Davidoff Golf Limited Masters Edition 2015

Davidoff Golf Limited Masters Edition 2015
Made by: Davidoff of Geneva
Country: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Dominican Criollo
Filler: Dominican blend of Piloto Volado, San Vicente Visus, Piloto Visus, and Hybrid Corojo/Olor Seco
Dimensions: 6″ x 54 Toro and 5″ x 52 Robusto

 

Only 3,000 8-count boxes available worldwide per Davidoff.

Reserve your box today at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium’s website and ensure you don’t miss out on this release.

 

Ashton VSG Cigar Event in Tucson, Arizona

Our events are something of a legend in the cigar world around Tucson. Typically, we feature a brand or vendor and host a representative, VP, and sometimes even a Master Blender or Owner, who will come and educate you on the cigar being featured.

This event features Ashton’s VSG line of cigars, and we’ll be hosting Mike Watman at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium on Grant and Swan.

The VSG comes in a variety of sizes – from box pressed to traditional robustos and churchills.

If you don’t know about the VSG line from Ashton, the VSG is for those who desire a powerful and intoxicating flavor with a complex rich finish. The VSG is blended exclusively for Ashton by Carlos Fuente Jr. using 4 to 5 year old aged Dominican tobacco.

The distinct flavor of VSG comes from its wrapper grown on a private estate in Ecuador owned by the Oliva family where this proprietary wrapper leaf is grown for the Fuente Family exclusively for Ashton.

The leaf is taken from the higher primings and matures slowly by sunlight filtered through the region’s natural cloud covering.

A fantastic smoke for new and experienced smokers alike, one of the best things about Ashton is their consistency. When you smoke an Ashton, the quality control on their cigars is such that the smoke will be consistent in flavor in every box, a feat managed by only the highest quality of producers.

New Perdomo Small Batch Series

The new and highly anticipated Perdomo Small Batch Series is coming soon.  Anthony’s Cigar Emporium will receive its shipment of the first release of this line, the Connecticut Shade blend by the end of the month.

According to the Perdomo Press Release:

“The Perdomo Small Batch Series takes “small batch” to the next level. Hand‐crafted from a rare collection of 10 year aged tobaccos, the Perdomo Small Batch Series is carefully blended with smaller leaves that have the perfect balance of flavor, strength, and aroma. Perdomo has created this stunning line of small premium hand‐crafted cigars by combining the finest bourbon barrel aged wrappers with these rare and exquisite 10 year aged filler tobaccos. Offered in an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, a Nicaraguan Sun Grown wrapper, or a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper, each blend in the Perdomo Small Batch Series delivers rich, complex flavors with a smooth elegant finish. 

The first release, scheduled for March 2015, will be in a beautiful Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, offering a rich smoke with a creamy complexity, slight hints of caramel and cedar, with a smooth, elegant finish. The second release, scheduled for April 2015, will be in a rich Nicaraguan Sun Grown wrapper, offering a smooth smoke with a spicy‐sweet complexity, slight hints of oak and almond, with a rich, satisfying finish. The third release, scheduled for May 2015, will be in an oily Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper, offering a smooth smoke with a natural sweet complexity, hints of dark cocoa and coffee, with a rich, robust finish.  The Perdomo Small Batch is limited to 3,000 boxes per size, per wrapper and is available at a select group of retailers worldwide.”

Each blend is offered in the following sizes:  Half Corona (4″ x 46), Rothschild (4 1/2″ x 50), Belicoso (5″ x 54), and Toro Especial (5 1/2″ x 54).

We tried the Half Corona of the Connecticut blend and the Belicoso of the Maduro blend.  Each was superbly crafted, with the Connecticut having wood and toasty notes that build into a delicately spicy finish and the Maduro blend having coffee and earthy notes that also build into a delicately spicy finish.  We agree with Perdomo that the cigars would pair well with the finest small batch whiskeys and bourbons, as they are complex without being overpowering. We find the Perdomo Small Batch Series medium bodied.

Perdomo Small Batch Series
Made by: Tabacalera Perdomo
Country: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut, Nicaraguan Sun Grown, & Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Dimensions: Half Corona(4″ x 46), Rothschild(4 1/2″ x 50), Belicoso(5″ x 54), Toro Especial (5 1/2″ x 54)

 Use Promo Code: SMALLBATCH10 to get 10% off all pre-orders of Perdomo Small Batch Series

Reserve your Perdomo Small Batch Series now!

