CigarsLover Magazine Autumn 2015 by CigarsLover Magazine

Lover Cigars

Magazine

size

drink:

the letters of

partagas intertabac

2015

daiquiri

puros and cigars of the third kind

lancero & corto opposite sizes reviewed blind

Casa del Habano Milano

Via Anfossi, 28, - 20135 - Milano www.casadelhabano.it info@casadelhabano.it +39.02.59900973

La Casa del Habano Roma

Via Colonna Antonina, 34 - Roma www.fincatolacasadelhabano.com info@fincatolacasadelhabano.com +39.06.6785508

TEAM & EDITORIAL

Lover Cigars

Magazine

Editor: Deputy Editor:

Luca Cominelli Michel Arlia

Graphic Designer: Graphic Designer Assistant:

Mario Amelio Renz Mauleon

Authors:

Collaborators: Photos:

Marketing:

Editing:

Translations: Blind Tasting Panel:

CigarsLoverMagazine | No.10

Didier Houvenaghel Giovanni Bolzonella Giuseppe Mitolo Heiko Blumentritt Luca Cominelli Michel Arlia Roberto Canzi Mario Amelio Norlis Perez Padron Luca Cominelli Michel Arlia Giovanni Bolzonella Roberto Canzi

Editorial In this tenth issue we decided to have two blind tasting instead of the traditional one. We wanted to focus our attention to two size which are definitely the opposite of each other: “Lancero” and “Cortos”. Two types of cigars created to satisfy the smoker in a different way. Lanceros, beloved by many aficionados, are meditational smoke, which needs the attention and the focus of the smoker to be truly appreciated. The “Corto” cigars were born with the idea to give a quick and satisfying smoke, thought to be perfect when the time to dedicate to a cigar is limited. This idea is definitely not close to the cigar world, but nowadays these cigars are getting more and more popular. The cigars we reviewed in our blind tastings are forty. We also tried two whole cigar lines: the new Winston Churchill from Davidoff and the “letters” line of Partagas, one of the most known in the cigar industry. We also compared three big sticks, smoking three different brands belonging to three different countries. The cigars just shared the size: the A size! Year after year, the cigar industry changed a lot. Time ago we used to talk about “puros”, without giving too much importance to this word. Nowadays we are in front of many types of tobacco and the manufacture is not always made in the same country of the cultivation. All this should make us reflect on the term “puro”, and its meaning. Maybe it is time to re-think about it.

Rachelle Mauleon Aaron Reddy (U.S.A.) Francesco Santoiemma (Italy) Giovanni Bolzonella (Italy) Giuseppe Mitolo (Italy) Kaarel Kluge (Estonia) Luca Cominelli (Italy) Michel Arlia (Switzerland) Michel Van Wingerden (Holland) Roberto Canzi (Italy) Sebastian Hefel (Austria) Thomas Hoebe (Holland)

”The passion moves us!”

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INDEX

Contents Winston Churchill

Team

one of the 2015 Davidoff’s news ...................... 33

CigarsLover people ..................................................... 3

Editorial

Lancero

Rating

Lancero blind tasting

the king of Panetelas ............................................... 37

thoughts about the magazine ................................ 4

the old fashioned panetelas ................................ 39

how to read the scoring scale ............................... 8

Puro, blend and...?

the cigars of the “third kind” ................................... 9

Corto blind tasting

everything in a quick smoke ................................. 45

Zino Davidoff

Diplomaticos No.7

A - size

Intertabac 2015

champions of dimension ...................................... 19

The letters of Partagas

the biggest european tobacco fair ................... 55

since the 30’s to nowadays ................................. 25

Vocabulary

meaning of the terminologies used .................. 61

Daiquiri

Sections

since 1898 to nowadays ...................................... 29

what you can find on the magazine .................. 62

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70’s - vintage review ................................................ 53

the man behind our favourite pleasure .......... 15

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INFO

Rating

HOW TO READ THE SCORING SCALE The cigars reviewed are valued using a 100 point scale. This helps giving every cigar a sharp rating, which collocates it in a wide scoring scale. The final score results by the average scores of both the cigar smoked and the smokers evaluations.

BEADS

THE BEST HUMIDIFICATION WAY

95-100:

excellent smoke. The cigar has all the components that distinguish a remarkable smoke: intensity of the aromas, balance, complexity, finesse, evolution, quality of construction, persistence and a constancy of the production.

90-94:

great smoke. The cigar shows numerous qualities of excellence, but not quite showing them to the maximum. It’s nonetheless a cigar that proposes a high level of satisfaction.

86-89:

good smoke. The cigar has considerable qualities of a high level, also having some slight flaw in the parameters of the evaluation. It’s nonetheless a recommended cigar with a high rate of satisfaction.

81-85:

decent smoke. The cigar convinces in parts, shows both quality and flaws inherent to the different parameters of the evaluation. It’s nonetheless a cigar to smoke with appreciable continuity.

<80:

meager smoke. The cigar proposes numerous flaws throughout the arc of the parameters of the evaluation. The merits are not eligible if not in a ludicrous way and marginally, the smoke is classified as absolutely not recommended. cigars with a really good quality/price ratio. They show high level characteristics and are really competitive price. We defenitely recommend the purchase.

Available on CigarsLover.com

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SLOW ATTITUDE It began to get popular the term and the concept of blend, probably taking it for the equally ancient whisky’s world. From this world we know, almost with certainty, that the first official blend of whisky was authorized in 1853, to Andrew Usher. Nevertheless, it can’t be excluded that well before the said date, the distillers were used to blend together whisky or the product of the distillation of different raw materials. Same discussion for the tobacco world: it turns out to be difficult identifying certainty when started to talk about the “blending” for a cigar. However, at least in Italy, Luigi Ferri introduced the concept of “blend” by the first time in his book “L’Emporio del Sigaro” (2002). Other than every data of reference, albeit culturally important, it can’t be excluded that this practice was applied even before talking about it with etymological awareness.

Puro, blend and...? THE CIGARS OF THE “THIRD KIND” by Giuseppe Mitolo

Originally it was the cigar, with its simple rituals: cut, fire and clouds of smoke. Probably it was enough for most of the smokers. However, having passed from just the rituals, an end in itself, to a real culture, has brought aficionados and writers to codify a vocabulary, modes, times, shades and all that could be useful to create a common denominator that uniformed the linguistic interactions between persons who shared the same interest.

ended up passing from “puro” (that at the beginning meant “cuban cigar”) to have to indicate also the provenience of the other puros (dominican, nicaraguan, etc.).

Originally, the term “puro” identified the Cuban cigar, made with tobaccos from the “Isla Grande” (we refer to Cuba).

In the last decade, the cigars realized with the masterly mixing of tobaccos coming from different countries, set a new etymological challenge: how to classify these new products, given that they couldn’t be regarded as “puros”?

For analogy, many years later, this word was used to indicate the cigar made with leaves (wrapper, binder and filler) coming from same region. We

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But the culture, as known, is mutable like the human mind (being its product) and soon enough the concept of “puro” couldn’t be more exhaustive to represent a given product.

