The Borons Cigar Blog

Late last week, the Oettinger Davidoff Group –makers of Avo and Davidoff among others—announced a major sponsorship of Art Basel a very prestigious art show.  Art Basel takes place in Basil, Switzerland,  and in Miami.  Davidoff is headquartered in Basil.  The new sponsorship means the company will set up about a 1,000 square foot hospitality space which will feature a walk-in humidor and a cigar roller.  There also will be two outdoor Cigar Lounges to allow visitors both VIP and non to enjoy a fine cigar.   Art Basil has additional meaning to Davidoff in that under its prior regime at the company, the Miami Art Basil was where Christian Eiroa was first approached about selling Camacho to Davidoff.  That sale was announced in 2008.

And announced yesterday from Davidoff, Camacho will be releasing new four packs of its highly popular Corojo and Connecticut at the end of the month.  Says marketing director Dylan Austin, “Next time you walk into a cigar store there will be no doubt as to where you can find our Camacho Corojo and Connecticut products.” There will be five different sizes of either the Corojo or Connecticut cigars. The four packs will ship to stores on April 27^th.

FDA overload

The Food and Drug Administration has put out new rules for cigarettes, chew and other tobacco products as it tightens the noose around freedom.  The proposed rules won’t become finalized until June 4^th.  But as of now, the FDA wants tobacco companies to report quantities of 20 chemicals thought to be associated with cancer,  lung disease and other health problems.  The Secretary of Health and Human Services said”

“Today’s actions [the issuing of guidances on modified risk tobacco products and harmful constituents] represent critical steps forward on providing Americans with the facts about the dangers of tobacco use and to stop children from smoking.”

May I say….Bullshit.

Among the chemicals the FDA says are in tobacco is Carbon Monoxide, which I am pretty certain does not exist in tobacco but rather in smoke…any smoke which is why there are Carbon Monoxide detectors in many homes.  It also comes from car exhaust.  Anyway, the FDA wants tobacco companies to measure that.  In addition the agency has put out new guidelines for so called modified risk products like snus.  The agency is detailing what studies must be made…wanna bet they are multi year multi location studies which would bankrupt most companies?

Dr. Michael Siegel, the tobacco control proponent, says there are between  10,000 to 100,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke (though I would venture to say not just tobacco smoke but ALL smoke like fireplaces and stoves) .  He says most have not even been identified. His overall reaction to this is:

“The entire strategy makes no scientific sense, is not founded in any scientific evidence  base, is misleading and deceptive  at the core, and represents a tremendous waste of time and resources. This is regulation for regulation’s sake, and there is no public health benefit of these regulations.”

Gee a bureaucracy  making up regulations just for regulatory sake.  Who’d of thought that?

The FDA has yet to get its hands on cigars, but without action on your part it is just a matter of time.  And you can see what the FDA is doing to every other tobacco product. The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) and Cigar Rights of America have been pushing concurrent bills in the House and Senate (H.R. 1639 and S. 1461) which call for keeping the FDA out of premium cigars.  By sending petitions to Congress, so far the House bill has 161 co-sponsors while the Senate version has 6.  More are needed  so if you haven’t written your Congressperson, do it today.

Also on another front, the IPCPR and CRA is petitioning the White House to leave premium cigars alone. The petition is fairly direct it says:

“The FDA is considering the creation of regulations for the premium cigar industry. These regulations will jeopardize over 85,000 American jobs, destroy America’s “mom & pop” premium cigar retailers & manufacturers, and risk over 250,000 jobs in Latin American that produce cigars, impacting the economic/political stability in the region.

We hope you will stand up for small businesses that dot Main Street America & recognize that premium cigars are enjoyed by adults, are not addictive and therefore do not conform to the Congressional intent of the Family Smoking Prevention & Tobacco Control Act.

Tell the FDA to leave our premium cigars alone. With this nation’s more pressing issues, harming my simple ability to enjoy a cigar should not be a priority of the government.”

