For all of you avid whiskey drinkers out there, here’s a new website to bo0kmark: whiskey-distillery.net. The website is essentially a library of thousands of photos of the most famous distilleries in the world. Not only that, each distillery profile includes an extensive history of each distillery, their whiskeys, and ownership. As an example, take a look at this page highlighting the Kilbeggan distillery (one among hundreds of distilleries on the site). The page features hundreds of high quality photos, like this gem.
Tonight is a very special night, but not because I’m reviewing a cigar from Ventura Cigar (sorry Ventura). FineTobaccoNYC Contributing Writer and Event Coordinator Kelvin Batista is with me in my backyard enjoying the beautiful summer night. He’s reviewing the Fogo (about a 6″ perfecto, I’ll let him explain). Paired with this Estilo Cubano I have a glass of red wine.
Dual review!
Blend Specifics
Wrapper: Viso Habano Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Seco Habano and Ligero Habano
Size: Robusto
Appearance & Construction
The Estilo Cubano has a beautiful dark brown Habano wrapper. Scents off of the foot of the cigar include hay, woodland berries, and granola. Also some coffee bean. There’s also a faint spice that tickles my nose hairs. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the band on this cigar. Luckily, cigars are similar to books in this respect: you don’t judge a cigar by its band.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
Lighting up this cigar, I’m most taken aback by the flavor that I don’t sense. It takes a couple of minutes for the cigar to really open up, and when it does, the most prominent flavor is a sort of rich, dark chocolate. Much less prominent though than other cigars with a similar profile (hint: Emilio AF1). If the AF1 and Estilo Cubano were bars of chocolate, the Estilo Cubano would be much higher on the cocoa content. Yet, like any good bar of dark chocolate, it retains an excellent smoothness in the smoke. And thta’s just the first third.
In the second third, the distinctive change is the woodiness that becomes prominent. The construction throughout the smoke has remained flawless. From what I can tell, not much changes in the final third.
The burn
Conclusion
Depending on the flavor profile you prefer, this could be the cigar for you. For me, it strikes a nice chord, but for the flavor profile, I’m more likely to go with something like the Emilio AF1, which has the same silky smooth texture, but with much more emphasis on the dark chocolate.
According to a post by Whiskey Intelligence, the Dalmore is now the world’s most rapidly-growing single malt. From the press release,
The data reveals that the Dalmore is currently the fasting growing malt year on year with value growth of 69 per cent, taking over from Whyte & Mackay’s other single malt brand Jura which is now the second fastest growing malt in the world with value growth of 56 per cent. The phenomenal performance of the two brands compares with average growth of only 12 per cent across the top 25 malt brands globally.
Since 1839, The Dalmore distillery has been producing luxury brand scotch. To read a great review of a series of Dalmore scotch’s, head over to this page on livefireonline.com for good descriptions and photos as well.
With such tremendous growth, this just might be the next scotch for you to try. They also have a line created specifically to pair with cigars – might be another product to look for. You can find out more about the Dalmoreon their website.
Heads up New York cigar smokers: the Cigar Inn just released an announcement of an upcoming dinner event featuring the newest cigar from Montecristo: the Connoisseur Edition No. 2. According to the announcement this cigar is the follow up to the popular Montecristo New York Connoisseur Edition (No. 1), which featured and Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and a box pressed design. I’ve smoked that cigar many times, and it is a really fantastic cigar, so I can’t wait to see what Montecristo has planned for the #2.
The dinner will be held at the Cigar Inn (2nd Ave location) on July 17th at 7:00pm. There is no ticket information or price information – so not really sure what is up with that or if they even want people to show up – but it’s worth looking in to.
Cigar Aficionado reports that the Casa Magna Colorado, which we published a review of today, is due for re-release in box-press form. For those of you who haven’t smoked the Casa Magna Colorado, do yourself a favor and try it. You can read about the flavor profile here on our review, as well as see photos of the stick.
The original Casa Magna Colorado was rated the #1 cigar in 2008 in Cigar Aficionado Magazine, and you can find it at the Cigar Inn for ~$8 – a steal. Now I just have to hope that the guys at Cigar Inn pick up a few boxes of these new sticks for me to try!
Here’s a little bit about the cigar from the CA website:
“Packaged in boxes of 20, the thick, squared-off smokes are the Gordo Real, which measures 6 1/4 inches by 60 ring gauge; the Toro, 6 by 50; and the Short Robusto at 4 1/4 by 54. Retail prices should fall in the $6.95 to $8.95 range.”
My quest to learn the basics of the spirits world recently carried me to the far reaches of youtube. In particular, I wanted to find some sort of brief article or video explaining the history of Johnnie Walker, one of the most popular whiskey brands in the world, and also a brand that we see at our cigar events everywhere.
The Casa Magna Colorado was the #1 Cigar Aficionado cigar of 2008, and it was the first cigar to make me say “wow” (after the CAO Italia in my earlier cigar smoking days). For the money, it is incredibly hard to beat this cigar, but be warned: do not smoke this on an empty stomach or without something to drink, preferably something that will not crowd out the magnificent complexity of this cigar. I smoked this cigar at Cigar Inn.
