Cigar Snob Magazine September October 2024

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024

Road Windy

CITY CIGARS p. 39

KENTUCKY

BOURBON p. 27

Trip IDAHO

Golf

p. 61

SEDONA

Fashion

p. 46

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editorials SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024

22 SPLURGE Tailgating is a go again, and of course you can go with the parking lot hibachi grill if that’s how you want to prepare for kickoff. Or, you can go with this portable grill and smoker that carries the flamboyance of the TD-scoring running back.

27 5 TO TRY KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON Kentucky is the 15th state admitted into the Union, but it’s #1 in terms of whiskey production. We pulled out our favorites, mixed in some history, a few cigars and arrived at some flavorful conclusions.

28 ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF – BATCH B524 / ROCKY PATEL CONVICTION

30 RUSSELL’S RESERVE SINGLE BARREL / TATUAJE TUXTLA LOMO DE CERDO

32 HEAVEN HILL BOTTLED IN BOND /

LA FLOR DOMINICANA DOUBLE LIGERO

34 WILLETT POT STILL RESERVE / VILLIGER MIAMI

36 1792 SMALL BATCH / VIVA LA VIDA

39 THE CHICAGO WAY Chicago’s legacy includes a colorful cast of wise guys, often cigar chompin’. We take in the city’s smoking opportunities with an assist from a former homicide cop/current podcaster who knows where the bodies are buried.

61 INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN It’s not just the ski slopes that draw people to the wide open Northwest ranges – there’s also some terrific golfing and smoking out there. We spent some time on the courses and in the lounges and found a slice of wilderness nirvana.

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features SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024

14 LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

16 FEEDBACK

18 WHAT’S BURNIN’

46 SMOKING HOT CIGAR SNOB WHEREVER I MAY ROAM FEATURING BLACKENED BY DREW ESTATE

69 RATINGS

83 X SCOREBOARD

84 INSTAGRAM SCOREBOARD

86 EVENTS 86 TABACON DORAL 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY 88 FERIO TEGO SOCIAL AT CITY CIGAR LOUNGE 90 SHORE THING CIGARS GRAND OPENING AT ORANGE BEACH 92 SUMMER ASH 2024 94 ROCKY MOUNTAIN CIGAR FESTIVAL 96 BREW CITY CIGAR FESTIVAL 98 AMERICO CIGAR LAUNCH AT FUSION CIGAR LOUNGE

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024

VO L . 16 IS SU E 5 www.cigarsnob.com PUBLISHER & EDITOR Erik Calviño SENIOR EDITOR Steve Miller COPY EDITOR Michael LaRocca SALES & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Oscar M. Calviño

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Ivan Ocampo ART DIRECTOR Andy Astencio ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jamilet Calviño DIGITAL RETOUCHING SPECIALIST Ramón Santana DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGEMENT Gianni D’Alerta Diana Rita Cabrera CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS David Benoliel Andy Astencio Ramon Adato Greg Wise EVENT PHOTOGRAPHERS Jamilet Calviño David Renna Digital Innovations Dallas Gadberry Tristan Brewer Beth Borst Cover Photography by David Benoliel www.davidbenolielphotography.com Cover Model - Sinclair Slazinski Cigar Snob is published bi-monthly

by Lockstock Publications, Inc. 1421-1 SW 107th Ave., #253 Miami, FL 33174-2509 Tel: 1 (786) 423-1015 Cigar Snob is a registered trademark of Lockstock Publications, Inc., all rights reserved. Reproduction in part or full without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Cigar Snob is printed in the U.S. Contents copyright 2006, Lockstock Publications, Inc. To subscribe, visit www.cigarsnob.com

(SUBSCRIBE TODAY) - Only $18 for one year (six issues) of -

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The world can be dark sometimes, we are all aware of that. We like to think that “our time” is the craziest and most demented time in history.

But it isn’t. There are just more of us on this planet than there have ever been, and we are all more connected than we’ve ever been. We get to see more of the “crazy” using this mini news service in our pockets that has figured out what kind of news gets our attention, with the service available at our whim. The point is that we have unprecedented access to the comings and goings of people we would have otherwise never heard from, many of which are sharing information simply to gain your attention.

When we travel, which we do quite a bit for this magazine, we get to see people in their own environment and if we’re lucky, we catch them in their natural state. Not a façade posted on social networks aimed at views and likes.

As you can see from the cover and photo shoot starting on p.46, we spent several days in Sedona shooting the lovely Sinclair Slazinski against those stunning red rock backdrops. After the first day of shooting, Ivan, the head of production, and I ventured out to find a place to enjoy a cigar before calling it a day. We found that the only place open in Sedona after 9 p.m. is an Irish pub and unlike most places in town, they didn’t seem to mind that you enjoy a cigar outside.

We ordered a couple of beers and sidled up next to a guy smoking a rustic-looking, machine-made cigar putting out that overly sweet, flavored tobacco smoke that’s instantly recognizable. We thought, “close enough,” we have an ally. To be honest, he was the first person outside of our group that we’d seen smoking in this town. Little did we know he would be more than an ally. We’d both left our lighters back at the hotel. We had cigars, plenty of them, but no lighter. Our new friend graciously handed over his Zippo, which he proudly pointed out had the butane insert, making it perfect for cigars. As we were lighting our cigars, he went on to tell us about the time he and his brother met Rocky Patel.

Let’s recap; we found the one place that was still open, found the one guy smoking something close to a cigar, with an adequate lighter that he was willing to share, and he’d met Rocky Patel. Lady Luck was clearly on our side. We offered to buy him a drink, but he was babysitting a margarita bowl that was almost the size of his head; he wouldn’t need a refill for a while. But he kept talking about premium cigars while smoking something less than premium. Not wanting to demean his choice of smoke, we waited for him to finish it and offered him one from our stash. I selected the Joya Cabinetta lancero for him. I figured the dark, oily tobacco that adorns the head of the cigar would be the perfect follow-up to the dark, sweet one he’d been enjoying. The cigar’s medium strength would not be too much for someone unaccustomed to strong cigars. He wouldn’t accept it on account that we were giving him too much. In his eyes what we were offering had too much value to just give away to someone you’d just met. We didn’t want to tarnish the evening by telling him about the magazine and the mind-numbing collection of cigars that we have access to, but we made it clear that nothing would make us happier than to see him enjoy this cigar, and he finally accepted.

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In more than 18 years of offering cigars to strangers I have never encountered a more appreciative and mindful recipient. He was visibly surprised by the differences between what he had been smoking before versus what he was smoking now. He marveled at the Joya’s two-tone wrapper and how it tasted sweet, but not artificially sweet. He learned to retrohale that night and was again fascinated. All the while, this grown man could not stop thanking us for the gift. He could not see that it was he who was giving us the gift.

Seeing a perfect stranger fall head over heels over something that both Ivan and I have dedicated so much time and energy to was as invigorating and rewarding as anything we’ve encountered on our travels.

I’d like to thank that gentleman and the couple who made their way over that night to share their story of climbing to the peak of Thunder Mountain to worship the tobacco Gods and beg for forgiveness for smoking vapes and doing nicotine pouches – true story. We drove back to our hotel in some odd combination of joy, appreciation, and bewilderment.

We didn’t even talk about it again until we’d had a shot of Jamy’s Cuban coffee the next morning. *** Thanks to our amazing team for putting together another great issue.

Thanks to our friend Bill Niederer for riding out to Sedona and letting us shoot his badass Harley, then hosting us at his house for cigars and a special bottle of Chinnock Cellars wine. Special thanks to the Coeur d’Alene tribe up in Idaho, which hosted our group put together by the legend, Shep. Finally, I’d like to thank you for reading our publication, listening to our podcast, and playing our weekly game, Win, Stuff, Live.

We love interacting with you during the game, but we also love hearing from you by email. Drop us a line at feedback@cigarsnobmag.com.

Keep ‘em lit,

Erik Calviño ecalvino@cigarsnobmag.com

COMMON SENSE AND POLITICS DON’T MIX I was a little surprised to read that the outside patio area at Casa Fuente in Las Vegas is now a designated non smoking area. I presume Caesar’s got complaints from mall patrons who didn’t like the idea of being exposed to tobacco smoke at the base of the escalator. If you’ve been to the area in question lately, it reeks of pot smoke.

That isn’t the point of my email.

I was intrigued by the article on the generational tobacco ban movement catching on in Massachusetts. Cody Carden seems to believe that the way to counter the ban proponents is to make the argument that cigars are in a unique category and deserve exclusion.

After all, that strategy worked to carve out a cigar exclusion for Florida’s beaches and parks anti cigarette butt campaign. But this is different. I’m afraid using a logical argument won’t work on the politicians pushing the ban in MA. The brilliance behind the concept is that no one can argue that their rights are being taken away, simply because the law doesn’t apply to current smokers. And I honestly believe that the politicians themselves are blind to the unintended consequences. Once an industry (retail cigar sales, in this case) is marked for extinction, it will contract and die a relatively rapid death.

In my position as a commercial property owner, I have only found one effective strategy to prevent smoking ban advocates from carrying the day, and that’s to hit them on enforcement. I don’t

doubt the generational ban proponents believe they’re starting a national movement, and therefore won’t have to worry about citizens bringing in tobacco products from other jurisdictions. But I think that’s a long way off. For instance, if they tried to create a generational ban on motorcycle licenses in the name of public safety, it would be a nightmare to enforce as they waited for the motorcycle industry to wither. So I would continue to point out to people like Susan Albright that anyone in Newton can drive to Boston and get all the cigars they want, or order them online. So knock off the waste of time political grandstanding! In my experience, politicians hate being accused of enacting dumb and unenforceable laws. I’m sure the New Zealand rejection of the ban was a huge blow to their “movement.”

Willam S. PS New Zealand continues to outlaw recreational Cannabis. They’re not as enlightened as they seem. via feedback@cigarsnobmag.com Thanks for your thoughtful take on our generational tobacco ban story in the Jul/Aug 2024 issue.

You’re spot on – enforcing these regulations would be a whole other story that unravels their argument.

Comparing it to a motorcycle ban illustrates how hard it would be to enforce such a ban. In the end people will always find ways to get around rules, as drinkers did through Prohibition, and smokers will continue to smoke through any tobacco ban – assuming otherwise is naïve at best. Not that we would promote the breaking of laws, but if it ever came to that point, you can count on us to bring you coverage of the biggest clandestine banned cigar party you’ve ever seen!

WRITE US AT FEEDBACK@CIGARSNOBMAG.COM 16 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

MONTECRISTO 1935 ANNIVERSARY NICARAGUA EXPANDS WITH NEW ROBUSTO Montecristo is shipping a new 5 x 54 Robusto, the latest addition to its 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua line. The box-pressed Nicaraguan puro comes in a 10-count box at $16.95 per.

The expansion reflects the continued success of the series, which debuted in 2020.

“The Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua blend is exceptionally well-suited for this Robusto size,” Rafael Nodal, VP of product capability for Tabacalera U.S.A., said in a press release. “While all sizes in the range perform admirably, we saw a unique opportunity to introduce a Robusto to the line.”

The Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua was crafted as an homage to the original Montecristo blend and introduced to celebrate the brand’s 85-year legacy.

PROCIGAR FESTIVAL DATES ANNOUNCED The ProCigar Festival will be held Feb. 16-21 in the Dominican Republic. It traditionally draws an international audience, who are guests on a sweep of the country’s tobacco resources.

Visited spots include factories and fields along with events that include seminars, tastings and dinners.

Registration for ProCigar Festival 2025 will be announced soon.

E.P. CARRILLO AND PLASENCIA TO PRODUCE THE E.P. CARRILLO HONDURAS E.P. Carrillo has produced its latest entry in the Essence Series, the E.P. Carrillo Honduras, at the Plasencia Honduran factory. The E.P. Carrillo Honduras will be available in three sizes: a 5 x 50 Robusto ($9.25), 6 x 52 Toro ($10), and 6 x 60 Gordo ($10.75).

Packaged in 24-count boxes, shipment is slated for late September.

The cigar features an OSA wrapper with binder from Honduras and filler from Honduras and Nicaragua.

“Two years ago, our journey took us beyond the

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Casa Carrillo factory, leading to the creation of the acclaimed INCH Nicaragua in collaboration with Plasencia’s Nicaragua facility,” Ernesto Perez-Carrillo III, who led this project, said in a press release. “Today, we’re thrilled to unveil the next chapter of our partnership, diving into the heart of Central America with the E.P. Carrillo Honduras. This blend embodies the rich heritage and unparalleled expertise of both our families.”

