The Blanco Nine is, from what I can tell, the most highly acclaimed cigar from Blanco Cigar Co. I’ve had the Blanco Nine Lancero many times and I have to say it lives up to the hype. It has phenomenal flavor, great balance, and is really a joy to smoke. I recently picked up a few robustos for review to see if they could stand up to the lancero vitola. So here we go…
Blend Specifics:
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Corojo Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligeros
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
Off the foot on the prelight draw I smell nuts, hay, dark chocolate, and leather. When I light up the cigar, I’m greeted by a very full bodied smoke that carries with it dark chocolate, white pepper, and hints of leather. About a quarter of an inch in, the body comes down a notch, but before long it’s back up again. This is a real powerhouse cigar in terms of body and flavor – be sure you have a glass of water or a whiskey/rum on hand.
The second third is a continuation of the profile in the first, with a bit more white pepper and some black pepper thrown in the mix as well. In the final third, the body of the cigar draws down a notch revealing more dark chocolate notes along with the heavy pepper.
Conclusion
I enjoyed this cigar, but I have to say I am still partial to the Blanco Nine lancero vitola. As much as I liked this cigar, the body was a bit much for me and I would have enjoyed to have a bit more diversity of the flavor profile. If you are going to try the Blanco Nine, I recommend starting with the lancero. If you’ve already had and enjoyed the lancero, this is still a cigar to try, especially if you are a fan of bolder profiles and textures.
On Wednesday, July 8th, join us for an exclusive look inside Lucky Guy, a private social club hidden in the heart of Manhattan. This intimate networking event will feature open bar, cigars from Giacomo Cigars, a private tasting of whiskey from Larceny Bourbon, mind-reading performance by Matt Cooper, friendly poker game for prizes, and consultations by Lucky Guy’s master tailor.
Tickets are available exclusively through Eventbrite. No at-door tickets available.
Discover a private refuge for today’s businessman hidden in heart of the Flatiron District. Home to a master tailor, men’s grooming expert, work space, dedicated event planner and 180 member social club, Lucky Guy is a Swiss Army knife for the modern man.
Giacomo Cigars
Though only a recent contender in the U.S. cigar market, Giacomo Cigars is gaining momentum as a boutique brand that prizes quality above all else. Giacomo’s core line is comprised of medium to full bodied cigars which feature tobaccos from the famous Oliva Tobacco Company. To blend the core line, Master Blender Jack Guggino spent nearly two and a half years searching for the perfect combination of tobacco leaves. Giacomo cigars feature balanced tasting notes of cedar, pepper, subtle spices.
Larceny Bourbon
Larceny was hand selected by the Master Distillers to have a taste profile of a six-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Made with wheat as the secondary grain, instead of the traditional rye, Larceny is a smoother tasting Bourbon.
Color: Bright new copper
Aroma:Fresh bread and toffee, with a note of butterscotch
Taste:Buttery caramel and honeyed notes, with a rich mouthfeel
Finish:Long, gently sweet and savory
Matt Cooper
Mentalist Matt Cooper has a decade of experience, entertaining groups that range from Fortune 500 company VIPs to exclusive, private party guests. Today, Cooper lives in New York City and travels the world as a professional Mentalist, reading minds close-up and on stage.
A Mentalist uses the five known senses to create the illusion of a sixth: telepathy, mind control, mind reading, memory feats, hypnosis, predictions of the future, and other mental mysteries. Think “psychic magician”, if that helps.
Wine & Liquor Provided By:
Drink Wine Be Saved
Wine and Liquor provided by DWBS “Drink Wine Be Saved”. Your direct access to world-known wineries and distilleries”. *Guests will be able to order wine at a discounted price and free wine and scotch glasses for the purchase of a case of wine.*
* You must be 21 or older to purchase tickets to this event. Those under 21 will not be allowed entrance into the club.
**By signing up for this event, you give FineTobaccoNYC permission to send future cigar event invites via email.
*** A full refund in the form of credit toward a future Fine Tobacco NYC event is available until 24 hours before an event.
Luxury single malt whisky, The Macallan is taking over London’s Two Temple Place for two nights only. On 2 and 3 June, The Macallan Residence will unlock its doors and invite guests into the world of The Macallan.
The first UK event of its kind for the brand will take guests on a journey of carefully curated experiences exploring the world of photography, food and fashion.
