Cigar Review: Quesada España

Corona, 5.5" x 42 ring gauge / $7.25, Bonita Smoke Shop

A couple weeks ago Jackie from Bonita Smoke Shop (@BonitaSmokeShop) announced on Twitter that she had received a couple boxes of this cigar. I had heard some talk about it and decided to order a couple of each size to give them a try. From what I've found they are a bit difficult to find in the US because it was originally released into Spain only. It seems that the demand for this cigar in the US has them starting to ship them here but in limited quantities. The cigar comes in three sizes, a 4" x 50 short robusto, a 5" x 52 robusto, and the subject of this review a 5.5" x 42 corona. The cigar is comprised of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers, a Dominican binder, all covered in a Ecuadorian Arapiraca wrapper. This cigar was the second one of this size I smoked, however I smoked one each of the other sizes as well before the review.

This cigar had a very nice golden honey brown wrapper with a good amount of oils to it. The veins that were there were very slight. In my opinion the bands looks just about perfect with the colors of the wrapper. Giving the cigar a squeeze I wasn't able to detect any soft spots and it was fairly firm to the touch. When I put my nose to the wrapper I was able to detect the aroma of leather with a slight barnyard coming from the foot. After clipping the cigar and taking a cold draw on it I got a sweet leather taste with a good draw.

Once I lit the cigar up I got a fairly strong red pepper spice on the retrohale and on the tongue. After taking a few more puffs on the cigar I was able to get some notes of leather and tobacco with a sweetness on the finish. The cigar was producing a large volume of smoke with each puff and the draw was pretty much perfect. Towards the end of the first third I started getting notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. The cigar was firmly in the medium bodied and strength range at this point. The burn was slightly uneven but it didn't require a touch up. The light grey ash held on for about a half of an inch before needing to be tapped off.

The second third saw the spice tone down a bit, but not go away completely. The flavors I noted during this third were of earth, wood, and cinnamon with a slightly sweet finish. The burn continued to be slightly uneven and the draw was pretty much perfect.

As I moved into the final third of the cigar the strength built up a bit and I would classify this cigar at the bottom end of full once it got here. The flavors were pretty consistent, in that they were leather, earth, cinnamon and a slightly creamy sweet finish. The burn evened itself out by this third.

Overall this was a very enjoyable cigar! I would recommend that if you like other Quesada cigars or Cuban cigars (as this is what this was designed to compete against) you should definitely give it a try if you can find it. I did like the corona size best as I felt it had the most full flavor. I would like to see the cigar easier to find in the US as the great flavors and reasonable price make it one I'd like to smoke more often.

Body: 7/10
Strength: 8/10
Complexity: 7/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10

Cigar Review: La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro

No. 2, 4.5" x 48 ring gauge / $6.85, Burns
The new "regular" release from La Flor Dominicana this year turns out to not be quite as regular as most others. Turns out it is both regular and limited...La Flor will be releasing batches twice a year, in four different sizes, in boxes of 50. I first learned of LFD as a producer of full-bodied, powerful, but very flavorful cigars and this release is supposed to be yet another in that category. It features fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, a Dominican Sumatra binder, and a Ligero Sumatra wrapper from Ecuador. This review sample is the second of these cigars that I have smoked.

The wrapper was dark chocolate brown with a hint of red in certain light. The band was the typical LFD band, but with a slight alteration...whereas in most of them, there is a sunburst of red behind the LFD initials, here the red is so subtle as to be non-existent. I'm sure it's there...in certain lighting...and other times I'm sure the entire background is black. The wrapper leaf was oily to the touch and the eye and had a nice aroma of leather and cigar store humidor; the foot was earthy and a bit peppery to my nose. The cold draw had a rich earthy taste, along with a little sweetness and some pepper spice.

Light up brought an intense cedar flavor, earth, and a subtle sweetness on the palate, while the retrohale was intensely peppery. Through the rest of the first third, the cedar notes were strong and up-front. It seemed like I also got a bit of a hickory, almost barbecue-esque note to it as well...without the sauce, so more of a Texas BBQ, I guess. Pepper spice continued to dominate through the nose, but there was also a good dose of it on the palate. The smoke was thick and oily, with a long finish...and there was nothing wrong with any of this, but also nothing surprising about any of it, either, considering who made it.

The second third continued much the same with woody notes out front. There was a bit of an anise flavor mixed in there along with some autumn spice and overall this was just about the perfect cigar for a cool (but not cold) fall evening as the sun sank below the Cumberland Plateau. There is just something about this time of year...not too warm...not too cold...a subtle orange hue to the sunlight...and a rich, full bodied cigar. The construction on the Colorado Oscuro was nearly perfect so far, featuring a very even burn line, a solid ash, and a fantastic draw.

As the Colorado Oscuro wrapped up it became a bit more spicy while developing a stronger earthiness underneath. The woody notes subsided just a bit as well. All in all, this is a very good smoke, especially for fans of La Flor Dominicana and the strong, full-bodied fare they are best known for. In the pantheon of strong LFD smokes, though, I have to say I prefer the Air Bender and Double Ligero to this one. It is good for a change, though. Newer smokers should wait until they are no longer newer smokers; although there was not a great deal of nicotine kick in this small stick, it was quite full bodied.

Body: 8/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 6/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10

On Planning Ahead...

Friday, November 25:
When I woke up this morning I knew it was time to write this article. Not just because I needed something to fill blog space on Monday...suddenly this issue had become timely. My wife has been "suffering the ravages of the common cold" for almost a week, so I knew it was really just a matter of time for me. Sure enough, I awoke to a sore throat, most likely due to post-nasal drip. I can fight the symptoms, but there is really nothing I can do to make this go away faster...take plenty of Vitamin C, drink lots of fluids, stay inside when the air is really cold, stop smoking. Let's be honest...I probably won't stick by that last one. The rest I can do, though, and maybe this mild illness will be of shorter duration. While I will be smoking, though, I won't be writing any reviews for a week or more. For most, this would cause a break in the publishing schedule; for me, though...well, I'm a planner.

I've had a few startup bloggers ask for advice in the last year. My best piece of advice for any blogger (cigar-oriented or otherwise) is to be consistent...come up with a schedule of when you will post and stick to it. If readers can't be certain when you'll post, they are likely to forget to check...if they forget enough, they probably won't be back. The second thing I like to pass on, is to plan ahead.

You just cannot know when you are going to get sick or injured; sometimes you will need to take a vacation; sometimes you just won't feel the spirit move you to review something. If you wait until the day before you are supposed to post and break your arm somehow...that post is not going to get done. At the very least, if you feel uninspired, you might write a perfunctory post that isn't worth reading.

For much of them past two years, I have had reviews completed for a month or more in advance. I buy new sticks with the purpose of reviewing them, I put them on a calendar, and I make it a habit of smoking through them in plenty of time. If something comes up that I want to post very soon, I can always change when another cigar review will post...it's easy to do when they are already written. So with that in mind, as I write here on the last Saturday in November, I have all my reviews for the month of December completely written...and I've at least started on the first sticks for several multi-stick reviews scheduled for January.

