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Page 1 of 2  Tasting and grading the marvelous Paul Garmirian Gourmet SeriesLos Angeles, October 3 – Paul Garmirian is exacting. Paul Garmirian is a perfectionist. Paul Garmirian can be a pain in, well, you know. But the same people who say so will also tell you that he also knows all about creating a great cigar. The energetic author of the landmark The Gourmet Guide to Cigars – a book which helped to ignite the Cigar Boom of the 1990s – Garmirian introduced his own line in late 1990 and has built a devoted following thanks to his relentless insistence on quality. His cigars aren’t cheap, but fans of the P.G. lines won’t settle for anything less. All P.G. cigars are made at the Tabadom complex in Santiago, Dominican Republic under the supervision of the legendary Hendrik Kelner. With two new lines out in the last two years and a hidden gem in his least-publicized line, it was time to check on the Garmirian line-up once again and we weren’t disappointed: Artisan’s Selection by Paul Garmirian: [Dominican Republic: available in 9 sizes] The Artisan’s Selection was introduced in 1997 and is one of the least known of the Garmirian blends. We found it to be medium-to-full in body and easy to smoke with a spicy aroma, thanks to its Connecticut-grown wrapper. The flavor is rich with a caramelized bent and smooth on the finish with an interesting and pleasing texture. A creamy element develops as you move through the cigar and it remains consistent and pleasant all the way to the end. A surprising feature of this particular line is its value. There are nine shapes to choose from, ranging in price from $4.30 to $6.60 each, not including local sales and tobacco taxes, all offered in boxes of 25. This is the least expensive of the P.G. lines, but it hardly smokes that way. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. P.G. 15th Anniversary Series: [Dominican Republic: available in 10 sizes] One of the newest P.G. lines is the 15th Anniversary Series, which was launched as a single shape – the Belicoso Extra (6 3/4 inches by 52 ring) – in a limited-edition of 15,000 cigars in 2006. It was so popular that a full line-up of sizes was developed and became available in 2007. These are full-bodied cigars with a light, spicy aroma and a perfect draw. There’s a spicy taste that hits the tongue immediately with a background note of sweetness. It’s entertaining and never goes overboard, but you’ll find interesting subtleties in the second half. This is a well-balanced cigar that’s a treat for anyone who enjoys a little bit of spice in their smoke. Most of the sizes are offered in boxes of 25, with boxes of 15 or 50 also available for the Belicoso Extra and either singles or boxes of 10 for the mammoth 9-inch by 50-ring Celebration size. Pricing is from $7.70 to $25.60 each, not including local taxes. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. |
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Did you know?
“American cigar consumption bottomed out in 1993 at 3.42 billion units (13 per capita), but premium sales are up.
