Fake Cuban Cigar Makers busted in Miami

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/Phony-Stogie-Makers-Busted-in-Hialeah-69363667.html

A South Florida multi-million dollar phony cigar operation went up in smoke yesterday when it was raided by law enforcement officials after a five-month investigation.
At least one man was arrested and another taken into custody after the raid on two Hialeah warehouses that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said were some of the biggest counterfeit cigar operations in the country.
"This is very satisfying," said Jorge Espinosa, a lawyer representing many of the upscale cigar brands that were being counterfeited by the operation. "They're counterfeiting cigars and they're using my client's famous trademarks to do so."
Among the items confiscated were fake cigar boxes, made soo well they look better than the original in some cases, a pallet full of phony cigar labels, and a half-million dollar printer used to make the labels and cigar tubes.
The fake packaging was being moved elsewhere to merge with fake cigars, then transported and sold throughout the country.
"The legitimate industry is suffering because of this illegitimate business," said private investigator Eladio Paez.
Bogus Cigar Operation Busted in Hialeah
WATCH Bogus Cigar Operation Busted in Hialeah
"We're talking millions of dollars," said Espinosa. "You have to understand that what is a box of cheap 25-cent cigars they can sell for $300."
And experts said some of the money from the illegal operation goes to organized crime and even back to criminals in Cuba.
"We believe that some money flows back into Cuba since a lot of the original labels and tags come from the island," Espinosa said, adding that his clients weren't stopping the fight against the phony stogie makers.
"The message is, you keep counterfeiting our product, we're coming after you. And we will put you out of business."

Grantz 79.74

Picked this one up to try from my local tobbacco shop. I am so sorry I did. It was like smoking crap on a stick. Not only no taste, but bad taste. Had to appologize to those I was smoking with for ruining their smoke. I think this is a private label cigar of Cox's.

I am glad I only bought one.

CAO Gold Corona Gorda 90.585

This was number 6 of the 7 cigars in CAO Commemorative box. It was a good mild cigar that smoked fairly well. I still prefer the CAO camaroon cigars however. Nothing spectacular to say on this cigar. Below is info from one of the online sellers of this cigar.

CAO Gold Cigars
Introduced in 1996, the CAO Gold has received some of the highest ratings in the industry including two 90 ratings. Recently, the CAO Gold Corona was awarded a 90 rating from the Cigar Aficionado, making it the second highest rated non- Cuban corona in the world. This cigar features a gorgeous Ecuadorian Connecticut seed wrapper along with aged Nicaraguan binder and filler. The flawless construction and smooth flavor features hints of buttery vanilla, cream, and nutmeg.
• Wrapper: Ecuador, Connecticut• Binder: Nicaragua• Filler: Nicaragua

CAO Gold Maduro 90.585

This was number 5 in the 7 cigar CAO commemorative box. It was a pretty good mild cigar and smoked very well. Having the maduro wrapper and mild leaves inside gave it a nice taste on the lips and a smooth smoke in the mouth.

I would smoke these again.

Cigarjack.net had this to say on this cigar:

I mentioned awhile back when the CAO Gold Maduro was announced that I was excited about this cigar. The CAO Gold is an enjoyable cigar, but I find it a bit mild to be one of my go-to cigars. The CAO Gold Maduro has the same Nicaraguan filler as the original line, but the wrapper is a Brazilian Maduro. I find CAO Cigars in this price range to be above average, and the CAO Gold Maduro doesn’t disappoint.
During my lunch break today, I stopped by the Cincinnati Tobacconist and was happy to see that they carried these. I picked up a couple of the robustos and lit one up right there. Before I get too far ahead of myself, I should mention that firstly, I gave the cigar a thorough examination of construction and armoa. Not much can be said bad about CAO when it comes to the construction of their cigars and this was no different. The wrapper, a beautiful dark brown with no overtly large veins, was firm to the touch. I grabbed a v-cutter and gave it a quick clip along with a couple of test draws and right away got a hint of flavor reminding me of Scotch or Bourbon.
I slowly toasted the foot with matches until I was billowing beautiful smokey clouds hinting of vanilla. The cigar didn’t have the spicy bite of the CAO Brazilia, but did have the same nutty tones with a more earthen body. The Gold Maduro isn’t devoid of spice, but defintly mellower than its sibling from South America. It also had a nice slow burn taking me nearly a full hour to smoke the robusto. This is one of the cigars you want to let the ash hang as long as possible so that it burns cool. It seemed to get a hint of bitterness after I knocked the ash off until it had a chance to progress a bit.
CAO’s high end cigars may be over hyped, but their mid-range ones definately aren’t. I paid $4.95 a stick for these and they were well worth the price. Great construction and a nice medium body that didn’t over power, yet did not lack in flavor either. I noticed only a faint buzz from this one, so I wouldn’t worry about grabbing at any time of day. In fact, I couldn’t wait to smoke this cigar again and lit lit up my second one on the way home from work. In conclusion, I highly recommend the CAO Gold Maduro, just be sure to keep it slow or it may turn bitter on you. My horoscope told me I’d find a new love today. Rating 8.5 out of 10.

