Don Pepin Garcia has released some incredibly tasty blends that have been well-received by cigar enthusiasts across the globe; 601 Blue Box-Pressed Maduro is no different. This is the very first cigar Pepin ever produced utilizing the ‘box-pressed’ shape, which creates a rich flavor and leaves a welcomed sweetness in the aftertaste.

601 Blue Box-Pressed Maduro contains some of the finest tobaccos available, all of which are Cuban-seed hailing from Nicaragua. The combination creates a potent flavor, with spice in the aftertaste and a full-bodied experience. However, the oily Nicaraguan maduro wrapper allows the smoke to be a bit more complex and interesting, providing each enthusiast with a sweet finish, which masks the blend’s strength and pepper flavors incredibly well. The balance is perfect, with the box-pressed shape providing a slow burn that is even from start to finish. Expect some strength from the initial light, followed by a toasty aroma of earth and cedar that transforms into robust notes of spice and pepper. Again, the finish is sweet with hints of cocoa noticable in the back of the throat, and the shape creates an eventful experience – at least 45 minutes of enjoyment.
A full-bodied cigar, 601 Box-Pressed Maduro offers a balance and complexity different from all other box-pressed cigars – it is also triple capped, just like the cigars still produced in Cuba and will fail to disappoint even the most discerning palates.

Q: I just received a new humidor to house my cigars. What is the recommended temperature to keep my sticks in good shape?

A: The standard rule, regarding temperature and humidity, is referred to as the ’70-70’ rule. For the most part, cigars prefer 70 percent humidity along with a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures each cigar has the moisture and heat needed to age properly. Since some cigars are fermented longer than others, like maduros for example, most of which utilize stronger, thicker leaves; a temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit is acceptable. Maduro wrappers don’t need as much humidity or heat as Connecticut wrappers due to the amount of oils in the leaves. However, no humidor should be kept at a temperature lower than 65 degrees. At a lower temperature, the aging process is drastically impaired and the cigars will begin to lose their unique flavors. If the temperature is kept above 75 degrees Fahrenheit, the combination between heat and moisture may not only lead to the decomposition of the tobacco, but also to an infestation of tobacco beetles, which is never a fun experience. To remain on the safe side and guarantee the cigars in your humidor are aging properly and are being kept in the best condition possible, keep the humidity in each humidor at 70 percent with a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Abdel Fernandez has had a tremendous impact on the cigar industry. He is responsible for the production of Rocky Patel Fusion, Rocky Patel Double Maduro, Sol Cubano Artisan, and Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, to name a few. His incredible passion for the industry in addition to his life-time of experience working with tobacco has allowed him to become one of the top 10 manufacturers currently in the business. Abdel studied under Don Alejandro Robaina, a man considered to be the “Godfather of tobacco” in Cuba, which is why his blends tend to be very similar to Cuban blends in terms of flavor and construction – many of his cigars utilize the traditional “triple cap,” a charactistic of all Cuban cigars. Abdel’s most recent release, La Herencia Cubana, is another excellent blend stemming from Nicaragua that is medium-bodied, smooth, and very enjoyable. The cigar sports a silky, toothy Ecuadorian-grown Sumatra leaf that adds a subtle pepper influence to the blend, creating a mellow complexity. Inside, filler tobaccos from Nicaragua’s top three growing regions combine to create notes of cedar, cashews, and earth mixed with a peaty spice – the intial flavor provides a robust nuance of white pepper with a hint of sugar in the aftertaste.

La Herencia Cubana is an excellent cigar, especially for those who prefer the flavor characteristics of Nicaraguan tobacco. The cigar’s subtle complexities enable beginning enthusiasts the chance to try a “medium-bodied Cuban-esque cigar,” one that is not overwhelmingly powerful, while its mix of Nicaraguan tobaccos provides seasoned aficionados the burst of flavor and strength usually associated with a fuller-bodied blend.

Robusto (5" x 50) Complex right from the start with a sweetness on the lips and earthy nuances on the palate. Spice was noticeable but not overwhelming. Allowed for a medium finish, cool burn, and produced a ton of creamy smoke. 89/100 [Buy Now]

Torpedo (6.5" x 52) Great size – very complex. Offered nuances of pepper, peat, earth, cedar, sugar cane and a hint of vanilla with a robust finish. Easy draw and a perfect burn, which created a balanced flavor. The strength is never overwhelming while the finish is smooth and mellow. 89/100 [Buy Now]

Toro (6.5" x 52) Robust during the first inch and then slightly mellowed before picking up more power after 3 inches. Initial flavor was peaty with a spicy aftertaste but the cigar burned unevenly. The smoke was creamy and left an aroma of cedar. The finish was very strong, robust, and rich. 88/100 [Buy Now]

Lonsdale (6.5" x 44) Tight draw but burned evenly throughout. Produced many flavors of pepper with very little sweetness in the aftertaste. Burned slightly hot and produced a thin smoke with a robust finish. 87/100 [Buy Now]

8/15/08: Tim and Donny catch up with Ernesto Padilla, who was their very first interview. They discuss what's new for Padilla cigars, including some big changes for one of the industry's most enigmatic brands. (Part 2 of 2)

5 Vegas Limitada 2008 - 5 Vegas Limitada raises the bar for every premium cigar made in the world. Only 75,000 single cigars were released for 2008.

