Thursday, January 31, 2019

Villiger Cigars San'Doro Colorado | Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?


Villiger San'Doro Colorado
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Robusto (550)
ORIGIN: TABOLISA (Oliva), Nicaragua
STRENGTH: Medium

NOTES: Warmly toasted notes delivered in a reddish hued imagery both of stick complexion, banding, and mind's eye. Cozy tobacco-forward. Inherently sweet and attainable. Some dried tropical fruits, cappuccino, buttery cedar. Pepper-spice is white & red pepper, clove, ginger, slight paprika. Underbelly is a sunlit and dense earthen note. Tangy through the nose. Finish is of a moderate sweet & sour length.

I'm at first struck by how tightly packed the thing is -- it does loosen/soften via progression in a manner not hampering, and maybe bettering, of performance. Burns on a bit of a stubborn wobble. The draw is somewhat snug til the second-half. Moderate the growing smoke out-put.

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


I smoked a previous offering of this blend on 114. Kaplowitz Radio Friday ((( link )))

"Villiger showed off the new San’Doro line at both the IPCPR Convention & Trade Show in 2015. There are three blends in the San’Doro line: Brazilian Puro Maduro, Claro and Colorado. The name San’Doro comes from the Latin phrase, Indorum sang sancta, which translates to 'Sacred healing plant from India.'" www.BlindMansPuff.com

Rock-A-Feller Cigars Vintage Nicaragua Maduro Robusto | Cigar Review Redux by Kaplowitz

"Curiously Entertaining"


Rock-A-Feller Vintage Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Mexican San Andres
BINDER: Ecuadorian
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Robusto (552)
ORIGIN: American Caribbean Cigars EstelĂ­, Nicaragua
STRENGTH: Full

NOTES: Spiced to the point of pungent + the-some. Bittersweet top notes of a nigh scorched and prickly black pepper with a baking chocolate - espresso bean accompaniment. The roasted savory earth middling steers out ahead w/ a charcoal attachment. A sharp cedar is somewheres twixt all the previous stuff I mentioned. Underneath more earth and stiff leather. Not turtles but earth all the way down. Finish is long and sharply savory-sweet with a bit of a steely edge. Moderate complexities, tho none via transition. 

Rolled very tight, particularly by cap -- softens evenly via progression. Draw stays a nicely smoov tension. Burns on a razor-line. Ash clings all day long. Very smoky on the draw and quiets quickly between.

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


I look-see'd the Lancero iteration of this blend ((( here )))

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7. Kaplowitz Television 

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Gurkha Cigars Names Colucci (Sindicato Group) COO & Pres. | Cigar News by Kaplowitz

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Gurkha has confirmed reports that Jim Colucci, President & CEO of Sindicato Cigars (a role he's held since the co.'s birth in 2013 and will continue to hold) will now too be the Chief Operating Officer & President of Gurkha. Somehow...

Gurka's salesforce will now be handling Sindicato, which will continue as its own stand-alone entity. In between posting #FakeNews articles to Facebook, Gurkha’s founder and CEO Kaizad Hansotia said, "Jim Colucci is a very well respected cigar industry veteran ..." 

As part of this deal, apparently months in the making, Hansotia will hand over day-to-day operations of Gurkha, allowing him to see to other projects, ventures, and yes -- Facebooking :(


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7. Kaplowitz Television 

7. Kaplowitz Television

"Curiously Entertaining"


DAV Cigars is the exclusive sponsor of #KTv
Visit them at www.DAVcigars.com for YOUR #DAVmoment



TOPICS:
  • Cleansing your palate between cigars
  • "Yardgars"
Again, DAV Cigars is the exclusive sponsor of #KTv
Visit them at www.DAVcigars.com


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Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Rock-A-Feller Cigars Vintage Nicaraguan Habano | Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Just Kaplowitz"


Rock-A-Feller Vintage Nicaraguan Habano
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Habano
BINDER: Ecuadorian
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Robusto (552)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
STRENGTH: Medium-Full

NOTES: Roasted-cum-scorched bittersweet & spiced overtones, generally. Walnut & molasses with cinnamon clove paprika, red pepper/cayenne, specifically. Undertones are a deeply toasted and seasoned hard and softwood array. Dried compost underbelly. A nice complexity through the nose of a floral honey addition. Delivery dries the palate a tick.

