Ragi Cigar Co Releases Year of the Tiger Nicaragua TAA LE 2022

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Ragi Cigar Co.—an ultra-premium cigar brand utilizing only the finest tobaccos for its cigars—is celebrating the Lunar New Year with the bold, innovative and completely unexpected release of the Ragi Cigars Year of the Tiger Nicaragua TAA Limited Edition 2022. The cigar is produced at the legendary Mi Casa Factory in San Juan del Sur by a single skilled torcedor who once rolled Cohiba for Fidel Castro and also OpusX at the Arturo Fuente cigar factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

“For this release, we wanted something truly special—a blend that would appeal to cigar smokers across a variety of overly tired branding schemes,” an executive at Ragi Cigar Co said anonymously via a collect call from Nicaragua. “We’re late to the party on Nicaragua, and we don’t have any relationships at TAA, but we know that the combined power of the Nicaragua, TAA, and Zodiac trends will make this cigar stand out in a market saturated with a revolving door of trendy branding.”

The cigar will debut in limited markets with an initial production run of 112 cigars and come with an MSRP of $25 per cigar. The cigar will come in two sizes, a 7 1/2 x 38 lancero geared toward “smokers who think lanceros are automatically better” and an 8 x 80 vitola the company said is sure to satisfy cigar smokers who “just need a large, arm-sized phallic object in their mouth.”

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East Park Cigars Debuts With Trio of Spirits-Focused Blends

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1/27/2022, LAS VEGAS——In 2020, Emmanuel Peña, an audacious beverage industry titan and Claudio Sanchez, a thriving viral marketing and e-commerce mogul joined forces to create East Park Cigars. Inspired by their common roots and passions, they travelled off beaten paths in search of the right blend to pair with their favorite spirits. Little did they know that the journey would take them back to their ancestral home, Santiago, Dominican Republic. It was there they would discover Cibao valley’s rich soil, which infused by the waters of the Yaque river and blessed with almost perfect microclimate conditions, yields some of the best tobacco in the world.

Today, East Park Cigars debuts three inaugural blends: El Borbón, El Escocés, and El Cognac. Blended by Henderson Ventura and produced at Tabacalera William Ventura in Tamboril, Dominican Republic, these blends represent a dynamic yet thoughtful approach that yields cigars perfectly conditioned for pairing with bourbon, scotch, and cognac.

“To develop these three inaugural concepts,” Sanchez, CEO and Co-Founder explains, “the team developed each blend by experimenting with the phenolic compounds in the tobacco leaves. Each component of the cigar is meticulously architected to enhance the smoking experience while pairing with your favourite spirit. We can’t wait to bring these new experiences to this dynamic industry.”

Each blend is available in a single 5 ½” x 52 robusto size, packaged in 10 count boxes with an MSRP of $15 per cigar.

Emmanuel Peña, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer said of the project, “with the masterful skills of Henderson Ventura, the proven commitment to quality of Tabacalera William Ventura, and the combined experience of our team and guidance of Adrian Acosta of The Cigar Culture, we’re confident that we will deliver fresh and disruptive concepts that enhance the cigar smoking experience for the new generation of smokers.”

El Borbón

Wrapper: Habano

Binder: Sumatra

Filler:

Criollo 98 seco – Dominican Republic

Corojo ligero – USA

Pennsylvania ligero – USA

El Escocés

Wrapper: Habano

Binder: Sumatra

Filler:

Nicaragua visus – Nicaragua

Corojo ligero – Dominican Republic

Piloto visus – Dominican Republic

El Cognac

Wrapper: Habano Maduro

Binder: Sumatra

Filler:

Criollo 98 ligero – Dominican Republic

Corojo ligero – USA

Criollo 98 – Nicaragua

For questions or requests for more information about East Park Cigars, please email HELLO@EASTPARKBRANDS.COM

Blind Review: J.C. Newman The American

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The American is a cigar brand created in 1880 by E. Regensburg & Son out of lower Manhattan, NYC. The company decided to move down to Tampa in the early 1900s since Tampa became the “Fine Cigar Capital of the World.” When the El Reloj factory by J.C. Newman opened for business in 1910, The American became the first cigar brand produced out of the factory. 

For unclear reasons, the company decided to stop the production of The American. However, the brand was resurrected and teased at IPCPR 2017 with the idea from Ariel Peters, Drew Newman’s wife, who wanted to create a brand that is 100% American born and bred.  Staying true to their objective, The American became the most prominent brand honoring the American cigar tradition by using all American materials for the molds, boxes, cellophane, etc., on top of the aged tobacco.

