You may recall earlier in the week I was in a quandary: smoke something rare and expensive and risk disappointment or go cheap and reliable. Wednesday I decided to do a little of both and try out another fairly new, inexpensive smoke. I was at my local shop a couple weeks ago and came across a three cigar robusto sampler of the C&C Cigars, from the folks that used to be Cusano. The sampler was $9.95 and contained a Corojo, a Connecticut and a Maduro. As is my normal pattern, I headed straight for the Maduro and I wasn’t disappointed. What a tasty, well made cigar! Burn was perfect, it had a nice balance of smooth, dark flavors and was a pleasure to smoke. It burned very slowly, which was a plus as well. For $3.32 each, this is a real winner. Keep any eye out for my thoughts on the other two, as I don’t see being able to keep my hands off them for too long!
The end of the week called for a sure thing, and what better than a Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Dark Corojo. This particular cigar came from a goodie bag from a blogger party that Drew Estate put on at last years IPCPR show, which probably explains why its a size that isn’t listed in their regular product line. This box pressed cigar measured 6″ x 48 by my figuring (it’s hard to get a good read on a square cigar with a round ring gauge checker. It’s a great cigar size, and had a beautiful dark wrapper. I love this line. I remember smoking one of these in the Joya de Nicaragua factory last year and having to put it down because the combination of heat and humidity in the factory and a strong-ass cigar was conspiring against me. This was a strong-ass cigar also, but burned well and tasted great, one to try if you like them strong. Maybe I’m getting old, or maturing or something, but I’m finding more of an appreciation for the mild-medium cigars recently. I’ll have to keep an eye on that.
In the News
HOYO de MONTERREY KICKS OFF BOX A DAY GIVEAWAY
Richmond, VA—To celebrate the launch of the new Hoyo de Monterrey website, General Cigar is rolling out a “Box a Day Giveaway” to share the unique flavor of the Hoyo Monterrey Reposado en Cedros® brand with cigar lovers across the U.S.
From now through July 31, 2012, consumers of legal smoking age are invited to visit the brand’s website (www.hoyodemonterreycigar.com) to enter to win a box of Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros cigars, which feature a proprietary process called “Inmersión.™”
After being handcrafted by a handpicked team of artisans, each Reposado en Cedros cigar undergoes Inmersión, an innovative method of aging created at HATSA, General Cigar’s Honduran cigar factory. With this technique, each cigar is enveloped in fragrant cedar and left to rest for an extended period of time. The cigar matures to a complex, medium-bodied smoke that has won the brand stellar ratings and praise from the premium cigar category’s most discerning experts.
According to Kendall Rountree, brand manager for Hoyo de Monterrey cigars, “Since its debut, Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros cigars has developed a cult following among serious cigar smokers who are drawn to its uniquely spicy taste. We’re utilizing the launch of the Hoyo de Monterrey website as an opportunity to increase the brand’s legion of fans through the ‘Box a Day Giveaway’ and are confident that cigar lovers will enjoy the brand’s uniquely spicy taste.”
Winners of the Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros “Box a Day Giveaway” will be announced every Monday on the brand’s website, as well as on the brand’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.
About Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros
Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros features three frontmarks, each packed in boxes containing 24 cigars. At 5 ¼” x 54, Sueño is a classic robusto that is available for a suggested retail price of $6.69 per cigar, while the Liso frontmark, a 7” x 49 Churchill carries an SRP of $6.99 per cigar. Marco, a figurado(6 1/4” x 54) rounds out the collection with an SRP of $7.29 per cigar.
The cigars are packed in rustic wooden boxes, protected in canvas, and surrounded by cedar shavings to maintain the flavor and aroma imparted by Inmersión. Each box is truly a work of art, and continues the artisan tradition of the Hoyo de Monterrey brand.
