Smoke Signals

Limited Edition 2011 CroMagnon Cubes and CroMagnon Culture Contest

2011-12-13T18:46:00.001-06:00

Limited Edition 2011 CroMagnon Cubes will be available at Hava Cigar Online on December 19th.

When we began rolling CroMagnon cigars in November of 2010, the plan was to sell the majority of the 50,000 cigar production in cubes. In April, we posted a sneak peak into the process of designing the brand and the boxes. After our trip to Esteli, Nicaragua we posted an update on our efforts to turn that design into a prototype. At the time, we thought it would be clear sailing and that we would have them ready by June. That was the plan....

As it turns out, it took another six months to get our boxes produced. To complicate matters, we misjudged the yield of the Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper we procured in November. In the end, we were only able to produce 38,000 cigars, and most of these were sold in 5 and 10 Packs by the time our boxes were finished.

Bottom line, the last of the 2011 CroMagnon cigar production, 111 - 35 Count Cubes, will be clearing customs in Austin this weekend. So, it seems, the inaugural production of CroMagnon cubes will be an extremely Limited Edition. In recognition of this, Michael Rosales and I have decided to sign and number each cube.

To celebrate this milestone in our joint venture, and the end of our first year on this journey, we want to present our first box of CroMagnon cigars to one of our customers personally. So check out the information below for more information about the prize and details on how to participate in our CroMagnon Culture contest .

CroMagnon Culture Contest

CroMagnon Transcends Lifestyle. CroMagnon is Our Culture.

Prize (1):

2 Days in Austin, Texas (The Capital of the Best State in America!)
Airfare from There to Here. (Domestic - Our Choice of Carrier)
1 Night Lodging at the Landmark Driskell Hotel
Ground Transportation in Austin (Airport Transfer)
CigarBQ Herf at the World Famous Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, Texas
Live Music Capital of the World Pub Crawl
A 2011 Limited Edition CroMagnon Cube Signed and Numbered 1/111

How to Participate:

All you have to do to be eligible to win is to submit four specifically formatted comments on the Smoke Signals blog, register at Hava Cigar Shop Online and send an email. Here is the step-by-step:

Submit a comment on this post letting us know what you think about the contest and indicating your intention to participate.

Determine your own Top 11 Cigars of 2011 lists. *
Register as a first-time user at Hava Cigar Online.**
Submit a comment on Chief Hava's Top Cigars of 2011 (Honorable Mentions) with a list of your Honorable Mention cigars for 2011. ***
Submit a comment on Chief Hava's Top Cigars of 2011 with your list of the Top 11 Cigars of 2011.****
Submit a comment on Chief Hava's Cigar Hall of Fame: 2011 Inductees with your list of the 2011 Hall of Fame Inductees. *****
Between 12/17/2011 and 12/31/2011, send an email to Chief Hava (Skip Martin) with the Subject: CroMagnon Culture Contest. ****** [Updated in Comments]

Needless to say, this is a significant event for us. We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate it than to share it with you, our customers, who have made it possible. Good luck.

The Chief

See First Comment for Other Contest Information

Chief Hava's Cigar Hall of Fame: 2011 Inductees

2011-12-12T21:05:00.000-06:00

Over the last few days, I’ve presented the twenty-four cigars that I enjoyed smoking the most this year (Chief Hava’s Top 11 Cigars of 2011 and Honorable Mentions). There were a few cigars, however, that I felt deserved special recognition as they remain, in my mind, timelessly exceptional.

So, I present to you the 2011 inductees into my Hall of Fame:

La Flor Dominicana Habano Corona (5 3/4" x 46)

Sadly, only 14,000 of these cigars were made. This limited edition cigar has the same Habano wrapper used on the Small Batch No. 1 and the original Salomones and is probably the finest Habano cigar I've ever smoked. While I have had ten, or so, over the last few years...the most memorable was the last one given to me at the 2011 IPCPR Trade Show and Convention by Michelle Stewart, La Flor's Mid West Area Manager.

Nestor Miranda Special Selection Miami Cigar & Co. 20 Aniversario Danno Oscuro (7" x 56)

Another limited edition Habano, only 20,000 of the Oscuro Danno were produced and sold. The namesake of Nestor's son, this cigar was produced in the Pepin factory in Esteli to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Miami Cigar & Co. While the size has become a new annual standard in the Special Selection lineup, none have come close to matching the magic captured in this inaugural vintage. I bet I smoked more of these than any other single person in the world, as I personally purchased, and smoked the majority of, more than 40 boxes of these cigars. I wish I had 40 more.

Illusione ~eccj~ 'European Cigar Cult Journal 15th' (5 5/8" x 46)

Only 300 15 Count boxes, or 4,500 of these cigars were produced to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the European Cigar Cult Journal. It seems like most of them are gone, as I have been unable to find any more available for sale online. The good news, however, is that the blend lives on through the Epernay liga available from Illusione. I recently compared one of my few remaining ~eccj~ to the Epernay Le Grande. In my opinion, they aren't the exact same cigar, but they are definitely related and worth checking out.

2003 Camacho Corojo Diploma (5" x 50)

I refer to the Camacho Corojo Diploma blend as my first 'true love' cigar. When Christian Eiroa introduced this blend, strong/full body cigars were outside the norm. Those few 'strong as balls' cigars on the market lacked balance and complexity. The authentic Corojo Diploma changed all of that and, in my opinion, opened the door for almost every super-premium full body cigar that followed. For me, the Diploma represents a watershed moment in modern cigar history and started a growth trend for Caribe that led to its ultimate acquisition by Davidoff of Geneva. I sold this cigar, from an aged box, to one of Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge's first customers, Joseph Amos in 2006. Since that time, 'Doc Fuego' has become one of my closest BOTLs. During a recent visit to my home, Joe gifted this cigar back to me with an 11/18 from the same year. As we sat smoking them, we shared our favorite stories about our days in Galveston and talked until the early hours in the morning about what lies ahead for Galveston Bay Tobacco, LLC.

So there it is, the third and final Top Cigars of 2011 list. Until next year.

The Chief

Chief Hava's Top 11 Cigars of 2011

2011-12-12T20:52:00.006-06:00

Last week, I shared the first of my three annual lists (Chief Hava's Top Cigars of 2011 (Honorable Mentions)) in which I share the most memorable cigars I smoked throughout the year. In this post, I list my eleven favorites.

Disclaimer: For those of you who don't know, this is not a list of the 'best' new cigars. It isn't a representation of what I believe are the 'best' cigars on the market. This is a list, compiled from the wide variety of cigars I have smoked throughout the year, of those cigars I most enjoyed in 2011.

Over the next few weeks, you will see many lists like this one. Bloggers, Forum Rats, Facebook Fans and Tweeps will likely share their own version of a Top 10 list. Some people loathe this annual ritual. Inevitably, the mere act of creating a list sparks a debate about the validity of said list. In my mind, this is a good thing. It generates thought and discussion that, in the end, is good for the business and good for all of us who are passionately engaged in the cigar subculture.

That said, the whole idea of grading or judging a product, which by its nature is open to subjective interpretation, rubs me the wrong way. As many have said, the best cigar is the one YOU are enjoying right now. De gustibus non disputandum est - or as it is more commonly said, 'there's no accounting for taste'.

In the end, the highest praise, and the only legitimate measure of one's true evaluation of a good or service, is the frequency in which that individual 'rings the cash register' consuming that good or service. Money talks. Bullshit walks.

That said, I 'rang the register' for these cigars many times this year. So, here is my Top 11 Cigars of 2011:

#11
E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes (5" x 50)
Mild cigars don't generally hold my attention. What the NWC lacks in strength, it more than makes up in body. Full of flavor and brilliantly constructed. A great start to any day.

#10
Oliva Studio Tobac Cain FF Toro (6" x 54)
I was very fortunate to be asked to serve as an inaugural member of the Studio Tobac Advisory Board this year. In addition to the opportunity to 'weasel' prototype cigars like this one, the experience gave me a deeper insight into the inner-workings of the Oliva Cigar team. In a word, impressive. In another word, memorable. San Andreas Maduro has always been a favorite of mine and it was amazingly represented by this blend. I can't wait until these hit production.

#9
Quesada Oktoberfest Bavarian (5 1/2" x 52)
Despite the buzz this cigar received as one of the 'best new cigars' at the 2011 IPCPR Trade Show and Convention, I left Las Vegas not having had the opportunity to try this one. I picked my first one up at Heroes and Legacies in Austin, Texas and bought a box a few minutes later.

#8
La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro No. 2 (4 1/4" x 48)
Its no secret, La Flor Dominicana is one of my favorite manufacturers. They produce cigars that make their way onto my annual lists and into my humidor every year. This blend is so amazing, two separate vitollas made this year's lists. As the Stogie Review staff is want to remind us, size matters....and this little short robusto delivers.

#7
Cohiba Behike BHK 56 'Laguito No. 6' (6 1/2" x 56)
I picked up more than a dozen classic Cuban cigars during my trip to Europe this year. Most were unremarkable, and a few were so poorly constructed, immature and overpriced that I was left underwhelmed. This cigar is the exception. The price is unapproachable, but if you get a chance to try these...do it. It might just restore some of the faith you've lost over the years in the future of Cuban cigar manufacturing.

#6
Drew Estate Liga Privada MF 13 'Pre Release Sample Blend' (5" x 52)
I smoked my first MF-13 in one of the aging rooms in the Drew Estate factory during the Nicaragua Cigar Festival...I spent the better part of the rest of the year trying to weasel as many as I could get my hands on. In just a few months, these have married and matured. They are transforming from a 'in your face' nicotine sucker punch into a rare example of a super full bodied cigar with a lot of underlying complexity. Looking forward to buying, smoking and aging these cigars in the years to come.

#5
Quesada Espana Short Robusto (4" x 50)
The Tributo was a huge departure for Quesada. The branding. The blending. Reinvented. I never would have thought one, much less two, Quesada cigars would make my list of favorites. Trust me, this one will make your list as well. This cigar was gifted to me by a Twitter BOTL at the IPCPR show. Thanks again. It was a pleasure to smoke.

Macanudo Master Series 'Benji' BMM-F3 (6" x 46)
I procured this masterpiece from the humidor cabinet in the board room at the General Cigar factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic during our trip there this summer. I lit it up right before we sat down for dinner on our last night. It was so good, I delayed my dinner to finish it. Without a doubt, this is the most amazing Macanudo I have ever smoked. If you can find these, buy as many as you can....before I find them and buy them first.

AJ Fernandez San Lotano Oval Corona (5" x 44)
It isn't very often that an 'innovative' cigar hits the market. When they do, they are often more 'sizzle' than 'steak'. This beautifully constructed cigar from AJ is the rare exception. In my opinion, the Corona vitolla represents the best. This cigar was given to me by the new sales guy in Texas, Spencer Drake, during one of our late night discussions in The Man Cave. A great cigar with a good friend, memorable.

Oliva Serie V No. 4 (5" x 43)

I am a huge Serie V fan boy. Without a doubt, this is one of the best 'value' cigars on the market. As good as any at twice the price, and this new vitolla is the best of them all. I smoked my first No. 4 with Oliva rep Josh Rushlo when I traveled to Minnesota earlier this year. I bought a box as soon as I could and have bought several boxes since.

Drew Estate Liga Undercrown Robusto (5" x 54)
Twenty years from now, when I look back on 2011, I will remember it as the year I launched CroMagnon Cigar. My friend, and mentor in the business, Jonathan Drew has been instrumental in flattening the steep learning curve and providing me with a great deal of the friendship, fellowship and guidance that have made the whole experience possible. During one of our earlier trips, JD invited us to stay at Drew Estate's Cigar Safari. Ever the gracious host, JD instructed his team to ensure we were extended every courtesy and comfort we would need to make our trip productive. Needless to say, this included an endless supply of Liga Privada. Remarkably, the Ligas went almost untouched. I couldn't stop smoking this amazing cigar. They have since hit the market, and I can think of no cigar or cigar smoking experience that was more memorable for me this year. In so many ways, I have been truly blessed. Standing on the patio overlooking the rich valleys of Esteli, smoking this Undercrown, I felt for the first time the magnitude of the opportunity in front of me. Te lo agradezco mi amigo. Damos las gracias todos los días. #truf

So, there you have it. If you haven't tried these cigars, I would encourage you to do so. Every cigar on this list is 'box worthy', in my opinion. Disagree? Leave a comment. Did I miss one of your favorites? Leave a comment.

...be sure to come back next week to see my list of the this year's Cigar Hall of Fame inductees!

The Chief

Be sure to check out Limited Edition 2011 CroMagnon Cubes and CroMagnon Culture Contest for information about how to participate in our CroMagnon Culture Contest by leaving a comment on our three Top 11 of 2011 list blogs with your own Honorable Mention(s), Top 11 of 2011 and Hall of Fame Inductee(s).

Chief Hava's Top Cigars of 2011 (Honorable Mentions)

2011-12-11T20:39:00.001-06:00

Every winter, about this time, I take a look back through the cigars I've enjoyed throughout the year.

In the 1990s, this process involved looking through notecards on which I had glued the labels. Later, I used a Cigar Dossier. Since I began using Twitter, I've utilized the TwitPic to store snapshots of my smokes.

While technology may have changed over time, the process is the same. I observe the frequency of old favorites and take note of the new ones. At times, I come across cigars I wish I hadn't wasted my time and money on. More often, however, I am reminded of cigars that I had forgotten I enjoyed and need to revisit.

I try to remember the context in which the cigar was smoked. Where did I smoke it? When? Who was I with? What was I doing? I do this because, in many cases, the answer to these questions often influences how I perceived the cigar at the time. Frequently, the most memorable cigars are those I was fortunate enough to enjoy in a memorable circumstance.

I smoked somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,900 cigars in 2011. Without a doubt, the most memorable was the first regular production CroMagnon Anthropology that I smoked with Michael Rosales on January 21st, the day our first shipment arrived from Esteli. I'm reminded by my timeline from that day, that I followed that first one with six more over the next few hours...and a few hundred more in the months since....and every single one has provided me with an hour, more or less, to reflect on how fortunate I am to be a part of this business, a part of this brotherhood of the leaf.

So I bring you my annual list of my 'Top Cigars of the Year'. For those of you who don't know, this is not a list of the 'best' new cigars. It isn't a representation of what I believe are the 'best' cigars on the market. This is a list, compiled from the wide variety of cigars I have smoked throughout the year, of those cigars I most enjoyed in 2011.

The list is presented in three parts. This week's list reflects eight Honorable Mentions from 2011. These are cigars that, while not in my Top 11, warrant recognition as some of my favorites over the last twelve months.

So, in no particular order, here are this year's Top Cigars of 2011: Honorable Mentions:

Drew Estate Liga Privada T52 'Flying Pig' (4 1/8" x 60)

Sun Grown. Stalk Cut. Perfect cigar to share with Darrell Doramus after our third CigarBQ at Franklin Barbeque in Austin, Texas.

La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro No. 5 (5 3/4" x 60)
One of my favorite new blends of the year. This one was given to me by my friend Litto Gomez during the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Illusione Singulare 'Phantom' (6" x 50)

The first limited edition from a company that makes nothing but limited edition quality cigars. This one came from a box I bought from Dion at one of the best annual cigar events in the country, Serious Cigar's Texas Cigar Festival in Houston, Texas.

Drew Estate Liga Privada Unico Serie 'Dirty Rat' (5" x 44)

This cigar was #4 on my Top 10 Cigars of 2010 list last year, but very well may be the best Gran Corona size cigar ever made. Its almost unbelieveable how much flavor the team at Drew Estates packs into this beautifully constructed 44 ring gauge cigar. The only downside is that they are hard to find and each one ends just as you reach the magic. I buy as many of these as I can from Mike and his team at Buckhead Cigar in Atlanta, Georgia.

Illusione ~mk~ (5 1/8" x 42)

If you want to understand what cigar reviewers mean when they call a cigar 'complex', step up to the 'teaching machine'. This cigar came from a box aged by Fumee in Austin, Texas, but more importantly it was weaseled from a fellow BOTL during one of the PPV boxing nights in my Man Cave. Always a good time. Even better when the cigar was free.

L'esprit de Verite 2009 Tatuaje A.O.C (5" x 50)
It may be the second label of the second year, but this cigar outperformed both firsts. Despite knowing Pete Johnson's personal passion for this project, I felt like the linear flavor, construction issues and price point of this line in 2008 made this one to avoid. However, when Abdul of Habana House in Austin, Texas asked me to revisit this year, I had to admit I was glad I did.

Lou Rodriguez Edicion Reserve Box Press Toro (6" x 50)
One of my favorite new brands this year. I enjoyed this one during an interview Doc Stogie Fresh and I conducted with Lou on the last day of the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. I'm always on the lookout for these cigars when I visit cigar stores outside of my area.

Padron Family Reserve No. 85 Maduro (5 1/4" x 50)
Not as good as the 45th, but much better than the 44th and the 46th. This cigar, the fourth in a series of annual limited releases, celebrates the 85th birthday of Jose Orlando Padron...one of the few men I idolize in this business. I pick these up at my long-time local tobacconist, Pipe World in Round Rock, Texas.

Oh yeah....I almost forgot.

