padrón 1964 vertical

Cigar Insider
internet only
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012
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VOL. 17, NO. 17
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FROM THE PUBLISHER OF CIGAR AFICIONADO MAGAZINE
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IN THIS ISSUE:
FEATURED CIGAR
PADRÓN 1964 ANNIVERSARY SERIES MADURO
TORO
TASTING REPORT:
VERTICAL BRAND TASTINGS:
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro [page 2]
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NICARAGUA
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PRICE: $14.14
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BODY: MED. TO FULL
94
POINTS
For a full tasting, see page two.
NEW SIZES:
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Illusione Singularé Vimana 2011 [page 3]
Illusione Singularé Vimana 2012 [page 3]
BEST CIGARS THIS ISSUE
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro Toro
CURRENT RELEASE:
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Ramon Allones Specially Selected [page 3]
SPECIAL REPORT—NEW CIGARS OF
2012 (PART THREE)
Nicaragua
94
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro Diplomatico Nicaragua
93
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro Imperial
Nicaragua
92
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro “A” Nicaragua
91
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Illusione Cigars [page 4]
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro Corona
Nicaragua
91
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J. C. Newman Cigar Co. [page 4]
L'Atelier Imports [page 4]
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro Exclusivo
Nicaragua
91
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La Palina Cigars [page 5]
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro Piramide
Nicaragua
91
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Melo Tobacco Group [page 5]
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro Torpedo
Nicaragua
91
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Miami Cigar & Co. [page 6]
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My Father Cigars [page 7]
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Nat Sherman International [page 7]
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Oliva Cigar Co. [page 8]
PADRÓN 1964 VERTICAL
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Ortega Cigar Co. [page 8]
THE PADRÓN ANNIVERSARY SERIES is one
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Padilla Cigar Co. [page 8]
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Padrón Cigars Inc. [page 9]
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Paul Garmirian Inc. [page 9]
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PDR Cigars U.S.A. Inc. [page 10]
of the most revered cigar brands in America, and for good
reason. The Nicaraguan smokes are consistently stellar. We
tested all 12 sizes of the maduro line, (including the new
No. 4) and gave all but two cigars 90 points or higher—
in some cases, much higher. See page two.
NEW CIGARS MAKING IT TO MARKET
MORE CIGARS INTRODUCED AT THE IPCPR SHIP TO RETAILERS.
It’s been over a month since the cigar industry unveiled its newest lines at the IPCPR trade
show, and now some of the brands are finding their way into the market. Brick House (left)
comes in a maduro variety, but in one size only—the Mighty Mighty, a 60-ring behemoth.
The La Palina Classic (second from left) comes in a 60-ring format as well, but is also
available in other sizes and is the most budget-friendly La Palina to date. The PDR factory
in the Dominican Republic produces the box-pressed Serie Privada (second from right).
La Dueña (right) translates to female proprietor in Spanish, and this cigar was blended
for Janny Garcia of My Father Cigars—she’s the boss. Coverage continues on page four.
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TASTING REPORT
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CORONA
91 POINTS
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6" x 42
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$9.60
Humidor Selection
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PADRÓN 1964 ANNIVERSARY SERIES MADURO
Thin and pressed with an oily wrapper and perfect draw.
Each puff shows salted caramel flavors that lead to a profound cherry liqueur note and a fresh tobacco finish.
VERTICAL BRAND TASTING
Body: Medium to Full
Country: Nicaragua
Maker: Padrón Cigars Inc.
EXCLUSIVO
Distributor: Padrón Cigars Inc.
91 POINTS
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5 1/2" x 50
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$11.00
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Humidor Selection
Rolled and pressed with a dark, attractive wrapper, this
cigar has a slightly firm draw but dead even burn. Its
herbal start warms to show coffee, spice and earth.
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Body: Medium to Full
Purchase Date: August 2012
PIRAMIDE
91 POINTS
TORO
94 POINTS
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5 1/2" x 54
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$14.14
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Humidor Selection
Rich and heavy with roasted espresso and dark cocoa
bean flavors that are complemented by notes of dried
cherries and ripe apple. Flavorful and sophisticated.
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6 7/8" x 52
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$14.30
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Humidor Selection
Bugle-shaped with a tapered foot and pressed form. It’s
nutty and woody with almond and pencil lead notes.
