by | April 2, 2023 · 9:38 am

Toscano, Gurkha, Dos Niños and Cavalier Cigars

I started off this week with something a little different.  I had a Toscano Master Aged Serie 3 in the humidor from last year’s PCA show, and I decided it was time to give it a try.  I’ve been enjoying Toscano cigars for over 20 years, my wife brought me some from a trip to Italy in 2000 (Anticos), and I’ve been a fan.  I bought some more when I went to Italy myself a few years back, Unfortunately, I have so many other cigars to smoke, these get pushed to the back of the rotation. They are dry cured, so they are great to keep in the car in case of emergency, and it’s totally acceptable to cut them in half.  The Master Aged 3 I smoked is a high end Toscano, made with aged Kentucky tobacco, which is fire cured and tastes like it.  I probably should have cut it in half, because it had a hole in the middle of the cigar, under the band, which I had to cover with a finger to get a decent amount of smoke.  I only realize as I type that I could have cut it in half, it never occured to me when I was smoking it.  that would have saved me some frustration!  It was a bold, tasty cigar with the smoky, bar-be-cue type of flavors which is nice from time to time.  I still think the Modigliani is the best  Toscano I’ve smoked.

 

I bought a Gurkha Ghost Gold a few weeks ago after hearing someone rave about it.  I like the original Ghost well enough, so I wanted to give this a try.  They have replaced the Brazilian wrapper with a Habano, grown in Ecuador. I have to give a little critique of the Gurkha website here, on the Ghost pages there are some errors, the Gold list all three sizes the same, when it should be the Shadow at 5″ x 54, and the Exorcist at 6″ x 60, with the Asura, 6″X 54 being the only one correct.  There is also an inconsistency in the blend info, one place it says a Criollo 98 binder and Mexican in another. I tend to believe it has a Mexican binder.  This was a very nice smoke, I smoked it while watching Blazing Saddles, which may be a little ironic. The cigar burned well and had a nice, creamy sweetness.  I dug it, although it wouldn’t make any lists for me.  I’d smoke either the Ghost or the Gold again.

 

Another PCA show leftover was a Dos Niños robusto, which I believe to be the Corojo variety.  The guy behind this cigar is someone I’ve known for many years, from the Usenet days, named Chris Kelly. There are an abundance of Chris Kellys in the cigar business, one owns Tesa Cigars in Chicago, one is one of the owners of  Ezra Zion/Cigar Federation, and one is the owner of Leaf Lovers Tobacconist in the incorrectly named town of North East, PA. (it’s near Erie, with is in the North West part of the state). It’s the

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third one who owns the Dos Niños brand. From what I remember, he started this brand rolling the cigars himself in his shop. If I also remember correctly, which is a crapshoot, by the way, the are now produced by Francisco Almonte of DBL Cigars, and distributed by Sutliff. This cigar started off bold, which is why I think it was the Corojo as opposed to the Habano. It had a rich, heavy chocolate flavor that was quite good. It was less of a sweet chocolate, but very lush and satisfying.  I quite enjoyed the cigar, although I’ve been passing it over for the last 8 months, worried that if I smoked it and didn’t enjoy it I’d hurt a friend’s feelings.  No issue, it was very good. I’ve spent my weekend power-watching House of the Dragon before my free trial expires, and this got me through an episode and a half, pretty good for a 5″ x 50 robusto.

 

Finally, I smoked a Cavalier Geneve White toro last night. I was watching TV, and a wicked thunderstorm passed through, knocking out the power for 45 minutes or so. Oddly, when the main TV came back on, and we were trying to watch hockey, it didn’t have any sound.  I

was quite unhappy since the TV was only a few months old. I did some Googling,  and came across an unlikely solution which involved turning the TV off, unplugging it, then holding down the power button in the remote for 30 seconds.  Seemed far fetched, but I was desperate. It actually worked. Reduced my stress level considerably. This all went down after I finished the cigar.  I first encountered this brand at the 2016 show where I met Sebastien Decoppet, who started this brand shortly before that.  He’s a young, hip guy with the beard and tattoos, last time I talked to him was in the Starbucks line after the ’22 TPE where he was kind enough to buy me a coffee.  Phil of Comedy-Cigars-Music fame sent me this Cavalier Geneve White toro, which I hadn’t had the chance to try yet.  This 6″x 52 cigar has a Habano wrapper, a Connecticut binder (guessing broadleaf, shade isn’t used for a binder often, if ever), and Habano fillers, proba

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bly made in Cavalier’s own factory in Honduras. Again, I was distracted by a reasonably violent thunderstorm, but this tasted very good, on the mild to medium side, with some bready notes and some spice. I can never taste the 24k gold leaf when I burn though it, but it’s a cool touch.  I’ve enjoyed the Cavalier cigars I’ve smoked, although it’s been limited to a handful of the “Black” varieties. This White was really good, and another thanks to Phil for sending this!

