In our quest to support New York brick and mortar shops, as well as to serve our readers, FineTobaccoNYC is now compiling a weekly list of cigar specials to aid you in finding the best bang for your buck. Weekly deals will be posted every Tuesday until further notice. As this is a new feature of our website, the first edition will be smaller, so check back every week, and watch the list grow!
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If you have a weekly cigar deal you want everyone to know about, please 1) email me at matthias.ftnyc(at) gmail.com and then drop it in the comments below.
In today’s cigar news, Tom Hancock at Smart Planet reports on the growing demand for premium cigars in China. The economic boom that China has experienced in recent decades has vastly increased the middle and upper class, and allowed more financial flexibility for individuals (mainly businessmen) to enjoy what has typically been seen as a Western hobby. In fact, Hancock reports that one third of the world’s cigar smoking population is Chinese.
I’ve got to say, I’m actually pretty fascinated by the emerging cigar industry in China. I received a small pack of cigars from a company owned by the Chinese state tobacco monopoly, and the cigars are still sitting in my humidor, almost a year later. I can’t quite bring myself to smoke them, but there is certainly some novelty to the idea.
I visited a recently opened cigar room, Papa Juan Cigar Room, in Harlem, New York. I have the Tatuaje Havana VI, which has Jose Pepin Garcia behind the blend. Currently relaxing on a leather couch, glass of water and cigar in hand, looking forward to reviewing this stick.
Off of the foot, I can smell spice and chocolate. The cigar utilizes the traditional Cuban-style with a well-constructed triple cap. After I straight cut the head of the cigar, there is a cold firm draw with spice, bittersweet chocolate, and cedar.
Construction is firm with no soft spots. The wrapper is dark and oily with a vein running down the side. A simple band with “Tatuaje” in white with two lines complement the wrapper.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
1/3: The cigar opens with spice, wood, and bittersweet chocolate. Black coffee emerges blending with the other flavors. Berry becomes prominent as spice and wood move to the background. Chocolate and spice are on the retrohale. The salt and pepper ash falls at a quarter-inch.
2/3: The burn starts becoming uneven. Vanilla is behind the berry flavor. Nutmeg and black pepper are now the focus.
3/3: Now at the last third; flavors depart leaving only a triad of flavors: coffee, vanilla, and spice. There continues to be an abundant amount of smoke with each puff.
Conclusion
The Tatuaje Havana VI has a variation in flavors with primary flavors of spice, wood, and chocolate. This is a very nice cigar despite the burn issue I experienced with this cigar. I highly recommend this cigar, especially if you are Tatuaje fan.
You New York readers will probably relate to the “Thing I love about New York #758”: discovering that a great new hole-in-the-wall restaurant/coffee shop has opened up near you. On my way to work in Midtown recently, I found this gem of a coffee/tea shop called Cafe Galet (33rd between Park and Madison Ave). They have a great selection of European style teas and coffees, as well as some really fantastic pastries. Prices are great, the shop has a fantastic vibe, and the owner is very nice.
It isn’t often that you find a great neighborhood shop. Almost makes me want to light up a cigar and sit outside with a cup of their coffee, which is brewed strong and smooth. One of the best cups of coffee you will find in Midtown (and I’ve been here 5 years).
I was onsite this afternoon to cover Ventura Cigars’ event at the Nat Sherman Townhouse on 42nd St. Fellow FineTobaccoNYC.com contributing writer, James Bollen was on hand for the event as well. We were greeted by Patrick Hurd, Ventura’s General Manager.
Patrick told the Ventura story in an entertaining and compelling way, referencing their 100 year old parent company, Phillips & King International and the top of their corporate chain, Kretek International, makers of my favorite machine made cigar, Djarum Cloves. Ventura is from (duh) Ventura County, California, an LA suburb.
Adam from Ventura Cigars
Patrick was featuring 2 of Ventura’s lines at the event; Pura Sangre & Estillo Cubano. The first line, Pura Sangre’s top stick (torpedo) was recently rated a 92 in Smoke Magazine and is a Nicaraguan puro. The line was named by Nestor Placencisa Jr., and means “pure blend”. The Pura Sangre line represents the Placencia’s 5 generations in tobacco.
The second line, Estillo Cubano is constructed from a Honduran Habano wrapper, with ligero binder/filler from both Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The name means “Cuban Style” and is rolled with a pigtail at the cap. This line has some good press going for it already, having earned a 90 rating (robusto) in Cigar Aficionado.
Ventura Cigars
Also in attendance were the incredible staff at Nat Sherman. I am always educated walking into their world, and today was no exception. In addition to discussing the Ventura lines with them, I was brought up to speed on a quicker/easier way to fill my S.T Dupont lighter. (more about that in another post).
In a future post, FineTobaccoNYC.com’s Editor in Chief, Matthias Clock will be reviewing Ventura’s wares for your reading pleasure.
To sum up, the 5 year old Ventura Cigar Company hosted a nice event and FineTobaccoNYC.com was there to provide a recap for our readers.
As always, please shoot me an e-mail with any questions. rparisella@gmail.com @BigRonnie
