La Instructora Delicado
Today’s Featured Cigar:
La Instructora Delicado
••••••••
The Cigar:
The Delicado was blended with those who prefer a more delicate nature to cigar smoking. The fruition of this blend resulted in a USA Connecticut wrapper, Sumatra binder and combination of Dominican filler tobaccos. This cigar comes in 6 different sizes from a small corona to a beautiful and long Presidente. Each one is constructed to perfection and is held at a very high standard when created each and every cigar. The US wrapper is thin and delicate but it shines in this blend.
The Flavors:
This blend is delicate, obviously, but there is so much flavor still to be had. The major note of sweetness comes in waves on the palate as you smoke, continuing to get deeper and deeper. This is a sensitive cigar so watch the temperature and smoke time. If you pull too hard and smoke too fast the heat will take over the flavor, so take your time and enjoy.
The Bottle:
Château Ducasse Bordeaux Blanc is harvested in September. Vilification and aging takes place in stainless steel cuves for at least six months. It is then bottled unfiltered for a total production of 8,500 cases. The grapes used are 60% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc.
The Pairing:
On the palate, this wine is luscious and mouth coating with generous passion fruit and stone, and then the finish thickens and creates a chalk and acidity sensation. It has the classic Sauvignon Blanc notes of lime and grass with a more delicate approach, but unlike classic Sauv Blancs, this wine has a mineral shine. That stone flavors pairs perfectly with the wonderful sweetness that comes in layers from the US Grown Connecticut wrapper. The experience is all very delicate but there is a lot of flavor and complexity, it just takes a little bit more attention to detail. The dry wine brings the earth and salt note that rounds out the sweet and creamy cigar. The texture created by the two is silky smooth and continues to cover the palate hours after the cigar was out.
The Story:
Aaron Saide came across the wrapper during the process of blending the cigar at Tabacalera Palma, with the leaf catching his attention both for its color and its sweet aroma. He told halfwheel that the creation of the cigar was about achieving balance and minimizing the lesser desired qualities of USA-grown Connecticut. To achieve that, a binder and filler from the Dominican Republic were selected, both of which are grown by Jochy Blanco and have enough age on the leaves to provide balance to the wrapper. “Jochy achieved this blend,” Saide noted.
Saide said that while the cigar is smooth and on the milder side, the smoker never has to “reach for flavor.” He noted that there is no ligero in the blend, a decision made to ensure balance among the components.
The Man:
Jochy Blanco
The Godfather of tobacco. A true hoarder of the leaf. He is one of the largest cigar producers in the Dominican Republic and currently holds the largest collection of premium tobacco leafs.
He is fourth-generation tobacco grower, second-generation cigar maker and CEO of Tabacalera Palma.
His family’s tobacco-growing legacy began with his greatgrandfather, Manuel Blanco Lozada, who emigrated from Spain to the Dominican Republic in the mid-1800s. In 1925, Jochy’s father, José Arnaldo Blanco II, founded Tabacalera Palma, making him one of the country’s earliest cigar manufacturers.
“I’ve been involved with my father’s business since I was a kid,” says Jochy. “In 1980, I began to make changes, and started making different types of cigars for exportation. Before that, everything was local market only. So we went from being a mostly North American market company, to exporting Dominican-grown tobacco and cigars worldwide.” He knew that cigar smokers wanted a higher quality product, and he had the means to do it. “What you need are good growers, good tobacco, good fermentation, and good rollers,” says Jochy, who still ferments tobacco the way his grandfather did. “All of these processes, including the quality of the land and the leaf, come down to tradition. But the main thing is the passion you put into what you do.”
Jochy also buys tobacco from farms once subcontracted by Jochy’s father, Arnaldo. Some of these growers are third generation, and Jochy continues the tradition because it’s good for the growers, the business, and the Dominican economy. Of all the independent tabaqueros in the Dominican Republic, Jochy is arguably the country’s biggest grower and buyer.