Tatuaje Noella Reserva and Regio Reserva

To celebrate the 10^th anniversary of Tatuaje in 2013, Pete Johnson released special editions like the Belle Encre, the Bon Chasseur, and the Gran Chasseur.  These highly sought-after sticks were made in Nicaragua at the Garcia family’s  My Father Factory in Esteli, instead of its El Rey de los Habanos factory in Miami, where the Seleccion del Cazador (Brown label) cigars are usually constructed.   Also released in 2013 for the 10^th anniversary and made by the My Father factory in Esteli were two Seleccion del Cazador sizes, the Noella (5 1/8” x 42 Corona) and the Regio (5 ½” x 50 Robusto), that were made with a rich and oily Connecticut Broadleaf USA wrapper instead of the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper of the regular production Seleccion del Cazador.  These cigars with the Maduro wrapper were released as the Tatuaje Noella Reserva and the Tatuaje Regios Reserva.

The Noella Reserva and the Regio Reserva maintain the characteristic Tatuaje blend that incorporate rich spice, leather, and wet earth, but the robust Maduro wrapper imparts aromas of dark chocolate and espresso that give an added layer of complexity.  The Noella Reserva and the Regio Reserva are medium to full bodied cigars that are satisfying to the novice seeking a smooth smoke and the experienced smoker seeking flavor complexity.

Tatuaje Noella Reserva and Regio Reserva
Made by: My Father for Tatuaje
Country: Esteli, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf USA
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Dimensions: 5 1/8″ x 50 Corona (Noella) and 5 1/2″ x 50 Robusto (Regio)

Only 2,500 25 count boxes each of the Noella Reserva and the Regio Reserva were released for the 10^th Anniversary. Tatuaje originally planned to make them a regular production release of 2,000 boxes for each size in the years following.  However, and most unfortunately, the regular production Noella Reserva and the Regio Reserva did not materialize.  According to Pete Johnson: “This will be the last we will see of the Noella and Regios Reservas for years to come so don’t miss out on picking up a few before they are gone for good.”

Anthony’s Cigar Emporium has a limited number of  Tatuaje Noella Reserva and Regio Reserva boxes left.  For our sincere gratitude and appreciation of our Blog Readers, Anthony’s Cigar Emporium’s website is offering a 10% off Promo Code for all Tatuaje Noella Reserva and Regio Reserva cigars.

Use Promo Code “RESERVA10” to get your 10% discount on Tatuaje Noella Reservas and Regio Reservas.

Also, all box purchases come with Free Ground Shipping and a special Tatuaje 3-pack that contains a Tatuaje Black Robusto (an event only release) and two other Tatuaje made cigars!

Since supplies are limited to what we have on hand, ensure that you don’t miss out on this classic Tatuaje.  Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Buy Tatuaje Noella Reservas and Regio Reservas at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium Now

 Jericho Hill Shots in Stock

All Crowned Heads available at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium

Crowned Heads, the Nashville based boutique cigar company, which last year released two limited editions, Las Calaveras EL 2014 and TAA Exclusive Angel’s Anvil along with a new all box-pressed regular production line, Jericho Hill.  Continuing with Crowned Head’s musical themes, the Jericho Hill derives from Johnny Cash’s “Cocaine Blues.” Each of these smokes were well received by our customers and the limited editions were sold out within a month at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

 The Jericho Hill line was first regular production Nicaraguan cigar coming from Jon Huber (co-owner) and Crowned Heads. They are meticulously crafted in the Garcia family’s My Father Cigars S. A. Factory, in Esteli Nicaragua like the Las Calaveras EL 2014, as opposed to the earlier Four Kicks, Headley Grange, and J.D. Howard Reserve lines that all came from E.P. Carrillo’s Tabacalaera La Alianza in the Dominican Republic

Jon Huber of Crowned Heads has introduced a limited production vitola in the Jericho Hill line, the Shot, a 4 ½” x 42 short corona. The Shot is a quick smoke but with all the rich and robust flavor of the entire Jericho Hill line. The cigar has a slightly sweet dry cocoa taste with subtle hints of spice, earth and leather with a thick smoke that has aromas of cedar. The dark San Andres wrapper may look unpretentious, but its flavor is complex and rich. Its flavor marries to the earthy and leathery Nicaraguan filler and binder exquisitely. Being a medium to full bodied smoke in a short size, the Shot is remarkably smooth with no traces of harshness that sometimes accompany new releases.