 

That’s all for today, until t

he next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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by | March 31, 2023 · 6:16 pm

News: J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Introduces Angel Cuesta Cigars

Last December when I toured El Reloj in Tampa I saw Angel rolling the Solomones, he is an artist.  He was applying the wrappers,  which involves a series of precise cuts with the chaveta.  It was very impressive.  We also saw shelves of the cigars in the aging room in the basement of the factory.  I’ve been looking forward to trying this cigar since seeing them at the factory.  

 

These cigars were first rolled a century ago as the official cigar of King Alfonso XIII of Spain

 

J.C. Newman Cigar Co. introduced Angel Cuesta cigars at the Tobacconist Association of America meeting this week. First rolled a century ago, this historic cigar brand is named for Angel LaMadrid Cuesta, one of the founders of the storied Cuesta-Rey cigar brand. These cigars were the official cigar of King Alfonso XIII, who ruled Spain from 1886 to 1931.

 

Angel Cuesta cigars are handmade in The American Room at J.C. Newman’s iconic El Reloj cigar factory in the Cigar City of Tampa, Florida. They feature a beautiful Ecuador Havana Rosado wrapper with a blend of aged binder and filler tobaccos from three continents and a pigtail cap. They are rolled in three sizes and packed in cabinets of 20 cigars:

 

Angel Cuesta Doble Robusto – 5.5” x 56 with a suggested retail price of $18

Angel Cuesta Doble Toro – 6.25” x 52 with a suggested retail price of $19

Angel Cuesta Salomones – 7.25” x 57 with a suggested retail price of $22

 

 

A team of two rollers with decades of experience roll a total of 150 Angel Cuesta cigars per day. Because of this, Angel Cuesta cigars are very limited. J.C. Newman released Angel Cuesta to 25 TAA members and expects to release these special cigars to additional premium cigar retailers across the United States twice a year. They are also available to those visiting J.C. Newman’s Factory Store at its El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa.

Angel Delgado Alba rolls Angel Cuesta cigars in The American Room at the J.C. Newman El Reloj Cigar Factory in Tampa, Fla.

 

Top Image: Original Angel Cuesta Band from 100 years ago
Bottom Image: New Angel Cuesta Band from 2023

 

A century ago, Angel Cuesta was one of the leaders of the cigar industry in Tampa. Inside each box of Angel Cuesta cigars is the following excerpt of a story by Angel Cuesta on why Tampa was the Fine Cigar Capital of the World:

 

“If you are a man who enjoys a really fine cigar, you have probably long since discovered the hand-made Tampa cigar with its superb smoking qualities – choice, clear Havana tobacco at its best! If you haven’t made this discovery, we believe it is time you did. And so we tell you how these cigars are created, and about Tampa, too – for the story of fine cigars is inseparable from the story of Tampa.

 

“Tampa today is the bustling metropolis of Florida’s West Coast, center of the most populous – and prosperous area of

Florida. Despite the fact that it is the State’s leading industrial city, it is also a resort city – equally a fine place to work, to live, and to play. It is a city of color and contrasts; of carnival gaiety and progressive modern enterprise. Its Latin Quarter is a carry-over from the Old World into the new. In this Latin Quarter, center of life for some 40,000 persons of Spanish and Cuban descent, are located the majority of the cigar factories that produce these fine cigars.

 

“The story of these cigars begins long ago. It begins in the mild, tropical climes of Cuban’s picturesque tobacco plantations. It begins in the skilled fingers of the cigarmaker, whose art is a heritage from the Old World. Yes, and it begins in the minds of a few enterprising men who had the foresight to recognize Tampa’s advantages as a potential cigar center.  It was Senor V. Martinez Ybor who pioneered the movement which made Tampa the cigar capital of America. In 1869 Ybor had transferred hi

s factory from Havana to Key West, to escape the depredations of the Spanish volunteer troops. As others followed, Key West became the center of America’s clear Havana industry of America’s clear Havana industry.

 

“Seventeen years later, Ybor and Eduardo Manrara, his partner, were impressed by the climatic and geographical possibilities of Tampa as a manufacturing site, when seeking a more favorable location for their operation. Tampa, then but a sprawling, lusty frontier hamlet, offered a large area of local hands to the cigar men, thus laying the cornerstone for one of the city’s principal industries. Other alert cigar men followed. Ybor’s example, and Tampa’s emergence as the manufacturing hub of Florida became an accomplished fact.

 

“Today, the finest cigars in the world are made in Tampa.

