FineTobaccoNYC Announces New York City’s Largest Cigar Event Calendar

2 1 3.2k

Ladies and gentlemen of the leaf,

The FineTobaccoNYC team is happy to announce that the largest, most comprehensive NYC area cigar event calendar is now online.

The calendar will be updated constantly as event announcements come in from around the internet, cigar shop mailing lists, and word of mouth. You can find the calendar here, or by clicking the link on the navigation bar above. We will also be posting our own special events on this calendar, so be sure to stay tuned. Daily event announcements are also made on the FineTobaccoNYC Facebook page. Click here and “Like” our page to get instantaneous updates.

To submit an event to the FineTobaccoNYC calendar, email Kelvin Batista using the email address linked here.

Check back often, and long ashes!

Warm regards,
Matthias Clock
Founder, FineTobaccoNYC 

Balvenie 12 year Double Wood and Perdomo Habano Connecticut

2 1 10.0k

Many times we accompany cigars with our favorite libations and tonight I give the spotlight to a scotch that perhaps is the highlight of my evening and overshadows the cigar in mention. Tonight I chose a cigar which I think pairs well with the Balvenie Double Wood. After much testing I have come to the conclusion that cigars and scotch are much harder to pair than say rum or coffee. However, I tend to lean towards lighter and milder cigars with my scotch and have been pleasantly surprised.

I usually have a hard time wanting to smoke a Connecticut shade wrapped cigar due to the simple fact that I find myself more often smoking after a good dinner and I would much rather smoke a cigar with more flavor, body and strength. Until recently, my lighter sticks have been reserved for my unusual morning smokes and I now find myself grabbing one to pair with my spirit of choice which happens to be rum at the moment.

Nose and appearance: After pouring a dram into my glass and getting the cigar  ready, I took a bit a time to appreciate the spirit and really enjoy the moment. My little ritual is to lightly swirl the glass, letting the whisky coat the glass and watching how it sticks to the sides of the glass at the same time allowing for evaporation. While not out of the norm, I also take time to put my nose close to the glass and breathe. Taking my time to get closer, the smells become stronger being careful to avoid the alcohol burn.  Right away the scents that come to mind are light fruity, transparent, airy, floral, dried fruit that is not in any way overpowering.

Taste: The first sip is a billow of flavor that coats the palate with oak, woody flavor followed by a very light vanilla and a hint of honey. I kept it neat as there was no need to add water. It is light in flavor and only 43 percent alcohol and I found no reason to further dilute. In addition, the finish was short, plain and lacking in my opinion. As I progressed the taste slightly shifted, the honey flavor became more pronounced and the aroma was more of orange and honey. Best to let sit for a bit before drinking. Overall, the Balvenie 12 Double Wood is simple and easy. A great welcoming to the wonderful world of Scotch Whisky.

Now for the cigar,

The Perdomo Habano line consist of the Connecticut, Corojo and Maduro. All of which have distinctive taste. I made an effort to try all three in the past and tonight I chose what I thought would pair the best with tonight’s dram of choice. I have smoked this stick plenty of times before and has been part of my stash for over a year. This stick in particular has been laying dormant for about 10 months next to its brothers and sisters waiting for the right opportunity to fulfill its destiny.

Blend Specifics:
Vitola: Gordo (6 x 60)
Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Appearance and Construction:
Construction was great, but whenever I have a Connecticut shade wrapped cigar I tend to pay very close attention to the wrapper. They tend to be thinner and therefore prone to ripping spreading and just creating a menial experience. While this cigar did manage to rip and cause a mess, I kept my composure and marched on. The wrapper was lumpy and opaque which is consistent with all the onthers I’ve had.

Taste & Smoking Characteristics:

First puff reveals a woody, toasty like toasted almost burnt bread, peanut shell flavor that is followed by a medium and slightly peppery finish. I tried this before I had tasted the scotch which is a great way to distinguish between the cigar and the spirit. Throughout the first third I kept thinking the Balvenie had more strength than the cigar and although it was also woody they complimented one another quite well. Alone I find this cigar to be not as enjoyable. As the stick progresses it becomes more acrid and depressing. However together the spirit does a great job to mask the flavors I don’t like.

Conclusion

Early on, the wrapper did rip on me and continued to expand making that the point of no return. I almost reached the last third before I laid her down to sleep. I don’t want to recommend this stick because I feel that there are much better Connecticut wrapped cigars that are better expressions of what is perhaps the most popular wrapper in the United States.

Overall Score: B-

Kelvin Batista (mrkelvinbatista@gmail.com)

“Stay Young, Stay Foolish” Steve Jobs

Oscar Maya: Professional Barber

0 0 4.3k

This summer while searching for a good haircut, I ended up in the most unusual place for  such a thing, Cigar  Inn! For a limited time, a fashionable master barber named Oscar Maya offered  a not-to-be-missed summer deal:  haircut, neck shave, and massage for $30. The barbershop  chairs serve a dual purpose, extra chairs on busy Cigar Inn  evenings and chairs for a shave and  hair cut a la Oscar Maya. Oscar, who says he has been barbering for most of his  life, adds  additional “style” to Cigar Inn. Gentlemen now have no reason to leave the plush lounge of Cigar  Inn to be  styled. Rather, bring a bottle and enjoy a cigar all in the same place.

I felt confident and assured with Oscar once I sat down in the soft brown leather chair. He  asked me how I wanted to style my hair and he gave me the classic tapered haircut allowing me to  style it different ways. From then on, he did his art and conversed, and it was a treat.

