LCoigavrser - Summer 2016 - Magazinetop 5 maduro foto: Nuli Hakiimthe most wrappersexpensivecigarsfruitsdrinkswarpedinterviewflatflameblind tasting:double figuradorobusto extra
team & editorial LCoigavrser Magazine Editor: Luca Cominelli Deputy Editor: Michel Arlia Graphic Designer: Mario AmelioGraphic Designer Assistant: Renz Mauleon Authors: Didier Houvenaghel Giovanni Bolzonella Giuseppe Mitolo Luca Cominelli Michel Arlia Nicola Ruggiero Roberto Canzi Photos: Mario Amelio Nuzli Hakiim Marketing: Luca Cominelli Michel Arlia Editing: Giovanni Bolzonella Roberto Canzi Translations: Rachelle Mauleon Simone PoggiBlind Tasting Panel: Aaron Reddy (U.S.A.) Francesco Santoiemma (Italy) Giovanni Bolzonella (Italy) Giuseppe Mitolo (Italy) Luca Cominelli (Italy) Michel Arlia (Switzerland) Nelson Campos (El Salvador) Nuzli Hakiim (Singapor) Richard Frazier (U.S.A.) Roberto Canzi (Italy) Sebastian Hefel (Austria) Thomas Hoebe (Holland)3 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
EditorialThe cigar industry is making us used to have new products and lines every while, due to the smokersdemand for new cigars, which never seem to come to an end. So the cigar market needs new formats,new brands and new lines. This is why the boutique brands, small lot of cigars going to the market in asort of limited edition release, are getting more and more popular and most wanted.This creates a lot of expectations to the consumers but at the same time a huge work for the producers,that are forced to considerably increase they rhythms and keep making new blends in a period of timethat is getting shorter and shorter.This is what is happening today. The limitations that will soon be introduced by the FDA (Food & DrugAdministration) regarding the introduction of new cigars to the American market, could change comple-tely how things are going right now. The US market is the biggest one and it can influences many othermarket if it will be stricken too hard.In the next months we will assist to a lot of news. Probably the big boom of news we are going to seethis year will be the biggest ever, and this won’t happen again. Let’s prepare us to enjoy all will get to themarket soon. ”Passion moves us!”CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 4
indexContentsTeam CigarsLover people ..................................................... 3Editorial thoughts about the magazine ................................ 4Rating how to read the scoring scale ............................... 8Cigar corner 15 readers’ mail ................................................................ 9Flat flame is this the lighters future? ..................................... 11The rebirth Montecristo Open ................................................... 14Ice ball 19 a lot of ice, please ..................................................... 15Maduro wrappers virtues and vices ....................................................... 19AVO Uvezian 90 candles ................................................................... 23Fruits drinks 26 quench our thirst ...................................................... 265 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
La Ley 37 a calling from the past ............................................ 31Top 5 the most expensive cigars .................................... 34Warped interview with Kyle Gellis ........................................ 37Mark Twain 46 if I can’t smoke in paradise, I shall not go ....... 41Cadillac in Cuba the destiny of the old american cars ............... 44Blind Tasting double figurado & robusto extra ...................... 46Kentucky 64 his majesty the wrapper ........................................ 64Vintage Ramon Allones 898 Dunhill Seleccion ............ 67Zenith el primero chronomaster 1969 Cohiba ........ 69Vocabulary & Sections 69 what you can find on the magazine .................. 71 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 6
BEADSTHE BEST HUMIDIFICATION WAYAvailable on CigarsLoverStore.com
infoRatinghow to read the scoring scaleThe cigars reviewed are valued using a 100 point scale. This helps giving every cigar a sharp rating, whichcollocates it in a wide scoring scale. The final score results by the average scores of both the cigar smo-ked and the smokers evaluations.95-100: excellent smoke. The cigar has all the components that distinguish a remarkable smoke: intensity of the aromas, balance, complexity, finesse, evolution, quality of construction, persistence and a constancy of the production. 90-94: great smoke. The cigar shows numerous qualities of excellence, but not quite showing them to the maximum. It’s nonetheless a cigar that proposes a high level of satisfaction. 86-89: good smoke. The cigar has considerable qualities of a high level, also having some slight flaw in the parameters of the evaluation. It’s nonetheless a recommended cigar with a high rate of satisfaction. 81-85: decent smoke. The cigar convinces in parts, shows both quality and flaws inherent to the different parameters of the evaluation. It’s nonetheless a cigar to smoke with appreciable continuity. <80: meager smoke. The cigar proposes numerous flaws throughout the arc of the parameters of the evaluation. The merits are not eligible if not in a ludicrous way and marginally, the smoke is classified as absolutely not recommended. cigars with a really good quality/price ratio. They show high level characteristics and are really competitive price. We defenitely recommend the purchase.CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 8
