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Page 1 of 2  Tasting and grading surprising Gispert and Cigar Boom survivor Caballeros!Los Angeles, June 6 – “This very old brand is scarcely marketed nowadays and survives uniquely for the pleasure of a few connoisseurs.” That was about all the noted Swiss retailer Vahe Gerard could say about the Cuban production of the old Gispert brand way back in 1990 in his book, The Connoisseur’s Guide to Havana Cigars. Then still made in a couple of handmade shapes, the brand survives today as a strictly machine-made cigar manufactured in Havana in just a single size. Reportedly introduced in Cuba in 1940, Gispert certainly wasn’t a brand that anyone other than dedicated enthusiasts even knew about and although Altadis U.S.A. owned the American rights to the trademark, so what? That changed quickly when Altadis U.S.A. introduced Gispert as a handmade, value-priced brand, made in its Flor de Copan facility in Honduras in 2003. Its combination of handmade quality and modest cost made it a favorite very quickly and is today spoken of by retailers as one of the 20 biggest-selling brands in America. We gave both of the Gispert styles – in natural and maduro wrappers – a try and the reasons for the brand’s sudden and unexpected popularity became obvious. Gispert – Natural wrapper: [Honduras: available in 6 sizes] The natural-wrapped version of the Gispert line features an Ecuadorian-grown, Connecticut-seed wrapper and has an elegant red band with gold trim. It’s medium-to-full in body and has a spicy aroma. Although there’s a spicy element at the start, this blend offers primarily a light, creamy and slightly caramelized taste. Very well constructed, it burns evenly and is quite relaxing. A spicy note, mostly on the finish, returns in the second half and becomes the leading feature toward the end. However, an enjoyable balance is always maintained. This blend debuted in 2003 and its appeal becomes clear once its quality of construction and agreeable taste is matched with its prices. At suggested retail prices of $2.80 up to $3.70 each (not including local tobacco and sales taxes), in boxes of 25, this cigar is a bargain. Altadis U.S.A. further underscores the value proposition of Gispert by offering only the most popular shapes, four of which have ring gauges of 50 or more. The 5-inch by 54-ring Robusto is an undeniable value at $2.90 each! There are also two shapes (Corona and Toro) which are offered in glass tubes in boxes of 20. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Gispert – Maduro wrapper: [Honduras: available in 6 sizes] The natural-wrapped version of the Gispert line was such a hit that a maduro-wrapped edition was sure to follow. However, Altadis U.S.A. didn’t simply add a new wrapper. |
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Did you know?
“A record for U.S. cigar consumption was set in 1965 after the Surgeon General's warning about cigarettes in 1964.
