The evening began as we walked in, welcomed by the sounds of a bagpipe playing the tunes of Scotland. We were offered a glass of Glenfiddich 12 year, Balvenie Doublewood, Hendrick’s gin, or a Blood and Sand cocktail to begin the evening with. Hors d’oeuvres found their way into our hands as we met wonderful new people, discussing the excitement of the evening which had only just begun. Displayed in the middle of the bar was an ice sculpture mirroring the bottle placed before it- the Glenfiddich 50 year. There are only three bottles which made it to the United States, and only one of them may be purchased in shots. This makes Gigi’s very special, not only offering the complete portfolio of Glenfiddich but also being the only bar in the U.S.A. to offer shots of the 50 year. If you ever desire a taste of this rare whisky, now is your opportunity.

Mind you this rarity comes with a price, as do all rare and wonderful things. The bottle alone goes for $15,000 (and has gone for more in auctions), making the $1,200 shot a special opportunity.

Once we were all ready to begin our journey, we were called into a dining room surrounded by cherry blossoms which appeared to be floating from the ceiling and a wedding style dinner setting. We found our name cards, were seated, and became acquainted with our fellow dinner guests. Then the meal began with a pleasant pour of the Glenfiddich 21 year paired with a raw vegetable terrine  with arugula and buttermilk. As we took our final bite and last sip, the 30 year Glenfiddich followed with a plate of pan fried Veal sweetbreads with silken rice noodles and fermented black beans. This was probably my favorite course of the evening, as I am very fond of sweetbreads. They were beautifully done and well balanced with the whisky. For me the 30 year always makes me crave a particular cigar, perhaps because it is what I was smoking when I first tasted it almost a year ago. Nevertheless it comes right back to mind, and that is the My Father Le Bijou in a Petit Robusto. For me the two work beautifully together- the spice of the cigar with the smooth subtle sweetness, dark chocolate, and warm delicate spices of the Glenfiddich 30 year. The finish is long and smooth, making the next sip a quick and easy one. It has a velvety mouthfeel that coats the palate beautifully as well.

Next we moved on to a very rare whisky, the Glenfiddich 1978 Reserve Cask. The rarity of this particular whisky is that it is of a single cask, producing only 184 bottles, making this whisky extremely limited in availability. It is also very nice to be able to taste a whisky produced of a single cask. When we discuss a “Single Malt Whisky” what that means is that the whisky of that bottle came from a single distillery, rather than being a blend. But that whisky can come from different casks within that distillery. A single cask whisky is quite a rare treat and something I was very excited to be able to taste, keeping in mind the properties a single barrel can produce. This particular dram was paired with a Liberty duck with licorice, beet, and skin.

As I savored my final sip, I was presented with a taste of the Glenfiddich 40 year and a filet rossini. The 40 year is rich with heavier spices, a fuller body, and a lingering finish that makes you want to wait a moment before the next sip (just to savor and let the complexity keep building in your mouth). I really enjoyed this one! The notes of dried fruits, spices, tobacco, nuts, and overall complexity really meet my palate. Like a cigar- it’s the nose and finish I savor most.

As we all finished our dinner we were called back into the bar and presented with the star of the evening, the Glenfiddich 50 year. Two names were drawn to be selected to taste this fine Scotch, and though my name was not called I was blessed enough to be offered a nose and a sip from the winner (thank you, Sarah!). I was quite surprised, but very welcomed by the softer more delicate notes and styles present in this whisky. Where the 40 is rich and medium to full in body with dense flavors, the 50 year has a very elegant quality with dominant floral and oak notes. There was a soft sweet taste with a touch of vanilla, herbs, and again the floral and oak qualities. It was silky on the palate and absolutely beautiful. I’m grateful for the taste and especially for being invited to be a part of the evening.

All I could think about with every taste, was the history behind each one and the people involved. Each whisky, like a cigar, has a story to tell and brings you into the community of those who created it. It’s all about being a part of the experience, and  a dram does just that- it brings you into the experience. I highly recommend getting involved with tastings and allowing your palate the adventure of finding your favorite whisky, and meeting great new people along the way. I want to thank everyone at Gigi’s for hosting such an amazing event, and everyone from Glenfiddich for allowing us the chance to be part of this special tasting. I also want to thank Freddy May for keeping the night lively with song and giving us the knowledge to enjoy and appreciate our whisky even more!

Mike’s Cigar Room celebrated their 2nd Anniversary celebration with special guest Michael Giannini of La Gloria Cubana. Part of the celebration included the opportunity to smoke special blends and sizes from La Gloria that are available only during events. This particular blend in the Artesanos de Tabaqueros style features two wrappers from two different regions: a Dominican Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and a Honduran Sumatra wrapper.

This is a great tasting experience to compare the influence of the wrapper as well as the transition from one to the next. And in this particular case, we are comparing styles as well as regions. I’m also delighted to see a Rothschild size (48 ring gauge) available for tasting the blend.

You can meet Michael Giannini and experience this event only blend for yourself during the Retro Tour. I want to congratulate Mike and Nancy of Mike’s Cigar Room on their shop’s 2 year anniversary and thank them for being wonderful hosts!

