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.
The biggest cigar event in New York City is coming December 5th. Cigar Aficionado’s annual “Big Smoke” attracts hundreds of cigar smokers from around the tri-state area, and it’s no wonder why. All attendees to the Big Smoke enjoy premium spirits, food, and also receive 30+ premium cigars from the hottest cigar brands, which makes the $240 ticket price a no-brainer. Here’s the link to purchase tickets.
This year, the Big Smoke is located at Pier 92 (711 12th Avenue at 52nd St and West Side Highway) and runs from 6:00pm to 9:30pm.
Cigars at this year’s NYC Big Smoke include:
Acid
Aging Room
A. J. Fernandez
Alec Bradley
Arturo Fuente
Cain
CAO
Casino Gold
Diamond Crown
H. Upmann Legacy
Joya de Nicaragua
Juan Lopez
Kismet
La Aroma de Cuba
La Flor Dominicana
La Gloria Cubana Serie R
Macanudo
My Father Cigars
Nat Sherman
Oliva Serie O
Padilla
Padrón
Partagas
PDR
Quesada
Rocky Patel
Sublimes
UnderCrown
Ventura
Villiger Talanga
FineTobaccoNYC is proud to support this Cigar Aficionado event, and we look forward to seeing you there! To purchase tickets, follow this link.
On October 23rd, The Carnegie Club hosted the “Fall Smoker” with special sponsorship from El Cedro Cigars and Johnnie Walker Platinum. During the event, more than 120 cigar smokers enjoyed the new line from El Cedro Cigars, which has received high reviews from many cigar reviewers (including this site as well). Guests also enjoyed a tasting of Johnnnie Walker Platinum, aged 18 years. The night also included live music and a raffle of a box of El Cedro Cigars and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Green Label.
“Fall Smoker” is part of a long-standing tradition of seasonal events offered by the Carnegie Club. For years, New York City cigar smokers have chosen the iconic cigar bar as a haven from busy life in the city. The Carnegie Club also partners with FineTobaccoNYC on cigar and whiskey pairings, including the new, original pairing series called “Straight Up & Toasted.”
Victor Hernandez of City Cigar Life recently announced via Instagram plans to hold a special photo shoot at the Cigar Inn 53rd and 2nd ave location. More specifics were forwarded to me by email:
Victor Hernandez, founder City Cigar Life
On Saturday November 16, 2013 Victor Tiburon Hernandéz Founder of CITY CIGAR LIFE, will host a photo shoot, for its upcoming website;www.CITYCIGARLIFE.com. To take place at Cigar Inn, at their 53rd Street location from 12-3pm. This is not just a photo shoot but a chance for all cigar lovers to come and meet and build.
Should you need further information please email me. Thank you very much.
A collaboration between three masters: The Macallan, Fabien Baron & Lalique
In a collaboration between three masters of their crafts, The Macallan has unveiled a limited edition luxury decanter, M. Partnering with renowned creative director Fabien Baron and crystal makers Lalique, The Macallan has created a beautifully designed and meticulously crafted crystal decanter containing precious and complex Macallan single malt whisky.
Just 1,750 crystal decanters of M, each engraved with its own individual number, are available worldwide. M’s whisky draws upon The Macallan’s classic full flavoured tradition with notes of abundant dried fruits, spices and orange citrus. With a rich natural colour, complexity and sumptuous intensity, the single malt isladen with character absorbed from the Spanish sherry oak casks that nurture it through the maturation process.
David Cox, Director of Fine and Rare, The Macallan,comments: “The coming together of three such masters has resulted in a truly beautiful creation, which specifically showcases the vital influence of The Macallan’s exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks and the craft of the Whisky Maker. The natural colour of M is stunning. A single malt of the most exquisite complexity and character, M will set a new standard in the world of decanters to become the iconic representation of The Macallan.”
Capturing the expressive aesthetic of Fabien Baron’s illustrious creative vision, M’s tall, slim dimensions and geometric form challenge the perceptions of traditional decanter design. Its sharp, angular facets gave inspiration to the name M itself, selected by Baron as a typographic representation of the decanter’s striking design.
Its six striking facets are Baron’s homage to The Macallan’s heritage, reflecting the six pillars at the heart of its ethos: The Spiritual Home – the breathtaking 390-acre Macallan Speyside estate where M was created; the distillery’s Curiously Small Stills, whose unique shape gives the spirit its fruity, rich character; The Finest Cut, the 16% of the new make spirit, the smallest figure in the industry, selected for maturation; Exceptional Oak Casks, acquired and cared for without thought to the cost, imparting its distinctive characteristics and flavour; Natural Colour created purely through the interaction between spirit and wood; and The Peerless Spirit, marking The Macallan’s unsurpassed place in the hearts of the world’s most discerning whisky drinkers.
Lalique has drawn on 150 years of crystal making, and its long standing relationship with The Macallan, to present M with flawless clarity. Fashioned in highest grade crystal, each hand crafted decanter unites proven tradition with striking originality.
Silvio Denz, President and CEO of Lalique, comments: “We have been delighted to have worked with our friends and long-time partners, The Macallan – with whom we have collaborated since 2004 – to realise this exquisite piece. The decanter styling is utterly unique in the world of decanters, and our masters of crystal have relished applying their most complex skills to this project to bring it to life.”
