Way back in the heady days of 2007, when Corona was a beer and we’d never even heard the words “social distancing”, CAO released a limited edition cigar that took the tobacco world by storm. The CAO Vision featured a decadent Dominican blend, along with its trademark luminescent band and illuminated achromatic box that functions as a working humidor, that gave the whole cigar a futuristic vibe.
Now the CAO Vision returns to a different world that’s hungry for more. This new CAO consists of a Cameroon wrapper, Ecuadoran Sumatra binder and Nicaraguan filler from Estelí and Jalapa. The new blend was created brand ambassador Rick Rodriguez, who said of the cigar, “I’ve never developed my own blend with a Cameroon wrapper, and I thought it was time to do it,” Rodriguez learned how to handle a Cameroon wrapper from tobacco master Benjamin Mendez, who oversaw the making of Dominican Partagas for years. Rodriguez said “Mendez spent a lot of time teaching me which tobaccos are the best for bringing out the Cameroon’s natural sweetness.”
That sweetness is on full display with The Vision, along with a medium spice profile that will have your palate singing with joy. CAO is only releasing 2500 boxes of Visions, so act fast. Want to experience the Vision? Try our website!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
Ah Valentine’s Day, a day for lovers, a day for romance, the day you realize you forgot about as you panic and search the nearest convenience store for something that could pass as a gift. With just enough time left before the actual day, we figured we’d save you the hassle and lay out some incredible gifts that with have your significant other screaming with delight.
First up is a deal so good we put it right on the cover of our catalog. Ten indelible Rocky Patel cigars, five of the Sun Grown Fuerte and five Vintage San Andres, both of them rated 90+. Not to mention a Jobon lighter so you and your loved one can start smoking the moment it arrives. Just buy a twenty count box of one of Rocky Patel’s acclaimed stogies, and you can add on this special pack for just $4.99! It’s a treat for yourself and your special someone!
If you and your loved one crave a strong cigar, you’ll both bond over the Black Market Dark Cigar Combo. These are the types of cigars that can only be described as powerful, which makes it ideal for those who have a powerful attraction. And any passionate romance calls for some passionately constructed cigars for the end of the night.
If you want to get your significant lover into cigars, this is a great place to start. The all in one Cohiba gift has practically everything to get them started on their smoking journey, an ashtray, a humidor, cigar holder, and four delectable Cohiba Silencios that will turn them into a full blown aficionado in no time.
If your loved one is already a serious aficionado, then you need to show them that you really care with one of the most anticipated releases of the year. When Davidoff started its line of Chinese Zodiac inspired cigars, it started quietly, but soon grew into an event in the tobacco world that couldn’t be missed. This may be their best one yet, and your loved one will be blown away by this show of affection.
Montecristo Toro Sampler
For those lovers who can’t help but smoke together, this Valentine’s Day you’ll have one of the best smokes of your life with this Montecristo Toro sampler. Relish the rich variety that this quintessential label has to offer, from the smooth and mellow Montecristo White to the complex and full-bodied Monte by Monte by AJ Fernandez.
When you want a gift that speaks to your partners class, sophistication and elegance, you can’t go wrong with Oliva. But which Oliva? We’ve got that covered too, as you and your loved one enjoy the symphony of flavors that Oliva has to offer with a sampler of the finest cigars in their line. You can purchase it alone, or if you want something a little extra you can purchase a twenty count box of Oliva and add on the sampler for $1.99
No aficionados collection is complete without an authentic wooden ashtray. If you’re lucky enough for your significant other to be a cigar lover as well, then this gift will show them that you want to share in the joys of smoking. All it takes is our Cohiba Wooden Ashtray! Its not only an ashtray, but it’s removable draw is the ideal place to keep a cutter or lighter. A veritable Swiss army knife for the stogie lover in your life.
On the flip side of the Valentine’s Day dilemma, say your loved one isn’t into cigars. A tragedy if ever there was one. Well we have the solution. We’ve assembled the best of the best, the cream of the tobacco crop, in our Iconic Brand sampler. With a selection this diverse, your loved one is bound to find one they like! Finally introducing them to the wondrous world of cigars.
