The Humidor: Winter 2017

The Humidor

W I N T E R

P.2 Cigars, The Big Risk P.4 Florida Sun G row n P.5 Dear Sant a P.6 The Rocky Patel Factory P.8 CLE Conn e c tic ut

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The Humidor is a publication of ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.

Copyright 2017 ABC Fine Wine & Spirits. Reprinted reviews remain the copyright of the original publisher.

Allie Smallwood Meghan Guarino

| Editor

abcfws.com

| Contributing Editor

Cigars, The Big Risk Chris Gwaltney Certified Retail Tobacconist, @abccigarchris

It seems that no matter the business,

Most modern cigar makers have been

well. Hurricanes are an ever-present

there are always inherent risks. When you

touched by political turmoil if not

threat. Cuba, the Dominican Republic

are in manufacturing, the dangers can

completely displaced by it. The Castro

and Nicaragua have been devastated

range anywhere from increased production

regime served as a strong wind blowing

by massive hurricanes in recent history.

costs to a changing consumer base. When

the seeds of cigar tobacco throughout

Even as I write this article, Costa Rica,

you throw in government regulations,

Latin America. Today, many of the

Honduras and Nicaragua are bracing for

destructive weather slaying your crops,

displaced Cuban cigar makers

Hurricane Nate. It doesn’t take a news-

years of volatile political climates and the occasional revolution/civil war, you have the perils of growing cigar tobacco.

We have all heard the saying “there is nothing in life guaranteed except for death and taxes.” This can be said about cigars. Bloodshed and taxes have always surrounded cigar tobacco, from the time it was first seen by European explorers to modern day. The Spanish government made it a crime to possess the leaf or manufacture products from it without permission from the crown. Though it may not have been the primary reason for revolt, the Latin countries that are known for producing tobacco, cigars and cigar related products have seen their share of bloody fighting.

Be thankful that there are still cigar makers that still believe that the reward is worth the risk. who fled the wrath of Castro, operate in countries like Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. Strangely, Fidel has provided a huge economic spark for several other Latin American countries while bankrupting his own economy in the process. Despite making tobacco seed smuggling a crime punishable by death, he couldn’t stop the spread of cigars outside of Cuba.

Of course, it isn’t just dictators and despots that can ruin the cigar business.

Mother Nature can play a major roll as

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making storm to cause damage, because something as mundane as an early season rain storm has destroyed crops just days before harvest. I recently visited Nicaragua after the tobacco harvest and witnessed what happens when one tempts fate. One grower tried to get in an extra crop and paid a huge price when the rain damaged most of it. It was painful to walk through the damaged fields as workers frantically tried to harvest portions of the tobacco that weren’t destroyed. They were stalkcutting everything, which isn’t a normal practice in Nicaragua.

The Fuentes are a shining example of overcoming various types of adversities.

After leaving Cuba following the Spanish American War, they were burned out three times. After losing factories in Tampa, Honduras and Nicaragua, the Fuentes

family was further affected by hurricanes

of artillery shells only to have to overcome

jellyfish and the occasional discarded

and today are locked in a battle with the

a new challenge? Yet, cigar manufacturers

mine. I would like to remind all consumers

FDA over impending regulations.

are poised to overcome it. We’ve been

to take these risks into consideration the

accustomed to getting nervous when we

next time you complain about paying $7

see Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel

for a cigar. The fact that the product has

show up in our cities but his presence

made it to the shelf is a minor miracle.

pales in comparison to someone in a

Be thankful that there are still cigar makers

three-piece suit, a badge and briefcase

that still believe that the reward is worth

full of new rules.

the risk. s

The latest challenge to the cigar industry are the laws expected to be implemented by the Federal Government. An industry that has survived countless revolutions (if you don’t believe me I can show you some bullet holes in the walls at Joya de Nicaragua) might be destroyed, some

So, if you have the bright idea of getting

predict, by the tax man! Wouldn’t it be

into the cigar business, beware. You will

a shame to survive the constant barrage

be wading into waters filled with sharks,

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Florida Sun Grown Chris Gwaltney Certified Retail Tobacconist, @abccigarchris

There are certain industries that just

Republic, but he has been able to produce

identify well with Florida – the citrus, sugar

real Florida tobacco for the first time in

and tourism industries are prime examples.

nearly a half century.