While Maya began cutting my hair with large barber scissors, he changed to shorter scissors  for styling. He styled my hair quickly and precisely. While he was cutting my hair, I noticed there  was an ashtray, to enjoy a cigar, while having a haircut. Oscar trimmed my hair, we conversed about life, and he initiated small talk that is a necessary skill. Maya passed this part with high marks.

Next, he proceeded to shave my neck with a razor. Maya used all the angles of the straight razor for a closer shave. He shaved my neck at a nice pace then applied a little shaving cream to get a closer neck shave with the straight razor. I could feel him using all the parts of the blade on my neck for a clean shave.

After the neck shave, Maya gave me a neck and face massage. He put an electronic massage tool on his left hand and his right hand followed the movement. This was amazing; the massage relaxed my facial and neck muscles easing the tension from the past months.

I was now done with the summer deal I had purchased and I was very pleased with the result. Maya is enjoyable to talk with, a fine conversationalist, snazzy dresser, and a fantastic barber. I highly recommend Oscar Maya the next time you need a haircut. Schedule at Maya’s website hairdoneright.com and check out this video for an idea of his work, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVMEs89MULg&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1.

Oscar Maya recently began working at a hair salon located on 123 5th Avenue between 19th and 20th Street. You can still expect a great haircut but now instead of cigars, there are “pretty blonds and brunettes” in the store. I encourage you the next time you need a hair cut stop by Capelli D’oro, http://www.capellidoro.com/, to let Oscar style your hair and you can call Maya at (646) 789-2528.

Conclusion: A

, ,

CAO MX2

1 2 4.2k 




 
   Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight I  enjoy a CAO MX2 while bathing under the 
street lights.  After much time this stick is given a  frolic welcoming. Right away,  
I must confess this is my favorite of the CAO “Trifecta” the other two of which have been  
previously reviewed here(CX2 and  LX2).  In continuation with the "X2" theme, this particular 
stick was named after the double maduro leaf found in the wrapper as well as the binder.




Blend Specifics: 
        Vitola: Toro (6 x 54)
	Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro,
	Binder:Brazilian Maduro
	Filler:long-fillers from Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru, and the
	       Dominican Republic

Appearance and Construction
	This cigar has a blatant dark wrapper that feels very toothy to
the touch, with two very noticeable veins running the full length of the
cigar which I found personally obtrusive.  The color on this stick was
somewhat spotty and appeared dirty.  Although, the pre-light smell was
pleasant the cigar is not very appealing to the eye and a little further
gaze revealed the cigar to be somewhat crooked.The Band looks very different
than that of the LX2 but some what resembles the CX2 without the curves. With
clean lines and its sophisticated look it has a subtle elegance and maturity
that I think is perfectly understated however, it does somewhat resemble the
iconic cat burglar mask.  Accordingly, I chuckled and proceeded to cut and
light. 


Taste & Smoking Characteristics
          Delicately holding with one hand and a quick snip with the other....
easy straight cut.  Test the pre-light draw(perfect).  Pulled out my Xikar
EX lighter and began toasting while rotating the cigar to achieve that
perfect red ring. A sequence that has been practiced often and perfected
over the years. First taste profile that comes to mind is expresso coffee
just like mama makes the old fashion way with the strainer. Shortly after
the spice starts to linger in the background and remains there. As I
continued to puff away the short spice and woody  finish continued and I
tasted what I though was very much like toffee like someone was playing
with an off/on switch.
	Visually, the ash revealed to be a beautiful light grey and tight.
The burn in general was flawless. I should mention that this stick has been
in my humidor for over 7 months.
	By the end of the first third I had a sudden craving for a dark
stout beer so, I picked up a Guinness (all I could find).  The pairing
really brought out the coffee in the stout and I thought paired pretty well.

       Something I picked up on about the beginning of the second third was 
a faint taste of mesquite, BBQ or perhaps Beef Jerky. It was so weak it could 
have been provoked by anything. As I continued the flavors was white pepper and 
wood, spice and BBQ became more pronounced in the finish.  The ash finally lost 
its grip and fell about halfway through the second.

	By the last third the excitement went away and the stick became pretty
dull.  I even got a little unpleasant taste which  I can almost bet it was the
Dominican tobacco stopping by to say hello.  By that time, I was ready to say
goodbye and chucked it in my good ole coffee can that William J. Dawson would
call “My Bin of Mortality”.

Conclusion
	In general, I was hoping the first third wouldn’t end. That being said,
this stick is fairly popular and I recommend picking one up to try even if for
only the first third or if you like a full body full flavor stick. Cheers!

Final Grade; B


            
        

        
	

	
	



                        


	
	
	


					
		
					

									 , 								
									 , , , 							

		
			
FineTobaccoNYC Featured on CigarFilms.com

		
					

				

											
						
														


				


					

	


										
					
						2
					
				
				

				        
        2        
        
		4.1k

	

	


	

	

            
	

	







				

			

		
		        


                                        


A few months ago FineTobaccoNYC hosted a rooftop HERF with Maraya Cigars. We had the pleasure of having John Nubian and Dan-ell Morales from CigarFilms.com drop by and film the event. They interviewed founder of FTNYC Matthias Clock as well as Senor Cigar Kevin Bristow from New York Grown & Sexy in the City cigar group.  Check out that sunset!




If you’d like to come to a FTNYC, they are open to all cigar smokers! Simply drop by our home page and submit your name and email address!


            
        

        
	

	
	



                    

            
	
«‹ 236 237 238 239›»