Past Newsletters - June 2009

Featured Cigar	Shape	Size	Strength	Country	Panel Rating
Casa Fuego Belicoso	Torpedo	6.0 x 52	8.5	Honduran	92
Don Lino Africa Duma	Robusto	5.0 x 50	9.0	Honduran	89
Macanudo Café Hyde Park	Robusto Grandel	5.5 x 49	5.0	Dominican	88
Petrus Dominicana Toro	Toro	6.0 x 50	6.5	Dominican	89
Victor Sinclair 10th Ann. Toro	Toro	5.75 x 54	6.5	Dominican	92

Casa Fuego Belicoso

Hand-crafted in Honduras by the ever-vigilant Jesus Fuego, Casa Fuego is a bold blend created especially for those possessing well developed cigar palates. You can anticipate a robust burst of flavor, thanks to a shock of dark, rich Corojo long-fillers cultivated from the fertile soils of Nicaragua that are the heart of this cigar. They have been extensively aged, so trust they’re not harsh. The luscious fillers are wrapped by a delicious dark, oily Nicaraguan Habano-seed wrapper. The smoke is feisty, at first unleashing a pleasant series of pepper and earth flavors. Gradually subtle notes of espresso and dark chocolate shine as the cigar starts to stretch its legs. Panelists found the medium-to-full bodied Casa Fuego sufficiently smooth with a mature and balanced character that never overwhelms. Simply put, even a novice can enjoy its complex nature. Casa Fuego is a must-try for those seeking a unique and satisfying handmade. Pair it with a double espresso or a robust porter and enjoy!

Don Lino Africa Duma

You know you’re in for a full bodied smoking experience when you hold this bold, top-shelf handmade and feel the heft. With the Africa by Don Lino you're in for not just a full-bodied smoking experience, but a flavor safari. But first run your fingertips up, down and around this dark beauty to better appreciate its smooth oily wrapper. Handmade in Nicaragua, this unusual stogie features an exotic blend of premium tobaccos from, as the name implies, Africa but it’s also packed with tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic that have been patiently fermented and extensively aged. Don Lino then adds some of the world's finest Cameroon wrapper leaf to the filler which spices up the cigar even more (and is one of the characteristics that makes the cigar unusual). The layers of exquisite flavors areenriched by a Nicaraguan-grown Habana-seed wrapper. They start out cedaryand are followed by spicy cinnamon with a leathery finish. Look for an even burn, a medium draw and voluminous clouds of smoke. Enjoy your Don Lino Africa with a top shelf single malt such as Lagavulin or Oban. If beer is your preference, a German pilsner will work well.

Macanudo Café Hyde Park

General cigar has been delivering high-quality cigars since 1848 including such greats as Bolivar, Cifuentas, Cohiba, Partagas, Punch, and Macanudo, a mild-bodied stogie which is the top-selling cigar brand in the U.S. Perhaps it’s because they live up to their appellation; in Spanish "macanudo" means "best of the best," or "first-rate”. Perhaps it’s because they’re consistently mild and pleasant with exceptional construction. These hand-rolled sticks are a blend of Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan long fillers, plus a U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf binder married with a dark, shade-grown Connecticut wrapper. They have a bolder taste than some of Macanudo’s other offerings but they’re still a mild-bodied cigar. Look for an “airy” almost menthol type of flavor which becomes a little richer and toastier half-way through. You could smoke a half-dozen of these at your Father’s Day cook-out or take even more on a canoeing or sailing day trip. The aroma is so pleasant your non-smoking companions may find themselves moving closer to enjoy it. We'd suggest pairing it with your favorite Pale Ale or Chardonnay.

Petrus Dominicana Toro

Felipe Gregorio, maker of many a stellar cigar, created a sensation with this 1996 release of the Honduran Petrus line. Lesser known but gaining notoriety as a solid premium is this Dominican incarnation of the Petrus line. Cigar Aficionado rated it a ‘90’ calling it “a medium-bodied cigar with guts.”  This cigar, crafted with Dominican Olor and Nicaraguan long fillers with a supple and spicy Cameroon wrapper, is definitely one complex stick! While we know you’re probably not in the habit of caressing your cigars you might try it with this ever so slightly box-pressed beauty. Note how downy smooth the Cameroon wrapper is, almost like silk. Expect deep earthy tones on the palate and notes of roasted cocoa beans, leathery impressions, a light flourish of cedar and a long earthy finish. This cigar will work nicely as a midday smoke with afternoon coffee. In the evening enjoy it with spicy food and a big red shiraz or cabernet.

Victor Sinclair 10th Anniversary Toro

Take this with a grain of sea salt if you wish but the story goes that in the 1850’s, Admiral Victor Sinclair found what he thought to be the perfect cigar. Sailing home, just off the coast of the Dominican Republic aboard the frigate Oglethorpe, the ship was met by a vicious storm which claimed his life. It’s our good fortune, if not his, that some 140 years later his great-great nephew, Victor Long, resumed his ancestor’s quest for the perfect stogie. As the story goes, Victor Long was able to locate a defunct warehouse on the island of Dominicana where, coincidentally, he found remains of the Oglethorpe including several boxes of perfectly preserved cigars that had been stored in glass vials. These original cigars were then used to develop their current lines. Victor Sinclair Cigars are really some of the most well-made, expertly blended cigars out there. The
well aged puro we bring you this month is one of them.

Meticulously handmade with all Dominican tobaccos, including its lovely, triple-fermented Corojo wrapper, this Dominican beauty turns heads. It feels rock-solid in the hand. Note the wonderful pre-light aroma. The draw is perfect; the burn razor sharp. The smoke is toasty and layered with balanced, slightly spicy flavors, finished by a peppery-sweet aftertaste and wonderful aromas. This is a medium-bodied cigar that you might want to let hang out in your humidor awhile. A V.S.O.P. brandy complements it nicely.