What's New
 No. 12San Cristobal Monumento
"No cigarmaker in the world today has more buzz than Jose "Pepin" Garcia. Mainly on the strength of Tatuaje and Padilla brands, which he makes for other clients, his gutsy cigars have always graced out Top 25 list. Now Garcia has landed his largest client yet: the Levins, owners of the Ashton brand. The Levins asked Garcia to create San Cristobal in his new Nicaragua factory, and he responded with a fine, rich smoke a bit more tempered than the leathery powerhouses for which he has become famous. The brand hit the market in August, led by the huge Monumento, a visually striking 7 1/4-inch x 49-ring cigar with a slightly tapered head and a wrapper the color of semisweet chocolate. The performance is typical Garcia, with spicy notes of nutmeg balanced by sweet cherry."
David Savono & James Suckling, Cigar Aficionado, February 2008
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# | Posted On: 1/31/2008 1:55:33 PM | Tags: Cigars, Ashton, San Cristobal, Pepin Garcia |
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No. 8
Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Epicure Maduro
"Among the fattest cigars in the Hoyo Excalibur line, the Excalibur Epicure is a 50-ring cigar measuring 5 1/4 inches long. General Cigar Co. makes the cigar in its Villazon unit in Honduras, which is also home to the Punch brand. Angel Daniel Nunez, General's president and chief operating officer, walks the company's vast tobacco fields and visites each of its myriad cigar factories as he oversees production of General's entire line. In maduro wrapper, the Epicure is a gem, a rare combination of two leaves of dark Connecticut broadleaf (one for the wrapper, one for the binder) around a bold filler blend combining Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos. It's a leathery, earthy cigar with plenty of sweet cocoa and coffee flavor. It's also an undeniable bargain, one of the least expensive cigar on this list."
David Savono & James Suckling, Cigar Aficionado, February 2008
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# | Posted On: 1/31/2008 12:42:06 PM | Tags: Cigars, Hoyo de Monterrey, General Cigar |
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No. 5
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Torpedo
"Some cigars take quite a while to gain popularity, but the Ashton Virgin Sun Grown line was a hit even before the cigars went on sale. The Ashton brand owner Rober Levin created a stir in 1999 when he handed out VSG samples at an industry trade show. The cigars grabbed attention with their dark color and invigorated the palate with a blast of undeniable power. Blended by the Fuentes, the VSG line helped usher in the era of the strong cigar. More than seven years after their debut, they remain immensely popular among those who prefer their cigars with full flavor. The 6 1/2-inch x 55-ring Torpedo is superbly crafted, with an earthy, cedary flavor and full body."
David Savono & James Suckling, Cigar Aficionado, February 2008
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# | Posted On: 1/31/2008 12:16:29 PM | Tags: Cigars, Ashton, Ashton VSG |
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No. 4
Oliva Series V Torpedo
"Oliva cigars are known for flavor, but not power. To reach cigar smokers yearning for more muscular smokes, Oliva Cigar Co. (no relation to Oliva Tobacco Co.) released the Oliva Series V last year, its most full-bodied blend to date. The idea was to craft a stronger cigar that still has balance, and the result is a huge success.
The best cigar in the line is the Torpedo, which measures 6 inches long with a fat 56 ring gauge. The cigar is made with a high-priming wrapper that cloaks all-Nicaraguan filler and binder leaves. The cigar is stronger than other Olivas, but still in the medium-bodied range. The important thing is that the cigars are rich, teeming with coffee-bean and caramel notes, and have balance and finesse. The Olivas are buuilding a reputation for top-quality smokes that appear on our Top 25 lists."
David Savono & James Suckling, Cigar Aficionado, February 2008
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# | Posted On: 1/31/2008 12:01:47 PM | Tags: Cigars, Oliva, Oliva Series V |
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No. 2
Arturo Fuente OpusX Perfecxion No. 2
"If you're looking for a stunning pyramid with bold, full flavors, it's hard to improve upon the Fuente Fuente OpusX. No brand in modern memory has sparked as much demand. The cigar is prized for its rare wrapper, a leaf grown under shade in the Dominican Republic. Sales have long been limited, boxes very difficult to come by. Unlike many things in life, the buzz around this brand is entirely justified.
