Cigar Reviews

15 Comments Posted on by lucky7 Cigar Reviews, Don Pepin Garcia

San Cristobal Fabuloso by Ashton

Cigar Stats
Brand Owner: Holt’s Company
Tabacalera: Tabacalera Cubana (TACUBA)

Click here for a short video (about 11 minutes) of the José “Don Pepín” García factory in Esteli, Nicaragua posted on YouTube by Cigar King.

Model/Vitola: Ashton San Cristobal Fabuloso (torpedo)
Size: 6.125 x 52
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

San Cristobal Open Box

San Cristobal Band

 

Vitola sizes available (All in boxes of 22)

San Cristobal Vitolas
San Cristobal Vitolas (photos courtesy of www.ashtoncigar.com)

Ashton has held the trademark for the San Cristobal name for over 20 years and thanks to José “Don Pepín” García they now have a cigar suitable for the name. Ashton’s first new brand – since the 2002 launch of La Aroma de Cuba.

Released shortly after RTDA 2007, this is the long awaited new line of cigars Ashton has been working on for 2 years. It has been reported the first years release will total 300,000 cigars but Ashton says they will not be limited like the VSGs, ESGs or even the Aged Maduro (open ordering). It is blended and rolled in José “Don Pepín” García’s TACUBA facility at Esteli, Nicaragua. The San Cristobal is a Nicaraguan puro using a dark Nicaraguan wrapper, slightly veiny and mottled with a rosado hue. The cigar is medium to full-bodied with a hint of that now classic Pepín flavor. He always manages to get very different flavor profiles using all Nicaraguan tobacco. Truly a genius, he is able to produce cigar after cigar with its own unique characteristics.

Some have expressed concern that the new Ashton-JDPG connection may indicate a change in the Ashton-Fuente relationship. This quote from vice president Sathya Levin @ Ashton posted mid-June 2007 on the cigar family forum online:

… Nothing has changed between us and the Fuente family. The Fuentes are our partners, as well as our dear friends. We wish that every cigar we sold was made by Fuente, but their production capacity is currently maxed out. Carlito is not an envious or vindictive person. He knows that in order for us to continue to grow, we need to have cigars manufactured outside of his factory. He gave us his blessing on this project.

The reason we chose Pepin is that we believe he is making some of the finest cigars in the world today. His breadth of knowledge regarding tobaccos and cigar making is truly astounding. You need not worry [about tobacco supply]! Pepin does indeed have oodles and oodles of aged tobaccos all ready to be rolled up …

Bottom line up front …..
A little young but this is another really special cigar from Ashton and José “Don Pepín” García. Perfectly balanced between strength and complexity of flavors. Exquisite construction, burn and a long smooth finish. Like many who waited anxiously for this release, I am ecstatic to finally have a box and can’t wait to try the other sizes.

I heard that Carlito Fuente was quite upset when the initial Ashton Estate Sun Grown (ESG) was released. He felt the cigar was not ready and, having purchased and smoked one right away, I have to agree. They were not ready. Those who spoke with José “Don Pepín” García at RTDA said he was very excited about this release but my IMO the San Cristobal, although a good smoke now, is pretty young and needs another 3-4 months to be really good. With a year or two, these are going to be phenomenal.

Pre-light
A dark brown oily wrapper with a few veins and a reddish hue envelopes this beautiful torpedo. I read that JDPG said the wrapper was maduro during a conversation at RTDA but Ashton doesn’t mention it in their information. Who are you going to believe? Construction is solid and the stick feels very nicely balanced in the hand. An earthy tobacco aroma from the wrap and the foot with just a hint of barnyard and pepper. It actually tingled my nose and drew a sneeze. The band is a work of art and when it’s time, is removed very easily with no effect on the cigar. I used my Xikar and the clip was very clean. Draw was easy with just a slight resistance.

The Smoking Experience
The foot toasted and lit easily. The burn line got a little bumpy at times but always self corrected without the torch. Draw continued to be very good through to the nub. The ash was very light gray and held on well to about two inches each time. This cigar puts out tons of smoke.

San Cristobal Nub

Starts with the typical JDPG bang for about an inch then smoothes out to a core flavor of dark earthy espresso, dark chocolate and toasted cedar with notes of nuts, vanilla and black pepper over the length of the cigar. Definitely what you would call a full-flavored, full-bodied cigar. The finish is long and the aroma is special. During the last third I detected a little caramel on the nose.

I would say this stick starts and holds the medium category until about the halfway mark where it begins to build in strength to full towards the nub. Definitely has a nicotine kick. I had mine with a glass of port which complimented the cigar very nicely.

You can tell when a cigar maker is especially proud of the brand when they adorn the cigar and boxes with ornate bands and box design like the Fuente Fuente OpusX and the Ashton ESG. The band and box artwork for the San Cristobal are exquisite to say the very least.

san-cristobal-inside-box-art.gif
Inside Box Cover
San Cristobal Cedar Cigar Separator
Cedar Cigar Separator
San Cristobal Wax Paper Logo
Wax Paper Logo

My take …..
Although a little young IMHO, I enjoyed this smoke immensely and will be looking to obtain more to age. My problem will be the ability to summon the patience when I get em’.

I am not sure of MSRP for the Fabuloso at this point. The Ashton folks are saying the entire line runs between $7 and $12. The online price has gone up since I ordered mine (pre-release). Right now they run $9.50 per stick if you buy a box ($209.00/22) and $9.75 for a single from Jack Schwartz Importer. Definitely a wallet reducer but I plan to get some more (They are that good!). I would have thought Holt’s would be the first online to carry them (since they own the brand) but they have no listing as of this post.

