Past Newsletters
Vol. 6 No. 11
Featured Cigar Dimensions
| Brand Name: | Shape | Size |
| A. Cupido Torpito | Torpito | 4 ½ x 54 |
| B. Fittipaldi Vintage Maduro | Toro | 6 x 50 |
| C. ICFO Classic Perfecto Petite | Perfecto | 4 ¾ x 46 |
| D. Isla Del Sol | Belicoso | 5 x 54 |
| E. Joya De Nicaragua Consul | Robusto | 4 ½ x 52 |
Featured Cigars
If starting small and having modest goals is the definition of a boutique brand, then Cupido Cigars - based in Florida, with offices in Southern California and production facilities in Nicaragua - certainly fits the bill. Cupido debuted in 1996, with but a single shape in its line, a Churchill, with an initial production run of 66,000 boxes. Cupido has expanded slowly, with two additional sizes made in limited runs: a box-pressed robusto (5.5 x 50) and the "Torpito," a mini-torpedo (4.5 x 54) which you’ll have the pleasure of smoking this month. It’s designed to be a quick, yet full flavored smoke that can be smoked in 30-40 minutes after lunch. Our panel really loved it!
The unique aspect of the Cupido line is that each size has its own blend and corresponding flavor profile. "We don't take a Churchill and cut it down to make a robusto. Our approach is more masterful, and gives us a specific niche in the marketplace," founder Yossi Kviatkovsky says. Cupido just recently added another member to its unique line, the Toro Negro (5.5 x 52). It’s the company’s first maduro and as it was also highly rated by our panel, you may very well have the opportunity to sample it in an up and coming shipment. Cupido cigars are produced using aged ligero long leaf binder & filler tobaccos and enclosed in the highest quality Sumatran wrappers. Each of the 4 cigars in the line has been rated highly in upper 80’s and low 90’s in Cigar Aficionado and "Highly Recommended" in Smoke Magazine. For more information about Cupido Cigars, call 1-888-CUPIDO1, email the company at cupido@worldnet.att.net or visit their web site (under construction) at: www.cupidocigars.com.
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Indonesian –Colorado Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7
Panel Rating: 96
Notes from the Panel:
This is a cool little smoke! Great shape. Wonderful construction and a full, rich and complex taste. Immediately note a medium-dark, rich and oily wrapper with very few noticeable veins. The expertly rolled cigar felt hefty in your hand and offered both a slow, even burn and perfect draw. Look for loads of flavor hinting towards nuts, cocoa beans and a pleasant cedar woody character. We found the finish to be dry and have a lingering cedar taste. Overall, this was the best sample we’ve evaluated this month and know that you’ll be pleased with it. Consider pairing this unique smoke with a nutty Brown Ale or a Loch Dhu Single Malt Scotch.
The Fittipaldi brand is in fact owned by the world-renowned Brazilian Formula 1 driver, Emerson Fittipaldi, winner of Formula 1 world championships in 1972 and 1974 and the Indianapolis 500 in 1989 and 1993. Teaming up with the legendary Dominican cigar manufacturing family of Augusto Reyes, and Tom Sullivan, Emerson Fittipaldi has produced a line worthy of his name and reputation. The original blend of the line offered a 1993 Vintage Cameroon-seed wrapper, and although a great smoke, our panel really favored the newly introduced (at the 1999 RTDA) Vintage Maduro Series which you’ll have a chance to try this month. This box pressed beauty features a double fermented (twice as long, reduce ammonia levels – smoother, mellow smoke) 1996 broad leaf maduro sun cured wrapper.
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Cubano Olor
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Dominican Broadleaf – Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7
Panel Rating: 93
Notes from the Panel:
You’ve got to like the presentation of this cigar. Immediately note a rich, oily, dark maduro wrapper encasing this elegant boxed smoke. Look for a easy, even draw and solid construction. We found the flavor complex, starting peppery and offering tones of herbal earthiness. There’s a hint of sweetness in there and pronounced hints of coffee. There’s a lot going on! Look for a dry, woody aftertaste in this well-aged, smooth cigar. Overall, this smoke is bursting with flavor and will appeal to those who like Havana-style cigars. We found it very enjoyable and think you will too. Consider pairing it with a full-bodied Merlot or Dry Rye Ale.