Blend Specifics:

  • Cigar Reviewed: J.C. Newman: The American
  • Wrapper: Florida Sun Grown
  • Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
  • Filler: Pennsylvania Type 41, Pennsylvania and Connecticut Havana
  • Size: Double Robusto (5 1/2″ x 56)

Blind Review: The American by JC Newman

Appearance & Construction

This tree branch-colored cigar has a very sturdy look to it. I give it a little squeeze and feel the tobacco; it’s loosely packed, but there was still good resistance. There is one visible vein that was flattened by the press, and when I stare at the foot of the cigar, the bunched tobacco forms a very hypnotic swirl.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The wrapper has a slight floral scent to it, and when I smell the foot, it reminds me of fall with warm leaves and branches. I slice the cap off with a straight cut and take a few puffs. The cold draw is very fruit-forward; reminds me of a sweet and tart apricot jam. The draw restrictiveness is also near perfect at 7 out of 10. 

I take my first puff after lighting the cigar and immediately am overwhelmed by red pepper spice on the flat of my tongue. As the tingling sensation disperses, I experience sweet berries, lightly roasted coffee, leather, cedarwood, and red pepper. The retrohale is almost an extension of the flavor profile minus the sweetness, with warm cayenne pepper, toasted peanut shell, and the scent of wood-burning. 

While the flavors are great, the construction of this cigar is not. The ash is very loose, falling almost every 3/4 inch. The burn line started wavy, but it gradually slopped to one side after the 1-inch mark, and to prevent any further canoeing, I use my lighter to correct the burn line.

In the second third, the profile is a steady medium. The spice leaves the palate, and the flavors are more concentrated on cedarwood. The retrohale mirrors the profile on the palate, with sweet berries and red pepper spice. 

I finally arrive at the final third, and a few things are happening that I believe are worth mentioning.  To begin with, the cigar continues canoeing, causing me to have to touch up the cigar multiple times.   The cigar also starts tunneling, but it quickly fixes itself after half an inch or so. Putting aside all the construction issues, I am still enjoying the flavors from this cigar. The smoke becomes creamy, which enhances the existing flavors and makes it even sweeter. The spice is still intense on the retrohale, but not in an overwhelming way. I quickly find myself becoming smitten by the time the ash reached the nub The last few puffs painted an image of a fruit tart in my mind, with sweet berry flavors coating my whole palate along with roasted peanuts and creamy smoke. 

Conclusion

I found myself being courted by The American with the fruity flavors throughout the whole experience.  A balance of sweet berries, roasted nuts, cedarwood, and ample red pepper spice on the retrohale; coupled with the introduction of the creamy element to the smoke, tied the cigar up very nicely. Although the flavors and creaminess of the smoke were enjoyable, the multiple burn issues The American had put me through were hard to overlook.

Final Rating: 89

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Blind Review: Choshi by Luxury Cigar Club

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Luxury Cigar Club (LCC) is a monthly cigar subscription service for the smoker, seeker, and collector of fine, rare, and boutique cigars and cigar brands. The two owners, Chris and Ben, pride themselves on their work ethic, superb customer service, and overall integrity. Because of these traits, they have created and maintained a strong bond with many cigar companies.

One of these cigar brands is Artesano del Tobacco, the maker of Viva La Vida, whose been here since the beginning. Because of this relationship, LCC was the first company to feature Viva La Vida in their subscription box. They were also the first company to obtain an exclusive vitola of Viva La Vida. To top it all off, they became the first company to create LCCs very first cigar – Choshi.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Choshi
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
  • Size: 5″x54

Blind Review: Choshi by Luxury Cigar Club

Appearance & Construction

The habano wrapper is quite oily, giving it a darker look than it otherwise might have. Two visible veins run down on the side of the cigar. The filler tobacco fills the cigar to the brim without it feeling dense. 

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

There is a scent of chocolate and raisin coming off the wrapper. When I trace my nose down to the foot of the cigar, I get a scent of dry tart stone fruits and old books. I slowly insert the head between my Xikar XO cutter – just enough to shave off the cap. I then take a cold draw and taste creamy cocoa, tree bark, dry hay, and a slight sweetness on the finish; pepper spice is starting to settle on my tongue and lips. 

After introducing some flame to the cigar, I take my first draw and instantly my senses are awake. The smoke itself is creamy, tagging along with notes of dark cocoa, caramel, cedar-wood, and red pepper spice. To conclude the whole experience, sweet chocolate lingers on my palate. The retrohale acts on its own contrasting with the flavors on the palate: citrusy berry, cedar-wood, and an ample amount of red pepper spice. 

So far, the only negative thing I can say about this cigar is the uneven burn line. However, I have to mention that I am smoking the cigar outside on a cool early winter morning which can be a factor in the issue. With that being said, the ash is stacking evenly, and the cigar produces a good amount of smoke. 

Arriving at the second third, I notice two flavors become MIA: cocoa and spice. The character of the smoke becomes even creamier, and I get flavors of pistachio, cedar-wood, dry hay, tan leather, and caramel. On the retrohale, I’m tasting a little floral with almond and warm baking spice. 

