Brand evangelist, digital marketer, cigar and spirits expert specializing in consumer tasting and educational events. Matthias made the long trek from his hometown of Portland, Oregon to New York City in 2007, and in nine years has hosted more than 120 events and helped promote and launch dozens of cigar and whiskey brands in the U.S. In 2016, he joined the Cigar Journal Tasting Panel, blind-reviewing pre and new release cigars.
I was gifted this Hiram & Solomon Shriner at a Fine Tobacco NYC cigar event hosted at Club Macanudo. On to the review, shall we?
Blend specifics
Wrapper – Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder – Two regions from Nicaragua
Filler – Dominican, Brazilian
Appearance and construction
The Shriner features a single, medium sized band bearing the Hiram and Solomon branding. The cigar itself features a beautiful, chocolate brown Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper that is covered in a light oily sheen. The draw after using the straight cut is perfect, with a medium amount of resistance.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristic
Opens silky smooth with lots of oak, milk chocolate, and slight earthiness. An impressive opening, and it becomes evident as the cigar progresses that the burn and construction are flawless.
The second third picks up in strength to a solid medium, with an earthy spiciness and toasted nuts. The added flavors pair very nicely with the chocolaty notes that are still present. As the second third progresses, the flavor becomes even more assertive, with a bouquet of kitchen spices entering, bringing the smoke to full body. Very, very good.
The final third draws the strength down a touch, bringing all the flavors together marvelously.
Conclusion
Anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for complexity, and the Shriner delivers in that category brilliantly.
In early April, Davidoff launched the new and highly anticipated Chef’s Edition cigar at their NYC flagship at Brookfield Place. Running about $30, the cigar is comprised of an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, Ecuadorian Connecticut binder, and four Dominican fillers including: piloto viso, San Vicente mejorado seco, San Vicente mejorado viso and San Vicente viso. The composition of the cigar is impressive, but Davidoff took the development of the Chef’s Edition to a new level by leveraging the combined palates of the Davidoff Master Blenders with six of the world’s top chefs.
From Davidoff:
For the first time in history, the Davidoff masterblenders have collaborated with six of the world’s top chefs to create Davidoff’s latest cigar creation, the “Davidoff Chefs Edition.” The cigar was crafted to be a perfect partner to round off an exquisite gourmet meal and augment the enjoyment of the memorable conversations that typically follow these meals.
Peter Knogl, Maria Marte, Léa Linster, Ali Güngörmüs, Michel Trama, and Renato Wüst applied their refined palates in influencing masterblenders in blending this unique cigar.
“The Davidoff Chefs Edition offers fine dining an exceptional cigar for connoisseurs to enjoy after a culinary experience. This unique partnership with some of the world’s greatest chefs has been highly inspiring for our masterblenders to blend a memorable cigar,” believes Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, gourmet and CEO of Oettinger Davidoff AG.
At the event, Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, Global CEO at Davidoff discussed the new Chef’s Edition and answered questions about the future of the company. Guests and press tasted the Chef’s Edition alongside cognacs from Camus, including the Camus Elegance XO and Camus Borderies XO.
The Davidoff Chefs Edition are available at selected Appointed Merchants in the US and at Davidoff Flagship Stores.
According to DNA Info, Sugar East, formerly Merchants NY Cigar bar, is now re-opened. And NYC cigarette smokers can rejoice, because Abraham Merchant has apparently decided to utilize the grandfathered smoking permit that once allowed Merchants NY Cigar Bar to function.
Cigar smokers hopeful that Merchants would “reopen” as a cigar friendly Sugar East are out of luck. After looking at the website and noticing the word “cigar” conspicuously absent, I emailed Stefan Ching, GM at Merchants Hospitality Group, to clarify. His response:
The owners at Sugar East are clearly focusing on a very different vibe from Merchants NY Cigar Bar. Such a large departure from the previous brand, in my mind, indicates that cigar smoking will permanently be a thing of the past at Sugar East.
It isn’t every day that big news about a New York cigar bar happens, so we will be following this story closely and updating this article as the facts roll in.
Here’s more information about the new spot.
The venue is described as having “the mahogany, leather, brass, bronze and booze to transport patrons back to a time when men and women could grab a late-night cocktail and a smoke.”
The creators of Sugar East, according to its website, understand the new night-life spot this way:
“Elements of the decadent Havana High Life are integrated throughout visual and edible elements, including a nod to the fact that Sugar East is one of the seven remaining venues in New York City where tastemakers and troublemakers alike can grab a cocktail and an otherwise forbidden indoor late-night cigarette.
Back in stock! Ventura Cigar Company is expanding distribution of archetype chapter 2.
Back by popular demand, Ventura Cigar Company is pleased to announce that the Archetype Chapter 2 Cigars, Initiation and Axis Mundi, have been restocked, and will now be shipping to premium tobacco retailers nationwide. Initially available only at select tobacconists, the Chapter 2 cigars sold out almost immediately in July 2016, when demand surpassed the available supply. With inventory restored, these Drew Estate-produced cigars will be more readily obtainable for fans of the Archetype brand.
