For those of you who are unaware Pete Johnson of Tatuaje has been making monster movie themed cigars since his first hit debut “The Frank” which was in my opinion one of the best Pepin made sticks created. I remember when I was able to purchase as many dress boxes as I wanted before these got to be collectors items and I am glad I picked up a few. These are now sought after smokes commanding outrageous prices. I have been fortunate enough to smoke all the Monster series and think “The Boris” is the next best AND I think it has aged better than any other. If you find one grab it. But enough about my reminiscing, let’s get to the latest stick. I just smoked the new Tatuaje JV13 or “Jason” for the famed “Friday The 13th” movies and here are my thoughts. Enjoy!
Cigar: Tatuaje JV13 “The Jason”
Blend specifics
7 1/2″ x 52
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Double Corona
Appearance & Construction
This cigar sports a sharp dark red label with the Tatuaje name and “Monster” written in black. A beautiful contrast to the dark chocolate wraper. Very well constructed with no soft spots and seemingly full of tobacco. Smells of earthy, sweet, leather, hay.
Taste & Smoking Characteristics
The draw dry yields earth,hay and wood. Upon lighting the earthy flavors take the forefront with slight oak and dryness of leather. The smoke is hefty to start with a strong body of flavors rolling around the tongue. More of the oak continues with a bit of espresso, vanilla and earth intermingling throughout. There is a bit of black pepper midway on the palate and a rush of spice on the retrohale. Lots of wood/oak flavors on the finish with continuing leather on the sides of the mouth. The cigar continues to a medium body with changes of sweet and even savory like that of sweetbreads. Towards the last third a bit of the barnyard twang comes forward with a companion of earth and hay. The strength wanes a bit and the oak, barnyard and leather flavors continue. The cigar finishes with a bit of sweetness and ends on a medium note. A thoroughly enjoyable cigar.
Conclusion
The Tatuaje Jason was not the most complex cigar as it stuck mainly to sweet, leather, hay and oak however I enjoy all these flavors together when not overpowering. The Jason succeeded in being a medium to full cigar with a perfect balance of all these flavors. I haven’t loved all the monster releases although now I will say that the JV13 is my third favorite. The Frank when it was released was number one although in the past 3 years it has waned dramatically. The Boris is my second even though it’s technically a monster “unmasked” cigar but now the JV13 is my 3rd. The big question is will it wither and die like Frankenstein did or will it live on for more features like Boris? Who knows horror fans but for now get a piece of Jason before he gets you!
A collaboration between three masters: The Macallan, Fabien Baron & Lalique
In a collaboration between three masters of their crafts, The Macallan has unveiled a limited edition luxury decanter, M. Partnering with renowned creative director Fabien Baron and crystal makers Lalique, The Macallan has created a beautifully designed and meticulously crafted crystal decanter containing precious and complex Macallan single malt whisky.
Just 1,750 crystal decanters of M, each engraved with its own individual number, are available worldwide. M’s whisky draws upon The Macallan’s classic full flavoured tradition with notes of abundant dried fruits, spices and orange citrus. With a rich natural colour, complexity and sumptuous intensity, the single malt isladen with character absorbed from the Spanish sherry oak casks that nurture it through the maturation process.
David Cox, Director of Fine and Rare, The Macallan,comments: “The coming together of three such masters has resulted in a truly beautiful creation, which specifically showcases the vital influence of The Macallan’s exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks and the craft of the Whisky Maker. The natural colour of M is stunning. A single malt of the most exquisite complexity and character, M will set a new standard in the world of decanters to become the iconic representation of The Macallan.”
Capturing the expressive aesthetic of Fabien Baron’s illustrious creative vision, M’s tall, slim dimensions and geometric form challenge the perceptions of traditional decanter design. Its sharp, angular facets gave inspiration to the name M itself, selected by Baron as a typographic representation of the decanter’s striking design.
Its six striking facets are Baron’s homage to The Macallan’s heritage, reflecting the six pillars at the heart of its ethos: The Spiritual Home – the breathtaking 390-acre Macallan Speyside estate where M was created; the distillery’s Curiously Small Stills, whose unique shape gives the spirit its fruity, rich character; The Finest Cut, the 16% of the new make spirit, the smallest figure in the industry, selected for maturation; Exceptional Oak Casks, acquired and cared for without thought to the cost, imparting its distinctive characteristics and flavour; Natural Colour created purely through the interaction between spirit and wood; and The Peerless Spirit, marking The Macallan’s unsurpassed place in the hearts of the world’s most discerning whisky drinkers.
