Sunday Cigar

Nat Sherman Timeless Prestige Divino

Published

2 weeks ago

June 28, 2020

Juan Sanchez

Cigar Details

Wrapper: Honduran
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan

Upon my arrival at the Town house there were some cigars I favored and some that didn’t suit me. I’d no longer have that problem once the Timeless Dominican as it was then called back then was introduced. Michael Herklots who was the biggest reason for me finding a home at Nat Sherman was blending this cigar with Manolo Quesada and the prototypes were out of this world.

Herklots created samples and a survey and sent them out to a small group of retailers. The consensus came back and Herklots made some small tweaks to the blends for the cigars to find a broader audience. The initial sizes did not come out in the Divino, a perfecto that enhanced a lot of the core notes on the opening and closing of the cigar. When it was added, I became an instant fan of it.

I have a ton of great stories but one of my favorite includes Mr. Joel Sherman. Joel Sherman is Nat Sherman’s Son and was the CEO before selling the company to Altria. We were hosting a private event at the Town house back in 2012 and we would usually have our events after store hours. The doors are usually locked unless you were on the particular guest list. During this one event a middle aged man pulled on the heavy doors and knocked on the window once feeling the doors were locked. Normally one of us would open the door and politely explain that we were closed. This Particular night Mr. Sherman accompanied me to the door. The man explained that he didn’t know the store hours and was only in the city for the evening on business. He just wanted a cigar. Mr. Sherman said “No problem sir, reached into his pocket and handed the guy two Timeless Cigars. Mr. Sherman said unfortunately we’re closed but that should not stop you from enjoying your night, he then introduced himself. The man’s eyes became big and you can see the sincerity in his eyes. He thanked Mr. Sherman and I gave him my card. A Month later the same guy walked in during hours of operation and bought 5 boxes of the Timeless Cigars from me. Mr. Sherman did it so effortlessly that it stuck. Every event after that when we closed our doors and someone would yank on the door. I’d go with the same type of poise and I would speak to the person on the other side. If there was something I could do, I did it. To create a fan not just from your product but from you interaction when the lights are dim. When people don’t expect anything and you deliver, it sets everything apart.

In this episode we talk about the design of a cigar band, aging cigars, the V-Cut, the affect of a v-cut on a perfecto cigar, stories of the beginning of the Timeless Line, traveling with cigars, enjoyment of a cigar, Wu-Tang Clan as well as a brief history of the Nat Sherman store and brand.

If there are words or terms that you’re unfamiliar within this episode, we highly recommend you check out the Sunday Cigar Glossary.

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We would love to hear your thoughts on the episode. Leave a comment on the Apple Podcast App and don’t forget to rate the show.

Sunday Cigar

La Aurora Puro Vintage 2006

Published

6 days ago

July 5, 2020

Juan Sanchez

La Aurora Puro Vintage 2006

Cigar Details

Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican

La Aurora is probably the most responsible for me entering the cigar industry. It was the first Brand I had fallen in love with. The fact that it was the pride of Santiago was an icing on the cake. I would leave work at Adidas in Soho, walk over to “OK Cigar” on West Broadway which has since closed and buy a La Aurora Cien Anos or Preferido once every pay period. I remember the Cien Anos was $22 and I would happily pay it back then after falling in love with the first one I smoked.

The age of the cigar made it such a smooth and creamy smoke that I would search for these characteristics in every cigar after. The Puro Vintage series was another cigar I fell in love with. The released in 2014 of the 2005 was an absolute hit and the 2006 followed up 2 years later. Between the two blends, one could notice the commonalities between the Vintage and Cien Anos. The Aging process is something that can only benefit already good tobacco.

Nothing tops the 2006 in the Puro Vintage line in my opinion. A vintage line from the oldest cigar factory in the Dominican Republic is fitting. I smoked one with Manuel Inoawhose La Aurora Master Blender in 2016. Instead of a lot of talking, it was a very quiet meeting because of how good the cigar was. All I kept saying was “Cono” which pretty much means “Damn” after every 3rd or 4th puff.

In this episode we talk about the La Aurora Puro Vintage 2006, aging in cigars, value of aging, rarity in a cigar, Dominican Republic, falling in love with cigars, interaction with a cigar, a real smoke-along moment, buying a box of cigars, humidity, preserving cigars and Guillermo Leon.

