Kip Fisher - Co-Founder, Author at Half Ashed

Press Release: Emilio to begin Distribution of Epicurean Cigars

December 14, 2012 By Kip Fisher

December 14, 2012 – Steven Ysidron, President of Epicurean Cigars, and Gary Griffith, owner of Emilio Cigars announced today that they have entered into a joint distribution agreement.

Under the terms of the agreement Epicurean Cigars will now be shipped from the Emilio Cigars facility in Vineland, NJ and added to the portfolio of products of the Emilio Cigars sales staff.

Ysidron, formerly with Savinelli, USA, has had a long career in the industry, and is now producing his own line, Epicurean Cigars. “We are very excited to be a part of what Emilio Cigars are doing. They represent the integrity and commitment to quality boutique cigars that has long been a passion for me and my family,” said Ysidron.

Griffith reiterated: “We welcome Steve to the family, and look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership. I am fully dedicated to the mission of bringing an array of quality boutique cigars to a broader market, whether under the Emilio Cigars mark, or the mark of other equally dedicated and passionate manufacturers.”

This agreement will free Ysidron to stay focused on new product development and production oversight and allow him to expand his distribution into new markets. Distribution will shift to the Emilio Cigars facility during the first week of January, 2013.

Press Release: Emilio Cigars to begin distribution of Ezra Zion

November 30, 2012 By Kip Fisher

Timely with yesterday’s Ezra Zion Reagan review, we have news from Emilio Cigars and Ezra Zion today:

Press Release: November 30, 2012

Kyle, Chris, & the Don, the owners of Ezra Zion Cigar Company and [formerly] CigarFederation, and Gary Griffith, owner of Emilio Cigars, announced today that they have entered into a nationwide distribution agreement. To satisfy the rapidly expanding demand for the super-boutique Ezra Zion product line the Emilio sales staff will service new and existing accounts.

“When we launched Ezra Zion Cigar Company at IPCPR in August, we were overwhelmed by the positive response and volume of orders.” said Chris, “Keeping up with the demand for our cigars and delivering a supreme, quality smoking experience is paramount to our company. Joining forces with Gary Griffith and the House of Emilio will allow us to do that even better!”

“We started Ezra Zion with the idea of making cigars that you and your buddies would make if you made a cigar. To us, smoking is a celebration and an experience to be had, not just a hobby. Partnering with Gary and his staff will bring that celebration to a shop near you.

The Inception and the Reagan lines have arrived at the Emilio Cigars warehouse in Vineland, NJ and will begin shipping immediately.

“I am delighted to be able to help this outstanding boutique manufacturer benefit from our existing shipping and billing facilities, and even more happy that we were able to make this arrangement with such passionate new cigar makers” said Griffith.

“Through videos and social media, we want to continue to bring innovation and insight into our cigar journey. Whether we are at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Ca. for a Reagan/Two If By Tea cigar pairing…in Nicaragua creating new blends…or on our ranch in Texas shooting an M-14 with a cigar burning, we want to bring cigar lovers everywhere into our world and take the journey with us.” added Chris.

Keep up with the Ezra Zion Cigar Company on EzraZion.com. Follow on Twitter @EzraZionCigars

Cigar Review: Ezra Zion Honor Series Reagan (40th)

November 29, 2012 By Kip Fisher

I first came into contact with the guys at Ezra Zion through their cigar-centric social media site, The Cigar Federation (under new ownership as of 2014). Earlier this year, I reviewed their first release, the Inception, and subsequently met them in person at IPCPR. They have now begun shipment of their second offering into the marketplace – The Reagan – and when faced with the opportunity to give it a try I felt it would be foolish to refuse, considering how much I have been enjoying the Inception. The Reagan is the first cigar released under their Honor Series banner, and is a tribute to our 40th President. Today I’m smoking the “40th,” which is a 6″ X 52 box pressed toro. According to their website, it is a Nicaraguan puro featuring “Grade “A” Nicaraguan Tobaccos Aged 5 to 6 Years.” The filler is a mixture of 2007 Cuban Seed Seco, Viso, and Ligero, with a 2006 Cuban seed binder, and a 2006 Cuban Seed Sun Grown Habano wrapper, and retails for about $12. The Inception is produced by Tabacalera Tropical (Casa Fernandez), while the Reagan is coming from MATASA (Sag Imports). I think using different manufacturers and blenders rather than being bound to only one is an interesting approach from EZ, in that they can take advantage of the many varied tobaccos at the disposal of each for creating new cigars – as well as offering a more diverse range of cigars within the Ezra Zion lineup. But that’s enough chitter-chatter…let’s move on to the important part:

The Reagan is medium brown in color with some mild mottling. There are moderate veins present, although the coloration and square pressing disguises them. The wrapper is smooth to the touch, with a light oily sheen and no tooth to speak of. Giving it a quick once-over, it is firm to the touch but without noticeable hard (or soft) spots. The construction is sound, with an expertly applied triple cap and tight, wellbuilt seams. The prelight aroma of both the foot and wrapper is of lightly sweet tobacco with a mild hint of cocoa. Flavor from the unlit draw is more cocoa and/or chocolate, and the draw itself is slightly firm, but not overly tight (especially considering the press).

