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

 

Almost a Months worth of Catching up

It's 3:15am and all is well except for the fact I am up at 3:15am . So considering I haven't updated my blog in almost a month I figure what better time than now

I don't get it but whats with the trend of big ring gauges?  Anything over a 54 is just too large.

Here is the Rocky Patel Vintage Connecticut 1999 Sixty.  This little cigar is  is a 6 x 60 and is on the mild side and unfortunately I experienced some construction issues

 



When I smoke a cigar I like to do a little research.  My research primarily consists of the back story of the cigar and sometimes the manufacturer.  The CAO Concert is the second release since CAO was taken over by General Cigar. This is the CAO Concert Amp, which is a 5 1/2 x 48 and has a price point of under $7 a stick.

 

Brandon at Cigar King is a good friend and follows my twitter, @JRWeigand, he knows my palette and an often points out what is new in the humidor.  Here is the Oliveros Sun Grown Reserve Robusto. 

When Matt Booth was in town, I grabbed the Room 101 Daruma Sucio a 7 x 48,  Matt told me the best size in the line was the Mutante a 7 x 38, Damn it he was right! Well hell he should be after all he is the blender!

We interrupt this blog for an important message. CAR PORN! here is a 1958 Lister Corvette or is it.  I think it a Replica.

Trick or Treating was good to me this year.  I was gifted a Tatuaje Lil Drac from the 2012 Little Monster Series.  A 5 x 48 short torpedo, which is reminiscent of one of Dracula's fangs.

One of the hard to find cigars in the Roma Craft Line,  Very particular about who carries this brand.  I found them that Big Sticks Cigars in Mesa Arizona.  I started with the Intemperence Line.  The name Intemperance goes back  to the Temperenace Movement of the 19th century that saddled us with joyless years of prohibition in the United States. The branding is intended to draw attention to the modern temperance movement that  targets smoking tobacco in place of alcoholic beverages.

The Intemperance comes in two different wrappers. The first, called the EC XVIII, is an Ecuadorian Connecticut which eluded to the Temperance Movement’s origins in rural Connecticut and the 18th amendment that established prohibition.

 

 

The second is the BA XXI, a Brazil Arapiraca celebrating the ratification of the 21st amendment which repealed this experiment.

 

 

 I am really enjoying the Room 101 Brand Cigars, per Matt Booth this is NOT a boutique cigar, but a Salon Cigar.  Here is the Namakubi Papi Chulo at nice little 4 x 42.

Well be back after this short break.

And We're back it is now 9:42am and we just finished packing for our annual Thanksgiving trip to Maui.  After the year we've had we need this and need it bad.

Below is an La Palina El Diario Robusto, El Diario translates in English to “The Daily” that is fitting as this could become another go to cigar! I paired this with a Dogfish Head 60 Minute Ale. 

Not one to talk about house blends unless they are a good value stick for the money.  Recently Portofino's Cigars opened in Central Phoenix and I was given one of their house blends. Retailing for on $3.15 a stick I was pleasantly surprised with the burn, which did not require a touch up, the construction, and the blend itself.  If I am not mistaken this cigars was manufactured by the fine folks at Oliva

The week prior to the Big Smoke in Las Vegas is event season in the Phoenix Metro Area.  Among the festivities Cigar King hosted their 2nd annual Scottdale Cigar Week. While not part of Scottsdale Cigar Week earlier this month I was able to spend some time with Glen Case at Ambassador Fine Cigars in Peoria.  Glen in the  the man behind Kristoff Cigar. Once you meet Glen he becomes well Glen.

The cigar chosen for this event was the Original Kristoff Maduro. 

 

When there are so many shops for you to chose from, you almost set a goal of trying to find something you havent seen anywhere else.  While visiting with Jimmy, the proprietor of Scottsdale Cigars and Gift, I stumbled upon the Murcielago, which means bat,  from Espinosa and Ortega.  This is a fine collaberation from my friend Eddie Ortega, Erik Espinosa, and Don Pepin Garcia.  There was some construction issue which I blame on the stores humidor but otherwise enjoyable.

