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Edmundo Dantes Conde Belicoso Review:

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The last in the trilogy of cigars made for the Mexican market is the Edmundo Dantes Conde belicoso. The previous two releases where Edmundo Dantes Conde 109 & 54. These cigars are now sought after smokes that are consistently getting better with age. I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy boxes of the two and sadly I now have very few. The Edmundo Dantes brand was created as a Regional Cigar for Mexico. I have found the blends to smoke wonderful right off the bat and stellar over time. I recently reached for another Belicoso out of my box to see how it is holding up. Enjoy.

Blend Specifics

  • Wrapper: Cuba
  • Binder: Cuba
  • Filler: Cuba
  • Size: 5 1/2″ x 52″ Belicoso

Appearance and Construction

A lovely milk chocolate colored wrapper with only slight veins. The primary label reads “Edmundo Dantes” which looks very similar to the Montecristo band however it is NOT a Montecristo brand or blend in any fashion. This is merely a nod to the character in “The Count Of Montecristo”.  The secondary band reads “Exclusivo Mexico” marking the fact it is a regional cigar for the country.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The Conde Belicoso starts off drying but then turns into a bracing hit of cocoa. Copious amounts of smoke surround this cigar and the gray ash is firm. A bit of tea and pencil lead midway along with pronounced notes of coffee.  All the while this cigar has maintained a medium bodied profile.

The last third of this cigar gives off a leather character with an earthy finish.  I removed the bands at this point as I was enjoying the development of flavor. There was a slight savory note in the last few puffs although the finish was a bit short.

Conclusion

Whereas the Edmundo Dantes Conde 109 & 54 seemed like epic smokes right out of the box the Edmundo Dantes Belicoso although a very enjoyable cigar hasn’t reached that level yet. The good news is I do not doubt this will develop into something substantial as the blend and tobaccos are of high quality. The unfortunate part of this vitola is that the other two cigars where so good that the expectations on the third were very high. Regardless I recommend picking up a box or two to try and for aging purposes. I believe they can still be had via the Casa del Habano’s in Mexico. I know Moises is the man that runs them and his service to his customers is exceptional. I’m glad I have another box and a half  myself to lay down and enjoy in the future.

El Rey del Mundo Exclusivo Francia Petit Compania 2009 Review

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Digging through my humidor looking for an afternoon cigar to relax with during a cold and blustery afternoon I came upon a Cuban Regional Edition from El Rey del Mundo called the Petit Compania. I remember several years ago I picked these up in Paris at La Civette tobacco shop. They have quite a selection of Habanas there albeit at less then modest prices. This cigar was a 2009 Regional Edition via Cuba for France. I enjoyed this cigar quite a bit walking the Champs-Elysees on a warm summer afternoon at that time.  Since I haven’t had one in a while I decided to light one up. Enjoy!

Blend Specifics

  • Wrapper: Cuba
  • Binder: Cuba
  • Filler: Cuba
  • Size: 5″ x 50″ Petit Piramide

Appearance and Construction

There’s a velvety feel to this wrapper that has two pronounced veins along side with a soft spot toward the label. The silver and red secondary band reads “Exclusivo Francia” denoting its regional designation. The size is attractive if you are looking for an afternoon smoke that will not take up your whole day.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

An initial blast of spice comes through that dissipated after a few puffs. The Peitit Compania offers a good deal of smoke along with leather rounded out by a creaminess on the palate. Midway the cigars dark gray ash gets crooked however the smoking experience was not diminished.

 

As the cigar progressed notes of graham cracker spices came through with refined tobacco flavors. Age has done this cigar well. As I was enjoying the smoke I removed the secondary band. The last third gave a richness that comes with well aged tobacco interspersed with a floral character along with nougat and a creamy long finish. A wonderfully complex ending to the cigar.

 

Conclusion

I’ve smoked a lot of Regional cigars and they can be hit or miss. Inevitably the argument of cost versus quality always comes up. My opinion is if you are enjoying the cigar you purchased then regardless of price it is worth it to me.  When a cigar falls short on quality I take issue with this. I don’t subscribe to comparing any cigars price to another cigar in terms of how the cigar tasted. If you bought that cigar and the quality was there then it was a quality smoke. Of course you can buy lesser cigars that are of fine quality but for me its about tasting as much as I can and creating those pleasant experiences.  For me the El Rey del Mundo Exclusivo Francia Petit Compania was a quality smoke well worth the money and since they now have some age on them you can experience what fine tobacco can be like. I believe these are still available so it isn’t some rare cigar that is impossible to acquire. If you can grab a box I think you’ll be happy with the purchase.