“The exceptional blends of the Initiation and Axis Mundi cigars are unchanged in this second release,” says Benjamin Winokur, Marketing Manager, Ventura Cigar Company. “We’ve updated the artwork on the bands, but have otherwise left the perfection of these smokes alone. The only real difference of this batch versus the initial Chapter 2 release is its wider distribution. Initiation and Axis Mundi will finally be easier for customers to find. And that’s something to be excited about.”
The entire Archetype Cigar collection has been a favorite of customers and retailers since it was launched at the 2016 IPCPR show. Artfully crafted with rich, flavorful tobaccos, the cigars in both Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 have enjoyed media attention, garnering top ratings and reviews for their complex, yet balanced smokes.
“We are pleased that Archetype Cigars have been so well-received,” says Jason Carignan, CMO of Kretek, parent company of Ventura Cigar Company. “We really looked at creating a unique experience for the smoker- from the tobacco blends to the design of the packaging and references to transcendental legend. Now that both Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 blends are readily available, we hope the collection continues to gain traction as people explore the breadth of the brand.”
Initiation has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, and features an intriguing blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos with a surprising mix of floral notes, white sage, and orange zest that intensify throughout the smoke. It is available in four sizes: Corona (5 x 46), Robusto (5 x 54), Toro (6 x 52), and Churchill (7 x 48), and retails from $10.25 to $13.
Archetype Initiation
Axis Mundi features a Maduro Habano wrapper, and offers a well-balanced blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos that deliver complex flavor layers of spice, dried figs, maple syrup, and charred oak. It is available in four sizes: Corona (5 x 46), Robusto (5 x 54), Toro (5 x 52), and Churchill (7 x 48), and retails from $10.75 to $14.
Archetype Axis Mundi
Initiation and Axis Mundi are both created in collaboration with Drew Estate, produced at their Nicaraguan factory, La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate. The Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 Archetype Cigars are both available at top-level tobacconist stores, online and on-shelf. For more information about the different blends and where to find them, please visit www.venturacigar.com .
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About Ventura Cigar Company
Ventura Cigar Company (VCC) is a boutique cigar brand born in sunny southern California that is on a mission to create memorable, complex cigar blends that excite the senses and reward discriminating palates. Their flagship brands include Case Study, PSyKo SEVEN and Archetype, the latter of which offer multiple award-winning blends that have earned 90+ ratings in Cigar Aficionado, Cigar & Spirits, and Cigar Snob. Other popular VCC brands include the 91-rated Project 805 featuring rare Andullo tobacco, Estilo Cubano, Pura Sangre, and the flavor-infused Pacific Twyst. Ventura Cigar Company also distributes the 4th Generation and Comoy’s of London brand of pipe tobacco products, extending its reach and tradition of offering top-quality tobacconist products. Pipes and blends under these brands are cultivated through generations of craftsmanship, making them longtime favorites of pipe tobacco enthusiasts.
About Drew Estate
Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world. Under their mantra “The Rebirth of Cigars”TM, Drew Estate has led the “Boutique Cigar” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that have attracted new and traditional cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Herrera Estelí Norteño, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Natural by Drew Estate, Nica Rustica, Nirvana, Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, Tabak Especial, Undercrown, and Java by Drew Estate. To learn more about Archetype Initiation, Archetype Axis Mundi and all of Drew Estate’s IPCPR releases, visit http://drewestate.com/ipcpr.
I happened across a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch 10 Year Triple Grain (called “Johnnie Walker 10 year Triple Grain” for the remainder of the review–too much of a mouthful) at my local liquor store and was intrigued enough to pick it up. I’m glad I did.
Interestingly, as of my writing of this article (2/14/2017), there’s almost zero information about this product available online. The whisky isn’t even listed on the Johnnie Walker website under the “Limited Edition” category. Either way, the bottle came with a bit of information. This whisky is a blend of 10 year whiskies from the Port Dundas, Mortlach, and Cardhu distilleries. The bottle’s “Blender Notes” includes this description:
“Three Grain whiskies using wheat, barley and corn – blended with select Malts. Sweet and creamy with fresh fruits and gentle, spicy smoke. Aged 10 years in American oak casks.”
On with the review…
Product Specifics
Brand: Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky
Distillery: combination of Port Dundas, Mortlach, and Cardhu distilleries
Age: 10 years
ABV: 41.3% ABV (82.6 proof)
Nose
The nose is gentle, but complex, with hints of fresh-sliced bananas, vanilla, sweet maltiness, all rounded off with a touch of sea-salt.
Palate
On entry, this scotch tingles the tip of my tongue. As the liquid expands in my mouth, the flavor is complex and balanced, with sweet spiciness, hints of vanilla, caramel, touches of smoke, charcoal, and salt.
Finish
The finish is long and pleasing, with cereal and sweet maltiness followed by hints of sea salt and light smokiness.
Conclusion
Other blogs will surely go into much more detail about the origins and innovations of Johnnie Walker 10 Year Triple Grain. As for your humble servant, this is a scotch I recommend. It has most all that I look for in a quality offering: complexity, balance of competing flavors, and a mix of sweetness, spice, and smoke.
If my local liquor store wasn’t currently closed, I’d be walking over now to pick up at least another bottle. At $33/bottle, I could see this bottle being a standard on my shelf, alongside my other standards at this price point (Monkey Shoulder and Tomatin 12 year to name two).