The earliest puffs give a healthy burst of spice on the retrohale – not too harsh, but noticeable. This spice is actually a pleasant surprise. As one who is easily overwhelmed by too much “nasal napalm,” I am sometimes sensitive to a spicy cigar. The Reagan has a more robust dose than the Inception, but still quite manageable and comfortable. The spice is further tempered by the sweeter background flavors. In this first section of the cigar, I’m getting a lot of sweet leather and stewed fruit – plum, even. Early on, the burn is outstanding, producing a variegated salt & pepper colored ash.

Going into the middle segment of the Reagan, the early spice remains at about the same fervor to my senses, but has changed slightly in character. It is possibly a bit milder, but that could very well be palate acclimatization. There is more of an acidic tone – and I intend that to be a positive remark. The acidity is just enough to activate the ol’ salivary glands, so it is literally a mouthwatering cigar. Very pleasant. The spice continues to complement the flavors in a sweet vs. savory interchange. I have paired today’s Reagan with a cup or three of plain black coffee, which as it turns out is a beautiful, beautiful thing. I have smoked one other Reagan previously without accompaniment, and the coffee really seems to draw out and emphasize the subtle flavors therein. The burn remains quite well behaved, consistently producing the aforementioned black and white ash.

Going into the final two inches or so of the Reagan, the flavor profile comes into its own. The earlier sweetness really develops, taking on a sweetened cocoa quality that truly shines. The spice has subdued at this point, although you can still unearth it with a retrohale. With the cocoa comes a lovely sweet leather flavor, which sallies forth in the aroma as well. These flavors continue to build toward the end of the smoke, leaving me wanting more. Not more from a cigar….more of these cigars. The room note – for lack of a better term – is very unique as well. It is quite unlike most cigars in that it smells more sweet than savory. I associate the lit aroma of many cigars with a campfire, or more specifically burning oak. The Reagan reminds me more of the charred apple I use in the smoker when preparing salmon. My wife is not exactly a fan of the smell of most Nicaraguan cigars – but were she sharing the patio with me today, I think even she would appreciate the Reagan. The burn remains consistent to the very end, and during the two examples I’ve smoked I believe I’ve only needed to perform one minor touchup. That is impressive considering my compulsion to manicure the ash on most sticks.

Cigars come and go. Cigar companies come and go. But from all appearances, the guys at Ezra Zion are here for the long haul. I have to admit that early on I reserved no small amount of skepticism about a company so ambitious as to go after the über premium market with their initial release(s), and wondered if that market would support a new brand without an established history. As is often the case, I find myself chowing down on a good bit of crow over those thoughts. The Inception was an absolutely phenomenal cigar, and the Reagan no less so. Both are impressive, each in its own right. While drawing the initial puffs from my first Reagan, my thoughts were that I preferred the Inception. Shortly thereafter, however, I had reversed course faster than most of our contemporary politicians. At this point, I’m not entirely sure which I prefer…but I’m sure as heck enjoying the continuing process of figuring that out. Being a strong proponent of doing things correctly or not at all, I am fully onboard with the philosophy behind the brand and I look forward to the coming days as Ezra Zion continues to create new blends and lines. It’s a great time to be a cigar smoker.

Cigar Review: 1502 Emerald Toro

November 26, 2012 By Kip Fisher

As you may recall, I recently did a Cigar Spotlight on Emilio Cigars in which I mentioned the fact that Emilio has taken over distribution for a number of other boutique cigar companies. One such company is 1502 (Global Premium Cigars). Gary Griffith was kind enough to pass along a couple of 1502 cigars for me to try, one of which I’d like to present today – the 1502 Emerald. I believe this is the first 1502 I have been fortunate to smoke, as I don’t know of any retailers from whom I usually buy that carries the line. Three lines make up the 1502 marque: “1502 Emerald the “Fina Fuerte” (Fine Strong), 1502 Ruby of medium strength and 1502 Black Gold with strongest character” [from the GPC website]. My understanding from the GPC description is that the Emerald carries a Nicaraguan Corojo Habano wrapper, and a mixture of San Andres (Mexican), Esteli (Nicaragua), and Condega (Nicaragua) leaf in the filler and binder.

You’ll have to forgive the poorly lit pictures in today’s review, as I made these notes on the final Emerald that I had onhand – at dusk – and I possess very little photographic expertise. In checking out the outward appearance of the Emerald, I find a uniformly chocolate-colored wrapper with moderate veins. The veins are noticeably lighter in color than the areole, which makes them stand out brightly. As for construction, the seams are tight and well formed, as is the cap. Insofar as is observable, the Emerald is a very attractively built cigar. Today’s example is approximately 6″ long and roughly a 48 ring – it is mildly square-pressed, so I suppose an exact ring measurement may vary depending on what you might consider the “proper” method. The prelight aroma is mild – almost nonexistent on the wrapper, and faintly akin to hay or a sweet barnyard from the foot. The foot is slightly overwrapped as well. The draw before lighting is dark and sweet; somewhat like raisin with a bit of nuttiness, and deliberate but free.

