Past Newsletters
Vol. 6 No. 8
Featured Cigar Dimensions
| Brand Name: | Shape | Size |
| A. El Rey De Florez Presidente Double | Corona | 7 ½ x 50 |
| B. El Rey De Florez Torpedo | Torpedo | 7 x 54 |
| C. El Rey De Florez Suave Grand | Corona | 6 ½ x 46 |
| D. Premium Dominicana #20 | Robusto | 5 x 50 |
| E. Premium Dominicana #40 | Toro | 6 x 50 |
Featured Cigars
El Rey De Florez
The Flores family has a longstanding tradition of cigar making. Founder/Patriarch Carlos Flores learned the art of cigar rolling on his family’s tobacco plantation in Cuba nearly 50 years ago. Although the political upheavals of the early 1960s sent the Flores Family fleeing from Cuba into what came to be called "Little Havana" in Miami Florida, the passion for crafting fine cigars was already well instilled in Señor Flores. Largely accustomed to hand rolling cigars among the curing tobacco leaves of the Vuelta Abajo, he now found himself fashioned them in a somewhat more humbling environment, that of his kitchen table in Miami. It didn’t take long for local discerning smokers to notice the superior quality of Carlos’ cigars and he was soon persuaded to give the line a name and produce them on a larger scale in Miami, giving them the name of "Flor De Florez".
The Flores family now produces several lines of cigars in the Dominican Republic including the Flor De Florez Cabinet Series, a Nicaraguan-grown Cuban seed blend, The Flor De Florez Miami blend, a combination of Nicaraguan and Dominican Tobaccos still produced in Florida and their prized Dominican puro blend, El Rey De Florez which we have featured this month.
The El Rey De Florez line is handmade in the Tamboril, Dominican Republic and has been consistently rated highly in numerous publications. Smoke magazine "Highly Recommended" the line in two separate ratings and our panel enjoyed these flavor packed Dominicans as well. In additional to the three sizes that our panel liked the best that you’ll be smoking this month, the line offers a lonsdale, long corona, robusto, and three perfectos. For more information about the El Rey De Florez cigar line, visit their web site at www.florez.com or call them at (201)-217-1701.
Binder: Dominican Cubano Olor
Filler: Dominican Ligero
Wrapper: 2 yr. Aged Indonesian seed Dominican – CO
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 8
Panel Rating: 92
Notes from the Panel:
Immediately note a rustic, ruddy, oily inviting wrapper on this hefty cigar. You’ll find it substantial in the hand, offering a nice slow burn, easy on the draw and able to hold a firm ash. It’s obviously been aged properly. Note a fair amount of chestnut and spice in this medium-to-full-bodied Dominican. It starts slightly sweet and builds to a full flavor quickly. Look for plenty of smoke and a highly appealing aroma. Overall, a cigar worth savoring. Packed with flavor and well constructed. Pair it with your favorite single malt scotch or malty red ale.
Binder: Dominican Cubano Olor
Filler: Dominican Ligero
Wrapper: 2 yr. Aged Indonesian seed Dominican – CO
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7
Panel Rating: 90
Notes from the Panel:
Another expertly crafted cigar. Impeccable draw with a cool burn to the very end. Much like the Presidente, this cigar offers a very complex flavor profile that seems to change constantly throughout the smoke. It starts smooth with a hint of cocoa sweetness and builds to a creamy full, rich spiciness. Look for a complex creamy, spicy aroma that is most enjoyable. The finish is creamy and potent indicative of the use of ligero filler. Overall, very complex. Highly enjoyable. Consider smoking it with a traditional Bavarian Hefeweizen beer or full-bodied Merlot.