An absolute smoke bomb which burns at a rather quick rate. warm to warmer re: temp w/ a slight tunneling threat out of the gate. Eventually calms-some all on its lonesome. Line stays even throughout. Draw is open. Performs a bit like a bum-rush, but a fun one.

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


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117. Kaplowitz Radio Monday 

Monday, January 28, 2019

117. Kaplowitz Radio Monday

"Book-end yer week-end w/ Kaplowitz Radio."


Please to press play below:



ty for yer attns., Gentlepersons.


Wherein I read from the week that was at KAPLOWITZ MEDIA and smoked a Felix Assouline Ringo Colt. Also featuring a musical interlude -- Haley Heynderickx: Tiny Desk Concert -- as I cleaned up after a sick but now well Ruby Vondella (my mini doxie). Apologies if I mispronounced "Heynderickx."

(further) EDITOR'S NOTE: apologies for my horrified yelling, slightly audible on the onset of the musical interlude. Too, if you have seen my bathrobe belt, please let me know. Sheesh.

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


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#KM vs them: A Kaplowitz Media Advertising Campaign

"Why not Kaplowitz?"



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116. Kaplowitz Radio Friday 

Friday, January 25, 2019

116. Kaplowitz Radio Friday

"Book-end yer week-end w/ Kaplowitz Radio."


Please press play below...



ty for yer attns., Gentlepersons.

I smoke/spotlight a Gran Habano #5 Corojo Maduro Lancero Limitado whilst reading from "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill (this is pt. 7 of the series).


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

Music: Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert


More about
---> KAPLOWITZ RADIO <---
"The voice of the cigar world."
thx


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Kaplowitz Media: Cigars of the Month (January 2019)

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


"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 (January 2019) cigar offerings I humbly found to be worthy of A (- to +) review ratings.


THE A-LIST
{Names are links to full review}


You can take a gander @ last month's Grade A smokes ((( here )))


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6. Kaplowitz Television 

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Dapper Cigar Co. La Madrina | Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Why not Kaplowitz?"


Dapper Cigar Co. La Madrina
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Habano
BINDER: Mexican San Andres
FILLER: Nicaraguan, Dominican, US(-ian?) PA

FORMAT: Toro (5.25x54)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua America Cigars, S.A. (NACSA)
STRENGTH: Med. Full/Full

NOTES: Very bright and very heavy. Toasted warmly. Sweet & spicy. A clay earthiness envelopes the profile. Primaries are milk chocolate | cinnamon/clove/cumin/smoked paprika steered by a pepper array of ground white-black-red as well as vegetal stuffs found in your local produce section. Undertones are top ---> bottom ---> buttery cedar, pecan. Thick & rich cream middling influences both top & under-notes. Complex af yet calm and comfy. Finish is a bright but too nigh cloying sweetness, saved by a re-intro of pepper-spice.

Burns evenly and puts forth clingy stack-of-dimes ash. Draw is excellent on a medium+ tension throughout. Pack does loosen a half-tick at the 3/3 but has no bearing on performance.

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


I smoked a previous offering of this blend on 109. Kaplowitz Radio Monday ((( link )))

"With La Madrina, we’re giving a whole new meaning to the term "Killin’ it". The cigar captures both complexity and intense strength by utilizing five different tobaccos from five countries. Be warned, this cigar is not for the faint of heart." - www.DapperCigars.com


IN MEMORIAM
Maria Sierra
Master Cigar Roller

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6. Kaplowitz Television 

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Emilio Cigars Merges with Black Label Trading Co. | Cigar News by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?


BLTC / EMILIO MERGE

News broke today -- so KAPLOWITZ MEDIA is here to fix it -- or something. Dunno. To paraphrase Yakov Smirnoff, 'In Soviet Russia, BLT[c] eat you!' Meaning, of course, & quite clearly, that Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) has something-like "acquired" Emilio Cigars although the verbiage reads "merge" in most cigar media coverage of this breaking story.

Regardless of linguistic particulars, BLTC will be taking over 'branding and marketing' responsibilities re: Emilio. This mover and/or shaker of a deal sees all cigar production of Emilio offerings now set to take place at BLTC’s Fabrica Oveja Negra factory in bee-u-tee-ful Esteli, Nicaragua. Already produced in them digs are Emilio's The Cavatina, LJZ, Papa Joe and Grimalkin lines. Emilio AF1, Emilio AF2, and Emilio Suave will be relocating from Tabacalera Fernandez.