If there are words or terms that you’re unfamiliar within this episode, we highly recommend you check out the Sunday Cigar Glossary.

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We would love to hear your thoughts on the episode. Leave a comment on the Apple Podcast App and don’t forget to rate the show.

Sunday Cigar

Fuente Casa Cuba

Published

3 weeks ago

June 21, 2020

Juan Sanchez

Fuente Casa Cuba, Photography by Amon Focus

Cigar Details

Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican

Fuente is a very particular brand when it comes to its releases. The proof is always in the detail. In the case of the Casa Cuba, Fuente spared no expense. As a newer addition to their line which rarely happens at Fuente aside from Opus X blends. The outside box Vistas and inside box vistas are different. The band on the cigar is yet again different than both vistas. The cigars smell and look like they’ve been aged for decades. I was given this cigar in the Dominican at a Procigar festival. Fuente had just jumped back into the mix with Procigar a year prior. Procigar represents the Best cigar makers out of the Dominican Republic. They’re boxes even have a special Procigar Seal. When it comes to making cigars in the Dominican Republic, they’re the Commission. They’re the ones that set the standard high. In my humble opinion if its made in the DR and isn’t part of Procigar, its sub par at best. The Casa Cuba has this medium bodied pepper that I love. I’ve smoked this cigar so many times that I can tell it apart from a lot of Fuente product thats similar in composition. The cigar is a Legend in its self besides the tobacco. Fuente Sr, worked on what is now the Devine inspiration from his Hospital bed. May god bless his soul. Thats the type of story that comes out of Fuente. Its the most Romantic Cigar Company on the Planet and I’d include every Cuban Brand Named after Novels. The Legends always have tricks up their sleeves. Casa Cuba is how Fuente thanked their long time audience.

In this episode we talk about, Arturo Fuente, pairing with Eagle Rare, connecting with cigars, geeking over cigars and uniqueness in a cigar.

If there are words or terms that you’re unfamiliar within this episode, we highly recommend you check out the Sunday Cigar Glossary.

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We would love to hear your thoughts on the episode. Leave a comment on the Apple Podcast App and don’t forget to rate the show.

Sunday Cigar

Pappy Van Winkle Tradition

Published

4 weeks ago

June 14, 2020

Juan Sanchez

Pappy Van Winkle Tradition, Photography by Amon Focus

Cigar Details

Wrapper: Kentucky Tapa Negra & Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Kentucky & Nicaraguan

A barrel Fermented Cigar? Well when you think of rare Bourbon one of the names that comes to mind is Pappy Van Winkle. Its exclusivity and refinement make it difficult to find and expensive to purchase.

Who else but Drew Estate to make a cigar inspired by the Bourbon label? Who else was going to put such an importance on the blending so that it made sense? I have to admit when I first heard about the cigar I thought to myself “Man that sounds like a gimmick”. Then the blend was released and I saw that they were making it with Kentucky Tobacco and I was sold.

Rule of thumb is that Bourbon’s birth place is Kentucky. Kentucky tobacco is mostly found in Italian brands such as Toscano, Drew how ever has created blends with Kentucky y tobacco before. The Kentucky Fire Cured or the KFC cigar has been a cult followed cigar since its release. In the pappy Van Winkle what you get is well rounded Barrel aged Kentucky tobacco blended with Nicaraguan and Mexican components that can pair with almost anything. Drew Estate has been the clear leader in the market when it comes to creating a pop culture icon out of each cigar they release.

I fell in love with its complex nature and tame delivery. The first time I hung out with Johnathan Drew was in the DR in 2011 at Procigar and partnered up with him when Drew estate released the L40 cigar. Johnathan is true New Yorker and once we hit it off it was like kicking it with my cousin. His laid back nature and Hip Hop knowledge is uncanny. Drew sold the brand to Swisher but have held the grip of their clients through their amazing production.

In this episode we talk about collaborations, aging, limited production, machine gun puffs, Culebra Cigar, construction and its affect on taste.

If there are words or terms that you’re unfamiliar within this episode, we highly recommend you check out the Sunday Cigar Glossary.

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We would love to hear your thoughts on the episode. Leave a comment on the Apple Podcast App and don’t forget to rate the show.