RORREY FENTY PREPARING HIS LEGADO TOPEDO | FEATURED INSIDE
GOODLIFE MAGAZINE
CIGAR AFICIONADOS LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
GL|0218
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RORREY FENTY
CIGAR AFICIONADOS LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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CRUISING THE WILDEST OCEANS: GOODLIFE SPECIAL DECORATION VILLAGE Our Crew Invades Kramerville
EXCLUSIVE! THE BACK SEAT WAR: BMW M760Li xDrive vs BENZ S600 MAYBACH
PENTHOUSE LIVING Modern Urban Interiors
10 SOUTH AFRICAN MARVELS By | Top Local Architects
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AT PADRO PORTIA CIGAR LOUNGE | HENNESSY PALLANCE DLADLA | DECOR AND ARCHITCTURE ZWAKELE, THE SWAZI TENOR | THE DON | SALVATORE FERRAGAMO MASERATI LEVANTE | ALPINA BMW E34 | BENTLEY NEW CONTINENTAL GT
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EDITION | 0218
GOODLIFE MEN’S ELEMENTS
CIGAR MOMENTS
Most frequently we brag about what we can offer you regardless of what you need or want for your leisure. How about for once visit a place that will just offer you tranquility and a space to be your own company; individually or with a group of friends. Find a corner with your choice of view by the day, sunset or still of the night. Then decide your leisure. PedroPortia has all the indulgence for aficionados and diners. Toast your day with a wide range of champagnes, cognacs, rum, tarquillas and single malt whisky of your choice. Our Mediterranean cuisine has a menu with your name on it. Here is a place where you can offer yourself the leisure you desire. Only PedroPortia has the widest range of cigars and the most legal and decadent lounge to smoke them. NOW !!! “What can we offer you.....?� Shop U4.3 Cedar Square Shopping Center | Cedar Road | Fourways, 2191 South Africa. Call. +27 11 465 5766 OR +27 82 3900 666 email. fourways@pedroportia.co.za www.pedroportia.co.za
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Viterelli Citti +268.2421 2913 | mobile: +268.7611 1111 or +27.78 255 9394 e-mail: vci@concorse.com. www.concorse.com
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CIGAR AFICIONADOS LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
Printed and Published in South Africa | by Vifra, in Sandton, Benmore e:mail: support@concorse.co.za
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Publisher y Editor | Don Viterelli donviterelli@concorse.co.za Copy Editoring | CAP cap@concorse.co.za Art & Layout | Beau Ralph beau@goodlifemags.co.za Production | production@goodlifemags.co.za Contributions | ireport@goodlifemags.co.za Professional Resources | List Perfect Lorraine Edwards | ledwards@listperfect.co.za> Printing | SUPREME PRINTERS 27 Angle Road, New Doornfontein, Gauteng, South Africa Distribution | RNA 12 Nobel Street, Industria West, Johannesburg Interior Specialists | Viterelli Citti Interiors vci@concorse.com Advertising | Mfundvo Mndzebele advertising@goodlifemags.co.za Website | www.goodlifemags.co.za
This is Concorse, South Africa (Pty) Limited (2014/011168/07) GOODLIFE Magazine Men’s Elements | GOODLIFE Living and Quintessential | GOODLIFE Luxury Estates are published by VIFRA a division of Concorse South Africa, Office 2&3, Ground Floor, 110 Fourth Street, Parkmore, Sandton, 2196, |+2778 255 9394 |+268 24212913 | support@vifra.co.za | under license and any republishing of any content in part or full, should be authorized by publisher. Editorial contributions are welcome and should be directed to the Editor|report@goodlifemags.co.za. All due care will be taken for all contributions and materials submitted but magazine cannot be held responsible for any loss or damages. The Don Viterelli Cigar Club was established and is managed by Concorse, South Africa. Affiliation to the club is independent to all magazines. Any partnership between the magazine and the club remains professional and business related. To contact or enquire about the club, write to the founding member Don Viterelli | donviterelli@vifra.co.za
THIS IS WHO YOU HAVE ALWAYS
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ASPIRED TO BE TAKE YOUR SEAT
A Cigar Aficionados Lifestyle Magazine
EDITORIAL AND WE SAY GOODBYE TO A LEGENDS!!!
GOODLIFE COVER: Unless you were born in a tobacco farm or you grew up packing bales of tobacco leaves in a fermentation barn; some will say you have no business in making cigars. Rorrey Fenty is here to dispute that fact. Enjoying his first Legado cigar in our cover, Rorrey is the next generation of cigar makers. Again in our issue we sadly lament the passing of yet another maestro and legend of cigar making, Jose Orlando Padron [pg56]. Just before we went to press we also learnt of the passing of the founder of Oliva Cigars, Gilberto F. Oliva Sr. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
Our magazine has managed to cross the seas for the purpose of understanding the cigar industry. In the process we have forged amazing relationships and friendships. This has allowed us more insight, not only in the business of making cigars but also the lives of those that create the lovely cigar we enjoy each day. It is for this reason that we are touched by the passing of legendary leaders in the business. We pay tribute to Orlando Padron who passed away last year. He left us with his memoir published just before his demise “Memorable Moments In My Life | The Story of An American Dream”. Slowly GoodLife Magazine is growing within the local market, seeing more participation from local industry leaders. We cover the launch of Rocky Patel at the invitation of Clippers South Africa at the Emperors Hotel; visited automotive dealers and walked through Kramerville, in Sandton. This included a visit to Casarredo, the local importers of Bentley Home Furniture. More of such editorial will form part of our magazine as we pursue the local market and hope to indulge South African readers with Fashion, Lifestyle and cigars available locally. Our coverage of Salvatore Ferragamo continues to showcase the ever growing international fashion brands in South Africa. Once again we had the honour of showcasing the amazing work of ARRCC abroad. A local interior company based in Cape Town. We also take you back in time with Alpina’s E34 BMW 525i M30; we also unveil Bentley’s new Continental GT and the amazingly gorgeous Maserati Levante Sport. Smoking cigars is a personal thing and how you enjoy your cigar remains individualistic. This issue highlights on ways that should make smoking your cigar even better. Don Viterelli shares some light on how to choose and take care of your smoke. This issue also enjoyed a one on one with the country’s young icons. Pallace Dladla discuses his acting career and future endeavors as an actor, producer and entrepreneur. We also met up with an up and coming tenor originally from eSwatini; the founder of OperaArts, Zwakele Mshengu Tshabalala. Coffee, Tea, Wine, Whisky or Cognac; what ever your preference to pair with your cigar. We would like to help you build a good understanding of your preferred beverage. Hennessy has become part of our culture and has been for a while now. Our editor has not only compiled an editorial about this phenomenal cognac. He also pays tribute to the out going cellar master Yann Fillioux who retired in 2016. We also introduce to our readers the Hennessy 8*. Our magazine has found a home at the PedroPortia, Fourways; a suburb of Johannesburg. This cigar lounge enjoys patronage from avid cigar smokers from all over South Africa. This is also the home of Amano Cigars owned by the Ramos family. Amano Cigars are sole importers of a large variety of Nicaraguan cigars, though they also carry Habanos |Cuban cigars as well. The birth of Legado Cigars, a Honduran made Barbados cigar graces our cover. Rorrey Fenty owner and avid cigar smoker, discusses his brand and the future of Legado Cigars. In conclusion we would like to confirm that GoodLife Magazine is now officially a quarterly magazine with at least four issues per annum. Smoke responsibly! Don Viterelli PUBLISHER y EDITOR
iCONTENT lleretiV noD
A TASTE OF THE GOOD LIFE
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FASHION | SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
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PORADA
13
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO | SANDTON
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BRICKHOUSE CIGAR
15
D’USSE | VSOP COGNAC
16
DAVIDOFF | YEAR OF THE DOG
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ZENITH | ACADEMY CHRISTOPH COLOMB
18
THE T HOUSE | IDIN ARCHITECTS
19
KNOW YOUR RUM
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MACALLAN | RARE CASK
22
BENTLEY | CONTINENTAL GT
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PADRON CIGARS | 1926 SERIES
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AVO CIGARS | RITMO SYNCRO SOUTH AMERICA
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BANG & OLUFSEN | BEOSOUND 35
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ROCKY PATEL | SUN GROWN MODURO
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GIFTING WITH TIME | THE VAULT
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STYLE GUIDE | ALPINA E34 BMW30
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STYLE GUIDE | RALPH LAUREN SAFARI
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STYLE GUIDE | HENNESSY 8
42
SPORT REPORT | ALFA ROMEO SAUBER F1
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PEOPLE AND EVENTS
135
CIGAR REVIEW
Don Viterelli CONTENT
A TASTE OF THE GOOD LIFE
FEATURES | MASERATI LEVANTE
34
Seeing the Levante for the first time; was nothing short of awe.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CIGAR.
50
I have made mistakes inside a humidor many a times. Unless you are buying box, it is very important to give yourself enough time when choosing your cigar for the day.
ICONIC PALLACE DLADLA
53
Watching Isibaya or any other production; Pallace never disappoints. Looking forward to more of his work.
JOSE ORLANDO PADRO | THE TRIBUTE
56
We will forever cherish the years he gave us.
CREAM OF THE CROP | BY THE DON
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With thousands of cigars to choose from, there is one just for you.
RORREY FENTY | LEGADO CIGARS
74
This son of Barbados has just begun. Rorrey discusses his dream.
HENNESSY | 250 YEARS
90
Hennessy’s cellar master retires and the brand still on its way to another century. Learn more about this great brand .
VOCAL DYNAMITE | ZWAKELE TSHABALALA
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A new breed of opera singers is emerging from South Africa. Zwakele is here to prove that nothing is impossible.
KRAMERVILLE WALK
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There is still a lot to come from this industria turned Mecca of interiors and high end furniture village. More than five years ago, a number of top notch decorations companies found a new home in Kramerville, south east of Sandton City.
BENTLEY | HOME FURNITURE
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Like its automotive products, Bentley continues to extend its legacy. Nested in Kramerville; take a peek on some of the lovely pieces of Bentley home furniture.
BARCELONA APARTMENT BY ARRCC
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More and more local designers explore the international market. ARRCC is a world class interior company based in Cape Town.
PEDRO PORTIA CIGAR LOUNGE
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A mix of Mediterranean cuisine, Nicaraguan cigars and chic lounging. PedroPortia is the place to be for cigar smokers.
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FRONT DESK
LIFESTYLE GUIDE
Rondo Sideboard in canaletta walnut with decoration in natural maple and base in brushed bronzed brass. With two doors, two drawers and one bar unit on the right with curved smoked glass door and inner turn able LED lit bottles holder. Inside one of the drawers there is a storage unit for glasses and a removable cutlery holder. Choosing furniture could be a daunting exercise. South Africa has become a jungle of international brands with local interior companies importing tonnes of Italian and German products. Kramer Road being the chief culprit of all interior fascination. Porada a brand imported by Maldini is now available in South Africa; with a number of pieces available on their showroom floor. Kramerville, Sandton has been converted to an interiors village. The Rondo is available by order through the latest Seventeen Porada Catalogue at Maldini in Kramerville. The Rondo’ Two can also work perfectly as a side cabin in your smoking room providing a perfect top for a humidor or two. It is also equipped with a glass circular whiskey cabin and abundant storage space for your crystal whiskey glasses. Finish allows for diverse interior ideas. Natural and wood colours always open a door to a dash of spot colours. GL|ME
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LIFESTYLE GUIDE
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SALVATORE FERRAGAMO BOUTIQUE IN SOUTH AFRICA Salvatore Ferragamo Store | Salvatore Ferragamo embodies a combination of the longstanding, expert craftsmanship and creative tradition typical of Made in Italy goods. These are the factors of excellence that support the brand, and which have, over the years, evolved in line with its origins. Quality, contemporary elegance and innovation are the hallmarks of each Salvatore Ferragamo product and, together with a tradition of fine craftsmanship, create the value and authenticity for which the brand is universally recognised. GL|ME
SWISS MADE | Salvatore Ferragamo Quartz Chronograph Men’s Watch
TUSCAN SCENT | Salvatore Ferragamo Incense Suede
DERBY| Salvatore Ferragamo Suede Shoes
VARA | Buckle Belt
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO SANDTON CITY Sandton City Unit 28 Johannesburg 2196 South Africa Tel 011 217 6000
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LIFESTYLE GUIDE
Every year around September, Germany hosts international tobacco companies through the InterTabac Trade Fair. 2017 saw 560 exhibitors from 64 countries gather for this top ranking expo. This is where cigar companies meet distributors and consumers from all around the world. We caught Drew Newman a great-great son of the founding father of Brickhouse cigars back in Cuba. Our conversation led us to Alex Jacovides of Clippa Sales in South Africa. Clippa Sales is the sole importer of J.C Newman Cigars. In this issue, on one of our cigar moments we enjoy one special blend of the Brickhouse available in South Africa. On our cigar review read about the different flavors and blends of this great cigar. BrickHouse cigars are growing within aficionados in South Africa. Though I am a medium to full bodied cigars; BrickHouse has a cigar for your palate. In 1937, J.C. Newman launched Brick House to honor his family and heritage. The vintage BrickHouse cigar label depicts the pastoral setting of J.C. Newman’s childhood home – the only brick house in his village. A place that was not only a home, but it was also the town’s tavern. There, locals and visitors alike gathered nightly to eat, drink, smoke, and enjoy each other’s company. The original BrickHouse cigars were Cuban puros, handmade with the finest Havana tobaccos. Today, BrickHouse cigars are premium Nicaraguan puros featuring an exclusive Nicaraguan Havana Subido wrapper and Nicaraguan filler for a complex, flavorful premium cigar.
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GOODLIFE BRICKHOUSE WEEKEND RIDE
LIFESTYLE GUIDE
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D’Usse VSOP Cognac Cellar Master Michel Casavecchia is a man of vision and determination. For more than 20 years, this artist has been curating some of the world’s finest cognacs at the legendary Château de Cognac. His vision was to create a distinctively bold, yet remarkably smooth Cognac. The result is D’USSÉ Cognac. Naturally aged at least four and a half years in the cellars of France’s Château de Cognac, D’USSÉ VSOP Cognac emerges as a bold, full-bodied blend that arouses the palate. On the nose, it reveals a powerful bouquet, rich in woody notes that are layered with touches of cinnamon and floral notes. Distinctively and unexpectedly smooth, with each taste, you savor hints of spices, almond and cinnamon. Subtle accents of honey and dried fruits are the finale.
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LIFESTYLE GUIDE
THE YEAR OF THE DOG A tribute to the Chinese zodiac calender is a premium cigar from Davidoff already hitting the shelves around the world. The Davidoff Limited Edition 2018 Year of the Dog is a 7 x 50 Churchill which uses an Ecuadorian habano claro wrapper, a Dominican San Vicente seco binder and four fillers: Dominican piloto seco and viso, San Vicente ligero and seco and visos from EstelĂ, Nicaragua. As has been the case with the past five releases in the series, the packaging prominently features the colors red and gold, which represent good luck and wealth respectively in China. Production is limited to 4,500 boxes of 10 cigars . Davidoff has two accessories created for the release. The first is the Year of the Dog Duocut Punch Cutter, an aluminum punch cutter. It features two different blades, one designed to cut 40-50 ring gauge cigars and the other for 50-70 ring gauge cigars. It's made from stainless steel and features a ring with a leather handle. he cutter is made in Germany. The second accessory is the Year of the Dog Travel Humidor. It's a new design for the Davidoff Travel Humidor the company the company launched earlier in the year. Inside the humidor is a soft storage tray that can accommodate up to eight cigars. In addition, a special loop is added specifically to hold the Duocut Punch Cutter. The Italian made humidor is limited to 200 numbered units. GL|ME
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Tribute to the Partnership with Casa de Habanos - Cohiba Cigar. "Gravity Control" gyroscopic module that ensures horizontal positioning of the regulating organ. Gold handengraved & enameled dial
ACADEMY | Christophe Colomb Both legendary in their own right, Zenith and Cohiba share the same philosophy of excellence, sophistication and exclusivity. The former is a Swiss watchmaking Manufacture building on 150 years of innovation and expertise, while the latter is the celebrated name of the most sought-after cigars in the world. Created in 1966, the Cohiba brand is celebrating half a century of existence. By its side, on the occasion of this anniversary, Zenith presented a limited series of its legendary El Primero chronograph, with 50 watches in rose gold and 500 in stainless steel, all featuring a Havana brown dial and emblematic Cohiba motifs. A combination of elegance and technicality, the El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Cohiba Edition exudes a full-bodied fragrance tinged with daring and pleasure. The follow up to the original trubute watch is an even fabulous and spectacular Acadeny Christoph Colomb. Aldo Magada says: “At Zenith we are proud and happy to be partnering with Cohiba, which is not only the best Habanos brand, but also represents the same relentless quest for product excellence that we have been pursuing for more than 150 years. The priority for both companies is to enhance the customer experience, thanks to the unique craftsmanship of our artisans. We are convinced that the limited series Zenith is offering will please connoisseurs of both worlds�. | ZENETH WATCHES
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FRONT DESK THE T HOUSE IN THAILAND Project Title | T HOUSE Owner | Chao Samran Location | Beach, Phetchaburi Thailand Year | 2014 – 2016 Architect | IDIN Architects Co. Ltd Interior Architect | IDIN Architects Co. Ltd Structural Engineer | Pakanut Siriprasopsothron
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LIFESTYLE GUIDE
It is amazing how international architecture has influenced the South African landscape. Yet we have not full embraced various cladding materials like hard wood. Architects like SAOTA has included wooden facets in a number of dwelling designed in recent years but it is still a rare material. The T House by IDIN Architects from New York combines glass and wood to create this contemporary master piece. The architects designed under the thinking of sharing space. While everyone is doing their own activity in any corner, each can be seen and talk to as if they are at the same space. The design begins with layout enclosed space of three master bedrooms, and happens to be the common area at the center which open views to the sea and to the non-heat direction of the North. The bedrooms also act as shading that block sunlight from South and West to the main common area. One bedroom on the ground floor serves the continuity of living space and also convenient for the elders from hiking up the stairs. The wall of the three bedrooms are designed to enable to fully open; in order for the entire area of the house to become a single space whereby activity flows throughout the house both upper and lower levels. The materials applied for the bedrooms are wood which lye continuously from inside to the outside. On the exterior view, the bedrooms are apparently standing out as three wooden boxes, and they are divided only by the glass which is meant to control the air flow through out the house. The interior considered the owner's functions and lifestyles. The dining table is adaptable for multiple uses. The bedrooms serve the entire family staying simultaneously. The rope net along the stairs is for the kids to play around. GL|ME
LIFESTYLE GUIDE
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Ron Zacapa Centenario XO Rum Solera Gran Reserva Especial | This limited-release Zacapa XO Solera Gran Reserva Especial (in a stylish flat decanter) won Gold in the Super-Premium category at the International Rum Festival for several years after its release in 2000, and was given the Platinum award for the Super-Premium category in 2002.
St Nicholas Abbey 18 Year Old Barbados Rum | The longest aged rum from St Nicholas Abbey in the north of Barbados as of 2016's release. This is using spirit produced at the distillery since it was bought by the Warren family in 2006. Rich and complex with excellent balance between sweetness and spice.
