So, for the first review of the summer, I bring to you the Calibre 58 from Miami Cigars.  Along the same vein as NUb cigars, these are short but stout.  The Calibre 58 is a Nicaraguan puro, and if you know anything about Nicaraguan puros, that almost guarantees a full-bodied smoke.  These were “initially created as a personal house blend of Miami Cigar to be used exclusively for promo’s [sic] but due to the demand [they] were forced to release them.”  These cigars are available in both rosado and oscuro wrappers as well as a parejo or torpedo shape.  Let’s see how they turn out.

Appearance: These are unbanded, which to me is a good thing, since they’re so short at  4×58.  No need to mess with a band when they’re that short.  Notice I didn’t say small, because a ring gauge of 58 is nothing to sneeze at.  The wrapper has few veins and no tooth.  A slight sheen to the cigar hints at age, but it’s not what I would call oily.  The cap of this torpedo is extremely well done as is the rest of the roll.  Unpretentious in its presentation, let’s see if the cigar backs up its lack of flaunted presentation.

Taste: This thing comes out swinging like Foreman before he learned how to grill.  Very strong cedar from the gate that subsides into a pure tobacco taste.  A strong wood and floral come to the forefront pretty quickly with a slight undertone of pepper, but not as much as you’d expect from this powerhouse.  I can honestly say I’ve never experienced these kinds of flavors from any puro, that were so abrupt in strength but smooth in flavor.  After the first inch, though, the floral went away and the woodiness came heavy.  Heavier than I like, but taste is purely subjective, right?  It didn’t really change much after that.

Aroma: Taking a huge whiff of this stick pre-light gave me a very strong aroma of chocolate, cedar, and tobacco.  This thing smells fantastic and reminds me of what a cigar should smell like.

Construction: I’ll say in both samples that I had before writing this review, these weren’t easy to initially light.  Not that they were extremely difficult, but it took some time to get a good full light on these.  Once going, the burn was good, though not great.  In the humid southern air of a somewhat cool North Carolina evening, though, it’s probably never going to be perfect, so take that for what its worth.  The cigar is well rolled.  The ash holds strong.  The wrapper doesn’t unravel even with the added humidity.  Miami Cigars has maintained its quality and proves it with the Calibre 58.

Overall Impression: I’m sold.  At just under $5 per stick, these are extremely enjoyable, even if not earth-shattering.  A good solid cigar with powerhouse flavor.  Just be careful not to smoke these too fast.  With all that strength, this can get pretty acrid on you if you don’t moderate.  I would definitely say that NUb has some strong competition in the market now.

Cigar Rating:

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I’m not here to bring anybody down, but I do want you to think about this day and about where America has come from and where America is going.  Many of us get apathetic about the big picture.  I’m guilty of it myself sometimes.  I get busy.  Work is kicking my ass, and I barely have time to have a cigar many days let alone start worrying about the future of our great nation.  But, I have to remind myself of the responsibility sometimes.  I’m hoping to remind you as well.  America is still a great nation.  We’ve tripped up some, but we’re still standing tall.

I hope that as you enjoy your best cigar today, you think of the many military and civil servant heroes that have helped us maintain the freedom we’re so lucky to enjoy.  I hope that you think of the dream that America still is for so many others who don’t know freedom.  I hope you kiss your wife or husband, hug your children, pet your dog, and as you puff away, remember, that we are all lucky in our own way to be part of the American dream.

Happy 4th of July, y’all!!

Image by: Express Monorail

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HAVANA – Cuban tobacco grower Alejandro Robaina, an international symbol of the island’s cigar-making prowess, died Saturday. He was 91.Cuban state television announced his death, and the state tobacco concern Habanos SA, which produces the Robaina brand cigar, said on its website that he was the “victim of a somber illness.”

The only Cuban grower with a cigar brand named after him, Robaina traveled for decades as an unofficial global ambassador for the island’s stogies. Into his final days, he could be found smoking cigars in a rocking chair on his front port in San Luis, in westernmost Pinar de Rio Province.

