Past Newsletters
Vol. 5 No. 3
Featured Cigar Dimensions
| Brand Name: | Shape | Size |
| A. Mac Petite Perfecto | Perfecto | 4 x 43-40 |
| B. Baby Mac | Corona | 4 ¼ x 42 |
| C. Regalos Churchill | Churchill | 7 x 47 |
| D. Regalos Long Corona | Long Corona | 6 x 43 |
| E. Regalos Robusto | Robusto | 5 x 50 |
Featured Cigars
The MAC Cigars
The MAC Cigar line, produced by the Morgan Alexander Cigar Co., is the result of founder Allan Levitt’s true passion for fine tobacco and desire to create a product of uncompromised quality. We think he’s succeeded. Produced in the town of Tamboril, Dominican Republic, the MAC cigar line begins with some of the world’s finest aged tobaccos. Their fillers and binders are blends of tobaccos grown in the Domincan’s Cibao Valley and San Victor Moca. In fact, MAC Cigars are made from the same tobaccos supplied to Tabacos Dominicanos, S.A., makers of Davidoff, Avo and other more widely recognizable premium brands. All MAC cigars are a blend of Cubano Piloto in both Lijero and Seco as well as Olor Dominicano used as the trippa or filler. The capote or binders on all but the MAC Churchill are Dominican and the line’s wrapper is primarily offered in the finest grade Sumatran leaf, however, you will have the opportunity to smoke the only cigar in the line which is rolled with a vintage U.S. Connecticut wrapper.
Allan strives to ensure that all the components used in the construction of the MAC Cigar are the finest available on the market today. He takes great pride in the fact that all tobacco used is properly aged and cured, each cigar spends forty-five days on the shelf in the factory in Tamboril before being packed and shipped. We really liked this cigar line. Each cigar sampled was perfectly constructed and packed with flavor. Interestingly, we found two of the smaller sized cigars to be our favorites in the line and know that you’ll enjoy them as well. The Petite Perfecto featured is an extremely difficult and expensive cigar to roll. A pair of seasoned rollers can only produce roughly 200 of them per day relative to the 5-600 that they could roll in most other shapes.
For more information about the Morgan Alexander Cigar Co. call 908.604.0388 or email Allan directly at: maccigar@webspan.net.
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: USA Connecticut Shade-CO Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7.5
Panel Rating: 93
Notes from the Panel:
Do not let the shape and size of this cigar fool you. This is one of the more flavor-packed, complex and fun smokes we’ve had the pleasure of rating. Of all the smokes we’ve tried in the last few month’s, the Baby Mac is certainly one of the more memorable. Note excellent construction in a perfect, open draw in this very rich, mildly spicy, and extremely flavorful cigar. This is a power-packed smoke, not for the timid. We found no greenness in the tobacco. It’s nicely aged and offers a clean, pure tobacco taste. Look for great smoke volume and a pleasant aftertaste. Consider pairing this smoke with a small batch bourbon on cognac.
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Sumatra Indonesian-CO Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7
Panel Rating: 94
Notes from the Panel:
Once again, another beautiful thing in a small package. MAC’s version of the Fuente’s Short Story is a winner. A superbly constructed smoke and a very fun shape to smoke. The tapered end allows for an even light and as the cigar burns and opens up, you’ll find another perfect draw. The flavor is full, but less complex than it’s Connecticut Shade brother. Look for a creamy, spicy, and a touch of sweetness in this smooth flavor profile. The aftertaste is creamy and spicy and doesn’t fade too quickly. You might want to try smoking this one with a full-bodied dry roasted stout or a smoky single malt scotch such as Lag Vulin.
The Regalos Cigars
Produced in Honduras, the Regalos Cigar line was created from a blend of all Cuban seed tobaccos grown in the Dominican Republic, the most mountainous regions of Honduras and in the area of Nicaragua known as the Jalapa region. The Regalos cigars are long filler and completely hand made to exacting standards and offered in an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and in a Costa Rican maduro wrapper. The line has received high marks and was recommended in both Cigar Aficionado and Smoke magazines. We found the entire line to offer very complex, flavorful and thoroughly enjoyable smoking experiences and know that you’ll really enjoy what we’ve featured this month. For more information about the Regalos Cigar line, call The Global Tobacco Corporation at 800-873-9826.
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Nicaraguan/Honduran Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: USA Connecticut Shade-Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6.5
Panel Rating: 90
Notes from the Panel:
Look for a smooth buttery wrapper with an appealing oily sheen in this very well-constructed cigar. It was very evenly wrapped with no soft spots and solid without being hard. We found it started smooth and mellow and then built to offer loads of creamy, full flavor. Note great billows of smoke on every draw but surprisingly the aroma was fairly light. Overall this is a great smoke for all tastes. Initiates to the maduro will appreciate the subtle creaminess that doesn’t overpower; while experienced smokers will enjoy the medium-to-full-bodied flavor this cigar imparts. Consider smoking it with a heavy ale or brandy.
