Required Reading: The Padrón Story

I love the Padrón 1964s and have been rather underwhelmed by the standard-issue Padrón line. However, disappointments aside, I have tremendous respect for the Padrón legacy. I have been meaning to pick up another couple of the 1964s recently, if for no other reason than to support a wonderful, family-owned business. This story on Keepers of the Flame gives some great background on the Padrón family (as well as including a review of the 4000 Natural). Be sure to check it out.

Cigar Review: H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon Petite Corona

I have always liked the story of how, on the night before he signed the papers imposing the trade embargo on Cuba, President John F. Kennedy sent his aide Pierre Salinger to round up 1,000 Petite Upmanns from cigar stores throughout Washington and Baltimore. Salinger delivered in spades, turning up around 1,200 stogies, and Kennedy, confident in the security of his cigar collection, signed the embargo. (See this article in Cigar Aficionado for a 1st-person version of this and other White House cigar stories). I like President Kennedy, and I like cigars, so, while it’s not a Cuban, I hoped – if only for romanticized reasons – to really enjoy this H. Upmann Petite Corona. I was not disappointed.

The dark-brown wrapper on this cigar has small veins, is toothy and has good oils. The wrapper smells of dried fruit and spicy cedar. Upon clipping the head, the unlit taste is similar to the scent of the wrapper.

At first light, the flavor of this stogie is rich with caramel and cocoa, and the cigar creates loads of toasty smoke. This profile lasts for the first inch or so, upheld by an ever-increasing background of tobacco. A couple inches in, leather asserts itself, marking a transition from the sweeter first half to the more savory second. Even so, hints of tangy-sweet dried fruit come in and out throughout the cigar, and that toastiness stays around until the end. In its latter inches, this smoke picks up some spicy pepper and cedar, though I would not classify the overall taste as spicy. Instead, I would say that, even as it picks up strength, this cigar remains smooth and creamy, ending on a medium-bodied, easy-going note.

For $4.50, this is an inexpensive stogie which delivers a good, complex flavor. It should provide just about any cigar enthusiast a satisfying 45 minutes of pleasure.

4.5 out of 5 stogies.

Cigar Review: Romeo y Julieta Clemenceaus

This is a nice-looking cigar, with an earthy-brown wrapper showing thin veins and mottled with oils. It is quite firm to the touch, but upon cutting the head, it draws very easily – almost a bit too easily. The initial taste is of spicy cedar, probably due to its being packaged in a cedar-lined aluminum tube (which is quite handsome, by the way). The band is a clean, matte gold strip with black lettering which simply reads, “ROMEO Y JULIETA” and, in smaller print to the side, “DOMINICAN REPUBLIC”.  A well-presented cigar.

The first puff of smoke from this stick is very reminiscent of its Cuban namesake (which happens to be one of my all-time favorite cigars): cedar and a certain graham cracker sugariness in a very smooth package. As it gets going, this stogie gains some more strength, adding a bit of leather and spice to the profile, but it never loses its sweetness completely. The one real drawback to this smoke was that as I got around halfway in, it started to burn a bit erratically and I found myself puffing a bit too hard to keep it going. That said, I will be buying this again. It stands up favorably in comparison to the Cuban brand of the same name, both in packaging and in content, and it’s a lot of cigar for $6.50. For those who like a warm, sweet-but-not-cloying medium-bodied smoke, this will fit the bill nicely.

4 out of 5 stars.

Smoking Like a College Student: AVO Classic Puritos

Sadly, it’s been a while since I posted a review. Right around the time of my last posting, school got the better of me: finals tend to choke off all non-essential activities, and unfortunately, for me that includes this blog. However, with any luck I’ll be able to keep with it pretty steadily over the next few months. In that spirit, the second in a series: Smoking Like a College Student – the AVO Classic Puritos.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that oftentimes I prefer a small smoke. They’re fast and convenient and often quite a bit cheaper than bigger stogies. This one definitely fits that description. These AVO Puritos are hand rolled (unlike many other small-format sticks) from the same blend as the rest of the Classic line. They come in a tin of 10 demi-tasse sized smokes, each wrapped in cellophane (and at about $18, they don’t break the bank).

After clipping the head, the draw on these cigars is easy but not too much so. Unlit, they have a slightly peppery taste which is not papery or bland like that of some other small stogies. When first lit, they give off a light, creamy cedar flavor. As they go on, however, the Puritos develop some pleasing notes of spice and leather, another unexpected aspect for a little stick. Overall, this is a nice small smoke: even-burning, nice mascara, good mild to medium flavor. For me, these fall into the “sitting outside on a sunny day with the paper and a cup of coffee” category – one which I find very pleasing and above all else, relaxing.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Smoking Like a College Student: Punch – London Club

There are many reasons why it’s great to be a college student. I don’t need to go into those here. The one major drawback, however, is that most of us don’t have very deep pockets when it comes to luxury purchases like cigars. Without really being conscious of it, I’ve been on a quest for a while now to find a tasty cigar for a low price. I’ve found some good buys, and I thought just about everyone can appreciate a nice budget smoke. So, today, I officially inaugurate the Smoking Like a College Student series with my review of the Punch London Club.

