What up everybody so glad you're here. It's Coolio with the flow back in your ear. 

Been busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest.  Job searching is a job in itself hopefully something will come up soon.  

January - March is the season, event season, in the PHX. Auction week kick off the events,  Auction week includes Barrett Jackson, Russo and Steele, Gooding and Co., RM Auctions and Kruse Auction and this year alone there was nearly $234,000,000 in sales.  Among the top sellers was the George Barris' Batmobile which went to some asshat for $4,200,000!  

Auction Season, is followed by the Waste Management Phoenix Open, NASCAR at PIR, and Cactus League Spring Training.

I got to spend some time with Lana Fraser, the Premium Event Manager for General Cigar, when she was hanging out in the Cohiba Lounge at Barrett Jackson.

Recently, I enjoyed a La Gloria Cubana Wavell a very nice medium bodied cigar that I think is often overlooked. This is prompting me to bring back Wavell Wednesday. I mean look at the ash on that cigar....

One of the more unique cigars I have acquired is the CAO Left Coast.  Exclusive to Cigar Shops on the West Coast, this massive 6 3/4 x 74, is actually shaped like a Trapezoid.

As I am unemployed, and Arizona Unemployment Benefit is a paltry $240 per week, I am all about the budget cigar.  Ambassador Fine Cigars has a bundle package of 10 Cigars for $45.  The retail value of the cigars is approximately $100.  There is a little bit of this and a little bit of that in each package but I tell you these cigars have some serious age to them. Which make smoking them all the more enjoyable.   This past weekend, I enjoyed the Gurkha Beast (MSRP was roughly $21).For this picture I put the cigar and the wrapper up against my wife's portable photo studio to show the age as evidenced by the discoloration of the wrapper. 

So I am sitting on the Hillbilly Hilton (TM) minding my own business, and I drop my lighter.  Now the damn thing won't work. I grab my wife's bic and the cedar that wrapped the a fore mentioned Gurkha.  The cedar won't stay lit, the metal on the lighter burnt my fingers trying light this behemoth of a cigar.  Getting frustrated I decide use this bad boy toast my cigar.  Thank God, the profile didn't change to that of Lamp Oil! 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

If your wife, girlfriend, mother, grandmother are into paper arts (card making, scrap-booking, etc.,) follow my wife's blog Passionate Paper Creations

The photo below actually uses a box from Kristoff Cigars as its "foundation." I am very proud of her especially since her work was recognized by Hobby Lobby and by design teams as far away as Australia.

There is this cigar line that I have been trying to get my hands on, and when I set my mind to doing something I get er done.  Emilio Cigars, as of last count I think there is only one, maybe two stores,  that carries them in Arizona (Fox Cigar Bar in Chandler and Goodfella's in Phoenix).  Earlier this week, courtesy of  Kevin Bishop, I added to my Humidor the  Emilio AF-Sauve, the AF-1, the AF-2 and the Le Musa Movao.  Part of  the reason I was hellbent on getting these cigars was because Gary Griffith, the owner of Emilio Cigars, was one of my first followers when I started posting #NowSmoking Tweets.  Gary's interaction with his customers, retailers, and other manufacturers is second to none and I respect that.

Yesterday I lit up the Emilio AF-Suave, This cigar has beautiful Ecuadorian Connecticut Wrapper and for a Connecticut was fairly complex. I smoked it down to the nubbin, using a small eyeglass screwdriver to hold the nubbin try to get every thing out of this Robusto that I could.

Finally, Saturday marked one year since our friend Bruce Gaudet was taken from us.  Bruce was a Sales Rep for General Cigar in the Western Region.  I also had to priviledge of working with him on the promotion of several events held at Ambassador Cigars

RIP Bruce and know that you are missed...

My First Blog Post of 2013

Feliz Ano's Nuevo....

So far it's been a smokin new year, with lots of great cigars to be enjoyed.  I will be doing things differently this year.  Chris Davidson (@psu_chris) brought up the question about tracking your inventory.  I, with a boatload of help from Chris, have been playing with a variety of options, everything ranging from Cigar Boss and other apps, to my Journal, to excel.  At this juncture I am leaning towards the excel option until someone (hint, hint) develops or releases a better mouse trap.  Here are a couple of snapshots of what I have been doing, it also is helping me with my handwritten journal, which will soon consist of "many leather bound books."PS I also keep a printed copy folded inside my journal.

