Once the ball drops to mark the new year, our thoughts often turn inward. As tradition dictates, a new year means resolutions. More than goals or hopes, a resolution is a promise of ambition. It’s our desire to improve and live fully combined. But as anyone can tell you, keeping a resolution past February can be next to impossible.
As a way to motivate any smokers out there, we’ve got something special in mind. Part of any resolution is the belief that what you’re doing essentially improves your life. There’s only one cigar that sets out to do just that. Alec Bradley Project 40. Based on studies that claim 50% of one’s happiness comes from genetics, 10% from circumstance, and 40% from one’s own decisions. Alec Bradley hopes to carry the weight of that 40%, hence the name.
Their efforts are already bearing fruit, as Project 40 has already made it to Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25. So this year, whenever you’re struggling to motivate yourself, reach for a Project 40 and let the flavors wash over you. If that 40% of happiness is really in our control, then every so often you’re entitled to a little indulgence. Working hard is only worth it when you’re working towards something, so you need to relish every moment of leisure to make it count.
The moment that Thanksgiving dinner ends, the clock starts ticking on Christmas! Everyone is scrambling to find the right gift for the right person. If you know any cigar lovers, we’ve done the work for you. We searched high and low but finally found the ideal gifts for any aficionado.
The Macanudo Holiday Gift Set is loaded beyond the wildest imagination with the absolute finest cigars the quintessential brand has ever offered. Along with a selection of accessories so smokers can light up from the moment they open the box!
My Father Cigars as we all know is an amazing brand of cigars producing exceptional smokes! This amazing gift sampler set is for any lover of the My Father Cigar line or for anybody who just wants to try an array of cigars from the line!! Also, a free lighter and cutter will have you smoking in no time!
Oliva Serie V Melanio 2023 Figurino is the latest victory lap from the champion blend that soared to Cigar of the Year back in 2015. Cigar Aficionado rightly awarded the Serie V Melanio blend a near perfect 96 point rating, complimenting its deep and thoughtful profile.
Davidoff Aniversario No. 1 Limited Edition Cigars bring back the beloved blend that defines premium tobacco for many smokers. Originally released to celebrate Zino Davidoff’s 80th birthday, the revival is a brilliant gift to the cigar lovers of the world.
When it was first released, the Aniversario No. 1 was groundbreaking. Complimented for its innovation and craftsmanship when first released, the revival captures all the nuance of the original, Davidoff has decided to revive it as part of its White Band Collection. Resurrecting hallowed blends is a treat for new and old smokers alike.
Arturo Fuente Queen B Hands Of Time Red Gift Set is a regal present that features one of the brand’s most iconic sticks in all its flavorful glory. The Chateau Fuente Queen B is a sumptuously sweet smoke bursting with the lavish taste of earth and cedar that’s sure to please the recipient of this gift set. In addition to the lovely Queen B, this gift set includes a stunning crimson red ashtray emblazoned with Arturo Fuente art. The ultimate choice for the holidays or any smoker’s birthday.
For those who want to gift those close to them an authentic classical smoking experience, we humbly present our Montecristo Christmas Cigar Gift Box. Montecristo has long been one of the signature brands of the entire cigar market, as its always created nuanced sticks that run the full gamut of flavors. We collected four of their finest stogies and packaged them together to make the perfect present for the smoker in your life!
The limited edition cigar line is always a treat for aficionados. Sometimes it’s a surprise. A new blend that tests the waters for a full release. But sometimes it’s an annual event. Like Christmas or Thanksgiving, it doesn’t make it any less special just because we know it’s coming.
Case in point: Davidoff’s Year of the Dragon. A culmination of annual releases that have only become better with each version. Year of the Dragon tastes like each Zodiac-inspired blend was building to this. It took eight strains of tobacco to build this magnificent beast. Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Mexican tobacco for the long filler. Followed by an impressive Dominican binder, and finished with a flawless Ecuadorian wrapper
Davidoff even added an uncut foot, an exceptionally difficult feat when producing a cigar. The goal was to add an untold depth to the flavor profile. The results speak for themselves. While we all wish we could taste the decadence, Davidoff is only releasing 5160 boxes of this masterpiece. If you want to try it, you need to act now!
In the pantheon of famous American cigar aficionados, Ulysses S. Grant stands above the rest. His vast accomplishments are only equaled by his voracious appetite for cigars. Anyone who with even a cursory knowledge of American history knows Grant’s role in fighting the civil war. But Grant’s incredible story starts long before the Civil War and continued long after. Entwined with that story was his burning passion for premium cigars.
Born in 1822, Hiram Ulysses S. Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio, to his parents Jesse and Hannah. From a young age, Grant set himself apart from others. Showing an incredible ability for horsemanship from the early age of two, Grant was soon proving so adept he assisted his father’s business. Famously, when he was eleven, a traveling circus came to town with a trick pony that was trained to buck and throw off any rider. Offering a five-dollar (3700 dollars today) prize to whoever could tame it, men from all over the town lined up to try.
