Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2022 i Cigar Aficionado

93 HONDURAS TOP CHURCHILL ALEC BRADLEY BLACK MARKET CHURCHILL It’s a multi-country blend of tobacco from Nicaragua, Honduras and Ecuador, but the X-factor that made it the highest score of the Churchills might be the unusual leaf of Panamanian tobacco in the filler. 93 CUBA TOP FIGURADO ROMEO Y JULIETA LÍNEA DE ORO NOBLES Habanos S.A. has created a super-premium version of the vaunted Romeo line, and the belicoso-sized Nobles lives up to the lofty expectations. It tied with a Cuaba Distinguidos, also from Cuba, for top figurado. 93 CUBA TOP TORO PARTAGÁS SERIE E NO. 2 Think of everything you find in a Partagás Serie D No. 4, only longer and thicker. That’s the Serie E No. 2, a beefed-up version of the popular D4, offering a tremendous smoking…

Looking for a new drink that mixes the frontier spirit with Jazz Age naughtiness and even a dash of your choice of modern enhancement? Gin‘n’It just may be it. The drink’s evolution went something like this. The Manhattan, with rye whiskey, was the first of the vermouth and spirit cocktails. From it came the Martinez, a variant offered to gold prospectors in 1880s California. The new drink replaced the Manhattan’s rye whiskey with Old Tom, a sweet type of gin, but it kept the sweet (red) vermouth quotient. The Dry Martini was born when dry gin and dry (white) vermouth were introduced. Logically, the version with red vermouth was called a Sweet Martini. (Today’s notion of Dry Martini, meaning with very little vermouth, wouldn’t arise for decades.) The In Crowd…

We’ve all felt the lure of a casino: the beacon of its neon lights; the siren call of the cheering crowd as it flocks to a hot table, the hypnotic rhythm of the pill as it trips around a spinning roulette wheel, waiting to drop. We all dream of throwing the dice on an epic run of craps or finding a blackjack shoe that keeps spitting face cards. The world of gambling entices us with its potential for payoffs, but it can quickly punish those who don’t know what they’re doing with a bad beat. CIGAR AFICIONADO has covered gambling for all 30 years of the magazine’s history, but we’ve never given you anything like this before, a complete package that shows how and where to gamble. We dissect the…

HOUSE EDGE: N/A (CASINO TAKES A PORTION OF THE BUY IN) PLAY LIKE THE STARS Watch the World Series of Poker on TV and it is impossible to not be romanticized by the sight of guys hunkered over stacks of chips, millions in the offing and that make-or-break moment when a player pushes his chip pile forward and declares, “All in!” But those events demand skill levels that are through the roof, and require serious bankrolls. Stroll through a casino on any day of the week, however, and you stand a good chance of discovering a simulacrum of that action with lower buy-ins and less sharky opponents. Poker tournaments with buy-ins that can range from $50 to $500 are commonly found in poker rooms, and give you a chance to…

Resorts World is a stunning new, $4.3 billion property that opened last June, the first casino in a dozen years to open on the Las Vegas strip. The complex has three hotels, from the entry-level Hilton to the very high-end Crockfords. There’s also a superb selection of restaurants, including the newest outpost of Wally’s, which features delicious food and an amazing selection of wines, a reason the original in Beverly Hills holds a Grand Award from Wine Spectator, our sister publication. Cigar smokers will gravitate to Eight Lounge, Las Vegas’ newest and, perhaps, most upscale cigar bar and lounge. Eight is a mix of indoor and outdoor; inside is dark and elegant, outdoors is tranquil and strikingly spacious, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The drinks are upscale and pricey, as…

Finding a true cigar bar inside any casino is a bonus, but it’s especially rewarding when that discovery is in Washington State, home to some of the toughest smoking laws in the United States. The Snoqualmie Casino outside of Seattle has a beautiful cigar oasis called Lit Cigar Lounge, with a fine array of high-end smokes arranged in a large, stylish walk-in humidor. There are more than 200 cigars from which to choose, including Padróns, Olivas, Fuentes, Illusiones, CAO Amazon Basins, and great spirits as well, with a particularly deep bench in fine whiskies. The casino has more than 1,700 slot machines and more than 50 table games, including blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette.…

With the Cuban portfolio of sizes changing more and more each year, it’s always a relief to see that benchmark cigars like the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona have survived the cut. It scored 92 points and was the highest rated cigar of the category. Though not a powerhouse in terms of strength, this cigar takes its time to reveal many subtle facets of flavor. The Dominican VegaFina Churchill comes from the rolling tables of Tabacalera de Garcia located in La Romana. It’s owned by Altadis U.S.A. and scored 91 points. Remarkably, this large cigar is priced under $10. Three cigars tied at 90 points: the Oliva Serie G Maduro Presidente from Nicaragua, the Cuban Partagás Lusitania and the Dominican Partagas Cortado Presidente, which is the newest Partagas brand from…

