The Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery 2018 is now in!

So I had to smoke one of these Viaje Skull and Bones Mystery 2018 cigars right away.

And by right away, I do mean right away. I didn’t give these 4.75 X 52 dark and mysterious box pressed robusto Viaje cigars a chance to settle after shipping to the store before lighting up. I think that the lack of rest (and early rainy season we’ve been enjoying recently) may have contributed to less than ideal smoking circumstances, so keep that in mind as you read this review.

Taking these sticks out of the box the closed foot was the first thing to stand out to me. The single black band (just like the box) is difficult to make out, adding to this stick’s mystery. A guillotine cut on the single cap opened up some notes of slightly we earth and faint barnyard on the dry draw. The darker wrapper has attractive thin veins, and a slight sheen to this wrapper.

First Third: The overwhelming initial notes upon lighting this stick up are young hay, and some sweeter undertones, perhaps a passing honey aromatic. The draw is very easy, and construction seems excellent. The first few puffs, if burned too hot, will expose an unflattering unaged tobacco flavor. I learned this the hard way so my advice is to take your time with this stick. To accommodate for this slower smoking style, I took more time in between puffs allowing for the hay/yellowed grass notes to contribute to the otherwise natural tobacco flavors that dominate this stick at the beginning. I am also noting black pepper and a woody note taste on the lips.

Retrohale: I retrohale the Viaje Skull and Bones Mystery 2018 and can immediately confirm that, yes this is a Viaje! Pepper leads with natural tobacco and very minor grass notes following. I am pulled back to the memory of other Viaje’s that I have aged for a year or more before enjoying as the flavor profile seem very close and make a mental note that I will want to let a box of these sit as a present for my future self.

Second Third: It required a bit of touch up and the ash was a bit flaky but I put that down to my enthusiasm to smoke these right out of the mailman’s hands. Since the tasting notes for these Mystery sticks are not made available by Viaje, I was prepared for whatever flavor profile roller coaster might come my way. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised when the consistent natural tobacco notes. This stick smokes more like a companion to whatever task you may be doing (like writing blog posts, perhaps) rather than a distraction.

Final Third: The last third of this Viaje Skull and Bones Mystery 2018 was really rewarding as the aromatic honey and grass notes dropped away entirely in favor of black pepper, leather, smoked meats/wood notes. These flavors married themselves brilliantly to that natural tobacco note that had been smartly carrying the stick through to this point. The complex flavors began almost exactly at the final third mark, indicating that this mix at this point was very much intentional.

Official Recommendation: Pick up a box of the Viaje Skull and Bones Mystery 2018, store them in your humidor and forget about them for at least 1 year. But you are going to have to move fast – as of writing this, we’ve already sold some of these boxes with zero promotion. Viaje is one of those boutique brands that attract a smart and savvy fan base because of the quality of sticks produced.

Review of Davidoff’s Florida Selection 2018

The just-in Davidoff Florida Selection 2018 cigar is a hit for sure. It’s got everything anyone could want. Spiciness? You got it. Glorious rolling smoke? Yup. Flawless construction? Indeed. The opportunity to add a new stick to your humidor that works for both Nicaraguan AND Dominican fans? Yes, please.

I paired this stick with water, but if I wasn’t smoking and writing this cigar review at work, I’d have aimed for a dark stout beer as my beverage of choice. I decided to employ a generous guillotine cut on my belicoso, totally on purpose, of course.

Initial impressions: An oily, veiny wrapper visually promises good things. The shiny copper double band is a beautiful contrast to the darker brown of the stick. The dry draw are pleasant notes of licorice and sweet tobacco. The stick took to the triple flame’s heat without issue.

First third: The first puffs of this stick are not bashful. Spice and sweet and earthiness let you know that you’ve got something special in your hand. The ash hung out for about an inch or so then colluded with my notoriously shaky hands to disengage on its own accord. Towards the end of the first third, the spice that was center stage begins to mellow allowing for the earthy sweetness to step up and compliment it.

Second third: As I smoke and type, I notice that when I pick it back up the cooler burn seems to expose more sweet notes that you won’t get when puffing frequently. The burn itself keeps nearly perfect when I smoke consistently. I’ve purged this stick as I smoke not from necessity but habit and I think it makes for a smoother smoking experience.