Smoke Til Your Green

Like it … Very much
Buy it again … Absolutely
Recommend it … Yes, but age em’ for a few months if you can hold out that long

What others are saying about the
San Cristobal by Ashton …..

9 August 2007 – Cigar Aficionado Blog – David Savona
A Preview of Ashton’s New San Cristobal

12 August 2007 – John51277 of CigarLive
Ashton/Pepin San Cristobal “Classico”

25 August 2007 – Jay (aka Altercall) of BOTL Cigar Forums – Brothers of the Leaf
San Cristobal Review

Publications

29 June 2007
The Cohiba Club
The Many Faces of Don Pepín García

Wikipedia on José “Don Pepín” García

… lucky7

“It has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep,
and never to refrain when awake.” (Mark Twain)

12 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Bargain Cigars, Cigar Brand History, Cigar Reviews

VegaFina Robusto

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Over the years there have been several different cigars marketed under the name Vega Fina, mainly because the companies owning the brand name have merged or been acquired or simply changed hands: the brand name appears to have first been owned by Havatampa, an old manufacturer around since the early 1900’s. When Tabalera S.A. de España bought Havatampa in 1997, Vega Fina passed to them and was produced by Benji Menendez in Honduras with an Indonesian wrapper. Two years later, Tabacalera S.A. merged with the French tobacco giant SEITA to form Altadis, S.A. Soon after this, production moved to the Dominican Republic and Vega Fina was produced primarily for the Spanish and Western European market as an affordable Dominican premium (but also as a mass market machine mini cigar very popular in Spain.)

Vega Fina continues to be Spain’s most popular Dominican cigar, so Altadis decided to introduce it to the much larger American market early this year. Today they’re made in La Romana’s Tabacalera de Garcia under the supervision of José Séijas.

The VF robusto is graced by a creamy claro-colored Ecuadorian grown Connecticut Shade wrapper that looks good enough to eat. Beneath this, however, is a binder which causes me a little concern: Indonesian TBN. (I have to remind myself that the wrapper on the Dominican Romeo y Julieta 1875 is also TBN, and it’s not bad stuff.) The VF employs filler from Columbia, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras.

I tend to think of Indonesian TBN as the carpetbagger of cigar tobacco — it seems to turn up only when the “real thing” is no longer available. When Consolidated couldn’t get quality Cameroon in the late 80’s, they turned to TBN. When wrapper leaf of any quality was scarce during the “boom” years, TBN was there. And this is at least partly why it has a such a sullied reputation — it’s often been the alternative, not the prime choice. And unfortunately the alternative, especially during the boom years, was actually bottom-of-barrel tobacco billed as TBN when it may have been something else entirely. So what we were taking in general as “Indonesian” was actually the worst tobacco the region had to offer.

TBN stands for tobaco bawah naungan, which means “tobacco under sheet,” or shade-grown tobacco. Top quality TBN is a cross between native besuki tobacco and Connecticut Shade. It’s a nice looking leaf, so in addition to its blending qualities it can also serve well as a wrapper. Strangely it is also prized for its lack of aroma. I can’t think why this would be appreciated in a wrapper, but used as a binder here perhaps it makes more sense.

The VegaFina robusto is a suave looking cigar. The wrapper is smooth and supple with very few veins. The construction is very good from the start, with a cool even draw and a nearly straight-edge burn. There’s just a hint of pepper at first light. This quickly disappears and is replaced by a very mild bodied smoke with a creamy texture. Up until the half-way point the flavor is mildly woody with some herbal tea accents. The aroma is exceptional — it blends well with the flavor of the cigar and adds a spicy floral component. (Incidentally, there are none of the metallic overtones that I’ve noticed with Indonesian leaf in the past.)

The flavor picks up at the mid-point, not a lot, but enough to be noticed. Another dash of pepper is added to the mix and the finish goes from non-existent to moderately short at this point. The last third stays the course, and finally a discreet bitterness announces that the finish line has been crossed.

Overall the VegaFina robusto is an excellent mild blend: a fine mid-day smoke, great after breakfast. The price is right on these babies as well: I picked up a few for under 3 USD on the reservation, and it looks like boxes can be had for under 75 online. Factoring price into the equation, I think this is my new mild one. (Especially since it’s getting hard to find Nestor Reserve Connecticuts these days…)

–cigarfan

4 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Cigar Brand History, Cigar Reviews

Domaine Avo ’50’

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Avo Uvezian has led a cigar-charmed life. He started out as a jazz pianist and composer, playing and touring as a very young man in Lebanon and the Middle East after World War II. In 1947 he traveled to New York, where he studied at the Juilliard School of Music and eventually was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. (He played piano in the First Army Band.)

After following family members to Puerto Rico and working in the jewelry business for many years he started playing piano at a local resort. He discovered that the guests enjoyed the locally made cigars he kept on the top of his piano, and after giving away one too many of his personal stash, his young daughter Karin suggested that he might as well sell them.

This was the spark that eventually led Uvezian to contact Hendrik Kelner of Davidoff, who had just opened a cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. Avo’s first cigars were called Bolero, but the name was quickly changed to Avo when it was discovered that “Bolero” had already been registered by another manufacturer. The initial production run in 1987 was about five thousand boxes. Today about three million cigars are produced under the Avo brand name and its extensions.

