by | June 7, 2020 · 10:44 am

La Unica, Quorum and Brick House Cigars

I really would love to get down to Tampa in the near future to see what J.C. Newman is doing with the historic “El Reloj” factory there. They have been remodeling it in celebration of their 125th anniversary, and I imagine it’s going to be spectacular. I haven’t ever really been to Tampa, funny enough. It’s just such a weird time. Anyway, I smoked some of the more pedestrian of the J.C. Newman offerings lately, and I figured I’d discuss them here. Let’s start out with the Quorum. I’ve actually smoked a bunch of these maduro toros over the last few weeks and I have to be honest, they aren’t bad. They’ve all had pretty good construction and a nice mild to medium strength. These are made in J.C. Newman’s PENSA factory in Esteli, and run around $2.50 a cigar. I’ll be honest, I’ve avoided these for years figuring they were cheap and just not good, but I was wrong. They are inexpensive, but they are a tasty smoke. The Maduro has a Sumatra wrapper, Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan fillers, and has a bit of a meaty flavor, with a hint of sweetness. For what it is, it’s not a bad cigar at all. If I’m sitting down to relax with a cigar and I’m worried about the price, I’m probably spending a few dollars more for something else, but If I want a decent cigar to smoke while I’m doing something else, this isn’t a bad way to go. I really need to work on being less of a cigar snob.

 

La Unica is a brand that takes me back. This was probably the first premium cigar that was sold in a bundle. Of course, now it’s a boxed brand, but in the 80s and 90s it was in a bundle, and it wasn’t a particularly cheap bundle, but cheaper than box brands at the time. It was made by the Fuentes, and came/comes in Connecticut shade and Connecticut Broadleaf. Of course, 25 years ago when I smoked these, I preferred the maduro, and I probably still would, but I smoked the Connecticut Shade No. 400, the 4½” x 50 Rothschild this week, and I’ll be darned if it didn’t taste exactly like I remember them tasting 20+ years ago. I thought it was a very good tasting shade cigar, and shade cigars are usually my last choice. I recently listened to a certain podcast where the tasting panel didn’t particularly care for it, and I can’t agree with their assessment. I felt like it was a perfectly tasty cigar, and would and will smoke it again. Of course, I want to smoke the Maduro version now! Smoking the La Unica was a bit of a sentimental journey for me, it made me want to line up an Excalibur, a Don Carlos Robusto and maybe find a Canaria de Oro Rothschild.

 

Last night I felt like continuing with the J.C. Newman theme, and I really wanted to smoke a Diamond Crown, but I didn’t really feel like there was anything happening that was worth celebrating with a cigar like that. I know I’ve been smoking some great cigars here and there lately, but I still feel like I need something to go right in my world before I feel like I deserve to smoke a Diamond Crown. It’s a weird way to think. I might have to just grab one and take a walk today and get over it. Heck, there are other more expensive cigars I’ve smoked over the last several months that I didn’t “deserve”. Whatever. I did feel like I deserved a Brick House yesterday, and I found a Corona Larga. Brick House is one of the few brands where I’m not picky when it comes to wrapper, I enjoy all three equally. This one had the Ecuador Havana Seed wrapper, and is 6¼” x 46 with Nicaraguan binder and filler made in the same factory as the Quorum. The burn and draw on this cigar was perfect, as good I could expect from any Diamond Crown. Flat ember with all components burning at exactly the same rate, a miracle. The flavor is sweet and earthy tobacco, and it’s good. It’s a small ring gauge, so it requires a slow draw. The 60 ring Mighty Mighty is good too, and you can afford to puff on that a bit more aggressively, but this one requires some more finesse and patience when smoking. It still falls into the budget range, and is worth every penny. Good stuff.

 

Well, that’s about it for today, it looks like it’ll be a beautiful day. Whether you’re relaxing, getting some yard/house work done, or attending a local peaceful protest while observing the appropriate social distancing, I hope you enjoy a great cigar along the way! Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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by | June 3, 2020 · 10:05 am

Some DE News and the Contest Winner Announcement!

I’m doing my best to try to maintain some semblance of normalcy in what’s turning into quite the shitshow of a 2020, quite frankly. I’m not sure how else to characterize it. I have my feelings on things, but I’m just going to try to stick to my “don’t be a dick” mantra, and keep on doing what I need to do to get through the day. I encourage everyone to live by that philosophy, the world would be a better place. One can dream. Anyway, before I announce a winner of the great Drew Estate goodies, here’s some news they sent my way.