Today’s Featured Cigar:
La Instructora Delicado
••••••••
The Cigar:
The Delicado was blended with those who prefer a more delicate nature to cigar smoking. The fruition of this blend resulted in a USA Connecticut wrapper, Sumatra binder and combination of Dominican filler tobaccos. This cigar comes in 6 different sizes from a small corona to a beautiful and long Presidente. Each one is constructed to perfection and is held at a very high standard when created each and every cigar. The US wrapper is thin and delicate but it shines in this blend.
The Flavors:
This blend is delicate, obviously, but there is so much flavor still to be had. The major note of sweetness comes in waves on the palate as you smoke, continuing to get deeper and deeper. This is a sensitive cigar so watch the temperature and smoke time. If you pull too hard and smoke too fast the heat will take over the flavor, so take your time and enjoy.
The Bottle:
Château Ducasse Bordeaux Blanc is harvested in September. Vilification and aging takes place in stainless steel cuves for at least six months. It is then bottled unfiltered for a total production of 8,500 cases. The grapes used are 60% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc.
The Pairing:
On the palate, this wine is luscious and mouth coating with generous passion fruit and stone, and then the finish thickens and creates a chalk and acidity sensation. It has the classic Sauvignon Blanc notes of lime and grass with a more delicate approach, but unlike classic Sauv Blancs, this wine has a mineral shine. That stone flavors pairs perfectly with the wonderful sweetness that comes in layers from the US Grown Connecticut wrapper. The experience is all very delicate but there is a lot of flavor and complexity, it just takes a little bit more attention to detail. The dry wine brings the earth and salt note that rounds out the sweet and creamy cigar. The texture created by the two is silky smooth and continues to cover the palate hours after the cigar was out.
The Story:
Aaron Saide came across the wrapper during the process of blending the cigar at Tabacalera Palma, with the leaf catching his attention both for its color and its sweet aroma. He told halfwheel that the creation of the cigar was about achieving balance and minimizing the lesser desired qualities of USA-grown Connecticut. To achieve that, a binder and filler from the Dominican Republic were selected, both of which are grown by Jochy Blanco and have enough age on the leaves to provide balance to the wrapper. “Jochy achieved this blend,” Saide noted.
Saide said that while the cigar is smooth and on the milder side, the smoker never has to “reach for flavor.” He noted that there is no ligero in the blend, a decision made to ensure balance among the components.
The Man:
Jochy Blanco
The Godfather of tobacco. A true hoarder of the leaf. He is one of the largest cigar producers in the Dominican Republic and currently holds the largest collection of premium tobacco leafs.
He is fourth-generation tobacco grower, second-generation cigar maker and CEO of Tabacalera Palma.
His family’s tobacco-growing legacy began with his greatgrandfather, Manuel Blanco Lozada, who emigrated from Spain to the Dominican Republic in the mid-1800s. In 1925, Jochy’s father, José Arnaldo Blanco II, founded Tabacalera Palma, making him one of the country’s earliest cigar manufacturers.
“I’ve been involved with my father’s business since I was a kid,” says Jochy. “In 1980, I began to make changes, and started making different types of cigars for exportation. Before that, everything was local market only. So we went from being a mostly North American market company, to exporting Dominican-grown tobacco and cigars worldwide.” He knew that cigar smokers wanted a higher quality product, and he had the means to do it. “What you need are good growers, good tobacco, good fermentation, and good rollers,” says Jochy, who still ferments tobacco the way his grandfather did. “All of these processes, including the quality of the land and the leaf, come down to tradition. But the main thing is the passion you put into what you do.”
Jochy also buys tobacco from farms once subcontracted by Jochy’s father, Arnaldo. Some of these growers are third generation, and Jochy continues the tradition because it’s good for the growers, the business, and the Dominican economy. Of all the independent tabaqueros in the Dominican Republic, Jochy is arguably the country’s biggest grower and buyer.
Padron 4000
Today’s Featured Cigar:
Padron 4000 Natural
••••••••
The Cigar:
A beautifully balanced and full-bodied smoke of exceptional quality and value, the Padrón line is aged for a minimum of two-and-one-half years. As with all of their cigar offerings, this line is hand crafted using only sun-grown tobacco wrappers from Nicaragua. The 4000 is a 54x6 1/2 toro that is available in a Natural and Maduro wrapper.