The first Avo cigars – the now Classic line – were released in 1988, but Avo is really more of a song-and-dance man, a self described “PR man,” than a business and paperwork kind of guy, so in 1995 he sold his brand to Davidoff. But he remains, with his trademark Mimbre hat and ice cream suit, the face of Avo Cigars.

The Domaine Avo was blended to be a stronger version of the original Avo. It was released in 1998 in a robusto size only, but other sizes, including this 6 x 50/54 perfecto, were added in 2001. The filler and binder are a blend of San Vicente and piloto from the Avo farms in the Dominican Republic, and the wrapper is Connecticut shade grown in Ecuador. Production is overseen by the inimitable Henke Kelner in Santiago.

This is a beautiful cigar. For a few months I kept it in the top row of my humidor just so I could admire it during those few moments of indecision when I can’t decide what to smoke. The wrapper is a creamy colorado claro with small veins that are just about evenly spaced. The head and perfecto foot are flawlessly formed. There is an overall sense of proportionality and balance to this cigar that makes me hesitant to commit it to the flame.

The head clips cleanly and the prelight draw is much more generous than I expected, even with a nearly closed foot. After an easy light the draw opens up even more and becomes completely effortless. This cigar exhibits excellent construction all the way around — a great draw and a slow even burn.

The Domaine Avo introduces itself with a handful of sharp peppercorn — a surprise, considering the genteel appearance of the cigar. The finish from the start is quite long, and I found myself thinking “This is an Avo?” The texture of the smoke is smooth and creamy like I would expect from Connecticut wrapper, but the aroma carries all the characteristics of Ecuador, a nice easygoing cedary spice.

After the first inch the pepper fades a bit into a mild woody flavor, balsa-like with a salty element. The spice from the wrapper combines with this flavor very well to create a complex smoky brew. The middle third continues in this vein, with the wrapper stealing the spotlight and the base flavors taking a back seat. Into the last third the pepper kicks in again. I found that I had to smoke slowly to keep the smoke in balance at this point– this is where a slightly tighter draw might be appreciated. But of course the sensible thing is to just slow down a little.

The balanced appearance of this cigar seems to be reflected in the way that it smokes: it ends very much the way it starts, with a lot of spicy drama. In between is a pleasantly pastoral interlude. An extremely classy cigar that falls in the medium body range, maybe stretching to full at the end.

The Domaine Avo “50” is not a cheap date, but you’re not taking this one on the Tilt-a-Whirl at the State Fair. This is an operatic cigar, and in my opinion it’s worth the 8 or 10 dollars it sells for. There are a lot of fantastic cigars in that price range (and less, for that matter) but if price isn’t an object this stick is definitely worth a look.

–cigarfan

6 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Camacho, Cigar Reviews

Camacho Corojo 11/18

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Camacho’s Corojo Diploma was among the first cigars I reviewed for this blog, so when I cracked the humidor last night and heard that groan from Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” I knew it was time to revisit one of Camacho’s Special Edition corojo cigars. Sometimes you just want a super heavyweight, and this is one of them.

The 11/18 shares a lot of the same characteristics as the Diploma, but the shape is certainly different. The 11/18 is a bulbous figurado that starts out at the head at around a 48 ring gauge, expands to about a 54 in the center and then narrows again to a 48 at the foot. It’s a rough looking cigar with a ruddy but very oily and thick wrapper, and a cap that looks like it might have been applied by school children. (Obviously it wasn’t, since it cuts perfectly, but aesthetically it leaves something to be desired.)

Like Camacho’s other Corojo cigars, this one is pure unadulterated Honduran leaf from Camacho’s farms in the Jamastran valley. Simplicity itself. The seeds used for this tobacco are descended from the “original” Corojo developed in Cuba, a strain which is no longer in use in Cuba due to its susceptibility to disease and mold. The Special Edition cigars (Diploma, 07/05, and 11/18) are loaded up with extra powerful sun grown ligero from these special corojo plants.

I enjoyed a hearty meal of meat and potatoes in preparation for my after-dinner smoke, and having retired to the porch with a glass of Talisker and this Camacho 11/18 I got right to work. After cutting this cigar with some care I was met with a spicy pre-light flavor with a little salt. The roll is solid and well packed, but it draws really well.

The first third of this beast is full-flavored, but relatively tame. Up front I noticed a sweet cereal taste (as in grain cereal with sweet tobacco overtones, not Fruity Pebbles) which I remember as fairly unique to the Diploma size. I haven’t noticed this with the standard Corojo Monarca, or any other cigar for that matter. There’s also a lot of salt here, and it’s surprisingly smooth. Full flavored, absolutely, but with no harshness. Just the way it should be.

After an inch or so I ran into the problem that everyone speaks of with respect to this cigar: it really does not want to burn evenly. I struggled with the burn throughout the length of this stick and had to correct it every ten minutes, which is usually enough to make me throw out what I’m smoking and head to the humi for another one. But I had this one by the horns, and anything else after this particular cigar would taste like slightly warmish air.

At the mid-point the power of this cigar is at full tilt. The aroma is rich and heady, almost sulfurous, and the flavor is incredibly complex with leather, pepper and sweet tobacco. The aftertaste is earthy and lingering with a very long finish. About half an inch into the two-thirds section, after the bulbous part was nearly consumed, this cigar threw me aside like an old dish rag. At this point the flavor is so overpowering that I think it loses a lot of the subtleties that characterize this smoke. The nicotine content is also very high at this point and if you’re not used to it you really have to take it easy. I walked away with a mild headache and had to go lie down for a while.