This petition though is a bit tricky in that we need at least  25,000 signatures on the petition by May 11. So the clock is running on this one…sign the petition and tell all your friends, stores and anyone else to get moving.  There is no guarantee the White House will do anything even if we hit the target, but in an election year, the more signatures the better.

Today’s review is another Pepin creation and is made by My Father Cigars. I will admit, I am a bit of a Pepin whore. Like many of you out there, I like many of his blends. As you’ve come to expect, I lack any more details about this cigar. So let’s get to it…

Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: Torpedo 6.12 x 52

Price: Around $6.00

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The oily wrapper had no visible flaws, and had some blotchy color variances. The smell of the wrapper was a mild, sweet earthiness with wood. The foot smelled the same, but had a spicy note. The cigar had some minor soft and hard spots, and bounced back when squeezed. The draw was good, with slight resistance. The pre-light draw was a simple sweet earthiness with cedar.

The burn required one minor correction, and the ash held for just over an inch.

Flavor:

The first third had a smooth cedary core with some pepper through the nose. It wasn’t your traditional black pepper, it was much smoother and had a slight zing. A sweet, floral undertone developed a little later.

In the second third, the pepper calmed down significantly. Cedar and nuts took it’s place (yes, I said wood and nuts). The floral notes fell to the background, and a sweetness came to the forefront. It was slightly bitter and reminded me of dark chocolate. A spice developed that had a cinnamony sweet tingle.

The last third kept pace with the second third. The cinnamon spice was more noticeable, and the strength and body may have increased slightly.

Conclusion:

This was a good medium to full bodied cigar. It didn’t have that peppery blast you may expect from a Pepin blend, and I have no problem with that. It shows some versatility in his blending style. There is really nothing bad to report. I’d recommend this cigar any day.

Now that it’s springtime, a man’s fancy (okay, it’s MY fancy – go get your own damned fancy) turns to the start of a new baseball season, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, some much needed time on the links, and of course, cigar smoking, cigar smoking, cigar smoking… did I forget to mention cigar smoking?

Unless you’re a polar bear or just completely missing a few vital screws in that noggin of yours, you have got to love the springtime. If you live in the north or cold weather areas, the temps are warming and the great outdoors are calling. If you live in more southern regions, the temps are quite comfortable and it’s a joy to roam amongst the outside world! But I think all of us lovers of the leaf can agree that it is a fine time to enjoy our favorite hand rolled happy sticks!

Whether you like baseball or not, the sport screams springtime and for a weekend afternoon game I set up a small TV at the edge of the garage, spark up a few big oily sticks – maybe an Omar Ortez Maduro and a La Finca maduro – then kick back and watch as the New York Mets attempt to wreck another season of hope for me. For the Stanley Cup matches, I usually have an after dinner pre-game smoke – Cain Habano seems about right – then hopefully when my New York Rangers win, it’s a post-game celebration cigar – a Punch Grand Cru #2 is seriously livin’ large! And if they lose, well I’ll just need an Alec Bradley Tempus to pick my spirits back up until the following game of the series.

Golfing – well that’s a story unto itself. I HAVE to enjoy a nice big-ash smoke on each nine, so a big boy like the Arturo Fuente Canone will always suffice, followed up perhaps by a tasty old standby, Partagas Number 10. And as a rule of thumb, I always stuff a giant-sized ziplock bag full of premium tobacco goodness in case the members of my foursome feel the definite urge to partake. Like they say, sharing is caring and I can’t think of a better way to spread the cheer while spending a glorious day on the links!

Oh, who am I trying to kid, here, when spring has finally sprung I will use any excuse and do anything humanly possible to enjoy a favorite cigar! Probably much like you, I am a stogie-fiend and resisting any attempt to light up on a nice day is utterly futile. Now during the winter, the humidor (okay, multiple humidors that are strewn about the home – again, who am I kidding) start to look a little paltry, but springtime is the only excuse I need to restock, replenish, and reload several month’s-worth of ammo in one fell swoop! Unfortunately (or fortunately), J•R Cigars has about 800 zillion cigars to choose from so it might take me a day – or five – to nail down exactly what I need (note that I used the word “need” as opposed to “want”.)