cigar corner Cigar would suggest you to put them in a humidor and Corner wait for a few weeks for them to “recover”. Good smoking! Good day dear editorial staff, I’ve been always following you with pleasure and I wanted to I have been following you since the beginning and ask you a question. I have recently found I wanted to simply compliment you for the many some cigars that belonged to my grandfa- goals achieved and for making this amazing maga- ther, kept in humidor for over 10 years, zine available for us. Good smoking to all the team! without anyone ever controlling the state of the conservation. The cigars are dry and I (Sabrina Loretto) wanted to know if they could still be smoke, Good day dear editorial staff, other than or do I have to keep them as a keepsake. complimenting you, I would like to find more (Michele Antonello) contents about the world of spirits in your pages. I have read with a lot of interest, theDear Michele, the cigars are a delicate product articles in the last issues and I have foundand if the are not treated with the right care, them very interesting! I hope in the nextyou can encounter some unpleasant smokes. In issues we could appreciate even more cigaryour case, the cigars not correctly conserved for pairings and spirits read, that in my opinionall those years, have probably lost their oils andtherefor their aromas. You can try to re-humidify are a perfect duet! Thank you!them, but very likely the smoke wouldn’t be parti- (Sebastiano Capotondi)cularly rich, in term of aromas. This doesn’t meanthat you won’t have any satisfaction at all. We Dear Sebastiano, like you rightfully write, the pairing of cigars and spirits is something many aficionados dedicate time and attention to. The choice about what pairing with the cigars is not simple and the risk is that one of the two pleasu- res could overshelms the other, thus not making it possible to enjoy the pleasure that both could give. The space we will dedicate to pairings will ste- adily increase, because of the many requests, like yours, that have made us understand its impor- tance and how much it is wanted. I’ve come to know about this publication through Instagram and I have to admit, that I have downloaded and devoured all the published issues. I found your magazine exceptional and I appreciate very much the passion you all put in it! (Vincent Khram) I travel a lot and I am always looking for lounges allowing me to cut out some time, also during the working stay, to dedicate myself to our beloved cigars. It would be very interesting to read where it is possible to smoke a cigar in maximum relaxation, even when far from home. (Paul Lee)9 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
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tools foto: Jeff HarrisThe flat flameis this the lighters future?by Luca CominelliMoving into the years not only the tobacco manu- this aspect: its precision is the secret of its suc-facturing techniques have evolved, but also the cess. Lighting a cigar up with the anti-wind flameaccessories allowing the users to fully enjoy the is in facts simpler, faster and more precise whensmoke did improve, in order to perform their jobs compared to the traditional flame.in the most practical possible way. Larger caliber cigars were however requiringChallenged by larger and larger dimensions several passes on the foot before the actual ligh-cigars, cutters are now featuring shaped blades, ting up. For this reason the double Jetflame havehousing cepos larger than some years ago; same firstly been introduced in the market, with triplecan be said for the travel humidors. However, the and quadruple flames coming later. All thesecategory suffering the most pronounced evolution lighters join precision and power, so that theyhas been lighters. allow oversized cigars to be lightened up in very short timings.Smokers started with the traditional flame, thenchanging into the Jetflame, capable of performing When we were expecting the end of new intro-its task also outside, solving all the wind-generated ductions in the market, that was the momentproblems. Jetflame is not only beloved because of when the latest release took place, the flat flame11 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
lighters. This flame type allows an even easier ligh-ting up. While with the Jetflame it is required torotate the flames on the foot of the cigar, withthe flat flame the action performed is similar tobrushing the foot, since the flat flame resemblesa brush’s tip.This new flame being literally “flat”, it results intoincredible precision, with no risks of burning capaleaves. Besides that, lighting up turns to be easierand quicker for generous dimensions cigars,however also very sharp for a panatela format,since the flame is adjusted in height, making verysimple to evaluate the needs depending on thecigar and operate it.Are the new releases finished? Nope.Manufacturers report a diminished gas usage,extending thus the duration of the lighter.However, the most striking aspect of the newflame is the shape, proving to be “bent” to thesmoker’s needs. Even after several usages, onecan not stop staring at the flame, and every timethe button is pushed, the sensation is to be infront of something new. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 12
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Smokes from the worldThe rebirthmontecristo openby Luca CominelliMontecristo is the most famous Cuban brand and size. So we decided to try again the entire line,the one with the biggest production and exporta- and astonishingly we found the four modules totion for Habanos S.A.. be a lot more mature and far from being “easy”Nowadays, half of the cigars that in the smokes. In the boxed dated 2015 and 2016,Montecristo portfolio, were introduced in the new the Montecristo Open devolop very creamy andmillennium. Among the many news, in 2009 the balanced smokes, with a much more accentuatedline “Open” was launched. Four were the formats: complexity compared to the ones from the firstEagle, Junior, Master and Regata. couple of years, with which they only remotelyThis new line was, and it still is, focused towards share the same aromatic palate.the young smoker; since the beginning it hasalways been placed in an end market very far from This “new” Open line, even when young, bring forththe aficionados’ focus, probably because it was a quality smoke, they slake and satisfy to the pointboth the line for the new generation and because to wonder about the classic question: “would itduring the launch the critiques of these cigars be good to buy few boxes for aging them someweren’t particularly positive. years?”. The question comes spontaneously and on behalf of who writes, it already became reality.All this was agreeable until 2015, the year we The new Open are in great shape and it is goodstarted to notice an evident change. The cigars to take advantage right away, but pay attentionintroduced in the blind tastings started to receive to the cuño! For once, it is good to look for for thehigh ratings, and this didn’t apply to only one more recent boxes and leave the dated ones! CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 14
drinks15 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