When your gift has to be bold, you have to go for anything from Arturo Fuente. Every product baring their name is always made to be next level, and this ashtray is no exception. It’s blazing color and artful design makes it a work of form and function that the special someone in your life will cherish forever.
Ending our list is a fan favorite of customers, the Taste of Nicaragua Assortment by AJ Fernandez. AJ Fernadez went above and beyond to craft a unique sampler that will have you and your loved one floating on a cloud of pure tobacco joy this Valentine’s Day. It’s the perfect way to end the holiday…well after that other activity, of course.
Will you be smoking this Valentine’s Day? What cigars? Let us know in the comments!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
The world of cigars has just been set ablaze, with the introduction of the limited edition CAO Arcana Mortal Coil. How does one cigar upend the entire industry? With its revolutionary fermentation technique that looks back at tobaccos storied history to create something wholly different. The process with most cigars involves harvested leaves fermented in pilones; which are essentially massive piles of the leaves rotated in and out as they reach the right dryness. But CAO wanted something different, something ingenious.
There solution was to use an ancient fermenting technique used in Dominican Andullo tobacco. The process involves taking the harvested leaves, and placed into specialized pods called yaguas. These pods are designed to lock in the oils of the tobacco, and each are rooted into the earth as the curing process takes place. This method ensures that the Arcana Mortal coil has a one of kind taste and aroma.
The Arcana Mortal coil sports a superb filler blend of four rich tobaccos: Dominican andullo tobacco, Dominican piloto cubano, Honduran tobacco from the Jamastran Valley and Nicaraguan tobacco from Estelí. It’s price has been set at $10.95, and you’d better hurry as it’s been limited to five thousand boxes at 20 cigars per box! Looking to get yours? You can find it here on our website!
Are you excited for the Arcana Mortal coil? What other releases are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
Mark Twain once said “Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man’s enjoyment of his cigar.” Truer words were never spoken. But alas, Twain could not see the future and the demands of the modern world that separate a man from his cigar. One of which that we all have to endure is driving.
Here in Miami, traffic is a daily fact of life. People are born in traffic here, people die in traffic here. Sometimes in the same traffic jam! Lighting up a fine cigar would seem like a good idea, but the constant stop and starts of moving up on the 836 makes it difficult to really savor a long cigar.
The solution? Go smaller! A cigarillo is ideal for the car, as the right one can give you a kick of flavor in just one puff. Not to mention that the lid of the cigarillo tin makes for an instant ashtray. My preferred cigarillo when I’m languishing in the gridlock of US 1 is the Punch Cigarillos Natural. Punch is very aptly named, as single draw hits you with strong, full bodied tastes. A Punch cigarillo snaps you back from the clutches of highway hypnosis instantly with its spiced tang.
If Punches blast of flavor is too strong for you, look no further than Cohiba Black’s Pequenos. A more medium bodied cigarillo but one known for in indelibly smooth body and draw. The Cohiba black will give you a rich and complex flavor, layered with the taste of espresso to give you a spike of energy. This lavish smoke will make sure to keep your mind off the idiot in the next lane who won’t take a hint and let you in so you don’t miss your exit!
If the Cohiba is still too strong, then the absolute greatest cigarillo for the hell on earth that is traffic jams has to be the Macanudo Ascot. The Ascot is an injection of pure mellow peace into your day. Lighting one up is like lying in a sunny meadow, idly looking up at the clear blue sky.
For those who like things a little on the sweeter side, we recommend the Al Capone. These cigarillos come in a vast variety, but my personal recommendation is the sweet cognac. It’s the type of sweet that makes you smile without even realizing it, and hits you with a pang of nostalgia. Smoking it makes the rest of the drive home a breeze. It’s gotten to the point where I can actually enjoy my long commute to and from work, since I can go through five or ten of these beauties along the way! I even take the long way back sometimes, just to have some more time with just me and the cigarillos. Try it for yourself if you don’t believe me!