Visitors to The Macallan Residence will learn how to expertly nose and taste single malt with Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby, award winning whiskies from The 1824 Series. Master-classes from Mixologists Wayne Collins and David Miles will showcase the art of creating the perfect Old Fashioned cocktail.
Chocolate and whisky pairings from Artisan Du Chocolat will be on offer, as well a bespoke styling service from a number of hand-picked partners. Photography from The Macallan’s latest collaboration with the world’s most glamourous and iconic fashion photographer, Mario Testino will also be exhibited for guests to enjoy.
Keith Bonnington, The Macallan Senior Brand Manager said: “The Macallan Residence is an exciting and unique event which will take consumers on an exceptional whisky experience. Set in the iconic Two Temple Place, guests will be fully immersed in the world of quality craftsmanship synonymous with The Macallan.”
A limited number of tickets are available for the two hour experience on 2 June at 7.30pm and 8.30pm and 3 June at 6.30pm at Two Temple Place, London, WC2R 3BD. To reserve your place please visit: http://www.themacallanresidence.com/.
Notes
Please enjoy The Macallan responsibly, visit www.drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.
Join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with #TheMacallanResidence
Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies. The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else.
On Thursday, April 16th, we’re breaking all the rules. For the first time, we’ll be hosting a three-course cigar and spirits dinner on both floors of the gold-medal Neely’s Barbecue Parlor. This event is only possible due to a rare legal exemption provided to Neely’s/Merchants before NYC restaurant smoking bans went into effect.
The event starts at 7:30pm and will run until 11pm
UPSTAIRS: 7:30 – 9PM
Our three-course dinner upstairs features the new “Churchill” from Davidoff Cigars, live entertainment, a selection of wine and beer and a professionally guided pairings of single malt scotch from The Balvenie and Glenfiddich.
DOWNSTAIRS: 9 – 11PM
After dinner, guests will move downstairs to a closed-to-the-public Merchants NY Cigar Bar to pair new blends from La Hoja Cigar Co. with an array of paired drinks.
On February 24th, join New York City cigar and spirits aficionados for an exclusive evening tasting of the Cigar Aficionado Top 25 Cigar of 2014: the Alec Bradley Mundial #5 paired with Laphroaig Select Scotch, and Bowmore 12 Year Scotch. The event will also include live music and give-aways.
In honor of this exclusive tasting of Alec Bradley, this Smoker Social is a “Live True” event.
When it comes to writing, painting or crafting cigars, sometimes creating something new comes quickly. Other times it’s a struggle. The birth of the Alec Bradley Mundial brand was the latter, a project that brand owner Alan Rubin’s ruminated on for close to five years. “I always had Mundial on my mind,” he said. The blend that finally sparked Rubin’s interest included a wrapper from the Trojes region of Honduras, which Alec Bradley uses to great effect on its Prensado line. All Mundials have pointed feet that vaguely resemble lances, explaining the moniker “Punta Lanza” (point of the lance) that appears on each box. The No. 5 is meaty and leathery, with a pleasant amount of minerality.
Bowmore 12 Year Single Malt Scotch
Complex yet perfectly balanced, our 12 Years Old reflects the raw essence of Bowmore – thrashing waves, windswept landscapes and generations of tradition. Bowmore 12 Years Old has received much critical acclaim; the late, great whisky writer Michael Jackson proclaimed it “remarkably long and complex”. We like to think of it as vanilla ice cream at a beach bonfire.
Laphroaig Select Single Malt Scotch
Laphroaig Select takes its name from the special selection of American and European casks, chosen for their unique character that they give during maturation. The Inspiration for the new Global expression has been taken from history – 70-80 years ago, the time of the last family member owner of the distillery, Ian Hunter. Ian was one of the biggest influences in the history of Laphroaig indeed, he was one of the first distillers to travel to bourbon county in the USA to identify new sources of casks that would give him greater consistency as well as new flavours. He later married this ‘new’ style of Laphroaig with his traditionally matured (European cask) Laphroaig.
Tasting notes:
NOSE: Peat first, then ripe red fruits from the PX and Oloroso casks. A hint of dryness next from the American oak with a long lingering florally finish – Marzipan and even limes at the end.
PALATE: This full bodied whisky is initially sweet up front- matching the nose, then the classic dry, peaty, ashy flavours come bounding in followed by a lovely rich finish arising from the rich fruits of the European casks.
Merchants NY Cigar Bar
*By signing up for this event, you give FineTobaccoNYC permission to send future cigar event invites via email.