I started off the year, with another Foundry at the suggestion of another #BOTL,  this time I tried the Cayley.

The Cayley measures 6 1/2 x 60 x 56 x 43 and has a wrapper that is proprietary to General Cigar. The Cayley was a much more enjoyable smoke that the Wells or the Lovelace, but it still not what a boutique cigar should be.  With the Cayley I also experienced some construction issue up near the band, which I am beginning to thing has something to do with the metal gear positioned over the band itself.

The Mundos Semilia Habano Grand #1,  Little is known about this cigar, except that this is or was a Tatuaje project.  As I understand this particular cigar uses B & C grade tobacco and my experience with this particular blend was that it was a bit on the tight side and not overly complex.

I am becoming a big fan of the San Cristobal line from Ashton.  Here is the San Cristobal Classico, this cigar had a nice amount  age on it and good flavors throughout, it was dark, oily, earthy with notes of chocolate and espresso.

Short on time pick one of these up, the Oliva Series G SPCL G, a great value at $4.55.  A nice medium bodied cigar, with a nice tight white ash.

I am also a big fan of Habano wrappers, This EP Carillo Club 52 had a bit of earth, wood, and leather.  However there were some construction issues which consisted of unraveling in the last third of the cigar.

I love perfecto cigars, which is narrow at both ends and slightly bulged in the middle. I don't know why I just do.  This Avo 787 is well aged, which is becoming quite common for my humidor, medium-bodied with plenty of sweetness and excellent balance. The cigar developed into a creamy cigar with flavors of  roasted nut flavors.

Dark in color very oily, and very full bodied is the best way to describe the Viaje 50/50 black label.  It is definitely not a first stick of the day.  Viaje does it again, and is one of my favorite boutique cigars.

Here is a solid, and I mean solid, medium bodied cigar with a wood flavor profile that transitioned into a  flavor profile that is not only rich, but earthy and includes notes of chocolate in the last third. This cigar is  also slightly box pressed, which I liked a alot.  Thanks to Stephen La Pre Jr (@CigarChairman) for the gift it was very much appreciated.  

Until next time stay toasting, uh toasty...it's cold in the PHX!

My Final Post for 2012

I smoked a lot cigars this year...and I am actually working on a list if the Top 10 (maybe Top 25) of the Cigars that I enjoyed in 2012. There is more activity to be posted not to mention adding to my written Journal the last few bands and notes from the cigars I smoked in December.

One of the first smokes I had when we returned from Maul, was the Graycliff Crystal PG, which I paired with a Big Wave Ale, from the Kona Brewing Compnay.  The Graycliff line is relatively expensive, $20 or so per stick, this particular stick was part of a Groupon promotion, $100 worth of Cigars for $45)  that I was aloud to purchase without purchasing the actual Groupon.  The nice thing about this Groupon is the Cigars were well aged, some 10 years or more.

New releases, I like trying new releases, however on occasion they let you down.  This was the case with the Foundry, General Cigar Co's, attempt at creating a "Boutique Cigar"  The metal gear on the band is interesting but I think the weight contributes to construction issues that I, and many others, have experienced with this cigar (see second photo). This is the 6 x 50 or "Wells" which is its given name...

This A Torrent Puro Corojo Robusto is rich in flavor and complexity....

How about the age on this here Avo Signature Robusto...

Sunday is for football, which requires a bit of a longer smoke, here is the Jose Seijas Signature Series Belicoso.  This cigar was very well received in 2005 and 2006, having Cigar Insider named Seijas Signature Series the best cigar made in the Dominican Republic in its December 2005 issue. Cigar Aficionado chose Seijas Signature Series as one of the 10 best cigars of 2006, and Robb Report included it among its Best of the Best!

Due to a heavy travel schedule I missed the West Valley Cigar Club dinner this year.  Churchill's Fine Cigars in Glendale held a private tasting for 21 members (as that is the number of cigars in a box) of the Papacayo XXL, a lovely little 6 x 60, and thanks again Chet for providing the Yuengling.

Until some Brothers of the Leaf got together and sent a friend who was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer I never tried a Xikar HC Series Cigar.  That sounds odd but here's the back story a few weeks back a  few of us, who connected on #Twitter, chipped in $10 to purchase a pick me up gift for Scott.  When Xikar got wind of this, they donated to our cause a Xikar Lighter, we in turn sent him  Xikar Cigars and Visa Gift Card.  