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Nicaraguan/Honduran Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Ecuadorian-Sumatran-Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 5
Panel Rating: 89
Notes from the Panel:
Another well made, aesthetically pleasing cigar. We noted consistent color among the samples we received and all were rolled evenly. Look for a creamy, smooth, slightly spicy and earthy flavor that is complex, but not overpowering. We even picked up some floral, sweet notes. A nice marriage of flavors. It burned evenly to the end and offered average smoke with a pleasant aroma and aftertaste. We’d smoke it with a dry, well-hopped pilsner.
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Nicaraguan/Honduran Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: USA Connecticut Shade-Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6.5
Panel Rating: 92
Notes from the Panel:
Notice a nice shiny, oily, beautiful reddish-brown wrapper. All samples were consistently rolled with just enough give and consequently, the cigar provided an easy, open draw. Look for a complex and heady flavor profile, medium-bodied with a fruitiness and hint of spiciness. Much more intense as it burns down, rich coffee and chocolate flavors become evident. Note a big coffee aroma and a very enjoyable aftertaste. Try smoking it with Ron Anejo’s Pampero Aniversario Rum or Sierra Nevada’s Big Foot Barley Wine Ale.
Cigar Wrapper Characteristics
| Color | Abbrev. | Description |
| Double Claro | "DC" | Also known as American Market selection (AMS), Candela, Jade or Rubio wrapper. Although rarely found today, this green to reenish-brown wrapper was the most popular wrapper shade in the U.S. during the 1940’s and the 1950’s. The green tint is formed by a process in which fresh leaves are taken from the field to an ultra-hot curing barn. Under such extreme temperatures, the chlorophyll affixes itself to the leaf, retaining its natural color. This process imparts a slightly sweet, earthy and sometimes also bitter taste to a cigar. |
| Claro | "CI" | This is a very light tan color, yellow-brown, or almost beige wrapper is very similar to a pair of Khakis in color. This is the most common color of the classic Connecticut shade-grown wrapper and considered to be the hallmark of a mild smoke. |
| Colorado Claro | "CC" | A medium brown found on many Cigars, this category covers many descriptions. The most popular are "Natural" or "English Market Selection". (EMS) Tobaccos in this shade are grown in many varied countries and are generally medium-bodied and smooth. |
| Colorado | "C" | Wrapper of this shade feature a more Reddish hue than the Colorado Claro wrappers, and tend to be slightly spicier and stronger than the lighter brown wrappers. Also referred to as English Market Selections (EMS), as this shade at one point was most popular in England. This color is generally an indication of a well-matured cigar. |
| Colorado Maduro | "CM" | Darker than Colorado in shade, this color is a deeper red, brick-brown color than the Colorado wrapper. Colorado Maduro wrappers have also been considered milk-chocolate brown by some experts and are often associated with African tobacco, such as wrappers from Cameroon, or with Havana Seed tobacco grown in Honduras. They are generally thought to offer rich, mellow, and slightly creamy notes to the profile of a cigar. |
| Maduro | "M" | From the Spanish word for "ripe," madurowrappers are dark brown, similar to coffee with a tiny splash of cream. Wrappers of this color are usually silky and oily to the touch, and impart a rich, full-bodied flavor with a smooth, mellow aroma when smoked. Sometimes considered to be the color of the traditional Cuban cigar, maduro wrapper leaf is frequently grown in Mexico, although some of the best maduro wrappers are also grown in Connecticut, Nicaragua and Brazil. Maduro wrappers are sometimes referred to as Spanish Market Selection (SMS). |
| Oscuro | "O" | Spanish for "shadow" or "dark," these wrappers are brown-black to midnight-black in color. These leaves are left on the plant a little longer than usual for other shades of wrapper, and are matured for much longer lengths of time. Oscuro wrappers may be artificially produced by pressure-cooking the leaves as well. The Oscuro wrapper imparts a full-bodied, refined smoke with little or no aroma. |
Source: Perelman’s "Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars", 1997 ed.
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.
Clinton "Open" on Havana
WASHINGTON - President Clinton stated last November that he wants to develop an ongoing relationship with Fidel Castro’s Cuba much like the one the United States has with China, but only after American’s communist neighbor moves toward democracy.
In an interview on NBC-TV’s "Meet the Press," Clinton said he had been working toward "a gradually evolving relationship with Havana until Cuban fighters shot down two small planes piloted by Cuban-Americans in February 1996. Until then, Clinton had resisted tougher anti-Cuba legislation in Congress, but he signed the Helms-Burton Act after the attack. "So, we are at an impasse now," Clinton said. "I still want that kind of relationship with Cuba, but we have to have some kind of indication that there will be an opening up, a movement toward democracy … and I don’t have that indication today."
Clinton stopped short of saying he wants diplomatic relations with Cuba, as his reference to China ties would imply, and White House officials said it was not his intent to indicate that he wants such ties. The Cuban president himself made change in the near future sound unlikely. "In Cuba there was, there is and there will be a revolution based on principles that are not for sale," a frail-looking Castro told 21 heads of state at the annual Ibero-American summit in Porlamar, Venezuela.
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