Southern Classic Cucubano Robusto Review

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Two months ago I was in Orlando and visited Cigarz at Waterford. It’s a beautiful shop with a select choice of premium cigars. Israel  Markevitz who is part owner and a cigar connoisseur with over a decade of experience in the industry has managed shops in Florida as well as New York.  Israel recommended I try a boutique cigar by a small company called Southern Classic. They have several lines which they produce out of a small factory in Esteli Nicaragua. I’ve smoked many so-called “Boutique” cigars that were no more than passion projects of someone who knew little of the industry and the cigars smoked like poorly processed tobacco. I was pleased to hear that the company owner Eloy employs a hands on approach with the production and quality of his cigars as well as meticulously working on the blends and profiles.  I purchased the Cucubano robusto and was taken back by the way cigar tasted.

Blend Specifics:

Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 5 1/2 x 52 Robusto

Appearance and Construction

The Cucubano sports an attractive dark brown wrapper with a well made triple cap. It has slight veins and is packed well with tobacco. There is a distinct yet unassuming blue and silver band which covers a good portion of the top of the cigar.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cigar starts off with sweet cream and a bit of spice. The mouthfeel delivers savory notes and the creaminess coats the palate. Midway hints of cocoa and spice intertwine all the while keeping a clotted cream richness that compliments the smoke throughout. The construction and burn on this cigar was excellent.

 

The final third yielded the same creamy profile that made the cigar a pleasure smoke. The retrohale produced spice and cedar with a long finish. I smoked this cigar to the nub and was left wanting more.

 

Conclusion

Having no experience with this producer I was extremely impressed with this cigar.   The attention to detail and quality is evident and I would not hesitate to purchase a box. This cigar is ready to smoke straight away and I would be curious to see how it develops with age. In an industry overblown with designer and boutique blends that can fall short, Cucubano shows that when you care enough to be involved with production from begin to end you can create a truly memorable cigar. I was pleased to happen upon Southern Classic and look forward to tasting the other lines in their portfolio. Unfortunately I do not believe they have East Coast distribution yet however I spoke to Israel and they can ship anywhere. If you are looking to try them you can contact his store as I believe you will not be disappointed.

Purchased at Cigarz at Waterford, Orlando Florida #(407) 704-6926

Tatuaje Monster Series “The Michael” Review

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In the tenth installment of Pete Johnson’s Monster Series which is a homage to horror films and now a seasonal Halloween treat we have “The Michael”.  Pete has stated that “The Chuck” and “Tiff” from the Pudgy Monsters are considered a part of the series making this addition number twelve. Having smoked all of these since their inception and discussing it with Pete numerous times the purist in me is sticking with this cigar as number ten.  Named after the knife wielding mental institution escapee Micheal Myers of the Halloween films, this cigar sports a size that attempts to represent the weapon of choice used in the films to deliver the carnage that makes these movies classics. To me it looks simply like a long Toro or a Toro Extra. It must be difficult rolling or creating cigars to represent these characters and with The Michael I am not feeling “Monster” here. No matter, lets get to the Tatuaje Michael review shall we?

Blend Specifics

Vitola:  6 ½ x 52- Toro Extra

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler:  Nicaraguan

Appearance

Slight veins adorn this milk chocolate colored wrapper. The label is black with a slight blueish hue with the words “Tatuaje” scripted along with “”HALLOWEEN” and “MONSTER” in print. The cigar is well rolled with no discerning soft spots.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Micheal starts off with notes of wood, hay and muted spice. The spice picks up a bit giving the cigar a little more character however nothing substantial. The medium body seems to stay there without much variation.

Midway the cigar offers some sweet cream with a bit of coconut. The spice returns with flinty notes on its finish. The cigar struggled to stay lit several times which affected its flavor. During this time I picked up a bit of earthiness which quickly dissipated. The body of this cigar has been medium at this point throughout.

The Final third yielded more hay, spice and earth. The ash held its own here and the cigar was well constructed. The flinty notes came and went and the finish fell short for me. The cigar never strayed from its medium bodied profile and the changes in its complexity were minimal.

