INSIDE
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FEATURED SHOT The Irish Flag, a Fun Irish Tradition
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
FEATURES 11 LOUNGE OF THE MONTH Full Bar, Full Menu, Great Cigars
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FEATURED WHISKEY Scotch, Bourbon, Irish Whiskey JUNE 2012
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COVER STORY: Acting Icon Charlie Sheen on Cigars, Scotch, Dupont Lighters, Watches, & Being a "Man's Man"
CIGARS 14 CIGARS ON A BUDGET Premium Cigars for All
17 HONORING FALLEN HEROES Politician Sends Cigars to Troops
95 46 114 CIGARS 21
AN INDUSTRY DRIVEN BY PASSION The story behind Garo Habano Cigars
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WAYS TO SEASON YOUR HUMIDOR A Quick How-To Guide
SPIRITS 46
A TOUR OF BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY A Behind the Scenes Glimpse
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MINT JULEP A Kentucky Derby Tradition
NIGHTLIFE & LIFESTYLE 95
ANGEL’S SHARE COLLECTION A $375,000 Cask of Scotch!
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FEATURED CIGAR PICKS Great Cigars to Give a Try
CIGAR & SPIRITS PAIRING La Flor Dominicana with Four Roses Bourbon
WHISKEY DRINKING VESSELS Picking the Right Glass Makes a Difference
JOURNEY TO CUBA A Cigar Smoker’s Dream
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56 IRISH WHISKEY 101 The Spirit of Ireland
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AN OVERVIEW OF SCOTCH Distilling Regions, Famous People, Cigar Pairings JUNE 2012
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BAR MARVIN A Smoker Friendly Belgian Lounge
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SEVEN GRAND Over 300 Whiskies
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MEN’S FASHION PERSPECTIVES Attention to Details
Chairman & Publisher Lincoln B. Salazar
Editor-in-Chief Jon Shakill Managing Editor J. Marshall Senkarik Graphic Artist David Perez
Vice President of Marketing, PR, & Events Rick Soto Contributing Writers Amanda Keeley-Thurman, John Dade, Katherine Peach, Nick Hammond, Rick Rhay, Tiffany N. Perry, The Cigar Guys: Alex Lukoff, Tony Wilson Editorial Assistant Breahna Wheeler Photo Credits Charlie Sheen Cover Story – Steve Han & Tommy Garcia Buffalo Trace – Buffalo Trace Distillery Journey to Cuba – Nick Hammond Aficionado Cigar & Wine Lounge – J. Marshall Senkarik Special Thanks Charlie Sheen, Larry Solters, Bob Maron, Al Kau Subscribe Now at: WWW.CIGARANDSPIRITS.COM For Advertising: Advertising@clubcst.com For General Contact, Questions, & Comments: Customerservice@clubcst.com Follow us on Twitter: @CigarandSpiritsMag & Facebook: Cigar & Spirits Magazine
Licensed to Innovative Product Opportunities Inc, publicly traded under ticker symbol: IPRU JUNE 2012
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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
Dear Cigar & Spirits Enthusiasts: A
s I drink a Scotch and smoke my cigar, I reflect on the fact that I seldom have any alone time to think and take in what really is important. I believe in big dreams, I believe in people, and I believe that we all have a purpose- that sometimes we don’t even realize yet. To me it should never be about ourselves or the few, we need to see what it is we can do for other people. How we can make them smile, laugh, and bring joy to their life.
See, sometimes I get asked the question, “Is what drives you about the money?” and I think most people would say “Yes!” – I personally say, of course the money is important, but if you invest and believe in other people, the money will come. Money then will come second to people and money will come naturally. I will never forget when I first started payroll with new employees and I went to dinner with one of them. He is a single father who works hard and breaks his back, everything for his son. His son shows me his brand new shoes that his father just bought him. I looked at those shoes and knew that because of his hard work, and because of the company I own, I assisted him in getting those small shoes. That was worth more than any million dollar deal that I hope to make. It made me realize why I do what I do. I do it for other people, not me. As we all go through our daily lives, we are often too busy or too stressed, or somehow preoccupied, that we don’t stop to think why it is we do what we do. I’d like to think that we all really do it not only for ourselves, but for someone else also. I want to dedicate this issue to the dreamers. The people that, even though one day may not ever achieve fully what they wanted to, they lived life, loved, and shared great moments, and always thought of everyone else. It’s not always about how many lives you touch, but when you do touch, make it extraordinary. So lift up your glass, pass a cigar, and give cheers to those who are important to you.