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the 2nd Annual Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival hosted by Smoker Friendly! A Beautiful setting, great cigars, microbrews, spirits, cigar celebrities and an amazing crowd of people- what more could you ask for?

Upon walking into the event you are greeted with a bag of cigars for you to enjoy along with a commemorative glass to taste new spirits with. Also in the bag are lighters, drink coupons, a Cigar Press Magazine, a cigar cutter, and other great treats. Once in, you also are given a raffle ticket to place in the box prize of your choice! This means as you walk through the booths, you can decide which prize is the one you want to go after (not to mention better chances at something you really want).

It’s very exciting to see such a successful cigar smoking festival happen in Boulder, Colorado. Tickets sold out this year, and there were more people anxious to get in. (Keep this in mind for next year- don’t wait until the last minute, save your spot as soon as you can). The view of the mountains as you smoke a cigar in the company of happy fellow cigar smokers brings a beautiful focus of community and lifestyle. After all, that is what it is all about.

I met so many great people, and really enjoyed bonding over new whiskies, beers, and discussing our favorite cigars. The weather was gorgeous and the VIP area granted us many comfortable seating options to enjoy these conversations over. Food and beverages were easily accessible and the staff was very friendly as well. Everything was done first class.

And let’s not forget the music- the band kept the energy high with an assortment of great tunes (performed very well I might add). I’m definitely looking forward to next year!

I want to thank Terry Gallagher from Smoker Friendly for inviting me to be a guest at this beautiful event and for taking the time to talk to us and explain what it is all about.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the HC cigar and Xikar event at Town and Country Cigars in Euless, TX. It is a special treat when you can enjoy a cigar and cocktail together, and is even better when you are surrounded by truly amazing people! The humidor and selection was beautiful, and the hospitality was first class.

Featured at the event was the complete HC cigar collection as well as the newest accessories from Xikar.

I got to enjoy one of my personal favorite pairings, too. In the bar (yes, there is a nice bar in the back) is my favorite whisky- the Yamazaki 18. It paired absolutely beautifully with the HC Colorado I was smoking and is definitely a pairing I will be doing again.

If you are ever in the Dallas area this is a must visit shop. Mike Peacock and his staff will make you feel at home.

I want to thank everyone at Xikar and at Town and Country Cigars for puting together a wonderful event and for having me as a guest!

Photography by Robert Hart

Ashton Cigars

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Cigars

Gran Habano Cigars

AKA Cigars

La Flor Dominicana

Casa Gomez

La Caridad Del Cobre

Hight Cigar

Illuminati Cigar

Xikar

Toraño

La Palina

Brun Del Ré

Moore & Bode

SAG/Quesada/Casa Magna

Andre Garcia cases

Oja Cigars

Berger and Argenti

Pinar Del Rio

Real Men Smoke Cigars

Tatuaje Cigars

General Cigar: Wayne Newton Accepts a Donation for the USO

My Father Cigars

Kristoff Cigars

Padilla Cigars

Hammer + Sickle Cigars

Illusione Cigars

Mi Tierra Cigars

Reinado Cigars

Elogio Cigars

Chinnock Cellars Cigars

Rocky Patel Cigars: Rocky Patel

Rocky Patel Cigars: Nimish Desai

Rocky Patel Cigars: Nish Patel

EO Brands Cigars (601 & Murcielago)

Room 101 Cigars

Graycliff Cigars

La Gloria Cubana Cigars

Colibri

Drew Estate Cigars: Steve Saka

Drew Estate Cigars: Jonathan Drew

Nat Sherman

AJ Fernandez Cigars

Padron Cigars

Alec Bradley Cigars

Lou Rodriguez Cigars

Puros Indios Cigars

Iriarte Photography & Design

7-20-4 Cigars

Prometheus Accessories & God Of Fire Cigars

Arturo Fuente Cigars

The Guayabera Lady

J Fuego Cigars

Cigar Rights of America

Humidipak & Boveda

C & C Cigars

Perdomo Cigars

Urbano Cigars

Pedro Martin Cigars

This year the annual cigar trade show- IPCPR, was held in the Venetian in Las Vegas. It was an amazing show and was the first year the IPCPR granted membership opportunities to the media. I was honored to officially become a member in the company of the manufacturers and retailers of whom I have a great respect for.

There were so many great moments to share from the show, both on the floor of the show and at events afterward. And since it was Vegas- sleep was not something on the agenda for most! But a great time was certainly had by all. You’ll be seeing the great moments from the show soon as I begin posting the videos. There are many to go through and I look forward to you experiencing the show with me. Right now I wanted to share with you some of the great moments that occurred after the show as well as my photos of the booths.