Founded by Jeff White in 1997, the Isla Del Sol Cigar Company offers a truly boutique cigar line. Unlike many new entrants to the market that have not survived the leveling off of the market, Isla Del Sol continues to thrive and we suspect it’s because their cigars are produced by Tabacelera Perdomo in Esteli, Nicaragua (The same folks that manufacture the Perdomo Reserve line featured several shipments ago!). Isla Del Sol is actually an island off the southwestern coast of Florida that has no phones, a handful of cabins and very few local inhabitants. The brightly colored band reflects the attitude of the island and was intended to make the new brand stand out in tobacco shops. The line is offered in 4 standard sizes including a churchill, corona, toro and a robusto, as well as 3 shaped sizes: a belicoso, pyramid and torpedo.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Binder: Cuban Seed Ecuadorian Olor
Filler: Dominican – Honduran - Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra - CO
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 5
Panel Rating: 90
Notes from the Panel:
We found the wrapper on this little Nicaraguan gem to offer a nice oily sheen and a beautiful light maduro-rosado color. An exceptionally well rolled cigar, the belicoso smoked evenly, offered plenty of smoke volume and burned cool. Look for some spice and a floral sweetness indicative of Nicaraguan tobacco in this medium-bodied smoke. We also picked up on a distinctive earthy character. Overall, a great little smoke, full of flavor and fun to smoke. Try pairing it with a smoked porter or imperial stout.
The CFO Classic Perfecto Series is a collection of 3 handmade Dominican perfectos including the petite perfecto included in this month’s shipment, a perfecto (6 x 47) and a Gran Perfecto (7 x 50). The line was crafted especially for those of you who appreciate the fine perfecto shape of an Arturo Fuente Hemingway cigar. Handmade in the Dominican Republic with a natural wrapper, this little baby offers a full rich taste in a compact package. The folks at CFO have been in the cigar business for three generations now. "Back in the 1930's you could find us on 7th Avenue in Manhattan selling cigars to the leaders of finance and fashion. Today we have taken our experience north of the city and opened a number of smoke shops where quality, value, service and selection is still number one!", states owner Ron Shapiro.
Country of Origin: Honduras
Binder: Honduran Olor
Filler: Honduran Piloto Cubano Ligero & Seca
Wrapper: USA Connecticut Shade – Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 5
Panel Rating: 91
Notes from the Panel:
You’ve gotta love beautiful things that come in small packages. CFO’s petite perfecto certainly falls in that category. Immediately note an expertly 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 a nearly perfect draw. We found the flavor to be predominantly herbal, earthy and a bit spicy. Look for a clean woody cedar finish in this medium-bodied Honduran treat. Consider pairing it with an Oban Scotch or your favorite Czechoslovakian Pilsner.
Always popular since its introduction in the 1970’s, the Joya De Nicaragua line was re-blended in 1996. The flagship series featured this month is handmade in Esteli, Nicaragua and offers a mild-to-medium bodied taste thanks to an Ecuadorian-grown, Connecticut-seed wrapper. The line is available in no less than 10 sizes from a petite panetela up through a Giant (8.5 x 52). Joya De Nicaragua also introduced their Maduro Deluxe line in ’96 which features a Costa Rica-grown maduro wrapper and a much fuller bodied smoking experience. The Maduro Deluxe line is presented in a Churchill, Lonsdale, Toro and Robusto. Both lines are meticulously cured and skillfully rolled, earning them their distinction o f being a true "Jewel of Nicaragua."
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaraguan Olor
Filler: Nicaraguan Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: CT Seed Ecuadorian – CO Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 5
Panel Rating: 89
Notes from the Panel:
Immediately note a rustic Colorado Claro in this well constructed Nicaraguan treat. It feels substantial in your hand with just the right amount of tobacco, was firm to the touch with no soft spots and offered a cool, even burn and effortless draw. We found the flavor to be identifiably Nicaraguan, offering a slightly sweet taste and rich earthy spicy character. Also note a hint of cocoa and some cedar evident. Look for a mild non-lingering finish in this mild-to-medium bodied smoke. Overall, we found it to be rich in taste and mild in body, a great combination. You should pair it up with a malty red ale or perhaps a Cuervo Gold Margarita on the rocks.
Beer, Wine, & Cigars
Make Great Christmas Gifts!
As you sit in your favorite chair, meandering through this month’s newsletter and watching your favorite team get their ass kicked, 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 Beer, Cigar, or Wine of the Month 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.
Tobacco Bits
A SEASON OF CYCLES - Tobacco is a winter plant, though what passes for winter in Cuba doesn't conjure images of chestnuts roasting by an open fire. The growing season begins in September, when seedlings are planted in the beginning of the month, and continues to the end of March or the beginning of April. In the Vuelta Abajo, plants are started in three cycles: early November plantings harvested in January; mid-November plantings harvested at the beginning of March; and late November plantings harvested at the end of March.