Jericho Hill Special Release Shots
Made by: My Father for Crowned Heads
Country: Esteli, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Dimensions: 4 1/2 x 42 Boxed Pressed Short Corona

In an email to Halfwheel, Mr. Huber said: “Jericho Hill Shots is our concept of a seasonal (winter) release which will address the necessity during the cold months for a short, quick smoke that is also a little flavor bomb. Total production for 2015 will be limited to 50,000 cigars; however, if all goes as planned, we’ll see ‘Shots’ again in Winter 2016.”

There were a total of 1,000 50 count boxes of Jericho Hill Shots produced and Anthony’s Cigar Emporium has them in stock now!

Buy your Jericho Hill Shots now at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium and receive free shipping on all box purchases. Supplies are limited and we may not see these until Winter 2016, if at all…

Also be on the lookout for the 2015 Las Calaveras; in case you missed the 2014 limited release, or you fell in love with the 2014 Edicion Limitada. In 2015, Las Calaveras is planned to be a regular production cigar from Crowned Heads. Add it to your wish list, and you’ll be notified immediately when we have the regular production 2015 blend in stock.

Illusione ECCJ 20th Now In Stock

The Illusione’s ~ECCJ~ 20th edition release was on back order, but they are now in stock at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.  Buy your box from Anthy’s Cigar Emporium’s website while supplies last and enjoy free shipping.  The Illusione ~eccj~ 20th was showcased at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show and sold out quickly.

In 2008, Illusione Cigars launched a limited edition cigar to commemorate European Cigar Cult Journal’s 15th anniversary called (appropriately) the Illusione ~eccj~.  This year, Dion Giolito of illusione has decided to bring back the ~eccj~ to coincide with 20th anniversary of Cigar Journal, formerly the European Cigar Cult Journal.

The cigar has silky and beautiful rosado Epernay wrapper. Illusione indicated the filler blend has been modified from the original. Like many Illusione blends it features Nicaraguan Criollo 98 and Corojo 99.  The ~eccj~ 20th is a Nicaraguan puro with a rich and smooth taste and complex, buttery  flavors, a toasty and cedary aroma, and a medium to full body.

~eccj~ 20th edition
Made by: illusione
Country: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Rosado
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Dimensions: 6 1/2 x 48 Toro

Viaje Jalapenos – Arriving Next Week

The brand new Viaje Jalapenos have been shipped to Anthony’s Cigar Emporium and will be arriving next week.  This much anticipated release coincides with the acclaimed Chicharrones.

The Viaje Jalapeño will be released in one size – a 4 7/8 x 51 figuardo. The cigar will have green foil wrap and a new Viaje wrapper which convey the spicy hot pepper theme. The Jalapeño is packed in 25 count boxes.

Andre Farkas of Viaje Cigars describes the Jalapeno:

“Plump, juicy and packed with flavor. Grown at our farms in Honduras, these have been hand picked at the peak of ripeness. Here at Viaje, we like to take things slow. By taking our time, using traditional farming methods and doing things the old fashioned way, we’ve perfected the ultimate balance of heat and flavor in our products. We invite you to enjoy one of our hot peppers and indulge in one of life’s simple pleasures.”

Viaje has not disclosed the blend.  The cigars will be made at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, where most Viaje lines are produced.

To order Viaje Jalapenos visit the Anthony’s Cigar Emporium’s website.

Made by: Viaje
Country: Honduras
Wrapper: Not Disclosed
Binder: Not Disclosed
Filler: Not Disclosed
Dimensions: 4 7/8 x 51 Figurado

Curivari’s Cafe Noir 54 is one of 9 lines that Curivari makes, all of which have impressed us in their performance, flavor, and consistency.

