This is a quick little post to keep you in the loop.
My wife had to have emergency surgery and so I've been taking care of her since she's been unable to do most things for herself. As a result, everything has been put on temporary hold, which includes this blog.
However, after weeks of recovery and doctor appointments, she is doing better and although she still can't drive herself, or go back to work, she is now starting to get out of the house if she has the energy. As a result of her progress, it will allow me to continue writing about cigars and alcohol and share with you my experiences with them.
I apologize, but I thank you for understanding!
Friday, November 16, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Big Star Cigar
On the last evening of #CHAtweetup2012, David Jones of The Tiki Bar Online and I talked about several things. One of which was his suggestion for me to write a series about local smoke shops in the Nashville area. It was an idea I had been toying with anyway because a new shop had opened a few months previously not far from where I live, and my friend Scott Partridge of Uptown's Smoke Shop, was about to open his own shop as well. So with two new premium cigar shops in the area opening a few months apart, the timing seemed appropriate.
Fast forward to last week when I took the time to visit Big Star Cigar, and my first shop in this series. There was a small party where I saw several friends that came out to support Scott, and business partner/co-owner Tony Benken, in their new endeavor. The humidor was well stocked with the traditional heavy weights, as well as some great boutique cigars such as Emilio, Elogio, and Crowned Heads. There are two lounge areas, as well as a bar with chairs for those who need space to work. With Scott's cigar insider/business knowledge, Tony's passion, and being located in an area that was missing a place of this caliber, I believe Big Star Cigar is going to have a prosperous future and look forward to many events there. Their press release follows.
Fast forward to last week when I took the time to visit Big Star Cigar, and my first shop in this series. There was a small party where I saw several friends that came out to support Scott, and business partner/co-owner Tony Benken, in their new endeavor. The humidor was well stocked with the traditional heavy weights, as well as some great boutique cigars such as Emilio, Elogio, and Crowned Heads. There are two lounge areas, as well as a bar with chairs for those who need space to work. With Scott's cigar insider/business knowledge, Tony's passion, and being located in an area that was missing a place of this caliber, I believe Big Star Cigar is going to have a prosperous future and look forward to many events there. Their press release follows.
Big Star Cigar Lounge Opens in Mt. Juliet
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mt. Juliet, TN – Wilson County’s first full-service cigar and pipe store has opened in Mt. Juliet. Big Star Cigar Lounge is an upscale establishment that specializes in premium hand-rolled cigars, with an emphasis on boutique and hard-to-find cigars. Big Star’s walk-in humidor is the envy of many and features a selection of
over 30 brands of high-end hand-rolled cigars. The store also offers a wide selection of premium briar pipes as well as cigar and pipe accessories including humidors, cutters, lighters and more. With flat-screen TV’s in two lounge areas, comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, and exceptional service, Big Star provides an unparalleled experience for every visitor.
The founders of Big Star Cigar Lounge are two music industry veterans who share a passion for cigars. Scott Partridge moved to Nashville as a musician and traveled the road with such acts as Vern Gosdin before falling into a career in the cigar world as the General Manager of UPtown’s Smoke Shop in Nashville from 2007 through July of 2012. Tony Benken moved to Nashville after college and spent 20 years working as a record label executive with many of the top country music superstars before making his passion for cigars the path for the future. Big Star Cigar Lounge is the realization of both of their dreams and their opportunity to share their passion with fellow cigar lovers--in Middle Tennessee and beyond! “I live in Mt. Juliet and love this community” says Partridge. “I have known that there was a huge demand for this type of business in Wilson County.” Benken adds, "Big Star Cigar Lounge is a dream come true for me. I've wanted to run my own business for over 20 years now, and when Scott and I started talking about opening our own shop, it just seemed like the perfect time and perfect business partner."
Big Star Cigar Lounge is located at 3384 North Mt. Juliet Road, Suite 1100 in Faulkner Landing, and is open Monday – Friday from 10:00AM to 8:00PM; Saturdays from 10:00AM – 7:00PM and Sundays from Noon – 6:00 PM. The phone number is 615-288-4084.
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Friday, August 24, 2012
Emilio Draig K
Emilio, the new kid with serious clout on the boutique block,
recently released the limited Draig K. And I'm sure you've noticed the buzz about
this company and it's latest offering all over the web. So, with this kind of
excitement, I decided to pop over to a local cigar shop to pick it up
and tried it out in the Toro. (Now, there was a notice from Emilio that unfortunately the cigars were a little damp from when
they were shipped and that the cigars should be given 3-4 days to dry
out a bit. I dry boxed mine for 2 days before trying it because I
wanted to review it before #CHAtweetup2012.) I ended up pairing this with Chivas Regal 12 year Scotch.