With the application of fire, the Emerald takes a light readily. The initial puffs are surprisingly floral, and the early retrohale is lightly peppery and somewhat astringent; think white pepper rather than black or vegetal. The spice is well within the pleasant range for me – not overpowering in the least. The astringency sticks around throughout the first inch or so of the cigar, as do the above-mentioned flavors. The burn proves to be reliable, with only a slight wobble within the first few minutes, which soon self corrects. After the first inch of smoking, at about 1.25″, an unexpected sweetness developed in both examples I smoked. I found this very pleasing on the palate. The spice remains upon retrohale, but is complemented well by this sweetness. For the life of me, I’m failing as a cigar reviewer…I can not attach a specific flavor assignment to it. With both cigars, I caught myself overpuffing just to try and get a better grasp of what I might call it, and having to purposefully slow down. I have to admit the Emerald performed well, and never gave even a hint of harshness with the abuse. I simply reigned myself in to avoid rushing the smoke and/or getting lightheaded from a nicotine rush. In the end, I still can not put a finger on what would effectively communicate the sweet flavor, except to say that it was very attention grabbing. If pressed, I might cede a very, VERY faint butterscotch note. I would be reluctant to even do that – I am not a fan of butterscotch by any means, yet I found it quite intriguing and pleasant. The burn remained essentially maintenance-free, with only a rare touchup. In the final stretch, the sweetness did fade considerably, taking a back seat to the nutty flavors and becoming more polished. The flavor quality is still there, just somewhat more sedate.

I found the 1502 Emerald entirely enjoyable, and would not hesitate in the least to keep them around once my regular retailer(s) pick up the line. Judging by the sheer volume of “New Retailer” posts coming from the folks at Emilio, this should be in the very near future. My opinion means very little in the grand scheme of things, but I think Gary Griffith’s move into distribution of such gems as these is brilliant. In every instance that I’ve had to try the lines he has picked up, I have found great cigars that complement his own offerings. The exposure for some brands I might never have otherwise heard of is win-win-win in my book. Growth for Emilio, exposure and growth for the lines he distributes, and more variety and availability of some great cigars for us enthusiasts! It just doesn’t get any better than that…

Cigar Review: Toro y Leon Habano Claro Historico

November 13, 2012 By Kip Fisher

Good afternoon everyone. With a dearth of reviews for the past month, I thought it was high time to get back in gear and roll a few out. So, expect several over the next 10 days or so. I’m beginning with the Toro y Leon Claro Historico, a cigar I am long overdue in reviewing. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a few of these in South Florida earlier in 2012, but with none of my local retailers carrying the line I had gone without until IPCPR. Andrei Iordachescu was kind enough to give me a couple of samples at the show, and I have subsequently found them at one of my haunts whenever I’m traveling down south. The Toro y Leon Claro line, from Tabacos Santandres, is a Nicaraguan puro and is available in 8 vitolas – Dorado (6X50), Prominente (7.75X50), Historico (7X48), Exclusivo (7X46), Elegancia (7.25X35), #4 (5X42), Famoso (5X52), and Prestancia (6.25X38). From the TabacosSantandres website, the Claro “is a mélange of carefully selected and extremely aged tobacco leaves from our fields in Esteli and Jalapa Valley in Nicaragua. Born from our best Cuban-seed long-filler and binder they are all draped in a rare Habano-seed “desflorado” wrapper. The plants require constant vigilance and when the flower buds are just getting ready to bloom they are cut off giving the tobacco an extra rich and smooth flavor, making this type of wrapper to be among the best and the most expensive available anywhere.“

For today’s review, I am smoking the Historico. It comes clothed in a uniform, lightly colored wrapper. Each of these that I have smoked has been blemish-free and very smooth to the touch. There are occasional but barely noticeable thin veins and little oiliness – the cigars are quite dry to the touch. After having smoked a dozen or more Toro y Leon cigars, I have noticed a pattern of impeccable construction. The (triple) cap in particular has been perfectly placed and applied in every case. I am sometimes persnickety and critical of construction issues, especially at the head of the cigar; I rarely enjoy a smoke if the cap is bothersome or tends to unravel. Without fail, the Toro y Leon has provided unfailing quality. The internal construction has been equally impressive, with never an issue with voids or overly dense areas. Today’s example is no exception, and presents a firm yet free draw. As for prelight aroma, the Historico wrapper carries a mild smell of tobacco and hay. The foot aroma is a bit more dark and sweet – a slightly more pungent hay or barnyard is brought to mind. The prelight draw is straightforward hay. On initial light, and for the first few minutes of smoking, the flavor is mild but does create a bit of peppery “zing” through the nose on retrohale. There is an overarching sweetness that binds the pepper to some wood and leather flavors. Likely due to the aforementioned diligence in construction, the burn is very even and well-behaved. No relights or even touchups to speak of. The ash is holding on around the one-inch mark when I inadvertently knock it off while retrieving it from the ashtray.

Going into the midsection of the cigar, the early pepper has faded quite a bit, but the flavors remain very consistent; wood and leather abound. The burn continues to perform admirably, still without so much as a touchup. The smoke becomes somewhat drying on the palate. I have noticed that sweet snacks or drinks do not pair so well with the Toro y Leon; I like to simply have a glass of water or plain, black coffee in hand with them. Throughout this portion of the smoke, no significant changes occur with the flavors. They remain bold but consistent. I would place the strength of the cigar well in medium territory.

Turning the corner into the final portion of the Toro y Leon, the finish seems to lengthen, which provides an enjoyable, slightly cedary spice that tends to linger on the palate. I am impressed by the smoke production of this line of cigars. It does not produce vast amounts of smoke while smoldering on the ashtray (à la the Drew Estates UnderCrown), but when drawn it creates tons of palate coating smoke. The burn continues with its earlier perfection, and both flavor and strength intensify in the final stretch.