After so many had failed, Grant stepped forward and simply said, “I believe I can ride that pony.” With no reigns to clasp, and its mane cut short, Grant wrapped his arms around the pony’s neck. After a long and frenzied attempt by the pony to buck him off, Grant emerged victorious when the animal finally settled and let him ride.
That indomitable spirit would serve Grant for the remainder of his life. Seeing in his son the beginning embers of greatness, Jesse Grant wrote his local congressman asking that he nominate Ulysses to attend the prestigious Westpoint Military Academy. The congressman evidently saw the same in young Ulysses and followed through with his nomination.
After four years at West Point, Grant began the mandatory term of duty in the United States Army required of all West Point graduates. During that, he quickly gained a commendable service record during the Mexican-American War. Rising from quartermaster to first lieutenant, for his continued acts of bravery during battle.
It wasn’t till after his first war that Grant became an avid smoker, and it’s no wonder why. Grant soon found himself under constant stress from seemingly endlessly poor luck. Finding the leisurely pace of peacetime difficult and his superiors disagreeable, Grant left the military and settled on an eighty-acre farm with his wife Julia.
Civilian life only worsened his luck. The farm languished and Grant’s attempt to find employment as an engineer and a clerk didn’t go any better. He even attempted to start his own real estate business but to no avail. Grant was so forlorn during this period, it’s said he smoked up to twelve cigars a day to relieve his constant stress.
Things would change for Grant and the whole nation on April 12, 1861, when Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter. Lincoln quickly called for seventy-five thousand volunteers for the Union Army. Grant was quick to answer the call, forming a local volunteer militia to assist the war effort.
Denied a recommission to his old rank by the man he would ironically replace as commander of the entire Union Army, General George B. McClellan, Grant worked his way back up through the ranks. Starting as a military aide to Ilinois Governor Richard Yates, Grant’s proven ability as a soldier soon had him promoted to Colonel.
The turning point for Grant’s life, and the entire Civil War, came with the battle of Fort Donelson. A strategic position that was key to advancing further South. Grant’s plan was dismissed by his superiors, who insisted he conduct the attack in tandem with a navy operation. Grant knew Donelson could turn the tide of war, and immediately set out to capture the fort.
After several probing attacks, Grant has a strategic retreat to meet with reinforcements. The remaining division was soon attacked by the Confederates, but Grant personally rode through miles of frozen wilderness with reinforcements to defend their position. Blocking the supply lines for the Confederate troops, the enemy retreated back into the fort only to face bombardment from the Union Navy.
The commanding Confederate Generals fled, leaving Fort Commander Simon Buckner to face Grant. When meeting to discuss an end to hostilities, Buckner asked what terms of surrender would be acceptable. Grant replied there would be “no terms but an unconditional and immediate surrender.”
Buckner complied, and Grant’s actions were the first major victory for the North in the early days of the Civil War. Grant was soon promoted by Lincoln to Major General before later being promoted to head of the Union Army. Earning the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” Grant, newspapers described Grant smoking a cigar when victoriously capturing Fort Donelson.
Becoming an instant national hero, everyday people from across that nation showed their thanks by sending Grant cigars. Legend says he received up to ten thousand before the end of the war. Now that’s a reward! Considering his achievements and love for cigars, it’s strange Grant is as closely associated with them as say, Winston Churchill. Maybe we should start calling extra-large cigars Grants?
Do you have a famous historical cigar smoker? Let us know in the comments.
It was not that long ago that smokers everywhere cried out in anguish over the shuttering of the Nat Sherman brand. But hope springs eternal, as the blends that once made Nat Sherman famous, were revived under the new Ferio Tego label! All the favorites were revitalized and rechristened, from the Metropolitan to the Timeless, all heralded by two new flagship cigars: the Generoso and the Elegancia.
After a year of rousing success, Ferio Teog has decided to celebrate with two new versions of the cigars that helped forge their new identity. The 2022 Elegancia retains its polished profile using a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco and an Ecuadorian wrapper but enhances its tasting notes with white pepper, earth, leather, and caramel. While the Generoso 2022 takes its bold blend to the next level with the taste of earth, wood, black coffee, nuts, and luscious cream; all blended by the world-famous Plasencia family.
Take a page out of Ferio Tego’s book and celebrate all the changes you’ve made this year!
Wondering where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
Some of the older smokers among us might remember the Cuba Aliados name. It was one of the many brands that rose to prominence during the cigar boom of the 90s that tragically faded away once demand slowed down. For anyone who misses its nostalgic taste, we have good news!
Oliva has announced that it’s reviving the Cuba Aliados brand with two new product lines! One will be a recreation of the original blend using Honduran tobacco under the supervision of Julio Eiroa, aptly named Cuba Aliados Original Blend. The other will be a new limited edition cigar by master blender Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, of course, called Cuba Alliados by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.
Cuba Aliados Original is notable for changing its filler source to be a Honduran puro, while the blend was originally conceived with Cuban tobacco. Considering the embargo isn’t going away anytime soon, the switch to Honduran tobacco is understandable. Early reviews are praising Cuba Aliados Original Blend for its authenticity, mentioning a profile with the taste of mocha, chocolate, earth, leather, and notes of sweet wood.
