Invite This Torano Exodus In!
The Cuban Revolution in 1959 lead to decades of emigration, primarily into the US, including the Torano family. To commemorate this life changing event Torano created its well-known Exodus 1959 series of boutique cigars and for 2013 the Exodus 1959 was labeled the Finite. The Finites are Nicaraguan puros and to provide for flavor complexity and balance, tobaccos from 4 different regions of...
In Vegas, Bet on Vato Cigars!
Everything is special in Las Vegas and cigar smoking is no different. A husband and wife team, Paul and Sara Vato, convinced Binion’s Casino to lease them space to open their own cigar operation. The Vato’s offer 4 of their own different blends in a large variety of shapes (a baseball bat?) and sizes in addition to more traditional national brands. And, if you don’t trust your luck at the...
A Good Cigar Commemorating the 1980 Boatlift
In 1979- 1980 the Cuban economy entered a severe downturn and through a small series of reactionary events, 10,000 Cubans crammed themselves into the Peruvian Embassy grounds in Havana seeking diplomatic asylum. Castro eventually responded by opening the port of Mariel to anyone wishing to leave the country who also could get a ride. 125,000 people left Cuba for Miami in the 6 months the...
Straight From Jamaica
Jamaica is not well known for exporting cigars. This wasn’t always the case. During WW II many cigar makers left Cuba for the British colony of Jamaica as the Brits would not expend currency outside of the “Empire”. Jamaican cigar production took off. At the end of the war the Cubans left Jamaica but the quality cigar making infrastructure remained. The US embargo of Cuba invigorated...
The Big “4 0”
I am a fan of larger cigars with the 6 X 60 my favorite size and mild to medium body my favorite strength. I have also tried and liked 7 X 70’s and after I get a neck brace I will try the new 8 X 80’s, perhaps at the 2014 IPCPR. At the 2013 IPCPR I spent time at the CLE booth eying their 6 X 60’s. CLE turns out to be the initials of Christian Luis Eiora, past ownerof the Camacho brands...
Aging Room’s M21 Fortissimo
Oliveros Cigars launched a new operation in 2012 called Boutique Blends Cigars whose primary target is consumers looking for “complexity and character” in limited production cigars. The concept is to use aged, flavorful tobaccos which are also limited in supply. Boutique Blends includes the Swag and Aging Room Small Batch Cigars, some of which received high honors from Cigar Aficionado in...
