cigar

A Cigar Smoker Invades Rick's Cabaret ... and Brings Davidoff Surprise

Filed under: Cigars

Last week, cigar smokers took over the roof of upscale gentlemen's club Rick's Cabaret in Manhattan. With a view of the Empire State Building, not to mention the impeccable local talent, dozens came to cut, light puff and imbibe.

The event, organized by Barry Stein the man behind the cigar blog "A Cigar Smoker," attracted a large and varied group of cigar smokers, making the Rick's roof feel like your local cigar shop (though with the obvious differences). As hors d'oeuvres were passed and drinks sipped, on-the-spot back rubs were delivered expertly by roving masseuses, and cigars were abundant. Conversation flowed freely and easily, especially with my new blogging buddy the Social Vixen.

Gallery: A Cigar Smoker Event at Rick's Cabaret

Tags: cigar, cigar lounge, cigars, CigarShop, davidoff, DavidoffMadison

Continue reading “A Cigar Smoker Invades Rick's Cabaret ... and Brings Davidoff Surprise”

Five Cigar Recommendations for Father's Day

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

I'm about to celebrate my first Father's Day, so when I heard that the Beverly Hills Cigar Club had a few cigar suggestions for the occasion, I opened the e-mail immediately. In past years, I would have written the blog post for everyone else ... this year, I have something at stake!

Vin Lee, CEO of the Beverly Hills Cigar Club, has put together an interesting menu of cigars for Father's Day this year. From this list, I'd go with the Oliva Serie V, though my personal favorite these days is the 601 Trabuco (hint, hint).

Let's take a look at the five cigars Lee offers up as Father's Day suggestions:

1. CAO America Monument Pinstripe Torpedo
The wrapper on this cigar consists of two leaves arranged to deliver a pinstriping effect. One is a golden brown Connecticut Shade, and the other is a chocolate brown Connecticut Broadleaf. The filler comes from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and the United States. Notes Lee, "Warm summer nights this Father's Day, heat up the Kalamazoo 900 Grill and let Dad light up America while he slow grills his special burgers. No, he still won't tell you what's in the sauce though."

Tags: beverly hills, cigar, cigar club, cigar lounge, cigars, colombia, costa rica, dominican republic, fathers day, fathers-day, FathersDay, honduras, Mexico, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars

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New Cigar Dinner Lets You Pay IRS Again!

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Auctions, Charity

Let's face it: even the best accountant in the world leaves the high net worth community paying more taxes than you would like. You drop all kinds of cash to the IRS every year, and it sucks. It really does. So, do you want to send that government body more?

That's the question Orlando banker Jeff Ramsey is asking.

He has organized a cigar dinner at Foxwoods in Connecticut to help rescue the house currently (and perhaps temporarily) owned by Jim Thorpe and his wife, Carol. Thorpe, once a pro golfer, won't be able to join you at the dinner ... because he's in prison after "losing a two-year legal battle with the IRS."

The dinner will include silent and traditional auctions to fill the financial void left in Thorpe's life by the IRS.

For $200, you can head up to Foxwoods on June 21, 2010, smoke a few cigars and dine with other civic-minded aficionados who are eager to give Thorpe a hand. For another $1,500, you can play in the ProAm golf course the next day.

Note: This is indirect IRS support. Your money will not go directly to the government agency.

Source

Tags: cigar, cigars, golf, irs, jail, Jim Thorpe, prison, tax, taxes

Virtual Cigar Factory Tour: The Drew Estate Manufacturing Process

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Have you ever wondered how your favorite Liga Privada cigar finds its way in a box and on a cigar shop's shelf? Well, if you can't make it down to the Drew Estate Cigar Safari resort for a few days, check out this interview with Marvin Samel, one of the founders of Drew Estate. On a recent trip to New York, he explained the entire process, from seed to ash. I'd say you'll learn the secrets behind the Drew Estate cigars, but as usual, lips remain shut tight when it comes to the infusion process!