I didn't think it would be fair to have the five CroMagnon vitollas, or the samples from our new Inteperance and Aquitaine lines, occupy spots on the Top 11 of 2011 list.

I've smoked them more than any others this year. They are my cigar, blended to my specifications and constructed from the tobacco that I hand selected, so they are obviously my favorite.

Instead, I am adding a few pictures to the end of this post of my most memorable CroMagnon smokes this year. I hope, however, that the one of these finds a spot on your list of personal favorties this year, and for years to come.

Adrians CroMagnon Cranium (6" x 54)
This is the first cigar I smoked on my Texas Cigar Festival road trip with Darrell Doramus and Jerry Cruz this year. Good times.

Adrians CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger (4" x 52)
I smoked one of these almost every day on the road from my house to my night classes in Round Rock, Texas. A perfect 'tollway' smoke.

Adrians CroMagnon Mandible (4 1/2" x 60)
Beast. I smoked this one on a break outside of our new office and distribution center in Austin, Texas this Spring.

Adrians CroMagnon EMH (5" x 56)
My favorite cigar in the line. This picture was taken outside of my in-laws house in Austin, Texas where we our family spent the day celebrating my our family matriarch's 92nd birthday....and she loves the smell of my cigars.

Intemperance Prototype (5" x 56)
I'm so excited about this new project. This sample, with an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, was smoked at our factory in Esteli, Nicaragua during one of our many late night blending sessions.

CroMagnon Aquitaine EMH (5" x 56)
At this point the blend was still a work in progress, but we knew we were getting really close. This cigar was one of two that Michael Rosales and I smoked in the Man Cave the night we gave the 'green light' to the new Aquitaine line.

Adrians CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger (4" x 52)

One of my favorite cigar moments of the year. This was captured during a stop along the Pacific Coast Highway near Big Sur, California on the way to this year's StogieFresh Central Coast Herf.

...be sure to come back next week to see my list of the Top 11 cigars of 2011.
The Chief

CroMagnon Label Design Update

2011-05-16T14:10:00.005-05:00

As a part of our ongoing process to keep you tied into the development cycle for the new CroMagnon cigar, we posted a CroMagnon Box Design Sneak Peak and Update last month. Today, we wanted to share the final design for our labels and 5/10 pack packaging.

A few of our customers have already received 5/10 pack and sampler orders from Hava Cigar Online bearing the CroMagnon icon and other trade dress. This packaging will be our standard moving forward for these quantities. Once our labels are available, however, the cigars in these packs will have a label/band.

Our band design is simple, but high quality, like the cigar itself. It will be constructed of black-dyed heavy pulp paper and embossed with the CroMagnon 1 icon and the Adrians Costa Rican brand. Both of these items will be 'foiled' in silver. Additionally, we will emboss representations of the cave art found in the original archeological site near Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, France.

As previously released, our box production is scheduled to begin in late-May once our box manufacturer, Martin, has received our cliches from Costa Rica. Cube quantities will begin shipping in the finished box with labels sometime in July-August.

CroMagnon Box Design Update

2011-04-18T14:54:00.016-05:00

As a part of our ongoing process to keep you tied into the development cycle for the new CroMagnon cigar, we posted a CroMagnon Box Design Sneak Peak earlier this month.

Now that we are back (and somewhat recuperated) from our trip to Esteli, Nicaragua for the 2nd Annual Nicaraguan Cigar Festival we thought it would be a good time to update you on our progress.

First, I'm not going to even attempt to convince you that we spent the entirety of our five days in Nicaragua working. To be honest, we begrudgingly pried ourselves away from the piles of free cigars, barrels of Flor de Cana rum and hours of shooting the breeze just long enough to do some actual work in our two small factories and in the box factory.

As previously mentioned, we had sent our technical drawings (meticulously prepared by Eddie DuJong of Vanderburgh Humidors) to several box manufacturers before our trip. Our goal was to secure a quote from each and narrow the list down based on their responses. However, as has been the case with other aspects of my ongoing Cigar Manufacturing for Dummies education, I soon discovered that this is not/was not an effective approach. In fact, we have yet to receive a single response to any of these RFP/RFQ communications. Who knew?

So, we alloted some of precious recreational time on our third day to visit the offices of Nestor Plasencia to follow up on our previous box sourcing communications. Here, we were warmly welcomed, quickly provisioned with a beautiful unbanded cigar and a cafe cubano and unceremoniously informed that our box order was too small and elaborate for the Plasencia factory to produce in a cost-effective manner. However, without missing a beat, the factory manager consulted his little black book and within a matter of minutes we were on the road following a representative of Transporte y Ebanisteria Martin to their box factory with instructions having been dispatched ahead of us to 'give the gringos whatever they need'. Gringo, or no, this is the way to get things done in Nicaragua.

Arriving at Martin, we were greeted by Freddy Antonio Picado Cano, Propietario. We were presented his card, which read: 'transporte de carga y elaboracion de muebles y cajas para puros'. I'm certainly not fluent in Spanish, but I know enough to know that caja para puros was exactly what we were looking for. Also, being that Martin was involved in the elaboracion de muebles I was confident that we had found a craftsman capable of producing boxes to our higher quality specifications.

The next few hours were a blur. Suffice it to say they involved me pointing to the drawings and describing the nuances of the non-standard design, translation, more pointing, some sketching and more translation. After each of these cycles, Freddy would dispatch one of

his employees to create a mock up of the aspect we were discussing. We evaluated materials, joinery and finishes....and after three hours we were holding an unfinished sample of the 35 count CroMagnon Anthropology 'caja'.

We left Martin confident that Freddy and his team would deliver on their promise to deliver production samples for each of the five vitolas in the CroMagnon line. Despite having provided detailed technical specifications, I was surprised to learn that we needed to provide 35 cigars in each size. After my initial thoughts that this was an elaborate scheme to weasel some of my precious cigars, I learned that every factory uses the actual cigars to properly size the boxes. Come to think of it I hadn't seen a single measuring tool in the entire factory! Everything, it seems, is done by trial and error and 'jigs' created through practical fit. Who knew?

The bottom line: our box production will begin in late-May once Martin has received our cliches. The cliche is the tool used to emboss our brand and size information onto the finished boxes. The cliche tools for CroMagnon are being sourced in Costa Rica, but as they say....that is a whole 'nother story.

Next: We will provide an update on our efforts to source cigar bands for the CroMagnon and the logistical efforts to stage these materials in our small factory, package our cigars and ship the finished goods to Austin, Texas.

CroMagnon Box Design Sneak Peak

2011-04-03T02:16:00.019-05:00

This week we revealed a rendering of the box design for Adrian’s CroMagnon.

We teamed up with Eddie DeJong of Vanderburgh Humidors to design this simple, but unique box for the CroMagnon Taxonomy.

Our original concept was to package the CroMagnon in cube configurations. However, as we progressed through the design phase we determined that it was impractical to package in 25 (5 x 5), 36 (6 x 6), 49 (7 x 7) and 64 (8 x 8) quantities.

While the idea was novel and consistent with the brand, we found that it was confusing for our customers, and that these configurations resulted in box quantity price points that were either too low to cover the cost of the box ($150.00 for the Knuckle Dragger) or too high for some customers to reasonably afford ($512.00 for the Anthropology).

The final design solves both of these issues. Each vitola will be packaged in either 5 x 7 or 7 x 5 configurations (35 Cigars per box). This quantity relates to the CroMagnon brand as the earliest known remains of the Cro-Magnon humans were dated to approximately 35,000 years ago.

In this configuration, all five vitolas are affordable in box quantity. Additionally, each will be offered in 10 Pack and 5 Pack configurations that can be used to refill the original box.
CroMagnon cigars will be sold exclusively through Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge at the following prices:

The Knuckle Dragger, a 4 x 52 Petit Robusto Cube (35) $189.00, 10Pk $60.00 and 5Pk $30.00

The Mandible, a 4 ½ x 60 Petite Gordo Cube (35) $204.75, 10Pk $65.00 and 5Pk $32.50

The EMH (Early Modern Human), a 5 x 56 Robusto Extra Cube (35) $220.50, 10Pk $70.00 and 5Pk $35.00

The Anthropology, a 5 ¾ x 46 Grand Corona Cube (35) $236.25, 10Pk $75.00 and 5Pk $37.50

The Cranium, a 6 x 54 Gran Toro Cube (35) $252.00, 10Pk $80.00 and 5Pk $40.00

*Box quantities reflect, and will be sold at, 10% off of the MSRP.

Another interesting aspect of the box design is that was designed for the customer, not the retailer. Unlike many cigars on the market, the CroMagnon box is not designed for display on a retailer’s shelf.

From the beginning, our customer was at the center of the design process. Each box will be constructed of the highest grade material and (with the addition of a Boveda Humidipak) designed to serve as a humidor.

We are currently engaged in the process of sourcing the construction of the CroMagnon boxes. Our plan is to have them in our factory by June, 2011. In the meantime, all cube quantity (35) orders will be shipped in 5 x 7 bundles.

A number of designs have been developed for the box tax stamp and for CroMagnon cigar labels. These are being sourced as well and our hope is to have these in our factory by June.

The Chief

The CroMagnon Cometh

2011-01-27T23:22:00.014-06:00

Without question, the most successful single venture ever pursued by the Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge parent company Galveston Bay Tobacco, LLC was our partnership with Camacho Cigars’ Escaparate Project. As a participant in this venture, Hava Cigar became the exclusive retailer of the Camacho Escaparate Cajones Liga 3-1. That is, it was our most successful venture…until now.

We are very excited to announce the official launch of our new liga, the Adrians CroMagnon. The CroMagnon is a new line of premium cigars developed through the collaborative efforts of Skip Martin, of Hava Cigar, and Michael Rosales, of Adrian’s Premium Costa Rican Cigars. It is the first of what will hopefully be many new lines to be produced by Adrian’s in Esteli, Nicaragua. The CroMagnon will be sold exclusively through Hava Cigar in Austin, Texas.

The CroMagnon contains a long-filler, full-bodied blend of some of the world’s most sought after tobaccos. It features a beautiful US Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, a unique Cameroon binder and an amazing marriage of three Nicaraguan varietals in the filler.

The filler leaf for this blend was acquired from three separate growing regions in Nicaragua: Esteli, Condega and a small farm north of Esteli on the Honduran border. This third leaf, a ligero, brings a strong, smoky, savory flavor to the blend. When combined with the mildly-sweet characteristics of the broadleaf maduro wrapper, the exotic bite of the Cameroon binder and the clean finish of its viso and seco companions, the blend delivers the precise deep rich tobacco flavor we wanted to present in the CroMagnon.

The CroMagnon is available in five parejo vitolas. We call it The Taxonomy:

The Knuckle Dragger, a 4 x 52 Petit Robusto, $6.00

The Mandible, a 4 ½ x 60 Petite Gordo, $6.50

The EMH (Early Modern Human), a 5 x 56 Robusto Extra, $7.00

The Anthropology, a 5 ¾ x 46 Grand Corona, $7.50

The Cranium, a 6 x 54 Gran Toro, $8.00
CroMagnon was developed to meet the demands of a new generation of premium cigar enthusiasts. CroMagnon is rustic, strong and primal.

Much like the men of the Cro-Magnon tribe, we gather as members of community, a brotherhood. In ritualistic fashion, we share our histories, our ambitions and our experience.

CroMagnon transcends lifestyle. CroMagnon is our culture.

For more information, follow @CroMagnonCigar on Twitter or email us at cromagnon@havacigarshop.com.

Chief Hava's Cigar Hall of Fame: 2010 Inductees

2010-12-14T17:29:00.023-06:00

An interesting thing happened today when I tweeted a picture of my ‘end of the workday’ smoke, in this case a 2009 Fuente Fuente Opus X Double Robusto. David ‘Doc’ Diaz (@doc_stogiefresh) asked, “What’s the special occasion…?” It reminded me of a comment my wife made a few months ago in a similar situation when she noted that she remembered when I only smoked an Opus X on ‘special occasions’. Thinking more deeply about it now, I consider: What has changed since those early years as a novice cigar smoker during those ‘boom years’ of the mid 1990s?

Financial? While there is no doubt that my current cigar budget dwarfs the meager scraps I could spare as a twenty-something enlisted sailor, I don’t think that this is the cause. As I recall, most of the vitolas in the Opus X liga had a retail price which was very similar to the $12-$15 I paid for the one I smoked today. Also, my current average cost per cigar of $7 isn’t markedly higher than the $5-$6 average costs I remember from that period.

Quality? I don’t think so. I have heard some fellow smokers express the opinion that the current day Opus X’s quality does not measure up to those in the early years, but I disagree. I would imagine that Carlito Fuente would side with me on this one.

Scarcity/Availability? No. Once upon a time, the popular Opus X vitolas were very difficult to obtain. However, I was very fortunate to live near a retailer that always had an ample supply. Also, while they are much more commonly found on established tobacconists’ shelves today, they are still an allocated product that arrives in the stores only a few times each year.

As I think through this question, this thought continues to come to me: I used to only smoke the Opus X on ‘special occasions’ when it was a ‘special cigar’.

As previously stated, I don’t mean to imply that the modern-day Opus X is in any way a diminished version of its 1992 form. I don’t believe that it is. What has changed significantly is its competition in the marketplace. In 1995, the Opus X was exceptionally complex. When compared to other cigars of the era with similar body and strength, its balance was remarkable. Further, it stood head and shoulders above its Dominican counterparts in terms of these characteristics. Until the Opus X was introduced into the market, many doubted that the Dominican ‘viticultures’ were capable of producing wrapper leaf this superior.

The fact that the Opus X, for me, is no longer a ‘special occasion’ smoke says nothing about the cigar produced by the Fuente family, yet it speaks volumes as to how far the premium cigar industry has progressed over the last two decades.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve presented the twenty cigars that I enjoyed smoking the most this year (Chief Hava’s Top Cigars of 2010 and Honorable Mentions). There were a few cigars, however, that I felt deserved special recognition as they remain, in my mind, timelessly exceptional. So, I present to you the first ever inductees into my Hall of Fame:

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero DL-660 Maduro (4 5/8 x 60)

In the simplest terms, this is my 'deserted island' cigar. If I could smoke no other for eternity, this might very well be the one. This cigar's dark and oily US Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper adds an additional layer of texture and complexity to the already amazing Dominican filler and binder found in the Double Ligero line. The large ring gauge of this format hits the sweet spot, in my opinion, in terms of this powerful wrapper's contribution to the blend, and the copious volume of smoke that it produces fills the room with an amazing aroma. I call it the 'Power Nub'. Fair warning, if you are a novice smoker....do not try this at home.

2004 Fuente Fuente Opus X Double Corona (7 x 48)

In my opinion, this cigar is the most perfect expression of the dream that Carlito pursued under the shade cloth in the fields of Cheateau de la Fuente. Drawn from the Ultimate Opus X Collection, this cigar's silky Dominican Rosado wrapper had developed an almost completely uniform sheen of plume, or bloom, as its oils were expressed under ideal aging conditions. Full-bodied in terms of flavor, but never overpowering, this cigar was as close to perfect as any I had ever smoked.

Eladio Diaz 55th Anniversario Liga Especial Robusto Grande (5 1/2 x 55)

Every year Don Eladio Díaz, master blender of Davidoff, celebrates his anniversary making a rare new special blend from the best and most aged tobaccos from different countries for his own private collection. For his 55th Anniversary he chose a 55 ring gauge by 5 1/2 length cigar, blending six different tobacco varieties with full strength and complexity in the filler and two different tobacco varieties for the binder and wrapper. It is probably the only cigar ever that has been blended with 8 different tobaccos from 4 different countries. (Description provided by David 'Doc' Diaz, Stogie Fresh Publications) Given to me as a gift by the 'Doc' on his visit to Austin, Texas earlier this year, this may be the most perfect cigar I have ever smoked. Sadly, as they are made in extremely small numbers for Don Eladio's personal consumption and the rare auction, it is unlikely that I will ever smoke another.

The Chief

Chief Hava's Top 10 Cigars of 2010

2010-12-09T23:43:00.022-06:00

One of the most frequent questions I receive is "So, what's your favorite cigar?" My most common answer, delivered tongue in cheek, is "a free one." In all seriousness, it is a very difficult question to answer.

Truth be told, I don't have a single favorite. In fact, my preference is to consistently smoke a cigar that is 'different' than the cigar I smoked last. This is why I very infrequently make box purchases. When I do buy cigars by the box, I often find that after five or ten, I tend to avoid the remainder when I open up the humidor to select a smoke even though the brand or size had already proven itself 'box worthy'.

This year, a notable shift occured in this trend. Many of the cigars on this list were purchased in box quantity (where available), and almost all of them found themselves in my daily rotation until they were gone.

As such, compiling this list was an easy task with the most difficult aspect being where to make the cut between the Top Ten and the Honorable Mentions.

