Author: DrinkSmokeGolf

Why Beer and Cigars Make Sense Together Stone Brewing’s Imperial Russian Stout 2015 just hit shelves. Cigar smoker and brand ambassador “Dr.” Bill Sysak thinks you should drink it with a cigar. April 1, 2015 By G. CLAY WHITTAKER Thanks to a massive craft revolution over the last two decades, beer is no longer second fiddle to spirits in the cigar world. Anyone who’s smoked a cigar with a couple of watery cans of Whatever Light knows that most beer can’t hold its weight against a smoke, but once you get above a certain darkness factor or number of IBUs,…

Cuba Unveils Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill Gran Reserva David Savona Posted: March 23, 2015 Cuba is continuing its trend of releasing ultra-pricey, limited-edition cigars at the Habanos Festival, the annual gathering of cigar distributors, retailers and lovers of fine Cuban cigars. The Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill Gran Reserva Cosecha 2009, a plump cigar adorned with three bands, was previewed to those who attended the opening night party in Havana on Monday, February 23. Like other Gran Reserva cigars, the tobaccos used in the Wide Churchill come from a vintage crop, in this case the 2009 harvest. Read More…

Brand Diplomaticos Name No. 2 Vitola Piramide Country of Origin Cuba Wrapper/Filler/Binder Cuban Box Code LUB FEB 14 Date Smoked March 7, 2015 Paired With Driftwood New Growth Pale Ale Tasting Notes An excellent cigar. Predominately chocolate, coffee & raisins.

Conan O’Brien has always been a little saltier when he leaves the studio: There’s just something about venturing from behind the desk that brings out the late-night host’s edgy side. When O’Brien visited Cuba last month — jumping at the chance just a couple of months afterPresident Obama re-opened relations there — he became the first late-night host to do so sinceThe Tonight Show’s Jack Paar interviewed Fidel Castro there 50 years ago. And he definitely packed the rum punch. Read more…http://mashable.com/2015/03/05/conan-in-cuba-show/

JESSICA FESTA, EPICURE & CULTURE MAR. 3, 2015, 9:45 AM While most people know wine has terroir, I was surprised on a recent trip to the Dominican Republic to learn that cigars are also affected by the region the tobacco is grown in, as well as body, aroma, flavor and aging. This was a foreign concept to me as I stepped in the Westin Puntacana Resort & Club‘s Don Queco Cigar & Rum Bar, opened in December 2013 and named after the father of one of Puntacana’s founders. Read more: http://epicureandculture.com/cigar-pairing/#ixzz3TRZ3DO4g

BY ANDREA RODRIGUEZ ASSOCIATED PRESS HAVANA (AP) — Over six decades rolling premium cigars with his small, wrinkled hands, Arnaldo Alfonso has taken pride in seeing his “habanos” sampled by visiting heads of state and other dignitaries. Now he’s delighted by the idea of customers lighting them up in New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States, where Cuban cigars have been outlawed since the U.S. embargo took effect in 1962. Read More….

As any cigar aficionado will tell you, cigars are a hobby, not a habit. And like any hobby, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. We reached out to Michael Herklots, vice president for retail and brand development for the Nat Sherman cigar brand, and asked him what true connoisseurs avoid while smoking cigars. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, keep reading to see the seven worst mistakes that you can make while lighting up. Mistake No. 1: Expecting two cigars to smoke the same. Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/7-things-cigar-smokers-should-never-do-2015-1#ixzz3QzAOvAty

Brand Padron Name Serie 1926 No. 2 Vitola Torpedo Country of Origin Nicaragua Wrapper/Filler/Binder Nicaragua Box Code unknown Date Smoked January 22, 2015 Paired With n/a Tasting Notes Reserved with subtle flavours until the 2/3 mark. Body and strength really pick up in the final third. Thanks to a massive bomb I received recently, I have some beautiful Padrons to smoke. It’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it! I selected the 1926 Serie No. 2 with natural wrapper. As with any ’26 or ’64 Series Padron, it’s a beautiful looking stick! The wrapper is a gorgeous shade…

Brand Romeo y Julieta Name No. 2 Vitola Petit Corona Country of Origin Cuba Wrapper/Filler/Binder Cuba Box Code EAG NOV 13 Date Smoked January 17, 2015 Paired With n/a Tasting Notes A very good cigar for the money. Makes for a great daily smoker. I had an hour to kill this morning so I snuck outside for a Romeo y Julieta No. 2 Tubo. Things started off quite spicy, but then mellowed out. There is some complexity to these cigars as in the latter half, notes of leather, salt, and mint appear. These are excellent sticks for the money!

Here’s a great interview with Jorge Padron by the good fellas at SethsHumidor.com and StogieGeeks.com