At the top of this category is the Padrón Serie 1926 No. 9, which scored 92 points. Smoked blind by our panel of tasters, it came as little surprise when this cigar, with its chocolate and cocoa undertones, was revealed to be a Padrón. The Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill scored 92 points as well, showing a nutty, floral spectrum and long finish that resonates on the palate. These samples came in glossy, aluminum tubos for stylish portability. With its extensive library of heritage trademarks, Altadis turned to cigarmaker A.J. Fernandez for a Nicaraguan interpretation of the Montecristo brand. The result is the 91-point Montecristo Nicaragua Series Robusto. Rocky Patel’s newest, The Disciple, scored 91 points as well. Its Mexican wrapper seems to enhance all the flavors of this Nicaraguan…

96 PUNCH DOUBLE CORONA (1994) It’s not surprising that nearly 30 years in a wooden 50-count cabinet has made the first puffs of this cigar quite cedary, but the heavy woodiness dissipates for a smoke that begins floral before taking a distinctly fruity turn, showing lots of dried cherry and stewed raspberry. A surprising note of buttered bread gives it all the quality of a flaky fruit pastry. Unexpected to say the least, but tasty and interesting. Some underlying spice indicates more aging potential. Will come back to this one in a few years. —Gregory Mottola 97 CORONADO BY LA FLOR DOUBLE CORONA (2006) The ’06 No. 2 Cigar of the Year has evolved into an ever-better smoke. Well-balanced from its youth, this cigar has rounded with age. From the…

Cuba has a brand new Romeo. A preview version of the Romeo y Julieta Línea de Oro series was passed out to guests at the 2020 Habanos Festival in Havana. It was the festival’s final night, and all who attended the formal gala got the first sneak preview of these cigars. Anyone who’s remotely familiar with Cuban cigar distributor Habanos S.A. knows that most products shown at the February festival don’t typically come out until the end of the year. Few probably expected that it would take nearly two years to hit the market. They finally began appearing in shops last December. Made in celebration of the brand’s 145th anniversary, the three-cigar Línea de Oro (or “gold line”) was proclaimed by Habanos to be the “most exclusive and elegant of…

Does your heart pump a little faster when you hear the melodic song of slot machines, or the snap of a card as it’s dealt from a dealer’s shoe? Then get ready to enjoy this issue of CIGAR AFICIONADO. Gambling is part of this magazine’s DNA, something we’ve covered from our very first issue. Most of our magazines have a story about betting in one form or another, but for the first time in our nearly 30-year history we’ve put together a comprehensive cover package that will arm you with everything you need to know about gambling. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever presented to you before. Gambling is red-hot and Americans just can’t get enough of it, whether it’s using a phone to place a bet on the game or…

Summer means warmer temperatures that invite enjoying your cigars outdoors. But other elements of alfresco smoking will wreak havoc on your delicate indoor smoking gear: the wind, the rain and the lummox who kicks over a flimsy end table. On patio, porch or at poolside, you need outdoor ashtrays. Good outdoor ashtrays are made of hardy materials that won’t shatter or break. The Boca Grande ashtrays (bottom) from Craftsman’s Bench are durable, yet stylish with a tobacco-leaf design made out of strong polyresin. They come in three color options: Natural, Maduro (pictured here) and Sungrown. Both the Natural and Maduro versions feature two cigar holders and share the same measurements: 11⅝ inches long by 6⅜ inches wide by 2½ inches tall. The Sungrown variety is larger (11½ inches long by…

It’s always heartwarming on Father’s Day when the kids finally recognize that Dad is not a place to hang novelty ties and decide he deserves gifts that recognize his rightful status as grill master. That joy is diminished, however, when the tendered barbecue gear comes in the form of one of those puffy French chef’s hats or an apron that says “Kiss me I’m the cook.” While we appreciate the double entendre of the message “I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled,” grill wear built to withstand the rigors of the firepit would be more welcome. Start with a leather apron from Antaun Maz ($159). Made in Colombia from soft, local cow leather, it not only puts up a shield from the hot fire, it catches splatters that…

Unredeemed casino chips can make bank: a selection offered on spinettisgaming.com. It’s been said that whoever invented gambling was smart. But the guy who invented chips was a genius. But gamblers who choose not to cash in their casino chips may be the smartest of all. A 1960s $5 Caesars Palace chip, showing a smiling Caesar, now goes for $400. Flying home from Vegas, with chip in pocket, might have been as lucky as the gambler got on that trip. He’s not alone. More people than ever are collecting casino chips (eBay has thousands for sale), coveting memories of Las Vegas in its glory days—and making bank. A $1 chip from the nearby Dunes, depicting a sun rising over its golf-course green, now fetches $40. A $5 offering from the…