"You're more than a month ahead?" Yes, at this point I am...mostly because of the other issue that comes into play every year about this time...winter weather. Anyone that lives somewhere other than Southern California or Florida and has to smoke outside knows what I'm talking about here.

One other side benefit of this practice is this...if I were to die in a fiery car wreck, you would likely see cigar reviews from me posting for up to a month afterward! Unless Keith thought it in bad taste, anyway...and he might. LOL

Saturday, November 26:
After sleeping for 10 hours, I got up, ate breakfast, then...slept a great deal of the day while lying on the couch. At some point I realized that my University of Tennessee Volunteers were getting dismantled by a traditionally weak team that didn’t even have an able-bodied quarterback this week...I thought it was just delirium, but...no...the Vols really did lose to a WR playing QB.

Sunday, November 27:
After another 10 hours of nighttime sleep (making for probably close to 30 hours over the course of about 36 hours), I woke up feeling much better. I ate breakfast and went outside with a NUb Connecticut...and that helped me feel even better. Could it be that cigars are restorative? Sounds good to me...but I think most doctors would argue the other side. Followed that up with a CAO OSA Sol in the Lot 50 size...the only current size I like, then spent most of the rest of the day reading and resting.

Monday, November 28:
Had a lousy night’s sleep, but my symptoms are still decreasing, which is absolutely good news. While my wife struggled to get better for more than a week, the worst seems to have come and gone within about 3 days for me. Still...no reviewing cigars this week...I need to make sure my senses are back to normal before I do that.

Cigar Extra: Perdomo Reserve Champagne Noir

Robusto, 5" x 54 ring gauge / $6.05, Burns
Right up front, I have to admit to not being a big fan of the "regular" Perdomo Reserve Champagne. I know some people love them, but the flavor just didn't hit it for me, so I never got past a single stick...and that is also the reason I haven't gotten to the Noir version before now. This is apparently a Nicaraguan Puro, utilizing a triple-fermented, Cuban-seed Maduro wrapper which has been aged an extra two years, part of that time in bourbon barrels. That aspect becomes very apparent when sniffing the wrapper, which has a rich vanilla note; the foot has more earth and coffee aroma. The cold draw had a very interesting interplay of sweet vanilla, coffee, cocoa powder, and a little pepper spice.

The first puffs exploded with strong earthy notes and undercurrents of dried fruit, black coffee, and bitter cocoa. I got just a tiny bit of red pepper on the retrohale, too. The aging in the bourbon barrels made this cigar start out almost like a flavored or infused cigar...and in a way, I suppose it is since it absorbed the remnants of whiskey that would have been in the oak of the old barrels...but if you thought of it as "flavored" this would be the most balanced flavored cigar out there, because there is still plenty of natural tobacco goodness, along with earth and spice that never seems to come through actual flavored cigars.

As the first third finished up and the second started, I got strong flavors of milk chocolate coming through the earth and coffee. As with most Perdomo Maduros, this one is very sweet, making fantastic use of the wrapper leafs character. After my reaction to the original Champagne, I was completely surprised by the Noir. I am assuming the same blend with just a different wrapper and who knew a wrapper could make this much difference? This one might have to make it to my regular rotation and I may have to come back and give this one a full review treatment sometime in the future.

Thank you...

No review today, but we did want to pause to thank all our friends and family for all they have meant to us. 

This song says a lot in a short space of time:

And for those who want the "real story" of the American Thanksgiving tradition, Click Here.

Our regular schedule of reviews, views and news will resume tomorrow. Have a great day.

Cigar Review: Davidoff White Edition

Belicoso, 5.5" x 52 ring gauge / $20.99, Maxamar's

Today I'll be reviewing something that is a little out of the norm for me. I don't smoke that many white label Davidoffs. However Amar, the owner of Maxamar's, gave me one of these to try. These cigars are this year's limited edition run and can be differentiated by the foot band with the year on it and the main band says "White Edition" on the side. They come packed in 10 count white laquered boxes. The cigar is comprised of Dominican San Vicente Ligero, Piloto Ligero, San Vicente Visus fillers, a Peruvian Corojo binder with a Dominican Criollo wrapper. Like I mentioned above this was my first one.

The wrapper on this sample was a very nice medium brown in color with a golden sheen to it. There was a good amount of oils to it along with more tooth than I'm used to seeing on a Davidoff. The wrapper had some medium and fine veins to it however there were more lumps and gathers than I'd like to see on a $20+ cigar. When I gave the cigar a squeeze I wasn't able to detect any soft spots and it was fairly firm. The wrapper gave off the aroma of leather while the foot smelled slightly of barnyard. After clipping the cigar and taking a cold draw on it I got a slight amount of sweetness and a good draw.

Lighting up the cigar brought a good amount of spice to the tongue and retrohale. After taking a couple puffs I got notes of leather, cinnamon, earth and a slightly creamy finish. The cigar was definitely stronger than what I'm used to in a Davidoff to start. A little way in I got a lot of tar on the head and had to recut it. The light grey ash held on for about a half an inch before needing to be tapped off. The draw was perfect and it produced a lot of smoke. Towards the end of the first third I started getting a slight herbal spice as well.

The second third of the cigar saw notes of leather, wood, and earth come through. The spice changed from a red pepper spice to a white pepper spice on the tongue and retrohale. The spice did tone down and a slight amount of sweetness came through. That is until the tar came back and I had to recut it again. The strength built to the bottom end of medium throughout this third.

As I moved into the final third the spice started ramping up especially on the tongue. The draw and burn continued to be pretty much perfect. The flavors changed slightly back to leather, earth, and cinnamon. Unfortunately the tar came back and I had to recut it again. The strength of the cigar built to the bottom end of full and I was getting a slight nicotine hit from it.

Overall I enjoyed the flavors a lot, which is something that I normally don't find in a Davidoff. However the amount of tar really bothered me and made it more difficult for me to relax and enjoy the cigar. The minor blemishes in the construction, while they didn't cause burn issues, shouldn't be there on a $20+ cigar. Because of the construction issue and the cost I don't know if I'd smoke it again. However if you get a chance and you want to give this cigar a try don't let my experience with it deter you from it.

Body: 8/10
Strength: 8/10
Complexity: 7/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 1.5/2
Construction: 1/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 7/10

Boxes and Bands: How Important Are They?

I was also a fan of LPs back in the late ‘80s, just as they were really starting to lose favor among the music-buying public. One of the big things I missed when LPs started being discontinued in the early 90s in favor of CDs was the beauty of the artwork...it's never looked the same on a 5" CD booklet as it did on a 12" record sleeve (and don't get me started about the tiny artwork that comes with iTunes downloaded albums). You simply can’t appreciate the detail of a well-done album cover on a tiny CD booklet like you can on a record sleeve that has more than four times the square inches of space available. A fantastic album cover could draw in the music buyer. I think the same thing hold true for when you look at boxes and bands on cigars.