Behind the pink dragon on the band (homage to Gary Griffith's Welsh heritage), the Draig K has a beautiful, slightly oily dark Colombian wrapper showing virtually no veins. There didn't seem to be any issues with the wrapper or cap, but it was a bit springy from probably not drying it a little more. I picked up notes of hay and probably the sweetest tobacco scent I've ever had. I toasted the foot with relative ease and had a good amount of smoke as a result.
Into the first third and I found a woody taste, like oak, as well as earthy notes. I even found just a hint of chocolate as a treat. However, I quickly found that I had a bit of a burn issue from the thick wrapper that was still a bit more moist than is ideal, but as I said, that was my fault for not giving it another day or so to dry as was suggested. Nothing that a quick touch up wouldn't fix.
Entering into the middle third, I got a nutty flavor and also discovered what I would consider a berry taste.
More like a blueberry than blackberry or raspberry. It almost felt like breakfast...but with scotch instead of O.J.
Rounding out the cigar in the final third, oak returned with hints of leather, graham and chocolate. Nothing was ever harsh as this seemed to be really well-balanced. It was even milder than I thought it would be, but still on the medium/full side of things. It had a great draw throughout, and despite the touch-ups (which was more my fault for not wanting to wait another couple of days), this was a great cigar and something I would recommend. I give this Emilio offering a 91.
Behind the pink dragon on the band (homage to Gary Griffith's Welsh heritage), the Draig K has a beautiful, slightly oily dark Colombian wrapper showing virtually no veins. There didn't seem to be any issues with the wrapper or cap, but it was a bit springy from probably not drying it a little more. I picked up notes of hay and probably the sweetest tobacco scent I've ever had. I toasted the foot with relative ease and had a good amount of smoke as a result.
Into the first third and I found a woody taste, like oak, as well as earthy notes. I even found just a hint of chocolate as a treat. However, I quickly found that I had a bit of a burn issue from the thick wrapper that was still a bit more moist than is ideal, but as I said, that was my fault for not giving it another day or so to dry as was suggested. Nothing that a quick touch up wouldn't fix.
Entering into the middle third, I got a nutty flavor and also discovered what I would consider a berry taste.
More like a blueberry than blackberry or raspberry. It almost felt like breakfast...but with scotch instead of O.J.
Rounding out the cigar in the final third, oak returned with hints of leather, graham and chocolate. Nothing was ever harsh as this seemed to be really well-balanced. It was even milder than I thought it would be, but still on the medium/full side of things. It had a great draw throughout, and despite the touch-ups (which was more my fault for not wanting to wait another couple of days), this was a great cigar and something I would recommend. I give this Emilio offering a 91.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
National Rum Day 2012
If you've been following this blog for a while, I'm sure you probably remember my post last year which briefly mentioning that August the 16th has been dubbed "National Rum Day". Last year was the first year I had heard of such a monster and thought I'd make mention of it just because it involves my favorite spirit: rum. Also, I thought I'd mention it as a way to segue into Bacardi's newest spiced rum offering, the OAKHEART, which would be a review I did shortly afterwards.
But that was then, and this is now. It seems that there has been more credence given to this pseudo-recognized day by the press, and maybe it is slowly catching on with mainstream culture after all (thanks to inclusions in Forbes and the Washington Post to name but a few). But why give any spirit it's own day? Why would it merit such recognition?
The honest answer would be, it doesn't. This is just a marketing ploy by the companies to get you to by their product on this day and that is all. It's all about making money, right?
Maybe.
But maybe it does deserve such merit. After all, traveling by ship between the old world and the new was long and arduous. Fresh drinking water was difficult to come by out on the seas. Stored in casks, clean water eventually developed algae and became slimy thereby making it undrinkable and sickening. A solution was needed, and after Britain's conquest of Jamaica in 1655, rum became a viable option as part of a sailor's rations while out on the seas. And for the better part of two centuries, it became regulation in the Royal Navy.
So maybe we should, after all, pay homage to the drink that helped those sailing ships across the Atlantic, affording countless millions the opportunity to start new lives and help found a new country. I can't think of no better reason to have a nationally recognized day than that.