The finish is sweet and toasty.
Body: Medium
Body: Medium to Full
TORPEDO
DIPLOMATICO
93 POINTS
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7" x 50
91 POINTS
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$13.20
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Humidor Selection
Large and pressed, this cigar imparts a dense, creamy
smoke whose underlying oakiness is matched by notes
of cocoa powder, vanilla bean and orange peel.
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6" x 52
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$15.80
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Humidor Selection
A box-pressed torpedo whose lush draw layers the palate
with nougat and milk chocolate intonations that build
to a rich, nutty finish.
Body: Medium to Full
Body: Medium
MONARCA
IMPERIAL
92 POINTS
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6" x 54
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$14.80
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Humidor Selection
There’s an interplay of cardomom and candied fruit
flavors that become more heavy with red wine and cocoa
powder. A complex cigar with lots of smoke on the draw.
Body: Medium to Full
“A”
91 POINTS
90 POINTS
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6 1/2" x 46
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$11.00
Thin and pressed with a slightly bumpy head and substantial draw. Each puff is full of coffee character, toast
and a toffee-like finish.
Body: Medium to Full
NO. 4
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8 1/4" x 50
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$32.90
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Humidor Selection
90 POINTS
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6 1/4" x 60
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$20.00
A long, box-presed cigar with a smooth draw and even
burn. A trifold of leather, wood and fresh tobacco flavors
is buttressed by sweet, dried fruit notes.
A big, blocky cigar with an even burn and draw. Though
it starts out herbal, the smoke becomes buttery taking
on richer, maltier flavors and a touch of coconut.
Body: Medium to Full
Body: Medium
95-100: Classic n 90-94: Outstanding n 80-89: Very good to excellent n 70-79: Average to good commercial quality
Below 70: Don’t waste your money n N/A: Not Available Note: Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail, before taxes.
2
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September 11, 2012
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PRINCIPE
89 POINTS
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4 1/2" x 46
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ILLUSIONE SINGULARÉ
$8.80
Though the draw of this cigar is a bit loose, it burns very
evenly, imparting an oaky, woody smoke with touches of
vanilla and a slightly dry finish.
Body: Medium to Full
NEW SIZES
Country: Nicaragua
Maker: TABSA
Distributor: Illusione Cigars
Filler: Nicaragua
SUPERIOR
89 POINTS
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6 1/2" x 42
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Binder: Nicaragua
$10.10
Gleaming with oil, this near-black lonsdale produces
sweet caramel and cocoa notes, hints of licorice and
maraschino cherry flavor on the finish.
Body: Medium
Wrapper: Mexico, Nicaragua
Release Date: August 2012
VIMANA 2012
BRAND SUMMARY: The Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series was
launched in 1994 to commemorate Padrón Cigar Inc.’s 30th
anniversary. At its inception, the brand was first known as the
Padrón 1964 Aniversario, and each cigar came with one band.
The company subsequently changed the word “Aniversario”
to “Anniversary” and added a secondary band, reminiscent
of the tax stamps that came on pre-embargo Cuban cigars.
Regardless of the name change, the 1964 Anniversary Series is
still casually referred to as the Aniversario brand among cigar
smokers, and is held in extremely high regard. The maduro
version, which we rated here, is often indistinguishable from
the natural, as the naturals are sometimes rolled with unusually
dark wrappers.
Cigar Insider has not done a vertical brand tasting of the
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series since 2009. A few cigars have been
added to the portfolio since then—the No. 4 (see IPCPR write-up
on page nine) and the Toro. This vertical allowed us to see how the
new cigars score in comparison with the older, more established
sizes. It also gave us the opportunity to rate cigars in the brand
that are harder to find in the market—the Corona, Monarca,
Superior, “A” and the bugle-shaped Piramide.
Only two cigars out of 12 sizes in this very impressive vertical
scored below 90 points, and more than half scored 91 points or
higher, earning the designation of “Humidor Selection.”
The two standouts in this test were the Toro and Diplomatico,
both of which scored an outstanding 94 and 93 points, respectively.
The Toro is sold by retailers who are part of the TAA (Tobacconists
Association of America) and may be more difficult to come by than
the Diplomatico, which has more distribution across the country.