The 11/18 is a real work of art I think everyone should try at least once, and if you love full-bodied cigars you’re going to get hooked. The only nagging issue with this cigar is a badly uneven burn. But corojo is rather notorious for having this problem, so this may just be the price you pay for a cigar of this caliber. Well, not the only price. These retail for around 9 to 10 USD per stick.

It’s quite a ride, though not one I’ll be taking everyday.

–cigarfan

1 Comment Posted on by cigarfan Cigar Reviews

H. Upmann Signature Double Eagle

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Like the Por Larrañaga “Cuban Grade,” the H. Upmann Signature is an extension brand created by Cuban Imports in conjuction with Altadis USA. It was introduced earlier this year and looks completely different from the other Upmann lines. As with the PL Cuban Grade, a lot of effort has been expended on the packaging — a striking black box emblazoned with the famous banker’s signature (of course) and a newly designed black and silver band.

Setting this line even further apart is the fact that it is made in Honduras, not the Dominican Republic. The Signature line is blended by Jesus Antonio Pineda Henriquez (about whom I can find nothing on the internets except that he is allegedly a “master blender”) in the Flor de Copan factory.

Available in four sizes, including this lovely 5 x 50 perfecto, the Signature features a Nicaraguan binder, filler from Nicaragua, Honduras and Peru, and a choice of wrappers: either Nicaraguan grown Connecticut Shade, or a San Andres maduro.

The Connecticut Shade Double Eagle is an attractive cigar with a soft roll and a perfectly shaped nipple foot. Easily lit with a single match, the draw opens up almost immediately after the tip is torched. The draw seems a little too easy, but the burn is slow and even. After a couple of inches this stick gets extremely soft, almost mushy between the fingers, so I had to be careful not to crack the smooth golden wrapper.

Like the PL Cuban Grade, the Signature has aroma in spades. A creamy sweet honey-like aroma rises from the foot of this cigar. It’s mild to medium in body, maybe a little more on the mild side, but the flavor grows to a solid medium at the finale. The primary flavor through the first two thirds is toasty, then bready, and it’s nicely accented by the sweet honey and floral hints on the nose. Some gentle pepper makes an entrance at the mid-point and gracefully increases in intensity but never really takes charge.

This is a fine mild cigar with a good amount of complexity. The only detraction is a somewhat dirty aftertaste that is especially noticeable in the first third. Strong coffee might take care of this, since this is really a morning or mid-day smoke anyway.

The H. Upmann Signature line retails in the 5 to 7 dollar range. If you really enjoy mild cigars, this might be worth the asking price. Like the PL Cuban Grade, this is a high quality cigar with a level of complexity unusual for mild bodied smokes. I’m more of a medium to full bodied kind of smoker though, so I’ll probably give this one a pass unless I’m really in the mood for a mild one.

— cigarfan

7 Comments Posted on by lucky7 Bargain Cigars, Cigar Brand History, Cigar Reviews

Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 – Robusto Grande

Cigar Stats
Brand Owner: Tobaccos Puros de Nicaragua, S.A.
Model/Vitola: Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 – Robusto Grande (box-pressed)
Size: 5.50 x 52
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano Criollo
Binder: Nicaragua Habana
Filler: Nicaragua Habana

Other sizes available

  • Consul 4.50 x 52 (robusto)
  • Machito 4.75 x 42 (petit corona)
  • Gran Consul 4.75 x 60 (torpedo)
  • Belicoso 6.00 x 54 (torpedo)
  • Magnum 6.00 x 60 (toro)
  • Perfecto 6.25 x 58
  • Churchill 6.875 x 48
  • Lancero 7.50 x 38 (long panatela)
Tobacco Farm at Esteli, Nicaragua
Tobacco farm at Esteli, Nicaragua

Joya de Nicaragua (The Jewel of Nicaragua) was created in Nicaragua’s first cigar factory, which opened in 1964 in the city of Esteli. In the glory days of the 1970s, the brand was arguably the finest in the world, smoked in the White House and prized for its rich flavor. After war decimated Nicaragua and the original factory burned to the ground, Joya de Nicaragua struggled to regain its former glory. Prior to 2000, the brand had taken on a mild, easygoing flavor. Responding to the trend toward full-flavored cigars and looking at its own heritage as a producer of powerful smokes, the brand’s makers created a version called Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970. This was one of the first “high octane” powerful cigars to hit the market back in the early 2000’s. It was one of the hits of the Retail Tobacco Dealers of America trade show in 2002. This cigar features an extremely powerful, heavy, thick smoke highlighted by a rich, oily, almost wet-looking Maduro wrapper. This is the type of cigar that the old Cubans use to make for themselves after quitting time in the Cuban factories.

Joya De Nicaragua Antaño 1970 Band

Joya De Nicaragua Antaño 1970

Bottom line up front …..
“All Muscle, all the time,” is the slogan for the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 and this cigar certainly flexes its muscles. Antaño is the cigar directly responsible for reviving the struggling Joya line, and after smokng one there is no wonder as to why. It has received high ratings, a 91 in Cigar Insider and 92 in Cigar Afficianado, and was in the top 5 of Robb Report’s 2003 annual Best of the Best. Antaño, a Nicaraguan puro, is a powerhouse full of flavor; leathery and slightly earthy, this cigar is rich and spicy. The draw is excellent and the thick, dark wrapper burns well. A true treat for those who enjoy a complex and very full-bodied smoke at a very reasonable price.

