Weekly Email – May 20th, 2015

Next Saturday, we’ll be hosting a RoMa Craft Tobac event with our old palMichael Rosales (the “Ro” in RoMa – the “Ma” is his partner Skip Martin). Mike will be bringing some rare treats, as well, in the form of Fomorians (the elusive, extremely limited candela-wrapped variation of their popular Cro-Magnon blend),Neanderthals (a new panatela that is rumored to be a real powerhouse), and potentially some other hard-to-find event exclusives. Discounts and specials are going to be flying, so get here early and load up!

A double-header…two events in one day! While Michael is here with his RoMa Craft wares, we’ll also be visited by Rob Heming (of Blowin’ Smoke Podcastfame) and his band of happy herfers on their annual prowl through the humidors of the Pittsburgh region. Discounts and specials will abound for them, as well…and for YOU! Event specials and promotions are available to ALL our customers that day, so come on by and get what you need while the getting’s good!

Of course you’re familiar with the Espinosa Blues Hour, that weekly ritual between 6:00 and 8:00 in which we enjoy some classic blues and offer a discounted price on an Espinosa cigar… Well, on Thursday, May 28th, we’re having some company! Our pal Fernie (a.k.a. Fernando Zacarias, Espinosa’s National Sales Manager) will be joining us for the fun, and we’ll be offering a special discount on some amazingly good cigars! Get down here and join us or you’ll be singing the blues yourself!

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their popular Edge series, the masterminds at Rocky Patel have concocted this stunning release: The Rocky Edge A-10, a 6″ x 52 toro featuring a barberpole wrap of Honduran corojo and Honduran maduro, the same fine wrappers used on the standard Edge selections. No reviews have yet been posted online, but take our word for it: It’s a flavorful blend that starts out with a peppery kick, nicely rounded out by a combination of Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. You Edge aficionadoes will enjoy this all-in-one combo immensely…and if you have yet to try Rocky Edge, this will be a great introduction to the series. Get your Edge on with an A-10 ASAP, PDQ!

Released last year to commemorate the 88th birthday of cigar legend Avo Uvezian – who is also a virtuoso piano player – the Avo 88 is a tribute to his dual passions of music and tobacco. The box is painted with a glossy black enamel like a fine Steinway. Only 8,888 boxes were produced, and of these, 888 were signed by Avo himself. (This is one of them.) The cigar is a Dominican puro which is absolutely loaded with regional variety: wrapper from the Yamasá region; double binder of Olor and Criollo; and fillers of Piloto Viso, Piloto Ligero, San Vicente Ligero, Corojo, Olor, and Crillo. A world of flavor in a 6″ x 52 belicoso, the Avo 88 doesn’t disappoint, offering elements of hay, chocolate, and a sweet/creamy citrus note reminiscent of a Creamsicle (really!). Good stuff! Stop by and get a few while we have them!

Wessex Brown Virginia Flake! As soon as the lid comes off the rectangular tin and the paper is folded back, one detects the appearance of blending magnificence. Neatly arranged 2-inch long flakes that greet the smoker with brown and red Virginias speckled and streaked with flecks of bright Goldens.

The top note is that of dates or figs with a fresh, grassy hay which is not overpowering.I folded two whole flakes and loaded them into a Comoy’s Zulu and fired her up. Some drying time is recommended; I struggled a bit before I finally had a true ember burning. Up front, the red Virginias dominated with a sweet-and-sour flavor before settling down into a mellow sweet smoke which lasted to the finish.

For Round Two I decided to rub out the flakes and was rewarded with some fine ribbon cut that could almost be considered a Shag. After allowing it a few hours of drying time, I loosely packed an Ashton Sovereign xx Rhodesian. This time, the experience delivered a mellow, sugar-sweet smoke that gained some steam at mid-bowl, a robust Virginia taste with some hay notes. Pleasant, but it left me wishing for a splash of Perique!

Overall, I rate Wessex BFV at 2.5 pipes, but will reserve full judgement until this tin gets some age on it. An enjoyable smoke that I highly recommend cellaring until it shows signs of maturing. Puff on!

“A smoke in times of rest is a great companion to the solitary soldier.”