Past Newsletters
Vol. 7 No. 4
Featured Cigar Dimensions
| Brand Name: | Shape | Size |
| A. Don Vidal - Maduro | Torpedo | 6.25 x 52 |
| B. Mivida – DR | Toro | 6 x 50 |
| C. Signature Collection - Natural | Robusto | 5 x 50 |
| D. Saint Luis Rey | Churchill | 7 x 50 |
| E. Thomas Hinds Vintage Selection | Robusto | 5 x 50 |
Featured Cigars
The Don Vidal line which is rolled in Villa Gonzalez in Santiago, Dominican Republic with a four-blend aged Cuban-seed and Dominican long filler tobacco and binder. A hearty Mexican broadleaf maduro wrapper gives this tasty treat it’s full, robust flavor character. Each cigar produced undergoes a eight-point quality control inspection that stems from tobacco selection through the final packaging process.
The Don Vidal line is available in just 3 shapes & sizes including the torpedo our panel favored. The line is also available in a Connecticut Shade Claro wrapper, but we much preferred the full-tasting maduro. The line has been highly rated in Smoke Magazine, Wine & Dine, and Cigar Lovers. They’re not widely distributed and we’ve be trying to line this particular smoke up for close to 6 months now as we know you’re gonna really enjoy it!
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Indonesian Cubano Seco
Wrapper: Mexican Broadleaf - Maduro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 7.5
Panel Rating: 91
Notes from the Panel:
You’ll first note an evenly dark rich looking, rustic Mexican broadleaf wrapper. We found the draw effortless and ample blue billows of smoke from this well-constructed torpedo. It’s packed moderately. Not too firm and certainly not soft. For those who have been confused with cigars described as offering Coffee and Chocolate flavors, this beauty should clear things up. We found very pronounced coffee and chocolate flavors with emphasis on the Java! The four year aged maduro wrapper contributes to a full, rich, robust and satisfying flavor. Overall, quite satisfying and very well made. A strong coffee drink would accentuate this smoke nicely.
The Mivida Cigar line is handmade by the Tabacalera Don Rafael factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The line features select Dominican filler and binder leaves that hail from the same tobacco fields which have historically yielded leaf for select grower General Tobacco and Davidoff cigars as well as the Don Antonio Pellegrino Churchill featured last month. The Mivida line features an earthy Indonesian Sumatran EMS wrapper and a tasty medium-bodied blend of Dominican and Honduran tobaccos. We looked at 3 sizes and unanimously decided that we couldn’t decide between the robusto and the Toro so we opted for the longer of the two and will let you be the judge!
Binder: Nicaraguan Olor
Filler: Dominican/Honduran Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Indonesian Sumatran – EMS
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 5
Panel Rating: 88
Notes from the Panel:
Note a dark EMS Indonesian wrapper with some veins present. Not an exceptionally oily wrapper. We found the construction to be solid with a medium fill, easy draw and even burn. You’ll get good smoke volume out of this toro and want to look for a nutty and herbal flavor. We also picked up some cedar tones in this relatively mild Dominican. Look for a smooth finish. This cigar was well aged. Overall, a great mild blend that would pair nicely with anything you could possibly toss on the Barbeque! Consider pairing it the roasted maltiness of an Irish Stout like Guinness or Murphy’s.
Signature Collection Limited Reserve Robusto
In 1994, Kevin Doyle and Caribbean Cigar opened his first retail cigar store in Miami. To stimulate business, Doyle hired two Cuban immigrants to roll cigars in the store’s front window. As word of mouth spread, Doyle couldn’t keep up with demand and considered manufacturing his own cigar. He named this new cigar line, The Signature Collection, and took some samples to the RTDA. With orders for 7,000 boxes, Caribbean Cigar was in business!
The Signature Collection filler is blended primarily with Piloto Cubano Ligero from the Dominican Republic and a mixture of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco. The binder is Nicaraguan. The natural wrapper featured this month is Ecuadorian and the line also offers a broadleaf maduro wrapper grown in PA. The Signature Collection is made in Caribbean’s factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Binder: Nicaraguan Piloto Cubano
Filler: Dominican Republic Piloto Cubano Ligero
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Shade – EMS
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6
Panel Rating: 90
Notes from the Panel:
Immediately note a light, inviting EMS wrapper in this well-made cigar. You won’t find an easier draw. Some might find the draw too easy for their preference! Look for a mellow fragrant aroma and a slight hint of chocolate and coffee with some tangy herbal undertones evident in the flavor. The aftertaste seemed to be more of a roasted, nutty character. Overall, a relatively mild, but flavorful smoke. If you’re a Dunhill smoker, you’re going to love this cigar! You might consider pairing it with a tawny port.