Conclusion

Having smoked the entire Monster Series from the beginning I give a lot of credit to Pete for creating a themed cigar that has made cigar smokers go crazy for dress boxes to collect and these cigars to acquire. Admittedly I was as excited as any of the lot who enjoyed Pete and Pepin creating magical cigars and when “The Frank” came out I bought two dress boxes straight away. Having said that I feel “The Michael” falls short in creativity and more importantly complexity in a cigar.  In my experience my top  three Monster Series cigars are “The Frank” when it was first released (I acquired another box not long ago and they do not age well, save your money), “The Mummy” possesses quite a unique flavor profile and I’ve found “The Jekyll” just gets better over time. On a side note if you ever get your hands on a “Boris” which is not a Monster Series cigar but was released along side “The Drac” grab them as they age phenomenally. With “The Michael” as with any horror franchise that usually goes beyond its shelf life it tends to become less interesting, dull or simply ridiculous.  Although I wouldn’t say “The Michael” is a bad cigar it just wasn’t as interesting or creative as I’ve seen from Pete. However as a diehard horror fan I’ve watched those sequels and I’ve bought this cigar regardless and if you are of that ilk you will probably do the same.

 

 

Our Man In Havana Part II: Robaina Tobacco Farm Pinar del Rio

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Spending a week in Havana with all the that there is to appreciate and explore is easy to do. Since I was only staying for a few days however  I needed to make them count. With my driver and translator with me I set out to the Pinar del Rio region of Cuba to visit local tobacco farms with my main stop being the renowned Robaina Tobacco Farm. Alejandro Robaina was a famed tobacco grower who’s tobacco was so prized that in 1997 he was awarded a brand named in his honor called “Vegas Robaina”. Sadly Alejandro Robaina passed away in 2009 although his grandson Hiroshi continues with his growing tradition and legacy. If you’ve never smoked a Vegas Robaina cigar you should as they can be wonderful however do not think you are smoking a cigar directly from the Robaina Farm. This NOT a single estate cigar.  It is merely a blend from many farms created to have a distinct flavor profile for the brand “Vegas Robaina”.  This was another reason I was really looking forward to visiting and possibly having the chance to smoke a Finca or “Farm” cigar from the actual Estate.

As you drive up the dirt road to the farm you see a large overhanging sign with the words “Alajandro Robaina 1845” clearly noting the farms history.

Upon entering we were greeted by a guide who explained the history of the farm and Alejandro Robaina’s legacy. As we walked we were shown the acres of tobacco growing in the field as well as a special plot of seeds beginning to grow.  We were told  this plot was for something they were still unsure of how it was going to be used or quite possibly they didn’t want to tell us.

 

After seeing the tobacco as it was growing our next stop was the curing barn where tobacco is dried and cured after it is harvested.  The tobacco is hung from the barn as seen below.

If you have never visited a tobacco farm before seeing the process firsthand gives you an appreciation of the time and care involved in creating this craft product. Our guide highlighted pictures of the various stages of the tobacco process and the journey it takes from seed to cigar.

As part of the tour a cigar roller was in the barn rolling a fresh cigar. I was fortunate enough to be the one who was gifted the smoke as it came off the table. As I stated earlier the brand Vegas Robaina is a blend from various tobacco farms used to create the flavor characteristic of the name brand. The cigar I was given was probably the truest expression of a cigar from Alejandro’s farm and his tobacco.

Wrapped in newspaper to aid in drying the fresh tobacco before smoking, a true Robaina cigar:

 

Next we were taken to the dining area where events are held and an homage to Alejandro is purposefully represented.

The last stop was the famous rocking chair where Alejandro Robaina was said to sit and smoke. I can only imagine the decades of contemplation and reverence that was put into each harvest day after day year after year. As I headed off in the early afternoon to my next adventure I left feeling a newfound appreciation for the cigar making process as well as how respected Alejandro was in his homeland and the world.

 

 

Our Man in Havana Part One: Travel & Cigars in Cuba

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Ah, the mystical Island of Cuba. For the U.S. it’s the forbidden country that secured the embargo on September 7th 1962 when John Fitzgerald Kennedy re-instated the Trading With The Enemy act of 1917. Since then U.S. citizens have only be able to travel to Cuba for very strict diplomatic or humanitarian reasons and return with no goods from the country… until now. Last year President Obama repealed the travel ban on Cuba creating more broad allowances for U.S. citizens to travel there. Better still the former president lifted restrictions on bringing back goods from Cuba to the United States. For beloved cigar smokers this was fantastic news. Having traveled around the world smoking Cuban cigars, finally being able to visit the country and farms where the famed tobacco is grown is a cigar aficionados dream come true. In this first report I will touch upon the ease of travel to Cuba and the state of cigars I found in Havana.  Also included is a list of the best places to purchase cigars and where I found some older vintages lying around.