So my Brothers and Sisters in premium hand rolled leafiness, let us enjoy the wonderful weather as Mother Nature takes a break from that icy-cold bitch-fest we all refer to as winter. Spring has sprung and that is the only excuse you and I need to break out the good stuff and enjoy!

Stay Incredibly Smoky, My Friends,

JR Cigars Blog with the Zman

Whenever an unexpected package of cigars comes in the mail, it is always a treat that I have yet to take for granted. So when I saw a box in the mail from Patrick V. of Rocky Patel cigars, I was excited. Then I opened the box… Rocky Patel The Edge Candela. My first thought was “Oh no…” I’ve never had a Candela wrapper, but I’ve heard varying, mostly negative, comments about them.

Screw it, I decided to have this site, so it’s only fair to give the Candela a chance. You know the drill… I paired with fine filtered Florida tap water and smoked a couple of these cigars…

Wrapper: Habano Seed Candela

Binder & Filler: Secret, shhhh!

Size: Toro 6 x 52

Price: Around $6.40

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was… green. A few minor veins were noticeable but no real flaws to speak of. The wrapper smelled like it looked. Sort of grassy and earthy. The foot had a slight earthy odor as well. The cigar was solidly packed, with barely a hard or soft spot. The draw had slight resistance, and had a grassy/earthy flavor.

The ash held for around an inch, and the burn required no corrections.

Flavor:

The first third was pretty mild. The flavors were hard for me to pin down. The main flavor reminded me of Lipton Tea without any sweetener. Behind it was an earthiness with a pinch of grassiness. Retrohaling revealed an easy peppery spice that had no burn. The smoke feel was very dry and left me craving water.

The second third kept that earthy, tea like core flavor. The spice through the nose basically went away, but I would pick it up from time to time. The smoke feel boarded on creaminess, yet remained dry. I didn’t crave water as much though.

The last third had an increase in strength and body that fell in the upper mild to lower medium range. The flavors didn’t really change at all, they just felt bolder, if that makes sense. There MAY have been a tinge of sweetness, but it was so mild that I had a hard time picking it up.

Conclusion:

To my delight, this was a decent mild to lower medium bodied cigar. The flavors were simple, and I can’t remember the last time I tasted tea in a cigar. I guess that makes it unique, to me at least. I can see this one being all over the map in terms of acceptance. If I smoke more of these, it will be in the morning with coffee. That’s just my .02.

Swedish Match may be adding to its Garcia y Vega line. The company is rolling out a new Garcia y Vega 1882 in test markets in Florida and the greater Philadelphia area. The new Garcia y Vega is a rolled leaf cigar which is also known as “rough cut” and it refers to natural leaf cigars made with a just leaf wrapper and filler.

The new Garcia y Vega 1882 would be going up against one of the most popular all natural leaf cigars in the world — Backwoods. Both cigars use a broadleaf wrapper over fillers. As does the La Gloria Cubana El Perrito… the difference is El Perrito is hand made and contains several fillers while the others are made by machines. But El Perrito is like $2.50 each while the Backwoods is like 80 cents each…so don’t knock it.

MASTERS & Cigars

Over in Augusta, the victory by Bubba Watson at the Masters on Sunday is now in the books. If you didn’t watch, it was an amazing tournament complete with a Double Eagle and a hole in one. The Augusta Chronicle did notice that cigars were still in fashion at Augusta thought not as much as in the 90s. Duh. However, the owner of Marcella’s Fine Cigars in Augusta said Master’s Week is the busiest week of the year for her shops. Golf and Cigars…they just go together.