Flor de Cana 25 Year Old Centenario Rum | This 25-year-old rum from Nicaragua's Flor de Cana is the pinnacle of the range. Producing using estate-grown sugar cane, the family brand can trace its roots back to 1890.
El Dorado Grand Special Reserve 50th Anniversary | Commemorates the 50th anniversary of Guyana gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. A blend of rums aged for between 33 and 50 years: 65% was distilled in 1966, 25% between 1966 and 1976, and 10% comes from 1983. Packaged in a crystal decanter, this is a full-bodied and complex rum with notes of coffee, dark chocolate and a hint of orange peel.
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LIFESTYLE GUIDE
Macallan Rare Cask
The Macallan Constantine on a Lalique crystal ‘M’decanter
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Yet another expression where a big brand Scotch is taking age out of the equation, letting the liquid (not the number on the label) do the selling. Macallan Rare Cask is drawn from 16 different hand picked sherry-casks, the majority of which are first fill. The Sherry input is reportedly quite profound, so expect a bigger, richer expression. "Whisky obviously has an age, we just don't publicize it here," says Stuart MacPherson, the Macallan Master of Wood. "This is something the whisky industry created in the early 20th century, where we put an age on it to make the whisky easier for the customer to identify. We're taking things a step forward and saying this isn't about the age, it's about what the consumer wants and the skills of the whisky maker." While Macallan will not disclose the age of the various whiskies in the mix, their theory is that by not being tied to a number on the label, Master Distiller, Bob Dalgarno can work to taste, not to age, and so do some of his finest work. Described by one taster as "a ruby red wow of a whisky" and another as "a Macallan fit for Kings", this certainly seems to have hit the sweet spot for many veterans of the brand on the web. The stunning colour is highlighted by a sculpted, heavy glass decanter and red presentation box. According to The Bottleshop a online retailer “Nose Opulent: yet soft and slightly meandering, picture an orchestra setting up: quiet vanilla with deep notes, already in tune; raisin bold and booming, though only in spells; chocolate a star performer, but not a standout; a sweet ensemble of apple, lemon and orange, beautifully balanced with a spicy quartet of root ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Then oak conducts, mature and elegant, with patience only time delivers. Palate: The spicy quartet leads, loud and full, unwavering in their performance. Raisin dares to temper - and succeeds!! – but oak takes control; timeless, polished, rich and resonating. Vanilla and chocolate compliment each other in the background Finish Light citrus zest, yet full and warming. . . . .” The Bottleshop sells the Macallan Rare Cask for R3,199.00 Founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid, a barley farmer and school teacher, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed and is now regarded as one of the best single malts in the world. Todate only Macallan has created the most expensive single malt whisky and liquor that actually was sold. Apart from the Tequila Ley .925 comes in a bottle that contains 6,400 diamonds. However, it remains unpurchased – and with a price tag of $3.5 million (R37.5 million). Early January on a Saturday night, saw the sale of a stunning rare 6 litre "Imperiale" version of the highly sought after Macallan M - the world's most sophisticated single malt whisky, contained within a beautifully designed and meticulously crafted crystal decanter, for US $628,000 at Sotheby's in Hong Kong. The craft that goes into making the decanter is where it all starts. The Lalique crystal decanter is multi-faceted. It is 28 inches tall and holds 6 litres of whisky. Allegedly up to forty of the hand-blown decanters were created and discarded due to imperfections before each of the 4 finished pieces were approved. GL|ME
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“Bond's whisky of choice has announced a new expression; The Macallan Rare Cask – a single malt for gentlemen of taste. . . . .” Eagle-eyed Bond fans will notice that The Macallan 1962 appeared several times in Skyfall, which Silva (Javier Bardem) proclaims to know is Bond's favourite whisky.
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LIFESTYLE GUIDE
LIFESTYLE GUIDE
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Wolfgang Dürheimer | chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said: “Bentley has been at the forefront of luxury Grand Touring for nearly one hundred years. The new, third-generation Continental GT is the pinnacle of our design and engineering achievements and marks the next step in Bentley’s journey.”
NEW CONTINENTAL GT The new Continental GT delivers phenomenal power and exhilarating, agile handling. Built and calibrated to offer the ultimate grand touring experience, it has four full-size seats and a range of driving technology to make every journey a joy.A new range of systems operate throughout the car to ensure you can drive it with confidence, at all times. Active AllWheel Drive ensures that, while the power is directed to the rear axle only during normal driving, any wheel slip results in the instantaneous engagement of the front wheels, providing additional grip, the moment it is required. The new Continental GT has a dual clutch with 8-speed transmission, ensuring smooth, fast gear changes while maximizing fuel economy. Top speed is reached in sixth gear, with seventh and eighth reserved for more relaxed, efficient cruising. In Sport mode, gear changes are incredibly fast – even by the standards of dual-clutch transmission cars – delivering uninterrupted acceleration. In Comfort mode, the changes are smoother and almost imperceptible, to allow for a more refined ride. Max power | 467 kW @ 5000-6000 rpm Max torque | 900 Nm @ 1350-4500 rpm Engine | Twin turbo-charged W12 engine Engine capacity | 5950cc Fuel type | Petrol Transmission | 8 speed dual clutch transmission with Active All-Wheel Drive Acceleration | 0 - 100 km/h 3.7 seconds Max speed | 333 km/h CO2 EU Drivecycle | Type Approved Combined | 12.2 litres / 100 km Urban | 17.7 litres / 100 km A Cigar Aficionados Lifestyle Magazine | 23
style guide
Padron Cigars 1926 Series
Country: Nicaragua Wrapper: Nicaragua (Maduro) Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Size: 5 1/2” x 52 Strength: full
BY | TOASTED FOOT
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To celebrate the 90th birthday of José Orlando Padrón, there are two new releases this year from Padrón Cigars, the 1926 Serie No. 90 with both Natural and Maduro wrappers. This special cigar is a departure from other cigars in the line released by the Padrón family in many ways. It is the first Padrón cigar to come in a tube, unlike the other cigars in the 1926 line it is not box pressed and it comes in small 5-count boxes. The maduro version of this cigar is something that is a great full bodied cigar that is certain to please the hard core and casual Padrón fans alike. Starting off right away there is a definite chocolatey cocoa flavor to the Padrón 1926 Serie No. 90 Maduro, that is soon joined by black pepper notes. Earth, cocoa and pepper make up the backbone of the flavor profile of the Padrón No. 90 Maduro with little deviation through to the end of the cigar. There is a lot of black pepper and cocoa to the cigar’s retrohale. Towards the end of the first third of the No. 90 Maduro, there is a dark Cuban coffee flavor that joins the existing flavor profile. During the second third of the cigar the pepper mellows slightly, allowing some chocolate, coffee and earth notes to come through more clearly. As the final third of the cigar begins, the black pepper has begin to become stronger again. The final third of the cigar finishes with cocoa, pepper, coffee and earth flavors. This first tubed cigar from the Padrón Family is interesting. Padrón fans are sure to like this cigar, because the flavor profile is similar to other past Padrón maduro releases. Like most Padrón offerings, the No. 90 Maduro is not a very complex cigar with very little development throughout the course of the smoking experience. The cocoa, earth, black pepper and coffee flavors that occur in the Padrón 1926 Serie No. 90 are quite pleasant and work well together. It’s one of the interesting things about Padrón, is that many cigars are so enjoyable despite their lack of complexity. Full bodied cigar enthusiasts who enjoy Nicaraguan tobacco will find the Padron No. 90 Maduro is worth giving picking up. Despite the fact that we don’t take price into account price in our Overall Rating, it’s worth mentioning that the Padrón 1926 No. 90 Maduro has a price tag of $19.50, but the limited nature and cigar’s packaging sort of justifies the price. I really enjoyed the Padrón No. 90 Maduro, and found it to be a perfect after dinner cigar. In fact, I liked it so much I smoked one after dinner on my birthday last week. I would definitely recommend that the full bodied cigar smoker give this cigar a try. Due to its packaging and small box size, the Padrón No. 90 makes a great birthday or Christmas gift for the full bodied cigar enthusiast.
style guide Avo Cigars / Davidoff AG
Country: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Ecuador Binder: Mexico Filler: Nicaragua, Peru, Brazil, Honduras & Dominican Republic Size: 7” x 54 Strength: medium to medium-full
The newest release from Avo in its Syncro line, which ventured beyond the company’s Dominican roots with cigars like the Avo Syncro Nicaragua and Syncro Nicaragua Fogata, is the Avo Syncro South America Ritmo. The Spanish word for “rhythm” gives the Ritmo its name, as the cigar’s blend is a medley of seven different tobaccos from seven different countries. Hendrik Kelner’s unique blend of tobaccos from Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Brazil, Honduras and the Dominican Republic gives the Avo Syncro South America Ritmo a flavor profile unlike anything in the Avo portfolio. This medium bodied regular production cigar is sure to become a favorite among existing fans of the brand, as well as those new to Avo cigars. Right from the start, there is a pleasant blend of coffee and cocoa flavors that come through the Avo Syncro South America Ritmo. The first third of the Avo Ritmo is dominated by an earthy mix of cocoa and coffee flavors. Early on, the retrohale is primarily consists of a coffee note with a small amount of black pepper. There is just a slight hint of roasted almonds towards the end of the cigar’s first third. As the Ritmo burns into the second third the flavor profile begins to develop a pleasant creaminess. Black coffee and cocoa still forms the flavor profile, while roasted almonds, wood, subtle grass and a little bit of pepper all occur. Throughout the second third of there is an undercurrent of black pepper that lingers on the tongue. As the final third of the cigar begins there is a transition back to earthiness. The black pepper note becomes slightly more prominent, and balances well with notes of earth, black coffee and roasted almonds. The Avo Syncro South America Ritmo is unlike anything that has born the Avo name. It is an interesting new direction for the brand that should please avid cigar enthusiast who may have shied away from Avo in favor of smaller boutique brands. Where many Avo cigars feature a woody profile, the Avo Syncro South America Ritmo has an earthy mix of coffee and cocoa. The cigar’s flavors are very well balanced. The Ritmo is medium to medium-full bodied, but it is not an overly strong cigar. Construction on Ritmo Torpedo Largo is quite good, and in line with what one would expect in an Avo cigar. Personally, I found the Avo Ritmo to be one of the better new cigars I smoked so far this year. I very much liked this cigar, and have some sitting down to age. It is easy to see why my friend Carlos finds the Ritmo to be one of his new favorite cigars, and worth buying a box of, although he preferred the toro vitola. I’d highly recommend giving the Avo Syncro South America Ritmo a try. BY | TOASTED FOOT
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style guide
BeoSound 35
Bang & Olufsen A high-end wireless speaker and all-in-one multiroom music system with an easy-to-use touch interface and integrated access to music and radio streaming services. BANG & OLUFSEN OF MELROSE ARCH Shop 009H2, The Square, Melrose Arch 2196 Johannesburg +2711 684 1496 melrosearch@beo-sa.co.za
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Everything can be controlled directly from your BeoSound 35 music system. The intuitive touch interface lets you easily take charge of your music source as well as track selection and volume control. Or if you prefer to control things from a distance you can just use a Bang & Olufsen remote or the free Bang & Olufsen app. Thanks to the on-board integration of streaming services like Spotify, Deezer, and TuneIn you get onetouch access to millions of songs, playlists and radio stations. BeoSound 35 features Apple AirPlay, DLNA and Bluetooth 4.0 streaming, and our Multiroom technology that lets you wirelessly unite all Bang & Olufsen and B&O PLAY multiroom products in one seamless music stream across your home. BeoSound 35 is one of the most versatile music systems in the Bang & Olufsen portfolio. It was designed to resemble a stroke on the wall, and with its sleek and minimalist appearance it manages to fit into any interior with ease. The pentagonal circumference allows you to cleverly tilt the music system for convenient access. So whether you hang BeoSound 35 high or low, or place it on a table, you will easily be able to see what is on the display and comfortably be able to directly touch and control it.
style guide Country: Nicaragua Wrapper: USA (Connecticut Sun Grown Broadleaf Maduro) Binder: Nicaragua (x2) Filler: Nicaragua Size: 6� x 52 Strength: medium-full
The Rocky Patel Sun Grown
BY | TOASTED FOOT
The Rocky Patel Sun Grown has been a perennial great seller in the Rocky Patel line for some time now, so it came as no surprise when the company announced that it was finally releasing a follow up. What did come as a surprise is that it would be coming from Rocky’s Nicaraguan factory in Esteli. Excellently constructed with lots of cocoa and spice, the Sun Grown Maduro is a very good cigar that makes for an excellent everyday smoke. The Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro begins with a creamy chocolate and strong spice. Soon a blend of chocolate, caramel, cinnamon and herbal/baking spices take over the first third of the Sun Grown Maduro. On the retrohale there is a mix of pepper and spices. The spice begins to mellow significantly at the end of the first third of the cigar. At the halfway point there is something that reminds me of caramel covered apples, and it brings to mind images of fall/winer festivals in New England. The second third of the of the Sun Grown Maduro sees a milk chocolate come to the forefront, that borders of hot cocoa. Spice, mild pepper and caramel round our the flavors during the second third of the cigar. During the transition to the final third, the flavor profile is wonderfully smooth and creamy. The last third of the Sun Grown Maduro ends with chocolate, caramel, spice, mint and mild pepper notes.
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GIFTING WITH TIME Steeped in the atmosphere of exclusive salons where the fog of cigar smoke heightened the thrill of the tables, the artistic reflection of an epoch in search of an art of living, La MonĂŠgasque Club is a model that asserts its style at first glance. With its Chesterfield-style leather strap, 44-millimetre pink gold case, blended ochre and mist on its dial and split-time chronograph with column-wheel, this watch is an undisputed icon.
The Hommage automatic models powerfully sum up a proven capacity to simultaneously reassure and surprise watch lovers with a combination of traditional and modern elements. A subtle play on tone-on-tone effects and colour contrasts lends additional character and depth to these handsome models.
It captures gazes and catches the light. The split-level dial and slender Roman numerals converging towards a tonneau-shaped centre create a particularly intriguing visual effect. Its sophisticated, dressy design radiates an alluring glow in pink gold or white gold , while its bezel and lugs are lit with the radiance of 100 sparkling diamonds totalling approximately 1.76 carats.
The Vault in both Melrose Arch and Menlyn Park has a huge variety of Roger Dubuis in stock and are able to supply special requested watches not in stock. It is also important to note that the Manufacture; Roger Dubuis celebrates the beauty of choice by offering clients the privilege of creating a made-to-order version of any timepiece from its collections: Rarities, your unique Roger Dubuis creation. Dials, cases, gemsetting, signed functional components, special prints or engravings and even the packaging: Rarities by Roger Dubuis become the ultimate embodiment of individual personality and discerning taste.
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Shop 11, High Street, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg | 011.684.2023 Shop G71, Menlyn Park, Shopping Centre, Cnr Lois Avenue and Atterbury Road, Pretoria www.vaultsa.co.za
style guide This special ZEITWERK HANDWERKSKUNST edition, limited to 30 watches, features a dial in black-rhodiumed white gold and is endowed with an elaborate tremblage engraving. In the movement, a hand engraving adorns not only the balance cock, but also the threequarter plate and the escape-wheel cock. The Glashütte escapement with a lever and escape wheel made of hardened 18-carat gold is another special trait. This legendary ensemble complements technical innovations inside the calibre, such as the patented constant-force escapement.
The DOUBLE SPLIT is the world’s first and only mechanical chronograph with a double-rattrapante function. It features two pairs of stopwatch hands that can run together as well as separately. For the first time, they allow time comparisons, lap-time and referencevalue measurements as well as fastest/slowest measurements of events that last up to 30 minutes.
Shop 11, High Street, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg | 011.684.2023 Shop G71, Menlyn Park, Shopping Centre, Cnr Lois Avenue and Atterbury Road, Pretoria www.vaultsa.co.za
With its case height of merely 5.9 millimetres, the SAXONIA THIN is the flattest watch crafted by Lange so far. Five years after its debut, the two-hand watch now features a subtly reworked dial that corresponds to the design of the SAXONIA models presented in 2015. The new SAXONIA THIN with a case diameter of 37.0 millimetres is available exclusively in 18-carat pink or white gold.
The Vault in both Melrose Arch and Menlyn Park has a huge variety of A.Lange Sohne in stock and are able to supply special requested watches not in stock. Watch connoisseurs can identify an A. Lange & Söhne movement at first sight. Each component is decorated with its own specific type of finissage, whether or not it is visible through the sapphire-crystal case back. No matter how small it might be, each part must comply with rigorous artisanal and aesthetic standards. It takes several months of practice just to perfectly execute a flat polished finish, while in chamfering, great emphasis is placed on assuring that the edges are not only beveled to the same angle but also to the same width. A special type of finish is reserved for the balance cock: it is engraved with the Lange-style floral pattern that makes each Lange watch unique.
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style guide
FASTEST BAVARIA OF ITS TIME It was not until the E39 M5, that BMW M Power could get close to 5.6 sec 0-100 sprint. The BMW ALPINA B10 BI-TURBO raised the bar as early as late 1989. Alpina created the best engine from a standard 535i and introduced two turbos while at it. Alpina afforded numbers rare for this size a car. Amazingly, the car remained humble in looks. The red Bavaria was known for its amazing take-off and gorgeous looks. This BMW ALPINA B10 BI-TURBO was a rare car on the roads.
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style guide
E34 BMW M30 ALPINA B10 BI-TURBO Based on the E34 535i and developed at a cost of $3.2 million, the B10 BiTurbo was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989. To build each B10 Bi-Turbo power unit Alpina dismantled a BMW M30 engine, replaced the stock pistons with forged Mahle units, installed two Garrett T25 water-cooled turbochargers, and added a Bosch variable boost control with range of 0.4-0.8 bar, adjustable from the driver's seat. Additional modifications helped raise the horsepower of the stock M30 engine from 155 kW/208 hp at 5700 rpm and 305 Nm/225 lb-ft at 4000 rpm to 265 kW/360 hp at 6000 rpm and 520Nm/384 lb-ft at 4000 rpm. A Getrag 290 5-speed manual transmission was specified to handle the power. odifications to the suspension included Alpina-spec springs and anti-roll bars. Bilstein shocks were used on front and automatic-load levelling units by Fichtel & Sachs were used in the rear. Front rotors were large 13.1-inch discs from UKbased Lucas Girling, bigger even than the 12.8-inch pieces found on the E34 M5. Michelin MXX tires were standard as was BMW's Automatic Stability Control (ASC). The company claimed a 0–100 km/h time of 5.6 sec and a top speed over 290 km/h[2] putting it in the same league as a Ferrari Testarossa. In the September 1991 issue of Road & Track Paul Frère wrote: "For me this is the car … I think this is the best 4-door in the world." Despite a base price tag of 146,800 DM, nearly twice the price of an E34 M5, the B10 Bi-Turbo became the best-selling single model in Alpina history up until that point. The six year production run beginning in 1989 ended in August 1994 with 507 examples produced. Production ended with the termination of M30 motors by BMW in 1993. The final 50 M30 blocks were shipped to Alpina for use in the final 50 B10 Bi-Turbos.