GURKHA RELEASES COLECCIÓN ESPECIAL NICARAGUA Gurkha’s Colección Especial Nicaragua is a follow-up to the Colección Especial released in 2022. While the original has a hybrid Connecticut wrapper and is produced in the Dominican Republic, the Colección Especial Nicaragua is a Nicaraguan Puro made in Nicaragua. Released in two vitolas, Toro and Pirámide, the Colección Especial Nicaragua boasts a $14.95 MSRP.

tried a risky technique known as tunneling to gain extra time. The strategy backfired when her cigar’s band burned, resulting in a 15-minute penalty. The penalty dropped her to fifth place with a final time of 2 hours, 35 minutes, and 48 seconds, allowing Borys Szkodziak to move up and secure second place and Dejan Pažin from Slovenia to secure third place.

“The grand final is less about the duration and more about the intensity of competition, where the world’s best come together to compete under immense pressure,” CSWC founder and organizer Marko Bilic said in a press release.

“This year’s event truly embodied that spirit.”

The final standings of the 2024 CSWC Grand Final are as follows: Hauke Walter - 2:51:43 Borys Szkodziak - 2:49:17 C

“This was the first time we released a Pirámide shape when we released it at the TAA last year,” VP of Sales Juan Lopez said in a press release.

“The Torpedo is hand-made with a sharper point to create our first Pirámide in our portfolio and after the tremendous success with the TAA in 2023, we decided to keep it going.”

ELIE BLEU FUENTE HEMINGWAY HOUSE OF DREAMS NOW SHIPPING With a price tag of $20,000, the Elie Bleu Hemingway House of Dreams at Chateau de la Fuente humidor, a joint effort of Arturo Fuente, the accessory company Elie Bleu, and Manny Iriarte, is now shipping. The $20K covers the cost of the humidor, a replica of a building that sits on Chateau de la Fuente, as well as 60 Hemingway Opus X cigars. The humidor, which features veneers, accents and stained glass, holds 110 cigars. The total production run was 184.

CIGAR SMOKING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS ANNOUNCED Hauke Walter emerged as the winner of the 15th anniversary of the Cigar Smoking World Championship in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The event brought together cigar enthusiasts from over 45 countries.

The championship’s finale featured a showdown between Walter and Anastasia Arsenova who

Dejan Pažin - 2:41:19 Marcin Sekowski - 2:37:21 Anastasia Arsenova - 2:35:48 (after 15-minute penalty)

XIKAR FLIP DUAL CUTTER NOW SHIPPING Quality Importers Trading Company is shipping its Xikar flip dual cutter ($84.99) in black, blue, gunmetal, and red.

The cutter cuts up to 64-ring gauge cigars in both v-cut and straight cut. It features a lock system that enables one-hand operation. The cutter measures 1.79 inches wide and three inches long.

DIESEL LAUNCHES THE FINAL CIGAR IN FOOL’S ERRAND TRILOGY Diesel Cigars completes the Fool’s Errand line with the third and final iteration, Diesel Worthy Fool, now shipping. The 5 x 58 cigar ($9.99) features a Nicaraguan Habano binder and filler housed inside a dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. The cigars are produced at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua and come in 10-count boxes.

Diesel is also featuring a contest in which consumers can win prizes by solving the riddles on the brand’s website. After completing the Fool’s Errand, fans will enter their names into a

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CY

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random drawing, and winners will be contacted in January.

“When we started this project, our goal was for fans to enjoy not just the cigars but the interactive experience as well,” Joe Krzyston, assistant brand manager for Diesel Cigars, said in a press release. “You’d be a fool to miss out on this one.”

LA AURORA FINOS INTRODUCES MINIATURE FORMATS La Aurora is shipping the La Aurora Finos and Miniatures and León Jimenes Connecticut Miniatures and Petites.

La Aurora Finos and Miniatures are packaged in a smaller size for a smoke time of 10-15 minutes, aimed at the consumer who doesn’t have time for a full-size cigar.

León Jimenes Connecticut Miniatures and Petites are made with Connecticut seed wrapper grown in Ecuador. This is the first release of León Jimenes products in the U.S. market.

Both formats are available in tins of 10 cigars, which can be enjoyed straight out of the box,

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with no cutting required.

“Both the La Aurora as well as the León Jimenes Connecticut are blends that work very well in the finos and miniature formats,” John Ferrigan, national sales director, said in a press release.

“As our account base has grown significantly since our start of operations last year, we look forward to bringing more informed innovations like this into our portfolio both in terms of formats and new blends.”

said. “What sets them apart is their true belief in the quality of the cigars we produce.”

Fakih added that there is “significant” international interest in cigars from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Honduras.

“With this burgeoning demand, The Humidor Project will be distributing our entire portfolio… as well as any new brands we introduce in the future,” he said.

THE HUMIDOR PROJECT TO DISTRIBUTE ARTESANO DEL TOBACCO GLOBALLY

JONATHAN M. CARNEY TO HEAD US OPERATIONS FOR BENTLEY TOBACCO

The Humidor Project will distribute Artesana Del Tobacco internationally. Much of the interest comes from the European market, says Billy Fakih, co-founder of Artesano.

Jonathan M. Carney has been appointed to head U.S. operations for Bentley Tobacco.

The demand has been on “particularly Viva La Vida Cigars and El Pulpo Cigars,” Fakih said in an email.

“The Humidor Project is one of the many distributors that have shown genuine interest in distributing our portfolio internationally,” he

“We are delighted to have found the perfect distribution partner for our Bentley products in Jonathan Carney,” Bentley CEO Martin Schuster said in a press release. “With his many years of executive-level experience, leadership, and enthusiasm for premium cigars, we couldn’t have found a better partner to finally offer our products to American aficionados.”

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splurge KAMADO JOE JR. (WITH CAST IRON STAND) kamadojoe.com $499 You remember what happened last year during your football tailgate, right? You bought a cheapo grill at the suburban box-in-a-lot on the way to the game and it was a disaster. The grill lasted three games and could never get hot enough to sear a hotdog, let alone a steak.

You trashed it in the Dumpster outside the stadium after the game and swore you would never do that again. It’s time to get serious.

If this was you last season, the tailgate-friendly Kamado Joe Jr. is your savior. It’s a 27.5-inch-tall ceramic charcoal grill, portable enough with 13.5 inches in diameter. Joe Jr. is sturdy as well, weighing in at 77 lbs., including the cast iron stand, and the stainlesssteel hinge allows you to add charcoal as you cook. Keep track of your cooking with the temperature gauge on the shell, which can also help manage fuel use.

The Joe Jr. is just as adept at grilling as it is at smoking. Ever had smoked pork shoulder at a tailgate? You can get to the tailgate early and start smoking meat, then open the airflow grates and get the temperature up to grill burgers.

And when you’re ready to hit them with the misdirection play, you can get the DoJoe accessory and make pizzas on the Kamado Joe Jr. We’re going all the way this year.

150 square inches of cooking area STAINLESS STEEL hinged cooking grate allows you to add charcoal as you cook 22 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

BUILT-IN temperature gauge FITS: 7 burgers or 2 whole birds or 1 pork shoulder

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FOUNDATION CIGARS

ROOTED IN TRADITION

CRAFTED FOR TODAY

WWW.FOUNDATIONCIGARS.COM

KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON FOR THE MOST PART, YOU CAN DISTILL SPIRIT FROM AT LEAST 51% CORN, AGE IT IN NEW, CHARRED OAK BARRELS, USE NO ADDITIVES, AND DO IT ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. AND CALL IT “BOURBON.” WHILE THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONAL BOURBONS MADE OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY, THERE IS NO PLACE WITH THE CLIMATE, WATER QUALITY, AND CONCENTRATION OF EXPERTISE IN BOURBON THAT COMES CLOSE TO KENTUCKY. HERE’S A COLLECTION OF FIVE EXCELLENT KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBONS AND WHICH CIGAR PAIRS BEST WITH EACH.

by Erik Calviño

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF – BATCH B524 and today that is a key distinguishing characteristic and a legal requirement to call your whiskey a bourbon, so we’ll go with it.

Elijah was born in 1738 in Orange County, Virginia, the fifth child of Paulie Hawkins and Toliver Craig Sr. At the age of 28 he was converted to the Baptist faith, which was a turning point in his life. He started hosting religious meetings in a tobacco farm – tobacco was a principal crop in the colonies – and by the age of 33 he was ordained as a minister. But these meetings and his sermons were not sanctioned by the Anglican church. This was in a time before the Establishment Clause and language that framed the concept of the separation of church and state. Elijah and his older brother Lewis were each charged and jailed for “preaching without a license.” As the persecution continued to heat up, ministers started heading to the frontier to preach the gospel without the risk of imprisonment. In 1781, Lewis Craig led an expedition of roughly 600 people across the wilderness and into the Kentucky territory, which was then part of Virginia. The group was called The Travelling Church. It was the largest group of pioneers to enter the area as one body. A year later, Elijah Craig followed suit and led his congregation into Kentucky territory. The group later founded a town they named Lebanon. In honor of the country’s first president, they changed the name of the town to Georgetown – as of 2020 Georgetown is the 6th most populous city in the state of Kentucky.

BARDSTOWN, KY 65.3% ABV

THE FATHER OF BOURBON? Telling the story of who Elijah Craig was and what he is known for would take up volumes. If his life story was a Netflix documentary, it would require a few seasons. But on the surface, you should know that he is considered by some as “the father of bourbon.” Whether that moniker was assigned to him by the distillery as part of its branding efforts or by historians is a bit of a controversial subject. However, he is credited as the first to char oak barrels to make bourbon,

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The Baptist ministers and their followers migrated from Virginia to Kentucky seeking religious freedom but also, in many cases, an opportunity to prosper financially. And as it turns out, Elijah was a natural at making money. In addition to being a pastor, Reverend Elijah Craig also owned a grist mill – an essential business on the frontier. He later started a paper mill, a tobacco warehouse, and a classical school which grew into what is today Georgetown College. If his business endeavors had ended there, you likely wouldn’t have heard of him, but he also started a distillery. And it was in that distillery that it is said he was the first to age corn liquor in charred oak barrels.

BATCH WARS Ask a bourbon geek if they like Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and you’ll probably get hit with a series of letters and numbers and a corresponding love it/ hate it rating. To the untrained ear it’s Greek, but true fans of the line can wax poetic about their

favorite batches like you might talk about your favorite smokes. Heaven Hill Distilleries, makers of Elijah Craig, release the Barrel Proof line of uncut, unfiltered bourbon straight from the barrel three times a year. The batches are identified by a simple coding system that includes the batch identifier (A, B, or C), the release month (1-12), and the two-digit release year. The batch we’re tasting here is B524; B denotes the 2nd release of the year, 5 means that it was released in May, and 24 tells us it is a 2024 release.

TASTING NOTES Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases vary greatly from batch to batch. B524 is exceptional. The whiskey has a beautiful, dark amber color in the glass showing off its age (11 years and two months). The nose is intense and complex with notes of rich vanilla, oak, dark chocolate, and cinnamon with a hint of citrus in the background.

On the palate the intensity continues as do the notes from the nose, which are joined by mouthgripping oak tannins and a touch of tobacco. It is exceptionally balanced and flavorful. With higher proof spirits such as this one, a little dilution can help bring out additional aromas and flavors.

Rocky Patel Conviction

PAIRING NOTES THE CIGAR IS AN IMPECCABLY CONSTRUCTED, DARK CHURCHILL THAT DELIVERS A BALANCED PROFILE HIGHLIGHTED BY TONS OF DARK CHOCOLATE, ROASTED ALMONDS, CURRANT, SMOOTH EARTH, AND SWEET PEPPER. SURPRISINGLY, THE ELIJAH CRAIG, WITH ITS 65.3% ALCOHOL, DOES NOT BLOW AWAY THE CIGAR’S CORE FLAVORS. INSTEAD IT ADDS A LAYER OF CARAMEL AND NUTS THAT ADDS DEPTH TO THE PAIRING. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ENJOY THE ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF OVER A LARGE CUBE. THIS PROOF POINT CAN HANDLE THAT WITH EASE.

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RUSSELL’S RESERVE SINGLE BARREL James “Jimmy” Russell started working at the Wild Turkey Distillery in 1954 in the quality control department, but as he’ll gladly tell you, in addition to analyzing samples for quality he did everything from sweeping floors to shoveling grain. Bill Hughes, who was the master distiller then, took Jimmy under his wing and when Hughes retired in the 1960s, Jimmy became the master distiller.

it the classic Wild Turkey 101, Rare Breed, Kentucky Spirit, or Russell’s Reserve, all come from one recipe - the same grains, 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, the same proprietary yeast strain, distilled on the same stills, and aged in the same type of barrel with the same char. The differences from one product to the other come from the amount of time in the barrel and the placement of the barrel in the rickhouses.

