Past Newsletters
Vol. 4 No. 6
Featured Cigar Dimensions
| Brand Name: | Shape | Size |
| A. Don Alberto Classico Dominican | Churchill | 8 x 48 |
| B. Don Alberto Superior Habana | Giant Corona | 7 x 44 |
| C. Villar y Vllar Laguitos | Toro | 6 3/4 x 52 |
| D. Villar y Vllar Remedos | Corona Extra | 5 1/2 x 46 |
| E. Villar y Vllar Robusto | Robusto | 4 1/2 x 54 |
Featured Cigars
The Don Alberto Cigar
Handmade in Santiago, Republica Domincana, The Don Alberto Santiago and Superior Habana product lines exemplify the rewards realized when attention to detail is combined with the finest Dominican tobacco. Don Alberto produces a total of eight lines all tolled, offering over 40 individual cigar types all rolled from choice Cuban and Dominican seed tobaccos. With over 600 acres of Dominican tobacco crops in Santiago, they are considered one of the top manufacturers of prime cigars in Dominican Republic.
Filler: Cuban Seed Dominican
Binder: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 5
Panel Rating: 89
Notes from the Panel:
This beautifully constructed cigar offers a perfect draw. We found the Classico Dominican Churchill to have a wonderful, medium-bodied, rich tobacco taste. This is a very well fermented, smooth smoke constructed with mature tobacco as evidenced by a perfect ash. Note a very pleasant aroma with a mild tobacco character and cedar notes evident. A medium finish hinted of cocoa, tobacco and some nutty, cedar notes. Consider pairing this one with a fine single malt scotch or brandy.
Filler: Cuban Seed Dominican
Binder: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 4
Panel Rating: 84
Notes from the Panel:
Don Alberto’s Superior Habana Giant Corona is another very well constructed cigar possessing a smooth, slightly oily Connecticut shade wrapper. It drew evenly and easily and left a decent, slightly broken ash. We found the flavor to be rich, nutty, creamy and somewhat spicy offering a trace of pepper. Look for a creamy, spicy and faintly woody finish. Enjoy this fine cigar with a heavy ale or brandy.
The Villar y Villar Cigar
A useful guide to judging the strength and flavor of a cigar is by knowing the county of origin. Nicaraguan brands tend to be more on the full-bodied side while those produced in the Dominican Republic are generally mild to medium-bodied. You should be able to note the difference when comparing the two Domincan Don Alberto cigars to their Nicaraguan counterparts featured this month. In addition to the Corona and Robusto featured, Jose Girbes also produces a Lonsdale and a Churchill.
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Nicaraguan EMS
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7
Panel Rating: 86
Notes from the Panel:
Immediately note a shining, EMS, medium shade, oily wrapper in this well constructed cigar. Note a very pleasant, full and rich aroma before lighting this cigar. Villar y Villar’s Laguitos offered an even, firm, near-perfect draw and a nice white ash. It reminded us of a superb Estate Dominican we rated earlier. We found the flavor to be on the fuller side and consisting of some spicy orange peel tones. More of the orange, spicy and some woody notes in the finish. Try any of the Villar y Villar cigars with a single malt scotch, an amber ale, a pinot noir or merlot.
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Nicaraguan EMS
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6
Panel Rating: 84
Notes from the Panel:
We found the corona extra to have all of the fine flavors of the Toro, though somewhat less developed perhaps due to its smaller size. Not nearly the commitment required to enjoy the Toro, this might be the best of the three to use as an introduction to the brand. As with the Toro and Robusto, this is a well-made, nicely fermented, medium-bodied smoke. It offers woody and some nutty notes in the flavor and a medium tobacco finish.
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Nicaraguan EMS
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6
Panel Rating: 85
Notes from the Panel:
Another rich, oily wrapper and well-constructed cigar. The Robusto offered more of a coffee and hazelnut aroma while its flavor leaned more towards woodsy, cedar notes. Some spiciness is also evident in the flavor and finish of this medium-to-full-bodied cigar.
Cuban Authenticity
One of the topics most frequently asked about Cuban cigars is that related with their authenticity. Unfortunately, all super-premium quality products suffer from fraudulent imitations, and Cuban cigars have not escaped to these practices. It is for this reason that Cuban manufacturers currently use several methods to help consumers to distinguish the real deal from counterfeit cigars. We know that sadly, until the embargo is lifted, you’ll never have the opportunity to actually put this article to use as we all are aware of the fact that it is still quite illegal to purchase or bring Cuban cigars into the United States. And as we are convinced that our customers possess the highest of moral standards and wouldn’t have use for this information on our own home soil, there are those of you that may have the opportunity to travel abroad and enjoy an authentic Cuban cigar elsewhere. That being said, let us share with you how to know you’ve got el producto atentico.