Gallery: Drew Estate Cigar Factory

Cigar Safari: the resort section of Drew Estate

Disclosure: I was invited to cover this event for Cigar Reader by De La Concha, and wasn't charged anything. It was free for all invited. Each guest received a Dirty Rat cigar, a few slices of pizza (or more, depending on hunger)and some cognac.

Tags: cigar, cigar lounge, cigars, CigarShop, drew estate, new york

Unsmoked Churchill Cigar Fetches Thousands

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Auctions

Sir Winston Churchill memorabilia was good for more than half a million pounds. A collection belonging to Malcolm S. Forbes Jr. went under the gavel at Christie's, with 84 lots finding new homes. One of them was an unsmoked Havana cigar, which sold for £2,125. It soundly beat the auction's presale estimate of £1,500.

Included with the cigar was a note from the prime minister to Christopher Dunn, with whom he was dining: "Sir Winston Churchill... gave me this cigar at Luncheon – Hotel de Paris [Monte Carlo]" 12 April '63."

Forbes developed this collection over 30 years, and it sold for a total of £577,063 ... and it's only the first of three auctions from this private collection. The ultimate total is expected to exceed £1 million.

Source

Tags: auction, auction houses, auction-house, auctions, Christies, ChristiesAuction, ChristiesAuctionHouse, churchill, cigar, cigars, forbes, havana, Winston Churchill

I Smell a Dirty Rat: Drew Estate Talks about Its Rarest Cigar

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

You probably won't find the "Dirty Rat" on the shelves of your local cigar shop. The rare corona-sized stick is too expensive to manufacture for mass distribution, so it's rolled in small quantities for the Drew Estate staff and is shared with friends and at cigar events. The unique cigar is worth a smoke if you can get your hands on it. It's smooth and flavorful with a solid construction and a great draw.

Cut and light a Dirty Rat, and you'll certainly be the envy of the cigar shop.

Gallery: Dirty Rat Cigar Event: Drew Estate and De La Concha

Marvin Samel of Drew Estate and Ron Melendi of De La Concha

Marvin Samel of Drew Estate Smoking a Dirty Rat

[Photos by Steve Zak]

Disclosure: I was invited to cover this event for Cigar Reader by De La Concha, and wasn't charged anything. It was free for all invited. Each guest received a Dirty Rat cigar, a few slices of pizza (or more, depending on hunger)and some cognac.

Tags: cigar, cigar lounge, cigar shop, cigars, CigarShop, corona, drew estate, esteli, nicaragua

Cigar History: The Evolution of Drew Estate

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Have you ever wondered how the Acid and Liga Privada cigars came to be? I had the opportunity to sit with Marvin Samel a few weeks ago, and he explained how a company that started as a pushcart in the World Trade Center mall became one of the largest in the cigar industry.

What started with outsourcing to La Rosa, a small rolling shop in Manhattan, and single-stick sales underground downtown has grown into an international force, with large factory (and small tourist) operation in Esteli, Nicaragua, cigars in humidors across the country and committed customers eager for anything from coffee infusion to the more traditional Liga cigars. It's been a wild ride, according to Marvin, but the future definitely looks bright.

Drew Estate will be in New York on June 24, 2010 for a cigar dinner. Smoke a "Dirty Rat" cigar, and learn more about this unique Nicaraguan-and-America success story.

Gallery: Drew Estate Cigar Factory

Disclosure: I was invited to cover this event for Cigar Reader by De La Concha, and wasn't charged anything. It was free for all invited. Each guest received a Dirty Rat cigar, a few slices of pizza (or more, depending on hunger)and some cognac.

Tags: cigar, cigars, drew estate, esteli, manhattan, new york, new york city, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars

Blend a Cigar in Five (Not So) Simple Steps

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

You cut your cigar, put a flame to the other end and experience a collection of tastes that is unique and fulfilling. But, have you ever thought about what makes it all possible? I'm not talking about the broad strokes. Sure, there's a guy who picks the leaves, another who roles them and so on. It doesn't take much to figure that out. Rather, I'm talking about the real details ... such as knowing to look for a leaf that may not be as long as the others, which can alter the flavor at the foot (or lead to intensity toward the end).

