Thursday, February 14, 2019

On Hiatus

New posts begin again 3/1/19.


In the interim, feel free to peruse the #KM archives. I'm sure there's something ya missed on its first go-around.

Also, keep tabs on my (the #KM) social media-ings over at Twitter & Instagram. I plan on being quite present there during this extremely well-earned hiatus.


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Wednesday, February 13, 2019

9. Kaplowitz Television

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


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



TOPICS:
  • Growing your ash
  • Atmospheric cigar pairings
Thanks for the eyes, Gentlepersons.


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Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Casa Cuevas Cigars Miami Warehouse Burglarized | Cigar News by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


This via "Emergency Press Release" from Gabriel Alvarez, Casa Cuevas Director of Sales: "The Casa Cuevas warehouse in Miami was burglarized over the weekend." The Miami Dade Police have been notified and an investigation launched into the caper which sees the co.'s entire inventory housed at said warehouse *poof* gone. This includes not only the brand's core lines but LE editions, as well.


Luis Cuevas, owner of Casa Cuevas, assures all that there is enough inventory of CCC at its DR factory to restock this weekend's losses by next week's end. Back to the press release: "They ask the smoking community to please notify the Casa Cuevas team should they be approached by anyone, other than a reputable retailer, purporting to sell Casa Cuevas Cigars."

A local to them NBC affiliate is citing $70K in losses.


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DAV Cigars Caridad | Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


DAV Caridad
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut
BINDER: Indonesian
FILLER: Dominican

FORMAT: Petite Corona (438)
ORIGIN: Dominican Republic
STRENGTH: Mild

NOTES: Subtle pale spices (a white ginger foremost) led from behind by sweet softwoods and cappuccino. Creamy slightly nutty undertones of earth and soft 'baccy with the slightest of citrus pith lilt. Through the nose is a white pepper addition which supplies some calm complexity and extends to a pleasantly clean, sweet, & mild finish.

Burns evenly and draws excellently. Ash builds more and smoke lasts longer than one might expect from this small format. Quite a good bit of sweet smoke out-put. Temp stays cool to the well-built nub.

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

I smoked another offering of this blend during 115. Kaplowitz Radio Monday ((( link )))


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Monday, February 11, 2019

119. Kaplowitz Radio

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


Please press play below:



ty for yer attns., Gentlepersons.


Wherein I read from the week that was at KAPLOWITZ MEDIA and smoke a Dapper Cigar Co. El Borracho Maduro. This episode was alphabetically brought to you by:

www.CaldwellCigars.com
www.GHcigars.com
www.IllusioneCigars.com


@KaplowitzMedia on Twitter
@KaplowitzMedia on Instagram

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Sunday, February 10, 2019

Smoking Indoors vs Outdoors, My Take on a Cigar Aficionado Point/Counterpoint | Cigar View by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


Before I begin, allow me to address the elephant in the room. "Hello-ooo, elephant!" With apologies to Ed Norton (Honeymooners not Fight Club) -- here goes. What exactly gives me the right to chime in on a point/counterpoint which ensued twixt contributors of and housed in the ivory towers of our industry's very-most vaulted of publications, Cigar Aficionado?

It happened on their blog. This KAPLOWITZ MEDIA is a blog. We are on obvious equal footing. Might I add that not just anyone can open a blog; most blogging platforms if not all require an email address. Ok, anyone can get an email address... but there is a gate to publication, goddammit.


I digress & begin anew.

Let's get David Savona's take first, as that played point to Andrew Nagy's eventual counter. He begins by positing that he actually smoked less on a recent Bermuda excursion. Then relates his misfortunes of trying to smoke while golfing. How some men forge so bravely ahead and through such trials is surely beyond me. Near as I can tell, it's Job and Savona atop the mountain of unfair despair. 

He (Savona, not Job) then does say something which will play a role in my own take on the matter, "Smoking on the deck is better, but still it’s not ideal." Then he goes on to write: "We test our cigars in the Cigar Aficionado smoking room, a controlled area. The lighting is the same every day, the temperature is constant, there is no breeze from the wind. It’s not a lab, but it does provide a consistent climate for accurate tastings."

He does go on to make a couple somewhat superfluous points to the context of this editorial. However, he does notably offer at closing the famed blogger ending of "So let me know in the comments below if you agree or disagree. Do you prefer smoking your cigar indoors, or outdoors?" I would welcome my readers to do this as well -- if I'd not had the wherewithal and common decency to disable all comments. 


Andrew Nagy, yer up. OK. Pretty much he begins by making Savona's point: "The open air literally sucks some of the enjoyment from a cigar, as it allows the aroma to escape. And, of course, any sort of wind will wreak havoc on the burn." I haven't seen that strong a counter since Tyson laid on his back in Tokyo. Then, while we are all rightly lulled -- "Counter to what my boss says, though, there is one outdoor location that I believe is perfect for lighting up: the campfire." 