Considering these essential bases, one wonders, how to classify those products that, albeit being made by tobaccos from the same region, are worked and/or rolled in a different country from the one of the cultivation. This choice of production seems incomprehensible or even anti-economic. However, in the last years it is becoming less unusual: just think about the Davidoff Nicaragua (Nicaraguan tobacco but Dominican production), the Alec Bradley Nica Puro (Nicaraguan tobacco but Honduran production) or the Amazon line from Diplomatico Cigars (Italian tobacco worked in Peru) and so on. A situation which, apparently, seems to evade a precise classification and that bears at least two questions: are these new productions to be considered as blend or “puro”? If they are not one or the other, we are in front of cigars of “the third type”. Now, do we need to create or research new terms? It is not possible to consider these products as the result of mixing different tobaccos from different countries; however, the average smokes seems to connect the concept of puro to the country of torcida (production). CigarsLoverMagazine | No.10

SLOW ATTITUDE

NUOVO DAVIDOFF ESCURIO

UNA NOTTE A RIO ISPIRA UN VIAGGIO NEL GUSTO

NOSTRI MASTRI HANNO RAFFINATO LE FOCOSE FOGLIE DI CRIOLLO CUBANO PER POI ACCOSTARLE A UNA MATA FINA BRASILIANA, CHE PULSA AL CENTRO DI QUESTA MISCELA ORIGINALE

I TABACCHI

DOMINICANI E LA CAPA ECUADORIANA CREANO UN EQUILIBRIO PERFETTO

UN CONNUBIO FRA DOLCE E SPEZIATO

COME RIO

AL CALARE DELLA NOTTE, VIAGGIO TRA SENSAZIONI INASPETTATE

RITMO · INTRIGO · ORIGINALITÀ SCOPRI DOVE PUÒ CONDURTI ESCURIO

photo: elgrandetour.wordpress.com To find answers to our questions, we tried to analyze the cigars production also going back to the past years. The way we know cigars today, made with tripa (seco, ligero and volado), capote and capa, were born in 1731 in Siviglia and were called “Sevillas”. Obviously, the tobacco used for the torcida of the Sevillas was originally Cuban, being the Isla Grande under the Spanish domination. Over a century later, in 1883, in Tampa city was growing the cigar industry of the States: Cuban tobacco, Cuban torcedores and a parallel industry to one of the Caribbean island. A tabacalera production that, besides Tampa, extended also to other zones of the nation. With this historic background we can’t exclude

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that those cigars, the Sevillas in particular, were puros, even if the manufacturing was not made in a different country from one of the plantations. Claiming the opposite would mean to put in discussion the history of the cigar itself! Furthermore, talking of puro doesn’t exclude the concept of blending: also a cigar with single-origin tobacco is made of a blend, from a recipe that take in consideration the geographic provenience of each leaf from a specific vega. In conclusion, we’re not capable to affirm the existence (or the non existence) of a classification of the “third type” relative to cigars made in a given nation with single-origin tobacco from another country. Therefore, if we had to choose to pigeonhole these productions between one of the two dichotomous concepts, we feel to be conceptually similar to that of the “puro”.

davidoff.com

Nuoce gravemente alla salute

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SMOKES FROM THE WORLD

Largest and Best Range of Quality Tobacco and Cigars in the UK C.Gars Limited Est. 1997 16-18 Kingsgate Place, London, NW6 4TA 0207 372 1865 www.cgarsltd.co.uk sales@cgarsltd.co.uk Turmeaus Tobacconist Mayfair 1 White Horse Street, London W1J 7LB 0207 495 7330 mayfair@cgarsltd.co.uk Turmeaus Tobacconist Est. 1817 32-34 Fenwick Street, Liverpool L2 7NB 0151 236 3802 turmeaus@cgarsltd.co.uk Turmeaus Tobacconist Est. 1817 34 Watergate Street, Chester CH1 2LA 0124 434 8821 Chester@cgarsltd.co.uk Turmeaus – Norfolk Hall Farm, Martham Road Rollesby, Great Yarmouth Norfolk NR29 5DR 01493 749 710 sales@turmeaustobacconist.co.uk La Casa Del Habano 32 Watergate Street, Chester CH1 2LA 01244 348 821 Chester@cgarsltd.co.uk

The Finest Philippine Cigars Since 1881. ALSO AT: Whisky and Cigars by Robert Graham Ltd 4 Broadwell Parade, Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, London NW6 3BQ 0207 624 3351 london@robertgraham1874.com Robert Graham Ltd 9 Sussex Street, Cambridge, CB1 1PA 01223 354 459 Cambridge@robertgrham1874.com

HEAD OFFICE 6/F Alphaland Southgate Tower 2258 Chino Roces Ave. cor EDSA Makati City 1232 Philippines TEL (632)310-5047 TELEFAX(632)310-5047

Robert Graham Ltd Est. 1874 194A, Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 4AZ 0131 226 1874 ALOHA HOTEL MANUFACTURING rosestreet@robertgraham1874.com

Robert Graham’s Global Whisky Shop 111 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1QX 0141 248 7283 glasgow@robertgraham1874.com

www.tabacalera.com.ph Orchant and Johnstone Family Business Member of the AICS cigars@tabacalera.com.ph Association of Independent Cigar Specialists

U.S.A. DISTRIBUTION Daughters & Ryan Inc. 207 Johnston Parkway Kenly, NC 27542 TEL (919) 284-2058 FAX (919) 284-2305

Unit F, Corta Bitarta Tabacalera Incorporada by Robert Graham Ltd Street The TreasurerTechnology Cor. Complex Avenue Edinburgh EH8 8AA Malate, Manila254 Canongate, People’s Technology Complex SEZ 0131 556 2791 TEL (632) 525-3266 Carmona, Cavite 4116 canongate@robertgraham1874.com TEL (632)584-4316

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RMEAU TU emier Cigar S T he uk

r ‘s P EST 1817 &

To b

ac c o M

ant ch er

The Finest Philippine Cigars Since 1881.

LONDON •LIVERPOOL•CHESTER•NORFOLK

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FAMOUS SMOKERS Ernst Schneider, thanks to him the Davidoff cigars were proposed to the global market. To better comprehend this figure and his passion for the blue swirls, it is essential reading his book, a true philosophical guide to the approach of his preferred products: L’Amateur du Cigar from 1967. A charismatic figure, he met a lot of famous smokers in his life, many of them became his friends. Also politics acknowledged his merits, especially the nation he made famous thanks to his cigars (like the Dominican Republic). Surely, it is own to him the decisive step that pushed the cigars in the panorama of products that characterize the “savoir-vivre”. He did it towards the middle of the century, in 1946, when he thought of the “Château Line”, inspired by the main wineries of Bordeaux.

Zino Davidoff

The concept was somewhat bold, maybe also a little provocative, but the message was clear: the cigars are products that have nothing (qualitatively speaking) to envy to wines. The cigars have a provenience, a method of manufacture; they are fruits from the earth and the work of men. Like wines, a

lot of aspects will characterize and classify them: it is very important learning to appreciate their qualities and recognizing their defects, as is the physical and psychological benefits one can draw through a correct enjoyment.

THE MAN BEHIND OUR FAVOURITE PLEASURE by Giovanni Bolzonella

Zino Davidoff is a legendary figure in the cigar world, a personality that gave a lot and has been given a lot of respect. He was born in Kiev (the last name was originally Davidov) in 1906. His father Henri was selling cigars and fabricating cigarettes. Starting from 1911, he learns the art of blending tobacco for cigarettes and pipes at the shop opened in Geneva by his father (where the last name got modified to Davidoff). By his father’s suggestion, at the end of his studies he departs to America to explore those plantations, which he will devote his name and his life for.

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Concentrating the primary part of his apprehension on a Cuban finca, where he learns everything he can, from the plants characteristics to the mechanisms of construction, without leaving the labor on the fields out. In 1929, coming back from his travels, he amplifies the shop of his father predisposing a cellar for the conservation of cigars and he starts building his humidors. After a fortunate series of events, his name is placed on a line of Cuban cigars, designed and packaged by his indications. His love for tobacco leads to a passionate collaboration with his friend

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SMOKES FROM THE WORLD

Blueprint of an inspiring blend

goes GAMBLING NIGHT

Genussabend mit Heinrich Villiger For Macanudo Inspirado our Master Blenders used tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua and Dominican Republic and is held together by a binder from the Jamastran Valley in Honduras. Wrapped in an oily and rich Rosada leaf from San Agustin, Honduras, you will surely get inspired with great ideas while enjoying Macanudo Inspirado.

BLENDING IS IN OUR DNA

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Samstag, 14. November 2015

Villiger Celebration: 18.00 Uhr - 23.30 Uhr After-Party: 23.30 Uhr - 02.00 Uhr

STARLITE Eventhall Rapperswil-Jona

TICKETS: CHF 189.00 / Person www.villiger-shop.ch (Rubrik Event Tickets) Hotelzimmer im SEEDAMM PLAZA zu Spezialkonditionen möglich!