Live Free Springfield still making progress

The group opposed to the draconian smoking ban in Springfield, Missouri, is still making progress. Earlier this year, the group presented the city council with enough signatures to force the council to either repeal the ban or put it on the ballot. The council two weeks ago punted but apparently the council is still talking. At last night’s meeting, the council took testimony on proposed changes to the smoking ban. For example, exempting e-cigarettes from the ban—which of course do not create smoke and do not contain tobacco. Other exemptions are for tobacco shops, cigar bars, private clubs and theatrical productions. Jessica Hutson of Just for Him – a tobacco shop in Springfield – says while the council is likely to give the shop a pass on the law, she and the group are still going forward with the repeal vote. She says it should be up to the business to decide if smoking is allowed.

Smoking is not the issue, Property Rights are

The Live Free Springfield group has hit on what I have thought is the strongest arguments against smoking bans…that of property rights. David Henderson – a research fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution – asks in the Library of Economics and Liberty:

“Should restaurants allow smoking or not? Should schools teach evolution or intelligent design or both? Should insurance companies cover contraception? Should I be able to take off my shoes in your living room?”

He then asks what does the last question have to do with the others? His point is whether someone takes off his shoes in your house depends on how you want to use your property. So if property rights are respected none of the other three questions is a public policy question. Consider the smoking bans…Henderson writes:

“Should a restaurant allow smoking or not? I have no idea. Neither do you. Who does? The restaurant owner. The restaurant owner knows that if he bans smoking, he will get more business from non-smokers and less business from smokers. He also knows that if he doesn’t ban smoking, he will get more business from smokers and less from non-smokers. He will make that tradeoff and, if he has no particular interest one way or the other, will likely do so in a way that maximizes his net income from running a restaurant.

Ah, but what about his employees? Don’t they matter? Yes, they do, and the restaurant owner knows that they do and has an incentive to take account of their preferences. If his employees don’t like working where there’s smoke, he will take account of both the extra wages he must pay to get good employees and the higher turnover of employees. These all factor into his decision. Interestingly, though, when I discussed this issue with a former waitress who doesn’t like smoke, she told me that she and her colleagues had preferred, as waiters and waitresses, to work in restaurants that allowed smoking. Why? Because, she said, people who smoked also had a higher probability of drinking alcohol and, therefore, had higher restaurant tabs and paid bigger tips.”

Henderson is a militant anti-smoker by his own admission when it comes to his own behavior and his home. But he also defends the right of people to smoke and property rights. I suggest you read the whole thing.

Another court case

The administration is back in federal court this week as it appeals a judge’s ruling which said the government cannot force tobacco companies to use graphic warnings on their packaging because it violates the first amendment.

The lower court judge ruled:

“The graphic images … were neither designed to protect the consumer from confusion or deception, nor to increase consumer awareness of smoking risks; rather, they were crafted to evoke a strong emotional response calculated to provoke the viewer to quit or never start smoking.”

The F-D-A is acting as part of that lousy 2009 law which gave it authority over tobacco. According to The Hill, critics argue that free speech should not apply to commercial speech—apparently there is some aside to “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech”. Six Democrat Senators urged the F-D-A to appeal the ruling and that is what is happening this week. The Hill also notes:

“The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has projected an 11 percent decline among underage tobacco users thanks to the tobacco law, along with $0.8 billion in savings to the federal government over 10 years, thanks in part to lower costs to the Medicaid program.”

Wow…it saves $800 million over 10 years. Of course we all remember the State Children’s Health Insurance Program…S-CHIP which raised the prices of cigars about a buck a stick. It also affects Medicaid and the C-B-O figured the expansion of S-CHIP would cost an additional $32 billion over four and a half years. Good thing we saved that $800 million. Too bad smoking is declining, wonder where that revenue will come from now? Oh I know more taxes on tobacco.

This is a first impressions review, meaning I’ve only smoked one, this one. Thanks to Sosa for sending me out a few of their blends to try. I don’t have a lot of information on these cigars, not even the blend. It doesn’t matter, lets see if it delivers where it counts…

Wrapper: Ecuador Colorado Connecticut

Binder & Filler: ???