Pre-light
A couple large veins on this dark rusty brown colored wrap but no ill effect on the burn. The head is finished with a rounded cap. No tooth is evident over the smooth oily wrap. Construction is solid with no soft spots to the light squeeze. It is well balanced in the hand and the pre-light draw is firm. Although this cigar is advertised as box-pressed, it is barely evident by looking at it. A very subtle aroma of earth and aged tobacco from the wrap. The band is good looking and took a little effort to remove but without effect on the cigar. I used my Xikar cutter for a clean clip.

The Smoking Experience
The foot toasted and lit but with some effort. The wrap is very thick and it took a couple torch blasts to get everything going but, once lit, no burn issues at all. Draw was firm but not too firm and eased just a little over the length of the cigar. Burn line got a little bumpy but always self-corrected. The ash was dark gray with small black striations and held on well to about two inches each time. This cigar puts out allot of smoke and stayed nice and cool all the way to the nub. The smoke seemed to increase in volume past the half way point.

Full bodied and full flavored this cigar leaves nothing to the imagination. Flavors hit the palate like a freight train. Starts with a surge of dark earth and pepper which quickly gives way to a core of sweet earthy flavors with subtle notes of cocoa and espresso. The nose has quite a “twang” to it. The last half ushers in more pepper and spice but not overpowering.

Definitely a strong full-bodied smoke but well balanced. I did not experience any harshness. Not the cigar for morning coffee IMO and should follow something to eat. I had both cigars for this review with McClannan 25 single malt scotch which really complimented the cigar. I’m thinking a nice cold Guiness Stout would work too.

My take …..
Being a fan of stronger cigars, I really enjoyed the Joya De Nicaragua Antaño 1970. I bet these are just fantastic with a year or more to age. I’m curious about the Gran Reserva as well. That’s on my list of cigars to try.

MSRP comes in at $5.00 per stick. I received mine in a trade so I’m not sure exactly what they cost originally but my local B&M has them for $6.25 a stick. Online they run $3.50 per stick if you buy a box (20) and $3.70 if you get a 5ver. Very good price point for a such a flavorful well-made cigar.

Smoke Til Your Green

Like it … Yes
Buy it again … Absolutely, maybe stock some boxes
Recommend it … Yes, to those who like potent cigars

What others are saying about the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 …..

25 March 2006
Cigarfan of Keepers of the Flame
Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 Robusto Grande

28 August 2006
Patrick A of The Stogie Guys
Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Consul

30 May 2007
Dickie Dingleheimer
Review of Joya de Nicaragua Antano Cigars
Rated 4.60/5

As of 10 August 2007
Top 25 Cigar Ratings (26 reviews)
Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Robusto Grande
Average Rating 8.35 out of 10

Publications

18 May 2007 – Cigar Aficionado
An Interview with Alejandro Martinez Cuenca, Owner of Joya de Nicaragua

… lucky7

“It has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep,
and never to refrain when awake.” (Mark Twain)

12 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Cigar Brand History, Cigar Reviews

Angel 100 – O.T.C.

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The Angel 100 series of cigars was named in honor of Angel Oliva, Sr., the patriarch of the Oliva Tobacco Company. Angel Oliva was born in 1907 and came to the United States from Cuba in the late ’20s. After a few years of working odd jobs he found himself working as an assistant to an unsuccessful tobacco broker in Tampa, Florida. Oliva quickly demonstrated his talent for the tobacco trade as well as his keen business skills — he restored his employer’s brokerage to financial health and then he launched his own enterprise, the Oliva Tobacco Company, in 1934.

By the 1950’s Oliva was one of the top distributors of premium tobacco leaf in the world, which at this time meant almost exclusively Cuban leaf. His relationships with Cuban farmers, as well as his company’s ability to buy whole crops and sort the leaf in house, fueled the expansion of the brokerage.

But what Angel Oliva is best remembered for is his distrust of Fidel Castro and his anticipation of the U.S. embargo. Oliva declared Castro a communist before the world really understood him to be one and predicted what would happen to the Cuban tobacco industry. In 1961, one step ahead of Castro’s revolution, the Olivas established a tobacco farm in Honduras, one of the first modern tobacco plantations in Central America. Not long after this, Angel managed to buy up almost four million pounds of Cuban leaf — it turned out to be the last shipment of tobacco from Cuba before JFK signed the embargo into law.

The Oliva empire would eventually extend to almost all of the primary tobacco growing regions of the world: Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic (at the request of the Fuente family) and Ecuador. Or perhaps I should say, especially Ecuador. The sun grown wrappers on Ashton’s VSG, Arturo Fuente’s Chateau Fuente and Rocky Patel’s Sun Grown (to name a few) are all from Oliva’s farms in Ecuador. Tobacco from other Oliva farms also goes into brands like La Gloria Cubana, La Flor Dominicana, Pepin Garcia, and just to confuse everyone, some Oliva cigars as well. (The two Oliva families are often confused, but they are totally distinct and separate companies: the Oliva Tobacco Company is the legacy of Angel Oliva, Sr., as opposed to the Oliva Cigar Company, maker of Flor de Oliva, Master Blends, etc.)