He worked the fields in Vuelta Abajo, Cuba’s most-famous cigar-growing region, where Habanos — a joint venture between the communist government and Britain’s Imperial Tobacco Group PLC — produced Robainas.Born in the town of Alquizar on March 20, 1919, Robaina began working his family’s fields from the time he was 10. He remained in Cuba when that land was nationalized after the revolution that toppled dictator Fulgencio Batista and brought Fidel Castro to power on New Year’s Day 1959.

Robaina became famous for the top-quality tobacco he helped produce and was honored numerous times by the Castro government.

“He left an indelible mark on the history of Cuban tobacco,” Havana’s Radio Reloj reported.

There was no immediate word on funeral arrangements.

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Appearance: This is a great looking cigar.  Again, the band is elegant and I love the gold foil which just adds a touch of class in my opinion.  The color was deep and rich.  The wrapper had some tooth to it and some minor veins.  The cap was excellently done.  This is a fantastic looking cigar.

Taste: This thing hits hard out the gate.  Full flavor pounces on your taste buds and uses them as a speed bag.  Leather, pepper, and wood mingle not-so-lightly on your palate letting you know that this cigar is here and doesn’t need to be handled gently.  It’s definitely not what I’d call a complex cigar, but it is definitely a flavorful cigar.  The three aforementioned flavors jumping in and out but staying within your awareness the whole time definitely keep it interesting.

Aroma: The smell is rich on this; I mean a literal bouquet that will tingle your sense of smell.  A heavy pleasant tobacco smell with wood, butter, and, I swear, some toasted marshmallow wafted into my schnoz.  Smelling this before I lit it definitely gave me good hopes for this cigar.

Construction: If there’s something I’ve come to understand, Nestor Miranda and pals know how to roll a quality cigar.  This thing burned straight, drew well, stayed lit, and pulled smoke like a locomotive smokestack!  I don’t know that I need to go into more detail.  This is a very well made cigar.

Overall Impression: This cigar delivered.  Period.  It doesn’t have the finesse of its slimmer, longer, older sibling, but it has great flavor, is fantastically constructed, and lasts a wonderfully long time.  I paired this with some Auchentoshan Classic Single Malt Scotch and they went wonderfully together.  If you haven’t already caught the gist, this is a full-bodied cigar as well.  Be prepared if you’re not a full-bodied smoker, but otherwise I say get a box of these and enjoy!

Cigar Rating:

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Havana, Cuba (CNN) — Faced with a two-year slump in sales, Cuban cigar makers have unveiled a new weapon in the hunt for consumers: Julieta, a slim smoke made just for her.

The global recession, combined with anti-smoking laws, have put the squeeze on Cuba’s hand-rolled stogies, one of the quintessential symbols of privilege.

International sales fell 8 percent in 2009 to $360 million following a 3 percent drop in 2008, according to Habanos S.A., a joint venture between Cuba and Britain’s Imperial Tobacco Group.

Read more…

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KOLKATA: The next time you crave for a cigar, you needn’t a splurge Rs 2,000 on a Havana. ITC, the country’s largest cigarette maker, will soon
offer premium handrolled cigars at less than half the price.

The $6-billion cigarettes-to-hotels conglomerate has teamed up with La Aurora, one of the oldest cigar makers run by the Leon Jimenes family of Santiago in the Dominican Republic, to unveil a mint-fresh line of premium handrolled cigars, a person close to the matter said.

The cigars will be rolled out under the Armenteros brand and be manufactured at La Aurora unit in the Caribbean.
“Their blending expertise is unique and is likely to give this new offering a differentiated positioning,” said the person requesting anonymity.

An ITC spokesperson confirmed the development, but did not share details.

The development makes ITC the first Indian company to enter the Rs 30-crore fledgling cigar business in the country.
The Armenteros brand of cigars will jostle with imported varieties including Romeo Y Juliata, Monte Christo, Partagas, Cohiba and Davidoff.

“Though cigars as a category is still at a nascent stage, the segment is now seeing an upsurge in demand with a new section of upwardly mobile Indian consumers exploring cigars as a category,” a person involved in cigar trade said.
Although La Aurora will manufacture them, the Armenteros cigars will be customised to ITC’s specifications and adhere to its stringent quality standards.