TASTING NOTES

Photo credit: Courtesy of Wild Turkey

The nose on the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel delivers a dose of cinnamon spice and cherry along with oak, caramel and vanilla. The palate continues the cinnamons and cherry, which are joined by oak spice, brown sugar, and a bit of tobacco. The finish is long, with the brown sugar, oak, and caramel lingering for quite some time.

Tatuaje Tuxtla Lomo de Cerdo

Jimmy and Eddie Russell taste the spirit straight from the barrel.

Jimmy’s son Eddie was hired in 1981 and like his father, started at the ground level. He swept floors and worked in the warehouse. Over the years he worked his way up and in 2015 was promoted to co-master distiller alongside his father.

LAWRENCEBURG, KY 55% ABV

JIMMY AND EDDIE RUSSELL Russell’s Reserve is a line of whiskeys made by Wild Turkey Distilling Co. The whiskies pay homage to the father and son co-master distillers, Jimmy and Eddie Russell. We’ve talked about Jimmy Russell on these pages before but here’s a rundown in case you missed it.

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The Russell’s Reserve was originally released in 2001 to showcase Jimmy’s mastery over the craft of making exceptional bourbon. The initial release was a 10-year-old bourbon made up of the best barrels selected by the elder Russell.

Eventually the lineup was expanded and has become a platform for Eddie’s contributions to Wild Turkey’s portfolio.

ONE BOURBON RECIPE TO RULE THEM ALL Much like the cigar manufacturers, whiskey distillers all do things differently. There are distilleries that manage different recipes, or mash bills, to produce their range of products while others run everything off one tried and true mash bill. Wild Turkey is the latter type. Every Wild Turkey bourbon that you’ve ever tasted, be

PAIRING NOTES ON ITS OWN, THE TATUAJE TUXTLA IS AN ULTRA-FLAVORFUL AND COMPLEX BLEND HIGHLIGHTED BY NOTES OF CHOCOLATE, RIPE FRUIT, AND SWEET EARTH ALONG A RICH, CREAMY TEXTURE. AS YOU SMOKE, NOTE THE FLAVORS THAT YOU PERCEIVE FROM THE CIGAR BEFORE INTRODUCING THE WHISKEY. THEN TAKE A COUPLE OF SMALL SIPS FROM THE RUSSELL’S RESERVE SINGLE BARREL. USE THE FIRST SIP TO GET YOUR PALATE ACCLIMATED TO THE ALCOHOL; THE SECOND WILL OPEN THINGS UP. NOW TAKE SEVERAL PUFFS FROM THE CIGAR AND NOTICE HOW MUCH THE WHISKEY HAS IMPACTED IT. WE FIND THAT THE CIGAR TASTES ALMOST LIKE A PEPPERY WERTHER’S ORIGINAL FROM THE FIRST PUFF. TAKE SEVERAL PUFFS AND ENJOY THE EVOLUTION BEFORE TAKING THE NEXT SIP.

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HEAVEN HILL BOTTLED IN BOND whiskeys including some award-winning, highly collectible brands like Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, which you saw earlier in this section and which was named “Whiskey of the Year” by Whisky Advocate in 2017. The limited-edition Parker’s Heritage Collection seems to always be in the running for that title in spirit competitions as well as the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series. Most recently, Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10-Year Bottled-in-Bond won “Best in Show, Whiskey” at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The brand has been flying high since the accolade.

Good luck finding a bottle of Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10-Year Bottled-in-Bond or, more accurately, good luck finding it anywhere close to MSRP, which hovers around $45 – you’re more likely to find it for $75 if you’re lucky but usually much higher.

The original Henry McKenna brand dates to the 1850s, yet another classic, more accessible bourbon, Heaven Hill Bottle-in-Bond, employs the same mash bill as the Henry McKenna. It was originally introduced in 1939 and fetches around $55 a bottle.

The biggest difference between this and the McKenna is the age, Heaven Hill is aged seven years versus 10 years for the McKenna, but also the barrel selection. Before fans of McKenna start composing angry emails directed at me, I want to state that the Heaven Hill Bottled-inBond should not be considered a replacement for the Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bottled-inBond, as they are not even close in my estimation. But the Heaven Hill’s profile is a step on the path that leads to the top of the hill where McKenna sits.

BURNING RIVERS OF WHISKEY BARDSTOWN, KY 50% ABV

I FOUND MY THRILL ON HEAVEN HILL Heaven Hill Distillery, the world’s largest independent, family-owned bourbon distillery, produces over 1.8 million barrels of whiskey annually. It owns and produces over 20 different

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Since 1939, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond had been a staple of the distillery’s portfolio of brands. In 1996, a fire broke out at Heaven Hill’s Bardstown distillery, destroying seven warehouses, called rickhouses, as well as the main distillery building along with 90,000 barrels of aging whiskey.

It was a sensational fire, as whiskey-fueled fireballs erupted throughout the property, and burning rivers of whiskey could be seen pouring from the burning rickhouses. Thankfully, the only casualties were the buildings, some con-

siderable whiskey stock and the unquenched thirst of the brand’s loyal followers.

Other brands were affected by delays and allocation challenges, but the beloved Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond was discontinued until 2019 when the company brought it back. Fans of the brand were displeased as news spread of the brand’s return with a higher age statement and significant price increase. At the time of the fire, the original had an MSRP of around $15 and was aged six years; the 2019 release was aged seven years and hit the shelves with a $40 price tag. The reaction from the bourbon community should not surprise anyone; the original Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond became a highly sought after collector’s item and the new version was universally bad-mouthed by bourbon blogs. The community has since come around and for the most part, has begun warming up to the product again.

TASTING NOTES The nose on the Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond is sweet with tons of caramel and vanilla layered over nuts and oak. The palate delivers more of the caramel and oak along with a heavy dose of cinnamon and cherry. As the whiskey lingers, the flavors add a dose of chocolate to the caramel and vanilla accompanied by a hint of acidity on the finish.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero

PAIRING NOTES THE POWERFUL AND ULTRA-FLAVORFUL DOUBLE LIGERO FROM LA FLOR DOMINICANA IN LANCERO PRODUCES A PROFILE OF SWEET CEDAR, BLACK PEPPER, AND OVER RIPENED FRUIT. A SIP OF THE HEAVEN HILL BOTTLEDIN-BOND INTRODUCES A DOSE OF CREAMY VANILLA AND OAK SPICE THAT ADDS COMPLEXITY TO THE SMOKE.

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WILLETT POT STILL RESERVE Reserve. But the veracity of that last sentence starts to uncover some of the reasons for the disdain.

Willett Distillery had been producing whiskey since its founding in 1936 but declining demand forced it to scale back production in the mid20th century. By the 1980s Willett had shut down its stills and was primarily sourcing whiskey from other distilleries and bottling it. In fact, Willett got quite good at finding single barrels and creating unique blends that appealed to fans of high-quality bourbon.

The company’s success as an independent bottler along with a burgeoning market for whiskey pushed the family to make a push to renovate the old distillery. And on January 21st, 2012, it had been renovated and restored to full operation and several days later, the classic pot still, the one the bottle takes after, was fired up for the first time. As mentioned earlier, the Pot Still Reserve was launched in 2008 but the actual still didn’t start operating until 2012. The math doesn’t jibe but that wasn’t a critical factor in the widespread dislike. But it didn’t exactly sit well either. The bigger issue came soon after.

BARDSTOWN, KY 47% ABV

THE MOST DIVISIVE BOURBON? The Willett Pot Still Reserve, with its unique, pot-still-shaped bottle, is perhaps the most polarizing bourbon on the market. Newcomers to the category and fans of all things Willett are drawn to the bottle, while hard core bourbon snobs tend to be very vocal about their gripes about the product.

The Pot Still Reserve was released in 2008 with a shape and brand name meant to highlight the family’s traditional methods and values. It implied that unlike most bourbons, which are distilled in column stills, the Willett family employed traditional pot stills to make the Pot Still

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Although the Pot Still Reserve was slightly misleading, the product in the bottle was quite good since Willett was sourcing barrels from companies like Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam, and Brown-Forman among others. The company was sourcing single barrels from the major distillers and bottling the Pot Still Reserve as a “single barrel” product. In other words, they were choosing an exceptional barrel and bottling it. Although there were natural variations from barrel to barrel, the bourbon in the bottle was typically delicious and well-received.

Once the company started distilling again in 2012, it began aging its own spirit with the goal of replacing the sourced whiskey with its own whiskey – a natural progression. But rather than continuing to select exceptional barrels and bottle the liquid into the Pot Still Reserve Single Barrel, Willett started selecting groups of barrels and batching them together. By 2016 the company had transitioned the product from “Single Barrel” to “Small Batch” and fans were turned off from the brand almost overnight. Longtime fans of the brand felt like the rug had been pulled out from under them. What was once an exceptional whiskey in a slightly misleading but otherwise cool-looking bottle was now a shell of itself and was more expensive to boot. Many have not

forgiven the brand for this, and others have just moved on, but all the while newer bourbon drinkers see the cool-looking bottle and the Willett name, and they pull the trigger.

As time has passed, the whiskey has improved significantly from the early days of the transition to small batch. It will never be a bourbon for hard core bourbon nerds, but with a bottle shaped like a still and a proof point of 94, it was probably never meant for the boisterous bourbon snob who espouses his bourbon views on the Internet.

TASTING NOTES Before getting into the notes, it should be mentioned that Willett numbers the batches of the Pot Still Reserve as there will be variation from one to the next. We are tasting from batch 22C24. Initially the whiskey feels hotter than the 94 proof suggests. When this happens, give the bourbon a moment to breathe, and when you come back to the Pot Still Reserve, you’ll find notes of caramel, vanilla, apple, citrus, and a touch of oak on the nose. The palate is fairly light and easy going with fruity flavors joined by a continuation of mild caramel and vanilla and a surprisingly zesty rye spice on the finish.

Villiger Miami

PAIRING NOTES THE VILLIGER MIAMI CAÑONAZO PROVIDES AN EXCEPTIONALLY BALANCED, MEDIUM STRENGTH COMBINATION OF CEDAR, NUTS, AND SWEET SPICE WITH A RICH, CREAMY MOUTHFEEL. ONE SIP OF THE WHISKEY FOLLOWED BY A PUFF OF THE SMOKE BRINGS OUT A UNIQUE CASHEW AND MARZIPAN FLAVOR TO THE CIGAR. AFTER SEVERAL PUFFS, THE SUBSEQUENT SIP OF THE WILLETT CRANKS UP THE VANILLA CREAM ACCOMPANIED BY A PRONOUNCED RYE AND OAK FINISH.

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1792 SMALL BATCH out. In 1778, Boone was captured by the Shawnee Tribe and held captive for almost a year. He was adopted by the tribe and given the name “Big Turtle.” Upon hearing of a planned attack on Boonesborough, “Big Turtle” escaped and rode for four days to alert his settlement. Upon arrival he was unrecognizable to the frontiersmen of the settlement, but not to his cat, who promptly jumped on his lap, proving that he was in fact Daniel Boone. The Shawnee soon arrived and the siege of Boonesborough began. It lasted ten days until the Shawnee eventually retreated.

bons including the 1792 Full Proof Bourbon, which Whisky Magazine deemed the “World’s Best Bourbon” in 2019 and the 1792 Small Batch, which won Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2020.

TASTING NOTES

Image credit: Morphart/stock.adobe.com

This bourbon opens with an interesting nose, which develops impressively as it sits in the glass. Fruity notes of cherry, citrus, and raisin jump out of the glass along with the more traditional caramel and vanilla, balanced by fresh oak and grain. The flavors of cinnamon, rye spice, and fruit make their way up from the caramel sweetness. Rye spice and black pepper make an appearance on the finish.

Viva La Vida

Daniel Boone’s first sighting of Kentucky.

BARDSTOWN, KY 46.85% ABV

ROAD TO STATEHOOD A HISTORY LESSON In the mid-1700s, explorers from Virginia led expeditions through the wilderness to what is now eastern Kentucky. Among them was Thomas Walker, who discovered the Cumberland Gap through the Appalachian Mountains. His surveys and discovery of a natural passage west laid the groundwork for an expedition led by Daniel Boone, who in 1769 took a group through the gap. Boone established the Boonesborough settlement, one of the first in what would eventually become the state of Kentucky. It got messy, as the roots of the word Kentucky are believed to come from a Cherokee word meaning, “dark and bloody ground.”