If you don’t increase (progress) your bets every time you win, the percentages will eat you alive. Just like blackjack, never bet the same amount of money every roll, and never increase your bet when you’re on a losing roll (the same rule applies to Apple CEO Tim Cook). This will maximize your winnings when the dice are hot and minimize your losses when the dice are cold. Here’s how you should place pass line progressive bets, up to 10 straight passes: $5 BETTOR $5 $10 $15 $25 $25 $30 $40 $50 $50 $75 $10 BETTOR $10 $20 $25 $25 $30 $40 $50 $75 $75 $100 $25 BETTOR $25 $50 $50 $75 $75 $100 $125 $150 $150 $200…

As betting laws have eased across the United States, hosts of sites have popped up that turn your phone or laptop into a mobile sports book. Each site has its geographic and other limitations, and given the new excitement over the genre and the rush to get customers, many have deals for first-timers (with restrictions, note the fine print on each site). This is a rapidly changing world, so check sites for current promotional offers. FanDuel Sportsbook Fanduel.com FanDuel’s Irish parent company Flutter PLC claims a 40 percent share of the $12.2 billion U.S. sportsbook market. Most of its revenues come from FanDuel, considered the No. 1 sportsbook in the United States, with some 13 million customers. It’s active in 15 states. DEAL Open an account with a minimum $10 and…

You may be deep in the red, and the hotel has probably kicked you out of your comped suite, but there are still opportunities to eat and drink on the cheap. You just have to know where to look. A Flaky Thomas Keller Croissant $4.50 Forget your bad luck for a little while with a dignified breakfast from one of the country’s top chefs. No, it’s not Champagne and caviar, but it’s still an expertly baked bite from Thomas Keller for under $5. Throw in a coffee and it’s around $10. Bouchon Bakery, The Venetian A Cold Bud To Drown Your Sorrows $1 Cheap beer and friendly, sympathetic bartenders who’ve heard it all. What more could you want or need? At that price, keep them coming until you forget just…

You can’t miss this resort, which has a unique guitar-shaped tower that lights up the night. The hotel is decorated with music memorabilia (is that Tom Petty’s guitar on the wall?) and the arena hosts serious musical acts. The casino is large, with 200 table games, more than 3,000 slots and a poker room. Cigars are sold throughout the property (including at a 24-hour shop called Seminole Cigar Landing) and you can puff at several bars and lounges, fitting for the hotel that hosts Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest.…

There’s never been a shortage of big names who are known for having a drink in hand. In the old days, with the exception of Frank Sinatra, a vocal fan of Jack Daniel’s, they generally lacked brand connections, but today there’s a parade of celebrities who not only align themselves with spirits, but own a piece of the action. And the pour of choice for the famous is overwhelmingly Tequila. It’s a trend that goes beyond quick-buck endorsements to in-depth celebrity involvement in brands that occupy premium echelons of the category. The rock singer Sammy Hagar became one of the first in the movement, with the 1999 launch of Cabo Wabo. While Hagar sang about gulping shots with his song “Mas Tequila,” his brand was a serious agave spirit, which…

The Cuaba line stands out from other Cuban brands, as it’s the only line from Habanos that consists solely of figurados. At 93 points, the Cuaba Distinguidos also stands out here as one of the highest-scoring cigars of both this section and the entire issue. It tied with its Cuban compatriot the Romeo y Julieta Línea de Oro Nobles. Habanos bills this as a super-premium version of its core Romeo y Julieta line, touting its stronger blend and proclaiming it as “the most elegant and exclusive” of the Romeo range. The Belicoso-sized Nobles certainly lived up to the hype. Like Cuaba, the Fuente Hemingway series is also a brand of only figurados, and the nine-inch Masterpiece scored 92 points. Made in the Dominican Republic, it’s the longest cigar in the…

Cuba absolutely dominated this category of toros, but none as decisively as the Partagás Serie E No. 2, which scored 93 points and was one of the best performers of the issue. Consider this cigar when you’re in the mood for a popular Partagás Serie D No. 4, but want more. The E No. 2 is longer, thicker and keeps you in that revelatory sweet-and-salty range from first puff to last. Like the rest of the cigar industry, Cuba is moving toward thicker cigars, and the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de Rio Seco is yet another example. It scored 91 points and is rolled in a 56 ring gauge—the thickest regular-production Cuban Hoyo to date. Edmundo is a name that’s been tied to the Montecristo brand for nearly two…

