FEATURED CIGARS

5 Vegas Limitada Belicoso

For those who don't know Henry “Kiki” Berger, let us say a few words. He is the force behind the blending of Cupido and 5 Vegas cigars (among others). Kiki is a legend in Esteli, Nicaragua and is one of those unique personalities that always seems to be liked by everyone. Born in Cuba, he moved to the U.S. as a child and got involved in politics in Miami. Well connected is he? Well, the president of Nicaragua convinced Kiki to open a factory there! In a recent Cigar Aficionado tasting, 5 Vegas (pronounced “’Cinco’ Vegas”) was recognized as the best, non-Cuban cigar, scoring an outstanding ‘90’. The cigar we’ve selected is comprised of a dizzyingly complex 6-country blend that includes Cuban-seed, Nicaraguan, Peruvian, Corojo long-leaf fillers, a Brazilian binder, and an amazing 5-year-old Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper! What’s more, there are only 50,000 cigars produced for the entire year. Expect a mellow yet pleasant richness upon first lighting delivered via a smooth draw that yields big clouds of velvety smoke. We found it to be medium in body and exceptionally smooth with a distinct leathery, smoky character that mingles with a subtle sweetness (look for it to develop toward the end). Try it with a porter.

Bohemian "Bamboo Series" Whitman Short Torpedo

The Victor Sinclair Bohemian "Bamboo" series is another of their physically beautiful cigars. The first things you will probably notice are the ends—notice the unusual, uncut shaggy foot and the delicate pigtail twist at the head. Draped in a delicious, ultra-smooth and silky Connecticut-seed Ecuadorian wrapper, its size and shape make it ideal for a medium-length smoke. The wide foot provides a large intake that is funneled down through the narrowing body of the cigar, delivering a gentle spiciness and medium-bodied fullness. The filler is a tasty tri-nation blend of Brazilian, Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. Though the taste is quite mild, it is extraordinarily pleasant; deep and complex with a distinct creaminess that you can’t miss. This brand was introduced in 2003 by Victor Sinclair cigars to offer a medium-bodied, somewhat spicy taste. And yes, they nailed it!

Connecticut Yankee Torpedo

Folks, prepare to travel through time—200 years into the past we go!
In the early 1800s the predominant wrapper utilized by top cigar makers was a genuine Connecticut-grown Havana-Seed leaf. This unique wrapper is neither broadleaf nor shade-grown, and possesses its own unique flavor and aroma profile. Derived from the Connecticut River Valley, the use of this dark, super smooth wrapper slowly fell out of fashion as cigar makers began to favor thicker broadleaf wrappers. By the 20th century this wrapper was all but forgotten, until a small jar of seeds was discovered in an old warehouse, planted, grown, rolled and smoked. Much to the delight of the cultivator, it was remarkable. Havana wrappers are bolder and spicier by far than the broadleaf, and we suspect that this “new” (or is it old) wrapper will be a rising star in the cigar world over the next few years. By combining it with a premium blend of aged Nicaraguan and Dominican long-leaf fillers, the master blenders of Victor Sinclair were able to create a full bodied cigar that offers a unique, mature bouquet of flavor that hasn’t been experienced for nearly 200 years. Look for prominent tobacco flavor, full in body with cedary highlights. Complex and smooth, enjoy it with your favorite cognac.

Natural by Drew Estate “Root” Robusto

We truly dig the innovative experimentation behind the Natural line by Drew Estate. Each is handmade in Esteli, Nicaragua with a veritable cornucopia of different gourmet long-leaf tobaccos from such varied sources as Syria, Haiti, Honduras, Turkey, Italy, Dominican Republic and St. James Parish in Louisiana. With so many different tobaccos, each member of the line is truly unique. This month we’re featuring “Root”. Interesting from start to finish, in terms of look (check out the exposed binder and long leaf filler protruding from the foot) as well as flavor, we’re quite keen on these and think you’ll be as well. We found the draw exceptional and the flavor jam packed with robust notes of chocolate (much like a mocha cappuccino—no, we’re not embellishing—you’ll see). The finish is lengthy with some herbal flourishes that nicely balance the sweeter elements in the flavor. If you can try a chocolate stout like that from Young’s (made with real dark chocolate)—this is the cigar to go with it. Also quite nice with a dry stout.