 

I have begun to ramp up for Maui, by picking up six packs my favorite Hawaiian Brewery, the Kona Brewing Company.  This week I paired a Camacho Jamastran Gigante which was well just genius.The Camacho Corojo Gigante  fat cigar with an oily wrapper. It draws very easily and was enjoyed on a cool crisp day in the PHX

The 262 Line of Cigars is becoming one of my favorite boutique cigar.  I  picked up this 262 Ideology Box Pressed Toro when Clint Aaron was in town.  The Story behind this cigar is awesome,  from the 262 Website www.smoketherevolution.com each cigar in the 262 line refers to the American Revolution or our Constitutional right.  Heres what Clint says about the Ideology

 

The passion to create great cigars. The fortitude to transcend the opposition. The resolve to smoke free. The collection of beliefs and doctrines the guide our thoughts, words and actions. Our Ideologies are what make us who we are. They’re often shaped by our parents, friends, or heroes and often change or grow throughout our lifetimes due to new experiences and insights. Whatever your Ideology was 5, 10, 15 years ago, as a cigar lover, you now know that those in power will exploit any opportunity to gain more control over our daily lives…and you know that it is wrong.

 

At 262, we believe as our country’s founders did; that our government should never be allowed to hold our God-given rights and liberties hostage in the name of “progress”. We believe it’s long past time to take back control of our own lives and be the creators of our own prosperity

A Final thought,  Getting Old SUCKS, here I am 46 years old sitting out on the Hillbilly Hilton (tm)
reading, watching TV while enjoying a cigar and I am wearing a sweater and reading glasses.

 

 

Off to Maui tomorrow morning at 9am,  I am looking forward to vistiting  Sir Wilfreds Coffee and Cigars in Lahaina during the trip.

 

Until then Aloha, Mahalo, Keep A Tight Ash

Updating the Blog at Odd Hours Continues

Lunesta DOES Not Work!  This Public Service Announcement is brought to you by me.  Unless it is the design of this medication is two stages where you get 3 hrs of sleep on the front end, with a short break, in between followed by 4 hrs of sleep on the back end!

So I guess I will update my blog! This makes three posts in with in a 7 day period all during the hours of 2:30am -4:30am

This week some of the biggest names in cigar industry are in the PHX  . Eddie Ortega--Ortega Cigars; Clint Aaron-- 262 Cigars; Matt Booth--Room 101; Rocky Patel; Jesus Fuego--J Fuego Cigars;  Craig Cunningham--Esteban Carreras.

Eddie Ortega and I at Cigar King in Scottsdale

 

Matt Booth from Room 101 and I at Ambassador Fine Cigars West

 

For some reason I have been negligent in taking #nowsmoking photo's this week. It is what it is so deal with it.

 

 I have enjoyed a 262 Paradigm, and in the past week I tried the Revere in the both the Robusto and the Box Press, looking forward to trying the Ideology and if I can find it, the Manifesto,!  The back story to this line is awesome and as student of history and as a Brother of the Leaf  I get it. Here is a synopsis of what each Cigar in the line stands for.  Paraphrased from the 262 website.

 

The Paradigm says "don’t sit down, there’s work to be done. Stand up and let your voice be heard. The Revolution has already begun."

 

Ideology represents Clint Aaron's passion to create great cigars and 262 "believes as our country’s founders did; that our government should never be allowed to hold our God-given rights and liberties hostage in the name of “progress”. We believe it’s long past time to take back control of our own lives and be the creators of our own prosperity"

 

 The Manifesto refers to "the government has imposed unfair and increasingly higher taxes on cigars and restrictive smoking bans in order to raise money for their own programs. They advance this agenda while tightening the noose on small business owners and middle class workers alike. These taxes and smoking bans are just a few examples of the many devices being imposed that are destroying jobs, lowering incomes, and ultimately crippling our economy."

The Manifesto was released in February of 2012, the 50th anniversary of the day President Kennedy signed the Cuban Embargo. I must find one of these, however it is a very limited release cigar.

 

The Revere (below) is the newest release, a Nicaraguan Puro, that represents our freedom to smoke cigars which  is hanging in the balance. .

