Recommended Holiday Champagne And Cigar Pairings

1. Perrier Jouet Blanc de Blanc Flower Bottle ’99 paired with Arturo Fuente Opus X Perfecxion

Wine Spectator gave this fine champagne a 90 rating. Aromas of yogurt and yeast introduce the rich, powerful ’99 Perrier Jouet Blanc de Blanc Flower Bottle, a champagne with fine density and lovely texture. 

One of the rarest and highest rated brand in the world, OpusX has a world- renowned reputation for quality and class. It is full-bodied with a rich, robust flavor.  

2. Moet & Chandon Champagne Brut Rose Imperial paired with Padron Anniversary 1964 Series “A”

The most extrovert and seductive expression of the Moet & Chandon style. This champagne reflects the richness of the region’s best vineyards. Instantly seductive. Wine Spectator Rating: 91. 

A box-pressed cigar with a very even burn and a lush draw that saturates the entire palate with complex layers of spice, nut and wood flavors before a toasty finish.  

3. Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvee paired with Davidoff Zino Platinum Crown Series Rocket

The Bollinger style is always rich, with an intensity of flavor. Wine Enthusiast Rating: 94, Wine Spectator Rating: 93.

A thick torpedo that smokes well, forming a large, solid ash as it burns. It starts out papery but warms to show some nutty and savory notes. A light, mild- to medium-bodied cigar.  

4. Piper Heidsieck Champagne Brut ’98 paired with Montecristo White Churchill

Elegant vintage, classy and refined, with notes of tobacco and leather. The finish is light, with a hint of herbal tea. Wine Spectator Rating: 92. $59.99.

Creamy, mild and smooth, the Montecristo White is a favorite for aficionados who appreciate a complex smoke without an overwhelming amount of strength.

5. Domaine Carneros Brut Rose paired with Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Illusion

A top choice by Connoisseurs Guide, the NV Dom Carneros Brut Rose Cuvée de la Pompadour celebrates the life and times of Madame de Pompadour (the great courtesan and mistress of Louis XV) who is credited with introducing champagne to the court. 

A thin, pressed cigar that is dark and oily with a lush draw. The flavors are woody and toasty with some peppery notes, citrus zest and a coffee finish. 

6. Deutz Champagne Brut Classic paired with Macanudo 1968 Toro

The distinctive house style that has made Champagne Deutz one of the most respected of all Champagne houses, is reflected in this fine non-vintage champagne. Wine Enthusiast Rating: 93. 

A dark cigar with lots of cedar flavors. The Toro’s taste is complemented by significant notes of toast as well as black cherry. 

7. Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label paired with Rocky Patel Decade The Forty Six

Clicquot’s signature non-vintage Brut, loved for its crisp, full flavors, consistent quality and bright yellow label. It has a persistent sparkle and elegance. 

Short and box-pressed with even combustion and a full draw, this cigar is spicy and meaty with sweet, woody notes and a coffee bean finish. Medium bodied and well balanced.  

8. Chandon Spark Pinot Noir Brut Reserve paired with CAO LX2 Toro
Wine Enthusiast called this vintage “one of the best Chandon bubblies.” Rating: 93 

The Cao is a dark, solidly rolled cigar. The draw gives some resistance but, after savory first puffs, layers the palate with leather and coffee bean notes that usher in sweetness. 

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Tips For Proper Humidor Etiquette

The temperature, humidity, air quality, and sanitary standards of our walk-in humidor must be perfectly kept to preserve cigars and protect you, our customers who smoke them. It takes effort from both you and our staff to maintain this integrity and quality in our humidor. To that end, humidor etiquette is important for all of us to know and observe. Humidor Etiquette is about doing unto others as you would have done unto you. The following are tips for great humidor etiquette:

NO SMOKE
The natural aromas of a walk-in-humidor are a subtle co-mingling of different tobaccos from all over the world. Part of the reason Tobacconists make their walk-ins accessible to customers is so that they can enjoy the smell of aging tobaccos. Lit tobaccos will overwhelm the natural aroma of a walk-in and excessive smoke can taint the flavor of the cigars. Not smoking in a walk-in is part courtesy to the next customer and a way to protect the cigars themselves.