** You must be 21 years or older to purchase a ticket to this event.
Before we get into the results of the third-annual New York City Cigar Lounge of the Year Award, I want to make a moment to thank the over 200 NYC cigar smokers who voted in this year’s contest. It was our largest voter turnout yet and we saw some really great comments roll in on the strengths and weaknesses of the different cigar lounges and cigar bars in the city. I’m also happy to announce that, as a service to NYC cigar smokers, we will be delivering the positive and constructive feedback to each cigar lounge in the city that requests a copy in the hopes that they will use the feedback to improve operations and provide even better customer experiences in the future. Now on to the main business. This year saw our closest race yet. After a week of voting, there was no majority winner, so we had our first runoff vote between the three lounges with the most votes:
The Finalists
1. The Cigar Inn (Manhattan) 2. Blew Smoke Cigar Room (Brooklyn) 3. Merchants NY Cigar Bar (Manhattan)
Honorable mention: Maxis Cigar Shop. I have to mention Maxis Cigar Shop in Franklin Park because of the large number of write-in votes they received! In their comments, voters for this shop mentioned selection and friendliness of staff and patrons as the main reasons for their votes.
In third place overall: Blew Smoke Cigar Room with 14% of the runoff vote. Although this cigar lounge is a relatively recent addition to the NY cigar lounge scene, it has quickly gained a following as a hip hangout in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Voters frequently mentioned the quality of patrons and friendly staff as their reason for voting for Blew Smoke. In second place overall, with 33% of the runoff vote is Merchants NY Cigar Bar. In 2012 and 2013, Merchants received just handful of votes, so it is equally remarkable that they have jumped to the #2 slot. Voters recommended Merchants because of its decor, staff friendliness, and availability of full bar and food menus. Congratulations to Blew Smoke and Merchants! Now, without further ado, we announce the winner of the 2014 NYC Cigar Lounge of the Year Award. And the winner is…
The Cigar Inn
For the third year in a row, The Cigar Inn has won our coveted award with just over 53% of the total runoff vote. As in previous years, Cigar Inn won for a variety of reasons, including friendly staff, selection of premium cigars at competitive prices, ambiance, and clientele. What stood out among the voters, however, was one word: hospitality. Here we’ll quote a few voters explaining why they chose Cigar Inn:
“The value of cigars offered, the environment and the staff. Bring all this together and the experience brings me back every time I step into the city.”
“The owners treat everyone like they’re special. Whether you’re buying one stick or five boxes, you’re always welcomed.”
“The 73rd St location has figured out the right balance between allowing new folks to enjoy themselves without subtracting from the regulars’ experience. To me, creating that brotherhood is what the cigar lifestyle is about.”
“I’ve been to pretty much all of the cigar lounges in the city, and the ONE and ONLY thing that distinguishes the CIGAR INN from the rest is the HOSPITALITY, warmth, and level of service of the management team.”
Speaking from my own experience, I can say that all of these observations are true. That’s why when I have a few hours free to smoke a cigar, Cigar Inn is my go-to spot. What’s even more incredible to me, however, is that they have managed to create this experience and expand to new locations in a city so rife with costly anti-tobacco and anti-smoking regulations.
Billy, Gus, and Bass: you have created something truly special at The Cigar Inn, and so for a third year in a row we are proud to honor you and your establishment as the NYC Cigar Lounge of the Year. Warm regards, Matthias Clock Founder, Fine Tobacco NYC Note to cigar lounge owners: to request your copy of feedback from your voters, email Matthias at matthias@finetobacconyc.com.
It’s that time of the year again! Voting is now open for our third annual NYC Cigar Lounge of the Year Award. For the last two years, Cigar Inn has been voted the best cigar lounge in New York City with commanding leads both years. Now, New York City cigar smokers will decide who will win the honor in 2014. Results will be announced in early January.
In addition to a simple vote for best cigar lounge, the survey also asks voters to describe the strengths and areas of improvement for the lounge they vote for.
Note: if you can’t find the lounge you want to vote for on the list of options, type it in to the “other” field and it will be added as the voting goes on.
You can read about the results of the last two years by clicking the links below.