Do you have a favorite cigar for the car? Let us know in the comments!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
This past week, I turned twenty seven. To commemorate the day I came screaming into this world, I went out with two lifelong friends for some steaks. Beforehand, we had some light drinks, nothing too heavy considering one of us had to drive to the restaurant. Ended up scrounging for a mixer for some gin, and found it with pellegrino lemonade. Overall not bad, the gin and fruit flavors coalesced nicely. After that we went to a steakhouse, where I enjoyed a medium rare prime rib bigger than my head. We headed back to my friends house with plans to watch a movie, but first they wanted to give me my gifts. That gifted turned out to be a Romeo Y Julieta 1875 Bully Natural for each of us, an ashtray, and a brand new leather bound cigar cutter. The movie could wait, it was time to smoke.
Sitting in the crisp night air, a full moon illuminating us, we lit up. There’s something about tobacco that facilitates conversation. We started talking about our lives, where we were headed and how we got to where we are now. It was a moment of tender honesty, one that seemed revelatory even for three people who’d known each other their whole lives. And I have Romeo Y Julieta to thank for that. By the time we finished talking it was close to dawn. It’s a birthday I’ll never forget.
What do you smoke on your birthday? Let us know!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
It’s Friday night, you finally have some time to yourself. But going out has become an impossibility in this post covid world. Thankfully, you can stay in and enjoy some exceptional liquor and fine tobacco. But which kind? The options are nearly endless. We’re here to help.
If you have a light meal, then you should absolutely reach for an Oliva Serie V no 4 and glass with three fingers of Maker’s Mark Whiskey. You’ll always recognize Maker’s mark by its iconic dripping wax label, and it’s sweet honeyed taste. But before taking a sip of Kentucky’s finest, light up your Oliva Serie V no. 4. The number 4 is a full bodied cigar, so be prepared to immediately feel the kick of its toasted tobacco. The first thing you’ll notice is the soft floral notes, followed by hardy tang of pepper in it’s first third. It caresses your palate, giving just the right balance so as not to overwhelm the senses.
After the first few draws, then it’s time to taste the magic of Maker’s. Best taken neat, especially when in conjunction with the Serie V, as you don’t want any of the sweet flavors watered down. These two go best together when you celebrate how strong their profiles are. On your first sip you’ll notice soft caramel aroma, and taste butterscotch and vanilla bean mixed with the barley malt. All of it is wrapped in a delightful oak finish, which will prepare your palate for the spices in the second third of the Oliva. Once you get farther along on the cigar, the pepper tastes get mixed with a creamy chocolate flavoring. The chocolate flavoring goes wonderfully with the fruity notes from the Maker’s, allowing the whole experience to get better as you go along.
The bite of pepper from the Oliva’s final third will compliment that last sip full of sweet molasses, and you’ll be ready for another round of whiskey and cigars!
What’s your favorite cigar pairing? Let us know in the comments!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
It’s been an ongoing debate for decades, who is the best Bond? There are good arguments for every single actor to don the tuxedo; even the one film-wonder George Lazenby. I personally think Timothy Dalton is supremely underrated, bringing a dangerous edge to the character long before Daniel Crag took up the mantle. But regardless of which Bond you prefer, there are certain things associated with every Bond’s aesthetic. The charm, the wit, the cool demeanor under pressure. Of course, any version of Bond also has to include his trademark Walter PPK, a tuxedo, a shaken not stirred martini, and a Churchill cigar.
The Spy Who Loved Me, Copyright EON Productions
Moore, not Connery.
What’s odd though is everything on that list has been a hallmark of the 007 films since the very first, except for cigars! As unbelievable as it seems, James Bond wasn’t always a cigar smoker. This may confuse some of you, as it’s entirely possible you have distinct memories of Sean Connery’s Bond lighting up a fresh stogie on film. While that did happen, it happened in Never Say Never Again.Which perplexingly came out in 1983, after Roger Moore had starred in six Bond films. It was a bizarre situation, but the short answer is that Moore was still considered the “official bond”,while Connery was doing an unofficial film that isn’t technically part of the series. Either way, it’s actually Roger Moore we have to thank for bringing Bond and Cigars together.