Paying homage to "Paul Revere who was an average, blue collar, working class citizen. But, it was his passion for the American Experiment and his sincere belief in freedom and liberty that drove him from obscurity to national hero. Paul Revere saw his opportunity to play a part. We also hope to inspire this spirit in others as we fight to keep the government out of our humidors. We must stand together, stand strong, and stand free."

This morning I  ran into Clint and Eric Parkinson at Ye Olde Pipe and Tobacco Clint told me that I was smoking a Revere and where it was located. As Clint is the leader of the Smoke the Revoluion Movement I listened.  Oddly enough this was the second or third time I ran into Clint his week! 

 

 

I had been enjoying the Origen by J Fuego, so today I picked up the 777 Zero Robusto, with a Connecticut wrapper, that is priced about $5 at local retailers here in the PHX

 

 

Spent some time with Matt Booth this Afternoon at Ambassador Fine Cigars West. Earlier this year I was given a pre-release of the Room 101 Daruma Papi Chulo a 4 x 42 that left me wanting more. Today I picked up the Sucio a larger full bodied 7 x 48.  The Daruma is named after daruma dolls, modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism

 

          

The backside of the band has an image of the Namakubi. Although in many ways long gone, Samurai culture is believed to live on in spirit within certain groups. In ancient times when two Samurai clans would gather for competition there was a great deal at stake. Normally, the losing party would die as a result of wounds sustained in battle or be executed upon defeat. The Namakubi, or freshly severed head of the losing party would be prepared on a wooden tray then tagged in a regimented manner and presented to the leader of the winning clan as a gift.

 

 

The evening concluded with a Ortega Cigars Event Held at Fine Ash Cigar.  Sam and Rosie know how to do an event and I wish I could have stayed longer.  I'm the guy in the Green Polo talking to Sam in the back. Say Hi to Henry and Rosie, Sam's wife (from who I stole this photo)

 

 

Until Next Time #KeepATightAsh

 

 

It's Been a Smoking Day

OK I stole that from my friend Vartan Seferian, the proprietor of Ambassador Fine Cigars.

Anyway, I am going to pick-up where I left off at 4:15am

Last week I picked up, for my morning smoke, the C & C LRMD or Limited Reserve Maduro at $4.75 is a quality smoke at an affordable price.

I am huge fan of Christian Eiroa, and the CLE line did not disappoint in either the Corojo or the Habano. My personal favorite was the Corojo.  Last week I stumbled across Connecticut version of the CLE. 

BREAKING NEWS: Car Porn in Scottsdale a 2013 Ferrari 458 Spyder

 

I picked this next cigar as part of bundle package at Cigar King, I think the lot came with a couple of Bolivar, and two of the Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial Corona that is pictured below and something else that I can't put my finger on.  This cigar was also well aged and was surprisingly full bodied. 

 

 

IMPORTANT....The world if full of choices and this really complicates matters, here is the humidor at Cigar King...

 

Another recent arrival, from Quesada, is the Jalapo  at $7.50-$7.75 I really enjoyed this cigar and as I understand it only 1000 boxes were produced

 

 

 

Another new line into many of the shops here in Phoenix, is Clint Aaron's 262 Cigar Line I have has the Paradigm, so when Eric Parkinson from Smoke Boutique hosted an event last Friday at Ambassador West I picked up the Revere

 

 

Here would be a pic of me enjoying a Surrogates Tramp Stamp.  However since the Butterfly on the band is an exact replica of a tramp stamp that my ex had I refuse to smoke or post a picture of this Cigar!  Sorry Pete

OK Heres the Pic...

 Every Sunday I head up to Fine Ash Cigars to catch the Jet's Game! Sam is great at accomodating that request.  This is a Padron Magnum Maduro, 9  x 50! This Cigar got me through the entire Jet's Game excluding the OT period!

Late last week, Randy gave me something I had never tried, largely due to the price. Randy Gifted Me a Julius Caesar Diamond Crown Toro. Medium Bodied, Medium Strength the 5 year aged tobacco really makes this Cigar.

 

And with this post we are ALL caught up, another on of Christian Eiroa new lines the Asylum 13

A true Nicaraguan Puro that is an eventful cigar...

 

 

Until Next Time.. #KeepATightAsh!