The reference to dark and bloody is because the area was a fertile hunting ground, and the land did indeed turn dark and bloody as battles between the frontiersmen and the tribes broke

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After the victory, Boone fetched his family in North Carolina, and moved them back to Kentucky along with scores of other settlers. Today, most of what we know as the state of Kentucky was Kentucky County, which was part of Virginia. Soon, the population growth forced Virginia to split Kentucky County into three smaller counties, Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln respectively. Over the next decade the counties were divided further into Madison, Mercer, and Bourbon counties.

Regardless of how many subdivisions were created, the settlers still felt disconnected from Virginia’s center of power in Richmond, creating a desire to separate and gain statehood. Successful petitions resulted in Kentucky gaining statehood on June 1, 1792.

BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY The monumental year is celebrated on every bottle of 1792 Whiskey, a product of the Barton 1792 Distillery, located in Bardstown, Kentucky.

The historic distillery was founded in 1879 as the Tom Moore Distillery. Today, Barton 1792 is owned by The Sazerac Company and occupies over 192 acres that house 29 barrel-aging warehouses, a still house, fermentation tanks, and a bottling operation. Under the leadership of Danny Kahn, the master distiller, Barton 1792 has produced a series of award-winning bour-

PAIRING NOTES TYPICALLY, A WHISKEY WILL INFLUENCE THE CIGAR MUCH MORE THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND, BUT THIS ONE IS A BIT DIFFERENT. THE VIVA LA VIDA OFFERS UP A COMBINATION OF EARTH AND PEPPER COMPLEMENTED

BY NOTES OF ROASTED ALMONDS AND MOCHA. ENJOYED ALONGSIDE THE 1792 SMALL BATCH, TAKING A SIP AFTER A PUFF RESULTS IN A RAMPING UP OF THE WHISKEY’S CARAMEL, VANILLA, AND HEAVY CREAM. IT ADDS A LAYER OF BODY AND COMPLEXITY TO THE WHISKEY WHILE THE CIGAR JUST CRUISES ALONG, MOSTLY UNCHANGED.

EDITOR’S NOTE WE PARTNERED WITH TOTAL WINE & MORE (TOTALWINE.COM) TO PUT THIS FEATURE TOGETHER AND PABLO ESTADES WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING IT HAPPEN. THANKS, PABLO.

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Photo credit: stock.adobe.com / Oleg Podzorov

THE CHICAGO WAY

SMOKE FILLED ROOMS WERE ONCE A PART OF CHICAGO’S ROMANTIC LEGACY, A PLACE WHERE BUSINESS BOTH LEGAL AND SHADY GOT DONE. IT NOW TAKES SOME WORK TO FIND A PLACE TO HAVE A CIGAR. BUT REST ASSURED THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME FABULOUS PLACES, FULL OF BOTH CHARACTER AND CHARACTERS, TO ENJOY A SMOKE. ALONG THE WAY, IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS SOME LANDMARKS OF THE CITY’S STORIED CRIME HISTORY. THE TOWN HAS ITS OWN CRIME TOURS, BUT WE DIDN’T NEED ONE. WE HAD CIGAR ENTHUSIAST AND RETIRED CHICAGO PD HOMICIDE DETECTIVE MIKE HAMMOND WITH US.

BY STEVE MILLER

e drive by convicted racketeer Paul Korluck’s house, check out the place where “Joey the Clown” Lombardo held his fabled high stakes card games with Evel Knievel, and see the site of the Mob hit on compromised cop Richard Cain, aka Richard Scalzitti.

And we haven’t even had a cigar yet.

Welcome to Mike Hammond’s Chicago, a place the retired Chicago PD homicide cop knows well.

“There were at one time more mobsters in this area than any other in the city,” says Hammond, who served in the Chicago PD from 1994 to 2016, as he eases the car across the Chicago River and west down Grand Avenue.

Hammond is the host and developer of “Detective Story with Mike Hammond,” a podcast that looks at old crimes and cold cases, and dives into the lives of cops and the problems they take home with them, a not-solovely byproduct of policing.

He grew up with cigars, with a grandfather who grew up on a Kentucky tobacco farm. Hammond smoked the occasional cigar over the years but became a self-described “cigar nerd” shortly after he retired.

“I was smoking good cigars all along,” he says, “but I didn’t know it. I had no idea what I was doing.”

While the Patch is no more, it casts a formidable true crime shadow.

“There are still people from the old days that are around,” he says, cruising past Korluck’s a second time.

Korluck was sentenced in 2016 to 18 years in prison for racketeering, described in a news story on his crimes as “a leader of a mob-connected crew on the Near West Side.”

Korluck was paroled in 2022 and

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Photo credit: Iwan Ries

We’re entering what was once known as The Patch, a neighborhood largely populated by Italian immigrants pocked with others from Eastern Europe. Sam Giancana, boss of Chicago’s Outfit, the city’s division of the Italian Mafia, was born in the Patch in 1908 and held sway there for years.

returned to his home in the Patch, a smallish brick WWII era place with a sizable side yard that is surrounded by an eight-foot-high wooden fence.

“Ah, he’s home, there’s his car,” Hammond says looking down an alley behind the corner lot that he and his

cop colleagues refer to as “the compound.”

The settlers of the Patch arrived in the late 1800s, establishing business and a way to ensure law and order in a city that was already bustling with scams and grift.

From top to bottom: The trains rattle the floor in the lounge of Iwan Ries & Co.; Mike Hammond's podcast highlights some of the crimes he worked as a Chicago PD homicide detective It blossomed into a haven of organized crime activity, with flower shops, restaurants, bars and of course, social clubs.

Cops were at one point rarely needed.

There was a cigar place in the Patch a couple decades back and someone got the bright idea to burgle the place.

“They got into the safe, plus they got cigars,” Hammond says. Turns out the place was connected to, or at least friendly with, Lombardo.

“They put word out pretty quickly, and it was kids connected to [the heist],” Hammond says. “It’s a good thing, because anyone else would have been in pretty rough shape. Instead, they begged for mercy and returned it all.”

That was the lightweight stuff, though.

The Patch was usually heavier.

Richard Cain, a former Chicago cop, was also a running buddy of Giancana, serving as a bagman between the Outfit and dirty cops. When he got sideways with the Outfit in 1973, Cain was murdered during lunch hour in a

Photo credit: Norwood Royal Cigars

sandwich shop in the Patch.

We cruise by a relic, the Huron SAC (Sport Athletic Club) on Huron Avenue. It was once littered with wise guys but is now just part of the neighborhood’s residential offerings, with an upstairs apartment listed for $1,500 a month.

Five blocks south is the site of a double homicide in 1988 that stemmed from a Mob-related drug dispute.

Hammond went to the state prison a couple times to talk with one of the convicted and sentenced to life, Joey Bravieri, as he tracked down leads on other cases.

“I was fishing,” Hammond says. “But he didn’t want to talk about murder.”

After a few passes through the Patch, Hammond pointing out more sites, it’s clear the neighborhood remains unique amidst the clamor of urban Chicago: No hipsters. It’s a man-bun free zone, no ironic fedoras allowed

and the only tattoos to be seen are a faded blue, as prison ink isn’t nearly as effective as the stuff today’s college kids are privy to.

“The crime was all insider stuff, pretty much,” Hammond says. When Outfit boss Joe Lombardo held card games, motorcycle daredevil Knievel was among the honored guests. It was the safest place in town, Hammond says.

The humidor at Norwood Royal Cigars, a reliable stop in and out of O’Hare Airport you can smoke AND buy a drink in Richard’s, cigars and cigarettes.

Unspoken is a good thing here.

The City Is Still a Cultural Cauldron

We ease past storefronts, some revamped, others sticking with their vowel-laden names. At an angled corner, Richard’s Bar sits, a beacon for those invested in Mob watching. The place for years has been rumored to draw a dinosaur from that era – with weed and gambling mostly legal now, mobsters are a dying breed. Even lacking a wise guy sighting, the place is a weathered, charismatic reminder of the old days.

Despite this dark intro to what is in the dozens of Chicago visits over the years, the town remains “stormy, husky, [and] brawling,” as poet and journalist Carl Sandburg described it.

The accent is brusque, the pace fast and it’s a good idea to stay in your lane. The city is still culturally splendid. There are professional sports venues in every direction, a worldclass orchestra, museums that rival New York’s, and a thriving culinary scene.

And while the city mostly revels in a non-smoking posture, word is that

The city has in the past several years had an alarming street crime prob-

lem, which it has wisely addressed by dispatching teams of beat cops to walk the most popular areas. That means a walk down Miracle Mile, a teeming stretch of luxury stores and hotels, is a little safer than just four years ago, when rampaging youths targeted blissfully unaware tourists.

We head to Old Town and Up Down Cigar, a block from The Second City, the improv comedy theater that counts local heroes Bill Murray and John Belushi among its alums.

Up Down is imposing and welcoming, a jammed space with a humidor and accessories cases that curl around a main social area. The counter has six seats and just a few customers create a packed house, but the displays of cigars and accessories are easy to navigate.

Up Down’s founder Diana Silvius, who died in 2016, was a visionary as she developed the space, which started

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ries of members-only luxury, plus a front retail and lounge area with 20 chairs.

Photo credit: Iwan Ries

The front room is fine for drop-ins, though, with a $20 membership fee that is taken care of with the purchase of a cigar. Buy a cigar from the well-appointed, medium-sized humidor, and grab a seat. It’s quiet and comfortable with the original brick walls, tile floor and televisions. On our visit, a priest sat with a businessman, animatedly talking national politics.

From top to bottom: The retail space at Iwan Ries; Up Down’s counter has few seats but the displays of cigars and accessories are easy to navigate. can bring whatever you need and some places provide ice and mixers.

Wholesale cigars are hit with a 36 percent levy – so a $15 cigar becomes a $20.40 cigar before the 9.25% state sales tax. Annoying? Sure is.

in a spot around the corner as an art gallery with cigars on the side.

When she went all-in on cigars, Silvius launched as a dedicated cigar store, taking its present location in 1976.

We head out back to a tented area, which features picnic benches and several large TVs. It’s heated in the winter – “gets up to around 55 or 60 degrees,” says Joel Krakow, a tobacconist at Up Down. That’s balmy in a Chicago winter; you’ve been warned.

Up Down is a feast for the eye, with cases filled with lighters and humi-

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dors in addition to cigars, so it’s easy to miss the art that rings a short upper level to the main room. It’s adorned with metal work that is designed to look like wafting smoke, and several cigar store Indians sit among the twisted steel. One can be yours for $2,000, Krakow says.

Up Down is a place of few rules in a city and state that is run by a small group that dislike smoking. Sadly, those few people also like to make rules and the impact on cigars is noticeable.

First, there can be no alcohol served in a place with smoking, although you

This draconian approach to taxation has caused the demise of several cigar stores since Cigar Snob’s last visit to the city in 2013. There are other laws that can be obstacles – membership fees at some, no smoking on premises at others. But the strong have survived, keeping prices sane and creating welcoming spaces.

But upstairs, it’s so much more. Each floor has carefully curated rooms, with couches and chairs meltingly beckoning. Its members, though, are a carefully guarded secret, as is the membership fee. If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it. Its membership roster is full at 350 smokers.

It’s so private that even checking out its Instagram portal requires approval.

“We like people who are interested to come in and get a tour, see what they are getting first,” says Clay Wilson, founder of The Clayton. He opened the place after seeing that the area had more demand than supply in terms of luxury cigar experiences.

“And I saw that when winter weather is in full force, there is nowhere to go so people typically either smoke at home or don’t smoke,” Wilson says.

The Clayton’s members are “busy golfing or out on their boats in the summer, so our busy season starts Sept. 1.”

We head over to one of the newest cigar places in the city that is bringing the experience to a new level, The Clayton.

It’s an exclusive enclave of privilege, noting in its promo materials that it’s a “hideaway for the discerning connoisseur.” It is popular enough that The Clayton’s 300 lockers are mostly taken. And while they can’t provide booze and BYOB is not allowed, The Clayton owns an adjoining liquor store that will gladly sell to a Clayton assistant and deliver right to your glass. It offers a selection of bourbons and whiskies along with beer and wine.

It sits on a triangle-shaped corner that opened in 2016, two blocks from the city’s restaurant row, a series of foodie, upscale restaurants. While the façade is inviting – tall glass windows with plenty of light beaming into a space that could double as a living room – the spread inside is four sto-

The refined accommodations are a throwback to the blueblood opulence afforded to royalty. They better be; The Clayton this summer opened a location in Washington D.C., a place where your campaign donations will no doubt fund a membership. A Miami location is under construction and

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scheduled to open in 2027.