Below is the Xikar HC Series Churchill...here's to Scott's nuts!

CAR PORN

Did you know Tesla has a dealership in Scottsdale, AZ? Yup that's right it's in a Mall!

I think I am one of the few that actually enjoy the Zino Platinum lines, I haven't had a bad cigar from this line

This is the 643C ( or 6 x 43 Corona)...Now if only I could procure the Zino Mobile lounge to chauffeur me around for interviews that would be awesome.

Great Cigar from Gurkha, I believe it is one of the Master Select's that has been sitting in the humidor of Ambassador Fine Cigars for a long time.and yes that's a v-cut!

So 12/21/12 was supposedly the end of days, in fact I learned that the time that this was to occur was 11:11am.  So I arrived at Portofino's Fine Cigars at 11am and lit up an Illusione 68.  The world did not end, but damn I enjoyed this cigar.

MORE CAR PORN

All I want for Christmas

I got neither...

I've been getting some flack about not visiting my old friends at the Scottsdale Location of Ambassador Fine Cigars, so I made an appearance to spread my Christmas Cheer.  Here is the 2012 Holiday Edition Cigar from Viaje, the Candy Cane. AKA a Barbershop Pole Cigar.  This Cigar comes in one size a 6 x 54 and has closed foot and has been described as an entertaining cigar.

Illusione has become one of my favorites....here is the Illusione mj12 which to me is a stellar cigar in Construction, Appearance, Flavors and Price!

This had all the makings of a disaster! I carefully selected this cigar from my humidor, walked outside to side smoke and damn near walked through the glass arcadia door! the Cigar was the first thing to make contact with the door! It smoked great with really no other issues other than my own stupidity.

Romeo y Julieta used to be my go to smoke. Since Grady Watson told me I wasn't aloud to smoke any more of these I really haven't smoked any of them, then when LJ arrived it was on! On liker Donkey Kong.  Here is the Romeo y Juliets 1875 Anniversario Robusto (5 x 52)

This year I have a few Cusano's none of which blew my socks off.  This one different the Cusano 10th Anniversary.  As I understand it Michael Chiusano hoped to mimic the blend of the Montecristo #4 Habano, and apparently he got damn close!

So that's it another year in the books.  I'll close the book with my top 25 cigars that I smoked in 2012.  There is no particular order to My Top 25

• Cuenca y Blanco 
• Ortego Series D Maduro
• La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva
• CLE Corojo
• San Lotano Oval Maduro 
• My Fathers Flor de las Antillas
• Emilio AF-1 
• Tatuaje Cojonu 2012
• Nat Sherman Timeless Collection Hermoso
• Four Kicks Selection #5
• Tatuaje Old Man & the C (2012)
• Aging Room F55
• Aging Room Havao
• Tatuaje TAA 2012
• L'Atelier LAT52
• El Suelo Prado Belicoso
• Asylum Premium Torpedo
• Trocadero Cambon
• Perdomo 20th Anniversary Maduro
• 262 Revere Toro
• CAO Concert
• Room 101 Daruma Mutante
• Crowned Heads Headley Grange 
• San Cristobal Papacayo XXL
• La Duena Belicoso #2 

Onto 2013....

Back to Life Back to Reality

One final pic from the Island of Maui. Last Tuesday  my wife and I talked about what will happen since I am unemployed, uh semi retired, will we relocate and if so where will we relocate to.  This contemplation occurred while sitting on Wailea Beach as I enjoyed the Big Kahuna Maduro.

Back to the topic at hand; events are in full swing this month in Phoenix and last Friday was no exception. Ambassador Fine Cigars in Peoria held a Villiger Cigar Event.  This is an interesting cigar company as they are based in Switzerland.  Several years ago I remember having one of their 1888 at an event at Ye Olde Pipe and Tobacco, it was OK.

This year Villiger added two new cigars to their lines the Villiger Talanga, and the Villiger Colorado which is a  wrapped in Jalapa Colorado leaf...I was surprised, then again both cigars are manufactured in Nicaragua. I enjoyed one of the Villiger Colorado's. It was a nice medium-full bodied cigars, that drew evenly, burned fairly evenly and did not require a single touch up or relight.

