Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Boycott Nat Sherman Cigars /// Altria - A Kaplowitz Media Special Cigar News Bulletin

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


"Altria, NS's parent co. has come out against the premium cigar industry in order to secure their own spot in it. In other words, they are in favor of regulating out of existence, their smaller competition. This instead of deciding to make cigars which don't predominantly suck." - Me, via FB

It's just now making the rounds, this bit of breaking news courtesy of Cigar Aficionado: America’s Largest Cigarette Company Comes Out Against FDA Exemption For Handmade Cigars.

Now I'll expound some but mostly be repetitious:

You see, Altria, big boi daddy org. of Marlboro & Nat Sherman, etc. wrote the FfuckingDA, telling the feds to hold their ground and screw the premium cigar industry. Why? Because w/ Altria's deep pockets, they can afford to weather the over-regulatory'd storm and see a good deal of their competition fall away due to it. In other words, they put their best interests ahead of their industry's. It's brutally cowardly, ultimately short-sighted, & take my word for it -- they ain't gonna be the last big boy to do it.

Those that know me, I should include, know I don't tackle FDA shit insofar as coverage. I feel it's all or vastly-so a socially driven lost cause. But this is egregious. So I, as Kaplowitz Media, alongside an already growing others, call for an immediate boycott of Nat Sherman.

While I do not & have not furnished a blow-by-blow acc't of the FDA bullshit, William Cooper @ Cigar Coop has, and I recommend there as your one-stop shop on the www for the 411. HERE'S A LINK.

But what of B&Ms with Nat Sherman in their retail humis? Haven't we been instructed ad nauseam to "support our local B&M?" Tell ya what, since asking that question posits you worshipping in-front and below a B&M altar... I NEVER said to do anything other than not purchase NS. redirect funds elsewhere within that hallowed spot, huh? What Sherman via Altria has done is the equivalent of dealt a death blow to the premium cigar biz's puncher's chance. F U C K  T H E M. & I daresay fuck Michael Herklots, too -- unless he resigns from his position within the co., pronto.

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68. Kaplowitz Radio Monday

Avo Cigars XO Intermezzo Robusto - Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Boomtime Confusion 66th, YOLD 3184


Avo XO Intermezzo
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
BINDER: Dominican
FILLER: Dominican

FORMAT: Robusto
ORIGIN: Dominican

STRENGTH: Mild-Medium
PROFILE: Sweet
DELIVERY: Creamy/Toasted

COMBUSTION: ok
CONSTRUCTION: excellent

Listen to me cobble together this info & further speak to this Avo below...

65. Kaplowitz Radio Friday

Thanks for yer attns., Gentlepersons.

PRESS:
"Avo’s legacy captured in every format, with tobacco aged for at least six years, artistically woven into each cigar. A masterpiece meant for special occasions. A remarkably smooth, yet richly complex, medium-bodied composition balanced with notes of wood, spice, and dry sweet fruit. 

"AVO XO has an easy draw that epitomizes the experience of lighting one up. With a lightly colored Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate, this is definitely one easygoing smoke. Complex, but not complicated. Sweet and creamy with hints of nut and pepper. XO’s place in AVO’s portfolio is as indelible as the moments it helps to make." www.Avo.com

"Packaged in a 5-Pack, this Robusto-sized cigar is crafted by the finest rollers in the Dominican Republic. It exclusively utilizes fermented premium Dominican long fillers, making it smooth and creamy. A Connecticut Shade wrapper is then added to bring out the earthy notes along with a mild hint of charred wood. This tasty little treat is a definite must have." - www.JRcigars.com

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68. Kaplowitz Radio Monday 

Monday, July 30, 2018

68. Kaplowitz Radio Monday

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Sweetmorn Confusion 65th, YOLD 3184


s/o:
Bumgarner | www.TableRockTokers.wordpress.com
www.StogiePress.com

Press play below:


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Sunday, July 29, 2018

A 1st Big Audio Look Ahead to September (Shemptember) - A Kaplowitz Media 30-Day Spectacular

"Why not Kaplowitz"


While vastly most of the content over @ www.facebook.com/KaplowitzMedia is now exclusive to there -- this particular content is of great import. So it's here, too. yw


GET READY FOR THE K/M MONTH-LONG ANNIVERSARY SPECTACULAR IN SEPTEMBER (Shemptember)!!!

