La Galera Maduro El Lector
Today’s Featured Cigar:
La Galera Maduro El Lector
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The Cigar:
The Maduro is comprised of a rich San Andrés wrapper with delicious Piloto Cubano and Crillo 98 tobacco from Tabacalera Palma’s Jacagua and Gurabo farms. Ultimately, a balanced and pleasant smoke conditioned for the consistent performance the smoker deserves.
The Flavors:
The cigar is a delicate Dominican Maduro which these days are hard to come by. Full of chocolate and leather notes that stays simple and consistent throughout the entire blend.
The Bottle:
Kentucky Irish Red Ale is aged for at least six weeks in freshly decanted bourbon barrels from some of Kentucky’s finest distilleries. Subtle, yet familiar, flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it rests in the charred barrels.
The Pairing:
This is a paring for beer lovers. For such a flavorful and delicious brew we went with a cigar for a soft companion to elevate the notes of the beer. This cigars simply flows right through to compliment the coco and chard oak nature of the beer. But the sweetness now explodes on the palate throughout the finish.
The Story:
Our reserves largely consist of tobacco grown in our farms; however, significant portions of our holdings have come from scouring the world’s best farms to secure collections flushed with potential to mature into something special.
In doing so, we’re able to focus solely on crafting blends that deliver the most exceptional quality and experience.
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.
Today’s Featured Cigar:
La Galera Maduro El Lector
••••••••
The Cigar:
The Maduro is comprised of a rich San Andrés wrapper with delicious Piloto Cubano and Crillo 98 tobacco from Tabacalera Palma’s Jacagua and Gurabo farms. Ultimately, a balanced and pleasant smoke conditioned for the consistent performance the smoker deserves.
The Flavors:
The cigar is a delicate Dominican Maduro which these days are hard to come by. Full of chocolate and leather notes that stays simple and consistent throughout the entire blend.
The Bottle:
Kentucky Irish Red Ale is aged for at least six weeks in freshly decanted bourbon barrels from some of Kentucky’s finest distilleries. Subtle, yet familiar, flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it rests in the charred barrels.
The Pairing:
This is a paring for beer lovers. For such a flavorful and delicious brew we went with a cigar for a soft companion to elevate the notes of the beer. This cigars simply flows right through to compliment the coco and chard oak nature of the beer. But the sweetness now explodes on the palate throughout the finish.
The Story:
Our reserves largely consist of tobacco grown in our farms; however, significant portions of our holdings have come from scouring the world’s best farms to secure collections flushed with potential to mature into something special.
In doing so, we’re able to focus solely on crafting blends that deliver the most exceptional quality and experience.
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.
Fuente Casa
Today’s Featured Cigar:
@arturofuentecigars Casa Cuba
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The Cigar:
The dark golden Ecuadorian wrapper encloses a rich fusion of aged premium Dominican binder and filler tobaccos, thereby creating a perfectly balanced premium cigar. These cigars are usually formatted in very interested sizes that are classic to the old Cuban way of smaller and skinnier cigars.
The Flavors:
Classic and respectful is the best way to describe the blend. It has notes of cedar, cream and vanilla with a hint of lemon peel on the finish. It is a very well balanced cigar, delicate and soft on the palate but extremely clean for a Arturo Fuente.
The Cocktail:
The Pendennis Club, a gentlemen's club founded in 1881 in Louisville, Kentucky, claims the old fashioned cocktail was invented there. The recipe was said to have been invented by a bartender at that club in honor of Colonel James E. Pepper, a prominent bourbon distiller, who brought it to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel bar in New York City.
2 oz Bourbon
-.25 oz Simple
3 dashes Angostura
Build ingredients in an empty old fashioned glass. Add large block of ice and stir for ~5 seconds. Baste top of ice so that it is completely emerged by the cocktail. Garnish w/ lemon or orange peel.
The Pairing:
There is no better pairing for such a classic cigar than the original bourbon cocktail the Old Fashioned. The sweet and orange citrus from the cocktail brightens the experience and creates a thicker texture on the palate to extend the finish of the pairing.
The Story:
The final blend created by the legendary Don Carlos Fuente himself – was specifically designed to pay homage to his father, Arturo Fuente, and the Golden Age of cigar making in Cuba and Ybor City in the early 20th century. This celebration of tradition still lives on today as Don Carlos’ son and legend in his own right, Carlito Fuente, continues to meticulously blend this line of cigars the “old school way” – as a living memory to his father and grandfather.