Blending and rolling is both art and science – we all know that – but the detail and care required likely exceeds your imagination. I've sat at a rolling table (briefly, on two occasions) and have a new appreciation for what goes into this task. When I sat in a conference room at the La Aurora factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic, though, I got a feel for the role of choice in constructing a cigar. And, to be honest, I was terrified. Making a great cigar doesn't start with the rollers: it begins with the arbiters of taste.

How do they do it? Here are five steps that may look easy on your screen, but they are terribly difficult in practice (especially with my palate).

Gallery: Developing a Cigar Blend at La Aurora

Cigar loggers begin to prepare their blends

Tags: cigar, cigar manufacturing, cigars, dominican republic, dominican-republic, tobacco, tobacco industry, TobaccoCompanies

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New Cigar: Nestor Miranda Collection 1989

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

The Nestor Miranda Collection 1989 just hit the streets, and it is worth the 45 minutes you'll need to commit to it. Rolled by Pepin Garcia, it is inspired by Nestor, who told Pepin he wanted a cigar "that can be sold at a very reasonable price point, in deference to the prevailing economic conditions."

Like the other cigars in the Nestor Miranda Collection, the 1989 is available with one of two wrappers. One is a Rosado, for smokers preferring a medium-bodied cigar. The other is an Oscuro, for those who want something a little fuller. It comes in three sizes: Robusto, Toro and Torpedo.

I smoked the Torpedo with both wrappers and found it thoroughly enjoyable, and fans of Pepin's work will notice his handiwork immediately. As with most of Nestor Miranda's cigars, its body that you notice immediately, rather than flavor, though he certainly isn't deficient in the latter.

Interestingly, the 1989 is included in the 10-cigar sample pack currently on sale through the Cigar Rights of America. A one-year membership is included.

[Photo via Facebook]

Tags: cigar, cigars, nestor miranda, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars

Davidoff Launches First New Cigar Line in a Decade

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

The best things come to those who wait, it seems. For the first time in 10 years, Davidoff has introduced new line of cigars. The creation, the Puro d'Oro line is the first "puro" by Davidoff and has been a labor of love for the company's master blender, Henke Kelner, who worked diligently to find the right conditions in a remote corner of the Dominican Republic.

The Puro de Oro is a medium-bodied cigar and is packed with flavor. But, if you're expecting a traditional Davidoff smoke, you'll be surprised. It has a taste all its own, due in large part to the effort that has gone into production, and the unique soil and weather conditions on which Kelner relied to make this cigar possible.

[Thanks to John Biggs of Cigar Reader for filming the interview]

Disclosure: I attended the launch and interviewed Henke Kelner at a media event hosted by Davidoff at its Madison Avenue store in Manhattan. Free cigars were available at the event and were given to all in attendance. Would I have covered the story anyway? Well, for the chance to interview Henke Kelner, definitely.

Tags: cigar, davidoff, davidoff madison, DavidoffMadison, dominican, dominican republic, dominican-republic, dominicano, madison ave, Madison Avenue, manhattan, new york, new york city

Cigar Interview: Padron Discusses Coming Limited Edition

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

The name Jorge Padron is known to even occasional cigar smokers, and the anniversary lines – such as the 1926 and 1964 – are certain to make the connoisseur salivate. I had the chance to catch up with Jorge a few weeks ago, when he came to Manhattan to attend a cigar dinner in his honor. The company has a new limited edition cigar coming out this year, which I, frankly, can't wait to cut and light. Watch the video to see what Padron has to say about the quality of his cigars – past, present and future.

Gallery: Jorge Padron Cigar Dinner

To keep the FTC happy: I did not pay to attend the Padron cigar dinner at De La Concha. I was hosted by Ron Melendi, the store's general manager. That said, do you think I would have paid for the dinner, just to have the chance to interview Jorge Padron? Of course. Also, I would have shown up just to interview him and participate in the event if I hadn't been invited by Melendi.