 

Drew Estate has been putting out more news than I can keep up with lately! I’m sure you’ve seen the news about the new Joya Numero Uno size and the Acid Samplers already, so I won’t revisit those, but these are from the last few days: 

 

Drew Estate Unveils Four New Gift Sets

 

 

Drew Estate announces today four new gift sets of their most popular brands including Undercrown Shade, Herrera Esteli Habano, Deadwood Fat Bottom Betty and Tabak Especial Dulce. This release will be showcased on the upc

oming Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

Each gift set features 5 toro sized cigars and a branded lighter exclusive to the gift set release. Deadwood Fat Bottom Betty toro kicks off the releases, wrapped in lush Maduro and blended with rich and exotic tobaccos.  Next, the Herrera Esteli Habano toro features a spicy Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Honduran Binder, and bold filler leaves from Nicaragua. The Undercrown Shade is highlighted by a smooth Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over a Sumatra binder with Dominican and Nicaraguan filler leaves. Finally, the Tabak Especial Dulce features a creamy Connecticut wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler leaves, perfect to pair with your cup of coffee.

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew Founder and President of Drew Estate notes, “Gift Sets are cool as fuck.  I dig em.” 

The following gift sets featuring a branded lighter are shipping in August:

  • Deadwood Fat Bottom Betty Toro Gift Set MSRP $57.99
  • Herrera Esteli Habano Toro Gift Set MSRP $57.99
  • Tabak Especial Dulce Toro Gift Set MSRP $57.99
  • Undercrown Shade Toro Gift Set MSRP $57.99

For full coverage of Drew Estate Gift Sets and all of Drew Estate’s upcoming national releases check out our 2020 #DESummerTakeover promotion at www.drewestate.com/summertakeover and be sure to tune in to Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST.

 

ABOUT DREW ESTATE

Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world. Under their mantra “The Rebirth of Cigars”, Drew Estate has led the “Boutique Cigar” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that attract new and traditional cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Herrera Estelí Norteño, Isla del Sol, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Larutan by Drew Estate, Nica Rustica, Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, Tabak Especial, Undercrown, Florida Sun Grown, and Java by Drew Estate.

 

 

Not to be outdone, Joya de Nicaragua has been announcing new stuff too:

 

JOYA DE NICARAGUA DARES YOU TO “SHUT THE BOX”

A LIMITED AND PLAYFUL EDITION OF THE LEGENDARY ANTAÑO

Back in 2012, Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca, Chairman of Joya de Nicaragua, won his first game of Shut the Box. He was on tour, visiting old friends in the cigar industry, and in one stop at Havana Mix Shop in Memphis, TN, he was challenged to a game.  As a numbers guy, backed by a PhD in Economics, he accepted the dare. You could argue that an exact science has nothing to do with rolling the dice, or you could simply try to shut the box!

Shut the Box is a traditional American game that Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca has become obsessed with and dares anybody to challenge him!  “I never thought that day I would discover one of my now favorite pastimes, and moreover, that 8 years after, my team would come up with the idea of making a cigar box that transforms into it.  The best of all is that now I’ll find it in cigar lounges across America when I visit,” explained Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca, Chairman of the Board.Antaño is one of Joya de Nicaragua’s oldest and most succes

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sful blends of all time.  Launched in 2001, it is considered by many as the first real full body cigar in the market.   An innovative approach of the most traditional factory in Nicaragua, that became an iconic cigar for American smoke

rs, now considered a true classic.  With a Nicaraguan Habano Wrapper and Nicaraguan Binder and Fillers, this cigar is an ultra robust, spicy smoke with an earthy finish, and unbridled body and aroma, which showcase the authentic Nicaraguan Puro.

Antaño Shut the Box Limited Edition is a special gift from Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua to those loyal consumers that have been supporting the brand for almost 20 years.  It has manufactured 500 Collector’s Edition boxes of each of the two most popular vitolas in this blend, JDN’s signature Gran Cónsul (4 ¾ x 60 – MSRP $ 182/box or $9.10/stick) and Robusto Grande (5 ½ x 52 – MSRP $169/box or $8.45/stick).  After the cigars have been enjoyed, the box is ready to play “Shut the Box”.