But that was then, and this is now. It seems that there has been more credence given to this pseudo-recognized day by the press, and maybe it is slowly catching on with mainstream culture after all (thanks to inclusions in Forbes and the Washington Post to name but a few). But why give any spirit it's own day? Why would it merit such recognition?
The honest answer would be, it doesn't. This is just a marketing ploy by the companies to get you to by their product on this day and that is all. It's all about making money, right?
Maybe.
But maybe it does deserve such merit. After all, traveling by ship between the old world and the new was long and arduous. Fresh drinking water was difficult to come by out on the seas. Stored in casks, clean water eventually developed algae and became slimy thereby making it undrinkable and sickening. A solution was needed, and after Britain's conquest of Jamaica in 1655, rum became a viable option as part of a sailor's rations while out on the seas. And for the better part of two centuries, it became regulation in the Royal Navy.
So maybe we should, after all, pay homage to the drink that helped those sailing ships across the Atlantic, affording countless millions the opportunity to start new lives and help found a new country. I can't think of no better reason to have a nationally recognized day than that.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Herederos de Robaina
Emilio Cigars recently reached an agreement with American Caribbean
Tobacco to distribute Herederos de Robaina in the US. Manufactured in
Esteli, Nicaragua, this boutique line utilizes the classic blending
methods from the Godfather of Cuban Tobacco, Alejandro Robaina. There
will be four sizes: Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, and Churchill in both 10 and
20 count boxes. One can expect exact pricing and product information
in September.
For this review, I smoked the Robusto and paired it with some Eagle Rare single barrel bourbon. The cigar was chocolate-y brown, but had only the slightest bit of a sheen. Rolling the cigar between my fingers, I noticed that the veins were small and the stick had a bit of a spring when gently squeezed. I smelled hay and some earthy notes on the wrapper and a faint manure and cocoa smell at the foot. After clipping, the stick had a nice cold draw with a bit of sweet tobacco on my lips.
I toasted the foot and smoke billowed upwards as I smelled sweet tobacco in the air. I also noted some creaminess with a bit of barnyard and tobacco in the 1st third of the cigar. It kind of reminded me of childhood while visiting extended family. My uncles had barns and livestock while their neighbors raised tobacco. The smells would commingle in the breeze and those experiences became a part of my childhood. Now, those smells take me back to a more innocent and curious time.
As I reached the 2nd third, things became richer with spice and pepper. It was a solid change without being overpowering. The draw had been excellent and the burn continued to be pretty even. The ash was firm and held together well until I tapped it off at around an inch and a half. It was at this time that I needed to relight.
As the middle third transitioned into the last, the flavors regressed to a more mellow profile. Sweetness and a hint of cocoa rounded out the diminished spice from the previous segment. The draw remained excellent throughout and the smoke plentiful. The burn stayed fairly even and I only needed a minor relight. Well constructed and flavorful, I'll gladly add this medium bodied cigar to my humidor. Herederos de Robaina was definitely a great addition to Emilio's portfolio and is another reason why Emilio has become a stand out in the boutique arena. They are well worth watching grow over the next year. I give this little gem a score of 90.
For this review, I smoked the Robusto and paired it with some Eagle Rare single barrel bourbon. The cigar was chocolate-y brown, but had only the slightest bit of a sheen. Rolling the cigar between my fingers, I noticed that the veins were small and the stick had a bit of a spring when gently squeezed. I smelled hay and some earthy notes on the wrapper and a faint manure and cocoa smell at the foot. After clipping, the stick had a nice cold draw with a bit of sweet tobacco on my lips.
I toasted the foot and smoke billowed upwards as I smelled sweet tobacco in the air. I also noted some creaminess with a bit of barnyard and tobacco in the 1st third of the cigar. It kind of reminded me of childhood while visiting extended family. My uncles had barns and livestock while their neighbors raised tobacco. The smells would commingle in the breeze and those experiences became a part of my childhood. Now, those smells take me back to a more innocent and curious time.
As I reached the 2nd third, things became richer with spice and pepper. It was a solid change without being overpowering. The draw had been excellent and the burn continued to be pretty even. The ash was firm and held together well until I tapped it off at around an inch and a half. It was at this time that I needed to relight.
