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CONCORD events – The Winter Edition HD
Saturday, March 2nd, 2013 8pm – 12am
The Concord Gardens | 181 Halsey St. | Brooklyn, NY 11216
Celebrate the end of Winter’s icy grasp, and welcome the warm embrace of Spring, in style!
Join us for a relaxing evening in an intimate and sophisticated atmosphere, where you will sample some of the finest scotch and cigars, as well as whiskey and wine selections that have been expertly chosen to compliment a delightful assortment of delicacies, all for your pleasure.
Your host, Sherwin Bobb, Owner and Proprietor of Bigeye Market Solutions & Technologies Group, also invites you to join him in the celebration of his birthday! He can think of no finer way to add another candle to his cake, than with good food, drinks, and conversation; and to be in the company of friends, both old, and new.
Well known and respected whiskey aficionado David Bailey will share his years of understanding and expertise regarding the evening’s beverage selections, and finetobaccoclub.com/ member, David Alicea, will take the group on a brief walk-through of cigar history and etiquette.
The Antonio Dangerfield Quartet will play live jazz all evening, for your enjoyment, and advance tickets to this exclusive event are available to be purchased online. Details follow. For a night this elegant, the dress code is naturally Cocktail Attire, no exceptions will be made. Both indoor and outdoor areas are heated, and friendly to smokers and non-smokers alike.
General parking is available. If you wish to take the train:
Take the A train to Nostrands Ave, and walk one block to Halsey.
Make a right onto Halsey, address is one block away, on your left.
Don’t miss the opportunity to attend what will surely be one of the most interesting and entertaining events of the season! If you have any questions, please call: 347.327.7295.
RSVP to concord.event@gmail.com or RSVP via eventbrite, and secure your invitation today!
$35 – GENERAL ADMISSION INCLUDES:
One cigar
2 hour whiskey and wine pairing, from 8:30pm to 10:00pm
Specially selected hors d’oeuvres
Live entertainment
$45 – PREMIUM ADMISSION INCLUDES:
All of the above, but with unlimited cigars.
After a blistering long cold week, I looked forward to hanging out with some old friends and meeting some new ones at Refugio’s first “Sip and Smoke” of 2013 with David Bailey and David Alicea – hosted on Friday, January 25th. Those that battled against the weather were rewarded with drinks, cigars and good times. It pays to be early and this event was no different. Early birds were there to grab the best seats and get first picks on cigars, raffles and sales before they’re sold out. As the people started coming in so did the wide array of spirits. Scotch, Rum, Brandy..it was all there for us to taste and enjoy as David accurately described each one.
Our very own David Alicea dissected the Arandoza Cigar line in detail describing all of their flavor characteristics. David also did an awesome job on a cigar cutting and lighting refresher course for those new to cigars. A huge 50 count Humidor was raffled after the Sip & Smoke with proceeds going towards a upcoming fundraiser called “Cleats4kids”. The raffle and after event was put on by New York’s Grown & Sexy in the City Cigar Group. We stayed till morning conversing among new and old friends, enjoying fine spirits, stogies and making memories.
Thanks for all who came out and we look forward seeing you again soon. Photos are below!
February 11, 2013 (Basel, Switzerland) — Finding time to chill out can sometimes be a challenge. Davidoff’s new “Short Pleasures” Assortment responds to the rising need of aficionados to be able to enjoy a short, pleasing break in their hectic everyday lives. The assortment of four cigars composed of the Davidoff “Grand Cru” No. 5, Davidoff “Entreacto”, Davidoff “Millennium Blend” Short Robusto and Davidoff “Puro d’Oro” Gorditos create a symphony that allows the right cigar to be enjoyed at the right time. Thanks to the different cigar formats and strengths, the modern bon viveur can choose, from mild to full body, the appropriate cigar for his chill-out moments.
The innovation of the assortment is especially strengthened through the addition of a new cigar, the “Puro d’Oro” Gorditos which combines boldness and richness in a short format with a 58 ring gauge and 3 3⁄4′′ providing an intense smoking pleasure in a relatively short period of time.
Kick back and relax, escape and get inspired. Enjoy your free time or short breaks with full draws, experience pleasure in a brand new way: this is what defines time well spent. Here Davidoff cigars play a decisive role.
Not only an ideal gift, but also perfect for combining efficiency and pleasure, the Davidoff “Short Pleasures” Assortment shapes personal and professional lives and plays an active part in them. This makes luxury accessible in everyday life, between meetings and while travelling.
The Davidoff “Short Pleasures” Assortment, the innovative trailblazer for the modern cigar experience, will be available as a limited edition at selected tobacconists from beginning of March 2013.
