About two weeks ago I was surprised to open my email account and find an email from Barry (from acigarsmoker.com) inviting me to the La Aurora launch event at Nat Sherman in Manhattan. The event took place from 5:00pm – 9:00pm last Thursday and featured a live jazz band, samples of Guillermo Leon’s new cigar, hors d’oeuvres, and a rum pairing that complemented the La Aurora cigar perfectly. Aside from getting to finally meet Barry, I was also able to meet Guillermo Leon, John from WellCapped, and Lindsay (aka “The Cigar Chick“).
Barry from acigarsmoker
The atmosphere at Nat Sherman was simply beautiful: two floors of smoking lounge, welcoming staff, and a jazz band upstairs playing for all of the guests. Cigar smokers from all New York and everywhere else showed up, hung their jackets, and enjoyed conversation over the excellent cigars.
Guillermo Leon talks cigars
With respect to the cigar specifically, the official Nat Sherman event recap below does a better job describing the cigar, but here is the basic breakdown:
Luckily, I was able to take a few photos during the course of the night, including one of Barry and Guillermo Leon. On another exciting note, I also met a few managers from Nat Sherman and was able to introduce FineTobaccoNYC and even float the idea of holding an event at Nat Sherman’s sometime soon.
Below is the official Nat Sherman event recap:
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Nat Sherman hosted an evening of live jazz music, cocktails, cigars and
hors d’oeuvres catered by celebrity chef Oliver Cheng. The event
celebrated the new Guillermo Leon cigars by La Aurora, which brings a
complex and medium-to-full bodied experience.
Guests tasted traditional Presidente Beer and Rum Zafra Master Reserve 21
year aged while they enjoyed upbeat trumpet melodies by jazz player
Waldron Ricks while discovering La Aurora’s new sumptuous cigar flavors.
León says, “Obviously, this cigar is personal for me. It is part of my
family’s legacy for the past 107 years. In this cigar, I wanted something
with deep complexity yet also a stronger smoke than most of our offerings.
I think this is something that will please today’s smokers.”
The Guillermo León sports a Habana wrapper grown in Ecuador, over a double
binder of both Corojo for strength and Cameroon for sweetness. The
fillers are from the Dominican Republic, Peru, Nicaragua and Brazil. The
Guillermo León is offered in 4 sizes: a Corona (5.5 x 42), a Gran Corona
(6 x 47), a Belicoso (6.25 x 52) and a Gran Toro (6 x 58). The MSRP,
excluding state taxes, ranges from $7.60 for the corona to $9.80 for the
Gran Toro.
If you’re a New Yorker who smokes cigars, you’ve probably heard about the proposed ban on smoking in public parks and beaches. If not, you can read about it here. Mayor Bloomberg is proposing a $250 fine for anyone smoking in these public areas. I don’t know what you think, but that sounds pretty ridiculous to me; tough to enforce as well. Can you imagine the police trying to fine a French tourist smoking a cigarette in Times Square, or an old man smoking his pipe in Central Park?
I may be risking a lot of fines if this law passes, because I love to smoke cigars in New York’s parks, particularly Stuyvesant Park (located between E. 15th St. and E. 17th St. on both sides of 2nd Avenue).
Like a lot of New Yorkers, I choose not to smoke in my apartment. Maybe if I lived in a big house in the country, I could have a smoking room / man cave, or at least a porch on which to sit in a chair and enjoy a nice cigar from time to time. That not being the case, I find myself looking for public areas to smoke.
I live near Union Square, but I don’t often smoke cigars there; it’s so full of people, and I know the smell pisses people off. I don’t want to be a jerk. I prefer my little Stuyvesant Park because there are far fewer people and much more space.
Stuyvesant Park consists of two smaller rectangular parks, bisected by 2nd Avenue. Each has a fountain, and lots of trees, brick walkways and benches. The Eastern side even has a dog run, though according to internet sources, it’s not a very good one. It’s all enclosed by a gorgeous black, cast iron fence, the oldest in New York.
I love it because it’s quiet, it’s seemingly safe, and you have plenty of room. I am often not the only man there smoking a cigar. I’ll be sitting on a bench, smoking one of my Gurkha Grand Envoy Toros (I just bought a 10 pack of Gurkhas from CigarsInternational.com), and another cigar-smoking gentleman will saunter by and say hello. We’ll smile, both thinking that we’re privy to one of New York’s best kept secrets.
