Past Newsletters
Vol. 9 No. 5
Member of the Month
Mark
seems to be enjoying more than his cigar!
Howdy fellow cigarers!
I'm Mark, and I enjoy cigars. The cigar of the month club has been a learning experience for me. I have come into contact with tobaccos from new and exciting cultures, and smoked them. In this particular instance you can see me enjoying a fine cigar at Mt. Snow, VT during the annual brewers fest. From the photo you can probably guess that I'm enjoying more of life's pleasures than just the almighty cigar. Smok'em if you got'em!
Mark Michalek
SUBMIT YOURSELF OR YOUR GROUP PHOTO FOR CONSIDERATION! And if you're selected, we'll send you a variety pack of 25 hand rolled smokes from past selections! Get your submissions in now before everyone else does or you gotta wait 3 months to see your pretty mug adorning the front page! Send your photos and letter to: Cigar of the Month Club Attn: Member of the Month, PO Box 1627, Lake Forest, CA 92609 or email your photo and letter to customerservice@cigarmonthclub.com
Featured Cigar Dimensions
| Brand Name: | Shape | Size | Strength | Country | Panel |
| Rating | |||||
| A. Ashton | Corona | 5.5 x 44 | 5 | Dominican | 95 |
| B. Cubano Especial | Torpedo | 6.52 x 52 | 6 | Dominican | 89 |
| C. Puros Indios Especial Maduro | Toro | 6 x 52 | 7 | Honduras | 91 |
| D. Siglo 21 | Robusto | 4.5 x 5 | 6 | Dominican | 93 |
| E. Vegas de Guyaguil Regios | Toro | 6.75 x 50 | 6.5 | Ecuador | 92 |
Featured Cigars
This
month we are pleased to share with you what we feel is one finest
smokes in the world today. Ashton cigars are carefully crafted by
the Fuente family at the Tabacalera A. Fuente in the Dominican Republic.
Under the watchful eye of both Carlos Fuente, Sr. and Carlos Fuente,
Jr., this delicious cigar is crafted using expertly cured 3-5 year
old Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. Aston's corona is wrapped
in a beautiful golden brown Connecticut shade wrapper. We found this
mild to medium-bodied cigar to consistently deliver a smooth, distinctive,
rich and complex flavor. Note a creamy smoothness on the palate with
a slight herbal quality. Try pairing it with a hoppy India Pale Ale
or very dry Chardonnay.
The
Cubana Especial is a highly praised Dominican line produced in Santiago.
The brand is currently offered only in the ruddy Rosado Colorado Maduro
Ecuadorian wrapper that encases the Torpedo featured this month. Unlike
many emerging cigar brands which merely trek to cigar-making countries
to buy cigars, create their own band and call them "their own",
Cubana Especial owns their farms and factory which are both 100% dedicated
to producing only for their line of cigars. All of their cigars use
Habano Seco leaves for filler. The Cubana Especial tobaccos are aged
for 36 months prior to rolling and the cigars are aged another 6 months
after being rolled. Immediately note a near perfect draw in this well
constructed cigar. No soft spots, consistently rolled and soft to
the touch, we found it to burn evenly and offer plenty of smoke volume.
We really liked this cigar, finding it medium-to-full bodied with
a pleasant mildly spicy flavor. You may also pick up on some cedar
and coffee tones. Look for a slight bite in the aftertaste. Overall,
a very easy cigar to smoke offering solid construction and great taste.
Consider pairing it with a hoppy Pale Ale.
Puros Indios Especial Maduro Toro
Puros
Indios, simply put, is a great cigar line. It's been argued as one
of the finest brands in the cigar world. Carefully blended by Rolando
Reyes and hand-rolled in Honduras using Dominican & Nicaraguan
filler and draped in a rich and oily Ecuadorian wrapper, the brand
is almost always rated very highly. Rated up to '91' by Cigar Aficionado,
the magazine's editors raved: "A medium- to full-bodied powerhouse.
There are complex flavors of cocoa, leather and solid woodiness on
the finish. Nice sheen and color, and it performed well."