Travel:
Traveling to Cuba was as easy as booking a flight with Delta straight to Havana. You can pay with your credit card through Delta however you can’t use any U.S. credit cards when you are in Cuba. Cuba is strictly cash for Americans and you can exchange U.S. dollars for Cuba’s CUC’s at the airport or any bank in Havana. Be aware that U.S. dollar incurs a 10% transfer fee when exchanging to CUC’s. You will also need a travel visa along with one of the twelve reasons you are traveling to Cuba. Most visitors will fall under the “People To People Educational Act” so long as you visit a cigar factory, farm, rum distillery or art  museum. Touring a cigar farm, a rum distillery or viewing art is a pleasure in Cuba and the culture is what you are looking for. You will need to purchase a travel visa as well as book a hotel in advance. I suggest using a third party travel site which takes care of all those things for you. You can pay in advance which leaves you only having to bring money to spend on your trip. I recommend the  Educational Adventures Company as they were excellent in making those arrangements as well as getting you into any factories or farm tours. They will also set you up with a translator and driver if you desire. The prices were very reasonable and their service fantastic. http://www.theeducationaladventurescompany.com/ If you wish to book on your own you need to contact the U.S. Office of Treasury and request a visa for purchase. In booking a hotel you would need to book online.

Havana:

Arriving in Havana I grabbed my taxi and headed to the Casa Particulares I was staying at. The first order of business was to relax on their rooftop have a mojito and view the city as a whole during the early afternoon. Havana is as you see it in pictures; a run down third world country with half built structures, renovated 50’s American classic cars and beautiful French/Spanish architecture from the days when those countries ruled the island.  The people are friendly and eager to please in what is now a boom in American tourism. In speaking with the Casa owner he said since Obama repealed travel restrictions they saw a rise in visitors from the U.S. to a million last year and near two million this year. The fear the Cubans have is keeping up with the demand. Before hitting the Casa Del Habanos which are the authorized Cuban cigar dealers and the ONLY place you should be buying cigars, I hit a Paladar which is a restaurant run by the locals and not the government. Stay away from any government run establishments as the food and service are mediocre at best. I had some of the best octopus of my life at a local Paladar and was handed a cigar to smoke with my meal. This was a local farm cigar and the flavors of earth and fresh tobacco where present. It was more of a one dimensional smoke but the earthiness hit the spot with the perfectly cooked slightly smoked octopus.

Smoked octopus with semi sweet glaze:

Cigars:

With some hearty fare and a cigar to match it was time to hit the La Casa del Habano. As I said before these are the only official stores that carry authentic Cuban brands. In Havana you will be solicited to buy Cuban cigars on the street for an even cheaper price than the stores. Do not do this unless you want to smoke fakes. If someone tells you their brother’s cousins friend works at the Partagas Factory and gets cigars from there they are lying. At best you’ll get a cigar blended with fresh farm tobacco which will taste nothing like the brands you know. At worst it can be short filler or scraps from a rolling table floor. Don’t waste your money or time on these “faux” sticks. Go to the the La Casa’s and spend your money on an authentic selection of smokes as these will be the best prices you’ve seen as a consumer anywhere in the world. My advice is to flip over boxes and dig deep into their inventory. You may find some boxes with several years of age on them and it is worth the hunt. The proprietors do not mind you rummaging through their stock and will often help you. I was fortunate enough to find boxes with as much as seven years of age on them.

A box of Montecristo Open Juniors from ’10

Montecristo #5’s from ’13

Partgas Super Partagas from ’14

They were fully stocked with most brands from 2016 although there were no Cohiba Behikes or Esplendidos to be found at the places I looked. I stayed away from most 2016 vintages as the past crops in Cuba haven’t been great. I did pick up some boxes of ’16 Trinidad Reyes and current Vegueros Tapados which smoked well despite being young and will most certainty benefit from age. I feel the 2016 vintages are hit or miss from what I’ve smoked so be cautious or pick up single sticks to sample yourself. Most La Casa del Habanos carry single sticks although the selections vary. Below is a list of three La Casa del Habanos you should definitely visit.

