Cigar of the Month Club - Cigar of the Month Club Features

Featured Selections

JUNE 2000

Dominican Republic

5" x 50

The Don Alberto line created in 1996 offers a wide array of blends and tastes, all within the mild-to medium bodied range. All binder and filler tobaccos are grown and aged in the Dominican Republic and the cigars are rolled in Licey, DR. The Classico Dominican Series featured this month is available in a Churchill, Corona, Double Corona, Panatela, Pyramid and a Reina (small panatela).

Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Dominican Republic – Colorado
Strength: (Mild 1, Full 10): 6
Panel Rating: 88

Notes from the Panel :

Immediately note a well-packed robusto offering a cool and even burn. We found it to be constructed very well. Note another rustic wrapper and a flavor that leans towards and earthy spiciness. Several panel members likened it to smoking a Partagas. Overall, a medium-bodied Dominican that would pair nicely with a strong cup of Jo in the morning after breakfast.

5 Pack: $15.40

10 pack: $30.85

Box of 25: $71.20

Lone Wolf Vintage Churchill

Dominican Republic

7" x 50

Lone Wolf International was formed in July, 1996 when James Belushi and Chuck Norris teamed with a group of investors who had recently opened a chain of retail cigar lounges in California. With the focus first on developing the cigar brand, the initial step was to enlist some of the most respected manufacturers in the industry to produce their product. Not exactly an easy task with today's demand for premium smokes.

The Lone Wolf Vintage Series is manufactured by the Tobacco Palmarejo factory in the Dominican Republic. The line has been highly rated in Cigar Aficionado, The Cigar Insider and in Smoke magazine as well as in other third party reviews. Lone Wolf’s fillers and binders are all Dominican Piloto Cubano and Dominican Olor tobaccos. Our panel very much enjoyed the Vintage Series samples reviewed and this month we’re featuring the Churchill. We know you’re really going to enjoy this exceptional cigar, ‘cause if you don’t Chuck’s gonna swing by your place and show you some new martial art moves. Enjoy!

Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Indonesian-CO Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6
Panel Rating: 92

Notes from the Panel :

This is a very well made cigar. Immediately note a nice easy draw and a slow, even burn. We picked up hints of coffee bean and perhaps hazelnuts in this creamy, mild to medium-bodied smoke. A definite earthy spiciness also emerges half way through which is very pleasant and not the least bit overpowering. Look for a cedary finish. Overall, we liked this cigar very much. It offers a complex, wonderful balance of flavors with a full, yet very smooth finish. Consider pairing it with a full-bodied scotch or cognac.

5 Pack: $22.30

10 pack: $44.65

Box of 25: $107.80

Montecristo No. 3

Dominican Republic

55" x 44

Originating in Cuba in 1935 as a new brand from Menendez, Garcia y Cia., then the owners of the H. Upmann brand, the name is reported to have been inspired by Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novel Le Comte de Monte Cristo. The cigars are all hand made and are medium in strength. The Dominican version of Cuba’s most widely smoked brand uses Dominican grown Cubano Piloto and Olor for the filler. The binder is Dominican grown Cubano Piloto. The natural wrapper is U.S. grown Connecticut Shade. The result is a medium to full-bodied cigar with a sweet aroma. Consolidated’s Tabacalera de Garcia factory in La Romana, Dominican Republic manufactured the Montecristo.

The Montecristo cigars come in eight sizes: Tubos (6 x 42); No. 3 (5.5 x 44); No. 1 (6.5 x 44); Corona Grande (5.75 x 46); Churchill (7 x 48); Robusto (4.75 x 50); No. 2 (Torpedo) (6 x 50); and Double Corona (6.25 x 50). Our panel loved this smoke, giving it one of the highest average ratings we’ve ever seen. It’s refined, rich & subtle taste will leave you more than simply satisfied. Enjoy!

Binder: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano Olor
Wrapper: U.S. A. Connecticut Shade – Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6.5
Panel Rating: 96

Notes from the Panel :

Immediately note an expertly crafted cigar. Notice the elegant and inviting US Connecticut shade-grown wrapper’s handsome golden brown color. We found the roll firm, but still allowing for an easy draw. This classic Dominican starts out mild, picks up a bit of steam as you get into it, but for the most part, stays true through the finish. Look for an even burn and solid ash in this obviously well fermented smoke. We picked up subtle hints of woodiness in this creamy, well-rounded cigar. Overall, a truly pleasant experience from start to finish. This was one of the better cigars we’ve rated so far this year! You might consider pairing it with a full-bodied roasted stout.