Introduced at Le Cigar Noir in California back on May 1st, 1996, this Honduran version of an old Cuban brand was an immediate hit with everyone who tried it. Full-bodied, but smooth on the draw, these smokes blend plenty of flavor with a slow-burning cadre of Honduran-grown, Cuban-seed tobaccos for a relaxing smoke. Handmade in Danli, Honduras, the line is truly one of the finer Honduran products on the market. Living up to its reputation as a rich and satisfying cigar, the Saint Luis Rey Churchill scored an excellent 91 rating from Cigar Aficionado. Our panel loved this full bodied smoke as much as CA, rating 3 of the 5 sizes at either a 90 or 91. In addition to the Churchill you’ll get a chance to try this month, Saint Luis Rey is available in a double corona, Lonsdale, toro and torpedo. It’s expertly crafted and packed with flavor. You’re gonna love it!
Binder: Honduran Olor
Filler: Honduran Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Habana 2000 -CO
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 8
Panel Rating: 93
Notes from the Panel:
Note a smooth oily wrapper and an aesthetically pleasing cigar in general. We found the construction superb. Evenly packed, no soft spots, a smooth cap, easy draw and a slow burn. Look for a flavor packed smoking experience including pronounced cocoa beans and roasted hazelnuts. You’ll also get some spicy character throughout this smoke. It’s a bit earthy too. Safe to say, there’s a lot going on here. We found this medium to full bodied cigar to offer a leathery finish. We smoked it to the nub! Overall, a great cigar. Tons of full flavor and great construction. Try smoking it with a peaty single malt scotch.
Thomas Hinds Vintage I Selection Robusto
The Thomas Hinds Vintage I Series smokes are a special limited production edition. Handmade in Esteli, Nicaragua and introduced in 1997, the number of cigars rolled was limited by the amount of aged leaf that was in reserve for that specific year. Most of you are most likely familiar with the Thomas Hinds brands a they are certainly a highly-regarded name in the cigar industry. When we had the opportunity to secure all the remaining Vintage I series boxes, we jumped all over it! The Vintage series is one of the best they make, rolled with only the highest grade aged leaf, matured and blended to achieve a rich and mellow flavor. This series is made in extremely limited numbers — once gone, they will not be replenished. In fact, we only could secure enough to send out initial shipment and about 12 box reorders so if you want to reorder this one, don’t hesitate!
Binder: Nicaraguan Olor
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero
Wrapper: Nicaraguan – CO
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6.5
Panel Rating: 89
Notes from the Panel
Immediately note a firmly packed robusto offering a smooth Colorado maduro wrapper. We found the aroma earthy and floral. Note a relatively slow, even burn. Look for a complex medium to full-bodied very smooth smoking experience. Not a harsh note to be found. It’s double binder and spicy Nicaraguan wrapper make for a fully rich and satisfying flavor profile in this Nicaraguan puro. We thought it to offer a core of woody flavors, and some herbal notes. Overall, a tasty little Nicaraguan treat. Well-made and obviously well aged. Consider pairing it with a Dry Chardonnay.
Great Mother's & Father's Day Gifts
All Your Life You Drove Your Parents to Drink Maybe it's Time You Had Some Delivered!
Both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are rapidly approaching (May 14th and June 18th!) And we’ve got some Great Gift Ideas for you! And no, it’s not the Liberace Unplugged CD! We are, of course, talking about our Microbrewed Beer, International Wine & Premium Cigar of the Month Clubs! And to help you justify giving such an ideal gift to the people that put you on the planet, we’ve put together a special offer for our members only. Gift subscriptions of 3 mo.s or longer will receive a 25 % discount on the First month!
It’s quick. It’s easy. And it’s a gift they’ll not soon forget. Simply call us at 1-800-625-8238 and tell us when you want the membership to begin and how long you’d like it to run for (2-12 months), and we’ll do the rest!
Premium Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club
Each month, you’ll receive 12, twelve oz microbrewed beers. We target award-winning microbreweries with reputations for creative interpretations of classic styles, and unique and complex brewing techniques. The beers we select are distributed only in the regions where they are made. Our focus is on variety as well as quality… you will receive four different styles from at least two American microbreweries each month.