The one thing the Oliva Tobacco Company doesn’t do is make cigars. The Angel 100 is actually made by NATSA (Nicaragua American Tobacco, S.A.) in Esteli with all Oliva grown tobaccos: binder and filler from their La Joya farm in Nicaragua, and sun grown wrapper from their La Meca vega in Ecuador. Four sizes were produced, each pressed and packed in boxes of five. The names of the different vitolas all hold some significance for the OTC family:

  • 1961 (6 x 45 corona)
  • La Joya (6 x 54 toro)
  • La Meca (6.12 x 52 torpedo)
  • O.T.C. (6 x 48 corona gorda)

The Angel 100 O.T.C. is a rough looking cigar. The wrapper is veiny and dark, the way sun grown wrappers often are, and the cap is just a bit loose on the head of the cigar. But once clipped it draws perfectly and produces a fine even burn with a solid ash.

When I first received these about a year ago they were harsh and inhospitable cigars. But I still found something intriguing about them, and I liked the aroma, so I put them away thinking they just needed some time to simmer. This turns out to be exactly the case — this is still a forthright and aggressive smoke, but it’s much more docile than it was a year ago. In fact, it’s nearly smooth. Full flavored, most definitely, but easier on the membranes.

The O.T.C. opens up with a medium body, and after the introductory first third it gets close to full. The Nicaraguan character of the cigar really comes through with lots of sweet woody flavors and the wrapper lends a fruity element to the smoke — it reminds me a lot of the wrapper on Rocky Patel’s Vintage 92 cigars, but played at a louder volume. It’s smooth, but with plenty of zing on the palate: pepper on the tongue and cherry in the nose… an interesting combination. And to my surprise it’s not a nicotine powerhouse — it generates a pretty good current, but it didn’t overload my admittedly delicate circuits.

As the cigar burns it develops a more serious character as the heavy Nicaraguan flavors overtake the subtleties of the wrapper. It remains balanced, but the balance shifts a bit. There is definitely enough complexity here to keep the senses guessing.

Just one small caveat: there is something a little odd about this cigar in the first and middle stages, a detergent-like overtone that may not be to everyone’s liking. Personally, I like that springtime fresh scent, but I can see how some might find it a little distracting.

This is a limited edition cigar with only a few sizes still readily available, though at a very reasonable price: about 13 USD per five pack box. It’s a fine cigar for fans of full flavor and a worthy tribute to one of the great cigar men of the twentieth century. Get some now and let them sit. I don’t think you’ll regret it.

— cigarfan

11 Comments Posted on by lucky7 Cigar Reviews, Don Pepin Garcia

Don Pepín García Black “Cuban Classic” 1979 (Robusto)

Since this is my first post on KOTF, some style notes are in order before I start. My reviews may seem familiar in style and form since I am a product of my environment and have been surfing the cigar blogs for a while. A big “thanks” to all in the cigar blogosphere that have helped shape my presentation style.

Taste in cigars is such a personal thing, I don’t try to rate anything. Just describe and recommend. Hope you find my posts informative, accurate and fun! Don’t be shy, let me know what you think (as if I thought you wouldn’t).

And now …

Cuban Classic 1979 on Box

Cigar Stats
Brand Owner: El Rey de los Habanos, Inc.
Tabacalera: Tabacalera Cubana (TACUBA)
Model/Vitola: Don Pepín García Black Edition “Cuban Classic” 1979 (Robusto)
Size: 5.0 x 50
Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo 99
Binder: Nicaragua Habana
Filler: Nicaragua Habana

Other sizes available

  • 1950 6.0 x 52 (toro)
  • 1973 6.0 x 60/48 (figurado)
  • 1977 5.5 x 38 (petit lancero)
  • 1970 5.0 x 54 (belicoso)
  • 1952 4.25 x 40 (perla)

(Each size in the line is named after a year that has been a milestone for the García family)


Introduced late in 2006, the Don Pepín García Black Edition is the newest and most affordable blend in the amazing trio of cigars that make up the Don Pepín García line. The Black Edition is also referred to as the “Cuban Classic” for its striking resemblance to old time Cuban cigars. It is made in Pepín’s factory in Esteli, Nicaragua and like the Don Pepín García Blue label and the Don Pepín García Serie JJ, it is a Nicaraguan puro using Pepín’s famous Corojo 99 wrapper. The cigar is medium to full-bodied, carrying that now classic Pepín flavor. He always manages to get very different flavor profiles using all Nicaraguan tobacco. Each cigar he produces has its own unique characteristics that prove his blending genius. The Don Pepín García Cuban Classic shows once again that he doesn’t strive to produce just a good cigar – he always blends the best. José “Don Pepín” García is on fire producing some of the finest Cuban style cigars outside the island.

Bottom line up front …
If this is truly a “Cuban Classic” I can’t wait to have cubans available to me (without the threat of legal action). This cigar is smooth and creamy with a little bite and a nice crisp finish. Although not as complex as the Blue or White, the flavor is special and consistent from start to nub. Definitely holds a place in my regular rotation.

Pre-light
A smooth caramel-colored Corojo wrapper and a beautiful Cuban triple-cap common to JDPG stogies. Construction is solid with very nice draw. An almost sweet aroma from the wrap and a little barnyard from the foot. The band is nicely done and is removed very easily without effect on the cigar. I have used both punch and cutter and would suggest the punch on this one but be careful whichever you choose. The wrap on this guy is quite fragile.

