Canadian Cigar Company News and Reviews

Cuban Cigar Newsletter
February of 2013

Pleasing our clients with ONLY genuine Cuban cigars since 1993

Greetings!

SPRING! I love the word, though my wife warns me saying it out loud tempts fate and the gods of the seasons, preventing me from having what I wish for.

What a time of year. Thawing occurs, you see the mess left in the yard by weather and the dog, and you realize all that is needed to prepare for the coming good weather and times outdoors.

The best part of those early warmer days? Not the perfect temperature, but sitting on the deck with a fine Cuban cigar in the direct sun makes it feel perfect to me.

I firmly believe Spring comes earlier to the optimist, so look for those days to pop outside and enjoy a Cuban. A few of those days makes Spring come all the sooner. Enjoy

We are always glad to be of service

Canadian Cigar Company Ltd

Toll free: 1-888-830-6162

www.canadiancigar.com

Do you keep a Cuban Cigar Journal of our Monthly club selections. Great way to record your favorites so you can email us to add them to your next club box.

Shipping is FREE and your CLUB DISCOUNT applies to your purchase. Enjoy!

MONTECRISTO, The legend Goes On

New Stuff coming very soon to our humidor and yours.

Heard of a brand with a name of its own? That's Montecristo. Well that brand will have a new vitola and a new cigar band very, very soon....read the hints in the Habanos release below.

The Montecristo legend was born from the reading of Alejandro Dumas' famous novel The Count of Montecristo to cigar rollers at the H. Upmann factory in Havana. Since then, the legend has grown larger-than-life, as the famous character.

Penciled in as a tasting benchmark to size up the other Habanos, Montecristo will step into the limelight this year with the launch of two new vitolas and the presentation, with absolute respect for its history, of a new band in an effort to boost its value and image.

Now a new proposal, aimed at reveling all that taste in a shorter span of time, has popped up.

It has been a long time since the Classic Line has had a new product launch, a move that gives twice as much significance to the unveiling of the Montecristo Petit No. 2 because it adds to the brand's tradition by adding a petit figurado, a niche in which the Montecristo No. 2 is quite a benchmark.

Completely rolled by hand with long filler, the ring gauge will catch on among smokers because of the easy grip and good burning that makes each puff a thrilling moment. For its part, the midsize length makes customers love every minute of it.

The exquisite blend of tobacco, exclusively rolled with filler and binder leaves hailing from Vuelta Abajo, guarantees faithfulness to the original Linea Clasica's mild-to-strong taste and captivating scent that enthrall both seasoned smokers and those who are now cutting their teeth in the realm of Habanos.

The Edmundo line also sees an addition soon, with the coming of the Double Edmundo, also featuring the new Montecristo band and bigger size.

Though featuring a thinner ring gauge - it is large enough to delight passionate smokers - its length guarantees slow pleasure and intimate contact between smoke and spirit.

In a word, this is a great opportunity to grab all the taste Montecristo has to offer... unhurriedly. Look for more details in coming Canadian Cigar newsletters...

Keeping a Cigar Journal

Cigar Journals are really just the smokers notes on each experience so their buying is more informed. Those new to the hobby also use their notes as a guide to what they enjoy and how their palette is changing as they move through the hobby.

Some keep studious details of every aspect of the cigar, others just the basics. Regardless, the real benefit is having a reference to your likes and dislikes. Starter journals will have the basic requirements, as follows...

Date___________

Brand___________

Vitola (cigar model)______________

Length & ring gauge___________

Rating of strength 1 - 100_______________

Notes: anything unique, enjoyable or distainful about the cigar._______________________________

Example

Feb 2013

Montecristo

No 2 torpedo

6 1/8 x 52

Rating 91/100

Nice flavor, cocoa and coffee tones

Went realy good with my Remi XO cognac

The rating is really up to you. There are several ways I have tried, but as Cigar Aficonado Magazine publishs ratings I use in my business and clients are used to compare their ratings, I stick with their system.

CA MAGAZINE RATING SYSTEM

They award 15 points for Appearance, 25 points for Smoking Characteristics (burn, aroma, etc.), 25 points for Taste, and an Overall grade of 35 points for a total of 100 possible points.

Now, you can expand upon your records in many ways. When you bought the cigar, the box code, how long you let the cigar rest in your humidor and so on.... but as long as you have the basics, you have a reference to each cigar so your next purchase can be guided a little by the past.

Many Cuban Cigar lovers, leave room to glue or tape the cigar band below the rating. As a tobacconist, I agree with this whole heartedly. A rough description of the size, combined with the band colors, gives me the ability to identify the cigar you enjoyed, so I can send you more of them knowing I have the right one.

Cuba releases several Limited Editions each year, along with Regional productions and of course they also introduce new Vitolas that become part of their regular manufacturing lines.

There are many electronic versions these days, with some having customisable record keeping features. I think the advantage of being able to keep a photo is great, but the rest lacks somehing real and tangible that a man needs. The journal is there, in the flesh, so you can flip through while enjoying a Cuban.

So, I suggest a fine crafted leather journal, size of your choosing, over a pre printed cigar diary. They often have info you do not wish to record, plus they can be restrictive with the space for each note or review. Make your own, keeps it fresh and you will have a great buying guide next time you do a mixed box order at Canadian Cigar.