Angel LaMadrid Cuesta
April 1948”

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by | March 26, 2023 · 9:50 am

A Few Family X Loyalty Cigars

Over the past year or so I’ve gotten to know, and become friends with, Phil from comedycigarsmusic.com. He produces some engaging content, using video, podcast, and written formats. I look forward to his “Phil Switch” and “1st and 15th” podcasts (the latter with Kaplowitz), for their entertainment value, although they are light on cigar content. It’s my understanding that the next 1st and 15th show may finally tackle the long awaited “Cigar 101” topic. I’m not holding my breath. All that to say that I sent Phil some cigars a while ago, and he, despite my cautioning not to, sent me a pack of cigars, may of which I hadn’t yet smoked. Chief among these were three cigars with enormous, brightly colored bands from a company called Family X Loyalty.  I had never heard of this brand before, and I’ve heard of a lot! Information about this brand is elusive. They have a nice website, although there is no “About” page.  I can’t seem to glean any information, even their address listed is incomplete.  I suppose I could dig into the “whois” and all, but who has the time, as long as the cigars are good.  The cigars were good (a little digging leads me to believe these may be made at Jonas Santana’s Blackbird factory in the DR. I can see this as that factory produces some excellent cigars) .  I started with the Skoll. This has a yellow band covering the majority of the cigar. This is a Gran Toro (6″ x 54) wrapped in a Brazilian Cubra wrapper with a Criollo 98 binder and Nicaraguan fillers. “Criollo” is consistently misspelled on the website, by the way, unless there’s a “Crillo” tobacco I don’t know about. This cigar started with a bitter espresso flavor, but smoothed out to a medium to full bodied black coffee.  I really quite liked this cigar. 

 

Next I ventured into the Geri.  This has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with the Criollo 98 binder and a filler blend of Criollo 98, Corojo, Nicaragua, and Pennsylvania.  Again we have a mix of tobacco naming conventions, where is the Criollo and Corojo from?  What varietals are coming from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania? I have an in with Blackbird, perhaps I’ll inquire, but probably not.  I’m nit-picky about info on websites. This cigar, again, was very good. I noted that it started out with a brightness, which I suppose is a light spice. It had some wood and pepper notes. This is another cigar I would smoke again, very good. 

 

 

The final cigar in the trilogy was the Freki.  I wish I could find some back story about this brand and the naming.  To my eye, they have sort of a Nordic feel to the names.  I’m not sure. Looking at the bands, I’m more inclined to believe that they come from the same factory that makes Blackbird, who also uses large, colorful bands. These do tend to stand out, so there’s some wisdom to using this type of bands.  Mental note, I need to get some more Blackbird Crows.  The last cigar was called Freki. I got curious just now and Googled “Freki”, and is seems like Geri and Freki were Odin’s wolves in Norse mythology.  It looks like Skoll is also a wolf, as is Hati, another one of their blends.  I’ve uncovered the theme, I think, maybe the wolves on the bands could have been some sort of hint?  I also enjoyed the Freki. I got started much later than I would have liked. We got cheap tickets to see “John Wick Chapter Four”, and spent the day watching th 2nd and 3rd movies, with some hockey interspersed, so I really wanted to sit and relax in a non-violent way. This cigar has a San Andrés wrapper, with the Criollo binder and the same fillers as the Geri. I’m guessing it’s the same blend with a different wrapper, which is fine.  This was maybe the strongest of the bunch, with some nice earthy sweetness.  It has some dark chocolate and some pepper. Interestingly, I think I liked all three of these cigars about the same, usually there’s one that stands out.  All were excellent, and thank you again to Phil for sharing these with me.  I send cigars to people and don’t expect retribution, but it’s pretty great when I get to try some new stuff!  

 

I had worried that this would be a short post today, I guess I managed to stretch it out! Anyway,  that’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

 

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by | March 25, 2023 · 8:26 am

News: Partagas de Bronce Due in April

Following the Cohiba M and La Gloria 8th Street, we have another General Cigar Co. offering being made at Al Titan de Bronze in Miami. These are pricey, it’s not cheap to make cigars in the US.  I expect to see a Macanudo made there next.  I’ll be honest, my favorite from ETB is the Cornelius, at half the price of most of these. Sadly they are extinct, fortunately I still have a bunch. I may spring for one if I see it in the wild, but I haven’t shelled out for the La Gloria yet, so…

 

 

PARTAGAS RELEASES FIRST US-MADE CIGAR IN COLLABORATION WITH EL TITÁN DE BRONZE

Partagas will release its first collaboration in April with Partagas de Bronce, an exceptional cigar handcrafted in Miami by the Cuban expatriate rollers of the famed El Titán de Bronze Cigar Factory.

 

The cigar’s name calls upon the Spanish spelling of “bronce” in tribute to the origins of Partagas and El Titan de Bronze.