Returning to Snob headquarters, the Thompson Chicago Hotel, is a welcome break but the halt of the day’s excitement is abrupt. The lodging is a fine place, and we welcome our top-floor room, 2112, just below the penthouse. The Hyatt property is in the middle of the tourist action of Rush Street, and that evening, a storm rushes through, blasting lightning on the western horizon. It’s the perfect antidote to the day’s headswimming puzzle: How can so many bureaucrats impede the pleasure of the cigar, something that is so simple in most other places?

Durable Cigar Stops In the morning, we head to Iwan Ries & Co., the nation’s oldest familyowned tobacco establishment. It’s so ancient that one of its first stores was wiped out by the Chicago Fire in 1871 after opening in 1857. Photos inside Iwan show the carriage crowd on Clark Street, outside the tobacconist’s early location.

The lounge in the second-floor store overlooks the “L,” the city’s mass transit system, and trains clack by the window. The lounge requires a $20 day pass during the summer, moving to $25 for the winter. Memberships are $1,000 a year and if you hit the lounge with a member, guest passes are $7.50.

The store looks its age, in a good way. Like Up Down, it’s a circus of memorabilia, with posters, old cigar presses, a boxing glove signed by Larry Holmes and some dust. Hanging over the store are two vintage chandeliers, with a couple more in the lounge space.

Plus, pipes.

“We are split about 50-50 between pipe and cigar customers,” says Kevin Levi, general manager and part of the fifth generation of the Levi family to operate the store. He said the humidor sticks with the top sellers, “mostly because that’s what everyone wants here. We have people calling for Padrón all the time, things like that. Our customer base is very traditional, it’s a downtown crowd.”

So expect plenty of Plasencia, J.C.

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Newman, Davidoff and a very traditional, wood-paneled lounge to enjoy them in. The lounge has expanded from one to two large rooms, a testament to the coziness and the comfort of the place. While the sunny summer was in full swing, there’s something alluring about looking out those big windows at the dark night with the snow flying.

Most travel into the city starts with Chicago O’Hare International Airport, which ranked ninth in passenger traffic in the world last year. Some hate the place, but we’ve always enjoyed it. And to make the move to and from the city easier, there is Norwood Royal Cigars, a shop that sits three minutes off Interstate 90 and seven miles from the airport.

Owner Vick Shah has operated cigar stores for 22 years, nine at the current location. The substantial humidor alone takes up 1,500 of the 3,000 square feet of his retail storefront, a massive but tidy display featuring 7,000 facings.

Anything you could want, from the latest Oliva to an obscure boutique brand, is there.

“And people buy everything we have in here,” Shah says.

Smoking is done on ten lounge chairs on the patio of the store, while members have access to a large, Diamond Crown Lounge next door, outfitted with chairs, televisions and a bar where a tapper of beer is always on hand.

“I never wanted to have a lounge,” Shah says, but with the patio and the next-door oasis, he has relented somewhat. The venue hosts large sports events for members and Shah regularly has outdoor events featuring food trucks, DJs, and raffles in conjunction with a visiting cigar celebrity.

Shah also offers 10 percent discounts to police, fire and military members, which compose around half his regular clientele. It’s handy for them, as the neighborhood around Norwood Royal is an area where a lot of fire and police live; Hammond himself once had a place nearby.

The discount stems from his father’s

insistence that Shah as a youth become a police officer in his native India.

formidable feast if only because of Greek Isles, a locals/tourist restaurant.

“I went to training for two days and I left,” he says. “But I gained great respect for them from that and that’s where the discount comes from.”

It’s a white tablecloth place, spacious and loud. There’s a nice long bar in a room off the main dining area that features a look onto busy Halstead Street, which goes well with a glass of Maleatis Agiorgitico, a Greek red.

We wheel out of Norwood and head back south toward downtown cutting through the city, and see a gentle reminder of another famous Chicago feature – food.

The reminder is two giant ceramic hot dogs extending from the roof of Superdawg, a drive-in so old school it would have been at home in the Flintstones.

The tube steak is a culinary masterpiece for many Chicagoans, an answer to the upscale dining that is part of the city’s fabric. The place has a menu but don’t bother – get the Superdawg, on a poppy seed bun with mustard, pickle, onions and hot pepper.

Of food, Chicago is full of it. We dined after our venture to The Clayton, where Vick provided one of his inhouse cigars produced by Oscar Valladares, at Club Lago, an Italian joint that is run by third-generation family members GianCarlo and Guido. The place is like a movie set for a Mobster flick set in the 60s, featuring a tin ceiling, terrazzo floor and an actual cash register.

On our introduction by Hammond, GianCarlo starts telling his own tales of cigar smoking, how it used to be so much easier in Chicago to just smoke and suddenly, he points to a large wooden replica of the White House.

“You know what this is?!” he exclaimed, as if he just remembered it was there.

Without waiting for a response – “a cake?” “a tank?” – he opens the lid. It's a humidor, and a well-crafted piece to boot.

We wash the day away with some splits of house Chianti, pasta galassini, and meatballs.

Coming back from Royal Cigars, it's time to hit the city’s Greektown. While it can’t measure up to Detroit’s Greektown, Chicago’s version can bring a

Chicago Prevails Despite Best Efforts to Sink It The City of Chicago has been plagued for decades by shoddy management and if it were a for-profit venture, it would have gone under long ago. But despite the decisions that marginalize the city and its residents, the people win.

These shop owners, not just the gracious managers we talked to but also those in the region we didn’t get to, are masters and survivors. They have navigated onerous tobacco laws to ensure their customers have something good to smoke and a place to do it in relative comfort.

Visiting these places was inspiring as were some of the patrons we spoke to. They take what poor policy their elected officials, both state and local, give them and make the best of it. Some restaurants keep their humidors filled, like relics from a bygone era. Used to be that a post-dinner cigar was the rule in the city.

At Iwan Ries, they coped with the no smoking law that took effect in January 2008 – covering all bars and restaurants – by opening another room in the lounge, hoping to make up for the loss of sales to local restaurants.

It worked, kinda.

“That was a big hit, we supplied all the local restaurants, but we made it,” said Levi of Iwan Ries. “We were the first lounge to open on the heels of the ban.”

Tenacity and imagination work and even the slimiest, most meddling bureaucrat can’t defeat them.

Chicago came back with gusto after the fire of 1871 took out a third of the city.

Today, against the odds, it’s putting fire to cigars.

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Photo credit: Courtesy of Circling Raven Golf Course

PLAYING ON A GOLF COURSE CO-DESIGNED BY MOTHER NATURE AMIDST A LANDSCAPE OF ROLLING HILLS, WOODLAND FORESTS, AND THE PALOUSE PRAIRIE ON THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE COEUR D’ALENE TRIBE IS THE STUFF OF DREAMS. THROW IN THE AREA’S OTHER ACCLAIMED COURSES AND A MOBSTER-ERA THEMED CIGAR BAR AND THE CASUAL DAY-DREAM TURNS INTO A NECESSITY.

BY ERIK CALVIÑO THE PAR 4 11TH AT CIRCLING RAVEN GOLF COURSE.

s an avid golfer in the United States, it’s common to play courses that take you through neighborhoods or have major streets or highways running alongside the course.

You’re either hearing cars honk as you tee off or some kids yelling while horsing around in a backyard as you try to make a putt. Even if you’re fortunate enough to play a course that isn’t winding through a neighborhood or doesn’t bump up against a busy street, the course’s routing usually zigzags back and forth meaning the group behind you is often slicing fairway woods into your tee box.

And you know what? That’s OK. It’s not the way it was meant to be played, and you hope those guys yell ‘fore,’ but it’s part of golf’s reality in 2024. If you love to play but live in a

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crowded city, this is often an accurate depiction of your golfing life. You do your best to work around these shortcomings by playing on days or times that are less crowded, in the hopes of decreasing the chances of playing duck and cover every few holes and increasing the odds of playing an enjoyable round the way the game was meant to be played.

This also means that when you see images or read about a world class course set in a remote area, you quickly picture yourself playing there.

Your shot soaring through the air against a cloudless blue sky. In your mind it’s a baby draw curling towards the pin over trouble. It lands just past the pin and spins back a little, finally coming to a stop pin-high, leaving you a gimme for birdie. As you walk up to the green, a family of native deer are feeding in the wetland area to the left,

The par 5 8th hole at Latah Creek Golf Course plays downhill with the eponymous creek running down the right side as a lateral hazard. in unison they look up at your group momentarily. Unthreatened, they continue feeding peacefully. You step up to line up the putt, a gentle breeze soothes your nerves, you take aim, and your phone rings.

You come out of this idyllic daydream to realize you’re late for a 3 p.m. conference call with a client. Also, you need a golf vacation.

The Solution The idea was to get away from the crowds and summer heat and play two courses that came highly recommended. The Inland Northwest, an area mostly made up of eastern Washington and northern Idaho, is

teeming with excellent public golf courses. There’s Indian Canyon Golf Course, the public track that has hosted several significant matches including a PGA Tour event and three USGA Championships. Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course and its famous floating green is a mustvisit along with the area’s newest course, The Creek at Qualchan Golf Course. The course gets its name from the Latah Creek that winds through the course. Just 13 miles downriver is Latah Creek Golf Course, named after the actual creek. It was the first of the courses where we’d play on this trip. The second course we would play and perhaps the most decorated in the area is Circling Raven Golf Course. A course that GOLF Magazine has rated as a “Top 100 Public U.S. Course” and Golfweek has named the “No. 1 Public Course in Idaho,” playing “the

Photo credit: Greg Wise

Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort and Hotel amidst a dazzling lavender sunset with the Coeur d’Alene Mountains in the background.

Raven” would be the highlight.

We packed our clubs and a cigar caddy full of smokes, and flew cross-country, landing in Spokane International Airport.

Latah Creek Golf Course It didn’t take more than 30 minutes between the time our clubs came around the baggage claim carousel and when we checked in at Latah Creek Golf Course. Opinions vary on whether you should jump into playing a round of golf so quickly after a long flight. I am in the camp that likes to take advantage of whatever daylight

Photo credit: Courtesy of Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort and Hotel

is available and get as many rounds as possible on a trip. Assuming that you aren’t playing the main attraction course right out of the chute.

Latah, formerly known as Hangman Valley Golf Course, is a par 72, championship public course originally designed by the father and son team of Bob E. Baldock and Robert L. Baldock, then redesigned in 2008

by Rick Phelps. The layout is challenging but accessible with plenty of elevation change and the eponymous Latah Creek, which comes into play on seven holes.

We enjoyed a quick bite at the Sandbagger’s Lounge, skipped the range, and proceeded to the first tee to get the show on the road. It took a few holes for most of us to get the jetlegs stretched but we thoroughly enjoyed the round. There are a couple of occasions during the round where

you’re hitting a blind shot onto the green, but the course is well-marked so that even on those shots, there’s a visible flagpole indicating the center of the putting surface.

Our favorite hole came early in the round. The tee for the par 5 5th hole is perched high above the fairway, which doglegs to the left. The hole plays 630 yards from the tips and demands a long yet accurate drive as bunkers on either side of the fairway guard the landing zone. For most players, the second shot calls for a fairway wood or long iron with a right to left shot shape, otherwise you’re probably looking at par as your best result. It’s one of the more challenging holes on this track, which is considered one of the area’s hidden gems.

Latah Creek Golf Course 2210 E. Hangman Valley Spokane, WA Public 18 Holes / Par 72 / 6839 yards Opened in 1969 Architect: Bob E. Baldock/Robert L. Baldock (original 1969), Rick Phelps (redesign 2008) Green Fee: $52 Greens: Bentgrass Fairways: Bluegrass Caddies: No Rentals: Ping / $40

Cigar Smoked: Rocky Patel Dark Star

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 63

Photo: Janoka82/stock.adobe.com

Circling Raven Golf Course After the round, we journeyed east across the state line to the Idaho panhandle where the Coeur d’Alene Tribe was celebrating Circling Raven Golf Course’s 20th anniversary. The tribe’s name comes from French fur traders who admired the Natives’ keen bargaining skills during negotiations. The name translates to “heart of an awl,” an awl being the pointed tool used for piercing small holes or marking surfaces. The tribe owns and operates the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort and Hotel where Circling Raven is located.

To promote economic growth for the tribe, the casino was established in 1993 as a bingo hall. Over the years, earnings were wisely reinvested, and the bingo hall was expanded into a casino where three million-dollar

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slot machine winners have found their luck among the 100,000 square feet of gaming space that features nearly 1,200 video gaming machines and high stakes bingo. In 2003, the hotel and golf course were added while putting the tribe’s history and traditions at the forefront.