cigar cyclopedia new magazine out

Here is a link to the new magazine for this month. Check out their site or download prior pdf versions.
http://www.cigarcyclopedia.com/webapp/images/stories/cigargallery/2009/PPCG082109.pdf

Update: 1/2011

Farewell to CigarCyclopedia
Friday January 7, 2011
. CigarCyclopedia.com is now on an indefinite hiatus due to lack of sponsorship. According to the message posted on cigarcyclopedia.com: "We have received inquiries about buying and continuing the site, and that may yet happen. But for now, we are at rest." We wish Rich Perelman and his entire staff the very best in the months ahead, and thank him for keeping the site online, albeit without further updates. CigarCyclopedia is/was a great resource for cigar smokers, and will be greatly missed.

ML3 Arganese 80.58

Tried this lackluster torpedo at work today. Had a hard draw, even though I cut it way back farther than normal and at an angle. The cigar had no discernable taste. If it was not for the 77 degree sunny day outside to enjoy it would have been a waste. This just was not as good as I thought it was going to be, especially given what texcigars.com has to say. But again they sell these.
This and its corojo brother are the newest blends from Arganese. The filler and binder of this cigar are both Dominican ligero leaves. The wrapper is an Ecuadorian maduro that was processed for an additional 6 months. Be warned, this is a full bodied cigar with tons of strength behind it, the toothy and veiny wrapper screams nicotine kick. The Arganese ML3 was one of the stars of the 2008 IPCPR show in Las Vegas. Dark chocolate, black coffee, nuts, wood, and cream all make themselves known with this cigar. The Arganese ML3 is making waves in the cigar communities.

CAO CRIOLLO 90.915

This was a fairly good cigar and the third of seven in the CAO commemoratvie box. It just did not have any discernable flavors and was a lot more mild smoke than I thought it would be.

Cigars.About.Com had a review that was pretty good on this cigar:
The Criollo Cigars are in my opinion, one of the best Nicaraguan puros on the market today. A ‘puro’ cigar is made of tobacco completely from one country, in this case, Nicaragua (wrapper, binder, filler). C.A.O. has them available in 6 sizes and/or shapes:
•Conquistador (Spanish - conqueror) – 6 1/8” length x 52 ring gauge
•Bomba (Spanish - bomb) – 6” x 50
•Mancha (Spanish – spot) – 5 5/8” x 46
•Pato – (Spanish – drake) – 4 7/8” x 50
•Pampa – (Spanish – great plains) – 4” x 40
•Pampas – (Spanish – grasslands) – 4” x 38
Depending on the size you can get a box of 20 from $75 to $125, a 5 pack from $25 to $35 or a tin of the Pampas (5 to a tin) for $8 to $10. Singles will vary in price as well but are almost always 10% to 30% higher per stick.
Flavor
This is a mild to medium cigar and an excellent choice for the beginner. As an experienced smoker I wanted to try these because it offered a respite from the heavier cigars I am used to. Criollo in Spanish literally means a nursling or seedling and in this case it truly fits the definition. The tobacco for these cigars came from plants grown from original Cuban seeds solely in Nicaragua. The flavor was great right from the start. Initially there are floral hints, the taste of chestnuts, coffee, and a subtle sweetness. Halfway through a slight peppery flavor crept in and built slowly to a nice finish. The Criollo’s are also full of great aromas like mushrooms and cedar. It also reminded me of the campfires we had when I was kid, that and the fact that all my Mom’s cousins were in the backyard puffing on stogies.
Draw and Construction
The wrapper is a nice deep brown color and a matching label to give it an ‘Old World’ look. The pigtail cap was perfect for a nice cut from my cigar scissors. The draw is very easy and the cigar is tightly rolled. The burn is perfectly even from start to finish and the ash stayed on all the way to the mid-point of the cigar. All of the C.A.O. Criollo’s smoked were very consistent which speaks well to their quality and construction. The smallest of them, the Pampas, just as enjoyable as it larger versions, will last 30 minutes or 40 if you choose to smoke them down to 1”. These cigars all smoked ‘cool’ right to the end.
Value
The C.A.O. Criollo cigars are an excellent value, especially the little Pampas. Buying a tin for $10 is a great way to introduce your self to this high quality Nicaraguan puro allowing you to smoke several for a fraction of the cost of the larger ones (and the tin travel well). The Pampas will allow you to decide if you want to extend your Criollo smoking experience and step up to a Pato, Bomba or Conquistador. On the other hand, if you prefer cigars with a smaller ring gauge the Pampa and Mancha will not disappoint you. This is a very complex cigar and a great offering for smokers of any level. For those of you with wives (or significant others) and would like to introduce them to the aromas before you light up, try grilling some shitake mushrooms over cedar ship and fresh twigs. If they like that they will love the C.A.O. Criollo’s.