Villiger Celebration goes Gambling Night mit verlängerter After-Party

Inklusive:

• Apéro und exquisites 4-Gang Dinner • Getränke à discrétion (Prosecco, Bier, Wein, Softdrinks und Kaffee) • Degustieren von verschiedenen Cigarren • Single Malt Whisky (Glenfarclas) und Portwein (DOW’s) Degustation inkl. Vortrag durch die DIWISA Distillerie Willisau SA • Torcedora «Kleine Kunstwerke von Hand gerollt» Live bei uns • Magic Casino, es wird gezockt und geraucht • Live Kuba Band • Tanzshow und After-Party • Transfer mit Mercedes Shuttle Hotelgäste: 17.00 Uhr - 17.45 Uhr zum Event 00.00 Uhr - 02.15 Uhr zum Hotel Rückreise mit ÖV: 23.30 Uhr - 01.50 Uhr zum Bahnhof Rapperswil (diverse Nachtzüge) • Kostenlose Parkplätze vor der STARLITE Eventhall

Supported by:

CigarsLoverMagazine | No.10

TOBACCO HISTORY

A-size

CHAMPIONS OF DIMENSION by Giuseppe Mitolo

What makes a cigar “great“?

If the mastery from the torcedores, the quality of tobacco and the abundance of the recipe could be sublimated in a unique product, this would be the alchemy of a great cigar. If also the dimensions would be particularly generous as the one of a gran corona (47 x 235 mm - 9”), the smoking experience could have all the cards in order to be unforgettable. It is not a case, however, that the gran coronas on the market (not considering the special productions, which are however also rather sporadic) are really few. The reasons surrounding this parsimonious production are many: higher costs to make these cigars, higher difficulty to have larger leaves (those of higher quality in particular) and, last but not least, a difficult propensity of the average consumer to buy this “colossus“, because of the price or because a matter of smoking time (about 2 hours and more), clearly in contradiction with the modern times. To research historical notes tied to the birth of the first gran corona, it is necessary to go back to the 1920’s when the strength, the extravagance and a touch of trendy exhibitionism and exquisitely hedonistic, embraced also the world of cigars of the rich bourgeoisie. Smoking oversize in that epoch, not forgetting how much the slimmer formats like the panatela were loved, meant to surely not pass unnoticed. Also, smoking a cigar over 23 cm (9”) length assured a long company during the festivities of the first decades of the past century. Being the story of the cigars closely tied to Cuba, also this format has its historical developments on the Isla Grande. In the common jargon, products as the Montecristo A, the Opus X A and the Padron A, defined as “size A“, borrow the nomenclature from the letter A recurring in several vitola de salida. Despite it is reasonable to assume that it was the Montecristo A (the only gran corona still in production in Cuba nowadays) that inspired the names of the other two cigars, the Sancho Panza Sancho holds the

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title of the oldest gran corona produced in Cuba. In fact, it seems like this cigars was born astride of the 1920’s and 1930’s, when El Rey del Mundo’s Cigar Company purchased the brand, managing also to give more glory the Cuban brand, that at the beginning of the twentieth century lost some market shares. The format, in the following years, had a considerable success, especially during the 80’s and the 90’s. Without going through all the Cuban productions (there are also commemorative humidors), here is the list of the brands that in their standard “vitolario” had a gran corona, noting both the year of the release and the one they have been discontinued from the market: - CIFUENTES Super Estupendos (1975 – 1975). A cigar wrapped in mystique: other than being only few examples produced, the official reasons for such a short existence are unknown. - DUNHILL Havana Club (1982 – 1991). - HOYO DE MONTERREY Particular (1980 – 1987). It was reintroduced in 2000 and in 2001 as a Limited Edition and in 2002 with a production of a few pieces. - MONTECRISTO A (1971 - nowadays). In 2010, the varnished box of 25 was discontinued. - PUNCH Diadema Extra n. 2 (1980 - ca. 1988). - ROMEO Y JULIETA Fabuloso (ca. 1985 - ca. 1988). - SANCHO PANZA Sancho (ca. 1930 - 2006). Before the reviews of the A size, a curiosity: the gran corona was not the largest cigar ever produced in Cuba: the scepter is held by the Hoyo de Monterrey Maravilla (55 x 230 mm – 9”), produced until the end of the 60’s and which will return as the upcoming Habanos Book Serie. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.10

SMOKES FROM THE WORLD

Montecristo A - Cuba

Size: cepo 47 x 237 mm (9,3”) - EUR: 32,1 € (IT) - 38 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba Oily wrapper, colorado shade. The filling is well made: it is generous and without soft spots. Compared to the other cigars tested, the band is definitely smaller and more minimal, although we are talking about the most famous cigar brand in the world. Medium strength. The evolution is continuous and puff after puff the cigar keeps, slowly, to change its aromatic profile. The complexity is excellent and the balance is perfect. The aromatic palette is wide, the intensity and the aftertaste are remarkable. 1/3: cedar wood, cocoa, vanilla and white pepper. 2/3: wood, fine spices, earth, ripe fruit and white pepper. 3/3: wood, white pepper, piquant peaks, leather and hazelnut.

/100

Padron A Maduro - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 50 x 210 mm (8,25”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 40 € (EU) | USD: 35 $ Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua The cigar has the typical Padron look: rough wrapper to the touch and definitely box pressed. The shade is maduro. The filling is homogeneous and generous. Medium strength. It develops an incredibly creamy smoke, with a great balance. The smoke is refined and elegant; the aromatic palette is wide and the evolution is good. The complexity is excellent. A different Padron from what you could expect, which gives more in terms of complexity and elegance than strength and intensity.

Arturo Fuente Opus X A vs Montecristo A vs Padron Serie 1964 A CLASH OF THE TITANS by Michel Arlia

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1/3: hazelnut, fine spices, white pepper, wood and earth. 2/3: fine wood, aromatic herbs, coffee, white pepper and hazelnut. 3/3: earth, leather, white pepper and hazelnut.

/100

Arturo Fuente “Opus X” A - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 47 x 234 mm (9,25”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 50 € (EU) | USD: 40 $ Wrapper: Dominican R. | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R. The cigar is dressed up with a wonderful colorado shade wrapper. To the touch the construction is well made: the filling is generous and homogeneous. The big “Opus X” band doesn’t need any introductions. Medium strength. The aromatic palette is good. The evolution is linear. The complexity and the intensity are good. The balance is excellent. The harmony is really nice and the persistence is remarkable. 1/3: wood, aromatic herbs and ripe fruit. 2/3: spices (white pepper), wood and hazelnut. 3/3: spices (white pepper), wood, hazelnut and ripe fruit.

/100

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SMOKES FROM THE WORLD

George Harrison smoking a cigar during his 21st birthday.

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TOBACCO HISTORY

the limited edition that belonged to the Partagas “letters” line: Serie D No.3 (2001), Serie D No.2 (2003), Serie D No.1 (2004), Serie D No.3 (2006), Serie D No.5 (2008), Serie D Especial (2010), Serie C No.3 (2012). Also to remember the jar edition, the Serie D No.1 (2009), and the Reserva, the Serie D No.4 Reserva (2005).

The letters of Partagas SINCE THE 30’S TO NOWADAYS by Luca Cominelli

Nowadays the “letters” line of Partagas counts five cigars, but in the past many have been the productions of a limited number of cigars made that belonged to it. Every Partagas cigar that has a red rectangular band with golden writtens, belong or belonged to this line. The peculiarity is a simple band, without too many details, medals, draws o other elements that can be seen on most of the other bands (of both present and past days).

the bands had the exact same dimensions.

Every “Serie” had the same cepo (ring gauge), while every number (No.1, No.2…) had the same length, as you can see in the table (pag. 26). These lines were discontinued in the middle 60s. In 1975, it was reintroduced to production a cigar of the line, the Serie D No.4, which became shortly one of the most popular Partagas ever produced.

