I came across a really interesting article today on StogieGuys.com about the (somewhat) impractical size of a boxes of cigars. To summarize the article: “I don’t need 20 cigars in a box.” The honest truth is, for most of us that are committed to cigar smoking enough to even consider buying a box, we’re likely to smoke a wide variety of cigars, which includes online purchases, store purchases, and gifts from friends. Factor all of this in, and buying a box of 20 can, as StogieGuys points out, take years to smoke.
If you’re a more well-to-do cigar smoker, I know what you’re thinking: “that’s why I age my cigars.” Quite understandable. But for most of us, StogieGuys has a point: ten is just fine.
On Thursday, July 5th, cigar smokers from all over New York dropped by the Studio Square Beer Garden in Long Island City for an evening of drinks, smokes, food, and conversation. It was the first outdoor summer smoke of this year for FineTobaccoNYC, and the weather was beautiful. The cigar highlight of the night was Hispaniola Cigars, who are good friends of FineTobaccoNYC and a company that makes truly incredible, unique, hand-crafted cigars.
In my mind, the most special aspect of the evening was the venue. FineTobaccoNYC was given access to the beautiful Studio Square terrace, which included sales of Hispaniola Cigars, and a private bar with a selection of beers and spirits. For $10, cigar smokers received a free beer, a waived cutting fee, and access to the beautiful terrace. We also raffled off the entire line of Hispaniola Cigars, which, if you have smoked Hispaniola, you know is a steal for just $10 to enter.
The Studio Square terrace is open every Thursday, and we’ll be hosting more events there in the future. To join us as we smoke and hang out, join our event mailing list and like us on Facebook to get notifications of upcoming events and see more photos from this event!
Thanks to all who came out, and feel free to drop your comments in the comment section below! Looking forward to seeing you all at another event soon.
Macallan 64 Year in Lalique – the most expensive whiskey in the world
I’m excited to announce that this post will be the first in many regarding the world of spirits. I’m a total noob when it comes to fine spirits, so I’ll be learning the basics in the next few months. So, I hope you follow along and find the content valuable.
I figured I’d start with something that, though not incredibly practical, is a fun and informative in fact. So, what is the most expensive whiskey in the world? For you curious whiskey lovers out there, it is official: the world’s most expensive whiskey sold at auction is the Macallan 64 Year Old Lalique.
From “Drinks International”:
“Guinness World Records has awarded The Macallan 64 Year Old the accolade of ‘most expensive whisky sold at auction ’for US$460,000 (£291,125)… The ‘one-of-a kind’ Lalique crystal decanter housed the oldest and rarest Macallan ever bottled by the distillery, a 64 Year Old single malt whisky. The auction took place at Sotheby’s in New York in November 2010.”
Matthias recently sat down with Ronnie Parisella, CRA ambassador and FineTobaccoNYC contributing writer to chat about local and national cigar politics, with a focus on New York City. If you are a cigar smoker in New York City and want to know how you can help protect your rights, or get to know your CRA rep a bit more, then read on.
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Ronnie Parisella
When did you originally begin smoking cigars, and what brought you in?
I was working for Charles Schwab & Co, Inc. in Brooklyn as a help desk engineer in 1997. Cigars and the economy were booming, and the NYC cigar scene was very active. This was before Bloomberg stopped smoking in bars & restaurants. My first cigar was an Ashton Maduro that I purchased from Barclay Rex on Broad St. downtown. I loved talking cigars with shop reps and still do. I’ve never walked into a humidor and failed to learn something useful. I love listening to guys argue about cigars as well, as it is all about taste. Give 5 different smokers the same cigar, and you might get 5 different sets of tasting notes. it’s all about preference, and there are nearly unlimited options available.
What is the greatest smoking experience you’ve ever had? (cigar, location, atmosphere, occasion, etc)
How about a random one? About a month ago, I was walking down 6th Ave. in NYC, when I was stopped by a police officer. As he asked me about my cigar, I assumed I was going to get harassed for smoking on the sidewalk (which is apparently illegal in NYC now), but instead, the officer told me how much he loved cigars and began to rattle off about a dozen of his favorite brands and sizes. He was such a nice guy that after we chatted, (and I gave him a couple of old CA copies I had in my bag), he popped the trunk on his cruiser, pulled out a small bag of cigars and gave me a Cuban Cohiba #2. It was an interesting NYC experience, and one that I’m sure Mayor Bloomberg, would love to eliminate in the future.
What is it about Cigar Rights of America that you find so compelling that you volunteer your time?
A common misconception regarding the anti-smoking movement is that it is solely geared toward cigarettes. It targets all smoking products including cigars. All 50 states in the US have some form of a smoking ban or a tax on tobacco products. The primary goal of the anti-smoking movement is to eventually outlaw all tobacco products. Cigar Rights of America (CRA) was founded on the principle of fighting for the freedom to enjoy cigars. CRA is a Non-Profit Consumer Grassroots Organization that works with local, state and federal governments to protect the freedoms of cigar enthusiasts.