Hoyo de Monterrey en Cedros cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar also produces Macanudo®, Cohiba®, Partagas®, Excalibur®, La Gloria Cubana® and several other leading premium brands. In addition, the company grows its own premium Connecticut Shade wrapper tobacco, as well as natural and candela wrapper in the Dominican Republic. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.
® Hoyo de Monterrey, Reposado en Cedros, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, , Excalibur, La Gloria Cubana and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.
™ Inmersión is a trademark of General Cigar Co. Inc.
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The Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros is a tasty smoke, so make sure you put your name in the hat to win a box!
Saturday afternoon Old Havana Cigars Co. in West Chester, PA had a Rocky Patel event featuring a visit by Nish Patel so I took a ride down to have a cigar. I grabbed a couple of Xen Short Robustos and a couple Thunder by Nimish Robustos and smoked a Xen while I was there. The Xen is unique because it has an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper but it’s square pressed. It’s very difficult to make a pressed cigar with a Connecticut wrapper because it’s so thin. They manage this, I believe, using a double binder. I really enjoyed the cigar, it had what Nish refers to as “attitude”. It’s not a mild cigar at all, it’s got a nice little 
punch to it, along with the flavor from the wrapper. It was a very nice cigar. Later, after dinner, I took a Thunder by Nimish Robusto to the front porch. My son just got a dog, so she sat on the porch with me while I enjoyed this hefty robusto. It has a nice curly pigtail cap and a dark Habano wrapper. It had nice, dark, savory flavors. I think this is a nice cigar for someone who likes strong cigars, and I generally do. Two very different blends, and two very rich, satisfying cigars. Nish is a very nice guy, and it’s always a pleasure seeing Mark, our local Rocky Patel sales rep. Old Havana Cigar Co. always has very busy events and despite it being a beautiful Saturday, they had a ton of traffic.
That’s it for now, and it was a lot! I probably should have held something back for Wednesday when I’ll be looking for material! I suppose I’ll have to smoke some more cigars between now and then…
Until the next time,
CigarCraig
Sunday I grabbed an Alec Bradley American Classic Blend Gordo for an afternoon walk. I picked up a handful of these reasonably priced and very tasty 6 x 60 cigars at the Cigars International Super Store in Bethlehem, PA when Alan Rubin was there for an event. It’s a nice, fairly mild Ecuador Connecticut shade wrapped cigar that burns well and has loads of flavor. It’s the kind of cigar that one can smoke any time of the day and enjoy. I may need to pick up a few more of these to have around. The band and name were a good fit for the holiday weekend.
Monday was Memorial Day, a day to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we have the freedom to enjoy such a simple pleasure as a cigar. I selected an American Eagles robusto for an afternoon smoke. This cigar has a unique camo pattern applied to a Habano wrapper. It’s a buttery smooth, delicious cigar and you can taste the occasional hint of the candela, maduro and Connecticut shade patchwork every now and then. It’s a pricey cigar, but a portion of the proceeds go to the Semper Fi Fund, not that you can write off the purchase as a charitable donation. It’s a great smoke that should not be dismissed because it looks funny, but good luck finding it if you drop it in the grass!
Monday evening’s cigar was a Grimalkin Toro that I had picked up when I visited Classic Cigar Parlor in Doylestown, PA. a few weeks ago. Grimalkin was one of my favorite cigar finds of last year, and is a wonderful smoke. It’s complex and nuanced, but pairing it with a very spicy Goya Ginger Beer was a bit of a mistake. The ginger spice made the cold ginger beer almost seem not cold enough. If you’re not expecting it, the spice hits you in the back of the throat and can cause a bit of a coughing fit. It would be much better with a heavier cigar, but I still love the Grimalkin, and will miss the cat eyes when this cigar is re-branded to La Musa in the coming months. I’ve enjoyed everything from the Emilio family of cigars, and Gary Griffith has the Midas touch when it comes to tobacco.
Friday was the end of a long week, and, more importantly, the beginning of a long weekend! What better way to start it off than with a favorite, the 
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