Press play below.

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Friday, July 27, 2018

67. Kaplowitz Radio Friday

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Pungenday Confusion 62nd, YOLD 3184


s/o:
Bumgarner.
www.PeachesRocks.com
www.CrownedHeads.com

Press play below:


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Thursday, July 26, 2018

Villiger La Flor de Ynclan Special LE Lancero - Cigar Review Redux by Kaplowitz

"Why Not Kaplowitz?"
Sweetmorn Confusion 60th, YOLD 3184


Previously, I have reviewed this blend in its Robusto & Churchill iterations. Currently, we'll be giving it a looksie in its new Lancero format.

"Villiger Cigars has announced that their Villiger La Flor De Ynclan blend will be offered in a Lancero Especial size; this at the 2018 IPCPR. An SE offering, 500 25 count boxes will be sent to market yearly. The Villiger La Flor De Ynclan is roundly vaulted and ballyhooed by many a reviewer. It missed my wheel-house, lettuce say. Also, I don't drink hooch, so the gift bottle supplied alongside the samples sent -- very well may have fallen on deaf ears." Me, Kaplowitz Media Cigar News Weekly Report (7/1/18)

EDITOR'S NOTE: No hooch in this sampling shipment.

Villiger La Flor de Ynclan
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian
BINDER: Indonesian
FILLER: Nicaraguan & Dominican

FORMAT: Lancero (pig-tail)
ORIGIN: ABAM factory, Dominican Republic
BLENDER: Jose Matias Maragoto



STRENGTH: Mild-Medium
PROFILE: Sweet/Sour
DELIVERY: Creamy/Tangy

COMBUSTION: ok
CONSTRUCTION: excellent

NOTES: Performs at a moderate level or ribboning burn-line and occasional wispy pull. For the most, the draw is quite nice for a Lancero format, albeit a shorter/wider one. Notes are bright and tangy sweetnesses of raw to lightly toasted varietals; dominated by sour bits that are not unpleasantly delivered as in this blend's baby aspirin tasting brethren, but still a distraction from any perceivable complexities. Delivered smooth and calorie-restricted rich.

FINAL (re)GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59

"This vitola has been over a year in the making and is said by Heinrich Villiger and Master Blender Matias Maragoto to be the best in the line...

"La Flor De Ynclan is made by Heinrich Villiger and master blender Jose Matias Maragoto at the ABAM Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic. The blend was 10 years in the making. Villiger Cigars made a few of La Flor De Ynclan over a decade ago but were not happy with the cigar so they stopped production. The tobacco was set aside and aged, while Matias changed the blend. Last year the La Flor De Ynclan became what they wanted it to be." - www.blindmanspuff.com

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66. Kaplowitz Radio Monday 

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Kaplowitz Media: Cigars of the Month (July 2018)

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"Sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit, these men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem. If no one else can help. And if you can find them -- maybe you can hire the A-Team."

Gentlepersons below is a list as shallow and pedantic as Lois Griffin's meatloaf. It is a list of recent (July 2018) cigar offerings I humbly found to be worthy of A (- to +) review ratings.

THE A-LIST


HONORABLE MENTION

LFD Ligero


s/o: Bob

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66. Kaplowitz Radio

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

God of Fire (2014) Cigars by Carlito Fuente in Double Robusto - Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Setting Orange Confusion 59th, YOLD 3184


WRAPPER: Cameroon
BINDER: ?
FILLER: Dominican

FORMAT: Double Robusto
ORIGIN: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia, Dominican Republic

STRENGTH: Medium
PROFILE: Sweet/Sour
DELIVERY: Creamy/Smoky

COMBUSTION: ok
CONSTRUCTION: excellent

Sweet (cocoa butter & cream) & sour (lightly roasted coffee bean) overtones are bright, soft, and increasingly smoky with an underlying toastiness.  Savoriness is smoky twixt the top/bottom notes and cycles 'tween a vegetal (grain) and leather (suede) delivery. Undertones consist mainly of a less bright but far from dark pepper (white with a lingering red on the finish)-spice (paprika, cinnamon). Some fruity things circle around up and down in papaya manners, mostly. Pale grapes, maybe. A distinct floral (hibiscus) note is on the aroma of the draw and in the retro-hale's tail-end. Some tangy bits surface at mid-point when the flavors and strength of the stick rise.