The Family:
Arturo Fuente started his cigar company in 1912 in Tampa, FL from humble beginnings. Arturo’s persistence led him through setbacks such as a factory fire, hiatus, and rebuilding the company before passing it down to his son, Carlos Fuente Sr, in 1958. ⠀
Carlos Sr. also faced his share of challenges, including the US embargo of Cuba, and finally relocating to the Dominican Republic after another factory fire during his short stint in Nicaragua in the 1970’s. ⠀
Before senior’s passing in 2016, he handed down not only the company, but also his passion for cigars to his son, Carlito Fuente Jr. Today, Carlito Fuente Jr. is fulfilling his ambitions as the president of the company, keeping the family tradition as well as moving forward with innovation. The Fuente family celebrated 100 years in the cigar business back in 2012. ⠀
Today’s Featured Cigar:
Fuente Casa Cuba
••••••••
The Cigar:
The dark golden Ecuadorian wrapper encloses a rich fusion of aged premium Dominican binder and filler tobaccos, thereby creating a perfectly balanced premium cigar. These cigars are usually formatted in very interested sizes that are classic to the old Cuban way of smaller and skinnier cigars.
The Flavors:
Classic and respectful is the best way to describe the blend. It has notes of cedar, cream and vanilla with a hint of lemon peel on the finish. It is a very well balanced cigar, delicate and soft on the palate but extremely clean for a Arturo Fuente.
The Cocktail:
The Pendennis Club, a gentlemen's club founded in 1881 in Louisville, Kentucky, claims the old fashioned cocktail was invented there. The recipe was said to have been invented by a bartender at that club in honor of Colonel James E. Pepper, a prominent bourbon distiller, who brought it to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel bar in New York City.
2 oz Bourbon
-.25 oz Simple
3 dashes Angostura
Build ingredients in an empty old fashioned glass. Add large block of ice and stir for ~5 seconds. Baste top of ice so that it is completely emerged by the cocktail. Garnish w/ lemon or orange peel.
The Pairing:
There is no better pairing for such a classic cigar than the original bourbon cocktail the Old Fashioned. The sweet and orange citrus from the cocktail brightens the experience and creates a thicker texture on the palate to extend the finish of the pairing.
The Story:
The final blend created by the legendary Don Carlos Fuente himself – was specifically designed to pay homage to his father, Arturo Fuente, and the Golden Age of cigar making in Cuba and Ybor City in the early 20th century. This celebration of tradition still lives on today as Don Carlos’ son and legend in his own right, Carlito Fuente, continues to meticulously blend this line of cigars the “old school way” – as a living memory to his father and grandfather.
The Family:
Arturo Fuente started his cigar company in 1912 in Tampa, FL from humble beginnings. Arturo’s persistence led him through setbacks such as a factory fire, hiatus, and rebuilding the company before passing it down to his son, Carlos Fuente Sr, in 1958. ⠀
Carlos Sr. also faced his share of challenges, including the US embargo of Cuba, and finally relocating to the Dominican Republic after another factory fire during his short stint in Nicaragua in the 1970’s. ⠀
Before senior’s passing in 2016, he handed down not only the company, but also his passion for cigars to his son, Carlito Fuente Jr. Today, Carlito Fuente Jr. is fulfilling his ambitions as the president of the company, keeping the family tradition as well as moving forward with innovation. The Fuente family celebrated 100 years in the cigar business back in 2012. ⠀
Julius Caeser
Today’s Featured Cigar:
Julius Caesar
The Cigar:
This dark, rich Habano wrapped cigar also features a DR binder over a variety of Caribbean Filler. Sold by JC Newman as part of their Diamond Crown series, but this cigar is produced by their partners at Arturo Fuente Cigars
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This cigar is aged for 5 years and is is held to the highest standard of quality control and produced by the best rollers at the Fuente Factory.
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These accolades speak to how the industry reacts to this unbelievable blend.
Cigar Aficionado: Top 25 Cigars of 2011 and 2014
Cigar & Spirits: Cigar of the Year 2017
Cigar Insider: 93
Cigar Journal: 94
Cigar Snob: 92
Smoke Magazine: 93
This is not your typical Habano. It reminds me of a more subtle Liga Privada with the dark coco and espresso, heavy hints of leather with a mild sweetness to finish.
The Bottle:
Quinta de la Rosa Twany Porto. This wine is Aged 3 Years and hits around 19.5 % alcohol. This is a perfect way to start or end a night of drinking. A Tawny Port wine is typically an older Port aged in Barrel (2-40 yrs). This wine falls in the medium in Sweet vs Dry scale. The most Common Note is Nuttiness on top of bright berries.
The Pairing:
The goal with this pairing was to work in more light and brightness to the cigar that also adds a sweet & acidic element. This younger Twany does just that, it strengthens the natural flavor profiles while creating more balance on the palate.