Some folks constantly seek a cigar that will repeatedly present flavor changes throughout the smoke. While I can understand that search for “complexity,” I find it refreshing to find a cigar that simply provides pleasant flavors for the entire length of the stick. The Toro y Leon does just that. The range of flavors from one cigar to the next is quite consistent, and within an individual cigar very comfortable and dependable. I’d place both the flavor and strength of the Claro line firmly into medium territory (with a noteworthy intensification during the final third). In my opinion, it is bold enough to be entertaining and hold anyone’s interest – yet still approachable for a fledgling cigar enthusiast. I’d definitely recommend giving these a try if you can locate them at your local shop…and recommend them to your tobacconist if not.

Poll: Where do your Cigar Loyalties lie?

October 30, 2012 By Kip Fisher

Cigar smokers can be a fickle bunch. The sheer volume of chatter about what’s hot or what’s new is often staggering. Sometimes, we seem to be always chasing the next great thing to come down the pike…only to find ourselves looking for the following new stick before the ashes even cool. Why do we do that? Is there really even such a thing as a Holy Grail smoke? Are we looking for that one special line of cigars that is so life-changing that once we find it, we’re happy to smoke it exclusively from thence onward? Or, is it simply smokers’ pride kicking in to be able to condescendingly tell our friends all about that new stick that they haven’t had the opportunity to try yet? Envy when we’re on the other end of that equation? A combination of all these? I don’t know, but it is an interesting phenomena to witness. Twitter, Facebook, and other varied and sundry forms of social media commonly light up with activity when a new cigar from a hot maker begins to hit shelves, or even before when preliminary samples make their way into the hands of eager cigar enthusiasts at events or through other early distribution channels. The same could be said on a smaller scale in idle conversation at the local brick & mortar cigar shop. I’m not pointing a judgmental finger at this; I’ll admit to chasing no small number of new cigars myself. I wouldn’t even say outright that’s it is a bad thing. I think in many ways, this is invigorating to the hobby. It can prevent sales from becoming stale, and produce a fervor that is beneficial to both the smoker and manufacturers. It certainly keeps blenders on their toes – many, who might otherwise create a decent cigar and lapse into resting on their laurels, are driven to come up with new ideas, vitolas, blends, and other products just to stay one step ahead of the next guy. This has led to an abundance of great cigars in the market today – a veritable survival of the fittest cigar. I’ve been enjoying these little bundles of leaves for almost 20 years, and don’t ever remember a time when so many great cigars were so readily available. I certainly remember the myriad blends that came out in the ’90’s cigar boom, but that was a very different time. The consumer was less informed, and quite honestly there were many lackluster cigars sold just because so many people wanted to have a cigar – any cigar. Of course, once the boom subsided most of those marques went by the wayside because they simply couldn’t compete in a more informed marketplace that carried higher expectations. Over the years, I have cycled to and fro, atop the crest and down to the valley within the paradigm I’m describing. There have been times when my purchases were of a very limited range of cigars. There have been others when I might go months at a time without smoking more than two or three of the same stick. This year, I have smoked more different brands and blends than probably any cumulative ten years previous. Yet, in recent weeks I’ve had the urge to revisit many of the cigars that consistently kept me interested in the past. Even during times of wide, leafy experimentation, there are a couple of cigars that have never left my rotation entirely. Two of those – both Fuente products (the 858 maduro and the Don Carlos number 3) – are always in my humidor. I have loved those two cigars for all these years, and never tire of them. I frequently reach for them, even today. There are probably 10 other blends that I have taken a shine to during the most recent 5 years which I also keep around just about all the time, and expect to do so for so long as they are available. As I sit mulling this whole process over in my head, it has piqued my interest. I’ve known people, more so with pipesmokers than cigars, who were able to find a blend and happily stick with it…forever. On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve known a few who rarely smoke the same thing twice. I seem to rise and fall with the tides, almost on a sine wave of cigar sampling. Knowing that the aforementioned two blends provide me with a pleasing experience every time, what is it that sends me back to the cigar shop to continually try new blends? After a great deal of self-evaluation, I still don’t know. But I have to admit I’m enjoying the heck out of the process. Perhaps that is the answer, but the “why” is still a mystery. I was interested in where the rest of you all lie on the continuum. So, what sayest thou?

THIS POLL HAS BEEN MOVED. NEW (as of 10/30/14) POLL IS ON THE FORUM.

