A few weeks back, we announced voting for the first annual NYC Cigar Lounge of the Year award. Well, about two weeks later and with votes coming in from Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, and email, we are ready to announce the lounge who took the most votes.
But first, a disclaimer: this was our first year running this survey, which means it was far from perfect. Some lounges that should have bene included in the official ballot were left out (we got some angry emails for that), and we heard a few comments that not enough time was given for an adequate vote. We will take measures next year to assure these problems don’t happen.
Still, even with the problems, we are confident in announcing a winner this year. Out of 24 New York City area cigar lounges, The Cigar Inn (53rd and 2nd Ave) took first place with a commanding 42.5% of NYC area cigar smokers. Refugio Cigar House came in runner-up with 21.3% of the vote. The remainder of the vote was split between 22 other lounges.
Since opening just a few years back, the only Cigar Aficionado lounge and humidor, better known as The Cigar Inn, has been a favorite for NYC area cigar smokers. They are known for their incredible selection of new and hard to find cigars, as well as their solid collection of more well known brands like Fuente, Romeo y Julieta, and more. They are also big community players – they host events for cigar groups like New York G&S, help cigar brands launch new products, and even help with charity events as well.
It has also been a personal favorite of mine and the rest of the FineTobaccoNYC team, especially for business meetings and birthday parties. Cigar Inn was the first lounge to be listed on our “New York’s Best Cigar Lounges” page, and there is a reason why: it a lounge for new and veteran cigar smokers alike. You can read our full review of The Cigar Inn here.
Haven’t been to the Cigar Inn yet? Here is the contact information:
Tom Cassano over at LongFillersLounge (a great new cigar blog) recently posted a really interesting commentary titled “Social Media Bringing Cigar Smokers Together.” In it, Tom recommends Instagram as a great app for any smartphone user who also smokes cigars. It might seem a little weird to be interacting with cigar smokers online you’ve never met, but really, it isn’t. In fact, I’ve met more than a handful of people from Instagram at cigar lounges in the city, especially Cigar Inn which seems to have a big Instagram community going.
If you’re just getting on to Instagram, take a few photos, but be sure to check out hashtags like #cigars #nowsmoking #cigarsociety and more. Once you get plugged in you’ll find your way around. It seems to have worked with Tom and myself, so let it work for you.
Who knew Hawaii could grow tobacco suitable for premium cigars? I didn’t before I read “A Growing Vision,” an article on CigarAficionado.com posted about a week ago. In it, Alejandro Benes, writing for Cigar Aficionado, writes of Les Drent of the Kauai Cigar Co.
Benes quotes Drent saying “We planted a few rows in 2006. I really started smoking cigars in 2005, 2006. My grandfather used to smoke cigars when I was growing up… I loved the smell of a good cigar.” As a child, Drent would visit his grandparents at the Jersey Shore. “Everybody smoked cigars and drove Cadillacs.” Drent recalls and laughs. “I loved smelling the cigars.”
Benes goes on to write,
“When I produce a cigar with tobacco grown here in Kauai that can be as good, if different, from what they’re producing for us in Nicaragua,” Drent explains, “that’s when I’ll be somewhat satisfied.” Even Drent smiles when he hears himself say that. “My next move is to spend a couple of months on the mainland and sell,” Drent promises. “I’m gonna pack the van with cigars and free stuff and put it on the website and let everyone know I’m coming.” You can just see it in his eyes. For Les Drent, it’s all about the journey.”
Pretty interesting stuff. I don’t suppose Drent will be dropping by New York City anytime soon, but if he is, I hope he gets in touch with industry leaders here to host a big event. Heck, if you read this Drent, send me an email or drop a comment and we’ll plan a big event somewhere nice in Manhattan.
Best of luck to Drent. I certainly hope to smoke some fine Hawaiian tobacco some day.
RAISE A DRAM WITH BOWMORE, ISLAY’S FIRST SINGLE MALT WHISKY, TO CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF “THE BOWMORE ROOM” AT THE CALEDONIAN CLUB
DECEMBER 2012 – Sharing the same underlying values of quality, tradition and the desire to celebrate Scottish culture, Bowmore and the Caledonian Club make perfect partners.
The Caledonian Club was founded in 1891 and is a private members’ Club situated in the heart of Belgravia, London. The club occupies five floors and members enjoy a busy calendar of events including classical music evenings and club traditions such as the St Andrew’s Day Dinner.