The Flavors:
The Natural wrappers from Padron have strong earth and woody notes that are consistent not only throughout the blend, but throughout their entire portfolio. A mild saltiness covers the palate and lingers around after you smoke but the predominate flavor is black pepper and wood. This is not a cigar with transitions or deep complexity, this is a cigar that is consistently built with a baseline of flavor from the Nicaraguan region.
The Bottle:
Nicaragua- American-Style Lager- Toña Cerveza is a smooth premium lager beer. Its exceptionally balanced flavor and rich body are sure to satisfy even the most demanding tastes. The beer is unique and reflects a world of exotic adventure and wonder. Toña reflects and identifies the Nicaraguan culture, and the passion and pride of its roots and traditions.
The Pairing:
Two Nicaraguan products that are at the top of their industries. A cold beer and premium cigar is hardly a unique pairing, but this one is a instant classic. Everything you want from an affordable and relaxing experience, you can rely on these two to consistently give you exactly what you are looking for. The salty and woody cigar match with the delicate sweet of the beer to create a fantastic texture on the palate. Instead of adding to the bitterness like a to of domestic beers, this one creates balance.
The Man:
Jose Padron
The founder of Padron Cigars, José Padrón, was born in Cuba and raised on the family tobacco farm. He grew up around the crop in all its forms, from seed to smoking. His upbringing ultimately led him to open his first factory in Miami, 1964. It wasn’t until three years later when he started importing tobacco from Nicaragua that he saw his business double.
His popularity exploded during the cigar boom in the 1990’s with the introduction of the popular 1964 and 1926 Series. In addition to being regarded as a top premium cigar maker, José was active in community and in politics. He aided in the release of political prisoners in Cuba, and also started a foundation supporting health and education. The cigar legend passed away on December 5, 2017 in Miami at the age of 91.
The Brand:
Padron has a fully integrated approach to the cigar industry. Any cigar enthusiast can enjoy the brand at multiple different tiers and flavor profiles. They make a Natural and Maduro version of everything in their portfolio and then separate their tiers with different refinement levels. The most raw are the Thousand Series. Each number indicates a different size of the same blend. Our top selling cigar from this tier is the 4000 Maduro. Next is the 1964 Series with our most popular being the Exclusivo Natural. The 1926 is considered their most famous blend and our best is the No. 2 Torpedo. After the normal three blends they have the their top tier limited editions. My favorite of these are the Family Reserve 85th Natural, and the 50th Maduro. Experiment with each level of refinement and find your favorite!
Today’s Featured Cigar:
Padron 4000 Natural
••••••••
The Cigar:
A beautifully balanced and full-bodied smoke of exceptional quality and value, the Padrón line is aged for a minimum of two-and-one-half years. As with all of their cigar offerings, this line is hand crafted using only sun-grown tobacco wrappers from Nicaragua. The 4000 is a 54x6 1/2 toro that is available in a Natural and Maduro wrapper.
The Flavors:
The Natural wrappers from Padron have strong earth and woody notes that are consistent not only throughout the blend, but throughout their entire portfolio. A mild saltiness covers the palate and lingers around after you smoke but the predominate flavor is black pepper and wood. This is not a cigar with transitions or deep complexity, this is a cigar that is consistently built with a baseline of flavor from the Nicaraguan region.
The Bottle:
Nicaragua- American-Style Lager- Toña Cerveza is a smooth premium lager beer. Its exceptionally balanced flavor and rich body are sure to satisfy even the most demanding tastes. The beer is unique and reflects a world of exotic adventure and wonder. Toña reflects and identifies the Nicaraguan culture, and the passion and pride of its roots and traditions.
The Pairing:
Two Nicaraguan products that are at the top of their industries. A cold beer and premium cigar is hardly a unique pairing, but this one is a instant classic. Everything you want from an affordable and relaxing experience, you can rely on these two to consistently give you exactly what you are looking for. The salty and woody cigar match with the delicate sweet of the beer to create a fantastic texture on the palate. Instead of adding to the bitterness like a to of domestic beers, this one creates balance.