Having recently seen cigar boxes in production, it put me in mind of just how much an artistic endeavor they are...from the multiple coats of stain and varnish on the ultra glossy dark red Macanudo boxes, to the medallions they placed by hand in the front of each one...and on over to the next table where workers nailed decorative tacks into each box of EP Carrillo Dark Rituals. Thought was put into how each box would look on the shelf and how it would present with the cigars inside...how would the box best show those lovely rolls of fermented leaves. Is there a right way or wrong way for a box to look? In general, no, I don't think so. The paper-covered box of La Gloria Cubana Artisanos Retro Especial is beautiful and evocative of earlier times and it fits the spirit the makers of the cigar were seeking. The plain wood of the Four Kicks with its branded-looking logos achieves a different "classic" look, more rustic...and it fits what the makers were looking for, too.

Bands are the work of artists as much as the cigars they encircle, too. From the "this is an experiment" look of the Liga Privada bands to the timeless luxury evoked by an Opus X band, when the band fits with the image of the cigar everything is just right. Those two examples wouldn't work the other way around. Luxury and opulence is tricky, though; without mentioning any names, it is easy to see when a company tries too hard to evoke  a rich look and it comes off looking like a parody of richness.

 

At the end of the day, what difference does it make? How much do the box and band mean to the consumer? I really do not want to believe that a box or band design can “make or break” a cigar, any more than I believe the words of any blogger can “make or break” a cigar’s success. But, it has to be considered that the box and band are often the first exposure a customer has to a cigar and making a good first impression can be the difference between a customer buying today or passing on by. If they pass by today, you can never guarantee they will come back by.

Because of the complete minimalism of Tatauje bands and boxes, I did not pay attention to them when they hit shelves in my local shops seven or eight years ago...to be honest, I do not even remember ever seeing them on the shelf until a friend told me about them later on and highly recommended that I give them a try. In this way, word of mouth and personal recommendations play a big part in the success of a brand, but I still wonder how many worthy brands might have been passed over just because they had a marketing campaign that was simply forgettable.

The right marketing campaign...a combination of box, band, and advertising...will give a worthy product a more immediate entrance into the collective mind of the cigar smoking public, though, which can make it easier to achieve longevity in the business. It also gives those of us fascinated by the art something to collect and display...but that, I think, is an article for another day.

Cigar Review: Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve

Torpedo, 6.125" x 52 ring gauge / approx. $11
Earlier this year when Nestor Miranda was at my local shop, he said he was releasing "something special" at this year's show...limited run, leather lined box, etc. Something to stand as a "crown jewel" of the line of cigars bearing his signature. The Grand Reserve is that cigar, exclusive and limited, but not overly pricey; it was blended by Pepin Garcia and made at the My Father factory in Nicaragua. It utilizes Nicaraguan filler and binder along with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. There are only 1,000 boxes of 10 being released; this review sample is my third, two of which were provided by Miami Cigar and Company, for which I offer my thanks.

I love the way this cigar looks. The green and gold band is elegant, especially the jewel-like piece at the top center of it. I can see how this theme could be repeated in red or blue in subsequent years if Nestor Miranda wanted to make the Grand Reserve an annual, slightly different release (maybe a different vitola or vintage of leaf each year). The wrapper was oily with small veins, which struck me as unusual for a Broadleaf, which so often has the heavy, rustic look. The cigar had been box-pressed and the corners were softly rounded and comfortable to hold. Holding the cigar to my nose, I got an aroma of leather and earth; the foot had more pungent earthy notes. I used my Xikar Xi to clip the tip of the Grand Reserve. The cold draw was easy and rich with flavors of raisins and leather.

Once lit, I tasted earth and leather right up front, with bitter cocoa powder and a hint of sweetness underlying. The retrohale was strong and peppery...actually everything about this was strong right from the beginning. The Grand Reserve is unlike pretty much anything else in the Miami Cigar catalog in that way. Last year saw the introduction of La Sirena, at that time said to be the most potent cigar in their lineup, but this one seems, to me to be more full-bodied and strong right from the outset. Flavors of earth continued to be dominant through much of the first third, although smoother chocolate notes did weave in and out of the smoke on a cool fall evening.

Starting the second third, I noticed that the burn line, which had been ragged at the beginning had evened up nicely with no help from me. The draw was fantastic and the ash held on for half an inch or more I tapped off. While the Grand Reserve had started out a bit harsh, by the middle of the cigar it smoothed out to a more refined smoke. Earthiness still took the lead role, but the sweetness of the Broadleaf wrapper came more into play with notes of dried fruit and cocoa powder.

In the final third, notes of anise came through as well as the cigar ended on a high note. In the end, I liked this cigar, but did not love it. To me it seems like a bit of aging, perhaps a year or so, would do much to round out and smooth the rougher edges I got in the first half, so maybe that's the key: buy a box and let them age a bit. The body was full, but not overwhelmingly so; the same can be said for the nicotine strength. Experienced smokers are probably all that should apply for this experience, especially those who enjoy a good strong Tatuaje, as the Grand Reserve reminded me of some of them in some ways. All the elements of a great cigar are there, I think, but this is one that just might need a little more time to fully mature. For how this smokes currently, the price tag is just a bit too steep; given more time, though, it might fully justify an $11 expenditure.

Body: 8/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 7/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 8/10

Cigar Extra: Zino Platinum Emperor Edition 2009

Robusto, 5" x 58 ring gauge / MSRP $23
I have long been a "Zino Platinum skeptic," having not seen the flavor to price correlation in the few cigars I had smoked. Learning that the brand was basically started as a marketing exercise to sell cigars by linking them with a "urban rapper" lifestyle didn't do much to help my perception. When I made the choice to support my local B&M, though, in their recent Black Carpet Event, I walked away with a bunch of cigars that might just make a believer out of me...even though I still don't have the cash flow to buy these regularly. One of the sticks included in our event bag was a Crown Series 2009 Emperor Edition, featuring Piloto Ligero fillers from Nicaragua and the DR, a Corojo-Olor hybrid Dominican binder, and a dark, oily Ecuadorian wrapper and is reputed to be quite full-bodied. At the end of a weekend full of work, I took this beauty on on the porch with some rum and cola to see what I would make of it.

The cold draw had that distinctive foresty, fungusy flavor that I associate so strongly with Davidoff products, but there was also a deep earthiness and sweetness along with a peppery tingle on the lips. If I was given this one blind, the first thing I would guess would probably be Avo LE 2010...even before lighting it. Ignition brought out more of that Kelner-signature flavor...seriously, if you don't like that specific Davidoff flavor...just walk away right now. What this adds to that flavor profile is a strong earthiness, black coffee, and cocoa powder on the palate, along with a not-insignificant pepper burn on the nose. From the beginning, the body is formidable, especially when viewed in the light of most other products to wear a label bearing either the first or last name of Zino Davidoff.

Through the first third, the 2009 Emperor was leathery and earthy, but with plenty of chocolatey sweetness. Although full in body and with a spicy edge, it was also somewhat creamy and smooth, an overall delight to the taste and olfactory senses. The rum and cola proved to be an ideal accompaniment to the cigar, helping to bring out the sweeter notes in the tobacco. While not exactly the same as the Avo LE 10, it is similar in body and overall flavor profile. Being two years old, this cigar is hard to find, but if you can get your hands on one, my advice is to do so.