As the middle third transitioned into the last, the flavors regressed to a more mellow profile. Sweetness and a hint of cocoa rounded out the diminished spice from the previous segment. The draw remained excellent throughout and the smoke plentiful. The burn stayed fairly even and I only needed a minor relight. Well constructed and flavorful, I'll gladly add this medium bodied cigar to my humidor. Herederos de Robaina was definitely a great addition to Emilio's portfolio and is another reason why Emilio has become a stand out in the boutique arena. They are well worth watching grow over the next year. I give this little gem a score of 90.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Room 101 San Andres Pre-Release
I had the opportunity to try out the Room 101 San Andres back in March with every intention of blogging about it. I gave it a thumbs up on my Facebook and Twitter profiles, but never actually wrote out a proper review. I became rather busy in the the Spring and early Summer and overlooked this cigar. I've enjoyed hearing feedback from people thanking me for my different tasting notes, so I thought it wise to dig up my photos and notes and write one now that I've had more free time to do so.
The San Andres had a nice milk chocolate Mexican wrapper with a bit of an oily sheen. The construction seemed to be solid but it did have a slightly larger vein then I would have liked to had. The binder was a Honduran Corojo with Honduran and Dominican, Corojo and Criollo fillers. Prior to lighting, I noticed the foot had a sweet smell of tobacco and hay.
The San Andres had a nice milk chocolate Mexican wrapper with a bit of an oily sheen. The construction seemed to be solid but it did have a slightly larger vein then I would have liked to had. The binder was a Honduran Corojo with Honduran and Dominican, Corojo and Criollo fillers. Prior to lighting, I noticed the foot had a sweet smell of tobacco and hay.
The stick lit easily and smoke was prevalent upon my first few draws. I noticed some cedar and spice with pepper being the predominant flavor. The spice and pepper tapered as I progressed into the next third. In the 2nd third, the cigar became a little creamy with a surprising leathery note that hit right in the middle of the stick. By the time I got to the end of the middle third, the leather presence had left with the cream and spiciness remaining.
Into the final stretch, the spice and pepper was joined by a bit of earthiness and hints of cocoa and coffee. The burn was a bit of an issue and required touching up due to a poor burn. But all-in-all, this medium bodied cigar had a really nice flavor profile and I would recommend it to someone else looking for something new to try. After all, "It's Boofy Baby". I give this cigar an 89.
Friday, August 3, 2012
CAO Concert
Early 2012 is when I first heard about a new line called "Concert". Rick Rodriguez, the man behind the idea and blend, wanted to pay homage to CAO's legacy and to the city CAO called home for so long: "Music City" Nashville, TN. Rodriguez shared with me the ideas and early concepts behind the line and I thought it was a very respectable and honorable thing to do now that CAO is part of General and no longer based in Nashville.
Fast forward a few months and I was able to reconnect with CAO and Rodriguez for CMA Fest, the annual Country Music festival held where Country artists perform for fans at various venues around town. CAO was a sponsor of the festival and used the event as an opportunity to quietly start branding the new line with live music while building up to the actual release at IPCPR today. It was here that Rodriguez bestowed upon me my first "Concert", pre-release and fresh from the factory. We shared a couple, and I took one home to review properly for the blog. So let's start, shall we?
Fast forward a few months and I was able to reconnect with CAO and Rodriguez for CMA Fest, the annual Country Music festival held where Country artists perform for fans at various venues around town. CAO was a sponsor of the festival and used the event as an opportunity to quietly start branding the new line with live music while building up to the actual release at IPCPR today. It was here that Rodriguez bestowed upon me my first "Concert", pre-release and fresh from the factory. We shared a couple, and I took one home to review properly for the blog. So let's start, shall we?
The "Concert" uses four different Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers unique only to "Concert". It is bound with a Connecticut Broadleaf and wrapped with a beautiful chocolate-y Ecuadoran Habano Rosado. The wrapper has a nice oily sheen, and a nice spring when pressed. I detected earthy notes with sweet tobacco and a hint of spice in the pre-light aroma. Toasting the foot was easy and the draw one of the best I've had in a long time.
The opening number featured flavors of hay and then a burst of pepper. There was plenty of smoke and the stick had a great draw. Finishing up the 1st third, the pepper started giving way to some spice flavors.
In the 2nd third, the pepper had subsided and gave way to a creamy spice taste with a bit of graham cracker. There even seemed to be a bit of a honey in my retrohale. The burn has stayed pretty even and the smoke still plentiful, all the while remaining cool.
