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| STARS OF THE SHOW VI |
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Page 1 of 2  New cigars from Manuel Quesada and Juan Sosa!Los Angeles, August 29 – One master cigar maker, Manuel Quesada, is branching out. Another, Juan Sosa, remembers his homeland, both with new cigars. Introduced at last month’s International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association convention & trade show, Quesada introduced two new blends, the Casa Magna and the Fonseca Cubano Viso Fuente. Combined with his earlier introduction of the Fonseca Cubano Limitato and the Cubita Spanish Market Selection, Quesada now offers a full line of full-bodied and full-flavored cigars to satisfy any palate. We check out both of the new cigars as well as the under-appreciated Cubita SMS: Fonseca Cubano Viso Fuerte: [Dominican Republic: available in 4 sizes] This is the second blend in MATASA’s “Fonseca Cubano” series, aimed at the cigar enthusiast who looks for more flavor and more complexity. The Fonseca Cubano Limitado has been a hit since its debut in 2008 and the Viso Fuerte includes a unique combination of a Honduran-grown Criollo Viso wrapper with a filler blend that includes U.S.-grown Connecticut Broadleaf! It’s a medium-to-full-bodied blend with a nicely spiced aroma. The flavor includes a rich, caramelized note with a short finish. The clear and clean taste is inviting and there is a tangy finish as the cigar moves into the second half. Very well made, with an even burn, the Viso Fuerte continues smoothly into the second half and develops a peppery element at the very end that signals that this show is over. This is a very nice cigar that’s also accessibly priced at $5.25 to $7.50 each, not including local sales or tobacco taxes, offered in all four sizes in boxes of 21. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Casa Magna: [Nicaragua: available in 5 sizes] This cigar, introduced at the 2008 IPCPR show, is a collaboration between Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia. It’s made with all Nicaraguan tobacco and features a medium-to-full body and a toasty aroma. The surprising aspect of this cigar is its taste, which has a unique, clean sweetness. There’s a hint of caramelization, but the sweet and tangy flavor is paramount. The Casa Magna burns well and won’t tire you and is easy to enjoy. There’s a touch of pepper at the very end, but this is a terrific cigar that will be even better and smoother with six months of age in a humidor. There are five sizes, uniquely offered in boxes of 27 with three layers of nine cigars each. They are also priced right, ranging from $4.75 to just $6.00 each, even for the 6-inch by 56-ring Gran Toro. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Cubita Spanish Market Selection: [Dominican Republic: available in 8 sizes] The “SMS” stands for Spanish Market Selection, indicating a dark brown wrapper and this bold version of Cubita does not disappoint. This blend offers a medium-to-full body and a spicy aroma that smokes very slowly with an even burn that requires your patience. |
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Did you know?
“Although the preferred humidity setting for cigars is 70%, temperature control of 70-75 F is equally important.