He then goes on to wax poetic re: a recent camping trip with friends and really to me, it all sounds just terrible. Why would I work hard all year-long to stave off homelessness, to then recreate it on my break from doing-so? Feh. More Nagy: "Soon other members of the group caught a whiff of our cigars and began asking us for a puff or two, especially of the Cubans. Some even asked to light up their own smoke and joined in on the fun."

This begs a working definition of "enjoyment" in our time here, prior to moving on; offering counters, counters to counters, and positing my own positions perfectly. 


Enjoyment here will be given the definition of getting the most from the cigar -- not the moment. Thereby I will very likely fall more on the Savona side of the fence than the Nagy side. While the moment is important, it relies barely on the cigar's quality, all told. One more mention here: much hullabaloo is given to pairings. The perfect hooch, coffee, etc. It would behoove us all to pay more attn to what I call 'atmospheric pairings.' The company, entertainment, decor, lighting -- see? I think that's where Nagy is attempting to steer. 

I'll now go on, and I do go on, don't I? Undoubtedly, the way to enjoy a cigar to its fullest, as even Nagy states -- is to enjoy it inside. But I would too, elevate a deck to near indoor status... dependant natch, on the 'deck.' Here's how I personally see this all because I lack any empathy and see the world only through my own hubris. I mean eyes. Totes meant eyes lol. Anyways, here's some spots I've recently smoked and my quick-take on each locale. 


My carport. Long the official KAPLOWITZ MEDIA smoking lounge. It sits on concrete and has overhead and double-sided protection. Not bad. Sadly no heat. Perfect in summer and mostly dry but quite cold in the winter (PNW rainy-season). I am not opposed to performing cigar reviews in it, on days of still winds & when it's not cold nuff to crack a top-leaf or catch the pneumonia. On said still days, the aroma is still eviscerated in all but the most pungent of offerings. I have blown into my hat and/or empty coffee mug for hints as to what I've missed, with varying mostly [sad emoji] results.

My office is where I go to do office-y stuff, I guess? Not sure yet -- it's new. I do have an excellent air filtration system which looks a lot like an open window and oscillating fan I forget to put on -- as well as to take out of my closet. Also also, this is my boudoir recording studio which doubles (triples?) as my plain ol' boudoir (bedroom). It's nice and I'm generally alone (big+) because I don't often host parties in my bedroom. Sans for my special lady friend, natch. She does not, for the record, typically note much if any lingering odor. From the room, at least. I do eat a lot of onions and am prone to flatulence. 

The bar. Ain't been there in a minute. (See 'banned' in the segment below.) I'm just not a bar person. I don't drink. I don't mingle. I attended weekly (weakly?) cigar nights there as an extension of [banned]. I don't miss the noise, the hot air being forced onto the tables till everyone's phones warned of being over-heated. (Radiant heat is better/best.) My carport is simply and subjectively and objectively... a superior place for a semi out-of-doors smoke. Except & again for on the coldest/wettest of days.


I am banned from my local B&M. Long story I'll perhaps editorialize in a coming week. Have been for months. Prior to said ban, I hadn't been there for months. I received word of ban via text, due to something I wrote/said re: B&Ms which was offered up then taken out of context. This was much akin to getting a letter from Wyoming, telling me not to come. Gotcha Wyoming -- had no plans, anyways. 

When I did smoke there, it had the worst of the worst scenarios for enjoying a cigar. Outside, yes. No smoking inside was allowed. Open to elements? Mostly. A narrow porch with narrower overhang. Worst of all? Standing. Standing room only, save for two (2) folding chairs. It felt a lot like there should have been a burning barrel full of scrap papers aflame in the middle of our gatherings -- as we smoked the butts of bummed cigarettes, passed the 20/20 bottle around, and sang doo-wop tunes in oddly excellent harmony.

The take away from all this prattle? Get a chair, no matter where and what you burn. It is of paramount import. It is the root of all else insofar as any type of pairing. Whether all that happens indoors (best) or out (lettuce make 'not best' suffice). But it can't be just any chair. It must be made to be yours. I, for one, had no idea I felt this strongly about that. I do. For chrissakes cigars are not made for lunting. 


Sourced articles:
The Case For Smoking Inside, David Savona ((( link )))
The Case For Smoking Outdoors, Andrew Nagy ((( link )))

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HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ALL THIS? oh, yeah. Whew.

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Drew Estate ACID & Tabak Especial Frenchies to Launch at TPE 2019 | Cigar News by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


If yer gonna smoke a cigar that doesn't much taste like a cigar -- might as well make it quick, huh? To that end, Drew Estate will be unveiling tiny-formatted "Frenchies' extensions to their ACID & Tabak Especial lines. This is set to occur at the rapidly-approaching (2/11) TPE in LV, NV. There, orders will be taken for a projected June shipment. Full release to market will wait till IPCPR 2019.

