January 21st, 2019

Size of cigar: 6 inches by 52 ring gauge
Wrapper: Oscuro Corojo (3 year old Oscuro Corojo leaves from Nicaragua)
Binder: Jalapa region (Nicaragua)
Filler: Triple Ligero leaves (Nicaragua)

The Blanco Nine Toro is a special cigar, the blend of which has been formulated and brought to the marketplace by a very special individual, David Blanco of the Blanco Cigar Company. David has, through the years, served the United States of America in law enforcement, fire/paramedic and military postings. And this selfless dedication to others is also reflected in his approach to cigar making. Clearly, Mr. Blanco believes in striving to help people have the best life can offer.

December 3rd, 2018

In the interest of full disclosure, this is going to be anything but an impartial review. In short (pun intended), this is one of my favorite cigars. By favorite, I mean stuck-on-a-deserted-island-with-no-other-cigar-to-smoke-for-the-rest-of-your-life favorite. I try never to run out of them. A little "lagniappe" (Cajun French for an extra little pleasure) comes in the form that it is one of a few cigars made by Habanos, S.A. that is still sold in a cabinet of 50. There is an argument between Cuban cigar lovers that cabinet selection cigars age better and with more flavor than traditional dress boxes. I won't weigh in on that argument except to say that it doesn't hurt them any.

In the cigar trade, this size is known as a Minutos. Here in the States, we prefer the moniker 'très petit corona'. It's approximately 4½ inches long and has a ring gauge of about 42. All of the binder, filler and wrapper tobaccos are a unique blend grown in the Pinar del Rio region of Cuba, which is approximately the western third of the nation. They are rolled by hand in an historic factory in the capital of Habana (Havana).

January 7th, 2019

This collaboration between Island Jim and James Brown of BLTC is a dark rustic looking cigar with distinctive tobacco notes from the foot. The cold draw is perfect. Tonight’s beverage is a Goose Island Bourbon County 2018 Edition.

The initial flavors are earthy and somewhat sharp with a bittersweet finish on the palate. The retro-hale is lightly peppery with a touch of sourness. The burn is mostly even. The ale is quite strong and matches up well with the strength of the cigar.

When I spoke to Island Jim at the IPCPR, he said he had this cigar rolled because he really liked what James Brown was doing with Broadleaf. The results are excellent.

November 12th, 2018

The Rocky Patel Decade Toro represents another cigar from the Rocky Patel Luxury Sampler offered by Holt’s Cigars. (I’ve previously reviewed the Velvet Edition Toro.) It measures 6½ inches long by a 52 ring gauge and is moderately box-pressed. This Toro has a Sumatran wrapper and aged long fillers, the blend of which is a mystery according to Holt’s.

December 20th, 2018

The sight of a ‘lonely’ bottle residing on the shelf of my local wine and spirits purveyor always seems to grab my attention. What happened to all the others? And why did they disappear so quickly? My usual reaction is to take a chance, grab the last bottle and give it a go at the dinner table. Such was the scenario concerning the wine profiled in this article.

Tenuta Arbéta, which comprises part of the Alma Vineyards consortium, is a wine-producing estate located in the Roero area of the western portion of the Langhe region in Piedmont, Italy. Roberto Gerbino is the estate’s winemaker.

November 5th, 2018

I’ve been asked by Cigar Weekly to rate the cigars in the Rocky Patel Luxury Sampler for Holt’s Cigars, available at www.holts.com.

It’s a heavy load to bear, but someone has to do it. Holt’s sent me a gift card to purchase the sampler, which I did. Upon receiving the sampler, I put it in my humidor for a week to acclimate before smoking any of the cigars. They are all Toro-size cigars.