Meerapfel Cigar Launches “Meir” with Four New Vitolas

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Meerapfel Cigar has announced the introduction of its second cigar, available in four different vitolas. This release follows the successful premiere of their previous cigar. Named “Meir”, the new cigar pays tribute to Meir Meerapfel. The cigars are housed in what the company refers to as “ornamented caskets”, which combine the function of an ashtray within a wooden enclosure. The caskets feature ten Double Robusto cigars (5 ¾ x 52) with a flagtail. Additionally, there are boxes that contain twenty-five of each of the following vitolas: Robusto (4 ⅞ x 50), Churchill (7 x 47), and Pyramid (6 ⅛ x 52).

Historical records trace the roots of Meerapfel back to 1876, when Meir Meerapfel established the Meerapfel cigar factory in Untergrombach, Germany. The Meir Meerapfel Master Blend, according to the company, encapsulates their values of perfection, respect, finesse, and elegance, aligning with their definition of “UberLuxury”.

The annual production for each vitola is restricted to 613 boxes, with distribution focused on select premium cigar retailers worldwide. Before its official release, the Meir cigar had a preview during a media gathering at Château de Moxhe in Belgium. The cigar will also feature at the 2022 InterTabac in Dortmund.

During the same event at Chateau de Moxhe, Meerapfel provided details about its “Creation Unique” cigar project. Designed for a particular esteemed client and having an annual allocation value of $1.25 Million, Jeremiah Meerapfel personally oversees these projects. Such projects are described by the company as being exceptionally rare.

The Meir cigars come in the following sizes with their respective suggested retail prices:

  • Robusto (4 ⅞ x 50) – MSRP: $46.00 each
  • Churchill (7 x 47) – MSRP: $54.00 each
  • Pyramid (6 ⅛ x 52) – MSRP: $62.00 each
  • Double Robusto (5 ¾ x 52) – MSRP $94 each

With a limitation of 613 boxes for each size annually, Meerapfel Cigar has announced they will commence shipments in the upcoming fall.

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Blind Review: Penn Standard Pennsylvania Broadleaf Robusto

7 2 23.5k

Budget friendly brand Penn Standard is cigar using a Pennsylvania Broadleaf maduro wrapper. I haven’t smoked this brand before and I tend to shy away from “budget” smokes as they tend to be under fermented or underfilled. I’d rather spend more on better tobacco and enjoy the time I have to smoke. That being said if I ever find a cigar that has quality and value I am all over it. This being a blind tasting, I could only see at the beginning that it’s a dark robusto that is waiting for me to smoke. 

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Penn Stand Pennsylvania Broadleaf Robusto
  • Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua, Pennsylvania 
  • Size: 5″x 50 Robusto

Appearance and Construction

This is a very veiny dark maduro with a rounded head and molted wrapper. To the touch it is rock solid as I give it a squeeze. Its a bit dry looking and as I give it a roll in my palm I can feel the veins in the wrapper. The foot smells of prunes and a dusty note.

Taste and Smoke Characteristics

Using my Xikar scissors I clipped the round head and the dry draw is of prunes and a bit sour. My single flame torch evenly lights the foot and the first puff is gritty and sour. I’m getting some tanginess on the end which is off-putting. The mouthfeel is chewy and the retrohale I take has a burnt almond taste that end soured. The burn line is perfect and the ash is becoming whiter. The profile is in the medium range although there isn’t a substantial amount of smoke which surprises me as the cigar seems packed with tobacco. 

The middle starts to develop an oak character with vegetal notes. There’s a dustiness and tangy finish as take a slow draw and allow the smoke to waft into my mouth. The draw begins to become uneven and I pick up graham cracker and more wood. The retrohale brings white pepper and cedar with a short finish of balsawood. More smoke begins to appear as the robusto burns leaving a dense meaty flavor to it. The ash now turns gray with spots of white and continues its medium profile. 

As I make my way to the last third there are hearty flavors of meat and oak which turn sour similar to the first half of the cigar. Over roasted coffee beans dominate the smoke and gives a burnt finish. Once again the retrohale gives white pepper and cedar without much complexity thus far. The grittiness returns with pencil lead and a longer finish than before. With a final draw the cigar dies off leaving a charry oak and cherry note that sat on my palate for a while. 

Conclusion

As I said initially I am hesitate with “budget” cigars as even though I’m not expecting the most complex smoke, I find bitter notes off putting. This robusto had too many tangy and sour points for me to enjoy it as much as I could. What did appeal to me was the white pepper and cedar along with the graham cracker when it came around. Finding out this was a J. Fuego cigar and the price point I’ll give it credit for its efforts however I’d seek out another cigar of better quality and value or spend a little more for something I will enjoy while I carve out a moment for a cigar. 

Final Rating: 86

Tomatin Releases “The Italian Collection”: A Fusion of Highland Malt and Italian Wine Cask Characteristics

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Tomatin Distillery has announced its latest limited release, “The Italian Collection.” This launch introduces three single malt scotch whiskies, blending Tomatin’s Highland malt with the unique attributes of Italian wine casks. The whisky, first placed in traditional oak casks in December 2010, matured for 10 years. For further depth and complexity, Tomatin aged it for an additional two years in Marsala, Amarone, and Barolo wine casks.