CAO CAMEROON L'Anniversaire 95.09

What a difference a draw makes. I had really hated the last one I had of these. However this 4th cigar I tried in the CAO commerative box was not pressed like the one I had tried previously. I hugely enjoyed this smoke and had great flavor. This is now in my get a box of these smokes. Definitely will feel the cigar for how tight it feels though, because that does seem to make a difference on enjoyment.
Worldofcigarsblog.com gave it a 90 out of 100 and had this to say:

The CAO Cameroon L'anniversaire Belicoso is one of the few box pressed cigars i have smoked in a long time. Somehow, i prefer the round shape. The pressed ones just do not sit so well on my fingers. Blame the fingers.

Anyway, the cigar is very beautiful. The veinless wrapper shines in golden leather colours and the rolling and construction seem to be almost flawless. And that really shows and feels in the draw and burn.

I have always liked the Belicoso/Piramide vitolas, as they usually have great draw and they allow the tobacco to burn cool and even, simultaniously focusing the flavours towards the tapering end...

Flavourwise, the CAO Cameroon Belicoso is a great cigar. It has a certain "honesty" in its essence. On the milder side, the cigar offers some profound earthy flavours, combined with a sideline of spices. Toss in the sweet tastes of caramel and roasted sugar and there you have it. Nicely balanced, interesting cigar, with enough character and depth to receive a high score.

Origin: Nigaragua

Construction 19/20
Appearance 17/20
Smoke/Ash 7/10
Burn 19/20
Draw 20/20
Aroma 8/10 (8,8,7)

TOTAL POINTS 90/100

CAO ITALIA 90.25

This is the second cigar I tried in the CAO Commemerative box. While not as enjoyable as the CX2, it was an OK smoke. I probably will not go out of my way to pick these up however as it just did not stand out like other cigars in the same price range. Stogiereview.com had this excellent review:

I know, I know, I promised to review a Gran Habano cigar this week. Well the thing is, I’ve been down with a nasty little bit of bronchitis for the past week, so I’m pulling my notes for a cigar review I planned to do on my home blog. I fact, my friends over at Tex Cigars hooked me up with a couple for me evaluate. I don’t think they’ll mind if I review it here instead.
I should note that because I planned this review for my personal blog, I took fewer pictures than normal. Size limitations and all. (The rough life of a WordPress freeloader.) OK, let’s get to that cigar!
Cigar Stats:Size: 5 x 56 (robusto)Wrapper: HondurasBinder: HondurasFiller: Italy, Nicaragua, PeruSmoking Time: 1 1/2 hoursBeverage: WaterPrice: ~$4.50The Pre-SmokeOf all the CAO cigar bands, I think the one that wraps the Italia is my favorite. Or maybe its tied with the Brazilia. Either way, it’s a cool looking cigar.
Under the band, I noticed a bit of inconsistency in the wrappers of the three cigars I smoked. (Yeah, I threw one of my own into the mix too.) On the very first of these I found the wrapper to be very smooth. The other two were lumpier and veinier, and the last (shown above) was actually lopsided. (The cigar kept rolling over as I tried to get a picture of it.)
Before clipping the cigars for the cold taste I gave them all a squeeze and found them to be consistently firm. On the wrapper I detected a very sweet barnyard scent and a dark chocolate aroma at the foot. In the cold taste I got chocolate and coffee flavors.
The BurnOverall these cigars had a pretty good burn, generally even for the first two thirds before straying noticeably in the final third. All three cigars produced a great looking solid white ash that extended well over an inch before falling like a rock into the ashtray. And finally, consistent with my past experience with other CAO cigars, I found the draw to also be great, with a slight bias toward free-and-easy. Which works for me, as I prefer a looser draw.
The FlavorThe Italia opened up with a sweet coffee flavor that was quickly followed up by a smooth cocoa flavor with an herbal flavor that resembles thyme. The rest of the first third was a combination of chocolate, sweet cocoa and caramel.
In the second third, the cigar became creamier and the cocoa flavor was joined by earth and leather. And that earthiness took over in the final third and brought a little spice with it.
The PriceAt $4.50 a stick, this cigar fits in at the top end of the budget range. And I think it’s a reasonable price, given the quality of the burn and the tasty array of flavors.
The VerdictBefore this review, I had only had one Italia. It was a smaller Novella in a bar in Memphis. As I recall, I got a lot more of that herbal thyme flavor, so when I smoked the Italia this time around I was surprised. I didn’t expect such a smooth, sweet cocoa-y smoke. And I think I know why the flavor was so different. In addition to the smaller size of the original, I was drinking some hoppy beers. The strength of the hops easily over powered the lighter, more subtle flavors of the cigar, but enhanced that single herbal flavor. I bring this up because I think this is a cigar you need to carefully consider what drink you pair with it.
So getting to the verdict finally, I did really enjoy this cigar. While I was smoking it, I was reminded of the three musketeers candy bars I used to like as a kid. Especially in the first third. I haven’t had a candy bar in ages, but I can see myself reaching for an Italia the next time I have a sweet tooth.
Oh hey, I almost forgot. Walt also reviewed the Italia back in 2006, why not check it out and get another point of view? Enjoy.
Liked It: YesBuy It Again: YesRecommend It: Yes

CAO CX2 94.255

This is the first cigar in the CAO Commemorative box I am smoking thru. What a great start. I still tend to prefer Camaroon wrappers and this cigar had great flavor all the way thru. A very easy draw and was fun to smoke. The only weird thing about this cigar was it seemed to not have long leaf tobbacco? The ash seemed to not get very long before it would drop off, this is different than a lot of the cigars I smoke. Cigar.com has a good write-up of this one:

The CAO CX2 is the world’s first cigar to feature both a Cameroon wrapper and binder. Following in the foot steps of its big brother, the MX2 (Maduro x 2) this is an excellent cigar for aficionados who enjoy cigars from Cameroon region of Africa.
CAO CX2 is a favorite among Cameroon wrapper lovers. In 2003, the success of the CAO MX2 (Maduro times two) was unprecedented. Upon the cigars release it was one of the most demanded hand made sticks on the market, and continues to this day to be both very popular and very scarce. With the blends overwhelming success, several years later, CAO launched the CAO CX2 (Cameroon times two), which features two Cameroon wrappers and a medium to full-bodied blend of Nicaraguan tobacco.
Cameroon wrapper tobacco is some of the worlds most coveted wrapper leaf. The tobacco grown in the Western region of Africa has a rich flavor, but is very delicate and susceptible to damage, giving each plant a low yield of usable leaf. This makes Cameroon tobacco more expensive and harder to find. By combining two of these rich wrappers in one cigar, CAO has made a ground breaking discovery that is changing the way people think about cigars from this corner of the world.

CAO Commemoratives

Had purchased these on sale and had them in my humidor for six months.
I have gotten into a rut of smoking cigars from my stash and have not smoked
any new ones in a while, so I will work my way thru these over the next couple
of weeks.