If neither can be found, there are still eight more sizes in the line
that rated 90 points or higher.
Average Rating: 91.3 points
89 POINTS
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6" x 52
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$11.00
Dark and solidly rolled with a nearly veinless wrapper
and full, substantial draw. Dark roasted coffee bean
notes and earth flavors carry a touch of cinnamon.
Body: Medium to Full
VIMANA 2011
88 POINTS
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6" x 52
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$11.00
An attractive toro with a few prominent veins and a
three-seam cap. Strong and peppery at the start, it
becomes earthy and nutty, but requires some relights.
Body: Medium to Full
RAMON ALLONES
CURRENT RELEASE
Country: Cuba
Maker: N/A
Distributor: Habanos S.A.
Filler: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuba
Box Date: April 2012
SPECIALLY SELECTED
89 POINTS
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4 7/8" x 50
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£14.14
Muted flavors on the initial puffs become sweet and
leathery leaving touches of tea and dried orange peel
on the palate. A sweet note recurs on the finish.
Body: Medium
95-100: Classic n 90-94: Outstanding n 80-89: Very good to excellent n 70-79: Average to good commercial quality
Below 70: Don’t waste your money n N/A: Not Available Note: Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail, before taxes.
3
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September 11, 2012
Cigar Insider
CIGAR NEWS
SPECIAL REPORT: THE NEW CIGARS
OF 2012, PART THREE
BY GREGORY MOTTOLA, ANDREW NAGY, G. CLAY WHITTAKER
AND DAVID SAVONA
O
ur coverage of the IPCPR trade show continues as
the Cigar Insider team further reports on the new
releases, brand extensions and limited-edition cigars that
will be heading to retail shops and tobacconists from now
until the end of the year.
Price: $4.50–$5.95
Details: Perla del Mar is a long discontinued vintage Cuban
brand resurrected and rebranded for this release. The old
artwork is mostly intact, though slightly updated to reflect
its new ownership and identity. All the cigars are boxpressed and wear an Ecuadoran Connecticut-seed wrapper.
Four sizes are offered: Perla P, 3 3/4 by 56; Perla M, 4 3/4
by 52; Perla G, 6 1/4 by 52; Perla TG, 6 by 60.
What makes it special: There are no cigars in the line that
retail for more than $6.
BRICK HOUSE MIGHTY MIGHTY MADURO
Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos
San Rafael S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Brazil
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $5.95
Details: Brick House Maduro is a
one-size offshoot of the original
Brick House brand. This 6 1/4 by
60 behemoth features a dark,
Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper
and comes in black dress
boxes of 25.
ILLUSIONE CIGARS
ILLUSIONE SINGULARÉ
Made by: TABSA, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua, Mexico
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $11.00
Cigar Insider Rating: 88–89 points
Details: The release dates for both the 2011 and 2012
version of Singularés were temporarily postponed until
recently. They both come in the same 6 by 52 size and are
dubbed Vimana, which is Sanskrit for UFO. The 2011
Vimana comes wrapped in a leaf of Corojo but the 2012 is
rolled with San Andrés maduro, though both come packaged in the same box. Said brand owner Dion Giolito: “The
blends do share common leaves from a Nicaraguan farm
called Chilamate, which grows very distinct tobacco.”
Also: Giolito introduced a new size to his medium-filler
Cuchillos Cubanos brand. It’s a 6 by 52 vitola simply called
52. After announcing its new release at the IPCPR trade
show, he promptly announced the brand’s discontinuation.
J. C. NEWMAN CIGAR CO.
PERLA DEL MAR
Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos San Rafael S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
4
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L’ATELIER IMPORTS
L’ATELIER
Made by: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $8.50–$10.00
Details: Pete Johnson, the maker of Tatuaje cigars, has
branched out, forming a new company with his brother
K.C. and his friends Dan Welsh and Sean Johnson. “The
company is a chance for me to expand my footprint in the
cigar industry without adding to the Tatuaje portfolio, which
is already at capacity,” Johnson told Cigar Insider in June.