The ash held on extremely well, as you can see. On this 5 1/2" cigar, I had an almost 3" ash.
In the last third, the intensity picked up again with a mix of spice and pepper to round out the cigar. The burn remained even and the cigar never needed to be relit. The draw remained constant throughout and provided a great finish to this cigar.
The "Concert" is very smooth, rich and definitely a full-medium bodied cigar. The construction was great, and so was the experience of smoking this gem. All of the "Concerts" I smoked were very consistent and enjoyable. Rodriguez wanted to create a "harmony" with the 4 distinct fillers, and I think he did a great job. There will be four sizes released: AMP (5 1/2" x 46) SOLO (5 1/2" x 50) ROADIE (5 1/2" x 54) and the STAGE (5 1/2" x 60). All things considered, he has raised the bar for the company, and for others who are releasing new products this year. I give the "Concert" a 94.
Now to discuss the band, and the box. I think the CAO team has come up with a great concept since Nashville is known as "Music City". I love the guitars with "f" holes and the guitar pick on the band. And the box as a guitar amplifier is a great idea! However, the box is more like the no longer made VOX AC50 amplifier with it's white chicken head knobs rather than the Marshall amplifier that Cigar Aficionado stated in their article on the "Concert". (Sorry, that's the musician in me coming out). I know that there will be contests, and "swag" offered at events, so there will definitely be a great deal of fun surrounding the promotion of this release. Look for a September release and a tour stop near you later this year and into next.
UPDATE: (Sept 16, 2012) After having a few of the Concerts now that they have been officially released, I would like to say that the flavor profile is almost identical to what I had before. The graham cracker is a little lighter than I remember, but that's about it and see no reason to deviate from the 94 rating I gave them earlier. Congrats guys!
UPDATE: (Sept 16, 2012) After having a few of the Concerts now that they have been officially released, I would like to say that the flavor profile is almost identical to what I had before. The graham cracker is a little lighter than I remember, but that's about it and see no reason to deviate from the 94 rating I gave them earlier. Congrats guys!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Bellaterra Cigars: Black and Tan, Double Deuce
I was fortunate to have tried out a couple of Bellaterra's cigars. One, known as the "Black and Tan" in lancero (their newly released robusto is currently being used for their "Big Ash Challenge") is the one I selected for this review. The other one is the "Double Deuce" in robusto that I decided to try out while on the boat one day, but wasn't selected to be reviewed properly (and now wish I had).
I headed out to the back deck with the "Black and Tan" and a bit of Myers's dark rum. The lancero had a two-toned, double maduro wrapper (with a Connecticut wrapper which covered most of the cigar), was well constructed with only small visible veins and a little spring when pressed between my thumb and fingers. Smelling the foot revealed a pleasant odor of sweet tobacco with just the slightest hint of hay and barnyard. Toasting the foot was a breeze, and the burn remained constant and pretty even throughout the entire cigar. Additionally, a good amount of smoke emanated from the stick for the duration of the evening.
Into the 1st third, I was greeted with creamy, coffee filled notes. Halfway through the 1st third, however, I noticed leather coming into play with the coffee fading away. Finishing up the 1st, leather stayed prominent with the occasional hint of coffee.
Heading into the 2nd third, leather lead the charge, but the creamy, coffee notes came back to the forefront with a brief introduction of cocoa as well. After a few minutes, these notes went back into hiding, and leather and hay came back to the forefront.
Ending the 2nd third, and entering the last third this ping pong match continued, each time the coffee notes becoming weaker, and the leather notes getting stronger.
There's no denying that the "Black and Tan" is a well made cigar. It had a great burn, plenty of smoke, great draw, etc. The flavor started off pretty well, but became stagnant after a while where at the end, it felt like I was playing a tennis match- shots back and forth repeatedly with little change. It's quite possible that the new robusto size will offer a totally different experience than what I had with the lancero, and am looking forward to trying it out. However, with my experience with this particular cigar, I rate the "Black and Tan" lancero as an 85.
