Per cigar aficianado...new la Gloria serie R black

La  Gloria cubana

Per cigar aficianado

La Gloria Cubana is releasing two new cigars this year with a Nicaraguan country of origin. The first of the new blends will be produced under the Serie R line (which is known for big ring gauges and full-bodied flavor) and will be called La Gloria Cubana Serie R Black. The cigar, which goes on sale in the next two weeks, will only be sold via Internet and catalog retailers.

The La Gloria Cubana brand has been produced in the Dominican Republic for most of its post-Cuban history, but brand owner General Cigar Co. says that the new cigars will be the first La Glorias made in Nicaragua. They are being rolled at Scandinavian Tobacco Group Estelí, S.A.

Serie R Black will be a Nicaraguan puro featuring viso binder tobacco from Jalapa. General says that leaf was fermented for an entire year, then aged for an additional two years.

"What's also significant about both new blends," said General Cigar director of innovation Michael Giannini, "is that they have the full flavor that's characteristic of Nicaraguan tobacco, but they're not about power. They are meant to deliver the smoking experience of a well-aged, refined and balanced Nicaraguan smoke, and we believe we're delivering that in spades."

Serie R Black will come in three thick sizes: No. 58 (6 1/8 inches by 58 ring), No. 60 (6 by 60) and No. 64 (6 1/4 by 64). They are being packed in boxes of 18. We found several online retailers with the cigars on their sites, with a listed wait time for delivery of one to two weeks. The retailers each listed the manufacturer's suggested retail price between $6.99 to $7.50 per cigar, but each was offering a discount ranging from 20 percent to 40 percent off those prices.

A second new La Gloria line is scheduled for release in July at this year's International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show. More details will come next month. That line will be available in brick-and-mortar cigar stores.

I'm BACK!!!!!!!

After my stint at mikesstogies.com and at the helm of GCPuffs for 3 years I'm back on my original blog site. Along with CT.derek doing craft beer reviews we will be exploring all things related to the cigar enthusiasts world. life styles,and reviews of cigars and accessories. Is there anything you would like to see here ? let me know and I will do my best to find some one to contribute a piece or search it out myself. know any one who is well versed in spirits for cigar pairings? shoot me an email.  check out my previous posts and you can get  a sense of it. I will posting once a week. more if I get press announcements (to keep you up to date with the latest news.) have fun we are!!  

SMOKINJOE

CT.DEREK

REVIEWING THE CIGAR POD CAST SHOWS THAT DO REVIEWS;(AND MAYHEM)

In no particular order I am going to review some of my favorite cigar enthusiast pod casts. a series of reviews of the reviewers if you will.Today there are many,many venues to glean knowledge and have fun about all things cigars. In my over 22 years of smoking cigars and the occasional pipe, Now is the BEST time for it. As a hobby (OK obsession for some) you can access almost all their is to know about your favorite brands,families,personalities,short of growing,blending,and rolling your own from home. But you can go to the factories on cigar vacations being offered.So in NO particular order here we go.
BLOWING SMOKE:
wrapper;pod cast
filler;cretins
binder;El freako Defuma (aka rob hemmings)
THE pre emanate guys show about cigars and all things guy related.(don't worry I have it on good authority that quite a few of the sotl listen also).i enjoy listening to this show which is taped every two weeks or so. the set up is in the Havana room of el freako defuma's.And from the very beginning to the last second mayhem and humor are in abundance as is the cigar they are sharing to review in a loose and relaxed way. I look forward to their next shows as I'm always guaranteed a good laugh.Listeners can participate in questions on twitter(@blowinsmoke) and the individual cretins tweet along as the show is going on.this show is not for any one prudish. But if you enjoy good( and sick) humor this show is for you in spades. the shows assortment of hosts(cretins) and its ring master el freako de fuma(rob. hemmings)are engaging and you really feel as if your right there and herfing it up with em. having gotten to know all of them on twitter I can tell you these are a great bunch of guys. however they are informative and have had some great interviews(Clint from @262cigars,Chris from @chiefhava (cro magnon cigars),and @rodrigocigars as examples. the web site can be found at  http://www.blowinsmokepodcast.com/  go there and enjoy . all the best-smoking Joe
p.s. Rob has one of the best radio voices ive heard in awhile.

coming up next also in no particular order the cigar authority,stogie fresh five,dog watch cigar  radio

THE PERSUIT OF HAPPINESS AND THE NANNY STATE..............