His main brand for the company—which is based in Miami
rather than Los Angeles, where Tatuaje is headquartered—
is called L’Atelier. Translated to mean “workshop,” L’Atelier
is a three-size line of fat, pigtailed smokes: LAT52, 4 3/4
by 52; LAT54, 5 5/8 by 54; and LAT56, 6 1/2 by 56. They
come in boxes of 15, or in samples of nine containing three
of each size. Johnson has called the line medium to fullbodied. The wrapper is called Sancti Spiritus, which Johnson
says is a hybrid based in part on Pelo d’Oro leaf, a truly
tough leaf to grow.
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SURROGATES
Made by: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $8.50–$10.00
Details: Designed as a full-bodied cigar by
Welsh, Surrogates comes in four sizes: Skull
Breaker, 5 1/4 by 52 and Bone Crusher,
5 1/4 by 55, have been on sale since 2011.
The company has just added Crystal Baller
(cigar shown here), 5 3/4 by 54, and Tramp
Stamp, 5 1/4 by 48. They have Ecuadoran
Habano wrappers.
Also: L’Atelier has introduced two bundle
cigars, aiming for smokers on a budget.
El Suelo and Trocadéro come in bundles of
20 and sell for $3.75 to $4.75 per cigar. “I
want to show people that I can make a great,
inexpensive cigar,” says Johnson.
LA PALINA CIGARS
LA PALINA CLASSIC
Made by: PDR Cigars Dominicana, Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Brazil
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Dom. Rep., Nicaragua
Price: $7.50–$8.25
Details: Bill Paley’s La Palina brand was reverse engineered.
He debuted with a super-premium line in 2010, added
a less expensive line in 2011, and released an even less
expensive line this year. La Palina Classic will begin with
four sizes: Torpedo, 6 1/4 by 52; Gordo, 6 by 60; Toro,
6 by 50; and Robusto, 5 by 52. This is the first La Palina
from the Dominican Republic, and makes this the fourth
country of origin for La Palina cigars.
What makes it special: The least expensive La Palina yet.
LA PALINA MADURO
Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L.,
Honduras
Wrapper: Mexico
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $9.15–$10.50
Details: La Palina has extended its growing line of cigars
with a maduro selection, which is made in Honduras at
Raices Cubanas, the maker of the company’s El Diario line.
The maduros have Mexican San Andrés wrappers, and
come in four sizes: 5 by 52, 6 by 50, 6 by 60 and 7 by 56.
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LA PALINA GOLDIE LAGUITO NO. 2
Made by: El Titan de Bronze, U.S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Dom. Rep., Nicaragua
Price: $15.00
Details: La Palina’s first limited-edition is a dandy, one-size
run of 10,000 cigars (1,000 boxes of 10) all crafted by
Maria Sierra, who once made Cohibas at Havana’s El
Laguito Factory and has been rolling cigars since 1967.
The size is a slim 6 inches long by 38 ring gauge, finished
with a picture-perfect flag tip called a fan. They began
shipping in June.
What makes it special: The entire run has been made by
one cigarmaker.
LA PALINA EL DIARIO KB II
Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L.,
Honduras
Wrapper: Honduras
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Price: $9.25
Details: The “sequel” to last year’s KB, the KB II is a longer
version of the 93-point KB, which stands for Kill Bill. It’s
6 inches long by 40 ring gauge, nearly two inches longer
than the original KB. When the cigar was first blended,
prototypes were so strong that La Palina brand owner
Bill Paley couldn’t finish them, and half-jokingly dubbed
the size Kill Bill. The name stuck and KB proved to be a
popular seller in La Palina’s El Diario line. Now elongated
from a petit corona to a corona size, the new KB II comes
in boxes of 30.
MELO TOBACCO GROUP
TUREI
Made by: Tabacalera Oliva S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Price: $6.00–$7.00
Details: Hugo Melo is following up his growing Hispaniola
line with a new blend called Turei—the Taino Indian word
for heaven. The blend consists of a ravito negro wrapper,
olor binder, and a filler composed of olor, papyo and ravito
negro. Turei comes in three sizes: Puro Sol No. 1, a 4 1/2
by 54 belicoso; Puro Sol No. 2, 5 1/2 by 54; and Puro Sol
No. 3, 6 by 52.
What makes it special: The cigars are made with only nonCuban seed, native Dominican tobaccos.
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MIAMI CIGAR & CO.
