Past Newsletters
Vol. 7 No. 12
Featured Cigar Dimensions
| Brand Name: | Shape | Size |
| A. 5 Vegas | Torpedo | 6 x 54 |
| B. Ciboney Maduro | Torpedo | 6.5 x 52 |
| C. Flor De Gonzalez | Toro | 6 x 50 |
| D. La Flor Dominicana Maduro #1 | Corona Extra | 6.5 x 44 |
| E. Padron Delicias Maduro | Rothchild | 4.75 x 46 |
Featured Cigars
5 Vegas was recently hailed as the best non-Cuban cigar in a Cigar Aficionado tasting, and the delicious Torpedo has scored an outstanding ‘90’, and the brand is repeatedly rated in the high 80s. The line is rolled with a combination of Indonesian Olor binder, Dominican Piloto Cubano filler and Indonesian Sumatran wrapper tobaccos. 5 Vegas (pronounced Cinco Vegas) is a medium to full-bodied delicious premium with a creamy and smooth character, reminiscent of old Cuba. The name 5 Vegas comes from the legend behind the brand's origin, when 5 renowned tobacco farmers in old Cuba took leaves from each of their fields (known as "vegas") and blended them to create this unique blend. Now rolled in Esteli, Nicaragua, this brand is one of the finer cigars in the marketplace.
Binder: Indonesian Olor
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero
Wrapper: Indonesian Sumatran – CO Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7
Panel Rating: 91
Notes from the Panel:
Immediately not solid construction on this well crafted tobacco-packed smoke. Its ruddy Sumatran wrapper begs you to light it. We found it medium to full bodied and packed with flavor. Look for earthy tones as well as a hint of coffee bean. Overall, a strong herbal character dominates and some spices become evident as you get into the cigar a bit. We think you’re gonna really like it! Consider pairing it with a tawny port.
Ciboney Boxed Pressed Maduro Torpedo
The Ciboney Cigar line is hand rolled in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. Their fillers and binders are blends of tobaccos grown in the Dominican’s Cibao Valley and San Victor Moca. Each Ciboney cigar is made from a blend of Cubano Piloto Ligero and Seco tobaccos. The torpedo featured this month sports a triple fermented rich, maduro Connecticut shade broadleaf wrapper that’s been aged no less than 4 years!
The line is produced in only five shapes and we liked them all so much, it was difficult to choose only one to share with you. Enjoy!
Binder: Dominican Cubano Olor
Filler: Dominican Ligero & Seco
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf – Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6
Panel Rating: 92
Notes from the Panel:
Immediately take note of a rustic, slightly oily, dark rich maduro wrapper. We love the boxed pressed presentation of the classic torpedo shape. Note a well-constructed cigar, offering a firm white ash and effortless draw. The triple fermented, 4 year aged wrapper must contribute to the smooth, distinctly cocoa notes in this tasty treat. It’s going to start out mild and pick up steam as you get into it, but it never turns sour or bitter right up to the very end. Overall, a complex blend for a maduro. Very tasty and smooth. We liked it a lot! Try smoking it with an Oatmeal Stout or roasted porter.
The Gonzalez family has been rolling cigars for other cigar companies in the U.S.A., for only 18 years now, but patriarch Arnaldo Gonzalez, a Cuban emigrant, brings four generations of cigar making expertise to his small company in Florida. He currently employs 14 rollers and produces about 500,000 cigars annually. The line is rolled from a four-nation blend of premium aged, long leaf tobaccos. It is available in nine sizes, from the No. 1 at 5.5 x 44 to the huge Piramide No. 2 at 7 x 62. All sizes are available in the Natural, the Maduro, and the Connecticut wrapper.
Binder: Mexican Olor
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan Ligero
Wrapper: Cameroon – CO Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6
Panel Rating: 89
Notes from the Panel:
We found the Flor de Gonzalez toro to be well constructed, offering a slightly oily wrapper, even burn, and firm light gray ash. This cigar provided a well-balanced, medium bodied smoke that was a pleasure from start to finish. Note plenty of smoke volume and a solid earthy character. Overall, a well made, flavorful blend. Try it with the merlot of your choice.
La Flor Dominicana Maduro #1 Corona Extra
The name and symbol of Litto Gomez and Ines Lorenzo’s cigar company, La Flor Dominicana, translates appropriately to, The Dominican Flower. Since breaking into the tobacco industry nearly four years ago, Gomez and Lorenzo have become one of the major players in the Dominican Republic. Gomez states, "We're completely dedicated to quality. I wish everyone could visit our facilities in the Dominican Republic and see how dedicated we are in every aspect--in every little detail--to the quality of the finished product."
