Weekly Email – August 26th, 2015

New from CAO*: The Pilón, a return to the old traditions of the tobacco world. Apilón is a pile of leaves arranged in a conical form (think “pylon”) for purposes of fermentation, a necessary step in the cigar-making process. The modern method is to bunch the leaves into “hands” and stack them vertically to cure. CAO has chosen to employ a much older method, which is to arrange the leaves in a large, circular “haystack” pattern…a more time-consuming affair as it involves slower fermentation, but one which results in far richer flavor in the leaves themselves.Its Ecuadorian habano wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and fillers make the Pilón a moderately spicy, highly enjoyable cigar suitable for any occasion. Three sizes are available and in stock: Churchill (7″ x 48), Robusto (5″ x 52), and Corona (5½ x 44). Get down here and give this one a try… It’s a real treat!

* And it’s pronounced see-ay-oh… you know, like the letters C, A, and O. Not “cow” or “kayo.”

A new, full-bodied addition to the Dunhill* stable has arrived: The Dunhill Heritage, a fine new release with an emphasis on rich, savory flavor. This new blend features an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras. Four sizes are available: the Churchill (7½” x 50), the Gigante (6″ x 60), the box-pressed Robusto (5″: x 50) and the Toro (6″ x 50). (A fifth size – the 6¼” x 52 Torpedo – is also available, but not in the United States.**) Come climb this bold new Dunhill post-haste!* What? No link to the official website? Well, here it is, but you may be surprised to see that there are no cigars on it. And yes, it’s the same Dunhill. (Long story.)

**Don’t ask me why. There’s probably a good reason for it.

By now, you’re surely familiar with the fine line of cigars crafted by our pal Erik Espinosa, particularly the deliciously mild La Zona Connecticut. Well, it’s time to say hello to its little friend: the La Zona Habano, an equally tasty (and affordable!) Nicaraguan puro which swaps the Connecticut shade for a bolder habano* wrapper…just as complex as its counterpart, but a few notches higher on the flavor scale.Like the Connecticut version, the La Zona Habano comes in two sizes: Robusto (5″ x 52) and Super Toro (6½” x 52). Try one next time you’re in…you just may have a new favorite!

*In case you’re wondering, habano refers to wrapper leaves grown from Cuban seed, typically in the Jalapa and Esteli regions of Nicaragua, the soils of which are particularly conducive to the tobacco plant’s growth and strength. The resultant flavor and nicotine content are proportionate to the quality of the soil; thus, a good habano wrapper will be somewhat spicy and also rather potent. And Erik only uses good habano. So there.

La Palina‘s Family Series Miami has arrived! A reblended version of the originalFamily Series (which was made at the Graycliff cigar factory in the Bahamas), this new take on an old favorite is crafted at the El Titan de Bronze factory in Miami, hence the appended moniker.The new blend is comprised of a wrapper of Ecuadorian Corojo ’98 surrounding a binder of Ecuadorian habano and Nicaraguan fillers (from Jalapa and Esteli), an incredibly flavorful mixture. The Miami series is available in three sizes, and we’ve got them all: Pasha (7″ x 50, with a “brushed foot”; Babe: (5¼” x 50), and Alison (a 6″ x 52 torpedo named in honor of Alison Paley, wife of Bill Paley, who is the head honcho of La Palina).

As if these weren’t enough, we’ve also got the latest incarnation of the legendaryGoldie on hand! This time, Goldie is in the form of a 6 1/10″ x 50 Robusto Extra, crafted of an Ecuadorian habano wrapper over an Ecuadorian binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers…a cigar that practically melts in your mouth, though it certainly picks up some strength as it burns.

Real works of art, Paley’s masterpieces are not to be missed. Be sure to try them all! (One at a time, though.)

Four of them! Distributed by Ashton, these new blends for 2015 – conveniently packaged in 40-gram pouches – are sure to be an instant hit.

Try them all, and do it soon…we’ve got a very limited supply on hand!

Fortunately, we don’t carry it.

Following the lead of many other fine tobacco blenders,Peterson of Dublin has introduced four new blends that are conveniently packaged in 40 gram pouches! There are two aromatics – Aran Mixture (vanilla) andConnemara Black (cherry) – and two non-aromatics, Irish Dew Mixture (Virginia, Burley) and this week’s review selection, Wild Atlantic, which is touted as a traditional English blend: ripe Virginias, fine Orientals, and Latakia from the Balkans.

Opening the vacuum-sealed pouch reveals a tightly packed bar of luxuriously long and very fine ribbon-cut leaf. The pouch note is heavenly and I’m greeted with the tang of the Virginias, intermingled with the condiment tobaccos. The Latakia is generously present but not overbearing…and now for the good stuff!

Packing a fairly large bowl in an older, estate stamped Algerian Briar, I found the job to be almost effortless. I dipped and packed right from the loosened pouch contents, and the moisture level seems about perfect. Using wooden matches, I gave her a good charring light that delivered the familiar earthiness and spice that I’ve come to expect from premium blending leaf, another match to get the bowl going and I settled in to see what this new (to me) blend has to offer.

The Orientals are driving the flavor profile up to the forward position as I eagerly await the Latakia to take its turn. The Virginias are not adding much to the flavor profile at the 1/3 mark, but the tang is on my palate. The Latakia starts to shine towards the last third, but never dominates in this pipe. The burning quality of this particular blend is nothing short of amazing, requiring only one relight after I’d set the pipe down for a few minutes.

The Peterson collection of pouch tobaccos represents a milestone we may be seeing more of from more blenders; 40 grams at a very affordable price, and HEY! Free pouch!

I’m giving Wild Atlantic by Peterson of Dublin a 4 pipe rating…you Balkan blend fans are going to love this. Puff On!