Ice balla lot of ice, pleaseby Nicola RuggieroIce is the most important ingredient in the prepa- and because of this, it is good to use a lot of iceration of a good drink, not only because it cools, for the creation of a good drink. Here is where thebut because it helps to keep the proportions typology of ice to use comes in to play, dependingbetween the ingredients, diluting them and lowe- on what we want to cool.ring the alcoholic tenor. A cocktail needs a different typology of ice compa-There are multiple typologies of ice on the market, red to a drink that is served in a small dose, likewith different forms, dimensions and quality. a whisky. The reason is simple: if it is not possible to completely immerse the ice into the drink, itWhy does the ice cool? The heat tends to move is better to use larger dimension ice, so that afrom a higher temperatures zone to zones with minor surface of ice is in contact with the liquid.lower temperatures. Think about a container with This makes the ice heating up slowlier, melting forisolated sides, with no heat exchange with the out- a longer period of time and diluting less our drink.side and containing a liquid and some ice. In thiscase, a heat shift from the liquid (having a higher An example is the Japanese method of processingtemperature) to the ice will happen. Thus, we will the ice, consisting in carving the classic forms, likehave the cooling of the liquid and the heating of balls, cubes and chunks (pieces of irregular ice),the ice, until there will be a new thermic balance. out of big blocks, in a way that the surface in con-For this reason, there is no cooling without dilution tact with the liquid is minor. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 16
Smokes from the worldThe FinTehset FPihnielsipt pPihnielipCpiignaersCSiginarcseS1in88ce1.1881.HEAD OFFICE ALOHA HOTEL MANUFACTURING U.S.A. DISTRIBUTIONHEAD6/OFFAFlpIChaEland Southgate ToweArLOHA HOUnTiEt FL, Corta Bitarta MANUFATCabTaUcRalIeNraGIncorporada U.S.A. DIDSaTuRgIhBtUerTsIO&NRyan Inc.F Alphalan2d2S58ouCthginaoteRToocweseAr ve. cor EUDnSitAF, Corta BitartSatreet TabacTaelcehranoInlocgoyrpCoorar.dCaomplex AvenuDeaughter2s0&7 JRoyhannstIonnc.Parkway58 Chino Roces AveM.ackoartiECDitSyA1232 Street Malate, ManilTaechnologyPeCopolre. ’Cs oTemcphlneoxloAgvyenCuoemplex SE2Z07 JohnstoKnePnalyr,kNwCay27542Makati City 1232Philippines Malate, MTaEnLila(632) 525-3P2e6o6ple’s TechnolCogayrmCoonma,pCleaxvSiteE4Z116 Kenly, NTCEL2(7951492) 284-2058PhilippineTsEL (632)310-5047 TEL (632) 525-3266 Carmona, CTaEviLte(643121)6584-4316 TEL (919F)A2X84(9-21095) 8284-2305TEL (632)3T1E0L-5E0F4A7X(632)310-5047 TEL (632)584-4316 FAX (919) 284-2305TELEFAX(632)310-5047 www.tabacalera.com.ph [email protected] [email protected] CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
TheTFhienFeisntePsht PilihpiplipinpeinCeiCgaigrsarSsinSicnec1e818818.1. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 18
slow attitudeMaduro wrappersvirtues and vicesby Didier HouvenaghelIt becomes more and more frequent to encounter The Painting - Some producers artificially darkencigars with a very dark wrapper. Some aficiona- the colour of the wrapper with a solution that isdos are really attracted by this colour specificity, generally produced by soaking fermented leaves’while others do not really appreciate such a dark stems.capa. It is a matter of perception and taste. Buta true natural maduro wrapper is really nice The Cooking - During a voluntarily relatively un-and specific, and the strong requirements of its controlled fermentation of wrappers, the chain ofdemanding production unveil the real expertise of internal leaves transformations will become morethe producer. and more important. As a consequence, the lea- ves’ temperatures will quickly increase. WhenMore than just adding another stylish distinction triggered and engaged, this phenomenon canto the cigar, a maduro wrapper – when produ- occur so fast that it is called ‘quemar la capa’ inced with know-how and dedication – really brings Spanish, literally ‘to burn the wrapper’. Such a pro-something distinctive to the blend. duction treatment is given to the leaves in order to achieve good combustibility and increased leaves’Generally talking, there are 3 ways to produce darkening. Much time is ‘saved’ in realizing thosemaduro wrappers. 2 interesting characteristics but as a trade-off the19 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
aroma’s richness will be lost by rushing too muchthe reactions and not controlling the consequentthermal runaway.The Natural way - Both fermentations’ tempera-ture and evolution are here closely controlled. Thetemperature among the leaves in the fermen-tation unit (pilón) - necessary for the process tohappen - is increased slowly thanks to a close con-trol of the phenomenon by regular and numerouscycles of natural temperature increases of theleaves generated by the fermentation’s dynamic,and manual revolving of the fermentation units toavoid going over temperature thresholds by con-trolling the process’ speed.Those cycles are done over a very long period,sometimes near to 4 times longer than normalwrappers. Hence a natural maduro fermentation,it is a ‘normal’ process (as it follows the samecycles and concepts) but with a much longer timeof treatment and with a much closer control ontemperature.By producing a maduro wrapper of quality, weare in fact looking forward achieving 3 main cha-racters: nice darkness in colours, interestingaromas, and good combustibility.And those antagonist parameters (1 and 2 ver-sus 3) are very difficult to obtain in one same leaf.The dark colours emerge after the drying (pro-cess modifying the green leaves into brownleaves) and the fermentation (process increasingthe darkness of the leaves colour and fixing it). Thebigger the leaves’ organic fraction, the darker itscolour after the process. This is why a madurowrapper must be thick. Agricultural leaves fornice coloured maduro wrappers should be takenin high priming (high on the plant).The dynamic of the aroma is pretty comparableto the one of the colour: aromas come with theorganic fraction of the leaves and are ‘released’ bygood processes. Agricultural leaves for well aro-matic maduro wrappers should be taken in highpriming (high on the plant).The burning quality comes mainly with the mineralfraction of the leaves. The closer from the soil, the CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 20
