Cigar fanciers know the rock stars of the industry are the guys who put together the blends and produce the sticks – the likes of A.J. Fernandez and E.P. Carillo. But every once in a great while, a cigar maker will look for a real star, as in movie star, to be the front man for a line. Prometheus, producer of the celebrated God of Fire blends, has done so by enlisting actor Joe Mantegna to get involved in its Angelenos line of products. It’s a good match, considering Mantegna is known as a cigar-lover and these smokes are an homage to the company’s Los Angeles roots. He’s the namesake for the cigar we’re focusing on – the Robusto Gordo JM – and he ought to be quite satisfied with the result of the work of the real star of the show, Carlos Fuente Sr., of the Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia.
Angelenos Robusto Gordo JM
Rock-A-Feller Cigars
International Tobacco Partners has teamed with Jeffrey Avo Uvezian, son of famed cigar maker Avo Uvezian, to produce a premium cigar line called Rock-A-Feller Cigars. From the inner lid of each box: “Rock-A-Feller cigars exemplify prestige and exquisite taste blended in an incomparable combination of perfectly aged tobaccos. Inspired by the era known as the age of American Enterprise, the creation of each Rock-A-Feller cigar captures a rich American history of men and women who persevered during the time of the Great Depression. Their spirit and legacy made the United States the foremost economy of the 20th century. Rock-A-Feller premium cigars today represent entrepreneurship in the midst of Great Recession.”
Torano Master
Our latest review, a collaberation between Charlie Torano, president of the Torano Family Cigar Company, and master cigar roller Felipe Sosa, (hence the cigar’s name) recently earned itself a spot on Cigar Aficionado’s Best Bargain Cigars of 2011.
Emilio Cigars AF1
The AF1, by the fast-starting Emilio Cigars outfit, is a testament to the maxim that two heads are better than one. The line is the brainchild of Gary Griffith, the guiding force of Emilio, and master blender and cigar maker A.J. Fernandez, for whom the product is named. Fernandez has conjured up a host of hits lately – the San Lotano Oval being a certified 2011 triumph – and the AF1 fits in nicely with his ever-expanding resume of distinctive products.
Torano Vault
Who knew that one or more of the movers and shakers at Torano Family Cigars is a Bob Dylan fan? Actually, we don’t know that, but when Torano goes into its back pages for a new product, we have to wonder. Which brings us to Torano’s Vault, introduced last summer. Vault’s origins stem from Charlie Torano and Bruce Lewis paging back through the family’s blend book, which has recorded the composition of every cigar Torano has produced, or considered producing, since 1982. They discovered one unreleased blend from 2000 – Liga A-008 – that piqued their interest. And with a bit of tweaking – adding a second ligero binder from Ometepe, Nicaragua, to add a bit more kick – they had their new full-bodied concoction.
Paul Stulac Ghost
Paul Stulac cigars are the result of a chance meeting between Stulac, a Canadian cigar shop owner, and cigar master Enrique “Don Kiki” Berger, (who teamed with Michael and Albert Argenti in 2009 to launch his own line, Berger & Argenti). While vacationing in Miami, Stulac visited the Cuban Crafters shop, where he met Berger. The two got to smoking and talking and the rest is history. The entire Stulac line is rolled under Berger’s watchful eye at his Tabacalera Esteli cigar factory in Nicaragua.
Swag Limitado 99
If you are familiar with the Swag brand, you know that the folks at Oliveros Cigars have crafted a distinctive, stylish line that also delivers plenty of taste. The Limitado 99, introduced during the summer, is a worthy family member. It is a limited release – about 2,000 boxes – produced from a long-forgotten bale of 1999 Dominican ligero tobacco that was recently discovered and put to good use.
E.P. Carrillo Dark Rituals
The EPC Cigar Company – the collaboration of famed cigar-maker Ernesto Perez-Carrillo and son, Ernie, and daughter, Lissette McPhillips – has been producing limited-edition sticks for the past three years, and they have quickly become must-try smokes for many cigar enthusiasts. This year’s Edicion Limitada is called “Dark Rituals,” and we must try it.
Reinado
Reinado, Spanish for “reign,” is a relatively new cigar line from owner, and New Jersey native, Antonio Lam. From their website: “Reinado is a premium blend of Nicaraguan tobacco aged up to five years and uniquely fermented to deliver the highest quality smoking experience.”
Crowned Heads Four Kicks
Our latest review is the first creation from a company called Crowned Heads which was founded by former longtime employees of CAO who left when it merged with General Cigar. The name “Four Kicks” is from the title of a Kings of Leon song.
With a 2011 production of 30,000, the Four Kicks is available at only 66 retailers nationwide. Fortunately, Buttheads Tobacco Emporium in Danbury, owned by the very knowledgeable Kevin Paige, is one of those lucky retailers.
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