M
Engine: ALPINA B7/5 Cylinder 6 Capacity cm 3430 Max output kW/hp265 / 360 Max torque Nm520 Performance: Acceleration 0-100 km/h 5.6s Top speed km/h over 290 Fuel consumption: at 90 km/h l/100 km 8.8 at 120 km/h l/100 km 11.2 Urban l/100 km 17.4
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STYLE GUIDE
DECADES BUT STILL SATISFY HOW YOU CHOOSE TO SMELL MIGHT BE YOUR CHOICE; BUT DOES IT SUIT YOU?
I want to believe that most cigar smokers are mature persons or rather individuals who are steady and distinctive. You are able to tell by the way they smell and carry themselves. Though fashionable they are most likely to be brand loyal. Generally and most frequently, I come across a wide range of customers; from teenagers to fashion icons and respected members of the society. The diversity in their taste and choices of how they want to smell tell you a lot about their character. Though beautiful some colognes may smell, they suit specific characters, dress codes and your natural body scent. More and more men are starting to want to be identified with a specific smell. I have a customer who has not changed a cologne for as long as I have known him and it still smells as good. Because he made a good choice from the beginning. Those that know him and not aware of the name of his cologne have named it after him. Instead of asking for Kouros, YSL old time favorite, they request for “Grant’s Perfume” [Not his real name]. My publisher can never be told against Ralph Lauren Safari. As a cigar smoker himself, the blend of a freshly burnt cigar and the herbal flow of Safari will change tones based on his cigar of the day and the freshness of his smoke. Through him I have been made aware of the importance of your choices of colognes as a cigar smoker. Though semi-sweet, most of his perfumes have herbal or aquas tones and a bit of faded musk. He is a great fan of discontinued Hugo Boss No:1 It is very important for every man to keep amongst his collection of colognes just a couple of classics. And we have outlined a few of the brands still available on the self today and priced very well. Though quite old they still collect top scores from the ladies off course. Perfumes supplied by: Edgars Red Square
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style guide
Hennessy 8 2016 saw the changing of the guard at Maison Hennessy, as the seventh-generation master blender Yann Fillioux prepares to pass the keys to the cellar to his nephew Renaud Fillioux de Gironde. And to mark this occasion, Hennessy is launched an ultralimited-edition cognac: Hennessy 8. Named after the eight eaux-de-vie that went to create it, Hennessy 8 is designed to embody the transfer of knowledge between Cellar Masters: Form Yann Fillioux to Renaud Fillioux de Gironde who joined the Hennessy panel 14 years ago – Yann Fillioux selected the first seven eaux-de-vie, and Renaud Fillioux de Gironde the eighth. nly 250 bottles of this unique cognac have been created, one for every year of the Maison's existence, in a striking limited-edition carafe created by the designer Arik Levy. Crafted in handblown Baccarat crystal, the Hennessy 8 carafe features a dynamic design of eight inset rings, with a crystal stopper that reprises the eightringed theme in a floral motif. A copper silk thread around the bottle's collar leads to an “H” medallion sealed by a ribbon, using a specialized technique made famous by Hennessy's sister house Maison Guerlain. Each carafe is also individually numbered and signed by Levy and may be personalized if requested. As if that were not enough, each carafe is also accompanied by a box of four tasting glasses in a revised version of a design first created by Georg Riedel in partnership with Yann Fillioux 30 years ago. A cork holder and a pipette made of oak-barrel wood are also included, along with a keepsake brochure, a dedicated key, a personalized authentication plate and a numbered certificate signed by Yann Fillioux himself. The cognac will be released in several chapters, with the first 100 carafes being released worldwide in the of summer 2016.
O
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style guide
SPORT GRANDE MASERATI | LEVANTE SPORT
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style guide
ITALY STRIKES AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT’S A MASERATI Maserati's first crossover is posh, quick (for a diesel) and sporty (for an SUV). Basically it fits the template of modern high-end SUVs – a big, powerful five-door hatch, standing tall, wearing design cues from its maker's luxury saloons and coupes. The design, both inside and out, is on the more extrovert end of the spectrum, but it's certainly not outlandish.
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style guide
B
ecause it's primarily a road car, the Levante is based on the Ghibli/Quattroporte platform, but the suspension has been given more travel and the body made more bend-resistant, so it can cope with mild offroading. It won't, mind, get as far into the woods as FCA sister brand Jeep's Grand Cherokee. If you want to do that sort of stuff, just buy a Jeep. The transformation of Maserati from a maker of pretty but also rare hand-built grand touring coupés into a fully-fledged global luxury car brand has been forging ahead at full steam for the past three years. The Levante is the seventh Maserati to be named after a wind, after the Bora, Ghibli, Shamal, Mistral and others. The new Levante is interesting because it takes the Italian brand into a third permanent production base and swells its showroom offering to five models when, throughout a century of history, it has rarely built more than two or three at a time. It is also vital, because it takes Maserati into the biggest and most lucrative part of the world's luxury car market. But it's most remarkable because, as you'll no doubt have noticed, it's an SUV: a high-riding, four-wheel-drive, five-metre-long reason not to buy a Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne, BMW X6 or MercedesBenz GLE Coupé. Whether Maserati should be making such a car has become a moot point. As recently departed company CEO Harald Wester could always be relied upon to point out, risking the Maserati brand on a big 4x4 – given how popular they have become – is much less cavalier than declining to do so. With Porsche, Bentley and so many other luxury brands already feeding off the benefits of big-selling SUVs, while Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini are beginning to breach the market and Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce planning to join them, Maserati has clearly judged that its sporting reputation isn't likely to be eroded here – and if it is, it'll be a price worth paying. The Levante is, of course, just one part of a process of wholesale expansion and change at Maserati. While the Granturismo and Grancabrio are still largely hand-built at Maserati's long-established headquarters in Modena, the current Quattroporte and Ghibli have, since 2013, been made at Bertone's old Grugliasco plant. In that context, Maserati's expansion into a refurbished part of Fiat's historic Mirafiori factory in Turin (where the Alfa Romeo Mito is made) for Levante production seems like a less contentious move than it might have. And yet, as brand traditionalists will note, this car is certainly not built in Modena, it's no sleek, elegant saloon or coupé. Tweaks made for the 2018 model year has seen the introduction of a Ferrari-developed, twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine. So just how much of the heart and soul of a 'proper' Maserati is left? Moving the sales needle on a comparable scale in 2017 means selling a truck. Well, okay, an SUV. To be completely fair, the Levante, undergirded by the Ghibli sedan, is a car-based SUV. Though it expands the market appeal of that platform, it faces no shortage of competition in the world of upscale crossovers. In the past year, Bentley and Jaguar have folded to the allure of SUV sales at the risk of enthusiast cred. And in the next two years, Aston Martin might join the club; with Lamborghini pioneering with the URUS recently. But an SUV, Italian or not, comes with certain practical expectations. We used the Levante accordingly, loading it with kids and bicycles and navigating smooth gravel back roads and brutal tarmac two-lanes. With its dampers in sport mode, the Levante is genuinely stiff; Decoupling the powertrain from the
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The seats, front and rear, are hand-stitched and finished in sumptuous leather. Maserati has partnered with Ermenegildo Zegna, one of the world’s leading luxury menswear brand and producer of the finest fabrics. The finest leather is combined with Zegna’s mulberry silk inserts on the seats, door panels, roof lining, sunshades and ceiling light fixture. The silk is embellished by a hand-stitched micro-chevron pattern while the seating features a central silk insert with a macro-chevron weave. Door panels, roof lining and sun visor are covered with Zegna silk jersey.
style guide
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style guide
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style guide
stiffest damper setting improves ride quality without compromising engine response, but this is a tall wagon that feels so when driven with purpose. Our measurements confirmed the Levante's 66.0 cm center of gravity to be higher than that of a BMW X5 M and a Porsche Cayenne Turbo—contradicting Maserati's claim that it has the lowest center of gravity in the SUV class. omputer-controlled air springs are standard and can raise or lower the Levante over a range of 8.6 cm. Six rideheight settings are available, depending on speed and drive mode. Though not obtrusive, the regular self-leveling is noticeable when the SUV is stopped. The Levante's hydraulically assisted steering, though full of noise, never really sings. Requiring medium effort at speed, the steering system conveys ample vibration through the column, but there's little sense of the available grip, the road texture, or the approaching limits. This system proves that fantastic steering is less a product of hardware than it is of priorities. We'll gladly take a carefully tuned electrically assisted system over one that pumps fluid but doesn't communicate. As priorities go, engine sound is one of Maserati's biggest. And the Levante makes its noises the old-fashioned way—it earns them. Paolo Dellachà , the Levante's chief engineer, proudly says that the mill's harmonics are all natural. Spent hydrocarbons find their way to aural glory when bypass valves in the exhaust system fully open in sport mode. And it is, indeed, a raw, gratifying noise, reaching a 6200-rpm crescendo, then pausing ever so briefly as the next gear is loaded and fired. The Levante's standard all-wheeldrive system is tuned to send torque to the front wheels when conditions merit via an electronically controlled clutch. Its handling, however, doesn't convey the rear-biased message since its front tires are easily overburdened during cornering. A clutch-type limitedslip differential operates on the rear axle in conjunction with a brake-based torque-vectoring system at both ends that slows the inner wheels in turns to rotate the SUV. In practice, it's a capable machine but not a terribly rewarding one, reinforcing the idea that as long
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style guide as Porsche is in the SUV business, all new-comers need to bring their A game. The Maserati is nicely packaged, with ample room front and rear. And it feels special inside, with aromas redolent of a Zegna warehouse. If being special in an Italian sort of way is to be Maserati's defining trait, then it has largely succeeded inside the Levante. Its interior is embellished where the Cayenne's is antiseptic. It's emotive where the Cayenne is restrained. And it's just damned nice where, well, the Cayenne is nice. The aroma of leather permeates the cockpit, and its supple organic texture covers most every surface, including the dash and doors. The brown hides in our Levante were accented with stunning white stitching, front and rear. Open-pore wood-trim inserts complement the brushed-aluminum elements that form the sculpted door handles. Luciano Pavarotti, were he still belting it out at the Teatro alla Scala, would be at peace here for the commute home. The moment killer happens, however, with the observation that much of the Levante's switchgear is shared with relatively cut-rate Fiat Chrysler products.
LAVANTE S PRICE | R1,950,000
ENGINE | V6 | 2979cc | 321KW Twin Turbo
ACCELERATION | 5.2 sec - 100km/h
TOP SPEED | 264km/h
PRICE | R1,652,000
ENGINE | V6 | 2987cc | 205KW Twin Turbo
ACCELERATION | 6.9 sec - 100km/h
TOP SPEED | 230km/h
LAVANTE DIESEL
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BOTH THE LAVANTE S AND LAVANTE DIESEL ARE ALL WHEEL DRIVE
style guide
The FCA influence is a mixed blessing. Maserati, left to its own devices, might have given us only stunning beauty in lieu of function. FCA, which brings economies of scale, had other ideas. The high-resolution infotainment screen, at 8.4 inches, looks great and is big enough to be genuinely practical. The system operates with a competent familiarity and best-in-the-business speed, and it now has a console-mounted dual-knob interface improving its usability. It did, however, freeze twice during our time with the Levante, locking its driver out of audio and ventilation controls. On both occasions, the system had to sit overnight to regain its wits. In person, this SUV isn't what you'll assume it to be from photos. Its hips are wider and its canopy narrower than is revealed in two dimensions. A long snout coupled with its overall proportions, especially its profile, evokes visions of the last-generation Infiniti FX SUVs. There's a tall wagon-ness to it that precludes it from being either butch or elegant. But those are subjective claims to be adjudged personally. he Levante is an enjoyable SUV with a stunning interior and a euphonic soundtrack. It breezes between corners capably and quickly and will only lose a drag race against the quickest SUVs made today. The real measure of the Levante will be its influence on Maserati as a whole. If it becomes a sales leader for the brand, and it easily should, it can be leveraged to push a heritage-rich carmaker to sports-car and sedan revival, Porsche-style. That's our hope, Maserati. Capisce? We've seen Maserati re-inventing itself with the new Ghibli and Quattroporte saloons launched in 2013, but now with an SUV bolting from the stable, there's a much stronger sense of the legendary Italian sports-luxury marque shedding its shackles to a non-conformist past and embracing the unilaterally enforced domestication and dilution of modern motoring. A little sad for a maverick brand that was previously most famous for its flagrant disregard of the established playbook. GL|ME
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SPORT REPORT
FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOTIVE - FCA designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles and related parts and services, components and production systems worldwide through 162 manufacturing facilities, 87 R&D centers, and dealers and distributors in more than 150 countries. In addition to Alfa Romeo, its stable of brands include Abarth, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, Ram, Maserati and Mopar, the parts and service brand.
The newly unveiled Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 will compete in the 2018 Formula 1 World Championship.
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SPORT REPORT
By Don Viterelli | Publisher
FERRARI
GETs IN WAIST DEEPER WITH SAUBER F1
Just when we all believed that Sauber F1 and Ferrari are a thing of the past. As Honda had a presented a flawless proposal towards the fall of the 2017 season. Ferrari realized an even better opportunity through partnering with Sauber F1. The Sauber F1 team struggled with 2016 Ferrari engine through out the 2017 season and came out last with only 5 points in the constructors championship. Honda having fell out with McLaren F1 who also only managed 30 points last season; needed a partner to stay in formula1 the coming season. Ferrari came to the party and that saw Honda partner with Toro Rosso who had enough of Renault by the fall of the season instead of Sauber F1. Though the deal now came with a Christmas gift from the top. Fiat Chrysler Automotive FCA, who owns both Ferrari and Alfa Romeo wanted to increase their participation in Formula1. By introducing Alfa Romeo back to F1 through the Sauber F1 deal also allows FCA a bigger platform to market Alfa Romeo as an independent brand. ALFA ROMEO SAUBER F1 TEAM | The deal will see the Swiss squad renamed Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team from 2018, with the car bearing the Alfa Romeo logo and being equipped with 2018-spec Ferrari engines. This is after the Sauber F1 Team signed a multi-year technical and commercial partnership with Alfa Romeo, returning the Italian car manufacturer to F1 after an absence of more than 30 years. Alfa Romeo as a brand will hugely benefit from the sharing of technology and strategic know-how with a partner of the Sauber F1 Team's undisputed experience. “The Alfa Romeo engineers and technicians, who have already demonstrated their capabilities with the newly-launched models, Giulia and Stelvio, will have the opportunity to make that experience available to the Sauber F1 Team. At the same time, Alfa Romeo fans will once again have the opportunity to support an automaker that is determined to begin writing an exciting new chapter in its unique, legendary sporting history.” Pascal Picci, Chairman of Sauber Holding AG, added: “We are very pleased to welcome Alfa Romeo to the Sauber F1 Team. Alfa Romeo has a long history of success in Grand Prix racing, and we are very proud that this internationally renowned company has chosen to work with us for its return to the pinnacle of motorsport. “Working closely with a car manufacturer is a great opportunity for the Sauber Group to further develop its technology and engineering projects. We are confident that together we can bring the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team great success, and look forward to a long and successful partnership.”The team has also announced drivers Marcus Ericsson, of Sweden, left, and Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, for the coming Formula1 championship next year. The two are standing next to the newly branded Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 car set to race in the 2018 championship.
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PEOPLE AND EVENTS
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PEOPLE AND EVENTS
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PEOPLE AND EVENTS
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PEOPLE AND EVENTS
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PEOPLE AND EVENTS
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PEOPLE AND EVENTS
ClipperSales launched their Rocky Patel Cigars range with Otis McAllister at the Braza Restaurant, Emperors Palace Casino Resort in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
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cigar REview
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CIGAR FOR THE DAY
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An excellent cigar is bliss. It is a reward for a job well done, solace for a day gone wrong, companionable treat for a long night of work, or stimulating wake-up to go with morning coffee. A fine cigar, if it's the right cigar, makes the best of times perfect and the worst of times immeasurably better. It follows that your discernment in choosing cigars—in being able to separate the sheep from the goats—can materially boost your well-being, repeatedly, for the rest of your life. A bad cigar, or even just the wrong cigar for a given occasion, is a waste. This means knowing excellent cigars on sight is no frivolity; it is a practical, useful life skill. Remember first: Cigar enjoyment is particular to each individual because every person's body chemistry is unique. A cigar that another person finds heavenly might make you gag, and vice versa. There aren't a lot of shortcuts to your own best cigar knowledge: Experience is indispensable. (But that kind of journey is its own reward.) Remember, too, that price is not a perfectly reliable gauge. You can splurge on a R480 beauty, but if its flavor profile does not match with the predilections of your own taste buds, then you're splurging on a dead loss. Some smokes that run no more than a hundred bucks and a half are far superior to illconceived blends costing 10 times as much. You have to find what appeals to you. And the real trick (for most of us) is finding cigars you love that are also affordable. It's no different with wine lovers. They surely have some very nice, expensive bottles tucked away in their collection to show off when they want to impress friends. But chances are their “go-to” dinner selections come from the bargain shelf, because they have learned that certain
cigar REview
By Don Viterelli | Publisher
inexpensive wines taste very good to them. A few obvious cigar characteristics to look for: Cap – Single, double, triple? The cap covers the head of the cigar, the end you put in your mouth. It keeps the cigar from unraveling. A single-capped cigar can be very good, and a triple-capped specimen might sometimes disappoint. Still, the presence of multiple caps shows at least that the manufacturer is making a gesture toward quality. A triple cap is an extra expense not likely to be blown on an inferior smoke. A multi-capped cigar shows the maker is probably trying to offer a premium, good-tasting product. Color of wrapper leaf – This often indicates how light, or heavy, the cigar will taste. Many people incline toward a small, blond cigar early in the day and a larger, darker cigar after supper. Also, darker often means sweeter (sometimes bringing a sort of molasses tone), but darker can also indicate a smoke that is heavier in both flavor and nicotine, even if it is sweeter. Nice ash? – Does the ash hold on, intact, without flaking, for more than an inch? High-quality, long-filler cigars will generally hold an ash very well, whereas lowquality, short-filler cigars … not so much. Allow your attention to wonder and a cheap, flaky ash will land in your lap. Long-filler cigars taste better (generally) because thought and care goes into their construction. Short-filler cigars are usually machinemade—casual, quick smokes, not meant to be taken too seriously. About “shaped” cigars – Perfectos, Torpedos, Salamones (search for these terms in Google Images)—these require greater skill by the roller, and creating them usually goes to the most experienced rollers on a factory floor. For these reasons, shaped cigars often contain some of the better leaf in a cigar maker's warehouse. They can cost a bit more, but chances are you will notice a satisfying difference in flavor. None of these indicators is infallible. One of the perverse joys of true cigar mastery is finding the ugly ducklings that taste (to you) like ambrosia. But armed with just a few tips, you can minimize the boondoggles as you home in on the perfect stash for your personal humidor. Happy hunting!