Well…our panel members are all big fans as well. The Toro Especial is constructed from a complex blend of aged tobaccos from Ecuador, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Nicaragua. We found it to offer a slightly spicy, medium to full-bodied flavor. Look for solid construction, a good burn, and slightly firm draw. And how about that ring gauge?! Talk about a cool smoke! Note very little aftertaste. Consider pairing it with Old Forrester Bourbon.
The
Siglo 21 brand, which translates to "21st century in Spanish",
are hand rolled in the Dominican Republic and contain a Cuban seed
long-filler blend, with an Ecuadorian grown Connecticut shade wrapper
and Dominican binder. Siglo 21 cigars are noted for their excellent
construction, silky smooth wrappers, firm white ash, and a slow even
burn. This Robusto lives up to Siglo's reputation of creating excellent
cigars. The flavor is smooth and mellow, with hints of rosemary. Look
for a light, cedar finish. You might want to try this one as an after
dinner smoke with your favorite single malt scotch or brandy.
Vegas
de Guyaguil Regios is a unique hand-rolled, long leaf cigar hand rolled
in Ecuador. This premium smoke comes packaged in an attractive, sterling
tubo. It sports a handsome sun grown Ecuadorian leaf wrapper and a
Dominican-Ecuadorian filler blend. This toro offers an interesting,
medium to full-bodied flavor, complex in character and creamy on the
palate. It begins mild, and builds steadily in strength as you smoke
it. Look for a distinct cedar aroma with plenty of smoke volume. You
should get plenty of cedar and some spiciness and a touch of sweetness
we'd attribute to the Ecuadorian wrapper. Overall, a fantastic cigar.
Rich and packed with flavor. Enjoy it with your favorite single malt
scotch, a pinot noir or full-bodied Merlot.
Ask Murl
Dear Murl,
It seems to me that most folks leave the band on the cigar when they smoke it, but I have seen several smokers that appear to know what they're doing deliberately take the band off of the cigar immediately before lighting it. Is it proper to do one or the other? Does it matter and if so, Why?
George Head
Stonington, ME
Yo Geo!
Before I answer your question, George, let me just say the (4) 2 ½ lb. Lobsters you sent with your question were greatly appreciated. I contemplated inviting over some of the lads from the dog park for a group feast, but quickly discarded that notion and woofed all four in one session myself and promptly threw up. Hey, I'm a dog. We don't really chew our food and generally eat well beyond the point of being sick. I just want to make it perfectly clear to others that have send in Lobsterless questions, that's not by any means a suggested method for ensuring that your question will get answered. However, for 10 lbs. of Steamers and blueberry pie accompanying the crustaceans, I'll fly out to your house to answer any question you want to throw at me.
So, your question. Bands. Another highly debated etiquette question. I reckon that if you give a rat's Gluteus Maximus about what other people think about you based partially on the cigar brand you smoke, you might want to leave the band on and always valet park your Lexus. There are many stories about the origin of cigar bands. One story is that cigar makers were obliged to put a paper ring around the cigars in order to protect the fingers of the many ladies who smoked cigars and complained about nicotine stains on their fingers. If you have such unsightly stains or blemishes, keep the band on or buy some Esoterica. Conversely, there are several advantages to taking the band off such as your friends won't know you're smoking a 99-cent dog rocket from Tijuana. You may also want to smoke the tasty little morsel to the very end in which case, the band could simply get in the way. In any case, either taking it off or leaving it on won't effect the way the cigar will smoke so you should just do what feels right to you. I like to wear them on my toes like pinky rings sometimes when I'm feelin' like a lucky dog. And, I must say, the babes do respond, my boy, they do respond. Best-o-luck with your dilema. I'm outta space, Ace.
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. Ashton Corona | 25 | $129.50 | $31 |
| B. Cubano Especial Torpedo | 20 | $72.50 | $23 |
| C. Puros Indios Toro Especial Maduro | 25 | $87.50 | $23 |
| D. Siglo 21 Robusto | 25 | $75.50 | $20 |
| E. Vegas de Guyaquil Regios Toro | 24 | $76.50 | $21 |
Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery and add $7.95 for S&H for your first box and $3.00 for each additional box or grab bag. S&H for 5-packs is $4.95 and $1.50 for each additional 5-pak. All reorders are sent Priority mail unless otherwise requested. CA residents please add 7.75% Sales Tax. 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.