Never acidic even at its Dominican tangiest. Balanced excellently, almost to a trance-inducing effect. Not complex but there is some interest in the depthy-depths of its nuanced notes.

Smooth, rich, and chewy in a heavy whipping cream manner. Heavily & softly bodied. The finish is maybe shorter than one may expect from the weight of draw and body, but what's there shows some fine ticks of floral fruity peeks. Ends cleanly with maybe a slight orange pith ghosting. Temp of smoke to smoke-hole: cool, Daddy-O. Strength? Maybe a hair more than the typical Fuente, maybe not.

Combustion is a disappointment, I'm afraid. A constant wobble of a ribbony burn exists. While the ash does grow in a tight sheath, underneath the burn takes on a cone something fierce. Smoke out-put is light on the passive side and takes a toke to warm up actively. The need to double & triple puff my way thru proly added to that conical char, but was unavoidable... hence "need." Room-note is very nice and shows a sweet buttery 'baccy. Another plus here is the pacing is quite nice, even with a handful of re-touches to the wayward mascara-line.

Insofar as construction: the Cameroon top-leaf is crackly and delicate -- to be expected -- but still. No hard/soft spots in an even and tight roll, here. Lots of tobacco, Gentlepersons and that tobacco is quite good. Seams stay firm gate-to-wire. The draw has been made mention of prior and is of a medium+ tension. Cap/shoulder starts & stays well-built.

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59


"Carlos Fuente, Sr. (aka Don Carlos) and his son, Carlito Fuente, blended the God of Fire cigars. God of Fire by Don Carlos uses an Ecuadorian wrapper while God of Fire by Carlito has a Cameroon wrapper. Don Carlos and Carlito Fuente have adjusted their blends to suit each size and shape of cigar offered. All God of Fire cigars can be considered medium-bodied, and all deliver a smooth, refined character and a satisfying, full flavor. Beyond those common traits, though, no further generalizations can be made. One must sample all of the God of Fire cigars to experience the wealth of flavors this line offers.

"God of Fire by Carlito, Double Robusto (52 x 5 3/4) The extraordinary Carlito Double Robusto is the ideal host cigar-perfect for enjoying on your own or sharing with guests. It begins gently enough for even a novice smoker to enjoy, and gradually introduces more intense flavors in a way that is never intimidating or overwhelming. The cigar opens with a mild, buttery taste reminiscent of a fresh-baked Parisian croissant. About a third of the way through, it grows gradually and subtly more potent, introducing the smoky, earthy flavor of a peaty Islay single-malt scotch." - Brent Butterworth, www.godoffire.com

"God of Fire is made annually, in extremely limited quantities, making it a hard to come by super-premium. These choice cigars come in two blends: one by Carlito Fuente, the other by Don Carlos. Either way, you're in for a full-flavored treat ... Carlito Fuente: Stronger still is the Carlito blend. Chock full of Dominican long-fillers, this handmade utilizes a toothy Cameroon wrapper to deliver a full-bodied, spicy smoke similar to the Casa Fuente brand." - www.cigarsinternational.com

s/o Bob

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66. Kaplowitz Radio

Monday, July 23, 2018

66. Kaplowitz Radio Monday

"Why not Kaplowitz?"
Prickle-Prickle Confusion 58th, YOLD 3184


s/o:
www.VilligerCigars.com
www.JRcigars.com

Press play below:


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Friday, July 20, 2018

"Sixty-Five" Kaplowitz Radio

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Setting Orange Confusion 54th, YOLD 3184


s/o:
www.Avo.com
& Bob

Press play below:

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Thursday, July 19, 2018

Cornelius & Anthony Cigars Daddy Mac in Corona Gorda - Cigar Review Redux by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Setting Orange Confusion 54th, YOLD 3184


I originally wrote about this blend in its Robusto iteration HERE.
That Robusto finished #2 in my Cigar of the Year 2016-17.