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Occasionally we have seen you with a petit cigar; are cigars part of your casual indulgence? Occasionally to pass by time. What cultivated your acting interest. Did you have any special actor that inspired your love for the screen? The need to express. Inspired by Siyabonga Twala; when I first saw him in the Core room 10 years ago. We have seen you growing your acting from a younger age. Where would you say your career is currently? I started off as an actor now I see my self as a humanist an overall creative, storyteller and a business. Being a native of Soweto, was it hard to get to acting? I was fortunate to start at an early age. My mom saw the opportunity to get me out of the streets and onto the stage. Apart from acting, did you have any other aspiration as a young man or maybe to grow to in the near future? Producing content and entrepreneurship. Looking back, was there a time where you felt this was an impossibility; acting that is? And thought of doing something else? My intention was just to be on stage didn't see it as a career. I was just blessed then one thing led to another. In that case; what has been the driving force that has kept you going? My family, self curiosity and an attempt to connect with the rest of the world. Along your hustle, when did you start thinking this is working. Was there a special project that you can attribute to your first break? I am still recreating myself..... still have a lot to discover. It's only starting to make sense now because of the relationships I've started to build. The youth today lacks mentor ship in all aspects of life, that includes career paths. Would you agree and how do you think this can be improved? Our value system needs to change. Education professionals and industry leaders need to establish a new mental state. To banish the open handed attitude and encourage the youth to be more than just job seekers..... but producers and creatives in their own right. We need to emphasize ownership, independence and thoroughly revise our country's legislation. Do you have a political bone in you? Do you have any opinion about the current state-of affairs in our country where your profession is concerned? And how do you think it could be enhanced? Raise awareness on our current legislation throughout educational institutions. Such as copyrights, intellectual property, tax laws, guilds and so forth. Then pro-actively change outdated and counter productive laws that prevent growth in the industry . Specifically to the middle class and everyday workers. Crew, actors, writers, directors and producers. South Africa has invested very little on the big screen; what do you think is the reason. Do you think more movies could improve the industry? The problem is within distribution, intellectual property and marketing. The monopolies that exist only look out for their own interests. This prevents potential investors to take part in the industry. How much theater are you involved in? I started off with theater..... but lately my interests are focused on a different medium which is TV & film.
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By | Don Viterelli, Publisher
ICONIC PALLANCE DLADLA Towards the fall of 2017, we managed a Q&A with the ever so busy Pallance. When DSTV ventured into local content and open doors to local film makers. They created a huge platform for many arts. Writers, producers, video and photographers, actors, managers and a whole lot more have taken this gesture with both and warm hands. This is evident in the sterling work presented by Pallance and many other actors and actresses on the Mzansi DSTV channels. Through Actorspaces we managed to steal Dladla from his busy schedule to respond to a short Q&A for this issue. There is a great union between Performers and the media in general; a marriage initially forged through vanity and glamour. Today it has become a partnership that enhances every art form. It becomes a give and take relationship and a stepping stone towards harnessing talent. The growth in local content has created more jobs for the art than ever before.
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What would you say is your first love; Theater, TV or Movies? I'm a storyteller; a humanist. What's important is getting the message through and connecting with people through different mediums Your involvement in the Actor Space Master class. How did it start and may you elaborate on the project? The objective of Actor Spaces along with the master classes is to celebrate industry professionals and to create a platform that empowers the aspiring youth who want to be behind or in front of the camera. Isibaya: Is it your main project and how much has it contributed to your career as an actor? People get to watch it everyday. Which makes my work more relevant to the masses. The show also speaks directly to their culture and customs which makes me relatable to my audience. Jabulani Zungu and Pallance: how different are their characters? Very different. The only thing that connects me to the characters I play is my impression of them and my point of view. Your favorite person is your Aunt, Mancwane. Has that brought you closer in real life? Yes it has. Sort of a mother figure. Who are you close to in Isibaya away from the set? ......... Sdumo Mtshali. What can we expect in the near future; what kind of work is lined up for you? Zulu Wedding in cinemas on February 23, 2018...... An 8 part action series called Shadow and more offers and services from Actorspaces.
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jose orlando padron
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By Don Viterelli | Publisher
SAYING GOODBYE TO JOSE ORLANDO THE GODFATHER TO OUR TRADE AND A SYMBOL OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS
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ot only Little Havana and Nicaragua has lost a legend but aficionados at large. A young carpenter with a hummer settled in Miami and turned to the greatest cigar maker of all times. Orlando Jose Padron passing has touched the world over. Already confined to his mobile chair, Orlando was still very active in his trade. His age never limited him in any way. Late 2016 Don Viterelli had an interview with Orlando where he explained his motives of penning his memoirs. Documenting his life history was not a personal indulgency but he left us all with a case study about a phenomenal giant. Our growth in individual endeavors can only pick a lot of lessons from his memoirs.
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oodLife Magazine had the opportunity of a lifetime to document the only live interview with the three generation of the Padron legacy. Jose Orlando, Jorge senior and Jorge junior converged in one room for “The Padrons Crafting the Future� interview September 8, 2016. On the day they celebrated 52 years of Padron Cigars. The family took time to speak to us on a day very special to the family. Growling his baritone, in his native Spanish; Orlando expressed his gratitude for our publication taking an interest in his family business. At the age of 91 Orlando died in Mercy Hospital in Coconut Grove. He was born in Consolacion del Sur in the western province of Pinar del Rio. His family, who came from the Canary Islands, worked in a tobacco farm in the Cuban region known as Vueltabajo, considered to be among the best tobacco areas in the world. Tobacco became Padron's passion. Padron left Cuba in 1961 for Madrid, so poor he had to beg on the streets of the Spanish capital. He quickly moved to New York, where he lived for a couple of months before moving to
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Miami. He mowed lawns and did carpentry work until he opened the cigar company in 1964. In the 1970s, he opened a cigar factory in Nicaragua, still the source of much of the tobacco that Padron Cigars rolls into its cigars. The cigars are sold around the world as well as at its famed Little Havana store. That factory burned down during Nicaragua's civil war. The factory's destruction was not at the hands of the Sandinista guerrillas nor supporters of the Somoza dictatorship, but by mobs that looted businesses. By then, Padron had opened a factory in Honduras to roll Nicaraguan leaves. But President Ronald Reagan slapped an embargo on the Sandinista government in 1985, and the factory could no longer import tobacco from Nicaragua. Padron returned to the island in 1979 with other Cuban exiles to speak with Fidel Castro's government about political prisoners. The discussion led to the release of 3,600 political prisoners, including some who had spent nearly 20 years behind bars. Padron was photographed giving Castro a box of his cigars. Shortly thereafter, several bombs damaged his Miami store, then on Flagler Street and Southwest 16th Avenue. “My father went to Cuba with the goal of helping,” said Jorge Padron, adding that many of his father's old friends were freed from prison because of his work. The business in Central America took off again when the U.S. embargo on Nicaragua was lifted in 1990. The Padron family had to revive the entire process of cigar-making. Today, the Padron brand is recognized as one of the best in the world. It received the best cigar of the year prize, awarded by the magazine Cigar Aficionado, three times since 2004. “My father always told me that a person had to do three important things: value the family, respect the name, the legacy, and be grateful,” said his son. The Padron family runs a foundation that supports causes such as health and education; it is planning to build a school in Esteli, Nicaragua. Padron is survived by his wife, Flori Padron, children Elizabeth, Orlando, Jorge and Lissette as well as 12 grandchildren, two great grandchildren and a nephew he loved like a son, Rodolfo Padron. On the day of his passing, we mourned world over. I had just returned to the office that evening when I learnt of Orlando’s death. Even though I had never met him in person, the loss was so deep. The aficionado that I am, I reached to my office humidor and picked a rare celebration Padron 1926 Series No: 90. A cigar released in 2016 celebrating Orlando's year of birth and 90 years of his life. A present from my brother-in-law Vusimuzi Mnisi, he brought back from a trip to Miami the previous year. So befitting was the moment, I laid back to enjoy his fine work at the day of his final rest. Here is to a great legend, Salute Godfather, Jose Orlando Padron. May your soul rest in eternal peace your Majesty. GL|ME
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By Don Viterelli | Publisher
CREAM OF THE CROP Looking back over the years; especially the year I started smoking cigars. I still wonder how, out of hundreds of thousands of cigars we come to one. Many of our readers I am sure, have been able to differentiate our magazine from the main stream cigar magazines. GoodLife Magazine is a lifestyle magazine designed for cigar smokers, aficionados and those who would love to be. This is the reason why we always pay great tribute to hardcore cigar magazines around the world. These magazines go to a great lengths doing reviews and tasting cigars year after year. And finally manage to come out with cigars of the year and the top 25 annually. Cigars are like wine, filled with subtle hints and nuances that you may miss if you're not paying attention. Though it can take years to develop the skills to distinguish all those flavors, you can experience more from your cigars if you start paying attention today. There are several ways to develop your palate for cigars. We will highlight a few as we go along.
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Different individuals would gather varying tastes based on the sensitivity of their palate. In this regard, no matter how much connoisseurs express their reviews. Every cigar will be what it is according to the person enjoying or not enjoying it. If you love the feeling smoking a cigar gives you, you have earned the right to decide on your smoke. While at it, be not deterred to express your views; because we can never be one person. Taste it before you light it | Hold the cigar in your mouth before you fire it up. You'll be able to experience the sweetness or bitterness of your cigar, indications that it's a good smoke. However, if you taste acidity or saltiness, this may mean that the cigar was made from less-than-stellar tobacco. Smoke Slowly | Cigars are like most things in life; the slower you go, the more you'll be able to notice. So puff leisurely. Leave some time in between each draw and let the smoke linger in your mouth for a few seconds. It's one of the simplest cigar tasting tips, but it makes the aftertaste more prominent and prevents the cigar from overheating. Use your nose | We have more flavor detectors in our nose than on our tongue. So, use
your nose, or as some call it, 'retro-hale'. How do you do it? Take a puff, then release roughly half to three quarters of the smoke out of your mouth. Then, push the remaining smoke to the back of your mouth with your tongue and at the same time exhale through your nose. If you've never retro-haled, take it easy: start with mild cigars. Otherwise, you may end up coughing a lot. Protect your palate | Tasting cigar flavors comes easiest when your palate hasn't been contaminated or overwhelmed. Here are a few ways to ensure that: If you're smoking a cigar for the first time, just drink water and spackling water will wake up more of your taste buds. Drinks will change the flavors you experience. If you're smoking multiple cigars, smoke the mildest first. Otherwise, the powerful flavors of the strong cigars may linger and make it hard for you to detect milder flavors. To make sure of the strength of your cigar, do enquire from your tobacconist or visit brand owners' website for a detailed description of your smoke. Novice nor connoisseur the procedure in choosing the smoke of the moment is the same. As a new smoker you might find it difficult to choose
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your cigar. There could be several reasons apart from the fact that you have a limited knowledge about cigars in general. Even seasoned aficionados could make similar mistakes. This has led to aficionados specializing with tested brands which end up being their favorites. Cigars are very if not extremely delicate. It is therefore crucial to request assistance every time you visit a commercial humidor. Even if you are a seasoned smoker, unless you are a regular and your etiquette is trusted; a humidor is a treasured space. Choosing a cigar is an individual thing. It depends on personal taste, availability and budget. When one walks into a well-stocked humidor it is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of different brands and facings that line the walls. If you are fortunate to be in the shop of a reputable retailer then you can count on receiving some sound advice in choosing the perfect cigar to fit the occasion or mood. If not, then these suggestions may help you find a great cigar anyway. Squeeze the cigar gently. It should "give" but not be too soft. Don't roll it in your fingers, as some suggest - this can damage the wrapper. Squeeze gently up and down the body to look for lumps or soft spots. A good cigar should have neither. Remember to be gently. Even if you don't buy that cigar somebody else might - don't damage it! Inspect the wrapper for "odd" discolorations, looseness, or cracks. The wrapper should be smooth and tight, and not damaged on either end. Smaller veins are good to watch for, as these often smoke smoother, but compare your single to other cigars with the same wrapper! Veins appear differently in different wrapper types. Look at the tobacco in the exposed end. Some variation of color is normal, as most cigars are made from a blend of tobaccos. What you're watching for is extreme or abrupt color changes. This sometimes means an inferior leaf was used, or the leaves weren't laid together properly in the bunching process. Off tastes and uneven burns will often be the result. Cigars with larger ring gauges tend to be fuller flavored (there is normally more ligero and less Volado in the blend), smoke more smoothly and slowly, and heat up slower than those with small ring gauges. They also tend to be better made than the smaller ones (which are the sizes recently qualified apprentices start on).
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Cigars with small ring gauges often have little or no ligero tobacco in the filler blend. If there is no hurry, large ring gauge cigars are almost always the preferred choice of connoisseurs or experienced cigar smokers. The beginner is advised to choose a relatively small cigar, say a minuto or carolina, and then move up to the bigger sizes of a mild brand. Jamaican cigars, such as Macanudo (also made in the Dominican Republic), tend to be mild, or try H. Upmann among Havanas. A cervante is probably the best cigar above the corona size to move up to when you feel you have gone beyond the beginner stage. There is a case to be made about what sort of cigar to smoke at what time of day. Most smokers prefer milder, smaller cigars in the morning, or after a light lunch. The seasoned smoker, however, might go for something like a robusto after a heavy lunch; a lot of flavor packed into a reasonably short smoke. Certainly, most experienced smokers prefer a big, full-bodied cigar after a heavy meal or late at night, partly because a thin cigar will not last very long, but also because a mild one isn't so satisfying on a full stomach. So, they will select a belicoso, Churchill, or double corona. By the same token, smoking a heavy cigar before dinner is likely to spoil your appetite and play havoc with your taste buds. Much the same consideration applies when people have strong drinks like port or brandy after dinner, rather than something lighter, which they will take before or during dinner. If you want to compare cigars, it is best to smoke them at similar times of the day, taking meals and location into account, too. Because tobacco gets its flavor from the soil and climate from which they are grown, other cigars from that country of origin are more likely to appeal to your tastes. This is of course not always the case but when you are playing percentages you are more likely to enjoy a different Honduran verses a new Jamaican. Ignore number ratings; In general, number ratings can be misleading. If you enjoy lighter cigars and you see that the Bahia Trinidad is rated a 91 and you try it, you will find that you may give it a completely different number! Stick to reviews that describe flavor, strength, and characteristics. This will help you make more informed choices. Say, what's the deal with those cigar ratings you read in magazines like Cigar Aficionado, Smoke and others? How do their "judges" determine whether a
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cigar is a "70" or a "90?" As subjective as rating cigars may be, especially when it comes to taste, they all use pretty much the same criteria. Here are some guidelines to help you determine whether you would buy a box of a given cigar or whether it would be better used as fertilizer. When judging cigars there are primary categories to take into consideration: Construction | Construction is always the most essential factor. The cigars appearance is an important indicator of care and craftsmanship. The cigar should look good and feel smooth when you roll in your fingers. How well is the cigar made? How does it feel to the touch? With a firm, but soft grip; feel it from end to end. Does it feel consistent all the way through? Are there any hard or soft spots? A cigar that is too hard, too soft, or inconsistent will not draw properly. If a cigar is under-filled, constructed by skimping on the number of leaves in the filler, it will draw easily. Now that's often considered a benefit, but the ultraeasy draw will be offset by hot burning and harshness; because in an under-filled cigar, there are too many air pockets causing a fast burn, thus a hot smoke. If a cigar is overfilled, it will be hard to draw, sometimes impossible (plugged). This is the cause of the greatest number of complaints by premium cigar smokers. A hard-to-draw cigar gives a much lower volume of smoke, thus much less taste and aroma, and a lot of frustration to the smoker. Therefore, good construction is essential to achieving good taste and aroma. You can use the best, most expensive tobacco in the world, put together by the most creative and knowledgeable blenders, but if the cigar is not constructed properly, none of the intrinsic quality of that tobacco can be brought home to the smoker. Degree of conditioning - All cigars should be conditioned prior to smoking. Conditioning takes from 10 months to several years. When obtaining cigars from a local tobacconist, the cigars are usually dry. Even though they may be in a humidified room. A dry cigar will bum rapidly, taste hot or harsh and not be able to offer the smoker any idea of what that same cigar could offer, if properly conditioned. Conditioning is performed by placing cigars in a humidor that is maintained between 68ยบF - 75ยบF, at a constant relative humidity (RH) of 70%74%. 70% RH is the absolute lowest to keep cigars. 74% RH is the highest. Properly conditioned cigars will display an oily or silky wrapper. They will have an
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even feel throughout the entire body. There will be no hard places that restrict the draw. Properly conditioning your cigars is an absolute must. Allow your cigars to deliver all their potential. A rich and rewarding smoking experience. The Taste or flavor - This is directly related to the leaves employed that make the cigar, and the level or degree of conditioning the finished cigar receives. When properly conditioned, the leaves that make up the entire cigar will marry. Like fine wine, cigars must be conditioned prior to consumption. The "complexity" of a cigar would also be part of the Taste criteria. Some cigars have a rich, complex taste from start to finish; others build in complexity as they smoke. The Effect - What effect does cigar have on the smoker? During the smoke, does the cigar build in taste, flavor, complexity and effect? Or does it simply give the same taste all the way through, and go nowhere? Does the cigar relax you? Or, after smoking, are you ready for another cigar? Some cigars offer a mild experience. While others present a dramatic effect of near physical debilitation. The finish - "Finish" is another. This is determined by the flavors left on the palate after taking a puff. Lighter cigars tend to have very little finish, whereas maduros and cigars made with stronger-tasting fillers have a very distinct finish. The ash - The ash should be relatively firm and get to an inch long without difficulty (except in small ring gauges). A falling ash is not necessarily a sign of a poorly constructed cigar, but, if your cigars develop a firm, even ash while you're smoking, it is an indication that they are well made. And if it happens consistently, your impression will be reinforced. Anyway, it's really annoying to find a cigar ash in your lap, and a consistently flaky, loose ash is normally a sign of a poorly constructed cigar. The mouth feel - The cigar should have good mouth feel. While it is not recommended to chew the end, the cigar should feel firm and resilient in the mouth. If it does not; if the cigar is soft and mushy, that's another sign of poor construction. It won't feel good either, thus affecting your overall pleasure. Tobacco quality - Tobacco is of great importance. When inferior quality filler is used, the cigar will produce a harsh, rough, musty taste with an unpleasant, penetrating aroma. To deliver a good taste and aroma, a producer must be able to ensure a constant supply of the same tobaccos that make up his distinctive blends from year to year. Not only must the tobacco be superior, it's
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imperative that it should be properly processed. All the elements, filler, binder and wrapper-must complete the entire fermentation process before they are ready to be rolled. Whenever you smoke cigars from one box, see if you can determine any significant variation in taste and aroma. But remember, a cigar will taste different depending on when its smoked: morning or evening, after a meal, with coffee or cognac, indoor or outdoor. The cigar appearance - The cigar should look good and feel good to the touch. It should have some life in it. This appearance does not mean the color itself so much, although it should not show too many blemishes, but the color of the cigars in the box should be consistent from one to the other. If they are not, then the manufacturer did not do his color selecting properly. What we see when we look at the cigars in a given box is the wrapper; and wrappers even from the same crop, can vary over twenty or thirty shades of color. So a variance in color is not bad in itself. It's just that a manufacturer who pays attention to detail makes sure that in a given box all the color shades are the same. Also, the cigars should look and feel smooth when you roll them in your fingers. This is just another indication of good construction and reassurance of quality. Can Quality Be Judged By Testing Only One Cigar? Since consistency is an integral part of the quality of a cigar, reason dictates that you cannot judge the quality of any type by sampling only one cigar. But how many cigars should be tested? Statistically, the greater the number, the greater the accuracy. A true test would be like the skeet shooter example: 100 cigars, which would naturally take a period of time. However, to be practical, since cigars traditionally come in boxes of 25, it would seem that one box of 25 would enable one to adequately judge. Besides, acquiring 100 cigars of a given size could get too expensive and, if they do not smoke very well, rather frustrating. Is the price of a cigar indicative of its quality or its consistency? Regardless of the price, you still have to smoke those 25 cigars in order to determine consistency. High prices do not guarantee a good cigar. The highest priced cigars are still hand made products, subject to the same construction idiosyncrasies as their less expensive brethren. Generally, the biggest element of cost in the makeup of a fine cigar is the tobacco, assuming they're packed in the common type of box. Fancy packaging can add greatly to the overall cost. Individual aluminum or glass tubes, polished or
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beveled cedar or mahogany boxes, gift selections of 5 or 10 cigars, etc. are very expensive and significantly increase the price of the individual cigar. o, we find prices varying greatly. Some cigars cost 5 or 10 times more than others of the same size and it's the smoker's dilemma to judge their relative worth. And we all know how the price of an object can affect our psyche and thus our attitude towards it. So, as far as how much you're prepared to pay for a cigar is concerned, practice a bit of caveat emptor and you'll be all right. Whatever you pay, you'll still have to go through the same analysis to determine just how good the cigars are. As a quarterly magazine, our responsibility is making sure that we are ahead. Being able to focus three months ahead could be a daunting tusk. Our relevance is always in check. My experiences, enjoying the multitude of cigars every quarter will highlight or introduce different dimensions on your smoking pleasure. Apart from the centuries old Cuban Cigars; Habanos as they are often referred. South Africa have in recent years been introduced to cigars from other regions in the Americas. The Dominican Republic was relatively the first country to cross the seas. Mostly these were the big brands like Davidoff Cigars who by association they fall under an international marketer. This came with sister brands like the AVO and Zinos then the Ashtons, Macanudos etc. Honduras has always been a big player in cigar manufacturing but used as an alternative by the big brands. In recent years new cigars have entered the market and have shaken it tremendously. The cigar business has remained a Cuban tradition; as many of the cigars popular and respected today have Cuban roots. As you grow your knowledge through our magazine and other mediums. You get to appreciate this phenomenon. Our introduction on this editorial is meant to prepare you to understand our analysis and cigar reviews for this issue and more issues to come. We are not just going to give you numbers but take you through the experience. The greatest etiquette in cigar smoking remains to be “Never tell an aficionado how to enjoy his/her cigar.� GL|ME
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By Don Viterelli | Publisher
RORREY FENTY UNPACKING THE YOUNGEST CIGAR HOUSE | LEGADO CIGARS Gone are the days when Cohibas and family ruled the world. The revolution and the Cuban socialist economy brought about a new and exciting era in the cigar industry. Cuban families established factories and farms South of the USA and central America. These have breathed new life to the cigar business. In their voyage away from home, they imported expertise direct from Cuba to the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Miami. Apart from family factories, several luxury goods companies have also invested immensely on new brands and bought a lot of the original brands or bought into existing small cigar companies. This will include Ashton Cigars, General Cigars, Davidoff, BAR and a lot more. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Legado Cigars are made by hand in Honduras in South America. Like a lot of well known and respected brands Legado is not a dent short of premium quality. A lot of corporate cigar companies have at least a cigar or more made in Honduras. Honduras like Nicaragua is becoming a strong force in the cigar business with a flourishing agricultural economy. Unless you purchased a full box of your favorite cigar to note the country of origin, rarely today cigars have the country of origin on the band. So, your favorite new cigar size in your hand right now maybe Honduran.