What do you find the most common reason behind the public’s willingness to support smoking bans and tax increases?
Cigarettes. Our biggest challenge in fighting for our freedom to enjoy premium hand rolled cigars, is separating the public’s perception of tobacco. The premium hand rolled cigar industry consists of centuries old techniques that respect the land, the crop and the tradition of the industry. Big Tobacco is completely the opposite, driven by corporate greed and shareholders. The cigar industry does not intentionally make their products addictive. No additional tar, nicotine, ammonia, etc. is added to premium hand rolled tobacco. To the contrary, many steps in the fermentation/curing process specifically remove impurities from the leaf. On a recent trip to Davidoff’s Camp Camacho in Jamastran, Honduras CA, General Manager Sandra L. Ochoa described that the process is what keeps cigar tobacco from going stale, even though it gets dry. Cigarette tobacco is much more processed and cannot be revived indefinitely, like premium hand rolled cigars.
In recent years there have been quite a few increases in the amount of tobacco taxes and regulations on cigar smokers around the country. What would you say is the primary battle ground for cigar rights advocates? Local, state, or federal?
While the federal anti-tobacco movement is geared at cigarette smoking, the premium hand rolled cigar industry is still unfairly lumped in with all tobacco use. I believe that we can raise awareness about the threat to our freedoms. Unite at your local Premium Cigar Shop, with enough support, we can fight this inclusion with facts and education.
Given CRA’s mission, they are clearly very aware of the proposed invasion of the cigar industry by the FDA. What are the proposed policies, and why are they so dangerous?
Overall, I applaud the FDA for intervening in the free market to prevent underage smokers. The main concern is while the FDA has stated their investigations and focus will remain on the cigarette and not cigar industries, they may choose to do so in the future. The policies aren’t the issue. The issue is that there is no clear definition that separates the premiums hand rolled cigar industry from mass-produced, intentionally-addictive cigarette and chewing tobacco industries. I am behind the Gov’t’s intention to make tobacco use less appealing to underage Americans. I am not happy that I can no longer by D’Jarum Cloves in NYC, but I get it, and am not too upset.
What are the basic principles behind the CRA’s strategy to protect our right to enjoy fine tobacco?
This is a basic “no taxation without representation” issue. If the premium hand rolled cigar manufacturers are to be taxed, they should be taxed at rates in line with non-addictive products. This is an industry, a product of camaraderie and of brotherhood. Our NYS tobacco tax rate of 75% is ridiculous compared to some other states (i.e. Kansas – 10%). The disparity is often tied to the the aggressiveness & tenacity of local officials. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg has reportedly contributed $220M of his own to the Anti-Tobacco movement.
As a resident of New York City, what do you think lies behind Mayor Bloomberg’s massive increase in tobacco regulation? What do you think his end-game is?
The Mayor wants his city to be the nicest in the world.
What can the average cigar smoker in the U.S. do to help keep the culture alive?
What can a new cigar enthusiast do to learn more about the premium hand rolled cigar industry?
1. Become a certified tobacconist: http://www.tobacconistuniversity.org/
2. Visit your local cigar shops
3. Support the cigar industry on Twitter: @CigarRights, @FineTobaccoNYC, @IPCPR,
4. Follow Cigary Industry Blogs: finetobaccoclub.com/, etc.
Every now and again the cigar smoker needs a change of pace. So, I decided to give the Alec Bradley Maxx “The Curve” a shot, and also give you a few thoughts on it. For this stick, reviewed on my back patio, I paired a steak dinner and a glass of medium-bodied red wine. And of course, some bossa nova and Spanish guitar music for the background.
Blend specifics:
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Costa Rica
Filler: Colombia, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras
Size: 7 x 58
Appearance & Construction
This cigar features a dark, chocolate brown wrapper. Off the foot are notes of caramel, granola, mulch, and a faint spice. The stick is packed well, and is a bit intimidating in size. I’m looking forward to some pretty cool smoke though considering the ring gauge.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The first third of this cigar is pretty interesting. It opens with what I can only describe as forest berries, granola, and roasted nuts. In my mind, that granola taste is really the signature of a lot of Alec Bradley cigars, though this one is a good deal sweeter and smoother than the Prensado.
In the second third, the stick adds coffee and chocolate to the mix. Pretty enjoyable, though even with the array of flavors, still somehow seems a bit one-dimensional to me.
Conclusion
For me, the ring gauge on this cigar is just a bit too big, and it wasn’t quite complex enough for my tastes, though I am the first to admit that perhaps my palate just isn’t advanced enough to pick up the complexity. If you like the signature Alec Bradley taste though, this stick is really smooth and you’d probably enjoy it.
Today, for the Fourth of July, Independence Day, I have a CAO America Limited Edition Box Press. The America uses tobacco from different countries including America. I straight cut the cigar and am having water.
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Italian, & American
Appearance & Construction
The CAO’s patriotic label bears the nation’s colors red, white, and blue and has United States eagle emblem on the foots band. The cigar proudly states America! The pinstripe wrapper and construction is exceptional. There are no soft spots on the America. The body of the cigar has wood, tobacco, and vanilla. On the foot, there is coffee and wood. The cold is firm with coffee, spice, and wood.