Cornelius & Anthony Daddy Mac
WRAPPER: Brazilian
BINDER: Ecuadorian
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Corona Gorda
ORIGIN: La Zona Factory, Esteli, Nicaragua

STRENGTH: Medium
PROFILE: Sweet-spice/Sour
DELIVERY: Bright/Savory

COMBUSTION: ok
CONSTRUCTION: excellent
  • Pepper (white & red)
  • Spice (ginger, clove, wasabi)
  • Chocolate (cocoa butter & white)
  • Citrus (Tang)
  • Wood (oak & cedar)
  • Coffee (cream & sugar)
  • Fruit (papaya, pineapple)
  • Earth (bright dirt, natty 'baccy)
FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59


s/o: Bob.

"Cornelius & Anthony Premium Cigars has released its second regular production line of cigars, Daddy Mac, which is a tribute to Steven Bailey’s father Mac Bailey ... The release of the Daddy Mac will give Cornelius & Anthony two new cigars on retailers shelves this month, as it released its first line, Cornelius, last week." - www.halfwheel.com (2016)

"Cornelius & Anthony is a subsidiary of the Bailey family's S&M Brands Inc., which produces Bailey, Tahoe and Riverside cigarettes, as well as smaller machine-made cigars. The family also grows and brokers tobacco under the company name Golden Leaf Tobacco." - www.cigaraficionado.com (2016)

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"Sixty-Four" Kaplowitz Radio  

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

The Griffin's Classic by Davidoff Cigars in Robusto - Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Pungenday Confusion 52nd, YOLD 3184


The Griffin's Classic
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
BINDER: Dominican
FILLER: Dominican

FORMAT: Robusto
ORIGIN: Tabadom (Davidoff), Dominican Republic

STRENGTH: Mild-Medium
PROFILE: Sweet/Spice
DELIVERY: Smooth/Creamy

COMBUSTION: ok
CONSTRUCTION: excellent

Bright pillowy sweet overtones with cushioned pale spices. Raw but not green... perhaps so far as lightly toasted by the second-half. Creamy af throughout profile. Undertones are a salted & toasted grain savoriness with a sour underbelly. Bright in unders as in overs. Balanced supremely well & that's no easy feat; given a plethora of subtle complexities and deep note depths. Nuanced. This is why I adore DR leaf, right here. 
  • Pepper (white)
  • Spices (cardamom, white ginger)
  • Creamer
  • Nuts (pine, macadamia) 
  • Wood (cedar)
  • Chocolate (white)
  • Citrus (orange pith)
  • Coffee (blonde roast latte)
  • Grains (oat)
  • Earth (silky)
Pillowy. Billowy. Smoother than a newborn's tushie. Creamier than... I can't keep this analogy thing going. Soft. The finish offers a pleasantly cleansing & slight tanginess at its end -- after a long look at lightly spiced sweetnesses. Builds a vegetal chewiness, then builds it more. Saturates palate but never to the point of being burdensome. Stays cool in the smoke-hole. As cool as... as... what did I already tell ya about analogies?

Strength? This Griffin's ain't about strength. It's about sweet luxury. Ease up on yer #BEASTMODE, #alphaman. Chill.

Combustion sees this experience's only knock, via a quick-ish burn on a bit of a self-correcting wobble. Big smoky-smoke clouds both passive & active showcase a sweet aroma with a floral lilt. Ash stacks loosely.

Construction softens some via progression but that don't hamper a smooth even draw. Medium-tension'd. Seams remain nigh hidden from the eye. Cap/shoulder stay well-formed to the toothpick'd nub.