Ronald Reagan Quotes

Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives-Ronald Reagan this morning I read in my local news paper that the city of Cape Mays' (a popular tourist destination here in south jersey)elected city council had voted to ban all smoking on the beaches and public parks/lands in the city."The city council felt that second hand smoke was possibly dangerous and annoying.And that needs of the many took precedent over the few". Really? so now the city council(non of which are doctors or (rocket) scientists)now presume to know what is "best for every one". very Orwellian indeed. This is only a drop in the bucket across America of our ability to enjoy our "pursuit of happiness" that our founding fathers cherished so much as to put it in the declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it" http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html these are heady words indeed. But words, that the lives of thousands, of our for fathers thought enough of to lay thier lives down for.Today most citizens will barely lay down the t.v. remote. successive generations have fought and bled for the ideas expressed in the lines written above. The arrogance of any form of government to presume to order me and regulate with out reason a product that I can legally own,posses,use and ENJOY is repugnant to me. The C.R.A.,a non profit organization,Has been actively trying to limit the bands on  and restrictions(including excessive taxation)on premium hand rolled cigars. Their approach is a good one. That jobs will be lost and an industry unfailrly singled out.Given the current economic climate. I think this is a good approach but I think the argument needs to be elevated to that which it is.An attack of an oppressive government to decide what is "best for us" down to the nth degree. In essence what these laws do is turn otherwise law abiding citizens into criminals.In New york city the Ban has been so scoffed at that cigar enthusiasts have met in public parks and "herfed it up".holding such bans as ridiculous.In the mid nineties the state of new jersey went so far as to ban the sale of sunny side up eggs(due to possible salmonella) sold in any dinner or restaurant.(yes its true) after customers were shown on t.v news shows eating these "offending eggs" and the owners of dinners and restaurant refusing to stop selling them;the state rescinded the less than 6 weeks later. I have the right to make a fist but this right ends where your nose begins.WE all pay taxes,live peaceable lives but we also must respect how each of us chooses to do so.I am not going to light up a cigar and smoke others out. Out of consideration for others.In the same token if I'm sitting on a park bench alone smoking a cigar. And you come along and sit next to me and become "offended" by it,well then your just ignorant and self absorbed. So whats next? We all have been taught about rights and responsibilities. I don't want government deciding for me what is "best for me" because I'm to fucking stupid to know otherwise.That's what  the true meaning of laws that make otherwise law abiding citizens into criminals. All the best-SMOKIN JOE

THE B&M VRS THE ONLINE RETAILER ?

A few months ago on almost all the cigar enthusiast podcast there was much debate about the two.most of this talk was centered on the business end of both.Today I will discuss this view from the little heard point of view;the consumer. here we go.....

It should be said that a good B&M that has a friendly atmosphere a,good selection of choices,a good location and a place to gather with other enthusiasts is a must have.A friendly and learned atmosphere is the mark of a good tobacconist.The customer who comes there and is "talked down too" will likely go somewhere else.To an extant it is a teachers role in educating his costumers that will benefit the B&M the most.The old adage that an educated customer is your best customer.Its true.The more you learn the more you broaden your horizon and are willing to try new things you learn about.Nurturing this is self preservation for the B&M owner. A friendly and relaxed atmosphere with comfortable furnishings where the enthusiast can sit,smoke and discuss a variety of subjects is a must.I once saw a book club meeting at J.R.'s in north Carolina who were discussing transcendental writers of all things.Some B&M's offer a Private room where the "club members" can BYOB have access to large screen t.v.'s and variety of amenities such as private lockers,sports games etc. However I have seen for what several B&M's have charged vrs perceived value that  have not matched up for me.My view on this aspect is that if the area that the B&M is located can support this.(say in New York city as an example) then this is almost a necessary feature. However far to many B&M's should do away this feature as strip malls are not the place for these.
A good choice of selections is a must. My own B&M stocks the 'tried and trues " of the cigar world but as an example it took them  9 months to get 3 boxes of sizes of Nestor Miranda's art deco. I can find what I need there,the padrons',CAO,Perdomo,anything general cigar puts out.But say I want a Cro magnon or a 262? good luck. And there in lies where the online retailer comes in.
There is an important place that the online retailer fills for me. that of being able to get what I would like to try when I can not get it locally. this is where the line between the online retailer and the B&M lines begin to blur. Many B&M also have an online retail outlet. A good example of this is two guys cigar shops in new Hampshire. If I need a couple of sticks I'll trot off to my local B&M and pick them up.I also attend many of the promotions that the B&M holds.I can usually get very good deals on brands of cigars during these times. The online retailer for me provides some in house brands I like very much at a good price but that I will not find locally. It is a reality that in today's world the cigar enthusiast has much more access to information than when I started smoking cigars about 23 years ago. It is also a reality of the market,all markets for that matter,that the inter net has provided an outlet for cigar enthusiasts that compete with the B&M. But in that same sense there quite a few B&M's who are out there on line.like many of the mom and pop stores that where done away with in the eighties due to box stores the market for the B&M in my opinion is shrinking.You can bemoan this or not but it is a reality. The location and amenities of your local B&M will be crucial going into the future. But for me there isn't a VRS involved but simply emerging markets via the Internet and many B&MS' are in fact" saddling two horses". all the best-SMOKIN JOE

