Featured Cigar	Shape	Size	Strength	Country	Panel Rating
Don Juan Criollo '98	Toro	6 x 50	6.0	Nicaragua	89
Fire Double	Churchill	7 x 48	8.0	Honduras	91
La Aurora Maduro	Robusto	5 x 50	6.0	Dominican	92
Natural by Drew Estate Big Dirt	Torpedo	5 x 54	5.5	Nicaragua	91
Partagas Spanish Rosado San Agustin	Toro	5.5 x 52	6.5	Dominican	93

Don Juan Criollo '98 Toro

Don Juan cigars are handmade at the Tabacalera Tropical based in Esteli, Nicaragua by Cuban expatriate Pedro Martin. It seems of late we've regularly had a puro in the mix (i.e. a cigar whose wrapper, binder and filler tobaccos all come from the same country) and most of the time, it is a Nicaraguan puro. The fact is, the Nicaraguan tobacco industry continues to improve—and this month's Don Juan Criollo '98 Toro is the perfect example. It is a well-constructed, satisfying premium that exhibits a smooth, medium-bodied flavor. Packed with dense layers of tobacco, note the gorgeous, shade-grown Cuban Criollo '98 wrapper. Beneath this, the long-fillers, also grown in the lush Jalapa Valley of Nicaragua, provide this Nicaraguan cigar with ample punch and presence. Expect these carefully aged leaves to yield floral qualities, with a distinct character akin to rose petals (no kidding, look for it!), balanced by an earthy counterpoint, all rounded out by a sweet, slightly salty finish. Overall, we found this medium-to-full-bodied cigar robust in the finish with a complex flavor profile and hearty character, while maintaining a gentle restraint. Consider pairing this one with a slightly sweet Sauvignon Blanc or a particularly hoppy pilsner, like Prima Pils (Victory Brewing Company) or Sunshine Pils (Tröegs Brewing Company).

Fire Double Churchill

Indian Tabac's Fire offers a rare concoction of triple-fermented tobaccos and boasts an impressive flavor profile. "What's so special about triple-fermentation" you ask? Well, aside from creating lusciously smooth tobaccos that retain their intensity, it's the fact that ALL the tobaccos in this cigar—filler, binder and wrapper—have been fermented three times. Typically, in cigars that use triple-fermented tobaccos, it's only the wrapper that goes through this process. The combination of dark, sultry tobaccos yields a full-bodied, Cuban-esque impression on the palate, featuring stimulating flavor and a slightly sweet character. Combining Indian Tabac's attention to detail and Nestor Plasencia's cigar making prowess, this is one fire that you won't ever want to put out! That's why we've sent you a big fat Churchill to keep you smoking through the night. Immediately note the dark wrapper and flawless construction. While it packs a punch with its hefty, full-bodied tobacco flavors, they're softened with nutty (almond) notes, a touch of leathery suppleness and an interestingly herbal, lemony-cedar accent. Expect a robust spiciness to linger through the long-lasting finish. Enjoy with a full-bodied XO cognac or a hearty Barley Wine Ale.

La Aurora Maduro Robusto

La Aurora cigars were introduced in 1903; if this is your first experience with La Aurora, let us introduce you to their consistently top-notch cigars with the Maduro Robusto. These were created 98 years after the first La Auroras wowed the cigar-smoking populace and they taste like they've been blended using their century's worth of experience. Part of the reason behind their consistent quality is this: they have used long-filler leaves from the same fields for over three generations. In this Maduro extension to their famed line, the dark Brazilian wrapper provides a blend of sweet and spicy notes on the palate, while the complex mélange of Brazilian, Dominican and Cameroon long leaf fillers lend medium-to-full-bodied flavors that round out the sweetened notes contributed by the wrapper. Look for very subtle notes of chocolate and a smooth, lengthy cedar finish. Notice the firm white ash, an indication of proper aging—characteristic of all the gems that La Aurora creates at their factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Pair this one up with a malty red ale or a cooled crème de menthe cocktail.

Natural by Drew Estate Big Dirt Torpedo

The Natural line by Drew Estate was introduced at the turn of the millennium and offers a truly jaw-dropping array of tobaccos across the line: tobaccos from Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Syria, Turkey and the United States (Connecticut and St. James Parish, Louisiana) are all employed somewhere in this line's extensive roster. With so many different cigars in the line up (all rolled by hand in Esteli, Nicaragua) there's simply no way we can offer you one of each, but we do encourage you to contact us to order more of the Big Dirt Torpedo we're featuring, or any of the other shapes & blends (see below for ordering info). By the time you get through those cigars, you'll have enjoyed tobaccos from no less than 11 countries! The tasty treat featured here is wrapped with a dark Mexican maduro wrapper that contributes additional complexity to the smoke. Contrary to the name, earthy flavors are not present; look for notes of smoky sweet mocha, blended with firm coffee flavors, all smoothed out by a long-lasting, oaken finish. Impressively, the coffee and mocha flavors in these mild-to-medium-bodied cigars are due to Drew Estate's unique fermentation methods—they're not the result of flavor-infusions (like in their ACID line). Excellent with a Baltic Porter or a classic European Imperial Stout.

Partagas Spanish Rosado San Agustin Toro

In Pre-Castro Cuba, Partagas cigars were made in Havana under the direction of Ramón Cifuentes and his father before him (the family had been at it for a while, the brand began in 1845!). Cifuentes moved to Santiago, Dominican Republic soon after Castro arrived on the scene, and continued to make the Partagas line there. Daniel Nunez who was an apprentice under Ramon Cifuentes in the Dominican Republic and later his successor as the Partagas Cigar Master has continued to demand only the best for Partagas cigars. In 2003, Daniel developed the Partagas Spanish Rosado, the newest addition to the family that boasts "the richest cigar in the world". The name is derived from the gorgeous wrappers grown in the San Agustin Valley of Honduras. But why "Spanish" for a Honduran-shade wrapper? "Spanish" refers to Spain's influence in Honduran history, while "Rosado" refers to the reddish hue seen in this very unique wrapper. This leaf is rich and oily with a thick texture, and the stunning red hues seems to practically glow. The uniqueness of the San Agustin soil creates not only the distinctive look, but also a bold, spicy taste with a hint of cinnamon that leaves behind a white, beautiful ash. Combined with the Connecticut broadleaf binder and Dominican, Honduran and Mexican long-fillers, you can expect a medium-bodied cigar with a rich character and slight spiciness. Look for a mild start that quickly picks up steam and builds to a medium-bodied smoke with mild notes of leather, a tea-like, herbal flavor in the finish and a slightly sweet finish showcasing notes of cinnamon. Try pairing it with your favorite Scotch or Czech Pilsner (members of our International Beer of the Month Club—try this with the Kisz Pilsner in this month's assortment). Cheers!

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.

Featured Cigar	Box Quantity	Box Cost	5 Pack Cost
Don Juan Criollo '98	24	$87.50	$23
Fire Double	15	$58.50	$25
La Aurora Maduro	25	$87.50	$23
Natural by Drew Estate Big Dirt	25	$92.50	$24
Partagas Spanish Rosado San Agustin	25	$110.50	$27

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.