In “The Bowmore Room”, guests can look forward to being taken on a sensory journey of discovery to Bowmore’s charming island home of Islay. From whisky pairing events to magical ‘A Taste of Islay’ evenings; from Burns Suppers to the innovative Caledonia Lectures; “The Bowmore Room” will play host to a range of exciting and unique events for members and guests alike.
Cara Laing, Bowmore Marketing Manager, said “We are very excited to bring a little taste of our special island of Islay to the Caledonian Club in London. Islay is a tough place to get to so we hope The Bowmore Room will truly bring to life the essence of Islay as well as our award winning Single Malt”.
David Coughtrie, Chairman of the Caledonian Club, commented “The new association between Morrison Bowmore Distillers and The Caledonian Club is a very welcome addition to the range of malts our home and overseas members enjoy. The depth and variety of expressions from this respected distiller will be available in the Bar and in the Dining Room where we will serve the Bowmore 15 years old Darkest as a perfect accompaniment to our haggis”.
Founded over two centuries ago in 1779, Bowmore is the first recorded distillery on the island of Islay and one of the oldest in the whole of Scotland. Using time-honoured traditions little has changed in the way the exceptional Single Malts are produced; the malt is still carefully smoked in a peat-fired kiln just as it was over 200 years ago and the water is still drawn from the Laggan River. Bowmore whiskies then spend their long live resting in the legendary No. 1 Vaults, the oldest maturation warehouse in Scotland.
Located just off the West Coast of Scotland, Islay is famed for its peat, which is still used as fuel by many of the islanders, and together with salt from the Atlantic Ocean adds to the strong character and peaty smokiness of Islay malt whisky. Bowmore is no exception, however with its unique location on the shores of Loch Indaal, Bowmore Single Malt is widely acknowledged to be among the finest and most perfectly-balanced in the world.
And so we ask you to come on in to “The Bowmore Room”, experience the magical island of Islay and take in a dram of Bowmore, in the heart of London’s only Scottish private members club.
December 28, 2012 (Newark, DE) – Gary Griffith of Emilio Cigars announced this morning that the first blend of the Los Regalos series, “Quetzal”, made in Esteli, Nicaragua will begin shipping immediately.
“These cigars are being produced in a new factory for Emilio Cigars, and we are excited to have formed this new partnership,” he said.
There will be a total of 4 blends in the series, as well as a limited edition cigar made entirely from 2006 harvest tobaccos.
“The Robusto, Toro, and Torpedo sizes are available at this time,” said Griffith, “and the Corona and Sixty will be released on January 11 at Riverside Cigars in Jeffersonville, IN. Those two sizes will ship to other retailers subsequent to that event.”
This will be Emilio Cigars final new release of 2012, capping off an extremely productive year in which several new Emilio blends became available, and in which numerous distribution agreements were negotiated.
Well here’s something you don’t see every day: a single bottle of 54 year old scotch sold for $160,000. Unfortunately, not in my price-range!
Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Announces The No. 1 Bottle
of BOWMORE 1957 – 54 YEARS OLD Has Sold For £100,000
Five Scottish Charities will each receive £11,000 for Christmas from this sale
Islay, Scotland (December 19, 2012) – Bowmore®, the first Islay Single Malt whisky, is delighted to announce that the No. 1 bottle of its oldest ever expression, the exceptionally rare Bowmore 1957, 54 Years Old has been sold for £100,000 (approximately $160,000) at the Bowmore Distillery on Islay. This bottle is not only the oldest whisky the distillery has ever released, it is also the oldest Islay Single Malt ever released. As promised by Morrison Bowmore Distillers, owners of Bowmore, all the net proceeds will be donated to five Scottish charities. The owner, a resident of the United States, would like to remain anonymous.
Distilled in 1957 and bottled in 2011, this 54-year-old marvel has been maturing in the finest oak in Bowmore’s legendary No. 1 Vaults, the oldest maturation warehouse in Scotland. Only 12 bottles exist in the world, two of which are kept in the Morrison Bowmore archives and nine now remain for sale at the Bowmore Distillery.
Bottle No. 1’s profitwill be donated to five Scottish charities that encompass a variety of worthy causes: Alzheimer Scotland (care for people with dementia, their caregivers and families); The Beatson Oncology Centre (care for cancer patients receiving treatment in the west of Scotland); Chas (children’s hospice services); Erskine (medical care for Armed Forces); and Marie Curie Cancer Care (cancer care and research).