The Smoking Experience
The foot toasted and lit easily. Overall the burn was good but somewhat inconsistent from one stick to another requiring a touch-up once in a while. Certainly not troublesome though. Draw was very good. The ash was light gray and held on well to about two inches each time. This cigar puts out allot of smoke.

Starts with the typical JDPG bang for about a half inch then softens to a creamy base flavor of toasted cedar and rich coffee with notes of bittersweet cocoa, nuts and black pepper. The aftertaste and aroma are sweet and pleasant. During the last third I always detect a little caramel on the nose.

Most I’ve read have this as a full-bodied cigar. I would call it medium to full-bodied. Definitely has a kick but not a barn burner. Great with a Guiness Stout or Patron tequila.

My take ….
I enjoy these smokes immensely and will always keep some in the humi. My only problem is I smoke em’ when I get em’ and haven’t been able to get any age on mine. Oh well!

MSRP comes in at $6.00 per stick. My local B&M has them for $5.85 a stick. Online they run $4.80 per stick if you buy a box ($95.95/20) and $5.60 if you get a 5ver. Medium price point but worth it in my book.

Smoke Til Your Green

Like it … Very much
Buy it again … Absolutely
Recommend it … Yes

What others are saying about the Don Pepín García Black Edition “Cuban Classic” …..

26 December 2006 – Matt’s Cigar Journal
Don Pepín García Cuban Classic Robusto 5×50

20 April 2007 – Uncle Moneybag$ of Leafy Times
Don Pepín García Cuban Classic Robusto (5 x 50) (See, not everyone likes em’)

27 April 2007 – Michal of CigarPass
Don Pepín García Black “Cuban Classic” Perla 1952

As of 18 July 2007 – Top 25 Cigar Ratings (7 reviews)
Don Pepín García Black Edition “Cuban Classic” 1979 (Robusto)
Average Rating 7.17 out of 10

Publications

29 June 2007
The Cohiba Club
The Many Faces of Don Pepín García

Wikipedia on Don Pepín García Cigar Brand

Wikipedia on José “Don Pepín” García

Just look at all these cigars José “Don Pepín” García has had a hand in …

(Listing from Clubstogie’s Glacierman)

Not a new brand, but a new vitola: the DPG Blue Label Firecracker

El Rey de los Habanos (Miami)
Don Pepín García Blue Label
Don Pepín Serie JJ
Cabaiguan
Tatuaje
Tatuaje Nuevitas
Padilla Miami 8/11
Padilla Signature 1932
Vegas Cubanas
El Rey los de Habanos
Nacionales W (Cigar King / Phatash)
Sancti Spiritus (Cigar King / Phatash)
Havana Soul (Cigar King / Phatash)
Hirsh y García (Cigar King / Phatash)
Habana Leon (Cigar King / Phatash)
Cuban Diplomat (Cigar King / Phatash)
Cuban Diplomat Corojo Rosado(Cigar King / Phatash)
Top Shelf Signature Select (topshelfcigar.com)
Trahan – (Cigar Merchant, Georgia)
Rey Miguel – (Black Cat Cigar Company)
Sam’s GS Stash – (Black Cat Cigar Company)

Tabacalera Cubana (Pepín’s Nicaraguan factory)
Don Pepín García Black Label
EO Brands 601
Tatuaje Havana VI
Tatuaje Series P
Old Henry (Holt’s)
Padilla Edicion Especial Achilles (Cigars International)
Legends Pepín García – Yellow Label (Cigars International)
Troya Clasico
Cigar.com Corojo Label
Exclusivo Verocu
Holt’s Connoisseur Selection
Fumadores
Ashton San Cristobal
5 Vegas Miami (yes this is made in Nicaragua)

Tabacalera Tropical (Nicaragua)
It is believed Pepín created these blends:
JFR
Condega
Nicarao
Rio Tabac Alpha Series R – (Rocky’s Cigars)
Nicaragauan Heirloom (now discontinued)
Aganorsa

… lucky7

“It has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep,
and never to refrain when awake.” (Mark Twain)

4 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Cigar Brand History, Cigar Reviews

Plasencia Reserva Organica Toro

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The Plasencia Reserva Organica is advertised by its distributor, Indianhead, as “the first completely organically grown cigar to come along since the Indians stopped rolling their own.” I might quibble with the concept of growing cigars, and I’ve read that the Cubans have utilized organic methods extensively, but it must be true that the Plasencia Reserva Organica is the first to be certified as a purely organic cigar.

But I can hear the groans already. Organic hippy dippy shit. But wait! What’s so terrible about eschewing the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides? It’s hard to say what the long term effects of these chemicals are on tobacco workers and possibly, the end product, so why not see if it’s possible to go without them? Obviously it’s going to be more difficult to cultivate and harvest any crop in this manner, and therefore more expensive, but I don’t see anything intrinsically wrong with it. At the very least it opens the “organic” question for discussion. Have you ever wondered what chemicals are used to produce your favorite cigar?

Nestor Plasencia, Jr. is the madman behind this crazy organic thing, and it only makes sense that he picked up this harebrained idea in a university where he received a degree in Agricultural Engineering. And I suppose being the son of Nestor Plasencia Sr., one of the most prolific cigar makers in Central America, had something to do with it too. Maybe a lot.