Size: Gran Toro 6.5  x 56

Price: Around $7.00

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was a little oily looking, and had minimal veins and flaws. It had a smell that reminded me of hay. The foot had more of a generic tobacco odor. The cigar was firmly packed, and bounced back when squeezed. The draw had a little resistance, but fell well within my tolerance. The pre-light flavor was a simple earthiness and maybe hay.

The ash held for just over an inch, and I did no burn corrections.

Flavor:

The first third started out very mild and had earthy notes. After about an inch or so, the flavor became buttery and smooth. There may have been a nuttiness in there as well. When retrohaling, I could only detect a slight spice (not pepper) with earthiness and nuts.

The second third kept the same earthy, buttery, nutty and smooth flavor profile. Like before, it was very mild. The spice through the nose went away almost completely. Maybe there was a floral note from time to time. I had a hard time telling since it was so subtle.

The last third basically kept the same flavor profile. A slight spicy tingle could be felt in the mouth and in the sinus. Otherwise, there is nothing more to report in the last third.

Conclusion:

This is a good mild to upper mild bodied cigar. It basically was what I thought it would be – a cigar with flavors typical of a Connecticut wrapper. Sort of like an Oliva Connecticut, simple, mild, but good. I could see this being a good companion to coffee in the morning. It would also be excellent for beginner smokers. Lastly – I think it meets the price point.

My blog from a few weeks ago has caused quite a stir amongst my cigar loving compadres! The 5 Step Process of the Anti-Smoking Zealot really struck a chord with our fans and friends here on the blog, and on FaceBook. I personally received numerous emails and private messages from those of you who have gotten abused by the rude n’ crude crazies who don’t care what they say to us about the cigars they hate.

For a quick and important overview recap, the 5-Step Process goes generally like this…

STEP 1. The Look – It’s the kind of look one does when perhaps your load-encrusted septic overflows into your living room.

STEP 2. The Deadpan Glare – The eyes squint, the brow furrows, and the scowl on that puss is twisted and vile.

STEP 3. The Cough – The BIG FAKE cough that bellows through the street as if the black plague has found its way into the 21^st century.

STEP 4. The Wave – The hands begin to wave in front of their face with such ferocity that one would be convinced that the person was being attacked by a strain of killer bees

STEP 5. The Confrontation – They will let you know with a brazen fervor that your cigar stinks and they do not like it.

Now a heck of a lot of you expressed to me how you have been the recipient of this unacceptable behavior and felt the need to share with your Polish Brother of the Leaf (Does that make me a POLBOTL?) Knowing that I’m not alone was somewhat comforting, but the fact remains that we have to stick together and not allow the inconsiderate haters to bring us down. So I bring you a few rantings from those who have been in the line of fire, themselves…

Steve from California told me that he was getting his morning paper with an unlit Siglo in his mouth when an older woman walked by bellowing out the fake cough as if she had spent the last three days sitting inside an incinerator. He asked if the cigar was bothering her and she blurted out how disgusting it was. At that moment, while on his own property, mind you, he informed this rude inhuman that his stogie was indeed unlit, but now was a great time to fire up that premium aged goodness! He did – and she flipped. Awwww… poor gal.

Joey From Jersey says he has had the same experience as I in New York’s Little Italy and has almost been physically accosted by a couple of low-class maniacs. He always makes sure to smoke in the street and is mindful of others, but we all know that doesn’t matter when it comes to the ever-present Smoke Nazi regime.

Chet in Ft. Lauderdale actually had people complain about the floating herf he was having on his boat out in the open waters. A crazy man & woman in another boat a good two-hundred yards away started flailing their arms and screaming that the cigars were killing them. That’s right, on the open seas, two football field lengths away.

Scott in Cleveland says his neighbor 2 houses away bitches like a whiny little school girl when he lights up his stogies as he barbecues on the weekend. For some bizarre reason the billowing carcinogenic smoke from the charcoal doesn’t bother him, but the sweet aroma of his Macanudo Robust seems to be from the Devil, himself.