slow attitude bigger the mineral fraction of the leaves. Burning is more difficult if the leaves have high content in organic molecules, therefore so if they are aro- matic and potentially dark in colour. Agricultural leaves for nice combustible maduro wrappers should be taken in low priming (low on the plant). It becomes obvious that having an optimal balance of those 3 parameters within a same leaf is pretty challenging and difficult. Agricultural leaves to pro- duce natural maduro wrappers must be pretty thick. They come from high priming where the organic fraction is important and the mineral frac- tion is small. Having an important organic fraction as to become well-balanced maduro wrappers, thick leaves require a more intense fermentation than normal wrappers. This intensity must be more of a low speed over a long time than of a high speed over a short period. This biochemical process being more intense than for normal wrappers, temperatures generated must be more carefully controlled. If not, permanent damages could be caused to the aromatic molecules by the thermal runaway of the fermentation’s chain reactions. Producing maduro wrappers - with even dark brown colour, good aromas, and nice combustion - is excessively difficult to make as it is a real pro- cess challenge. But as a just reward of the numerous efforts and the complete and balanced process, the tasting quality will be infinitely more satisfactory. The richness will be incomparable and very characte- ristic. It will be an explosion of scents.21 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
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famous smokersAvo Uvezian90 candlesby Giovanni BolzonellaWe all know AVO cigars, that indisputably his song, called “Broken Guitar”, to Sinatra, whichrepresent an important part of the Dominican at first was rejected, not for its melody, but for theproduction. On the other side, only a few know the lyrics that Sinatra didn’t wanted to sing. Later on,story of this man, born in Beirut, his hometown, as Frank decided to adopt the melody and to changea Jazz musician, that for years toured the Middle the text. Avo’s mistake was sending the song toEast with his ensemble. Kaempfert first, who was supposed to handle its publication in Germany.Musician and dance teacher, he transferred inthe 40s to the USA, with his family, where he con- In 1951 he met his wife Maria, from which he hadtinued composing and studying the piano at the three children. In 1952 he was called to arms forJuilliard School. Here in New York he met Frank the war in Korea, where he was discharged withSinatra and they became friends. He collaborates honors. In the following years he started designinga lot with him, including the recording of 1966 jewelry with his grandfather in Puerto Rico, and at“Strangers in the Night”, in which the rights were the same time he continued his musical carrier atstolen by a certain Bert Kaempfert. the Palmas De Mar Resort, where Avo’s passionThe legends, in fact, says that Avo showed one of for long filler cigars born.23 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
Thus Avo began to explore the Dominican Republic Avo Syncro Nicaragua Fogataand in 1988 started his personal production in The newest Avocollaboration with Hendrik Kelner, Davidoff masterblender; with him he created the first 10/12 Avo 90th Classic Coversblends. The “Oettinger Davidoff Group” enchanted Limited Edition commemo-with the product consistency, decided to award rates the 90th birthdaythe producer with an increase of 25% on theprice of the product. This allowed him to produce of Avo. Containing 18over 3 million cigar until the end of the 90ies. cigars, with the size of 54 x 152mm, madeIn the USA a theft of 4 AVO XO boxes from theDavidoff Store in Manhattan, close to Central Park, with a mix of tobaccomade the news. But to a man like Avo Uvezian, that has been agedto whom life has given and taken so much, what for over ten years.could have something like this provoked? Nothingmore than a shrug and a displease against those In details, theywho committed this action: “It can happen” he are dressed in asaid. Besides the $1000 over the rights of the Habano 2000big hit that was unjustly stolen from him, could itbe more than just a drop in the ocean? If also this wrapper, growntime life will give him back so much glory, like it in Ecuador, a Sanhappened until now…well, it is a welcomed bonus Andres Negrofor us smokers!!! binder, from Mexico, and filler made of Dominican tobacco. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 24
Triple-aged & hand-selected by all the Maestros del Ron CubanoFrom left to right:Juan Carlos GONZALES, Manuel CALDERON,Cesar Augusto MARTI, Asbel MORALES,Maestros del Ron Cubano Taste our know-how wisely. 25 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
drinksFruits drinksquench of thirstby Nicola RuggieroImagine a summer evening, overwhelming tem- Fruit is vitamins, minerals and water rich, andperature, not a gust of wind and far away on the some types also provide glucides in good quan-background the sea, kissing the sky and unrolling tity. Based on its composition can be divided intocarpets of waves, reaching the sandy beach… or acidic (oranges, lemons, cedars, tangors…), acidic-imagine yourself lying on a terrace, deeply bre- sugary (apples, pears, apricots, peaches…), sugaryathing and allowing the water of the waves to (bananas, figs, dates, pineapples, persimmons),spray all over you… oily (walnuts, almonds, pine nuts…) and starchy (chestnuts and peanuts).Any better chance to get refreshed by sipping afruity cocktail? It is also fundamental to be aware that fruit expe- riences a natural cycle, being also subject to aA fruit-based drink can refresh and quench thirst process known as “ripening”.even in the warmest summer days, when enjoyinga less alcoholic and vitamins-richer cocktail is pre- Ripening marks the moment fruit reaches idealferable. With this target, knowing different fruits maturation, and causes several organoleptic modi-with their properties, and the natural processes fications, such as color change (becoming brilliant),characterizing them, is of fundamental benefit. increase in sugar quantity and, consequently, CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 26