Davidoff Short Pleasures Assortment Davidoff “Puro d’Oro” Gordito
Wrapper Dominican Republic (Yamasá)
Binder Dominican Republic
Filler Dominican Republic
Aroma Strong flavor
Davidoff “Millenium” Blend Short Robusto
Wrapper Ecuador
Binder Dominican Republic
Filler Dominican Republic
Aroma Medium flavour
Davidoff “Grand Cru” No. 5
Wrapper Ecuador
Binder Dominican Republic
Filler Dominican Republic
Aroma Mild to medium flavour
Davidoff “Entreacto”
Wrapper Ecuador
Binder Dominican Republic
Filler Dominican Republic
Aroma Mild
Price $ 45.60-
February 11, 2013 — Since its birth in 1875, Romeo y Julieta has become one of the best-known brands of Habanos. The brand is particularly appreciated by enthusiasts who appreciate balanced blends with excellent aroma. Habanos, s.a. is pleased to introduce the first Reserva created by this brand after more than 135 years of history.
For the creation of this Reserva of Romeo y Julieta, the best tobacco leaves from the Vuelta Abajo* area (D.O.P.) in the Pinar del Río* region (D.O.P.) of Cuba harvested in 2008 are selected. All the leaves used in this Habano, filler, wrapper, and cap, were aged in a long and careful process lasting at least 3 years.
These leaves were carefully monitored for at least 3 years, cared for in a controlled evolution guiding the aging of these precious leaves. Finally, in the master hands of the expert cigar rollers who create Romeo y Julieta, they change shape to become a unique Habano that will satisfy the tastes of the most demanding Habanos lovers.
The emblematic Churchill vitola, maybe the most historical of the brand, has been chosen for this unique production cycle that comprises the first Reserva of Romeo y Julieta.
In addition, solely for this occasion, the historic Romeo y Julieta band sported by Churchill vitolas for decades has been resurrected, and will be combined with a second band indicating the Reserva status of these Habanos.
The entire process used in creating these Reserva respects the selection criteria expected of a unique product: from the long, careful process of aging the best tobacco from Vuelta Abajo* (D.O.P.) for at least 3 years to the tasting committee comprised of more than 50 experts who have supervised the blend selected to guarantee a unique flavor, harmonious, balanced, and aromatic.
The Reserva of Romeo y Julieta is a unique product with an extremely limited production run of only 5,000 numbered cases, each containing 20 units.
Brands: Romeo y Julieta
Commercial name: Churchills Reserva Cosecha 2008
Factory name: Julieta No. 2
Measures: Cepo 47 (18,65 mm) x 178 mm in length
Presentation: 5.000 individually numbered exclusive cases with 20 units each.
February 13, 2013 (Glen Allen, Va.) — The new General Cigar website, www.cigarworld.com has just gone live! While the name’s the same, the site has been completely redone. The folks at General Cigar spent almost a whole year developing it.
Think of the new Cigar World as a digital cigar lounge. It’s got cool interactive features like a virtual humidor and a cigar bomb component, and it gives cigar lovers the chance to interact and voice their opinions.
Cigar World also brings General Cigar to life, with detailed information on the company and their portfolio of products. It includes biographies of the artisans who make their cigars.
Other new features of the site include an education section, which will come in handy for those of you who need to brush up on their cigar knowledge.
The site also has a section devoted to lifestyle content. It’s called CW World Magazine and it includes articles on wine and spirits, men’s apparel, sports, electronics and more. CW Magazine is easy to locate on cigarworld.com. Just find CW Magazine on the main navigation, and click to get there.
To celebrate the launch of the site, General Cigar is running a contest called the 30 Days of Giveaways. Cigar World humidors, autographed boxes and other prizes are available. Just create a profile on the site, and you’re entered to win. Visit www.cigarworld.com to get in on the action.
February 12, 2013 (Washington, D.C.) — Through increased sales and a consolidation of facilities, La Palina is able to announce an average price DECREASE of 10% on some of its most popular lines.
According to La Palina founder and President Bill Paley, “I wanted to pass along the savings we have gained to our loyal customers. My family has always believed that La Palina is quality at affordable prices.”“With sales exceeding our forecasts last year, we were able to re-negotiate better terms with one of our factories. These new prices, coupled with our December move into a new distribution warehouse in Miami, have created a savings we are proud to pass along,” adds La Palina Vice President Courtney Smith.
Andrew Brennan, La Palina Director of Sales, carefully crafted the new pricing structure based on his experience in the industry and conversations with key retailers. “We feel these new prices will reinforce La Palina’s dedication to retailers and consumers alike.” The new prices will be effective immediately and will reflect an average MSRP decrease of 10% and effects the La Palina El Diario—a consistently top rated cigar—and the newly released La Palina Maduro.
The immensely popular Hoja de Flores announced recently that it will be throwing a number of cigar events at the famed Florio’s Ristorante, which was closed for some time but has now reopened. For those of you who haven’t smoked Hoja de Flores cigars, they are fantastic Dominican puros with exceptional smoothness and fantastic construction – we reviewed them for you here. The cigar events are every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 7-10pm. All of the event specifics are below:
FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Feb. 2013) – Buffalo Trace Distillery marks the halfway point in its quest for the perfect bourbon with the release of its eighth round of Single Oak Project Bourbon.