To avoid the risk of contamination and because the certification requirements are so stringent, the Organica operation is entirely separate from Plasencia’s other fields and facilities in Esteli and Jalapa. All Nicaraguan tobaccos are used, but only the sturdiest criollo and corojo hybrids make the cut because many of the earlier seeds (such as Camacho’s first generation corojo) are very susceptible to disease and insect damage when they are deprived of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Organic farmers have to substitute a lot of hard work for chemicals in order to keep their crops in good shape.

And all this extra work comes with a price. The toro checks in at around 7 USD per stick, or $135 for a box of 20.

The PRO toro is a nice looking stick. The wrapper is dark and a bit mottled, a little leathery looking, and has a simple tobacco scent with some grassiness to it. The prelight draw is easy, a little too easy on one sample, but overall the roll is good.

This cigar starts up with a very clean, slightly toasty flavor with a touch of sweetness. I certainly wouldn’t guess this was a Nicaraguan puro if I didn’t know it already. The texture of the smoke is very smooth with a mild body that grows to about a medium at the end. A delicate but indistinct aroma accompanies the mild flavor. I can’t decide if it reminds me more of leather or wood, or neither. It’s not easily distinguishable.

By the midpoint the smoke has built a little body and displays some leathery elements, but not a lot of complexity. One of the big challenges for milder bodied cigars is development and complexity, and unfortunately the PRO doesn’t do very well in this department.

This is a very slow burning cigar. Of the three I’ve smoked for this review, I’ve only been able to finish one, after an hour and a half of insistent puffing. The construction here is fair to good, with a couple samples having a loose roll and requiring periodic touchups with the torch. (Can I call these torch-ups?) The ash is a flaky solid white that tends to blow away if the cigar is not promptly ashed.

I really wanted to like this cigar, but in the final analysis I think it just doesn’t have a whole lot of character. It’s not a bad cigar by any means, but it just didn’t hold my interest for any length of time. It’s a very clean-tasting straightforward cigar with a mild body and a mild character. Maybe a little more ligero is called for, or a spicy non-organic sungrown wrapper. It needs a little something, I think.

10 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Cigar Reviews, Don Pepin Garcia

Troya Clasico LXIII

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Troya cigars were made in pre-revolutionary Cuba beginning in 1932 and are in fact still made today as a relatively obscure and hard to find machine made cigar. Despite their rarity they have a small but devoted following, as evidenced by the fact that they survived the nationalizing of the industry when many smaller brands were culled out. Like the legend of Troy itself, the brand has endured.

In 1985 a California company began production of a cigar for the American market and saw further opportunities for Troya as a brand name. The original Troya cigars were respected and sold well, but like many of the best cigars of that generation they were battered by the tempest of the 90’s Cigar Boom. But once again, they survived. In 2004 the blend was revamped and another line, the Troya X-Tra, was introduced to appeal to the heavyweight crowd.

The next stop on Troya’s path was at the door of Jose “Pepin” Garcia, one of the hottest cigar makers around. In early 2007 the Pepin-made Troya Clasico was unveiled in three sizes — robusto, toro, and churchill. I haven’t figured out why Troya names their cigars with the numbers they do — their robustos are called 18, toros are 54, and churchills are 63. (The individual digits all add up to nine. Hmmm…) The Clasicos are numerated in this fashion as well, but with the roman numeral instead. Nice touch.

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Troya Clasicos are made in Esteli, Nicaragua at Garcia’s Tabacalera Cubana with all Nicaraguan tobaccos. The wrapper is a luscious and dark “corojo oscuro” and the filler is a blend of corojo and criollo from the Jalapa region. The churchill is a 7 inch by 50 ring double corona size, and these come packed 20 to the box. It’s a handsome cigar with an oily, rich looking wrapper and a perfectly triple-capped head.

The churchill starts up in an unusual fashion for a Pepin cigar: it’s buttery smooth. Bean flavors take the vanguard here — cocoa and African coffee (I’ve been roasting some Ethiopian Harrar that has an eerily similar aroma.) Following quickly on this initial impression is a bittersweet woody flavor that fans of Pepin will recognize immediately. The smoke for the first third is relatively mild compared to other Pepin made cigars — relative, that is, to the blast of pepper that introduces many of Garcia’s cigars.

The body picks up more weight into the second and third acts, and ventures into leathery territory. The finish is lengthy and the aftertaste retains the slightly bitter woody flavor that announces itself at the start. What remains the same throughout the duration of the smoke is the delicate caramel-coffee sweetness of the aroma from the wrapper, and I think this is what defines this cigar.

The last third builds, edging towards a full body, and the cigar exits with a tart smack. This is a hallmark of Don Pepin’s blends, and it’s what fans of his cigars appreciate. This is a long smoking cigar (about an hour and a half for me) and while there aren’t any major transitions it is consistently complex and very well balanced throughout.

I was lucky enough to receive a fiver of these from reader Lucky7 (thanks again!) and so far I’ve smoked three. One had a weak plug at the head of the cigar which I was able to bore through with a pipe tool. Other than that these burned quite well and had no serious construction problems.

Troya Clasico churchills are going to run in the 8 to 10 dollar range, and I do believe they are worth the expense. This is a medium to full bodied cigar that reminds me a little of Pepin’s Sancti Spiritus — it’s a less aggressive blend that leaves out none of the complexity or the basic character of his art. If you’ve smoked the Pepin Blue Label or Tatuaje or any of the stronger cigars from El Rey de Los Habanos and found them to be too heavy for your taste, do yourself a favor and try a Troya Clasico. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

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A desert sunset and a fine cigar. Life is good.