Dear Marvin, I’ve been a member of this great magazine since 1992. I look forward to receiving my issue in the mail every time they arrive like a little kid waiting to open a new gift for the first time. I have every issue in my collection except for maybe two or three that I could back-order but I want to find them in my own little treasure hunt. I’ve read them many times over and I take pride and great pleasure reading while I smoke my favorite stick. I just received [the copy about] the 50th anniversary of the greatest film ever made, and it took my breath away. [“The Godfather At 50,” March/April 2022.] You have put some of the greatest individuals that smoke cigars on the cover.…

Sports books are in an arms race for customer acquisition, which is not sustainable. Sign up for every sports book bonus offer in your state, as only the strong, well-funded books will survive. Another plus is having multiple sports books to shop around for the best line on a game. A half-point can be the difference between a win, a loss or a push, which is huge. Also make sure that each sports book has 24/7 client support. I recommend Don Best Sports (donbest.com), the sports gaming gold standard. They’ve been an invaluable tool for me.…

ARIZONA Harrah’s Ak-Chin, Maricopa Just outside of Phoenix, this casino has a small smoker-friendly section, 23 table games and more than 1,000 slots. CALIFORNIA Black Oak, Tuolumne Cigars are OK in the smoking section of this casino near Yosemite. There are 22 table games and more than 1,100 slots. Cache Creek, Brooks This large casino allows cigars, and has a full array of table games. Graton, Rohnert Park About an hour from Napa is this serious casino, with a smoking section. Hard Rock, Wheatland More than 1,600 slot machines and table games, with a smoking section. Jackson Rancheria, Jackson About three dozen table games, 1,700 machines and a smoking section. Jamul Casino, Jamul You can smoke in much of this casino, with table games and plenty of slots. Yaamava’ Resort…

Turning Stone, Verona This resort is a staple of upstate New York and features a world-class casino with 2,000 slot machines, the largest poker room in the state and 66 Vegas-style table games, including blackjack and roulette. Half of the casino floor is smoker-friendly. Look for the private cigar lounge attached to TS Steakhouse, open to anyone that dines at the restaurant. It features leather club chairs, a humidor, and a selection of cigars to enjoy while chatting about how the tables were kind, or unkind.…

When you think “black market,” notions of contraband material and illicit distribution channels probably come to mind. This is not the case with the Honduran Alec Bradley Black Market Churchill, which scored 93 points. The unusual, but totally legal leaf in the blend comes from Panama. Four cigars scored 90 points. As is referenced in the name, A.J. Fernandez produces the H. Upmann Nicaragua by AJ Fernandez Heritage Churchill for Altadis U.S.A. Padrón continues to create elegantly rich cigars with its 1964 Anniversary Series Diplomatico, and the Timeless Supreme 749 comes to market via Ferio Tego, a new company that makes this cigar formerly owned by Nat Sherman. Unlike most Dominican cigars, which are rolled in Santiago, Villiger’s Flor de Ynclan Churchill is made in Santo Domingo. 93 HONDURAS RING…

Honduran from top to bottom, the Plasencia Cosecha 149 Santa Fe was the leader of the grandes category, scoring 92 points. Though the wrapper looks rustic, the smoke contradicts appearances with a sophisticated assortment of flavors that are hearty, precise and a memorable representation of Honduran leaf. According to the company, the tobacco is from 2014, the Plasencia family’s 149th harvest. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo indulges his penchant for thick cigars with the E.P. Carrillo Dusk Solidos, a 92-point smoke cloaked in a dark broadleaf wrapper. It’s made in the Dominican Republic at Tabacalera La Alianza, a factory that has produced two Cigars of the Year. The Nicaraguan Oliva Serie O Double Toro is the epitome of value: A large cigar that scored 90 points and retails for less than $10. 92…

TOP SCORES 93 Alec Bradley Black Market Churchill Honduras • $10.25 • Churchill • Medium-Full 93 Cuaba Distinguidos Cuba • £30.80 • Figurado • Medium-Full 93 Partagás Serie E No. 2 Cuba • £37.00 • Toro • Medium 93 Romeo y Julieta Línea de Oro Nobles Cuba • £32.60 • Figurado • Medium-Full 92 Arturo Fuente Hemingway Masterpiece Dominican Republic • $17.40 • Figurado • Medium 92 Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona Cuba • £37.20 • Double Corona • Medium 92 Padrón Serie 1926 No. 9 Nicaragua • $21.75 • Robusto • Medium 92 Plasencia Cosecha 149 Sante Fe Honduras • $12.00 • Grande • Medium-Full 92 Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill (Tubo) Cuba • £25.90 • Robusto • Medium 91 El Güegüense Corojo Torpedo Nicaragua • $12.20 • Figurado…