TOUCHING CIGARS
Ultimately, the head of a cigar will enter your mouth, so cigars must be treated with the same care and respect as food. Maintaining clean hands when touching cigars is imperative. It is important for Tobacconists to have sanitary soap and hand sanitizer on hand for personal and customer use. In addition, when inspecting cigars you should only touch the foot and shaft area. Never touch the cigar above the band (head and shoulders) since someone will eventually put that cigar in their mouth.

SMELLING CIGARS
As consumers, we all have the right to smell the wrapper and foot of a cigar. In fact, that is part of the enjoyment of picking a great cigar. While smelling cigars can be part of the pre-selection process in a walk-in, it must be done in a sanitary and respectful way; as the nose contains germs and mucous that must be kept off cigars. If the cigar is wrapped in cellophane, push the cigar half-way out of the cellophane. Cellophane smells like cellophane so there is no point in sniffing it: when finished, you can push the cigar back in. Whether smelling just the wrapper or the foot of the cigar, always keep the cigar at least one inch from your nose and/or facial hair. One inch is close enough to sample the aroma of the tobacco yet far enough to minimize contamination.

SELECTING CIGARS
Now that we have covered the proper techniques to touch and smell cigars, we can address the more general process of picking one out. Some customers take the first cigar out from on top of a box, while others like to scrutinize every single cigar. To each his own method; there is no right or wrong. But, when pulling cigars out of a box, one must be very careful not to tear the wrapper or damage the head: in particular, the cigar foot is highly susceptible to damage. If you take cigars out of a box, lay them in a safe place and return them carefully when you have found your perfect cigar.

DAMAGED CIGARS 
One of the biggest economic challenges for retail Tobacconists with walk-in humidors is minimizing the amount damaged cigars: it is a massive expense unique to our business. While some cigars come damaged from the manufacturers/distributors, most damage occurs because of consumer mishandling. Retail Tobacconists absorb the cost of damaged cigars since they cannot be sold at standard retail margins. If you see damaged cigars in your retail Tobacconist’s walk-in, let them know: they will thank you for it.

RETURNING CIGARS
Sometimes you take a cigar all the way to the cash register and then decide that you don’t want it - that’s ok. As long as you're handling the cigar properly, you can return it to the walk-in. When returning a cigar to the humidor, it is always best to place it in the proper box with the head up and cigar band facing forward. This is called “facing” and retail Tobacconists do it every day to honor the brand, cigar maker, and our customers.

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Cigar Review - Tatuaje TAA Exclusive By Pete Johnson

While some of the cigars made for the Tobacconists Association of America don’t get very much buzz, leave it to Pete Johnson to suddenly charge that. The Tatuaje TAA Exclusive is getting rave reviews nationally & is currently flying off our shelves.

The Tatuaje TAA Exclusive arrived at our store in mid-September, and our customer feedback on these fine cigars is already strong. The cigar is 5 5/8” long with a 54 ring gauge – it’s  box pressed and features a closed foot, with wrapper leaf covering the bottom of the cigar. The cigar is available in boxes of 20.

Review:

The pre-light aroma on this cigar is warm with spicy, meaty notes, and a bit of hickory wood in it. The cold draw was spot on, showing robust tobacco flavors and a bit of spice. 

The cigar is a beauty – a nice box press, dark brown wrapper with a bit of crystallization on it and the covered foot make it an eye-pleaser. The TAA logo on the band doesn’t do anything to detract from it either.

Once lit, there’s a good amount of pepper out of the gate, with what toes the line of almost being a bit of a bitter, sour note. It’s  a nice strong beginning, similar to many Pepin made cigars with the pepper, spice and fuller body serving up the opening volley.

The smoke in the first third has both strength and smoothness to it – the palate isn’t overwhelmed by pepper, but rather dominated by a strong robust quality. There’s almost an anticipation for some huge spice blast that will just light up the palate, but short of the beginning, it doesn’t happen in the first third, though it starts to feel like it could kick up in the transition from first to second thirds.

