Past Newsletters
Vol. 5 No. 11
Featured Cigar Dimensions
| Brand Name: | Shape | Size |
| A. Indian Tabac Classic Line | Toro | 6 x 52 |
| B. Indian Tabac Dominican Line | Petite Belicoso | 4 ½ x 52 |
| C. Indian Tabac Limited Reserve | Churchill | 4 x 47 |
| D. Profesor Sila Navegador Vijante | Double Corona | 7 5/8 x 50 |
| E. Profesor Sila Santa Maria Proa | Grand Corona | 5 ¾ x 45 |
Featured Cigars
The Indian Tabac Cigars
Success in today's hype-saturated premium cigar market goes beyond selling a few boxes. Short term prosperity is all around us, riding on the tails of a solidifying trend. But how does a young company become known, not as a trend follower, but as a standard-bearer--a maker of truly fine cigars? Owners of the Indian Tabac Cigar Company, Rocky Patel and Phil Zanghi have obviously given these questions great consideration. In an astonishingly short period of time, Indian cigars have gained great cachet in the premium market and show no signs of fading from view anytime soon.
Fewer cigar companies combine youthful energy, commitment, and tradition as does Indian Tabac Cigars. The average age of the company's two principals is barely thirty years. Still, this does not translate to inexperience. An equal measure of tradition rounds out the Indian Tabac Cigar Company. Their Honduran masterblender began his tobacco career at age eight, under the supervision of Cuban masters when his job was simply to hand leaves to the workmen forming the bunobes. Today, he creates the unique blends for which the Indian Tabac Cigars are known, and supervises the rolling staff. Their Honduran master curer is a highlands Mayan, born into a family with a hundred years of tobacco experts. Both have been tobacaleros for over thirty-five years.
The company is quite committed to building their brand recognition to prominence which requires determination and sacrifice. Phil spends little time, if any, in an office. Rather he daily oversees Indian's precious crops as he rides horseback through the company's 300 acres of tobacco farms in the Jalapa Valley of Nicaragua in the Hamastrand Valley of Honduras. Known by the locals as the "Crazy Gringo," he's earned the respect of the entire cigar-making community in both countries. He is instrumental in every step of making their cigars and for this reason he is unique. "I'm not going to just sit in the United States and go to cigar dinners and tell everyone to smoke my cigar. I need to be here to harvest the tobacco, make sure only the best quality is used, manage the factory, and inspect all of the cigars before they are boxed. I just can't trust it to anyone else. It's a big job."
Unlike many emerging cigar entrepreneurs which merely trek to cigar-making countries to buy cigars, create their own band and call them "their own", Indian owns their farms and factory which are both 100% dedicated to producing only for Indian Tabac Cigars. All of their cigars use Habano Seco leaves for filler. The Indian classic tobacco is aged for two years prior to rolling and the cigars are aged another 6 months after being rolled. The Limited Reserve Anniversary line is constructed from ten percent of each year's harvest which has been put aside for additional aging. Its wrapper is aged for four years and the filler for three. The company recently became the first ever to grow Cuban Seed Nicaraguan wrapper leaf which is used in the Classic line Toro featured this month. Each line featured has received impeccable reviews from both the industry and our panel. We know you're going to enjoy these fantastic cigars. For more information on the Indian Tabac Cigar Co., call them at 888-766-5387 visit their web site at: www.indiantabac.com. or email them directly at indiancgrs@aol.com.
Binder: Nicaraguan Piloto Cubano
Filler: Nicaraguan & Costa Rican Ligero/ Honduran Seco
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Piloto Cubano - CO Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 8
Panel Rating: 94
Notes from the Panel:
Our favorite of the Indian Tabac samples smoked. Immediately note an aesthetically pleasing and inviting medium-brown, slightly reddish silky smooth wrapper in this well constructed cigar. It has a nice feel in your hand, firm, but not too tight. We found it to offer a flawless draw and an even burn. The ash was consistent and firm indicative of proper aging. We picked up definite strong cedar tones in this cool smoking, leathery full-bodied cigar. The aroma was a pleasant, woody, slightly sweet one and we found the aftertaste to be very full and lingering. Overall, a fantastic, complex, very well balanced smoke. Consider pairing it up with either your favorite Single Malt Scotch or Brandy.