And each shipment includes our monthly newsletter, The Brew Harvest Review. You'll learn all about how each hand-crafted beer is made, what ingredients are used to create the unique distinct flavors, and what to look for when you taste each beer. Both the breweries and the brew masters are profiled in depth, so you’ll develop a keen appreciation for the industry as well as the microbrews.
C&H International Wine Cellars
For Cultivated Palates
Each month a panel of professional wine tasters selects our wines from award winning boutique vineyards, and we send you one red and one white wine. [You may request all whites or reds.] Our focus is on lightly distributed wines that have been singled out for their consistent quality, for maintaining the integrity of their style, and for earning memorable distinction.
You’ll receive handpicked wines from classic regions including Bordeaux, Alsace, and Sonoma, as well as wines from newly discovered regions in countries such as Chile, Australia, Argentina, and Hungary. Our selections are accompanied by comprehensive profiles, to assure that members appreciate and enjoy the finer points of each wine. Complementary foods are suggested, and we include Tasting Notes, describing the sensations to look for as you savor each wine.
Tobacco Bits
HARVEST TIME - Tobacco seedlings are ready for the first harvest, or priming, 45 days after they are placed into the ground. At that time, 2 to 4 leaves are removed by hand from the plant. An average tobacco plant will undergo roughly six primings in its growth period, eventually yielding anywhere from 8 to 16 leaves that will be made into cigars.
PICK OF THE LITTER - After the harvest, which can take anywhere from 20 to 40 days, tobacco leaves are sorted for curing. Only leaves that are free of insect holes, sunspots, and blemishes make the first cut, and they must also have the right texture and construction to be chosen. Veins must be intact and the leaves themselves must be thickly textured and slightly shiny. Leaves that are too dry, too damp, or pockmarked are given to producers of seconds or machine-made cigars.
LIGHTING TIPS - When you're ready to light up, be sure that the flame never actually touches the cigar. Slowly char the foot of the cigar until it blackens, then place the cigar in your mouth, drawing lightly on the cigar while rotating it over the flame. Contact with the flame could potentially "flavor" the cigar with residue from the lighter or match you are using.
OPERATION CIGAR LIFT - While stationed in Hungary for United Nations and NATO peace- keeping efforts during the Bosnian crisis, a small cigar club at the 67th Combat Support Hospital ran out of cigars. One of the physicians stationed there, Captain Paul Rupp, e-mailed a Texas-based Internet site, cigar.com, with details of this predicament. The webmaster got the word out to the industry and they responded with great results. The first shipment was sent April 12, 1996, and contained 12 boxes of smokes as well as various accessories.
Ask Murl
Dear Murl,
I’ve seen guys roll a cigar with their fingers up next to their ear before and was wondering why the heck they do that. What’s up with that o-mighty-tobacco hound?
Joe Bedutz
Normal, IL
Yo Joey! Joe! Dutzster!
What up Joey? You from da bronx der or wat? Sounds like a rough name. You a rough guy? And do you really live in Normal, Illinois? Damn! Very Midwest I’ll bet. Lots-o-cornfields? Soybeans. Overalls. I got it. So you’re wondering just what these seemingly expert cigar evaluators are doing when they violate a potential smoke before purchasing it, eh? Sometimes if you squeeze a cigar just right, any tobacco beetles that may be lurking inside will bust out of the wrapper seeking refuge and you’ve successfully avoided smoking an insect. Not always a good thing. Lots of cigars I’ve dusted could have used a little flavor enhancement. What they’re doing, Joey my boy, is listening for a crackle that would indicate that the cigar’s wrapper is dry. What’s really happening is they doing some serious damage to their smoke’s construction. The fact of the matter is that all cigar wrappers crackle, regardless of whether they have been properly humidified or not. Though drier cigars will crackle louder than properly humidified smokes. If you're hell-bent on manhandling a cigar before selecting it, pinch it ever so lightly down near the foot instead of rolling it. If it is in good condition, the cigar will give slightly and spring back into place. If you just like to squeeze cigars for no apparent reason, you might want to seek counsel with Dr. Ruth! Hasta Luego, Joe!
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. Thomas Hinds Vintage Selection Robusto |
25 |
$87.50 |
$21 |
|
B. Don Vidal Torpedo - Maduro |
25 |
$95.50 |
$23 |
|
C. Mivida Toro - DR |
25 |
$87.50 |
$21 |
|
D. Signature Collection - Natural |
20 |
$85.50 |
$26 |
|
E. Saint Luis Rey Churchill |
25 |
$95.50 |
$23 |
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.