Beginner's stick? Sure, it's mellow 'nuff. But there is more than enough here for an experienced smoker -- as long as one ain't caught up on the juvenile thought that a cigar should be any type of "bomb."

FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59

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"64" K/R: 

Monday, July 16, 2018

"Sixty-Four" Kaplowitz Radio

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Boomtime Confusion 51st, YOLD 3184


s/o:

Press play below:


Thanks for yer attns., Gentlepersons.


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Sunday, July 15, 2018

Kaplowitz Media: Odds & Ends at the Ides

"Why not Kaplowitz?"
Sweetmorn Confusion 50th, YOLD 3184


Kaplowitz Media IPCPR plans canceled
La Barba Cigars sponsoring July & K/M FB Group

Gentlepersons,

I bring you this light load of Odds & Ends w/ quite the heavy heart. Due to circumstances beyond my/our control, Stick Men were not able to attend IPCPR 2018. I can speak for my SM partner, Tony Crac(k), in again extending our apologies to Dion Giolito & Illusione for our canceling, as well as our thankfulness for the opportunity. Fuck, it was an invite made to me, and I'm the one who screwed the pooch. Mia Culpa.

On a much brighter note, 'cause ain't they all, I love working with brands I admire. When some La Barba were laid on me not too long ago, I was impressed as a hillbilly in a cee-ment pond. I look forward to smoking the brand, and maybe even working with it in the future. Gee, it'd be great to cancel last minute on Tony Bellato. #lifegoals

I'm gonna keep it short because I'm writing this not long at all after bowing out from my IPCPR obligations and really can't even.

Till the Ides next,

Kap

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"Sixty-Three" Kaplowitz Radio

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Oliva Cigars Serie V Melanio in Robusto - Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Why not Kaplowitz?"
Pungenday Confusion 47th, YOLD 3184


Oliva Serie V Melanio
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Robusto, box-press
ORIGIN: Tabacalera Oliva S.A., Nicaragua

STRENGTH: Medium-Full
PROFILE: Spice/Bitter-Sweet
DELIVERY: Meaty/Toasted

COMBUSTION: ok
CONSTRUCTION: excellent

Dark overtones of a toasted bitter-sweet nature, steered by a savory & oft dusty spice. Undertones are a brighter and slightly roasted salted sourness with a healthy dose of its own spiced & smoked meatiness. Non-acidic and exceptionally balanced. Supremely complex & nuanced.
  • Pepper (black, cayenne)
  • Spice (cumin, smoked paprika, clove)
  • Wood (cedar)
  • Chocolate (dark & fudge)
  • Meat (smoked)
  • Grain (dark rye)
  • Nuts (almond)
  • Earth (smoked)
The body is a chewy beefy smoothness cut-some kindly by a nifty tingle. Heavy, rich & soft as a fat cat robber baron. Finish is a smoky view of the under/overtones flip-flopping positions. Ends clean & stay cool of temp.

Strength builds slowly but surely to a bit of a sweaty upper lip crescendo. Sits nicely warm in the chest.

Combustion bears the slightest of self-correcting waves. Mucho smoky both passive & actively-so. Aroma is a somewhat sharp beefy spiced bitterness. Ash grows a bit looser than tight but makes an inch of growth twixt my compulsive tappings. A tick of coning happens under there. Some fluting at char happens as the press rounds-some.

A smooth even medium tension'd draw highlights the construction and an even roll sans hard/soft spots co-stars well. Seams hold tight There is a tick of sponginess to the 3/3.

FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59


"The Oliva Serie V Melanio is hand rolled using expertly fermented ligero fillers, leaves known for their robust and rich flavor. Five years in the making, this special cigar is sure to exceed a premium cigar smoker's highest expectations. The Serie V is full flavored yet smooth. The long filler tobaccos are a blend of Oliva Nicaraguan Habano that emphasizes tobacco from the Jalapa region, an area known for a more nuanced leaf than the Esteli or Condega regions. This carefully aged Jalapa blend produces a particularly flavored smoke." - www.OlivaCigar.com

"Many will remember that the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado was named Cigar of the Year in 2014. The brand continues its trajectory of excellence with the Robusto. It’s a far more compact format, and perhaps more approachable, as not everyone is inclined to light up a large double figurado as their everyday smoke. The blend is centered around a Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador paired with Nicaraguan tobacco. This combination isn’t terribly common in the premium cigar world, but the Oliva Cigar Co. seems to understand the tobaccos and how they fit together for harmony and balance. 