While I don't generally review cigars, it is worth noting that the two lists contain a number of entries from a common manufacturer: illusione (2), Miami Cigar/La Aurora (2), Drew Estates/Joya de Nicaragua (3) and most surprisingly Davidoff/Avo Uvezian (6). While I have always been an admirer of the masterful blend of art and science that Davidoff of Geneva uses to produce their cigars, their blends have never been 'my cup of tea'. Clearly, all of that has changed and I can't wait to see what comes next. So without further adieu, I present to you my Top 10 Cigars of 2010:

#10 - Torano Exodus 1959 50 Years Box Press (5 x 55)

#9- Zino Embassy Selection Belicoso (5 1/2 x 52)

#8 - La Aurora 107 Robusto (4 1/2 x 50)

#7 - Avo Limited Edition 2010 Super Robusto (5 x 55)

#6 - Tatuaje Butcher Cut "Pork Tenderloin" (5 1/8 x 52)

#5 - Viaje Skull and Bones "Daisy Cutter" (4 x 54)

#4 - Liga Privada Unico Serie "Dirty Rat" (5 x 44)

#3 - Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo El Martillo (5 1/2 x 54)

#2 - Avo Heritage Short Robusto (4 x 56)

#1 - Davidoff Puro d' Oro Notables (5 5/8 x 46)

So, there you have it. If you haven't tried these cigars, I would encourage you to do so. Every cigar on this list is 'box worthy', in my opinion. Disagree? Leave a comment. Did I miss one of your favorites? Leave a comment.

The Chief

Chief Hava's Top Cigars of 2010 (Honorable Mentions)

2010-12-02T23:37:00.021-06:00

It's that time of year again....the time for lists. Far be it from me to buck the trend.

In fact, I look forward to this annual tradition. As many of you know, I spend a great deal of time keeping track of the cigars I smoke. It's my way of honoring the time and effort that it takes to create the cigar that I will, in short order, reduce to ashes.

While I didn't smoke every cigar on the market this year, it wasn't for a lack of trying. I am sure I missed recording a few, but the log I began keeping online around mid-year (http://daytum.com/ChiefHava) and the photographic records I keep (http://twitpic.com/photos/ChiefHava) provide ample evidence of this claim.

My best estimate is that I smoked approximately 1,600 cigars representing more than 550 different ligas/vitollas in 2010. I'd be willing to wager that there aren't very many individual compilers of a 'best of' list out there with a sample size this extensive.

However, as stated in last year's Top 10 Cigars of 2009 list, I don't claim that these are, without debate, the best cigars of 2010. This is MY list. I’ve put a lot of thought into it, but it has only one purpose....to share a list of cigars I have most enjoyed throughout the year.

Based on feedback from last year, I decided to produce this year's list in three parts. This week's list reflects ten Honorable Mentions from 2010. These are cigars that, while not in my Top 10 of 2010, warrant recognition as some of the best of the year. So, in no particular order, here they are:

Man O' War Ruination No. 1 (5 3/4 x 56)

Los Blancos Nine Toro (6 x 52)

Litto Gomez Diez Vintage Maduro Lusitano (6 x 54)

illusione ~mj12~ "The Majestic" (6 x 54)

illusione ~68~ "The Bambone" (4 x 44)

Guillermo Leon Corona Gorda (5 1/2 x 42)

Liga Privada No. 9 "Flying Pig" (4 1/8 x 60)

Davidoff Puro d' Oro Magnificos (5 1/8 x 52)

Davidoff Millennium Short Robusto (4 1/4 x 52)

Arturo Fuente Rosado Gran Reserva Magnum 56 (5 5/8 x 56)

So, there you have it. If you haven't tried these cigars, I would encourage you to do so. Every cigar on this list is 'box worthy', in my opinion. Disagree? Leave a comment. Did I miss one of your favorites? Leave a comment.

...be sure to come back next week to see my list of the Top 10 cigars of 2010.

The Chief

Cigar Bloggers: Get Over Yourselves

2010-08-18T03:00:00.005-05:00

All of the recent discussion about ‘cigar bloggers’ (some solid op-ed, some pointless whining and everything in-between) has me reminiscing about my early years as a cigar smoker.

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, the internet didn’t exist in those days…well, at least not in its current form. We had newsgroups and bulletin boards. One thing I know for certain is that I don’t recall there being anywhere near this level of animus, jealousy, finger-pointing and one-upmanship in the community over the subject of who is, or isn’t legitimate. Frankly, it is disheartening.

I’ve written about the Brotherhood of the Leaf a number of times on this blog. I speak of it often. I helped organize a recurring event at the IPCPR completely devoted to the concept. It is as real to me as the concept of fatherhood. Yet, it seems to me that those involved in these recent discussions seem to be missing the point.

I’ll let you in on a little secret….the people that manage and moderate some of the largest and most successful cigar related internet sites and forums don’t even smoke cigars. A number of the marketing geniuses behind the biggest premium cigar brands don’t either. The take-away from these two facts is…you don’t have to know the first thing about smoking cigars to be successful in this business.

But…..the Brotherhood of the Leaf isn’t about business.

I wish I could put a few of you guys in the ‘way back’ time machine….destination 1993. I was pretty much broke all of the time; scraping by on E-5 military pay. Still, I loved cigars. Every 1st and 15th of the month I would walk into Emerson’s of Norfolk or Croc’s in Virginia Beach and lay down a few precious dollars on a handful of smokes. Granted, a hundred bucks went a lot farther toward filling the humidor in those days, but here’s the rub….you pretty much had an 50/50 shot of buying a ‘dog rocket’ off of the shelf if you picked up something new. This is not an exaggeration. The ‘established’ brands like Arturo Fuente, and Padron were scarce. In abundance, however, were the Flying Cock’s, Don Nobody’s and the Flor de Foul’s. Every two weeks, it seemed, there they were…a new and unproven brand tempting me.

Sure, I had a great tobacconist to depend on, but in the end….he had to sell something. ‘Give a try,’ he’d say, ‘who knows, you might like em’.’ The funny thing is, he was right. I did like some of them. In fact, I loved some of them. For every new piece of crap brand, there was a shining star….like the Bahia Maduro. Truth be told, I loved being the first guy to find something new and great….I still do. So I laid down my hard earned money and took them suckers home, week after week.

Now, I’m no genius…but I’m no dummy either. It didn’t take me long to put the technology of the day, such as it was, to work. I soon found a huge community online, and it wasn’t long before we were using our collective experiences to improve our odds. What’s that Sm0kie235? The Don Mateo sucks?. Ok….I’ll be skipping that one. What’s this you say Thr33PutR? The La Finca is worth a try? Ok…I’ll put that on my list. Best thing is…you’d never catch one of these guys trying to drop Suckling-esque descriptors like leathery, cocoa or nutmeg. Just sayin.

Here’s my point. Despite the regulatory battle that is raging all around us, we are buying cigars in an environment where, frankly, the ‘dog rockets’ are few and far between. On the floor of the IPCPR this week, I had a number of manufacturers mention the rising sophistication and the level of engagement of today’s cigar passionados. In turn, they are being forced to step up their game to meet our increasing demands for quality and complexity….and they are and the best of them love the competitive environment that this drives within their industry. Net: You, as a community, are no longer serving the purpose you served in 1993. You have evolved.

Cigar bloggers and reviewers of the internets….let me break it to you softly, these manufacturers don’t sit around in awe and your delicate palettes and discerning taste buds. In fact, they recognize, as I do, that many of you are merely passionate amateurs. What they do appreciate is your ability to provide exposure for their products for very little in return. The fact is, one f-bomb from Jerry McCruz can lead to a 30% drop in sales for a small brand (5 Vegas Miami Knuckle is a perfectly good cigar by the way). A passing ‘I’m blown away’ from behind the wheel of the F’n Caddy will result in a few hundred, or more, of you to try that cigar the next time you are in the cigar shop. And, while I am at it, regardless of what that Grandaddy Cigar Weasel gadfly Gary Arzt says, you aren’t a ‘freeloader’ if you accept, or even request, a few samples to review. Believe me, if it weren’t a cost-effective means of marketing their product…they wouldn’t be giving them to you. And, if your site sucks, if you abuse their generosity, or are otherwise half-assing it…you won’t be getting ‘freebies’ for much longer.

Somewhere, there is another young cigar smoker sitting around watching you. They don’t know much, but they have a passion they want to share….they want to join your community…your brotherhood. Who are you to tell them they aren’t legit?

The Chief

2010 Twitter Brothers of the Leaf - Xikar Xtravaganza!

2010-08-16T19:58:00.020-05:00

New this year, a few of the Twitter Brothers of the Leaf Cocktail Hour sponsors made items available for our Twitter BOTL who were unable to attend IPCPR.

As promised, those who registered before August 6th on StogieReview.com using the Not Attending ticket option are eligible to win. Kurt Van Keppel (@xikarkvk) and his team from Xikar provided three super-sweet prize packages:

The Xikar Don 'Cruz'ado Package includes two items:
Envoy 3 Cigar Case (Cocobolo Wood) and a Crossover Lighter (Black/Silver)
Retail Value: $154.98
Winner! Peter Dapas @ 4:20 PM 8/23/2010

The Xikar Chief Hava Package includes two items:
Envoy 5 Cigar Case (Cognac) and an Eris Lighter (Mother of Pearl)
Retail Value: $169.98
Winner! Keith Hollar @ 12:14 AM 8/19/2010.

Answers:
1. General Cigar, CAO International, EP Carillo and Miami Cigar Co. (Also correct: AJ Fernandez, Perdomo, Oliva, Torano Family Cigars)

2. @TheCigarFeed mentions the La Sirena from Miami Cigar Co, @NTA_Ben mentions the HdM Reposado and LGC Serie N from General Cigar, @ReverendMike mentions the Core Line from EP Carillo and @jcigarmouttet mentions the Core Line from EP Carillo

3. The Cigar Nut laments missing the IPCPR/TBOTLCH, The Cigar Feed talks about TBOTLCH and the communal aspects of smoking cigars, In With Bacchus talks about herfing at the TBOTLCH and The Smoking Hot Cigar Chick thanks the TBOTLCH sponsors.

The Xikar Tower of Burn Package includes six items:
HC 5 Cigar Travel Humidor and an HC Series 5 Cigar Sampler
Retail Value: $68.49
Winner! Jonathan Newkirk @ 6:46 PM 8/17/2010.

Answers:
Xikar Defiance Alliance, Xikar Defiance Guardian, 91 and 10 Cloves of Garlic.
If you are in the list of eligible tweeps, stay tuned to the Hava Cigar Twitter feed (@havacigarshop) for details on how to win one of these packages.

Contest rules will be posted daily between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM CST, Tuesday 8/17 through Thursday 8/19. One package per day. Limit one package per eligible participant.

Thanks again to Xikar and all of our Twitter Brothers of the Leaf Cocktail Hour sponsors. Be sure to mention these sponsors in any review, blog or tweet about a cigar you recieved in the TBOTLCH Press Kit. Also, be sure to use the #TBOTLCH hash tag in relevent tweets.

The Chief

The Big Easy Redux

2010-08-15T20:42:00.029-05:00

Left to Right: Chief Hava, Doc Fuego and Dale Roush of Dogwatch Cigar Radio
Photo Courtesy of Jacob Roush

Come down to Lake Pontchartrain. Rest your soul and feed your brain....

~ From Hank Williams' On the Banks of the Pontchartrain

Somehow, I have once again managed to return from the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Trade Show and Convention with a functioning liver and reasonably clear coronary arteries. Moreover, the strict daily hot tub regimen prescribed by my concierge physician, Doc Fuego, served as an excellent prophylactic measure…keeping my normal ‘performance related injuries’ at bay.

I had a much different experience at the show this year. For the first time, I attended the show as a representative of the ‘press’ (or 'freeloader' as Gary Arzt has coined the majority of this group) and not as a retailer.

Specifically, Doc Fuego and I represented Team Stogie Fresh. David ‘Doc’ Diaz has been unable to attend the last few years due to the time required to prepare for, and execute, his annual Crush and Roll event which occurs in September. As such, Joe and I were asked to attend in his stead to ensure that the Stogie Fresh Nation didn’t miss out on the in-depth industry coverage they have grown accustomed to receiving from ‘The Doc’.

That said, I doubt any stone was left uncovered at this year’s event. While it was poorly attended by retailers, there was certainly no shortage of media coverage. While I do not know the official numbers, I’d estimate that there were at least five exhibitor and one media badges for every three retailer badges issued this year. Given the high number of journalists, reporters, bloggers and other new media enthusiasts present, I am fairly certain that every product and company on the show floor will be thoroughly covered over the next few weeks.

Left to Right: Frank Herrera of La Caridad del Cobre and Chief Hava
Photo Courtesy of Stogie Fresh Publications

With this in mind, Doc Fuego and I hit the floor on a mission to cover the show from a unique perspective. I think you will be pleased with our work product, which will be featured on Stogie Fresh 5 over the next few months.

Left to Right: Chief Hava, Victoria McKee of General Cigar and Doc Fuego.

Photo Courtesey of Jacob Roush

First, Doc Stogie Fresh will air A Post-IPCPR Conversation with Team Stogie Fresh. This piece runs about a half-hour. Doc Fuego, Bro Fuego and I sat down at the Brothers Amos Man Cave in Beaumont, Texas on our way back from the show and fired up the voice recorder in order to capture a candid conversation about our experiences in New Orleans. It is fairly non-traditional fare for Stogie Fresh 5, but I am confident that many will enjoy the ‘insider’ perspective it provides of a typical week at the IPCPR, and an in-depth discussion on the emerging debate over the role of media and consumer attendees at the show.

While in New Orleans, we had the opportunity to sit down with a number of industry insiders: Frank Herrera of El Caridad del Cobre, Bill Paley of La Palina, Carmelo DiFazio of DiFazio Cigars, Erik Samelson of Ted’s Made by Hand, Pete Johnson of Havana Cellars/Tatuaje, Abe Flores of Pinar del Rio, and Bryan White of 13th Floor. We also captured a great discussion with the La Aurora/Miami Cigar Co. power trio Guillermo Leon, Nestor Miranda and Jose Blanco. Each of these interviews provide a fresh perspective that you aren’t likely to find anywhere else, so they aren’t to be missed.

Left to Right: Guillermo Leon, Jose Blanco and Nestor Miranda of La Aurora/Miami Cigar Co. and Chief Hava

Photo Courtesy of Stogie Fresh Publications

I would be remiss in my role as The Chief if I failed to talk about the Twitter Brothers of the Leaf Cocktail Hour. Without question, this was my favorite four hours of the week.

When the guys over at Stogie Review and I started the TBOTLCH last year, it was a pretty laid-back affair. We had two goals: secure a venue for a new media herf and collect a few ‘hard to get’ new release samples for our friends on Twitter who would otherwise be unable to obtain them. The response to this year’s event was a bit overwhelming.

Manufacturers from across the industry stepped up with more than 1,300 cigars, accessories and other swag for the 140+ attendees. The fact that the event grew ten-fold in its second year is simultaneously evidence of the industry’s recognition of our contribution to the trade, a testament to the generosity of manufacturers large and small, and proof of the passionate engagement of the cigar enthusiasts that attended. I am very proud to have been involved and look forward to next year’s event.

Scenes from the 2nd Annual Twitter Brothers of the Leaf Cocktail Hour

Photos Courtesy of Stogie Fresh Publications

My personal gratitude goes out to everyone involved in making this year’s event such a tremendous success (in no particular order): Jerry Cruz, Brian Hewitt, Walt White, Jose Flores Jr, Eddie DeJong-Vanderburgh, Justin Holman, Kurt Van Keppel, Ian Hummel, Jon Huber, Brian Berman, Glynn Loope, Dylan Austin, Matt Booth, Danielle Hawthorne, Edward Simon, Brad Mayo, AJ Fernandez, Kris Kachaturian, Jonathan Drew, Steve Saka, Johnny Brooke, Jason Wood, Guillermo Leon, Jose Blanco, Nestor Miranda, Bill Paley, Dion Giolitto, Andre Farkas, Michelle Stewart, Frank Herrera, Bruce Lewis, Victoria McKee, David Hall, Tim Swail, Stephen Boyajian, Keith Park, Robert Villalobos, George Rico, Sean Williams, Willie Herrera, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, Eddie Ortega, Nish Patel, Patrick Vivalo, Michael Argenti, Joey Oliva, Thomas Khammar, Charlie Minato and Barry Stein.

I apologize in advance if I have missed someone, but like I said….your support was overwhelming. Thank You.

Finally, I want to share a private moment with you. On Wednesday night, as I looked through the clouds of smoke billowing near the ceiling at Dos Jefes to the group of my brothers conducting their fellowship around the pool table, I saw a young man laughing. While I knew it wasn't him, for a moment, I imagined that it was Aaron Boyd. In that moment, the spirit, purpose and meaning of the Brotherhood of the Leaf was as clear to me as it has ever been. We miss you.

The Chief

Small Batch Saturday: Boutique Brands and New Media

2010-07-31T20:39:00.008-05:00

'Small Batch' is a term used in the whiskey industry to describe bourbon blended from selected barrels. The concept has grown more popular in recent years as a response to the strong market affinity for single malt whiskies typically associated with Scotland.

Recently, the cigar industry has begun to use this term to describe extremely limited production cigars. To my knowledge, the first cigar to bear this description was the Lito Gomez Small Batch, manufactured by La Flor Dominicana. More recently, the EP Carrillo Short Run has been described using this moniker.

All of this recent 'buzz' about small batch cigars got me to thinking about the similar rise of the term 'boutique' to describe small manufacturers in the tail of the cigar boom of the 1990s. In 1999, Smoke magazine defined boutique cigar brands as ‘brands with a production of less than 1.5 million sticks per year’. The story mentions a few specific boutique premium cigar makers: Moore & Bode and their Miami and Flamboyan brands, Aristoff’s Black, Tony Borhani’s Bahia and sixteen others.