AÑORANZAS
Made by: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $6.50–$8.50
Details: Spanish for “nostalgic,” Añoranzas is a boxpressed Nicaraguan puro that uses a double binder and
dark Habano-seed Oscuro wrapper. It comes packaged in
boxes of 10 or 20 and is available in four sizes: Robusto,
5 by 50; Toro, 6 by 52; Belicoso, 6 1/2 by 54; and Gran
Toro, 6 by 60.
AURORA 100 AÑOS
Made by: La Aurora S.A., Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Price: $16.00
Details: In 2003, La Aurora celebrated 100 years in the
business with the 100 Años brand, a limited-edition
Dominican puro whose rare Dominican Corojo wrapper
and flavorful blend earned it Cigar Aficionado’s No. 2
cigar of the year for 2004. The blend is back and uses the
same types of tobaccos found in the original. It will ship
to retailers in a master case containing three boxes each
of three sizes: Robusto, 5 by 50; Churchill, 7 by 50; and
Belicoso, 6 1/4 by 52. The prices of each cigar are left up to
the retailer, but it works out to $16.00 per stick.
Also: The Robusto comes in a limited-edition
Connecticut Broadleaf maduro variety.
AURORA PREFERIDOS DIAMOND TUBO
Made by: La Aurora S.A., Dominican Republic
Wrapper: U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Price: $20.00
Details: The Aurora Preferidos line, which comes
in many different wrapper varieties, now has the
Diamond, a 5 by 54 double-tapered perfecto
covered in a dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.
It comes packaged in a sleek black tube.
FERNANDO LEÓN
Made by: La Aurora S.A., Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Peru, Dom. Rep., Brazil
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Price: $7.98–$10.24
Details: Once a noncommercial blend for family and
friends, Fernando León is now available to the cigarsmoking public. It was originally a corona size and was
a favorite smoke of the late company Patriarch Fernando
León Asencio, but comes in five sizes: Corona, 5 1/2 by 42;
Robusto, 5 by 50; Corona Gorda, 6 by 47; Gran Toro, 6 by
58; and Belicoso, 6 1/4 by 52.
LA SIRENA MERLION
Made by: La Aurora S.A., Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Brazil
Filler: Dom. Rep., Nicaragua, Brazil
Price: $9.46–$11.02
Details: Merlion is an offshoot of the original La Sirena brand
and named for the mythical creature whose body is half
mermaid and half lion. Unlike La Sirena, which is made at
My Father Cigars in Nicaragua, Merlion is produced at the
La Aurora factory in the Dominican Republic. It’s wrapped in
an Ecuadoran Corojo leaf and comes in three sizes: Robusto,
5 by 50; Toro, 5 1/2 by 54; and Gran Toro, 6 by 58.
NESTOR MIRANDA
SPECIAL SELECTION CONNECTICUT
Made by: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, Dom. Rep.
Price: $7.14–$9.04
Details: Already available in rosado and oscuro wrappers,
Nestor Miranda added a lighter, Ecuadoran Connecticutwrapped blend to the Special Selection portfolio. It will be
offered in four sizes: Robusto Grande, 5 1/2 by 54; Gran
Toro, 6 by 60; Coffee Break, 4 1/2 by 50; and Piramides,
6 1/8 by 52.
Also: The Nestor Miranda Special Selection Danno 2012
is a stronger version of previous Danno releases, featuring
a dark Mexican San Andrés wrapper and more ligero. It
measures 7 by 56 and retails for $10.00.
NESTOR MIRANDA COLLECTION
GRAND RESERVE 2012
Made by: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $12.00
Details: The second cigar to be released as a Grand Reserve,
this year’s 6 1/8 by 52 piramide is far more full bodied than
the 2011 cigar. Only 1,500 boxes of 10 have been made.
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MY FATHER CIGARS
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JAIME GARCIA RESERVA ESPECIAL
LIMITED EDITION 2012
LA DUEÑA
Made by: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf
Binder: U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf, Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua, U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf
Price: $7.50–$8.25
Details: La Dueña, Spanish for “the female owner,” is a
cigar made for Janny Garcia of My Father Cigars. It’s a
collaboration between her brother, Jaime, and Pete Johnson,
the owner of the Tatuaje brand, who works closely with
the Garcia family. “They tried
to make something I really
like,” says Janny, who was
smitten with the sweetness
of the cigar’s Broadleaf wrapper. “I didn’t want something
too strong.” La Dueña comes
in five sizes, several of them
shorter versions of bigger
smokes: Robusto No. 5, 5
by 50; Belicoso No. 2, 5 1/2
by 54; Petit Lancero No.