drinksdecrease in acidic content, change in the aroma climacteric fruit even at a slightly unripe stage, let-and softening of the pulp. ting it ripe in contact with other climacteric fruit, while it is necessary to buy non-climateric fruit onlyThis process is however not taking place in the when the correct ripening stage has been alreadysame way for every fruit, and it is regulated by the achieved.plant via the production of ethylene (gaseous planthormone). We can thus distinguish climacteric All these variables have to be carefully taken intofrom non-climateric fruit: the former start produ- account when considering preparing a fruit-basedcing ethylene themselves after being harvested cocktail, since the fruit itself has to be chosen withfrom the plant, thus continuing their ripening; particular care, as it represents a fundamentalthe latter when harvested at unripe stage can- aspect for the final outcome of a good cocktail.not complete the process. Fruit conservation isof utmost importance, since contact between To achieve best quality and taste results, it isclimacteric and non-climateric fruit can influence advisable to use seasonal fruit, and understandripening process: storing peaches with grapefru- its ripening and life cycle. Here below you will findits will enhance the ripening process in the latter, some simple alcoholic, fruit-based recipes whichsince the ethylene produced by the peaches will you can try proposing to your friends or, simply, toaccelerate yellowing in grapefruits. yourselves. Keep in mind to always select the best fruit and, helped by a mixer or even better by aStorage temperature is also to be changed juice extractor, you will enjoy preparing refreshingdepending on the fruit type. We could ideally buy non-alcoholic drinks by pairing your favorite fruit.27 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
PIÑA COLADA• 3 cl Cuban rum• 4/5 fresh pineapple cubes• 3 cl coconut milk• 1 cl lime juicePREPARATION:Put all the elements in a blender (or in a traditio-nal mixer) starting with the liquids, followed by thepineapple, finishing with the ice, better if minced orcrushed, and mix it up, then pouring the content inthe glass without adding extra ice, garnishing withextra pineapple cubes.CIGAR PAIRING:• Padron Serie 1964 Exclusivo• Jaime Garcia RobustoThe intensively sweet character of this drink iswell matched by the body of these two Nicaraguancigars. The earthy and spicy aromas bouquet ofthe cigars creates a pairing which balances thesmoke fruition and the drink savoring, avoiding onepleasure to overcome the other.BELLINI• 4 cl of peach puree (or fresh juice)• 8 cl of prosecco or champagnePREPARATION:Peel and chop the peaches, then placing them intoa strainer and squeeze with a spoon to extractthe juice.To decrease required time, place fruit in a mixeradding a little bit of juice, thus obtaining a puree.Pour the entire content in a small bowl or in a fluteglass and gently add the champagne filling up theglass. Decorate with a peach slice.Variations on Bellini are the “Rossini” (with freshstrawberries), the “Mimosa“ (with orange juice)and the “Tintoretto“ (with pomegranate juice).CIGAR PAIRING:• Partagas 898The spices and the strength of this Cuban createa nice mix with the elegant yet intense characterof the drink. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 28
Smokes from the world Smoking Drinking Kills Kills Driving Money Stress Kills Kills Kills Thinking Love LIVE! Kills Kills Fallon & Nicarao ©Balance. Character. Passion. 29 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13www.laleycigars.com
“Non c’è cattivo più cattivo by un buono quando diventa cattivo.” Bud SpencerCigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 30
line upLa Leya past callby Luca CominelliThe La Ley cigars nowadays produced in noted fourth country, which remains a secret.Nicaragua reflect the brand founded in the XIX The details for the rebirth of this brand werecentury in Cuba. This tribute seeks to underline curated with a lot of attention. Starting from thethe research and creation of cigars made with a writing “La Ley”, with golden characters on a whitelot of attention, just like it was years ago, where background: the font used for the making takesthe production was more contained than today up the writing of Thomas F. Jefferson, one of theand every cigar was dedicated the right attention founding fathers of the United States of Americaand resting time. declaration of independence.One characteristic strikes immediately when To the left and right of the name there are threethe blend is observed: the presence of a fourth medals, each one of them features Sapieniacountry where the tobacco leaves are from, other (knowledge), Virtus (virtue) and Venus (eleganze).then Nicaragua, Honduras and Ecuador. Focusing on the box, we find drawn next to theIn fact, for the making of these cigars, the cho- writing “La Ley” the goddess of justice blindfolded,sen blend is an Habano wrapper cultivated in with the sword and the weighing scale in hand.Ecuador, a Nicaraguan binder and a filler com- Talking about the cigars sizes in this line, threeposed of Nicaragua, Honduras and the already are the formats: Mareva, Robusto and Cañonazo.31 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
90/100MarevaSize: cepo 46 x 102 mm (4”)EUR: 9,5 € (IT) | 7 € (EU) | USD: - $ Medium to full strength. Well balanced, with a very long persistence and a huge complexity, consideringthe small size.1/2: leather, anise, black pepper and piquant notes.2/2: earth, peppermint and spices. 88/100RobustoSize: cepo 54 x 127 mm (5”)EUR: 13 € (IT) | 11 € (EU) | USD: - $ Slightly over the medium strength. Balanced and with a very good harmony to it. The aromatic paletteand the evolution are not too wide.1/3: leather, earth, coffee, spices and black pepper.2/3: wood and spices.3/3: wood, spices and peppermint. 90/100CañonazoSize: cepo 52 x 156 mm (6”)EUR: - € (IT) | 12,5 € (EU) | USD: - $ Medium strength. Great harmony and complexity. The evolution is perceivable and the persistence islong. Refined and balanced.1/3: earth, roasted notes (coffee), spices.2/3: earth, leather, wood.3/3: earth, spices and peppermint. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 32