Live and Let Die, copyright EON Productions
Moore himself was an avid smoker, and when he was cast, he had one of the most amazing demands an actor has ever made. Moore was adamant that his Bond smoke cigars, not cigarettes. A controversial choice, since smoking cigarettes (along with pretty much every single aspect of Connery’s Bond), was considered sacrosanct for the character. In addition, Moore personally demanded he have unlimited fine cigars during filming. A man after our own heart. What seemed outrageous at the time turned out to be one of the wise decisions that made Moore’s Bond iconic in his own right. Throughout his seven-film tenure, Moore’s Bond always smoked a glorious Montecristo.
The scene that defined Brosnan
James Bond and cigars would come together once again when Pierce Brosnan took over the role. A cigar was actually vital to one of the most memorable moments of Pierce Brosnan’s tenure as the character, in his final film,Die Another Die. In that quintessential scene, Bond sits in the sun-soaked beauty of Cuba, a mojito in one hand and a Romeo Y Julieta in another. As he looks out onto the horizon, his eyes catch the unforgettable sight of Halle Berry’s character, Jinx Johnson, slowly rising out of the water. He takes a deep draw of his cigar, as she seductively walks over, and he calls out “Magnificent view”. She turns, surprised, and smiles at him. In that moment, we all wished we were Bond.
Die Another Day, copyright EON Productions
We may not all be spies saving the world from the surprising amount of rich madmen who somehow exist, but we can all enjoy the taste of a perfectly rolled cigar. Check out our selection that would make Bond himself burst into a smile.
What brands do you think Bond would smoke? Why? Let us know in the comments!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
There are some things you don’t forget, no matter how long you live. Your first day of school, your first crush, your first car. Things that have a special place in your mind, forever memorialized and fondly recalled. For many, their first cigar is one such memory. That day when you discovered the wonders tobacco had to offer, and the overwhelming variety that just begged to be explored. While I can say I have come to appreciate the majesty of truly great cigars, this is not that type of story.
I was eighteen, right out of high school, and ready to take on the world. No idea what that meant then or now, but I know that’s how I felt. There’s something about being out of high school where you just think you’re invincible. Life has a way of disabusing you of that notion. One summer night, a friend invited me out to try cigars. He knew I’d never had one and wanted to introduce me to it the same way his father introduced it to him. I was playing The Last of Us, and told him flatly I wasn’t interested. He mentioned his sister would be coming with us, suddenly my schedule had opened up!
We went to a local shop, didn’t even have a name, just a neon sign that said CIGARS. But it had a lounge area, with nice leather armchairs that thoughtfully had cutters chained to their legs. My friend is going on, talking about his favorite brands, flavor profiles, strong versus mild. I didn’t catch a word. His sister, I would find out also a seasoned smoker, was clearly paying attention even if I wasn’t. We all sat down, while my friend retrieved the stogies. Here was my opening, try to seem cool in front of her. “You smoke yourself?” Seemed like the logical question, might open up the conversation. She said she did, she loved them in fact. “So do I!” She pointed out this was my first time trying one. I quickly corrected that I thought I was going to love them, and was excited to smoke my first cigar. I was so adamant I’d love them, I said I’d finish the thing before we left. She warned that might not be the best idea. My eighteen year old brain thought this was a test, so it was clearly a great idea to smoke the whole thing!
My friend returned with the cigars, and tried to show me how to cut and light up. I explained that, despite my complete lack of experience with cigars, I needed no help lighting; especially not when a girl was watching. I grabbed it, cut just a little off the top. My friend told me it was actually a good cut, I must be natural. Now cocky, I attempted to light the cigar by holding the end with my thumb and forefinger, and placing it right up against the butane lighter. Picking up the cigar and shaking off my now burned finger tips, I insisted everything was fine and graciously let my friend light the cigar.
