Puff, Puff, Keep!

This past Sunday, February the 24th, the temperature in West Palm Beach, Florida reached 85 degrees.  Not hot, but in the middle of 'winter', this is about as good as it gets.

I couldn't resist the call of the soft breeze, and warm afternoon sun any longer, so I headed to the pool (I know you probably hate me by now, but it gets worse!).  Along for the ride was a couple of  Magic Hat #9 cold-ass beers, and a beautiful Alec Bradley 'Connecticut'.

This cigar is dressed in a seamless Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper and chock full of Honduran and Nicaraguan long-fillers.  Typically a light Connecticut share wrapper is not my tendency.  In fact, I can't recall the last time I bought a natural cigar, favoring heavily the maduro wrappers.  This guy got in my bag of goodies at the latest Great Smoke event sponsored by The Smoke Inn...my favorite day of the whole year!

Well, well, well seems like I've been missing out on a little piece of heaven.  This cigar almost melts in your mouth with a wonderful pallet of flavors, easy draw and long finish.  Nothing overpowering or hot, just a ture pool side companion to soak in the rays.

While I usually do smoke it down to the nub, I was truly looking around for a clip or stick or someway of smoking this puppy down to my fingers!  Not very classy I know, but there was hardly anyone else there! LOL!

Now I love Alec Bradley's amazing and ornate bands, many of which I would like to turn into a custom cigar band ring, but I equally love their smokes.  This is a natural cigar that I will absolutely keep in stock (which to me means it will last in my humidor at least one week).

Enjoy!

John Garcia
Custom Cigar Band Rings

Custom Cigar Band Rings

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What do you love the most about the cigar industry?

My uncle Pepe has been rolling cigars since he was a kid in Cuba.  Now reaching 70 years old, I guess he can qualify as a Master Roller even if his Boquilla / Havana Cigars never made it to the mainstream.

Havana Cigars - Union City NJ

I didn't smoke my first cigar until I was 27 years old, 16 years ago.  It was just one of things at my cousins party where I was offered a cigar and this time gave it a shot.  As any seasoned cigar smoker can tell you, it was love at first puff!

From there my thirst for quality cigars grew and low and behold, I found out I have an authentic cigar roller in the family with his own cigar shop, not far from my house...life is good!!!  I went over to my uncle's shop, and there is my older cousin, working there and telling me about plans to open a second store!

I was so excited, I went everyday and helped in anyway that I could.  My cousin was able to get an investor to help him open the second store, complete with a smokers lounge, with big screen TV's, comfy lounge chairs and lots and lots of great cigars.

It did not take long for to me appreciate what smoking a great cigar is really all about...camaraderie.  I'm not talking about just a bunch of guys, wasting away a couple of hours watching sports, I'm talking about men, sharing philosophy on life, politics, libations and of course stories of adventures (of all types!).

People from all walks of life, mostly men but a few very cool woman too, would come in and stories would just sort of ooze out.  It was a type of atmosphere and companionship that I have not seen before or since.  Some of that is my own fault since there are some great smoke shops near me, and I haven't made the effort to frequent them enough.

In any case, I can enjoy a good cigar alone without any conversation, perfectly fine...thank you very much!  However, what kept me coming back, and building my love affair with the leaf, was all of the great talks, games, laughs and memories I shared at the smoke shop!

For more visit www.customcigarbandrings.com or our Facebook or Twitter page.  Thank you!

Link to 'Smoke Magazine's' story about my uncle Pepe and my cousin Bobby in 1985.

The Top 10 Cigars of 2012!

The CCBR Top 10 Cigars of 2012

I’ve read countless reviews, I’ve smoked thousands of cigars, and I’ve invested in good humidors and proper care of premium cigars.  In all this time, I’ve yet to smoke a cigar with flavors of cinnamon, cedar, pepper, chocolate, etc.

To me cigars are either strong, medium or light in body, have a good draw or not, give your lips a good spicy taste or not, and are consistent throughout (or not) because there’s nothing I like better than smoking it right down to the nub!  

So with my less than sophisticated pallet, but my absolute pure passion for the leaf, I bring you the CCBR top 10 of 2012.  These cigars meet my standards of spicy on the lips, easy draw, lots of kick and delicious all the way down to the nub! 

#10 - Rocky Patel Edge  

#9 - Gran Habano Vintage ’02 Corojo

#8 - Romeo and Julieta Reserva Real  

#7 - Sosa Vingtage -  

#6 - Punch Rare Corojo 

 #5 - Artuto Fuente Churchill Maduro

#4 - CAO Brazilia (Caution these suckers really pack a punch!)

#3 -La Aroma de Cuba by Pepin Garcia 

#2 - El Rey Del Mundo - 

#1 – Don Pepin Garcia Black Label  

Enjoy these and explore as many premium cigars as your time can afford!

Custom Cigar Band Rings

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The Great Smoke 2013

The Great Smoke 2013

I don't get to as many cigar events as I would like to, but one that I never miss is The Smoke Inn's annual Great Smoke in West Palm Beach, FL.

Of course living near by helps, but as a huge cigar fan, that attended many Big Smoke's in New York City, this event can measure up with the best of them.

Many of the attendees are familiar with the owner Abe.  In an economy that has struggled for years, Abe has continued to open new stores and is seems that everything he touches turns to gold.

I did notice a slight increase in the price of this, the 6th anniversary of the event. Regardless, for 40 smokes the $160 basic ticket price is still well worth the price of admission.  Not to mention, all of the top shelf liquor, great food, and music wrapped in a crowd of amazing people, the experience is priceless.

I have tried to tell everybody I know about it.  I have even gone the route of buying a companion ticket for only $30 more, but have also gone alone.  No matter who I go with, or how I get there, I've had a great time and better each year.  From meeting Rocky Patel, to every one of the cigar manufacturers that attend, the atmosphere is electric and the camaraderie cannot be matched.

I just received the email a few days ago announcing The Great Smoke 2013, which lands appropriately enough right around Valentines Day for all of us Cigar Lovers!  Hope to see you all there.

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John Garcia
Custom Cigar Band Rings

The Lord of the Rings!

The Lord of the Rings!

This blog will serve to promote our custom cigar band rings page.  To do so, we will blog about all things cigars, and the unmatched enjoyment of smoking premium cigars.

As an avid smoker myself, I have always enjoyed carefully peeling the cigar bands and (thanks to my slender fingers), slipping them on my finger which appears like a ring.

Many times people would comment about how good they looked, and that cigar band rings would be a great way to show off your favorite smoke.  This led me to work with a master-jeweler here in south Florida to explore this idea further.

After many attempts, and many ruined bands, we came up with a process that uses the actual paper cigar band, to create a beautiful custom ring.

As you can see, the results are amazing.  Whether you go with with gold, or in sterling silver, these rings make a dramatic statement, whenever you light up.

Now you can enjoy your favorite cigar while displaying these beautiful rings on your hand.  Visit our page at www.customcigarbandrings.com for your free quote.  We look forward to hearing from you.