Lalique has drawn on 150 years of crystal making, and its long standing relationship with The Macallan, to present M with flawless clarity. Fashioned in highest grade crystal, each hand crafted decanter unites proven tradition with striking originality.
Silvio Denz, President and CEO of Lalique, comments: “We have been delighted to have worked with our friends and long-time partners, The Macallan – with whom we have collaborated since 2004 – to realise this exquisite piece. The decanter styling is utterly unique in the world of decanters, and our masters of crystal have relished applying their most complex skills to this project to bring it to life.”
Fabien Baron, Founder and Creative Director of Baron & Baroncomments: “I love the craftsmanship and purity of The Macallan. It’s rare to find that level of quality today.”
M is available at specialist whisky retailers in the UK from October, RRP £3000.
NOTES TO EDITORS
M Tasting Notes
Colour: Rosewood
Nose: dried fruits ripen, then soften showing off a velvet sateen. Vanilla accompanies green apple hand in hand neither taking the lead. Ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon create an ensemble in the background, with polished oak offering to overstate yet never does but plays with a depth of resinous, juicy oranges
Palate: opens rich in wood spices slowly showing all their viscosity. Wood smoke flits in and out. The heavier raisin and sultana flavours then take over, meandering to a long full finish
44.7% abv
ABOUT THE MACALLAN
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. Today this remains the foundation for the worldwide fame of The Macallan and is such that it is truly “The Last Word” in luxury and at the heart of those special moments brought alive over a glass of The Macallan.
ABOUT FABIEN BARON
As the founder and creative director of Baron & Baron, Fabien Baron has crafted identities for the fashion, cosmetic and fragrance world’s most visible and influential brands. The creative director’s singular vision is evident in a broad range of award-winning advertising campaigns, package designs, logos and graphics. Baron has also applied his talents to the design of prominent magazines and books, including the role of Creative Director for Vogue Italia and Vogue Paris, and is renowned for his photography, as well as for directing ground breaking television commercials, music videos and online video content. Fabien Baron is currently the Editorial Director of Interview Magazine.
ABOUT LALIQUE
The LALIQUE story began with René Lalique (1860-1945), renowned as the inventor of modern jewellery who then became the Master in the art of glassmaking of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, with highly eclectic creations. René Lalique earned his title, “Sculpteur de Lumière”, from the richly sculptural craftsmanship and dramatic contrasts between clear and frosted finishes that define his work. Today, LALIQUE is internationally recognised as the undisputed Master of crystal, and offers crystal collections across five categories: decorative items, interior design, jewellery, art and fragrances. The vision of LALIQUE is to celebrate the creative genius of founder René Lalique by pushing the limits of the factory by creating distinctive decorative objects, issuing superb perfume bottles in crystal, reviving breathtaking jewellery designs, carrying out major architectural projects, working with renowned artists to produce limited edition works of art in crystal; and recreate its cultural heritage, something eternally precious. LALIQUE continues to thrive as a global lifestyle luxury brand, standing for craftsmanship, excellence and creativity.
The 2013 Smoker Social is an exclusive cigar and spirits pairing featuring premium Rum from Brugal, cigars from Turei Cigars, live jazz, give-aways, and more. The social will be held at Merchants New York Cigar Bar. This iconic venue features a world-class decor and full dinner and bar service. Tickets are limited. Dress code is business casual: no shorts, t-shirts or sandals.
Ticket price: $20 via EventBrite and $25 at the door.
The award-winning Brugal 1888 combines a distinctively dry style of spirit with a proprietary aging process to produce a complex and layered rum that is truly unique. The product starts with a clean and dry distillate, which is then aged to maturity for 6-8 years in American Oak Casks, followed by a 2-4 year ageing in Oloroso Sherry Casks – the same casks used to mature the world’s finest single malt. The finished product is smooth, rich and full bodied while still retaining the distinctively dry style that separates Brugal from all other rums on the market.