Last third: The medium-full strength of this stick really makes itself  known toward the end and I’m suddenly very glad I had lunch first. A lot of the flavor have been on the tongue as I smoke but the licorice is not gone and the spicier notes are standing out.  A small bit of the natural tobacco sweetness occasionally comes out as a subtle backdrop to the spice.

Ultimately, there was a unique element between the second and last third that I couldn’t quite put my finger on that I assume is the synergy of the Floridian Clermont tobacco. I look forward getting a box so I can try more of this stick and others like it that make use of this US leaf so I can become even more familiar with it.

Do your part to Support the CRA with this 10 cigar sampler

When you purchase this CRA Sampler 10 Count Humidor Pack, you not only get 10 premium cigars, but you also receive a complimentary 1-year individual membership to help Cigar Rights of America fight for your right to enjoy your cigars!

Membership in CRA adds your voice to the fight against tax increases and smoking bans. Members receive real-time updates on pending cigar legislation and have access to tools that allow them to effectively advocate for their rights as premium cigar enthusiasts.

Released in 2017, the CRA Sampler includes 1 of each of the following cigars made exclusively for raising funds for the CRA:

• Diamond Crown Natural
• AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes
• Rocky Patel Twentieth Natural
• Tatuaje Black
• EP Carrillo Cabinet
• BG Meyer Standard Issue
• Alec Bradley Tempus Nicaragua
• Oliva Serie O
• La Aroma de Cuba
• Fuente Fuente Opus X

All cigars together total over a $175 value.They come packaged in a humidor bag with a small Boveda pack for 2-way humidity control up to six months after opening. Available in limited supply.

Patio Review: The unimposing Liga Privada No. 9 Petit Corona

When smoking this Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9 Petit Corona, I was going against the grain of the “Gordo is best” phase the industry is experiencing. A benefit of being one of the authorized Drew Diplomat Retailers means I get to geek out on the new smaller sizes debuted at IPCPR this year and I am happy to report the flavor and strength of the stick was alive and well!

For this review, I paired my stick with water.  I used a small ring gauge guillotine cutter with ease though some of the wrapper did come a bit uncurled (probably due to my slightly tilted angle of my cut). I used matches to light my stick and it took well. Although a shorter stick, I’ll report my review in the format of thirds, as usual.

First third:  The flavors all sort of swirl around at once. With my first few puffs, I’m picking up some light spice and pepper along with some cedar and natural tobacco notes. It started to burn a bit of an uneven burn but a touch up of a match smoothed things out.

Second third:  The tobacco flavor that was super apparent backs down a bit but the pepper accents are still present in this second third. Burning it a bit hotter now (less down time between draws on the stick) yields more of a woody note, almost like the char from flame steak.  That stronger spice mellows out. Tobacco flavor deepens, with some leather on the back of my palette.

Last third: I ashed and purged. A little barnyard popped out at the end accompanied by the consistent pepper flavor. Smoke really thickened up with the heat increase.

Overall: This stick is great for a pepper fan,  and could be a great short treat for someone with a well trained nose. Even without the benefit of years of smoking experience, if you’ve got the time (and the Liga Privada NO. 9 Petit Corona doesn’t beg for much of it), you’ll benefit from a box of these in your humidor to share with friends.

Tis the Season

Gourds make the best seasonal cigar rests.

Patio Review: New size of an already-classic, the T52 Short Panatela

The seasons are changing from hot to not, making the patio a perfect cigar review location this fall. Smoking the new size of a crowd favorite, the Drew Estate Liga Privada T52 Short Panatela, was a fun little smoke. Although the Liga was a bit smaller in length than I usually smoke, I still provide this review in terms of “thirds”.

For this morning review, I paired with Italian roast coffee with a little cream. Initial observations of the stick boasted a strong, dark and somewhat oily wrapper with a clean cap encouraging a perfect guillotine cut. The band was a little tricky to see the seam but easy to remove once I did. The construction of this Short Panatela sized stick was excellent. The quality construction made for a moderate draw with relatively even burn. The ash is strong and tight.

First third:  The flavor hits the tip of the tongue right off the batt so you know, regardless of its size, this is still a T52. Strong tobacco flavor with a little spice comes through on the draws. Maybe slight leather flavor there too?

Second third:  That stronger spice mellows out. Tobacco flavor deepens, with some leather on the back of my palette.

Last third: Tobacco flavor spreads out to the sides of the tongue very pleasantly. There’s a bit of salivation as a result (that’s the nicotine hitting me). Spice comes back, in a pleasant way, giving a little contrast.  Because of the size, I had to be careful with my fingers as I held the small and at this stage very hot nub of a T52.

