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Scotch Review: Ardbeg 10 Year

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Up for review today: Ardbeg 10 Year. This spirit is one of the peatiest of the single malt’s, and though not my favorite scotch certainly ranks in my top 20. Let’s see why:

Ardbeg 10 Year

Bottling Specifics

  • 46% ABV, non chill-filtered
  • Age: 10 Years
  • Region: Islay
  • Distiller: Ardbeg

Nose

The nose lets of a multitude of enjoyable notes. Initially black pepper, smoke and menthol. After a moments pause and another smell, I pick up a hint of vanilla and ocean spray.

Palate

Taste the Ardbeg 10 and you’ll understand why some call it one of the most complex Scotches in the world. There is, quite simply, a lot going on. Vanilla, smoke, wood, subtle spices, and charcoal… and probably four or five more flavors I had a harder time picking out. Starting gently, the flavor of this scotch ends with smoke, medicinal notes, and charcoal, at full flavor.

Finish

The finish is by far my favorite part of this spirit. On one hand, the finish is clean and precise. On the other, after each sip I’m left with a nice long finish of sea salt and floral notes.

Conclusion

Ardbeg 10 is proof that the journey is more important than the destination. Just in the process of writing this review I’m reminded of how much I appreciate the complexity of this scotch.

Final Grade: A

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Scotch Review: Talisker Storm

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I’ve been a fan of Talisker single malt scotch ever since my first taste of the Talisker 10 Year about a year and a half ago.  The Talisker Storm, released by Diageo in 2013, is a No Age Statement (NAS) bottling, so there’s less factually to know about this spirit.  What is immediately obvious about this bottling, however, is that it bears striking resemblance to the 10 year though with some important differences, mainly to do with a heightened strength and aggressiveness.

Bottling Specifics

  • ABV: 45.8%
  • Age: no age statement

Nose

On the nose for Talisker Storm are notes of pepper, smoke, honey, and banana.

Palate

Talisker Storm opens with a nice medium-bodied oaky sweetness. Mellow, with mild peat and slight saltiness. Gentle yet full flavored all at the same time. Some harshness betrays this is probably a younger spirit than the 10 year.

Finish

Very clean, warming, with a lingering sweetness.

Conclusion

Talisker Storm is, as one online commenter put it, like “a storm in a tea cup.”  Somehow mellow yet powerful at the same time.  I’m not sure I would take Storm over the 10 Year, but it’s certainly a good bottle to buy, especially since I’ve seen bottles of this product selling for around $50 at different shops in the city.
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Press Release: La Hoja Cigars Announces La Hoja Edicion Clasica 1962

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 New Blend Honors Company’s Founding
December 17th, 2014, NEW YORK CITY—In the Fall of 1962, Carlos Flores fled Fidel Castro’s rule to Miami, FL to found Flor de Flores Cigar Company. Through Carlos’ hard work and determination, Flor De Flores became a staple for American cigar enthusiasts, selling over one million cigars a single day during the cigar boom of the 1990’s.Today, La Hoja Cigar Company is proud to announce a new blend that is steeped in Carlos’s passion for quality, flavor, and exacting craftsmanship: the La Hoja Edicion Clasica 1962.

Created from the same blueprint of La Hoja’s best selling Autentico Maduro, the Edicion Clasica both mimics and transcends the experience of the Autentico Maduro. Edicion Clasica features an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper and San Victor Dominican filler. The heart of the cigar, however, is the Piloto Cubano filler: one of the rarest and most expensive tobaccos currently in production.

To round off the blend, master blenders added a small amount of carefully selected Nicaraguan leaf to add dimension and strength to the cigar.

J Carlos Gomez, Executive VP at La Hoja Cigars remarked, “With the Clasica, we have taken our highest selling cigar and added a level of depth and complexity that we know every cigar smoker will recognize as truly unique.”

Inspired by the Founder’s passion for tradition and innovation, the Edicion Clasica is featured in four semi box-pressed sizes:

  1. Edicion Clasica No. 1: Robusto (5 ¼ x 52)
  2. Edicion Clasica No. 9: Toro (5 ¾ x 56)
  3. Edicion Clasica No. 6: Toro Gordo (6 x 60)
  4. Edicion Clasica No. 2: Belicoso (5 ¼ x 54)
Each size is carefully designed to delight even the most discerning cigar enthusiast with medium to full bodied smoke with flavors ranging from espresso to dark chocolate and intense nuttiness.William Flores, son of Carlos Flores and President of La Hoja Cigars, said, “La Hoja is a company full a tradition, passion, and excellence. The Clasica exemplifies our motto: ‘tobacco is the conversation!’”