The La Flor Dominicana line has received high praise from several well known publications including Cigar Aficionado, Smoke, and CA’s Cigar Insider with scores ranging from the mid 80’s to lower 90’s. Our panel loved them and think you will too. We’ve elected to feature the #1 from their extremely well received maduro line. We know you’ll love these smokes!
Binder: Dominican Republic Piloto Cubano
Filler: Dominican Republic Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Mexican-Dark Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6.5
Panel Rating: 94
Notes from the Panel:
Immediately note a very dark, almost an oscuro, wrapper that begs you to light it! La Flor Dominicana has only produced its maduro cigars since August of 1997 and at this point in time is still producing them in very limited quantities. We found the # 1 to be expertly constructed, burning evenly and offering a perfect draw. We found their maduro line to be deceptively mild. You’ll note, however, that it definitely picks up steam as you get into it, ending more medium-bodied. Look for a peppery characteristic balanced by a slight sweetness. Its aroma is pungent and pleasant. Consider pairing it with a heavy ale or brandy.
Padron Delicias Maduro Rothchild
Padron Cigars was founded by Jose O. Padron in Miami, Florida in 1964. Owning its own tobacco farms in Nicaragua, Padron Cigars takes pride in being one of the few cigar companies in the world today that actually controls all aspects of the cigar manufacturing process, from the planting of the tobacco to final distribution throughout the United States. Padron Cigars supervises and operates two manufacturing facilities in Central America, Tabacos Cubanica S.A. in Nicaragua founded in 1970, and Tabacos Centroamericanos S.A. in Honduras founded in 1978. The Padron line consists of twelve different sizes and is available in Natural and Maduro wrappers. The line is one of the more requested cigars on the market. A darling of Cigar Aficionado, it ranks in the 90's on a consistent basis. This is a full-bodied powerful smoke with dark and very robust flavors and sweet finish. The Delicias is a Nicaraguan puro, with long-filler, binder leaves and wrapper leaves all originating in that country.
Binder: Nicaraguan Piloto Cubano
Filler: Nicaraguan Piloto Cubano Ligero
Wrapper: Nicaraguan – Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 8
Panel Rating: 93
Notes from the Panel:
Immediately note a dark, rich and inviting maduro wrapper with few veins for a maduro. It burned cool and offered an easy draw and plenty of very pleasant, aromatic smoke. Look for a full-bodied experience that offers a complex blend of spiciness and perhaps a hint of anise. We found it well balance and obviously well aged. Note a lingering, somewhat sweet finish. Overall, a solid and full tasting smoke. Thoroughly satisfying. Try it with a snifter of Portofino Tequila.
Outstanding Gift Ideas!
Gift memberships range from 2-12 months and can be sent with a tasteful gift announcement. You can also mix and match any of the clubs to ship in any combination you can think of to create your own customized gift! For example, you might consider pairing up the cheese and wine clubs to ship every other month! Just give us a call at 800-625-8238 to order or for more information.
Malt of the Earth $31.95
The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club
Join the Microbrewery Revolution and discover full flavored beers, hand crafted and creatively interpreted by American Brewmasters. You will sample professionally selected beers, ensuring unsurpassed variety, quality, and freshness. Each shipment includes three samples of four styles [twelve 12 ounce bottles], and the Brew Harvest Review, describing how the featured beers are made, what to look for when you taste them, what foods to serve with them, and what qualities set them apart.
C&H International Wine Cellars
$36.95
International Wine of the Month Club
C&H International Wine Cellars is getting rave reviews! We work with a professor who teaches courses about wine appreciation at the University of North Carolina. He leads a team of professional wine tasters, and together, they choose our wines from all over the world. Each month the professor writes a four-page newsletter profiling the wines... it's like taking a college course in wine appreciation! Our customers, many of them collectors, tell us that the value can't be beat. And you can choose whether to send 2 whites, 2 reds, or one of each!
In Pursuit of Chocolate
$36.95
The Connoisseur’s Chocolate of the Month Club
Give a dazzling assortment of whimsical shapes and jewel-like chocolates. An impressive gift! Take in that sensational aroma… your eyes widen, and your mouth waters! Belgian chocolate, French butter, American cream… extraordinary chocolate!