5 Pack: $27.48

10 pack: $55.00

Box of 25: $128.95

Sinatra Limited Edition Robusto

Dominican Republic

5" x 50

When asked to produce a cigar bearing the Sinatra name, boutique cigar manufacturer Felipe Gregorio was both very pleased and quite honored. “I realized it represented a challenge to produce a cigar so outstanding that it could live up to the Sinatra name”, stated Gregorio. And we think he’s done just that. The Sinatra Limited Edition line is manufactured by combining superbly aged Dominican and Cuban seed tobaccos with a superior Connecticut wrapper tobacco. “It’s made entirely by hand in my Dominican Republic factory. The Sinatra Limited Edition cigar contains the subtle flavors and rich aromas of an exceptional cigar. Its popularity has exceeded expectation and many retailers have not been able to carry this rare brand. All the more reason we’re pleased to be able to share it with you this month!

Binder: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano Olor
Wrapper: U.S. A. Connecticut Shade – Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 6.5
Panel Rating: 94

Notes from the Panel :

Immediately note a beautiful, silky smooth golden wrapper with very few veins begging you to light it. This cigar offered an effortless draw, even burn and plenty of smoke volume. We found it to be a light-approaching medium-bodied cigar, with notes of coffee bean, nuts and a slight Dominican creamy spiciness. Halfway through though, its flavor heads more towards a pleasant cedar taste. Very rich. Overall, a very well made, smooth smoke offering a very tasty blend of tobacco. Consider pairing it with a very light single malt scotch or your favorite Pilsner.

5 Pack: $20.00

10 pack: $40.00

Box of 25: $93.20

Tabu Corona Extra

Nicaragua

6.5" x 46

The Tabu Cigar line is manufactured by the Eagle Cigar Company in their facility in Esteli, Nicaragua. Eagle, no stranger to the industry, had been manufacturing cigars for over 7 years as a private-label supplier for some of the world's most prestigious cigar companies, when the decision was made to develop a blend for their own line. Hence, Tabu was born. Each Tabu cigar is constructed using five long filler leaves, hand-selected from the finest tobacco grown exclusively in the Nicaraguan regions of Jalapa and Esteli. The line uses a Sumatran binder and highly sought-after shaded Ecuadorian wrapper leaf. The Tabu Cigars are offered in seven sizes including: Belicoso, corona, Churchill, Lonsdale, robusto, toro, and torpedo. Tabu has been reviewed in the low 90’s in Smoke magazine and was rated consistently in the high 80’s as well by our panel. We found it to be an exceptionally smooth and flavorful, yet mild smoke.

Binder: Indonesian Olor
Filler: Nicaraguan Piloto Cubano
Wrapper: Indonesian -Claro
Strength (Mild 1, Full 10): 5.5
Panel Rating: 90

Notes from the Panel :

Another very well constructed cigar from Tabu. It had a nice touch and felt weighty in your hand for a corona. Substantial. Look for a nice draw, even burn and firm ash in this well fermented smoke. We found it to offer light sweet and creamy flavors that build into slight peppery spiciness and hazelnut overtones as you get further into the cigar. We also picked up a trace of coffee in this highly enjoyable smoke. Overall, we found it to offer a fully satisfying, complex taste. We’d suggest pairing it with a dry Chardonnay.

5 Pack: $20.00

10 pack: $40.00

Box of 25: $93.20

Tobacco Bits

BEST JOB IN THE WORLD - Before the precious, genuine Havana brands leave their various Habanos S.A. factories, the smokes must pass rigorous taste and aroma tests judged by the official Habanos S.A. Tasting Committee. There, tasters are separated in cubicles and given unbanded samples to evaluate before a batch of cigars can be distributed for sale. Unfortunately, job openings for this prestigious panel are rarely listed in the New York Times Classifieds.

70/70 RULES!! - To remember the optimum conditions for storing and aging cigars, think 70/70-70% relative humidity and 70F Fahrenheit. Under these near-tropical conditions, the cigars will stay fresh for years while they mature and develop more fully rounded, oily flavors. Like fine wines, many cigars improve with age, but the trick is to have the patience to keep yourself from smoking them before they are ready.

HISTORIC ANTI-SMOKING BACKLASH - If you think being shut out of your favorite bar or restaurant because of your love for the leaf is a severe and unjust punishment, then be thankful you didn't live in Turkey during the reign of Sultan Murad IV. He punished smokers by cutting off their noses.

THE BLUE AND THE WHITE - Ever notice how smoke from the burning foot of your cigar billows blue, while smoke that writhes out of the cigar's head is white. Blue smoke from the tip of a lit cigar is free from impurities, while smoke that travels the length of the cigar picks up impurities and other ingredients present in the leaf.