Edicion Clasica will be available in select stores at prices ranging from $11 for the Edicion Clasica No. 1 to $13.50 for the Edicion Clasica No. 6.

About La Hoja Cigars
La Hoja Cigars, owned by William Flores, is a revival of Flor de Flores, the iconic company that led the cigar industry in the second half of the 20th century.

Contact
web: www.lahojacigars.com
e: contact@lahojacigars.com
p: 1-877-711-4652
fax: 201-751-6449

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Cigar Review: Cremo Grandeur

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Cremo Cigars are one of the industry’s best kept secrets. I’ve reviewed more than one Cremo Cigar in the past and I have always been very satisfied with this brand in terms of construction, flavor and overall quality.

Blend Specifics:

  • Wrapper: Connecticut
  • Filler: undisclosed
  • Wrapper: Dominican and Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6 x 52

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Appearance & Construction

This cigar features a light, chocolatey-brown wrapper. The band is a nice addition, with a silver, black, and creme colored color palette. The wrapper is flawless, with minimally visible veins, a soft touch, and a light oily sheen. I’m excited to light this cigar up after nearly six months sitting in my humidor.

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Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The first few puffs of this cigar reveal strong wood notes, some grass and hay, and a very slight buttery finish. Far from being a purely mild cigar, the smoke that I get off the light is a definite medium.
By about a quarter of an inch in, this cigar has pulled back considerably in body and is smoking easy, with grassy and woody notes taking center stage, while a pleasant graham cracker like flavor starts to emerge in the aroma and a light black pepper dances on my tongue.
Into the second third, the black pepper turns into a sweet and tangy note, adding nice complexity to the cigar journey. Still maintaining a mild-medium body by halfway through, the tasting notes begin to become more subtle, forcing the smoker to pay more attention.
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In the final third, the cigar remains much the same, with notes of toasted bread, wood, grass, and a slight sweetness. About 1.5 hours after lighting, this cigar comes to a gentle halt. An excellent smoking experience.

Conclusion

I continue to be very impressed with offerings from Cremo Cigars. It’s a pity I can’t find them in more shops, or I would be buying them more often!
Final Grade: A-
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FTNYC Exclusive Review! Illusione “Pactum”.

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Illusione Pactum

Last night I had the pleasure of smoking the Illusione/Smoke Inn collaboration which marks the 9th edition of SI’s Microblend series. The Illusione “Pactum” which gets its name from the Latin verbiage “Agreement”, or at that time in ancient Rome it came to mean a “Gentleman’s Agreement”. I can say knowing Abe and Dion personally these are two true gentlemen who seek to provide the highest quality in a cigar for the connoisseur. Being a big Illusione fan I was very excited to try this smoke and here is the first exclusive review you will find. Enjoy!

Blend Specifics:

Vitola: Boxed Pressed Robusto

Wrapper: San Andres Capa Fina Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Dimensions: 5 1/2 x 56

Appearance & Construction

The Illusione Pactum has a gorgeous chocolate wrapper with a nice sheen and slight veins on the sides. The box press is perfect and there are no soft spots with a feel of well packed tobacco inside. The dry draw yielded raisinated flavors and a cocoa sweetness.

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Taste & Smoke Characteristics:

Lighting up the Pactum greeted me with earthy characteristics and a distinct sweetness from the wrapper. The first third of the cigar brought on some full tobacco flavor due to the higher priming from the Nicaraguan filler leaves. The ash was sliver and gray and fell off on its own. Midway the cigar brought out a bit of wood, hay and a slight gingerbread note. All the way the Pactum gave the sweetness from the San Andres ‘Capa Fina’ maduro cover leaf which really balances out the smoke. The final third gave a lot of the similar flavors as the last half which is not a bad thing at all. The combination of wood, sweet and rich tobacco hit all parts of the palate and gives you an excellent example of what a balanced smoke is all about.

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Conclusion:

I have been continuously impressed with Abe’s Microblend series not just as a concept but knowing the personal attention he gives to each blend and working with the brand owners. Dion of Illusione is a master craftsman and a perfectionist in what he puts out. When these two make a “Pactum” you can rest assured you are getting a smoke worthy of the Roman Empire. Pick these up before they sellout as other Microblends have.

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Avialble at Smoke Inn shops and their website if you are intrested:

http://www.smokeinn.com/eshop/Illusione-Pactum-SI-Exclusive-Product.html

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