Cigar Spotlight: Emilio Cigars

October 23, 2012 By Kip Fisher

Good afternoon, everyone. I hope the day finds you all doing well. Those of you who find yourselves occasionally perusing the pages of The Cigarmy probably know that from time to time I like to shine the Cigar Spotlight on companies for which I have a great deal of admiration. If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll also know that today’s Spotlight shines on a cigar maker whose product I enjoy quite frequently – Emilio Cigars, headed up by Gary Griffith. It is rare that I so quickly develop such a great appreciation for a cigar maker in such a short time – my first purchase of an Emilio cigar was only in March of this year. I have since explored every line and most vitolas within those lines, finding the process very, very enjoyable. Today, I thought I’d give you folks the rundown on these lines, and the standouts within them. Pictured to the left are representatives of the various Emilio Cigars family members described below – complete with map of Mordor, since Gary is a sword and dragon kinda guy…

AF1 & AF2

The AF1 & 2 were the first Emilio cigars that I tried. They are blended and manufactured in Esteli, Nicaragua by AJ Fernandez – hence the AF moniker. Both have a Nicaraguan filler blend and binder. The AF1 carries a spicy sweet San Andres wrapper, while the AF2 is wrapped with Ecuadoran Habano oscuro leaf, and also contains a bit of Pennsylvanian ligero for just a smidgen of added strength. Each line comes in four vitolas – robusto (5X50), toro (6X50), Torpedo (6X52), and BMF (6X58), and retail in the $6.60-7.80 range throughout the Florida market. I find more savory spice in the AF1, with a sweeter, toastier flavor pallette with the AF2. The AF2 is perhaps my favorite of all Emilio blends. Without fail, both lines provide a very well behaved burn and outstanding construction. I naturally gravitate toward smaller cigars, and personally prefer the robusto. However, I would never turn my nose up at anything from either series. The AF2 in particular is one of those cigars that should be savored and enjoyed for every lit minute…there is quite a range of flavors presented throughout the experience; all quite pleasant. It is one of few cigars that I invariably smoke down to a tiny nub. I never worry about bitterness or harshness, and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Grimalkin/La Musa

Released in February 2011, the Grimalkin generated quite a buzz throughout the cigar world. Early in its life, the composition and manufacturer were the subject of a fair amount of speculation, and I won’t add much to that here, except to say that if memory serves I believe it was rolled by the Garcia family in Esteli, Nicaragua. It was rebranded earlier this year, and is now offered under the La Musa banner. Pictured at left is the La Musa melete box-pressed Churchill, a vitola only made available at CHATWEETUP back in August. At first light, I find a bit of spice – although subdued, never overpowering. This spice is tempered with a pleasing sweetness that makes it a very comfortable smoke. Overall a medium-bodied blend, cedar and cocoa abound in the early portions of the stick, with a strong sweetness developing deeper into the smoke. For full disclosure, this is the least familiar Emilio line for me, having only smoked the torpedo Grimalkin and aforementioned churchill in the La Musa. The La Musa is available in robusto, toro, torpedo, corona, and lancero, and retails for $7.80-9.00. Again, I have had no issue whatsoever with construction or burn. Another great cigar when you can find them.

AF Suave

Emilio released the AF Suave over the Summer, the third collaboration with AJ Fernandez. Back at CHATWEETUP, I purchased a few Suave from Burns’ Tobacconist and had a seat by Nate McIntyre (Director of Sales for Emilio Cigars). I told him this would be the first Suave I had had a chance to smoke, and his first words were “that’s not your GrandDad’s Connecticut.” I told him “that’s good, because I’m not typically a Connecticut fan.” Turns out, he was right. A CT wrapper sometimes provides a bitterness to my palate that I don’t especially appreciate. Coupled with the milder flavor profile often blended to accompany the wrapper, it’s one I don’t commonly reach for. The Suave, however, is quite a different experience than what I expected. For one, the strength is notably more potent than my expectation allowed for. It’s still (in my opinion) the mildest blend in the Emilio Cigars portfolio, but nonetheless a notch bolder than I would have assumed. Throughout the cigar, I find the expected sweet notes of hay, bordering on a nuttiness that makes for a releaxing, fun smoke. Even with the added strength, the Suave makes for a fantastic start to the day when accompanied by a good cup of coffee. The line is available in robusto, toro, torpedo, corona, and churchill – and retails for $6.80-7.80 here in Florida.

Series H Sumatra & Series H Maduro

The Series H comes with either a Jamastran (Honduran) maduro wrapper or Sumatran, and each has a different binder and filler blend. Per the Emilio Cigars website, the maduro wrapper “envelops a unique blend of Nicaraguan and Costa Rican tobaccos,” while the Sumatran contains a Honduran Connecticut binder and “is filled with a blend of Jamastran and Costa Rican tobaccos.” The maduro version is pictured left. This represents the first line blended by Gary himself, and was released earlier this year. Of all the Emilio Cigars product lines, this is the one I’ve had the most trouble locating on store shelves. I don’t believe the production is severely limited, it just has not yet reached the masses in my normal Florida stomping grounds. I know Tranquilo Cigars in Melbourne carries them. Of the two available wrappers, I would normally select the maduro when given the choice because of the earthy sweetness I find in it (Honduran tobacco often produces this for me). It provides a really nice prelight aroma at the foot – something I might not normally mention, but really stands out in this cigar. Throughout, I get a nice earthy sweetness that flirts with chocolate – although I would stop short of calling it an overtly chocolate character. The Sumatran comes across as a bit more spicy than the maduro, and overall I would consider it as having a distinct, coffee-like flavor. It provides just a hint of bitterness – but not unpleasant; the bitterness you would find in a bold, strongly brewed cup of coffee. I also occasionally pick up a savory almond or bitternut flavor that is nice as well. These, when you can find them, retail for about $6.80-7.40 per stick, and come in robusto, toro, and torpedo.