7, 6 by 42; Petit Belicoso
No. 9, 4 3/4 by 48; and Petit
Robusto, 4 1/2 by 52. The
cigars come packed in
boxes of 21 and have bold
red and white cameo-like
bands with a silhouette of a
female. The cigars went
on sale in August.
Made by: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador and U.S.A./Conn. Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $16.00
Details: This short-run smoke is packed in intriguing fashion.
Not only are there 16 cigars in a box, but one is a maduro
(wrapped in Broadleaf) while the other 15 are natural
(wrapped in light Ecuador Connecticut). It’s a reverse of
last year’s release, which had 15 maduros and only one
natural. The cigar measures 6 1/2 inches long by 52 ring.
Production will be limited to 1,000 boxes, and the smokes
are in stores now.
DON PEPIN 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Made by: My Father Cigars, U.S.A.
Wrapper: n/a
Binder: n/a
Filler: n/a
Price: n/a
Details: Details are very slim about this cigar, which is
expected to debut in May 2013. That year will mark the
tenth year of the Don Pepin brand, named after Garcia
Family patriarch Jose “Pepin” Garcia, the talented cigarmaker who built the Garcias into a cigar-industry mainstay.
Pepin is still working on the new project, and says it “may
be a size similar to” the My Father Limited Edition, which
measured 6 1/2 by 52. It will certainly be made in Miami.
It will have the look of the Don Pepin blue label, but with
a lot more jazz.
FLOR DE LAS ANTILLAS
Made by: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $6.60–$8.70
Cigar Insider Rating: 90–92 points
Details: Flor de Las Antillas was created by the Garcia
family in honor of the Greater Antilles Islands, which
include Cuba, the nation where they were born. (In
Spanish, the Antilles are spelled Antillas.) The family
resurrected an old Cuban brand and recirculated its
vintage art for this box-pressed cigar, which features a sungrown wrapper and comes in four sizes: Robusto, 5 by 50;
Belicoso, 5 1/2 by 52; Toro, 6 by 52; and Toro Gordo,
6 1/2 by 56. They began shipping about two months ago,
and did very well in a Cigar Insider vertical taste test,
taking three 90s and one score of 92 points.
What makes it special: Superb ratings in its debut taste test.
7
NAT SHERMAN INTERNATIONAL
NAT SHERMAN TIMELESS COLLECTION
Made by: MATASA, Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Honduras
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep.
Price: $6.20, $8.00
Details: The Timeless Collection from Nat Sherman now
has two new sizes since it was introduced earlier this year,
bringing the line to six vitolas. Divinos is a double-tapered
figurado that measures 5 by 50 and Especiales is a 6 by 38
panetela. Both come in boxes of 20.
What makes it special: These are the first new sizes added to
the line since the brand was released.
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September 11, 2012
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NAT SHERMAN TIMELESS COLLECTION
(NICARAGUAN)
Made by: Plasencia Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $6.67– $8.57
Details: More full bodied than the original
Timeless line, this Nicaraguan puro comes
in three sizes: Timeless 452, 4 by 52; Timeless
556, 5 by 56; and Timeless 660, 6 by 60. These
box-pressed cigars will be packed in boxes of
21. The cigars go on sale tomorrow.
OLIVA SERIE V MELANIO
Made by: Tabacalera Oliva S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $8.00–$14.00
Details: The brand is named after Melanio Oliva, who is
believed to be the first in the Oliva family to grow tobacco.
Its Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper is quite uncommon in
Oliva’s portfolio, as they have not used this type of tobacco
since the Master Blends 2 series. It will be available in five
sizes: Robusto, 5 by 52; Churchill, 7 by 50; Torpedo, 6 1/2
by 52; Petit Corona, 4 1/2 by 46; and Figurado, 6 1/8 by 52.
What makes it special: The most expensive Oliva line
produced to date.
ORTEGA CIGAR CO.
