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| STARS OF THE SHOW VII |
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Page 1 of 2  Tasting and grading six visions of what a cigar should be!Los Angeles, September 19 – One of the exciting aspects of trying new blends, especially by smaller makers, is to enjoy the blending concepts of individuals who create new cigars. This week, we tried six different cigars from three different makers, each with their own ideas of what’s right for today. Garo Bouldoulkian has carved a niche for his Garo line not only in the United States, but also in Eastern Europe and even in the Middle East. He introduced two new blends at the recent International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association trade show in Las Vegas: Garo Unum: [Nicaragua: available in 5 sizes] The Unum debuted in mid-2008 and combines an Ecuadorian-grown Habano wrapper with a Honduran-grown Habano binder and Nicaraguan-grown filler leaves. The result is a medium-bodied cigar with a spicy aroma. The taste features a lightly caramelized note with a spiced finish that’s quite enticing. This is a demure blend that doesn’t overwhelm you, but has a pleasant consistency. It’s very well constructed and feels firm in the hand, with a steady burn. You’ll remember the spicy notes the most, but the balance of flavors is well managed at all times. It’s also reasonably priced at $6.50 to $8.00 each (not including local tobacco and sales taxes), except for the magical Salomon of 7 1/2 inches and 58 ring gauge that goes for $13.00 apiece. All sized are presented in boxes of 10. Overall grade: B+: Very Good. La Preferencia by Garo: [Nicaragua: available in 5 sizes] This is a gorgeous maduro cigar that offers a toasty and spicy aroma, with a medium body and a rich, Nicaraguan-grown wrapper. The sweet, caramelized taste is no surprise, but the brightness of the spiced finish on the tongue keeps you interested at all times. The interplay between the caramel and spiced notes is well balanced and the draw and burn are of the first quality. The finish grows stronger in the second half of the cigar toward the peppery side, but it’s never aggressive or off-putting. The La Preferencia line includes just two shapes, both offered in boxes of 10: the Adagio at 6 inches and 58 ring and the Allegreto at 7 inches and 54 ring, priced at $11 and $13 each, respectively. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Chris Kelly’s TESA Cigar Co. of Calumet City, Illinois has been producing unique cigars for several years, but he’s especially proud of the La Hara and M3 lines, both from the Nicaraguan cigar capital of Esteli: |
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Did you know?
“Csonka cigars are named for the Hall of Fame fullback of the Miami Dolphins, Larry Csonka.