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Smokes from the worldTop 5the most expensive cigarsby Michel ArliaFor those outside the cigar world, even the regular Produced with expensive wood, these humidorsproduction seems to be more than expensive. For contain 100 Opus X cigars and were launchedus aficionados instead, it is the norm. However, with a price of $10’000.in the last couple of years a very particular nichetook shape, the super-premium cigar one. Nr. 4: PadronThis Top 5 is made considerig the cigar price 50 Anniversary Humidor $106when they were introduced to the market andnot the collectable value that year after year, they Created for the 50th birthday of the brand. Thehave right now. Excluded from the humidor, with a design made by the famous Nelson Alfonso, contains 50 cigars with a size Nr. 5: Arturo Fuente of 50 x 165mm. They production is limited to Opus X 10 Year Anniversary $100 1’000 pieces. With the purchase of the humidor, the buyer receives accessories produced by S.T.For the celebration of the 10° anniversary of the Dupont and the possibility to refill the humidor upOpus X, 100 Forbidden X humidors were made. to five times. The price of the humidor is $5’300. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 34
Smokes from the world 4 3 Nr. 3: Cohiba 40 Anniversario Behike $450The “original“ Behike was launched in humidorsmade by Elie Bleu. This 100 pieces contain 40cigars, with the dimensions of 52 x 192mm.Each of the 4000 cigars were rolled by one tor-cedor, Norma Fernandez, and are numbered byhand. The humidor was released with a price of$18’000. Nr. 2: Davidoff Oro Blanco Special Reserve 2002 $500Born by the mind of blender Eladio Diaz, who alsocontrolled the production of the Oro Blanco. TheToro Extra has the a size of 54 x 162mm andis packed both in single coffins and in 10 countboxes. The price of the 10 count box is $5’000. Nr. 1: Gurkha Black Dragon Edicion Especial $1’150The Black Dragon carries the name of the mostexpensive cigar of our list. The case, produced inIndia, is hand carved using camel bone and con-tains 100 cigars. Only 5 of this chests have beenmade. The tobaccos used in this Double Robusto(52 x 216mm) originates from various internatio-nal countries and are aged for 12-15 years. Thechest was sold at the stellar price of $115’000. 2 5 135 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
SAPPIAMO BENE QUANTO È PREZIOSO IL TEMPO · DOVREMMOASSAPORARNE QUANTI PIÙ ATTIMI POSSIBILI · IL PIACERE È UN DOVERE ·I NOSTRI SIGARI SONO SELEZIONATI, ARROTOLATI E CONFEZIONATI AMANO CON CON CURA E PERIZIA · CIÒ RENDERÀ IL VOSTRO TEMPORICCO DI EMOZIONI, COME OGNUNO DEI NOSTRI SIGARI ·TIME IS THE ULTIM ATE LUXURYFI L L I T BEAUTI FUL LY www.davidoff.comNuoce gravemente alla salute CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 36
interviewWarpedKyle Gellis interviewby Michel ArliaDue the Futuro Selección Suprema rating in our was a Habano smoker). Fast forward to 2008, atlatest blind tasting about coronas gordas, we the time I was 18, and one day I decided to headdecide to talk with Kyle Gellis, who ist he man down and learn more about the art of cigars andbehind the Futuro line and the Warped cigar blending. Here we are 8 years later.brand. The boutique production of everything with Well Kyle, tell us about you and how Warped “Warped” written on it, has a certain exclu- was born? sivity. It seems that your intention to create a brand goes further than just cigars, evenI started Warped in 2008, I was first introduced to if everything is connected to the world ofcigars by my father who was an aficionado. WhenI was a child, he would come home from work and tobacco.let me pick out a cigar from the humidor for him.Afterwards he would tell me about the flavors he My intention from the beginning was always focu-experienced, construction issues, and so on. So I sed on the cigars and their quality and consistency.learned from an early age about Habanos flavor But when you are day in day out always watchingprofile and body differences between marcas (he over your production, blend validating, and making sure your family of retailers and customers are37 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
having the best possible experience they can,your lifestyle starts to showcase. I believe in beingexclusively different, and I bring that to my brandand life each and every day. Cigars are a lifestyle. How do you approach blending or working on new brands? Do you have the brand/idea in mind first and the blend/sizes later, or vice versa?This will vary. Sometimes I have a blend idea in myhead prior to blending and sometimes I will justbe working and it will come about. The process isextremely organic, I don’t force ideas or rush theprocess. Talking about your cigars. You have two fac- tories that produce parts of your portfolio. One being El Titan de Bronze in Miami, and the other being TABSA (in Nicaragua). How did your working with both of them come about? An interesting fact is that the cigars produced at El Titan are mixed blends, while the ones from TABSA are nicaraguan puros. Why is that and how does it differ from each other?I have been working at El Titan de Bronze foryears, Sandy believed in my vision and that wasthat. When I was speaking with Sandy regar-ding expansion and she set up an introduction toPaul Palmer or Casa Fernandez and that startedmy relationship with TABSA and blending withAGANORSA material.With El Titan de Bronze I have a different approachto blending then I do with TABSA. Sandy has anamazing selection of superior material and it wasfrom the start that I just used multiple countriesto complete a blend. When I started workingwith TABSA and seeing the unbelievable selec-tion of farms and lots from all over Nicaragua,it was overwhelming. I wanted to showcasewhat AGANORSA material was all about, whichis why I solely used 100% AGANORSA materialso far for all the blends from TABSA. TABSA andAGANORSA are owned by Eduardo Fernandez, theoperation is vertically integrated from seed to fini-shed cigar. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 38
interview Last year you worked together with Max Fernandez, of Casa Fernandez, and created the Futuro Line. The Selecction Suprema has won our Blind-tasting covering the Corona Gordas. Excellent cigar. What kind of cigar did you want to create and will there be other formats, or collaborations with Casa Fernandez? Max and I wanted to create something different, something Warped nor Casa Fernandez has pro- duced before. With Futuro “Future” Max and I are rather young in the industry (I’m 27) and we wanted to create a blend that set the tone for the brands heading into the future and the way we see it. We bring an emphasis of uniqueness, com- plexity, balance, and experience to our cigars and we wanted to showcase that. The trade show is right around the corner. What can we expect from Warped at the IPCPR and in the future? We have Maestro del Tiempo “Master of Time” releasing at the IPCPR in July and we may have a few new things coming before August.39 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
