Memoirs of a Cigar

“Just spoke to ma’ man who just called Rocky P himself.

The Torpedos are rolled by the Master Roller- who charges Rocky Patel an extra $1.50 + or – Per Cigar rolled. He guarantees the best roll for the Torpedo and that is why it is more expensive by around $30.00 on the box. The binder, Filler and Wrapper are the same for the Torpedo and the Toro, but the person who rolls them is where the difference fall on.

his suggestion was the following.. “If you are smoking because you liked the cigar, then save yourself $30. If it is a gift- then go all the way. They are the same cigar, and the extra points on the Torpedo come as a result of the Master roller guarantee…”

Oh, he also said that all cigars are insepcted prior to shipping so you really dont get a bad cigar from any of their lines… This includes their Indian Tabac Cameroons all the way to their Edge cigars.

Hey what did I learn at 9:30am today, and got caught by my boss? Master Roller Prices and how it affects Pt Ratings ”

Check out my 1st video blog for www.memoirsofacigar.com. We are obviously having way too much fun, or way too many Coronas

Btw, this video was taken, posted to youtube, and blogged all from my new iPhone 3GS.

Video Credits:
Camera Man – Eduardo
Drunken Guy – Dave
Cigar Expert – Bernie

Last Sunday morning we woke up at our hotel in San Francisco and decided to check out the Italian North Beach Festival. Parking was crazy, so I lit up my cigar to help pass the time.

The El Triunfador Lancero. A full bodied, cuban-style, smoke that never fails to impress. I have smoked a few of these now, and they have all been excellent. Hard to find and highly recomended, full bodied Padron Maduro fans will love the El Triunfador Lancero.

This is my Final Blog Post with my original iPhone, so I figured I should go out with a classic rated cigar. The Rocky Patel Decade is rated 95 points in the 2008 annual ratings. It also got a 96 point rating in the Cigar Insider Newsletter.

Dave and I smoked these at his new appt in SF by the pool with a 6 pack is Stella Artois. If you haven’t tried a Decade, TRY ONE!!! They are undoubtly one of the best cigars in the world, and they only cost about $15. Full of complex flavors, the cigar changes flavors about 6 times while smoking, and every puff is perfectly balanced and as smooth as can be. No spiceness, no harshness, just perfect puff of white smoke after puff of white smoke.

Chloe, Maggie and I went for a walk on the beach in Princeton Harbor today. What a great way to relax and de-stress. You know what else helps to relax and de-stress? A good cigar!

Don Pepin Garcia is probably the best cigar roller and blender in Miami, if not the world. He has been rolling cigars for over 40 years (since he was 11 years old), and it shows. He is the man behind recent cigar sensations Padilla Miami, Tatuaje, Cabaiguan, and of course Don Pepin Cigars. I would definately say he is the premier Lancero roller on the planet, many of them complete with Cuban Triple Caps and Pigtails.

He grew up in Cuba, where he helped with the creation of the Montecristo and Cohiba Brands. He achieved the highest rank of Cuban Cigar Roller, and is even rumored to have been the personal cigar roller of Fidel Castro!

The Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label Cigar starts with a blast of black pepper and spice. It then blends in strong notes of leather and wood, while the wrapper adds chocolate and coffee notes. A full flavored cigar that knocks the socks off most Cuban’s I’ve smoked, this is a primo cigar to be enjoyed after a big steak dinner.

The CAO LX2 Lancero…now that’s a ringer!

My last of six CAO LX2 Lancero’s is a sweet aged treat. I have reviewed these a few times before, but they are consistantly amazing. I highly recomend trying it if you are able to find one.

What was once a boutique cigar available only on the corner of 8th & 11th in Little Havana Miami, is now available at a smoke shop near you.

Named after the Second in Command of the Cuban Liberation Army, El Titan De Bronze (The Bronze Titan) Redemption is a solid smoke. I was lucky enough to find it in a short Lancero, and enjoy it with coffee for my Sunday morning smoke.