Now, if you would, remember back to my earlier statement about another Bellaterra cigar, the "Double Deuce" robusto. As I stated earlier, I was on a boat and just simply enjoying the cigar, and didn't review it. My phone had already died, so I couldn't document the cigar like I would have liked (no photos or notes), but I do remember how much I enjoyed the cigar. What stuck out in my mind was that the flavor was a bit more complex with no "ping pong" match. The quality of the cigar was just like that of the other Bellaterra cigar. If I were to review the "Double Deuce", I am sure it would have rated it around a 90, maybe higher. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this cigar. I'm sure I'll have to try this one out again to give it a more detailed analysis.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Dona Flor Cigars To Release “Brazilian Black Treasure”
For those familiar with pre-Castro Cuban cigars, one would recognize the name Alonso Menendez. With a family name synonymous with H. Upmann and Montecristo, one can't help but wonder what Alonso's son, Felix (who was 16 and his father's apprentice at the time the family fled after the takeover) would do. Well, that time is now at hand. Don't keep us waiting too long! Below is the press release with more information.
DONA FLOR CIGARS READY TO UNVEIL ITS “BRAZILIAN BLACK TREASURE” TO THE U.S. MARKET
“The cigar community waits with anticipation as this unique brand hits the US”
(Miami, Florida) June 5, 2012— Dona Flor Cigars, manufactured by Menendez Amerino which is celebrating 35 years in existence, is ready to share its Brazilian cigars with the U.S. market. Dona Flor, which features cigars with 100% Brazilian tobacco, expects to fill a void in the North American market with its unique and exotic blends.
Dona Flor is at its finest, a combination of the best cigar minds to come out of Cuba, and the exotic natural resources in Brazil that produces “Brazil’s dark treasure” the Mata Fina tobacco. Manufactured in the state of Bahia located in northeast Brazil, Dona Flor Cigars are the result of the collaboration between Cuban cigar maker Felix Menendez(who had been involved in the making of famous Cuban brands Montecristo and H. Upmann in the pre-Castro era) and Brazilian tobacco grower Mario Amerino. Now being brought to the United States via Chris Edge owner of Dona Flor U.S.A., cigar enthusiasts will now have the opportunity to savor the cigar industries best kept secret: Dona Flor Cigars.
Dona Flor made an attempt to distribute its award-winning blend to the U.S. market in 2005 but legal issues (which have now been resolved) kept the Dona Flor brand off the shelves in the U.S. until now. Chris Edge, a cigar enthusiast and successful business man from Denver, Colorado was handpicked by Menendez and Amerino to carry out the mission of exposing the Brazil’s finest cigars to North America.
“Because of the quality and unique flavor of Brazilian tobacco we will be able to establish Dona Flor cigars as the ultimate Brazilian cigar. Brazilian cigars or Brazilian tobacco in general are an unknown treasure here in the US. Brazilian tobacco has been a crucial part of infamous cigars for decades, but all of the glory has gone to the country of manufacture, not the country of origin,” said Chris Edge.
The IPCPR in Orlando will be the platform for the unveiling of Dona Flor cigars which have garnered ratings from Cigar Aficionado Magazine of 92, 89, and 88. Dona Flor’s cigars are 100% “puro” with filler, binder, and wrapper all grown in Bahia which makes the final product one of the most unique and flavorful premium cigars in the world.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
CAO's Last Stick Standing
CAO cigars just launched their newest promotion called "Last Stick Standing" at Uptown's Smoke Shop here in Nashville, TN this past Thursday. This promotion gives CAO fans that opportunity to help rate 3 cigars and have a hand in deciding which of the three will be released later this year, or early in 2013. If you're local shop is hosting a "Last Stick Standing" event, then you'll be able to try them out and rank them on a card to be returned with your thoughts and notes on the three cigars. If you're able to get a tin of the cigars, give them a shot and rank them online at http://lss.caocigars.com . Currently, all 3 cigars are pretty much neck and neck, but they need to hear your feedback before June 30th!
In other CAO news...well, I can't divulge much, but I will say that there's a storm a brewing on the horizon and it might get loud at IPCPR this year. Musician aficionados in particular will be very happy come IPCPR!
Below are some pictures from the kick-off to "Last Stick Standing"
In other CAO news...well, I can't divulge much, but I will say that there's a storm a brewing on the horizon and it might get loud at IPCPR this year. Musician aficionados in particular will be very happy come IPCPR!
Below are some pictures from the kick-off to "Last Stick Standing"
Monday, February 20, 2012
Lexus of Nashville's Cars, Cigars, and Rum Event.
Last Saturday night, Lexus of Nashville held an event called "Cars, Cigars and Rum: An Evening of Perfect Pairings" at the former CAO Headquarters in Nashville. Since CAO was sold to General, the former headquarters has now become known as the event venue "OZ". Displayed inside are incredible pieces of art lining the hallways and, more importantly, the history from one of the world's leading cigar companies. While Lexus unveiled their new 2013 GS model, they also provided CAO cigars from the personal collection of the Ozgeners and 12 Year Old Zaya Rum. One couldn't have asked for a better pairing.