The Brugal distillery leverages the expertise of The Edrington Groups’s Master of Wood, George Espie, who runs The Macallan and Highland Park Scotch Whisky’s Cask Management Systems. Under The Edrington Group’s guidance, the casks in which 1888 is both double-distilled and double-matured are handcrafted or hand-picked to ensure the finest of aging conditions. With Brugal 1888, the rum’s unique flavors shine through and are not overwhelmed by the sweetness generally associated with rum; it is undoubtedly a world class rum.
Tasting Notes
Color: The light enhances its dark amber hues and bright, clean color.
Nose: Fascinatingly complex, with spiced nuances, hints of chocolate, of roasted coffee, cinnamon and other dried fruits.
Palate: On the palate, pleasant, smooth and full-bodied. Its finish has nuances of toffee caramel, wood and liquorice.
Aftertaste: Brugal 1888 leaves a slightly sweet and long lasting aftertaste, with a sublime taste which denotes perfection.
Expert crafting of rums aged 2 to 5 years in white American Oak Casks. Using traditions and skills passed down through five generations, our Maestros Roneros craft rums that provide the consistent quality and distinctive style that Brugal demands.
Tasting Notes
Color: Amber, bright and clean.
Nose: Light aroma of wood with hints of chocolate.
Palate: Dry in an overall sense. Buttery in the mouth with a slight hint of caramel and wood tannin.
Aftertaste: Long, dry and pleasant.
Turei Puro Sol
After a series of complex trials and broad acceptance at IPCPR 2012, Hugo F. Melo, a fourth generation master blender and President of Hispaniola Cigars, decided the time was right to release Turei.
The Turei line includes three Dominican puro blends, each offered in a single vitola. The blends feature four-year aged tobaccos to deliver maximum complexity and flavor.
Turei cigars deliver a broad spectrum of flavor experiences, from medium bodied floral and roasted coffee notes to full bodied profiles with light pepper, dark cocoa, cinnamon, and brown sugar. The release of the Turei line follows on the heels of the immensely popular offerings from Hispaniola Cigars, which Hugo Melo launched in 2002.
Miami, Fl-Ultra Boutique Manufacturer Crémo Cigars releases it’s third blend, the Capa Caliente! The Capa Caliente features a luscious Ecuadorian Dark Habano Wrapper over a Nicaraguan Binder and sumptuous blend of perfectly aged Dominican and Nicaraguan Filler. The Capa Caliente takes the traditional Crémo Classic blend, originally blended by famed Master Blender Willy Herrera (now of Drew Estate), to another level by offering a full bodied and full flavored smoking experience with enticing elements of Espresso and Cocoa from the unique Dark Habano wrapper.
The Capa Caliente will be released in two Vitola’s, a 5 x 50 Robusto ($8.00 MSRP) and a 6 x 52 Toro ($12.00 MSRP). Like allCrémoCigars, the Capa Caliente, are made exclusively at the world renowned El Titan de Bronze factory located in the Miami’s famed Calle Ocho. A commitment to American production and a rich American history are hallmarks of the Crémo brand.
Under the watchful eyes of factory owner Sandy Cobas, and using the best level 9 rollers, Cremo Cigars are rolled in small batches the old Cuban Entubado style where each filler tobacco leaf is individually rolled, and then bunched, allowing the use of more tobacco. The Entubado style allows provides for more flavor and a superior draw. The cigars are then finished with a traditional triple cap head.
With the revival of Crémo, the tradition continues with taste and quality as well as class.
With the release of Capa Caliente, Crémo Cigars takes it to the next level for the discerning aficionado.
The Cigar Inn recently announced that it is making significant changes to its popular line of house blends sold at Cigar Inn locations. The new presentation includes new cigar boxes and banded cigars. Each vitola will represent a different borough of the city. Below is the Facebook post by Cigar Inn:
Dear Cigar Inn Members :
The Cigar Inn House Blend which you have enjoyed for so long has a new look and a new name : ” New York Borough Series”.
Each size will represent one of the 5 boroughs.
Brooklyn: 6X60 Gran Toro
Bronx: 5X60. Gran Robusto
Manhattan: 6X56. Toro
Queens: 5.5X50. Robusto
Staten Island: 6.25X52. Torpedo
Same Blend, same flavor, different look.
On Wednesday, September 18th, FineTobaccoNYC and the Carnegie Club teamed up to present another edition of Straight Up & Toasted. The event featured cigars from Espinosa Cigars and Moya Ruiz Cigars, as well as a special selection of bourbon and rye from Bulleit Whiskey Co.