Cigar Review: La Flor Dominicana Diadema Duo, Maduro

Diadema, 9.25" x 50 ring gauge / $31.50 for set of 2 cigars, Burns
This review will publish only two days after the review of the Natural, but in real life, it has been an entire week since I smoked and wrote about that cigar. The reality is that if you don't plan out your day...and probably make sure it's a weekend day...these cigars are just challenging to smoke. As with the Natural, this cigar does feature Dominican filler and binder, although this Nicaraguan Habano wrapper leaf is also listed as Ligero as well as Maduro. What should this mean? Maduro often brings sweeter flavors; Ligero usually imparts more body and strength. So this cigar will likely be stronger and sweeter than the Natural version.

The basic look is the same as the Diadema Natural, but upon closer inspection it seems that the Maduro leaf is a little more rustic in nature, with slightly larger veins and a mottling of darker colors on the already dark brown leaf. It had a fair amount of oil on the surface and a faint aroma of earth and cedar. The prelight draw was a little tight, but that happens on this kind of shaped cigar frequently, so I didn't worry much about it. The flavor was a nice mixture of coffee, bittersweet chocolate and earth.

Initial puffs were about as expected...thin, providing little in smoke or flavor. On the plus side it was very easy to light. It didn't take long, though, before the narrow tip started burning through to the wider area, providing increases in both smoke production and flavor. On the palate I got rich earth and cocoa powder, and the smoke was thick and oily, with a long finish; on the retrohale, I got notes of black coffee and chili pepper. As I worked my way through the first third (that's about 45 minutes on this cigar, I think), the body worked its way from medium-full to full-full and the flavor became more earthy, though there were still rich notes of dark roast coffee, black pepper, and bittersweet chocolate. So far...absolutely amazing.

Deep into the second third, I started to get the nicotine hit. Yes, this is a full-bodied smoke, but it is also a strong one. But unlike other full, strong cigar, this one kept bringing the flavor. A strong earthiness still dominated, but the interplay of coffee and cocoa powder didn't let up, either. The sweet note took on a bit of a dried fruit characteristic, which was nice. Construction was nothing short of superb. The ash was strong and never flaky, the draw was great, and the burn line was even enough that it needed zero touch ups so far.

By the end, the Diadema Maduro had me on the ground...well, almost. I don't have the nicotine tolerance that some do, but smoking two or more cigars a day puts me in pretty good standing in that area. This cigar hit me hard, though. The flavors were pretty consistent...earth, coffee, cocoa powder...and overall this was a magnificent tasting stick, but it is definitely not one for beginning smokers or one to smoke on anything short of a full stomach. If this same blend were available in a robusto size, it would be one of my favorites, but this two hour plus experience is one that should be reserved for very special occasions.

Body: 8/10
Strength: 9/10
Complexity: 8/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10

Dual Review: La Gloria Cubana Artisanos Retro Especiale

Club, 5.75" x 47 ring gauge / MSRP $7.00

The story goes that an old humidor was found at the El Credito factory about a decade ago and it inspired the look of the packaging for this cigar, the Artesanos Retro Especiale. It took nearly ten years for Michael Giannini and Team La Gloria to replicate the look of the humidor to their satisfaction and during that time they also worked hard on the cigar to go in it, including two years of cultivating a new wrapper and developing the blend. The result, according to Giannini is a cigar that is "as unique in its packaging as it is in its taste...." The hybrid Connecticut seed for the wrapper was grown in Honduras. The cigar features a two binders, one each from Mexico and Nicaragua. And the filler is a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan leaves.

DAVE SAID:

I was privileged to be invited by General Cigar to the factory where these are made last month and as a result two issues have come up regarding my review of this cigar. First, the question of whether or not I can give a fair review since General paid for my trip. The answer is "yes, absolutely." My opinion is not for sale; I will continue to be honest in how I feel about any cigar regardless of source or what perks the company may want to dole out. Second, because of the trip, I smoked more of these than probably any other cigar I've ever put up here for review...10...maybe 15?....before this review stick. This should already give you a clue that I like these as I don't tend to punish myself by smoking cigars I don't enjoy.

The band and packaging on the LGC Artisanos Retro Especiale is fantastic. It keeps the traditional look of the La Gloria girl holding a cigar, but updates it, while at the same time keeping true to the "retro" in the name. It's new and different, but classic and evocative of a different time and place. The wrapper could be better looking, though. It was a couple shades darker than many of the best Connecticut seed leaves coming out of Connecticut or Ecuador, but also had darker mottling and larger veins in evidence. I wouldn't come out and say it's ugly, but it is not beautiful, either. One of the more unusual things about this wrapper was how oily it was...much more so than most Shade leaves. The aroma from the wrapper was a clean hay and grass note; on the foot, I got more hay, but an equal amount of earth as well as a little pepper. I had put a straight cut on every other of these I smoked, so for this review, I decided to change it up and use my Xikar VX. The v-cut delivered a smooth draw and a mildly sweet, semi-salty prelight draw.

Once lit the Retro Especiale had a creamy almost caramel sweetness on the tongue with a nice black pepper spice on the retrohale. The smoke was thick, oily and rich, all attributes that are less common on Connecticut wrapped cigars. The flavor in the first third quickly evolved to a somewhat musty earthiness at the core, with a pleasant molasses sweetness on the finish, along with just enough pepper spice on the tongue and nose to give it that extra dash of interest. To me, nearly all La Gloria Cubana cigars tend to have a "family flavor"...something unique to them that you either love or you don't. In general, I'm not a fan of that family flavor; I don't hate it, but it just does not particularly appeal to me. This cigar does not share any of that flavor, instead standing as something truly unique in their catalog.

The second third was essentially a continuation and enhancement of what developed in the first..earthy with touches of sweetness and spice. Construction so far had proven to be great, with an even burn line, strong ash and very good draw. Since I have smoked quite a few of these, I am confident in saying that these attributes are consistent and if you get a different experience with one, it is probably the proverbial "one bad stick in the box." Despite sporting a Connecticut wrapper, which is often seen as a mild smoke, the body on the Retro Especiale was medium to start and edged upward as it went.

If there's one downside to the Retro Especiale it is this: it is not the most complex cigar in the world. I really didn't experience much change in the final third, although the flavor was still very good and I did enjoy it. I will go so far as to say that this is my favorite cigar to bear a La Gloria Cubana name. By the end the body had edged into the high end of the medium category and there was little if any nicotine kick. Overall, I would call this a very good cigar for both novices and more experienced smokers, but probably one that seasoned smokers will enjoy better early in the day. Some may be disappointed that it does not taste more like other La Gloria cigars they may have enjoyed in the past, but I would encourage you to just take it for what it is and give it a try.

Body: 7/10

Strength: 5/10

Complexity: 5/10

AFP Scale

Prelight: 1.5/2

Construction: 2/2

Flavor: 4.5/5

Value: 1/1

Total: 9/10

KEITH SAID:

While I didn’t go on the trip I’d like to thank General for providing the sample cigars I smoked for this review.  I smoked 4 cigars before the one I smoked for the review.