Overall: This is a nice stick with a medium feel, and small enough to be a quicker morning cigar. I would advise that a faster smoker be ready for a bit of heat management due to the shorter length, though I enjoyed mine for almost an hour.  As a slower smoker, this is a great stick to have a box of in your humidor.

Tis the Season

Gourds make the best seasonal cigar rests.

Davidoff Master Blend Series – 15 count sampler

Davidoff Master Blend Series cigars highlight fifteen different flavors and strength profiles, all the brainchild Davidoff’s Master Blender Eladio Diaz. Inspired by Eladio Diaz’s travels, only the best tobaccos were brought together with the most rare and exceptional blends chosen to create the most unique palate simulating experiences. Growing regions include United States of America, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Peru.

To  make sure that everyone gets to enjoy these in the best format for them, Anthony’s is proud to provide this Davidoff line as a unique tasting opportunity in the form of a 15 stick sampler, or a three 5 stick sampler or singles. To help you make your decision, we’ve provided a quick overview of each blend. And as I write this blog, to make this more fun for me, I picked my personal favorite from the bunch, the Number 10, to smoke as I type.

Quick recommendation – you gotta get these, even if you don’t write cigar blogs for a living, because they are just too good to pass up.

While you can pick any of these Davidoff Master Blend Series sticks as singles, I’ve summarized each stick in the same way the 5 pack samplers come in.

• Blend Number 1 – A medium to full strength blend, with primary notes of pepper, wood and cream.
• Blend Number 2 – A medium blend strength stick, with primary notes of hazelnut, coffee and some chocolate. (Pair this with coffee for a delicious treat!)
• Blend Number 3 – A medium strength stick, with notes of natural tobacco sweetness and hints of wood.
• Blend Number 4 – A medium strength stick, with unique primary flavors of cinnamon, walnut and coffee. (Make this your dessert after dessert.)
• Blend Number 5 – A medium strength stick, the primary kick comes from the spice and slight cream flavor profile.

• Blend Number 6 – A medium strength stick, the primary flavor profiles are spices and slight natural tobacco sweetness.
• Blend Number 7 –   A medium strength stick, with notes of pepper, ginger and woody notes. (This flavor profile has a kick to it!)
• Blend Number 8 –  A medium strength stick, the primary flavor profiles being coffee, ginger and some creaminess.
• Blend Number 9 –  An almost full strength stick, the chocolate flavor profile dominates with notes of almond and vanilla.
• Blend Number 10 –  An almost medium strength stick, the primary flavor profiles are spices and slight natural tobacco sweetness. (My personal favorite!)

• Blend Number 11 –  An almost full strength stick, hazelnut and chocolate compete for primary flavor, with a touch of cream supporting.
• Blend Number 12 –  An almost full strength stick, big hits of pepper and spice flavors are rounded out with hunts of honey.
• Blend Number 13 –  A medium-full strength stick, the primary flavors are most unique with leather, mint (not sweet) and wood.
• Blend Number 14 –  A medium strength stick, the primary flavor profiles are wood, almonds and chocolate.
• Blend Number 15 –  A medium-full strength stick, the loudest flavors are caramel, pepper and ginger. (Have this instead of dessert.) 

Still can’t decide on your favorite blend? Why limit yourself?
Choose them all in the 15 count sampler pack! 

Caldwell Hit & Run Pre-Release Bundles are now here!

Anthony’s Cigar Emporium has received a few pre-release 10 ct. bundles of the Hit & Run before the dress boxes are released nationwide after the 2017 IPCPR.

The Caldwell Hit & Run cigar is a collaboration between Robert Caldwell, A.J. Fernandez, and Matt Booth.  It is comprised of Ecuadoran Habano wrapper, Indonesian binder and Dominican filler. Hit & Run will be lauched at the 2017 IPCPR and will come packaged in 10-count boxes in five formats: 46 x 6” Corona, 54 x 6” Toro, 52 x 4 ¾” Rothchild, 50 x 6” Piramide and a 60 x 5 1/8” Perfecto. The Caldwell Hit & Run is made at the William Ventura factory in the Dominican Republic.

Browse the Caldwell Hit & Run at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium by clicking here or the picture below.

Hit & Run will come packaged in 10-count boxes and offered in five sizes: 46 x 6″ Corona, 54 x 6″ Toro, 52 x 4 3/4″ Rothchilde, 50 x 6″ Piramide and 60 x 5 1/8″ Perfecto.