Each wine cask contributes distinct flavors and aromas to the whiskies:

  1. The Marsala Edition: Aromas of panettone and candied lime lead to a palate with flavors of white chocolate, lemon truffles, and hazelnut. The finish carries notes of sweet citrus and toasted oak.
  2. The Amarone Edition: This variant offers a scent of poached pears and rhubarb and custard sweets. On tasting, flavors of strawberry jam, Turkish delight, and light butter pastry are evident, with a finish marked by cinnamon-spiced red apples.
  3. The Barolo Edition: This edition presents aromas of mulled wine and dark chocolate. Flavors of spiced mead, cranberry, and a hint of grapefruit define its palate, with concluding notes of light tannins and sugared almonds.

As the third installment in Tomatin’s country-inspired series, “The Italian Collection” underscores the distillery’s approach to cask selection. This collection acknowledges both Scotland’s heritage and Italy’s extensive wine history. Additionally, it aligns with Tomatin’s ‘To What Matters’ philosophy, focusing on the importance of human connections and the contributions of those involved in their whisky production process.

Scott Adamson, Tomatin’s Blender & Global Brand Ambassador, shared, “With ‘The Italian Collection’, we aimed to incorporate aspects of Italian wine culture into our Highland single malt whisky. Considering Italy’s deep appreciation for single malt scotch whisky, this set of releases acknowledges this enduring bond.” He added, “Our intention was to capture the character of Italian wine and blend it into our whisky. Each expression in this collection represents the merging of these two worlds and offers a unique tasting experience for whisky enthusiasts.”

“The Italian Collection” is now available at selected specialist retailers worldwide and directly on the Tomatin website.

Blind Review: Montecristo Platinum Robusto

5 0 3.7k

The Montecristo Platinum Robusto is meticulously crafted in La Romana, Dominican Republic by Altadis, a subsidiary of the British conglomerate Imperial Brands. This brand boasts a rich heritage, traditionally renowned as one of the most coveted Cuban cigars globally. Interestingly, it’s worth noting that the Montecristo brand has a dual existence, with the Cuban version under the ownership of Habanos SA, and a completely distinct Dominican counterpart under Altadis.

The Cuban iteration’s origins date back to July 1935, when Alonso Menéndez acquired the Particulares Factory. A year later, in July 1936, Menéndez established a new venture with a partner, christening it Menéndez, García y Cía. Following their departure from the turmoil of the Cuban revolution, Menéndez and García rekindled their brand in the Canary Islands and subsequently in La Romana, before eventually being acquired by Altadis S.A. The brand’s name is an ode to The Count of Monte Cristo, a masterpiece penned by Alexandre Dumas père.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Montecristo Platinum Robusto
  • Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Peru, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic
  • Size: 5×54

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a tipple capped maduro robusto.  The wrapper leaf is paper thin. The cap is a darker shade than the rest of the wrapper.  The cigar is packed tighter at the bottom and looser at the top.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The wrapper and foot smell like a combo of Cinnabon’s and hay bales.

The cigar has a very loose cold draw with molasses on the breath. Sweetness….

First puff is faint.  Sweet leather and mesquite.  Leather aroma.  Toasty retro. Great smoke production. Good heat maintenance. The smoke has a very light body to it that is dominated by cedar, leather, and baking spices. Burn line could be better.

Second third starts off with some canoeing that I have to touch up. The smokes body is still faint with nuances of leather, sweetened coffee and cinnamon. Ash buildup is flaky.  Good heat maintce and smoke production.  Burn line is still struggling. A little marshmallow as we go into the final stretch.

Last third needed another touch up for more canoeing.  The smoking experience is still very singular and airy.  Baking spices and leather nuances but nothing overpowering. Black coffee and pepper finish. Leathery retrohale and aroma.

Conclusion

In conclusion the Montecristo Platinum Robusto wasn’t a great smoke but it wasn’t an absolute failure.  The Montecristo Platinum Robusto is definitely an anytime smoke, but not a smoke for somebody looking for complexity or a thicker more flavorful body. Touch ups don’t bug me too much, I’m used to it at this point in the game, but I can see that bothering some people.  If you like leather and baking spices give the Montecristo Platinum Robusto a shot. Just don’t tell anybody I was the one that recommended it. Enjoy!

Final Score: 80

RoMa Craft Tobac Introduces “CRAFT Maquette” Series with Debut of “Il Nonno” Blend

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RoMa Craft Tobac is giving aficionados a glimpse into its blending process with its new “CRAFT Maquette” series. Drawing inspiration from the world of sculpture and architecture, the series presents consumers with the evolving taste of a blend.

Leading the series is “Il Nonno,” which translates from Italian as “grandpa.” This 5 x 52 robusto is at $15, offered in a limited run of only 125 packs of 10 cigars. Riverside Cigar Shop in Jeffersonville, Ind., will exclusively stock the blend starting mid-September.

Skip Martin, co-founder of RoMa Craft Tobac, shared the motivation behind the series in an Instagram post: “Artists use maquettes to explore shapes and poses of sculptures, while architects turn to them during the design process. Similarly, maquettes help creators refine their ideas efficiently. In the world of cigars, blending samples serve a similar purpose.”

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