MARCH 2003

Churchill

7" x 48

Imagine that you'd bought a case of wine, put it in your wine cellar and forget about it for say…about eighteen years! You might very well have a pretty amazing treat ahead of you depending on what you started with! Well, that's exactly what happened at Don Thomas Honduran factory. They recently stumbled across a stash of genuine Talanga Valley Candela wrapper leaf that had been aging for 18 years! Candela wrapped cigars are very mild to begin with and we're convinced that you won't find one much mellower than the one we're featuring this month after that many years in the curing barn. Look for this Churchill to be very mild and to offer plenty of smoke volume. Note a slight earthy flavor, accented with hints of wood and grass. Overall, a very satisfying smoke, mild and flavorful, an excellent cigar for just about anytime of the day or night. Consider enjoying a light ale or lager with this fine candela.

Strenth:  4
Panel Rating:  92

Toro

6" x 50

It's not that often you'll find a full-bodied Dominican cigar without a maduro wrapper. And it's also somewhat hard to find a smoke wrapped in coveted, full-flavored Corojo tobacco. For those of you not familiar with the Corojo wrapper, here's a little overview. It was originally grown in Cuba, but the demand for this leaf was so great, Cuba couldn't supply enough, so they started to grow the leaves in Ecuador and Honduras. These sticks are wrapped in Ecuadorian-grown Corojo, which happens to be one of the best wrappers manufactured in the world today. Quite a few industry experts will tell you that Ecuador grows a better Connecticut shade wrapper than what is grown in Connecticut! The filler and binder are both Dominican. Look for a rich and full-bodied smoke, without actually crossing the line of being overpowering. Excellent with a hoppy India Pale Ale or very dry Chardonnay.

Strenth:  7
Panel Rating:  94

Torpedo

6.5" x 55

If you've never had cigar from Tabacalera Perdomo, you're missing out on one of the best brands of cigars on the market today. We've had the chance to sample cigars from each and every Perdomo line feel that the Perdomo 2 (Perdomo Squared) is quite possibly the best of the lot. Apparently, we're not alone as the line received the highest ranking ever given by SMOKE magazine! Ole Nick Perdomo must be doing something right! This Cameroon wrapped beauty is box-pressed, has a tapered head, and has been aged in a cedar cask for over 5 years. The wrapper is double-fermented, giving this oily Torpedo a wonderfully full-flavored body. Look for a rich and spicy, but not overpowering smoke. We found it to be very complex, earthy, woody, and slightly sweet. A smoked porter or full-bodied Merlot would be the perfect match.

Strenth:  6
Panel Rating:  94

Toro

6" x 52

With over 60 years of cigar making experience, you could say that Rolando Reyes, Sr. knows a thing or two about the cigar industry. He started rolling cigars, in Cuba, at the age of 14, and has worked for such prestigious Cuban brands as H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta, and Partagas, to name a few. Rolando has owned and operated cigar factories in Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Havana, as well as Miami and New Jersey. In pre-Castro Cuba, his cigar factory was manufacturing over 6 million cigars a year! The Puros Indios Cigar Factory is located in Danli, Honduras. Four countries were involved in this blend - the wrapper and binder are from Ecuador and the filler is a blend of Brazilian, Nicaraguan, and Dominican tobaccos. Look for a rich and creamy smoke with hints of cedar in this medium-bodied Toro. We found it both aesthetically beautiful and a real pleasure to smoke. Consider pairing it up with a Sauvignon Blanc or your preferred Cognac.

Strenth:  5.5
Panel Rating:  91

Churchill

7" x 50

Although this Sherpa is not from Tibet, it does come from an incredible mix of talent. Carlos Toraño took his cigar making talents to the folks at Gurkha Cigars to spawn the Sherpa line of cigars. One look at this cigar and you can tell that two masters of their art have created something really special. Inside the dark, oily, Sumatran wrapper is a blend of long-leaf Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The Sherpa Churchill is a medium bodied cigar that gives off a moderate amount of smoke volume. We found it densely packed and offering a slow and even burn. This Sherpa's going to take you on a trek through complex flavors including cedar, nuts, leather, and earthy tones! Look for heaps of complex flavor characteristics and loads of fun when smoking this cigar. Try it with a chocolate stout or your favorite cup of coffee.

Strenth:  5
Panel Rating:  89