Since I had my first Four-Kicks, from Crowned Heads, earlier this year i have been waiting to try the Headley Grange. Which is named after the recording studio where Led Zeppelin recorded the song "When the Levee Breaks." The Cigars are part of a collaboration Ernesto Perez Carrillo, Jr., and Tabacalera La Aliana SA., Next up from the Crowned Heads will be the Limited Edition Mule Kick.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 
It is never OK to wear a Cowboy Hat (a Black One at that too) and Deck Shoes.  I don't care who you are...Eric., crap like that will get you hung in Texas.  Oh by the way the Cigar is a Nat Sherman Timeless Collection #2.  Love this Cigar, Love it.

Finally, Several months ago I was given a very special limited edition Romeo y Julieta 125th Anniversary Churchill.  Part of the 1875 Collection this particular cigar had been sitting in my friend Rob's humidor for 12 years.  The cigar is a blend of Peruvian, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers with an Ecuadorian wrapper and a broad-leaf binder.  I had saved this Cigar for a very special occasion, the birth of our first grandchild, LJ. 

John Stephen Sutto IV

AKA Little John or L.J for Short

Herfing Island Style!

As our annual vacation comes to a close, we have one more night, I am going to reflect on a quest.  A quests to find a cigar or cigars at or even close to the MSRP!  Ok disclaimer Hawai'i has a 40% wholesale tax and taxes the hell out of tobacco products.

I began this quest on Tuesday at the Wailea Gift Shop here at the hotel. Let's just say their prices were ridiculous and the selection was miniscule. I had two choices a Cohiba Crystal Corona Tube for $26.99 and a Macanudo Cafe Crystal Tubes That was just under $16.99.

Last night Rhea and I had our 3rd anniversary dinner a Humuhumnukunukuapua'a (little fish big name) and they had the Arturo Fuente Short Story as their featured Cigar. Yup $18 for a Cigar that normally hovers around the $6 range.

The ABC Store, essentially a hawaiian convenience store, has a small selection of cigars.  What intrigued me  was the Kauai Cigar Company that filled the stores "Humidor." The Humidor is basically what amounts to a desktop humidor.

I inquired about the two cigars they were offering the response I got was one is light the other is dark.  OK I can live with the fact your are not a tobacconist, what my research indicated is that the Kauai cigars are the result of growing, curing, fermenting, and aging, on Kauai, some of the finest tobacco in the world. The filler cigars contain premium, all natural, Sun Grown Kauai Tobacco.

The light cigaar  tobacco is wrapped in a Connecticut shade leaf grown in Ecuador. This cigar is described as a silky cream like cigar has a medium to full bodied taste.

The dark wrapped is a Habano leaf grown in Nicaragua. It is a full bodied smoke and is filled with deep complex flavors. 

The seed actually an Old Generation  Pinar del Rio and the cigars are rolled in Nicaragua. Single sticks retail for $13.40 and they area also avaialble in a 3 pack and a sampler pack containing 6 cigars for $99.The Vitola's even have Hawaiian names.  Below is the Momona, which at a 50 x 5 3/4 is esentially Robusto.

Yesterday, we made our way to Lahaina and I literally stumbled into Sir Wilfred's. I learned that  the name of the store, was inspired by the character “Sir Wilfred” in Agathie Christie’s “Witness for the Prosecution”. Sir Wilfred liked to drank cognac and smoked cigars.

The original store had Maui’s first walk-in cigar humidor, tobacco, pipes, and accessories. Not being able to survive, selling only tobacco, pipes, cigars and accessories, they decided to add coffee and tea.  Today the store has three large wall humidors contain cigars in every price range, from the names we all know and love.

I picked up two of the Big Kahuna, Sir Wilfred’s signature cigar, and is is a hand-rolled premium cigar made from Honduran filler and binder, a Connecticut wrapper and rolled in the Camacho Factory.  I picked up two their corona's at $4.99 a piece! 

 

Couple of we realized two things

1. we had a convertable and

2. It was a 45 mile drive back to the hotel.

 

Disclaimer, I smoked the lighter of the two on the ride home. This was an OK cigar on the mild side and not overly complex. I did not exeperience any construction issues and the burn was fairly even and did not require any touch ups.

 

 

 

 

 



 Mahalo!

 

PS

 

I am totally up for this? Are you?

http://www.hawaiicigarassociation.org/festival2013