The evening event, open to the public, started at 8:00pm. Around the same time, the Stan Rubin Quartet livened up the atmosphere with a selection of new and old jazz numbers. Approximately 150 attended the event and enjoyed cigars, whiskey, live music, and special item raffles throughout the evening.
Guests also shared the event with friends online via social media using the hashtag #CarnegieClub. Below is a selection of social media stories generated during the event.
Up for review today is the Perdomo Champagne Noir. As a few have noticed on Instagram, I’ve been on a bit of a Perdomo kick for the past two weeks or so. What can I say? For the money, Perdomo is hard to beat. This stick features many of the same tobaccoes found in the Champagne 10th Anniversary, but with a unique, bourbon-aged Cuban seed maduro wrapper.
Flawless construction. Perfect draw every time, much like my experience with Rocky Patel cigars. The wrapper is a dark chocolate brown with lots of tooth. Minimal veins and a light oil sheen. The gold and black band pairs very nicely with the color of the wrapper. Off of the foot I get a whiff of cocoa, earth, granola, and a bit of spice.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
This cigar starts off with medium body smoke. I’d characterize the texture as somewhat earthy. Off the bat I pick up notes of sweet chocolate, a bit of white pepper, and a bit of a cherry note. About an inch in, the chocolate, cherry, and white pepper notes are dominating, very rich and pleasant. I’m also noticing though that burn issues are going to be a problem as well (see pictures).
Moving through the second third is more of the same profile. I’m glad that I have a bottle of water with me because as rich as this cigar is, it really stimulates salivation a lot, so be sure to have a drink with you for this cigar.
The final third is again more of the same and it ends how it began, which is a bit disappointing considering the profile is so enjoyable. I like to be surprised!
Conclusion
The Champagne Noir from Perdomo is an excellent cigar but it lacks the depth and dynamism that makes a top-tier cigar. I’d certainly keep a few of these in my humidor, but it isn’t a box purchase like the original 10th Anniversary Champagne.
Perdomo is, strangely to me, a brand that I don’t see smoked as often as I’d suspect. I’ve written before on how amazing Perdomo cigars are in terms of quality and value, and I see it proven over and over again. The Perdomo Champagne 10th Anniversary is a great example of this. This stick may strike some as just another Connecticut wrapper cigar among many. Those who smoke the Champagne series know better.
As you’ll see in the review below, the Champagne 10th Anniversary is a truly amazing smoke with surprises around every corner. It’s also a great value at around $7.50 a stick.
The Connecticut wrapper is silky and is complemented well with the orange, gold, and black band. Aesthetically, very well done. Almost zero visible veins on the cigar with salt and pepper ash. On average, the draw is regular to loose and the burn is near perfect.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
Off the foot I notice a few notes including nuts, some coffee, and a slight grassiness. The first few puffs dispel any suspicion that this is a normal mild-medium smoke. The cigar produces volumes of thick, very robust smoke. Flavors include black pepper, cream, roasted nuts, and a ton of spice on the retrohale. This is a full-flavored, medium bodied smoke right from the get go.
About an inch in, I’ve noticed the flavors bouncing back and forth between a nice creamy profile to nutty and then off to heavy on the black pepper. The reviewers at Stogies On The Rocks noticed this as well. As you can see in the pictures, the burn remained sharp and straight throughout the smoke.
Into the second third, I notice the body drawing down a bit, with black pepper taking backseat to a nice creamy nuttiness. There’s also a nice sweet grassiness on the nose.
During the final third, the pendulum between the black pepper, nuts, cream, and even a slight cocoa note starts up again, which is fine by me because it keeps the smoke very entertaining and enjoyable. The smoke does heat up a little bit, but it doesn’t stop me from smoking this stick all the way down to the nub.
Conclusion
The Perdomo Champagne is a must smoke. Buy five. Or a box.
To many small business owners, social media is an attractive but baffling marketing tool. They know social media could drive interest and sales, but might not know how to expand their strategy beyond just posting on common networks. Retail companies, especially those in the luxury and niche markets, can profit greatly from the smart use of image-based platforms like Instagram. But many small business owners are using Instagram in all the wrong ways: posting blurry or irrelevant photos, ignoring fans, or being too fearful to openly encourage sales. So the question becomes, “How do I sell items on Instagram?”
