Altadis USA, makers of Montecristo and Romeo Y Julieta, invited Mike’s Cigars and other key merchants on a 2 day journey to their tobacco farm in Somers, CT. It’s the tobacco farm that produces the wrapper for the Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut cigar.
Upon arriving at the Sheraton Monarch Hotel in Springfield, MA, we were greeted with an Altadis USA sign welcoming us to the Connecticut Tobacco Farm Tour 2015. Next to the sign was an eye catching, beautiful Indian Chief Vintage motorcycle.
On entering our hotel room, Altadis USA placed a Montecristo gift bag with lots of cigar goodies in everyone’s room. The bag included:
- Montecristo Construction Cap
- Montecristo Baseball Cap
- Lindt Lindor Chocolate
- 3 Cigar Sampler – Romeo y Julieta Anejo, Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut & Henry Clay cigar
- Candle
- Romeo y Julieta Box Matches
- 2 Altadis USA Brochures
- Envelope from Altadis USA
We headed downstairs to meet with everyone who was part of the tour to take a shuttle to dinner. In this picture, from left to right, Rich Ivancic, Key Account and Private Label Director for Altadis USA, Nha Kim, Director of Business Development for Mike’s Cigars and Oliver Hyams, Trade Promotions & Activation Manager for Altadis USA.
We arrived at Max’s Tavern Restaurant located next to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Max’s Tavern’s menu features modern American cuisine, classic chophouse fare, craft cocktails, and more.
Altadis USA spoiled everyone with a table full of cigar boxes for us to indulge. In the picture you see:
- Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut
- Don Diego
- Montecristo Espada
- Montecristo Epic
- Romeo y Julieta Anejo
- Romeo by Romeo Y Julieta Aging Room Small Batch F25
- Henry Clay
- The Banker
- Vega Fina Fortaleza 2
- Romeo by Romeo y Julieta
The Romeo y Julieta Anejo is the next addition to the epic love story. The Anejo is a rich aged version of the best selling Romeo cigar. It has a dark Connecticut broadleaf wrapper and a hearty blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran sun grown tobaccos. When you smoke one these cigars, you’ll taste the aroma of espresso, rich cocoa, and peppery flavors.
Don Diego cigars are being re-packed with a modern design. These cigars originated from the Canary Islands, and were the first cigar made after the Cuban Embargo. Now, the cigar is made in the Dominican Republic under master blender, Jose Seijas.
Here’s the Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut. A 100% USA Grown Wrapper in Gershel Farm in Somers, CT where we will be going the following day. It features Nicaraguan binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Peru. It’s made at Tabacalera de Garcia in the Dominican Republic. It will be available in three vitolas. Double Corona (6 1/4″x 50″), Belicoso (6″ x 50″) and No. 3 (5 1/2″ x 44″).
The cigar is a medium-bodied profile. The first puff provides a burst of vanilla, and a creamy-white peppery smoke. The retro-hale has a taste of more profound pepper, sweetness, and nutty notes.
Before we sat down for dinner, we had savory appetizers. They had BBQ chicken wings that everyone was raving about and savory breaded calamari.
Here’s Yamilet Calvino, PR & Photographer for Cigar Snob Magazine and Nha enjoying Montecristo cigars before dinner.
For Dinner, we had a special menu prepared exclusively to complement the cigar plate. With special cocktails, choices of entrees, and dessert for Altadis USA guests.
The food, wine, and cigars made for a rich evening of great conversations with new and old friends. We headed back to the hotel to get some rest for our Connecticut Farm Tour.
On the next blog post, we attended a tobacco seminar hosted by Larry Palombo in the morning and then off to the tobacco farm.