What’s more quintessential Florida than

The first cigar to contain the newly grown

OJ and Mickey Mouse? Ok, I know that

Florida leaf is the Florida Sun Grown from

Florida is also known for its people doing

Drew Estate. Master blender Willy Hererra

crazy things, but we aren’t here to discuss

combined some Florida and Nicaraguan

people getting injured while attempting

tobacco for filler, encased it in a Honduran

to wrestle alligators. The purpose is to

binder, then wrapped everything up with

shed some light on a new product that

a Brazilian Arapiraca bow.

showcases one of Florida’s greatest historical products, Florida grown tobaco.

wrapper. The version I am smoking now is

It’s no surprise that Florida is currently

the Toro. At first puff I am treated to all the

ground zero for the cigar world, since so

dark, rich flavors one would expect from

many cigar companies are headquartered

a Maduro. There is espresso and cocoa

here in the Sunshine State. But before

nibs followed by a distinct earthiness

Miami was crawling with corporate buildings, Ybor City in Tampa was buzzing with cigar factories and northwest Florida was teeming with tobacco fields and curing barns. Though no cigar tobacco has been grown commercially here in over 40 years and only one major cigar factory still operates in Ybor, the tobacco leaf has so much more cultural significance to Florida than any theme park could ever lay claim to.

Therefore, it is great that Jeff Borysiewicz decided to reinvest in Florida’s cigar heritage when he decided to grow cigar tobacco again in Florida. His Florida Sun Grown farm in Clermont isn’t the largest operation when compared to the growers in Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican

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First thing you will notice is its dark, shiny

Nicaraguan pepper peeks its head through the door. The cigar’s construction was flawless and I didn’t drop the first ash until a good third of the way in. The burn was even and it never got too hot, but it is easily a two-hour smoke.

I strongly recommend this cigar to anyone, whether your care about Florida history or not. The smoke stands up on its own. This cigar can be found in our Drew Diplomat stores. Find your closest Drew Diplomat ABC Fine Wine & Spirits on the Drew Diplomat App. s

Dear Santa, Steve Mungeer Certified Retail Tobacconist, @abccigarmungo

Dear Santa, I don’t want very much for Christmas, just

enough pepper to perk up all the flavors.

glorious presentation. While not quite as

a nice selection of the year’s best cigars.

Extremely well-balanced with a bit of

powerful as some other offerings from LFD,

I found six cigars that are my definite favorites

complexity on every puff.

this cigar still is a big and powerful smoke

this season (you probably know if you get

3 ) Espinosa Laranja Reserva Robusto Extra

with strong notes of leather and a light,

all six you know you can save 10% on the price). You could actually just bring me a

Laranja is Portuguese for orange and this well-made smoke has a Brazilian wrapper

peppery spice background. It also exhibits some light citrusy flavors and is smooth

with a slight orange tint. With strong pepper

and well-balanced.

notes from the Nicaraguan filler and binder,

6 ) Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado

this interesting wrapper helps to mellow out

The #1 Cigar of 2014 still lives up to it’s

1 ) Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Churchill

the smoke and add some charred wood and

reputation. This is a beautifully crafted cigar

This is a beautiful cigar with a mocha-colored

charry notes. Very creamy for Nicaraguan

with big flavors of leather and coffee and

wrapper and light caramel and vanilla notes

tobacco and a nice smoke for late in

background notes of caramel and earth. Full-

framed by a bold leathery flavor with hints

the evening.

bodied and complex but very well-balanced.

of peppery spice. This cigar was so well

4 ) Padron Diplomatico Maduro

An outstanding smoke.

One of my all-time favorite cigars, this

And Santa… if you still have some room,

Nicaraguan puro never disappoints. Very

perhaps you could add in a nice 15 count

well-made and with strong notes of

travel humidor from Xikar, a Xikar Volta Quad

chocolate and hints of earth and coffee

Flame Tabletop Lighter in Vintage Bronze,

in the background, this cigar is full of

and a Lotus Jaws Cutter. I promise to be

flavor and very smooth.

very good in 2018! s

box of any one of these and that would be great, too! In no particular order, here is my Christmas list.

balanced that it ranks right at the top as one of the smoothest cigars I have ever smoked.

2 ) AJ Fernandez New World Puro Especial Toro This is a well-constructed cigar with a very dark chocolate brown wrapper with just the right oily feel. It has great flavors of earth and cocoa with hints of coffee and just

5 ) La Flor Dominicana Oro Tubo With a beautiful tube and box enclosure, the cigar itself definitely lives up to it’s

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Rocky Patel

HONDURAS FACTORY TRIP Steve Mungeer Certified Retail Tobacconist, @abccigarmungo

After the thrill ride of landing at Toncontin airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, our merry band of ABC Fine Wine & Spirits team members were on their way to El Paraiso to observe the world of cigars from start to finish courtesy of our business partners at Rocky Patel Cigars. Our troop of travelers consisted of Melissa Muzzi, team leader at Atlantic Beach, Corey Gibbons, team leader at Naples, Bill Jackson, Regional Manager of Central Florida, and yours truly! A bumpy two-hour drive through the mountains finally brought us to our home for the next several days at Rocky Patel’s place located in the heart of El Paraiso. We were greeted with a fine meal of churrasco,