"Earlier in 2016, Oliva Cigar Co. was acquired by J. Cortez Cigars N.V., a Belgian tobacco company that wanted a premium cigar operation in its portfolio. Now they have one. Assurances have been made that nothing will change under the new ownership, and that J. Cortes will maintain Oliva’s high standards. We certainly hope so. With the Oliva Serie V Melanio, they now have an extraordinary cigar blend on their hands. The smoke is silky, sweet and, at times intense with toast and cedar. The brand name commemorates Melanio Oliva, who first grew tobacco in Cuba in the 1800s." - www.CigarAficionado.com (which ranked this vitola #8 of 2016)

s/o Bob

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"Sixty-Three" Kaplowitz Radio 

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Espinosa Premium Cigars 601 Blue Label Maduro in Toro - Cigar Review Redux by Kaplowitz

"Why not Kaplowitz?"
Boomtime Confusion 46th, YOLD 3184


Look! I once wrote this: 601 Blue Label Maduro - Cigar Review!

#wow

Now this redux...

601 Blue Maduro
WRAPPER: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Toro, box-press
ORIGIN: La Zona SA, Nicaragua

STRENGTH: Medium-Full
PROFILE: Bitter/Sweet
DELIVERY: Chewy/Spiced

COMBUSTION: ok
CONSTRUCTION: excellent
  • Pepper (black)
  • Chocolate (dark shavings) 
  • Spices (clove, nutmeg)
  • Nuts (almond butter)
  • Earth (compost/manure)
  • Meat (smoked)
  • Grains (barley)
  • Herbal (anise)
  • Cola
Chewy & smooth. Complex not in the manner of many notes, but in the manner of their myriad deliveries. Smoky, toasted, roasted, smoky. A boxer with a strong basic skill-set who works angles exceptionally well. Sits in the bread-basket heavy & warm, like a hearty meal. 

FINAL (re)GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59


"The 601 Blue Label Maduro (better known as the 601 Blue) is a cigar that has been around for several years and has been through a lot of history, yet continues to hold the test of time. 601 was a line of cigars launched by EO Brands. There were a couple of banding changes. The first occurred in 2010 and caused quite a stir among 601 fans – so much that the banding was restored to something very similar to the original in 2011. In addition there have been a lot of business changes – EO Brands went through a couple of distribution changes (Miami Cigar, Rocky Patel), and then the company was dissolved. After EO Brands was dissolved, Erik Espinosa acquired the rights to the 601 brand and brought it into his new company Espinosa Premium Cigars. That’s quite a bit of upheaval for any cigar to go through. Yet through it all the 601 Blue has stood the test of time and remains a top-notch cigar." -www.Cigar-Coop.com

Created by Eric Espinoza and made by Jose Garcia, the 601 Blue Maduro has quite an impressive resume; including the number six spot on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of 2009 list and an impressive 93 rating." - www.CigarInspector.com

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Kaplowitz Radio #63 

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Flor de Gonzalez (FDG) Cigars 20th Aniversario Maduro in Torpedo - Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Sweetmorn Confusion 45th, YOLD 3184


FDG 20th Aniverasario Maduro
WRAPPER: Connecticut Broadleaf
BINDER: Ecuador Havana
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Torpedo
ORIGIN: Agroindustrial Nicaraguense de Tabacos S.A. (Nicaragua)

STRENGTH: Medium
PROFILE: Savory/Bitter-Sweet
DELIVERY: Thin/Wet

#BEASTMODE
  • Well balanced
  • Burns straight, mainly
#leastmode
  • Thin notes
  • Tight draw
  • Strength outweighs body
  • Zero discernable-delineated notes
  • liquidy notes wash away fast
  • Alkaline, ashy
FINAL GRADE: C
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59


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"Sixty-Three" Kaplowitz Radio 

Monday, July 9, 2018

"Sixty-Three" Kaplowitz Radio

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Setting Orange Confusion 44th, YOLD 3184


I smoked a Caldwell Savages & talked about a plethora of other cigar stuff.