1 Criollo Pato
1 CAO Cx2 Belicoso
1 CAO Italia Ciao
1 CAO Cameroon Belicoso
1 CAO Maduro Toro
1 CAO Black Toro
1 CAO Black Ltd Torpedo

Hav-a-Tampa cigars closing Tampa plant

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/23/231900/hav--tampa-cigars-closing-tampa-plant/news-metro/

Machine made cigars, will lay off 495 employees. Open since 1902. Blame is on smoking bans and SCHIP.

The Kentucky Derby

Was entertaining family and in-laws at the Kentucky Derby. Enjoyed my Oliva Serie V and a SOSA that I had brought with me. Since my bets somehow were off, the day was not as eventfull as it could have been. At least the rain held off.

CAO Mx2 86.75

Had read about these and were highly talked about. Have smoke 2 of them now several months apart. I got the same impression both time. I typically really like a maduro wrapper, but this one just did not live up to expectations. I even smoked this one with a nice snifter of brandy and just did not enjoy it like I thought I would. It was a little harsh and had no discernable flavors. It is a very well made cigar and gave great ash. Cigar.com had this write-up:
Featuring two maduro wrappers, the CAO MX2 is perhaps the most popular maduro cigar ever made. These cigars are very hard to find and available on a limited basis throughout the year.
If CAO could go back and recreate this cigar, it would be priced a lot higher. They had no idea just how large of a stir they were going to create when they came up with this Maduro masterpiece that features two premium wrappers on one cigar. Competitively priced, it is near impossible to find one of these cigars without putting your name on a long waiting list.
When most people think of a Double Maduro, they typically are reminded of a super dark almost jet-black wrapper. CAO has put a new spin on the term “double maduro” with a second wrapper all together. It is medium to full-bodied and slightly sweet on the lips. The aroma is rich and earthy with hints of black pepper and a long spicy finish. This cigar is ideal for the maduro lover. It is considered to be in the top five in terms of the best maduro cigars being rolled today. Like all CAO cigars, the MX2 has a flawless construction and burn that makes it a solid performer every time you fire one up.

How to enjoy your cigar

You find a nice spot on the front porch with your favorite beverage.  

Then after I light up my cigar I see if my dog likes it or not.  If she gets close

then it is a good cigar.  She gave this Habano Hernandez 3 out of 4 bones.

Then just when your cigar is done the ice cream truck drives up.  With this cigar I 

recommend the ice cream sandwich.  Then you finish by watching the rest of the 

3rd round of the Masters.

Habanos Hernandez 90.255

I found out about these cigars from an email and once they were able to accept credit cards decided to try the sample pack of 3 cigars. You have to call their toll free number to order, but that is probably a good thing because they will send you cigars in strength from 1-5. I decided to try some number 3 cigars. I got the ones they feature on their web site

at http://habanoshernandez.com/. They came in the mail the next day and were still pretty moist so went ahead and smoked the robusto the next day. The others I want to let sit in the humidor to make sure they are at optimal humidity and temp for a while before I smoke and rate those. The only thing I would recommend is that they also might want to offer a Paypal option for those that are worried about giving credit cards over the phone.

The cigar at a level 3 was slightly above most mild cigars and was a very enjoyable smoke. The sampler pack is a bit pricey, but good if you are not sure you want to buy a whole box before trying.

Prior to cutting the cap off, it looks like a well made cigar, however after cutting, I could tell there was a little issue with the wrapper. It looks like it was damaged a little when the label was put on.

You can see how it was torn right next to the label.

However that only detracted a little bit.

The ash got to a good inch and half before falling off.

If you want to support the small rollers who really enjoy making cigars I would recommend checking out their web site and trying their cigars.

Kentucky Derby Week Cigar Events

J Shepherd is holding Cigar Week April 27th thru May 2nd every evening from 4 to 8 pm.

Free sample cigars and door prizes. Mon 27-Rocky Patel, Tue 28-Oliva, Wed 29-Avo Evezian,

Thur 30-Alec Bradley, Fri 1-Teds, and Sat 2 Derby Day-Mystery Smoke. They are at 1429 Bardstown Rd., You can phone Jason for more information at (502) 479-1621.

Jason's Shop has been review here before and he keeps a great selection of cigars. Be sure to stop by.