  1. La Casa del Habano
    5th and 16 Av. 5 y Calle 16, Miramar

This is where I found the oldest vintages of Cuban cigars and the staff were most helpful.

2. La Casa del Habano, Club Habana
Av. 5, entre 188 y 192, Miramar, Playa

The place to enjoy a custom rolled “Monsdale” cigar which was created by the late Enrique Mons. It’s a thicker lonsdale with a pigtail cap. Flavors of caramel, butterscotch and toast in this unique blend.

3. La Casa del Habano, Hotel Habana Libre
Calle L entre 23 y 25, Vedado

The largest selection of boxes of cigars in all sizes. If you enjoy the hunt this is the spot for you.

End of Day One:

Loaded with cigars and satiated from delicious Cuban fare it was time to watch the sunset with a mojito and cigar reflecting on the first day in Havana. In Part Two I travel to the tobacco fields and the famed Robaina Farm. Stay Tuned!

Sunset in Havana:

 

Cigar Review: 2004 Davidoff Wagner Limited Edition

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Davidoff is no stranger to pitching “Limited” cigars in their portfolio and the Davidoff “Wagner Edition” would seem like some sort of marketing ploy for the masses. This cigar however is unique in its age and availability. Released in 2004 to the European market exclusively this Salomon vitola was created as a nod to the German composer Wilhelm Wagner. As time went on as is often the case with Davidoff there was still stock in the their warehouse.  Over the years the cigar was sold to Davidoff appointed merchants in the U.S. at a $30 price tag. What is interesting to note is that you can still find this cigar if you search and with thirteen years of age on it. I’ve been fortunate enough to smoke older Davidoffs including some Cuban made versions and most of these cigars are built to last. This one in particular did not disappoint. Enjoy.

Blend specifics:

Vitola: Salomone 7 1/4
Wrapper: Habano
Binder:Dom. Rep
Filler: Dom. Rep.

Appearance & Construction:

Slightly rough and aged looking wrapper. Firm to the touch with seemingly plenty of tobacco. The foot smells of hay, earth and leather.

Taste & Smoke Characteristics:

Cold draw is of hay and refined tobacco. First puff is a bit of pepper and spice with a slight earthy mushroom note that Davidoff is known for. As the cigar progresses loads of eastern spices come to the forefront along with an earthy finish. Midway there is a sweet note of hay and delicate tobacco. The burn is solid throughout although a bit uneven however it doesn’t take anything away from the cigar. The final third develops further with cinnamon, espresso bean and a long finish of cedar and almond. A completely balanced cigar.

Conclusion:

For such a large cigar I was impressed by the complexity it yielded. This is not an easy feat as with long filler you can fall into the trap of blending a one dimensinal large format if you don’t add the right compents to it. I can’t say I have ever smoked a fresh version of the Davidoff “Wagner” however for $30 you can get one with thirteen years of age which has done this cigar very well. If you can find one indulge yourself.

Review: Jefferson’s Ocean Bourbon Voyage 5.

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This is the fifth trip in Jefferson’s sea journeys with their bourbon. For those of you who don’t know Jefferson’s distillery set sail with their bourbon in a Jacques Cousteau-esque fashion. Their maiden voyage began five years ago with the idea of storing already aged bourbon in barrels and heading off to sea on a six month excursion. The exposure to extreme temperatures, pressure and the salty sea air would give the bourbon an unrivaled taste like never before. Lest anyone think this to be a gimmick or publicity stunt Jefferson’s is an established producer who spent a lot of time and care in this process.  Their fifth installment delivers a complex flavor profile of an already well aged bourbon. Enjoy!

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Product Specifics

Distillery: The Kentucky Artisan Distillery

Origin: Kentucky

ABV: 90 proof

Price: ~$75

Nose:

The nose exudes caramel, toffee, raisin and dark plum. The caramel is the predominant

characteristic with the dark fruit in the background.

Flavor:

Upfront the spice and caramel hit you straight away. The mouthfeel is delicate and a creamier style approaches you mid palate. Returning is the rye spice with some tobacco and vanilla followed by a little brine that culminates into a lip smacking caramel finish. A complex bourbon indeed.