Plasencia. Tobacco for Rocky Patel

sorted into the numerous piles, the leaves

rice, beans, plantains and a relaxing first

cigars is mostly grown and processed by

head to fermentation and are carefully built

evening of cigars, Honduran beers and

Plasencia. The art and science of growing

into pilons which will age the tobacco into

Flor de CaĂąa rum. We got to meet and

tobacco is a difficult business and many

a product that will eventually head to the

mingle with several other groups from

cigar companies leave the growing and

production facility to be made into cigars.

Wisconsin and Ohio who were also there

processing to those who know it best. In

This fermentation process takes many

to share the experience.

Honduras the best is Nestor Plasencia.

months and the weight of the pilon creates

I could write an entire article on Nestor Plasencia and what a driving force he is behind the world of cigars, but the bottom line is that Rocky Patel gets tobacco from the best. Our group was amazed at the number of workers involved with all the different stages of production seen here.

Workers at this facility take the tobacco leaves that have been harvested and dried

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On day one, we were up bright and early

from the fields and sort them by size,

pressure and heat to rid the tobacco of

and headed off to the facilities of Nestor

color, quality and their eventual use. Once

residual ammonia. We observed how

carefully the temperature is monitored in the pilons. When it reaches a certain threshold the pilon is dismantled, rotated and rebuilt again until the fermentation is complete. We left the processing area and headed out to the box factory where we observed the building of cigar boxes.

The number of workers and the number of steps involved in creating, assembling and decorating boxes is amazing. It definitely makes you think twice about tossing away an empty cigar box!

Our second day was a trip to the cigar fields. It was the beginning of the second planting season and the last plantings of this year. Plants in the field were very small and no harvesting had been done yet so

That afternoon, we headed to the Rocky Patel Cigar Factory where we observed what happens to the tobacco after it

the barns were empty, but we managed

Our group had an amazing time and

to watch the transplanting done in the

received a vast amount of knowledge of

greenhouses and the seedlings being

all that goes into the creation of a cigar.

transplanted in the fields. It was amazing

Many thanks go out to our hosts at Rocky

to see millions of plants all in the process

Patel and Plasencia for taking the time

of getting ready to be transplanted by

to explain and show us all the steps

hand into the hundreds of acres of fields.

and for their gracious hospitality and for

In most cases that small seedling that we

the experience of getting to know the

saw in the fields will take five years before

wonderful people of Honduras. It was

it becomes a cigar that will be smoked!

an unforgettable trip. s

leaves processing. We were again amazed at the number of workers engaged in this final step. After receiving the tobacco from processing, it is sorted again by quality control and divided into specific packages designed for use out on the rolling floor. On the rolling floor, we watched cigars being constructed and the finished product being checked for quality, banded, cellophaned, boxed and ready for shipment. We all created our own blends of cigars from a huge assortment of tobaccos and watched the bunchers and rollers create our cigars.

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8989 South Orange Ave.

The Humidor

Orlando, Florida 32824

Brand Breakdown CLE Connecticut CLE Cigars has only been in existence since 2012, but has a much longer history than that.

CLE stands for Christian L. Eiroa, a name that has been associated with the cigar business for many years. Christian is most noted for the development and marketing of the Camacho label which was a huge success under the ownership of Christian Eiroa and is still a hugely successful label under the Davidoff flagship.

After selling Camacho to Davidoff, Christian decided

to reenter the cigar market

wrapper that mellows

under his CLE label and

out the rich and spicy

has had great success

Honduran filler and binder.

with many labels, including

While Christian tends to

such as Asylum 13,

create many of his cigars

Ogre, Schizo and the

in the powerful and full-

CLE Connecticut.

strength category, the

There are seven varieties under the CLE label and we have carried the Connecticut line for over a year but just recently added the Prieto, Chele, Habano and Corojo. The Connecticut offering features a beautiful light brown Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade

Connecticut proves he can create a great medium-

We offer this fine cigar in 4 sizes: a 6x54 Toro, a 5x46 Corona Gorda, a 5x50 Robusto, and a 6x60 Gordo.

CLE CONN

CLE CONNECTICUT

strength and mediumbodied smoke also. With some hints of pepper,

CLE CONNECTICUT

citrus and earth and that distinctive, creamy, rich tobacco flavor from the Jamastran Valley, this is a well-balanced and very satisfying smoke. s

CLE CONNECTICUT