Binder: Dominican Cubano Olor
Filler: Dominican Ligero
Wrapper: 2 yr. Aged Indonesian seed Dominican CO
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7.5
Panel Rating: 93
Notes from the Panel:
Our favorite of the El Rey De Florez cigars sampled. Beautiful wrapper. Oily, dark, rich and inviting. Ruggedly handsome. Another substantial cigar in the hand. Packed with tobacco and firm, as a torpedo should be, yet offering an easy draw. It burned very evenly, quite cool and held a firm, long ash. Note a rich, spicy, earthy character, strong and savory. A nice blend of spice and smooth creaminess. Overall, a very rich, diverse smoke loaded with a plethora of wonderful big flavors. You’re gonna want another one. Pair this one up with an Irish Whisky or Full bodied roasted stout.
The Premium Dominicana Cigars
An all-consuming passion for cigars is the unsurpassed characteristic of Carlos Fuente, Sr. and Carlos Fuente, Jr., Chairman and President, respectively, of the Dominican Republic based Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., manufacturers of internationally renowned Arturo Fuente handmade cigars, the Fuente Fuente Opus X brand and the newly introduced Premium Dominicana line of cigars featured this month.
Adversity, in the form of embargoes, revolutions and four major fires, has never been able to negatively affect their passion. Rather, it has strengthened their resolve to produce the world's finest cigars. The Fuente family's tobacco roots go back to the old world Cuba of the 1800's. Arturo Fuente learned the art of cultivating tobacco and manufacturing handmade cigars from his father in Cuba. His son, Carlos, Sr., was virtually born into the cigar business in as much as his first home served as the Fuente cigar factory in Tampa. Carlos, Sr., worked at the factory everyday after school learning how to blend tobaccos and the ritual of rolling cigars by hand.
Not long after Carlos Sr. acquired the business from his father, Carlos Jr. was born and his early life was a mirror image of his father's life. He, too, was born in the family's home/factory. Each day, after school, he, too, worked at cigar blending and making cigars by hand. When producing cigars by hand became a lost art in Tampa, Carlos Sr. opened a factory in Nicaragua, but that fledging operation was burned to the ground by the rebel Sandanistas. Later, a second factory in Honduras was also demolished by fire.
In 1980 the Fuentes opened their first factory in the Dominican Republic with seven employees. The superior quality of the Arturo Fuente brand resulted in quickly establishing a loyal core of cigar customers which necessitated the building of a second factory. Today the Fuente family has over 1800 employees in four factories in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The Arturo Fuente brand is the most sought-after premium cigar in America.
The Premium Dominicana line, one of the Fuente Family’s newest editions, has received high marks from Cigar Aficionado, Smoke Magazine and numerous other industry publications. It is handmade in Santiago, Dominican Republic and offered in a corona, churchill, double corona, lonsdale, robusto and toro, the later two of which you will have the pleasure of sampling yourself this month. For more information about the Fuente family of cigars, visit their web site which does not currently contain information on the Premium Dominicana line at www.cigarfamily.com.
Binder: Dominican Cubano Olor
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Ecuador – CO Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7
Panel Rating: 92
Notes from the Panel:
The construction of the entire Premium Dominicana line is exactly what we would expect to see from the Fuente factory. Note a rich, silky, light coffee colored wrapper with very fine veins. It has a substantial feel in the hand and had no soft spots evident. Look for an even burn and easy draw in this medium-bodied Dominican treat. We found the flavor to be slightly sweet and woody with a true Dominican spiciness also evident. Overall, full rich clean tobacco taste, not overpowering. A great morning or early afternoon smoke. Try smoking it with an American Wheat Ale like Sierra Nevada Wheat.
Binder: Dominican Cubano Olor
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Ecuador – CO Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7.5
Panel Rating: 93
Notes from the Panel:
Another impeccably well crafted cigar. Note a smooth, silky to the touch, claro wrapper and an effortless draw in this medium bodied cigar. We found the flavor to be mellow and creamy, offering tones of cedar and coffee bean that build as you get into the cigar. You’ll find it produces a satisfying amount of smoke and a pleasant woody aroma. Note a lingering woody, peppery, dry finish. Overall, a very satisfying, full flavored smoke. All that we expected from the Fuentes. Try pairing it with a hoppy India Pale Ale or very dry Chardonnay.