OFF TO SEE THE BLENDER - Once the leaves have been sorted according to their function in the cigar's physiognomy, they are sent to the blender, who determines which leaves are best suited for the varying cigar sizes, shapes, and most important, tastes the factory manufactures.
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST - Once the tobacco plants are placed in the ground, the tobacco farmer, called a veguero, must tirelessly attend to them. While it takes only 45 days for a young tobacco plant to mature enough for its initial harvesting, a fledgling crop faces many hazards including weather, pests, mold, and disease. Most Tobacco farms actually plan for 15% of their planting to be lost.
LIFE IN THE FIELDS - Young tobacco plants are meticulously planted in rows, with a precise amount of space allowed between the plants. Shade-grown tobacco, used for the wrapper, is grown under a screen of cheese-cloth or mest, to inhibit direct contact with the sun's rays. Sun-grown tobacco is grown without any protective covering.
DRY OUT, MAN - After the leaves are picked, they are classified by size and texture, and then braided or stacked into bundles, called gavillas, or hands. The gravillas are then taken to curing barns, where they are draped over long poles and protected from direct sunlight and temperature changes. Here, the tobacco leaves slowly dry out and eventually change color-from dark green to yellow, to brown-as they lose their moisture content. This process takes from 3 to 8 weeks, depending on the type of tobacco and the weather conditions.
Ask Murl
Dear Murl,
I know you’ve most likely answered this one before, but I’m a new member and if you don’t answer it again, I’m might consider seeking the answer from one of your competitors if you get my meaning. In any case, I’m curious as to why there is such a mystique surrounding cigars of Cuban origin. I’ve never smoked one so I can’t form my own theory, but suspected that you had one of your own. Are Cuban cigars really that much better than ones produced elsewhere? Thanks for your time, Murl.
Professor Gluteus Absurdum,
University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
Yo Professor!
So what are you a professor of anyway? And can you make a transistor radio from a coconut, a banana peel, and a pair of Gilligan’s BVDs? In any case, as you are in fact a professor at a real University, I feel obligated to either plagiarize my answer or make it up entirely with no research what so ever so as to be consistent with my existing College track record. God forbid I should actually have to do some hard core research here at corporate! The truth Karl, is that everyone except you has an opinion on Cuban cigars. I’ve attended a festival or two when we’re promoting the club and I can’t tell you how many weenies come up and ask the same question. "Got any Cubans? Got any Cubans? Got any Cubans?!" I usually tell them, "Sure Pal, this one right here was rolled on the thighs of a Cuban virgin just this morning and it’s yours for $150 if you want it." The glazed, confused stare, unaware of my jest, usually confirms my suspicions of a rookie who wouldn’t know a Cuban if Castro gave it to him personally!
Anyway, to the point. In my opinion, opinion being the operative word here Professor, the binders and fillers in the Dominican Republic are the best in the world, bar none. Cuba still grows the best wrappers, but the Dominican Republic is catching up rapidly in that respect as well. The difference isn't really in the growing of the tobacco, but more so in its processing and aging. The soils of the two countries are essentially identical and they are on nearly the same latitude. Of course, the Dominican Republic is a little east of Cuba in longitude but the weather is very similar. I think a large part of the Cuban mystique is the appeal of the forbidden fruit. I saw this sexy, rugged she-wolf on the Discovery Channel the other day. I knew I couldn’t have her, and I wanted her all that much more. I’m telling ya, it’s human (and canine) nature, baby. Tell me I can’t buy a pint of Guinness any more and I’m calling my clan on the mainland to reserve my private reserve. Don’t focus so much on where the smoke came from, but rather did you personally enjoy it. The appreciation of fine tobacco is about as subjective as it gets, so go with what you like. I’ve gotta trot. Got a milk bone stashed in the couch with my name on it.
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 Qty | Box Cost | Individual |
| Cost | |||
| A. Cupido Torpito | 24 | $125.50 | $6.23 |
| B. Fittipaldi Vintage Maduro | 25 | $95.50 | $4.82 |
| C. ICFO Petite Perfecto | 25 | $87.50 | $4.50 |
| D. Isla Del Sol Belicoso | 25 | $75.50 | $4.02 |
| E. Joya De Nicaragua Robusto | 25 | $75.50 | $4.02 |
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.