Thanks for the ears, Gentlepersons!
Jack Parow

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This episode was brought to you by:
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www.CaldwellCigars.com
www.IllusioneCigars.com

Thursday, July 5, 2018

La Barba Cigars Red in Corona Gorda - Cigar Review Redux by Kaplowitz

"Why not Kaplowitz?"
Sweetmorn Confusion 40th, YOLD 3184


I just recently wrote: La Barba Cigars Red in Robusto - Cigar Review by Kaplowitz. Below is a looksie at the blend's Corona Gorda iteration.

La Barba Red
WRAPPER: Dominican Corojo
BINDER: Dominican Corojo
FILLER: Dominican Habano/Corojo (50% ligero)

FORMAT: Corona Gorda
ORIGIN: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera William Ventura)

STRENGTH: Medium
PROFILE: Sweet/Spice
DELIVERY: Wet/Smooth

COMBUSTION: excellent
CONSTRUCTION: excellent

Moister in the smoke-hole than its blend brethren 'Busto. A tick cooler and more muted, as well. More-so and longer-so fruity (Juicy Fruit?!) & floral cedar backed by clove & nutmeg. Barely toasted notes both over & under. Smoother and a tick less tingle. Oh, so nice.

EDITOR'S INTERRUPTION:
Since this has become strictly comparative, do read the original review (link @ top).

Excellent construction and too, excellent combustion --
but a tick less of that second-thing than in the 550.

I realize all this flavor feeling flies in the face of a thinner vitola but there was just something more "sippin'" about this one. Less hearty, less delineated. I oft use the nip from a chef's spoon (this) vs. country buffet piled-high plate (that)... will again here. Still excellent; a whispered excellence lacking in the Robusto's sheer bravado. Not necessarily a bad thing, Gentlepersons. Complexity is here. Flavor country, there.


FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59

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"62"K/R: 

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

La Flor Dominicana (LFD) Ligero L-500 Cabinet - Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

But first a word from me:


Now...
"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Setting Orange Confusion 39th, YOLD 3184


LFD Ligero L-500
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Sumatra
BINDER: Dominican
FILLER: Dominican

FORMAT: Gordo
ORIGIN: Dominican Republic

STRENGTH: Medium-Full
PROFILE: Spicy/Sweet
DELIVERY: Bright/Heavy

COMBUSTION: ok
CONSTRUCTION: ok

Bright weighty overtones of a mature sweetness and mellow somewhat dry spice, each toasted deeply. Undertones are them drippings coupled w/ a vegetal roasted savoriness & pithy sour underbelly dashed w/ salt. Well balanced and complex 'nuff, altho lacking in some depth/nuance of notes. No bite, but some-sharper than smooth. Heavy & rich but rigid & clean as well. Finish is a moderate length'd look at undertones. Temp is tepid. Strength is a sneaky back-loaded thing that makes the head swoon nicely.

Combustion operates on a slight wave which slowly self-corrects along the way. Ash is tightly formed off a slowly-paced burn. Plenty of smoke out-put both passive & active. Room-note is a sweet dirt thing w/ fusty traces. This LFD's construction features an excellent smooth draw w/ a slight and consistent bit of tension. There are a couple of soft spots along the way and in the 3/3, seams loosen a hair at the char-line.

