CHECK OUT THE NEW HOME OF THE BLOG

I have moved the site to a new home! Please check out the new home of the blog:

www.newbiecigar.com

Thank you!

NEWS FROM THE CRA

This just in from the CRA:

CRA Members Are Encouraged To Take Action! On Wednesday of this week, the Kansas legislature will come back to town to address pressing needs of the state, such as how to close a budget gap of over $400 million. One of the most serious proposals on the table is to raise taxes on tobacco products by up to 300%.The Kansas House and Senate need to learn from so many others, and from a basic tenant of taxes and economics: Lower taxes can, in fact, bring in more revenue.Higher taxes simply drive consumers to other venues, out of state, for their purchases, and you're stuck with the same budget mess you began with.Kansas just passed a stringent smoking ban proposal. Limiting use of perfectly legal tobacco products, and then proposing a tax increase on the same product is not a formula for budget success.In addition, and most importantly, Senate Bill 516 will cause harm for many of the great small businesses of Kansas. The local tobacconist, whether in Topeka, Wichita, Overland Park, Lawrence, and points in between, is a part of the community fabric that should be protected from such economic consequences.
We hope that Kansas will not go the way of a Utah, causing irreparable harm to such businesses with long standing roots in the community.
Members of Cigar Rights of America throughout Mid-America need to send a message to members of the Kansas legislature, and if it makes it that far, to Governor Mark Parkinson.
Tell them, No New Tobacco Taxes in Kansas. Tell them to Oppose Senate Bill 516!

For more, and to download a PDF of the bill, visit: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs020/1102288667527/archive/1103342955427.html

Texas Cigar Festival - After thoughts

First of all, I want to thank Ron at seriouscigars.com for putting on such a great event. All I can say is WOW. Amazing! I also want to thank Teresa Merchant of smokinghotcigarchick.com and Tim Black for carting me around and allowing me to do what I do best... shmooze with people about cigars! My trip started out wonderful, I was taken to an amazing BBQ joint in Houston recommended by Tim called Vergis BBQ. That was probably some of the best BBQ I have ever had, and I would expect nothing less from a trip to Texas. Next we had to stop at Target for a few things. I was persuaded into trying on some superman underwear for a picture opportunity (over my shorts of course), and then was posted all over the internet for cigar lover's viewing pleasure... What I will do for a little publicity... Next we headed over to Ron's shop. This is unlike any B & M I have ever been to. It is BY FAR the largest humidor, wrapping all the way around the store with the lounge in the middle. I pulled out some special smokes and shared them with friends for a little pre-event treat. While smoking, in walks Jonathan Drew and Dion Giolito. I got to talking with them and then in walks David. David is sporting a new tattoo of the Liga Privada logo from Drew Estate. Needless to say Jonathan Drew freaks out. Then the crowd gathered, and gathered, and gathered until it wrapped all the way around the building. The anticipation of the crowd was building and building, until finally they opened the gate. Immediately we were welcomed with a gift bag full of smokes, a full buffet of food and open bar. All the cigar makers were there (see below for a list). All the stars were aligned for a magical night, and a magical night it was. Amazing conversations, laughs, and cigars were had by all. The event was like a merging of a Big Smoke and the IPCPR conventions. Everyone was out to impress. The manufacturers were loose and wanting to talk to us. With out the pressure of filling orders, or selling their products, the manufacturers were much less stressed than a IPCPR, and because the event was limited to 500 people, I actually had a chance to have good conversations with all of them.

After the event ended, a few of us and most of the manufacturers went to a cigar bar called Downing Street. What an amazing place! It is a very rare thing to be able to drink, eat and smoke all in one place these days, and I felt privileged to have experienced that. I spent most of the rest of the night bull shitting with Pete Johnson. He is such an amazing guy, and one of the funniest people I have met. Of course, when you are in the company of a good cigar and a cream soda (Pete's favorite alcoholic beverage), what could be better? Over all, I felt so welcomed by not only Teresa and Tim, but the whole cigar community as well. I can't wait for next year, and I hope and pray there are many more events like the Texas Cigar Festival to come.

Please check out the newbiecigarblog on facebook for all the pictures from the event. And while you are there, leave me a comment and become a fan! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newbie-Cigar-Blog/276912613298?ref=ts

Texas Cigar Festival

I found out that I am going to the Texas Cigar Festival this year. It just so happend to work out with my schedule, as I don't have to work over the weekend... So this is VERY exciting! The Texas Cigar Festival is put on by SeriousCigars.com.
Per their website, "SeriousCigars.com was a web based cigar retailer until the opening of our Brick and Mortar store in December of 2003. We specialize in the top tier of most popular brands as well as the cream of the crop from the boutique manufacturers. We do not carry every brand or every size. Our general rule is "If we like to smoke it, we carry it."