How do you know your humidor is working the way it should be?

The key indicator to a properly maintained humidor is the cigar itself. The oils should be visible on the wrapper, though less so the longer they are stored.

The feel should have a slight spring when lightly compressed with your thumb. The aroma of a fine Cuban cigar should be present and accounted for.

Should you find the cigar keeps going out, chances are a little too much humidity is present. Burning quickly and to one side, indicates dryness or uneven humidity. A swelling at the foot of your cigars indicates you have fluctuated the humidity and caused different levels of humidity between the layers of leaf. Since the inner leaves release their moisture last, the wrapper leaf tends to tighten under the swelling, causing it to crack or burst, starting at the foot.

By all means, check the gauge when you can, but rely on these signs to confirm the reading. Often gauges are out of calibration and some just plain wrong. Visual and sensory indicators are never wrong, so if the cigar burns well, the draw is pleasant, the aroma is as it should be and the taste is what you are expecting, then chances are you have a far better grasp on how to keep your cigars perfect for smoking than the noob that keeps checking that darn gauge all the time.

HOW TO REINVIGORATE YOUR HUMIDOR

Simple, start over. Remove the cigars to a heavy freezer bag for storage and keep in a cool dry place, NOT the fridge.

Using a mineral free water, soak all the wood surfaces heavily and mop up any excess, any at all, since to leave a puddle causes mold. Then charge your humidity releasing device, add a shot glass of water and close the lid for a few days. More the better as when the cigars return you do not want them to compete with the wood for humidity.

Return the cigars and about once every month, roll them slightly so a different part of the cigar is resting on the wood. Keep an eye on the humidity device so it does not dry out and if a problem occurs, add that shot glass for 24 hours, with the cigars still in the humidor. Check the gauge if you wish, but check the cigars too!

Enjoy the hobby and the cigars with these easy steps. DF

In This Issue

What cigars are in the latest Cuban cigar clubs

Montecristo, the legend continues...

Ready mixed boxes of 25 Cuban cigars

Humidors, how do you know they are working right?

Cuban cigar reviews

Just joking, really....

3 amazing Monthly Cuban Cigar Clubs.

Each incudes 4 Cuban cigars sent to your home or office each month, plus discounts!

Cuban Cigar Samplers

So many to chose from, all brands, sizes, styles and favorites for the avid cigar guy in your life. Great gifts.

Full boxes intact shipped fast, fresh and very secure to arrive at your home or office.

Cuban Cigar Reviews

Trinidad Reyes
(The KIng)

4 3/8 x 40 tres petit corona

Reviewer D Fraser

It has been a while since my last Reye and I was surprised to open the box and find very dark oily wrappers on each cigar.

A small cigar offers more strength than its larger counterpart, and this is proven again here.

6 1/2 of 10 strength with power to spare. Loads of coffee tones. Espresso, coffee grounds, dark burnt roast beans and so on... A light hint of saddle leather to the finish made this cigar a real treat. Need to walk the dog in the evening, this is the perfect little fire cracker Cuban to take with you on your stroll.

My overall rating is 88/100

CA Magazine's most recent rating of this cigar was a 90/100 Oct 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cohiba Behike #52

4 3/4 x 52 petit robusto

Reviewer D Fraser

A friend dropped by the other day and only had time for a short stogie. I had wanted to revisit the Behikes to see if they were living up to the the reputation and amazing ratings they have been receiving since their release.

The Behike #52 is the smallest of the new Cohiba line, but has won the most accolades and highest ratings.

The rare dark filler leaves used in this cigar really do offer the smoker a treat. New ideas hit the palette, like dates and figs, dark fruit meats that are not too sweet

The fermentation comes accross different that most Cuban cigars, with a little less coffee or cocoa overtones and more sutble cedar and spice. A little black pepper too, but often I find a peppery cigar overwelming and this was more understated and very pleasant to my palette.

I will continue to give my admiration to the Behikes and look forward to revisiting the other two sizes soon.

My overall rating for this cigar is 94/100.

CA Magazine's most recent rating for this cigar was a 93/100 Aug 2012

Just joking...

Your Chuckle for today

When I'm gone?

A guy's wife asks him, "If I were to die, would you get married again and share our bed with your new wife?"

And he says, "I guess I might."
"What about my car?" she asks. "Would you give that to her?"
And he says, "Perhaps."
"Would you give my golf clubs to her, too?" his wife asks.
"No."
"Why not?" asks the wife.
"She's left-handed."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The unfaithful!

A golfer comes home to find his wife waiting on the front porch with steam coming out of her ears.
"Where the hell were you?" she demands. "Our guests came over, but the yard wasn't mowed, there was no barbecue and you were missing. I've never been so humiliated!"
"I'm sorry," the husband says. "Let me explain. We played golf this morning, but on the way back to town we stopped at a strip joint. I met one of the dancers, and she was so beautiful, and one thing led to another, so I took her to a hotel room for several hours of wild passion. Then I had a quick shower and rushed straight home."
"Don't you lie to me," his wife says. "You played another 18, didn't you?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ACTUAL CALLS RECEIVED AT A PUBLIC GOLF COURSE

Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: What are your green fees?
Staff: 38 dollars.
Caller: Does that include golf?