The golf course was named Circling Raven after the legendary chief and spiritual leader of the Coeur d’Alene people. His leadership guided the tribe through some of its most trying times. The name underscores the tribe’s respect for its heritage as well as its connection to this ancestral territory.

It is that connection that led them to select the course’s designer, Gene Bates. Unlike other designers bidding on the project, who wanted to move land to accommodate the tribe's vision, Bates walked the 620 acres and let the land dictate the de-

sign. The result is a uniquely natural golf experience.

The course is typically booked solid, but while you’re playing, it feels like your group is the only one on the course. Since you can’t see the next tee box from the green you’re playing, you’re more likely to see a family of deer, as we did more than once, than the foursome ahead of you.

The par 72 Circling Raven can play up to 7,189 yards from the tips, however the five tee options make it enjoyable for any level golfer. In fact, the design gracefully straddles the line between a stout challenge and a forgiving resort course. Because of that, golfers of any level can play the course enjoyably. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to score easily.

A perfect example of this is the split fairway design of the 406-yard, par 4, 4th hole. Players with precise distance control and a confident short

The scenic, 386-yard, par 4 8th hole at Circling Raven Golf Course shows off the secluded natural beauty of this course.

Circling Raven Golf Course 38530 South Nukwalqw Worley, ID Public/Resort 18 Holes / Par 72 / 7,189 yards Opened in 2003 Green Fees: $129/$199 peak Architect: Gene Bates Greens: Bentgrass Fairways: Bluegrass Caddies: No Rentals: Callaway Paradym AI Smoke / $50

Photo credit: Courtesy of Circling Raven Golf Course

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SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 65

iron game can take the ever-narrowing left fairway. Assuming you manage to stay out of the wetlands that creep in from the left edge, your short iron or wedge shot will have to negotiate the bunkers and wetlands on the left. Successful execution of this strategy will leave you with a chance at birdie. But, if you play from the wider and less punitive right fairway, you’ll have a mid-iron into the green and a mound on the right that helps guide an errant shot back into safety. Your most likely outcome from here is par or worse.

The two-hole stretch of 12 and 13 are a difficult and pleasant one-two punch. The par 5 12th stretches out to 581 yards and is rated the most difficult hole on the back 9. A cluster of pines stands mockingly blocking your preferred flight path to the fairway, forcing you to make a choice early on. To the right of the pines, you have a longer force-carry over out-of-bounds native grass, to the left you make the hole considerably longer and bring a large, fairway bunker into play. The hole isn’t exactly a dogleg but winds slightly left, then right, then left again. Only the longest and most accurate of players can get there in two. As you get up to the green, the hole’s isolation is striking; you see the Palouse mountain range in the distance, then the pines cradling the green. More than anywhere else on the course, this is where you feel like it’s just you, your friends, and nature.

At 253 yards, the par 3 13th stands out as one of the longest par 3s we’ve ever played. Although it is downhill, locals recommend that you play them at their stated distance and not try to compensate for elevation change. The force-carry over native grasslands and a big falsefront add to the difficulty, but just like on 12, the feeling of being one with nature is magical.

The feeling is less magical and more like “Oh crap!” as your cart alerts you to “Use caution on the bridge.

Watch for moose!” The feeling is amplified when you notice that your cart’s accelerator has been throttled through this section. We didn’t see any moose, I’m not sure if we should

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be disappointed or thankful.

Cigar Smoked: Rocky Patel Conviction After the round, the shuttle took us back to the hotel/casino to meet our dinner plans at Chinook Steak, Seafood, and Pasta, the casino’s fine dining experience. Everything from the pre-dinner cocktails at Chinook Lounge, to the wine list for dinner, to the meal itself were outstanding.

But they drove us off the cliff when our server Barb offered to make us huckleberry ice cream table side using heavy cream and liquid nitrogen.

Why huckleberry? In the Northwest, huckleberries are prized for their intense flavor and cultural significance to native tribes. Barb offered to make the ice cream with any other flavor but we opted for huckleberry. Throughout Coeur d’Alene Hotel and Casino you’ll find huckleberry treats. We had huckleberry soda, muffins, pancakes, pies, and even cocktails. As for the ice cream, if you’ve ever seen it made using liquid nitrogen, it looks like a cross between a science experiment and a witch’s brew, and the flavor is out of this world.

Cigar Scene Smoking cigars is welcomed at Circling Raven and the pro shop has a limited selection of cigars for sale.

We recommend you bring your own but it’s nice to know that if you somehow missed this step in your packing, they have you covered.

In the state of Washington, the indoor smoking ban makes cigar lounges a rare commodity. The only one we know of near Spokane is Legends of Fire at Northern Quest.

But Idaho, where Circling Raven is located, is far friendlier to lovers of the leaf. We enjoyed The Racketeer Lounge in Post Falls. Everything about this intimate lounge is curated.

The selection of cigars leans heavily towards the boutique, and the beers on tap and in bottles are meticulously selected, as are the wine and spirits. The Racketeer also carries pipes and pipe tobacco. Proprietor Paul Banducci and his staff are decked out in Speakeasy-era gangster attire. This sounds like it could feel like a costume, but it doesn’t; the look and feel of the place are finely

The curated selection is on display in cabinet humidors overlooking the lounge and lockers at The Racketeer Lounge in Post Falls, Idaho. honed and well-executed. After several days in the area playing golf and visiting cigar stores, The Racketeer Lounge afforded us the only chance to sit and enjoy a cigar the way we do back home, indoors and with a cocktail in hand.

It was a perfect ending to a spectacular few days in the Inland Northwest. We often think of the great melting pots of culture as the big cities; New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami, but this part of the country, with its clashing of Native, European, and American cultures, has led the way in figuring out how to coexist peacefully and overcome marginalization and hatred. Along the way there have been atrocities to be sure, but we’re on the other side of it now and places like Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort and Hotel and its golf masterpiece, Circling Raven, offer us a chance to understand their culture and traditions through a language we can understand.

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 67

`

48 CIGARS

CHURCHILL Davidoff Aniversario

$ 42.10

91

VITOLA: Double R LENGTH: 7 1/2 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

Espinosa Crema

A flavorful, long Churchill that delivers notes of cedar, smooth spice, and nougat accompanied by a touch of herbal tea on the finish. Produces tons of thick, aromatic smoke and leaves behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 11.45

91

VITOLA: No. 1 LENGTH: 7 RING: 48 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Rocky Patel White Label

N I CA R AG UA Impeccably constructed, this mild to medium strength blend draws and burns flawlessly while producing a balanced core of smooth black pepper, cedar, and sweet cream accompanied by a touch of earthiness on the finish.

$ 22.05

90

VITOLA: Churchill LENGTH: 7 RING: 48 WRAPPER: USA/Connecticut BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Camacho Connecticut

N I CA R AG UA A beautifully constructed Churchill finished with a nearly flawless, light brown wrapper with a silky feel. Produces an excellent output of aromatic smoke with notes of smooth pepper, cedar, and subtle earth joined by a slightly sweet vanilla cream on the finish.

$ 10.00

90

VITOLA: Churchill LENGTH: 7 RING: 48 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Honduras & Dominican Republic

Macanudo Inspirado White

88 88

H O N D UR AS Consistently well made, this Churchill draws and burns exceptionally well while producing a core of cedar, nuts, sweet spice, and a touch of vanilla. Produces an abundance of mild to medium strength smoke leaving behind a solid ash.

$ 8.99 VITOLA: Churchill LENGTH: 7 RING: 48 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Indonesia FILLER: Mexico & Nicaragua

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur

70 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C

H O N D UR AS Opens with flavors of wood, sweet spice, and a touch of bitter citrus accompanied by a hint of vanilla cream on the finish. Draws and burns flawlessly while producing a thin output of mild smoke.

$ 10.89 VITOLA: Double Corona LENGTH: 7 1/4 RING: 54 WRAPPER: USA/Connecticut BINDER: USA/Connecticut FILLER: Honduras, Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

H O N D UR AS A large double corona covered with a supple, light brown wrapper with thin veins. This mild to medium strength blend opens with a subdued profile of baking spices, cedar, and raw almonds accompanied by a subtle touch of earth.

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 71

GRAN TORO Leaf by Oscar 10th Anniversary Criollo

91

VITOLA: Sixty LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Honduras BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Honduras

Don Pepín Vintage Edition

91

H O N D UR AS Consistently well-constructed and covered with a dark brown wrapper with an oily feel. Delivers a balanced combination of sweet pepper, earth, cinnamon, and raw almond finished with a touch of tanned leather. Medium plus strength.

$ 1 4.50 VITOLA: Toro Gordo LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

E.P. Carrillo Sumatra

N I CA R AG UA Delivers a balanced combination of cedar, smooth pepper, and heavy cream accompanied by a touch of hazelnut. This well-made gran toro draws and burns well producing an excellent output of medium plus strength smoke.

$ 10.75

90

VITOLA: Gordo LENGTH: 6 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Honduras & Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Oliva Serie V Melanio

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A flavorful blend delivering a core of over ripened fruit, smooth pepper, and cedar accompanied by a touch of creaminess on the finish.

This medium strength gran toro draws well and produces an adequate smoke output along a wavy burn.

$ 19.20

90

VITOLA: Double Toro LENGTH: 6 1/2 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

JFR Lunatic Torch

N I CA R AG UA Consistently well-constructed, this medium strength gran toro draws and burns flawlessly while leaving behind a solid, compact ash. Produces a savory profile of wood, smooth pepper, and salted nuts accompanied by a hint of sweet cocoa.

$ 12.99

90

VITOLA: Dreamlands LENGTH: 6 1/2 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

BrickHouse Maduro

N I CA R AG UA A solidly built gran toro covered with an oily, dark brown wrapper and finished with a neatly trimmed, uncovered foot. This flavorful blend opens with tons of sweet cedar, smooth pepper, and roasted nuts balanced by a rich caramel finish.

$ 9.15

89 72 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

$ 12.50

VITOLA: Mighty Mighty LENGTH: 6 1/4 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Brazil BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

N I CA R AG UA Covered with a dark brown wrapper showing some tooth, this medium strength maduro has an earthy core complemented by notes of roasted nuts, smooth pepper, and a touch of ripe fruit sweetness. Draws and burns well leaving behind a dark gray ash.

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 73

TORPEDO San Cristobal Elegancia

$ 9.00

91

VITOLA: Pyramid LENGTH: 6 1/8 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

New World Connecticut

Opens with a flavorful combination of baking spice, cedar, and vanilla bean balanced by a rich, sweet creaminess. This medium strength torpedo is consistently well-made, producing an excellent output of aromatic smoke.

$ 8.70

90

VITOLA: Belicoso LENGTH: 6 RING: 54 WRAPPER: USA/Connecticut BINDER: Mexico FILLER: Nicaragua

Villiger Cuellar Kreme

N I CA R AG UA A well-constructed belicoso with a super smooth core of subtle earth and pepper accompanied by light baking spices, cedar, and toast.

Produces an exceptional smoke output along a perfect draw and an even burn.

$ 8.22

90

VITOLA: Torpedo LENGTH: 5 1/4 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

Oliva Connecticut Reserve

89

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Consistently delivers a mild to medium strength core of wood, light spice, cashews, and a touch of vanilla cream. This well-made torpedo is covered with a light brown wrapper with a supple, velvet feel.

$ 12.50 VITOLA: Torpedo LENGTH: 6 1/2 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Padrón Dámaso

N I CA R AG UA Delivers a mild to medium strength profile of cedar, almond cream, and smooth spice complemented by a bit of earthiness. Consistently provides an excellent draw and burn leaving behind a somewhat flaky ash.

$ 16.40

89

VITOLA: No. 34 LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Fratello Oro

N I CA R AG UA Consistently well-made, this medium strength torpedo draws and burns well while producing an excellent smoke output with notes of wood, savory spices, and a touch of mild coffee.

$ 12.50

89 74 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

N I CA R AG UA

VITOLA: The Boxer LENGTH: 6 1/4 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Cameroon FILLER: Colombia, Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A beautifully soft-pressed torpedo covered with a neatly applied, golden-colored wrapper with only slight veins showing. Draws and burns perfectly while producing a profile of earth, subtle spice, wood, and vanilla cream.

TORPEDO $ 15.75

N I CAR AGUA Impeccably well-constructed, this box-pressed torpedo delivers a full flavored, full strength core of earth, smooth pepper, sweet cedar, and roasted nuts. Consistently produces an excellent smoke output, leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial VITOLA: Torpedo LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Nicaragua

Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro

$ 1 7.80

N I CAR AGUA An ultra-flavorful and well-balanced torpedo covered with a dark, clean wrapper. This medium plus strength blend draws and burns flawlessly while producing flavors of dark chocolate, sweet pepper, earth, and cedar.

