We’re having our first Anejados today, it’s the first one to show up in my local La Casa.. Vitola: Hermosos No 4 (48 x 127 mm) (Corona Extra). History: a 2015 release, aged Habanos series. Overview: very smooth, oily dark brown wrapper, an aged smoke with an Anejados band, amazing construction, tremendous looking cigar, probably […]
via Hoyo de Monterrey Hermosos No 4 Anejados (TBS DIC 06) — whiskysnob’s Blog
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products released their 499 page final rule that would deem additional tobacco products subject to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (“Tobacco Control Act”). Under today’s release, premium cigars have been deemed and will be subjected to the “option 1” regulatory framework, which in some respects treats premium cigars in harsher terms than that of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
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Thompson Cigar is now offering free shipping on orders over $99. Anyone have experience with Thompson? I have generally purchased my cigars locally and haven’t yet ordered any cigars online.
Yesterday, we took to pair the very rare and exquisite 12-year-old Syndicate 58/6 scotch whiskey with a cigar that would complement its rich and intense flavor. There were several cigars I could have chosen for this pairing and I settled on the Montecristo Platinum Series cigar. It is important when pairing a cigar and the drink of your choice that one does not overpower the other.
Although one of the photos shows the scotch in a glass without ice, I did add two cubes of ice after an initial tasting of the Syndicate 58/6. This is a scotch you will want to savor and enjoy unmolested by dissolving ice. Like most lovers of scotch, I like mine cold; and though I would not normally recommend this, it may be worth keeping this scotch chilled in your bar refrigerator or wine chiller so you can enjoy the cold temperature without the ice to affect the Syndicate’s taste as it is rich and smooth.
The Syndicate 58/6 is a premium blended scotch whiskey and is not your average premium scotch. It has a very long history being founded in 1966 by William Muir (Bond 9) Limited (Founded in Leith, Scotland in 1823) and the original blend was distilled in 1954 by Marshall Taplow for their most important customers. In the United Kingdom, Syndicate 58/6 is appreciated by Members of the House of Lords, High Court Judges and a wide range of leading professionals from throughout the United Kingdom. Syndicate 58/6 is blended using a ‘Solera’ system whereby additional whiskeys are blended with the older stock. They include 18 single malt whiskeys and four single grain whiskeys. Syndicate 58/6 still contains small quantities of the 1958 blend and is put in four year old Oloroso Sherry casks which give the whiskey an exceptionally smooth and distinctive taste.
Yesterday, we smoke and review the Davidoff Special R cigar. Davidoff is one of my favorite lines of cigars and next week I will review their Nicaragua cigar.
The Special R is a mild Robusto with an Ecuadorian wrapper and a 50 ring gauge and is about 5 inches in length. The Special R has been available since 1999 and though not the best Davidoff has to offer, it is still a smooth, affordable and enjoyable smoke. And when I say ‘affordable’, I mean affordable by Davidoff standards as they are a premium line of cigars. The cigar can be picked up as a single stick for around $12 to $13.
Coming out of the Dominican Republic, the Special R will last about 35 minutes or so. I did not find any problems with the draw as some have reported over the years, although it did burn slightly uneven. The uneven burn was not from user error or improper humidity, however, more likely a result of production.
Today, we will pair an excellent small batch bourbon with one of the finest cigars. Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon is one of the very best light-bodied bourbons available so it is important to pair it with a similar light-bodied cigar. There are several cigars to choose from such as the H. Upmann Monarcas Tubos or Montecristo Junior. For this review I chose the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real which is a light to medium strength cigar and it turned out to be a terrific combination. Of course, everyone is different in their tastes, which is why it is important to trying things on your own and keep notes of your likes and dislikes. If you keep a journal, such as this, after a year, you will have a full and complete catalog of what suits you best.
So, what is bourbon? Bourbon is a whiskey; however, as they say, “All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.” Bourbon is simply (and legally) American-made whiskey, starts off with at least 51 percent corn and must be aged (stored) in a new white oak barrel which can only be used once. Also, often people think bourbon must be made in Kentucky, but this is not the case – anywhere in America will do.
Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon is one of the best bourbons I have enjoyed. Today, I did so straight (without ice) in a regular glass tumbler so I could enjoy the aroma and taste without dilution from ice. Again, it comes down to how you enjoy your bourbon with or without ice. When ordering at your local bar, it is best to leave out fancy words like “neat” or “straight” if you prefer it without ice, because half the time, the bartender will serve it to you with ice anyway – even at high-end bars. I know some, that prefer their drink with only one ice cube; yet, if not specific when ordering, the glass will come back half full of chopped ice. It’s all in what you prefer, there is no right or wrong way to drink bourbon.
Don Abram Harris Cigars, LLC has announced the development of the new series called “All American Don.” This ten-episode doc-soap will give viewers a sneak peak to show what it takes to maintain a successful cigar business in America. In order to complete production and editing, creator Abram Harris has launched a Kickstarter campaign. The goal is to raise $100,000 by March 18, 2015.
From the time Abram’s father, Jerome Harris, was a kid until he grew up, he slaved away in the tobacco fields in Southern Maryland diligently learning the trade of the tobacco and cigar industry. To get out of the fields and to better support his family he joined the military. Abram heard many stories about how hard his father worked in the tobacco fields, which gave Abram a passion to be a part of the cigar industry, not as a field worker but as a cigar manufacturer. This along with his love of cigars played a great part in building the first African-American cigar manufacturing company, Don Abram Harris Cigars, LLC.
Today, they produce one of the most successful and trusted brand cigars. With quality and care, they have made their mark in the hearts of cigar-lovers. The delicious flavor and mesmerizing aroma of each cigar gives users a memorable experience that many enjoy and love. Now, Abram wants to give the world a glimpse into how the business is run. This mini-series will show the challenges he encounters every day as he interacts with cigar lounges around the nation. Viewers get to meet the friendly staff and his beautiful wife, who is his rock and confidante. It shows the realness of the business and gives people a deeper understanding as to why their cigars are named one of the best in the world.
With comedic humor and sentimental moments, people get to know Abram Harris, the man behind the successful cigar manufacturer. As a prominent African-America entrepreneur, he works hard every day to build a legacy for the Harris family name. Individuals learn important life lessons and entrepreneur skills about how to establish and run a flourishing business in America.
Funds from the Kickstarter campaign will be used as seed money to get production going. It will cover equipment, travel, editing, and other expenses to complete the project.
To make a contribution, please visit the campaign by clicking here. If the campaign does not receive enough funding, the project cannot move forward. So hurry and be part of this project today to help shed light on how the unique cigar industry is run.
For those who cannot make a donation, please be sure to share this on Facebook and Twitter. The more awareness the better!