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Dominican Ligero Piloto Cubano Seco
Wrapper: Cameroon - CO Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7
Panel Rating: 90
Notes from the Panel:
We really liked the Dominican Petite Belicoso. Wonderfully crafted, you can just about smoke this little beauty in one ash. Note an easy draw and even burn in this mild, creamy cigar. The wrapper was soft to the touch and silky in appearance. Look for it to start spicy and round out over the last half of the smoke. Plenty of smoke and a nutty aroma. Overall, a great little medium-bodied, well blended Dominican treat. Consider pairing it with your favorite Spiced Christmas Ale or a small batch bourbon.
Binder: Nicaraguan Olor
Filler: Nicaraguan Viso & Ligero/Honduran Seco
Wrapper: 4 yr. old Connecticut Seed Ecuadorian - Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 5
Panel Rating: 93
Notes from the Panel:
We came very close to determining this one to be our favorite of the Indian Tabac cigars reviewed. It was by far, the most aged and mellow of all that we smoked. Immediately note an inviting cream colored Connecticut shade wrapper. This cigar is impeccably constructed, offering a superb draw and consistently even burn. Look for a creamy, rich, well balanced flavor. Very smooth. Very mellow. It will build over the last third of the cigar, but remains amazingly smooth to the end. Overall, a great smoke sure to please both those new to cigar smoking and avid smokers. We found it very worthy of a limited edition anniversary cigar. Pair it up with any French Merlot or Cabernet.
The Profesor Sila Cigars
The Canary Islands have a long-standing cigar making tradition dating back to the eighteenth century, and many of the key cigar factories in Havana were established by former Canary Islanders. Canary Island cigars had a strong U.S. following through the 1960s and '70s, mainly due to the Menendez and Garcia families, who earlier had established the reputation of Cuba's H. Upmann factory. They had left Havana for the Canaries after the Cuban Revolution, setting up a factory on Gran Canaria island. Their key brand, Montecruz, was top quality, the leading premium cigar brand sold in the United States in the 1960s.
Canarian cigar manufacturers often reminisce about the good old days, when they had all the tobacco, workers and sales that they needed. In the 1970s, Canary Island cigars had a strong following in the United States, mostly with such brands as Don Diego, Flamenco, Montecruz, Casa Buena and Don Alvaro (short filler). Montecruz sold nearly seven million cigars a year, mostly in the U.S. market, which annually consumed close to 20 million cigars from the islands at the time. That was in a total premium cigar market of 50 million to 55 million. The popularity of Canary Island cigars continued until the early 1980s, when prices substantially increased because of changes in duties as well as labor cost increases after Spain entered the Common Market, in 1985. The price increases literally priced Canary Island cigars out of the market.
The Profesor Sila cigars were at one time also produced in the Canary Islands, but have, like many other manufacturers, moved production to Santiago, Dominicana Republica to reduce the cost to produce their brands. The company recently introduced two new brands in 1997, one of which, the medium-bodied Navegador, is comprised of all Dominican binder and filler tobaccos and an Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper. The line is available in eight sizes, five of which are variations of coronas. The Santa Maria line is a more full-bodied interpretation of its sister brand, boasting of a double binder which makes use of both Dominican and Indonesian tobaccos.
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade - CO Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6
Panel Rating: 87
Notes from the Panel:
Note a well constructed, attractive cigar with a rustic Colorado Claro wrapper. Look for an easy draw and cool burn. We found its flavor to be smooth, relatively mild, yet very flavorful, offering hints of woodiness and mild spice. Overall, a perfect breakfast smoke, not overpowering, yet offering a pleasant woody taste and aroma. Consider pairing it with a tawny port or English Special Bitter Ale.
