|
|
|
| YO-HO, YO-HO, A PIRATE'S CIGAR FOR ME! |
|
|
|
Page 1 of 2  Tasting and grading the Spag & Co. line of pirate-themed cigars, plus the new Kinky Friedman cigar line!Los Angeles, March 21 – Does the sight of the Skull & Crossbones get you fired up? It got Francis Spagnoletti and son Frank, Jr. excited enough to start a cigar line that features the pirate theme, called Spag & Co. There are three different styles and we tried them all: Spag & Co. – Calico Jack/Black Label: [Dominican Republic: available in 4 sizes] This is the original Spag & Co. blend, introduced in 2006 with a glossy black label and the Skull & Crossbones staring back at you. It’s not as fierce as you might think, however. We found that it had a full-bodied presence in the mouth, accented by a toasty and spicy aroma that was quite pleasant. The flavor focused on a rich caramelized taste that included a long finish, but was devoid of spice. A gentle spicy element enters the picture at midway, however, and adds depth to this cigar, which becomes more mellow in the second half. This is a really nice cigar that also shows off an even burn and firm construction, featuring a Sumatra-grown wrapper and a Connecticut-grown binder along with Dominican-grown filler leaves. It remains fairly consistent to the end and at quite reasonable prices of $3.60 to $6.60 each (before local sales and tobacco taxes), it’s worth a try, especially after a light meal so that the delicate spicy notes can be fully appreciated. Overall grade: A: Exceptional. Spag & Co. – Calico Jack/Red Label: [Dominican Republic: available in 3 sizes] The Red Label edition was introduced in 2007 and has both a Connecticut-grown wrapper and binder, along with Dominican-grown fillers. This is a medium-bodied cigar with a slightly spicy aroma at the start. The flavor is creamy in nature, with a noted but modest undertone of spice on the finish; this blend is much more demure than the Black Label, but still enjoyable. It shows off an enviable consistency, retaining its mellow character all the way through. The construction is good and the burn is fairly even. It’s a nice cigar and could be an excellent afternoon companion on a sunny summer’s day. But its depth of flavor isn’t enough to make it interesting after heavy meals. At retail prices of $3.60 to $6.50, however, it will be quite friendly to your wallet. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Spag & Co. – Calico Jack/Blackbeard: [Dominican Republic: available in 5 sizes] The Blackbeard blend was also introduced in 2007 and is recognizable by its glossy black band, with a standing devil in the middle! It has a Cameroon wrapper and Connecticut-grown binder combined with Dominican-grown fillers. |
| < Following Column | Previous Column > |
|---|
 |
 |
Did you know?
“Bauza is not only a premium Dominican brand, but still made in Cuba for domestic consumption only.