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“Rorrey with Legado Cigar in a sleek black 2017 Mercedes C300 Cabriolet convertible with red leather seats living the Legado Lifestyle.�
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The norm has been; to flaunt heritage and a lifelong playing in tobacco fields. Even smoking your first cigar at a very tender age. It is not the case with Rorrey Fenty. Driven by passion for entrepreneurship and his fine occasional indulgence. Fenty set his eyes on a journey to crafting premium cigars. Cigars that will not only look good but also taste better and be worthy of every dollar spent on it. He wanted to create a lifestyle product to add on his already established boutique Orign. We catch him after the launch of Legado the youngest cigar company. Born in Barbados Fenty is not shy of the international open market: the world is his play ground. He travels the world over to sell his dream. GoodLife Magazine had a review of the Legado Churchill Cigar with compliments of Legado Cigars. Founded with only three perfect sizes: The Churchill, Torpedo and Edmundo, Legado Cigars is ready for the world. Already hitting tobacconists, bars and lounges in the Americas and Europe Legado is also bound for our shores. Coming to South Africa has constantly been expressed by Team Legado
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“Rorrey having his favorite cognac at the bar of Buzo Osteria, South Coast,Barbados.”
What are cigars to you? In general, how would you relate to cigars? Cigars are my way of relaxing in my downtime and celebrating special occasions. How did you get into smoking cigars? Do you still remember your first encounter and your first cigar? Throughout my young adult years my mentors introduced me to cigars on multiple occasions. I will never forget those famous words that they repeated to me over and over as I journeyed from a novice to an enthusiast “do not inhale, just savour the taste in your mouth for a few minutes and exhale”. Back in 2015 there was one occasion that really stood out in my mind. It led me to want to really learn more about the art and craftsmanship of cigars and how they were made. The evening was when I smoked a hand-rolled premium Honduran with my Uncle Lester and it was that encounter that inspired me to explore the possibility of creating my own cigar line. Any cigar of choice apart from your own? Apart from my personal Honduran Legado cigar line, occasionally when I'm in the mood to try something new with a different taste or blend I will try a Maduro.
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Cuban, Nicaraguan, Honduran or Dominican? I ask this question with a beaming smile! (Smile) Different days, different feelings, different moods (smile) and as I said before I am always willing to try something new, but what can I say I'm loyal and I always return to my first love-a Honduran. As a cigar smoker/aficionado do you think you have developed your palate enough to determine a good/excellent cigar from a bad cigar. This includes a cigar being in a good condition for you to smoke. On my journey to build and perfect the Legado brand I definitely say that my palette has developed over the years and as a cigar smoker I have a real appreciation to differentiate a quality cigar by its construction, draw, flavour and notes profile. How often do you smoke and the biggest number of cigars you have smoked a day? The number of cigars I smoke a day and how often depends on how my week is going, and how much downtime I have. Cigars and special occasions go hand in hand and as I travel and socialise a lot that also determines my consumption from one day or week to another. However, to answer your question it could be as little as 3 or as many as 7 per week it all depends. The biggest number of cigars that I smoked in one day was the day we made the first Legado video. That was a long crazy day, but it was lots of fun-my motto “Let's live, love laugh and light it up”.
Now that we have established your relationship with your cigar Mr. Fenty:| And then there was LEGADO CIGARS. What does the logo signifies/The LION? I always ensure that the things I do in life are things that bring out my creativity and originality. Legado is Spanish for “Legacy” and it really encapsulates in one word all that I am hoping to create – a legacy which is unique, unchartered, unexpected but which can be sustained through innovation and re-invention. In essence Legado represents my personal metamorphosis over the past few years where I used my educational background in finance as a tool to becoming a successful entrepreneur, investor and entertainer. The focal point of the Legado logo is a lion's head which symbolises boldness, strength and majesty. The hand-crafted cedar box which houses the cigars is sleek, and clean-lined with a modern edge. The word “Legado” appears in red, which is the colour of prosperity and the inner cover of the box was deliberately left raw with my “Fenty Legacy” words decorating it:
“Upon entering this world, you are given a name which forms part of your legacy or legado, so my family of friends around the world let's pursue our dreams, fulfil our purpose … and live, love, laugh and light it up.”
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“Rorrey's formal dapper fashion statement in his black suit and a red and black pocket square and his signature fedora. Next to Rorrey is his Uncle Lester Brathwaite who is one of the founding members of Agritraders CA Group and Legado Lifestyle Inc.�
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“Team Legado | Debbie, Rorrey and Peter.”
Was it the love of cigars that gave birth to LEGADO CIGARS or it was purely a business decision? Indeed was my love of cigars that paved the way for the creation of the Legado brand. I am sure there is an interesting story behind the founding of LEGADO CIGARS; please indulge me on how this company was started? Legado was conceptualised in 2015 when Lester (my Uncle) on returning from one of his visits to Honduras was given a box of hand-rolled premium cigars as a parting gift. As I mentioned before he offered me one of the cigars and on seeing my reaction after smoking the cigar, Lester discussed it with Peter (who was familiar with Honduran cigars) and Peter suggested that we collaborate on producing our own line of premium Honduran cigars. It was all hands on deck after that first encounter with a Honduran. For this project I partnered with my Uncle Lester Brathwaite, and his business partners Deborah and Peter Simmons and Rolando Soto of Honduras, who are all partners in an agro-business company in Honduras. Lester, Deborah, Peter and Rolando all form a part of the think-tank that we like to refer to as “Team Legado”. Deborah being the sole female manages the team and keeps us all focused and organised.
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Was there a technical reason for Honduras or it was a business decision? It was a combination of reasons as to why we chose Honduras. First of all the rich culture, warmth and hospitality of the people of Honduras made it an easy decision to form a partnership with our local partners. Also as I mentioned before my first interaction with a Honduran cigar in 2015 really peaked my curiosity about the art and craftsmanship that goes into the production of premium hand-rolled or “hecho a mano” cigars. As a young entrepreneur I found the traditional artisanal aspects of the cigar industry quite fascinating in comparison to the large-scale commercialisation of the industry today. For example in our factory it takes between 40 hands to produce one box of Legado cigars. We were also quite fortunate to find our farming and manufacturing partners in the Danli which is the main tobacco region in Honduras. Being located in Honduras also allows us the opportunity to contribute to the social development of the Honduran people. Has having your own cigar changed your consumption or even your lifestyle regarding cigars? Yes definitely my consumption has increased as I brought cigars into my lifestyle. I am constantly representing my brand so I take my cigars wherever I go and as a world traveller I always “Light up a Legado” as a part of my social lifestyle to build my brand globally. Having understood your passion and knowledge of cigars what inspired the first sizes of your cigars? My inspiration for the first sizes of my cigar line were determined by the fact that as a new brand we wanted to offer a suitable smoke for every kind of cigar smoker. We were also influenced in terms of the global markets that we are catering to which have a preference for one particular size over another. The Churchill, for example, is a classy showpiece, a longer smoke suitable for first time smokers including females or cigar aficionados and is more popular in certain markets than others. The Torpedo is a very popular size and seller in several of our target markets. The Edmundo is a short intense smoke for experienced smokers. Who is your master blender and the man in charge of the LEGADO quality? The man in charge of the Legado quality is Señor Soto, who is our Director of Operations in Honduras. Señor Soto works with a team of Master Blenders, and Master Rollers in our factory to produce our premium quality cigar line.
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Would you be able to unpack your cigars' characteristics as envisaged from the rolling table? Yes absolutely. Every time I smoke my cigar I discover a new flavour note that I did not notice before, so each time feels like a new experience. Can we expect more sizes or special editions of LEGADOS? Definitely! We have already started working on our new lines scheduled to be released at different dates in 2018 which include new sizes, limited editions, eye-catching designs and innovative blends. We believe that the brand will grow by always giving our customers and the cigar world something new and exciting and constantly adding new lines of products to the brand. Most Cigar companies have moved to Miami, little Havana. Why have you chosen to keep LEGADO in Honduras? As a new business, we prefer to stay close to home and contribute to the development of our farm, the farmers, artisans and craftsmen and women in Honduras. LEGADO CIGARS are not just cigars but a fashion statement. What kind of future merchandize, and accessories can we expect soon? Legado is a fashion statement! It is a luxury lifestyle brand for sophisticated trend setters that appreciate the finer things in life. Future merchandise will include our own clothing line and accessories including caps, and hats (which are a standard part of my casual and formal wear style that I hardly ever leave home without). We will also have customised cigar accessories, including humidors, ashtrays and a few other surprises for the “man-cave”. More companies are boasting to have the best cigars and have a line of technical reference to back it. How would you assure your customers that your cigars are of premium quality? We too very shortly will also be providing technical references for our cigars, which may include ratings from various cigar connoisseurs. We are confident that the credentials and experience of our Master Blenders and Master Rollers who are already well-known in Honduras for producing fine quality cigars and brands, will ensure that the quality of our cigars will speak for itself.
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“This black and white photo of Rorrey smoking a Legado cigar on location at The Historic Garrison, Barbados.”
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Being a boutique brand how are you planning to build your brand so that it comes to the top of the pile in the shelves? There are several marketing tools that we can use to build our brand, but the most effective approach will be for us to create the demand by producing premium quality products and building a loyalty for our brand among our demographic group that will earn us the right to be at the top of their pile. We are working closely with an international brand awareness company that will guide us on the criteria necessary to establish ourselves and build our distribution network in each of our major markets including UK, Dubai and the UAE, and Europe. Our Honduran partners also have experience in the USA market, so they will assist us with building our brand in that market. A lifestyle brand needs to cultivate its own market and a new culture unique to itself. Who do you see with a LEGADO CIGAR clamped in his teeth? Who do you think will embrace your uniqueness? I see Legado cigars clamped in the teeth of both men and women who are sophisticated, hip trendsetters that appreciate style, class and the finer things in life. A Legado smoker is someone between the ages of 25-75 years and definitely includes first-time smokers, and cigar connoisseurs . We are also already seeing a noticeable trend where female smokers between the ages of 30-50 years (“Generation X females”) are buying and enjoying the smoking experience of a Legado cigar so both the ladies and the gents are already embracing the uniqueness of our brand. We have seen companies like Padilla, Alec Bradly and El Septimo grow to be renowned brands all over the world and growing to fully fledged manufacturer. What will it take for LEGADO CIGARS to reach that level? We are confident that Legado cigars will grow exponentially to become a renowed brand globally and eventually we will become a fully fledged manufacturer. Our team of Master Blenders in Honduras have some new exciting plans for our brand in 2018 to take it to another level by adding new cigars to our product line. We know that this is a reality for our brand because our Masters can boast of having over 100 years and 3 generations of working with aged tobaccos. They currently produce some of the finest Honduran cigars for well established brands, so we are indeed in good company, but remember we are only now getting started and we intend to take our time and emphasis quality over quantity.
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Rorrey Fenty is not only a cigar merchant and marketer of a great brands but also an entrepreneur in diverse industries. Apart from LEGADO CIGARS you have established other businesses that are thriving. What inspired you to venture into business? My university degree in finance provided the foundation for my entrepreneurial interest in business and investing. I also come from a family of entrepreneurs and self-starters including my mum Monica “Mama” Fenty who has been in retail for over 25 years. Based on our little research, ORIGN is one business that has your attention. In another dense industry. What is ORIGN and how is it doing in the market? My boutique Orign is my first retail project which I opened in March 2017 in the upscale Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Barbados. Orign caters to both men and women who like urban fashion. I am the principal buyer for the store and carry brands such as Fenty Puma, Trapstar, and several other urban brands. As a new business Orign so far has been meeting my expectations and targets for the first year much of which is due to the fact I carry exclusive brands that are not available anywhere else in Barbados. Given its performance today, where do you see ORIGN in the next five years? My plans for Orign in the next 5 years will see an expansion with other locations both in Barbados and elsewhere. I also intend to introduce my own clothing line which will be sold in Orign stores. If manufacturing is in the cards, how do you see it affecting the entire group? Any future manufacturing of a clothing line will have a positive impact on the entire group because we will have full control over all aspects of the production of our clothing line which will fit in comfortably with the other facets of our business in Honduras.
RORREY FENTY
“Orign Boutique, Limegrove Barbados.”
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As we had mention in the beginning, we would like to filter down to Rorrey Fenty the unique brand. The youth knows a different Rorrey and have embraced you as a solid rap artist. How was your youth. Did you always wanted to be independent? Any My mother Monica has always taught us from an early age the importance of being independent. Education and studying became my focal point for several years up to the time I graduated from University in 2013 with my finance degree. This educational background gave me an independent entrepreneurial spirit. When and how did you start your music career? My music career started while I was in secondary school in Barbados. I always had a love for music as an outlet for me to express my views and feelings on topical issues and life experiences. “In my Mind” was my first released project. It was a mixed tape of 13 songs which I distributed by the free downloads and give-a-way CD's. The album created such a buzz that I soon had bookings for shows in London and Hong Kong. “Intolerable Cruelty” was my second project released with 17 tracks. This lead to several live performances, hosting parties, and guest appearances in New York City, Barcelona, Zurich, Dubai, Paris Belgium and other European cities. Barbados is known for a lot for many things but mostly for your sister Rihanna. What impact has her success bring for you as a musician and later as a businessman? The impact that my sister Rihanna's success has had on my life in general is the realisation that if you pursue your dreams with passion and believe in yourself you can fulfil your purpose. When you wake up are you GALLEST or Rorrey the businessman? When I wake up I am definitely Rorrey the businessman and entrepreneur. Business opportunities always seem to present themselves to me and through dedication and hard work it gives me great pride to see all of my various projects come to fruition. My career as “Gallest” is but one facet of Rorrey Fenty. I have some new and exciting plans for my music career so stay tuned (smile). Everything in life has its season. I am growing as an artiste and a person and that is a part of my evolution.
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Being a native of Barbados, are there any opportunities to plant back to your society for you and your sister Rihanna? I always believe that charity begins at home and our family have already given back to our homeland Barbados in the form of cash donations and lifesaving equipment to Cancer Wing of our Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in memory of our late grand-mother Clara “Dolly” Brathwaite. The wing of the hospital has been re-named in her honour as “The Clara Brathwaite Wing of Oncology”. Is the USA tempting you away from Barbados in any way? It is always nice to visit the USA but my home and my island always keep me grounded and give me my dose of reality. Traveling can give you a skewed perspective when you visit a place for a few days on a vacation but being at home puts everything into perspective and context and reminds me of the small things that I love and take for granted like being able to go to the beach whenever I want. Many international brands have found home in Africa and South Africa presents a lucrative market for international brands. Do you see any of your brands coming to South Africa? Most definitely! It is our intention to make Legado a global brand and have it available all over the world. What is a perfect morning for Rorrey the entrepreneur? A perfect morning for me is to wake up, have a cup of coffee and switch on my phone to see what's happening on social media. I will have a quick look at Bloomberg while playing with my dog Rocky and then I dive right into my day which is managing my several business interests including my boutique Orign. In conclusion: we have seen a lot of people make money by selling to conglomerates, given the strength of your products, would you consider extensive external equity? Life is a process of growing and therefore if the opportunity presents itself at the right time it is a conversation Team Legado and I will definitely be willing to entertain.