The festival put on by Serious is an opportunity of a life time as a cigar consumer. "Our festival space is over 16,000 sq. ft., with all the trimmings. Each participant will receive a goodie bag with 20 premium cigars along with other related items. The cigars themselves are valued at $160. The event will be complete with a buffet of heavy hors d'oeuvres and of course, cocktails," says seriouscigars.com.

Check out all the people that will be there:
601 - Eddie Ortega
CAO - Tim Ozgener
Rocky Patel Cigars - Rocky & Nish Patel
Drew Estate - Jonathon Drew
Alec Bradley - Alan Rubin
Camacho - Christian Eiroa
Carlos Torano - Carlos Llaca
El Rey de los Habanos - Pepin, Jaime & Janny
EP Cariilo - Ernesto & Ernie Carillo
Nub/Cain - Sam Leccia
La Flor Dominicana - Litto Gomez
Perdomo - Arthur Kemper
Tatuaje - Pete Johnson
J Fuego - Jesus Fuego
Esteban Carreras - Craig Cunningham
Partagas -Benji Menendez
Xikar HC - Kurt Van Keppel
Oliva - Jeff Nolen & Dave Wagner
Padron - Orlando Padron Jr.
AshtonReyes Family Cigars

Other attendees
S.T. Dupont - Trunk Show
Cigar Rights of America
Humidipak
Sip, Smoke & Savor
Cigar Press Magazine
The Guayabera Lady

I will be bringing my camera and audio recording equipment, so stay tuned for interviews a pics!
If you can make it down to Houston TX this Saturday, COME! Would love to meet you and smoke a great cigar.

http://www.seriouscigars.com

Vegas Cubanas Don Pepin Garcia - For CRA Only

Hello cigar smokers of the internet! For whatever reason, I have been in such a good mood lately, quite the departure from my normal state of being the last few months. I will say, that one thing that has put me in such a good mood is a plethora of great cigars in my humidor. One of the cigars I pulled out of the bowels of the singles humidor was a cigar from CRA. The Cigar Rights of America, for those of you who don't know. Check out the link on the left hand side of this page. The CRA is now including two cigars when you sign up for a new membership. These exclusive cigars offset your membership price, and if you think about it, for the price of membership, you would pay for a few cigars anyways, so this is a great deal! If you are not apart of the CRA, YOU NEED TO JOIN! Plus, if you want to smoke the cigar I am about to talk about, you will have to sign up anyways.
The cigar I pulled out was a Vegas Cubanas, blended by Don Pepin Garcia. I asked Brian Berman of the CRA his thoughts on this cigar and why the CRA chose to work with Don Pepin. Brian says, "When CRA selected the cigars to feature exclusively to CRA members, the decision was not only based on finding GREAT cigars, but GREAT cigar companies. Our vision was to partner with legendary cigar makers, such as Don Pepin Garcia, to create a unique cigar that CRA members would enjoy—and remember. El Rey De Los Habanos (commonly called Don Pepin Cigars), has been a CRA partner since day one. From the top, down, Pepin Garcia has built into his associates that we need to fight for our freedom and that CRA is the outlet to do so."
Brian goes on to say, "The Vegas Cubanas Don Pepin Garcia cigar that is offered exclusively to CRA members has been specially blended and sized and is not available anywhere else. It is a complex, but smooth cigar that has an amazing flavor. It is truly a jewel from the El Rey De Los Habanos Cigar Factory!"

I am waiting on an email to let you know the size of this cigar, but if I had to guess, I would say it is about a 6x52 ring gauge. The wrapper is milk chocolate in color, and nice and oily.

Pre-Light:
Smelling the wrapper, I get scents of chocolate and a sweet horse barn. The dry draw was perfect for me, as I enjoy a slightly loose draw, and the tastes tickled my tong with bourbon and sweet vanilla.

Light:
The first few draws on this cigar produced a very creamy smoke laden with a spicy black pepper and an underlying floral cedar note. As I smoked through this, the smoke transformed into a mellow white pepper and saddle leather taste. The spiciness of this cigar makes you salivate and drool on yourself (at least I did...).

After taste:
The Vegas Cubanas leaves your mouth feeling refreshed with that spice coming through well after you are done smoking this cigar. One thing I loved about this smoke, is the copious amounts of smoke that this cigar produced. It never left me wanting more, yet was not over powering in any way. This cigar is proof the Don Pepin Garcia is one of the world's best cigar blenders, and the CRA should be proud to have this smoke.


I also wanted to let you know that I will be starting to do a segment for Doc at www.stogiefresh.com Doc has taken me under his wing, and has provided me with many opportunities to write for him. I will be doing a (hopefully) regular segment called "Tools of the Trade" which will be a review on cigar accessories and tools. Look for this week's podcast and listen for me! Also, Doc has posted a review I did on a Xikar lighter. You can find it here: http://www.stogiefresh.com/journal/Cigar_Journal/Accessories/Entries/2010/4/14_Xikar_EXII_Havana_Collection_Lighter.html

Next week I will be interviewing Kurt Van Keppel, President of Xikar. So stay tuned for that interview!