Largest and Best Range of Quality Tobacco and Cigars in the UK C.Gars Limited Est. 1997 16-18 Kingsgate Place, London, NW6 4TA 0207 372 1865 www.cgarsltd.co.uk [email protected] Turmeaus Tobacconist Mayfair 1 White Horse Street, London W1J 7LB 0207 495 7330 [email protected] Turmeaus Tobacconist Est. 1817 32-34 Fenwick Street, Liverpool L2 7NB 0151 236 3802 [email protected] Turmeaus Tobacconist Est. 1817 34 Watergate Street, Chester CH1 2LA 0124 434 8821 [email protected] Turmeaus – Norfolk Hall Farm, Martham Road Rollesby, Great Yarmouth Norfolk NR29 5DR 01493 749 710 [email protected] La Casa Del Habano 32 Watergate Street, Chester CH1 2LA 01244 348 821 [email protected] ALSO AT: TURMEAUSThe uk‘s Pr&eTEmoSibeTarc1Cc8o1ig7Maerrchant Whisky and Cigars by Robert Graham Ltd LONDON •LIVERPOOL•CHESTER•NORFOLK 4 Broadwell Parade, Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, London NW6 3BQ 0207 624 3351 [email protected] Robert Graham Ltd 9 Sussex Street, Cambridge, CB1 1PA 01223 354 459 [email protected] Robert Graham Ltd Est. 1874 194A, Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 4AZ 0131 226 1874 [email protected] The Treasurer by Robert Graham Ltd 254 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8AA 0131 556 2791 [email protected] Robert Graham’s Global Whisky Shop 111 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1QX 0141 248 7283 [email protected] Orchant and Johnstone Family Business Member of the AICSAssociation of Independent Cigar Specialists CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 40
famous smokers41 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
“If I can’t smoke inparadise, I shall not go”Mark Twaini never smoke more than one cigar per timeby Giovanni BolzonellaBorn in 1835 in the state of Missouri, Samuel another important rule: “It has always been myLanghorne Clemens owes the pseudonym to the rule never to smoke when asleep, and never toshout “Mark twain (fathoms)!” A formula used by refrain when awake!!”. On the ideal moment topilot-boats referring to the leadsman in the ports smoke: “Eating and sleeping are the only activi-of Mississippi, to reassure them of the navigability ties that should be allowed to interrupt a man’sin a particular point. In fact, Twain was a pilot and enjoyment of his cigar”.a sailor, a gold digger, a printer and a journalist. When someone asked him if he ever tried to quitFolkloristic writer and always full of humor, his smoking, he answers that „Quitting smoking iswriting are some of the most important of the the easiest thing in the world. I know, because I’veAmerican literature. done it a hundreds of times“.His biography, published a century after his death,reveals a different character compared to the In no way moderate in the use of alcohol, he alsopopular one of “the appealing old man”. His pic- nurtured a certain love for women and passedtured as a smoker of a medium of 300 cigars a his life without ever separating himself from hismonth, furthermore he usually said: “I have made cigars until to his death, that came in 1910. Funnyit a rule never to smoke more than one cigar at a was also his view on the creation: “First, God cre-time” because “More than one cigar at the time ated the man. Then he created the woman. Thenis smoking excessively”. In addition he followed God felt sorry for the man, and gave him tobacco”. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 42
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pillsCadillac in Cubathe destiny of the OLD AMERICAN CARSby Giovanni BolzonellaPromptly every year, alleged voices of chamber For years the Cubans have repaired, mended anddeclare that the days left for the american old- medicated their own cars, with parts definitely fartimers on the island are few. The Cadillac are from original ones. The places where these carsthe most notable pre-embargo testimony, but are mostly used are maritime sites where theat the same time run down. Whoever had the brackish air has rusted body shop, or rural zonesopportunity to climb into one of this picturesque where the unfinished streets have left parts of theautomobile, certainly was face to face with the cabin in a poor state of repair. Telling the truth,vicissitudes caused by a dreadful maintenance there are also Asian and Russian cars.(windows that don’t close during the downpours,the gutter smell in the cabin, bumpers fixed with Sometimes you will find videos on the internet, thatwires,…). Despite all, the Cadillacs and the other document the ability with which Cuban mechanics“Old American Cars” stay where they are! Since adapt spare parts from small Asian cars into athe embargo has also run over the spare parts Chevrolet, Cadillac, Plymouth and other historicalof the American automobile houses, the biggest American brands: wires, tacks and pieces takenobstacle to their existence on the street is not from other cars get re-dimensioned with a crafts-represented by a certain law, that would like to manship more typical for a artisanal manufactoryphase them out, but rather by the necessity and then from a workshop. “Asi se hace en Cuba!”the availability of spare parts. (This is Cuban way!). CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 44
iBnluspeiprriinngt bolfenand For Macanudo Inspirado our Master Blenders used tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua and Dominican Republic and is held together by a binder from the Jamastran Valley in Honduras. Wrapped in an oily and rich Rosada leaf from San Agustin, Honduras, you will surely get inspired with great ideas while enjoying Macanudo Inspirado. BLENDING IS IN OUR DNA45 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
Blind TastingDouble FiguradosAll the cigars sharing a shape tapered both the which has an undeniable charm.ends, belongs to the Double Figurado format. Verypopular in the 20s, the became less and less enjo- A lot of smokers don’t like them because of theiryed, till the 90s, when amost nobody was asking “slow start”, due to the tapered foot, which takes aanymore for this shape. Nowadays some produ- few minutes to make the aromatic palette developcers are showing a new interest to this format, completely and the cigar show its own character. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 46
