Zen & the Art of the Cigar

Four Roses Single Barrel

Zen Cigar — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:41:42 +0000

So I got this sample from the fine folks that distribute Four Roses bourbon. They thought it would go great with a stogie, and figured I would be interested in a sample of their product.

Now I love pairing cigars with port, scotch, aged rum, and some beer styles – but I rarely have paired them with bourbon. No reason in particular, I just haven’t. Well I tried this tonight with a Davidoff Colorado Claro and woo! what a pair! The woodiness of both the cigar and bourbon paired perfectly. Also towards the end of the cigar, the cocoa and anise flavors were really intensified by the bourbon.

Here’s the tasting info provided with my sample:

Four Roses Single Barrel (100 proof)

A premium Single Barrel Bourbon with a taste that begs to be savored again and again. Its taste is complex, full bodied and surprisingly smooth with a delicate long finish that is unbelievably mellow. Contains hints of ripe plum and cherry tastes with fruity, spicy aromas including maple syrup and cocoa. Drink straight up or on the rocks.

Nose: Fruity, spicy, floral, cocoa, maple syrup, moderately woody. Palate: Hints of ripe plum & cherries, robust, full body, mellow. Finish: Smooth & delicately long. Size: 750ml

SRP: $35.99- $39.99

Thanks again for the sample, guys!

3rd Annual Pork ‘n Puff Announcement

Zen Cigar — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:31:44 +0000

From my friends at Empire Cigars:

Please be our guest…The 2011 Pork n Puff is set!!! Saturday September 10^th we will be hosting Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars for our yearly pig blowout. There is no greater celebrity in the cigar industry than Pete and we are extremely lucky to have him. This year we will be roasting 2 pigs since we are expecting a very large crowd. Both Walt and Rich will be crafting beer for the occasion, so get ready to party.

Sincerely,

Hal Rubin

More information will be out soon and I will update this as we learn of the time.

As is the tradition at the Pork n Puff, all box purchases will earn you a ticket into the drawing for a 42″ flat screen TV, an IPad 2 and my 2000 Millennium Opus X Humidor ($5,000 value). Pete is sure to bring lots of cool swag as well as some great smokes you can only get at his events.

Join us afterwards! – Following the Pork n Puff pig roasting, we will be having an after party with our new friend and partner at Amra’s downtown. For those of you who haven’t been there, you’re in for a treat. Dave Mellin is a great guy and really knows how to host a party.

Lots more details will follow (time, deals, etc) but I wanted to give you lots of advance notice so you can save the date.

Save the Date
September 10, 2011
Time – Noon – 5pm

After Party at Amras

5-Until

Quick Review: Viaje C-4

Zen Cigar — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:41:58 +0000

This is another one of those Limited Edition dealies from Viaje. It’s an odd shape really, closed at both ends. I cut the foot a little before I light it. First few puffs and it reminds me some of the Skull & Bones blend, but it seems to not have as much punch.

Viaje C-4

Viaje C-4

More after the jump…

It is nice and leathery, with a little pepper on the tongue. As it heats up there are a few off notes, but they fade, giving way to more leather and some coffee notes.

Overall I enjoyed it, as it had some great flavors, but it may need some time to come around.

Rating: 83 (B)

Viaje C-4: closed foot

Viaje C-4: closed foot

Quick Review: Oliva Series “O” Maduro Torpedo

Zen Cigar — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:53:53 +0000

This had always been one of my hidden gem cigars and I was sorely disappointed when they where discontinued/renamed. i found these recently aging in a store found in my travels. I had been dying to try one again.
Dark and chocolatey it was everything I remembered and more. Aging has been kind to this cigar. I wish I could fine more!

Padron 64 SI-15 Maduro Quick Review

Zen Cigar — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:44:29 +0000

This cigar is only available at Smoke Inn stores in Florida. Special thanks to Abe and company for the opportunity to try this HTF cigar.
This looks like your standard Padron 64 except with a huge 60 ring gauge. The prelight draw is super easy and after it’s lit, I’m gifted with copious amounts of smoke. Great Padron flavors here: coffee, cocoa, leather and a bit of spice.
I’m not a fan of the ring gauge but I enjoyed every inch of this cigar.

Rating: 90 (A-)

Avo 85th Anniversary!

Zen Cigar — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:50:12 +0000

DAVIDOFF OF GENEVA DISTRIBUTION INTRODUCES

AVO “85^th” Anniversary Edition Cigar 2011

Pinellas Park, FL, March 14, 2011 – Cigar luminary Avo Uvezian is celebrating his 85^th birthday with the release of his Limited Edition Anniversary Cigar, the “85^th”. The “85^th” marks the tenth annual limited edition release from AVO Cigars, a tradition the legendary cigar composer started to commemorate since his 75^th birthday.