Made by: Curivari
Country: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Dimensions: 5.5 x 54

Anthony’s Cigar Emporium started carrying Curivari mid 2014, right about when I started working at the store level at Anthony’s on Campbell and River. While they weren’t really “New” (technically, the company started distributing in 2013), they were new to our humidors, and an interesting change from the traditional 20 count or more boxes. In small, rectangular 10 count boxes, we opted to initially carry 6 of their lines… until we tried one. Have they won any awards? Maybe not formally, but in my top 25 cigars of the year list, Curivari would have all 9 of their offerings tied for first place. I apologize in advanced if this review reads like a fanboy publication, but I promise you, I’m not just blowing smoke (heh) – If I can encourage anyone to try a new cigar this year, it would be any – and all – of Curivari’s offerings.

I want everyone to know the joy I’ve discovered in Curivari, so as of the posting of this review, You can get 10% off all Curivari in stock, by applying code curivari10 in your Anthony’s Cigar Emporium shopping cart! This promo code works on both boxes AND sticks!

On to the tasting!

First Third:

I’ll usually punch or traditional cut the Curivari Cafe Noir 54, depending upon how fast I feel like smoking. Unlike other cigars, Cafe Noir, Buenaventura, El Gran Rey, Reserva Limitada 1000’s, Classica, and Selection Privada are all very forgiving in regards to smoking speed. I do find that the Achilles, Gloria De Leon, and Cafe lines prefer to be smoked a little slower to really pull out the flavor.

With a very easy, smooth draw, the Cafe Noir 54 initially starts with a chocolate flavor that quickly moves into a raw vanilla bean within the first inch, with a grassy and fresh finish on the palate. Buttery and nutty on the retrohale, there’s a very rich and full toastiness to the smoke, but not enough nicotine to scare off mild smokers, though I’d put the cigar on the whole in the mild to medium category.

Second Third:

With the second third all to quickly in sight, the transition and development of flavors are subtle. Usually, when that’s the case, I’ll resort to retrohaling to amplify the change.

I occasionally do a full-retrohale – instead of 50% air / 50% smoke, Ill exhale all the way, and do a full 100% smoke exhale. On stronger cigars, this is a terrible idea. If you do it with an LFD, you’re going to ruin your palate.

On the Cafe Noir 54, however, you get nothing but an amplified buttercream note with a bright grassy finish that functions almost as a pallate cleanser.

Moving out of the second third, the grass moves away and a leather joins the buttery creaminess.

Last Third:

At this point, the cigar is a solid medium – as it develops, it moves deeper into leather, a slight note of baking spices and earthy notes, moving away from the initial grass and buttery cream. This is a cigar I always smoke to the nub – I don’t want to put it down when my finger tips are burning, but it’s sadly apparent that the cigar is done.

Final Thoughts:

With medium smoke production, the real star of the show is Curivari’s blend – the flavors are so harmonious and the transitions between thirds very defined, but not shocking or sudden.

As I’ve smoked so many, I can also confidently say that Curvari’s construction and draw is exceptional, both in consistency and as a smoking experience on the whole. I have never had a Curivari draw poorly, and even when the wrapper pops or cracks, the flavor is minimally affected.

The size differences within each line influence the smoking time – I don’t know how they’ve done it, but the difference between a Cafe Noir 54 and a Cafe Noir 62 is how long the smoke lasts. An incredible feat considering within most other brands the size has a substantial influence on flavor.

In conclusion, if you haven’t tried Curivari, I seriously urge you to give it a smoke. We have them in stock, and as I mentioned at the start of this review, we’re offering 10% all our Curivari stock with promo code: curivari10

Buy now!

Davidoff’s new Winston Churchill is a change from the old blend, and the old marketing materials – and the change, is good.

Made by: Davidoff of Geneva
Country: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Nicaraguan, Domincan Republic
Dimensions: 5 1/4 x 52

Davidoff is famous for their high end cigars, with mild to medium bodied cigars in a variety of blends, and a militant devotion to consistency and quality. If you ask anyone around Anthony’s Cigar Emporium what their favorite high end cigar is, they’re going to scoot you right over to the Davidoff counter. What you’ll notice right off the bat is a high price point, but as anyone will tell you – you get what you pay for.

Davidoff’s new Winston Churchill is no exception. While the old line didn’t really have much in the way of distinguishing features, the remake has been exceptionally well received by the staff at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium, and we all agree – if you’re a mild to medium bodied cigar smoker, you’re going to want to spend some time with Davidoff’s new Winston Churchill.

Interested in buying a box? With any Winston Churchill box purchase, receive a free 4 pack of the same size!

On to the tasting!