These lines counted many different sizes but all

Starting from the new millennium, many were

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Coming to nowadays, the regular productions introduced since the beginning of the new millennium and still made are: Serie E No.2 (2011), Serie D No.5 (2011), Serie P No.2 (2005), Serie D No.6 (2014).

At the beginning there were sixteen of these cigars. Every line counted four sizes: the No.1, No.2, No.3 and No.4.

The first time this band appeared was in the 30’s, when the Partagas cigars belonging to the “Serie A, B, C, D” were exported to the British market.

Not to forget the Habanos Colleccion editions, better known as the book editions: Serie C No.1 (2002), Serie E. No.1 (2013).

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LINE UP CUBA

Partagas

/100

Serie D No.4 Size: cepo 50 x 124 mm (5”) Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba EUR: 12,4 € (IT) | 11 € (EU) | USD: - $ Box: 3-10-25 pz Year: 2015

Serie D No.5 Size: cepo 50 x 110 mm (4,3”) EUR: 10,2 € (IT) | 9,5 € (EU) | USD: - $

Medium to high strength. The aromatic palette is intense, the balance is good and the persistence is remarkable. The evolution is limited but the intensity of this cigar put this aspect in the background. • Aromatic palette: vegetal notes, earth, hazelnut and piquant spices.

The Serie D No.4, better known as the D4, is the most sold cigar in the world. The red band with gold written and details has become a classic, easy to recognize and to identify the Partagas “letters” line.

- pre lighting The cold draws reveals cedar wood.

- first third The opening is vegetal. Going on, the cigar develops cedar wood notes and vegetal hints. In the aftertaste is perceivable black pepper. The strength is medium high (4/5).

- second third -

/100

Serie D No.6 Size: cepo 50 x 90 mm (3,5”) EUR: 7,5 € (IT) | 8 € (EU) | USD: - $ Medium to high strength. It develops a smoke with a nice body. The aromas are close to the Partagas ones and the persistence is great. The balance gets less in the last part of this little cigar. • Aromatic palette: earth, wood, black pepper, vegetal notes and piquant peaks.

It opens up with cedar wood, earth and undergrowth aromas. In the aftertaste the black pepper is still well present. The strength increases and now is high (4,5/5).

- third third It brings to the palate cedar wood and earth notes. The black pepper is omnipresent in the aftertaste, accompanied now by piquant peaks. The strength does not change.

- conclusions A cigar with a great aromatic intensity and definitely satisfying. The evolution is decent but the true strength of this cigar is the aromas richness, which is remarkable from the first to the last draw. The balance is good.

/100

Serie E No.2 Size: cepo 54 x 140 mm (5,5”) EUR: 13,2 € (IT) | 12,5 € (EU) | USD: - $ Medium strength. It is a cigar with a good aromatic palette. The flavors are the Partagas one, the balance is great and the smoke is not too powerful. • Aromatic palette: wood, earth, black pepper, aromatic herbs and piquant notes.

/100

SCORE

PAIRINGS

Alcoholic: Daiquiri Analcoholic: Italian coffee

Serie P No.2 Size: cepo 52 x 156 mm (6,1”) EUR: 14 € (IT) | 13 € (EU) | USD: - $

High strength. It is a smoke with a good intensity, but the evolution and the aromatic palette are not too wide. The persistance is good. • Aromatic palette: cedar wood, black pepper, leather and roasted notes.

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DRINKS

Mild temperature, sea breeze and a very beautiful sunset. This is the right moment to enjoy two pleasures: an excellent smoke and a good drink.

The protagonist of this moment is the Daiquiri, a drink descending from the family of Punches and Canchancharas, all grouped together by the same basic ingredients: rum, sugar and citrus. The birth of this Cuban cocktail is linked to different stories, but the most accredited one seems to assign its paternity to two American engineers that worked in Cuba: Jennings S. Cox and Giacomo Pagliuchi. It is told that on an unspecified day in 1898, the two engineers, after having met for the reactivation of an important iron mine, wanted to take a break to drink something. It was then that Pagliuchi proposed to Cox to prepare a drink, but the only ingredients available were rum, lime, sugar and ice. With these ingredients, Cox decided to prepare what he at the time called “Rum sour”. Pagliuchi enjoyed the taste and the freshness but not the name, so he proposed a new one that was “Daiquiri”, like homonymous beach of an ancient village existing nearby Santiago de Cuba.

Daiquiri SINCE 1898 TO NOWADAYS by Nicola Ruggiero

In the following years the drink had a huge success. It was so big that the admiral Johnson adopted it as the official drink of the US Navy and decided to place a commemorative plaque at the entrance of the Lodge in Washington, to remember the two engineers. The popularity of the Daiquiri was also made bigger by Ernest Hemingway, big fan of the drink to the point of drinking several liters a day. It is in fact ascribable to the american writer the famous sentence “Mi Mojito alla Bodeguita, mi Daiquiri alla Floridita“. At the Floridita bar worked the barman Costante, a great friend of the writer, who contributed

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greatly to the evolution of the Daiquiri. The version of this drink which became the most famous one, thanks to Hemingway and other famous people was the one with the add of the maraschino liquor (obtained from the Marasca cherries) , better known as the “Papa Doble”. With the passing of the years the changes to the original recipe were many and more, and consequence were multiple recipes in circulation. Today the official one is quoted in the IBA list (Internat. Bartender Association), that returns to the origins, including rum, lime juice, sugar and ice. For the cocktail-cigar pairing, the Daiquiri seems very indicate for many reasons: its freshness cools the palate warmed up by the cigar; the sourness increases the salivation that allows the receptors of the tongue to be ready for the next puff; the sugar, other then balancing the drink, balances the bitterness or the astringency of the own smoke. Now all we can do is close the eyes and imagine a trip to Cuba, cradle of the Daiquiri, with the nose stimulated by the smoke of a good cigar in our hand and the right taste of a Daiquiri that surely won’t leave our mouth dry. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.10

DRINKS

THE RECIPE: The preparation at home is easy. A shaker and a measurer is all we need: - 4,5 cl of white rum - 2,5 cl of lime juice - 1,5 cl of sugar syrup - Ice Pour all the ingredients into the shaker. Shake, filter and pour it in a cooled glass. Decorate it with a slice of lime.

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LINE UP

Winston Churchill ONE OF THE 2015 DAVIDOFF NEWS by Luca Cominelli e Michel Arlia

The Winston Churchill line is one of the latest news introduced by Davidoff.

The Winston Churchill line has been created to develop a rich smoke, with strength always under control and a great balance.

The line is a tribute to the famous Winston Churchill, first minister of the United Kingdom and a big cigar aficionado, almost always usually pictured with a cigar between his lips. These cigars are produced in Dominican Republic and this new line is made with a particular tobacco blend. We talked with Henke Kelner (Davidoff master blender) about it. The wrapper used is a Rojiza, grown in Ecuador. The binder is a San Andres, from Mexico. The filler is made of a blend of tobaccos from Dominican R. (Pilo Mejorado, Piloto Seco, Hybrid Olor) and Nicaragua (Esteli seco e Condegas seco). Overall, the tripa is made by a 70% of Dominican tobacco and 30% of Nicaraguan tobacco.

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LINE UP

/100

The Commander - Toro

The Artist - Petit Corona

Size: cepo 54 x 151 mm (6”) EUR: 21 € (IT) | 20 € (EU) | USD: 18 $

Size: cepo 41 x 114 mm (4,5”) EUR: 10,5 € (IT) | 10 € (EU) | USD: 10 $

A medium strength cigar that develops a wide and rich aromatic palette. The evolution is remarkable and the balance never come less during the smoke. Creamy and satisfying.

Medium strength. It develops a nice balanced smoke. The aromatic palette is decent, the harmony and the persistence are good. The complexity is limited.

Aromatic palette: cocoa, white pepper, fine wood, honey notes and balsamic herbs. The base is slightly sweet.