I remember every one of these and, in a few cases, recall smoking them frequently. What surprised me about the list is that only two of the featured brands, CAO International’s L’Anniversaire Maduro and La Perla Habana remain in steady production and distribution a mere ten years later. I was also surprised that a few brands I associated with the term ‘boutique’ from the era were not included in the article. I specifically recall brands like Rocky Patel’s Indian Tabac, El Credito’s La Gloria Cubana, Paul Garmirian’s PG, and many others. I also remember that these cigars were generally sold in the $2 to $5 price range…ahh, the glory days.

While I am not sure I agree with the publication’s definition of ‘boutique’, there are more than a few brands that I would associate with the term today. For example, Dion Giolito’s illusione, Pete Johnson’s Tatuaje, Frank Herrera’s La Caridad del Cobre, Sean Williams’ El Primer Mundo, Willie Herrera’s El Titan de Bronze, Abe Flores’ Pinar del Rio, Clint Aaron’s Revolution Cigar, Paul Bush’s Flatbed Cigar Company, Matt Walker’s Tesa Cigar Co. and Kurt Kendall’s 7-20-4….the list goes on and on.

Notably, this list came straight off of the top of my head. As I consider this, and contrast this knowledge with my knowledge of similar brands during the ‘boom’ of the mid-1990s, I am reminded of how critical the role of ‘new media’ has been to the success (and sometimes the failure) of these brands.

Try this. Google ‘Paradigm 262 cigar’……

The front page proves my point. The domain list is dominated by the URLs of independent cigar blogs and cigar forums: acigarsmoker.com, puff.com, stogieguys.com, puffingcigars.com, toastedfoot.com, cigar.com, stogielife.com, thecigarnut.com, cigarasylum.com, cigarweekly.com, wbfiller.com, cigarsage.com and cigarobsession.com. Not listed....cigaraficionado.com.
Over the years, I’ve heard ‘main-stream’ media types and manufacturers bemoan and demean the work of these ‘new media’ types. While my favorite example (the dismissal of a popular cigar blogger by a self-obsessed-bloviating-douche bag internet ‘cigar’ radio host as ‘oh, you’re one of those’) happened recently, the phenomenon is not new. In fact, the love-hate relationship with ‘new media’ is as old as the internet itself.

I wonder if any of today’s young bloggers remember Steve Saka’s early reviews on alt.smokers.cigars or his more formal work on CigarNexxus known as the MOTT (Monthly Officious Taste Test). Not only do I remember the early days, I specifically remember an incident at the 1995 Washington DC Big Smoke wherein Cigar Aficionado Editor Gordon Mott denounced the ‘amateurish and uninformed’ nature of the online cigar community.

In a more recent conversation, a well-known boutique brand-owner, who has slowly shifted the majority of his sales and distribution from brick-and-mortar retailers to online/catalog retailers, made a similarly dismissive remark about cigar blogger criticism of the move. I was quick to remind him of the early frenetic online forum activity that drove his first cigar and brand from relative obscurity to its current level of brand awareness. Touché!
As we rapidly approach the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailer Annual Trade Show and Convention, I think about how we ‘new media’ types will be received. On one hand, the considerable expansion of media passes issued by the IPCPR indicates their recognition and increased awareness of the role bloggers and online contributors play in the premium cigar industry. On the other hand, their onerous warning, that any would-be cigar weasel bearing a media pass will find their badge confiscated and their person ejected from the trade show floor, connotes the underlying suspicion that ‘free samples’ may be the ulterior motive of these attendees. I can only assume that the IPCPR, and those similarly concerned about requests for samples, are not factoring in the largely self-funded travel costs of those receiving media passes. In doing so, they might reconsider their characterization of these samples as ‘free’ and focus more on the value received through the ‘free press’ they receive in return for the small consideration of a sample to be evaluated, reviewed and discussed.

On a positive note, the strong support shown by manufacturers large and small for the 2nd Annual Twitter Brothers of the Leaf Cocktail Hour, hosted by Hava Cigar and Stogie Review, reflects a broad and significant acknowledgement for our work….and it is greatly appreciated.

So I declare today Small Batch Saturday in recognition of the strong partnership between my fellow online cigar ‘passionados’ and today’s craft cigar makers. To celebrate, I’ve lined up to following for tonight’s consumption:

Booker’s Single Barrel Bourbon, one of my favorites and, according to http://www.smallbatch.com/, “one of the only uncut, unfiltered, straight-from-the-barrel, bourbons available today. It's bottled at its natural proof of between 121 and 127, and aged between six and eight years. Booker's Bourbon delivers a range of intense flavors from oak tannin and smoky vanilla to lighter tones of mocha and coffee. The complexity provided by this straight-from-the-barrel bourbon makes Booker's the rarest, absolute best bourbon you'll ever taste.”
L'Esprit de Vérité Robusto is a small batch project from Pete Johnson of Tatuaje. According to http://www.newhavanacigars.com/, Le Verite “uses tobacco from the 2008 crop at La Estrella, which is 100% Habano Criollo. Wrapper, binder and filler are all 2008 La Estrella Habano Criollo. The cigars were rolled from 03-30-09 through 07-03-09 at the My Father Cigars factory in Esteli, and have rested in master cases there since then. The L’Espirit de Verite Robusto, is like a second label in the wine industry… blended a little lighter to be enjoyed earlier.”
El Primer Mundo Liga Miami a joint small batch project from boutique brand owners Willie Herrera and Sean Williams. According to Sean Williams, the Liga Miami is "Hand rolled on Calle Ocho in the heart of Little Havana in Miami this beautiful, full body cigar is a true rarity. With very small production the Liga Miami is rolled in the traditional Cuban entubado method and is complete with a double binder and true triple cap. The blend of savory, complex tobacco from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic includes three Ligero leaves and is wrapped in a beautiful Sun Grown wrapper from Ecuador."
CAO Mx3 Robusto a small batch cigar from one of the original ‘boutique’ brands. Drawn from their famous escaparate and sold exclusively by tobacconist W.Curtis Draper, the Mx3 is described by Barry Stein of http://www.acigarsmoker.com/ as “One of the best maduro cigars I ever had…I am totally floored by the rich flavors, great construction and the flawless burn. I actually burned my fingers and lips smoking it all the way down till I could hold it anymore.”
Arturo Fuente Anejo Reserva No. 50 is one of the world’s most rare and sought after small batch cigars. According to Bryan Glenn of http://www.cigarobsession.com/, “the No. 50 is offers a blend similar to the OpusX inside it’s dark chocolate brown wrapper. The pack is very firm and dense, typical of a Fuente. The first draws provided a big pepper kick, medium-full body and rich flavors of coffee, earth and wood on the long finish. The finish stayed long throughout, changing to leather and nuts with the pepper coming and going but never as strong as the very start. Overall flavors transitioned a few times to leather, wood, nuts, hints of caramel – always staying very rich smooth and satisfying. The burn was very good, draw was excellent and the ash stayed straight and tight all the way down.”

Sometimes….it’s good to be The Chief. See you in New Orleans!

2010 Twitter Brothers of the Leaf Cocktail Hour

2010-07-23T03:53:00.033-05:00

After the success of last year’s Cocktail Hour, Hava Cigar and Stogie Review are pleased to bring you the 2010 Twitter BOTL Cocktail Hour at IPCPR in New Orleans on Wednesday, August 11th starting at 9:30pm. For the second year in a row, Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar (5535 Tchoupitoulas Street) will be our venue with live music and an assortment of libations for purchase.

We started the TBOTLCH because a lot of our new media friends were unable to acquire press passes for IPCPR last year and some that did get press passes, weren’t able to acquire samples. The TBOTLCH is a herf to get the social media community together and discuss new releases from the show while at the show.

Dos Jefes, can accommodate 100 people but only the first 50 people to register will be presented with a TBOTLCH Press Kit upon arriving to the event. [Sold Out in 24 Hours]

Please note, one press kit per ticket, per person and you must be present to claim your TBOTLCH Press Kit. If you are one of the first 50 people to register and do not collect your Press Kit by 10:30pm, it will be released. So even if the 50 spots are taken, still be sure to register. Like last year, your TBOTLCH Press Kit will contain newly released cigars or line extensions from participating sponsors.

New this year; since Twitter is everywhere we will have items available for our Twitter BOTL who are unable to attend IPCPR. To register for a chance at winning those items register using the Not Attending ticket option on the StogieReview.com TBOTLCH site.

Major Sponsors
Brand Manager Danielle Hawthorne (@zinoclassic) and her peers at Davidoff are sponsoring the featured cigar for the event, their new Puro d' Oro. The Puro d’Oro has a wrapper grown by Davidoff maker Hendrik (Henke) Kelner in Yamasá, an area of the Dominican Republic north of the capital city of Santo Domingo and far from Santiago and its surrounding tobacco fields. The first 100 attendees to check in will be able to select a cigar from one of the available sizes: The Magnifico (Robusto), the Notable (Corona Gorda), the Deliciosos (Corona) or the Sublime (Short Pantella).

Eddie Dujong (@vanderburgh) of Vanderburgh Humidors is customizing one of his new Vanderburgh Outback4s for the event. All registrees will be eligible to win this 'rugged, functional and intelligently designed' travel humidor/pouch.

Kurt Van Keppel (@xikarkvk) from Xikar has thrown in 85 TBOTLCH 2010 cutters and three prize packages set aside for out tweeps who register, but are unable to attend. The first package includes a mother of pearl Xikar Eris lighter and Envoy 5 cigar case. The second, a Xikar Crossover lighter and Envoy 3. The third, a Xikar HC Series 5 Count travel humidor packed with HC Series cigars.

Drew Estate (@drewestatecigar) has commissioned a limited edition TBOTLCH 2010 T-Shirt bundled with a Liga Privada No. 9 'Dirty Rat' for press kit recipients.

Tim Swail of Boveda is providing HumidiBags to ensure that those press kit cigars make it home in 'ready to smoke' condition. Additionally, Twitter BOTLs who register, but cannot attend, will be eligible to win a Boveda prize package that includes a year's supply of Boveda Humidipaks (16) and a swanky spanish cedar holder to install in your humidor.

Press Kit Sponsors

As stated above, the featured aspect of this event is the TBOTL Press Kit, a package containing more than thirty-five cigars for the first 50 to register. We've worked very hard with our sponsors to secure samples of many of the new releases and line extensions being revealed at the show. While we wouldn't dare stop you from lighting up one, or all, of these at the event, we recommend that these cigars travel home with you for you to enjoy once your palate has recovered from the legendary IPCPR onslaught. Hopefully, we will start to see reviews popping up all over the web letting our manufacturers know what you think about them.

CAO International (@caocigars, @caocigars_strom and @caocigars_brian)

Camacho Cigars (@dylanaustin and @camachocigars)

Room 101 Cigars (@room101cigars)

Oliva Cigar Family (@olivaian, @olivajosh, @olivacory and @olivadave)

Nub Cigar (@samlecia and @nubcigar)

La Aurora Cigar Factory (@laauroracigars, @ch1ch0 and @joseblanco809)

Miami Cigars & Co. (@miamicigar)

Nestor Miranda Collection Cigars (@nestormiranda)

Rocky Patel Premium Cigars (@pvivalo and @rockypatelcigar)

La Flor Dominicana (@lfdcigars, @lfdmichelle and @lfdandrew)

Gran Habano Cigars (@ghcigars)

Viaje Cigar Company

Reyes Family Cigars (@reyesfamilycgar and @shrtcrt)

EPC Cigar Co. (@epcarrillo)

Illusione Cigars (@vudu9)

JC Newman Cigars (@jcnewmancigars)

La Caridad Del Cobre Cigars (@lcdc_1608 and @cigarlaw)

Cigar Rights of America (@cigarrights)

Prometheus International

Revolution Cigars (@revolutioncigar and @jakrell)

Torano Family Cigars (@toranofamcigars)

La Palina Cigars (@lapalinacigars and @billpaley)

Avo Uvezian (@avocigars)

Jameson Cigar Co. (@jamesoncigars)

AJ Fernandez

Tabacalera Perdomo (@perdomocigars)

Augusto Reyes Cigars (@augustoreyescig

General Cigar (@lagloriacigars, @cigarworldcom, @partagascigar, @generalcigar, @punchcigars)

While General Cigar's Director of Public Relations Victoria McKee has sworn us to an oath of secrecy about the company's plans to release five new collections at IPCPR, she has generously offered to put three of them into the Press Kit. Additionally, they are providing a 3-Pack containing these cigars to every other attendee currently registered to attend the event.

Finally, Berger & Argenti and Espinosa y Ortega (@eddieor) have stepped up for the Twitter BOTLs to provide cigar prize packs for Twitter BOTLs who register, but cannot attend. Ten lucky winners will recieve 10-packs after the show with two EyO 601 La Punta, two EyO Murcielago Belicoso and five Berger and Argenti Clasico cigars. So make sure you register at StogieReview.com (link above) before the event.

Top 10 of 2010 Mid-Year Nominees

2010-07-13T20:28:00.017-05:00

Wow.

Hard to believe that half of the year has already passed...and it has been a great one for cigars.

A lot of attention has been paid this year to the crazy regulatory environment facing our industry, and rightfully so.

However, as I reflect on this year, I think about the broad and deep list of quality premium cigars being manufactured and sold today. So, I ask you to take a few minutes and review my list of twenty-three worthy nominees for my Top 10 Cigars of 2010 (in no particular order) The list serves as my personal bookmark for cigars that I will consider at the end of the year for the final list.

Something missing? Is there something I need to try? Leave a comment and contribute your favorites of the year so far!

I can hardly wait to see what new releases and line extensions that the manufacturers have in store for us at the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Annual Trade Show and Convention this year. Using past years as an indicator, it is only going to get better from here.

Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo Martillo http://twitpic.com/24b120/full

La Flor Dominicana DL660 Maduro http://twitpic.com/23oa0n/full

Zino Platinum Crown Series Rocket http://twitpic.com/22il9k/full

Drew Estates Liga Privada No. 9 'Dirty Rat' http://twitpic.com/2298tb/full

Zino Platinum Crown Series Emperor Edition 2010 http://twitpic.com/21n5ya/full

Arturo Fuente Gran Rosado Magnum 52 http://twitpic.com/1ybq3k/full

La Aurora 107 Robusto http://twitpic.com/1xfaom/full

illusione ~mj12~ Majestic 12 http://twitpic.com/1vzlnd/full

AVO Limited Edition 2010 http://twitpic.com/1vgbgd/full

Los Blancos Nine Toro http://twitpic.com/1v5ia9/full

Viaje Skull & Bones Daisy Cutter http://twitpic.com/1uvd30/full

illusione ~mk~ Teaching Machine http://twitpic.com/1t3h5s/full

Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Copper (50 Years) Belicoso http://twitpic.com/1sndf9/full

Arturo Fuente Anejo Churchill http://twitpic.com/1sc17v/full

Tatuaje T110 http://twitpic.com/1sdl6l/full

Panacea Black 560 http://twitpic.com/1qukue/full

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Robusto http://twitpic.com/1qs8k3/full

Tatuaje Cigars La Riqueza Petite Robusto http://twitpic.com/1q4kvx/full

Fuente Fuente Opus X Double Corona http://twitpic.com/1ohxd9/full

Davidoff Puro d' Oro Notables/Magnificos http://twitpic.com/1n8ngz/full

Manuel Quesada Serie Limitada 35th http://twitpic.com/1ibekt/full

Zino Classic Embassy Selection Perfecto http://twitpic.com/1gm61v/full

Drew Estates Liga Privada No. 9 Flying Pig http://twitpic.com/1fvy5s/full

...and while I am on the subject of IPCPR. Be sure to check out and register for the 2nd Annual Twitter Brothers of the Leaf Cocktail Hour co-hosted by Hava Cigar and Stogie Review. It will be epic.

http://www.stogiereview.com/2010-twitter-botl-cocktail-hour/

The Chief

Preview: Retail Pricing Survey Results

2010-07-11T14:30:00.002-05:00

Last month, I posted a retail pricing survey and asked my Twitter followers to respond. I am still working on a piece with my analysis and reflections, but here is a raw summary extracted from their responses:

48% of the 100 respondents self-identified as ’influencers’. Marketers would refer to them as influentials, e-fluentials or market mavens. These individuals are opinion leaders among premium cigar consumers.
The average respondent purchases 23.2 cigars per month. 51% purchase a box (25), or more every month. Only 10% purchase less than 5 premium cigars per month.
The respondents spend, on average, $176 per month on premium cigars.
While not exact, these figures would imply that the price of the average premium cigar purchased by the respondents falls in the range of $7 to $8 per cigar.
According to the respondents, these purchases are made: 55.9% from a Local B&M Tobacconist, 41% from an Online Retailer, and 3% from a Mail Order Catalog
82.8% of the respondents indicated that they ‘often’ or ‘almost always’ choose the retailer based on convenience and/or a relationship with the retailer. Only 17.2% indicated that they ‘always purchased from the lowest priced vendor’.
50% of the respondents indicated that they would either have to smoke fewer cigars, stop smoking cigars entirely or seek out a black market if the FDA PACT Act restrictions on the interstate sales of tobacco were to be extended to cigars. The majority of the remaining respondents indicated that this was a non-issue as they already made the majority of their purchases locally or within their state.
97% of the respondents indicated that Quality and Value was a more important factor in their purchasing than Price.
54% of respondents indicated that ‘some’ or ‘most’ retailers unfairly pass taxes and other costs onto them (eg. ‘keystoning’ the 41 cent SCHIP tax). 25% indicated that manufacturers and retailers should have absorbed more of these costs through increased efficiency and/or lower margins.
When asked to comment on the prospect that Espinosa y Ortega cigars could potentially drop $2 to $3 in price as a result of their recent merger with Rocky Patel, 48% indicated that this was an ‘indication of 'wastes' typical in premium cigar industry supply chains’ and that ‘more manufacturers/retailers should seek out similar opportunities to become more 'lean'’.

