I had the pleasure of speaking with Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate and Joya De Nicaragua during his event at CigarCigar! In this interview, Jonathan introduces us to the new Dark Corojo Antono and new Cabinetta line from Joya De Nicaragua. One is a full bodied extra smoke while the other is a medium bodied smoke, and both are balanced with a great flavor.

When Jonathan informed me of the process in distinguishing “ligeron” for the Antano Dark Corojo, I found myself not only learning something new but also appreciating the time and quality in even more.

When I first tasted the Antano Dark Corojo I was a little uncertain of what to expect as I was told it was to be a very full bodied plus cigar. The wrapper is very dark with a nice slight oily factor, but dark doesn’t always mean strong. By appearances and feel alone I was curious to see what this cigar would produce. And this being my first cigar of the night, I wanted to make sure my experience would be an enjoyable one.

Right away there was a burst of flavor but very smooth and balanced- it didn’t bite or have any harshness, but rather a smooth and delicious quality. Throughout the duration of the smoke the body continued to build gradually and comfortably, keeping the smoke interesting and enjoyable. There is definitely a nicotine factor to consider that is present in this smoke, those who love that kick will want to pick up one for sure! Keep in mind this particular cigar is in the full body extra range.

Thank you to Jonathan Drew for giving us such a great insight!

The Family Blend from Alec Bradley is the latest addition to my go-to list of cigars. In the past I have often gone for the Tempus or Prensados from Alec Bradley, but the character of this very smooth and rich cigar with a medium body has taken over for me lately.

I’ve really been enjoying it with its woody and leathery notes, lingering sweet finish, and smooth creamy smoke. The price point is a great one, too.

I had the pleasure of attending an Alec Bradley event and finding out more behind the story of this cigar; be sure to discover it for yourself in the video interview posted below.

Thank you to Jason Poehler for introducing us to Alec Bradley and telling us the story behind the Family Blend.

PS: It turned out to be another fantastic event at Cigar Emporium! My record continues as my number was drawn again for a beautiful ash tray! You’ve got to go to their events if you are around; there is always great company, great cigars, and some prizes to be won.

I had the pleasure of speaking with David Dietrich of Perdomo Cigars during the latest event at Cigar Towne, a great new cigar shop located  in Houston’s Energy Corridor. This was my first time meeting David and he was kind enough to walk me through the selections Perdomo Cigars has to offer and each cigar’s style and profile. Until the time of this event I had only ever smoked the Perdomo Champagne 10th Annviersary- a cigar I have enjoyed on many occasions and has always been a wonderful mild cigar on my list.

After hearing about the various flavor profiles, I decided to go with one of David’s recommendations and taste the Perdomo 10th Anniversary Maduro. It was a medium bodied smoke all throughout the length of the cigar with wonderful notes of cocoa powder through the nose. There was a nice flavor of coffee beans that worked nicely along side the cocoa as well.

The construction was beautiful, providing a lovely draw and very nice burn. It was only when I was standing under a fan did the burn start to become uneven, though after stepping away it corrected on its own very nicely ( I love it when a cigar does that). The smoke was very smooth and the flavors were nicely balanced. I can definitely see myself having cravings for this one again in the near future. That cocoa powder taste was very distinctive and lovely. I like that paired with the medium bodied style of the smoke, this will be a great cigar for the mid to late afternoon when I want that chocolate and coffee flavor without it being too heavy or decadent. I like how the flavors feel soft and smooth yet rich without being heavy.  I think it will also make for a great after dinner cigar.

Brian McGee of CAO cigars is always a pleasure to see, and during his last event he introduced me to the La Traviata cigar.

This is a very full-bodied flavorful cigar with a great taste of pepper as you light the cigar and a rich cedar and leathery flavor with a slight sweet and creamy finish. Though intense with flavor, it is also very nicely balanced and round for a smooth smoking experience.

Brian also informs us of what to look forward to from CAO!

I had the pleasure of meeting Kurt Van Keppel, owner of Xikar and HC Series Cigars, and discovering the details on the new HC Series as well as the latest news from Xikar.

This was my first tasting of the HC Series line and I was very happy with the experience. When I think of Xikar I think of accessories and wasn’t sure what to expect out of the new cigars. It was definitely a welcoming surprise and Kurt describes each cigar’s profile perfectly.

It was a pleasure speaking with Kurt and off camera we discussed the palate from cigars to food and especially wine. His passion and knowledge is a delight that can be seen within the products Xikar, and now HC Series Cigars, creates.

This was a real treat! While at Serious Cigars for the Casa Fernandez event, I had the pleasure of meeting the president of Casa Fernandez, Paul Palmer, and master blender Arsenio Ramos. Arsenio shared such great stories and insights with me that I am very grateful to share some of these moments with you here on video.

Take a moment for a lesson from Arsenio and Paul to discover more about not only Arsenio’s history with tobacco, but more about the science, tradition, and factors involved for blending fine cigars.

I had the pleasure of catching up with Kris Booker at ‘Cigar Emporium’ in Houston for the Esteban Carreras event. It is always a great experience, after all- what isn’t there to love about great cigars and great people?

And it seems my luck continues yet again as my name was drawn for a prize. I thought for sure I would retire and pass on the luck, but it seems to be strong for me in this shop! Every event I have attended here I have had the fortune to have my name drawn. Pure luck- I promise!

I would like to thank Kris Booker for giving us a great insight into Esteban Carreras Cigars. If you haven’t tried the 10 Anos you will want to seek it out. It is a true medium bodied cigar with a silky smoke and complex changing flavor. It keeps things interesting as the flavor profile shifts gradually as you smoke the cigar with lots of tastes to enjoy.

Nub Live 2009 made its way through Houston at Serious Cigars last night- and what an event. Lots of goodies, great cigars, and wonderful people. What isn’t there to enjoy?

Sam Leccia was rolling cigars and was kind enough to give us some insights on video- thank you Sam, and thank you especially for the custom designed cigar. Wow. This is an incredible treat, and truly a work of art. Watching the skill, time, and detail that went into creating this cigar was a wonderful experience I am very grateful for. You can see some photos posted below of this unique custom styled cigar.

There are still more Nub Live 2009 shows to come- make sure you are there when the event arrives near your home. You will have a blast!

 

I had the good fortune to run into Rocky Patel after returning from Honduras and Nicaragua last week.

As some of you know I spent nearly a week touring Rocky Patel’s cigar factory, box making factory, as well as Nestor Placencia’s factory and tobacco fields and AJ Fernandez’s factory in Esteli Nicaragua where Rocky’s new Nicaraguan blends, the 1961 and Patel Brothers, are being made.

Rocky’s cousin Nimish, VP of Operations, was our gracious host and not enough can be said for his generosity as well as that of all his staff and everyone at Rocky Patel.

The day I got back I found out that Rocky was in town at an event. Talk about coincidence. I wanted to thank him personally for everything, especially for our 2 unexpected extra days at his house, due to the recent political events in Honduras. They drove us to Minagua, Nicaragua to fly out so we could get back to the States. More on this adventure in upcoming posts.

I have so much to report from this trip so please stay tuned to the blog for more videos and lots of pictures. I think you will learn a lot about cigars, and appreciate them even more after seeing all the attention to detail and the amazingly hard work that goes into getting them to you.