Fabien Baron, Founder and Creative Director of Baron & Baroncomments: “I love the craftsmanship and purity of The Macallan. It’s rare to find that level of quality today.”
M is available at specialist whisky retailers in the UK from October, RRP £3000.
NOTES TO EDITORS
M Tasting Notes
Colour: Rosewood
Nose: dried fruits ripen, then soften showing off a velvet sateen. Vanilla accompanies green apple hand in hand neither taking the lead. Ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon create an ensemble in the background, with polished oak offering to overstate yet never does but plays with a depth of resinous, juicy oranges
Palate: opens rich in wood spices slowly showing all their viscosity. Wood smoke flits in and out. The heavier raisin and sultana flavours then take over, meandering to a long full finish
44.7% abv
ABOUT THE MACALLAN
Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies. The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else. Today this remains the foundation for the worldwide fame of The Macallan and is such that it is truly “The Last Word” in luxury and at the heart of those special moments brought alive over a glass of The Macallan.
ABOUT FABIEN BARON
As the founder and creative director of Baron & Baron, Fabien Baron has crafted identities for the fashion, cosmetic and fragrance world’s most visible and influential brands. The creative director’s singular vision is evident in a broad range of award-winning advertising campaigns, package designs, logos and graphics. Baron has also applied his talents to the design of prominent magazines and books, including the role of Creative Director for Vogue Italia and Vogue Paris, and is renowned for his photography, as well as for directing ground breaking television commercials, music videos and online video content. Fabien Baron is currently the Editorial Director of Interview Magazine.
ABOUT LALIQUE
The LALIQUE story began with René Lalique (1860-1945), renowned as the inventor of modern jewellery who then became the Master in the art of glassmaking of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, with highly eclectic creations. René Lalique earned his title, “Sculpteur de Lumière”, from the richly sculptural craftsmanship and dramatic contrasts between clear and frosted finishes that define his work. Today, LALIQUE is internationally recognised as the undisputed Master of crystal, and offers crystal collections across five categories: decorative items, interior design, jewellery, art and fragrances. The vision of LALIQUE is to celebrate the creative genius of founder René Lalique by pushing the limits of the factory by creating distinctive decorative objects, issuing superb perfume bottles in crystal, reviving breathtaking jewellery designs, carrying out major architectural projects, working with renowned artists to produce limited edition works of art in crystal; and recreate its cultural heritage, something eternally precious. LALIQUE continues to thrive as a global lifestyle luxury brand, standing for craftsmanship, excellence and creativity.
The 2013 Smoker Social is an exclusive cigar and spirits pairing featuring premium Rum from Brugal, cigars from Turei Cigars, live jazz, give-aways, and more. The social will be held at Merchants New York Cigar Bar. This iconic venue features a world-class decor and full dinner and bar service. Tickets are limited. Dress code is business casual: no shorts, t-shirts or sandals.
Ticket price: $20 via EventBrite and $25 at the door.
The award-winning Brugal 1888 combines a distinctively dry style of spirit with a proprietary aging process to produce a complex and layered rum that is truly unique. The product starts with a clean and dry distillate, which is then aged to maturity for 6-8 years in American Oak Casks, followed by a 2-4 year ageing in Oloroso Sherry Casks – the same casks used to mature the world’s finest single malt. The finished product is smooth, rich and full bodied while still retaining the distinctively dry style that separates Brugal from all other rums on the market.
The Brugal distillery leverages the expertise of The Edrington Groups’s Master of Wood, George Espie, who runs The Macallan and Highland Park Scotch Whisky’s Cask Management Systems. Under The Edrington Group’s guidance, the casks in which 1888 is both double-distilled and double-matured are handcrafted or hand-picked to ensure the finest of aging conditions. With Brugal 1888, the rum’s unique flavors shine through and are not overwhelmed by the sweetness generally associated with rum; it is undoubtedly a world class rum.
Tasting Notes
Color: The light enhances its dark amber hues and bright, clean color.
Nose: Fascinatingly complex, with spiced nuances, hints of chocolate, of roasted coffee, cinnamon and other dried fruits.
Palate: On the palate, pleasant, smooth and full-bodied. Its finish has nuances of toffee caramel, wood and liquorice.
Aftertaste: Brugal 1888 leaves a slightly sweet and long lasting aftertaste, with a sublime taste which denotes perfection.
Expert crafting of rums aged 2 to 5 years in white American Oak Casks. Using traditions and skills passed down through five generations, our Maestros Roneros craft rums that provide the consistent quality and distinctive style that Brugal demands.
Tasting Notes
Color: Amber, bright and clean.
Nose: Light aroma of wood with hints of chocolate.
Palate: Dry in an overall sense. Buttery in the mouth with a slight hint of caramel and wood tannin.
Aftertaste: Long, dry and pleasant.
Turei Puro Sol
After a series of complex trials and broad acceptance at IPCPR 2012, Hugo F. Melo, a fourth generation master blender and President of Hispaniola Cigars, decided the time was right to release Turei.
The Turei line includes three Dominican puro blends, each offered in a single vitola. The blends feature four-year aged tobaccos to deliver maximum complexity and flavor.
Turei cigars deliver a broad spectrum of flavor experiences, from medium bodied floral and roasted coffee notes to full bodied profiles with light pepper, dark cocoa, cinnamon, and brown sugar. The release of the Turei line follows on the heels of the immensely popular offerings from Hispaniola Cigars, which Hugo Melo launched in 2002.