A smooth Nicaraguan blend wrapped in a Equadorian Sun Grown Wrapper, this cigar is slightly sweet, and has no bitterness to it. It starts off very unique with a slightly buttery taste, reminicent of popcorn. Again, the buttery beginning of this cigar was amazing! It then progressed to blend in tastes of very fine cedar and caramel, with a touch of leather and spice. The cigar gained some strength toward the middle but maintained its sweet balance and never became overpowering. I think this is a great daytime smoke, and one which I would highly recommend.

I stopped by Grant’s Smoke Shop on Market Street in San Francisco this Friday to do some research on buying a Pipe for my Fathers upcoming birthday. Grant’s is the oldest Tobacconist in San Francisco (since 1849), so I figured it would be a good place to start. I also bought about 10 cigars, mostly Lancero’s, as Grant’s has an amazing walk-in Humidor.

My Father smokes Middleton Black & Mild Cigars. I thought it strange that he doesn’t like any of my good cigars, until a co-work recently explained to me that Middletons are not real cigars but just rolled up Pipe Tobacco. In that case, I figured he might enjoy a pipe with tobacco of the same flavor profile as his Black & Mild’s.

After leaving Grant’s I lit up a 2003 Tatuaje Cojuno, which looked strikingly similar to a Limited Edition Montecristo in terms of Bands & Labeling. The ’03 Tatuaje Cojuno was strong and full bodied the entire smoke, from Market to Union Square and back down to Century 9 in the new Westfield Mall where we watched the new Pixar movie UP. What an incredible 3-D journey this movie was. The folks over at Pixar never disappoint.

Q) Can you name all the Cuban Cigars pictured in the Humidor below?

A) (From Left to Right) Cohiba Siglo VI, Bolivar Gold, Bolivar Belicoso, Juan Lopez Special Selection #2, Partagas Serie D #4, Romeo y Julieta Belicoso, Montecristo #2

I recently discovered a wonderful smoking establishment where you can sit outside by the fireplace overlooking the pool, order a scotch and light up a Cuban!  The newly completed Rosewood Sand Hill Resort www.rosewoodsandhill.com in Palo Alto (Sand Hill Road & 280) is wonderful. It’s so relaxing, you almost feel like your on the Coast of Spain, or some other exotic location, but definitely not in the heart of Silicon Valley.  I can tell you that Rosewood Sand Hill is going to give the Ritz in Half Moon Bay a run for its money.

I also discovered that the Juan Lopez Special Selection #2 is one helluva cigar! Pardon my French, but this cigar deserves it! The #11 rated cigar of 2008 by Cigar Aficionado, and one of the least expensive Cuban Cigars on the top 25 list, this cigar is both a steal and a pleasure at the same time. This dark and oily cigar starts off with the taste of sweet wood, the center of the cigar adds in creamy caramel and tea notes, and the final third brings the strength with the flavor of a fine Bordeaux.  This cigar is really that good, and you can easily distinguish all the changes of flavor.

My first Juan Lopez was not my last, as I lit up another one later that night. For someone that judges his cigars against the Padron 1926 80yr, I can tell you that the Juan Lopez Special Selection #2 is as close as it gets to the Perfect Cigar.  Add in a relaxing afternoon at Rosewood Sand Hill, and you’ve got yourself a day trip that’s fit for a king.

I recently had the privilege to enjoy a Nestor Miranda Special Selection Lancero, which my friend Pablo was able to secure for me before the cigars even hit the showroom floor.  One of the best cigars I have ever had, I have been fiending for the chance to purchase some more.  It honestly was as smooth as an aged Montecristo #2, but in a longer format. Full review here: www.memoirsofacigar.com/?p=709

To celebrate National Nestor Miranda Cigar Day on Friday June 12th, if you purchase any cigar at 1 of the 500 Nestor Miranda Authorized Dealers, they will give you a FREE Nestor Miranda Special Selection 20 Aniversario ‘Danno’ (7 x 56)!!! You can find a list of all the Authorized Retailers by clicking on Event Location at: www.nestormirandacigars.com.  Since I live in the Bay Area, I will be going to Mission Pipe Shop in San Jose, CA on my lunch break, and maybe again after work too   I promise you wont be disappointed with this cigar.