Perdomo Champagne E Toro

This champagne won’t go to your head the way you might expect a Perdomo to. In fact, the Reserve Champagne is a bit of a departure from the Perdomo status quo of producing hugely rich, big-bodied cigars that deliver full-force strength. Which is not to say that this particular line is at all lacking in flavor or complexity. Quite the contrary, we found it to be a deep cigar, flavorfully speaking, with smooth and creamy nuances that intercalate between notes of honey-like sweetness. Of course, the draw is superb and the smoke aromatic and pleasing. Double-aged Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobaccos comprise the all long-leaf filler blend, all wrapped beneath an oily, triple-fermented, 6 year-aged Connecticut shade wrapper. That’s right, 6 years. This wrapper might be older than your kids, and perhaps a bit better behaved. Expect a trouble free smoke from this Nicaraguan beauty. If you like flavored coffees, this stogie offers itself up as a good starter smoke in the morning with the sweetened coffee of your choice (we suggest hazelnut or vanilla infusions).

Get In On Some Great Beers!

Hey y’all—we’re always recommending beer styles for our premium smokes—and some of you might have started to wonder, “what is an Imperial Porter exactly?” or, “where can I try a German Eisbock or an authentic Tropical Stout?” Well folks, we have the answers to these very important questions—and they can be found each month—in your very own mail box! Turns out we have a number of microbrewed beer clubs that feature anything from Pilsners made in New York to stouts from Sri Lanka! Our flagship series, the Beer of the Month Clubs are a surefire way to get your hands on some great brews that will complement your monthly cigar shipments. Check us out at www.beermonthclub.com and have a look at the variety of beers and clubs we offer. We have testimonial after testimonial from satisfied cigar club subscribers who have found that joining our beer clubs not only expanded their cultural knowledge about various beer styles and the countries that brew them, it also satisfied their palates and enhanced their cigar smoking experiences month after month. Come check us out and see for yourself the joy of truly great craft-brewed beer. Cheers!

ASK MURL

Hey Murl,

What is meant by the term Puro? I see it quite a bit in the club newsletters (I’ve been a member for 6-months now!!) However, I must confess, I don’t know what the heck it means… Could you please satisfy my craving for stogie-related knowledge, oh wisest of canines?

Amie Richardson
Atlanta, GA

Yo Amie,

I’m happy to assist you in your thirst for cigar info… speaking of thirst, give me a minute… got to lap up this tasty brew I’m reviewing for our Domestic Microbrewed Beer of the month club… Mmmmmm… That’s some good stuff—it’s the Elfego Bock from the Rio Grande Brewing Company out in Albuquerque, New Mexico if you’re interested. Get on board with our beer club if you’re not already Ames, it’s good stuff. Not to try to turn this in to a commercial, but even the big ‘ol Murl Dog has to answer to the man and the occasional manager now and again… it’s called the cross-sell… but the beauty here is that I will stand by any of my recommendations because I firmly believe that every damned product we feature here is worth the investment. Hey, if it’s good enough for me, it’s good enough for thee…

So, puros…. Here we go… A puro is a cigar that’s been made entirely from the tobaccos of a single county. An example of the most well known Puros are Cuban cigars. In Cuba, the filler, binder, and wrapper are all grown ‘in-country’. Cigar manufacturers who make Puros consider it a great honor to be able to achieve a such a level of sufficiency, as it gives them more control over the consistency and quality of the finished product. The difficulty in acquiring the necessary native ingredients in producing a puro make them very rare indeed. Other than Cuban cigars, which are unavailable in the American market, there are only a handful of Puros out there. The Breton Corojo Vintage, Corojo2000, and the Opus X are all excellent quality Dominican Puros.

So there’s your answer Ames… Congratulations on being a member for 6-months! I hope ya stick around for at least another 6-months! It’s great having the female of the species in the club… ask me anything you like, any time—I’m always “available” for the ladies…

Woof!
Murl

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Through our Customer Appreciation Program:

Your name is worth cold hard cash 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 sat 50% off for prepaid memberships!)

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For Members Only

Original & Super Grab Bags!

That's right babies, help us put a little bit of our humidor into your humidor at insanely cheap prices! We've got some extra smokes that need a caring home to take them in so check it out! Choose between:

Discounted Box Re-Orders!

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 the box quantities listed below 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.

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.