La Herencia Cubana - La Herencia Cubana is a premium, hand-made, boutique blend that captures the essence of true Nicaraguan tobacco.

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Legend - A couple notches stronger than Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur, Excalibur Legend is a phenomenally unique cigar that is full-bodied, full-flavored, and fully enjoyable.

LXI Habano Sun Grown - LXI Habano Sun Grown is another excellent blend hailing from world-renowned cigar maker Mike Cusano. Known for their mild to medium-bodied cigars, LXI Habano Sun Grown is a welcomed edition to the Cusano line, becoming their first full-bodied powerhouse.

Man O' War - Manufactured at Tabacalera Fernandez in Nicaragua, Man O’ War is by far one of the best full-bodied cigars currently available. Not only are the tobaccos perfectly blended to create incredible complexity, but the quality and construction is also top-notch.

This past July, thousands of cigar enthusiasts descended on Sin City for the annual cigar tradeshow, now known as the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR). Las Vegas, once considered the final frontier for cigar lovers, has been one of the most recent victims of the tough antismoking legislation that has been sweeping the country. While the recent ban made it difficult to enjoy your favorite sticks around town, concessions were made for the tradeshow floor where a cloud of smoke hovered for nearly four straight days.

Upon walking into the center of the convention center, I was overcome with a wave of nostalgia. Surrounded by literally thousands of booths, I thought back to this sleepy little industry 20 years ago when just a few dozen nationally distributed brands made up the entire selection in nearly every humidor throughout the country. Now, as I stared down aisle after aisle, I couldn’t help feel elated with the tremendous growth in popularity of premium cigars. As more and more people find their way to cigars as a way to relax and spoil themselves, more brands and companies are entering the industry to satisfy the growing base of customers.

With the overwhelming number of exhibitors at this year’s show, one thing was undeniable; the stiff competition has every cigar maker thinking first and foremost about quality. For an entire week, I walked the aisles of the tradeshow and here are my picks for this year’s most exciting releases that will be available before 2009.

Don Pepin Garcia Tabacos Baez - Assuming Pepin’s booth would be mobbed as soon as the show opened, I snuck in an hour early to sit down with the legendary cigar maker. Tabacos Baez is a different project by Pepin. It is the first cigar he produced for his line that sports a Connecticut wrapper. This medium-bodied cigar is a smorgasbord of complex flavors and was created to commemorate Pepin’s beginnings in the cigar industry when he was a boy growing up in the Villa Clara province of Cuba.

Alec Bradley Tempus - With a pre-release review by Cigar Aficionado magazine just a few short weeks before the tradeshow, the publication’s designation of a whopping ‘94’ rating made Tempus a show favorite. The blend is sure to be a popular cigar for the rest of 2008 and for many years to come. This limited production cigar features a special wrapper grown on a small farm in Honduras.

Cusano Habano LXI Sun Grown and 59 Rare Cameroon - You have probably seen these on Cigar.com during the past few months as we received a small pre-release allocation from Cusano. For those that have already tried these two new releases, you know exactly why they were included among our favorites. Priced to give an excellent value to even the most discerning aficionados, these new blends are big on flavor and light on the wallet.

G.A.R. - Breaking out on his own for the first time, critically acclaimed blender George Rico, the man behind Gran Habano, wowed cigar lovers with his new line, G.A.R. The name itself is simply George Rico’s initials and the cigar was made in his typically rich, full-bodied format.

Excalibur Legend - Fans of Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur will be pleasantly pleased with the new Legend line, which features a blend of hearty fillers to give the full-bodied crowd a cigar they can’t refuse. Already one the world’s most popular and best selling brands, this new release will bring Excalibur to a whole new level.

CAO LX2 - Following the release of MX2 and CX2, the new LX2 from CAO is yet another full-bodied cigar to debut at this year’s tradeshow. LX2 is short for “ligero times two” as the blend focuses on ligero tobaccos known for their rich and powerful flavor stemming from their position at the top of the tobacco plant.