ACID Frenchies see a Sumatra top-leaf over-top Nicaraguan guts. Tabak Especial Frenchies see an Ecuadorian CT Shade top-leaf over-top Nicaraguan fillers. Both are of course infused beyond recognition & both too are 3 1/4 x 20 & will be packed into 5 & 10cts. Each pack replete with Boveda humidification.

"Why Frenchies you ask? Well, French is the language of romance and people are going to LOVE these sticks.” Al Goldstein -- I mean Jonathon Drew -- stated. I always seem to get those guys confused.


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Friday, February 8, 2019

118. Kaplowitz Radio Friday

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


Please press play below...



ty for yer attns., Gentlepersons.

I smoke/spotlight a Bombay Tobak Vintage Reserve MQBA whilst reading from the Cigar Aficionado & Cigar Journal websites -- so you don't have to.

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



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Thursday, February 7, 2019

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Names Dave Lafferty New VP of Sales | Cigar News by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


News from New Hampshire: Dave Lafferty was named Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Vice President of Sales by Founder and Co-Owner of DTT one Steve Saka. (Effective 3/1/19.) Doesn't "New Hampshire" sound like a village in a Tolkien novel which I can't read more than a couple pages of? Or does the "New" make is more dystopian future-y? I digress.

Here, have another paragraph. Lafferty's journey de tobacco has been: Drew Estate, NE Sales Rep ---> East Coast Regional Sales Manager ---> Director of National Accounts (2007-18). Nat Sherman, Executive Director of their premium cigar division (2018-19).

Those of you keeping even vague score at home can easily surmise that the two fellas go back a dozen years -- to Saka's magical mythical DE run. According to Lafferty: "I started my career working with Steve in 2007 and I am very excited to be back working with him again. ... I believe the future for all of us together is very bright."


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Dapper Cigar Co. Siempre Sungrown | Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


Dapper Cigars Siempre Sun Grown
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Sun Grown Sumatra
BINDER: Connecticut Broadleaf USA
FILLER: Nicaraguan, Honduran

FORMAT: Robusto (measures as Petite)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua America Cigars, S.A. (NACSA)
STRENGTH: Medium-Full

NOTES: Sharp liquidy notes of a forward pepper-spice led by peppercorn & cumin. That's coupled by bitter almond and espresso then cola -- enveloped in scorched and separately nutty earth. Sweetness comes on further in a citrus manner on retro-hale and finish. Said finish is quite lengthy and complex, with each note taking a bow therein. Goodly+ nicotine zetz.

Ash cracks but don't dump. Pack density holds admirably. Burn-line wobbles but requires zilch insofar as re-touch. Draws smoothly, evenly. Looks just pretty.

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


I smoked an offering of this blend on 112. Kaplowitz Radio Friday ((( link )))

"Drawing on the Spanish word for always, the Siempre Sun Grown is said to be a prime example of Dapper Cigar Co.’s commitment to continually craft world-class cigars. The line uses an Ecaudorian sungrown Sumatra wrapper from the Oliva Tobacco Co., a Connecticut broadleaf binder from Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Co. and a quartet of filler tobaccos: Nicaraguan leaves from EstelĂ­, Ometepe and Jalapa, along with a Honduran leaf from the Jamastran valley. The fillers from Ometepe and Jalapa come from Oliva Tobacco Co. as well, while the EstelĂ­ and Jamastran Valley leaves’ growers are not being disclosed. In a press release, the company described it as medium plus in strength and full in flavor." - www.Halfwheel.com (2018)


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Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Micallef Cigars Adding Sizes to Three Lines | Cigar News by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


The Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE) trade show will happen Feb. 11-13 at the Lost Wages (lol) Convention Center in "Nev-AD-a," not "Nev-AH-da." Lots of happenings will happen at that happening, most certainly -- but the focus of this bit of news is that Micallef Cigars will unveil six (6) new formats across three (3) lines. Exciting, I know.

Still reading? Weird. Well, The Experiencia La Crema line will add a Robusto, Toro, & Gordo. The Cream Experience (ew/sexy) features a Mexican San Andres top-leaf placed over an Ecuadorian Habano binder and guts via Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Panama. Panama??? Panama.

The second line is the Micallef Connecticut, which will see new Toro and Gordo additions. Wrapper: Ecuadorian. Binder; Nicaraguan Habano. Filler: Nicaraguan and the Dominican Republic. Thirdly, the Migdalia will get a new Toro iteration of its blend which sees a Sumatran binder laid twixt Nicaraguan and Dominican innards and Mexican SA skin.

