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
Cigar Advisor, the nation’s premiere online cigar magazine, proudly serves cigar enthusiasts with a uniquely down-to-earth perspective on the enjoyment of premium cigars. The magazine has just published a review of the newly-deemed FDA rule that extends the agency’s intent to regulate more tobacco products — including premium cigars — under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA). Titled “FDA Cigar Regulation: Effects of the 2016 Deeming Rule,” Managing Editor John Pullo addresses the impact this new authority granted to the FDA will have on the premium cigar market, and the market uncertainties it has created.
“There are a number of ‘untolds’ in the document. These are the numbers, processes, costs and more that the Agency hasn’t defined yet… perhaps, because it can’t. That’s why we wanted to address these regulations — they’re important for cigar enthusiasts to understand,” says Cigar Advisor Managing Editor John Pullo. “They have the very real potential to negatively impact the consumer — and in more ways than just the choice of premium cigars available for sale.” He’s compiled an analysis of the stricter FDA regulations that affect the production, marketing and sales of tobacco products that were announced this month, titledFDA Cigar Regulation: Effects of the 2016 Deeming Rule. Released as a 499-page document on May 5, John examines four of the most prominent issues created by the FDA decision for stronger regulation.
John notes one particular concern immediately: “The damage that is likely to be done to the manufacture and marketing of premium cigars by this decision is sweepingly broad, but done in a way that’s extremely vague. That is worrisome.” He specifically points to the newly-ordered “substantial equivalence” verification process for premium cigars that entered the market after 2007, and how “there is a lot of gray area here.” Pullo argues that cigar manufactures are placed in an immediate disadvantage by the agency, as the inner workings of the tests that FDA plans to run on the products at hand are “unclear, have no benchmarks established, and the costs — and how they’re figured — are seemingly guesses, at best.” He also believes that this ruling places the legalization of Cuban cigars in America in limbo.
The Cigar Advisor analysis discusses the banning of cigar sampling, age verification for the purchase of cigars, and the steps that retailers have already taken to be in compliance with existing age restrictions for the purchase of tobacco products by those under the age of 18. “These laws already exist,” he says.
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.
