Believe the Hype! New 'Big Delicious' cigar by Room 101 Delivers Bigggg!

I had the distinct pleasure last night of attending the release party for the new creation by the hands of two of our industry's true pioneers Matt Booth (aka Swanky White) of Room 101 Cigars and Abe 'Ming' Dababneh (aka Big Delicious) owner of The Smoke Inn.

I give Abe all the credit for being a successful retailer in a time when most retailers are struggling to keep up with performance of prior years, let alone grow and prosper.  In this 'internet' age with many cigar sales going to the biggest discounter, Abe has managed to provide a smoking experience, that keeps customers coming back.

It's this type of dedication that I'm sure led Abe to partner with none other than Matt Booth to create a cigar that I believe is perfect for the mature cigar smoker that likes to get put on his ass every now and then!  First off, Matt Booth is a creative genius, artist, jewelry designer and if you ask me, looks a little like Robert Downey Jr. in Ironman.  It seems that whatever Matt puts his hands on, the outcome is pretty special.

This Big Delicious cigar is no exception.  I picked up a few sticks last night at the release party, and waited until the Knicks game got underway to spark it up.

Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: Tabacos Rancho Jamastran
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano 2000
Binder: Honduran Corojo Seco
Filler: Brazil, Domincan Republic Ligero, Honduran Corojo & Nicaragua.

It has that unfinished tip that makes it appear like some of the tobacco is falling out.  Not sure the story behind this style, not even sure if you're supposed to just light it that way, or trim that off to be honest - I flicked some of it off with my finger, then gave it a good cut and went to work!

This cigar had what I look for in a good smoke right away.  The draw was easy, and a lot of smoke came out the other end.  Enough smoke sometimes to make your eyes water (happy tears!).  There was a good amount of spicy flavor and earthy components to let you know that you were smoking something special, and by the looks of it, was going to last a long time.

I got through the first 2/3rds and thought I was doing pretty good, enjoying the flavors, and having a good time. Then on the last third the cigar really slowed down.  I didn't have to fight with it to draw, it just forced you to take your time with it.  I did give it a slightly bigger cut (started with a v-cut), and then boom, it came right back to life and finished off like a champ.

It actually left me reeling a little bit, which hasn't happened in a while.  I guess I was so excited to smoke this for the first time, that I may have puffed a little faster and deeper than this cigar warrants.  It's all good, a little dizzy from a good cigar is worth it every time!

Another micro-blend success from the man that is continuing the cigar journey like not other!  Great job to Abe, Matt Booth, and everyone involved in bringing this stick to life.  Big D is in the house!

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.

Montecristo #1...maybe not?

OK, I hadn’t smoked a good Monte in a long time, and with one as a gift from my recent birthday, and a great Knicks v. Nets game on TV, I thought it was time to spark it up.

That’s where all of the trouble started.  The cigar did not seem dry or moist, in fact it had a nice firmness to it, and it seemed ready to go.  When I put it to my lips I got no immediate flavor or spice, but I cut into it anyway and lit a bit of cedar to get a good burn.

For whatever reason, it did not want to cooperate.  The draw was very tight, and took effort to pull in any smoke.  It was very slow going , and I finally took a torch lighter to it, and held it there for quite a few seconds to try and get it as hot as possible.  After nearly burning the front end, it finally gave in, and the draw started to ease up.

The frustrating start caught me off guard, and had me writing some derogatory notes in my little 33 Cigars book.  With such high expectations off to such a poor start, I almost didn’t notice how quickly the cigar turned from naughty to nice!

Really, from about ¼ of the way in, all the way through about ¼ of the way finished it was a pleasant smoke.  No real flavor or kick to speak of, just a mild and smooth ride along the way.  Although I’m big on maduro’s and cigars that pack a punch, I think everyone occasionally should smoke something less demanding. Unfortunately it did not pair very well with my Johnnie Walker Black, but I should have expected that.

It also was not a cigar that I could smoke to the nub, which is another one of my preferences.  It became just a little too flat at the end, and the draw began to tighten up again.

So…not one I would go to again, not this size and not this complexity, but still will keep my humidor open to the ‘darker’ side of Montecristo and let you know how that goes.  I would rate it a 5 on a 10, hope the Cigar Gods aren’t listening. 

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

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!

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Happy Birthday to Me, a gift of CLE Corojo!

On November 28th, I turned 43.  Interestingly enough, I did not start smoking cigars until I was 27, and now enjoy about a cigar a day.

I was very happy to receive a 4-pack of Rocky Patel edge from light to maduro, a RP Vintage, an Illusione but the treat of the gifts came in a little known cigar called CLE Corojo!

This medium brown stick is one of the latest offerings from Christin Eiroa's new company CLE Cigars.  I visited the website and enjoyed some beautiful pics of their cigar farm in Honduras.

This all Honduran cigar may not be the most elegant thing to look at, but right from the first puff, I was thoroughly impressed.  Lots of spice and flavor, that had some sweetness as well to balance it out.  Barely 1/3rd of the way through some nice oak and cedar flavors began to step up, and stay with the smoke the rest of the way.

The draw was easy, the flavor was so good, if I hadn't just had an Italian Sweet Sausage sandwich with peppers, I'd probably be looking for a nice steak to eat.  I enjoyed it while drinking a Fosters premium ale, and felt each sip made both taste better.

Produced in limited quantities, this choice, even on Cigars International will cost you a little more than your average purchase.  A box of 25 Robusto's will cost about $133, and in my opinion, well worth the price.

On a birthday where gifts included well known Bourbon, Cigars and accessories (so glad my people know me so well!) this little CLE won top honors, and should be part of your humidor as well.

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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.