Flavor & Smoking Characteristics
CAO’s America opens with vanilla and berry. Coffee joins these flavors about an inch into the cigar. The cigar has an uneven burn in the first third. As I now enter the second third, the burn begins to even out. Coffee, nutmeg, and bittersweet chocolate now are the prominent flavors. On the final third nutmeg, cinnamon, and leather come out. The America is a medium body cigar with creamy smoke.
Conclusion
The CAO America is a creamy smoke with a standard flavor profile associated with connecticut and maduro wrappers. For fans of CAO, I recommend trying this cigar. Overall, the America is a patriotic cigar to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Cigars smokers in London (traveler or otherwise) now have one more location to light up at: the Wellesley Hotel in London. The hotel, which will open in November of 2012, will feature a large outdoor terrace and a cigar lounge boasting “one of the largest collections of cigars sold on a stick-by-stick basis.” Not only that, there will be an entire wall dedicated to Whiskey and Cognac, as well as a jazz room, though it is unclear whether cigar smokers will be allowed to smoke there (I’d guess not).
Judging by the photos in the article on hotelchatter.com, it looks like the hotel will be ideal for cigar smokers visiting the city who have a bit of extra cash to spend.
Greggory Mottola from Cigar Aficionado writes on the CA website that the East India Trading Co., a subsidiary of Gurkha, is releasing the “Red Witch”, which is a new box pressed cigar that will debut next month. No photos of the cigar yet, but we’ll try to get one up for you soon.
From the release:
“Named after a trading ship from the British rule during the 1800s, Red Witch features an Ecuadoran rosado wrapper, Dominican binder and filler tobacco from Nicaragua’s mountainous region of Jalapa. Housed in rustic 50-count boxes, Red Witch will be available in three sizes: Robusto, 5 inches by 52, Rothchild, 6 by 54, and XO, measuring 6 by 60. Retail prices are expected to fall in the $4.99 to $6.39 range.”
With a retail price between $5 and $7, it should be a cigar to keep your eye on.
It’s always a pleasure to review new product (good or bad) on the cigar market, so when I finally got my hands on some Regius cigars, I was excited. For this morning smoke, I paired with a cup of coffee. From the website:
“This cigar has a light body, aimed at those who prefer a subtle taste and aroma. It has an elegant flavour, with hints of coffee and hazelnut overtones. The cigar is named in honour of a cigar loving ‘elegance arbiter’.”
Blend Specifics
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 6 x 38
Appearance & Construction
As far as appearance, this cigar is pretty much flawless. The wrapper has light oil, some small veins, and a gorgeous band – black, gold, and red. Under “Regius” is, in latin, “Arbiter Elegantiae,” which means “Arbiter of Elegance.” For you history buffs out there, you would be interested to know that the Arbiter of Elegance was actually an official position of the Roman government under the Emporer. As the title suggests, the arbiter was the final say on matters of style, aesthetics, and anything relating to beauty. For a cigar to put that on its band is making a pretty bold statement, so I looked forward to seeing if this cigar lived up to its claim.
Taste & Smoke Characteristics
This cigar erupts with some really great flavors upon lighting up. Nuts, coffee, hints of dark chocolate, and brownie on the retrohale. The texture of the smoke is smooth and creamy, but with a nicely balanced spice. This cigar is not mild bodied as the website suggests. This is a solid medium, which at times borders on full. Very enjoyable, however, is the complexity and balance of this stick: the cream and spice play off of each other nicely, and all through the smoke the notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and nuts took turns on center stage. In the second half of the cigar, a sort of floral note is introduced.
Conclusion
This cigar will keep you on your toes. It is smooth, complex, and flavorful. As skeptical as I was, this indeed an elegant cigar that I could smoke over and over, especially in the morning. Pair this with a cup of coffee, or with an equally complex red wine. Stay away from full-bodied pairs.
New York cigar smokers can purchase this cigar at the Nat Sherman Townhouse on 42nd and 5th Ave. or at Davidoff of New York.
Just read a really cool story from the Armchair General. Apparently, Nick Popaditch, the man famous for his stogie smoking pose in Operation Iraqi Freedom, is running for U.S. Congress for California’s 53rd Congressional District as a Republican. His famous victory pose with a stogie and Saddam Hussein in the background made media rounds all across the country.
Armchair General gives some really great history on cigars in American politics, and tells a bit of the inspiring and tragic story of this soldier, including the RPG injury that cost him one eye and the vision of his other.
ame across a really interesting article today on StogieGuys.com about the (somewhat) impractical size of a boxes of cigars. To summarize the article: “I don’t need 20 cigars in a box.” The honest truth is, for most of us that are committed to cigar smoking enough to even consider buying a box, we’re likely to smoke a wide variety of cigars, which includes online purchases, store purchases, and gifts from friends. Factor all of this in, and buying a box of 20 can, as StogieGuys points out, take years to smoke.