“For many years we have been thinking about ideas on how to make our empty boxes be useful after all cigars are smoked, and this is how we decided to let people have some fun.  At the moment, we didn’t know we were going to be bringing to smokers a special game so useful these days that we have to stay longer at home,” said Juan Ignacio Martínez, Executive President.

Antaño Shut the Box will be available to stores across the country as of June 2020, and will come in the traditional 20 count boxes, with cigars, instructions and two dice ready to be played with those closest to you.  The perfect kit for cigar smokers that want to add some fun to their smoke.

 

ABOUT JOYA DE NICARAGUA

Joya de Nicaragua is a family owned tobacco grower and cigar factory. Established in 1968, it is the first and most authentic premium handmade cigar manufacturer from Nicaragua. Based in Estelí, many regard JDN as the patriarch creator of the Nicaraguan cigar industry, and its cigars are sold in more than 55 countries around the world.  The company’s commitment to quality along with its skillful and resilient people, have rewarded it with the industry recognition of Cigar Factory of the Year 2018 & 2019.

 

Contest Winner!

I am still throwing cigars in a bag, but so far, along with a Year of the Rat as promised, I’ve included a Nica Rustica Belly from the launch event in Louisville KY in July of 2015 and one each of the new Undercrown Corona Pequeños. I’ll rummage around and find some more to add, I’m sure there will be some Joyas too. I’ve consulted the Random Number Generator, and, as Patrick H predicted, it got close to him, but missed him by this much!  Patrick G is the winner! Please send your address so I can get this stuff out to you. I just thought of two more great cigars to put in while I was typing this! Thanks so much to Drew Estate for sending me the Liga Privada Survival Kit and the other swag I’ve collected over the years! It brings me great joy to give stuff like this away! It’s a good thing they didn’t send one of those Benchmade knife/cutters or we wouldn’t have been having a contest, those things are wicke

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d-cool! 

That’s all for tod

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ay, until the next time, 

CigarCraig

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by | May 31, 2020 · 10:46 am

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Seleccion, Tarazona and Jacoubs Cigars

I’ve been a fan of Hoyo de Monterrey cigars for just about as long as I’ve been a fan of cigars. I used to splurge on a huge $5 Excalibur No. 1 from time to time, and have smoked tons of Rothschilds and Sabrosos over he years. I’ve enjoyed a great many of the recent iterations of the Hoyos from the AJ Fernandez collaboration as well. I finally got around to smoking the newest Hoyo de Monterrey, made at the HATSA factory in Honduras, the Epicure Selección. I smoked the No. 1, which is a corona gorda, 5 5/8″ x 46,  a size I really enjoy. They also make a No.2 (4.9″ x 50) and a Toro Especiale (6″x50). Certainly I’ll be seeking out the Toro at some point. This was a really good smoke. Very bold and straight forward Honduran heavy, dark tobacco. It was rich and earthy with some spice. I enjo

yed it a lot. I didn’t find it to be complex, and it lacked any subtlety whatsoever, which is what I liked about it. It screamed “cigar” and was unapologetic. I dug it. I think Frank Llaneza would be pleased. Once again, neither the Hoyo, nor the new CigarWorld sites are updated with information about this cigar.

 

I ran into Eddie Tarazona at the TPE show and I hadn’t seen Eddie in a few years. I think I met Eddie in 2011 or ’12 at one of the Delaware Cigar Festivals that were held at Delaware Park racetrack. At the TPE he gave me a couple cigars, one of which was a Tarazona Guerilla 305 El Jefe Flaco. This is a 6 ½” x 42 lonsdale-ish sized cigar, with a H2000 wrapper grown in Ecuador, Sumatra binder and Piloto Viso, Criollo 98, Corojo Seco, Connecticut Broadleaf fillers. One does not often see Broadleaf in the filler blend. H2000 wrapper has come a long way. When it was developed in 2000 it didn’t burn. It was better suited for wrapping electrical wires or making jumpsuits for Indy car drivers than cigar wrappers. If those analogies need further explanation, the stuff was flame retardant, it didn’t burn. In the last twenty years the pre-industry tobacco folks have figured out how to ferment the stuff and now it works like cigar wrappers should work, and it tastes pretty yummy too. Platinum Nova Cigars uses it on a lot of their cigars and they are quite expensive and pretty darned good. Something makes me thing Saka used it one of his special editions, although I can’t bring it to mind, and I could be wrong. Anyway, the El Jefe Flaco was a nice smoke, it burned perfectly, and I was careful not to over-smoke it lest it heat up and get bitter. It was smooth and had a great flavor, medium bodied and nutty, with some sweetness, no doubt from the Broadleaf in the f

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iller. It was a good smoke. Eddie’s a good dude, and he puts out some good cigars. I have another he gave me that I can’t wait to sample. 