Up for review today: Ardbeg 10 Year. This spirit is one of the peatiest of the single malt’s, and though not my favorite scotch certainly ranks in my top 20. Let’s see why:
Bottling Specifics
46% ABV, non chill-filtered
Age: 10 Years
Region: Islay
Distiller: Ardbeg
Nose
The nose lets of a multitude of enjoyable notes. Initially black pepper, smoke and menthol. After a moments pause and another smell, I pick up a hint of vanilla and ocean spray.
Palate
Taste the Ardbeg 10 and you’ll understand why some call it one of the most complex Scotches in the world. There is, quite simply, a lot going on. Vanilla, smoke, wood, subtle spices, and charcoal… and probably four or five more flavors I had a harder time picking out. Starting gently, the flavor of this scotch ends with smoke, medicinal notes, and charcoal, at full flavor.
Finish
The finish is by far my favorite part of this spirit. On one hand, the finish is clean and precise. On the other, after each sip I’m left with a nice long finish of sea salt and floral notes.
Conclusion
Ardbeg 10 is proof that the journey is more important than the destination. Just in the process of writing this review I’m reminded of how much I appreciate the complexity of this scotch.
I’ve been a fan of Talisker single malt scotch ever since my first taste of the Talisker 10 Year about a year and a half ago. The Talisker Storm, released by Diageo in 2013, is a No Age Statement (NAS) bottling, so there’s less factually to know about this spirit. What is immediately obvious about this bottling, however, is that it bears striking resemblance to the 10 year though with some important differences, mainly to do with a heightened strength and aggressiveness.
Bottling Specifics
ABV: 45.8%
Age: no age statement
Nose
On the nose for Talisker Storm are notes of pepper, smoke, honey, and banana.
Palate
Talisker Storm opens with a nice medium-bodied oaky sweetness. Mellow, with mild peat and slight saltiness. Gentle yet full flavored all at the same time. Some harshness betrays this is probably a younger spirit than the 10 year.
Finish
Very clean, warming, with a lingering sweetness.
Conclusion
Talisker Storm is, as one online commenter put it, like “a storm in a tea cup.” Somehow mellow yet powerful at the same time. I’m not sure I would take Storm over the 10 Year, but it’s certainly a good bottle to buy, especially since I’ve seen bottles of this product selling for around $50 at different shops in the city.
December 17th, 2014, NEW YORK CITY—In the Fall of 1962, Carlos Flores fled Fidel Castro’s rule to Miami, FL to found Flor de Flores Cigar Company. Through Carlos’ hard work and determination, Flor De Flores became a staple for American cigar enthusiasts, selling over one million cigars a single day during the cigar boom of the 1990’s.Today, La Hoja Cigar Company is proud to announce a new blend that is steeped in Carlos’s passion for quality, flavor, and exacting craftsmanship: the La Hoja Edicion Clasica 1962.
Created from the same blueprint of La Hoja’s best selling Autentico Maduro, the Edicion Clasica both mimics and transcends the experience of the Autentico Maduro. Edicion Clasica features an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper and San Victor Dominican filler. The heart of the cigar, however, is the Piloto Cubano filler: one of the rarest and most expensive tobaccos currently in production.
To round off the blend, master blenders added a small amount of carefully selected Nicaraguan leaf to add dimension and strength to the cigar.
J Carlos Gomez, Executive VP at La Hoja Cigars remarked, “With the Clasica, we have taken our highest selling cigar and added a level of depth and complexity that we know every cigar smoker will recognize as truly unique.”
Inspired by the Founder’s passion for tradition and innovation, the Edicion Clasica is featured in four semi box-pressed sizes:
Edicion Clasica No. 1: Robusto (5 ¼ x 52)
Edicion Clasica No. 9: Toro (5 ¾ x 56)
Edicion Clasica No. 6: Toro Gordo (6 x 60)
Edicion Clasica No. 2: Belicoso (5 ¼ x 54)
Each size is carefully designed to delight even the most discerning cigar enthusiast with medium to full bodied smoke with flavors ranging from espresso to dark chocolate and intense nuttiness.William Flores, son of Carlos Flores and President of La Hoja Cigars, said, “La Hoja is a company full a tradition, passion, and excellence. The Clasica exemplifies our motto: ‘tobacco is the conversation!’”
Edicion Clasica will be available in select stores at prices ranging from $11 for the Edicion Clasica No. 1 to $13.50 for the Edicion Clasica No. 6.
About La Hoja Cigars
La Hoja Cigars, owned by William Flores, is a revival of Flor de Flores, the iconic company that led the cigar industry in the second half of the 20th century.