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Brazilian/Dominican Seco
Wrapper: Indonesian - EMS
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7.5
Panel Rating: 89
Notes from the Panel:
Our favorite of the Profesor Sila cigars evaluated. Note an aesthetically appealing cigar with again, a very easy draw. A fine long white ash indicates the tobacco to be aged properly. Look for a rich, nutty body with traces of woodiness. We smoked this one all the way down as far as humanly possible without inhaling the entire butt! Overall, a complex, full tasting smoke. Consider pairing this one with a smooth, sweet Jamaican Rum drink.
California's Prop 10 Passes
One of the initiatives Californians voted on November 3rd was Proposition 10, the so-called California Children and Families First Initiative. As of November 5th, the results of the California's Proposition 10 were still too close to call. According to the California Secretary of State the YES votes were then 3,604,630 and the NO votes were 3,580,485, giving the yes voters a lead of 24,145 votes. The Associated Press reported there were over 847,000 absentee ballots left to count in California. And unfortunately, as we go to press on this month's newsletter, we've learned that it did in fact pass by close to 50,000 votes.
Prop 10, titled "State and County Early Childhood Development Programs, and Additional Tobacco Surtax," was created by actor/director Rob "Meathead" Reiner. It's intended to create state and county commissions to provide information and materials and to formulate guidelines for establishment of comprehensive early childhood development and smoking prevention programs.
The $750 million needed to fund these programs would come from tax increases on cigarettes and other tobacco products. Specifically, the measure imposes an additional excise tax on cigarettes of 50 cents per pack plus a new excise tax on cigars and other tobacco products, equivalent to the increase in taxes on cigarettes. Initially for cigars, this will add an additional 35% excise tax, increasing the total from 26.4% to 62 %, effectively raising the retail cost of cigars in CA by 35 %.
Under current law, any increase in the tax on cigarettes automatically triggers an increase in the tax on other tobacco products. As a result, the measure increases the existing excise tax on these products by the equivalent of a 50-cent per pack increase in the tax on cigarettes, in addition to the amount above. This will result in an additional 35%, bringing the total excise taxes on cigars to 97% of the wholesale price.
These increases make California's cigar taxes the highest in the nation, topping even Washington's 74.9% of wholesale price resulting in lost sales as more smokers purchase out-of-state. The resulting drop in cigar sales will force many California retailers out of business, resulting in lost income, and ultimately, lost jobs.
The Orange County Register had the following to say about Prop 10: This is ballot box budgeting at its worst. It singles out a politically unpopular product -- cigarettes -- to pay for a worthy but unrelated goal: children's services. It creates a new bureaucracy to duplicate programs already in existence. And it removes discretion from the elected officials most accountable to the voters.
Both the proponents and opponents of this initiative are more concerned with the 50-cent increase on a pack of cigarettes, which makes up the majority of the revenues in question. The cigar tax increases almost seem to be a side effect albeit a significant one for those of us in the industry. As many states follow the lead of California legislative initiatives, the impact of the proposition passing may ultimately have an enormous effect on the cost of cigars in the future. The State Board of Equalization is currently working to determine the exact increases and when they will take effect and as a result, we may be forced to raise our CA customer monthly membership cost so that we're at least covering our cost. We're exploring all avenues and options at this time and will share the cost of the additional tax with our CA based customers so that they don't feel it's full effect. It will take a few months for the State to work it out, but we'll keep you up to date as we learn more.
Kris Calef
President
Storing Your Smokes
Equally important to evaluating and appreciating the cigars featured each month is the proper storage and sometimes continued aging of them prior to smoking them. Ideally, you should store your cigars in a humidor to maintain them at their peak smokability. Be sure and use only distilled water in your humidor or you will ultimately see mold. As for the cigars, if they've got cellophane on them, as a general rule, leave it on. Cellophane is actually quite porous and the moisture from a humidor will penetrate the wrapper. If in fact, you don't yet own a humidor or prefer not to spend the money for the amount of tobacco you indulge, there are many varied options. 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 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 its receiving.
Tobacco Bits
BLOOM OR MOLD? - If you notice a white, flaky powder on the wrapper of the cigars in your humidor, don't be alarmed. This growth, called bloom (or plume), is the result of the oils in the cigar maturing and evaporating. Bloom is actually a sign of proper tobacco maturation and it's presence is a good thang as it enhances flavors present in the cigars. Blue growth on your smokes, however, is mold and means that your humidor is overly humidified. At this stage, your smokes are ruined and should be trashed. To review, White = Bloom = Good. Blue = Mold = Not Good.
SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTING SMOKES - The idea for the infamous exploding cigar gag is said to have its origins, according to some historians, in the widely unsuccessful attempt to create a self-lighting cigar.
ORIGINS OF THE TUX TIED TO CIGARS - If you hate wearing a tuxedo to weddings and formal dinners, you have cigar smokers to thank for the dreaded penguin suit. By the mid-nineteenth century, cigar smoking had become so popular in France that hotels, clubs, and even trains began featuring separate smoking rooms for their patrons. To guard against the cloying tobacco smoke clinging to one's hair and clothes, skull caps and smoking jackets were worn. These thick, comfortable jackets slowly evolved into dinner jackets, later called tuxedoes in America.
BEFORE CHURCHILL'S CHURCHILLS - Winston Churchill was not always a cigar smoker. In fact, early in his life, the world's most recognizable stogie smoker smoked cigarettes. He didn't take up puffing puros until he was given a gift of 10,000 Havana cigars of Cuba during World War II.
HAVE YOU SMOKED ETHEL BARRYMORE YET? - During the heyday of cigars, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were dozens of brands named for famous celebrities. Among them were: Lillian Russell, William Gillette, Ethel Barrymore, Rudolph Valentino, Clint Ford, Neil Burgess, and Richard Harlow.
FALLEN BUT NOT FORGOTTEN - General William Tecumesh Sherman was as much a "stogie-holic" as he was a workaholic. While making plans for battle, Sherman would work for 20 hours at a stretch, lighting cigar after cigar. After a puffing on a fresh cigar for a few moments, Sherman would lay it down on his desk and continue to work. In pausing, Sherman would light another cigar, and continue in that fashion until there was a row of partly consumed cigars. Sherman's aides called them "Sherman's old soldiers."
MARXISMS - Groucho Marx was rarely seen without a cigar, which he used as a prop in front of the camera and as an object of delight behind it. Only once did the get himself into trouble with the help of his cigar. While hosting the 1950's game show YOU BET YOUR LIFE, Grouch reacted to a contestant's remark that he had a rather large family with many children. Marx, in his inimitable, off-the-cuff style, quipped, "I like my cigar, too, but I take it out every once in a while." This, not surprisingly, did not go over well with television censors. Surly Groucho loved his cigars, but maybe he was taking his love for the leaf a little far when he said, "If I have to choose between a woman and a cigar, I will always choose the cigar."
BIRTH OF THE STOGIE - It is widely believed that the first modern cigar, replete with filler, binder and wrapper, was manufactured in Seville, Spain, during the late 17th and early 18th century and was made from Cuban leaf imported into the port city. The demand skyrocketed for these cigales, or Sevillas (as they later came to be known). Incidentally, the word "cigale" is Spanish for locust; and the cigars were so named for their resemblance to a large locust.
Ask Murl
Dear Murl
I've seen guys use a guillotine cutter to cut off the end of their cigars and some folks use a bullet-shaped gizmo to cut a neat little hole in the end and even others just poke a hole in with a pen or sharp object. So I'm sittin' here sayin' to myself, "Self, what up with that? Is one method better than another or what." And then I see one of my old newsletters on the floor with your smilin' mug staring at me and I get to thinkin' that you'd probably know. I mean, you're the Original Havana Hound, right? But then I get to thinkin' about how you lambaste just about every person that writes in a question and I start getting' a bit anxious about writing you. Then, I just thought, what the hell. Could be funny if he responds.
Rob Kramer "The Happy Pajama Guy"
Superior, CO
Yo Pajama Boy!
First off, Pal…You spend WAY too much time thinkin'. When I got done reading your question I figured you were just yankin' my tail, but then I remembered I don't have one. You had to have assumed you'd be the next one up on the rotisserie when you signed your letter "The Happy Pajama Boy". So do you want to talk about that or what? You got PJ's with Yoda's and shit on them? Little fire trucks? E.T.? Or you just happy when you're in them? I can't figure it out, but you've got me pontificating, that's for sure.
