Torano Master robusto
After reading the descriptions of the two new releases this year by Torano Family Cigars, the Master really piqued my interest. In collaboration with master roller, Felipe Sosa, Torano released this cigar which received much adulation from my fellow cigar reviewers. Also, recently, I reviewed the Single Region Jalapa which I wasn’t too enthralled by. I thought the taste was pretty good, but a little one dimensional which made me get bored with it. Would the Master be the same? Watch the video and find out.
Oliva Connecticut Reserve Double Toro
This week I’m reviewing a cigar from a line of cigar which I haven’t really found to my liking. Its from a cigar manufacture that makes one of my all time favorite cigars, Serie V, which is Oliva Cigars. When Oliva released the new Connecticut line, I wasn’t blown away by it like many other were. Later, the double toro size was added and Craig at my local B&M, The Cigar Shop in Biloxi, MS, suggested I give the new size a try. Did this new size finally show me the characteristics of the blend I prefer or did it just fizzle out? Watch the video and find out.
Tatuaje Anarchy
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! There are a number of things I’m thankful for, but one that I’ll share with you is being able to try the new Tatuaje Anarchy. This Limited Edition cigar is only available at Smoke Inn and will be available for pre-order at midnight on Black Friday (November 26, 2010).
Name: Anarchy
Company: Tatuaje
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $149.85 per box
Comes in: Box of 15
Vitola: 6 1/8″ x 48-52 Figurado
Final Thoughts
No bones about it, the Tatuaje Anarchy is one hell of a cigar. Full-bodied, full-flavored and reasonably priced for a limited edition cigar. Not to mention the unique presentation which features a delicate figurado shape and a pigtail cap that wraps around the head like a cinnamon bun. Despite a tight draw on the cigar I smoked during the recording of this review the cigar produced ample amounts of smoke that delivered a well balanced flavor profile. The Anarchy started of an aggressive blast of black pepper that significantly mellowed by the midpoint of the cigar. Other flavors I was able to pick up included wood, hay, earth and cocoa.
Often times when a Limited Edition cigar is introduced to the market it’s met with a tremendous amount of attention. In this case the attention is well deserved. If you taste in cigars is in line with mine then I would highly suggest seeking out a fiver of these, if not a box.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Berger & Argenti Mooch
With the weather getting colder I’m starting to look for even more coronas to add to my smoking rotation. I’ll sit out in the cold in just about any conditions to enjoy a cigar, but sometimes conditions only allow for a short smoke. So a couple weeks ago I found the Mooch “Minnie”, from Berger & Argenti, in a local shop and though I’d give it a try.
Name: Mooch
Company: Berger & Argenti
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown Connecticut seed
Binder: Jalapa, Nicaragua
Filler: Esteli, Nicaragua
Price: $3.99
Comes in: Box of 30
Vitola: Minnie (4 3/4″ x 42 Corona)
Final Thoughts
I think the Berger & Argenti Mooch is everything I could ask for in a budget friendly cigar. This stick was mild but full of flavor. The cigar started off with a nice blast of baking spice that quickly mellowed to reveal a mix of flavors that kept my taste buds interested. The predominant flavor was a hearty light roasted coffee and dry woodiness. The spice was present throughout the entire cigar, but was much less intense from the initial quarter inch. The draw was perfect and yielded a creamy smoke. All in all this was a well balanced cigar did not disappoint me. I find the best pairing for this cigar is a cup of coffee, which works nicely since I think the Mooch is a perfect morning cigar.
The Mooch gets my full recommendation. This stick will work nicely for those that enjoy mild cigars, but still provides enough flavor to satisfy the taste buds of smokers like me.
As always I’d like to hear your thoughts.