Ask Murl
Dear Murl,
I collect old cigar boxes and can’t help but noticing that a lot of the older brands seem to use animals in the name. I’ve seen some pretty funny names too. Like White Cat Cigars, and Double Elk. I bet you know some good ones. Was there some kind of reason for this? What does a dog or wolf have to do with smoking cigars?
Jeff Goldsmith
Portland, OR
Yo Goldie!
What are you kiddin’ me bro? Man’s best friend? Tobacco, brew, dogs and man. They go together, pal! I don’t know who was smokin’ the White Cats. Those were for pussies. I found the band in an old cigar art book. Look at it, for crying out loud! Would you be caught dead with one of those woosey boy smokes hangin’ off your lower lip? Or how about Our Kitties Cigars?! I get nauseous just thinking about the thought of having to look the cashier in the eye when buying one. Yeah, there are lots of good names out there. You had your Lone Wolfs, your Red Wolfs, your Pig Tails, Airedale Cigars, Elkmont Cigars, your Pugs, El Gaurdos, Two Homers (as in Pidgeons), Hook ‘Em Cow Cigars, Hummer Cigars (as in the bird), Red Birds, Ravens and of Course, Murl’s Howling Dawg Special Reserve, a brand I roll myself on Friday nights for my special guests only.
For you history buffs, animals, for the record, were never a major theme before the 1900’s, other than the occasional dog or cat at the subjects’ side. All that began to change however when large staffs of artists at companies like American Litho got hard up for new subject matter and turned to the wild kingdom for a fresh, innovative approach. Race horses were a natural transition. Racing scenes had been depicted in the past, but now the lithographers began to produce portraits of real racehorses that the smokers possibly were aware of, and by the 1920’s any horse that had ever won a major race or set a new record appeared on a cigar label. Pretty soon predatory animals like eagles; lions, tigers and wolves began appearing on labels and were accepted. Cock fighting, an accepted sport of the time, appeared on a number of labels, followed by dogs, cats, birds, fish and even a black bat! That clear things up for ya Goldie? Hope so. I’m gone sporto.
Wolf!
Murl.
Cigar Blowout Sale!
Sales will be made strictly on a first come first serve basis. (CA residents add 7.75 % sales tax). Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery and add $5.00 shipping and handling per cigar box. Accessories can be shipped with your next monthly shipment to avoid shipping & handling charges!
| Cigar Brand | Size | Box Qty. | Cost |
| Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente | 4.5 x 50 | 20 | $95.50 |
| Cohiba De Dominicana Churchill | 7 x 50 | 25 | $125.50 |
| Cohiba De Dominicana Belicoso | 5.5 x 54 | 25 | $125.50 |
| Cohiba De Dominicana Jabarito | 6 x 50 | 25 | $110.50 |
| Cohiba De Dominicana Robusto | 5 x 50 | 25 | $105.50 |
| Tamboril Robusto (Sumatra) | 5 x 50 | 25 | $52.50 |
| Taurinos Vanilla Soaked Bundles | 5.5 x 38 | 20 | $37.50 |
| Accessories/Item | Description | Cost |
| Pocket Torch lighter | Blue, Red, Yellow, Black, Clear, Green | $15.00 |
| Double Bladed Guillotine Cutters | Black, Self Sharpening | $5.00 |
| Leather Cigar Case | 3 Cigars, Cigar Society Logo | $20.00 |
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. El Rey De Florez - Suave | 25 | $97.50 | $4.90 a cigar |
| B. El Rey De Florez - Major Perfecto | 25 | $115.50 | $5.62 a cigar |
| C. El Rey De Florez Presidente | 25 | $110.50 | $5.42 a cigar |
| D. Premium Dominicana #20 | 25 | $115.50 | $5.62 a cigar |
| E. Premium Dominicana #40 | 25 | $110.50 | $5.82 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.
