! Give the fat bastid in the red suit a break and start clicking your mouse, pronto!

Til next week, my holiday lovin’ bruthas n’ sistas,

TZ.Sig.2

JR Cigars Blog with the Zman

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Picture 18

Tatuaje Fausto Avion 11

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

I continue my Tatuaje kick that I’ve been on since Ed’s event not too long ago. I picked up several Tat’s I haven’t tried before. The Avion being one of those… As you’ve come to expect, I have no big back story about the Avion. I tend to focus on construction and flavor. Everything else is secondary. So let’s get to it…

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: Perfecto Grande 6 3/4 x 48/52

Price: $10.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper glistened in the light and had a bit of a rugged look to it. The smell of the wrapper and foot was sweet with a touch of bardyard. The pre-light draw had a little resistance, and have a sweet earthy flavor. The cigar was solidly packed with only a minor soft spot or two.

The first third required a good sized correction. I suspect that was from me not lighting the perfecto end correctly. The ash held for around an inch.

1 Tatuaje_Fauso_Avion_11

Flavor:

The first third was woody, a little nutty, and notes of peppery spice. The aftertaste was a bitterness you’d get from a dark chocolate but not quite that sweet. Through the nose, there was an easy sweet spice.

2 Tatuaje_Fauso_Avion_11

The second third had a dominant cedar with the bitter aftertaste I mentioned earlier. The bitterness was similar to black coffee but also reminded me the kind associated with dark chocolate. There was a nutty component in there as well. The spicy pepper calmed and became very mild.

3 Tatuaje_Fauso_Avion_11

The last third saw a return of pepper when retro-haling. It wasn’t a kick you in the face pepper. Black Coffee and dark chocolate dominated the flavor profile. It wasn’t as sweet as you’d expect though. The smoke feel smoothed out but wasn’t quite creamy.

4 Tatuaje_Fauso_Avion_11

Conclusion:

This was a solid full bodied cigar that started off medium. It was a nice smoking experience with nice complexities and change-up’s. Looking back, my flavor descriptions may be lacking. There was something else going on here. No matter, I liked it. Any full bodied smoker should find something good about the Tatuaje Fausto Avion.

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