CREMO cigar Intrepidus review

As a follow up to the new line by CREMO cigars i will be reviewing the toro size Intrepidus. this size vitola is the next larger size in this line.

1. 1 PRE LIGHT; the parejo shaped Intrepidus size has a smooth habano wrapper that is flawless and chocolate in color.There is a good heft to this cigar and is well packed with tobacco.The entubar rolling is evident in the foot.
2. FIRST THIRD;on lighting the foot there is a pleasant medium flavor of of spice and sweet tobacco. about an Inch into this smoke i noticed a slight ramping up of  flavors with an introduction of chocolate, pepper and toast.This ramping up of flavor continued into the second third.
3. Second third;This vitola began a steady increase in flavor,the spice giving way to pepper and strong but sweet tobacco flavor with a rich cocoa tone.During this second third, the flavors played about from full to medium in flavor and back again; while retaining a medium body through out.I was really enjoying this smoke.
4. THE FINISH; THE  play of full to medium flavor continued about till the nub and was a very pleasant smoke; having a depth of flavor and a long finish.The body stayed medium, the ash stayed tight and didn't fall off till about 4 inches in from the foot.

There is a term used by blenders called depth of flavor perception.The Intrepidus fulfills this term.The play of flavors was a nice surprise and is what a really good cigar should be. In short I smoked the hell out of this cigar.Given the size and ring gauge (see previous posts)the blenders art is well showcased in this size.I can say with out reservation that come January this one will be on my radar to buy.I have no hesitation in recommending this cigar and giving one to a friend,but you had better be a damned good friend for me to part with one. :)  In the next installment I will touch on this line as a whole based on the two sizes I have smoked.

CREMO corona gordo cigar review

We will be reviewing a new cigar blend on smokin Joe's cigar box. In previous posts I introduced you to a new company CREMO cigars. now for the down  low on their corona gordo size. Next up is their toro size.

1. PRE LIGHT; cigar has a smooth habano wrapper;blemish free there is a good heft to this carona gordo hinting at the full tobaccoco filler of  Dominican/Nicaraguan tobacco.the cigar was also firm to the touch.
2. FIRST THIRD; on lighting this carona gordo had strong flavors of spice and strong hints of cocoa. the draw was a bit tight and the flavor setlted primarilyaly on the front of the toungue.thsettledeld down after the first inch or so to a nice spice and tobacco flavor. the body is medium and the flavor seltles to a medium with the aforementionedned cocoa giving way to a  spice and rich tobacco flavor. I began to notice that this cigar burned slowly and expected a long finish.
3. SECOND THIRD-FINISH; the cigar settled nicely into hints of spice and rich tobacco flavor and stayed that way through out the loooong finish of this carona gordo. there were no suprises to the nub and the ash stayed nice and tight to the end.

Over all I liked this blend.It had a long finish and other than the tight draw was a comfortable smoke. Enough flavor and body to make this cigar a good morning or lunch choice.In fairness the tight draw could have been the luck of  the draw(pun intended) and should not be taken into serious consideration as this can happen to the best of brands.I think this carona gordo would pare well a haydens bourbon or a good cup of  coffee. it has alot to offer the average cigar smoker who preferes the medium body,medium flavor profile.however in the end the question is would I smoke this again and would I give to a friend to smoke.the answer to both questions is yes.