The Man:
Jose Padron
The founder of Padron Cigars, José Padrón, was born in Cuba and raised on the family tobacco farm. He grew up around the crop in all its forms, from seed to smoking. His upbringing ultimately led him to open his first factory in Miami, 1964. It wasn’t until three years later when he started importing tobacco from Nicaragua that he saw his business double.
His popularity exploded during the cigar boom in the 1990’s with the introduction of the popular 1964 and 1926 Series. In addition to being regarded as a top premium cigar maker, José was active in community and in politics. He aided in the release of political prisoners in Cuba, and also started a foundation supporting health and education. The cigar legend passed away on December 5, 2017 in Miami at the age of 91.
The Brand:
Padron has a fully integrated approach to the cigar industry. Any cigar enthusiast can enjoy the brand at multiple different tiers and flavor profiles. They make a Natural and Maduro version of everything in their portfolio and then separate their tiers with different refinement levels. The most raw are the Thousand Series. Each number indicates a different size of the same blend. Our top selling cigar from this tier is the 4000 Maduro. Next is the 1964 Series with our most popular being the Exclusivo Natural. The 1926 is considered their most famous blend and our best is the No. 2 Torpedo. After the normal three blends they have the their top tier limited editions. My favorite of these are the Family Reserve 85th Natural, and the 50th Maduro. Experiment with each level of refinement and find your favorite!
Plasencia Alma de Fuego
Today’s Featured Cigar:
Plasencia Alma del Fuego
••••••••
The Cigar:
The “Soul of Fire” Alma del Fuego radiates passion and highlights the strong character of the volcanic soil that stems from the Ometepe Island witch makes up about 75% of the blend. This is a Nicuraguan Puro with a Sun-grown wrapper from the fields of Jalapa Valley that were carefully selected to complement the cigar with a sweet character. Nestor Andres Plasencia says this new cigar combines the fire from the ground (as in the volcanic soil in which the tobacco is grown) and the fire from the sky (the abundant sunlight that nurtures the plants).
The Flavors:
The cigar offers a hint of spice throughout the entire experience. It is complemented by floral notes and savoy roasted cashews. It is big and bold and covers the palate with force.
The Bottle:
Papa’s Pilar 24 Dark Rum from Key West, Fl always has a special place on the shelf. It is incredibly complex in flavor and adds a new detention the the pairing. This rum has deep notes of vanilla, maple, sherry and port. it coats your mouth with a thick syrup like texture with a long and robust finish.
This brand was created to capture the spirit of adventure. “A rum as bold, yet nuanced as Papa Hemingway himself. Papa’s Pilar was born from a complex creative process inspired by his artistic expression.”
The Pairing:
Loud can be refined, that is exactly what comes to mind during the pairing. It is bold. It is loud. And it is complex. The most impressive part is how balanced both of these full boded consumables truly are.
The Story:
The Plasencia family has been one of the world’s leading growers of premium tobacco since 1865, when Don Eduardo Plasencia began growing tobacco in Cuba. Now in the fifth generation of tobacco cultivation, the Plasencias have continued this legacy in Nicaragua, including the pioneering of premium tobacco on the Ometepe island in the 1990s.
Today’s Featured Cigar:
Plasencia Alma del Fuego
••••••••
The Cigar:
The “Soul of Fire” Alma del Fuego radiates passion and highlights the strong character of the volcanic soil that stems from the Ometepe Island witch makes up about 75% of the blend. This is a Nicuraguan Puro with a Sun-grown wrapper from the fields of Jalapa Valley that were carefully selected to complement the cigar with a sweet character. Nestor Andres Plasencia says this new cigar combines the fire from the ground (as in the volcanic soil in which the tobacco is grown) and the fire from the sky (the abundant sunlight that nurtures the plants).
The Flavors:
The cigar offers a hint of spice throughout the entire experience. It is complemented by floral notes and savoy roasted cashews. It is big and bold and covers the palate with force.