The first thing to notice on (any cigar), the band, is gorgeous. Black, gold, white, and red colors are applied to a thick, textured material. MAGNA figures prominently on the band, with “Colorado” placed below. This cigar has an average amount of veins, and can (at times) burn a bit off, but touchups are few and far between. There is also a good amount of tooth, and some plume, on this cigar. The draw is nearly always perfect (on the slightly restrictive side). The stick is triple capped. Off the foot is tastes of nuts and berries.
Taste & Smoke Characteristics
The first thing I notice about the smoke from this cigar is the texture. The Colorado is well balanced between an almost creamy texture mixed with a bit of spice that coats the palate. Immediately discernible notes are coffee, roasted nuts, black pepper, and a slight saltiness that hits the tip of my tongue. This cigar delivers loads of flavor.
In the second third of this cigar, coffee becomes prominent, with an added note of chocolate. The smoke remains cool and smooth, even into the last few minutes of the cigar. All the while, the nuts, black pepper, slight saltiness, and coffee transition in prominence.
Conclusion
If you haven’t already, smoke this cigar. For the price, it is difficult to find a better full bodied cigar that stays complex and smooth all the way through. This is not a beginner cigar, or something to smoke in the morning. Also, beware of pairing a drink that will overpower as you’ll lose the complexities.
Buy this cigar. Or if you are in the city, find it at Cigar Inn.
Patrick over at StogieGuys posted some nice commentary on Thursday (5th July) about the value of cigar events. In “Cigar Events Worth Attending and Fighting For”, Patrick gives a brief rundown of his time at Famous Smoke Shop’s “Cigarnival,” which was hosted by Famous Smoke shop in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Somewhat fittingly, this article was posted on the same day that we hosted our first outdoor summer smoke of 2012 (this is our third summer at FineTobaccoNYC!). Always glad to read that there are many other cigar smokers in the region who believe in getting cigar smokers together for a HERF.
One of my new favorite whiskey blogs, “Whiskey For Everyone,” just published a post on July 4th that I thought many of you Belvanie lovers might appreciate (*cough* Kelvin *cough*). The gentlemen at Whiskey For Everyone recently visited the Balvenie distillery in Dufftown, Scottland. While at the distillery, they were given an extensive tour of the entire production process.
According to the website, Whiskey For Everyone is a blog that attempts to “demistify the sometimes daunting world of the whisky industry by explaining in layman’s terms about the language, processes, terminology and answering commonly asked questions.” Take a few minutes, drop by the blog, and bookmark it if you like it!
For personality and atmosphere, its pretty close to impossible to beat Diamante’s. Located on South Oxford Street in lovely Fort Greene, Diamante’s is easy to get to: its just a few blocks away from the 2, 3, 4, 5, B,Q, C, G, N, R, or D trains.
Let’s talk about the decor. When approaching Diamante’s, you’re immediately greeted with a homegrown exterior. The classic Cigar Indian statue is complemented by Diamante’s unique “smoking cigar” hanging sign above the door. The interior just raises the bar on class. Although the lounge has only been open for a couple of years, it looks like it’s been in Brooklyn for a hundred. The place is entirely decked out in antique wood hauled in from out of state, and there are enough leather couches and armchairs to seat small groups or big parties in equal comfort.
A great place to hang out with friends? Check.
The walls and mantlepieces are covered with boxing photos and posters, and vintage family photographs of well-dressed gentlemen smoking cigars. Both these, the distinctive dancer’s pole on top of the bar, and the non-stop sets of brilliant music are all calling cards of the lounge’s owner, David Diamante.
Everything in the lounge is a reflection of the style of its owner. Dave is a tall, charming looking man with famous dreadlocks hanging down to below his waist. After being the DJ at one of New York’s hottest nightclubs, Scores, for many years, Dave aligned his career with another passion: boxing. Diamante now works as a boxing ring announcer, and has called major fights on HBO, ESPN, and other networks.
More of the interior
This success led him to an alliance with another Brooklyn icon: Diamante just completed his first season as the “voice” of the Nets, partially owned by rapper Jay Z.
With the lounge located just three blocks away from the Nets’ new home, the Barclays Center, Dave is only optimistic about the future of the shop.
The last two things I should mention about this lounge are the events, and the distinctive cigar selection.
Diamante’s has many regular events. It frequently lights up a classic, black and white movie–you know, the kind where the men were men, and cigars were being smoked constantly. On many Tuesdays, the lounge hosts a “Classic Fight Night”…Dave and the regulars turn on one of history’s most infamous fights and relive it, with a live analysis from the owner who has himself met many of these fighters. The lounge also has tried to pay special attention to female cigar smokers, with its “Ladies’ Nights” every Wednesday.
Finally, the selection. Diamante’s carries a wide range of premium cigars. They are all good, but let me emphasize that the pricing is premium. But please don’t miss their house blends in your rush to check out their good selection. These are all good smokes: I recommend either the Hemingway or the Chisel.
Enjoy–and don’t forget to spread love (its the Brooklyn way!).