1) The Cuban Government's Warranty Stamp
Established by Law, July 16, 1912, there is a "Sello de garantia nacional de procedencia" that seals the opening of every cigar box. It is printed in four languages with green ink on a white paper (the green shade is not always the same), and there are at least three different sizes: 183 x 64mm, 97 x 34mm, and 60 x 21mm. It is possible to find one of the two bigger sizes glued to the box, while the smallest one is self-adhesive and is used for carton packs of five cigars. If the cigar box comes packed inside a carton box (as, for instance, Partagas 8-9-8 and some other varnished boxes), the seal is adhered to the opening of the carton box and not to the wooden box.
2) The "Irons"
There are 3 inscriptions printed, or more or less deeply engraved or burnt, on the bottom of the box, taking a rectangular surface of approximately 65 x 35mm. They are usually printed in black ink, although it is possible to see them in golden ink. The first, "Habanos s.a." is the name of the Cuban export company from October 1, 1994. The second, "HECHO EN CUBA" (in an oval) was added in 1960 to substitute the former text in English ("MADE IN CUBA"). The third, "Totalmente a mano" (in script), was introduced in 1989 to differentiate the Cuban traditional manufacturing process from other methods (the European Union accepts the "made by hand" denomination for cigars partially made by machine).
Boxes manufactured between 1985 and 1994 have the inscription "CUBATABACO" instead of "Habanos s.a.", as well as a tobacco leaf logo on top of it. It is, however, possible to find boxes manufactured at the end of 1995 with the old Cubatabaco inscription, and they are completely genuine.
3) The "Habanos" Sticker
Boxes manufactured starting from 1994 are also sealed diagonally across one of their top corners with a white strip with gold borders and the leaf emblem and the word "Habanos" in red and yellow. The sticker is self-adhesive, rectangular, and measures 102 x 20mm. 4) Factory and Date Codes In addition to the three guarantee proofs described above, Cuban cigar boxes are stamped on the bottom with the factory and date codes in blue or purple ink. Depending on the Factory, these stamps can take one or two lines, and can be enclosed or not in a rectangle. Varnished boxes packed in a carton box wear the stamp imprinted on the carton, and not on the wood. The codes of the best known Cuban factories are listed in figure 1 for your reference.
Figure 1
| Partagas: | FPG | (Francisco Perez German) |
| Romeo y Julieta: | BM | (Briones Montoto) |
| H. Upmann: | JM | (Jose Martii) |
| La Corona: | FR | (Miguel Fernandez Roig) |
| El Rey del Mundo: | HM | (Heroes de Moncada) |
6) Other Clues
The cedar sheet that separates the two layers of cigars in a 25 cigar box, must fill completely the opening of the box and one of its corners should be rounded. A shorter sheet with a straight cut corner is a symptom of falsification. Fake Havanas can wear authentic bands. Check for their perfect alignment in the box, as well as for the uniformity of color tones in their wrappers.
When receiving a box of Havanas, if any of the marks mentioned above is missing, you can be sure that it does not contain genuine hand made cigars. Counterfeit Havana cigars are made not only in Cuba, but in Dominican Republic and other countries. So take your time and don’t be too embarrassed to check it out thoroughly. You’re paying for the real thing, but it’s up to you to ensure that you get it! Enjoy.
Convenient Cigars
ClGARSir International, a division of The Critical Solutions Group Companies, recently hosted the premier reception for CIGARSir (tm), the world's first cigar vending humidor. CIGARSir is equipped with an advanced electronic and utilizes state-of-the-art robotic arm technology. The machine vends up to 25 different brands of imported premium cigars and stores up to 1,000 various sized cigars in its hand-crafted cedar interior. Prices for premium cigars range from $2 to $20. CIGARSir will be available at select country clubs, golf courses, ski resorts, marinas, hotels, resorts, duty free shops, nightclubs, restaurants, cruise ships, and casinos.