Moving into the second third, there are some bigger notes of pepper and spice that come out and then retreat just a bit, which seems to be the protocol the rest of the way. The flavor and body never back off completely; instead they go through steady progressions of building up, dropping the RPMs down with a gear shift, then building back up, only to repeat.

The cigar closes with a strong yet smooth finish, easily cruising along in a higher gear that brings more tobacco flavors that are enhanced by a kick of pepper and spice.

If you’ve had the Tatuaje Black before, you’ll have a pretty good feel for what this cigar will deliver, though at times it seems to be both a bit stronger and a bit milder than the smaller ring gauges. The bigger ring gauge seems to afford it a bit more opportunity to develop its flavors, building and then backing off in fairly regular intervals.

The cigar is currently available only at TAA-member stores, including Palm Desert Tobacco. Our final verdict: A four-star cigar, we give it an easy 93 points out of 100.

760-340-1954

Rush Limbaugh's Cigar Recommendations

RUSH: "I smoke a variety of cigars.  If you've just recently started, it probably means you prefer a mild cigar. I'm just going to give you names, because I don't want to get into sizes. That's a personal preference. I'm just going to give you brands and you go pick out the size you want. Between these brands you will find quality that a new cigar smoker will thoroughly enjoy." ► Macanudo. It's very, very mild. (If you want something mild, you can't go wrong with it.) ► You also can't go wrong with Diamond Crown. They make some fabulous cigars. ►  Any cigar by Arturo Fuente is terrific. ►   La Gloria Cubana ►  Montecristo ►  Partagas No. 10 is a good cigar. (It's a little heavier than mild.) ► Ashton VSG, Virgin Sun Grown, any size. It's Dominican. ►  If you can find it in the Fuente line, find a Don Carlos. ►  Padròn from Nicaragua. They're fabulous cigars. They taste different than any other cigar I've ever had. Now, with Padrón you're dealing with Maduro cigars, really dark wrappers there and they can tend to be full-bodied, as it were. I don't want to say strong. I don't want to scare people away from them but everybody I've given a Padrón cigar to loves 'em. ►  La Flor Dominica Double Ligero - Chisel. Now, it is the strongest cigar I have ever smoked. Do you know how I use these? When I play in member guest golf tournaments I take these and I give these in a sign of friendship and sportsmanship to my opponents, and it loops 'em out. They get dizzy; they play horribly for two or three holes and sometimes that's all it takes. It's called a "chisel" because of the way it's rolled. It looks like a chisel at the end that you clip. It's made by Litto Gomez. He's a great guy. ► Punch and Hoyo de Monterrey. It's a great line of cigars out of Honduras. (Not to be confused with the brands of the same name put out by communist-controlled Habanos s.a. of Castro's Cuba.)

► The Opus X by Fuente.  It's tough to find, because the Opus X is a special cigar. It's the first cigar outside of Cuba [or as JFK pronounced it Cuber] where the wrapper, binder and filler are grown on the same plantation in the same country. The Fuentes have pulled it off, but they're very hard to find, and their distribution is -- I'm not sure what it is. If you can find one, good. Opus X is a great cigar ► The Ashton Cabinet selection is another great cigar. Okay, I have to stop somewhere. I can't keep mentioning brand names here. I'm going to confuse everybody -- and if you're just a beginner, I don't want to overwhelm you. Now, I know a lot of people in the cigar business. (I'm big in the cigar business.) These people love me and when I start giving brands, I invariably forget some and they're hurt. I get e-mails, "You left me out, doofus!" ~ Rush Limbaugh

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Cigar Sizes, Types & Smoking Times

One has to allow a considerable amount of time to smoke the Gigante, Immensa and Presidente – because, as their names might suggest, these cigars are large. They are the ideal cigars to smoke at a sporting event, or a lengthy social gathering. They are cigars to be savored; you wouldn't want to light one of these immediately after a meal at your favorite restaurant, for example. They can measure up to eight and a half inches long and last anything up to 90 minutes, and rarely last less than 60 minutes.

The Double (or doble) Corona is a little smaller measuring about seven and a half inches in length and 8/10th Inch in gauge. You will find these cigars smoke from 45 to 60 minutes.

