In our quest to support New York brick and mortar shops, as well as to serve our readers, FineTobaccoNYC is now compiling a weekly list of cigar specials to aid you in finding the best bang for your buck. Weekly deals will be posted every Tuesday until further notice. As this is a new feature of our website, the first edition will be smaller, so check back every week, and watch the list grow!
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If you have a weekly cigar deal you want everyone to know about, please 1) email me at matthias.ftnyc(at) gmail.com and then drop it in the comments below.
In today’s cigar news, Tom Hancock at Smart Planet reports on the growing demand for premium cigars in China. The economic boom that China has experienced in recent decades has vastly increased the middle and upper class, and allowed more financial flexibility for individuals (mainly businessmen) to enjoy what has typically been seen as a Western hobby. In fact, Hancock reports that one third of the world’s cigar smoking population is Chinese.
I’ve got to say, I’m actually pretty fascinated by the emerging cigar industry in China. I received a small pack of cigars from a company owned by the Chinese state tobacco monopoly, and the cigars are still sitting in my humidor, almost a year later. I can’t quite bring myself to smoke them, but there is certainly some novelty to the idea.
I visited a recently opened cigar room, Papa Juan Cigar Room, in Harlem, New York. I have the Tatuaje Havana VI, which has Jose Pepin Garcia behind the blend. Currently relaxing on a leather couch, glass of water and cigar in hand, looking forward to reviewing this stick.
Off of the foot, I can smell spice and chocolate. The cigar utilizes the traditional Cuban-style with a well-constructed triple cap. After I straight cut the head of the cigar, there is a cold firm draw with spice, bittersweet chocolate, and cedar.
Construction is firm with no soft spots. The wrapper is dark and oily with a vein running down the side. A simple band with “Tatuaje” in white with two lines complement the wrapper.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
1/3: The cigar opens with spice, wood, and bittersweet chocolate. Black coffee emerges blending with the other flavors. Berry becomes prominent as spice and wood move to the background. Chocolate and spice are on the retrohale. The salt and pepper ash falls at a quarter-inch.
2/3: The burn starts becoming uneven. Vanilla is behind the berry flavor. Nutmeg and black pepper are now the focus.
3/3: Now at the last third; flavors depart leaving only a triad of flavors: coffee, vanilla, and spice. There continues to be an abundant amount of smoke with each puff.
Conclusion
The Tatuaje Havana VI has a variation in flavors with primary flavors of spice, wood, and chocolate. This is a very nice cigar despite the burn issue I experienced with this cigar. I highly recommend this cigar, especially if you are Tatuaje fan.
You New York readers will probably relate to the “Thing I love about New York #758”: discovering that a great new hole-in-the-wall restaurant/coffee shop has opened up near you. On my way to work in Midtown recently, I found this gem of a coffee/tea shop called Cafe Galet (33rd between Park and Madison Ave). They have a great selection of European style teas and coffees, as well as some really fantastic pastries. Prices are great, the shop has a fantastic vibe, and the owner is very nice.
It isn’t often that you find a great neighborhood shop. Almost makes me want to light up a cigar and sit outside with a cup of their coffee, which is brewed strong and smooth. One of the best cups of coffee you will find in Midtown (and I’ve been here 5 years).
I was onsite this afternoon to cover Ventura Cigars’ event at the Nat Sherman Townhouse on 42nd St. Fellow finetobaccoclub.com/ contributing writer, James Bollen was on hand for the event as well. We were greeted by Patrick Hurd, Ventura’s General Manager.
Patrick told the Ventura story in an entertaining and compelling way, referencing their 100 year old parent company, Phillips & King International and the top of their corporate chain, Kretek International, makers of my favorite machine made cigar, Djarum Cloves. Ventura is from (duh) Ventura County, California, an LA suburb.
Adam from Ventura Cigars
Patrick was featuring 2 of Ventura’s lines at the event; Pura Sangre & Estillo Cubano. The first line, Pura Sangre’s top stick (torpedo) was recently rated a 92 in Smoke Magazine and is a Nicaraguan puro. The line was named by Nestor Placencisa Jr., and means “pure blend”. The Pura Sangre line represents the Placencia’s 5 generations in tobacco.
The second line, Estillo Cubano is constructed from a Honduran Habano wrapper, with ligero binder/filler from both Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The name means “Cuban Style” and is rolled with a pigtail at the cap. This line has some good press going for it already, having earned a 90 rating (robusto) in Cigar Aficionado.
Ventura Cigars
Also in attendance were the incredible staff at Nat Sherman. I am always educated walking into their world, and today was no exception. In addition to discussing the Ventura lines with them, I was brought up to speed on a quicker/easier way to fill my S.T Dupont lighter. (more about that in another post).
In a future post, finetobaccoclub.com/'s Editor in Chief, Matthias Clock will be reviewing Ventura's wares for your reading pleasure.
To sum up, the 5 year old Ventura Cigar Company hosted a nice event and finetobaccoclub.com/ was there to provide a recap for our readers.