Made by: My Father Cigars S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador, Mexico
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $6.50–$8.50
Details: Offered in both natural (Ecuador) and maduro
(San Andrés) wrappers, Ortega Serie D is the first brand
from Eddie Ortega since his departure from EO Brands
and its eventual dissolution earlier this year. The Serie D
line comes in six box-pressed sizes: No. 6, 4 1/2 by 48; No.
7, 5 by 46; No. 8, 5 1/2 by 52; No. 10, 6 by 52 (torpedo);
No. 12, 5 by 52; and No. 20, 6 by 60. They are offered in
boxes of 10 or 20 cigars.
8
PADILLA CIGAR CO.
PADILLA INVICTUS
Made by: El Titan de Bronze, U.S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $12.50–$14.30
Details: Invictus is a limited cigar with just 600 boxes per
year slated for production. The cigars themselves will be
rolled in the entubar style, finished with triple-seam caps
and sport a Habano-seed Ecuadoran wrapper leaf. The line
comes in three sizes: Robusto, 5 by 54; Toro, 6 by 54; and
Torpedo, 6 1/2 by 54.
PADILLA MIAMI MADURO
OLIVA CIGAR CO.
ORTEGA SERIE D
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Made by: El Titan de Bronze, U.S.A.
Wrapper: Mexico
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $12.50–$14.30
Details: Padilla is following up the Miami line with this
San Andrés-wrapped sequel, whose fillers are blended with
tobacco from Aganorsa, ASP, and the Oliva family growers.
The line comes in three sizes: Robusto, 5 by 54; Toro, 6 by
54; and Torpedo, 6 1/2 by 54.
What makes it special: A new batch of this line is made
only every two months.
PADILLA RESERVA HABANO
Made by: Tabacalera Oliva S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $8.50–$10.00
Details: Padilla’s Reserva Habano boasts a similar blend to the
Padilla Studio Tobac Figurado, which rated 93 points earlier this
year. A Cuban-seed
Ecuadoran wrapper
binds tobaccos from
the Estelí, Condega
and Jalapa growing
regions. The foursize line will include
Short Robusto, 4
by 60; Toro, 5 3/4
by 50; Torpedo, 6
by 54; and Double
Toro, 5 3/4 by 60.
They will be sold in
20-count boxes and
should be arriving
on shelves now.
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September 11, 2012
Cigar Insider
PADILLA RESERVA MADURO
Made by: Tabacalera Oliva S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexico
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $8.50–$10.00
Details: This maduro version is wrapped with a San Andrés
leaf from Mexico. The filler is composed of tobaccos from
Estelí and Jalapa—all Oliva family farm tobacco. The foursize line will include Short Robusto, 4 by 60; Toro, 5 3/4
by 50; Torpedo, 6 by 54; and Double Toro, 5 3/4 by 60.
They will be sold in 20-count boxes and should be arriving
on shelves now.
PADRÓN CIGARS INC.
PADRÓN 1964 ANNIVERSARY SERIES NO. 4
Made by: Padrón Cigars, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $20.00
Cigar Insider Rating: 90 points
Details: The Padróns are slow to add new sizes
and brands, and they stuck to form adding
only one cigar—the Padrón 1964 Anniversary
Series No. 4. It measures 6 1/2 inches by 60 ring,
though the box pressing makes the cigar seem
thinner. The name can be confusing. Most
smokers think small when they hear No. 4 (ie.
Montecristo No. 4). But this is named for the
December 4 birthday of Saint Barbara, or Santa
Barbara, a Catholic saint held dear by Cubans.
It’s out now, and rated 90 points in this issue.
What makes it special: The fattest cigar in the
Padrón Anniversary line.
PAUL GARMIRIAN INC.
PG SYMPHONY 20 LIMITED EDITION
Made by: Occidental Kelner Cigars, Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Price: $9.00–$10.00
Details: Paul Garmirian has added two new sizes to his PG
Symphony 20 line: a 6 1/2 by 52 Belicoso, and a 3 1/2 by
9
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46 Bombones Extra. The cigars are blended with a mixture
of Honduran and Dominican fillers, Dominican binder and
wrapper leaf from Ecuador. The anniversary line, which was
released in 2010, now has five sizes.