VITOLA: Torpedo LENGTH: 5 1/2 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

92 Flor de las Antillas Maduro

$ 10.30

N I CAR AGUA Loaded with flavor, this medium plus strength torpedo offers a core of dark chocolate, caramel, cinnamon, and a hint of almond cream on the finish. This consistently well-made blend provides a firm draw leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

92

VITOLA: Torpedo LENGTH: 6 1/8 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

91 El Pulpo

$ 1 7.00

N I CAR AGUA Impeccably constructed and finished with a nearly flawless, dark brown wrapper with a velvet feel. This box-pressed belicoso produces an excellent output of medium to full strength smoke with notes of earth, smooth pepper, cocoa, and a touch of dark cherry.

VITOLA: Belicoso Grande LENGTH: 5 3/4 RING: 58 WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

91 Don Lino Africa

$ 10.99

N I CAR AGUA Consistently well-made, this box-pressed torpedo draws and burns exceptionally well, producing an output of thick, aromatic smoke with notes of earth, black pepper, and wood complemented by a touch of leather. Medium plus strength.

VITOLA: Kifaru LENGTH: 6 1/4 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Cameroon FILLER: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

El Septimo Bomba Orange Zaya Collection

$ 70.00

C O STA R I CA A thick toro covered with a dark, toothy wrapper and finished with a covered foot. Delivers a sticky sweetness on the lips that persists throughout the smoke while producing notes of wood, earth, and molasses.

90

VITOLA: Torpedo LENGTH: 6 1/2 RING: 60 WRAPPER: Costa Rica BINDER: Costa Rica FILLER: Costa Rica

86 SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 75

TORO Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta

92

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Sobremesa Brûlée

H O N D UR AS An impeccably balanced blend with a rich combination of cedar, mixed nuts, and smooth pepper complemented by a hint of vanilla cream.

This medium strength toro draws and burns well while producing an excellent smoke output.

$ 1 4.45

91

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Mexico FILLER: Nicaragua

Ferio Tegio Limited Edition Elegancia 2022

91

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

La Flor Dominicana Ligero Natural

90

N I CA R AG UA A consistently well-made toro covered with a golden-colored wrapper. Delivers a creamy and smooth core of toast, lightly roasted nuts, cedar, and pepper accompanied by a touch of caramel. Mild to medium bodied.

$ 22.00

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Flavorful and well-balanced, this medium strength toro draws and burns exceptionally while producing an abundance of thick, aromatic smoke. Leaves behind a solid, compact ash while delivering notes of cedar, sweet spices, black tea, and a hint of cream.

$ 8.90 VITOLA: L-400 LENGTH: 5 3/4 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

Crux Epicure

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C Covered with a supple, light brown wrapper with excellent oils, this consistently well-made toro draws and burns flawlessly while producing a medium to full strength core of cedar, black pepper, baking spices, and a touch of tanned leather.

$ 13.99

90

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 1/4 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Blackbird Jackdaw Connecticut

89 76 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

$ 12.80

N I CA R AG UA Firmly packed and covered with a clean, light brown wrapper with a velvet feel. Draws and burns flawlessly while producing an excellent smoke output with notes of black pepper and wood accompanied by subtle flavors of vanilla and cream. Medium strength.

$ 10.72 VITOLA: Gran Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Indonesia FILLER: Dominican Republic & USA

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A smooth and flavorful toro featuring excellent construction. This mild to medium strength blend produces a profile of wood, earth, and baking spice while leaving behind a compact ash with occasional flakiness.

TORO Nasser The Goat by AJ Fernandez

91

$ 16.67 VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Undercrown Sungrown

An impeccably constructed, box-pressed toro covered with a flawless, dark brown wrapper.

This medium to full strength blend delivers a balanced core of dark chocolate, roasted almonds, and intense pepper complemented by a rich, sweet cream on the finish.

$ 10.25

91

VITOLA: Gran Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: USA/Connecticut FILLER: Nicaragua

El Rey del Mundo by AJ Fernandez Limited Edition

90

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: USA/Connecticut FILLER: Nicaragua

Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale

90 88

N I CA R AG UA Smooth and balanced with a core of pepper, wood, and light baking spices accompanied by a rich vanilla cream on the finish. This medium strength toro draws and burns perfectly while producing an excellent smoke output.

$ 11.99

N I CA R AG UA An intense and flavorful box-pressed toro covered with an oily, reddish-brown wrapper. This medium to full strength blend delivers a core of sharp pepper, sweet earth, hickory, and toasted nuts. Draws and burns flawlessly.

$ 24.0 0 VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Caldwell Long Live The Queen

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A soft-pressed toro with a balanced core of cedar, slightly sharp black pepper, caramel, and a note of tanned leather on the finish. This medium strength blend provides an easy draw and plenty of smoke, leaving behind a somewhat flaky ash.

$ 19.08 VITOLA: Ace of Hearts LENGTH: 6 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Cameroon BINDER: Sumatra FILLER: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

La Palina Classic Rosado

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A good-looking, square-pressed toro that delivers a core of red pepper, wood, and sweet spice accompanied by a touch of tanned leather in the aroma. Produces a thin smoke output and leaves behind a somewhat flaky ash.

$ 9.00

88 78 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

N I CA R AG UA

VITOLA: Toro LENGTH: 6 1/4 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Honduras BINDER: Honduras FILLER: Honduras, Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

D O M I N I CA N R E P UBLI C A well-made, medium strength toro covered with an oily, reddish-brown wrapper showing prominent veins. Draws and burns well while producing an excellent smoke output with notes of wood, sharp red pepper, and a touch of sweet creaminess on the finish.

Cigars on the Bay Presented by

Cigars, drinks, food, and live music overlooking the bay in historic Coconut Grove.

THE HANGAR AT REGATTA HARBOUR cigarsonthebay.com SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 83

ROBUSTO Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante

92

VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 54 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Altezas Reales 1871

N I CA R AG UA Features flawless construction and a flavorful profile highlighted by notes of smooth red pepper, toasted nuts, white oak, and caramel accompanied by a touch of cinnamon on the finish. This box-pressed, medium plus strength robusto consistently burns perfectly.

$ 16.00

91

VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

HVC Seleccion No. 1

USA Firmly packed and finished with a neatly applied reddish-brown wrapper with excellent oils. Delivers a classic, beautifully balanced combination of cedar, nuts, and sweet cream complemented by smooth notes of baking spices.

Medium strength.

$ 9.70

90

VITOLA: Short Robusto LENGTH: 4 1/2 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Mexico BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2024

90

VITOLA: LC52 LENGTH: 5 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

Alec Bradley Safe Keepings

89 88

N I CA R AG UA A short, well-made blend that produces an excellent output of medium strength smoke with a profile of oak, roasted nuts, and red pepper joined by a hint of sweet spices on the finish.

Leaves behind a solid, compact ash.

$ 1 4.95

N I CA R AG UA Opens with a combination of cayenne pepper, wood, and nuts accompanied by a touch of sweet cream. Covered with a slightly coarse, reddish-brown wrapper, this full strength robusto produces a thin smoke output along an even burn.

$ 12.2 9 VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

PIO 1996 Series My First Love

80 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

$ 22.86

N I CA R AG UA A smooth, medium strength blend covered with a thin, reddish-brown wrapper with a velvet feel.

Draws and burns well while delivering a core of nuts, baking spices, and dried fruit balanced by a touch of earthiness.

$ 13.00 VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Undisclosed FILLER: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

N I CA R AG UA An attractive, neatly pressed robusto covered with a reddish-brown wrapper showing thin veins. Delivers a medium strength core of earth and pepper joined by subtle notes of black American coffee and tanned leather along an easy draw.

ROBUSTO Plasencia Alma Fuerte

$ 21.45

N I CAR AGUA A soft-pressed, dark robusto that delivers an intensely flavorful profile highlighted by notes of smooth pepper and earth, roasted walnuts, dark chocolate, and a touch of espresso. This medium to full strength blend draws and burns flawlessly, leaving behind a compact ash.

VITOLA: Robustus I LENGTH: 5 1/4 RING: 52 WRAPPER: Nicaragua BINDER: Nicaragua FILLER: Nicaragua

92 Rocky Patel Gold Label

$ 11.00

N I CAR AGUA Beautifully pressed and covered with a dark brown wrapper with a velvet feel. Draws and burns flawlessly while producing an intense core of earth and black pepper complemented by notes of sweet ripe fruit and wood. Medium to full strength.

VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 1/2 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Mexico FILLER: Nicaragua

Asylum PCA Exclusive 2023

$ 1 7.96

H O ND U R AS Dark and consistently well-constructed, this medium to full strength robusto delivers a profile of roasted nuts, cedar, and cocoa powder accompanied by a touch of earth and cream with a clean finish.

91

VITOLA: 50X5 LENGTH: 5 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Undisclosed BINDER: Undisclosed FILLER: Undisclosed

91 Liga Privada No. 9

$ 16.50

N I CAR AGUA An ultra-flavorful robusto covered with a dark, oily wrapper. This medium plus strength blend draws and burns well while producing tons of thick, aromatic smoke with notes of espresso, ripe fruit, and black pepper.

VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 54 WRAPPER: USA/Connecticut BINDER: Brazil FILLER: Honduras & Dominican Republic

90 Diamond Crown Maximus

$ 1 4.45

D OM I NI CA N REPUBLIC Opens with a combination of wood, sweet pepper, and espresso complemented by a creamy almond note on the finish. Produces an excellent output of aromatic smoke along a good draw and a wavy burn leaving behind a solid, light gray ash.

VITOLA: No. 5 LENGTH: 5 RING: 50 WRAPPER: Ecuador BINDER: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Republic

89 Bolivar Cofradia Oscuro

$ 5.99

H O ND U R AS Covered with an exceedingly dark, toothy wrapper with sheen. Draws perfectly and produces an excellent smoke output of mild smoke delivering subtle flavors of earth, wood, and light spice joined by a touch of bitter molasses.

VITOLA: Robusto LENGTH: 5 RING: 54 WRAPPER: USA/Connecticut BINDER: Ecuador FILLER: Honduras, Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

88 SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 81

SCOREBOARD We started paying attention to the platform formerly known as Twitter in our March/April 2010 issue when we had our friend and co-founder of Stogie Review Walt White write a story about Twitter’s impact on the cigar world. The following issue was the first to run a Twitter Scoreboard and ever since we’ve been keeping tabs on the Twitter accounts of cigar companies, personalities, retailers, and more. We have transitioned from calling it the Twitter Scoreboard to the odd-sounding X Scoreboard. We’ve also traded the powder blue and bird for the minimalistic, modern X on a black background but as always, if you believe you have the numbers to be on this page, let us know via @cigarsnobmag.

TOP CIGAR COMPANIES ( sorted by Twitter followers ) Drew Estate Cigars @DrewEstateCigar ....................................

Rocky Patel @RockyPatelCigar ...............................................

CAO International @CAOCigars ................................................

Padron Cigar @PadronCigars ..................................................

Ashton Cigars @ashtoncigar ...................................................

Alec Bradley Cigars @AlecBradley ...........................................

La Flor Dominicana @LFDCigars ..............................................

Jonathan Drew @JonathanDrewArt .........................................

Camacho Cigars @camachocigars ...........................................

E. Perez-Carillo @EPCarrillo ....................................................

La Gloria Cubana @lagloriacubana ..........................................

Pete Johnson @TatuajeCigars ..................................................

Oliva Cigar Company @OlivaCigar .............................................

JC Newman Cigar @JCNewmanCigars .......................................

Xikar Inc @XIKARinc ...............................................................

Davidoff Cigars @Davidoff_Cigars ...........................................

Nick Perdomo @PerdomoCigars ..............................................

AJ Fernandez @ajfcigars .........................................................

Punch Cigars @punchcigars ....................................................

Ernesto Padilla @PadillaCigars ................................................

TOP CIGAR ORGANIZATIONS

44070 42524 29974 28842 25890 21806 20294 17411 17148 16716 16292 15441 15357 15258 15177 14741 13859 13354 13354 13017

TOP CIGAR RETAILERS & REPS Famous Smoke Shop @FamousSmokeShop .............................

JR Cigars @JRCigars ..............................................................

Mulberry St. Cigars @MulberryStCigar ....................................

Cigar Hustler @cigarhustler ....................................................

Jeff Borysiewicz – Corona Cigar Co @CoronaCigarCo................

