Past Newsletters

Vol. 10 No. 3

Member of the Month

Ah, the California Life!

This is what I call a Vacation. A bubble bath, one of my favorite brewskys, and a cigar from your wonderful club. (Diesel Corrosion I believe) Greetings from Greenwood Pier Inn in Elk, California (Close to Mendocino). Outside the window is the Pacific Ocean pounding away at the rocky coastline (very foggy that day) and Cold - all the more reason to stay inside and enjoy!

I enjoy your club and hope I win some cigars. (and I hope to take more vacations like that one.)

Lee
Bay Area, California

PS - Please tell Murl that Greenwood Pier has dog friendly rooms!
PPS - Sorry - No Marriage offers - I'm happily spoken for! (I didn't pay for this room!)

Last month we said that we select the member of the month in the order that we receive the pictures. Well' this month' let's just say, 'We lied!' We have another rule here and that is - Ladies First. And of course it doesn't hurt if the ladies send us their picture while relaxing in a bubble bath, drinking a beer, and smoking a cigar. Let us know when you are going back, Lee. We'll send Murl on up to keep ya company! He loves the ocean.

SUBMIT YOURSELF OR YOUR GROUP PHOTO FOR CONSIDERATION! And if you're selected, we'll send you a variety pack of 25 hand rolled smokes from past selections! Get your submissions in now before everyone else does or you gotta wait 3 months to see your pretty mug adorning the front page! Send your photos and letter to: Cigar of the Month Club Attn: Member of the Month, PO Box 1627, Lake Forest, CA 92609 or email your photo and letter to customerservice@cigarmonthclub.com

Featured Cigar Dimensions

Brand Name:	Shape	Size	Strength	Country	Panel
					Rating
A. Cu-Avana by Fonseca	Churchill	7 x 50	5	Dominican	90
B. La Perla Habana Black Pearl	Robusto	5.25 x 52	7	Dominican	93
C. La Vieja Habana by Drew Estate	Belicoso	6 x 54	6	Nicaragua	92
D. Nat Sherman Hamilton	Corona	5.5 x 42	4	Honduras	89
E. Astral Favorito Maduro	Figurado	7 x 49	6	Honduras	90

Featured Cigars

Cu-Avana by Fonseca Churchill

Legendary cigar maker, Manuel Quesada of Manufactura de Tobacos S.A. (MATSA), has been in the cigar business his entire life. In Cuba, the Quesada family were leaf brokers for everything from cigarette tobacco to cigars, and one of the major exporters of Cuban tobacco to the world market. When they were forced into exile in 1960, they transferred their entire business to the Dominican Republic, where they had been buying and selling tobacco for years. It didn't take long before they began manufacturing cigars. While other cigar manufacturers have been engaged in multimillion-dollar purchases or building huge new factories, Manuel Quesada of has quietly been building his business. In addition to the cigar featured this month, Manuel also manufactures several other highly regarded brands including, Licenciados, Cubita, Romeo y Julieta, Jose Benito, Royal Dominicana brands, Casa Blanca, and Credo. Note a smooth, inviting Connecticut shade wrapper in this mild Dominican beauty. Look for a dry, woody character, hints of coffee and spice that pick up as you get into the cigar. Note a very pleasant woody aroma and non-lingering dry finish. A perfect accompaniment to scotch on the rocks or a full-bodied Merlot.

La Perla Habana Black Pearl Robusto

La Perla Habana is one of the most coveted brands produced today. Two of the industry's most respected entrepreneurs took it upon themselves to recreate this well-known Cuban brand in the Dominican Republic. Sergio Cuevas and Doug Wood have created a cigar in which commitment, quality, and flavor are the sole concerns. Using closely guarded techniques to age and blend the tobaccos, these men have produced a cigar that is worthy of the name, the Pearl of Habana. We think they've done an exceptional job with this highly rated line right down to the level of detail in re-creating the band to exacting standards. The Black Pearl is the strongest cigar made by La Perla. The wrapper is a coffee-black (that's without cream!) Oscuro with a complex full-flavored blend of Corojo Ligero long leaves. This is a full-bodied smoke with a complex and spicy flavor profile. Consider pairing it with a well-aged Cabernet.

La Vieja Habana by Drew Estate Belicoso

In the last 6 or 7 years, the boys at Drew Estate have caused quite a stir in the cigar industry. With the release of several unique brands of cigars, including Acid Cigars, Mayorga Coffee Infused cigars, Subculture cigars, La Vieja Habana, Ambrosia, and Natural brands, they're quickly becoming known for producing high quality, premium smokes that come with shapes and names as unusual and creative as the blends themselves! Handmade in Esteli, Nicaragua, this belicoso is very well made and rolled with a blend of Nicaraguan filler tobaccos grown in both Esteli and the Jalapa Valley all wrapped up in a beautiful Cuban Corojo wrapper. Look for a slow, cool burn with pleasant earthy flavors and a bit of spice. Note a slightly toasty finish with a hint of nuts. Overall, this is a very impressive smoke with lots of flavor. A dry Martini, a good Cognac, or fine Armagnac would go best with this cigar.