Aromatic Palette: resin plant, cedar wood, vanilla echoes and piquant spices.

/100

The Statesman - Robusto

The Traveller - Belicoso

Size: cepo 52 x 133 mm (5,25”) EUR: 19 € (IT) | 18 € (EU) | USD: 16 $

Size: cepo 46 x 114 mm (4,5”) EUR: 7,5 € (IT) | 7 € (EU) | USD: 7 $

The strength is slightly over the medium. The smoke has an excellent balance. The evolution is well noticeable and the intensity is great. The aromatic palette is wide and elegant. During the smoke the aromas change continuously, giving birth to a dynamic and complex smoke. A great robusto!

Medium strength. It develops a good aromatic palette, with a decent evolution. The balance is good as well as the intensity. Aromatic Palette: aged wood, earth, herbal notes, spicy echoes and piquant peaks.

Aromatic palette: wood, hazelnut, liquorice, aromatic herbs, coffee, leather and piquant peaks.

/100

The Aristocrat - Churchill

The Raconteur - Petit Panatela

Size: cepo 47 x 178 mm (7”) EUR: 21 € (IT) | 20 € (EU) | USD: 19 $

Size: cepo 38 x 101 mm (4”) EUR: 6,6 € (IT) | 6 € (EU) | USD: 6,5 $

Strength is slightly over the medium. The smoke is well balanced, the evolution is decent and the aromatic palette is good, as well as the intensity. The harmony is good too.

Light to medium strength. The smoke is balanced and has a decent complexity. The harmony is good but the intensity is limited. The last part of the cigar gets slightly bitter.

Aromatic palette: wood, coffee, white pepper, earth and aromatic herbs.

Aromatic palette: mineral notes, white pepper, earth and wood.

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SLOW ATTITUDE on the speaker! Lanceros are amongst the most appreciated and challenging vitolas for discerning aficionados. The unfortunate ways lanceros are tasted perhaps highlight the fact that many aficionados should still refine their tasting skills. And the first step is often to learn to taste slower. It is too frequently regrettable to observe aficionados tasting their different vitolas the very same way. They adopt an identical tasting pattern regardless of the type of cigar. In such conditions cigars will have tough time delivering their full potential. Not making efforts to understand cigars – size, shape, origin, type, potential defects, age, etc. – before starting the tasting is incredibly detrimental; and especially for fine cigars (with specific and sensitive leaves), vintage cigars (more than 25 years), and thin and long cigars. All these have to be understood and tasted slowly. photo: elgrandetour.wordpress.com

Lancero THE KING OF PANETELAS by Didier Houvenaghel

The Lancero is a size which needs a smaller amount of tobacco compared to bigger vitolas. However, this doesn’t necessary mean a smaller use of “volado”, the leaves which helps the combustion but don’t give too much in terms of flavors and strength. The proportion is the same and, theoretically, the percentage is about the same. However it is important to notice that, given the little diameter and the small number of leaves used, the wrapper plays a very important role in these cigars. In terms of aromatic profile the impact of the wrapper is definitely more remarkable in this size than the bigger ones. Considering a cylinder, when its diameter decreases, the lateral surface area relatively increases

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in proportion versus the volume. Translated into cigar tasting this means that the quantity of wrapper (lateral surface area of the cylinder) becomes bigger when the cigar cepo becomes smaller, when compared with the filler (volume of the cylinder). Talking about the evolution, generally, longer cigars show more noticeable progressions than their shorter peers, but this also variates with the type of blend. Also, thinner cigars usually have marked evolutions. Being less numerous in the blend, rolled leaves can express themselves better than when they are immerged – consider that a dilution – in a more complex blend. One speaker will be heard more clearly alone than when rounded by loud crowd. But is also depends

The principal factor affecting the tasting is its own speed or pace. Aficionados often smoke too quickly, literally rushing the tasting. The burning being too frequently activated, temperatures are pushed to higher levels, and the temperature drop between 2 puffs will not occur fully. The heat of combustion will run up along the tasting and could reach detrimental threshold hence reducing the cigar aromatic spectrum. Today’s society and its social standards constantly push people to be on-the-go everywhere and all the time; and by consequence this makes us artificially not having availability to focus on the genuine goals of our Life. Products and services usually presented to us in our shops and communities are produced more oriented towards short-term and high rotation consumerism than with a perspective of quality. Everyone has the freedom to develop our own cultures and pick the products that fit our vision, with value and authenticity. And thus to appreciate them with a discerning eye. This is how a lancero should be looked at. Don’t smoke that cigar. Take the time to taste it. CigarsLoverMagazine | No.10

BLIND TASTING

“Lancero” tasting THE OLD FASHIONED PANETELAS

Trinidad Fundadores - Cuba

Size: cepo 40 x 192 mm (7,6”) - EUR: 20 € (IT) - 20 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba Medium strength. It develops an incredibly balanced smoke. The evolution is remarkable and the aromas keep on changing during the whole smoke. Creamy and elegant. 1/3: coffee, honey, citrus and vanilla. Sweet base. 2/3: coffee, honey, ripe fruits and walnut. Sweet base. 3/3: ripe fruit, walnut, cocoa, coffee and pan brioches. Sweet base.

/100

Flor de Selva Lancero - Honduras

Size: cepo 38 x 178 mm (7”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 15 € (EU) | USD: 15 $ Wrapper: Connecticut | Binder: Honduras | Filler: Honduras Medium to high strength. The cigar has a great aromatic intensity and elegance. Well balanced and with a nice evolution. The complexity is remarkable. 1/3: black pepper, fine wood, honey and vanilla hints. 2/3: roasted notes, fine spices, cinnamon and coffee. Sweet base. 3/3: coffee, hazelnut, white pepper and fine wood.

/100

Cohiba Lancero - Cuba

Size: cepo 38 x 192 mm (7,6”) - EUR: 21,1 € (IT) - 22 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba Medium strength. The smoke is elegant and with a nice complexity. The evolution is great, as well as the aromatic intensity. The balance never comes less. 1/3: fine wood, cocoa and pink pepper. 2/3: vanilla, pink pepper and fine wood. Sweet base. 3/3: pink pepper, fine wood and vanilla hints. Sweet base.

/100

La Flor Dominicana D. L. Lancero - Dominican R. Size: cepo 38 x 190 mm (7,4”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 23 € (EU) | USD: 15 $ Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R.

Medium strength. The smoke has a huge aromatic intensity. Well balanced and with a great harmony. The construction is perfect. 1/3: walnut, spices (black pepper) and piquant notes. 2/3: roasted notes, coffee, walnut and black pepper. 3/3: spices, coffee and aged wood.

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BLIND TASTING

Señorial Lancero - Dominican R.

Montecristo Especiales No.1 - Cuba

High strength. A really rich smoke. The intensity is remarkable, the complexity is great as well as the persistance. Well balanced. Great evolution.

Medium strength. A well balanced smoke with a nice aromatic intensity. The persistence is remarkable, as well as the complexity.

1/3: black pepper, vegetal, wood, hazelnut and earth. Sweet base. 2/3: citrus, wood, aromatic herbs, and spices. Sweet base. 3/3: black pepper, citrus, aromatic herbs and earth. Sweet base.

1/3: leather, black pepper, walnut, mineral notes. Sweet base. 2/3: cocoa, walnut, mineral notes and hazelnut. Sweet base. 3/3: walnut, citrus, wood, mineral notes and leather.

Size: cepo 38 x 178 mm (7”) - EUR: - € (IT) - - € (EU) | USD: 9 $ Wrapper: Ecuador Habano | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Dominican R.

Size: cepo 38 x 192 mm (7,6”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 15 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

/100

Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta Lancero - Nicaragua

Room 101 Daruma Mutante - Honduras

Medium strength. It develops a smoke with a great aromatic intensity. The balance and the persistence are remarkable. Very creamy.

Medium strength. It develops a creamy smoke. The aromatic profile shows a nice complexity. The balance is great and the harmony is good.