Having attended most events Lexus of Nashville has thrown, I will definitely say this was not only their best, but also the one most well received and well attended. It really hit the target demographic of Lexus: those who love premium cigars and premium spirits also enjoy more luxurious vehicles. Not mentioning the tables of delicious food circling the Styrofoam Lexus GS hanging from the air, or John Elefante from Kansas singing hits like "Carry On My Wayward Son", Lexus of Nashville definitely had a truly memorable event!
Of the 2,000 RSVPs received, I would dare say 1,900 showed. JR Roper, the man behind Lexus of Nashville, and his wife Joy were obviously there, as was Tim Ozgener, former President of CAO. Members from local press included Ted Clayton and Meagan Nordmann from Nashville Arts, Stacie Standifer of Nashville Lifestyles, and Mike Smith from NFocus. Spied in the crowd were Larry Lipman (The Lipman Group Sotheby's International Realty) and his wife Sandra Lipman (co-chair for the 50th Swan Ball - which JR donated a 2013 GS for their silent auction), songwriter Tim Nichols, Finance Director of the TBI Brian Senecal, as well as Dr. and Mrs. Schwaber chatting with daughter, interior designer Sarah Rohe, and friends songwriter/artist Skippy and his wife, model Amber Chapman. Other notables included Mike Murphy of Bellaterra wines and cigars (CAO used to make Bellaterra cigars before the buyout), celebrity photographer Allen Clark, former White House staff Ben Miller and former Navy SEAL Tim Kenney (working together on an upcoming television project from what I hear), and antique dealer Darren Cioffi (who always has the best Iroquois Steeplechase after parties at his 8,000 sq ft historic Boxwood Hall residence). Also in attendance was my good friend Shelley McBurney, who's fine art from her gallery, Gallery One, was seen hanging throughout the warehouse and halls. As you can see, it was definitely the place to be.
So enough of the social stuff and on to the rum and cigars! Although I've had several rums ranging from Atlantico to Zacapa, I've never had Zaya. Zaya is a rum that has been aged in oak barrels for 12 years before bottling. It has a dark mahogany hue and a nose of nutmeg, vanilla and a bit of brown sugar. The flavor was right in line with the nose: nutmeg, and vanilla, but it developed a tad more spice, maple, with a touch of orange and a buttery finish. I found this rum to be much like Atlantico in taste, and in price point. I definitely would have Zaya again, and encourage those into rum to give it a shot as well.
As for the cigars, the Ozgeners decided to bring out only a couple of vitolas and they were both mild in body, which was probably the best and easiest option considering how many people and how many taste preferences were present. As the cigars were handed out, you were asked "How long do you want to smoke? 30 minutes, or an hour?" The "hour" long smoke was more like a corona/robusto as it was about 5" but had a ring size closer to a 42. The "30 minute" smoke was even smaller, a small panetela like a Petit Julieta. The cigars were lightly dipped in honey making them a bit sweet and very reminiscent of a Swisher Sweet. I guess these were the "adult versions". There were no labels on the cigars as they were still in their bundles. The initial aromas were sweet with a bit of hay and tobacco. The construction was solid although the wrapper on the larger stick had a small tear. Lighting was a breeze and the cigar remained lit and burned evenly throughout. There wasn't a great deal of change as I progressed through the stick. The flavors throughout were cream, a hint of cedar, hay and a touch of pepper at the end. As this is a cigar not in production, I obviously can't say a person should or shouldn't go out and try it. I would say that if I were to rate it, I'd give it somewhere in the mid 80s. It's a good smoke, but very mild with very little change in flavor. Again, I'm sure it was because of the sheer number of people at the event as to why they went with a mild cigar. It was a nice treat, however, and was nice to be at the former HQ for such a great company.
Below are photos from the evening that I thought you might like to see... either something fun from the event, or educational from CAO history. Enjoy!
Having attended most events Lexus of Nashville has thrown, I will definitely say this was not only their best, but also the one most well received and well attended. It really hit the target demographic of Lexus: those who love premium cigars and premium spirits also enjoy more luxurious vehicles. Not mentioning the tables of delicious food circling the Styrofoam Lexus GS hanging from the air, or John Elefante from Kansas singing hits like "Carry On My Wayward Son", Lexus of Nashville definitely had a truly memorable event!