The free form comments left by respondents were wide and varied. However, more than a few focused more deeply on the themes reflected in the numbers above. It is a widely held belief among those who are arguably the most important premium cigar consumers in the market that manufacturers and retailers will need to do more to ‘earn’ their business. While most seemed to hold the belief that taxes and other regulatory actions were outside of the manufacturers and retailers control, they simultaneously expressed a belief that manufacturers and retailers must do a better job in how they respond to these environmental factors:

They must ensure that they are producing a quality product that provides value to the consumer.
They must be transparent and fair in how they pass these costs onto consumers.
They must seek out opportunities to improve their supply chains and increase efficiencies in their business in order to deliver that value.
Relationships with the retailer/tobacconist weigh heavily in their purchasing decisions.
Consumers want more information. Multiple respondents referenced the abundance, reliability and consistency of information available to wine and spirits consumers and the lack of the same from premium cigar manufacturers.

As stated above, I am putting together a more comprehensive response to the survey as a part of a piece I am working on regarding retail pricing in the premium cigar industry, but I hope this information whets your appetite and elicits additional responses and commentary. I encourage you to ensure your voice is heard by sharing your views in the comments area of this blog.

Ligero: The Sweaty Drunk Guy at the Party?

2010-03-15T00:58:00.009-05:00

Today, a fellow BOTL and friend (Barry over at A Cigar Smoker’s Journal ) posted an interesting mini-rant regarding the recent trend of strength ‘one-up-manship’ in the cigar industry. What follows is my response:

The argument Barry makes in the blog and his concern regarding the recent trend of blending to strength for strength's sake are valid However, I think the implication that this trend is somehow tied to a broad shift in the use of maduro in today's cigars is misdirected. I also disagree with the more direct argument that the use of ligero, even when it makes up a significant portion of the filler blend, automatically translates into a loss of flavor or complexity.

In regard to the inference of a general trend toward stronger cigars, it is true that this year has seen the introduction of a few brands specifically developed to meet the demands of an American market searching for an even 'stronger' cigar. However, I don't believe that is fair or accurate to imply that this is anything more than an attempt by manufacturers to fill a niche market. Rather, similar to the introduction of the large ring-gauge sixty and 'nub'by sizes, this is a limited expansion of the variety available in today’s market and not the beginning of a sweeping change that will transform the entire premium cigar landscape.

In regard to the implication that this trend is somehow tied to the recent use of maduro wrapper tobacco, I refer to the Cain F. The original limited edition (5 x 50), which contains 82% ligero, is certainly one of the cigars created as a part of the 'strength for strength's sake' trend to which the blog refers. However, it is neither maduro in color, nor touted as having been created from tobacco fermented in the manner that maduro tobacco is processed.

In fact, sweetness, and not strength, is the contribution that maduro tobacco makes to a cigar’s blend. Maduro, literally translated as ‘ripe’, is achieved through a longer fermentation process. This time (and expense) gives the tobacco more time to release impurities in the leaf and off-gas ammonia. The process also results an increase in the conversion of starches into sugars. This is what gives maduro tobacco its ‘sweet’ character.

So, while some novice cigar smokers conflate the characteristics of shade and strength, the two are not directly related. To the contrary, many of today's most popular maduro cigars are mild to medium in terms of strength and body. The Ashton Aged Maduro, the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Maduro and the Casa Torano Maduro are a few good examples of these.

There are also examples of cigar lines, which are intended to be very strong, that feature a maduro version which I find smoother and sweeter than the natural wrapper alternative. The La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero, Cain and Camacho Corojo Diploma are good examples of this.

Also, the majority of 'strength' and 'body' come from the filler and not the wrapper. While some cigars tout themselves as 'triple maduro' or 'double maduro' because they are manufactured with maduro binders and filler, it is very rare that maduro is used for any component of the cigar other than the wrapper. As such, I think the inference that this trend is somehow tied or limited to cigars with a ‘maduro appearance’ is factually and logically false.

In regard to the correlation of strength to flavor and complexity, I submit that this is a matter of opinion, as the blog clearly disclaims, and not fact. To be fair to the blogger, he is not alone in this opinion. James Suckling presents the very same argument in his recent article: What Gives a Great Cigar Balance? (Cigar Aficionado, February 2010).

In the article, Suckling uses a cooking analogy in the presentation of his case. He writes, “The ligero is the elemental strength and flavor, much like a chef uses black pepper…it is important not to overuse pepper in cooking as well as a cigar blend.” He goes on to say that a cigar made with large quantities of ligero would ‘blow your head off’. In my opinion, the position presented in both the blog and article is off base.

First, as a smoker with tens of thousands of cigars’ ashes piled up in my wake, I can tell you that I have never experienced the type, or extent, of nausea, headaches or sinus issues described in the article after smoking a strong cigar. Under the guidance of experienced tobacconists, I learned about cigars and have always smoked those which were appropriate in terms of strength (nicotine content) and body for my level of smoking experience.I must admit, however, that as a tobacconist myself, I later had the pleasure of witnessing novice smokers (read ‘clueless know-it -alls’), who had not heeded my advice, suffer from these ailments.

I am very satisfied with the variety available in today’s premium cigar market, and grateful that today’s manufacturers are producing lines that feature more ligero. While I generally begin the day with a medium-strength/medium-body cigar, and can appreciate their flavor and complexity, I often find myself toward the end of the day craving a cigar with more strength and body.

Contrary to opinions expressed by others, I find that many of these cigars are full of flavor and express the same levels of complexity and nuance found in those with less ligero content. Perhaps, similar to the ill effects of higher doses of nicotine on those who are not accustomed to it, these nuances are not decipherable on the palette of cigar smoker’s not accustomed to high ligero content (super-strong/super-full-bodied) cigars. I find myself unable to appreciate these complexities and nuances in very mild cigars for the same reason.

Dion Giolito, of Illusione cigars, uses no ligero in his Epernay line. He says, “Using the ligero would have been like the drunken guy at the party. When everybody is chilling, the big sweaty drunk takes the vibe out of the party.” Perhaps this is true, however, when the party is a raging kegger (fifth or sixth cigar of the day) and that guy is a no show….it becomes so boring that everyone just packs up and goes home.

Back Like Kotter

2009-12-05T15:45:00.008-06:00

On September 15, 2008, I wrote an Open Letter to Our Customers in which I shared what I was feeling the night before I drove into Galveston, Texas to find out how Hurricane Ike had impacted our business. I remember that as I sat in my room writing the letter, I was hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. Being unsure of what I would find, my mind drifted from contemplation of the possible loss to a deeper reflection on how the business came to be and on the significance it had on my life over the prior three years.

I drove to Galveston the next day, but it took me almost a week to compose my thoughts on what I found there. After The Storm is the raw account of my first few hours on the island. It was written, almost entirely, on the back of a mud-stained piece of trash as I sat under a generator-powered drop light in Texas City after 20 hours of the most filthy, exhausting and emotionally draining labor you can imagine.

Almost a month later, after a period of frenetic recovery efforts I posted Don't Call It a Comeback to update our customers on our status and to answer the frequently asked question: "Are you going to re-open." At the time, the answer was 'indefinite'. In this update, I mentioned that one of our key considerations was the economic environment on the island after the storm.

After five months of further consideration and analysis, we answered the question in our post One Chapter Closes and Another Opens. The political and economic realities of post-Ike Galveston made any hope of a short-term recovery almost impossible. Even though my prior partner ultimately made the decision to pursue a separate venture almost a year later, I believe that, as difficult as the decision not to return to Galveston was to make, it was the prudent course.

The fifteen months that followed Hurricane Ike have been tough for the entire industry. As I wrote in Hold Manufacturers and Tobacconists Accountable, Parenting 101 vs. The Nanny State, Village Idiot Proofing Your Right to Smoke and Points of Differentiation and the Future of the Cigar Industry I shared my perspective on the phalanx of anti-tobacco jihadists and other challenges that have made the business environment almost too risky to pursue a recovery, even outside of Galveston.

However, as the song says, "...the names have all changed since you hung around, but those dreams have remained and they're turned around." As I wrote in February, I have found The Brotherhood of the Leaf to be as strong and viable as ever and despite looming smoking bans and state tobacco tax increases, Texas is still one of the two best states for the cigar business. So...beginning in January 2010, Hava Cigar is back in business. Don't call it a comeback, because we've been here for years!

...more to follow.

The Chief

Chief Hava's Top Cigars of 2009

2009-11-23T23:42:00.026-06:00

Every blog on the web and most mainstream publications will publish one type of list, or another, over the next few weeks. Each will be a compilation of their take on the year’s best and worst and every one of them will have one thing in common…people will inevitably disagree with them.

These lists will include selections, or exclude them, and readers will lambast the author for it. So, I’m going to make this simple. This is MY list. I’ve put a lot of thought into it, but it has only one purpose....to share a list of the ten cigars I have most enjoyed in 2009. Here they are:

#10. La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Natural DL-660 (4 ¾ x 60)

#9. Tatuaje Pork Chop (4 x 46)

#8. Nestor Miranda Special Selection Ruky (5 5/8 x 48 x 52)

#7. Oliva Serie V Double Robusto (5 x 54)

#6. Don Pepin Garcia My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petite Robusto (4 ½ x 50)

#5. Camacho Cajones Liga 3-1 (5 x 56)

#4. Zino Crown Series Emperor Edition 2009 (5 x 58)

#3. illusione ~mj12~ (6 x 54)

#2. Nestor Miranda 20th Anniversary Danno Oscuro (7 x 56)

#1. Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro (6 x52)

Honorable Mention

-Ashton Aged Maduro No. 56 (6 x 56)

-La Flor Dominicana Habano Perfecto (5 5/8 x 54)
-Padilla Dominus Double Robusto (5 x 54)

-Man O’ War Ruination Robusto No. 1 (5 x 54)

Honorable Mentions (Afterthoughts and Peer Pressured)

-AJ Fernandez San Materno (6 x 52?)

-Gran Habano San Andreas Maduro (6 x 52?)

-Hoya de Monterrey Petite Robusto (102 x 19.84 mm)

-Montecristo Edmundo (135 x 20.69mm)

Notes: While I have smoked copious amounts of cigars this year, there may be a few cigars of note that I have not tried. The Zino Embassy Selection Perfecto is a good example of this. That said, I smoked every cigar on this list at least three times, and in a few cases sampled over a hundred (just to make sure). No cigar was excluded from consideration. Why no Cubans? Well, most just aren't in my 'wheelhouse' from a quality, flavor and size perspective.

...and here is to discovering what the Top 10 cigars of 2010 are going to be.

The Chief

Points of Differentiation and the Future of the Cigar Industry

2009-09-07T03:49:00.005-05:00

The success of Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge, natural disasters notwithstanding, is almost entirely attributable to the development of relationships with customers and the delivery of an unparalleled customer experience to customers, new and old alike.

I imagine that this pattern holds in almost any customer-facing business endeavor, but it is most certainly true in a retail environment where the product you sell is widely available and is either commoditized or is an elastic luxury good. Personally, I use customer service as a choice determinant in almost every consumer decision.

Having established this, I find myself in a state of continuous amazement when it comes to the generally poor level of customer service to be found in many of the brick-and-mortar cigar stores.

It is appropriate, at this point, to make at least one disclaimer: most cigar stores do a fairly good job of delivering an acceptable experience to established, and well known, ‘regular’ customers. However, for me, this is not an appropriate standard by which to evaluate service. While the retention of established customers is critical to the success of any business, growth and profitability depend on the acquisition and development of new customers. In fact, while the online and catalog businesses are growing and thriving in this digital age, the entire premium cigar business may well depend, in the long run, on a profitable and service-focused network of local tobacconists for its survival.

While the regulatory environment is certainly a risk that all tobacco related businesses share, the greatest risks to the local brick-and-mortar cigar shop are poor service and strategic dissonance.

My evaluation of the poor state of service, while based largely on my own experiences, has been continuously supported by discussions with fellow Brothers of the Leaf. There are general themes: insufficient lounge space, high membership fees, limited product selection and price, but the most common, and unforgiveable, complaints are in regard to inattentive and disinterested staff who do not possess, or are unwilling to share, product knowledge.

With a few exceptions, I have found two kinds of cigar shops where this is a pervasive issue. The most common are those shops that that are owned by a burned-out, and/or dispassionate, retailer (often a second-generation family owner), but also those shops that are owned by wealthy an absentee cigar enthusiast who leaves the day-to-day operation to under-paid, under-trained employees with no stake in the long-term success of the business.

On the point of strategic dissonance, I find that many established cigar shops are stuck in an old, tired and dysfunctional model that is failing to meet the needs of today’s premium cigar consumer.

Arthur Zaretzky, founder of Famous Smoke Shop, said as much in a recent interview with CigarCyclopedia.com, ‘There will be a raison d’etre for cigar stores to stay in existence and the cigar store of the future, I think, is going to be more of a club/hang-out environment, and much of the revenue is going to be derived from membership fees and the smart retailers will survive and many other retailers will not survive.’

In the CigarCyclopedia.com interview, Roundtable: The Future of Stores, Keith Meyer, of Cigars International, shared a similar sentiment, ‘…the brick-and-mortar retailer has a real advantage, though, in making his place a destination.…you’re competing on ambiance, you’re creating an atmosphere that draws people into your store, you create points of differentiation and we’re a retailer, too, and I know this.’

In my experience, most of the established stores are doing little, if anything, to create these ‘points of differentiation’. Instead, what most premium cigar consumers will frequently find in their local markets are one-of-two types of business models.

Most commonly, you will find the outdated ‘mall model’ store. This is often a well-established chain of stores that, at one time, began in a shopping mall, and have since moved into multiple ‘strip mall’ locations. However, while the location has changed, the approach has not. These stores are dominated by multiple displays of various gifts ranging from backgammon sets to the Hummels, those cute little porcelain figurines that your grand-mother has collected since 1935.

If you are lucky, you will find, tucked into the back of these stores, a small, cramped and poorly ventilated smoking area that features a few leather chairs and an ashtray. These stores have clearly ‘missed the boat’ in terms of providing the atmosphere and environment that Zaretzky and Meyer were referring to in their interview.

In larger markets, you may also find a fancy-shmancy ‘country club model’ store. This type of store is characterized by the humongous humidor filled with every $25 cigar on the market, glass displays filled with $1,000 Gucci-Fachi gifts and accessories and well appointed lounges, sparsely occupied by your local Rockefeller and Trump types who were willing to pay $1,500/year to ash on the $5,000 imported Oriental rug. Unless you live in New York City, Chicago or Los Angeles…these stores have priced the majority of their customer base out of most of their ‘points of differentiation’.

Most certainly, a few retailers will read this entry and recognize their own business. These retailers may choose to dismiss my observations as the rant of an impossibly-hard-to-please customer and choose to ‘stay the course’.

It is my sincere hope, however, that these retailers will choose instead to re-evaluate opportunities to deliver more ‘points of differentiation’ by improving their customer experience, and making the investments necessary to evolve their business model.

The future of the premium cigar industry depends on it.

The Tobacconist Handbook

2009-08-25T16:22:00.006-05:00

The Tobacconist Handbook, is finally here.

Jorge L. Armenteros, CMT, founder and President of Tobacconist University, and his team, have completed their multi-year effort to compile and publish the academic curriculum from TobacconistUniversity.org.

TU, the 'ultimate educational and certification organization for the luxury tobacco industry', has made great progress in their effort to set standards, educate and certify tobacco consumers, retailers and the industry's sales forces in the last few years. Publishing the Tobacconist Handbook will surely accelerate that effort, and its benefits to the industry, by publishing this source reference document. To my knowledge, it is the most thorough and rounded publication of its type on the subject.

Be sure to pick up your copy from Amazon.com, where it is currently available for purchase ($48.49).

Desperately Seeking Cigars?

2009-08-16T20:54:00.011-05:00

It happens every year.

I make my annual pilgrimage to the Mecca of cigars, the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Trade Show and Convention, and despite coming back with enough cigars to fill two humidors, I am left wanting more.

While, this year, many of the vendors chose to release their new blends/brands before the show, there were still a number of exciting new releases to be found on the convention floor. Among them, was the new My Father Le Bijou 1922 from Garcia y Garcia. This cigar was one of the samples I picked up on the first day of the show, and I spent the remainder of the week wishing I had more.