Draig

Ah, the Draig. In the words of a certain Python-player….”Oh yes, it’s very nice-a.” With the AF2, the Draig truly stands head and shoulders above the crowd as my favorites of all the Emilio cigars….which is problematic. While the AF2 is fulltime, regular production, the Draig is a limited release. The 2012 edition, known as the Draig K, “utilizes a very rare batch of Colombian maduro wrapper,” and features Honduran and Nicaraguan filler leaf. This year’s total production consists of 400 ten-count boxes each of three sizes – the corona, robusto, and toro – and retails in the $9-11.00 range per stick. I managed to put away a few of these, although once word got out the became quite scarce in a hurry. I know of one retailer who still has a few on the shelf…but don’t ask; I’m not telling :). The Draig K is a fantastic cigar, lining up directly in my personal preferences for flavor in a smoke. I find the character of the cigar to be quite floral with a cocoa presence throughout. The depth of the sweetness seems to come in waves, ebbing from this bold, floral presence to the less sweet notes of dark chocolate. The only downside to enjoying a cigar this much is the knowledge that its marketplace presence is limited, and it will soon be a memory. So, I save the ones I do have for rare occasions and savor every last puff….

In addition to the ever-increasing offerings from Emilio Cigars, Gary has seen exponential growth this year as a distributor. He currently distributes a growing lineup of other makers as well, including 1502, Guayacan, Herederos de Robaina, and Rodrigo Cigars. After having a couple of opportunities to spend some time chatting with him, I have to say he is absolutely one of the good guys within the cigar industry – very approachable, personable, and always ready with a kind word or bit of advice…and of course, flying nut kicks if the situation calls for it. You can give him a follow on Twitter or find more info from ~~his website~~. While I have clear favorites amongst his cigar offerings, there are none that I wouldn’t recommend. His portfolio has exploded this year, and there are even more releases planned over the next 12-14 months as well. No matter your own taste in cigars, there’s bound to be something for you in the Emilio Cigar stable.

Cigar Spotlight: Inter-America Cigars and Benny Gomez

October 6, 2012 By Kip Fisher

Today I wanted to take a look at a couple of lines of cigars from Benny Gomez at Inter-America Cigars – the Havana Sunrise and Casa Gomez. The Havana Sunrise marque has appeared on the market a couple of times over the years, most recently being revived by Benny and son Loren somewhere around 2007, I believe. I remember smoking a couple of cigars by this name many years ago, although at the time I lived in TN and didn’t have regular retailer availability. I only this year grew familiar with Casa Gomez, when I came across them at one of my local shops and again on my many trips to South Florida throughout this past summer. I have also continued to occasionally buy them on these recent trips to Miami. The samples for today’s Cigar Spotlight, however, were kindly given to me by the Gomez family at IPCPR. Benny is one of those upbeat, warm-hearted folks you can enjoy some time with hanging out and talking cigars, and if you’re ever in South Florida, you definitely should look him up by contacting him through his website. If you do, be sure to ask him about his tattoo…

Havana Sunrise

The Havana Sunrise lines are now made in Nicaragua. The natural carries an Ecuadoran wrapper, Indonesian binder, and a filler blend comprised of Honduran (Jamastran) & Nicaraguan (Esteli and Jalapa) tobaccos. The line also comes in a maduro wrapper, but I have not had the opportunity to smoke them yet. It is available in five vitolas – Havana (7X48), Churchill (7.5X50), Emperador (6.25X54), Robusto (5X50) and corona (6X44). I’m smoking the corona for today’s review, and as I check it out before lighting I find a very lightly colored, silky smooth wrapper that feels supple to the touch with a slight sheen. There are small, sparse veins present but unobtrusive. The pack is even and firm to the touch, but not overly so. All of the samples were well made with nice, tightly lain seams and superb draw.

Prelight, the draw provides a mildly sweet, hay-like flavor. The aroma is similar although a bit more subdued. With the addition of fire, the initial puffs are much like the unlit draw in flavor, but with a bit of a tickle through the nose – a healthy but not overpowering bit of “Nicaraguan” spice. Each of them took well to fire and lit evenly and easily. They begin with an unexpected heavy dose of cedar/wood at light, which is different than the blend I remember from years ago. If I recall correctly, those were much more sedate. Without fail, they have produced lots of smoke. Even with the early spice, sweetness prevails.

Throughout the first third of the cigar I get a distinct sweet woodiness on the palate, coupled with the slightest “zing” mentioned above. The construction proves to be spot-on, with a continued draw that is firm but free. For the most part, the ash has held on until the 1″-1.25″ mark. Going into the second third of the smoke, I invariably have found a difference from the initial portion – the spice drifts well into the background, and the sweetness steps forward. The flavors flirt with some citrus, although it’s more of a mention rather than being overt. At this point, I’d put the strength on the somewhat milder end of medium. By the end of this segment of the smoke, a very mild astringency develops – no bitterness, just an underlying drying effect on the palate. It still retains the predominant wood flavors with some sweetness.

Going into the final stretch and through the end of the smoke, it returns to something akin to what I described in the first puffs. There is more of the woody sweetness with some spice presenting on retrohale. The burn has been unfailingly razor-sharp with each one I’ve smoked, and they give a quite pleasant aroma as well. I can find these at one of my regular stops for about $3.50 a cigar. That’s an amazing bargain in my book. I’ve been through a number of these now, and will definitely not hesitate to pick up more. An absolutely great morning smoke.