Camacho Maduro 89.6725

I continue to enjoy maduro wrappers as well as Cameroon.  This was a very enjoyable cigar and smoked it for quite a while when I was out walking the dog around the neighborhood. This cigar is an offshoot of the Camacho Corojo line and the term "Quinto Corte" means "Fifth Priming" which is a reference to the uppermost leaves on the Corojo plant. Since these leaves remain on the plant the longest, they receive the most exposure to the sun and other elements. This gives the leaves a richer, more full-flavored taste than leaves that are picked earlier in the growing process.  I did notice some distinct leather flavors and a rich aroma.  This cigar gave off prodigous amounts of smoke and was very enjoyable. Strength:-Full
Wrapper:Maduro
Filler:Authentic Corojo
Binder:Authentic Corojo

Ashton Cabinet 86.08

This cigar was an OK smoke, not spectacular and not unpleasant. Just an average smoke and nothing to throw in the river. Based on the description below, I should have enjoyed it much more. Hmm.

twoguyssmokeshop.com had this on the cigar:

The Ashton Cabinet is the "White Burgundy" of cigars. "White Burgundy" gets its rich complex taste from the soil and aging of the grape in French oak barrels. The Cabinet's 4 to 5 year old Dominican filler blend has a rich, complex and well rounded taste. The extraordinary Connecticut shade wrapper is aged for an extra year and has an elegant palamino color resulting in a smooth and creamy flavor. The Ashton Cabinet includes no less than six different tobaccos and ends with a "big finish." Seven years pass from seedling to finished cigar before Ashton Cabinet is brought to fruition and presented for your smoking pleasure.

Cigar Rights of America

Now a proud member of http://www.cigarrights.org/. Check it out yourself.

Cusano Cuban 91.255

I continue to enjoy this cigar. I had this one sitting in the humidor for a while to get a good age on it. This cigar has a great taste from beginning to end and is a well made cigar. The only thing keeping it from a higher rating is the lack of any discernable aroma. You know, when someone is smoking a great cigar and you can tell it a block away.

Sungrown Cuban Cigars by CusanoWrapper: Sungrown EquadorFiller: DominicanBinder: Dominican

OLIVA Serie V 90.25

I had the double Toro size 60. This was just a little too big for my tastes. I prefer the 54 ring on cigars. However, that did not detract from the taste of these. It was strong but did not overwhelm. This cigar lives up to its reputation as one of the best. This is from cigar.com:

Rolled with specially selected ligero leaf, all top quality, Serie "V" packs a punch due to its full body; however, its strength does not dominate the experience. Specially aged and fermented tobaccos make for a complex flavor, adding layers of enticing notes of pepper, leather and earthy undertones. This line represents the strongest and richest cigar Oliva has to offer.To be an authorized Serie "V" dealer, tobacconists must undergo special training from Oliva representatives aimed at providing insight to the sheer power of the blend. This cigar only contains ligero leaf (the strongest variety of tobacco), but is blended so the initial taste is not overwhelming with "in your face" power. In other words, Serie "V" is very strong but can still be enjoyed by individuals who prefer medium-bodied cigars. Upon lighting, many may believe Serie "V" is medium in body, but as Jose Oliva himself has explained, if you cycle the smoke through the nose you will realize the true strength of Serie "V." Potent, powerful, yet smooth with a long finish, this blend is must try for all enthusiasts, let alone fans of the Oliva brand.

PROCIGAR FESTIVAL 2009

Doc at StogieFresh.com has some great pictures of the latest Procigar Festival including La Aurora Factory and Davidoff. Check it out at http://www.stogiefresh.com/.

