Cigar of the Week - Illusione Nosotros.  Dion branches out to have this cigar made by Drew Estates.  Introduced at IPCPR 2009, the cigars ave been trickling out of the Drew Estates factory.  Why a trickle?  Well two reasons really, QUALITY and resources.  Dion and Jonathan Drew are obsessed with the quality of this cigar.  Dion works very closely with Nick at DE to insure that these cigars are top notch, so the number of  rollers is limited and that limits the number of cigars.  Secondly is the tobacco.  Since this is the first cigar Dion has done outside of Aganorsa tobacco, he has to spend extra time sorting through the bales to find just the right ones.  This will get better as the correct tobacco sources are identified, documented and secured.  But meantime, he sorts 10 bales and uses 6.  Blend of fine tobaccos from Nicaragua with a Corojo '99 wrapper, Nicaraguan fillers, and Connecticut Habano binder.

On the Dark Side - Por Larranaga Limited
Format : Robusto
Size : 124 x 20 mm (4.9 x 50)
Release : 2007
Tobacco Procedence :   Vuelta Abajo
Factory :   La Corona

Por Larranaga Robusto 2007 Regional Edition For Asia Pacific Made exclusively by Habanos SA under the request of The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd for the Asia Pacific.
The Por Larranaga brand was registered in 1834 by Ignacio Larranaga at 94 O’ Reilly Street, Havana. The name, Por Larranaga, means “by Larranaga”. By the end of the 19th Century, Por Larranaga was a well-known cigar brand favored by the rich and famous. Despite the fame, Por Larranaga has never been a brand of large output, the cigars produced are always in selected quantities. 
The robusto size was chosen as the 2007 Regional Edition because this is a popular size among smokers and it is unique; as Por Larranaga has never made a robusto cigar in its portfolio.

What else have you been smokin' Dale?- 
Frank Llaneza 1961 Pyramide Criollo 6.25 x 54 - revisiting the cigar that Carl Holtman sent us for the What's my Band segment a few weeks ago. Named for the president of Villizon & Co (part of General Cigars), this stick is wrapped with a very dark Ecuador Sumatra leaf over a blend of long fillers from Honduras and the Dominican Republic. 5 other sizes avail.

Guantanamera 310 Pyramide Torpedo 6 x 52 - Still can find no info as to the varieties of tobacco, but a mild-med bodied smoke with tons of flavor. Almond, vanilla, exotic spice and cedar at the start. As it finishes the flavors become more peppery & herbal. I love this cigar after breakfast! 

Tobaccos Baez Series H Toro  6 x 50 - a short/medium filler cigar from Pepin Gacia utilizing a light Ecuadorian wrapper and Nicaraguan fillers. It's a medium bodied smoke full of creamy flavors.

Brickhouse - .  From JC Newman, the Brickhouse are Nicaraguan manufactured from Nicaragua fillers and a trademark Havana Subido wrapper. The flavors are oaky with a faint sweetness. Avail in 3 other sizes.

What else have you been smokin' Bob? - 
Torano Copper
The Exodus 1959 - 50 Years

Wrapper:Brazilian Arapiraca Sun-Grown
Binder:Honduras
Filler: Esteli &
Pueblo Nuevo, Nicaragua

Good spice and a full bodied experience.  New release from Torano who often does not get recognized for their outstanding quality and great tastes.
ELOGIO HABANO PETIT CORONA Size: 5 x 32

Tobacco Taxes - the ongoing attack on pipes and cigars.  Things are heating up quickly on the legislative front in 2010.  Of immediate concern is the proposed federal tax increase on pipe tobaccos of 775% (HR4439).   Should we care about pipe taxes?

The Cigar rights of America and your right to smoke.

We some an ubanded from Liz that turns out to be a Fonseca Vintage.

Music provided by 25 Smokin' Figurados and The Surfonics

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