Shipping is set to ship immediately following the Expo. Carpe diem! For you kids out there, that means YOLO. No kids say that anymore. Also, no kids read a cigar blog. [insert shoulder-shrug emoji]


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8. Kaplowitz Television

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


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



TOPICS:
  • Unplugging a plugged cigar
  • Is that really a pepper note?
EDITOR'S NOTE: One must never discuss body sans naming flavor. I shoulda said that to wrap this all up. 



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Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Davidoff to Take Illusione Cigars to European Market | Cigar News by Kaplowitz

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


Pinky: Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?
Brain: The same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world!

As if guided by the sheer will of Brain himself, Illusione head honcho Dion Giolito has poised his co. to take over the very world in which we live. Hyperbole? NEVER!!! How-so, you may ask? How's international expansion grab ya I may ask. This on the distribution wings of none other than Oettinger Davidoff AG. Perhaps you've heard of them.


The following is a full list of countries in which Davidoff will now distribute Illusione. Granted, it's lazy content, but: Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland, & the United Kingdom. Eventually the Reno-based cigar co. will find all its portfolio in that list of spots I couldn't find on a map if offered a million bucks to do-so -- but things will start with the Epernay and Fume d’Amour.

For the record, Illusione is already distributed in six other countries and has plans for some four more (fore? mour?) Hey, how many countries are there, anyways?! Asking for a friend who went through the NYC public school system.



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Felix Assouline Cigars CSB Fuerte Black Habano | Cigar Review by Kaplowitz

"Why not Kaplowitz?"


Felix Assouline CSB Black Habano
WRAPPER: Nicaraguan Habano Criollo 98
BINDER: Nicaraguan Jalapa
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: "Belle Anne" Churchill BP Belicoso
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
STRENGTH: Medium-Full

NOTES: Elegant tobacco-forward delivery with charred oak and spiced cedar complexities swirling about. Reminiscent of the Padron Thousand Series, filtered somewhat. Toasted almonds. A darkly earthen underbelly with black pepper & cumin underbelly rides high. Finish sweetens on the back of semi-sweet chocolate seen too on the retro-hale. Also through the nose, is a hibiscus lilt.

Draws smoothly. Burn wobbles but self-corrects. The extreme box-press (flat) coupled with the tapered Belicoso cap doesn't quite feel like quite 'nuff cigar in my mouth. Please, leave Freud outta that last statement. Really just a beautiful cigar displaying beautiful subtleties sip after sip.

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


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Monday, February 4, 2019

Kaplowitz Media Programming Note | Kaplowitz Radio Postponed & Upcoming Hiatus

"Have you Kaplowitz'd to-day?"


As you Gentlepersons hopefully know by now, my yearly couple-week hiatus is nigh upon us -- and I am quite literally limping to the finish line. (I think I slept on my groin funny or something.) Nevertheless, KAPLOWITZ MEDIA will be hibernating twixt 2/14 & 2/28. What to expect come 3/1? Well, I'll tells ya. But first...

I have a nagging cough which I have decided not to put on audio display today. My apologies for canceling the last two Kaplowitz Radio episodes, but the spectacle of me hacking up lung chunks through a cigar show seems like fodder likely to fall into the wrong hands. I'll be up and running for a B I G Friday show in which, well, I have a LOT of catching up to do.

Please do allow me to s/o Kaplowitz Radio sponsors:



Now. There will be some changes come the month that enters like a lion and exits as a lamb: firstly & perhaps the biggest news is that you maybe might wanna expect #KM to have some guest writers in the form of regular contributors. Fret not, humsoever, as yours truly will see no cutback in postings. We are simply G R O W I N G.

Also, look for Kaplowitz Radio to condense its Monday & Friday episodes into one weekly MEGA show, airing each & every Monday. & finally, Kaplowitz Television will move to Friday & while maintaining its #leastmode LowFi charm, might too get a little prettier. Might. Dunno.

I'll offer up more info re: all that, as it develops. Other regular segments such as Saturday Recapitulations, Sunday Editorials, Cigars of the Month, etc. & et al -- will remain unchanged. Basically, the 'extra' day will be filled by cigar reviews &/or news.


The new schedule will look therefore thusly:

SUNDAY: Cigar Editorial
MONDAY: Kaplowitz Radio
TUESDAY: Cigar Review &/or News
WEDNESDAY: Cigar Review &/or News
THURSDAY: Cigar Review &/or News
FRIDAY: Kaplowitz Television
SATURDAY: Weekly Recapitulation
25th: Cigars of the Month

All the above content will be created by myself. Contributors shall contribute twixt those rain-drops, meaning occasional thrice-daily posts. Consider my "once daily, sometimes twice daily, but never thrice daily" pledge to be officially reneged upon. G R O W I N G, see?

As a note, please do not approach me with unsolicited offers to contribute.

thx


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