The “85^thAnniversary” presents itself in a majestic and charming cigar format – a noble “Diademas” – and is limited to 100,000 cigars worldwide with 60,000 cigars for the US market.

The sophisticated black, silky-matte-lacquered box with the impressive golden print of the “Avo 85^th Anniversary” logo underlines the gracefulness and the non-interchangeable note and denomination of this cigar.

The well-balanced combination of the San Vicente and Piloto tobaccos enfolded by a Peruvian binder and perfected with a special Sun grown Dominican wrapper as well as the gorgeous Diademas format make it an outstanding cigar. The “Avo 85^th Anniversary” is of medium strength, offers complex aromas and is an extraordinary smoking experience. A cigar no aficionado should miss!!

The AVO 85^th Anniversary will be launched on March 21^st, at Select Merchants only, with a retail price of $17.50 – taxes not included.

To launch the AVO 85^th Anniversary Cigar, a series of unforgettable intimate evenings will be held where guests will enjoy fine food and wine as well as having the opportunity to be among the first to sample and purchase the AVO 85^th Anniversary Edition cigar.

Seating at each dinner is very limited, and the AVO Select Merchants expect to sell out within days of the event announcement.

I for one cannot wait for this to come out!

Look Ma, a new camera!

Zen Cigar — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:10:27 +0000

Here are some pics of the 2010 Zen Cigar of the Year, the La Flor Dominicana Air Bender, on my new camera. Don’t worry, I’m not quitting my day job.

Quick Review: Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Rosado

Zen Cigar — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:30:42 +0000

As some of you know, I’m not a huge “Fuente Fan”, but I have always had a soft spot for their Rosado wrappers. The 858 Rosado is probably one of my favorite cigars of all time (seriously). So when I heard these were soming out at the end of last year I was very excited.

Being that the Hemingway line is more full bodied than the regular line, I was concerned that the Rosado flavors would be obscured in a bolder blend. In some ways I was right. This cigar did not taste like the 858 Rosados. It did not have the creamy leather, wood and cinnamon notes I love about the 858, but it was still good – just in a different way. It was much spicier and had some clove and pepper notes that built throughout the smoke. There was some roughness around the edges with this cigar, but I really enjoyed it.

Rating: 89 (B+)

The Results are in! The Zennie goes to…

Zen Cigar — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 03:04:39 +0000

This was a really hard one this year. I was torn between several new lines. The EP Carillo was the triumphic return of Ernesto Perez-Carillo. The Avo Heritage was a strikingly bold and flavorful offering from the typically more mild Avo Uvezian. But the new cigar that really sold itself offered several different sizes which all tasted different and featured my favorite wrapper (Ecuadorian Habano)…

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender – 2010 Zen Cigar of the Year

Zen Limited Edition Cigar of the Year:

This also required deliberation, but the winner came to me much more quickly. It was the cigar that offered the most unique tasting experience..

EP Carillo Short Run – 2010 Limited Edition Cigar of the Year

Congrats! I look forward to 2011!

2010 Zen Cigar of the Year

Zen Cigar — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:19:41 +0000

Yeah it’s a bit late, but I’ve done a lot of pondering as to who is worthy of a “Zennie”. Remember a candidate for Cigar of the Year must have been newly created for 2010; for example, Arturo Fuente Hemingway would not be eligible. The official list is located here. So without further ado, here are the nominees in random order:

Zen Cigar of the Year

Aurora 107 – a nice new offering from the oldest factory in the DR, great price point too.

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender – another wonderful full-flavored smoke from Litto Gomez.

AVO Heritage – the strongest AVO to date! Very good and flavorful!

El Triunfador – it feels like this line has been out longer than 2010, but this is Pete’s smoothest and most refined cigar to date.

EP Carillo Core Line – Ernesto is back in form with his Core Line offering.

Zen Limited Edition Cigar of the Year – where small batches rule!

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Obelisco – a true pyramid shape, this cigar from General is actually really good.

EP Carillo Short Run – Ernesto at his best – with a hint of Kelner to the cigar.

Illusione Singulare 2010 – a cigar that gets better each time I smoke it.

Viaje Holiday Blend 2010 – Andre does a lot of LEs, but this is by far his best this year.

Griffin’s XXVI – after some duds, the Griffin’s LE is back!

So who’s it gonna be? Is the suspense killing you?? Well, you won’t have to wait long. I’ll reveal the results by the end of the week. Oh, and no poll this year, but feel free to leave me your opinions and thoughts in the comment section. Thanks!