I came across Jeffers Creek whiskey after I saw it on sale at Gary’s Wine and Marketplace on Route 23 in NJ for $20. I had stayed away from it the last time I visited because it looked clearly like a cheap knockoff of Old Weller Antique wheat whiskey, but I noticed it had a […]
Rakesh “Rocky” Patel sold his Hollywood legal practice in the early 1990s, the dawn of the Cigar Boom, and moved to Honduras to learn the art of cigar production. Patel strove for one simple thing: Perfection. His company, initially dubbed Indian Tabac, was launched in 1995. Twenty years later, Patel and his company (renamed Rocky […]
Hiram and Solomon aims to honor the tradition, culture, and fraternity of the Freemason brotherhood. The company is headquartered in Tom’s River, New Jersey, while the cigars themselves are rolled in the Dominican Republic. The Fellowcraft is the company’s intermediate outfit, with the Entered Apprentice serving as the novice line, and the Master Mason as […]
It’s one thing to simply buy a cigar for yourself; it’s another thing to buy a cigar for yourself and for a veteran too. Introducing the American Legion line, produced by the Blanco Cigar Company. Produced in the Estelí region of Nicaragua, this line of cigars bears the crest of the organization of the same […]
The other evening I picked up some Slaughter House American Whiskey for a choice tasting. For those that may not know Slaughter House is a creation from wine Rock Star Dave Phinney of Orion Swift Cellars fame. This is the man who created “The Prisoner” red blend in 2000 which catapulted his company into legendary […]
I’m sitting in a comfy chair inside Lehman Cigars, a cozy, family-owned shop and lounge on Bedford Park Boulevard in the North Bronx near the Botanic Garden, with Aging Room’s latest creation in my hand. Aging Room first made major cigar headlines in 2013; years of blending and experimentation earned their F55 cigar the No. 2 […]
The Macanudo Cru Royale is rolled by General Cigars and Macanudo is one of their flagship brands. Rolled in the Dominican Republic, they are known for their consistent construction and smoking experience, aged wrappers and having a broad, widespread appeal to both novices and experienced smokers. For this review, 2 cigars were smoke and were […]
The La Hoja Edicion Clasica 1962 comes to us via Willie Flores and Carlos Gomez of La Hoja, who are also good friends to all of us over here at FTNYC. You can find these exceptional boutiques at most shops in the NYC area as well as our events where we have featured the brand […]
Rocky Patel has always been a favorite of mine: so much so that there was a time when I would smoke his Vintage 1990 cigars almost exclusively. But, as any aficionado will tell you, not all cigars are created equal, and even different types of the same cigar can be quite different from one another. […]
The Cohiba Red Dot is the first and standard offering by the Dominican-based and General Cigars headed Cohiba brand. Utilizing top shelf leaves and fine fermentation processes, it’s considered one of the company’s most luxurious lines. The Red Dot is rolled in the Dominican Republic and Famous Smoke Shop, based out of Pennsylvania, generously sent […]
I picked up this bottle of Akashi White Oak at my local liquor store for the simple fact that it is produced in Japan and, well, we all know the Japanese whisky craze going on right now. So at $35/bottle, I thought, why not? Akashi White Oak whisky is crafted using barley imported from Scotland […]