The Pyramid cigar is tapered with a large cone (about 8/10th of an inch) foot and 7/10th of an inch gauge at the head. It can be between 6 and 7 inches long and should last you in the region of 60 minutes, though some may only last 45.

The Churchill (or Julieta) Cigar is another large cigar measuring seven inches long and a gauge of about 3/4th inch, it will last for about as long as the Double Corona.

The Lonsdale is very uniformly shaped cigar, about 6 inches long and 7/10th of an inch in gauge. It is roughly the same length of a Corona Grandes which can be about half-an-inch longer. These cigars are a medium length smoke, lasting around 45 minutes.

The Belicoso is a slightly more unusual with a pointed cone-shaped head. Like the Lonsdale it is normally 6 inches long. It has a gauge of three quarters of an inch. Expect it to last for abound 40 minutes.

You will find the Pantela and the Toro cigars to be about the same length as the Lonsdale and Belicoso. The Pantela has a smaller gauge – around half an inch. It smokes for around 35 minutes, but can, in some cases, go for a further 10 minutes if you really want to savour the flavor.

The Corona Royale is about 7/10th of an inch and just under six inches long, it will last you anything up to 40 minutes. It is also known as the Corona Extra. The standard Corona cigar is about ¼ of an inch smaller measuring about five and a half inches in length. It has the same gauge as the Royale and lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.

The Petite Belicoso forms the same shape as the standard Belicoso, but is a little smaller at five inches. Expect a shorter smoke.

The Petite Corona is, as you might imagine, a little smaller than the standard. It is between four and half and five inches long and its gauge is also a little thinner at a more modest 6/10th of an inch. It should give you a nice 25 minute smoke – excellent for after a meal, or with a coffee.

The Rothschild is also another short, but sweet, smoke; lasting you about 25 minutes (though it may burn for 40 if you get a slow-burner) It is about 4 and half inches long and has a ¾ inch gauge. The Robusto comes in with the same measurements and smoking times.

The Belvedere is a small cigar between three and five inches long. Like the Demitasse and the Ascot it will last about 15 to 20 minutes. An enjoyable smoke, ideal for those ‘in-between’ moments – or even to kill some time waiting for that bus!

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The Making of a Cigar

• Every cigar maker has his own style of making cigars as of every wine maker has his own style of making wine. Makers of premium cigars, especially the handmade ones, consider cigar making an art. They are personally involved in the process. They take pride in the works of their hands. To find a good cigar, you need to know the distinct quality that makes a cigar different from the other.

The Soil Quality

• The quality of soil where the tobaccos were grown affects the quality of the cigars. It explains why a cigar from a certain region is more popular than another region. It has nothing to do with the marketing of the product. It is because cigar smokers know exactly where the quality tobaccos are grown. It creates a distinct taste. It is similar to buying a wine. You do not just check the name, you also check where the grapes were grown.

The Filler Combination

• The filler is the cigar's meat. When you look at the open end of the cigar, that is what you see. High quality cigars use long-leaf filler or long strips of tobacco that extend along the entire length of the cigar. Machine made cigars use cut-up pieces. To create a certain blend, the tobacco makers uses two or three types of tobacco for the filler. The tobaccos usually come from different regions. When combined, they form a unique flavor. Makers of premium cigars are very secretive when it comes to the way they blend their tobaccos. It is a guarded recipe.

The Choice of Binder

• The casing that holds the filler together is called the binder. It consists of a very special tobacco leaf. Again, the choice of the cigar binder affects the flavor of the cigar. Cigar makers match the binder to their blend of filler to enhance the flavor.

The Wrapper

• The wrapper is the cigar's skin. When buying a cigar, it is the first thing the cigar smoker considers. According to Mark Hoff, author of "The Cigar Book Up in Smoke!," the wrapper is the cigar's personality. It also imparts about 30 percent to 60 percent of the cigar's overall flavor. It is often the most expensive part of the cigar. To create the desired flavor, cigar makers may use two different tobacco leaves for the wrapper. A good wrapper leaf is sought after by cigar makers.