I imagine that many of my fellow Brothers of the Leaf are finding themselves in the same position having spent hours, during and since the show, following Twitter updates from the floor, reading daily blog summaries and recaps and watching video coverage of the manufacturers talking about the dozens of new, rare and limited cigars. So, instead of attempting yet another re-cap, I wanted to let you know about one of the most unique and useful pieces of knowledge that I took away from the show: a new site called ISOCigars.com (http://isocigars.com/).

ISOCigars.com, or In Search of Cigars, is the simple, but brilliant back-of-the-envelope brain child of Jason English, Louis Maione and Stephen Lahti. I met these guys at the Twitter Brother of the Leaf Cocktail Hour, and within a few minutes they had described how it works.

The concept is simple: Register, add ISO cigars to your private account and then sit-back and wait for participating retailers to respond with an offer to fill your order for a Single, a 3 Pack, a 5 Pack or a Box of your ISO cigar. You can accept, or reject, the offer in search of the best deal. Simple.

As a retailer, I think this is a great way for brick and mortar stores to broaden their customer base and mail order business without having to build and manage an entire web presence. As a consumer, I like the idea of being able to support the little guy, while being able to find cigars not available at my local tobacconist.

I still have a few questions, however. I am not sure if I can simply reject an offer, or make a counter-offer. I'm not sure how the order is fulfilled, direct with the B&M or through the site. I see the Hot Deals! section getting a little crowded out by unsolicited offer-spam, which seems to me to be in opposition to the core idea of the model.

I'll be sure to update this entry with the answers to these questions, and provide additional insight when I am sitting in the Man Cave enjoying my next My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petit Robusto.

First Annual Twitter BOTL Cocktail Hour

2009-08-02T20:26:00.003-05:00

First 25 to RSVP and confirm that they will be attending the event at Dos Jefe's Uptown Cigar Bar in New Orleans on August 11th (via Twitter @ChiefHava) will receive a 5-Pack of 2009 New Release cigars including:

Cain by Oliva

La Traviata by CAO

Room101 by Camacho

Cubao Maduro by Espinosa y Ortega

Nosotros by Illusione (May substitute based on availability of the Nosotros)

Special thanks to Stogie Review's @JCruz, @JoseFloresJr and all the sponsors who donated cigars.

Village Idiot Proofing Your Right to Smoke

2009-07-29T19:43:00.017-05:00

In case you missed it, Galveston’s village idiot, Tarris L. Woods, sealed the fate of my prior partner’s Hurricane Ike recovery efforts when he strong-armed the Mayor, and two fellow councilwomen, to remove the retail tobacco store exemption from the city’s new indoor smoking ban ordinance.

Charlie Head, and his new partner James Warnell, were in the process of launching their new business, Havana Alley Cigar Shop and Lounge, in the former location of Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge at 415 21st Street in Galveston, Texas. Having completed a significant portion of the licensing and design work in preparation for a September 1, 2009 launch, they were well on their way to re-establishing the island’s sole tobacconist presence when the rumors of a push to revive an indoor smoking ban arose in June.

In a surprising turn of events, the new ban, while similar to the ordinance that had failed in 2006 due to the efforts of an engaged citizenry and business community, was being actively sought and promoted by many of the same restraurateurs that had fought to defeat it two years earlier. In the daunting shadow if an imminent statewide smoking ban, the Smoke Free Texas Act, these businessmen had re-built their facilities and re-opened post-Ike as non-smoking establishments.

When the statewide ban failed in the Texas Legislature, these businessmen found themselves at a competitive disadvantage of their own making, as diners were leaving to enjoy their high-margin post-meal cocktails and smokes in nearby bars. Acting in their own narrow self-interest, these businessmen influenced the pro-business Mayor, Lyda Ann Thomas, to re-introduce the indoor smoking ban ordinance, and gave her strict guidance to ensure that the final ordinance did not leave any loopholes open, such as ‘private club’ exemptions.

The original draft of the new smoking ban ordinance was drafted in a manner that ensured that these loop-holes would be closed, but provided an extremely narrow exemption for retail tobacco stores. This exemption required that the retail tobacco store maintain 90% tobacco sales, disallowed the on-premise consumption of BYO alcohol and contained a vague prohibition against the ‘infiltration of smoke’ to its neighbors if it were not free-standing.

Having run a profitable retail tobacco store in Galveston, I can tell you that any one of these three requirements would have been a ‘deal-breaker’ for Havana Alley Shop and Lounge which, like Hava Cigar before it, was built on a private membership model and lounge concept that depended on its location and the ability for those members to store and consume alcohol in the lounge. Despite these limitations, Mr. Head and Mr. Warnell pushed forward. They sought, and received a verbal commitment that these restrictions would be revised to allow for the profitable operation of their new business.

On the night of the vote, the council’s discussions specifically referred to the appropriateness of this exemption for an adults-only retail outlet that sold tobacco, however Councilman Tarris Woods threatened to derail the entire effort if the exemption were not removed using the false logic of an analogy that the sampling of tobacco products in a tobacco store was no more protected than the sampling of liquor in a liquor store. The Mayor, and two other Councilwoman, conceded and, in quick order, passed the most restrictive indoor smoking ban ordinance in the entire State of Texas. The fate of Mr. Head’s new business venture was thus sealed.

The moral to the story: if it can happen in Galveston, Texas…it can happen where you live as well. After all, this isn’t California. This is Texas. A few years ago, during the debate surrounding the previous ordinance, I would have bet any amount of money that there was absolutely no chance that a Texas city would pass an ordinance banning smoking within a retail tobacco store that did not sell alcohol. Clearly, I ‘mis-underestimated’ the power of a single uninformed politician to lead an eager anti-smoking nanny-state influenced municipal government body too far down the path.

I cannot appropriately describe to you how angry this has made me. It is no longer thoretical, and I have had enough. I have long engaged in the debate against smoking bans, while subconsciously withholding my efforts in the battle against forced bans in bars and restaurants. After all, the Texas Restaurant Association, seeing isolated municipal bans push their customers into suburban cities without bans, had themselves become the promoters of a statewide ban. While the hybrid ‘cigar bar’ became the new ‘front line’, I felt, incorrectly, that I did not have any business interest in that specific debate, so long as the well established retail tobacco store ‘firewall’ remained. Clearly I was wrong.

So what now? In my mind, the era of our reactive defensive posturing has come to an end. We can no longer afford to depend on the assumption that these bans will stop short of banning smoking in our retail tobacco businesses. Instead, we must adopt and pursue the offensive strategy of securing legislative guarantees at the local, state and federal level in order to preserve the rights of our consumers to consume tobacco within the confines of the businesses in which this legal product is sold.

Jorge Luis Armenteros, CMT, President & Founder, Tobacconist University has been a leader in this area for more than a year, promoting his concept of a Tobacconist Preservation Act (TPA). This law, if enacted, would provide us the legal protection and ensure the stability of our industry by preventing subordinate government entities from passing bans that ban smoking within our stores. While I appreciate the flowery language celebrating the history of our profession within Mr. Armenteros' TPA, I prefer a much simpler and straightforward approach. I am by no means an attorney, but I would prefer legislation to this affect:

Whereas the primary business of a tobacco wholesaler or retailer is to sell tobacco and tobacco related accessories, the right to legally consume that product within the confines of retail tobacco stores shall not be infringed upon by indoor smoking bans. Any business which derives 51%, or more, of their revenue from the sale of tobacco, or tobacco related accessories and/or is licensed as a tobacco wholesaler, or retailer, shall be exempt from any ban on smoking within their business, or its attached outdoor smoking areas.

In the words of Sir Winston Churchill:

‘The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences.’

I strongly encourage the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR), the Texas Cigar Merchants Association (TxCMA) and the Cigar Rights of America (CRA) organization to adopt this offensive posture and utilize its resources, and the efforts of its constituency, to aggressively pursue these protections. If we fail to act, you may well find yourself trying to comprehend the implications of the actions of your own village idiot.

Video of the Galveston City Council Meeting in which the ban was passed:

Part 1 http://bit.ly/bQG7j

Part 2 http://bit.ly/LQQgp

Parenting 101 vs. The Nanny State

2009-04-24T00:05:00.007-05:00

It hasn't been back in the belt long, but alas, it is time to throw the 'bullshit flag' on The Radical Anti-Smoking Jihadists once again.

I came across Stephen J. Dubner's Smoker-in-Chief column in the New York Times this week, and after reading every single one of the one hundred and eleven comments came to this conclusion: We are primarily a nation of sheep, depending on wolves to tell us what to think....and the wolves will not sleep until they have stripped you of your personal freedoms.

In the article, Dubner relates a story in which he discovers his 7-year-old daughter wearing a Barack Obama shirt that he has never seen. After doing a little digging, he discovers that she had discovered candy cigarettes at a downtown New York City candy store.

(Note: At this point he ironically expresses surprise that some 'well-meaning zealot' had not been successful in getting them banned.)

He goes on to say that after spending two hours on the streets of NYC observing smokers, she acquires the ability to emulate their 'moves' and that upon waking the next day 'thought of herself as a smoker' and thus donned a t-shirt emblazoned with the likeness of 'the most famous smoker she knows.'

Really? No, really?

Let's tally up the facts and inferences here:

-His 7-year-old daughter owns a shirt that was given to her months earlier by a friend that he has never seen.
-His 7-year-old daughter visits a store in downtown NYC, and makes a purchase of which he would not approve.
-His 7-year-old daughter spends two hours on the streets of NYC observing and developing the body language of smokers.
-His 7-year-old daughter independently forms the self-awareness of a smoker.
-His 7-year-old daughter has access to media, in which she develops the awareness of the President's rarely discussed personal habit.

I know what you are thinking. This story had to be formed and presented as a fictional allegory in order to make a point. Well you would be wrong. The columnist, the editor and the New York Times presented this column as fact....and one commenter, after another, relayed their own horror stories and disdain for the evils of tobacco.

I have a little advice for the author of this piece of crap column: Instead of focusing your efforts on being our nanny, you might want to attend some parenting classes and start keeping a closer eye on your second-grader. If this story is in fact true, I have a feeling you might have a much more serious substance abuse issue to contend with sometime in the next 7-10 years than tobacco.

...but then again, I am sure you will be more than willing, at that time, to write a column blaming that too on someone other than yourself.

The Black Band Project

2009-03-15T01:24:00.006-05:00

'This is your re-education.'

A very interesting thing happened in the cigar world today. A new marketing campaign showed up on twitter called The Black Band Project....and here is the thing, despite the professional, slick facade, the more I thought about it, it seemed less like a marketing campaign and more like an effort by some new, or established, manufacturer to get experienced cigar smokers to question their well established biases and preferences and return, after years of smoking premium cigars, to where they started....judging cigars on their own merit.

Brilliant. Bravo.

I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert in tasting and reviewing cigars. Guys out there like David 'Doc' Diaz, of Stogie Fresh, is miles ahead of me on that road despite having dutifully attending his regular podcast lessons on Stogie Fresh 5. Further, Doc will be the first to tell you that he has barely scratched the surface in his understanding of tobacco compared to masters like Jose Blanco or Heinrich Kelner.

That said, I know what I like. After 16 years of smoking premium cigars, 3 of which I have owned my own retail store, and several trips to Central America, I have picked up a few tasting skills. In the store, employees and customers would frequently bring me an unbanded cigar and quiz me on its origin, anatomy and, ultimately, whether I thought it was a quality cigar, or not.

Here is the deal, when put in this situation my senses go into a type of 'overdrive'. Perhaps it is because I feel like I am being tested, but I will always pay far more attention to all of the sensory aspects of the cigar in this situation than I do when I pick a banded cigar up out of my humidor.
Whether we know it or not, when a product is labeled with a brand (band) our minds assign our preconceptions. This includes our past experiences with the product, magazine articles we may have read, video reviews we may have seen and even the visual appeal of the packaging.

This isn't a bad thing. Without branding, every purchase would be a total crapshoot. The brand Davidoff connotes a certain level of quality. Right away you know the experience and effort that went into the planting, growing, curing, fermentation, selection, blending and rolling of the cigar.
However, branding sometimes makes loyalty 'sticky', with a product retaining market share far after the quality has subsided. How else do you explain the Macanudo phenomenon? Likewise, a name, or brand, can be moved from one product to another of a completely different quality level. In this situation, an uneducated consumers may find themselves smoking a Montecristo completely unaware that it is the Dominican, and not the Cuban variety.

Most of you interested enough to read this blog would be able to pick out a fake, cheap Mexican cigar with, a genuine Cohiba band on it, by taste alone, but could you pick out the cigar that Cigar Aficionado rated above 90, when generically banded and mixed in with two cigars rated in the 80s? Could you identify the $12.00 cigar, when placed in a grouping with two in the $5-$6 range? More importantly, if given three unbanded cigars and asked to identify the one you enjoy the most, would the one you choose correspond to your selection if the cigars were banded?

Whether you answered yes, or no, to these questions, you should check out http://www.blackbandproject.com/ and consider signing up on their web site to participate in this little experiment...err, I mean marketing campaign. It is a fresh, new idea from somebody in the industry, one that keeps me hopeful in an tobacco industry environment with fewer and fewer brights spots.

Tweeting an Epic Battle

2009-03-14T15:36:00.008-05:00

Last night, I was hanging out with Kevin Welling (@kevinwelling on Twitter) at G Cue Billiards in Round Rock, Texas.

Editorial Note: Friday is karaoke night. If you live nearby, you are really cheating yourself if you haven't stopped by to check out our rendition of Eminem's I'm Sorry Mama and my solo of Snoop Dogg's Gin and Juice. But I digress....

I opened up my Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge Xikar Travel Humidor to grab a cigar and found myself in a classic quandary. Inside, I had a La Flor Dominicana Chisel and a CAO Lx2 Robusto.

Being an experienced smoker, I would never have put myself in the position of having to choose between these two cigars, but they had found themselves dangerously coexisting, like matter and anti-matter, because they had arrived via FedEx from Leslie Russell (@lesliesrussell on Twitter) on my way out of the house earlier in the day.

There I was, in the middle of this Sophie's Choice, and it hit me, like King Solomon's edict to split the baby....a Double Ligero Battle Royale was the only wise decision that could be made. What follows is the serial Twitter of the epic event:

Double Ligero Battle Royale. Tonight's card: LX2 vs. The Chisel. Let's get it on!

Now cutting the LX2 and The Chisel....will attempt to smoke both at the same time. Let's have a clean, fair fight guys. (Touch gloves)

Round 1: Goes to the LX2. 10-9. Great prelight draw and flavors on the light.

Round 2: The Chisel 10-9. Raw punching power overwhelming the LX2 despite its tasty footwork.

Round 3: LX2 10-8. The Chisel, despite looking good in the early rounds, is a little tight on the draw. Breathing heavy in the corner.

http://twitpic.com/22qyf Round 4: Knockdown! Lx2 on the mat after losing ash 1" in. Both sent to neutral corners of the ashtray.

OMG. This is harder than I thought. Trying to keep them lit, type and take pictures.
Round 4: The Chisel 10-7. Lx2 needed a re-light after ash fell off. Looks like a little swelling under the left eye (uneven burn).

@Doc_StogieFresh I may not be conscious at the end of this.

Round 5: Folks, this has the makings of an epic battle. The veteran Chisel is cool/calm, but may be underestimating the tenacity of the Lx2.

Round 5: The Lx2. 10-9 Despite going hard to the body, the Chisel's age is showing mellowness. The Lx2 looking like a young Sugar Ray.

Referee asking for a commercial break. Rum and Coke being served ringside.

Round 6: The Chisel 10-9. The fight has settled in and the veteran's style has the Lx2 looking like he should have sparred a little more.

Round 7: The Chisel. 10-8 Landing every punch. But, the Lx2's still looking fresh and fast, may outlast the veteran with his complex style.

Round 8: Close one. The waitress tried to throw the towel in on the Lx2, but he is back into the action with a quick 1-2. Wrapper comes off.

Round 8: Lx2 10-9 After the close call, The Chisel loses its ash and picks itself off of the mat. Smoking hot after coming out of the corner.

The crowd is going crazy with this history making first Twitterized Battle Royale between the Heavyweight Champion and the crowd favorite.

Round 9: The Lx2 10-8. The Chisel getting a lot of attention in the corners between rounds. Trying to stay lit and in the fight.

Final Round Haynes v Leonard. Haggler v. Haynes. Ali v Frazier. Balboa v. Drago. Tyson v. Givens. This epic battle will go down in history.

Round 10: Draw. Every Chisel punch being felt throughout the arena, but the young, agile Lx2 bobbing and dodging in the finish.

The Lx2, all tatted up like an MMA fighter lifting its hands in triumph. The veteran's camp equally confident as we go to the cards.

We have a split decision.

Judge 1 has The Chisel 115-113.

Judge 2 has the Lx2 115-113.

Judge 3 has the winner, and STILL the reigning Heavyweight Champion of the Double Ligero ..... The Chisel.

@caocigars enters the ring and melee ensues.........John Huber drops an atomic elbow onto Lito Gomez off of the top rope.

...and wait, what is this? The Chisel, in a show of classic sportsmanship, goes to the contender's corner and raises his arms.

The Chisel grabs the mike and yells @smokeADRIANs!