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The cigar business is growing everyday. The introduction of new players happens year after year. Legado Cigars though at her infancy has produced amazing cigars. As a young company ourselves, it gives us great pleasure to have met this brand in our early years. As Rorrey would say “ Let us pursue our dreams and fulfil our purpose.” What are you waiting for? The Fenty family is not new to limelight, but the substance of it all is to leave a positive and inspirational legacy - “LEGADO.” According to Deborah Simmons; South Africa is definitely an eminent destination. Meanwhile stay tuned for a local distributor and a launch of Legado Cigars in South Africa soon. Legado Cigars by Rorrey Fenty: we thank Team Legado for this exclusive. GL|ME
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250/
of pure consistency
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ack in the mid nineties two buddies of mine were enjoying a blend of some water of life. Writing this editorial, I am taken back how I was denied just a snifter by Nkuli and Ngwe of the Very Superior Old Pale from the town of Cognac. Noting it would be a waste of their hard-earned Hennessy. It shot right over my head. Today I clearly understand what it means to lose a sip to a friend who has no clue what a cognac is let alone an XO. I sense a little frown at my reference. Personally, I believe a cognac offers more than just a taste through lips and teeth: but naturally involves your head and all your senses. The complexity of well-crafted aged eauxde-vie and the concentrated flavors and burst of a variety of aromas just becomes opera in your head.
“. . . . .still standing tall among her peers. . . .�
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HENNESSY
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's leading luxury products group, recorded a 14% increase in revenue, reaching €30.1 billion, for the first nine months of 2017. The French company, whose 70 brands range from Dom Perignon champagne to fashion houses like Fendi and Givenchy, TAG to Carrera and Cartier; recorded organic revenue growth of 8% in the first nine months of 2017 just on Wines and spirits alone and with Hennessy cognac doing very well since the beginning of 2017 recording an increase in volume of 9% for the first nine months of 2017. This is evidence to its importance not only to the market but the group. he Hennessy cognac distillery was founded by Irishman Richard Hennessy in 1765 in a town called Cognac in France: then trading in eaux-de-vie. It was through his son James that the company expanded rapidly and took the name it still has today: Jas Hennessy & Co. Today Hennessy sells over 7 million cases worldwide. An entrepreneurial spirit together with a constant search for the highest quality has led this company to become the leader among the great cognac house and to also the greatest reserves of old cognacs available in the world. During the 1970s, Kilian Hennessy, a fifth generation direct descendent of Hennessy, became the CEO of Hennessy, succeeding his first cousin Maurice-Richard. Kilian Hennessy spearheaded the company's 1971 merger with Moët et Chandon, which created Moët Hennessy. Moët Hennessy merged with Louis Vuitton in 1987, creating one of the world's largest luxury brand conglomerates, Louis Vuitton Moët-Hennessy or LVMH. In 1988, a management crisis led to the group's takeover by Bernard Arnault, owner of the haute couture house Christian Dior, with the support of Guinness. Kilian Hennessy remained on the company's advisory board until his death in 2010 at the age of 103. Arnault is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LVMH. He is the richest person in France and the sixth richest person in the world according to Forbes magazine, with a net worth of $73.5 billion, as of January 2018.
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By Don Viterelli | Publisher
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“He has been tasting with the committee for 14 years. He's a really good taster. He knows a lot about vineyards. He knows the growers better than I do. He was chosen by Hennessy, not by me. It's not a question of princes, of kings. [laughs] He has the profile and the talent to become a real master blender. I've prepared the future for him.” Yann Filloux about Renaud Fillioux de Gironde.
ACROSS PAGE:Yann Fillioux. Cellarmaster, Seventh generation of a family of Cellar masters at Hennessy
The secret to maintaining quality at Hennessy lies firmly in a strong partnership with the same winegrowers and distillers with whom the company has been associated for generations. And for many years past in the talent of its recently retired Cellar master, Yann Fillioux. Seventh generation of a family of Cellar masters at Hennessy. Yann Fillioux, who has been with cognac powerhouse Hennessy for 50 years. On his first day of work; 3 October 1966 he was just 19 years old. As a seventhgeneration Hennessy blender, Fillioux has tasted cognac nearly every day of his professional life and he's responsible for two of the world's most coveted liquids, the Richard Hennessy and Paradis Imperial, which retail for thousands of dollars each. Crafting Hennessy cognacs is all about precision. Each day, at precisely 11 a.m., the members of the Tasting Committee come together around the Master Blender to taste and rate the House's inestimable heritage: its 350,000 barrels of eaux-de-vie. Concentration…repetition…each session follows an unchanging ritual that is essential to guarantee the exceptional quality of the cognacs from a House that celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2015. Recruited by the Hennessy family at the age of 17 and trained by his grandfather and uncle, Yann Fillioux has been the “guardian” of the consistency of exceptional Hennessy quality. For 50 years, he has tirelessly identified excellence and elegance in the House's eaux-de-vie, carrying on the unique tradition and savoir-faire required to age and blend cognac. At the same time, he has himself developed and enriched this heritage, year after year. Yann Fillioux and Hennessy opened the doors at the world leader in cognac to offer a rare glimpse of how this time-honored savoir-faire is preserved. With humility and good humor, Yann Fillioux talks about how he sees the role of Master Blender. His insights take on special resonance as Hennessy embarks on a new stage in its history when Yann's nephew Renaud Fillioux de Gironde has become the eighth generation of the Fillioux family to become Master Blender at Hennessy. Yann Fillioux, the Master Taster and Blender of Hennessy in Cognac, France is stepping down from his role to hand over the key of the cellars to his nephew, Renaud Fillioux de Gironde. And to mark this milestone Hennessy has released Hennessy 8, a new premium, Limited Edition Cognac. Only 250 decanters of the new collector's cognac will be produced and the first batch of 100 boxes sport a whopping $40,000 tag. Created by master blender, Yann Filloux, Hennessy 8 is encased in a Baccarat decanter which features 8 rings to represent 8 Master Blenders. The crystal stopper is adorned with engraved floral motifs.. The bottle, designed by internationally renowned artist, Arik Levy, represents 250 years of finest savoir-faire. The new and exclusive Cognac blend pays tribute to the heritage of the line of cellar masters of the house. Hennessy 8's blend consists of eight carefully selected eaux-de-vie of which seven are selected by Yann Fillioux, and the 8th selected by Renaud de Gironde. The Hennessy 8 Cognac is presented in a precious trunk that features 25 layers of wood, each symbolizing 10 years of history. While each decanter and box is numbered and signed by Arik Levy, they can also be customized on request and are accompanied by four tasting glasses (designed by Georg Riedel and Yann Fillioux exclusively for Hennessy 8) in the handmade case. The product also features a book about Hennessy 8 and a special key, a certificate of authenticity signed by Yann Fillioux.
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Yann Fillioux and Renaud de Gironde: Hennessy Cellar Master [LEFT]
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outh Africa has the 6th biggest market for Hennessy in the world. South Africans have a true passion for the brand and its values. For them, 250 years of history has a significant meaning. It means consistency and heritage. This is the reason the Maison's anniversary in Johannesburg was such a vibrant celebration and a huge success. Guests from the whole African continent gathered in Joburg to take part in the Hennessy 250 Grand Opening on August 20th. Artists, performers and businessmen from Nigeria, Kenya and Botswana went to the Circa Gallery where the Maison hosted its anniversary exhibition, a cultural festival celebrating heritage and contemporary creation. Following the visits at Circa, the crowd moved to the Inanda Club for the traditional gala dinner. To make the anniversary last a bit longer, the Time Barrel is on display a few blocks away, in Sandton City Diamond Walk. Step in and create your own legacy. This phenomenal celebration could not last forever. The French capital was the place to host the final reunion and curtain drop of the Maison's Anniversary. The main protagonists of the Tour met in an authentic Parisian palace located across from the Eiffel tower. Hennessy's CEO Bernard Peillon shared a toast with his team and Hervé Mikaeloff, as well as with some of the artists who played an active role in the project: Tony Oursler, Pierrick Sorin, Laurent Pernot and Jonah Bokaer. This night had something special that can still not be described, like a promise of new surprises to come and a rebirth of some sort. Most of the contributors of the Hennessy 250 Tour began working together without knowing each other. Whether it was in China, Russia, America or Africa, they all aspired to give the best of themselves, individually and collectively. “This mutual ambition led to unforgettable moments of joy and pride. And in the end, what comes out of this common achievement is a formidable blend of new friendships. Could anyone argue that it isn't the best blend of all?” Let's meet again when we present to you Hennessy's young and new Cellar Master: Renaud Fillioux de Gironde. For now get your favorite stogy and Hennessy responsibly….. Salute!!! GL|ME
Chichi Maponya and Friends at the Maison's Anniversary celebration in Sandton Johannesburg
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Cognac is made exclusively from grapes. It comes from a clearly defined region of France, around the town of Cognac. Its outstanding environment is unique in the world. With its chalky, stony soil and sunny temperate climate the region is perfect for vine growing. The traditional vineyard of the cognac region is divided into six growing areas (crus in French), each with its different characteristics. To ensure the exceptional quality of its cognacs, Hennessy uses only eaux-de-vie from the first four crus, those which have the best topsoil and very chalky subsoil. The grape variety covering most of the vineyard for the production of cognac is called Ugni Blanc which produces a fruity, light white wine ideal for distillation. Cognac is not just a spirit but an eau-de-vie which keeps the essence of the initial wine, losing none of its pleasant, much sought-after aromas. Distillers in the Cognac region have been using the double distillation method since the sixteenth century. Throughout the winter, until the end of March, the copper
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alambics (pot-stills) work continuously to turn the wine into eau-de-vie. The first distillation (*1) yields a distillate called brouillis (*2), which concentrates the richest floral aromas. The brouillis is then distilled. This second distillation (*1) gives a more refined and stronger alcohol named the coeur or heart. It takes nine liters of wine to produce one liter of eau-de-vie de coeur. This coeur (*3) is a crystal clear eau-de-vie, which will become cognac after a long and natural maturing process. (*1) lasts about 12 hours for 20hl (*2) about 30 % alcohol by volume (*3) about 70 % alcohol by volume The slow and natural ageing in oak casks develops the aromas, flavors and colors of Hennessy cognacs. While ageing, the eaux-de-vie lose some of their strength and volume. Each year, about 2 % evaporates from the barrels. In Cognac this is dubbed 'the Angels' Share'. Evaporation eliminates the very volatile substances, leaving those that give the eaux-devie their bouquet. A great Hennessy cognac is the result of
many eaux-de-vie of different origins and ages, and with various characteristics, that are assembled over time by Hennessy master blender. Each Hennessy cognac is blended to a particular pattern, which is the secret of its composition. To preserve the original character of the eaux-de-vie, with their spicy, floral, fruity or woody notes, the master blender leaves them to mature until they are just right for blending. He chooses eaux-de-vie for their complementary qualities, nuances and aromas and makes a trial blend. After tasting, comparison and adjustment this becomes the first blend. It will be sent back to the cellars to age for an appointed time before being combined with other first blends to make the final blend, which may even then be fine-tuned. From the selection of the eaux-de-vie to the final blend, the Hennessy's master blender and his team of oenologists take the tasting sessions very much to heart. Each year they draw up a descriptive inventory of all the batches of eaux-de-vie to monitor their development. Our master blender then decides on the fate of each batch.
HENNESSY Richard Hennessy; Blended in homage to the founder, is appreciated by knowledgeable connoisseurs who set great store by extremely elegant cognacs. Well-rounded but with infinite possibilities, mature and at the same time ever-youthful, this perfectly balanced aromatic cognac is the quintessential Hennessy.
Hennessy X.O; The first 'eXtra Old' cognac, is powerful, masculine and generous - a genuine pleasure. It releases woody, spicy aromas. Now an established symbol of luxury, its rich character is enhanced by a distinctive decanter designed in 1947.
Hennessy Paradis Extra; Revered by cognac amateurs all over the world, is one of Hennessy's best kept secrets. The aromas and flavours of this blend are the ultimate delight for the senses.
Hennessy V.S; 'Very Special' is the reference cognac the world over. Illustrating the consistency of the Hennessy style for more than centuries, its fine balance between power and elegance has made it popular with millions of connoisseurs. Its versatility and strong character have the compelling appeal of something 'very special'.
Hennessy V.S.O.P 'Very Superior Old Pale' was blended for a prince and it is still beautifully rounded today. It has a complex aromatic balance with suppleness, depth and persistence. Hennessy has become the cognac of choice in South Africa. Though there are a number of brands now available locally Hennessy remains the preferred. Cigar aficionados pair this cognac with various cigars. Hennessy is available from a number of retailers depending on the blend and VSOP at the top of the list. The Richard Hennessy, Paradis and the Fine de Cognac are the rarest of the Hennessy blends. GL|ME
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HENNESSY
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HENNESSY
‘Hennessy Fine de Cognac’ Personally I find it quite difficult to believe someone is capable of designing such impeccable notes and flavors year after year with no flows. You would want to believe that my final pick of the Hennessy family is anything less than what we have gone through. Having had the pleasure of trying a delightful mixing recipe we got from a Hennessy website, I am please to introduce to you the ‘Hennessy Fine de Cognac’. This is a [Hennessy Fine de Cognac] delicate cognac, a harmonious blend of around sixty different eaux-de-vie from the very best vineyards in the Cognac region. The various elements of its composition have aged from between 4 to 10 years in red oak casks, enriching the delicate flavours of the blend. Hennessy Fine de Cognac is made special by its finesse and the hints of woodiness in its flavour, as well as by the purity and elegance of its amber-flecked colour. Its nose is very balanced with, towards the end, a very subtle touch of oak wood. On the palate, it expresses flavours that are reminiscent of brioche sweet cake and toasted almond, before blossoming into a final bouquet of soft, honey-sweetened spices. The subtlety of Hennessy Fine de Cognac makes it wonderful for blending with other flavours, which it brings out beautifully. Its unique mildness will give a real shine to certain dishes, such as foie gras in particular. It is also ideal with sweet flavours, such as tarte tatin, desserts made with honey, or strawberries. Hennessy Fine de Cognac can be taken as an aperitif, either as a long drink or in a cocktail, and as an after-dinner liqueur, straight or on the rocks. For the festive season, the Hennessy Fine de Cognac bottle is enclosed by a design from artist Nadya Bertaux, a sculptor and graduate of the Paris National Higher School of Fine Arts. The source of her inspiration is the wind, a symbol of passing time. The serial shapes she uses assert the importance of memory, experience and transmission. The gift box she has designed for Hennessy evokes the phases in the cognac elaboration cycle. During the many years it spends aging in the oak cask, a tiny part of the eaux-de-vie evaporates. This is known in Cognac by the poetic expression, the angels' share… Nestling in this gift box, which is called “Angels' share”, Hennessy Fine de Cognac is the ideal present (rather than a refined present) for the festive season, to be enjoyed by men and women alike. GL
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By Don Viterelli | Publisher
ZWAKELE TSHABALALA OPERA TENOR
VOCAL DYNAMITE In our first issue, three Italian boys graced our front pages as we learnt more about their ever growing success. Is such success inevitable even for a young Swazi tenor. After months of back and forth text and emails; a petit young baritone turn tenor walked through our offices. This was after a detailed week of listening to his music and got ourselves convinced of his size based on the strength of his voice. It was after a relaxing cup of chamomile that we got to know him better.
Who is Zwakele and where is he at right now? I am a young upcoming Opera Artist and budding Entrepreneur. I completed my Postgraduate studies in Performance specialising Opera last year. In 2018 I am looking forward to pursuing a Master's degree. Your youth and music generally, what relationship did they share? It all started from my family really. My family has always loved music. I would say I come from a musical family. A family that loves singing and music. When I was very young like 5 years old, my grannies would go to choir practice and they would take me with. I loved tagging along with them when it came to music. After choir practice I already knew the songs they were practising. By the time they performed their renditions I was familiar with the songs. I would sit in the auditorium and sing along. 3 years later a lady; Mrs Piver, from our church heard me sing in Sunday school. She asked me to sing a few times in church and I did. The first song I sang in church was a rendition called Pie Jesu. I guess Mrs Piver saw talent in me. She then spoke to my parents, told them about a choir school that would be great for
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me. A year later I saw myself going to the best choir school in the world, the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. I was only 10 years old when I started at the school. I grew to love music more and more every single day while I was at the school, winning awards of best soloist of the year and other awards. The Drakensberg boys' choir school only goes up to grade 9, so I had to get another school after completing Grade 9. I guess that's when it really hit me that music is my life, passion and that I can't live without it. I then joined the South African Youth Choir for 3 years until I finished my Matric. During those years I went to Stellenberg High School in Cape Town. I met a great teacher called Elizabeth Wright. She ended up being my singing teacher. After all of that I found myself studying opera music at the University of Cape Town. Today we are meeting you an accomplished tenor, how did that part start? To be honest, I didn't even want to be an opera singer. I didn't even know much about opera music. I just wanted to be a classical singer like Josh Groban. That time I loved listening to his music and wanted to be a singer like him. Until my singing teacher told me, “you are going to varsity now. Just try out opera music and see where you go with it whether you like it or not. If not then you can change.� I tried it out because I had nothing to lose right. I ended up falling in love with it. Falling in love with the fact that you can express yourself and feelings through music. The singing and acting was the best part. Getting in to a different character and trying to play the role of someone else. I just felt at home in that space. That is where it all started really, after a year. I started as a baritone for a good year and a half. Fortunately, I had and still have a great teacher; Professor Virginia Davids. I have always had a big vocal range. I could go high and low easily and most people would confuse me as a baritone. But I guess she always knew what voice type I was going to be. Half way through my second year, I changed to Tenor. It was the most difficult singing I have ever done in my life. Singing baritone was so nice and easy. But again, singing shouldn't be easy right. You need to work, and I was not used to that. So, you can imagine how difficult it was. But I had the best training under Prof.Virginia Davids and at that time the director of the opera department was Khamal Khan. These two have been my driving force since I started at the university. They are the people that helped me become the tenor I am and still working to become one of the best. What impact did studying music have on your vocal presentation and your opera in general? It gave me a lot of knowledge and understanding of the classical music fraternity. The ability to deliver a rendition with insight and confidence, ability to learn how to interpret music so that I deliver adequately to my audience and most of all seeing and learning from the best artists in Opera. Learning and analysing their command of the stage and technique is helpful. Knowing what you know now [Post Studying Music] do you think your path would have been the same without the studying? It would have been far different if I didn't study. I would just be a guy looking to make it in the music industry with no strategy or idea on how to forge forward in my career.