Cuban cigar sales drop amid global crisis

Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:18pm EST

By Jeff Franks
HAVANA (Reuters) - Sales of Cuban cigars, considered the finest in the world, dropped 3 percent to $390 million in 2008 as the world financial crisis and the spread of anti-smoking laws cut demand, officials said on Monday.
The falling sales reflected a decline in the market for luxury products in general as global economic worries mounted, said Manuel Garcia, vice president of Habanos S.A., the worldwide distributor of Cuban cigars.
Speaking at a press conference kicking off Cuba's annual cigar festival, he said 2009 was likely to be a "very complicated" year, but Habanos expected to maintain sales at around the 2008 level.
Three hurricanes raked Cuba last year, including powerful Gustav which cut through the heart of the island's prime tobacco growing state of Pinar del Rio, but Garcia said they had done minimal damage to tobacco supplies.
"Luckily, there was no effect on the harvest and there continues to be sufficient raw material to meet demand," he said. Thousands of tobacco curing barns were damaged by the storms, but most were rebuilt in time for the curing season, Garcia said.
Garcia said laws prohibiting smoking in public places had gone into effect in various countries last year, including some that are big customers for Cuban cigars.
Also, the number of worldwide airline passengers had fallen by a reported 11 percent, he said, which slowed the "duty free" market where Habanos sold about a quarter of its cigars.
He said the top global markets for Cuban cigars, which include well-known brands such as Montecristo, Cohiba, Partagas and Romeo y Julieta were, in descending order, Spain, France, Germany, Cuba and Switzerland.
Due to the 47-year-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, the communist-led island's cigars cannot be sold legally in the United States, the world's largest cigar consumer.
New U.S. President Barack Obama has promised to ease, but not eliminate the embargo.
If it were lifted, "it is probable that an opening of that market would signify a great possibility and great potential for our products," Garcia said.
Cuban cigars are so popular that Habanos, a joint venture between Cuba and British tobacco giant Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, has about 70 percent of sales in its current markets, said vice president of development Javier Terres.
He said an estimated 230 million to 250 million cigars will be smoked in the United States this year.

Vegas De Fonseca 86.75

Smoked this one on a nice Saturday afternoon in my garage while my son-in-law smoked another Kentucky Black Gold. This cigar did not stand out in that I could not detect any special flavors or blend that would make this stick particularly different than other cigars. It was an OK smoke and not disappointing.

Famous smoke shop has these as a discontinued cigar:

The company line is that Vegas De Fonseca cigars are the most ''bold and daring'' of all Fonseca cigars! Made in limited quantity and shapes to ensure consistency, these medium to full-bodied cigars are blended with hearty Dominican & Nicaraguan Ligero long fillers, balanced by a milder, Cuban-seed Dominican binder draped in a specially-cured, African ''Cameroon Deluxe'' wrapper. Complex in flavor, smooth and aromatic, like all Fonseca cigars, the Vegas De Fonseca selection is a memorable and gratifying smoke.

Cusano Killer Cameroon 91.76

Update 4/3/09 Still rate this high, going to buy box.

I am disapointed I only picked up 6 of these from the cigar store. This was my third one to smoke before I rated it to make sure it was not a fluke.

This is a great smoke and the cameroon wrapper really gives this cigar a great 'mouth'. This is a new term I am going to use for the taste of the wrapper on your lips before even lighting it up. Some cigars just have a very bitter taste and you have to have some sort of beverage or liquor to dampen your lips before lighting up to enjoy the cigar. This one does not need that and was enjoyable from start to finish.

http://www.smokeshopmag.com/ had this comment:

Cameroon wrapper is one of the world's sweetest, most flavorful tobaccos and the five-year-old, 1996 vintage used on Cusano Killer Cameroon cigars is one of the finest ever produced says Michael Chuisano, president of DomRey Cigar Co.
"We combined two very potent filler tobaccos, aged three and five years, to mellow out any harshness or bite while still keeping its underlying power intact," says Chuisano. "The delicate Cameroon wrapper provides the perfect finish, as this cigar tests the limits of strength while not overpowering the palette. Every cigar has an excellent draw, burns beautifully and develops a speckled white ash."
Chuisano thought he may have gone overboard in perfecting the blend of the Cusano Cameroon cigar with master cigar blender Hendrik Kelner. But samples smoked by key testers were quickly praised as "killer cigars," with requests for more. Cusano knew they had created the most powerful Cameroon cigar available, and the Cusano Killer Cameroon was born.
All tobaccos are vintage certified by ProCigar, the Dominican Republic cigar manufacturer's association.
Killer Cameroon is offered in four shapes: Robusto (5 x 50), Corona (6 x 46, belicoso tip), Toro (6 x 50), and Churchill (7 x 50), Cigars are individually cello-wrapped, and packaged in 20-count plexi-top, cabinet-style boxes. Retail prices range from $3.49 for a single Robusto to $4.49 for a single Churchill, available to retailers at keystone markup. Free samples are available for licensed retailers from Cusano Cigars.