Joya de Nicaragua Antano

I have found my new favorite smoking spot. I work now for the local CBS station here in Minneapolis, and they have a beautiful deck on the roof. It provides stellar views of downtown Minneapolis, people watching and most of all the peacefulness knowing that you are alone on a roof with a great cigar. The inaugural smoke was a Joya de Nicaragua Antano. Doing some research, cigar.com provides some great info on this cigar. They write,

"The Antano is a real piece of cigar history. As the first brand ever made in Nicaragua, Joya de Nicaragua is a favorite of aficionados who prefer cigars from this region.

Nicaragua is the fastest growing cigar manufacturing country in the world, but that has not always been the case. In 1964 the very first cigar factory opened in Nicaragua, which relative to other cigar producing nations is a late start. Joya de Nicaragua was the first real brand made in the factory and in 1970 it was the cigar of choice in the United States, smoked by the elites of society and politicians of the day. With political corruption and communism plaguing Nicaragua, production of the Joya de Nicaragua brand ground to a halt.

Joya de Nicaragua is back and the Antano is a tribute to the original blend rolled in 1970. The cigar is full bodied and full flavored, leaving nothing to the imagination. Spicy and earthy flavors hit the palate like a freight train, and the moderate finish leaves you going back for another puff. Highly rated and reviewed, this cigar has gained a dedicated following"

I wanted to include that history, because at the time of smoking this cigar, I had no idea the background of this smoke.

Pre-Light:
This cigar has a toothy, rough, bumpy wrapper, that smells of cinnamon, spice and a sweet leather note. After cutting the end, I took a dry draw, and found notes of nutmeg and eggnog.

Light:
With the first draw I found this cigar to be sweet with a kiss of vanilla and coffee notes. Retro-haling the first draws tickled my nose with floral and cedar notes. At first I found this cigar to be mild to medium bodied and flavored. None of the flavor notes were particularly strong, and could be due to the fact that I stored this as a single cigar in my humidor of singles.
As I smoked on, I noticed a bit of bitterness developing on the lips. Melting into a mild creamy sweetness that makes your mouth water.

The 2nd half of this cigar changed noticeably. The smoke transformed into a dark chocolate and saddle leather taste, ending with a spiced chocolate cake with an increasing floral aroma. I didn't notice how strong the cigar had gotten until I stood up. Even though the flavor of this cigar was medium, the nicotine really hit me in the gut. I went downstairs and had to have a few glasses of cold water... This is a cigar that proves full bodied smoke, does not necessarily mean strong, a mild tasting cigar can really make you green too!

If you can tolerate the nicotine, I would suggest this cigar. For me, it was a bit too strong, but the flavors were extraordinary. Give this one a try, but beware, it will get you in the gut!

MURCIELAGO BELICOSO

After a month (or a little longer) hiatus, I am back and ready for more blog entries! Sorry to all of you who check this blog with any regularity. The last month has been crazy between loosing my job, family members in and out of hospitals, and our house deal falling through... But, I know that without a great cigar, I would be more of a wreck than I already am!

So, today was a beautiful day to jump in the herf-mobile to light up a good stick. I was listening to Bob and Dale on the iPod and decided that a Murcielago would be a great accompaniment to a good Dog Watch cigar podcast. I bought a box of these Murcielagos from Joe Fuller at fullerspullers.com around last November and have been smoking these on and off ever since. I chose the Belicoso size of 5.5 x 52 ring gauge. The Murcielago brand was made for EO Brands by Don Pepin in Nicaragua. "Made with a dark rich maduro wrapper grown in the fertile volcanic soil of the San Andres Valley in Mexico with a binder grown in the same region. Blended with rich Nicaraguan filler, the cigar is rich in maduro flavor with hints of spice that the Nicaraguan filler brings out." - atlanticCigar.com

Pre Light:
This smoke is VERY earthy with lots of chicken coup, barnyard and wet grass scents to it. The wrapper is dark and milk chocolaty.

Light:
After lighting this stick I was hit with some of those earthy flavors, but, a ton of spice and black pepper over shaddowed those distinct mexican tobacco flavors. The maduro wrapper added to the exotic spice and deep rich coffee flavor that tickled your tong every so often.

After Taste:
The Murcielago leaves your mouth coated with rich and meaty flavors, that stay with you much like a black peppercorn crusted steak leaves your mouth coated with the greasy, savory, peppery juice long after you take your last bite.

Over all, this cigar is a great cigar, but is definatly on the fuller boddied and flavor side. Many new cigar smokers may find this cigar to be too peppery and meaty for their liking. I look for that in a cigar and enjoy the bold flavors this cigar has to offer. If you buy a couple, I would recomend that you age this cigar slightly to let the flavors melt together and mellow and blend slightly. If you are looking to take the next step into your cigar adventure, deffinatly give this one a try!