 

My last cigar was a one-off that probably doesn’t even warrant discussion, because I don’t even know if it’s available and I don’t know much about it. I was rummaging around the humidor as I’ve been doing lately, just sort of selecting oddities to smoke that have been around a while, or things that I don’t need to write about, or are just random one-offs. This torpedo came from my first visit to a shop in Ridley Park, PA, which is about 5 miles from the Philadelphia International Airport, called Jacoubs. It’s a nice little shop with a lounge, take some change for the on street parking meters, it’s better than the airports cell-phone lot to wait for an airport pick up. It’s owned by a guy named, now get this: Jacoub. Weird, huh? This torpedo came from my first visit to this shop which was in the spring of 2016, so it somehow got buried for the last 4 years. I had the good sense to put a post-it on it with “Jacoubs” on it, so at least I had some idea of it’s provenance. Sadly, it was an exceptional cigar. I say “sadly” of course, because I’ll not have the chance to smoke it again. It’s not that big of a deal really, because, while it was a really great cigar, it wasn’t one that was particularly distinctive or different, know what I mean? It was a cigar that, while smoking one thinks “that’s a really good” smoke, but there’s no point where  you think, “gee, there’s a flavor I’ve never had in a cigar before, that’s really unique”. So it was a good, well aged, well made torpedo, obviously made with good materials. I suppose the next time I’m down that way I’ll ask Jacoub about it. 

 

That’s all for today. Don’t forget to go back to Wednesday’s post and enter the contest if you haven’t already

. If you have, good luck, don’t enter again! Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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by | May 27, 2020 · 5:42 pm

Contest: A Drew Estate Goodies Giveaway!

I’ve been talking about having a contest for a while, and thinking about doing it for longer, and I finally have gotten around to it. My friends at Drew Estate sent me a really neat item that I think you’ll really like, and I have some other cool stuff to add too. I love stuff as much as the next guy, but I have an abundance of riches, and it’s much more fun to share. The main item is a Liga Privada Survival Kit! It’s a Tin containing a really cool folding knife, a tactical flashlight and a backpack (please note that I did not open. up the backpack to take a photo because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get it folded back up right. I’m sure it’s cool)! I’m going to add a camo Barnsmoker cap and some other DE odds and ends, and some assorted Drew Estate Cigars from my humidors! Those who have won my contests in the past can attest to the fact that when I say that I’m throwing some cigars in, I throw some cigars in! One cigar will be a new Year of the Rat, I’ll tell you that. 

 

 

So if you don’t know the rules already, just leave a comment on this post, not on Facebook, Twitter or anywhere else, just this post! Just one comment per person please, and I’ll select a winner by random drawing next Wednesday, June 3, 2020. You must be 21 or older to win, so I don’t get in trouble, and I’ll request proof of age. I gotta CMA. Feel free to tell your friends, unless you’re afraid that will reduce your chances! Many thanks to Drew Estate for the goodies! Good Luck!

Edit: I poached a picture with the backpack:

 


Speaking of the Year of the Rat:

 

Liga Privada Unico “Year of the Rat” Heads to Drew Diplom

at Retailer Virtual Events

Drew Estate announces today that the Liga Privada Unico Serie “Year of the Rat” is shipping to Drew Diplomat retailers hosting Virtual Events starting on June 1st. This release will be showcased on the upcoming Freestyle Live: Special Edition hosted on facebook.com/drewestatecigar on June 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST, and includes special guests, surprise announcements, and giveaways.The Liga Privada Unico “Year of the Rat” cigars are presented in a 5 ½” x 46 vitola, featuring the iconic fan tail capa illustrated on select Unico Serie cigars. This commemorative cigar is highlighted and defined with a lush Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, a dark, rich Brazilian binder and nasty, hearty Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers. Each “Year of the Rat” is wrapped in gold foil, packaged in a beautifully embossed, blue Liga Privada Unico box.

Liga Privada Unico Serie “Year of the Rat” will be available for purchase at Drew Diplomat retailers hosting Virtual Events starting June 1st. The list of upcoming Virtual Events hosted by Drew Estate can be found at www.drewestate.com/events which is continually updated.

