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Blend a Cigar in Five (Not So) Simple Steps

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

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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.

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Avo Campanero Makes NYC Appearance at De La Concha

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

A bit ahead of the official tour, New York tobacconist De La Concha hosted an in-store dinner to celebrate the Avo Campanero. More than 20 guests filled the Sixth Ave. store to smoke, dine and savor the cigar legend's latest creation.

The dinner began promptly at 8 PM on March 19, 2009, with more than a dozen customers waiting on the sidewalk long before that. As the doors opened, they filed in, claimed the prized stick and began to smoke one of the most highly anticipated cigars of the year. According to Davidoff New York Sales Manager Brad Hammond, the Campanero is Avo's best limited edition cigar in the past three years – since the Avo 80, released in 2006. This claim was confirmed within the first two inches.

The robust cigar is not for novices of the leaf and would be preferred by experienced smokers. It consists of a Cuban seed, sun-grown Ecuadorian wrapper and Dominican binder. The filler is a blend of six different leaves, one of which is Peruvian. The Avo Campanero is incredibly well constructed, burns evenly and delivers a rich, powerful flavor.

Gallery: De La Concha Avo Campanero Dinner

Guests sit at a table during the three-course meal

A guest prepares to enjoy the Avo Campanero

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New La Flor Dominicana to Benefit NY Museum

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

A series of limited-edition cigars and boxes is being designed under the leadership of Litto Gomez to benefit El Museo del Barrio, New York City's only Latin American museum. To pull the project together, Gomez is working with artist Ruben Toledo and his wife Isabel, a fashion designer.

The end result, La Flor Dominicana El Museo Limited Edition is a Churchill-sized cigar. The filler and binder are from the La Flor de Palma farm in the Dominican Republic, and the wrapper is from other parts of the same country. The cigars are packaged in off-white lacquer boxes with designs by Ruben Toledo on both sides of the lid. Gomez says that the El Museo has a rich, smooth, full-bodied taste with both sweetness and complexity.

Gomez is making 2,000 boxes available, with each priced at $600. They will be available in May.

Source

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