Short and Sweet
Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 4:28PM The Garcias do it again…On Friday, 9 April, I was at Smoke on the Water (1630 Bell Tower Lane, Weston, FL 33326 – 954.217.1994) a cigar emporium with a full liquor bar at Weston Town Center. Unfortunately, that translates to a bar that also sells cigars.
Be that as it may, I was there with my friends Luis A. Quintero, Berta Bravo, Miami’s famous Guaybera Lady, Emilio Sauma, the artist and Grace Sotolongo to attend what, I suppose was the introduction of the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial. This event brought out Pepin, Jaime and Janny Garcia along with My Father Cigars Sales VP, John Gonzalez and their Florida Rep, Joaquin Saladrigas.
I have smoked the various iterations of this cigar from early January, through late February to last Friday, and it only proves, once again, that Pepin Garcia knows his tobacco, knows his blending, and, most important of all, knows when a cigar is not what it should be…and then, he knows how to tweak it.
When you smoke it, you’ll know what I mean. But, it adds to my problem, and, perhaps yours. Pepin makes an unbelievable number of fine cigars for himself and others. Now, I smoke eight cigars a day, and I can’t cover all of them in a day or, perhaps in a week. But, I keep trying.
It was an enjoyable evening, but, I have to substantiate what I said about it being a bar with a walk-in humidor. The doors to the humidor were open. My pal Sam Watton was behind the cash register in the humidor smoking a cigar, as were dozens of other people. You have to know that the uncellophaned cigars were absorbing every aroma from all those fired up stogies. Not good; not good.
Kudos to Nick Perdomo and Tabacalera Perdomo. When the S-Chip Tax was imposed, Nick ate it rather than pass it along to the retail tobacconists, who would pass it on to the consumer. Then last year Nick cut his prices. And now, he has announced further price cuts!
Nick has three constituencies to worry about: Tabacalera Perdomo and its substantial number of employees in Miami and Estelí, Nicaragua; the retail tobacconist and we, the cigar smokers. Well, he’s looking after them all in difficult economic times.
Sound business, Nick, and grateful Perdomo fans all over are applauding you. And both the retailers and the consumers will remember you for this bold and thoughtful gesture. More than a gesture – a very practical business decision.
Why there are not more like minded cigar makers is beyond me.
It would appear that La Aurora has sprung a leak…and their new La Aurora 107 cigars are popping up all over the place, well in advance of the 28 April initial launch at Tobacco Plaza (218 Lakeville Road, Great Neck, NY 11020 – 516.829.7134).
A lot of bloggers have gotten their hands on them, and it would appear that is nothing Guillermo Leon, Jose Blanco and all the people at La Aurora should regret. The reviews have been uniformly complimentary and laudatory.
It looks like they have a winner on their hands to replace the much vaunted Cien Ano, the manufacture of which has ceased as the tobacco inventory was finished last summer,
EO Brands 601 cigar will celebrate its 5th anniversary this June. It will be interesting to see what Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa, two hard driving, very capable cigar industry veterans do to mark the occasion.
Certainly, they have gone on from the success of 601 to create Cubao, Cubao Maduro, the limited edition Mi Barrio and the extraordinary Murcielago…all exquisite smokes that seem to satisfy every palate.
I’m curious what their next act will be.
Certainly La Flor Dominicana has launched a lot of successful cigars…El Jocko, Ligero, Double Ligero, the Chisel, the LG Diez, and on and on and on. I think, however; the most successful launch of any product by the extraordinary maker is the Air Bender.
I see the cigars on tobacconist shelves all over the country and I see guys smoking ‘em all over as well.
Should we chalk it up to luck…after all, Litto doesn’t have five generations of vegas owning, tobacco growing, and cigar making predecessors in his family!
Luck doesn’t seem quite right. Having known Litto for a decade and a half, and watched him and Ines grow their company, I would put it down to diligence and even experimentation. After all, all those generations of tradition we always hear of can be constraints as well.
Ever since Litto’s son, Tony joined the firm, covering the state of Florida, there has been a distinct movement into the 21st Century. Why even Litto is Twittering!
EPC Cigars, the new company owned by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, his daughter, Lissette and his son, Ernesto III is getting set to release their core brand this June.
Ernesto, the much vaunted blender/manufacturer of La Gloria Cubana and the famous Serie R had a success on his hands with the Edicion Inaugural from EPC, and that was a $13 cigar in a rough economy.
Imagine what they have in store for us in a popularly priced cigar. I am not only eager for it to appear, I am doing my best to cadge a few sticks from them. And since I will be in Santiago in May…I’m going to really put on the pressure!
Looking for an economical, long filler cigar…then you should try J. Fuego Originals. A paper wrapped five pack of cigars the size and shape that is used to test blends in factories. And at five for $13.95, you can hardly go wrong!
This and that…David Levy, a shareholder in Mederos Cigars (Estelí, Nicaragua) and the Miami executive for the firm has submitted his resignation, which was effective 1 April. The e-mail, from Levy, to select people in the industry did not even suggest that the move was “…to devote time to other pursuits” or “…spend more time with my family,” the usual comments that fill such announcements. Perhaps it is that the cigar business is not as easy as a lot of people think it is.
I try not to have the consulting and writing I do interfere with the important things in life…smoking cigars; playing dominos and observing the passing scene. Well, this month it did. I have been busy!
So, not only is this the shortest column I have written, which may be a godsend to many people, it is also the nicest…offending no one! I must be losing my edge.
“There are five things, above all else, that make life worth living: a good relationship with G-d, a good woman, good health, good friends and a good cigar” Prince Sined Yar Maharg
Reader Comments (1)
The La Aurora 107 is a great cigar and I'm glad I was able to sample this cigar. I'm looking forward to seeing it in my local B&M's.
I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Perdomo for the first time last week. He's a great guy and I applaud him for his stance against taxes.