The wrapper on my cigar was a golden brown in color, but there were quite a few green spots on the lower half of the cigar.  Like Dave said the wrapper is darker in color than most Connecticut shade wrappers, but it is similar to some of the ones I’ve seen especially on the EPC cigars.  The wrapper had a medium amount of veins and some oils to it.  When I gave the cigar a squeeze I wasn’t able to detect any soft spots and it had a slight amount of give.  Putting my nose to the wrapper I got hay and barnyard with leather and hay coming from the foot.  After clipping it and taking a cold draw on it I got notes of hay and sugary sweetness with a good draw.

Lighting up the cigar brought a good amount of black pepper spice on the tongue and retrohale.  The flavors started off with earth, molasses sweetness, and a slight metallic taste.  The finish was slightly creamy.  The draw was pretty much perfect and it produced a large volume of smoke.  The burn was slightly ragged and the ash held on for about a half an inch before needing to be tapped off.  I would rate the cigar at the upper end of medium in body and strength.

The second third saw flavors of leather, wood, earth and that same metallic taste.  The spice did tone down quite a bit.  The burn almost evened out without needing a correction.

Like Dave mentioned this isn’t the most complex cigar.  The cigar finished off where it started with a good amount of spice and flavors of leather, wood and a molasses sweetness.  The draw continued to be just right and the burn stayed even.  I did get a slight amount of nicotine hit, but just barely.

Overall this was an enjoyable cigar.  The draw on this sample was definitely better than the 4 previous ones I smoked.  They weren’t unsmokeable, just not where I like a cigar to be.  This cigar definitely isn’t what you’d normally expect from a Connecticut shade cigar.  It reminded me a lot of the LGC Artesanos de Miami or an Opus X.  However this cigar wasn’t as complex or as refined as either of those.  I think most smokers would enjoy this cigar, albeit at different times of the day.

Body: 7/10

Strength: 7/10

Complexity: 6/10

AFP Scale

Prelight: 1.5/2

Construction: 2/2

Flavor: 4/5

Value: 1/1

Total: 8.5/10

Cigar Review: La Flor Dominicana Diadema Duo, Natural

Diadema, 9.25" x 50 ring gauge / $31.50 for set of 2 cigars, Burns
It seems almost like an annual thing for me...see what La Flor Dominicana debuts at the trade show, wait until it shows up at my local shop...and buy it. Last year I made sure to get in on the Maduro sampler. The year or two before I was right on the original Salomon and Habano Corona. Yes, I've tried pretty much all their regular release sticks, too, but I seem to gravitate toward their limited stuff...at least those that are more affordable. Am I really calling $31.50 for two cigars affordable? Well, when you consider the 9"+ size that will burn close to the time of two smaller cigars...Yes!  And it's La Flor Dominicana, one of my all-time favorite brands. This Diadema Duo set comes in a coffin box containing two cigars...one Natural and one Maduro. They both utilize Dominican filler and binder, as well as Habano Nicaraguan wrappers...one of which goes through the Maduro process and one that does not. Today I look at the Natural, while the Maduro will be reviewed Thursday. Because of the monetary and time commitment needed to smoke each of these, I am smoking one of each for these reviews.

You know how presentation sells cigars? If you don't, then look at these...the presentation of these is awesome and does much to convince you to pick up the cigars and bring them to the register to purchase. By themselves, these perfectos might seem comically slim and delicate, but presented in the dual coffin box, they look...well...perfect! The Natural wrapper was supple and oily...moreso than you might expect many lighter colored wrappers to be. The build quality seemed perfect with no stretched leaf, open seams, tears, or patches. I got an aroma of barnyard and sweet, wet earth on the wrapper; the foot was no different really because of the small Perfecto tip. The cold draw was better than that of most perfectos I can remember and had a nice earthiness and sweetness to it.

The Diadema was a little tricky to light up because it was so long...it was difficult to tell if  the flame was near the tip or too far away...or far worse, too close and scorching the wrapper. I got it going, though, with no mishaps and soon it was pumping out a nice amount of smoke...at least until I put it down to write this paragraph at which point it went out. Relighting worked well enough and I didn't set it down quite so quickly this time. Initial flavors were of earth, leather and a tiny bit of dried fruit sweetness on the palate. On the retrohale I got mostly roasted nuts and some black pepper. The pepper went away fairly quickly, and the rest of the first third had that same earthiness it began with along with a sweetness that morphed into more of a molasses note. The smoke was creamy and medium bodied.

The Diadema Natural started to get really interesting in the second third as the body increased to the medium-to-full range and I started to pick up on more nutty notes on the palate as well as a slight peppery burn. The Habano wrapper still had some molasses sweetness, but it seemed better balanced with earthy notes at this point. Construction was proving to be nothing but excellent with a fantastic draw and very even burn line.

The body did not get fuller, but the flavors trended toward more earthy in the final third. For two hours the Diadema Natural gave up full-flavors, though, with plenty of complexity and flavor change up. One thing it made me think of was how Dominican smokes have changed so much from the time when they were primarily seen as milder, less complex offerings. And it made me look forward to the Maduro version all the more since it would likely be a bit sweeter throughout, one thing I was missing near the end with this one.

Body: 7/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 7/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10

Book Review: How to Grow Your Own Tobacco

How To Grow Your Own Tobacco - From Seed to Smoke
Ray French, Cool Springs Press, $22.99

Last year, Kurt Van Keppel of Xikar put out a challenge on Twitter for folks to grow their own tobacco. I was among the few that decided to give it a try, but I was not the only one who pretty much utterly failed. To be honest, I don’t know that any of those that tried was successful. Starting off too late in the season was my first mistake…then there came the lack of knowledge of how to property seed, feed, water and light the small plants, the poor manner in which I transplanted them to larger vessels, and the poor place I put them in our yard with way too much direct sunlight and heat and far too little water. I was completely ill-equipped to even start such a venture…and I will be honest, I had not really tried picking up on any of the gardening knowledge that my wife had been trying to amass. She tried to help things along, but some mistakes you just can’t recover from. I elected not to try again in 2011 because I just had too much to do.

Then I got an e-mail from Cool Springs Press (located near Nashville) about a new book they were publishing. “Would you like to read and review it?” Sure! Since we changed our content focus on the Tiki Bar to be cigar-specific-only, I had not done any book reviews, so this would be the perfect chance to bring back a favorite feature of mine. How To Grown Your Own Tobacco – From Seed To Smoke by Ray French, is a slim, hardcover book that starts with the basic premise that tobacco growing for personal consumption is legal, inexpensive and probably healthier than buying the mass-produced product.

French gives tips on different varietals, specifically which ones are good for which type of consumption (cigarette, cigar, pipe) and which ones grow best in different climates. He gives good information on the differences in growing in a garden versus growing in pots. And he comes at it from an “organic” standpoint, arguing that the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers could be a contributing factor to why there is so much tobacco-related disease (at least with cigarettes) in this country today. I have never been one to buy into the “organic” fad, but he breaks it down into a fairly manageable regimen…at least as it pertains to the individual tobacco farmer.