Says Mike Keiller, Morrison Bowmore Distillers Chief Executive Officer, “We are delighted to have sold bottle No. 1 of our Bowmore 1957 just before Christmas allowing us to keep our promise to donate all the net proceeds to charity as our gift to those in need in Scotland.”
A collection of 1957 casks were bottled in 1995 but one in particular was held back because it was more exceptional than the rest. Since 1995, the whisky in that cask has been examined every six months to check the quality, the taste, the developments and changes the spirit was taking on its aging voyage. In 2011 it was determined that the liquid had reached its potential and was bottled.
In addition to the stunning liquid inside, the new owner will also own the artwork that contains it. The bottles that hold Bowmore 1957 have been hand-blown and sculpted by two of the world’s foremost glass artists Brodie Nairn and Nichola Burns into the shape of waves reminiscent of those that constantly crash against the No. 1 Vaults’ sea-facing walls and the glass is inlaid with shimmering flecks of platinum. Adorning each bottle is a platinum neck collar, hand-engraved with the bottle number and spirit strength, and platinum stopper hand-crafted by Hamilton & Inches, Warrant Holder to the Queen. The bottle and accompanying glasses and water pitcher, also hand-blown by Nairn and Burns, are nestled in a presentation box created by acclaimed woodworker Peter Toaig, using hand-selected pieces of Scottish Oak. View artisans’ videos here: http://www.bowmore.com/news/something-magical/
Cask Maturation and Tasting Notes
This 54-year-old Bowmore 1957 (42.1% ABV) is a symphony of aromas and flavors never before experienced. After distillation in 1957, the new spirit was placed into a second fill sherry cask (where it spent 43 years) and then in 2000 was moved into a second fill bourbon cask. At first breath, an elixir of blueberries and wild figs with mellow almonds, tropical fruit and rich oaky overtones hits the nose. The palate reveals layer upon layer of sweet and refined ocean tastes with soft blueberries, cassis and figs, sea salt and fresh eucalyptus. Next, a wisp of teasing smoke and traces of dark chocolate fuse with notes of grapefruit and juicy oak, carried along by a warming marine breeze. This sensory journey ends with a long and whispering finish of cassis, bergamot and star anise.
THE BOWMORE DISTILLERY
Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldest Distillery on Islay. Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore is no exception. Bowmore carefully smokes its malt and uses skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced single malt. Bowmore’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of its single malts – they are one of only a few distilleries anywhere which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by traditional wooden malt shovels. It draws water from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones, and it’s the same Islay peat that fires the malt drying kiln.Bowmore Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of the spirit. The famous Bowmore No. 1 Vaults is where most of the whiskies spend their time resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the Vault’s sea-facing wall. They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavors. It’s this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore single malt whiskies.
The award-winning Bowmore portfolio includes Bowmore Legend, 12 Year Old, 15 Year Old Darkest, 18 Year Old and 25 Year Old in addition to special limited-edition bottlings such as Bowmore Black, White, Gold and Bowmore 40 Year Old. Bowmore is available nationwide in the U.S. and in more than 45 countries worldwide. The Bowmore portfolio is imported to the U.S. by Campari America.
December 7, 2012 (El Dorado Hills, CA) — Art of Cigars LLC is proud to partner with former Marine Gunny Sergeant Nick “The Cigar Marine” Popaditch, author of the bestselling Once a Marine, and his publisher, Savas Beatie LLC, to create a line of hand-rolled cigars that not only taste great, but also support injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families through the Semper Fi Fund.
The “The Cigar Marine” line of cigars was released on November 10, 2012 in honor of the Marine Corps Birthday. The first two premium hand-rolled cigars released under “The Cigar Marine” line are “The Gunny” (a double-wrapped Torpedo) and “The Tanker” (a mild spiced rum Corona). Included in the line is a Cigar Caddy camo humidor signed by Gunny. The cigar line and accessories may be purchased through the Art of Cigars online store at www.ArtofCigars.com. “Art of Cigars is pleased to partner with Gunny Pop and the Savas Beatie team to develop ‘The Cigar Marine’ line of fine, hand-rolled cigars. Gunny is the definition of an American hero, and we are truly honored to participate in a project that will raise significant funds to support the amazing mission of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund,” said Eric Stanion, CEO of Art of Cigars.