Nestled on 7th street in Manhattan’s picturesque Lower East Side is Velvet Cigar, an oasis for the new and experienced cigar smoker. On any given night of the week, a visitor to Velvet Cigar is likely to experience what I have on many occasions. Walking in the door, I am met with the familiar aroma of fine tobacco, the din of friendly conversation, and a welcoming staff. A brief look around reveals exposed brick walls that provide a classic backdrop to dark mahogany wood tones, rustic leather chairs, and dim candles flickering around the room. The lounge could be considered small compared to Manhattan’s larger lounges, but don’t let the lounge’s modest 400 sq. ft. of real estate fool you – Velvet’s relaxed atmosphere is hard to beat. The lounge and its unique boutique blend cigars has won high praise from media outlets like Yelp, Time Out NY, Affluence, MartiniBoys, and StogieReview.com, to name a few.
Dan Bsharat – Managing Partner at Velvet Cigar
I recently had the opportunity to sit down for a cigar and conversation with Dan Bsharat, Managing Partner of Velvet, and he described for me a bit of the lounge’s history and his business philosophy. I also had a chance to light up a cigar from Velvet’s new line, the Bowery – more on that later.
Dan started by telling me a bit about the history of the lounge. Velvet Cigar Lounge existed by the same name before Dan and his business partners purchased the lounge in 2005. After making Velvet a favorite place to hang out, they were inspired to consider buying the lounge after an employee overheard Dan complimenting the lounge’s natural charm. The employee mentioned that the lounge was on the market, and the seed was planted. In Velvet, Dan and his partners saw a golden opportunity because the lounge exemplified cigar culture and the perfect hang out. Soon after, they had purchased the lounge that they now own today.
Dan described the philosophy behind Velvet as a “new approach to cigar smoking for a younger generation.” He said that Velvet approaches cigar smoking differently, and that the boutique blends offer paradigms of different cigar tastes by using a variety of wrappers.
Just as inviting as the lounge’s warm environment are the humidors that line the high-seated bar. Although Velvet does have a small selection of big-brand cigars, Dan said that the main focus is on the boutique blend, which until recently featured three main lines named after famous NYC city areas: the Tomkins, Astor, and Cooper blend. These Dominican blends are made by a family owned farm in the Vila Gonzalez region and rolled in New York.
The most recent addition to the Velvet boutique arsenal is the “Bowery” line, named after the famous lower east side neighborhood that Dan said has recently experienced “a revival.” Although new on the scene, the Bowery is already Dan’s favorite boutique blend (and I must admit the same is true for me after trying each line).
Made in the same Nicaraguan factory that produces quality cigars for Rocky Patel, the Bowery is a real piece of artwork. The Bowery features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos for fillers, all rolled and produced in a classic box-press style. The Bowery comes in four sizes: Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, and Churchill, and is available in packs of 6 and boxes of 20 online and in-store.
"The Bowery"
As I mentioned, during my interview with Dan, I had the opportunity to enjoy my third Bowery (Churchill), and whenever possible I jotted down a few notes for a quick review. Fortunately, I have realized since the interview that notes on the cigar were not really necessary as it had a distinct flavor profile that provided for a memorable smoke. Below is my review of the cigar:
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Pre-light: There really is no other way to say it: the Bowery is a beautiful cigar. The dark Habano wrapper is complimented perfectly by the dark red and gold label that displays the Velvet logo. Admittedly, I’ve only had three of these sticks so far, but from what I’ve observed construction has been impeccable – well packed, no serious vein issues, and no visual blemishes. The foot of the cigarsmells of mocha, and a hint of sweetness.
Smoking characteristics: The draw was just about right – a tiny bit tight, but still a great amount of smoke. This stick is a medium-full bodied smoke, though for the most part I found it to be medium.
Flavor: To me, the first two third of this cigar are the most distinct. This cigar opened up with tastes of spice, mocha, and woodiness. I found that the spice on this particular cigar started off pretty strong, but as I started 2/3 the spiciness faded into the background while the mocha and woodiness started to really stand out. From there the stick smoked perfectly. During the end of 2/3 and beginning of 3/3 I noticed a bit of leather coming through along with pepper. Ultimately, the flavor profile on this cigar has really captured me – it is simply a delicious stick.
Overall impression: This cigar is beautiful, well constructed, and packs a great and distinctive taste. I didn’t have any burn issues during the smoke, and enjoyed it all of the way through. Even though this particular line is more expensive than Velvet’s other blends, this will probably be my standard pick during my visits to Velvet.
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I’ve always enjoyed business and love to see thriving new organizations expand, so after visiting Velvet at least a dozen times in the past two years, one of the biggest questions I had for Dan near the end of the interview was “where does Velvet go from here?” Taking a moment to think, he cracked a smile and said that “expansion is on the table” and that another lounge is a “possible option.” He went on to explain, however, that the owners of Velvet are focusing on expanding their business contacts and looking for ways to network around the city to make their cigars more widely available. As I’m not always near the Lower East Side, I hope he makes it happen!
One Classy Establishment
If you haven’t visited Velvet cigars, then put it high on your priority of night life attractions to see in New York City! The Bowery can be found for order at Velvet Lounge and online at the Velvet Cigar site.