The book’s strengths are in the matters of general knowledge of tobacco, preparing soil and managing the growth. The weakness is in the after-harvest part. While there are some general guidelines to prepping your leaf for cigarettes, pipes, and even cigars, I found the information to be pretty basic and incomplete for the cigar enthusiast, leaving me to wonder how much of that part I will have to figure out myself. Yes, based on my reading of this book, I will be attempting to grow my own tobacco in 2012. Maybe some Tennessee-grown Connecticut Broadleaf will be good. Or perhaps I’ll try to find some Habano seeds and see how they fare. From my previous attempts I did find out that a lot more folks out there have tried growing their own leaf at home and have come up with some pretty unique ways to cure, ferment and store leaves long-term…you just have to look in the right places on the web.

If you have the urge to give this a try yourself, especially if you do not have the “green thumb” background to begin with, I would recommend picking up this book. I’m sure I will be referring to it time and again next spring and summer. 


Addendum: After I completed reading and reviewing the book, I got an e-mail from the publisher that included the following Q&A with the author, Ray French, regarding some further questions about "Cigar Grade" tobacco.

Describe a leaf reserved for the cigar wrapper. You mentioned it has to be perfect:

A cigar grade leaf has to be harvested when ripe with no puncture wounds or holes from insects or handling. The best will tend to come from the upper part of the plants – and are usually the healthiest in terms of color. To put it frankly – they’re the best looking leaves on the plant. Thin veins are also a desirable characteristic.

After the drying and curing process is complete, you will select the best leaves to be used as wrappers. Again, these are leaves without holes. Another standout characteristic: these leaves have flexibility. Once you identify leaves that will make wrappers, store them a little on the moist side. Professional cigar makers store in a special sealed tin to maintain flexibility right up until they are needed.

Lizard Tail Oronoco: did you grow? How does it compare to other types? Why does it make the best cigars?

Yes I did grow it. It has a longer and narrower leaf than other varieties. One noticeable difference - the leaf was much thicker than any other type I grew. It is known for producing strong flavors. I actually blend with other types.

Describe your control standards during the drying and curing process (cigar grade).

During the initial drying process I tried to harvest leaves when they were ready, but the window of opportunity may only be a few days. So, watch closely! Remember – throughout the drying process keep the environment dry enough to turn the leaves yellow within a few days. If the environment is too humid, the leaves will mildew. I used several drying methods, but draped over an indoor clothesline was the easiest.

Another note: do not let the leaves dry all the way to powder. Moisten them carefully by either increasing the humidity or misting them a bit with distilled water. Once they are flexible you can then pack them flat and apply pressure, or store them hanging in a fairly humid environment.

What is your easiest curing recommendation (cigar grade)?

Depending on the quantity, either in a vacuum sealed bag or in bales wrapped in burlap and bound under pressure.

What types of tobacco make the best cigar grade?

In my opinion, the Virginia Gold and Havana Gold both made nice cigars as filler, binder, and wrapper.

Break down your do’s and don’ts in growing cigar grade tobacco.

Do a good job preparing the soil. Do check on your crop every day. Don't keep it so wet it mildews.

How does it differ from cigarette tobacco?

Typically the left over pieces and bits of scrap can be shredded further and turned into cigarettes. The cigar grade tobacco leaves are always the highest quality harvested, dried, cured and stored correctly. If I let some get too dry or did not moisten correctly to handle, I would toss to the cigarette stash.

While not answering every additional question I may have had, this does help to fill in some of the holes. As I start to formulate my own plan for growing cigar-grade tobacco next spring and summer, I will try to come up with a list of additional questions that I can send to Mr. French. I will also do my best to share the whole experience with you here online.

Cigar Extra: Thompson 95th by La Aurora

Robusto, 5.5" x 54 ring gauge / $75/box of 16, Thompson Cigar
This is a first for the Tiki Bar, I think...a review of a Thompson-branded product. Well...not a full review since it's a "Cigar Extra" but even mentioning that company is something of a taboo around these parts since we take a firm stance against online-only retailers and support of B&Ms. This is a different story in that this cigar is only available from Thompson...and it is made by our friends at La Aurora. It features Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers and a Corojo wrapper (country not specified) and comes in one size. This stick was given to me by my friend, Robert Holloway, a regular down at Burns Tobacconist in Chattanooga (see...I even sneaked in the gratuitous B&M reference).

The banding seems typical of cheaper cigars with over-the-top gold foiling in an attempt to look richer. Getting past that, the wrapper is oily and toothy while the cap has an interesting little pigtail finish. I got a barnyardy, earthy/manure aroma on the wrapper, and more of the same...maybe more intense...from the foot. The cold draw was earthy and musty with a little chocolate sweetness. It lit up easily enough and soon was producing plentiful smoke with a chewy texture, an earthy flavor and a long, peppery finish.

In the rest of the first third, the Thompson 95th continued with that musty earthiness and proved to be pretty good overall...mild to medium in body and a good accompaniment to my morning coffee. The rest of the cigar was very good, certainly better than anything else I've ever had with the Thompson name affixed to it. By midway through the pepper on the palate had disappeared, but there was some spice in the retrohale and a continued nice earthiness elsewhere. It ended up firmly in the medium-bodied category. The only bad things I have to say about it are this: first, the burn line was very uneven in spots and needed several touch-ups. Not a huge deal. Second, it left an aftertaste that I do associate with cheaper cigars, something that I didn't expect since it was good while smoking. All in all, though, very good. Thanks again to Robert for gifting me this cigar.

Cigar Review: Leon Jimenes Prestige by La Aurora

Robusto, 5" x 50 ring gauge / MSRP $9.00
This is one of La Aurora's cigars that I didn't spot in March during the DR trip. Named after the patriarch of the La Aurora line, it is described by the company as "Cuban-esque and heady, offering bold nuances including wood, hearty spices, and rich tobacco, complemented by a long and luxurious finish and zesty aroma." That's a lot to live up to! This cigar features long-filler Dominican and Nicaraguan leaves, held together by a Dominican binder, which is in turn wrapped with a Dominican-grown Connecticut Shade leaf. I received this stick...my first experience with this blend...from Miami Cigar as part of a "New Release" Sampler.

I should say the marketing material did not specify "shade" for the wrapper, but I am guessing since it is a light-colored leaf. That being said, it was a bit dusky and darker than many shade grown leaves, so I wonder if these were under cloth or some other kind of more natural shade. Like many shade leaves there wasn't much oily sheen to the eye, but I could definitely feel it under my fingertips. There were a few medium sized veins, but mostly the vein structure was tiny and delicate-looking. The band is classy except the name goes all the way around the cigar, so it's impossible to photograph and get the whole name...and it doesn't say "Prestige" on it anywhere. Strange. I got a clean, sweet hay aroma from the wrapper; on the foot I noticed scents of earth, leather, and rich tobacco. After clipping the end, the cold draw had notes of hay and sweet tobacco.