The Bottle:
Papa’s Pilar 24 Dark Rum from Key West, Fl always has a special place on the shelf. It is incredibly complex in flavor and adds a new detention the the pairing. This rum has deep notes of vanilla, maple, sherry and port. it coats your mouth with a thick syrup like texture with a long and robust finish.
This brand was created to capture the spirit of adventure. “A rum as bold, yet nuanced as Papa Hemingway himself. Papa’s Pilar was born from a complex creative process inspired by his artistic expression.”
The Pairing:
Loud can be refined, that is exactly what comes to mind during the pairing. It is bold. It is loud. And it is complex. The most impressive part is how balanced both of these full boded consumables truly are.
The Story:
The Plasencia family has been one of the world’s leading growers of premium tobacco since 1865, when Don Eduardo Plasencia began growing tobacco in Cuba. Now in the fifth generation of tobacco cultivation, the Plasencias have continued this legacy in Nicaragua, including the pioneering of premium tobacco on the Ometepe island in the 1990s.
La Instructora Perfeccion Invicto
Today’s Featured Cigar:
La Instructora Perfeccion Invicto
The Cigar:
This blend is adventurous and exciting every time you smoke it. The reddish brown color from the wrapper from from the Ecuadorian Habano Rosado which brings the power and complexity to the entire blend. The binder and fillers are a blend of Dominican tobaccos that are all grown by Jochy Blanco (The god father of tobacco). The five sizes of this blend vary greatly, each one delivering a different experience. This is truly a cigar that you should try multiple times to fully appreciate the craftsmanship and complex blending philosophies.
The Flavor:
Very woody, cedar, bright and red pepper spice, milk chocolate undertones. The spice of this cigar hits hard as your start to smoke it, but as it burns and developed a small amount of acidity and sweetness start to rise to balance the experience and deliver a cool and clean finish.
The Cocktail:
The world famous Negroni has made its way though cocktail bars and spirit nerds for decades. It is a staple in some of the best bars in the world. This Italian cocktail was invented in 1919 Florence Italy. Count Camillo Negroni asked his friend and bartender, Forsco Scarselli to strengthen his favorite cocktail (the Americano) by replacing the soda water with gin.
1 part Campari
1 part sweet vermouth
1 part gin
Stir, rocks glass, orange peel garnish
Campari: Italian aperitif, an infusion of herbs and fruit in alcohol and water, 48 proof
Sweet vermouth: Fortified wine, (fortified typically with added clear brandy) flavored with herbs. This red vermouth gets its color not from the white grapes of origin, but from the added caramelized sugar, 30 proof
Gin: distilled grain spirits infused with juniper berries, other botanicals, orange peels, etc, 80 proof
The Pairing:
Bitter focus on both the cigar and the cocktail, but both are balanced by the sweetness of the vermouth and the acidity of the cigar and the orange garnish. The gin has a bright botanical base but with dark fruit notes underneath with brings the intensity up to match the vivid flavors of the cigar. This cocktail and cigar are perfectly balanced with a wild flavor profile, a true acquired taste combination.
The Story:
This cigar was one of the 3,000 test blend from another project. La Instructora was born due to the strange tobaccos and vivid flavor profiles used in this blend but it did not fit with any other branding. Jochy Blanco is often referred to as the Instructor of his factory, always passing knowledge and passion down the chain of command. They honored that tradition with a brand like no one has seen before. The cigar experience matches perfectly with the artistic band which resembles a chaotic but beautiful painting from Jason Pollock.
Today’s Featured Cigar:
La Instructora Perfeccion Invicto
The Cigar:
This blend is adventurous and exciting every time you smoke it. The reddish brown color from the wrapper from from the Ecuadorian Habano Rosado which brings the power and complexity to the entire blend. The binder and fillers are a blend of Dominican tobaccos that are all grown by Jochy Blanco (The god father of tobacco). The five sizes of this blend vary greatly, each one delivering a different experience. This is truly a cigar that you should try multiple times to fully appreciate the craftsmanship and complex blending philosophies.