1/3: vegetal notes, cedar wood, hazelnut, coffee and white pepper. 2/3: vegetal notes, cedar wood, hazelnut, vanilla and white pepper. 3/3: aromatic herbs and hints of black pepper.

1/3: coffee, wood and cocoa. Slightly sweet base. 2/3: coffee, cocoa, leather, wood and citrus. 3/3: coffee, cocoa, leather and citrus.

Size: cepo 38 x 178 mm (7”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 7 € (EU) | USD: 6,5 $ Wrapper: Arapiraca Brazil | Binder: Cameroon | Filler: Dominican R. & Nicaragua

/100

Size: cepo 38 x 178 mm (7”) - EUR: - € (IT) - - € (EU) | USD: 9 $ Wrapper: Habano Ecuador | Binder: Brazil | Filler: Dominican R. & Honduras

/100

Kristoff Maduro Lancero - Dominican R.

Tatuaje Seleccion de Cazador Especiales - Nicaragua

High strength. The aromatic intensity is great and the cigar is very satisfying. The evolution is good, the complexity is great and the persistence is remarkable.

Strength slightly over the medium. It develops a nice evolution. The aromatic profile is good, but its best characteristic is the very long persistence.

1/3: cocoa, coffee, wood and vanilla. Sweet base. 2/3: cocoa, coffee, spices, leather and vanilla. 3/3: coffee, walnut, leather and earth.

1/3: earth, cocoa beans and piquant notes. 2/3: coffee, smoky notes and aromatic herbs. 3/3: earth, cocoa and balsamic aromas.

Size: cepo 38 x 190 mm (7,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - - € (EU) | USD: 10 $ Wrapper: Habano Ecuador | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

Size: cepo 40 x 190 mm (7,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 8 € (EU) | USD: 13 $ Wrapper: Habano Ecuador | Binder: Brazil | Filler: Dominican R. & Honduras

/100

Epic Lancero - Dominican R.

Don Pepin Blue Label Lancero - Nicaragua

Medium to high strength. It develops a smoke with a great body. The evolution is good. The balance and the persistence are great.

Medium to high strength. The smoke shows a decent evolution. The intensity is good, as well as the harmony. The balance is on the edge in some draws.

1/3: cocoa, leather, aged wood and black pepper. 2/3: earth, leather, black pepper and fine spices. 3/3: earth, leather, cocoa and black pepper.

1/3: earth, black pepper and almond. 2/3: coffee and vegetal notes. 3/3: earth

Size: cepo 40 x 182 mm (7,2”) - EUR: - € (IT) - - € (EU) | USD: 8,5 $ Wrapper: Arapiraca Brazil | Binder: Cameroon | Filler: Dominican R. & Nicaragua

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Size: cepo 39 x 190 mm (7,5”) - EUR: 9,5 € (IT) - 7,5 € (EU) | USD: 8 $ Wrapper: Corojo Oscuro | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Honduras

/100

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BLIND TASTING

L’atelier LAT Lancero - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 38 x 190 mm (7,4”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 9,5 € (EU) | USD: 9 $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Strength just over the medium. It develops a smoke with a good complexity. The aromatic intensity is good, as well as the balance. The aromatic profile is not too wide. 1/3: nutmeg, black pepper and vegetal hints. 2/3: nutmeg, black pepper, vegetal hints and piquant spices. 3/3: nutmeg and piquant spices.

/100

Oliva Serie V Lancero - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 38 x 178 mm (7”) - EUR: 8,25 € (IT) - 7 € (EU) | USD: 6,5 $ Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Medium to high strength. The intensity is good. The aromatic palette is limited in the first half and then the cigar finally opens up. The balance is good. 1/3: earth and black pepper. Slightly sweet base. 2/3: coffee, earth and black pepper. Slightly sweet base. 3/3: roasted notes, piquant notes, cocoa and balsamic herbs.

/100

Viaje Exclusivo Lancero - Honduras

Size: cepo 40 x 190 mm (7,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - - € (EU) | USD: 10 $ Wrapper: Criollo Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Medium strength. It develops a great aromatic intensity. The balance and the persistence are good. The complexity and the evolution are narrow. 1/3: cocoa, earth, leather and black pepper. 2/3: cocoa, earth, leather, coffee and black pepper. Sweet base. 3/3: cocoa, wood, leather, coffee and black pepper.

/100

Pinar del Rio Oscuro Lancero - Dominican R. Size: cepo 38 x 182 mm (7,2”) - EUR: - € (IT) - - € (EU) | USD: 6,5 $ Wrapper: Habano & Ecuador | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

Medium to high strength. The smoke has a great intensity. The aromatic palette is not too wide, as well as the evolution. The balance is good. 1/3: earth, cocoa, black pepper and wood. 2/3: black pepper, earth, leather and wood. 3/3: black pepper, earth, wood, leather and coffee.

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BLIND TASTING

“Corto” tasting EVERYTHING IN A QUICK SMOKE

Padron Serie 1964 Principe - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 46 x 114 mm (4,5”) - EUR: 15 € (IT) - 12 € (EU) | USD: 10 $ Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Medium to high strength. The cigar develops a really creamy smoke. The aromatic palette is good and the intensity is great. Well balanced and harmonious. 1/2: earth, wood, herbs and vanilla spots. 2/2: earth, spices and black pepper.

/100

Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Enchantment - Dominican R. Size: cepo 60 x 111 mm (4,3”) - EUR: 13 € (IT) - 10 € (EU) | USD: 12 $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R.

Medium to high strength. It develops an intense and deep aromatic palette. The persistence is good, as well as the balance. Creamy and satisfying. 1/2: cocoa, almond and piquant spices. 2/2: earth and aromatic herbs.

/100

Davidoff Puro d’Oro Gorditos - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 58 x 95 mm (3,7”) - EUR: 17 € (IT) - 15 € (EU) | USD: 15 $ Wrapper: Dominican R. | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R. Medium to high strength. This cigar is well balanced and with a remarkable body. The aromatic palette is good, as well as the persistence. 1/2: fine wood, white pepper and honey. 2/2: hazelnut, coffee, black pepper and aromatic herbs.

/100

Castro Short Robusto - Nicaragua

Size: cepo 40 x 90 mm (3,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 8,5 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua Medium to high strength. It develops an intense and rich smoke. The complexity is decent, the harmony is good. Really satisfying. 1/2: cocoa, coffee, spices and black pepper. 2/2: cocoa, earth and black pepper.

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BLIND TASTING

H. Upmann Half Coronas - Cuba

Alec Bradley Mundial PL No.4 - Nicaragua

High strength. Creamy and satisfying smoke. The aromatic intensity is remarkable and the persistence is long. The harmony and the balance are good.

Medium strength. The cigar is well balanced and with a decent evolution. The aromatic palette is good.

1/2: wood, earth, vegetal notes and black pepper. 2/2: tree nuts, earth, wood and black pepper. Slightly sweet base.

1/2: vegetal notes and piquant spices. Slightly sweet base. 2/2: cinnamon and aromatic herbs. Sweet Base.

Size: cepo 44 x 90 mm (3,5”) - EUR: 5,4 € (IT) - 5 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

Size: cepo 48 x 108 mm (4,25”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 8 € (EU) | USD: 8 $ Wrapper: Honduras | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

/100

Joya de Nicaragua Joya Red Half Corona - Nicaragua Size: cepo 44 x 90 mm (3,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 6 € (EU) | USD: 5 $ Wrapper: Habano Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

/100

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story - Dominican R. Size: cepo 55 x 114 mm (4,5”) - EUR: 11 € (IT) - 7,5 € (EU) | USD: 7 $ Wrapper: Cameroon | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R.

Medium to high strength. The smoke is creamy and rich. The persistence is decent. The balance is great.

Medium strength. It develops a good aromatic palette with a nice intensity. The balance is good, as well as the harmony.

1/2: wood, earth and hazelnut. Sweet base. 2/2: roasted notes, wood and hazelnut.

1/2: vegetal notes and earth. 2/2: earth, leather and black pepper.