If you want to build a profitable Instagram presence for your small business, here are 5 basics you have to keep in mind:
1. Be an expert
No posting pictures of what you ate for breakfast or the cool cloud formation outside. Stick to taking creative pictures of your product, behind-the-scenes shots of production, or unique ways people are using your items. Enthusiasts and potential customers follow experts with focused, quality content.
2. Post frequently
There is an inverse relationship between the amount of time that elapses between your posts and the strength of your relationship with fans. Post at least once a day to keep your audience engaged.
3. Respond
Effective marketing and making sales requires relationships! If someone comments, be sure to comment back. Friendliness and personal connection, more than anything, is what will turn your fans into customers.
4. Initiate
Use relevant hash tags to find users who are interested in your niche (i.e. for a boutique fashion co., #fashion #dailylook #mensfashion #womensfashion are major – for cigars you’d look at #cigar #cigars #cigaraficionado, etc). Try to like at least 20-30 photos a day from a few of the relevant tags. Why? Each like drops a notification from your brand on a users’ phone. Try it and watch your follower count grow much faster.
5. Make the ask
Some social media managers would tell you to stick to the “soft sell.” This is bad advice. A hard ask can be effective and even flattering to a user, provided there is a pre-existing relationship. Once you have built a large, enaged audience and are getting between 50-200 likes per photo, start dropping selling language in every fourth or fifth photo. The key is to be creative! One highly successful strategy is to make product recommendations to your most engaged fans by using the @ mention function. Who wouldn’t like a personalized recommendation from an expert?
Now let’s make it concrete. Here are some examples of Instagram done right.
Drew Estate
These guys do a fantastic job creating a solid Instagram community that has very high interaction rates and actively asks to buy:
Ash Fine Cigars
Ash Fine Cigars is a cigar shop in Hoboken I did some consulting work with last year. We had a lot of success a) posting every day, and b) making recommendations to our customers.
Rogue Ales
Rogue Ales is based in Oregon (my home state) and has something of a cult following. Their attention to their community has created a very engaged audience that loves to fawn over their products.
The 5 basics outlined above work with any company that is selling an attractive product and can be used in industries from cigars and spirits to fashion and even auto.
Do you have a winning method for making sales on platforms like Instagram? Tell us about it in the comments below! You can also check out a few my other guides to social media for small and mid-sized businesses:
El Cedro is a new brand with a lot of passion and a lot to say. Headed by Anwar Elboustani, the brand recently launched. I met Anwar at one of our events in July at the Carnegie Club, and was very excited to try his new product. As you’ll see in the review below, Anwar’s initial offering, produced at the Kelner Boutique Factory, sets a really high bar for an initial offering. I smoked four El Cedro cigars for this review and was impressed by each one.
Appearance & Construction This El Cedro cigar is a beautiful medium-brown color that is complimented very well by the white and gold band. The presentation is spot on and attractive. Construction wise, I can say that after smoking four of these sticks, the draw and smoke production are consistently great. The wrapper has a few veins and slight tooth. Throughout the smoke I did notice some burn issues, but they corrected themselves after ten minutes or so.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristic
Off the foot, I notice a lot of grass, cedar, and hay notes. Very pleasant. On lighting, I get a really nice opening bouquet of dry wood (seriously, like straight from a Home Depot wood supply), sweet coffee, and nuts. One of the immediately impressive qualities of the El Cedro is that though the notes are pretty robust, the texture of the smoke is very light and smooth.
About half an inch in, the body backs down a bit to a mild-medium and a nice cream note emerges. This stays constant for about the next half hour or so, with a nice white pepper note fading in and out. It’s easy to tell that the Kelner Boutique Factory was involved in the creation of this cigar. It has a definite Davidoff feel to it, which I love. The flavors are perfectly balanced and they deliver a lot of nuance.
By about half way, I’m picking up a lot more white pepper, especially on the retrohale. A nice change of pace.
In the final third, I’m still picking up the dominant cedar note with some sweet cream and white pepper on the retrohale. I’m totally sold. This cigar is a morning, afternoon, and evening smoke which pairs really well with coffee.
Conclusion El Cedro nailed its initial release. This cigar has an incredible profile, great aroma, an enjoyable texture and a great price at around $7 per cigar. I’m really looking forward to any new releases that Anwar has planned, and I highly recommend smoking this cigar.