At one time OpusX cigars seemed to be sacrificing balance for strength--they were undeniably powerful, but they seemed to be missing the stabilizing sweetness that the brand first exhibited when it debuted in 1995. Those days appear to be over. This Perfecxion No. 2 is glorious, an impeccably crafted 6 3/8-inch x 52-ring pyramid with a solid backbone of power tempered by a delightful sweetness and richness. A coffee-bean note joins the signature OpusX spice and leather flavors (any cigar smoker who claims not to have tasted leather has not smoked an OpusX). It's a complex masterpiece, as delicious to smoke as it is to behold."
David Savono & James Suckling, Cigar Aficionado, February 2008
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# | Posted On: 1/31/2008 11:38:35 AM | Tags: Cigars, OpusX, Arturo Fuente, Carlito |
| No. 1
Padron 1926 No. 9 Natural
"This pressed beauty is rolled in the recently expanded Padron factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, under the watchful eye of Jose Orlando Padron, his son Jorge and the rest of the family members who ensure that the 5 million or so cigars they produce each year are of impeccable quality. This is perhaps the finest of the line, just blossoming with flavor right from the furst puff. It's a complex soke with perfect balance, showing flavors of chocolate, coffee and nuts, as well as some black cherry. The cigar has a finish so long it seems to never leave the palate. The 97 points it was awarded is the hightst score we have given a recent-production cigar in many years."
David Savono & James Suckling, Cigar Aficionado, February 2008
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# | Posted On: 1/31/2008 10:57:59 AM | Tags: Cigars, Padron, Padron 1926, Premium Cigars |
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The Big Brother to the La Flor Dominicana El Jocko #1 Maduro, the La Flor Dominicana Billy Club is made exclusively for Jack Schwartz Importer. We are happy to announce we have just received a new shipment of our popular Billy Club cigars. The Billy Club gives you a smooth, medium bodied smoke. Singles go for $6.75 and a box of 25 is $152.
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# | Posted On: 1/25/2008 3:35:36 PM | Tags: Cigars, La Flor Dominicana, Litto Gomez |
| We have a beautiful collection of Limited Edition Dupont Collectors Sets. Some sets come with lighters and pens. Others come with lighters, pens, and cutters. The James Bond 007 Collectors Set gets you everything already mentioned plus a keyring and a set of cufflinks. These are from Dupont so you know the craftmanship and materials are top notch.
The set includes a Line 2 lighter, fountain pen, ball point pen, Jeraboam table lighter, and cutter.
$6850
This is one of the more stunning pieces Dupont has made. The Versailles Collection comes with a Gatsby lighter, Line 2 lighter, Jeraboam table lighter, fountain pen, and ballpoint pen.
$11,730
If James Bond needed to carry around a couple lighters, some pens, a pair of cufflinks, and a keyring this is the what he'd use! A very cool presentation for some very cool items.
$7850
New York Fifth Avenue Collectors Set
A very elegant set of limited edition Dupont accessories. All pieces in the Fifth Avenue line are stunning displays of craftsmanship. The New York Fifth Avenue Collectors Set comes with a Line 2 lighter, Jeraboam table lighter, cutter, ballpoint pen, and fountain pen.
$12,770
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# | Posted On: 1/25/2008 2:06:14 PM | Tags: Dupont, Limited Edition, Lighter, Cutter, Pen, Accessories |
| Don Pepin Garcia Lancero Samplers are now back in stock!
We have a small amount of Don Pepin Garcia Lancero Samplers. This is a very special limited release sampler pack. You get 10 Lanceros, 2 each from 5 different Pepin Garcia lines. There are 2 Blue Label, 2 Series JJ Natural, 2 Series JJ Maduro, 2 Black Edition, and 2 El Centurion Lanceros. We only have a small amount of these so orders will have to be taken on a first come, first served basis.
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# | Posted On: 1/15/2008 3:26:05 PM | Tags: Cigars, Boutique Cigar, Pepin, Pepin Garcia |
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