  Our staff is eager to further answer questions or assist you in choosing a quality cigar for your relaxation pleasure!  760-340-1954 www.palmdeserttobacco.com

Review Of The Padron Anniversary 1926 No.6

The Padron Anniversary 1926 No.6 is similar to a petit corona, measuring 120mm in length and a ring gauge of 48. The factory measurement of the ring gauge is 50, however it looked more like a 48, especially when comparing it to its 46-ring rival. The cigar has a dark coarse maduro wrapper, with a few veins and cap is rounded and well made. Very mild aromas of fruit and new leather are present on the foot of the cigar and the prelight draw is good.

The cigar lights up in a cloud of thick white smoke. Full bodied, the 1926 reveals it full bodied character from the very beginning. It starts slightly one dimensional, with a distinct flavor of pepper covering the rest of the flavors. A slight taste of ammonia is also present and hits you in the back of the throat.

The ash is white with thick texture and stays on the cigar until it reaches an inch in length. In the beginning of the second third the 1926 mellows down and reveals its complexity. The peppery taste stops dominating and more flavors can be identified.  It now has a sweet and spicy profile, with flavors of wood, leather and toffee, always followed by ground pepper. The cigar burns evenly and the draw is good enough to fill your mouth with thick creamy smoke. Smoking towards the last third, the cigar becomes hotter and returns to the flavors of the first third. Pepper is dominating, followed by a hint of earth. The draw and burn are very consistent until the very end, which reveals the high construction standards of the Padron brand. 
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Tips For Refilling Your Torch Flame Cigar Lighter

Accurately taking the correct steps to refill your lighter will ensure a long, dependable lighting life.

Step 1: drain any remaining butane fuel from the lighter by depressing the fuel refilling valve (usually on the bottom of the lighter).  A ball point pen or small screwdriver can be used to accomplish this.

When you depress the valve, you will hear a low hissing sound.  Be sure to continue depressing the valve until the hissing stops completely, which will indicate that all butane fuel and air are removed from the lighter.

Step 2: turn the flame adjustment control all the way off (clockwise)

Step 3: hold the lighter upside down so the fuel valve is pointing up.  Hold the butane fuel can upside down so the nozzle is pointing down.  Firmly depress the fuel can nozzle over the lighter’s fuel valve and hold for several seconds.

Continue this process a few times until butane fuel begins leaking out around the fuel valve.  When this happens, you will know the lighter is full.  In addition, as the lighter fills with fuel, you should gradually feel it getting cold in your hand.

Be careful not to pump the butane can down onto the lighter too hard or too quickly.  This may cause the fuel tank to rupture.

***Note  When refilling your lighter with high-quality butane fuel, do not shake the can of butane.  Shaking the butane separates the ingredients in the butane.  When the can is shaken and then applied to the lighter valve only the propellant will be injected into the lighter, rather than the fuel.  As a result, the lighter will experience problems lighting.

Step 4: After you fill the lighter, let it rest for several minutes before attempting to light it.  This will allow the butane fuel to warm to room temperature.  As it warms, the fuel will expand in the tank.

Step 5: lightly depress the fuel valve on the lighter again to expel any air out of the lighter, which may have entered during refueling.  If fuel exits the lighter’s fuel valve when you depress it, then you can stop as this indicates there is no air remaining in the fuel chamber.

Step 6: turn the flame control knob to the position you are comfortable with for lighting your favorite cigars and “light away”.
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The Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown

The cigars are attractive and reddish brown, with an entirely redesigned Fuente cigar band heavy on gold and red, with a band of white at the very bottom. "It's the original John Oliva wrapper from Ecuador," said Carlos Fuente Jr., president of Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., referring to Oliva Tobacco Co. in Tampa, which grows the tobacco in Ecuador. Fuente said the leaves were eight to ten years old. "We set those wrappers aside when we first created the Sun Grown line." While Fuente has released many cigars made with mid to upper priming's of Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, these wrappers are from much lower on the plant, the second and third priming's. "We were going to release the brand last year," said Fuente. "The cigars were made more than one year ago." Fuente said he intended to go old school with this blend, moving away from the power trend that he helped create and come up with a very balanced and elegant smoke. "They have a sweet, long finish. It's very flavorful, very complex—it's my father's idea of what a good cigar should be."