Of the 2,000 RSVPs received, I would dare say 1,900 showed. JR Roper, the man behind Lexus of Nashville, and his wife Joy were obviously there, as was Tim Ozgener, former President of CAO. Members from local press included Ted Clayton and Meagan Nordmann from Nashville Arts, Stacie Standifer of Nashville Lifestyles, and Mike Smith from NFocus. Spied in the crowd were Larry Lipman (The Lipman Group Sotheby's International Realty) and his wife Sandra Lipman (co-chair for the 50th Swan Ball - which JR donated a 2013 GS for their silent auction), songwriter Tim Nichols, Finance Director of the TBI Brian Senecal, as well as Dr. and Mrs. Schwaber chatting with daughter, interior designer Sarah Rohe, and friends songwriter/artist Skippy and his wife, model Amber Chapman. Other notables included Mike Murphy of Bellaterra wines and cigars (CAO used to make Bellaterra cigars before the buyout), celebrity photographer Allen Clark, former White House staff Ben Miller and former Navy SEAL Tim Kenney (working together on an upcoming television project from what I hear), and antique dealer Darren Cioffi (who always has the best Iroquois Steeplechase after parties at his 8,000 sq ft historic Boxwood Hall residence). Also in attendance was my good friend Shelley McBurney, who's fine art from her gallery, Gallery One, was seen hanging throughout the warehouse and halls. As you can see, it was definitely the place to be.
So enough of the social stuff and on to the rum and cigars! Although I've had several rums ranging from Atlantico to Zacapa, I've never had Zaya. Zaya is a rum that has been aged in oak barrels for 12 years before bottling. It has a dark mahogany hue and a nose of nutmeg, vanilla and a bit of brown sugar. The flavor was right in line with the nose: nutmeg, and vanilla, but it developed a tad more spice, maple, with a touch of orange and a buttery finish. I found this rum to be much like Atlantico in taste, and in price point. I definitely would have Zaya again, and encourage those into rum to give it a shot as well.
As for the cigars, the Ozgeners decided to bring out only a couple of vitolas and they were both mild in body, which was probably the best and easiest option considering how many people and how many taste preferences were present. As the cigars were handed out, you were asked "How long do you want to smoke? 30 minutes, or an hour?" The "hour" long smoke was more like a corona/robusto as it was about 5" but had a ring size closer to a 42. The "30 minute" smoke was even smaller, a small panetela like a Petit Julieta. The cigars were lightly dipped in honey making them a bit sweet and very reminiscent of a Swisher Sweet. I guess these were the "adult versions". There were no labels on the cigars as they were still in their bundles. The initial aromas were sweet with a bit of hay and tobacco. The construction was solid although the wrapper on the larger stick had a small tear. Lighting was a breeze and the cigar remained lit and burned evenly throughout. There wasn't a great deal of change as I progressed through the stick. The flavors throughout were cream, a hint of cedar, hay and a touch of pepper at the end. As this is a cigar not in production, I obviously can't say a person should or shouldn't go out and try it. I would say that if I were to rate it, I'd give it somewhere in the mid 80s. It's a good smoke, but very mild with very little change in flavor. Again, I'm sure it was because of the sheer number of people at the event as to why they went with a mild cigar. It was a nice treat, however, and was nice to be at the former HQ for such a great company.
Below are photos from the evening that I thought you might like to see... either something fun from the event, or educational from CAO history. Enjoy!
Inside the former warehouse
The bar by the Escaparate Humidor...
reminded us of the Chalmun's Cantina (Mos Eisley Cantina)
Even though the cigars are gone from the Escaparate humidor,
this beautiful piece of tobacco art is still there
The god Bacchus carved from Styrofoam
stood maybe 25 feet in the air
Working on a new piece, clay/Styrofoam mix
More pieces
Lexus 2013 GS Styrofoam piece hanging in the air
encircled by tables of food
People checking out the inside of the new 2013 GS
Art from the "FLAVOURS" case
Humidors from the humidors case
Prefer the Brazilia? Mx2? La Traviata?
Here's a brief history behind each line.
More humidor work...including the boxes commissioned
for the Chicago Bulls' 5th and 6th NBA championship rings
Incredibly beautiful CAO Meerschaum pipes...
true works of art!
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