There were incredible dinners and cocktail events happening each night after the show. The first night in Vegas was spent at a party hosted by Alec Bradley the day before the show. Alan Rubin was there and introduced me to a sneak peak video of a roller working in the factory on their latest project. As I was watching the video… wow, I saw him use nine leaves on a single cigar, grabbing tobacco from a different table because they wouldn’t all fit on his. It was a treat to see, hopefully he will be sharing it online, too. If not maybe when enough people ask he will (hint, hint).

cigars and drinks with friends (love how many drinks are in front of us, ha-no, not all ours)

The next morning was the first day of the show followed by a cocktail reception hosted by Zino Platinum, then dinner with William Paley of La Palina Cigars at Cut. What a treat! The meal was amazing and the people made the night that much more spectacular. I had the pleasure of getting my hands on the much anticipated El Diario, too! I’ve been excited about this new addition for quite some time and was delighted with the cigar. This is a medium plus bodied cigar with more spice, however the La Palina elegance is still present in the finish. During dinner  I had the fortune of meeting Brian and Terry Chinnock of Chinnock Wine Cellars. As we were talking and wine was being poured, someone noticed the bottle and made the announcement: we were having two bottles from Chinnock Wine Cellars tonight- a 2007 and a 2006 Merlot. It’s a great moment when you not only meet some amazing people, but get to enjoy their own creation the the company of great friends. I had the pleasure of smoking Brian’s “Little Havana” cigar the next day at the show with a glass of 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and it was an incredible pairing. I’m still thinking about it. I’m hooked on that “Little Havana” and am anxious to see it in stores. I was really impressed with the flavor and balance of the cigar as it complimented the wine. William Herrera (formerly of El Titan and now with Drew Estate- so excited about that by the way, we have some incredible things to look forward to there) blended the cigars for Chinnock Cellars.

Following dinner on the same night (like I said- it’s Vegas and the entertainment never ends) we were on our way to a blogger party hosted by Drew Estate! It was nice to relax and catch up with the bloggers while having a cigar and overlooking the Las Vegas strip.

The next evening began with the Toraño Hospitality Suite! Drinks, cigars, and great conversations were had as we relaxed and celebrated the end of the first day of the show. It was great to see Charlie and catch up with Oliver, Liza, and Gabriel from Toraño, too. I also had the pleasure of catching up with the beautiful Christine Morgan (@LadyoftheStick)!

From there it was on to a wonderful dinner hosted by Ashton Cigars at Postrio. Everything Ashton does is first class, and their dinner was no exception. I had the honor of sitting with Sathya Levin and enjoyed many great cigars, cocktails, conversation, and a beautiful dinner I will not soon forget!

Another special treat that occurred in the evenings that followed the IPCPR was enjoying a cigar and mojito at Casa Fuente. This particular experience was made even more personal as I smoked an aged Opus X Maduro Lancero that was given to me by Carlito Fuente from his own collection. This is a cigar that was rolled 8 years ago and will not be brought into production. Wow, it was amazing! I still remember the bittersweet chocolate powder notes of flavor… not to mention smoking this cigar with Carlito at Casa Fuente. Incredible.

Many great moments were had this year, and there is much more to look forward to! Videos are being uploaded now and will continue to be posted here on the blog. Speak with you soon!

God of Fire Cigars are some of the finest and most sought after ultra premium cigar available and are blended by Carlos and Carlito Fuente and manufactured in their factory in the Dominican Republic. These are some fantastic smokes!

The event will be from 5-9 pm and will be catered by Carrabas.

Some of the specials include 20% off boxes of God of Fire Cigars (or receive a Free Retro Prometheus lighter instead)

All Prometheus cutters, lighters and humidors will be 20% of as well.

I will be flying out for this event as well. Come join me next Thursday for this very special God of Fire and Prometheus event.

I’ve not been to this part of the country so if you’re anywhere around next Thursday, please stop by if you can. It is sure to be a wonderful evening.

17329 Panama City Beach Parkway
Panama City Beach, FL 32413
(850) 249-6282
(3/10ths of a mile West of Hwy 79)

During the Brick House Cigar event at Cigar Towne in Houston, TX, I had the pleasure of speaking with Rick Poehler of Cigar Family. In this video, Rick informs us of the details on this Nicaraguan puro from J.C. Newman- a medium bodied smoke that starts on the milder side and builds with a nice earthy complexity.

Rick also brings up a great perspective from the industry and reminds us not only of what cigars are all about, but how we must pay attention to keep our liberties. Relax, light up a cigar, and enjoy.

Brick House Cigars

One of the interviews that I didn’t get at the show was Don Pepin Garcia of My Father.  He is one of the busiest people  in the industry and his booth at the show proved that. In addition to releasing a very limited series this year from My Father Cigars as well as his regular line of cigars, he finds time to blend and make cigars for many other makers: All of the Tatuaje brands for Pete Johnson, all 3 La Aroma De Cuba lines and both San Cristobal lines for Ashton, all of the EO brands for Eddie and Eric (601, Cubao, Murcielago), the Miami line of cigars for Nestor Miranda, La Forcade, La Sirena and more.

It was my good fortune that Pepin was in Texas for an event the week following the show, and I was able to catch up with the master blender himself. Jose Oretga, his new VP of sales, is one of the nicest and most genuine people in the business and served as our interpreter.

The folks at Habana House in Austin threw a first class event and were so kind and accommodating, and the turnout was unbelievable. It was a wonderful evening and a perfect post script to this year’s IPCPR.

www.myfathercigars.com

Don Pepin