DogWatch Cigar Radio #292 September 18,2010

DogWatch Cigar Radio

This week Bob interviews Berta Bravo, "The Guayabera Lady" and artist Emilio Sauma to learn more about the inaugural Gables Hispanic Cultural Festival that will be held on September 25th in Miami. As part of the event, more than 30 top cigar manufacturers will showcase their products in the "Smokin' in the Gables Cigar Lounge." Also this week, Kurt Kendall from Twins Smoke Shop in New Hampshire is the guest on"What's Hot, What's Not, What's Next." Kurt lets us know what his customers are buying and what new releases he is expecting in the upcoming weeks.
Cigar of the Week - Dona Flor Selecao
SELECAO ROBUSTO - 5x52
Mata Fina Maduro wrapper. All Brazilian
Dark Side - ROMEO Y JULIETA CHURCHILL
Churchill - 7" x 47 (178 x 18.65 mm), Julieta No. 2, a churchill
Romeo y Julieta marque was established in 1875 by Inocencio Alvarez and Mannin Garcia. The brand is named for Shakespeare's famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet.
Between 1885 and 1900, the brand won numerous awards at different tasting exhibitions (as still evidenced by the gold medals on the brand's logo). However, the brand truly bloomed after it was acquired by Jose "Pepin" Rodriguez Fernandez, former head of the Cabañas factory in Havana, and his firm, Rodríguez, Argüelles y Cia, in 1903. Being a very cosmopolitan man, Rodriguez constantly travelled across Europe and the Americas, actively promoting his brand, and entering his horse, the aptly named Julieta, in racing events across the world.
As a result of his salesmanship, the brand became exceptionally popular around the world among wealthy customers, many of whom demanded personalized bands for their cigars. At its height, as many as 2000 personalized cigar bands were produced for customers. The brand was also known at this time for specializing in figurado cigars, such as perfectos and pirámides, with over a thousand such shapes believed to have been in production.
Sir Winston Churchill was perhaps the brand's most famous devotee. The flagship vitola of the brand is named in his honor, a long 7" by 47 ring gauge cigar known as the Churchill. Nellie Tayloe Ross, the first woman to serve as governor of a state in the U.S., also frequently smoked them.
After Rodriguez's death in 1954 (he was 88 years old), the revolution, and the subsequent nationalization of the tobacco industry, the brand was moved to La Romana in the Dominican Republic, where production of a Romeo y Julieta cigar for the American market continues today under the direction of Altadis SA. The Cuban government nationalized the brand and still produces and distributes it worldwide as one of its top-selling global brands.
In 2006, a new addition was made to the regular Romeo y Julieta lineup. The Short Churchill size, a Robusto, was introduced at the 8th Annual Habanos Festival in Havana, Cuba in 2006.
Romeo y Julieta also produces three machine-made cigarillos: minis, clubs and puritos.
What else have you been smokin' Dale?
La Caridad Del Cobre - the new blend from Frank Herrera. A very nice cigar with tons of flavor, great construction and available in several sizes. Deep, rich flavors that excite the pallate with full body and medium strength. Leans to the earthy, savory flavored side of the spectrum.
Room 101 - Probably the strongest cigar I've smoked in a long time. The blend has it's moments, but is not well balanced. The strength overpowers and is several notches above a LFD Air Bender or Double Ligero.
Avo Heritage Short Robusto - Outstanding complexity and depth of flavor! Definitely my favorite AVO cigar, this new line has a well balanced kalidascope of flavors that features some great spice, some mellow sweetness, a wonderful grain/bread flavor and varied earthy notes. The wrapper is oily & elegant, the construction & burn is perfect.
Rocky Patel Fifteenth Anniversary - Truly very good and fully pleasurable cigar! Coffee, nuts, a touch of citrus and faint fruity sweetness combine for a mini-vacation for the senses.
Bad Dog Patch 56
Cain F Habano
Joya Cubana
Padilla Miami
What else have you been smokin' Bob?
Hemingway Short Story - another of my old favorites that I had not smoked in a good long while. The Hemingway line from Fuente is an old favorite of mine. Abandoned in the 70's and resurrected in the 80's, what was once the Fuente TALES line, became the Hemingway. Originally a line of Cuban Perfectos, the resurrection ocurred when the Fuentes opened shop in the Dominican Republic. The line had been abandoned in part because the master rollers who knew how to roll these magnificent cigars had all retired or passed away. Carlos Fuente Sr. was the only one left who knew how to make these shaped cigars and with a little prodding from Jr, he dug up the old molds in Ybor City and began to teach a new generation how to make the Cuban Perfecto shapes that give this line a unigue character. My favorite in the line is the funky Short Story. At 4.5" x 46/49 it is a marvelous shape to behold. When you first light up the little nipple tip, the draw is resistent, even difficult but within seconds as the burn line advances towards the shoulder on this tiny foot, the draw opens up and the flavors begin to swell in your mouth. This is the experience that I look for in every perfecto I smoke, that crescendo of flavor as the cigar opens up. Grab yourself a Short Story and experience not only a blast of history, but that experience of blossoming flavor.
Man-o-War Ruination - Manufactured at Tabacalera Fernandez in Nicaragua, Man O’ War is by far one of the best full-bodied cigars currently available.
Man O’ War was developed by Abdel "AJ" Fernandez, a protégé of Don Alejandro Robaina, the man who is considered to be the “Godfather” of tobacco. After spending most of his life studying in Cuba under Don Alejandro, Abdel Fernandez moved to Nicaragua to begin producing his own cigars. After only 6 years, Abdel currently produces Rocky Patel’s Fusion, Indian Tabac 10th Anniversary, Padilla Habano, and Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet. However, of all the cigars produced at Abdel’s factory, he personally considers Man O’ War to be his best blend.
Habano Ecuador wrapper - The leaf is taken from the upper middle portion of the plant, known as viso, These viso leaves are then put through a three-year fermentation process that is personally overseen by Fernandez himself. Once this wrapper is ready, it is combined with a blend of aged Nicaraguan filler, harvested from three separate farms.
Man O’ War produces hearty, earthy flavors with hints of cashews and almonds that are masked by a peppery aftertaste and a touch of sugar.
Liz smoked an Oliva G Maduro Robusto and loved it. She enjoyed the sweetness. This is one of the all time value cigar choices at $4.50 per on average. Liz also enjoyed these brands this week: Brun del Re Premium; Davidoff Lancero; Guillermo Leon; Monte Pascoal; Elogio Lancero; and Carlos Torano Virtuoso.
What's My Band? - #931 from Liz; A. Fuente Gran Reserva 5.75 x 52
August Palio Cutter Contest Winner: Dave Wallace won a gold Palio Cutter in the August contest. Enter the September contest now to win a classic black Palio Cutter.
Do you have a Herf Line Review? If you call and leave a cigar review on the herf line and it is played on the show, you will receive a DogWatch Cigar Radio patch! You can reach the Herfline at 321-594-4373 - or cigar.radio on Skype. You can also send email to [e-mail].
Origin of the term HERF: From Cigar Craig, http://cigarcraig.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/the-origin-of-the-word-herf/
Do you have a suggestion for the unbanded cigar of the week? Every week Bob and Dale include an “unbanded cigar” segment in their show in which they smoke a cigar without any markings and give their honest opinions. Bob then opens a sealed envelope and discovers the cigar’s name and manufacturer. If you have suggestions for the "What's My Band?" segment, please send them to [e-mail].
Thanks to Don Hubbell for his promotional message and Michael Howe for bumpers and special effects in this show.
Music provided by the Figurados from their new album, "Lesson Two," and The Surfonics.