“The range of Armenteros handrolled cigars portfolio reflects ITC’s unparalleled tobacco lineage,” said the person quoted first.

Makers of Gold Flake, Classic and Navy Cut brands, ITC dominates the country’s cigarette market with more than 80% share.

Trade sources close to the development said ITC is uniquely positioned to develop a cigar portfolio for the Indian connoisseur as the company has decades of experience in the tobacco business.

The Armenteros cigars, which will be available in myriad shapes and sizes, will be priced between Rs 450 and Rs 900 a stick and available exclusively at tobacco selling outlets, at select hotels, fine-dining restaurants and exclusive clubs.

The portfolio will be available in eight different packs comprising 3, 5 and 10 cigars.

ITC plans to launch its cigars in Delhi NCR and Mumbai that together account for a major share of the Indian cigar market. Subsequently, it will introduce the brand in other metros as well.

They attribute the fascination to increasing disposable incomes and exposure to global lifestyle, driving expenditure growth rates of 20% per annum in this category.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Tobacco/ITC-bites-into-cigar-biz-ties-up-with-La-Aurora/articleshow/5744628.cms

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CLASICO® MAKES ITS DEBUT
New Brand to Deliver Exceptional Value and Craftsmanship

MIAMI – Berger & Argenti Premium Cigars today announced that CLASICO®, a boldly crafted new cigar blend created by the unique collaboration of Enrique Berger and Michael Argenti, is now available at fine tobacconists throughout the U.S.

CLASICO® is comprised of meticulously blended bold and deeply aged Nicaraguan filler tobaccos cultivated at Tabacalera Esteli, its rich farmland widely considered by cigar makers as among the finest in Nicaragua for filler tobaccos. The Cuban seed Nicaraguan fillers are sheathed in a sumptuous Nicaraguan Corojo binder and skillfully enveloped in a stalk-cut, molasses-colored Ecuadorian Connecticut seed ‘Desflorado’ wrapper; exhibiting a well-balanced, full-bodied character bursting with a confluence of sweet and spicy flavors. CLASICO® offers exceptional value through its impeccable craftsmanship: the new brand is hecho a mano totalmente – completely crafted by hand – without aid of any mechanical devices and fashioned with a mounted, triple cap at the head of each cigar.

CLASICO® is available in four exquisite sizes: ‘Corona Gorda’ (4 ½”x 46); ‘Rothschild’ (5” x 50); ‘Belicoso (5 ¾” x 50); and ‘Churchill’ (7” x 50). Twenty (20) CLASICO® cigars are thoughtfully presented in unpretentiously elegant Spanish cedar boxes with a suggested retail price ranging from $4.50 to $7.50 per cigar, offering exceptional value and affordability.

“For many years, Michael and I have discussed creating a fuller bodied, ‘Cubanesque’ cigar brand of the highest integrity in terms of materials and craftsmanship at a widely affordable price,” stated Enrique Berger of Berger & Argenti Premium Cigars. “I’m proud to say that CLASICO® is that brand. It is a wonderful blend of deeply aged, exceptional tobaccos that is robust, complex and flavorful. I am truly proud to associate my name with the CLASICO® brand.”

“CLASICO® is in a league of its own, it is the epitome of superior value,” stated Michael Argenti, president of Berger & Argenti Premium Cigars. “From its rich tobaccos to its exacting craftsmanship and bold, complex flavor, this brand represents our vision of delivering satisfaction and value to even the most discriminating cigar enthusiasts.”

Berger & Argenti Premium Cigars is a privately-held company headquartered in Miami, Florida with agricultural and production facilities in Esteli, Nicaragua. The company serves as the exclusive manufacturer, importer and distributor of world-class, super-premium cigar brands including ENTUBAR®, CLASICO®, EXILE®, EXILE® Wired and Rodrigo de Xerez®.

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Appearance: A very well wrapped belicoso with a tight seam and a nicely done cap.  A very slight tooth to the wrapper gives a little texture, but not too much. The veins were very slight.   The double band adds a touch of class, with the 2009 adorning the foot.  The band is simple yet elegant.  The 5×54 cigar is robust in its looks, yet classy.