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59


"After years of aging our estate-grown Ligero tobaccos we were ready for our first ” full bodied cigar “. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Sumatra with estate grown Dominican filler and binder. “The flavor is outstanding”

"La Flor Dominicana Ligero L500 cigars were introduced in 2001 featuring a magnificent, mouthwatering Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper perfectly packed with the most select estate-grown Dominican Ligero longfiller and binder tobaccos. The result is a creamy smooth smoke that's unparalleled in robust flavor and aroma." - www.Famous-Smoke.com

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Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Drew Estate Cigars Subculture Studios My Uzi Weighs a Ton (MUWAT) 770 Gordo - Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"
Prickle-Prickle Confusion 38th, YOLD 3184


MUWAT by Drew Estate
WRAPPER: San Andres Negro
BINDER: Ecuadorian Connecticut
FILLER: Brazilian Mata Fina, Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Gordo (770)
ORIGIN: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, Nicaragua

STRENGTH: Medium
PROFILE: Bitter/Sweet
DELIVERY: Earthy/Creamy

COMBUSTION: ok
CONSTRUCTION: ok

Predominantly toasted earthiness to the degree which makes all #foodie notes even more whispery metaphor than usual. That stated:
  • Pepper (black)
  • Coffee (full city roast, ground beans)
  • Wood (oak)
  • Chocolate (dark shavings)
  • Meat (smoked)
  • Citrus (pith)
Bitter-Sweet darkly toasted then roasted overtones. Undertones are muted bits of that, really, with a dry smoky savoriness added in and dashed w/ dusty spice.

Balanced 'nuff and simply-so, lacking in much complexity. Fairly straight-forward but pleasant. The depth of notes build via progression but maybe fall somewhat shy of nuance. That said, this thing is a donkey dick and I didn't get bored working my way through it. Enjoyable and a lot of it.

Smooth of texture but dryly-so, which seems to hamper some intended chewiness. Still fully satiating and creamy but some bit shy of rich and almost surprisingly rigid. A firm softness. Tick of citrus pith on the moderately-legg'd finish. Ends on a bit of a char note. not much insofar as pure strength -- which falls under this stick's muted modus operandi.

Typical DE smoke-bomb with a surprisingly mellow room-note of sweet-bitter 'baccy. I can't help but think and know that an even burn-line is a tough thing in wider ring gauges. This 70rg burns neatly level. Seems a tick hot in spots, but the pacing is even all told, and well, put a couple hours aside for this MUWAT. Construction features an excellent medium tension'd draw but the girth of the 70rg weakens the maw and makes pulling laborious at times. Top-leaf dries a tick and fits in a loose drape of sorts over binder. No hard/soft spots, but a tick spongy on-down, evenly.

Then the final-third happens. Seams fly open & a runner is spotted ahead in a pin-point burn-hole in the shaft. HOLY PLOT TWITS, BATMAN.

FINAL GRADE: B
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59


Drew Estate is a sponsor of Kaplowitz Media. So what? Sew buttons.

"A little back story on the My Uzi Weighs a Ton according to Jonathan Drew. This cigar is a partnership between Subculture Studios & Joya De Nicaragua, much like the MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured. “Utilizing San Andreas Negro Wrapper, Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade Binder and hearty Brazilian Mata Fina Filler, coupled with Nicaraguan fillers provided by JDN” that’s the DNA of the cigar. During one of the last blending sessions from Cigar Safari trip in 2010 is when Jon said the cigar came to fruition. He believes it is best experienced in the 6×60 vitola. I wasn’t brave enough to try the 6×60 so I opted for the 5×60 instead. My favorite part of the backstory on this cigar is how it got the name. Initially Jon was just calling the cigar “The Uzi”. When he went back to pick up a bundle of 50 sticks he lifted it and said “Damn, My Uzi Weighs a Ton”. Boom, marketing and branding at it’s [sic] best. " - www.StogiesontheRocks.com (2014)

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"Sixty-Two" Kaplowitz Radio: 

Monday, July 2, 2018

"Sixty-Two" Kaplowitz Radio

Pungenday Confusion 37th, YOLD 3184
"Why not Kaplowitz?"


I smoked a Caldwell Blind Man's Bluff CT & talked about a plethora of other stuff.



Thanks for the ears, Gentlepersons!

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This episode was brought to you by:
www.CigarsOfHabanos.com
www.CaldwellCigars.com
www.IllusioneCigars.com