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Partagas de Bronce was blended by STG’s Justin Andrews, with Sandy Cobas and the blending team a

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t El Titán de Bronze. Made with a Corojo wrapper, Partagas de Bronce is a medium- bodied Nicaraguan puro that brims with nuances. Cocoa, earth, wood,hints of citrus and an intriguing creaminess deliver a cigar that highlights the heritage of Partagas with the artistry of El Titán de Bronze.

 

 

John Hakim, brand manager of Partagas said, “For a venerable brand like Partagas, collaborating with a legend like Sandy Cobas and creating a special, limited edition cigar at her family-owned factory marks an important step in Partagas’ evolution. Partagas de Bronce highlights Partagas’ devotion to old-world cigar making techniques, and its commitment to marching the brand forward through innovation. We look forward to sharing this exceptional blend with cigar lovers across the country.”  

 

Partagas de Bronce will be released in April, when 5,000 boxes, each signed by the El Titán de Bronze cigar maker who crafted them, will ship to retailers. Each box contains ten cigars.

 

Partagas de Bronce Corona Gorda (6.25” x 46) – SRP per cigar $22.99

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by | March 19, 2023 · 10:12 am

Fratello, All Saints, Casino Real and Yaya Cigars

I’m running low on new stuff to smoke, in a few years I’ll be scraping the bottom of the barrel!  Seems like there’s always something new, it’s just a matter of getting my hands on stuff.  A few weeks after my aborted attempt to be among the first to smoke the new Fratello Vice Versa with Omar when he released it in Virginia, I picked a couple up at a local shop.  I would have gotten more, but these are no cheap date.  I get it, they are expensive to make, they are bunched in a very specific way, and capped on both ends.  Not begrudging Omar the price, just saying I’m a cheap prick and don’t buy more than a couple $15 cigars at a whack.  I smoked prototypes last May, they were good.  I smoked a Vice Versa this week and started with the strong end. This is an interesting cigar that smokes mild from one end and strong from the other. Seems like I should have gotten a third one, because the one I smoked, unfortunately, had a void in the first half and tunneled. After struggling with it for a while, it eventually corrected itself.  I kinda missed the strong part, but it was a tasty cigar. This isn’t a small cigar at 7″ x 52, and it has a six country blend: Ecuador, Indonesia, Pennsylvania (USA) , the Dominican Republic, Peru and Nicaragua. Peruvian tobacco is a in almost all of Omar’s blends.  I wonder if I would feel better about cutting this cigar in half, although if I think a $15 7″ cigar is expensive, two $7.50 3½” cigars actually seems pricier. I have one left, I’ll need to get a couple more eventually, I enjoyed the flavor. 

 

Friday was Saint Patrick’s Day, so I smoked the new Firecracker cigar from United Cigars, the All Saints St. Patrick. This is a 3½” x 50 based on the St. Francis blend, which I really like. They accented the oscuro wrapper with a Candela, making a barber pole. It seemed to me to be stronger than the St. Francis, which is kinda the point.  I didn’t taste much of the candela, to be honest. A lot of the candela barber pole cigars have that grassy candela flavor present, this wasn’t apparent except it might have contributed to some of the bite. It was good, I liked it. I typically only buy from 3 to 5 Firecrackers, maybe I should have gotten 5.  It’s been a few years since I’ve gotten any, the last few didn’t capture my interest. If you find these, buy some, I bet they go fast. I wonder if All Saints will do a St. Bernard one day?  It would have to be a large format.

 

Yesterday I did a little test of a platform that will let me do interviews remotely.  Hopefully that is something that interests my readers.  It’s something I’ve been wanting to do but finally got around to it. So I tested it yesterday with a couple of friends and smoked a Casino Real Double Toro (6″ x 60) which I think I got at the 2022 TPE show. This is a brand which is, from what I can tell, is distributed by Zander Greg/Nat Cicco. This is a Ecuador Habano wrapped cigar with Nicaraguan binder and fillers.  It was a tasty cigar with some woody and coffee type flavors.  The burn and draw were perfect.  I have no idea what these cost but it was a solid smoke.

 

I got home from going out to dinner a bit late and decided it was a great time to smoke a short cigar.  I said before that my go to is a 6″ cigar, I don’t mind bigger cigars, although I don’t often go over a 60 ring. So shorter cigars end up spending some time in the humidor often. I had a Yaya Short Robusto, which is a 2022 PCA exclusive, which I got from the United Cigars booth at the 2022 PCA show.  I like the fact that this had the date on the band, it makes it harder for me to forget where it came from and when. Not impossible, just harder.  I’ve heard good things about this cigar, so I was anxious to try it.  It’s 4″ x 54, with an Ecuador Habano wrapper over Dominican fillers.  These are made in Jose Dominguez’ Magia Cubana factory in the DR.  I’ll be honest, there’s not a lot of cigar from this factory that have thrilled me. This one was the exception.  It started out with a little bite, which I liked, and had some nice spice notes.  It’s a tasty smoke!  

 

That’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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