"Uncle Milty tries publishing"
Milton Berle recently threw a party for several hundred friends this week to celebrate the premier issue of his new magazine, Milton. The youthful Hollywood crowd filled Drai's trendy restaurant on La Cienega Boulevard for cocktails and a superb five-course dinner. A spry Uncle Milty, approaching his 89th birthday, held court drinking champagne and smoking an expensive cigar. Quality stogies were passed out to everyone, with many women lighting up. Arriving guests were given buttons reading "We Drink, We Smoke, We Gamble," the magazine's slogan. "Great, isn't it?" Berle asked, waving his cigar in the direction of the closely packed throng. "The magazine hit the national stands two days ago and has already sold out! This is a luxury gaming magazine for people who enjoy the good life in Las Vegas. The philosophy is adults should do what they want to do. Like that old song, 'Enjoy yourself; it's later than you think.' Reap your pleasure now. Yes, smoke, drink and gamble, but not in excess. Live the good life while you can. Try not to miss anything." He produced a copy of Milton offering such articles as "Play blackjack without looking like a dork," "The 10 premium cigars, hottest sellers," "Gambling, speak-easys of the '90s." For me smoking cigars, drinking good liquor and wine, and gambling has been my way of relaxing after a hard day's work. There's nothing wrong with that. The magazine is unique, but I don't have much to do with it except write 'Milton's Memos.'' This page consists of notes tacked to a cork board offering words of advice: "Don't get into a poker game with anybody named after a city (e.g. Amarillo Slim, Cincinnati Kid, etc.) and stay out if all the other players seem to know each other. They're looking for a new sheep to shear." Another: "Your Cigar. Tip biting versus the cutter. Roll, roll, slobber slobber, roll, roll, bite, spit. Do whatever feels right. Your cigar is meant to enjoy!" Berle wrapped it up by commenting, "I lived, hard, played hard and worked hard. I made a living making people laugh, so I wanted some joy too."
Cuba's Celebrity Smoke-Fest
Cuba secretly invited about 100 U.S. business leaders and celebrities to a $500-a-plate dinner in Havana to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the world-renown Cohiba cigar, according to the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Since a long-standing trade embargo prohibits most Americans from traveling to Cuba, island officials were tight-lipped about the guest list. But published reports say movie stars Jack Nicholson, Danny De Vito, Matt Dillon and Arnold Schwarzenegger may have been among those that attended.
Company that takes no-smoking policy to extreme
If you're visiting Kimball Physics, be prepared to pass the sniff test administered there Receptionist who says even trace tobacco smells give her sinus headaches, make her nose run and constrict her breathing. If she catches a whiff of cigarette smoke on your breath, hair or clothes, she will ask you to step outside. To protect its employees' health, the electronics manufacturer bars anyone who has smoked in the previous two hours or even smells of tobacco. The 3-year-old policy, which applies to visitors and employees alike, helps keep airborne particles out of the laboratories where workers assemble Kimball's main products, ion and electron guns used in equipment such as electron microscopes. But it was primarily intended to protect employees' health, said President Chuck Crawford. The policy was approved unanimously in 1993 by its substance abuse committee, which is open to any employee who wants to join. And no one has questioned it because the workers like it, Crawford said. Before then, the company had since the early 1980s banned smoking in the workplace and tried to hire only nonsmokers. In fact, Kimball Physics "bought" two employees' right to smoke for $3,000 each to get them to quit. Claire Ebel, executive director of the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, said the current policy violated New Hampshire's 1993 "smokers' right" law, which says employers cannot require workers to refrain from smoking on their own time. "The policy clearly violates that statute because it attempts to regulate the use of tobacco products outside the workplace for a two-hour period," she said. Tom Lauria, spokesman for the Tobacco Institute in Washington, D.C., said there was no scientific evidence linking the mere smell of smoke to asthma or other illnesses. "For a scientific company to take such an unscientific posture reflects very badly on that company," he said.
Do you have a Cigar Fixation?
Ask yourself the following
1. Do you have enough American Express Frequent Flyer miles accumulated
to buy a round trip ticket to London... just from cigar purchases?
2. When you wake up in the morning and the house smells like cigars,
do you like it?
3. Does your local tobacconist hand-wash your car for you while you
shop?
4. Have you been eyeing a spare 10'x12' bedroom and thinking … "humidor"?
5. Do you get Christmas cards from the A. Fuente family?
If you answered "affirmative control tower" to more than one of the above questions, well … Let’s just say, you might have a slight dependency problem that you shouldn’t be ashamed of!
Appreciation and Care for your Cigars If you’re a casual smoker and don’t own a humidor, there are many varied options to maintain the freshness of your cigars. In the short term you can put them in a zip lock plastic bag (open) and then place the bag in a Tupperware-like container. Put a dampened ball of paper towel (use distilled water) in the container as well, but do not allow the paper towel to touch the cigars. Do not put your cigars in the refrigerator; it's too cold and dry. Be certain to examine your cigars frequently, checking for mold. If you see mold beginning to grow, allow your "Tupper-dor" to dry out somewhat and reduce the amount of moisture it's receiving.
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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.
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 2nd 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.