We've lost all control.

http://twitpic.com/22t3h The Lx2 looking worse for wear, but I think the ref took the brunt of this one (lightheaded).

DO NOT TRY THIS @ HOME. No mortal man could handle the Double Ligero Battle Royale.

Had to train for 16 years for this one.

Ok. So it doesn't sound as clever sober, as it did under the influence of rum, coke and mainlined ligero, but it was a lot of fun. If you haven't joined us on Twitter, I hope I haven't convinced you that you have made the right decision.

On a serious note, this was a very enlightening experiment. Under normal conditions, I would never smoke two cigars at the same time, but having done so, I have a fresh perspective on the comparative strengths and weaknesses of these two. Going in I would have told you that The Chisel, hands down, was my favorite.

I love the raw strength and smoothness of Dominican LFD with the Habano wrapper. When I am looking for a really strong cigar after a big meal, I very frequently will reach for the Chisel.

That said, I have also been enjoying the CAO Lx2 recently. It has been getting tons of positive buzz on Twitter with almost weekly contests being sponsored by John Huber (@caocigars on Twitter) and many of the cigar twits posting their thoughts on the cigar. Still, I would never have thought that the Lx2 could stand up to the Chisel. I was wrong.

Throughout the experience, I found that I had to remind myself to switch from the Lx2 to the Chisel. The Lx2's draw was much easier, and I found the flavor profile to be much more complex on the palette.

The Chisel's retrohale burned my nostrils, limiting my ability to pick up on the second dimension of flavors, but the Lx2 was smooth and reflected even more complexity when using this technique.

I have to admit, that while the Chisel is superior in craftsmanship and artisanship, the Lx2 was the more flavorful and enjoyable smoke, even under these extraordinary circumstances.

...and I really mean it when I say, don't try this at home!

Hold Manufacturers and Tobacconists Accountable

2009-03-11T01:28:00.011-05:00

As you are well aware, President Obama signed the SCHIP Renewal and Expansion bill, largely funded by significant tax increases on tobacco products, on February 9, 2009. The bill, and its associated tobacco taxes, are scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2009. The bill increases taxes on tobacco products, across the board, with 'floor taxes' on most.

In regard to cigars:

-The federal tax on large cigars is being increased from $.045 to 52.75% of wholesale price with a cap of $.4026 per cigar.

-There will be no floor tax on large cigars, but a wholesalers/retailers will be required to remit a tax on all floor inventory of other tobacco products.

Here is what that means to you:

-If the cigars you normally purchase have a wholesale cost of < $0.94, the tax on the cigar will be 52.75% of the wholesale cost. Since most retailers 'keystone' products (not including state taxes paid by the retailer), a $1.00 cigar, burdened by the SCHIP tax, should now cost you $1.53.

-If the cigars you normally purchase have a wholesale cost of > $0.94, the tax on the cigar will be the tax cap amount, $04026. A $5.00 cigar, burdened by the SCHIP tax, should now cost you $5.40.

Here is what you don't know:
-Many manufacturers are choosing this time to raise prices. My best guess is that they have decided to make this move based on a realistic need for immediate cash flow to 'float' the tax bills they owe when the product arrives from Central America. However, I believe they have also made a cynical assumption that, in the confusion created by the increase associated with the tax, you will not 'feel' the additional increase.

-Many retailers will not do the additional work to 'fairly' distribute the cost of the tax. They are choosing, instead, to maintain their 'keystone' margins. Without going into too much detail, this means that the $5.00 cigar will actually be priced at $5.80, instead of $5.40. They are 'marking up' both the cost of the cigar AND the tax.

-Many manufacturers and retailers have already begun 'marking up' the price of their cigars, three full weeks ahead of the effective date of the price increase. For manufacturers, this likely traces back to the need for cash flow to cover the shipments that will arrive in early April. For retailers, they too are building cash flow to cover 'floor taxes' and likely sales losses on other tobacco products. Or perhaps, it is just laziness and bald-faced greed.

These are the same manufacturers that belied the tax increase due to the 'inelasticity' of luxury products, like premium cigars. They claimed, rightly so, that a small change in the price of a premium cigar, unlike cigarettes, would result in a disproportionate reduction in demand. Some, like Drew Estate, have clearly not translated this economic reality into their pricing strategies; deciding to 'triple whammy' the cigar consumer with early transfer of the tax combined with a price increase.

While taxes are an unfortunate reality in today's hostile anti-tobacco political environment, it is not a forgone conclusion that the consumer, and the consumer alone, must absorb the increase.

Conscientious manufacturers, such as Havana Cellars, manufacturer of the Tatuaje brand, and Davidoff are taking a different tack. In a recent interview with Stogie Review, Pete Johnson announced that, in addition to the introduction of the Ambos Mundos, a triple-capped 'value cigar', he is holding prices flat and absorbing the SCHIP tax. "I’d rather take a hit, and have more people smoke’em than raise them up and have less people smoke them," Johnson said.

One of the most beautiful aspects of the free-market is that it creates a competitive environment. After returning from last year's IPCPR Trade Show and Convention, Gordon Mott, of Cigar Aficionado, said that we had entered another Golden Age of Cigars. Today's premium-cigar consumer has dozens, if not hundreds, of options to chose from. The level of quality and selection is greater than any time in the storied history of the premium cigar. As a consumer in the 'Age of the Internet', you also have a much broader selection of retailers from which to choose.

With the introduction of the SCHIP tax, and pervasive smoking bans in almost every state, the environment has become even more competitive. Only the strong should survive.

If you retailer looks internally to find efficiencies, or invests in amenities like a lounge, support them. If your favorite brand acts responsibly and fairly aligns value and cost in their pricing strategies, support them.

If not, only you can be held accountable for not leveraging the free market and voting with your pocketbook, and your feet, to protect your rights as a consumer by supporting those who do.

Summary of Stogie Review's, 23 Minutes With Pete Johnson

2009-03-08T19:27:00.004-05:00

Jerry Cruz, of Stogie Review, met up with Pete Johnson at a recent Tatuaje event at Washington, D.C. tobacconist W. Curtis Drapers. Always the professional, Jerry (@jcruz on Twitter) pulled out his camera and captured 23 Minutes with Pete Johnson (http://budurl.com/mpsk).

One of the reasons I entered into the cigar business was precisely this type of access to the ‘movers and shakers’ in the industry, and Pete Johnson is definitely one of the most exciting new faces, having teamed up with Jose ‘Don Pepin’ Garcia several exciting new brands: Tatuaje, Cabiguan and, most recently, Ambos Mundos.

You should definitely check out the entire video, but for those of you who suffer from VADS (video attention deficit syndrome), I have summarized a few of the highlights from the video below:

Discussed his new release, Ambos Mundos (Two Worlds), a reference to the fact that the line features two wrappers, two flavor profiles, two sizes and the co-op between Pete and the Garcia family.
Pete called the Ambos Mundos, a triple-capped value cigar, his SCHIP cigar for consumers.
Havana Cellars, Pete’s company, has decided not to increase prices due to SCHIP. ‘I’d rather take a hit and have more people smoke’em than raise them up and have less people smoke them.’ (Editorial Comment: A refreshing approach that I wish more manufacturers would take.)
The new cigar in the Tatuaje Monster series, a small-batch cigar released each Halloween will be The Face, based on the Leatherface character. This follows the first two cigars in the series, The Frank and The Drac. The Face will be a ‘beefy’, large ring-gauge cigar (5 ½ x 60), with a black label and a closed foot. The box will be a matte-brown coffin, and he plans to distress the boxes to enhance the theme.
The Wolfman, a torpedo, is likely to be the next in the series.
Havana Cellars is going international. Pete talked at length about the lines he plans to take into that market and the challenges in expanding into an international line. One dedicated international product will be a full-line of El Triunfador, with the same sizes seen in the La Riqueza line. (Editorial Comment: I don’t think the Europeans are ready for the full-on strength of the El Triunfador. This one sounds like it should be a Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge exclusive.)
Cojunu 2009 is out on the market and now shipping to retailers.
Pete is working on a Tatuaje Black Tubo, black with silver emblems. The size and packaging is based on the Cuban Partagas Serie P 22 tubo.
There are four new sizes of Cabinet La Riqueza line coming out: Petite Robusto (4 3/8 x 52), Double Corona (7 5/8 x 49), Belicoso Fina No. 2 (6 x 50) and Robusto No. 4 (5 x 48).
A few ‘totally bad ass’ small batches are out: SW, Regio and Noella Reserva lines using broadleaf wrappers.
On all of these new ideas, Pete said: ‘I feel like I am shooting my whole wad in like one month’ (tongue in cheek.)
Pete’s favorite smokes right now: La Riqueza No. 5 the new Guapo Junior Maduro and a corona gorda cigar made exclusively for Holt’s by La Flor Dominicana, The Hammer?
On Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year, the Casa Magna and Manuel Quesada’s daughter, Raquel: Pete said, “He used to be in this…comfort zone, and now he’s making great cigars. It’s a great cigar…about time he got credit where he has been due for a long time. I am excited to see what Raquel does…she is like the new breed, the new wave of excitement in the industry. People are going to be paying a lot of attention to her.”
Of his position in the business, and how he is viewed by more established personalities, Pete advised: “…they think I’m crazy…the unconventional traditionalist. I’m not a marketing guy…there’s a little Willy Wonka in me, but I try to back it up with good shit.”
On what he would like to do that he hasn’t done: Pete said, “I just want to dance.”

Thanks to Jerry, and to Pete, for this great insight into the tattoo’d man behind the phenomenal Tatuaje brand.

Cutting Your Cigar: Don't Sweat The Technique

2009-03-03T21:14:00.015-06:00

Travis Lindsay, @travis_lindsay on Twitter, asked the question 'To Cut or Punch Your Cigar' on his blog, The Perfect Draw, today. (http://budurl.com/7rt4)

The question made me think to dig up an old article from Smoke Signals on this, one of the most basic, but critical, aspects of enjoying a fine cigar: The Cut.

In the interest of blog integrity, much of the meat in this article is a direct rip-off from The Kindest Cut of All by Rich Perelman CigarCyclopedia.com. The embellishments are the opinion of Chief Hava.

In his 1967 book “The Connoisseur’s Book of the Cigar,” Zino Davidoff noted that “There are three ways to cut a cigar: by pinching, using your teeth, or with the aid of an instrument. . . . The opening should be clean. American smokers generally open their cigar with a dry bite of the incisor. Some, not the most refined, then spit out the piece they have bitten off. Besides the fact that you need sharp teeth to use this method (or else you have to try twice), it does not allow for much precision. I realize that some smokers have mastered the art of cutting a cigar with their teeth. However, I do not practice or recommend this method.”

Fortunately, times have changed.

Today, “instruments” are in and biting is reserved for professional wrestling. There are five major styles of cutting (not including your teeth and thumbnail, another alternative which Christian Eiroa finds to be perfectly acceptable):

• Piercing: This is a very old method of creating holes through which to smoke a cigar. It still has its defenders, but it is well out of date. One of the problems is that unless the openings are made perfectly, the head can be mangled. There is also the possibility that the taste and draw of the cigar will be imperfect unless the holes are made such that each one allows a draw through to the end of the cigar.

Verdict: Too much trouble and too many things that could go wrong; it’s not recommended. However, the proper piercing technique from either end of a cut cigar can break up a construction issue and loosen the draw.

• The V-Cut: This was a very popular method of cutting which is still practiced today. A V-cutter makes a V-shaped groove through the head of a cigar, opening it across its width to allow draw. It maintains the shape of the head instead of removing it like a guillotine and there are some brands of machine-made cigars which are sold already cut this way.

Verdict: Unless your touch with a V-cutter is good and the plunger is sharp, you can also ruin the cigar head. Moreover, if the cap of a cigar is not perfectly finished, the V-cut groove may not draw well and once you have made a V-cut, there’s little chance of trying again on the same cigar without ruining it. Also, if your cigar spends a lot of time in your mouth, or if you tend to be a 'chewer', the V-cut will likely collapse and constrict the draw, making the cigar un-smokeable; not recommended.

• The Cigar Punch: A cigar punch has a lot in common with the V-cut in that it maintains the integrity of the head of a cigar. Punches come in varying sizes and the idea is to match the right size with the girth of the cigar so that the head is opened with a hole large enough to allow an easy draw, but which does not destabilize the wrapper.

Verdict: This is a perfectly acceptable method for those who do not chew their cigars. It is also a good choice for the novice smoker, because this method is generally more forgiving. However, if you find that at the end of your smoke, the tip of your cigar is mangled and moist…you may want to avoid this method as the constricted airway leads to some pretty funky flavors. Another issue is one of practicality. Most smoke cigars of varying size. While some will align well with the size of your punch, most will result in an opening that is too large (exceeding the size of the cap and leading to unraveling) or, more frequently, too small (restricting the flow and allowing the tar and nicotine to concentrate, ruining the finish); conditionally recommended.

Exhibit A: Tasty picture of tar buildup on a punched cigar. Ripped from Walt, @waltw on Twitter, of StogieReview.com.
• Guillotine: For reasons of economy, ease of use, effectiveness and portability, the guillotine cutter has become, by far, the most popular style of cutter used today. From $1 plastic cutters with thin blades to jewel-encrusted jobs bearing pedigrees from S.T. Dupont, Dunhill, Davidoff and others, guillotines simply remove the top eighth-of-an-inch or so of a cigar and open it up so that a smoker may puff through its entire length and width. That makes for good air circulation and is recommended for the best draw, best taste and best burn.

Verdict: Almost ideal. However, the form factor obstructs the view of the cap dring cutting and few smokers are patient or skilled enough to consistently take the right amount of the cap off with these tools. What results is the unraveling of your wrapper mid-smoke. That just ain’t right. Another issue is that most of the 'throw away' cutters found in shops fall into this category. Use a cheap, dull cutter and you will pay the price; conditionally recommended.

Cigar Scissors: Perhaps the most elegant cutter of all is the cigar scissors. Shaped with curved blades which cut across the entire head of a cigar – similar to a guillotine cut – suitable-sharp scissors can cut a nice, clean line across a cigar and open the entire head so that the smoker can draw through the entire cigar.

Verdict: This is my most preferred method. A scissor cut most efficiently opens the head of the cigar in a manner that maximizes the flavor/finish of the cigar, while minimizing the potential to damage wrapper. The Xikar MTX cutter, pictured above, is easier to master than the guillotine, allows precision cuts on cigars of almost any size and, most importantly, facilitates the opening of a cold beer; the cool kids use scissors highly recommended.

The choice of what kind of cutter to use is a personal one. Regardless of which you choose, take the time to understand its strengths/weaknesses and learn how to use it properly. Choose one which will meet your requirements for style, but be sure it opens the cigar effectively, because the pleasure is not in the cutting, but in the smoking!

The Camacho Cajones Backstory

2009-03-01T22:42:00.012-06:00

Today, Jerry Cruz of Stogie Review posted his review (http://budurl.com/8pfl) of the Camacho Cajones Liga 3-1 Double Robusto (5x 56). In the review, Jerry refers to the 'interesting backstory' of this cigar.

While a little confusing, the story is a very interesting one; so I thought I would share a little more about this amzaing cigar in this week's Smoke Signal.

The story of these cigars was originally conveyed, and can be revisited, in our August 14, 2008 blog entry: Escaparate Seleccion de Christian Eiroa ...but here is the rest of the story:

Selection of the Ligas

After smoking dozens from each of the 13 or 14 varieties we discovered in the escaparate, each appearing on a sheet of paper and and designated in 'ligas', we decided to carry four: Corojo Prensado (Liga 5-1), Corojo (Liga 2), Connecticut (Liga 10 and 11) and Broadleaf Maduro (Liga 3-1).

There was a very broad spectrum of quality, complexity, strength and availability in the lines. It was hard to get a straight story on what each started out as. The wrapper leaf and blend were different on each.

For example, Liga 5-1 was very low quantity. The story was that it was the first run of the 10th Anniversary. The wrapper was more like the Diploma wrapper. Great cigar, but not what Christian was looking for. Most of these got 'unwrapped' and 'rewrapped' with the current 10th wrapper, but a few thousand were left in the Escaparate.

Liga 10-1 and 11-1 were prototypes for the new 'mild Camacho' referenced here: http://budurl.com/7555

'I'm working something called "Cajones" ... not cojones ... Cajones with an "A". I've been storing cigars for 5 - 7 years and those cigars are very good. They just haven't made it to market yet.' ~ Christian Eiroa, Puff.com interview.

Liga 2-2, 2-3 and 2-4, I believe, were an experiment on the Diploma line. They are almost indistinguishable, but the wrapper quality wasn't there. There were 07.05 and 11.18 sizes in this liga, so I am pretty sure it was an attempt to increase the production levels of the Diploma by going farther down on the plant for the wrapper....didn't work out, but the cigars were fabulous.

Liga 3-1, with the Broadleaf Maduro, were (I think) attempts to re-blend the SLR or add sizes to the line, but turned out too strong. Christian asked me during the tastings which I liked best, I said Liga 5-1 and Liga 3-1, but Liga 3-1 was by far the best. He laughed and asked the plant manager to show me some notes he had made on one of the sheets. He had written next to Liga 3-1 5x56 "el major". The 3-1 has been in the Escaparate since 2002.