Casa Gomez

The Gomez family’s other line is Casa Gomez, manufactured by La Tradicion Cubana at Tabacalera LTC in the Dominican Republic. You might remember I have written both a Cigar Spotlight about LTC, and a full review of their upcoming American Born Cubans. It’s no secret I am a fan of Luis Sanchez’s cigars – whether under his LTC umbrella, or for a number of other cigar companies. The Casa Gomez maduro is made up of a Brazilian wrapper, Dominican binder, and Dominican filler blend. The natural version retains the Dominican filler and binder, but is surrounded with an Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper. Both come in the following vitolas: The Junior (Robusto, 5.75X52), Benjamin (Belicoso, 6.5X54), Senior (Churchill, 7.5X50), and Loren (Corona, 6.5X44), and run in the $6.50-$7.50 range. I smoked the Belicoso in both maduro and natural for this article.

The first thing I notice about the maduro is the mottled coloration of the wrapper. The unlit draw is very earthy and dark, with a slight sweetness. With the first maduro I tried, I happened to give a sniff as soon as I took it out of the cellophane only to get distracted and come back in about 20 minutes. The difference in prelight aroma was very pronounced, and had taken on a more woody character during that little time out. I’m not sure what that means, if anything, I only mention it because it was so noticeable. The first puffs were marked by a sharp spice that is experienced most on retrohale. The early flavors were markedly bready, which was a surprise as I had expected darker flavors beforehand. It soon settled down into a sweeter profile – with some leather and nuts, even straying almost to what I would have called caramel if it was a tiny bit more sweet. Overall, these have been quite consistent in flavor. In fact, this maduro is one of the cigars that I would call “comfort smokes” for me. They are just that – very comforting. Once you are familiar with them, they are unfailingly reliable and provide a outstanding experience with each smoke.

Moving on to the natural Ecuadoran-wrapped Casa Gomez, the unlit aroma is somewhat sweeter, with a more haylike smell of well-aged tobacco. Like its maduro brethren, it is incredibly well made, and after now smoking numbers of these I have had absolutely zero construction issues. Being somewhat sensitive to draw issues, that is quite an achievement in my eyes. The prelight draw is much like the aroma in depth and sweetness. I am not always a big fan of Connecticut wrapper leaf; sometimes, without a complementary blend underneath, the flavors can become bitter to my palate. The Casa Gomez, however, is expertly blended and the higher pitch of the wrapper is underpinned by a bold sweetness that just “works.” Like the maduro, the natural kicks off with some (albeit less) spice, which soon becomes more sedate and takes on the role of supporting act rather than remaining centerstage. The sweetness of this blend is the main player throughout the cigar, with few marked changes. It wanders throughout a narrow range of sweet citrus and cedar flavors. I would place both versions of the Casa Gomez firmly in the medium range for strength, with flavors slightly more bold on its respective scale.

Overall, I’ve come to rather enjoy all of Benny’s cigars. It would be difficult for me to pick a favorite, although the value found in the Havana Sunrise at its consumer-friendly pricepoint is very, very appealing. I can honestly recommend you give any of them a try – there’s something for most every cigar fan in the offering. They have all been expertly crafted, and provide worryfree, pleasantly flavorful smoking. What more could one possibly ask for? Isn’t that what this hobby of ours is all about? For me, having a well constructed, flavorful, reasonably priced cigar adds so much to the experience. Both the Havana Sunrise (especially the corona) and Casa Gomez lines are unfailingly reliable in construction and consistent in flavor. The Gomez’s continue to build a growing number of retailers to carry his lines, and fortunately I have one in my area. I’ll certainly keep a few of these around for the times when nothing else will do.

What’s in a name? Can you judge a cigar by its maker

October 3, 2012 By Kip Fisher

Cigar Musings

There is a certain cigar company that I had, for whatever reason, written off in my head. I’ll refrain from naming the company, because I didn’t think they were necessarily producing bad cigars…just not fit for my personal preferences and palate. I’d tried some of their offerings over the years and just decided they weren’t for me. So, as a whole I had avoided them for a long, long time. I have to admit to completely overlooking them whenever I visited shops. The thought of purchasing anything from their range never crossed my mind.

Recently, at one of the many cigar shops I find myself in throughout the state of Florida, I happened on to one of that company’s reps who gave me a cigar. I respectfully accepted it thinking it probably wouldn’t be my style…but I’d give it a go anyway. Days later, I thought “What the heck?” and fired it up. Unexpectedly, it was a great smoke…nothing at all like my memory of any of their other blends I had sampled over the years. Not just “OK,” not just “a little better” than expected – a very, very good cigar with some unique flavors and perfect construction. I don’t know if the cigars changed, this particular blend or stick is just different from the others I’ve tried, or my preferences have just drifted that much…or possibly even a combination of all these factors. I do know this has piqued my interest, and I’ll definitely be buying a few more to give them another chance. I’d certainly be more interested in trying some of their more recent blends, and less reluctant to try anything new they release.

With all the myriad cigar offerings out there today, it’s easy to dismiss an entire manufacturer’s offerings, knowing that there are many more fish in the sea. But, it makes me wonder what else I’ve been missing out of sheer callousness brought about by experiences long past. I know I can’t smoke them all…but I’d like to give it the ‘ol college try! What about you? Did you ever have a cigar brand that you thought didn’t appeal to you as a whole? Or, perhaps you’ve avoided certain cigars because of the tobacco’s origin, where it was rolled, or some other criteria? Have you revisited them? How willing are you to set that prejudice aside in the future to try something new from that maker/country/style? Conversely, are there manufacturers/regions/lines from which you automatically expect great things?