Foundation Cigars The Tabernacle

Anthony’s Cigar Emporium is getting the Foundation Cigars The Tabernacle.  The Foundation Cigars The Tabernacle is Foundation Cigar Company’s newest super premium cigar, boasting a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and some of Nicaragua’s finest fillers. It is a combination of tastes that calls on founder Nicholas Melillo’s roots in the Connecticut River Valley and also his work with the finest artisanal tobacco batches in Nicaragua. “I want to show my love for Connecticut Broadleaf,” says Melillo. “I was born in New Haven where, at the turn of the century, there were many cigar factories.” Beneath the Connecticut Broadlef wrapper, The Tabernacle uses a San Andreas Mexico binder and filler from Jamastran Valley in Honduras and the Esteli and Jalapa Valley in Nicaragua.

Also wanting to continue showcasing the flavors of northern Nicaragua, Melillo blended The Tabernacle at AJ Fernandez’s factory in Estelí. “AJ grows some of his tobacco on the farm, La Soledad, where I lived on when I first moved to Estelí in 2003. I know firsthand that AJ’s farm is blessed with the perfect location for growing filler tobaccos. He has incredible tobacco inventories and gave me full access to some of his best leaf for this project.”

The Foundation Cigars The Tabernacle box tells the story of the cigar’s name. The artwork features an image of none other than Haile Selassie, 225th King of Abyssinia, whose lineage traces directly to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The reference to “tabernacle” is as a container for the Ark of the Covenant.” The Tabernacle cigars are rolled in Nicaragua at Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA).

Winston Churchill The Late Hour – Arriving Soon!

Anthony’s Cigar Emporium, a Davidoff Appointed Merchant, has leaned that the new Winston Churchill The Late Hour is arriving soon.

Davidoff has amped up its popular Winston Churchill blend by adding Nicaraguan Condega tobaccos that are fermented six months in single malt Sacotch whisky barrels. The new blend is called Winston Churchill The Late Hour. The Winston Churchill The Late Hour has a shiny and oily Habano Ecuador wrapper, and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos that are grown in the mineral rich volcanic soils of Condega and Estelì, adding spiciness and depth of character to the cigar.

The Nicaraguan Condega Visus tobaccos are aged in Scotch single malt whisky casks and give a mysterious sweetness and depth of flavor. The leaves are firmly pressed inside the casks. As the temperature in the closed casks rises, the tobacco enters a fermentation process. For the next six months the tobacco absorbs the aromas of the cask and whisky. The cask aging is responsible for the sweet tones and the full flavor.

The Nicaraguan (Estelì Visus and Condega Visus) and Dominican (San Vicente Mejorado Visus, Piloto Seco and Olor Visus) filler tobaccos, the dark Mexican San Andrés binder, combined with the dark chocolate wrapper, provide very complex and robust flavors in the Winston Churchill The Late Hour. The Late Hour’s aromas tantalize the palate with varying layers of black pepper, dark coffee, sweetness, old leather, wood and spiciness.

To browse the Winston Churchill The Late Hour at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium, click here, or one of the pictures below.

Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour are packaged in 20 count black boxes.

Winston Churchill The Late Hour is offered in three formats.

Davidoff Master Selection 2013 – Shipping next week

Anthony’s Cigar Emporium, a Davidoff Appointed merchant, has just learned that the Davidoff Master Selection 2013 will be shipping next week.  Once only enjoyed by Davidoff Master Blender Eladio Diaz and very close friends, this private-blend connoisseur’s cigar is now available as a Davidoff limited release, and known as Eladio Diaz’s 60th Anniversary cigar. The Davidoff Master Selection 2013 has a complex profile, delivering a palate stimulation of sweet and spice, along with slight bitter characteristics while delivering flavors of sweet chocolate, oak, dark fruit, chocolate covered almonds, leather, and a hint of black pepper.

The Davidoff Master Selection 2013 is medium to full in strength; and is made with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a filler blend that includes Esteli and Condega Visus from Nicaragua, and Piloto Visus, Piloto Seco and San Vicente Mejorado Visus from the Dominican Republic. Only 1,250 boxes of 10 were released of this very rare, private blend of Eladio and each box is cabinet packaged with a signed warranty label from Eladio Diaz.

To browse the Davidoff Master Selection 2013,  click here or one of the pictures below.