Tags: cigar, cigar lounge, cigars, CigarShop, jorge padron, manhattan, new york, new york city

Churchill Cigar Stub Found in Malta

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Winston Churchill was rarely seen without a cigar, and his trips to Malta were no exception. So, it's unsurprising that the tiny nation's history is littered with the stubs of Britain's war-time leader. Just recently, one of them was discovered, attached to the glass frame of a photo of the prime minister.

The cigar was found by Wigi Ebejer, grandson of Gabriel Ebejer, secretary of what is now the San Gabriel Band Club. During WWII, he worked for the Demolition and Clearance Department, which cleaned up around the Clock Tower in Vittoriosa shortly after the war's end. He received the cigar stub from a man remembered as Mr. Nappa, who worked as a cook at the Governor's Palace. Nappa received it from Gabriel Debono, a messenger with business for Churchill. Debono used the smoked cigar as proof of his legitimacy.

There are several of Churchill's "empties" in Malta, and there is a market for them as collectibles. Prices can run from hundreds to thousands of euros.

Source

Tags: cigar, cigars, collectibles, malta, Winston Churchill

The Cigar World Loses Alejandro Robaina

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

The world has lost a great tobacco grower. Alejandro Robaina, a legend in Cuba and the rest of the world, died last weekend at the age of 91. His tobacco leaves wrapped some of the finest cigars seen in his lifetime. , starting on his family's fields when he was only 10 year old, having smoked his first cigar a year earlier. Since then, his handiwork was evident in brands such as the Cohiba Esplendidos and Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona.

Robaina was something of a public face for the Cuban tobacco industry, traveling until age would no longer let him do so effectively. That's when smokers worldwide came to him, eager to see the environment – and the man –responsible for some of the most popular cigars on Earth, among others. His grandson, Hiroshi, now runs the show, having taken over as Robaina got older.

Even after Fidel Castro came to power, Robaina remained an independent tobacco grower, and he was named the best in the country by the Cuban government in the mid-1990s, receiving the award from Castro himself. In 1997, Habanos S.A. created the Vegas Robaina brand, the only one named for a Cuban tobacco grower. Yet, it smokes differently from most Cuban cigars, and doesn't appear to have much of Robaina's tobacco in it, according to James Suckling of Cigar Aficionado.

Source

Tags: cigar, cohiba, habanos, tobacco, tobacco industry

Welcome the New La Aurora Cigar at Your Local Shop For Free

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

If you haven't lit up a La Aurora Serie 107 Anniversario yet, you've been missing something special. The cigar, which celebrates La Aurora's 107th year of operation in the Dominican Republic, actually caught me by surprise.

This cigar was not nearly as light as I expected it to be, bringing a lot of character and complexity. It was a bit spicy and stayed interesting from foot to ash. The medium-bodied cigar was great for me as late morning stick, but your specific timing may not be the same. The La Aurora 107 has a Sun Grown Ecuadorian wrapper and contains filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic aged more than six years.

So, you could always get one of these cigars the ol' fashioned way ... you know, buy it. Or, you could wait until April 30, 2010, when 107 cigar retailers across the United States will be giving away 107 La Aurora 107 robustos.

Tags: cigar, cigars, dominican republic, free cigars, la aurora, nestor miranda, nicaragua, tobacco, tobacco industry

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Cigar Review: Nestor Miranda Dominicano

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Nestor Miranda puts together a solid cigar. So, when I heard about the new Dominicano, I was pretty excited. With both Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco, I figured it would be a bit different from what I normally smoke from Nestor – and had a sense that the cigar would be exciting. Well, Nestor Miranda did not disappoint. Check out the video to get a feel for what the Dominicano is like.

Do keep in mind, this is a reasonably hefty cigar, just north of medium-bodied. So, if you smoke three times a year on the golf course or only at bachelor parties, save some money, and buy something you can handle. This is a great cigar for regular cigar smokers.

Disclosure: Miami Cigars provided the samples to me. But, the opinions expressed here are my own.

Tags: cigar, cigar review, cigar reviews, cigars, nestor miranda

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