Conclusion:

All hands on deck with this bourbon as Jefferson’s Ocean needs to be experienced by many. The complexity of this bourbon is no doubt in part to its 8 years of age followed by sloshing around in barrel for 6 months at sea. The varied temperatures and sea air has breathed new life into this bourbon that no land lubber has experienced before. I know a lot of places have sold out of their allocations but I suggest calling your local shop to see if there is anything left. There’s no need to resort to Piracy if you can’t find any as I know Westhampton Fine Wine has a bottle or two still available and they ship world wide. Ahoy!

http://www.westhamptonfinewine.com/

 

Whiskey Review: Straight Edge American Whiskey

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Straight Edge Whiskey

 

A while back I was fortunate enough to score a bottle of Dave Phinney’s “Slaughterhouse” Whiskey. Dave Phinney as you may or may not know is the famed vintner who created “The Prisoner” an Über California wine blend.  He then sold the company and now makes acclaimed wines from virtually all the major wine producing countries in the world under his Orin Swift label.  Last year he decided to turn his taste for wine into sourced whiskeys. Straight Edge was Dave’s first leap into the whiskey world and his skill in crafting wine doesn’t miss a beat when putting together these whiskeys. Straight Edge is hard to come by and I was lucky to grab a bottle for this review.

Straight Edge much like all of Phinney’s creations catches the eye with creative labeling. Straight Edge as the name implies sports an old style straight edge razor. The red background in the lettering matches the color of the whiskey itself.  In the bottle the whiskey has an attractive almost sherry color to it. Straight Edge is a blend of 5, 7 and 8 year old Bourbon from Kentucky and Tennessee.  It’s finished at Phinney’s facility in Napa Valley using Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. Mercury Head is Orin Swift’s high end expensive Cabernet. I have a bottle of the ’01 Mercury Head and you can see in the picture below the Whiskey and the wine it was barrel finished in.

Here is my review:

Spirit details: Proof 84

Price: $50

Origin: USA

Description: Sherry color in bottle, straight razor on label.

Nose: The nose screams vanilla and wood.

Palate: Upfront lots of vanilla, butterscotch and toasty oak. Midway spice with orange and honey that coats the mouth.

Finish: Real toasty on the finish with vanilla, caramel and a wonderful touch of rye that rounds out the profile.

Conclusion: An extremely well balanced whiskey. While I don’t feel the body was as “weighty” as the Slaughterhouse this whiskey was more nuanced in it’s primary flavors. I attribute this to the aging in Cabernet barrels rather than Bordeaux barrels with Slaughterhouse.  Orin Swift Cellars has diversified their profile with both American Whiskeys. Straight Edge delivers sharp  flavors of vanilla, oak and spice which is what a quality American Whiskey is all about. If you can find a bottle I would grab it as I wish I had more myself. Below is a link to my review of Slaughterhouse if you’d like to compared the two. Enjoy!

Whiskey Review: SLAUGHTER HOUSE AMERICAN WHISKEY

 

 

 

 

Feature: Graycliff Cigar Factory at Graycliff Hotel, A “Cigar Oasis”

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Graycliff Cigar Factory

Last month I had the pleasure of taking a day trip to Nassau Bahamas. My one and only plan was to visit the Graycliff Hotel to learn about their cigar making process, techniques and the quality that’s synonymous with the Graycliff brand. Graycliff Hotel was purchased by the Garzaroli family in 1973 and is the premier five star hotel and restaurant on the island as well as housing the largest wine cellar in the Caribbean. The historic mansion and its property boasts  a welcoming reception area, opening air dining and Himalayan salt pool, all of which  cater to the cigar enthusiast.

Upon entering the hotel you can smell the sweet aroma of a cigar in the lounge. With antique leather chairs, showcases of spirits, paintings and a piano you quickly envision a sense of calm and quiet reflection that guests enjoy puffing away on any given day.  Within a few minutes I was greeted by a lovely woman who guided us to the Graycliff Cigar Factory.  I could have easily wiled away the afternoon enjoying cigars and spirits right there however I needed to visit the factory where they make the cigars I’ve enjoyed for the past sixteen years.

As I made my way through the old stone walkway palm trees adorned the property along with statues and an elegant pool that truly gave you a sense of the sophisticated history of the hotel.  Just before I approached the factory I was taken back by the largest Cigar Divan I have ever seen. The Divan had a large ceiling with fans, lounge chairs, couches, wrought iron tables and a free standing humidor.  This is the perfect respite to grab a cigar from the factory and sit with a smoke enjoying the scenery. I’m sure it was no coincidence that the divan is right by the entrance to the cigar factory.

