Cigars, Cigar Information and where to find Premium Cigars, Discounted Cigars and even Cheap Cigars

AMERICAN BRANDS EXPANDING IN EUROPE

Lots of highlights in the newest issue of the European Cigar-Cult Journal

Los Angeles, October 25 – Although you may never have heard of the Paul Bugge Cigar Academy, German cigar retailers have.

In the new issue of the European Cigar-Cult Journal, Norbert Holdke and son Daniel set up the Academy “which is supplying a maximum of information to the tobacconist, trains the personnel and also supports events,” according to Daniel.

“Furthermore, we are trying to set up direct contact between the specialized trade and producers. For example, subsequent to the Inter-Tabac, Garo Bouldoukian will be accompanying us on numerous visits all over Germany. This is how consumers also learn to know the faces and the stories behind the products.”

And this is how American boutique brands like Garo, Cusano, the flavored Heaven line, the popular Padilla and Oliveros brands are being introduced to German smokers. Already, Garo has made significant strides in Europe as a well-made, full-flavored and much less expensive alternative to Havana cigars.

Colin Ganley reports in a survey of cigar-smoking countries in Europe that favored U.S. brands such as Arturo Fuente, Ashton and, of course, Davidoff, are fairly widely available with smaller brands such as C.A.O. increasing in availability. He notes a new push by Rocky Patel Premium Cigars “entering the Chinese, Hong Kong and South Korean markets in the next three months,” as well as expansion plans for Asia for the hot Oliva lines.

The new issue of the Cigar-Cult Journal also features an extensive ratings project of Lonsdale cigars, classically a 6 1/2-inch by 42-ring, straight-sided shape, made popular by the Rafael Gonzalez brand created in Cuba in 1928, or 1936, or 1945 depending on which story you prefer.

The name Lonsdale comes from the Hugh Cecil Lowther, the fifth Earl of Lonsdale, who agreed to have his picture associated with the Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdale in 1936. It’s perhaps his greatest legacy.

About the cigars, there were 43 in the test but only two at the very top with five stars and seven more that received near-perfect scores of 4 1/2 stars:

>> 5 stars: Bolivar Immensas (Cuba), Cohiba Linea 1492 Siglo V (Cuba).

>> 4 1/2 stars: Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdales (Cuba), Romeo y Julieta Cazadores (Cuba), Saint Luis Rey Lonsdales (Cuba), Arturo Fuente Seleccion Privada No. 1 (Dom. Rep.), Ashton VSG Illusion (Dom. Rep.), Davidoff Millennium Blend (Dom. Rep.), Zino Platinum Scepter Series Low Rider (Dom. Rep.).

Surprisingly, no Honduran or Nicaraguan-made cigars made it into the highest scores; two Honduran cigars and one Nicaraguan cigar earned four stars. They shouldn’t feel too badly, however. The iconic Montecristo No. 1 from Cuba was awarded only three stars. There are other ratings spread throughout the magazine that surprise you in corners and at the bottom of pages, including a very favorable review of the Davidoff 6000, a new size (5 5/8 x 46): 4 1/2 stars; and The Griffin’s Special Edition 2007 (5 3/8 x 52): 4 stars.

In the price-value review, two boutique brands known to clever smokers in the U.S. both did well:

>> The Garo line was judged “a very great deal” with high marks for the Garo Blue Robusto (3 1/2 stars), the Garo Los Lectores Torpedo (4 stars) and the Garo Aniversario Robusto (3 1/2 stars).

>> The Cuba Aliados Anniversary line – known as Aliados for trademark reasons in Europe – earned “the price is right” compliment from the panel, with 3 1/2 stars given to the Anniversary Short and Anniversary Power Maduro and four stars to the Diadema No. 3 perfectos.

But there’s much more to the excellent Autumn edition:

• World-renowned German architect Wolf Prix, the designer of the much-awaited BMW World, is profiled. A cigar smoker who prefers the Montecristo (Havana) No. 2, he noted that “I do realize that cigarette smoke is annoying and ruins the sense of taste while eating. Therefore, every top restaurant should have a cigar lounge. However, I consider this false morality of having to take care of others [via smoking bans] to be exaggerated, since for quite a while it has been possible to prevent passive smoking through better ventilation.”

He also has some ideas for how a cigar lounge could be arranged. “A cigar lounge must give the impression of comfort, relaxation and pleasure – not that of being pompous! By that, I am referring to those lounges of the old English gentlemen’s clubs. No, lounges should absolutely correspond to our time and I would use only the best of materials. I can easily imagine something like that to be fabulously designed.” We can only hope he will be asked to build one soon!

• A review of worldwide cigar shopping that concentrates on Europe shows the impact of taxes on customer cigar prices. A comparison of prices on two Cuban cigars – the Montecristo No. 2 and the Ramon Allones Specially Selected – shows the lowest prices at duty-free shops in Spain, followed by Switzerland and Germany. The highest prices? Without a doubt, Great Britain.

There is also a report on the introduction of the Cohiba Maduro in Switzerland, an overview of the famed city of Prague, Czech Republic from the view of the cigar smoker; precious stones from the island of Hispanola, home to the Dominican Republic and Haiti; what it’s like to drive a Porsche over 100 miles an hour in the Nevada desert outside Las Vegas, a review of Port wines and pairings with cigars and much more.

For devoted smokers, the ECCJ is essential. Want your own copy? Easy: go to the Cigar-Cult.com site and order up your own subscription (four issues per year) for one year ($27.50) or even two years ($44.90). You won’t regret it.
~ Rich Perelman

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