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Apart from class and your educators, do you have/had a mentor in your art. Who is he and what part is he playing in your career? My two educators have been my only mentors. Have you been able to do live performances. Could you name a few and the experience you had being able to perform live? I have been performing since I was a young boy. But I will just mention a few I did ever since I started my opera career. I did the role of Giuseppe from La Traviata in 2013 and that was my first ever professional role. I also did Don Luigino from 'Il Viaggio a reims' Rossini; Don Basilio from 'The Marriage of Figaro' Mozart; Pedrillio from 'die entfĂźhrung aus dem serail' Mozart; Chief Ngcetane from 'The Blue-eyed Bessie' South African composer; 'Rinuccio from Gianni Schicchi' Puccini and recently my biggest role called 'Tamino from The Magic Flute'. The experience to perform live is a great feeling and it's what I believe I was put on this earth for. Though I always get nervous before getting on stage. But I believe that the nerves always help me to perform well, keeps me on my toes. I know that sounds weird, but it helps. In general it's the best feeling ever. Just to show the world your God given talent is a blessing. The best feeling is when the audience appreciates your art; for an artist there is nothing better than that. The bigger stage for your kind of music is in Europe. Have you seen any much growth locally? I don't see much growth locally. Currently there are only two major opera companies in South Africa, and that is Cape Town Opera and Gauteng Opera. I see growth for school children that have an interest in opera music through schools in the townships. Which is a good thing because there is a lot of talent in South Africa. Whenever people from overseas hear voices from Africa, they go insane because of the talent we have here. But I hope and wish the governments would recognize and realize that there is so much talent in our countries and help develop Opera in Africa. To also create more jobs for opera singers because more and more of us leave and go make a living overseas because we know that is where we would get proper jobs. My goal is to hopefully attract more people to like opera music and the art in general. Getting the youth and older people to enjoy the music and to support local talent. So, we still have a long way to go, but hopefully we will get there one day because it's up to us the upcoming singers to step up and show the countries that we are representing them here and abroad. What would be the best platform for your career. Where you believe your career will be greatly enhanced. My best platform is overseas. I believe that my career will be greatly enhanced in Europe. The target market is bigger and more people appreciate the music there. Well after all it's the home of Opera music. Have you done any collaborations and with who? Would you expand on the experience? Yes I have. Recently I worked with a talented rapper from Swaziland called Trippy King 20. It was something new for me, something I've never done before. But it was exciting though. Yes most definitely I would like to expand on the experience. I would like to work with the best Opera singers out there, but as well as looking into something different like
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working with Black Coffee for example. Bring in something new, something that hasn't been done. Can we expect a full concert soon? Definitely. OperaArts Company: a company I founded in 2017, that represents Opera Artists. We are looking at launching and showcasing all registered singers this year. I don't have the details at this stage but you can follow us on FaceBook @OperaArts and Instagram @OperaArts Company for more details. Looking forward to it. We have seen Bocelli do a once in a lifetime concert in Tuscany the land of his birth. Would you consider such a presentation? There is a gap for classical music locally. So, it would be exciting to do such a show and show the youth in this country that a career in music can be a reality. To say thank you as well to the people that have always supported me and to show them how far my career has advanced. What would it take for you to release a record or is there one in the pipeline? Receptive market!!! It's always hard to release a record because of funding and the right people to help you with the project. But yes, hopefully one day I can release records. Opera for many years dwells in legendary music from great writers. Who is your favorite Strauss, Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Rossini, Puccini, Verdi, Handel, Tchaikovsky but to name a few? That is a difficult question. I really like most of the composers you mentioned. But if I have to choose three, it would be Handel, Mozart and Verdi, because they are all from different periods. Any specific reason for your choice/choices of writer? I love Baroque music a lot, so I must go for Handel. His music just connects with me. So religious, I love the Messiah, one of my favourites to listen to and sing. But I admire Mozart. Mozart is the best ever. He was such a genius and there is no one in this world that wouldn't love his music. His Harmonies are just amazing. The last one has to be Verdi. Verdi's operas have so much drama and the way he wrote them they always had meaning behind them. You always have to sit down and analyse them. Great music as well. Needs a big full orchestra. Which is your favorite song to sing in the classics? Tra Voi Belle from Manon Lescaut by Puccini. If you were to do the ultimate concert, where would that be and why? Firstly it would be in Cape Town. People in the Cape are starting to buy into this genre of music. So doing it there would yield a better audience and support. However, as an artist I would like to be acknowledged and be recognized where I come from therefore it would be exciting to have an epic and ultimate concert in my hometown as well.
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“. . . . . . Definitely. OperaArts Company: a company I founded in 2017, that represents Opera Artists. We are looking at launching and showcasing all registered singers this year. I don't have the details at this stage but you can follow us on FaceBook @OperaArts and Instagram @OperaArts Company for more details. Looking forward to it. . . . . . . .�
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zwakele | tenor
If you were to work with any living opera singer, who would that be and why? Jonas Kaufmann. He is the best tenor so far. It would be a great privilege to work with him and see what he does and learn a few things. I am a singer that likes learning from others. You can be surprised with what you can learn from other people's knowledge and experience. Ludwig van Beethoven what does that name mean to you? A majestic Composer, simple. His compositions are just impressive and always marvellous to listen to. My favourite compositions of Beethoven must be Symphony no.9 and the Opera Fidelio. Hypothetically, who would you have loved to meet of the musical greats who is no more? And would imagine the conversation….? Well I have met Pavarotti before, but I was very young that time. So I would have to say I would have loved to meet him properly. I can only imagine the conversation now. I would just ask him questions about technique and how he made singing look so easy. From what I've heard he was a funny, joyful, and always looking to have fun type of person. Who wouldn't want to meet a great person like him? How easy is to write classical music and would you consider writing your own music in vernacular? …. Maybe translations of the great olden days Opera classics. It's not easy at all. Writing your own music takes a person that is very gifted and talented. A person that's very creative, has good ideas and has a good musical ear. It's not everyone that can compose. At this stage I wouldn't consider writing my own music because I can sample. I could be good in music theory, but that doesn't mean that I can write music. However I would love to become a great African composer; compose in vernacular such as Mzilikazi Khumalo, Sibusiso Njeza and many more. When it comes to translating and doing operas that are famous and golden in vernacular. Yes, it has been done before. They took Carmen the opera by Bizet and translated it in to Xhosa and they called it U-Carmen eKhayelitsha. It was great and interesting. Would you consider any other genre like classical jazz? Or any other much commercial presentations. Yes I would do classical jazz and many more. I would like to do something different, something that would grab a new market. Try and get the youth to be interested in opera music but mixed maybe with hip hop or house music. I would like to work with different kinds of artists. Take for example the reason Pavarotti is so big and such a legend not only in opera music but everywhere. It is because he worked with different artists such as Celine Dion, James Brown and many more. When people ask me “Zwakele what do you do for a living?” and I tell them. The first thing they say is “Ohh Pavarotti” or some of them don't know what opera music is then I say Pavarotti and they know what I'm talking about. In your opinion, will classical music get bigger than what it is in Africa? Definitely. Choral music choirs and festivals are slowly getting bigger each year. We see a lot of youth joining school choirs and community choirs and that slowly exposes them to this music. As years go by we will see more buy-in and a growth in this fraternity. Africa has so much talent and we have to showcase the talent, and we have a lot of work to do to
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try and get more people interested in classical music. There is so much potential. What would have to be done to improve the reception/audience? More interpretation. We need more education and awareness. We need the country to recognize the art of classical music. Lastly, we need more platforms playing classical music. Yo-Yo Ma the cellist. Your thoughts. Very Talented player. He is an impressive cellist. The sound he takes out of that instrument is just glorious. Such a very warm sound and I actually love the sound of a cello in general. Instrumental Musicians and Opera singers could there be a relationship? Would you consider it? Yes most definitely a very big relationship. As a singer that works with a lot of instrumentalist, you need to bond and become one. Sometimes the singer takes the feelings and emotions of a song from the instrumentalist and same goes for the singer in an inverted manner. It is such a great feeling I tell you. It happens sometimes that we make each other emotional on stage and you could even cry the way you are so overwhelmed. I am sure you have inspired many young people and many more to come. What words of encouragements would you share? Never ever give up. When times get difficult and you feel like you are failing at what you do, take a moment and get yourself up again. Always chase your dreams and passion because that's where your happiness is. Yes you can make it as a singer, don't let anyone lie or put you down because there is a career in music. I would say try your best to stay positive as well. Surround yourself with positive people, you will always need that energy around you. Last but not least I need for you to know if you really want to become an opera singer, you need to know that you will have to sacrifice a lot of things. For example; spending time with family and friends. As well as it becomes lonely sometimes because of all the travelling and work you have to do. So, you need to put your all into it otherwise you will not survive. But I wish everyone the best of luck and success, because you can do it. Never give up and never forget that the Lord is always with you. Inconclusion, where is Zwakele going and where is he looking to be in 5 years? I am going overseas to learn more and expand my career. I am looking forward to doing my masters this year. I still must decide which university is best for me, but I must decide on the University of Michigan in America or the Royal College of music in London UK. However also fostering classical music growth through my company OperaArts. I want to see classical music grow in Africa and to ensure the lovers of this music have sufficient music at their disposal. In addition, I would like to see fellow musicians' grow in their field and to totally eradicate exploitation of artist in Africa. Hopefully we can increase the growth of classical music in Africa. While I'm overseas I will raise funds for the development of classical music in Africa. This will ensure development of artists, growth of classical music and advancement of showcases or productions in this classical music industry.
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zwakele | tenor
With so much covered on this editorial; Zwakele’s passion for the arts and his team still echoes our office walls. Apart from his career, the OperaArt Company stays his focus. Looking to develop a strong representation for his team of Opera singers. Seeing them shine is a much bigger priority to him, such that his plan to further his studies has a bitter sweet taste. Every individual artist sits deep in his heart and his passion spackles through his eyes and his face just lights up when he speaks of his OperaArts team. OperaArt is a fully fledged Opera Artists management firm. Offering her artists a complete support system for career advancement and navigating the employing market in South Africa and abroad. OperaArts also has an in-house initiative to promote Opera Music in South Africa and the entire African continent. This company provides a perfect vehicle for grassroots level for developing Opera music. For further details and booking of OperaArt Artists you can contact: Zwakele : +2776 052 2088 or Gcina : +2772 143 9451 or email the company on the address below: info@operaartscompany.co.za LEFT TO RIGHT:- Sandile Sikhosana|Tenor; Kabelo Lebyane|Baritone; Brittany Smith|Soprano; Zwakele Tshabalala|Tenor; Sibongile Mntambo|Soprano; Boikhutso Metsileng|Baritone; Martin Mkhize|Baritone NOT ON THE PICTURE:- Fikile Mthetwa|Mezzo Soprano
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MANAROLA - LIGNE-ROSET by | Philippe Nigro PHILIPPE Studied Applied Arts (bac F12, BTS Design industriel à La Martinière - Lyon, DSAA Design produit & mobilier école Boulle), during which time he designed the 'Ailleurs' garden in Chaumont-sur-Loire and the Flac light (winner of a Habitat competition) in conjunction with C. Gardet.
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In 2016, Philippe Nigro set himself a new challenge : to reinvent the extreme comfort of the Ligne Roset all-foam seating of the Seventies. With Manarola, Philippe Nigro has designed a new type of seating which offers remarkable comfort and a very welcoming appearance. To achieve this, the whole seat seems like a single large cushion placed on a light yet assertive base. The metal frame which lends it shape is enveloped in foam and the upholstered part of the seat rests on the elegant solid wood buttresses supporting the back which make up the base. The armchair is also available on a circular steel base in a brilliant-polished stainless steel finish, which rotates 360°. To complement this there is a footstool with 4 steel legs, also in a brilliant-polished stainless steel finish. Since 1999 he has worked as a freelance designer, and also with studio De Lucchi in Milan, where he has participated in numerous projects developing products, furniture, lighting, interior architecture, events and scenography for Olivetti, Poltrona Frau, Artemide, Alias, Caimi, Interni, Feg, Listone Giordano. At the same time he has also worked on projects for Nube Italia, Felicerossi, NavaDesign. AVAILABLE | LIGNE-ROSET Kramervile, South Africa
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Magazine Bag design | Ryosuke Fukusada An original magazine rack in the shape of a traditional Japanese flower basket made of metal.
Poly XO design by | Karim Rashid The geometry of the criss-crossing surfaces is softened by the warmth imbued by the upholstery.
For the past 80 years, Bonaldo Italia has been crafting great furniture. So playful and contemporary in their design. The Magazine Bag and Poly XO is evidence to that fact. Casarredo imports most of Bonaldo furniture to South Africa. The Bonaldo collection expresses continuously developing modernity, a path that attributes value to the experimentation of new materials and to partnerships with the best national and international designers. This company has been transforming ideas into designs and making items that can successfully interpret the requirements of the contemporary world, generating excitement at first sight. Casarredo is the largest importer of Italian furniture in South Africa. Apart from Bonaldo they are sole importers of Fendi Casa, Roberto Cavalli Interiors, Bentley Home, Reflex, Bretz, Edra, Kettal, Bonaldo, Gamma, Pietro Constantini, Fiam, Fontanaarte, Gallotti & Radice, and Penta. They are also largest Italian design and dĂŠcor showroom in South Africa. CASARREDO Collezione | South Africa Bowling Avenue, Kramerville Entrance 35, Commerce Crescent, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2090
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BACK SEAT, LOUNGE OR BOTH Taking your back seat comfort to your penthouse lounge has never been made easier. Bentley, through Luxury Living an Italian furniture and interior company now has a line of home decor, Bentley Home available in South Africa through Casarredo in Kramerville. After our village walk in Kramerville we visited incognito Melrose Arch where Bentley Motors has a showroom.
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By | Don Viterelli | Publisher
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hen fashion houses and designers of note ventured into interior dĂŠcor and furniture design. The world embraced it with caution. Through the years it became authentic and got the stamp of approval from retailers and decorators worldwide; even though it stayed a luxury for the monied and wealthy. Not long after, other luxury brands caught the fire. Luxury Living Group, an Italian furniture designer and fabricator of luxury furniture took branding to another level. This was not just attaching a name to a nonrelevant piece of wood or chair. Every furniture is designed in the spirit of the brand it carries. Luxury Living Group develops, produces and distributes high quality furniture collections for some of the most affluent international brands.
The Belgravia Chair
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BENTLEY JOHANNESBURG Corner Corlett Drive & Melrose Boulevard, Melrose Arch Johannesburg 2196, South Africa +27 (0) 10 020 4000 johannesburg.bentleymotors.com
Bentayga Mulliner features the same impressive levels of performance as Bentayga, both on and off road. Featuring the W12 petrol engine with variable displacement, it takes you from 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 secs (0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 secs) and on to a top speed of 187 mph (301 km/h). The variable displacement delivers the most efficient performance and classleading fuel economy with emissions of 296g/km.
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hanks to the vision of Alberto Vignatelli, CEO and Chairman of the Group; since the 1960s, the company has been embodied in interior design solutions that fully interpret the several trends and influences of their contemporary lifestyle. Meticulous crafting, the most prestigious materials and a study of design, combined to produce exclusive furniture and accessories ranging from minimal abstraction, to fashion inspirations and current expressions of grand dĂŠcor. In our quest to illustrate and showcase elite and authentic international trends. GoodLife followed Bentley to Casarredo in Kramerville South Africa. Luxury Living the with capacity to produce high end living products and distribution that covers the globe. Could not be denied the opportunity to pioneer a great partnership with British automaker Bentley Motors. Who else had the ability to develop a product that will not only mimic but enhance the Automotive brand. It might not be everyone that would like to dress his home with his car brand; but it works. It works because the silhouettes and iconic shapes, so synonymous with Bentley are translated into a new language of interiors.
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Balancing the use of the highest quality materials and artisanal manufacture, with innovation; paying homage to the brand's illustrious heritage, whilst openly embracing the future. Creating a captivating lifestyle, for everyday living. hese attributes have made Bentley Home products extremely desirable. The comfort and luxury of the Bentayga Mulliner back seat is transcended to top luxury apartments and villas in most suburban addresses. Going through the luxury SUV finishes you cannot help it but admire how it has been interpreted by Luxury Living in every Bentley Home item. Products range from lounge sitting to bedroom, office and accessories and falling in love with every piece is involuntary. As they evoke the deepest of quintessential emotions. GoodLife has paired the new and outstanding Bentayga Mulliner with this phenomenal interior brand. The relevance is emphasized by two separate showrooms in Kramerville and Melrose Arch Johannesburg. Casarredo is a specialist importer and distributor of premium quality and luxury Italian furniture, accessories and decor brands. A fullservice decorating house that is known for building candid and deep relationships with its clients, be it individuals or companies; assisting them in crafting their ideal living and working space. Still owned by brothers Darren and Lance Postan: In August 2015, Casarredo moved to their new premises on Bowling Avenue in Kramerville, Sandton. Kramerville has in recent years transformed from a mostly industrial area to the hub of dĂŠcor and design. Though Casarredo houses other Italian brands which
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The Sherwood Chair Line
The Morpeth Lamp
The Stamford Couch Line
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CASARREDO Collezione | South Africa Bowling Avenue, Kramerville Entrance 35, Commerce Crescent, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2090 (+27) 011 786 6940 www.casarredo.co.za
accounts for more 90% of their floor space. Bentley home furniture caught our eyes. The Bentayga enjoyed by kings and the wealthy now roars amongst urban traffic in our land. Under the leadership of SAUL MARKS, the Dealer Principal; Bentley Johannesburg has flourished. As an official Bentley Motors dealership, Bentley at Melrose Arch offers a range of manufacturer approved services aimed at maintaining the power and performance of your Bentayga. ccording to Bentley Motors the Bentayga Mulliner is the ultimate expression of the world's most luxurious SUV. Developed and created by Mulliner; it takes Bentayga to another level through the exquisite craftsmanship for which Mulliner is renowned. Every detail has been considered, every idea developed and refined to be the best of the best. The Mulliner name has been a mark of luxury travel for almost 500 years. Working with Bentley since the 1920s, it is now established as Bentley's very own personal commissioning division. It epitomizes what can be achieved when a customer's vision meets the imagination and craftsmanship of the world's finest coach builder. Produced in limited numbers, Bentayga Mulliner is the definition of exclusive luxury. Mulliner's experts have
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President Writing Desk Elle Chair Office Chair Stonelight Desk Light
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selected the finest features and options available, so you will be one of the few to enjoy the pinnacle of Bentley design, craftsmanship and luxury. Personally, the CONTINENTAL SUPERSPORTS CONVERTIBLE takes my breath away. Approaching the midlife crisis period such growling just conjures the youth that still dwells inside this old crony. Sport or Mulliner, every Bentley has a defined distinction besides the flying B. That which makes a Bentley what it is, has bluntly been presented in every piece of Bentley Home designs. GL|ME
The Bentayga Mulliner
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LIVING
As well as the Afro-contemporary feel, the inspiration draws from the culturally-vibrant Barcelona life and high-end fashion. The eclectic palette of rich, quality materials adds integrity and authenticity to the space. Raw wood is mixed with metals, suedes and highgloss surfaces to create a sensory experience. The apartment - which occupies an entire floor of the development functions as both an urban retreat and family home, and boasts a large exterior terrace. The floor plan functions both for entertainment as well as family life, utilising the space practically and efficiently. The interior architecture and design responds to the desire for open, connected living whilst still maintaining privacy of interior and exterior spaces from the neighbouring buildings. Each room in this Barcelona apartment has its own character where majority of rooms boast rich textures and polished raw materials. With stained oak woods, bespoke vertical brass screens, modern cladding and lacquered panelling, this is a homogeneous apartment. 120 | A Cigar Aficionados Lifestyle Magazine
LIVING
BARCELONA APARTMENT A blend of African influences combined with contemporary design makes this Barcelona apartment a tactile and inviting space. Created by ARRCC interior designers, the apartment is housed along Passeig de Gracia in a new luxury development in the heart of Barcelona and enjoys views of Gaudi Casa Mia opposite.