Back to our selections, we chose only the best ligas (from my perspective). The other ligas included, Criollo (Havana) Sumatra (CLE), Cameroon (Select) etc....but they just didn't make the cut. Some of them had >15k cigars, others <800.>

Escaparate vs. Cajones

At IPCPR 2008, we found out that Camacho was offering big chests (cajons) of cigars labeled Cajones. They were bundled, cello'd and banded with the Cajones band, each reflecting the liga designation we had seen on the factory manager's list in Danli.

However, the Cajones package did not include all of the ligas, or even every size from the Ligas that were originally presented to us in Honduras. What was represented were the lines that had large quantities. So I assume this 'package' was Camacho's attempt to sell the 'micro batch' escaparate lines that we, and others had passed on, to retailers at the show.

So here is where the confusion sets in. To our surprise, one of our shipments came cello's, bundled and banded as Cajones instead of in the raw 50 count rounds. As I mentioned above, the Cajones that were branded and packaged in this way are not, in my mind, in the same league as those we had selected, such as the Liga 3-1.

When we received them packaged this way, I called Maria Martin. She advised that the factory had mistakenly shipped them the same way they were shipping the others. She offered to take them back and repackage them, but I chose to keep them and repackage them myself vs. risking damage.

We were moving these from the cello/banded packaging to the rounds as we needed them, but discovered that some customers preferred the identification of the band, the protection of the cello and the convenient 25 count quantity so we kept, and sold, some of the Escaparate Seleccion de Christian Eiroa, our ligas, in the Cajones packaging.

One interesting note, the Cajones have Liga numbers on the band (as seen in the picture above), but the Liga 3-1 we received, packaged as Cajones, do not indicate Liga #3 on the band. They have no designation.

In September 2008, our store was hit by Hurricane Ike. Most of the cigars in this line were stored on the shelves of our in-store escaparate, which was flooded by 7 feet of bay water. The majority of the Escaparate Seleccion de Christian Eiroa cigars we saved were the ones packaged as Cajones. The picture to the right shows some of the remnants of the Escaparate as they were presented to our customers (in the Camacho branded brown cloth 'bandage').

Remember the Camacho Scorpion? The Scorpion was in the Escaparate after the original retailer went out of business and couldn't purchase the remainder. It wasn’t until two retailers visited and committed to buying them that Christian packaged and released them.

The Brotherhood of the Leaf

2009-02-21T17:37:00.018-06:00

One of the most rewarding aspects of the cigar business is the fellowship with other smokers, what some refer to as 'The Brotherhood of the Leaf'. There are no secret handshakes, no pass phrases, no initiation rites and no membership fee required to join.

While the economy, politics and religion are often topics of discussion, the Brotherhood transcends socioeconomic factors, political affiliation, religious beliefs. If one listens carefully, amidst the symphony of match strikes, Dunhill pings, guillotine snips, keyboard taps, boisterous arguments, belly-aching laughter and quiet introspection, most of the world's problems are contemplated, deliberated and resolved in the lounges, bars and patios where the Brotherhood has been convoked and convenes.

As a young man, and a novice cigar smoker, I spent much of my 'gentleman's time' reposed in a leather chair in the lounge of Emerson's Tobacco, or quaffing a rum and coke on the patio of Croc's 19th Street Bistro in Virginia. In these places, I found the Brotherhood.

I came to appreciate the ubiquitous nature of the Brotherhood when, after moving from Virginia to Chicago, I discovered another chapter in Diana Silvius' courtyard at Up Down Cigar and off of Wabash, under the El, at Iwan Reiss & Co.

In my mind, the world headquarters for the Brotherhood was located between Post Office and Market Street in Galveston, Texas. Hava Cigar Shop and Louge was designed and built to foster the fellowship of cigar smokers.

In Austin, Texas, the Brotherhood can be found congregated at Pipe World, Heroes and Legacies and, more recently, Fumee.

Regardless of the geography, the demographics of the Brotherhood are diverse, but the quality of the fellowship is consistent.

Please comment: I'd like to know about your similar experiences and what the concept of the Brotherhood of the Leaf means to you.

Recently, I have discovered a new community where the Brotherhood gathers online; Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send, and read, other users' updates (known as Tweets).

I encourage you to register as a Twitter user and join the Brotherhood online today.

Get your twitter mosaic here.

One Chapter Closes and Another Opens

2009-02-14T00:57:00.013-06:00

In the 1996 film 'City Hall', Al Pacino's character (NYC Mayor, John Pattas) describes the most memorable aspect of his tenure to his Deputy Mayor:

"Menschkite, you know, something between men. It's about honor, caring... untranslatable. That's why it's Yiddish ...the stuff between men. You know, the there that's there, the thousand telephone calls, the bouquets...the space between a handshake...the stuff that goes with you to your grave .'

More simply, menschkite is the Yiddish concept of the bond of friendship and honor between men. Even though I a not Jewish, I am often hard-pressed to think of a more appropriate word to describe my experience as a tobacconist/cigar shop owner. As I stated in my last blog entry, The Brotherhood of the Leaf, has been a significant contributor to my quality of life over the last 16 years. Never was it more strongly felt in my life than when fulfilling my role as one of the owner/operators of Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge in Galveston, Texas.

Last week, we marked the 5 month anniversary of Hurricane Ike's landfall on Galveston Island (Ike +156). I shared my thoughts with you a few days Open Letter To Our Customers after the storm in our (http://budurl.com/88g2) and again, a few days later, in After The Storm (http://budurl.com/kll4). I have read these entries several times over the last few months, and I read them again today. The feelings expressed in these entries are as real and raw to me today as they were when I wrote about them.

The optimism we shared in the days and weeks after the storm has, unfortunately, been suppressed by the economic realities of post-Ike Galveston. While the recovery effort promises a return to pre-Ike levels in the long-term, the short-term outlook is distressful. So, it is with a great deal of regret that I announce to you that we have decided not to re-open Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge in Galveston, Texas.

It is also with a heavy heart that I announce that we have mutually agreed to Charlie Head's withdrawal as a member of our core company, Galveston Bay Tobacco, LLC. For almost three years, Charlie and I worked side-by-side in our effort to develop our business and deliver on the high standards we set for our endeavor. I was privileged to share this time with Charlie, time in which we shared both the lows of family illness and the highs of the preparations for his daughter's marriage.

In many ways, Charlie was more than a business partner. As I have shared, my father died when I was very young. Charlie helped to fill part of that void; always there with a sage piece of advice on how to father a teen-aged daughter and almost daily lessons on slowing down long enough to appreciate the really important things in life. I feel very fortunate to have been able to share this time together.

So what's next for Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge? Austin, Texas! Stay tuned for more information.

Support Sick Kids....Hava Cigar

2009-02-04T16:12:00.006-06:00

The prolonged political battle over proposed funding of a renewed State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is over. Today, President Obama signed the Senate's version of the SCHIP renewal and expansion bill, largely funded by significant tax increases on tobacco products.

In late 2006, an alarm rang out across the premium cigar industry when the first SCHIP bill was proposed calling for, as much as, a 10000% increase on large cigars and a floor-tax provision that required retailers and wholesalers to remit the additional tax on all tobacco products in their inventory.

Vendors, wholesalers, retailers and customers across the industry joined a year-long effort, led by the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR), to educate legislators regarding the differentiation of premium cigars and other tobacco products.

The bill, signed today, reflects the positive impact of these efforts:

-The federal tax on large cigars is being increased from $.045 to 52.75% of wholesale price with a cap of $.4026 per cigar (significantly less than the $3/cigar cap originally proposed).

-There will be no floor tax on large cigars, but a wholesalers/retailers will be required to remit a tax on all floor inventory of other tobacco products.

Other tobacco products, particularly RYO, took a more significant hit:

-The cigarette tax rate goes from $.39 per pack to $1.0066 per pack;
-The tax on snuff goes from $.585 per pound to $1.51 per pound;
-The tax on pipe tobacco goes from $1.0969 per pound to $2.8311 per pound;
-The tax on RYO goes from $1.0969 per pound to $24.78 per pound (not a typo). Additionally the definition of RYO has been expanded to include cigar wrappers to address the "blunt wraps" issue;
-The tax change to small cigars (cigars weighing less the three (3) pounds per thousand will be phased in over five (5) years at the following rates per year:

2009- 2010 - $.25 per pack

2011-2012 - $.50 per pack

2013-2014 - $.75 per pack

2015 and beyond - $1.00 per pack

The new tax rates are effective April 1, 2009.

The news could have been better for premium cigar smokers, but an internal conflict between the premium cigar and the remainder of the tobacco industry continued to deepen as tobacco conglomerates, like Altadis, that produce both handmade and machine-made cigars, negotiated for higher taxes on handmade cigars in order to attain lower taxes on their cheaper, higher-volume, machine-made cigars.

In his exclusive interview with StogieGuys.com, Rocky Patel indicated a tax cap of 20 cents per large cigar, or less, would have been possible if not for resistance from those who sell machine-made cigars.

“The problem here is that in raising the revenue that Congress wants, they make 4.7 billion machine-made cigars, we make 300 million handmade premium cigars,” the famed cigar maker told the Stogie Guys. “So every time they pay an extra penny, it saves us a lot of money on the amount of cap that we pay on the handmade side. But they weren't willing to go up a couple pennies so we could go down to twenty [cents per cigar].”

While, as a Texas retailer, it is good to have the SCHIP negotiations settled, other clouds loom on the horizon:

-Myra Crownover (R, Denton) has re-introduced her bill (HB5) to ban smoking statewide. The bill does not currently exempt retail tobacco shops or cigar bars.

-Honduran president Manuel Zelaya has ordered a comprehensive increase in the minimum wage that will require cigar factory owners to pay their rollers up to 50 percent more. The premium cigar industry will be heavily impacted by the increase as Honduras is second only to the Dominican Republic as a source of premium cigars for the U.S. market.

We strongly urge you to visit http://www.cigarrights.org/membership.htm and join the Cigar Rights of America and join the ongoing fight to protect your rights as a premium cigar smoker.

Oral Hygiene for Cigar Smokers

2008-11-18T10:48:00.007-06:00

Two things anyone smoking cigars with any significant frequency should know:

-Poor oral hygiene can more than triple the risk of the person suffering from a heart attack or stroke and is also associated with diabetes.

-Most OTC oral hygiene products contain a substance that messes with your taste buds.

Go figure, failure to brush and floss might kill you faster than your three-stick-a-day cigar ritual.

It isn't often that I quote the American Heart Association, but according to them "achieving and maintaining good oral health is important to optimal general health and may reduce the incidence of some cardiac infections such as infective (bacterial) endocarditis." Other sources reveal that bleeding gums allow oral bacteria to enter the blood stream. Once in the bloodstream the bacteria stick to platelets (blood clotting cells) and clump together within blood vessels. This can prevent the blood flow back to the heart and heightens the risk of heart attack. Further, Periodontis (gum disease) causes an elevation in lipoproteins in the blood , with low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) contribute to atherosclerosis, or artery hardening and narrowing. Good to know.

Also good to know, your toothpaste may be causing your morning and afternoon cigar to taste 'funny'.

I posted a comment a few months ago on a cigar forum inquiring about other's experience with this problem. Specifically, I had recently switched toothpastes and I noted that the new product significantly impacted my tastebuds throughout the first half of the day. After a little research, I discovered that many OTC oral hygiene products contained a substance known as sodium laureth sulfate, also known as sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). This substance is used in these products as a sufacant, or a wetting agent used to lower the surface tension of liquids in order to generate 'foam'. This is the same substance used in shampoo and soap to generate those little lathery-sudsy-foamy 'scrubbing bubbles'.

Per Matt Sonjak, of mentalfloss.com:

"While surfactants make brushing our teeth a lot easier, they do more than make foam. Both SLES and SLS mess with our taste buds in two ways. One, they suppress the receptors on our taste buds that perceive sweetness, inhibiting our ability to pick up the sweet notes of food and drink. And, as if that wasn’t enough, they break up the phospholipids on our tongue. These fatty molecules inhibit our receptors for bitterness and keep bitter tastes from overwhelming us, but when they’re broken down by the surfactants in toothpaste, bitter tastes get enhanced.

So, anything you eat or drink after you brush is going to have less sweetness and more bitterness than it normally would. Is there any end to this torture? Yes. You don’t need foam for good toothpaste, and there are plenty out there that are SLES/SLS-free. You won’t get that rabid dog look that makes oral hygiene so much fun, but your breakfast won’t be ruined."
I'll pause here, because I am sure that many of you reading this are having the same 'ah-hah' moment that I had.

Fear not, you do not have to risk death by curbing your morning brushing ritual in order to actually taste the nuances in that $18 post-espresso Davidoff, but you may need to change your toothpaste brand to an SLS-Free variety.

Generally, SLS-Free toothpaste will be marketed as 'organic' or 'canker sore' brands. I have tried many varieties and have settled on Tom's of Maine. It is a little pricey, but it completely changed the quality of my morning cigar ritual.

Other brands available: Dr. Ken's Maximum Care, Kiss My Face, ThereBreath, Sensodyne, Sapphire, Natural Dentist, Nature's Gate, Eco DenT, CloSys and Squigle.

Cigar Insider Features Hava Cigar

2008-11-05T00:36:00.008-06:00

Galveston Retailer Ponders Future After Hurricane Ike

On September 15, Skip Martin walked through the front door of his Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge for the first time since Hurricane Ike battered the city of Galveston, Texas, with 100-mph winds and a 20-foot wall of water, leaving the island completely devastated.

“The smell hit me like a punch in the face. The reality of the damage hit harder,” Martin, co-owner of Hava Cigar wrote in the Hava Cigar blog, havacigar.blogspot.com. “I couldn’t move at first. I stood there taking it all in. The plans I had been making over the weekend, to remediate and recover, suddenly seemed insufficient.”

More than seven weeks have passed since Ike hit the Texas coast, and the city of Galveston is still only in the beginning stages of recovery. About 1.5 million cubic meters of trash have been removed, but boats are still scattered around the city. Residents have returned, but many are living in makeshift shelters. Retailers are uncertain about the future of their businesses.

Martin does not know whether his establishment—the only cigar lounge in Galveston prior to the hurricane—will ever return to its former state. Despite extensive damage, he hopes that the store can reopen, but there are several potential obstacles. Martin is still unsure how much of his leasehold improvements can be replaced, if he can secure a Small Business Association Disaster Recovery Loan or an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or if any government recovery funds will be given to small businesses. While he is doubtful about government aid, he said he has been surprised by the extent of support from his clientele.

Martin was able to return to his store only two days after the hurricane, with the assistance of Hava Cigar customers who held positions in the city and Galveston County government. Martin said that by returning promptly, he was able to save the inventory that had been removed from the humidors and placed above the water line. Fortuitously, the cigars were preserved in the humidity after the storm. Much of the other merchandise, however, was destroyed.

Some customers also came and helped clear out the debris from inside the store, putting in around 12 hours of work for two days. “It just shows you how these guys felt about us. We were more than just a store,” said Martin.

Many vendors also helped Hava Cigar. United Tobacco Inc., owner of the 601 brand, allowed Martin to send back surviving product for a full refund, helping to ease some of the shop’s financial challenges. Many other vendors, such as Xikar, Camacho, and Padilla, also provided Hava Cigar with refunds or extended their payment deadlines to help the store through this difficult transition.

The catastrophe has made Martin fear for all tobacco stores, not only his. “When this happens, you don’t just lose a place to hang out,” said Martin. “You lose a place where people from different economic backgrounds connect. What happens when more communities lose the tobacconist because of ordinances? To me, that’s the larger story.”

Republished with permission from the author and Cigar Insider, from the Publisher of Cigar Aficionado Magazine, M. Shanken Communications, Inc.

Brown, Jennings. "Galveston Retailer Ponders Future After Hurricane Ike." Cigar Insider Nov. 4, 2008: 4-5.

Get your own copy of this story by subscribing to www.cigaraficionado.com, Cigar Insider and/or Cigar Aficionado Magazine. Visit:

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Insider/CA_Insider_Main/1,3045,,00.html

Stogie Fresh Features Hava Cigar and Camacho Escaparate (Cajones 3-1)

2008-10-25T03:17:00.004-05:00

I+43

On our forty-third day of our recovery, things continue to move along at a slow, but steady, pace. However, today has been the brightest of them all.

David Diaz, also known as 'Doc' Stogie Fresh, chose to feature Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge and the Escaparate Liga 3-1 Broadleaf Maduro (5x58) on his widely distributed podcast, Stogie Fresh 5.

Doc launched stogiefresh.com in 2005. He and 'Team Stogie Fresh' have built one of the most comprehensive and educational cigar-related sites on the web.

We met Doc on the Rocky Patel Factory Tour in Danli, Honduras, in 2007. As some of you know first-hand, we burned away every night of that trip out on the pool-deck smoking, consuming rum and sharing stories about our experiences in the cigar business.

Today, I look forward to my weekly ritual of sharing a smoke, and an hour, listening to the Stogie Fresh 5 podcast. I am very honored by Doc's decision to feature our store in this week's episode.

With thousands of subscribers, the Stogie Fresh 5 podcast feature will surely drive demand for the Escaparate Liga 3-1 Broadleaf Maduro (5x58 and 6x60) so don't hesitate...contact us as soon as possible to place your order before they are sold out.