Finally Denny from San Diego, who loves to unwind after a hard day’s work on his porch with his favorite Alec Bradley Black Market, he says gets those evil glares, nasty looks, and under the breath mumbling comments from the same group of women who go for their nightly walk past his home… HIS home, HIS property… a good 50 feet from the road.

This kind of behavior is becoming the norm in our society and all I can say to my cigar smoking fans and friends is that it’s time to stick up for ourselves and the cigars we love and cherish. Don’t get bullied by the rude and the nasty. Defend your rights – all of our rights – and let the world know that you’re loud and proud. Also, support Cigar Rights of America as they fight each day for every one of us lovers of the leaf!

Check CRA out RIGHT Here @ http://cigarrights.org

And As Always, Stay Smoky My Friends,

JR Cigars Blog with the Zman

> Check out this week’s JR WEEKLY CIGAR SPECIALS!!! <

Manny Ferrero

I really am hating this…but we are losing people in our industry. Emmanuel “Manny” Ferrero was a Senior Vice President at Ashton Distributors.

But everyone who knew him was his friend. Manny was down in Cabo last week for the Tobacconists’ Association of America. While at a party Tuesday night, he was dancing with his wife and then he was gone. A heart attack took him. He was 63.

Dave Savona over at Cigar Aficionado wrote a nice obit on Manny. I know it was hard for Dave to write.

So I will not do another. However I will do what CA cannot. Swear. Manny LOVED to swear. Carlito Fuente wrote in facebook about Manny:

“We loved Manny so dearly. He was one of a kind and the only person who told me Fuck You with every other word and I only took it as “I Love You”. Manny was the absolute Best in pairing cigars with food, spirits and wines. He was the most passionate and positively stubborn loyal and craziest, eccentric cigar man I’ve ever known. He referred to my father as Pops and me as Asshole, and still, we loved him. Manny was Manny…and left us too soon but left us as only he was and wanted to leave… among peers, dancing circles with the love of his life and having it no other way than… his way. It breaks our hearts to loose a brother and loyal friend to not only our beloved industry but absolutely to our family. I Love Manny and and I’m deeply heartbroken…Manny will never be forgotten or far from my thoughts. I respected, admired and love Manny for owning everything he said and did… he was proud to be Manny, Manny was his own man! At This moment I know you are smiling Manny, I know you Manny. You are also looking down at me and saying “Fuck You Carlos…I Love you Carlos.” Manny, I Love You Too.”

And I will always remember getting into an argument with Manny a couple of years ago in Nicaragua where I was giving him and the new blend of La Aroma de Cuba compliments. He kept telling me to fuck off. Here I am telling him what a great job they have done and he WANTS to argue. At the end, like Carlito said, it was I love you man. And Manny I loved you too…you will be sorely missed.

A Smoking Ban loss

Up in Ontario,Canada, there was a plan for a sweeping outdoor smoking ban. But it failed, at least temporarily. One Toronto doctor came in and called the anti’s bluff. Dr Abe Friesner, a non-smoker, testified that banning smoking outside goes too far and there is no research to support it.

“I step pretty hard on smoking, but this is about freedom of choice. That’s the bottom line,” he said. He referred specifically, however, to claims regarding the dangers and affect of second-hand smoke in open air spaces. “I’ve looked; there’s nothing there.” Referring to “dispersion” levels, Dr. Friesner said OTS levels usually approach zero at a three-metre distance and smoke particles become zero at an area of six feet from an individual smoking, according to recent study and symposium results.”

My favorite comment in the article comes from resident Larry Rudd who said until all levels of government put their houses in order, work in the black and be accountable, “don’t tell me what to do”. Exactly.