Cigar Row @CigarRow ............................................................

Michael Herklots @MichaelHerklots ........................................

Lindsay Siddiqi @TheCigarChick ..............................................

Cheap Humidors @cheaphumidors ..........................................

Buckhead Cigar @BuckheadCigar ............................................

21576 12993 12275 10047 8115 6994 5985 4707 4561 3945

TOP ONLINE CIGAR TWEEPLES David Voth–Sex, Cigars, & Booze @SexCigarsBooze .................

Cigar News @CigaRSS ............................................................

Cigar Events @CigarEvents .....................................................

Blind Man’s Puff @BlindMansPuff ............................................

Cigar Dojo @CigarDojo ............................................................

Robusto Cigar Babe @RobustoBabe ........................................

Cigar Federation @CigarFederation .........................................

CigarHustler.com @CigarHustler .............................................

Stephen LaPre, Sr. @CigarChairman .........................................

Cigar Vixen @CigarVixen .........................................................

82 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

133086 20899 16046 14443 13857 12357 11140 10047 9762 8531

Cigar Rights of America @cigarrights ...................................... 14922 Premium Cigar Association @PCA1933 .................................... 10602 Tobacconist University @tobacconistU ................................... 4175

TOP CIGAR RADIO Cigar Dave Show @CigarDaveShow ........................................ 10096 KMA Talk Radio @KMATalkRadio ............................................. 2020 Cigars and Scotch @CigarScotch ............................................ 2045

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE TWEETS, MENTIONS, AND RANDOM SOCIAL MEDIA GOODNESS.

@sonyabailorofficial

A good @drewestatecigar Liga T52 cigar a good glass of @woodfordreserve Double Oaked bourbon a good @maybelline Vinyl Lip red lipstick a great @dolcegabbana dress and an heirloom locket passed down from my fearless stubborn amazing grandmum equals an excuse to take a badass photo because we could. #CheerstoGrowth @everlongpix @voussalonretreat @bailorgroup

@bandabox.app

August cigar highlights, lots to journal about... What’s your favorite? Banda Box - the #1 app under “Cigars” on iOS is also available on Android! Banda Box provides a robust suite of tools to take cigar journaling to a whole new level LINK IN BIO!!

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 83

INSTAGRAM SCOREBOARD Since its launch in October of 2010, the cigar world has become enamored with Instagram. Today the ‘Gram is unquestionably the most popular platform on which to share snaps of what you’re smoking and drinking. This scoreboard is sorted by number of followers and broken into groups: Top 20 Cigar & Cigar Accessory Companies, Top 10 Retailers & Reps, Top 10 Cigar Influencers, Top 3 Cigar Organizations, and Top 3 Cigar Radio accounts. If you have the numbers and belong in one of these groups, stand up and be counted! Set us straight via Instagram @cigarsnobmag.

TOP CIGAR & ACCESSORY COMPANIES ( sorted by Instagram followers ) Padron Cigar @padroncigars ...................................................

Davidoff Cigars @davidoffcigars .............................................

Drew Estate Cigars @drewestatecigar .....................................

Arturo Fuente @arturofuentecigars .........................................

Rocky Patel Premium Cigars @rockypatelcigar ........................

Raquel Quesada @raquelquesadaofficial .................................

Boveda @BovedaInc ...............................................................

Oliva Cigar Co. @olivacigar .....................................................

Epic Cigars @epiccigars .........................................................

My Father Cigars @myfathercigars ..........................................

Gurkha Cigars @gurkhacigars .................................................

La Flor Dominicana @LFDCigars ..............................................

Xikar Inc @xikar .....................................................................

Camacho Cigars @camachocigars ...........................................

Plasencia Cigars @plasenciacigars .........................................

AJ Fernandez @ajfcigars .........................................................

Nick Perdomo @Perdomocigars ..............................................

Ashton Cigars @ashtoncigar ...................................................

Alec Bradley Cigars @alecbradleycigar ....................................

Joya de Nicaragua @joyacigars ...............................................

170951 159300 147097 122721 116006 103240 88960 85667 83390 81890 80608 79142 77457 76389 69842 68603 67460 66613 64912 57662

TOP CIGAR RETAILERS & REPS Havana Phil’s Cigar Company @havanaphils .............................

Famous Smoke Shop @famoussmokeshop ...............................

Mulberry St. Cigars @mulberrystcigars ...................................

Michael Herklots @michaelherklots .........................................

Master Sensei @cigardojo ......................................................

Cigar Hustler @cigarhustler ....................................................

The Cigar Culture @thecigarculture .........................................

Jeff Borysiewicz – Corona Cigar Co @coronacigarco ................

Angela Yue @angela_yue .........................................................

La Casa Cigars & Lounge Vegas @lacasavegas ........................

75881 56280 44660 32237 28920 28506 27694 24874 24843 24766

TOP ONLINE CIGAR INFLUENCERS ON INSTAGRAM Cigar Lover @cigarlover12 ......................................................

Liz Cigar Life Style @remarkable_liz ........................................

Delicia-Creator-Influencer @cigarvixen ...................................

Whiskey Girl Josie @whiskeygirl_josie .....................................

Cigar Social Club @cigarsocialclub ..........................................

Eric Kim @scotchandtime ........................................................

Angela, CCST & IACS CCS @cigarsmokingchick .......................

Nikki @cigarpassionista ..........................................................

Melanie Sisco @lilsiscokidd21 .................................................

Cigars / Smoke.Laugh.Live @world.of.cigars ............................

84 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

111643 98894 89964 88398 66034 63915 62048 40403 38801 34573

TOP CIGAR ORGANIZATIONS Premium Cigar Association @PCA1933 .................................... 24816 Total Product Expo @totalproductexpo ..................................... 9904 Cigar Rights of America @cigarrightsofamerica ......................... 6231

TOP CIGAR RADIO Cigar Dave Show @cigardave ................................................. 3566 KMA Talk Radio @KMATalkRadio ............................................. 1565 Eat Drink Smoke @eatdrinksmokepodcast .............................. 1555

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE TWEETS, MENTIONS, AND RANDOM SOCIAL MEDIA GOODNESS.

@theaveragejoescigarmedia “Only in darkness can you see the stars” - Martin Luther King Jr. RIP Mr. James Earl Jones thanks for the great movie I enjoyed in the drives-ins! #claudine #thebingolongtravelingallstars #thegreatwhitehopemovie #apieceoftheaction #pauleobeson #darthvader #starwars #thelionking #patriotgames ##conanthebarbarian #roots #thegreatest

@mtn_rich

Sometimes a good cigar and relax time is much needed @ padroncigars #iwcbigpilot #iwc #cigarsandwatches @cigarsnobmag

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 85

EVENTS TABACON ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY Doral, FL

Tabacon's Downtown Doral location celebrated its one-year anniversary with a jamming party featuring food, raffles, cigars, drinks and specials all night. Live tunes from Afro 23 provided the musical backdrop and made way later for DJ Carluba, who carried the entertainment the rest of the night.

Ozzie Gómez and Luis Requejo

Carluba

Génesis Carolina and Sara Marín

Mayte Curbelo, Ailin Careño and Sulenny Barthlemy

86 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

Photos by: Digital Innovations -David

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 87

EVENTS FERIO TEGO SOCIAL AT CITY CIGAR LOUNGE Miami, FL

Ferio Tego chief Michael Herklots hosted a Ferio Tego social event at City Cigar Lounge, which drew guests from all over the region.

Attendees enjoyed a full selection from the Ferio Tego portfolio, including the Timeless and Metropolitan blends. Caymus Vineyards and Glendronach Distillery provided pairings, while CRM Jewelry showcased a selection of its watches.

Tico Gutiérrez, Carlos Escalona and Michael Herklots

Michael Herklots and Ibis Lu

Adelante Ashes Cigar Club

David Cortes, Ray Granja, Manny Huerta and Adrian Avila

Alex and Yanira Estrella

88 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

Gianni D'Alerta, Diana Cabrera and Ralph Quintero

Charlie Marcelin, Michael Herklots and Carlos Marcelin

Henry Infante and Gabriel Piñeres

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 89

EVENTS SHORE THING CIGARS GRAND OPENING Orange Beach, AL

Shore Thing Cigars opened its second location, this one at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama, with an extravaganza that featured two nights of music in the adjoining amphitheater. Co-owner and country music star Luke Bryan poured drinks, signed autographs, and shook hands with the overflow crowd. The event featured raffles, drink specials and a Davidoff cigar roller to assemble a special blend for patrons. After a Champagne toast, the music started and went into the night, supplemented by more drink specials.

90 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

Co-owners Paul Copeland and Luke Bryan with the Davidoff team

Photos by: David Renna

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 91

EVENTS SUMMER ASH 2024 Miami, FL

The Summer Ash event at Platinum Cigar Lounge featured a raffle, a domino tournament, food and plenty of cigars. The domino tourney victor took home a handmade domino table, while an art exhibition by Sauma the Artist featured Plasencia cigar boxes. Sauma and Luis from Plasencia Cigars were given a plaque in recognition of their ongoing support of Platinum.

Rita Silva, Emilio Sauma and Alexis Zequeira

Luis Vázquez and Alexis Zequeira

Eduardo Vallina and Maximilliano Valdes

Manolo Díaz

92 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

Manny Cabrera, KC Miller and Eddie Del Río

Chris and Mario Bulte

Juan Goncalves

Priscilla Álvarez and Humberto Rodríguez Photos by: Rio Designs, Mario Bulte

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 93

EVENTS ROCKY MOUNTAIN CIGAR FESTIVAL Broomfield, CO

The Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival marked its 16th year with a sellout crowd of 2,500.

The event featured over 65 cigar vendors, 24 liquor merchants and 30 lifestyle vendors.

Pre-parties included the Drew Estate Mega Herf and the Rocky Patel Cigar Bash at the Omni Interlocken Hotel & Resort along with a Foundation Cigar Company event at Havana Manor in nearby Longmont.

Dan and Rhonda Gallagher

Pedro Gómez Rodríguez and Matty Rock

Law Ream

94 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

Randy Strauss, Eric Gut, Ken Mansfield, Mark Gordon, Steve Bonner and Neal Crabtre

Martha Kiger and Kathie Pillard

Mary Gallagher and Nimish Desai Photos by: Tristan Brewer for RMCF

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 95

BREW CITY CIGAR FESTIVAL Glendale, WI

The 12th annual Brew City Cigar Festival drew over 500 cigar enthusiasts from all over the U.S., where they enjoyed a welcome gift of over 20 premium cigars, including offerings from well-established brands such as Cohiba, Davidoff, Romeo y Julieta, and Rocky Patel, and up-and-coming boutique brands like Crowned Heads, Karen Berger, Kristoff and Crux. Attendees enjoyed samples of the finest whiskey, bourbon, spirits, beer and wine as they mingled with cigar manufacturers, blenders and ambassadors. The venue had plenty of room, and people spread out listening to live music from the Jenny Thiel Trio and checking out a selection of Lincoln vehicles provided by Heiser Automotive Group. Vendors pitched smoking jackets, handcrafted wooden ashtrays and room air purifiers.

Beth Borst and Nish Patel

Sean Williams

The Woodring Family

Glen Case and Jess Schwamb

96 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

Erika Hanson and Abigail Watters

Garrett Zandi and Matthew Loften

Bradley Rubin and Joshua Scarver

Steve and Kelsie Granbois Photos by: Beth Borst

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 97

EVENTS AMERICO CIGAR LAUNCH AT FUSION CIGAR LOUNGE Clearwater, FL

Americo Cigars held its first U.S. event at Fusion Cigar Lounge, where the Tre4 cigar debuted. The cigar is a tribute by Don Americo Ortiz to his son, MLB Hall of Famer David Ortiz.

The event was attended by the former Red Sox slugger, who signed boxes of Tre4 for his fans.

The event also featured live music, paella and a spirits tasting hosted by Old Forester and The Dalmore.

Chris Hernández, Dee Aguasvivas, Dee Aguasvivas III and Edwin Mejía

Dee Aguasvivas, David Ortiz and Alejandra Céspedes

Ryan Schaub, Alberto Romero and Jaime Francisco

Dee Aguasvivas III and Gabriel The Legend

98 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024

Noah Lee, Charles Bailey, Scottie Lee, Carmine Lacognata, Dee Aguasvivas, Richard Lafond, Greg Nowak and David Rupert

Rose and Graig Parsons

Bruce Rector and David Ortiz

Portia Decordova Photos by: Dallas Gadberry

SEPT / OCT 2024 | CIGAR SNOB | 99

100 | CIGAR SNOB | SEPT / OCT 2024