I turned it in my mouth, it tasted bitter, but a pleasant type of bitter I’d never experienced before. There was also something strong that was staying on my lips and tongue. Something peppery. I took a deep, deep puff. Big mistake. My lungs wanted to cough, but I couldn’t risk looking like the idiot I clearly was. So I stifled the coughs, turning them into much more embarrassing mini coughs which I then tried to talk through. My friend and his sister said to slow down, take it easy on my first cigar. Only weak men take it easy, so I puffed even deeper! And deeper still! For every draw my friend took, I took two. I was determined to finish that cigar.
Which I did, and I felt supremely proud of myself. If that didn’t impress her, nothing would! Right about then is when the nausea kicked me in the stomach like a mule. I could barely stand up, I’d give anything to be left alone for the next few hours to sit and wait for the sickness to pass. His sister said she wanted to get ice cream. “Absolutely. I’d love to!”
I staggered into the car, willing myself to be well again. It wasn’t working. They started talking about Cold Stone, the car started moving. My stomach moved with it. They asked where I preferred to go, and I managed to squeak out a timid “Anywhere is fine!” Should not have said that. I could have swallowed my pride, said take me home. The thought was being given very serious consideration, when we got to the ramp for the highway. The moment the car sped up past forty miles an hour, it was too late. I just managed to roll the window down before vomiting all over the side of his car. Conversation ended rather abruptly after that.
They took me home, got the car washed, and laughed about it every single time I saw them after that. It would be three years before I tried another cigar and started my love affair with them. But even though it wasn’t what I expected, I won’t ever forget my first cigar!
What was your first cigar experience like? Let us know in the comments!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
2020 may be one of the worst years in modern history. Covid, murder hornets, wildfires, it felt like it would never let up. But even in these troubling times, we’re able to find comfort in the good things that remain in abundance in this world. For a lot of us, that was cigars. Each one providing a little bit of solace in the midst of this weary world. As we come to a close on the relentless calamity that was 2020, we’ve assembled the list of what were the best cigars according to our own customers. These were the top four cigars that smokers chose the most often, and came back for more each time!
4. La Gloria Wavell
An unsurprising choice for the fourth spot, as the La Gloria has been one of the most acclaimed cigars since its debut on the early Miami cigar scene. Crafted at the El Credito cigar factory in the Dominican Republic, this stogie features a robust blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco that lends La Gloria a medium to full body and bountiful flavor. Often credited for helping to drive the cigar boom in the early 90’s when it was introduced and took the world by storm, La Gloria Wavell is still highly rated and sought after to this day.
3. Baccarat Rothschild
At number three we have the succulent Baccarat Rothschild. The Rothschild is a Honduran puro known for its distinct flavor as a result of its secret sealing technique, utilizing Indian Gum to make sure that not even a trace of it’s exceptional taste is lost in the rolling process. Smokers of the Rothschild will enjoy its overflowing flavor of cocoa, nutmeg, and a toasted wheat finish. A cigar so delicious it’s no wonder why it cracked the top three!
2. Isla Del Sol Toro
Coming in at a very close second, from the good people at Drew Estates, we have the Isla Del Sol Toro. A more exotic cigar than the others on our list, featuring both tropical inspired tobacco and flavor. The Isla Del Sol is composed of a Dominican filler infused with Sumatran bean coffee, along with the candied tastes of cocoa, graham cracker pie crust, and toasted almonds. You’d be hard pressed to find another stogie with this many mouthwatering flavors packed into it; this is a perfect cigar for those that you can use a lot more sweetness in their day.
1. Acid Blondie
Here it is, our number one seller for the entire year. Drew Estates should be proud, they got the number one and number two spot! The Acid Blondie has dominated the infused cigar scene since it’s introduction over twenty years ago. Utilizing Acid’s special proprietary blend of essential oils, herbs, floras, and tobacco all aged together in the same space. The Blondie makes it’s first impression with it’s pungent and pleasing aroma, but the second you light it up you’ll realize the Acid Blondie is an absolute explosion of flavor that has created a lasting memory for every single person who smoked it. It’s easy to see why this was our best selling cigar for 2020.
What was your favorite cigar of 2020? Let us know in the comments!
Looking where to buy cigars? Mike’s delivers near and far!
