JULY2001

7" x 48

The Florez family ran a cigarplantation for over 30 years until the 1960s when, as a prominentmember of the people's revolution against Castro, Señor Carlos Floreswas forced to uproot his family and flee to the U.S. Once in Miami, hesimply moved production to the kitchen table. With his fellowexpatriates, he rolled cigars in his kitchen trading stories of Cubaand catching up on news of the family and friends he had to leavebehind.   The product of SeñorFlores' kitchen gained acclaim in Miami long before it caught on withthe rest of the cigar-smoking world.   Flor de Florez cigars remained Miami's great secret until thefamily began to market them in the 1980s and production was moved toHonduras. Since then, the brand has received praise from every majorcigar magazine.    

Supple construction, a good draw andcreamy rustic earth notes make this cigar a thing of beauty.   A fairly complex smoke that starts out creamy but builds to amedium spice.   We noticednotes of coffee bean and a chocolaty-sweet taste. ¡Gracias SeñorFlores!

Strenth: 5
Panel Rating:  93

61/4" x 54

This entire product line ismanufactured at their quaint factory, located in the heart of LittleHavana, in Miami, Florida. Each cigar is crafted from a unique andpremium blend of choice Cuban seed tobaccos from the DominicanRepublic, Honduras, and Ecuador, meticulously hand-rolled by theirstaff of Cuban Master Rollers and aged in Spanish cedar in traditionalCuban fashion. These medium-to-full-bodied cigars are custom made toprovide an exceptionally rich flavor and aroma to satisfy even themost discriminating connoisseur. The line is comprised of 11 variedshapes and is offered in both maduro and natural wrappers. For moreinformation about the Havana Sunrise Cigar Company, call the factorydirectly at 305-649-2717.  

Strenth: 4
Panel Rating:  92

7" x 46

La Habanera has the distinction ofbeing the oldest tabacalera in the Dominican Republic with a historythat dates back to 1902.  Of exceptional quality, La Habeneracigars enjoy a worldwide reputation - both from the prestige affordedit by cigar aficionados and from the numerous awards it has won. Thewide range of sizes available in both Connecticut and Indonesianwrappers insures that a truly enjoyable cigar awaits you, backed bythe generations of experience La Tabacalera Habanera.  

Whenthis cigar was first presented to us, we all yawned.   Another cigar hoping to make it big, we thought.   Well, it turns out we couldn’t have been more off base.   This is a well-constructed cigar with no soft spots and thewrapper is quite oily with all the signs of proper aging.   This cigar was a bit stronger than expected, which was apleasant surprise.    Creamyand smooth throughout, it’s surprising this brand doesn’t havemore of a presence in the U.S.  

Strenth: 6
Panel Rating:  90

6" x50

We always thought that Bob Marley was the “Lord of Jamaica”, but everyone knows he smoked something much stronger! A great “any time of day” cigar, this is mild enough to be smoked first thing in the morning.   While it has a medium bodied taste and a touch of spice, it is also a characteristically mild Jamaican cigar.   Quite smooth and perfect for a someone who likes pure tobacco flavors, this is great for those who don’t want something that will blow their head off or is just getting into cigars.

Strenth:  4
Panel Rating:  91

6.5" x 50

Rolled by hand in the Tabacalera Oliva factory of Esteli, Nicaragua, this cigar is rolled in very limited quantities for the lucky patrons of the Miami-Havana cigar shop in Florida.   Luckily for us, we had an inside connection!   Sporting an attractive Sumatra wrapper leaf, this little gem of a cigar is robust and full-flavored. 

A sweet and spicy (sounds like a dish from a Chinese restaurant, doesn’t it?) wrapper adds to the complexity of this cigar.   Always a difficult shape to roll, this cigar has obviously been touched by experienced hands.   There was no consensus as to whether this was a medium or full-bodied cigar, so we’ll let you judge for yourself.   Some felt it packed enough of a punch to go into the full-bodied category.   Others didn’t notice their eyes rolling into the backs of their heads, so felt it was medium-bodied.   This cigar will only get better with age, so those who aren’t in a rush might want to throw it in the humidor for a while.

Strenth:  6
Panel Rating:  90

Tobacco Bits
 

ALMOST READY TO ROLL - Leaves to be used for binder and filler are taken through the de-stemming process, and the left and right sides of the plant are separated and sorted by size, color, and quality of leaf.   Leaf used for long-filler cigars (all those in the premium and ultra-premium category) is usually de-stemmed before fermentation, but only a small part of the stem is removed, so the leaf does not fall apart during fermentation.   These leaves are again sorted, graded, and finally categorized as leaves suitable for filler, wrapper, or binder. 

STILL BREWING - While the bales of tobacco are being aged, a mellower, less volatile fermentation takes place.   To control this process, bales are regularly inspected, unpacked, and remoistened.   This is called casing.   This process ensures that the leaves do not completely dry out, making them unsuitable for rolling.   When the aging process has been determined to be of sufficient length, the bales are re-moisturized once again, and allowed to drip dry.  

DRYING BUT NOT DRIED - During the curing process it is important that the tobacco leaves do not become dry and brittle, or they will be ruined.   If the sun beating down on the curing barn is too hot, the farmer will water the ground in the barn to increase the humidity.   If the weather is too rainy and humid, the farmer will light fires under the leaves so they don't become so wet that they begin to decompose.   Careful attention to the leaves during this period produces a leaf that is light brown, slightly oily, and pliable enough to handle with care.