Last night, FineTobaccoNYC hosted the first Fall smoke of the season at Velvet Cigars on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. By the day before the event, 17 people from all over New York City had RSVPd for the event, and 14 showed up. So there were plenty of people to meet, and even more conversations to have! The event was officially scheduled to run from 7:00pm – 9:00pm, but FineTobaccoNYC event guests stayed much later enjoying cigars, wine, and the beautiful atmosphere set by Velvet’s gorgeous lounge.
Full house! – click to enlarge
Cigars making an appearance last night were mainly Velvet’s boutique blends, although some other cigars from Rocky Patel and Davidoff were present. The cigar of the night was definitely Velvet’s new house blend, the “Bowery” (pictured below) that features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos for fillers, all rolled and produced in a classic box-press style. But, the Bowery is a Maduro cigar, so many guests started with either the Cooper or Astor cigars. Also on hand last night were a variety of wines and beers that guests brought to share.
The Bowery
Among other things, the crisp Fall night was made special by Velvet’s incredible hospitality. For the FTNYC event, Velvet dropped the $8 corking fee and offered four separate raffles. Three of the raffles were for two packs of Velvet cigars, and the grand finale raffle was for a slick, stainless steel double-guillotine cigar cutter.
Personally, I enjoyed the event most because of the new friends I was able to make. It was fun to meet one of the first guests, Dan from Davidoff uptown and hear his story of falling in love with cigars and moving to New York City. I also met a few customers who didn’t know about FineTobaccoNYC and was able to share a bit of my passion for cigars and helping to sustain the New York City cigar culture.
As the later hours of the night approached, guests began to say their farewells and head out the front door and into the chilly Lower East Side night. The event was a great success: new and old friends, cigars, and great conversation. This is what cigars are all about!
You can find the full slideshow of this event here (thanks to Christina Carter for gracing us with the use of her awesome camera!)
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If you are interested in attending a free FineTobaccoNYC event, click here for more information! Events are free, but you must sign up!
Today was my 22nd birthday. I spent my day (9am – 11:00pm) busy with classes, work, and then debate practice. As I was heading back to my apartment from the Fulton St. subway stop, I decided to drop by Cyber Coffee and Cigar Bar. After taking a look at the available sticks, I decided to go with a “Cigar Landing” house blend (the cafe has loose ties to the cigar maker’s headquarters in midtown Manhattan). I didn’t have much else to do, so I decided to do a quick review of the stick.
The bar carry a variety of the bar’s house blend, and I went with the medium-full bodied Maduro. The stick turned out to be more of a medium bodied smoke – heavy smoke, but not harsh, abrasive, or heavy at all. Below are my notes:
Prelight: The wrapper on this cigar is a very attractive dark brown. There are, however, a few minor imperfections, enough to be immediately noticeable. The stick smells earthy and sweet. Not many distinctive flavors on the prelight draw, but the draw itself is perfect. I’m not a huge fan of the label – it is attractive, but only moderately so. The fact that New York is mentioned though is a plus in my mind.
Smoking Characteristics and Flavor: The first thing that I notice is that this is not a medium-full bodied smoke as I heard described. It is a very solid medium. There was no discernable spice on this cigar, which surprised me considering the presence of Nicaraguan tobacco (probably just a presumption born of ignorance on my part). As far as taste goes, this cigar opened with a very earthy, sweet, but slightly bitter taste (not to be confused with harshness). Throughout the first third, the bitterness continually picked up, which brought the bitterness from a nice complimentary flavor to a minor annoyance. As the cigar progressed into 2/3, some nuttiness emerged and the sweetness becomes a distinctive mocha. The ash is still white, and the construction remains solid in terms of the burn. Unfortunately, this cigar was difficult to get smoke out of in the last half, which meant that the smoke became way hotter than it needed to be. I wasn’t exactly sad when I finished the cigar, which isn’t really the best indication of quality – the smoke was simply too hot and smoking had become a chore.
Overall Impression: This cigar started pretty well, and I enjoyed the flavors, but I really can’t stand cigars that become chores to smoke. The second half of the cigar was so difficult to get smoke from that I had to overheat the tobacco, causing it to lose flavor value. Overall, it wasn’t a bad smoke, but for $9 I probably won’t be trying the maduro again. This cigar reminded me a lot of the Quintero Maduro – except the Quintero was more solid in terms of taste and construction, and about the same price. If I’m looking for the same kind of smoke in the future (and I will) – I’ll probably go with the Quintero.
Final Score: 7.5/10
Disclaimer: I’ve only had one cigar from this brand, so my experience may not be characteristic of the brand – I did notice though looking at the other sticks that construction was a bit shoddy in general.