Nat Sherman Hamilton Corona

You could say Nat Sherman knew a thing or two about cigars… and business. He started the Nat Sherman Cigar Company in New York in the height of the Great Depression. "Who was his market during that time?" you ask. Fashion execs, people in show business, and of course, gangsters. While others were feeling the effects of the Great Depression, entrepreneur Nat Sherman was doing great. Now, more than 70 years later, Nat Sherman has passed on, but this family run business, now in its third generation, is still producing some of the best cigars on the market. They now produce nine different lines of premium cigars, along with cigarettes and cigar accessories. The Hamilton is part of the Host Collection and was inspired by Nat's favorite weekend cigar. Look for a very smooth and sweet flavor to this corona, along with an excellent combination of earthy and woody flavors. Overall, this is a relatively mild cigar that would be perfect with a cup of coffee in the morning.

Astral Favorito Maduro Figurado

The Astral brand is a highly recognized and praised brand known for its mild-to-medium body. Handmade in Danli, Honduras, this smoke is nearly a Honduran puro - while the wrapper, binder, and filler all come from Honduras, the filler also includes some leaves from Nicaragua. One of the special features of the Favorito is the gentle taper at the foot. Aesthetically, this is a beautiful thing. We found the draw good, the burn perfect and plenty of smoke in this well-aged Honduran. This is a creamy full-bodied smoke filled with woody flavors and finishing with lots of spice. A hoppy India Pale Ale or oaky Chardonnay would pair up nicely with this Maduro.

For Members Only

Give Your Friends FREE Beer, Wine, Cheese, Chocolate, Cigars & Flowers!
Through our Customer Appreciation Program

Your name has real value to your friends, co-workers, and family members! Every time a friend, family member, or anyone else you know joins any one of our clubs, [or gives a gift] for 3 months or longer, we'll give them 50% off of their first month, but only when they mention your name. And we'll also give you 50% off your next month too which can either be applied towards your current membership or you can try one of our other Clubs out! (We can add one more month to your order at 50% off for prepaid memberships!)

The Fine Print: Members giving gift memberships do not qualify for referral credits and you can't give yourself a gift to qualify! This Program is mutually exclusive of any other promotions.

Discounted Box Re-orders!
5 Paks Now Available!

Cigar of the Month Society members can take advantage of our volume purchasing and re-order their favorite cigars in box quantities at just over our wholesale costs. Re-order any selection featured in box quantities of 25 cigars or order them in convenient 5 paks! Other cigar shapes and sizes not actually featured, but from a featured brand line may also be re-ordered. Call for pricing.

Featured Cigar	Box Qty	Box Cost	5 Pak
			Cost
A. Cu-Avana by Fonseca Churchill	25	$87.50	$23
B. La Perla Habana Black Pearl Robusto	20	$85.50	$26
C. La Vieja Habana by Drew Estate Belicoso	25	$90.50	$28
D. Nat Sherman Hamilton Corona	20	$42.50	$26
E. Astral Favorito Maduro Figurado	25	$65.50	$21

Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery and add $7.95 for S&H for your first box and $3.00 for each additional box or grab bag. S&H for 5-packs is $4.95 and $1.50 for each additional 5-pak. All reorders are sent Priority mail unless otherwise requested. CA residents please add 7.75% Sales Tax. S&H for International re-orders must be calculated on an individual basis. Prices are subject to change.

Membership Q & A

Note: Please do not use our email address to make any account related information changes such as address or billing changes, membership extensions, or terminations. To ensure timely processing of your request, please call us at 800-625-8238.

Q: What should I do if I'm moving or want to extend my membership?
A: Please call us prior to the 10 th of the month to make all account related information changes such as address changes, membership extensions & terminations, or gift accounts desiring to continue their memberships. Address changes made after that time may require a $4.00 re-shipping charge.

Q: How will the charge appear on my credit card statement:
A: Your credit card statement will reflect our Incorporated business name, C&H Clubs, U.S.A., Inc., NOT The Cigar Society.

Q: What happens if my shipment is damaged?
A: If you shipment arrives damaged, please call us immediately toll free at 1-800-625-8238 and report the incident for a prompt resolution.

Q: What happens if my credit card is declined?
A: We will attempt to reprocess the card and if it does not clear on the 2^nd attempt, you’ll receive a courtesy notice asking for an alternative payment method and your order will be temporarily suspended until we hear from you. As we incur a $ 2.00 re-processing fee each time your card does not clear, that charge is passed on to you.

Q: What happens if I join under a special incentive program and don’t stay a member for the entire term committed?
A: Not a problem. Although we want to do everything we can to keep you as a member, we will allow you to cancel your subscription early, however, you will be responsible to pay for the item which was given to you as part of the promotion.