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BARCELONA APARTMENT
It is a space which poses a minimalistic and modern ambience with masculine and feminine finishes throughout. Furnishing is an eclectic mix of carefully curated pieces combined with personal artworks from the owners' collection. "We wanted to create an intimate, warm and moody interior that we found was common in a lot of high-end boutique stores," says ARRCC partner and project leader Mark Rielly. "Masculine colours and darker woods provide clues to the African rhythms. To build on this, we took a relaxed approach to curved shapes, adding draped leather sofas and details such as the vintage endocrine coffee table. "Internally, a highlight is the custom-designed suspended brass screening with triangular perforated cut-outs inspired by African beading. The screen is visible as an entrance feature separating the entrance lobby from living areas," adds Rielly. The feature timber ceiling which runs down the rear of the dining table allowed ARRCC to highlight one of the client's important artworks which anchored the space and created a focal point in the length of the open-plan living room. In the main bedroom, faceted marble ledges live alongside feminine geometric wall lights. The space has decor trimmings of distressed leathers and plush suedes and soft cream window drapes. This creates a cohesive fluidity and luxurious warmth throughout the room. In the kitchen, the streamlined elements of textured wood and charcoal stone are in keeping with the apartment style. In the circulation spaces that surround, dark wood wraps onto the walls contrasted with Venetian plastering on the opposite walls. Further bespoke features include the contemporary take on an African fire element on a faceted ledge in the TV lounge, the playful carbon fibre organic dining table, OKHA vases by renowned glass blower David Reade, and the jewel-like chain lights which add a feminine touch. A sensuous organic timber sculpture curves like a snake to soften the crisp edges of the space.
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BARCELONA APARTMENT
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BARCELONA APARTMENT
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BARCELONA APARTMENT
The landscaped roof terrace creates refuge from the heat in Barcelona, and is ideal for entertaining. Custom-designed umbrella canopies - inspired by the tree-lined avenue of Passeig de Gracia – create visual privacy and provide screening from the neighbours. A double-volume vertical gardened wall adds to landscaping, while the smoky mirrors under the bar reflect the greenery and give a further sense of space. "From an interior designer's perspective, what may be trouble-free to the eye came with great complexity," says ARRCC director Jon Case. "We had to adhere to elements of the original plan including a historical hexagon-shaped central courtyard. Our solution to this tricky shape was to open the design up and reflect elements of this shape throughout the apartment." With details crafted to captivate and move, it's easy to understand why the West African apartment owner returns to this Cape-Town based design team for each new project. A global entrepreneur with a keen eye when it comes to architecture and design, he knows precisely what home fits to his lifestyle. The space evidently shows that every ARRCC layout and design is consistently well thought out, with technical intelligence in the interior design combined with a good 'eye' in artwork and bespoke dÊcor selection that suitably flatters each space. From planning to implementation the ARRCC studio creates lifeenhancing spaces that reflect both client and location. Through a refined approach to design, ARRCC has developed a global style focused on detail and substance. ARRCC
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By Don Viterelli | Publisher
A year ago in search of knowledge and a market for GoodLife Magazine, I walked into PedroPortia; the house of Amano Cigars and I am still sitting here today. It is so amazing how a simple business was turned into a sanctuary and how patrons are converted to family. I was welcomed to PedroPortia Cigar lounge in Cedar Square, Fourways as if I had been there the day before and the one before that. The Ramos family were having their day meal. On the table; was Jose and his wife, Pedro who is Jose’s son sited next to his longtime girlfriend Ines and a close family friend Jeandre Hartman. was mesmerized as my eyes went straight to the humidor, which was just across my table. This was a place meant for a cigar smoker; avid or novice. I was settled down and ordered my meal as I requested to see Pedro Ramos. Who immediately after his meal had a short sit down with me on his way out to see a client. That left me in the capable hands of now great friend Jose his father and the founder of Amano Cigars. Our chat went on forever while he prepared my first order of cigars to take with. Amano Cigars; a distributor of a number of great premium cigar brands supplies cigar shops, bars and lounges nationwide. This is all housed inside PedroPortia Champagne and Cigar lounge. Since that day my visits have been steady and frequent. . . even though Jose would not attest to that. I am yet to attend another event here, as there are always great periodic events. How can I forget the Samba dances and informal classes from a featured live band Nuevo Latino. It is always epic and fun. That day I had stayed for the evening to experience a weekend night at PedroPortia. The same night The Cigar Journal magazine announced ‘The Judge’ from Myfather Cigars as the cigar of the year. Amano Cigars is the sole distributor of the Nicaraguan based manufacturer in South Africa. It became a night of The Judge. Jose and his son are forever traveling and most frequently to the Americas. We caught up with Pedro before he jetted to Nicaragua for the Annual Cigar festival. And here is what he had to say. . . . . . . !
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ABOVE: Pedro Ramos with Ines Ribeiro ACROSS: PedroPortia Cigar Main Lounge
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Cigars are a rare indulgence at this side of the equator. Who is Amano Cigars and why the cigar business? Amano cigars was created by Jose Ramos together with his son Pedro Ramos. As we have been in the entertainment business for quite a while and sold cigars, we started to indulge in the cigar world with curiosity. Slowly we learnt the market and investigated if it would be a viable business in SA, as we could never get hold of different cigar brands from around the world. When we noticed this gap in the market, we decided to give it a go and see what would happen. Since 2010, we have now introduced more premium cigar brands in South Africa than any other company. Since inception how do you find the South African market on its own and comparing it to the rest of the world. Especially the Americas and Europe? The SA market is not an easy one, as there is not much exposure to different cigar brands. Either via magazines, or other forms of marketing. The Cuban cigars have been in the market for a while and the myth behind the Cubans have the best cigar is something that takes time to process and educate smokers that where only able to buy Cuban cigars. You are both distributors and retailers of fine and premium cigars. How are you able to differentiate the two? Your walk-in Pedro Portia customers and the Amano Cigars clientele? Amano Cigars is solely designated for Retail. We supply hotels, casinos, restaurants, tobacco shops and bottle stores and do not sell to the public. Pedro Portia gives us an opportunity to showcase our full range of cigars (over 350 different cigars). With this exposure, we are able to help customers select a different variety of cigars and showcase what the brands we carry have to offer. Has the cigar business grown in South Africa since you started? Yes, especially for the Non-Cuban brands. Which brands to you import to South Africa and why? We are currently the official distributor for: 1502, Alec Bradley, Daniel Marshall, El Septimo Graycliff, Gurkha, My Father Cigars, Oliva, Nub, Padron and Plasencia. We carefully select the brands we want to produce, as we want to distribute high quality brands. One of the most important aspects of the brands we select is the manufacturing process of the cigars. We only import cigars that the brands have aging rooms for the tobacco. Before we take on any brand, we access their factories and their reputation with other importers in different countries. We like to maintain a very good relationship with our brands, and it is always interesting to learn about who they are and what they believe in. Are any difficulties in importing cigars as it is a controlled industry? It's a painful process, however because it is a controlled industry, all the processes are there, and they only require to be followed to the “T�
Three Cuban Ways
Do you have any preference in terms of cigar origin and why is that? This comes down to a personal choice, but Nicaragua has become one of the best tobacco producers in the past years, and the leaves that are produced in the different regions have a great taste.
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Would you say Cuban cigars are the only way to go or people should try cigars from other origin? Again, this is a personal choice. With so many different brands out there, why not try something different and then decide for yourself. You run an elite cigar lounge in the whole of South Africa, what makes it different? The possibility of being able to smoke inside and outside, the big selection of cigars, our variety on drinks and our tappas which combines perfectly with cigars. What kind of relations have you been able forge in the cigar industry abroad? We have met so many people with different backgrounds from all around the world, and all this because there is one thing in common: Cigars. We have made good friends and known very interesting people. If you can, please explain your first cigar moment, your first cigar and how it has developed in the past years? I didn't enjoy my first cigar. It was dry, I had no clue what I was smoking, and it had a massive amount of ammonia which is quite common on Cuban Cigars. It put me off for the evening and for the next day. I then decided to try something different. After a year, I decided to try again something different, it wasn't a Cuban and I enjoyed the cigar. I started to then alternate on brands and as I smoked, I was googling reviews about the cigars. What would you say has been your best cigar moment? Visiting the plantations. It is just a one of a kind experience to be in the middle of the fields and seeing the whole process while you are puffing away on a freshly made cigar and chatting to the farmers. Have visited and cigar farms and factories and how has it affected improved your cigar knowledge and appreciation? It improved drastically. Getting the notion of how a cigar is made is quite an education. You see the passion of the people making the cigars and enjoying them at the same time. It arouses curiosity and admiration on the whole process of making a cigar. Knowledge-wise, it just never ends. Every year we learn something new. What are the positives of having your father as a mentor and both being in the cigar business? He stresses me out too much. But if you look into most of the Cigar brands, they are all based within families. I think it actually helps to create a better bond. How hectic would you say is the business of selling cigars? It's not an easy business. There are competitions, we need to be different and we need stock! Also, this business is based on relationships with our customers, and we are thankful for their loyalty over the years. What is a good cigar in your opinion? Complexity on the flavors. I enjoy being surprised with different flavors through the 3/3rds of the cigar.
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The Killer Cool Aid
pedroportia
Senhor Jose Ramos
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If you were to smoke on cigar, what would it be? 1502 Emerald Perfecto. Have you yet master the art of tasting cigars? Of course, it takes years to master such an art and to develop the taste buds. Some master rollers have 40 to 60 years of experience. If you were to list five top cigar makers what would it be? Trying not to be very bios: Padron, Plasencia, My Father Cigars, El Septimo, Alec Bradley How many cigars do you smoke a day between you and your father? I will smoke around 2, if I have time it can easily go up to 5. My father smokes around 3 to 6 everyday. What kind of cigar do you prefer in make, size and blend? I enjoy lancero sizes, coronas and robustos. The blend, obviously Nicaraguan. Currently my favorite is a boutique brand called 1502 which is Nicaraguan and rolled in the Plasencia factory. You have since move to new premises has it added any value? Definitely, it has added a lot of value, due to increased space to exposure our cigars. What other services do you offer at PedroPortia? Entertainment, live bands, parties, private meetings, private parties, an exquisite selection of wines and champagnes and an awesome view. Do you think that you will extend your business of Johannesburg? Currently we are not focused on that. We prefer to keep it small and keep it good! In conclusion looking ahead do you see more people indulging in cigars and what can a magazine like ours do to enhance the industry? Your magazine will finally give exposure to different brands in the market which is great! There are always new people indulging in cigars. People sometimes want to try something different, and once they enjoy it they get instantly hooked! We will keep on spying on all the great activities that takes place here. PedroPortia has been the answer for every cigar smoker around Johannesburg. I am sure we would like to see more of Pp’s mushroom around South Africa. Even though it is still a no from the Ramos. Personally I feel more cities would cherish such an atmosphere for cigar smokers. If you happen to be in Jozi/Johannesburg at any given moment. You will be depriving yourself if you miss a date with PedroPortia. And maybe you can have it “Three Cuban Ways”. In our next issue will be visiting hotels with cigar lounges for your convenience. GL|ME
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CIGAR REVIEW | 02
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n my twenty years of smoking stogies and enjoying real premium cigars, I have learnt one special lesson as an aficionado; a cigar is as good as its condition. A very good cigar can turn to crap due to poor storage or handling. Storage is as important as buying a great cigar. As I am about to take this seat; I understand one important aspect of our review. “That the cigar in your hand is all that matters; not any review will tell you more about it but your senses”. Be true to your senses, respect your palate and enjoy every moment. By so doing you will learn more about your palate’s preference and also the size and strength good for you. Our reviews are not meant to sell cigars but to help you understand your responsibility to enjoying a great cigar. These guidelines may help your quest. Don Viterelli, GL|ME
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CIGAR REVIEW | 02
CIGAR : Padron | Serie 1926 No:90
CIGAR: MyFather | The Judge Gran Robusto
CIGAR: El Septimo | 15 years Bomba Topedo
ORIGIN: Nicaraguan
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
ORIGIN: Costa Rica
GAUGE | 52
GAUGE | 60
GAUGE | 60
LENGTH | 5.5
LENGTH | 5
LENGTH | 6
PRICE | R580.00
PRICE | R385.00
PRICE | R1,700.00
RETAILER : PedroPortia Cigar Lounge Fourways, Johannesburg
RETAILER : PedroPortia Cigar Lounge Fourways, Johannesburg
RETAILER : PedroPortia Cigar Lounge Fourways, Johannesburg
WRAPPER: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Ecuador Sumatra
WRAPPER: Costa Rican Sumatra
BINDER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Costa Rica
FILLER: Nicaraguá
FILLER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Costa Ricá
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Celebrating Jose Orlando’s birthday this cigar is not short of a perfect cigar. Packed with full flavored notes of coffee bean, cocoa, sweet spice, and cedar. Why not pamper yourself and experience one of the best smokes ever created—you deserve it! Available in 10- count boxes with each cigar individually seated inside its own tube. A well crafted full bodied cigar. Easy drawing with a perfect burn. Not a cheap cigar in quality and price. Truly loved this Parejo. The No: 90 has an amazingly flavorful wrapper, very think and semi-sweet. This is a very bold cigar and worth every penny.
The cigar of the year by the Cigar Journal and rated 7th by Cigar Aficionado last year. Its mild-full strength gives its creamy and mellow taste. With complex cedar, toasted almonds, cocoa, and signature spice flavors. This is what a premium cigar should be. We found it to be quite affordable compared to other much more expensive cigars. A cigar for every palate. Do not be fooled by its length, The Judge will take you to 2 hours easy. One of the very few cigars that will touch the 3 - 5 minute rest. Even though is a medium full ; it punches hard with those great flavors. Be warned.
This cigar has the most complex flavors and are very intense. From the moment you light it, it burst to life. This was my first El Septimo. I guess you know why. We hope that in our next issue we will showcase this phenomenal brand as it is now available in SA. Since it was purchased by French maestro Thierry de Conti, this Swiss brand has been flying. It carries some spicy coffee, very soft spring freshness and sweetness that linger in your hands long after your smoke. No bitterness but a smooth velvety taste that ends with a strong well cured tobacco taste. Loved it.
CIGAR REVIEW | 02
CIGAR: Jaime Garcia | Reserva Especial Toro Gordo
CIGAR: Hoyo de Monterrey Hermosos No: 4 Anejados
CIGAR: Cohiba | Talisman Edicion Limitada 2017
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
ORIGIN: Cuba
ORIGIN: Cuba
GAUGE | 60
GAUGE | 48
GAUGE | 54
LENGTH | 6
LENGTH | 5
LENGTH | 6,1/2
PRICE | R370.00
PRICE | A Gift
PRICE | R540.00
RETAILER : J. J Cale | Club Mucanudo Sandton City
RETAILER : PedroPortia Cigar Lounge Fourways, Johannesburg
RETAILER : PedroPortia Cigar Lounge Fourways, Johannesburg
WRAPPER: Connecticut Broadleaf
WRAPPER: Cuba
WRAPPER: Cuba
BINDER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Cuba
BINDER: Cuba
FILLER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Cuba
FILLER: Cuba
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The dark, oily broadleaf maduro wrapper, combined with flavorful wellaged Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos and a smooth binder makes for an e n j o y a b l e , p l ea s a nt l y a ro m at i c medium-to-full-bodied smoke. This cigar was one of my longest smokes. A tribute to Don Pepin’s son Jaime Garcia. Started as a limited edition but due to its success; it is now in full production and available internationally. MyFather cigars have a synonymous flavor unique to their tobacco. Though they serve distinct individual notes and taste. This is the go to cigar any day.
Occasionally you get to be luck and smoke vintage. Released in 2007 and 2008 this was a 10 years old cigar not tobacco. Even though this was revised and released again in 2015, mine was from a box dated 2008. The later release has an embossed gold band. From the first smoke it gave earthy cinnamon leathery taste unique to well aged cigars. But its sweetness and nutty taste mellowed in. A well made Habano. It presents a lot of sweet notes. A bit of dark chocolate with a bit of soft nutmeg coming from the slight moulding. Missing it. . . . . . . .
A lovely size and draws quite well. It is not just another Cuban cigar. It has mature flavors that lingers very well. Not sweet but an earthly perfect mild cocoa, leather and I guess I also tasted some notes not familiar with a number of the Cohibas I have smoked before. This is a creamy and fulfilling log. I smoked two in a space of 4 hours. I could have had another one immediately after that. You can have this cigar when you cannot afford a BHK. It does the job quite well. The Talisman keeps giving through to the last third. Once in a while Cuba brings us proper cigars that are worthy of their heritage.
CIGAR REVIEW | 02
CIGAR Rocky Patel | Decade 10 Years Anniversary Forty Six
CIGAR Brickhouse | Traveler Moduro
ORIGIN Honduras
ORIGIN Nicaragua
GAUGE | 46
GAUGE | 48
LENGTH | 4.5
LENGTH | 6
PRICE | R289.00
PRICE | R255.00
RETAILER : Smoker’s Corner Bedfordview
RETAILER : Smoker’s Corner Bedfordview
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Sumatra
WRAPPER: Habano
BINDER: Not Known
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Not Known
FILLER: Nicaragua
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Rocky Patel Decade Forty Six cigars feature a toothy, oily Sumatra wrapper covering a manufacturers secret blend of aged binder and filler tobaccos. Warm and soothing flavors of leather, wood, coffee, peppery spice, and a rich and toasty medium-to-full-bodied smoking experience with a bit of espresso and dark chocolate. I liked how easy this cigar smokes. The 46 is a quick smoke yet flavorful and satisfying. Cannot way to upgrade to the 60 x 6 Emperor. That should be one hell of a smoke. Will visit the dealer to see if I can lay my hands on the Emperor.
This Brick House is referred to as a puro based on the fact that the Habano wrapper is a Nicaraguan Havana seed tobacco. This cigar is a well constructed cigar. With a perfect draw; a mellow medium strength smoke with exceptionally smooth and very well refined flavors. A bit of savory notes of earth, cedar, spice and a lovely creamy finish. The Traveler is a top-quality cigar that is sure to find a permanent home in your favorite cigar humidor. As it aged a bit it became phenomenal. I am keeping the last dozen for at least a year or more. Remember to un-tube them to store and age. Meet you next year.
CIGAR Cuaba | Generosos ORIGIN Cuba GAUGE | 41 LENGTH | 6 PRICE | R175.00 RETAILER : Smoker’s Corner Bedfordview WRAPPER: Cuba BINDER: Cuba FILLER: Cuba
87 The Generosos would do with a bit more years of aging. It lacks smoothnesss. Though it has good flavors they are over powered by it big strength of its youth. Had a peppery but salty taste. Its youth gift it with a bit of caramel and toasted tobacco. This is a very different cigar; quite an aggressive exchange but it tries to mellow as the amount of tobacco increases along the cigar. Would not give it as a gift but maybe my taste buds did not love it. I had more than 8 cigars at different times all on a clean palate, did not get any much love. Remove it from the box to age, maybe six or more months. As my last one was much better.