The Flavor:
Very woody, cedar, bright and red pepper spice, milk chocolate undertones. The spice of this cigar hits hard as your start to smoke it, but as it burns and developed a small amount of acidity and sweetness start to rise to balance the experience and deliver a cool and clean finish.
The Cocktail:
The world famous Negroni has made its way though cocktail bars and spirit nerds for decades. It is a staple in some of the best bars in the world. This Italian cocktail was invented in 1919 Florence Italy. Count Camillo Negroni asked his friend and bartender, Forsco Scarselli to strengthen his favorite cocktail (the Americano) by replacing the soda water with gin.
1 part Campari
1 part sweet vermouth
1 part gin
Stir, rocks glass, orange peel garnish
Campari: Italian aperitif, an infusion of herbs and fruit in alcohol and water, 48 proof
Sweet vermouth: Fortified wine, (fortified typically with added clear brandy) flavored with herbs. This red vermouth gets its color not from the white grapes of origin, but from the added caramelized sugar, 30 proof
Gin: distilled grain spirits infused with juniper berries, other botanicals, orange peels, etc, 80 proof
The Pairing:
Bitter focus on both the cigar and the cocktail, but both are balanced by the sweetness of the vermouth and the acidity of the cigar and the orange garnish. The gin has a bright botanical base but with dark fruit notes underneath with brings the intensity up to match the vivid flavors of the cigar. This cocktail and cigar are perfectly balanced with a wild flavor profile, a true acquired taste combination.
The Story:
This cigar was one of the 3,000 test blend from another project. La Instructora was born due to the strange tobaccos and vivid flavor profiles used in this blend but it did not fit with any other branding. Jochy Blanco is often referred to as the Instructor of his factory, always passing knowledge and passion down the chain of command. They honored that tradition with a brand like no one has seen before. The cigar experience matches perfectly with the artistic band which resembles a chaotic but beautiful painting from Jason Pollock.
Atabey
It all begins with an idea.
United Cigars - Atabey
The Cigar:
The ATABEY cigars are produced in limited quantities by the "Selected Tobacco" factory in Costa Rica. The leaves of these cigars have many origins, they are from caribbean and central america countries. This cigar is an ultra premium blend that has been aged five years after it’s rolled. Through that process the flavors become incredibly delicate and well rounded on the pallet. The majority of the cigar has notes of sweet hay, dried candy fruit with a minor oak spice on the finish.
The Man:
Nelson Alfonso is the founder of Golden Age Visual Developers (GAVD), a design firm that is credited with some of Habanos S.A.’s most iconic designs of the last decade including the BHK Behike, Gran Reserva, and Humitube packaging. His work with Habanos ranges from branding to design to porcelain ashtrays to an expansive photography book and then some. His client list is a veritable who’s who of Habanos S.A. and their most prominent distributors, as well as Padrón, for which GAVD manufactured the company’s 50th anniversary humidor. He also founded Selected Tobacco S.A., a company’s who portfolio includes three cigar brands—all of which look like they could be part of the Habanos S.A. portfolio: Atabey, Bandolero, and Byron.
The Bottle:
Green Chartreuse is the only liqueur in the world with a completely natural green color It is powerful and unique. Only two Chartreuse monks know the identity of the 130 plants, how to blend them and how to distill them into this world famous liqueur. They are also the only ones who know which plants they have to macerate to produce the natural green and yellow colors. And they alone supervise the slow aging in oak casks.
The Pairing:
This is a combination that is truly unpredictable and interesting. The Atabey has some of the earthy mineral qualities that pairs so well with the botanical notes on the chartreuse. Both can be enjoyed while sitting back in a very relaxed setting.
The Story:
Atabey: Supreme deity of the Taino Indians. It was the name of a female divinity of the extinct Taino people, who occupied a large part of the Caribbean islands. In Taino mythology, Atabey was the first female in the world and was the mother of Yucahu, the main male god of the Tainos. Besides being the mother goddess, was Atabey divinity of the Moon, the Sea of Fertility and Birth, Her figure is also associated as "Mother of Waters", associating it with rivers, lakes and seas to give life to the cultivation of cassava, tobacco and agriculture in general.