Cigar Divan:

The steps that lead to the Graycliff Cigar Factory:

Graycliff Cigar Factory

Upon entering the factory there is a lounge and bar offering espresso and spirits. Alongside is a cabinet humidor containing six lines of the Graycliff portfolio. The represented cigars where: Graycliff Originale, Graycliff Professionale, Graycliff Emerald, Graycliff Crystal and Graycliff Espresso. I was met by Adam Collins the General Manager for Graycliff. Adam is a very personable individual who greeted me warmly. As I shook hands I was given a Graycliff Professionale PG and lit it up immediately. The sweet and earthy flavors of the Professionale made it the perfect first smoke of the day. As I entered the epicenter of the factory which is their boutique rolling room I observed several rollers meticulously rolling vitolas for various Graycliff lines. Graycliff prides itself on perfectly rolled cigars and seeing firsthand you appreciate the dedication to the craft. Adam oversees the day to day operations as well as maintains the quality control and works on blends. In speaking with Adam you can see the passion in his eyes and the excitement he gets from working on a blend and speaking about the factory.

One particular roller that caught my eye was a gentleman rolling what appeared to be a free-form cigar or a cigar without a mold. This is extremely difficult to do as keeping a cigar’s measurements and consistency takes a keen eye and skilled hand. The individual in question was Master Roller Miguel A. Lavadie Duconger who is one of the last free form cigar rollers in the world.  As it turns out he was rolling the John Howard Graysmith line which is the ONLY commercial line of cigars dedicated to the free hand cigar rolling style. Miquel makes the cigar using the “Entubado” method which takes the individual filler leaves and rolls them into scroll-like tubes placing them next to each other in the bunch. This method although more time consuming creates more airflow and a better draw and burn making it a more satisfying cigar of very high quality. Watching Mr. Lavadie Duconger work was observing a master at his craft.  I’ve visited cigar factories before, seen rollers at their respective tables and even watched rollers attempt free hand cigars but NOTHING like the quality and consistently I saw at the Graycliff Cigar Factory.

Master Roller Miguel A. Lavadie Duconger rolling “Free Form”

The John Howard Graysmith which Miguel is responsible for has two vitolas:  “Cannon” a  60 x 7 Parejo and “Buccaneer” a  60 x 7 Piramide. Both cigars have uncut or “shag” feet.  The JHG line pays homage to the original way cigars were rolled as well as a nod to the famous pirate John Howard Graysmith whose exploits were legendary and who built the Graycliff Mansion.

John Howard Graysmith Buccanner and Cannon Cigars:

JHG-BUCCANEERJHG-CANNON

As impressive as the rolling room was Adam took me to the aging room where cigars are stored, bundled and readied for future shipping. Adam oversees fermentation and processing which is a testament to his hands on style of management and adherence to complete quality control. Returning to the rolling room I was able to light up a Graycliff Espresso Pirate which is my personal favorite of the line.  The Espresso pirate yielded rich notes of mocha, leather and a bit of spice.  The cigar was wonderfully balanced in the medium to full bodied range.

As I toured with Adam he took me down a hallway which I would call the “Cigar Education Wing”. Part tobacco education part museum this area sports framed cigar posters such as tobacco leaf classifications in which primings of each leaf are listed, cultivation methods, manufacturing, and the history of cigar making. Walking the hall and reading the informative descriptions gives a cigar enthusiast quite a lesson on how a cigar goes from the field to your hand. This is the first of its kind I’ve seen and shows how the company wants their consumers to understand the process as well as enjoy their cigars.

Cigar Education wing:

It was at this point I met up Paolo Garzaroli president of Graycliff Cigar Company. I’ve met Paolo on several occasions and I can say he has a true passion for quality, tremendous vison and is a gentleman who believes in family and building relationships with people.  Paolo directed me to the display cases that showed cigar memorabilia such as presses, molds and cutters. On the adjacent wall there were photos of celebrities enjoying Graycliff cigars and even such luminaries as Nelson Mandela. The impact Graycliff has had on the industry and consumers is demonstrative in these photographs.

Showcase of cigar memorabilia:

Celebrites and Heads of State enjoying Graycliff Cigars:

Much to my dismay I had to leave all too early as I had a ship to return to. Visiting Graycliff was a priority as well as the highlight of my trip. I thanked Adam and Paolo profusely for the cigars, tour and hospitality. If you visit the Bahamas you NEED to visit Graycliff or do one better and stay on the property. You will be educated, satiated, and puffing away in paradise. I will return as a guest and spend more time at Graycliff which I now call the “Cigar Oasis”.

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