Emilio owner Scott Zucca plans to maintain his involvement and distribution for both BLTC and Emilio Cigars through his L.J. Zucca Inc. ||| Either that, or Boutiques Unified will continue to handle distribution for Emilio Cigars and Black Label Trading Company -- reports seem split. I'll edit this as the dust settles into finality if I remember to do-so.

Some backstory... 2010 - 2015, Gary Griffith fronted the brand as ambassador/developer. It was under his guidance that Emilio created its own distribution company, House of Emilio. In its 2014 heyday, House of Emilio distributed nine blends. Then Griffith retired in 2015. In the wake of his said retirement, House of Emilio rebranded itself as Boutiques Unified; which took over distributing duties for Black Label Trading Co.

As to that, and over the past couple/few years, distributing was more lettuce say narrowly focused, as much of the brands it distributed left in varying forms of happenings. Most recently, the Nomad Cigar sale to Ezra Zion saw but a pair of brands remaining in the Boutiques Unified stable -- Emilio and BLTC, & BLTC's Black Works Studio (BLK WKS).

No word yet on how long I'll be able to stay in my bathrobe today. Hopefully, I won't have to switch into my hoodie until brunch.


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6. Kaplowitz Television

6. Kaplowitz Television

"Curiously Entertaining"


DAV Cigars is the exclusive sponsor of #KTv
Visit them at www.DAVcigars.com for YOUR #DAVmoment



TOPICS: I discuss correcting burn-issues in your cigar & read ~5 mins from "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. DON'T MISS IT, THO!!! As any single minute of this inspirational classic can change yer life!!! (For the better.)


Again, DAV Cigars is the exclusive sponsor of #KTv
Visit them at www.DAVcigars.com

Find out more re: Kaplowitz Television.


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Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Drew Estate Crowned Heads Paniolo Especiale 2019 Coming Soon | Cigar News by Kaplowitz

"Just Kaplowitz."


CROWNED HEADS PANIOLO ESPECIALE 2019

In the wake of last year's Buckeye offering, Drew Estate is producing another Crowned Heads jawn for famed cigar factory hopping haberdasher Jon Huber -- the Paniolo Especiale 2019. <--- that was most likely an ill-constructed sentence but & alas, I can't afford Grammarly Premium. 

The 5.5x48 Hawaiian exclusive is set to say "aloha" on 2/8 at the surely fab-u-lous Prince Waikiki Hotel; thereafter it'll be available in 12ct. packs at R. Field Wine Co. Its blend sees a Mexican San Andres binder laid twixt Dominican & Nicaraguan guts & Connecticut Broadleaf top-leaf. 

Total production run = 5K. 


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115. Kaplowitz Radio Monday 

Rock-A-Feller Cigars Vintage Nicaraguan Connecticut - Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


Rock-A-Feller Vintage Nicaraguan Connecticut
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut
BINDER: Indonesian
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Robusto (552)
ORIGIN: American Caribbean Cigars, Nicaragua
STRENGTH: Medium

NOTES: A table sugar sweetness permeates the profile, tho not cloyingly-so. Cardamom, white ginger. Avoids the green note pitfall of many a Connie. Delicate white pepper. Buttery/creamy. Floral & orange blossom notes. Lightly toasted grains and sunny earth underbelly. Increasingly simply pleasurable.

Excellent smoke out-put off each end and both passively & actively. Burns on an even line. Top-leaf feels a bit loosely appointed but that don't hinder performance. Included in said performance is a smooth and even tension'd (medium) draw, gate-to-wire. Too, ash builds particularly thick & oily.

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


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115. Kaplowitz Radio Monday 

Monday, January 21, 2019

115. Kaplowitz Radio Monday

"Book-end yer week-end w/ Kaplowitz Radio."


Please to press play below:



ty for yer attns., Gentlepersons.


Wherein I read pt. 5 of "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill & recant the week that was at KAPLOWITZ MEDIA. Maybe not in that order. I also smoked a DAV Caridad.

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


More about
---> KAPLOWITZ RADIO <---
"The voice of the cigar world."
thx


Report a typo, win a No-prize.

@KaplowitzMedia on Twitter
@KaplowitzMedia on Instagram

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