/100

Mombacho Corto - Nicaragua

Brun del Re Piccolo - Costa Rica

Strength slightly over the medium. The cigar is rich and the intensity is good. The balance is great and the complexity good. Really satisfying.

Medium to high strength. An intense and balanced smoke. Creamy and satisfying, it also shows a good aromatic palette.

1/2: earth, walnut, piquant peaks and honey notes. 2/2: earth, leather, coffee and piquant notes.

1/2: white pepper, earth and hazelnut. 2/2: piquant peaks, earth, nutmeg and cocoa.

Size: cepo 50 x 101 mm (4”) - EUR: 8 € (IT) - - € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Sun grown Habano seed | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

Size: cepo 44 x 76 mm (3”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 4 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Indonesia | Filler: Costa Rica & Nicaragua

/100

Nub 460 Cameroon - Nicaragua

Davidoff Escurio Petit Robusto - Dominican R.

Medium strength. It develops a good aromatic palette. The balance is great. Really creamy.

Strength slightly over the medium. The smoke is creamy and the complexity is good. Well balanced and satisfying.

1/2: wood, coffee and vanilla hints. Slightly sweet base. 2/2: hazelnut and coffee. Slightly sweet base.

1/2: herbs, spices and black pepper. 2/2: earth, vegetal notes and spices.

Size: cepo 60 x 101 mm (4”) - EUR: 7,75 € (IT) - 7,5 € (EU) | USD: 6 $ Wrapper: Cameroon | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

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Size: cepo 50 x 82 mm (3,5”) - EUR: 9,9 € (IT) - 9 € (EU) | USD: 9 $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Brazil | Filler: Dominican R. & Brasile

/100

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BLIND TASTING

Don Tomàs Nicaragua Lindos - Dominican R.

A. Flores G. Reserva 2006 Half Corona - Dominican R.

Strength slightly over the medium. The cigar is rich and with a nice intensity. The persistence is good. Satisfying.

Medium to high strength. The cigar is intense and balanced. The aromatic palette is decent, as well as the persistence.

1/2: black pepper, cocoa, coffee, aged wood and balsamic notes. 2/2: aged wood, cocoa, leather, black pepper and balsamic notes.

1/2: aged wood, herbs, earth and piquant peaks. 2/2: earth, cocoa and piquant spices.

Size: cepo 40 x 101 mm (4”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 3 € (EU) | USD: 3 $ Wrapper: Honduras | Binder: Honduras | Filler: Honduras

Size: cepo 46 x 90 mm (3,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 4,5 € (EU) | USD: 4 $ Wrapper: Corojo 2006 | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R. & Nicaragua

/100

MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured Chunky - Nicaragua

Partagas Serie D No.6 - Cuba

Size: cepo 50 x 115 mm (4,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - - € (EU) | USD: 6 $ Wrapper: Kentucky Fire-Cured | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua

Size: cepo 50 x 90 mm (3,5”) - EUR: 7,5 € (IT) - 8 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

Medium strength. The cigar shows a great balance and the aromatic palette is harmonious and rich. The intensity is good.

Medium to high strength. The aromatic intensity is good, especially in the fist half. The balance is decent. The harmony is really good.

1/2: spices, white pepper and cocoa. 2/2: cocoa and spices.

1/2: wood, black pepper, earth and piquant notes. 2/2: balsamic herbs and earth.

/100

Vegafina Fortaleza 2 Short Belicoso - Dominican R.

Villiger 1888 Short Robusto - Dominican R.

Light to medium strength. It shows a good intensity and a good balance. The aromatic palette is wide and the smoke is creamy.

Medium strength. The intensity is good as well as the persistence and the harmony. Well balance and satisfying.

1/2: coffee, walnut, wood and honey. Sweet base. 2/2: hazelnut, wood, coffee and piquant peaks. Sweet base.

1/2: vegetal notes, wood and cocoa. 2/2: hazelnut and cocoa.

Size: cepo 52 x 101 mm (4”) - EUR: 4,4 € (IT) - 5 € (EU) | USD: 5 $ Wrapper: San Andres Criollo | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R.

/100

Size: cepo 50 x 101 mm (4”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 6,5 € (EU) | USD: 6,5 $ Wrapper: Dominican R. | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R.

/100

Vegueros Entretiempos - Cuba

Montecristo Media Corona - Cuba

Medium Strength. It develops a well balanced and creamy smoke. The aromatic intensity is good. The persistence and the complexity are decent.

Medium to high strength. It develops a creamy and rich smoke. The persistence is good. The burning ring needs corrections.

1/2: tree nuts, wood and spices. 2/2: wood, aromatic herbs, coffee, black pepper and earth.

1/2: almond, wood and earth. 2/2: wood, earth and coffee.

Size: cepo 44 x 90 mm (3,5”) - EUR: 6,4 € (IT) - 6,5 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

Size: cepo 52 x 110 mm (4,3”) - EUR: 5,1 € (IT) - 6,9 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba

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BLIND TASTING

Aging Room M356ii Paco - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 48 x 114 mm (4,5”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 8,5 € (EU) | USD: 8,5 $ Wrapper: Habano | Binder: Dominican R. | Filler: Dominican R. Medium strength. The smoke is balanced and creamy. The intensity is good as well as the complexity. The aromatic palette is not too wide. 1/2: wood, coffee, leather and spices. 2/2: leather and wood.

/100

Aurora 1495 Sumo Short Robusto - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 60 x 100 mm (3,9”) - EUR: - € (IT) - 6 € (EU) | USD: 5 $ Wrapper: Ecuador | Binder: Brazil | Filler: Brazil, Peru, Nicaragua & Dominican R. Medium strength. It develops a smoke with a light body. The balance is good, as well as the harmony. The persistence is almost absent. 1/2: wood, liquorice and coffee. 2/2: coffee and wood.

/100

Trinidad Vigia - Cuba

Size: cepo 54 x 110 mm (4,3”) - EUR: 11,8 € (IT) - 12,5 € (EU) | USD: - $ Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba Medium strength. The cigar has a nice aromatic intensity but the balance is on the edge. The harmony is good, as well as the persistence. 1/2: hazelnut, spices and young wood. 2/2: earth, black pepper and piquant peaks.

/100

Macanudo 1968 Titan - Dominican R.

Size: cepo 60 x 100 mm (3,9”) - EUR: 9,2 € (IT) - 9 € (EU) | USD: 8 $ Wrapper: San Agustin | Binder: Habano Conn. | Filler: Dominican R. & Nicaragua Medium strength. The smoke is linear, without too many changes. The aromatic palette is decent. The intensity is not that much rich. 1/2: roasted notes, aromatic herbs and light spices. 2/2: roasted notes and aromatic herbs.

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VINTAGE CUBA

Diplomaticos No.7

Diplomaticos No.7 1970’s

Size: cepo 38 x 152 mm (6”) Wrapper: Cuba | Binder: Cuba | Filler: Cuba EUR: 200 € (IT) | - € (EU) | USD: 230 $ Box: 25 pz Year: 1970’s

The wrapper has a colorado shade. It is a bit rough and rustique. The pigtail is still visible even though the head is flattened by the aging inside the box. The rolling is perfect, homogeneous and with no loose or tight spots.

by Heiko Blumentritt

- pre lighting Even after 40 years there is still a remarkable smell of wood, exotical spices and some white pepper in the background.

- first third Rich spicy notes, some cedar, light roasted coffee and hints of leather. The combination is harmonious and the flavors get more intense and fade away in a very interesting interaction.

- second third The spicy notes are still peceivable, but they are not so intense as at the beginning. White pepper shows up, joined by some very floral notes and mushrooms.

The Diplomaticos No. 7 is one of those cigars which is hard to find nowadays.

- third third -

It was discontinued in the early 1980’s aswell as the No.7 (Laguito No.1, cepo 38 x 192 mm of length). Another aspect to consider is the production of Diplomaticos, which has always been a lot lower than other cuban brands. So the quantity of Diplomaticos No.6 available was definitely less than Montecristo Especiales No.2 (same size).