I have to restrain myself from constantly puffing on the cigar, hoping slowing down would fix the burn line issue. Even so, one side is in a constant battle with the other, but not bad enough for me to intervene with my lighter.  

As I get to the final third, the battle of the burn line concludes, and the cigar evens itself out. To my surprise, the flavor keeps evolving, and embraces me with flavors of creamy oats, almonds, sunflower seeds, cedar-wood, and sugar in the raw. This time, the retrohale amplifies the flavors with cedar-wood, roasted peanut shell, and baking spice. I continuously drown myself with the aforementioned flavors, hoping the next puff would not be the last one. I knew I was on my final puff when my fingers got pricked by a burning sensation.

Conclusion

Billy and Gus (Artesano del Tobacco) hit another home run with Choshi. The transition from a heavier profile like cocoa and leather to a lighter one with almonds and sunflower seeds is simply brilliant. And all the while carried by a sugary sweet finish on the palate. The complexity was very engaging and kept me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, the burn line had a negative impact on my overall experience. As mentioned however, this may have been affected by outside elements. Overall, I would recommend this cigar to anyone interested in experiencing bold flavor, transitions, complexity, balanced profile, or anyone wanting to smoke a great cigar.   

Final Rating: 91

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Blind Review: Aging Room Rare Collection

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Although Aging Room was established a decade after the cigar boom in the 90s, I associate the company with older brands like Oliva, Plasencia, Ashton, etc which have become staples in the cigar world. With Maestro Rafael Nodal at the helm, Aging Room has become a brand recognized for its boldness and creating classic profiles like Quattro and Quattro Nicaragua. 

This past year, Nodal embarked on another adventure with A.J Fernandez and laid the foundation for a new line of cigars under the Aging Room umbrella called Rare Collection. Per Nodal, this new project “intends to offer small runs based on the availability of rare and superbly well-aged tobacco.” 

This release will be the first of several blends under the Rare Collection project. Just how rare or aged is the tobacco contained in this first blend? The wrapper leaf is a Cuban seed hybrid from La Lilia, A.J Fernandez’s flagship farm in Nicaragua. The filler tobacco consists of Pelo d’Oro, translating to “hair of gold,” also from a type of Cuban seed which is prized for its flavors but very difficult to grow and low yielding. 

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Aging Room Rare Collection
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Cuban seed Hybrid
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaraguan Cuban seed, including Pelo d’Oro
  • Size: 5.5″ x 55

Cigar Review: Aging Room Rare Collection

Appearance & Construction

Before picking up the cigar, I immediately notice the construction. The cigar is very sturdy both visually and with physical touch. The pigtail at the end of the cap has a twirl like a cinnamon bun from Auntie Anne’s. Upon closer inspection, I notice two visible veins that come across in a lighter tone than the milk chocolate wrapper. Additionally, I see several random miniature cracks in between the wrapper. However, after running my fingers across the surface, I’m guessing the light marks will not be an issue. 

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The wrapper has a tart and sweet fruit scent. The fruity scent is more prominent by the foot with white pepper spice aroma. Since I’ve never attempted to twist and pull off the pigtail from the cap before, I decide now isn’t a good time to start, and opt for a straight cut. I take a few puffs of cold draw, getting stone fruits, cedarwood, attic funk, and red pepper spice. 

I proceed to toast the foot and take my first puff. The flavors are very refreshing, with creamy oats, cedarwood, citrus, and mild white pepper spice that remains on the flat and side of my tongue indefinitely. On the retrohale, the white pepper spice is more noticeable along with roasted nuts, sweet fruity notes, and a smokiness that reminds me of burnt pizza crust. So far, the finish on this cigar is pretty long, with a mild sugary sweetness. 

The construction of this cigar is flawless. The burn line is razor-sharp, the dark gray ash seems to be reinforced by cement, and the burn goes right over the minuscule cracks I noted earlier. The only negative experience I have had so far is that smoke production seems a bit lacking. 

I make it to the second third before the ash detaches itself from the cigar. The refreshing finish of this cigar remains on the palate. The smoke is less creamy compared to the initial light, and flavors concentrate on earthy tones such as dry hay, tan leather, cedarwood, roasted nut, and white pepper spice. I take another puff to retrohale, and the flavors reflect what I get on my palate alongside a very satisfying amount of white pepper spice. 

As I engage with the final third, the overall profile becomes buttery, but there aren’t many changes to the flavors. The retrohale is still satisfying and keeps me coming back for more until the cigar is too nubbed to smoke. 

Conclusion

I enjoyed the Aging Room Rare Collection. The profile teeters from medium to medium-plus. The flavors were very balanced on the palate, and the retrohale compliments it even further. My biggest fear was the construction, which ended up being impeccable throughout. So far, everything I’ve experienced is positive. Nonetheless, it felt like a certain oomph was missing. It needed another element or profile to elevate the experience from an exceptional cigar a truly amazing one. 

Final Rating: 90

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