Taste: This started out with some strong cedar for me.  A little pepper sneaked in and would dash in and out, but the cedar remained the constant throughout.  Cedar is a sweeter woody flavor and it sits well on the lips.I’d like to say that there was a lot of complexity to this cigar, but it’s not always necessary, is it?  Sometimes a good flavor throughout the whole of a cigar is enough, especially if you don’t want to think about it.  This fits that bill.

Aroma: I hate to keep using this word, but it’s, you guessed it, cedar.  The scent is unmistakable, and this was out of the humidor long enough for the cedar of the box to dissipate.  There’s just some cedar to this cigar.

Construction: Feeling this cigar, you might think it’s made out of concrete.  It’s a hard sucker.  But when you clip the tip and take a preliminary draw, it’s smooth and even.  A nice tight roll without hampering the draw wins with me every time.  The burn was good and the ash always held tight.  I can’t find anything about the construction to nitpick.

Overall Impression: This is a good smoke.  It’s not a great smoke.  Whenever someone puts the label “Limited Edition” on something, I expect something special, and well, for a limited edition, this didn’t meet my expectations.  That’s okay, though, because this cigar doesn’t hold a limited edition price.  At just over $5, this is a very well priced cigar that is sure to please the average smoker.  And, the pairing with the Speyburn 10-year was a good match.  They fit well together for a very pleasant smoking experience.

Cigar Rating:

click for larger image

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ARTESANOS DE TABAQUEROS

Richmond, VA—General Cigar is pleased to introduce Artesanos de Tabaqueros®, the second edition in the critically-acclaimed Artesanos series from La Gloria Cubana®.

Created to showcase the artistry of La Gloria Cubana “tabaqueros” (artisan cigar makers), Artesanos de Tabaqueros cigars are a stunning embodiment of the time-honored craft of cigar making. So exacting is the skill required to handcraft cigars of this complexity that Benji Menendez personally selected an elite group of just 18 master cigar makers, representing the cream of the crop from El Credito Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic.

According to Debo Mukherjee, vice president of marketing for General Cigar, parent company of Artesanos de Tabaqueros, “This exciting collection represents the brain trust that is Team La Gloria Cubana. They pooled their collective talents to showcase the best that General Cigar has to offer: aged and proprietary tobacco, passionate and talented cigar makers and an unwavering commitment to innovation. It is with pleasure that I commend Benji Menendez, Michael Giannini, Yuri Guillen and Rick Rodriguez on yet another exciting addition to our portfolio of brands.”

Meticulously crafted to combine two different wrappers and two distinct tastes in one eye-catching cigar, Artesanos de Tabaqueros is a world-class smoke that opens to a rich and intriguing spice and ultimately reveals a depth of flavor that can only be achieved through a precise balance of unique and rare tobaccos. Hand selected from General Cigar’s extensive library of Dominican and Honduran tobaccos, the cigars are dressed in both a supple Connecticut Shade and hearty Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper. The blend is made solely of proprietary tobaccos, each aged five years or more.

Presented with two different wood treatments to promote the unique tastes promised in each cigar, Artesanos de Tabaqueros cigars are protected in boxes of 25. The collection will debut in early April with three frontmarks, each named to according to its dimensions: 650 (6” x 50, SRP per cigar is $8.00), 652 Belicoso (6” x 52, SRP per cigar is $9.50) and 750 (7” x 50, SRP per cigar is $9.00).

“To truly experience this gem of a cigar is to smoke it and taste the masterful artisanship that comes to life when one wrapper ends and the other begins in balance and harmony,” noted Michael Giannini, director of marketing for La Gloria Cubana.

About General Cigar
Artesanos de Tabaqueros are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar also produces Macanudo®, Cohiba®, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur®, La Gloria Cubana® and several other leading premium brands. In addition, the company grows its own premium Connecticut Shade wrapper tobacco, as well as natural and candela wrapper in the Dominican Republic. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.

® Artesanos de Tabaqueros, Artesanos de Miami, La Gloria Cubana, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

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