blind tastingCuaba Distinguidos - CubaSize: cepo 52 x 162 mm (6,4”) - EUR: 15,7 € (IT) - 15,2 € (EU) | USD: - $Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: CubaMedium strength. Balance and harmony are exceptional and combined with a remar-kable aromatic intensity this cigar gives off a great smoke. It gets almost difficult to notover puff it, due to its richness and creaminess.The aromatic palette develops wood, white pepper, ripe fruits, bal- 94/100samic herbs and pan brioches.Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature - Dominican R.Size: cepo 58 x 184 mm (7,2”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 10,3 € (EU) | USD: 7,6 $Wrapper: Cameroon | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R.Medium to full strength. The cigar exhibits a complex and well balanced smoke, with aremarkable intensity to it. The aromatic palette is wide and the evolution well perceivable.Vegetal notes, almond, and earth are the first aromas developed, 92/100followed by licorice and spicy peaks. Roasted notes, and tree nutscomplete the aromatic bouquet.Padron 1926 80th Anniversary Natural - NicaraguaSize: cepo 52 x 171 mm (6,75”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 39 € (EU) | USD: 31,5 $Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: NicaraguaFull strength. Great bodied cigar and very satisfying, it delivers a rich smoke, with a hugearomatic intensity to it. Super creamy.Coffee, black pepper and aged wood in the first third, are followed 92/100by earth and walnut in the middle third. The last part is an almond,spices and vegetal notes explosion.Alec Bradley Mundial Punta Lanza No.4 - HondurasSize: cepo 48 x 108 mm (4,25”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 9 € (EU) | USD: 8,95 $Wrapper: Honduras | Binder: Honduras | Filler: Honduras & NicaraguaSlightly over the medium strength. Intense and with a long persistence, it settle down abalanced smoke, with a wide and complex aromatic palette.Vegetal notes, tree nuts (rich hazelnut) and aged wood well alter- 90/100nates during the smoke, followed by hot spices.47 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
Brun del Re Gold Perfecto - Costa RicaSize: cepo 54 x 140 mm (5,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 8,5 € (EU) | USD: - $Wrapper: Dominican R. | Binder: Indonesia | Filler: Dominican R. & NicaraguaLight strength. It develops an elegant and refined smoke, with a great balance and har-mony. The evolution is perceivable and the complexity remarkable.It delivers roasted coffee notes, tree nuts (hazelnut) and cocoa. 90/100Going on, it delivers wood and honey complete a well structuredaromatic palette.Macanudo Inspirado Black Diplomat - HondurasSize: cepo 50 x 165 mm (6,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 13 € (EU) | USD: 11 $Wrapper: Habano Connecticut | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Honduras & NicaraguaMedium to full strength. The aromatic intensity is great and the cigar is really satisfying.The smoke coming out this black Diplomat is huge, and completely wrap the palate, fromthe first to the last puff.Black pepper, balsamic herbs and piquant spices are well perceiva- 90/100ble in the whole smoke, followed by some earthy pikes.Davidoff Nicaragua Diadema - Dominican R.Size: cepo 50 x 165 mm (6,5”) - EUR: 20 € (IT) - 19 € (EU) | USD: 18 $Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: NicaraguaMedium strength. The smoke is well balanced and refined. Creamy and satisfying, is themost elegant cigar belonging to the Nicaragua Davidoff line.It develops cedar wood, peppermint roasted notes, coffee and 89/100earth, with some mineral and citrus notes completing the aroma-tic palette.Flor de Selva El Galan - HondurasSize: cepo 53 x 151 mm (5,9”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 12 € (EU) | USD: - $Wrapper: Connecticut Shade | Binder: Honduras | Filler: HondurasSlightly lower than medium strength. Creamy, balanced and harmonious, perfect to beenjoyed in every moment of the day. Elegant.Fine wood, vanilla and hazelnut are followed by piquant spices in the 89/100middle third, while honey and peppermint show up in the last part.CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13 48
blind tastingCasa Torres Perfecto - NicaraguaSize: cepo 50 x 130 mm (5,1”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 5 € (EU) | USD: - $Wrapper: Connecticut | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: NicaraguaFull strength. The smoke is intense and rich. The complexity is not its highlight but thecigar is well satisfying and shows a well shaped aromatic palette.It delivers piquant spices, wood, honey and earth. The base is sweet 89/100for the whole smoke, making the high strength less impetuous.Oliva V Melanio Figurado - NicaraguaSize: cepo 52 x 165 mm (6,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 16,3 € (EU) | USD: 14,35 $Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: NicaraguaMedium to full strength, it develops a balanced smoke, with a nice harmony. The aromasare deep and the cigar is creamy. The evolution, however, is not too wide.The aromatic palette is made of aged wood, white pepper, tree 89/100nuts (especially walnut) and piquant peaks. The spices are well per-ceivable from the first to the last puff.MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured Flying Pig - NicaraguaSize: cepo 60 x 104 mm (4,1”) - EUR: - € (IT) - - € (EU) | USD: 12 $Wrapper: N/A | Binder: N/A | Filler: N/AMedium to full strength. The process of making the Fired Cured leaves is well perceivablesmelling the cigar. The persistence and the intensity are great. The smoke is on a dryside.It delivers a peaty aroma, well perceivable from the first to the last 88/100puff. Smoked wood, black pepper and earth complete the aromaticbouquet, which gets fresher in the finale, due to balsamic notes.RoMa Craft Intemperance EC XVIII Faith - NicaraguaSize: cepo 50 x 127 mm (5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 7 € (EU) | USD: 7 $Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut | Binder: Indonesia | Filler: Dominican R. & NicaraguaMedium strength. Intense, harmonious and with a long persistence, it’s an easy smoke.This is a RoMa Craft for those who can’t handle a full body and full strength smoke.Cedar wood, honey and white pepper are the main aromas of the 88/100first half. Earth, hazelnut and black pepper develop in the secondpart, till the finale.49 CigarsLoverMagazine | No.13
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