AVO MADURO 79.575

I kept trying to identify any discernable flavor in this cigar and could find none. It was an OK smoke but nothing to brag to your friends about. Not one i want to buy a bunch of to age in my humidor. I have not smoked a lot of AVO yet, but am not enamored at this point. Brian over at stogie review however enjoyed his and had this to say:

Upon removing it from the cellophane I was greeted with a slightly oily, dark wrapper with a very light dusting of plume near the cap which I took as a good sign of both the cigar and the new B&M. The one vein I could see could barely be felt, the entire wrapper was very smooth. The cut was very clean and the pre-light draw was just right, yielding a nice mild tobacco flavor.
The first couple of draws produced plenty of smoke and the familiar maduro flavor, though not quite as sweet as some others I’ve had. I found the first and second third of this cigar to be rather mild and one-dimensional. Nothing really bad to say about it, just not very complex, pretty much the same flavor throughout. The ash was rather dark, resembling the ash of the Cuban cigars I’ve had the pleasure to smoke. The ash dropped as a little pellet as the burn got into the second third and the body began to build ever so slightly. The burn wasn’t very straight through the first two thirds and required a couple of touch-ups. The last third is where this cigar really began to come alive, I really wish the entire thing could have been just like this. The body picked up while retaining the smooth, light finish, picking up some leathery tones and the slightest bit of spice. I am usually tiring of a cigar into the last third but this one just got better and better. I smoked it down to about a half of an inch, something pretty rare for me personally.

smoked the other one of these I picked up the next night with much the same results. While being rather one dimensional through the first two thirds it really came into its own in the last third and I smoked it down to about 1/2 inch. The aroma on this cigar was unique and rather pleasant, probably one of the better smelling cigars I’ve smoked.

Fonseca Cubano Viso Fuerte 84.24

This was my pre-super bowl smoke. I was not too impressed with the flavor of this stick.

It smoked very well and was a well made cigar, but did not have the blend of flavors I expected.

Cigarcyclopedia like this one and had this to say:

This is the second blend in MATASA’s “Fonseca Cubano” series, aimed at the cigar enthusiast who looks for more flavor and more complexity. The Fonseca Cubano Limitado has been a hit since its debut in 2008 and the Viso Fuerte includes a unique combination of a Honduran-grown Criollo Viso wrapper with a filler blend that includes U.S.-grown Connecticut Broadleaf!It’s a medium-to-full-bodied blend with a nicely spiced aroma. The flavor includes a rich, caramelized note with a short finish. The clear and clean taste is inviting and there is a tangy finish as the cigar moves into the second half.Very well made, with an even burn, the Viso Fuerte continues smoothly into the second half and develops a peppery element at the very end that signals that this show is over.

Obama hails passage of children's health insurance

And add 30 cents to each cigar.


WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack is hailing Senate passage of legislation providing government-sponsored health care to roughly 4 million uninsured children.
A day after the bill was approved 66-32, Obama released a statement saying the action amounts to "a down payment on my commitment to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care."

The measure authorizes an additional $32.8 billion over the next 4 1/2 years for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The House plans to take up the same bill next week.
Obama's statement said the Senate vote is especially significant at a time when "the worsening economy causes families to lose their jobs and health insurance."

PUFF.COM up and running

The new website Puff.com is now up.
It was the merger of www.top25cigar.com, www.clubstogie.com, www.cigarlivevideo.com, and www.cigar-review.com.

GOD OF FIRE Don Carlos 2006 Tubos 91.76

Dang it, I hate it when a $20.00 cigar actually smokes this well. I just cannot afford to stock up on that many of them. My son-in-law John and I both lit one of these the other day and and both of us agreed that this is a great cigar. The burn and draw were very nice and you could tell this is a well made stick. We could taste a little pepper flavor at the beginning and the flavor was better as you smoked it.

Cigar.com website has this to say:

God of Fire is one of the most limited production lines made by the famous Fuente Family in the Dominican Republic.
A joint effort between the industry’s top cigar maker (Fuente) and top accessory maker (Prometheus), God of Fire is one of the rarest cigars produced by the Fuente Family. In an effort to outdo each other, father and son, Carlos and Carlito Fuente set out to make the best cigar they could, tailoring every aspect of the cigar from its size and blend to suit their respective tastes. The resulting blends are the core of the God of Fire line and are released in such small quantities that they rarely surface for sale. When they do, they sell out in a matter of days.

Product keywords
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC , MEDIUM-FULL , NATURAL