The first puffs were rich and smooth, with flavors of wood...first maple, then cedar...as well as a grassy/hay note from the Connecticut wrapper and an earthy undertone. The retrohale had notes of natural tobacco, roasted nuts, and a pinch of black pepper. Yes, they were bold in the hype on this cigar, but so far it was exceeding what I had realistically expected. The Prestige served up billowing clouds of smoke and the wrapper took on an almost cinnamon hue in the orange-tinged light of autumn. I got more wood flavor through the rest of the first third, as well as an increasing pepper burn on my palate.

The rather free draw allowed the cigar to burn more quickly that I would have liked, especially for a cigar that costs close to $10. The flavors as the second third burned through, though, were still fantastic. The earthy undertone became more of a leading note, with a nice sweetness to round things out and a little pepper heat to keep things interesting. The body so far was in the medium range and, besides the quick burn, the construction was great, with a very even burn line and strong ash that held on for half to three-quarters of an inch.

In the last segment the Leon Jimenes Prestige saw an increase in spiciness on the palate, along with a continued earthiness. The Shade wrapper still influenced the overall profile enough to keep things smooth and creamy while adding just a touch of sweetness. This cigar was a surprise. Jason Wood of Miami Cigar called it "a hidden gem" from this year's show and I have to agree. While everyone was talking about the 107 Maduro, Casa Miranda, Humo Jaguar, and Grand Reserve, I  heard nothing about this cigar until it showed up in my mailbox. It is truly a refined and full-flavored cigar that belongs in any conversation of so-called New Breed Connecticut cigars. With body just a tick over the midway mark and nothing more than the lightest nicotine kick, this cigar won't blow away newcomers to cigar smoking, and it will satisfy the palates of many veteran smokers, too.

Body: 6/10
Strength: 5/10
Complexity: 7/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10

Cigar Review: Alec Bradley Black Market

Robusto, 5.2" x 52 ring gauge / $7.99, Maxamar's

Today I'll be reviewing Alec Bradley's latest release to the market called the Black Market. It is comprised of Panamanian and Honduran fillers, a Sumatra binder, and a Nicaraugan wrapper, that I've seen in some places called maduro. It looks like a maduro to me, but the website doesn't say either way. They come packed in boxes that are made to look like old shipping crates. This was the third one I smoked.

First thing I noticed about the cigar is the wrapper, even though you can only see half of it. It is a very nice chestnut brown with a lot of oils to it. There is also a good amount of tooth to it. The veins were fine to medium and didn't detract at all from the looks of the cigar. When I gave the cigar a squeeze I wasn't able to detect any soft spots and there was a slight amount of give. Once I put my nose to the wrapper I got notes of cedar and barnyard with hay coming from the foot. The one thing that was slightly negative about the prelight in my opinion is the paper cover over the bottom half of the cigar. While I like the looks of it, the glue they used must be 2 part epoxy because it didn't want to release and the paper came off in little pieces. It was a pain to get off. I really think they should just use the vegetable glue like they used on the band to keep it on and it will make it a lot easier to get off. After clipping it and taking a cold draw on it I got notes of maple and leather with an ok draw.

The cigar starts off with notes of leather, sweetness and red pepper spice. There was also a good amount of spice on the retrohale. After a few puffs I got notes of maple and wood added in. The draw however was a little tighter than I like and a little tighter than the previous two I had smoked. The burn was slightly wavy but that was more than likely do to the uneven lighting job I did at the beginning. The grey-black ash held on for about half an inch before needing to be tapped off.

As I moved into the second third the spice went almost down to nothing. The flavors in this third were dominated by leather, wood, molasses, cinnamon and herbal spice. The draw opened up a bit as I moved into this third, but it still wasn't where I liked it. The strength of the cigar moved into the upper end of medium during this third.

In the final third the cigar continued on strong. The spice started to come back an the sweetness went away. The flavors of earth, leather and wood, with a hint on cinnamon and copper thrown in, were the main flavors in the final third. I did start getting a slight nicotine hit as I was almost through with the cigar.

Overall I did enjoy this cigar. I will say it is different than the other Alec Bradley cigars I've tried, but I can't put my finger on why. I would have preferred the draw to be closer to the other two samples I tried and I would have liked the paper wrapper to be easier to remove. In spite of those two things I think that if you enjoy medium to full bodied and strength cigars you should check this one out. With it's great flavors and reasonable price I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Body: 7/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 7/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 1.5/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8/10

Cigar Review: Savinelli 20th Anniversary

Toro, 6" x 50 ring gauge / approx. $10
Steve Ysidron started working on this blend in late 2009 or early 2010 with Carlos and Gilberto Oliva from Tabacalera Oliva and it celebrates Savinelli's 20th year in the cigar business (although they are an old name in tobacco, having a presence in the pipe world since 1876). Their website says they produced 100 boxes of each of four sizes, but Steve tells me that the correct number is 500, so this is limited, but should still be accessible. Each cigar is made of all Nicaraguan filler and binder along with a Sun-grown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. The video stated that these were supposed to hit the shelves in May 2011, but I have to admit to not seeing them until Steve gave me this sample at the Chattanooga Tweet Up in August.

This is actually one of the few times I have seen the new Savinelli banding designs, but I think it works particularly well in this color combination of black, white, and silver. The wrapper leaf had a nice oiliness to the touch and I saw only medium-sized and smaller veins. I could detect no solid or spongy spots along the length, aside from the foot which is almost always a bit soft. Sniffing the cigar, I got a strong barnyard aroma on the wrapper; the foot had more of the same, but also some strong earth and manure notes. The cold draw was excellent and had flavors of damp earth, wood, and a subtle dried fruit sweetness.

Lighting up the Savinelli 20th was easily accomplished with a single flame torch; early puffs on the cigar revealed a earthy core flavor, along with a molasses sweetness on top of it; the retrohale was strong with roasted nuts and also had just a tinge of pepper spice. Overall, it started out very smooth and refined in flavor with a medium body. The remainder of the first third continued in a similar fashion...smooth earthy flavors with a touch of sweetness and a pinch of spice.

As the second third started up I noticed that construction was very good overall; the draw provided plenty of smoke, the ash held on for almost an inch, and the burn line was even enough to avoid needing touch up. It seemed like the flavor of the Savinelli 20th Anniversary was getting more nutty on the palate at this point; earthiness was reduced to more of a support role and the molasses note just enhanced the roasted nut aspect.

The 20th took another taste turn in the final third as a cayenne pepper spice built on the palate and the overall profile turned more woodsy. There was little sweetness left over by this time, but I did continue to enjoy the experience. The body of this cigar never progressed beyond the medium-to-full range and there was not a large amount of nicotine that I could tell. I would recommend this one mostly to more experienced smokers who can appreciate some of the subtlety it shows, but it would not be too strong for any but the newest of cigar fans. Being a limited product, though, I would advise picking them up soon before they all disappear.

Body: 7/10
Strength: 6/10
Complexity: 8/10

AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10

General Cigar Names New Vice President of Marketing

The following was just sent out from General Cigar:

Alan Willner Appointed to Top Marketing Post of Premium Cigar Category Leader

Richmond, VA—General Cigar is pleased to announce that Alan Willner has joined the company as vice president of marketing.