PAUL STULAC CIGARS
BLACK MIDNIGHT FIRE
Made by: Guillermo Pena Factory, U.S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $10.00–$12.00
Details: A blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos, Black Midnight
Fire is wrapped in Habano-seed leaf grown in Ecuador that,
according to company owner Paul Stulac, has been aged
for three years. The cigar comes in three sizes: Robusto,
5 by 54; Toro, 5 by 56; and Torpedo, 6 by 54.
RED SCREAMING SUN
Made by: Guillermo Pena Factory, U.S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $10.00–$12.00
Details: Billed as a full-bodied cigar, Red Screaming Sun
will be available in a 5 by 54 Robusto, 5 by 56 Toro and
a 6 by 54 Torpedo. The cigar sports an Ecuadoran-grown
Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.
WHITE BLINDING LIGHT
Made by: Guillermo Pena Factory, U.S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $10.00–$12.00
Details: In addition to the three size formats found on
the other new releases, White Blinding Light will be
available in a 7 by 38 Lancero. The cigar is covered by a
Connecticut Broadleaf grown in Ecuador that Stulac says
was aged for 4 years.
Note: Although these brands are made in Miami, the Paul
Stulac brand is still made by Kiki Berger in Nicaragua.
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September 11, 2012
Cigar Insider
PDR CIGARS USA INC.
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CIGAR AFICIONADO’s
BIG SMOKE 2012 SCHEDULE
A. FLORES SERIE PRIVADA
Made by: PDR Cigars Dominicana, Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep.
Price: $9.75–$12.74
Details: This box-pressed line uses a dark Habano-seed
Ecuadoran wrapper that is offered in both natural and
maduro varieties. The filler blend is a combination of both
Nicaraguan Habano seed tobacco and Dominican Corojo.
Three sizes are available: SP 52, 5 by 52; SP 54, 6 by 54;
and SP 58, 7 by 58.
November 9-11
LAS VEGAS • THE MIRAGE
Big Smoke evenings scheduled on Friday and
Saturday, as well as cigar and lifestyle educational
seminars on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
November 29
NEW YORK CITY • PIER 92
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
FLORES Y RODRIGUEZ
Made by: PDR Cigars Dominicana, Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Price: $4.55–$5.55
Details: Using nothing but Vuelta Abajo
Cuban-seed tobacco from the Dominican
Republic, Flores y Rodriguez comes in
boxes of 24 and is available in maduro
or Habano wrappers. The Four sizes are:
Mágicos, 5 by 52; Genios, 6 by 52; Únicos,
6 1/2 by 52 (Belicoso); and Cañonazo,
6 3/4 by 58.
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IN THE NEXT CIGAR INSIDER
Continued coverage of the IPCPR shows you what’s
new from brands like La Flor Dominicana, Prometheus
and Rocky Patel, along with ratings on hot new cigars.
Read about it first in Cigar Insider.
Your Next CIGAR INSIDER Arrives on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
PINAR DEL RIO
SMALL BATCH RESERVE
Made by: PDR Cigars Dominicana,
Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Brazil
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Dom. Rep., Nicaragua
Price: $7.08–$8.33
Details: Featuring a Habano-seed wrapper
grown in Brazil (Cubra) and a Dominican
Criollo ’98 binder, Small Batch Reserve
comes in two varieties, maduro and also
Habano. Four sizes are Robusto, 5 by 52;
Grand Toro, 6 by 54; Torpedo, 6 1/2 by
52; Churchill, 7 by 54.
Also: The Pinar Del Rio Liga Especial
Reserva Superior now has a 6 by 66
Salomon size that is finished with a mop
top and will retail for $15.00. The filler is
a strong blend of ligero tobacco from the
Dominican Republic, Lancaster Pennsylvania
and Jalapa in Nicaragua. n
10
Editor and Publisher
Marvin R. Shanken
Executive Editor
Gordon Mott
Managing Editor
David Savona
Director of Research
Frank C. Walters
Associate Editor
Gregory Mottola
Editorial Assistant
Andrew Nagy
Tasting Coordinator/
Editorial Assistant
G. Clay Whittaker
Art Director
Chandra Hira
Senior Designer
Jackelyn Navarro
© 2012 M. Shanken Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Materials may not be reproduced without permission.
Questions about your subscription?
Email: [email protected].
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September 11, 2012