Discover handmade confections from around the world, reminiscent of age-old traditions and presented with savoir-faire! Celebrate the gifted artistry of acknowledged Chocolatiers, and learn first hand how they craft their signature creations by reading our newsletter! Find out what makes one kind of chocolate so much tastier than another, how cacao beans turn into chocolate, how you can make exceptional goodies, and so much more…
In Pursuit of Cheese $36.95
International Cheese of the Month Club
Sample exceptional Cheeses from all over the world, and discover an enormous range of tastes, aromas, textures, and ways to serve and use each cheese. Selected for prominence, creative interpretation, and quality, each cheese is hand cut from huge wheels that have been carefully tended and aged. And because you asked for it, our experts are matching monthly cheese selections with our American Microbrews and International Wines!
Peruse The Emperor’s Cheese and learn about the fascinating art of crafting cheese, and the myriad of cultural interpretations. Some cheeses were first created and enjoyed thousands of years ago!
Endless Flowers $38.95
Fresh Cut Flower of the Month Club
Each month, members receive a fresh cut bouquet of seasonal flowers delivered directly to your door! Deliver your admiration and your caring by sending breathtaking bouquets, and your thoughts will be remembered long after the flowers are gone. Shipments include our informative newsletter, packed with information about that month’s featured selections as well as arrangement & gardening tips to help preserve their beauty!
Tobacco Bits
BEST JOB IN THE WORLD - Before the precious, genuine Havana brands leave their various Habanos S.A. factories, the smokes must pass rigorous taste and aroma tests judged by the official Habanos S.A. Tasting Committee. There, tasters are separated in cubicles and given unbanded samples to evaluate before a batch of cigars can be distributed for sale. Unfortunately, job openings for this prestigious panel are rarely listed in the New York Times Classifieds.
SMOKING IS DANGEROUS - When Columbus returned to Europe, he brought many varied new gifts to the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, among which were tobacco leaves. One of Columbus's crew, Rodrigo de Xerez, had brought a supply of the leaf back with him for his personal use. Upon lighting up one of these primitive smokes in public, Xerez was thrown in jail for three years for suspicion of being in league with the devil!
BAND LEADER - During the mid-eighteenth century, the Russian Empress Catherine
II imported her supply of cigars from Holland decorated with a silk band to prevent the cigars from staining her hands while smoking. This gave Dutchman Gustave Bock, a cigar manufacturer of the era, the idea to wrap a paper band with his logo around his cigars to distinguish his stogies from his competitors'. Soon everyone was doing it, and the cigar band was born.
HERE FIDEL, TRY THIS ONE - Fidel Casto was so fond of his country's cigars in his early years as Cuba’s dictator, U.S. covert operatives considered killing him with a exploding cigar. Today, Fidel says he no longer smokes cigars, in an effort to be a better role model for the youth of Cuba. Or perhaps, he's just protecting himself.
Ask Murl
Dear Murl,
I’ve got a bet going with my brother. He says that cigars are stored in Spanish cedar because it discourages tobacco beetles and I say it’s because they help age the cigar and give it a woody character. We’ve got a box of Bahia’s riding on the outcome and I’ll split my winnings with ya if you tailor your answer in my favor home dog! So what’s it gonna be, Murl? Am I smoking or busting out my credit card?
James Earl
Austin, TX
Yo Jimmy-Jo-Jim-Bob,
Is it true that everythang’s real big in Texas? 'Cause you gonna need a whole lot of Spanish cedar to ward off them thar Texan Tobacco Beetles if they’re the size of Ford Escorts. What I’m sayin’ here, Tex, is that if all your ex’s live in Texas, you’d better remember the Alamo, buddy. No wait, that wasn’t was I was sayin’ at all. Bottom line? Call Visa for that line of credit pal, ‘cause you picked a great cigar to lose a bet over!
Spanish cedar was not, in fact, determined to be the perfect humidor lining because it imparts a pleasant flavor on your sticks. The real reason humidor manufacturers line their fine wood boxes with Spanish cedar is that the aromatic wood is particularly repellent to bugs in general, but especially that nasty little tobacco bastard, uh, beetle. This parasitic putrid pile of puss, know to the learned man as Lasioderma serricorne, eats cured, dry tobacco, boring small holes in your cigars both as a larval bambino and as an adult beetle. Storage in a fresh, Spanish cedar environment will kill these bugs or ward them off before they can corrupt your precious cache. Sorry for the bad news Jimmy-John.
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 | 5 Pak |
| Cost | |||
| A. 5 Vegas Torpedo | 20 | $62.50 | $21 |
| B. Ciboney Maduro Torpedo | 25 | $85.50 | $22 |
| C. Flor De Gonzalez | 25 | $62.50 | $18 |
| D. La Flor Dominicana Maduro # 1 | 24 | $105.50 | $27 |
| E. Padron Delicias Maduro | 25 | $72.50 | $20 |
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.