Cigar Review: Antonio Benitez Edicion Especial Corona

September 29, 2012 By Kip Fisher

You may remember this post I hastily typed out on my phone and uploaded here back in August while at IPCPR. It was the middle of the night, and I had just finished up my first Antonio Benitez Edicion Especial Corona (5 X 42). I was so impressed with the quality of the smoke that I had to put up that brief mention, even in the wee hours of the morning. Benitez Cigars is the brainchild of Rey Benitez and his father, and they own their own factory which has recently been relocated from Honduras to Managua, Nicaragua. The Antonio Benitez Edicion Especial is their latest offering, and consists of a Honduran habano maduro wrapper and Nicaraguan habano binder, wound around a filler blend of Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Mexican tobaccos. I was first introduced to Benitez Cigars at the SOFLATWEETUP at Charmed Leaf back in March of this year, and had occasionally revisited their lineup in the intervening months leading up to IPCPR. For whatever reason, I had not had the opportunity to try the corona in the line until August. The Antonio Benitez Edicion Especial corona retails for about $5.80 in the Florida market, and can be found at a growing number of retailers. Rey himself is a local and regular visitor to Charmed Leaf, and I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with him there as well. He’s quite knowledgeable and passionate about tobacco and cigars, and is a dedicated family man as well. If you find yourself in the Delray Beach area, a stop by Charmed Leaf is a must. But, back to the cigar at hand…

Taking the cigar from its cellophane, the prelight aroma on the wrapper is mild but distinctly woody in nature. It’s not necessarily a cedar you might normally expect, but woodsy nonetheless – think cypress, or a very faint cedar aroma. The aroma at the foot is sweeter smelling than the wrapper, has a moderate hay or barnyard character and is slightly peppery. If you’re prone to such it will even elicit a sneeze with a deep sniff. The draw is well within my normal preference, giving slight resistance but free and providing a flavor of sweet hay. With the application of flame and into the first few puffs the Antonio Benitez gives a very bold spice – not at all painful on the back of the throat as some Nicaraguan blends tend to do for me, but felt high on the rear of my palate. The spice is very strong on the retrohale, even with suitable air dilution. The early flavors presented come across as toasted grains, and some coffee notes. In fact, I have taken to pairing this cigar with a good cup of strong black coffee, although today I have no accompaniment.

The lit aroma of the Antonio Benitez is a very classic cigar fragrance. It reminds me of charred wood, and can even take on a resemblance to brewing coffee. This is a strong association for me personally, and this cigar actually generates a desire to match it up with a good cup. In this early portion of the smoke, I took a moment to examine the construction of the stick. It is very well made as I have come to expect based on previous examples. It has a near-uniform dark chocolate colored wrapper, and almost imperceptible seams. The caps are beautifully applied as well, and I find neither void nor soft/loose spots in the roll. The ash first drops just shy of one inch.

Going into 2nd inch, the flavors have gotten more cedary in character. There is still a quite pronounced spice through the nose with retrohale. The burn is behaving as expected in a well made cigar. In this particular stick, I did perform one minor touchup during the 2nd inch. However, it probably would have self-corrected; I’m somewhat compulsive about nipping things in the bud when possible. I continue to experience flavors similar to a generic toasted grain and some coffee coupled with the cedar that has come into play. I mentioned that during the cigar smoked for the pictures and writing up this review, I experimented with no coffee to make sure that the coffee wasn’t influencing my perception of the cigar. The coffee flavors might not have been as bold in this case, but still quite clear.

By the final stretch, today’s cigar sweetens slightly, with a dry cocoa flavor accompanying the coffee that has persisted throughout. The spice is not quite as prevalent by this point, either. As expected, the Antonio Benitez Edicion Especial corona lives very much up to my earlier comments concerning construction. The draw and burn has remained steady and even throughout, with only the one minor touchup along the way. It carries a long, pleasant finish that lingers on the palate. The finish retains some of the sweetness that has developed, along with some smokiness and hints of roasted almonds.

As I mentioned, I have enjoyed some of Rey’s cigars going back to my first introduction to them at the SOFLATWEETUP, but the Edicion Especial corona is far and away my favorite. I loved this blend in this size from first light at IPCPR, and continue to do so. With all the reviews and ratings that float around the internet these days, I think the real issue at hand is whether or not a cigar is worth buying…and buying again. In this case it certainly is for me. Would I spend my money on them? Not only would I, but I have, and will continue. There has already been a number of retailers to pick up the Antonio Benitez line, so look for them at your local shop – or better yet ask for them if you don’t see them. If you’re into bold Nicaraguan tobacco that will wreck neither your bank account nor your palate, this one is a sure winner. Having spent a great deal of time in South Florida for my job this Summer, I buy mine at Charmed Leaf [NOTE: This shop has sold since this original post. I’m not familiar with the current ownership nor condition of the place.]. If you can’t find these cigars locally, I can highly recommend ordering there (for full disclosure, that’s just a recommendation from a very satisfied customer – no business affiliation).