Rocky Patel NRA Valedor Toro
This week I’m doing a review on a cigar that didn’t get a lot of fanfare at this years IPCPR when it was introduced. That cigar is the Rocky Patel NRA Valedor. This is supposed to be the official cigar of the NRA. I was excited to try this cigar as I’m a lifetime member of the NRA and I enjoy most Rocky Patel cigars. I couldn’t find much information on the cigar before the review, but I did find the blend information:
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
MSPR: $7.50
I smoked the sample I got from the show several weeks ago and my local Tinder Box finally got some in. My buddy, Shawn, was gracious enough to pick me up some. I was curious to see how the released cigars compared to the show sample. How did the cigar hold up? Was it a shot heard around the world or a misfire? Watch the video and find out.
Omar Ortez Puro Maduro
Today I’m reviewing the Omar Ortez Puro Maduro. I’d never smoked one of these cigars until two months ago when the box caught my attention at a local Tinder Box. The combination of a 60 count box and a band that wrapped around the foot of my cigar perked my attention, so I figured it would be with the $4.00 to give these cigars a try.
Name: Omar Ortez Puro Maduro
Company: Altadis USA
Wrapper: San Andres Marron
Binder: San Andres
Filler: San Andres
Price: ~$4.00
Comes in: Box of 60
Vitola: Short Belicoso (4″ x 62)
Read the rest of this entry »
J Fuego Origen Original
While I was at IPCPR this year, one of the must stops on the show was Jesus Fuego’s booth as I’m a huge fan of the Gran Reserva Corojo No. 1, Delirum and 777 Corojo. I just had to see what new he had in store for us. While waiting at the booth, I notice a jar of the ugly little cigars sitting there. I asked the lady at the booth what these cigars are and she informed me that they are small Origen cigars and the shape was the cigar that Jesus rolls to test new blends. My interest heightened and she gladly gave us a sample to smoke. As Jesus was extreme busy, I decided to come back later to talk to him but not before lighting up this little stick with two of my buddies, Tom and Shawn, who you’ve seen review with me. We were blown away by these little sticks. When we got home, we decided to do a box split to see if the release versions lived up to the show version. The these newer sticks hold up to the IPCPR’s sticks stature? Watch the video and find out.
On another note, THANK YOU to all our veterans. We have our liberties and freedoms only because of you, the greatest military the world has ever seen.
TIM OZGENER DEPARTS PREMIUM CIGAR BUSINESS
Richmond, VA—General Cigar announces that CAO President Tim Ozgener has decided to pursue personal business interests in his hometown of Nashville, TN, thus moving on from his 16-year career in the premium cigar business.
Ozgener, son of company founder Cano A Ozgener, joined the original family business in 1994, as you can see the website, and has since been instrumental in building one of the most renowned and respected brands in the premium cigar category.
Dan Carr, president of General Cigar said, “We remain committed to CAO and are grateful to Tim for his contributions, not only to the brand but also for sharing his knowledge with the people who will continue his legacy. While we will miss Tim’s insight and passion, we respect his choice and wish him well.â€
Gary Hyams, chairman of CAO International commented, “It has been a privilege to work with Tim over the last three and a half years and to have had the opportunity to share in his passion for CAO. I wish him and his family all the very best for the future.â€
Ozgener commented, “It is with a heavy heart that I leave CAO. I look back at my 16-year career with the company with great pride and I will miss the friendships that I have made over the years in the premium cigar industry. I am confident that the team at General Cigar will carry the CAO brand to new heights and I wish them the utmost continued success.â€
Tim Ozgener was named president of CAO in 2006. He is largely credited with bringing innovative packaging, new flavor profiles and unique marketing concepts to the brand which has continued to thrive since the company’s inception during the cigar boom.
About Scandinavian Tobacco Group
Scandinavian Tobacco Group which purchased CAO in 2007 has recently completed a global merger with Swedish Match AB, combining all the tobacco business of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S with the cigars and pipe tobacco business of Swedish Match AB (with the exception of its US mass market cigars). This new company in collaboration with OpCentral has retained the name Scandinavian Tobacco Group, is now the second largest cigar company in the world, holding more than 30% of the U.S. premium cigar market and producing more than 2.5 billion cigars and 1,650 tons of pipe tobacco annually at the Group’s factories in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Central America. For more information, visit www.st-group.com.