As always, please shoot me an e-mail with any questions. rparisella@gmail.com @BigRonnie
Since the beginning of the summer, a lot of dust has been kicked up around the proposed FDA regulation of the premium cigar industry. In our “Cigar Wars” series, we’ve been tracking the movement on the blogosphere of discussions surrounding the FDA regulations.
By far, the biggest story to hit the web so far is “Cigar Lovers to FDA: A Cigar Isnt’ Just a Cigar” by the Associated Press’s Michael Felberbaum. From what I can tell, the story has been picked up by dozens, possibly hundreds of news outlets around the country. So word is getting around.
And now it’s beginning to hit some of the more political bloggers, like this post in the Washington Post called “FDA to regulate fine cigars, but opponents say stogies breed bipartisanship.” The basic argument is held in the title: protect cigars, because they’re the only thing that will bring the two parties together.
Indeed. No other ‘great equalizer’ seems to work. Maybe that’s the strongest argument yet for keeping premium cigars and their tradition protect.
Who knows – maybe the same argument will work for exempting Cuban cigars from the embargo!
The Supreme Court today upheld the majority of President Obama’s Affordable Healthcare Act in a ruling today. You can read the full decision here – but careful, it’s almost 200 pages. I’ll be taking the next few days to read the full ruling and try to digest it.
Essentially, though, the Court has argued that the law is not constitutional on the grounds originally argued by the President’s administration: the Interstate Commerce Clause. Even so, Congress (apparently) has the ability under its authority to tax to use taxes to force Americans to buy insurance.
I’m skeptical, but open minded.
Will you be smoking a cigar to celebrate this ruling tonight? And what, if anything, do you think this decision means for cigar smokers in the U.S.?
Every now and again, a new cigar on the market really adds a bit of creativity to the spectrum of cigars and breaks the mold. This is the case with the Viaje C-4. I was originally turned on to this cigar by Billy at Cigar Inn, and after being a bit skeptical decided to give it a try. Having not smoked this cigar yet, I’m curious to see how it matches up with its $15 price point. I’ll also admit I’m a bit intimidated by the cigar. This is a white label project cigar, meaning very limited edition, and knowing Viaje’s tendency for full flavor and spice, C-4 could be a kick in the mouth. Blend Specifics
Size : 5 x 56 box press
Wrapper : Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Appearance & Construction
The first thing you’ll notice about this cigar, aside from the plain white label loudly declaring “C-4” is the fascinating rectangular box press shape. You’ll also notice that both ends are capped, requiring a rare double-cut. Aside from that the cigar is constructed well, with a good draw. Prelight draw reveals heavy spice, granola, and leather.
Then I run into a surprise. As I’m inspecting the cigar, I find what appears to be a piece of grass sticking out of the wrapper, so I give it a tug and find that it runs under the leaf around the cigar. It appears (pictured below) to be a piece of plastic that was missed. What a bummer for any cigar smoker who accidentally smoked that plastic, and what a bummer for Viaje to have the probably one C-4 with plastic inside to be sold to a cigar reviewer.
Huh??
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
This cigar kicks off with loads of leather and spice. Not a whole lot else to report there. But about half an inch in, the smoke calms down a bit and the leather becomes prominent, which I’m happy about. I really enjoy the leather profile and have noticed it in other Viaje cigars.
Around halfway (this is a slow-smoking cigar), the smoke remains smooth and I pick up just a hint of honey, which pairs pretty nicely with the leather. The burn is beginning to skew a bit, requiring a few touchups.
Conclusion
For the price, this cigar just isn’t worth it. Though I’m a fan of Viaje Cigars, they’ll really have to outperform if they are going to sell their sticks at $10+. BUT, if you are a big fan of the smoky, leathery profile, you might give this stick a try.
Michael Herklots, Executive Director of Retail and Brand Development at Nat Sherman, recently delivered the keynote address at Killingly Highschool. Herklots has been a major supporter of the Killingly High School Career Pathways Program, a program which offers students the chance to explore different career paths while still in highschool.
Those who know Herklots know that he loves to give back to the community. Every year, for example, he hosts a large fundraiser. This year, he raised $70,000 for the KHS Career Pathways Program.
During his speech, Herklots encouraged students to embrace the excitement that comes with advancing into new career territory. “You may learn that where you plan on going isn’t where you end up,” he explained.
As popular and Congressional pressure mounts on the FDA to exclude premium cigars from its tobacco regulations, more articles from around the country are centering on the difficulties that FDA regulations pose for local brick and mortar tobacconists.
The latest of these articles comes from Tampa, FL, where regulations would hit particularly hard. In “Proposed rules roil cigar industry,” (June 25th) Jose Patino Girona of The Tampa Tribune interviewed B&M owner Alfred Moreno, as well as a few patrons, on their view of the proposed regulations. Most notable, probably, is Moreno’s lament that the regulations, especially banning the walk in humidor, would severely cripple a family industry.
“This is our heritage,” Moreno said. “You’re taking a national heritage if you restrict us.”