Slainte!
Lincoln B. Salazar Chairman & Publisher
“I want to also dedicate this issue to Al Kau. Thank you for all you have done over the years as a true gentlemen, mentor, business man, father figure and friend. Al watches Two and a Half Men at least twice a day.”
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Lincoln Salazar, Chairman & Publisher
Al Kau
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The cigar feature in this issue of Cigar & Spirits Magazine brings you 10 superb brands for a total of 30 cigars. With prices ranging from $6 to $30 per cigar, we highlight premium hand rolled options at various price points. The price of a cigar rarely tells the whole story. The specific blends, tobaccos, aging process, soil, and a whole host of factors directly contribute to the quality and profile of a cigar. And the quality is largely measured by the experience a person has while enjoying a particular cigar. The experience is fundamental. If you’re mowing the lawn or driving in your car, a less expensive cigar is probably more appropriate, and you can still find premium quality in a value cigar. If you have more time to really enjoy a specific cigar, and give it the attention it often requires, indulging in a more expensive stick can make sense. But that would depend on your mood, and more importantly, your budget. Either way, just remember that it is not the price of the cigar that makes it great; it’s the experience you have with it. People often differentiate cigars between daily smokes and special smokes. As the description would suggest, a daily smoke is a cigar that is geared towards enjoying every day. Even if you’re not a daily cigar smoker, these are the cigars that you’d more willingly light up for no particular reason other than to enjoy a nice cigar. Daily smokes are also more affordable to most
Top Picks people, so smoking one doesn’t necessitate much of an occasion. On the other hand, the special smokes are the ones you save for celebrations, or noteworthy occasions. Weddings, the birth of a child, graduation, a nice bonus, or maybe just a weekend social gathering with friends— experiences that cater to spending the extra $20. Of course, there are some readers who can afford any cigar, any day of the week, so the distinction is perhaps less important. However you decide to classify your cigars, we present a line-up of 30 all from excellent brands. Some of them are more your “daily smoke” and some are great for special occasions. Others of them could actually cross over into either category. Give them a try for yourself, and let us know what you think. JUNE 2012
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CHARLIE
SHEEN
With Fire in His Soul and Passion in His Blood, the Man is a Totally Bitchin’ Rockstar from Mars
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by Jon Shakill
said it; Charlie Sheen is a totally bitchin’ rockstar from Mars. His words not mine, but I’d have to agree. And no, the hilarious metaphor is not lost on me. Charlie is not an average man. The guy is funny- he’s a comedian, and he can act. He’s a movie star, TV star, and collector of the finest wrist watches in the world. He’s the comeback king who’s proven it time and time again, through all the ups and downs, and his relentless ability to reach the top after the occasional fall from grace. He’s been the hero and the underdog, but has never given up. He’s authentic and down to earth at his core, and isn’t afraid to say it like it is, a real straight shooter. He holds two records in the Guinness Book of World Records; one for being the highest paid television actor of all time, and one for the fastest person to reach 1 million followers on Twitter (he now has nearly 7 million followers). He’s also a cigar enthusiast with over 150 boxes of cigars, who enjoys the occasional glass of 57 year old Macallan Scotch. Charlie Sheen is a man’s man.
Saying his name is itself capable of evoking a myriad of thoughts and emotions. Whether it is the bad boy image that’s so often seen in the media, the fairly recent Two and a Half Men “departure,” or just as likely, the fond memories of some of a generation’s favorite blockbuster movies. It seems rarer in the modern discourse that a person doesn’t have an opinion about Charlie Sheen. Whatever that opinion is, one thing is for sure— the man is by far one of the most successful actors of the last 25 years, and arguably one of the most successful actors of all time. JUNE 2012
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