First Third:

I should probably preface this review by stating that I personally am not a big Davidoff fan. I like full bodied cigars, and a lot of the nuances of mild to medium cigars are lost on me. I wasn’t expecting much from the Winston Churchill “The Statesman”, as I’d had the old blend a long while back, and I was not impressed. When Mike offered me the cigar to review for the blog, and I lit up, however…

Pre-light aromas are hay and natural tobacco, very light and delicate, but as soon as the heat starts the leaves toasting, a beautiful cinnamon and honey note join in and merge with the flavors of hay and delicate earth. So far, I’m impressed. No mild cigar has ever impacted me this way.

Second Third:

An exceptionally easy draw, I don’t have to fight the cigar to keep it going, and I’m actually paying attention to how fast I’m smoking, due to the deceptively comfortable ease with which I’m puffing.

Slower seems to be the key – if I puff too fast, I get flavors of grass, and the cigar gets harsh. If I take my time, the second third stays consistent to the first, with slightly more hay, and less of a sweet honey. Earth and grasses tend to be more forward in this third, especially after a 100% retrohale, but are joined by a lingering finish of fresh-ground coffee bean.

Last Third:

Subtle developments in flavor return the grass and amplify the fresh-ground coffee bean flavors, without being overpowering or boring. This, in my opinion, would be a solid cigar for the morning cigar lovers looking for flavors to compliment their first cup of coffee.

Usually with such a uniform smoke and slight variation, I wouldn’t be interested in smoking to the nub, but the Winston Churchill is just a stick I can’t put down.

Final Thoughts:

I’m impressed. If I had to smoke mild cigars for the rest of my life, this is it.

This is definitely a cigar to be enjoyed by itself, or with a very light coffee. You might get away with a clean drink, too – a buttery Irish Whiskey (like Tullamore Dew), or Hendrick’s gin and tonic. Anything too strong or something that lingers in the mouth would ruin the delicate complexity this cigar offers.

While I smoked “The Statesman” for this review, the flavor does seem to change based on the vitola you smoke – I prefer The Statesman and The Artist over the larger Toro and Aristocrat. While the flavors are similar, they seem to be significantly more prominent in the smaller vitolas.

As a final note, I smoked The Aristocrat a couple days later with a cup of coffee, and a lot of the lighter characteristics morphed into a beautiful ephemeral leather, and then dipped back into the grass, hay, and earth that I noticed when I smoked The Statesman.

Interested in trying Davidoff’s new Winston Churchill cigars? We have them in stock!

Remember, if you buy a box, you’ll also get a free four pack of the same size.

Buy now!

La Flor Dominicana Beer Stein – Limited Edition

Occasionally, a limited edition cigar will come out from a cigar brand that we just so happen to love. Even more occasionally, that Limited Edition comes in a unique box, special display case, jar… or sometimes, a Beer Stein.

With a mineral and earthy note to start, a citrus flavor and chocolaty notes, you’d think the LFD would go full bodied fast – but you’d be surprised! Compared to the Ligero and Double Ligero lines, the 1994 is a medium bodied smoke with enough complexity to confund even the most complicated palates.

As if La Flor Dominicana wasn’t legit enough to roll us our own special blended cigar for Anthony’s Cigar Emporium’s 20th Anniversary, they’ve now come out with a Limited Edition of their 1994 blend, in a beer stein. This thing is a BEAST – I’m thinking you could fit at least a pitcher of beer in the stein – after you’ve removed your cigars of course.

The jar itself isn’t sealed, so we recommend putting the sticks in a separate humidor before putting your stein out for display – but trust us, you’re going to want to display this bad boy.

The Cigars themselves are the traditional 1994 blend, but as noted in the article by Halfwheel, you can only get this vitola in the Beer Stein release. Halfwheel rated it 87, and compared to the rest of the 1994s, they call it a “very good release overall”.

The La Flor Dominicana Beer Stein is really hefty – even with the cigars out of the Stein, it’s still exceptionally heavy.

With the cigars inside, the Stein is nigh unliftable. Due to the top not sealing, we recommend you put your cigars in a separate humidor, instead of storing them in the Stein.

The cigars themselves look equally beautiful, and while the Stein is definitely the focus of this limited edition, don’t discount the fact that each stein comes with 20 – 6 x 54 “Beer Stein” cigars.

Order your Stein today!