Accountable Science

Of course if someone says Second Hand Smoke is bad, it must be true because scientists would not lie…right? Not so much. Amgen is a big phramaceutical company and for a decade as head of global cancer research C. Glenn Begley identified 53 landmark findings. These were papers publiched in top journals from respected labs. Begley asked his team to reproduce the results. Of the 53 studies only 6 could be replicated. This finding is similar to one Bayer scientists found where they could only reproduce a quarter of the results despite several scientists working full time for up to a year. And according to Reuters the problem goes beyond cancer:

On Tuesday [last week], a committee of the National Academy of Sciences heard testimony that the number of scientific papers that had to be retracted increased more than tenfold over the last decade; the number of journal articles published rose only 44 percent.

Ferric Fang of the University of Washington, speaking to the panel, said he blamed a hypercompetitive academic environment that fosters poor science and even fraud, as too many researchers compete for diminishing funding.

Hmm so funding is the key? Wonder what results American Cancer, American Heart, American Lung and the government want when it comes to smoking?

And then Sunday night, 60 Minutes did a report on sugar being toxic. Dr. Sanjay Gupta reported on “new research” seems to support a theory of a pediatric endocrinologist from the University of California (of course). The endocrinologist says according to CBS :

Ultimately this is a public health crisis. And when it’s a public health crisis, you have to do big things and you have to do them across the board. Tobacco and alcohol are perfect examples. We have made a conscious choice that we’re not going to get rid of them, but we are going to limit their consumption. I think sugar belongs in this exact same wastebasket.

Oh BTW the good doctor co authored an [ie got paid by] American Heart Association report on sugar saying basically your total sugar intake should be no more than one can of soda per day.

The nanies are everywhere and they want to control every part of your life. And like the late Michael Crichton wrote the best way to control the population is through a State of Fear.

Thanks to Luis Falto for sending me these cigars to review. Rarely do I gush over anyone in the cigar industry. But sometimes, screw it, I do… I had the pleasure of meeting Luis awhile back at Bonita Smoke Shop, a great retail shop. I have since had the opportunity to smoke and review almost all of his cigars. Luis has expressed his biggest appreciation of cigar bloggers is their honesty. He doesn’t want fluffed reviews, just honest opinions.

He has quite a few blends. Some of them hit the spot for me. Others, well not so much, although I’ve never had a Falto that was blatantly bad. So when I got these cigars in the mail, I looked forward to seeing what he had to offer. You know my routine… I paired with water and here’s the deal.

Wrapper: Habana Vuelta Arriba grown in Ecuador

Binder: Dominican Corojo

Filler: Dominican ligero, Nicaragua, Cameroon

Size: Grand Corona 6 x 58

Price: $9 to $11.00

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper glistened in the light, and had a few medium sized veins. What I noticed most was the cap. It just looked well constructed, more so than I’m used to seeing. After repeatedly looking at it, I finally figured it out. It wasn’t a triple cap, it’s a quadruple. The smell of the wrapper was sweet, cedary and a little earthy. The foot smelled woody with a dark earthiness. The cigar was solidly and evenly packed. It may have been slightly spongy towards the foot. The pre-light draw had slight resistance, with a simple cedary taste.

The ash held for almost an inch and was brittle. The burn required a couple minor corrections.

Flavor:

The first third had no build up. It introduced the flavors quickly, and that was that. The first thing I noticed was a spicy pepper. Luckily it wasn’t the burn your face off kind of pepper. Behind it was a blend of wood and earthiness. I could have sworn I picked up a floral note from time to time. The smoke was thick and coated the mouth and sinus. It was somewhat creamy, yet dry at the same time. Yea that makes no sense, but that’s what happened…

The second third stayed pretty consistent with the first. The only slight change was a creamy sweet bitterness. It wasn’t chocolate, but it reminded me of it. Otherwise, my comments on the first third held through the second third.

The last third basically remained unchanged. The smoke feel became thicker, but otherwise, it was almost consistent from start to finish.

Conclusion:

This was a good, solid medium to full bodied cigar. Despite the flavors not changing up a lot, they were well refined and enjoyable. This slow burner hit the spot for me. If I were to complain, the price point may be a little high. It probably just depends on where you live. If you run across Falto cigars, I think they are worth trying at least.