The Story:
Born in 1875 in a small Hungarian village, Julius Newman and his family sailed across the Atlantic in 1888 in search of the American Dream. With no middle name, Julius was required to choose one before workers could complete his entry paperwork. Stumped, he solicited help from the immigration officer who suggested Caesar, after the great Roman. Julius relished in the thought of being named after a historic leader and conqueror but due to a typo by the attendant – Caeser was spelled with an “e”. Thus Julius Caeser (J.C.) Newman, American citizen, was born.
Today’s Featured Cigar:
Julius Caeser
The Cigar:
This dark, rich Habano wrapped cigar also features a DR binder over a variety of Caribbean Filler. Sold by JC Newman as part of their Diamond Crown series, but this cigar is produced by their partners at Arturo Fuente Cigars
••••••••
This cigar is aged for 5 years and is is held to the highest standard of quality control and produced by the best rollers at the Fuente Factory.
••••••••
These accolades speak to how the industry reacts to this unbelievable blend.
Cigar Aficionado: Top 25 Cigars of 2011 and 2014
Cigar & Spirits: Cigar of the Year 2017
Cigar Insider: 93
Cigar Journal: 94
Cigar Snob: 92
Smoke Magazine: 93
This is not your typical Habano. It reminds me of a more subtle Liga Privada with the dark coco and espresso, heavy hints of leather with a mild sweetness to finish.
The Bottle:
Quinta de la Rosa Twany Porto. This wine is Aged 3 Years and hits around 19.5 % alcohol. This is a perfect way to start or end a night of drinking. A Tawny Port wine is typically an older Port aged in Barrel (2-40 yrs). This wine falls in the medium in Sweet vs Dry scale. The most Common Note is Nuttiness on top of bright berries.
The Pairing:
The goal with this pairing was to work in more light and brightness to the cigar that also adds a sweet & acidic element. This younger Twany does just that, it strengthens the natural flavor profiles while creating more balance on the palate.
The Story:
Born in 1875 in a small Hungarian village, Julius Newman and his family sailed across the Atlantic in 1888 in search of the American Dream. With no middle name, Julius was required to choose one before workers could complete his entry paperwork. Stumped, he solicited help from the immigration officer who suggested Caesar, after the great Roman. Julius relished in the thought of being named after a historic leader and conqueror but due to a typo by the attendant – Caeser was spelled with an “e”. Thus Julius Caeser (J.C.) Newman, American citizen, was born.
Byron 20th Century
Today’s Featured Cigar:
@unitedcigars Byron 20th Century
The Cigar:
This cigar is simply impressive and addictive. There is not a lot of information out about the blend itself but there are three district styles in this series.
Byron 19th Century | White Boxes: Old School Cuban style cigars. Dark, dirty and spicy. Perfect for bolder Nicaraguan smokers that want more refinement.
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Byron 20th Century | Yellow Boxes: Softer and more complex. Very similar to modern day Cuban cigars with notes of stone and minerals.
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Byron 21st Century | Black Boxes: Full Flavor that is balanced across your entire palate. The future of blended cigars, this is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
The Flavor:
The cigar is full of sweet cedar and hay with minor dried fruit undertones. The biggest thing about this cigar is the complexity and depth it has from start to finish.
The Bottle:
The bottle of @whistlepigwhiskey is a barrel selection from our friends at @carothersws a couple years ago. The best part of this barrel pick is the added proof. Their standard 10 YR is right about 100 proof and this bottle sneaks up to over 116. That extra head goes a long way to create a bigger but elegant rye flavor profile.
The Pairing:
This pairing is one of my favorites because of the sweet base line from both the cigar and the whiskey. The Rye in this whiskey creates a more aggressive spice element in the cigars, it adds richness and depth to the experience.
The Story:
Two Cousins Started the Brand Lord Byron in 1850 named after the world renowned Poet. They were one of the first in their region of Cuba and won the appreciation of many due to their quality blends and modern/elegant packaging.
The problem was not making a cigar, the problem was not even selling cigars. The biggest problem these gentleman had was they were tobacco guys, learned from the farms and factories. They were not business guys, they over leveraged and built a big new factory that they could no longer pay for. They were forced to sell and close their operations. Many years later, one of their Great-Great-Grandsons Nelson Alfanso bought the rights to the brand and brought it back into their family name. Moved the operations to Costa Rica in 1999 and starting producing these soon to be world famous cigars.
Today’s Featured Cigar:
Byron 20th Century Habaneros
The Cigar:
This cigar is simply impressive and addictive. There is not a lot of information out about the blend itself but there are three district styles in this series.