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonat

han Drew Founder and President of Drew Estate exclaims, “The Rats are coming June 1st … so we kindly ask you to welcome them with open arms during the planned virtual events that the team has been working on.  Year of the Rats were first released many years ago in partnership with the Flo

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rida Panthers and were only available at their stadium in Miami.  Later, I used them for some of my personal events until Willy and the Marketing dudes forced me to give em up.  Frankly, me and the Rats are still kind of annoyed about it.  I have a conference call with the Supreme Team Rat Lords to review how we will respond. Stay tuned …”

Discover More about the Year of the Rat

 

Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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by | May 24, 2020 · 10:04 am

Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust Muestra de Saka Unstolen Valor and Umbagog Cigars

I did some searching around locally last week for Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust‘s latest release, the Muestra de Saka Unstolen Valor. The closest practically local source was only selling by the box, and as much as I’d treasure having seven of those in the humidor, and as much as I trust Saka’s palate to line up with my own and not get stuck with cigars I don’t like, It’s hard to drop over $100 on seven cigars right now. I just can’t do it. Heck, I’m a cheap bastard (and Saka is well aware of this), it was hard enough for me to shell out the 18 bones each for two of these. I finally ended up buying them from 2 Guys Cigars in New Hampshire, and I have a bone to pick with them! I should have called Barry and ripped him a new one (listeners to The Cigar Authority will appreciate the following). I placed the order on Tuesday and, once again, being cheap, I chose the least expensive shipping option, USPS. This was a 3 day option, which ended up with a Saturday delivery commitment. No problem, I thought. Friday rolls around and what shows up in my mailbox but a parcel from 2 Guys, a fricking DAY EARLY! What the heck? I mean, they promise a guy it’s going to be delivered on Saturday, and it shows up on Friday, doesn’t anyone do what they say they are going to do any more? Do they want my cigars to be delivered in better condition than I expect? Am I supposed to smoke these sooner than I planned? What if I hadn’t made room in my humidor yet? C’mon guys!  Of course, I kid, 2 Guys always provides exceptional service, Dave has always been a great friend and I’m happy to through a little bit of business his way here and there. I did try shopping locally and it didn’t work out, so I shopped Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust’s local. 

 

I normally would have let the cigars rest in the humidor for a while, and one of them will spend a while with some other Muestra de Sakas hanging out, but I checked the cigar with the Humidimeter and it was in great shape, having arrived in a timely manner, and I decided to smoke it yesterday. It rained yesterday so instead of taking a walk I parked my butt on the porch with this beautiful cigar that was blended not by Steve Saka, but by Raul Disla, who oversees the NACSA factory where it is rolled along with the Mi Querida and Umbagogs. I’m sure this is common knowledge among my

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readers,  but Raul Disla is the brother of Esteban Disla, who is a partner in RoMaCraft’s Nica Sueno factory. He also has quite a pedigree, having worked for Cuevas y Torano, Davidoff, AJ Fernandez, and British American Tobacco. Saka had Raul make some blends and they each chose their favorite, and Saka chose his favorite to release under his banner. This is a Nicaraguan puro, from what I can gather. It seems Saka has been too busy fishing and being the guest on podcasts to update his website  😂.  I can say that the burn and draw were what I expected from an expensive cigar, perfect. it had a flat ember that tel

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ls me all the components are burning at the same rate, no small feat. It helps that I smoked it slowly, savoring every pull. It had a fascinating flavor. There was a sweet component that was reminiscent of the Mi Querida, but then there was a savory, barbeque/mesquite almost flavor that was there. I’m almost…almost regretting not putting myself into debt to get the box of seven, although seven wouldn’t be nearly enough. 

 

After dinner the skies cleared and I was able to get my daily walk in so I grabbed an Umbagog Toro Toro and hit the bricks. I love the Umbagogs so much. I look back and am surprised at how many Mi Queridas and Umbagogs I’ve smoked, but I shouldn’t be, because they are just so darned good an

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d hit my palate perfectly. There’s not much more to be said that I haven’t said before, so I’ll let these pictures say it.

 

That’s all for now. It’s Memorial Day Weekend. This seems a little surreal from my standpoint, three day weekends mean nothing to me right now, I’ve had about a 192 day weekend and I’m a little bit tired of it. We are doing a little something for the neighbors today, so

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I need to get to picking out cigars…er…setting things. up for that, and getting that contest together I promised last week. Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig 

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