The last third of the cigar develops even more aromas: leather, spices and white pepper. All very well balanced on a base of pure and honest tobacco taste.

- conclusions This smoke was simply remarkable. 95 minutes of pure pleasure. A very complex smoke with a lot of different layers of taste and aromas, well balanced and with a huge harmony.

The No.6 and No.7 were introduced in the 1976, while the No.1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were produced since the birth of the brand, in 1966. The cigars reviewed come from a 25’s dressbox.

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SCORE

PAIRINGS

Alcoholic: Riesling Spätlese Analcoholic: Green tea

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EVENTS

Intertabac 2015 THE BIGGEST EUROPEAN TOBACCO FAIR by Luca Cominelli

From 18 to 20 September 2015 it was held in Dortmund, Germany, the largest trade fair about tobacco in Europe, which takes place annually. Compared to last year, more news were presented, and all the major producers in the world participated to the event. Worldwide importers and distributors, as well as the European ones, were present.

Among the new products on show stands out the new Padron Damaso, a new line, which combines the aromatic richness that distinguishes this famous Nicaraguan brand with a not too powerful strength, which is common in Padron cigars.

Translating this into numbers, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking about five hundred exhibitors from over fifty countries.

Staying in Nicaragua, Drew Estate brings new sizes of the Firecured Kentucky line, which is having a big success and represents the will to explore new techniques to apply to the cigar manufacturing. The result are products with a unique flavor profile and difficult to imitate.

All of this highlighted the increasingly producersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interest for the European market, which is continuously growing and able to occupy a bigger slice of the market.

Among the other big names in Nicaragua, there was Nestor Plasencia, with his cigar lines, including the Reserva Organica. Don Pepin along with Pete Johnson, showed the

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EVENTS currently lines in production. There was also Abraham Flores of PDR Cigars: he presented many of his lines, including the A. Flores Gran Reserva 2006 and Serie Privada.

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two other sizes (Gordito and Canonazo) dressed in a maduro shade wrapper (Sun grown Habano from Connecticut) for the new Inspirado line: the Inspirado Black.

There were even Kristoff representatives, Ashton and many others.

Another news was the Don Tomas Nicaragua line (blue band), which shows a definitely interesting quality/price ratio.

Moving to Dominican Republic, Macanudo reveals new inspirado: two new sizes (the Gordito and Mareva) for the classic Inspirado line, and

Davidoff exposes its newest line: the Escurio, wich is the latest creation of Kelner and Diaz, inspired from Brazil.

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EVENTS Arturo Fuente was attended directly by Carlito Fuente, who brought his long history and tradition. Jeremiah Meerapfel (Meerapfel family) was also present at their booth.

Villiger shows many of its innovations at their huge stand. In addition to the classic lines there was also the new Sand’Oro, presented in three blends: Claro, Colorado and Maduro.

La Flor Dominicana shows the new “La Nox” packed in boxes designed by Antonio Gomez, son of Litto Gomez. The boxes are round and have a magnetic closure. They look simply beautiful.

There was even Tabacalera Palma, and among its much news, there was also the new line “La Galera”. Jochi Blanco attended their stand.

Epic Cigar presented the Maduro Reserva line, which is composed by Robusto, Double Corona, Gordo and Lancero. To present these sizes was Dean Parson.

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Going to Honduras, the new Dunhill Heritage line was presented. The bands and the packaging remind the history of this brand, with many details that bring to the famous Dunhill cigars produced in Cuba and so sought nowadays.

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EVENTS Alec Bradley shows his best lines and this year in the first row there was Alan Rubin, founder and CEO of the brand. Rocky Patel brings his newest line Tabaquiero, produced under the attention of Hamlet, the famous Cuban roller. Rocky attended to the event and give many details on his latest creations. In all this could not certainly miss Maya Selva, celebrating her 20 years in the cigar industry. She presented a new cigar in limited edition: the Flor de Selva Lancero. The news does not end here of course! Royal Danish Cigars brings new line Sangre Azul (Blue blood), which is realized in a very particular way: the filler of these cigars is made in part of cigar foot which are cut during the making of the Royal Danish cigars. Another feature is the shape, box pressed used for the first time in Jen Vistsen’s brand. Brun del Re exposes the new “Piccolo”, in the versions “Strong”, “Smooth” and “Ltd. Edition “.

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INFO

Vocabulary

Sections

Anilla: paper band on the cigar, which is used to identify the brand. Calibre (cepo or ring gauge): diameter of the cigar. Capa (wrapper): the leaves used to wrap the Tripa and the Capote. Capote (binder): the leaves used to wrap the Tripa. Catadores: from the factory assigned employees, which try the cigars on a daily bases, to verify the quality. Cepo: ring gauge. Claro: tonality of the light brown color of the wrapper. Colorado: tonality of the chestnut brown color of the wrapper. Colorado claro: tonality of the light brown color of the wrapper. Colorado maduro: tonality of the dark brown color of the wrapper. Figurado: a cigar which presents a pointed end. Fortaleza: the sensation of the strength, which the smoke provokes in the throat of the smoker with every puff. Galera: a place where the cigars are prepared. I.S.: International Shape. Largo: length of the cigar. Liga: the mixture of the leaves used, which characterizes the cigar. Ligero: leaves that are harvested in the higher part of the tobacco plants and that give the strength to the cigar. Maduro: tonality of the mahogany-dark brown color of the wrapper. Medio tempo: leaves that are harvested in the top part of the tobacco plants. Puro: a cigar, which is exclusively prepared with leaves from the resulting country. Seco: leaves that are harvested in the interim part of the tobacco plants and give aroma to the cigar. SLD: short for Slide Lid Box. Tercio: ball of untreated tobacco. Thirds (first, second and third): parts in which the cigar gets divided. Torcedore: employee who rolls the cigars. Tripa (filler): leaves which compose the filling of the cigar. Tripa corta: a filling which is composed of the cuts, pieces and damaged leaves. Tripa larga: a filling with whole leaves. Vitola: module or format of the cigar with an established diameter and length. Vitola de galera: unique name which is attributed to distinguish the different formats, independent of the name which is will be given to the cigar (Marevas, Prominentes, etcâ&#x20AC;Ś). Vitola de salida: name attributed to the commercial end and changes from each brand (Siglo VI, Serie D no. 4, etc...). Volado: leaves which are harvested at the bottom part of the tobacco plant. Fundamental for the combustion of the cigar.

DRINKS The better beverages reviewed and explained. The new products and the old fascinated ones, with a hint of history.

PAIRINGS The best alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks which perfectly match with cigars. When pairing becomes a source of absolute pleasure.

EVENTS The main international events. Fairs, meetings and everything having the cigar as the main character.

SLOW ATTITUDE Technical ar ticles for a better understanding of the product cigar secrets and insights of use for both beginners and aficionados.

FAMOUS SMOKERS Biographies and curiosity about famous people of present and past days, that all have in common just one this: a huge passion for slow smoke and /or cigars

SMOKES FROM THE WORLD To understand completely cigars, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to experience all the terroir of reference, appreciating all the characteristics and the differences which makes every producer country unique.

INTERVIEW Stories of passions narrated directly by the protagonists: interviews with insiders, tobacconists, importers, collectors, and so on and so forth.

TOBACCO HISTORY Stories from the tobacco world: the big brands, the crops, the manufacturers of the past, and the city grew on the tobacco business.

LINE UP Insights, reviews and evaluations about all the cigars that belong to the same line, plus details about its making.

TOOLS Accessories are an essential element for the modern smoker: cutters, humidors, lighters, cigar holders, furnishing accessories.

MADE IN ITALY Reviews, discussions and insights regarding the cigars made in Italy. The tradition of Tuscani, the novelty of Nostrano del Brenta and more!

VINTAGE The world of collecting: cigars aged for decades, the great classics of the past and rarest cubans. The charm and the quality of the impossible.

MEANING OF THE TERMINOLOGIES USED

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