Byron 19th Century | White Boxes: Old School Cuban style cigars. Dark, dirty and spicy. Perfect for bolder Nicaraguan smokers that want more refinement.
••••••
Byron 20th Century | Yellow Boxes: Softer and more complex. Very similar to modern day Cuban cigars with notes of stone and minerals.
••••••
Byron 21st Century | Black Boxes: Full Flavor that is balanced across your entire palate. The future of blended cigars, this is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
The Flavor:
The cigar is full of sweet cedar and hay with minor dried fruit undertones. The biggest thing about this cigar is the complexity and depth it has from start to finish.
The Bottle:
The bottle of @whistlepigwhiskey is a barrel selection from our friends at @carothersws a couple years ago. The best part of this barrel pick is the added proof. Their standard 10 YR is right about 100 proof and this bottle sneaks up to over 116. That extra head goes a long way to create a bigger but elegant rye flavor profile.
The Pairing:
This pairing is one of my favorites because of the sweet base line from both the cigar and the whiskey. The Rye in this whiskey creates a more aggressive spice element in the cigars, it adds richness and depth to the experience.
The Story:
Two Cousins Started the Brand Lord Byron in 1850 named after the world renowned Poet. They were one of the first in their region of Cuba and won the appreciation of many due to their quality blends and modern/elegant packaging.
The problem was not making a cigar, the problem was not even selling cigars. The biggest problem these gentleman had was they were tobacco guys, learned from the farms and factories. They were not business guys, they over leveraged and built a big new factory that they could no longer pay for. They were forced to sell and close their operations. Many years later, one of their Great-Great-Grandsons Nelson Alfanso bought the rights to the brand and brought it back into their family name. Moved the operations to Costa Rica in 1999 and starting producing these soon to be world famous cigars.
Davidoff Nicaragua Box Press
Today’s Featured Cigar:
Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed
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The Cigar:
The second rendition of the Nicaragua expansion by Davidoff Cigars. With this Box Pressed version they changed the wrapper into a Habano Oscuro from Jalapa with a mix of Nicaraguan fillers. This blend comes in only Box Pressed Toro & Robusto.
The Flavors:
Similar but more of what you like. The additional ligero put in the fillers mixed with the lighter draw truly thickens the bold black pepper spice which is the dominate flavor of the cigar. This box pressed version also comes off a bit more sweet than the round counterpart.
The Bottle:
This skillfully crafted cognac is a blend of several crus with a perfect balance between Fins Bois, Grande and Petite Champagnes at the peak of their aromatic potential. It drinks very smooth with an excellent balance of oak and floral flavor that can be fully appreciated neat or mixed with ice and water.
The Pairing:
The additional sweetness from the cognac is not necessarily needs but thoroughly enjoyed. It now explodes off the palate and creates a much deeper experience. It is steady and consistent from start to finish, but the balance of the two are sure to impress.
The Story:
“Fire is not easily tamed, yet the Davidoff Master Blenders have done it. You can taste the heat and intensity of the rich, volcanic soil of Nicaragua but it has been softened to bitter sweet perfection. You will feel a fire to match the passion for fine cigars.”
This cigar is an elegant version of the region. 5 different tobaccos blended together to find the most refined experience produced with aggressive tobacco.
Today’s Featured Cigar:
Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed
••••••••
The Cigar:
The second rendition of the Nicaragua expansion by Davidoff Cigars. With this Box Pressed version they changed the wrapper into a Habano Oscuro from Jalapa with a mix of Nicaraguan fillers. This blend comes in only Box Pressed Toro & Robusto.
The Flavors:
Similar but more of what you like. The additional ligero put in the fillers mixed with the lighter draw truly thickens the bold black pepper spice which is the dominate flavor of the cigar. This box pressed version also comes off a bit more sweet than the round counterpart.
The Bottle:
This skillfully crafted cognac is a blend of several crus with a perfect balance between Fins Bois, Grande and Petite Champagnes at the peak of their aromatic potential. It drinks very smooth with an excellent balance of oak and floral flavor that can be fully appreciated neat or mixed with ice and water.
The Pairing:
The additional sweetness from the cognac is not necessarily needs but thoroughly enjoyed. It now explodes off the palate and creates a much deeper experience. It is steady and consistent from start to finish, but the balance of the two are sure to impress.
The Story:
“Fire is not easily tamed, yet the Davidoff Master Blenders have done it. You can taste the heat and intensity of the rich, volcanic soil of Nicaragua but it has been softened to bitter sweet perfection. You will feel a fire to match the passion for fine cigars.”
This cigar is an elegant version of the region. 5 different tobaccos blended together to find the most refined experience produced with aggressive tobacco.