All of the bourbons that comprise this release entered the barrel at 105 proof, aged within the wooden ricks of Warehouse K, with a number 4 barrel char after the staves were seasoned for 12 months. This allows the release to focus on three other variables, the recipe, wood grain size, and tree cut. All of the other variables such as aging warehouse, entry proof, char level, and stave seasoning remain constant.
“Many people will find this release interesting since the entry proof is 105 this round – which some fans contend is better. Bourbon drinkers can taste and decide if they like wheated or rye recipe bourbon better at the 105 entry proof.” said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director.
So far, more than 2,221 industry expert and consumer reviews have been logged online at http://www.singleoakproject.com/. These whiskey reviews will determine which Single Oak Project Bourbon is the favorite of fans worldwide. Buffalo Trace looks forward to more reviews, to hear what bourbon drinkers think, and will craft the perfect bourbon based on consumer feedback.
Now halfway through the project, barrel number 106 has fought its way back to the top, after being knocked off a few months ago by barrel number 97! “Barrels number 97 and 106 have been vying for the number one spot for several months now,” continues Comstock. “But with two more years to go, any of these bourbons still stand a chance to be declared the winner. And it’s not too late to get involved even if you’re new to the project!”
After a consumer reviews a bottle online, they will be availed of all the aging details and provenance of the barrel. They can interact with others who’ve also reviewed the barrel, compare their reviews, and even learn for themselves which characteristics they enjoy most, in order to help them select future favorites. Participants online will earn points after each review and most importantly, actively participate in Buffalo Trace Distillery’s quest to create the perfect bourbon!
The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.
To further the variety of experiments, the barrels were filled at two different proofs, 105 and 125 proof. And if this wasn’t enough, two completely different warehouses were used, one with wooden floors and one with concrete floors. In total, seven different variables were employed in Buffalo Trace’s ultimate experiment.
For eight years the Distillery continued with its tracking process, creating intricate databases and coming up with a potential of 1,396 tasting combinations from these 192 barrels!
The Single Oak Project Bourbon is being released in a series every three months from 2011 through 2015 until all of the 192 barrels have been released. The first release hit select stores in 2011. This eighth release will reach stores towards the end of February. Like all the other releases, the quantities are very limited. Every case will contain 12 bottles, each from a different barrel. The eighth release is made up of barrel numbers 27, 28, 59, 60, 91, 92, 123, 124, 155, 156, 187, and 188. All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle. Suggested retail pricing per bottle is $46.35.
At the conclusion of the Single Oak Project, the Distillery plans to take the top rated Single Oak Project Bourbon and make more just like it, under the Single Oak name.
About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Swisher International is entering the premium cigar market with the launch of its new Royal Gold Cigars division. The tobacco company has tapped cigar industry veteran Alex Goldman to lead the division, which was specifically created to build upon his experience.
“Alex’s leadership of House of Oxford/Mom’s Cigars as its owner and president for the past 20 years positions him perfectly to develop and market our new premium cigar lineup,” said Peter Ghiloni, president of Swisher International.
Goldman will lead Royal Gold Cigars in developing and introducing various lines to compete with key players in the premium cigar market. Test marketing of the new product lineup is planned for April, with a national launch slated for the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Annual Convention & International Trade Show in July in Las Vegas.
“As a fourth-generation tobacconist, I have cemented relationships that will enable Royal Gold Cigars to develop, source and market an array of premium products that customers will enjoy at competitive price points,” Goldman explained. “Operating as a division of Swisher International gives Royal Gold Cigars the opportunity to tap into Swisher’s leadership and leverage its resources, while maintaining an independent business model.”
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Swisher International has manufactured tobacco products since 1861 and ships more than one billion cigars a year to more than 60 countries.
“This is an exciting new chapter for Swisher International [that] aligns with our growth plans in several key areas of the overall tobacco market,” Ghiloni concluded.
The new Wolfburn distillery, situated just 350m from the site of the original 19th Century Thurso site, has been successfully commissioned and production of fine single malt scotch whisky has today commenced.
Construction of the Wolfburn buildings was carried out by a group of local contractors, with the inner workings being crafted by Forsyths of Rothes, the world-‐leading distillery fabricators. Building work began in August and the distillery
equipment was installed across November and December. The entire project has been successfully completed on schedule and exactly as specified.
“This is an enormously exciting moment for everyone involved,” commented Shane Fraser, Wolfburn production manager. “To watch the distillery go from concept to reality has been a truly superb experience. Commissioning went very smoothly indeed -‐ the equipment performed exactly as expected -‐ and the first spirit, with a wonderful malty flavour, is already flowing from the stills.”
The first oak casks are now full of new Wolfburn spirit – the first such maturation to take place in Thurso in over a century.
The first Wolfburn distillery was built in 1821 and was passed down through subsequent generations of the Smith family; in its heyday it was the largest distillery in Caithness. Production ceased during the latter half of the 19th Century –
the exact date is not known. The first bottling of the next generation of Wolfburn single malt whisky is expected in early 2016.