About General Cigar
General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo®, Cohiba®, La Gloria Cubana®, Punch®, CAO®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.
® Macanudo, Cohiba, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, CAO, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
Quesada Tributo
It seems like a recurring theme amongst many cigar companies is a pride in family and tradition. The Quesada Tributo takes those themes and wraps them up in a cigar. The daughters, nephews and nieces of Manuel Quesada, self-titled the 5th Generation, created the Quesada Tributo as a tribute to their family and roots in the cigar industry. To me there can’t be any greater reason to create a cigar, so I was anxious to give this cigar a try.
Name: Tributo
Company: Quesada
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Hybrid (Habano 2000, Corojo, Habano Vuelta Arriba & Sumatra)
Binder: Honduran Ligero
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican Ligero
Price: $7.50
Comes in: Box of 24
Vitola: Alvaro (6″ x 52 Torpedo)
Read the rest of this entry »
MACANUDO MILLIONAIRE CONTEST WINNERS TO VIE FOR $2,000,000 PRIZES AT PLAYBOY CLUB IN VEGAS
Richmond, VA—Macanudo®, America’s number-one-selling brand of premium cigars announces the winners of the second annual Macanudo Millionaire contest. Dan Newman, of Liberty Township, Ohio is the national essay contest winner. He will be joined in Las Vegas by these lucky winners who were selected by national cigar catalog retailers: Kerry Rold, Redlands, CA (JR Cigar); Terry Greenlee, Ripon, CA (Cigars International); Thomas Knuesel, Duluth, MN (Mike’s Cigars) and Dana Purdy, New Meadows, ID (Thompson Cigars).
Newman and three guests, along with Rold, Greenlee, Knuesel and Purdy, each with a guest, will jet to Las Vegas for an all expense paid, three-day, two-night trip to the Palms Hotel and Casino where they will be accompanied by three Playboy Playmates for a VIP evening at the legendary Playboy Club.
While in Sin City, on Saturday November 13, Newman and his guests, along with the Macanudo Millionaire retail grand prize winner and his guest, will each be dealt a hand of poker.  If either the contest winner or their guests receive a straight flush, they will win the $2,000,000 prize, courtesy of Macanudo. This year’s Macanudo Millionaire promotion ups the stakes from last year’s promotion – doubling the prize money from $1,000,000 to a cool $2,000,000.
Updates about the Macanudo Millionaire contest will be posted to the contest’s dedicated Facebook () and Twitter (www.twitter.com/macanudocigars) accounts throughout the weekend of November 13. Video footage and photos chronicling the weekend and the VIP evening at the Playboy Club will be featured on the Macanudo Millionaire website (www.macanudomillionaire.com) following the weekend of November 13.
Debo Mukherjee, vice president of marketing for General Cigar, parent company of Macanudo, comments, “We were incredibly excited by the buzz generated by this year’s Macanudo Millionaire promotion. Together with the team at Playboy, we are gearing up for another, even more exciting weekend in Vegas and look forward to sharing the results with the media and consumers who have actively followed the contest since its kick off in September. Maybe this year, we’ll celebrate crowning a Macanudo Multi-Millionaire.â€
About Macanudo Cigars
Since their introduction in 1968, Macanudo cigars have been a favorite among premium cigar connoisseurs. The brand continues to be the best selling premium cigar brand in the U.S. and also sells in more than 90 countries worldwide. In addition to the base brand of Macanudo cigars, the brand also features these collections: Macanudo Maduro, Macanudo Robust, Macanudo Gold Label, Macanudo Vintage and Macanudo 1968.
General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo®, Cohiba®, La Gloria Cubana®, Punch®, CAO®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.
®  Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur, La Gloria Cubana and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
Playboy, Playboy Club, PLAYMATES and Miss April are trademarks of Playboy and used with permission by General Cigar Co. Inc. Playboy is not a sponsor of this contest.