Popaditch, who was partially blinded in combat during the First Battle of Fallujah in 2004 when he was struck in the head by an RPG, has been a strong supporter of the Semper Fi Fund. Nick’s goal is to raise a significant amount of money for the Semper Fi Fund. “I am excited to stand behind a product that allows cigar smokers to celebrate in true Marine Corps style, and even more so to support a great organization that helps so many injured Marines and their families,” said Nick “Gunny Pop” Popaditch.
January 7, 2013 (Miami, FL) – For Nestor Miranda’s 70th birthday on Valentine’s Day 2/14/13 the most interesting man in the cigar business is set to release a commemorative cigar for this historic milestone in his life.
The “Nestor Miranda 70th LE” will be released as a lancero cigar from the two factories that Nestor has had a tremendous relationship with over the years. The boxes of 12 cigars will feature 6 from the My Father Factory in Nicaragua and 6 from La Aurora in the Dominican Republic.
The cigars from Esteli, will feature a dark Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan fillers while its counterpart from Santiago will feature a Mexican San Andreas. Both cigars are Medium to Full and showcase the best from both regions.
The cigars will be packaged in a keepsake box that resembles a car Nestor has always admired. The body of the car will lift off the frame revealing three rows of 4 cigars in the chassis of the classic automobile. Only 1,000 individually numbered boxes will be made, with 700 being released initially. The remaining 300 will remain in the humidor at Miami Cigar & Company to be released at a later date.
According to Jason Wood, Vice President of Miami Cigar & Company, “We wanted to do something special for Nestor and create a keepsake at the same time. Nestor has always strived for the best, and we believe this cigar is up to the challenge.”
The “Nestor Miranda 70th LE” will make its debut over the course of two days at a series of events in New Mexico at Monte’s of Albuquerque on February 9th and 10th, 2013. The national release of the cigar will be on his birthday, February 14th and will retail for $14.00 a stick before local taxes.
Christmas Eve down here in Virginia where I am spending the Holidays, and up for review tonight is the Rocky Patel Private Cellar. Rocky Patel is known for quality of construction and flavor, but with so many new blends being announced, I was interested to see if this stick would prove an especially valuable addition to his line.
Blend Specifics
Size: Robusto
Wrapper: USA Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Appearance & Construction
The Rocky Patel Private Cellar is a fairly average looking cigar. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is attractive, but the simple purple double-band falls a bit short. A few minor veins, but other than that, great construction per usual for Rocky Patel. My only complaint construction-wise is that the triple cap is a bit sloppy.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
Before lighting, I take note of the aroma off of the foot. Notes include granola and some dried fruit. On the light, the Rocky Patel Private Cellar kicks off with bitter chocolate and some dried fruit flavors as well. Medium to full bodied, there is also a white pepper note that tickles the tip of my tongue.
Smooth and very flavorful an inch in. At the second third, a creamy cedar is introduced that adds a bit of character to this strong cigar. Construction and draw remain perfect.
A the cigar progresses into the final third, the white pepper dies down, bringing the flavors into better balance. The flavors remain basically unchanged for the remainder of the smoke.
Conclusion
Though the Rocky Patel Private Cellar is flavorful, the notes fall flat. It isn’t until the final third that a good flavor balance is achieved. Of course, per usual the construction and draw are basically flawless, but that isn’t enough to land this in the A range.
We at FineTobaccoNYC are pleased to announce the first annual FineTobaccoNYC “Cigar Lounge of the Year Award,” based on a survey of cigar smokers in the New York City area (including Hoboken). With the upped levels of regulation in recent years, many a NY cigar smoker has noticed the rapid increase in cigarlounges in the city. I’m proud to say that our team has helped launch some of those lounges. But, taking into account the characteristics of a good smoking lounge, what are the best lounges in the city?
We have put together a short, three question survey to get a community response to this question. There are certain lounges missing (especially fromthe Bronx) so please feel free to use the “other” box if your favorite is not listed. We’ve also limited the options to exclude cigar bars like Merchants, Grand Havana Room, etc that serve liquor as liquor licenses are for all intents and purposes unobtainable to any new lounges.
The survey was sent first and foremost to our email subscribers, then announced via social media. If you are a NYC area cigar smoker, take the survey! Otherwise, await the announcement of the winner.
We’ll be announcing the winner and runners-up via our website at the end of the year (probably the 30th or 31st) – so stay tuned! VOTING ENDS DEC. 30th.