Anyway, to your question about the appropriate removal of the head of your smoke, there are, as you mentioned several methods to choose from. Personally, I subscribe to the Josey Whales school of thought and prefer to bit of the end with my teeth like the savage canine that I am. Of course this works much better if you've got a cool lid and a bitchin' poncho. Just don't go spittin' on every dog you see like Clint did. Uncool. I'd of capped his Spaghetti Western ass if he pulled that crap on me. Hell, I've seen my mailman use a letter opener, my vet use a thermometer (we have to assume sterile), and my favorite bartender use a toothpick that had been behind his ear for 4 days. Frankly, anything that opens the cigar's head without damaging the wrapper or having a negative impact on the draw will do the job. One of the more effective cigar cuts is with a guillotine. Opening the head in full allows the flavors of the tobaccos inside to mingle properly as the smoke is drawn into your mouth. Some guillotines have gotten very sophisticated, using cams and bearings to make sure that even pressure is applied around the cigar as it is cut. Another effective way is to use a punch, (the bullet shaped device you described), which cuts a small round hole in the head. Be careful to cut the wrapper lightly so the tobacco isn't compacted by the cut which might impede the draw. Many contend that using a V or notched cut offer the best of the punch and guillotine maximizing the draw while keeping a neater, cleaner cut. I personally think using scissor-type cutter is not a great way to go as it tends to squash the head and damage the tobacco inside the cigar. So do what you will, Pajama Boy, but keep the kinky stuff to yourself!
Woof!
Murl.
Christmas is a Coming Babies!
And don't even think about a Rawhide Chewy!
As you sit in your favorite chair, meandering through this month's newsletter and contemplating another turkey sandwich, consider the fact that most likely more than one person on your Christmas shopping list could be handled without leaving your command post. And the chances are better than average that whomever your thinking about for either our Cigar, Beer or Wine Clubs hasn't been good enough this year to justify Santa himself bringin' the loot. So it's up to you. And as any of the three services make Great Christmas gifts well suited for clients, work associates and employees as well as for friends and family members that are particularly hard to shop for, we've put together a special promotion for our existing customers.
MURL'S SPECIAL HOLIDAY SEASON OFFER!
For members that place any gift order, for any club, two months or longer, we'll send you your very own, personal Torch Lighter. Handy for light soldering jobs, prison breaks and occasionally guaranteeing a perfectly even light for your cigar, it's second only to a set of Ginsu knives as a house hold must. But Wait! There's More!
For members that place a total of 6 subscription gift months in any combination of any Club, you get your choice of either a sturdy Fruit of the Loom Cohiba T-shirt or a Cohiba Ball Cap AND the Torch Lighter! That's $35 worth of stuff, baby! So you could knock out 3 gifts with 2-month memberships to each and get some FREE LOOT for yourself! You may also elect to receive a complimentary month's shipment towards your membership if any of these slick promo items don't trip your trigger.
To ensure that we can get a gift announcement card to the recipient(s) in time for Christmas, please call us no later than December 15th.
So get your shopping done early and call 1-800-625-8238 right damn now and ask for Murl's Special Christmas Deal-o-rama! It's unique, easy to order, and a whole lot more fun than a Bass-o-matic.
Thanks for your patronage, Seasons Greetings, and Woof! Murl.
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 Cost | Individual |
| Cost | ||
| A. Indian Tabac Classic Line Pyramid | $105.50 | $5.20 a cigar |
| B. Indian Tabac Dominican Line Belicoso | $90.50 | $4.60 a cigar |
| C. Indian Tabac Limited Reserve Churchill | $115.50 | $5.60 a cigar |
| D. Profesor Sila Navegador Vijante Double Corona | $87.50 | $4.50 a cigar |
| E. Profesor Sila Santa Maria Proa Navegador Vijante | $87.50 | $4.50 a cigar |
Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery and add $6.95 for S&H for your first box and $2.00 for each additional box. S&H for 5-paks is $4.95 and $1.00 for each additional 5-pak. 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 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.