The Cuba Aliados by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, unlike the original blend, features a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco for its filler and is highlighted by an Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper that has been aged for over five years. Aficionados can expect a profile with creamy, spicy, and earthy flavors.
Wondering where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
Drew Estates has always been keen on innovation, going above and beyond to always be on the cutting edge. This week, we wanted to spotlight a blend that not only epitomizes their commitment to innovation but just so happens to come from our very own home state of Florida.
20 Acre Farm by Drew Estate is rooted in the rich history of Florida tobacco. After the embargo, many of the best Cuban tobacconists took their talents to the sunshine state, causing a boom in the industry that helped introduce cigars on mass to America. While most manufacturers have moved to Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, or various other nations, Drew Estates decided to return to Florida for 20 Acre Farm.
True to the name, the tobacco for these cigars is grown on an exclusive 20-acre farm here in central Florida. Taking full advantage of the state’s climate, 20 Acre is a glorious sun-grown blend bursting with natural sweetness in addition to its robust medium-bodied profile. All of it is complemented by notes of white pepper and citrus.
20 Acre hopes to be a trailblazer for other brands to begin growing in Florida. After smoking a few, I definitely think they’re onto something. Maybe the next time I’m driving home on the 826, I’ll pass a few up-and-coming tobacco farms on my way.
Wondering where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
Every cigar lover keeps a keen eye on the news regarding regulation. Tobacco as a product is already heavily regulated, with new rules being proposed constantly. Just this past month, the FDA ordered Juul products off the market, concerning many smokers.
In an ongoing lawsuit concerning the FDA’s attempt to more closely regulate the premium cigar market, the federal judge overseeing the case has largely sided with cigar manufacturers. The judge has invited further briefing before issuing a final ruling on July 26 but has called the FDA’s attempt to impose new restrictions on cigars “arbitrary and capricious”.
A group of happy smokers
The judge further stated “The agency’s statement that ‘all cigars produce toxic smoke’ is exactly the sort of nonresponsive, circular reasoning the court faulted previously. Instead of addressing the relevant data before it, the agency resorted to a common refrain to obscure the issue,” he wrote, referring to the FDA’s claim that there was no data provided to support the idea that there are different patterns of use among premium cigar smokers, patterns that result in lower health risks. The FDA statement, he wrote, “was not accurate then, and despite litigation counsel’s efforts it is not accurate now.”
Cigar smokers and makers alike are overjoyed at the decision and cautiously optimistic about what this means for the future of the industry,
Wondering where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
Part of the cigar business is listening to your customers, and we heard you all loud and clear. Liga Privada Unico Papas Fritas Cigars are back in stock! The supremely unique stogie is here once more, and we got plenty for everyone!
For those who haven’t tasted the unique joys of the Liga Privada line, we’ll try to put it into words. The entire Liga Privada line is completely one of a kind, born from Drew Estate’s tireless experimentation. Hundreds of blends are crafted and discarded before those chosen few are found that exceed all expectations. The blends that are chosen are so rare, that they are given a single vitola.
Which brings us to the Liga Privada Unico Papas Fritas. Built using a superb and beyond remarkable blend of powerful Honduran and Nicaraguan Cuban-seed premium tobacco, capped with an incandescent Brazilian Mata Fina binder, and encased in a matchless, oily and sumptuous Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro combination wrapper.
As this blend is extraordinarily difficult to create, we only have a limited amount in stock. Aficionados need to act fast to get a box before we run out!
Wondering where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
When I tell people I work for a cigar seller, the question I get asked the most often is “Do you get a discount?” It happens without fail. One of the people who ask about it the most often happens to be my brother, an avid smoker. As it happens, I do get a discount. But I try not to abuse it. Since my brother is staying for the summer, I decided it was a special enough occasion to warrant the discount and picked up two boxes of Padron 2000 and Oliva Connecticut Reserve Petite Corona.
That week, two lifelong friends came over to catch up. They brought with them a bottle of Buchanan 12-Year Deluxe. Whiskey cries out for cigars, so we broke out several of the Oliva Petite Corona. Despite our advanced age, the activity we all agreed on while smoking and drinking was Settlers of Catan. Believe it or not, the game can get heated.
We set up the board, poured the whiskey, lit the cigars, and started enjoying ourselves. The first few sips of Buchanan are very fruity, not too strong. None of us personally like it with ice or a chaser, but it’s the right temperament that you can add them if you prefer it. The Oliva offers similar vibes, being ever mellow and creamy in the first third.
After a few more sips the fruity notes give way to chocolate notes, which compliments the creaminess of the Oliva. Before you’re lulled to sleep, there’s a mild bite of spice in the Oliva that really perks up the whole experience. The spice itself smoothes over with a high note of toasted almonds, which pair exceptionally with the more subtle notes of chocolate in Buchanan. Kind of like making your own Snickers bar.
After going through a dozen or so cigars and half the bottle, the game wrapped up around midnight. It was one of those inauspicious nights that didn’t take much planning but will stay with me forever. The type of nights that cement why people are friends for twenty years and will be so for another twenty.
What are your favorite cigar pairings? Let us know in the comments!
Wondering where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