A consumer product marketing veteran with 20 years of experience, Willner will play an integral role in increasing the company’s market share. As such, he will oversee General Cigar’s consumer and trade marketing, public relations, CRM, event and innovation platforms, and will also spearhead international sales and marketing initiatives. Additionally, Willner will direct Club Macanudo® in New York City.

“We are thrilled to have someone with Alan’s unique blend of strategic planning, brand building and product development expertise. Alan’s experience and vision will help further define our brands and we look forward to the contributions he will make toward driving deeper market penetration and consumer engagement,” said Dan Carr, president of General Cigar.

Willner joins General Cigar from Starr Hill Brewery where he held the position of president and CEO. Starr Hill is an award-winning, craft brewery and partner of Anheuser-Busch. During his tenure at Starr Hill, Willner dramatically increased distribution and created new products which resulted in Starr Hill becoming one of the fastest growing breweries in the U.S. and one of the largest in the competitive mid-Atlantic region.

Earlier in his career, Alan held leadership positions with the Coors Brewing Company, Diageo and Nabisco.

“As premium cigar smokers increasingly seek connectivity with the brands they enjoy, and as retailers seek new ways to expose consumers to the premium cigar lifestyle, I am excited about the opportunity to work with our team of cigar masters and artisans to bring their passion to life.”

As Vice President of Marketing, Willner will join the company’s management team and will report directly to President Dan Carr.

Willner is a graduate of Arizona State University and also studied at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. He previously served as Chapter President for the American Marketing Association.

Judging from his background, Mr. Willner is just joining the world of premium cigars, so we would like to welcome him to this industry. There was no indication of whether or not he enjoys the cigars himself, but if not, I hope he learns to quickly! :)

Opinion: Online Cigar Shopping ... Is It Okay?

We've all done it. When I started smoking, one of my main sources of cigars were online-only vendors who sold cigars at ridiculously cheap prices. Given my financial state at the time and the state in which I lived (California, which has some of the highest cigar prices in the country), I justified it. More time and a closer relationship with managers and owners of several Brick & Mortar shops (hereafter referred to as B&Ms) has changed my opinion, though, to a point where I rarely, if ever, make purchases at those "famous," "international" online retailers.

Defining Some Terms

B&Ms have gotten to the point where they do compete to some degree online as well as for the regular smokers in their geographical areas, so it might be necessary to define some terms. For the purposes of this argument, I will refer to the giant online retailers who regularly discount cigars by 30 to 40 percent (or more) as "Online Discounters." If talking about B&Ms that will sell online (such as our sponsor Maxamar Ultimate Cigars in Orange, CA, which sells online through BuyMoreCigars.com) I'll still refer to them as B&Ms.

Some difficulty may also come in that some of the Online Discounters have B&M locations. Having visited these, though, it is rare that you will get the same discounts offered online in their stores. The shop has one set of prices for those that come in and sell many of the same cigars out of huge warehouses with big call centers for much less. Like the fat man who owned a donut shop said, "It's all about volume."

Why Should You Avoid Online Discounters?

These companies (I'm not mentioning names, but you have their catalogs scattered around your home or office) give great bargains because of their huge buying power...bargains few B&Ms are able to match. That may be fine or even necessary if you are on an extreme budget, but the big problems start cropping up when these folks take the catalog into a B&M and asking if the manager will price-match. Or when a customer takes one of their online-purchased cigars into a B&M, sits down and lights it up, often not bothering to purchase anything from the B&M and even going so far as to brag about the great deal they got.

The practice of selling cigars far below MSRP has had an effect of deadening sales at B&Ms. In markets where stores have to compete ferociously with other shops in the same geographical area, to then have to compete with a faceless Discounter selling at prices they couldn't dream of is the end...stores go out of business. Why can't they compete? Because the B&Ms have to provide ambiance...an experience...and that kind of thing does not come cheap. On the other hand, next Super Bowl Sunday, call up your favorite Online Discounter agent and ask if you can come over and watch the game.

Why Should You Shop At B&Ms?

There are many good reasons to shop at B&Ms, but they may not all apply to you. Let's start with this, though: keep your money local. In a global economy, I try to practice "keeping it local" whenever possible. If I can find a good or service in my town I try to buy there...support the local shops and local workers because they are (sometimes literally) my neighbors. My local town does not have a tobacconist, so I drive to the closest one on a regular basis, making it my "extended neighborhood."

Another good reason is that the manager and workers get to know you. This actually may not be such a good thing for everyone, but if you are a reasonably nice person, it will be a good thing. When the manager says, "Hey, here's a cigar for your birthday!" or "Yes, I'll hold a box for you of that brand new cigar that everyone's been waiting for"...then you know you've made a valuable friend in the business. They get to know what you like and might even give you a call (or send you an e-mail) when something new comes in.

Atmosphere, ambiance and experience should never be discounted in any argument of why you should regularly patronize B&Ms. From Poker nights to Tijuana Room to the LSU/Alabama game last Saturday, some things will never happen at a Online Discounter, but you can almost always count on your local shop to host some wild and crazy good time.

Including cigar events. Some of the Online Discounters have really great events once a year and I've even attended some. I would honestly encourage everyone to get in on that action at least once in their lifetime. But the real action is the monthly or bi-weekly events at your local cigar shop, where you get to hang out with your friends AND get to meet some pretty big deals in the cigar industry AND get some great deals on great cigars.

"But...but...but...I don't live anywhere near a good B&M!" or  "My closest shop has a terrible selection and the employees are clueless!" or "My local shop overcharges severely for everything!" Fine...adopt a B&M outside your geographical area and buy from them. Find a "home store" that's not close to home. With the resources we have in social media (Twitter and Facebook) this just isn't that hard anymore. I have made shop owner/manager acquaintances at shops hundreds of miles from my home...shops I've never visited...shops I've never even bought anything from, to be honest. But when I travel to those places, I'll make sure to stop in and buy something. I know of folks who buy from a B&M almost all the way across the country from their home...but at least they are buying from a B&M.

When Is It "OK" To Buy From A Online Discounter?

I know some B&M managers who would say, "NEVER!" I don't take quite that strict of an approach to it, though. I think the one always-excusable reason to buy from a Discounter is when they are offering cigars that you simply cannot get anywhere else...the fabled "Online Exclusives." I'm not talking about the countless blends by Rocky Patel or Gurkha that you will find online and no-where else; rather the real quality sticks like the different Man O War blends that are available only a couple places online. If you want them, you have to buy there. I like most of the Man O War stuff myself, but to be honest, I've learned to live without them since I can find stuff I like just as well at my local shop.

At the end of the day, everything I've just written amounts to my own personal set of ethics when it comes to where to buy cigars. Like the reviews you read here (or on any other blog site), this is only my opinion...well, mixed in with some fact and opinion from others I know. My opinions on this matter have changed in the last 5 or 6 years and I expect that 5 or 6 years from now, I won't feel exactly this way anymore...or maybe I will. 

More than anything, I hope I've made you think about the issue. The comments section is, as always, open...please feel free to chime in with your opinion on the matter.