I found this petit corona for $2.55, which in Rhode Island is a great price for a nice cigar. The wrapper was an attractive coffee brown with a bit of toothiness and a couple of prominent veins. After cutting, the draw on this small Punch was perfect, not too easy, not too tight. I toasted the foot and took a couple of puffs which produced a great volume of creamy smoke loaded with caramelized sugars which were complemented by hints of leather and pepper.

As I got a couple of inches into this stogie, I came across more leather and toasted tobacco flavors, but that creaminess stayed around throughout. As I neared the end of the cigar, I started to get an unusual mustard / grass twang which was not altogether pleasing but which certainly kept things interesting. I smoked this little guy down to the nub, and all along the burn was even and clean, leaving behind a solid light gray ash.

The Punch London Club is a great start to this new series. I would recommend this cigar to anyone who likes a dependable, medium-bodied smoke, but all the more so since it’s priced to sell.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Restaurant Review: La Laiterie

Providence, Rhode Island may be a little city, but it is, without a doubt, one of the best restaurant cities I have ever visited. Around any corner, in any part of town, you will find great food, from cheap Mexican fare to haute cuisine. If you’re hungry, Providence has something to satisfy your stomach.

One of those sure-to-satisfy places is La Laiterie. Attached to a cheese shop, Farmstead, Inc., and run by the same couple, La Laiterie is small (we’re talking something on the order of six or seven tables) and delicious. The chefs specialize in food inspired by the seasons and focus heavily on including local ingredients in their dishes. The restaurant also features a fantastic beer list (heavy on Belgians and other craft brews) and a wine list which I imagine is also very good (though not being particularly well-versed in the world of wines, I am not one to judge).

I have eaten at La Laiterie on two occasions now, once for a regular dinner and once for one of their Sunday night special events. For the first meal, my girlfriend and I split the charcuterie platter, a selection of home-cured meats complimented by sweet and dill pickles, a red onion relish and some great sauces including a delicious maple mustard. We washed down our food with some excellent beer. Altogether, we ate for a total of around $40. Not bad for a hearty fall dinner for two.

Even better, though, was the Belgian beer dinner. This was a special event which cost $65 per person and included a five course meal with commentary from the chefs as well as an employee of Rochefort, the brewery whose beer was being featured. The dinner started off with a cheese course, the components of which I forget – I should have taken notes! – but believe me when I tell you, everything was very good.

The first main course of the dinner was a cream of endive soup with caramelized onions. Incredible! I love cream soups and this was the epitome of what makes me love them: warm, bitter, sweet and creamy this was one of the best soups I’ve ever had. Next came a salad course, the dressing a vinaigrette made with Rochefort 6, the first of the evening’s featured beers. This was a light, very bubbly brown Belgian with subtle flavors. It wasn’t my favorite, but it was certainly not bad at all.

The real moment of culinary bliss came when I first laid eyes on the duck confit. A beautifully-browned duck leg rested against a hazelnut gaufre, or Belgian waffle, smothered in a cranberry-Rochefort 8 sauce. At the risk of understatement, I will simply say this was the best dish I have had in a year. Maybe more.

The meat fell off the bone effortlessly. The rich duck contrasted elegantly with the bittersweet cranberry sauce and the waffle added substance and a light hint of hazelnut. Perfectly balanced, wonderful flavors. The Rochefort 8 was my favorite beer of the night, a rich brown ale with dark, sweet and earthy flavors. Just right for the cold autumn night.

The final course – I didn’t think I’d have room, but I found it! – was an ice cream made from Rochefort 10 with a syrup made from a reduction of the same beer, all served over traditional Belgian almond cookies. Light, sweet, clean. The perfect end to a decadent dinner.

There is so much more to say, but I don’t want to stuff this review so full it bursts at the seams. Suffice it to say, if you are in Providence, go to La Laiterie.

5 out of 5 stars.

The Frank Method

Today, I filled my morning pipe using the Frank Method (see video below). It was the first time I’d used this technique, but I already know I’m never going back to the three-layer fill. I admit I had some trouble at first, but in the end, the Frank Method gave me the most flavorful, longest-lasting, even smoke I’ve ever experienced.

For me, the main benefit of this style of filling a bowl was that the tobacco burned beautifully. Once I got a good, whole-surface char (with only a couple of wooden matches), the ember burned straight down, staying lit very easily, producing a good volume of smoke and showing off all the flavors of the tobacco. I did not have to tamp once during the whole smoke. The ashes stayed in place perfectly and never hindered the smoke. I eventually dumped them out as I was getting to the dottle, but by that point, there wasn’t much unburned tobacco left anyway.

The one aspect of the Frank Method which I’ll have to get used to is the light draw. At the start of this pipe, I was afraid of the ember going out because the draw was so soft. I puffed too hard at the start, only to find later on that the pipe stayed lit just fine with the very occasional attention I was able to give it on my walk to work.

In short, while I’ll have to get used to the light draw produced by the Frank Method, I’m more than happy to do so in order to get all that great flavor and that beautiful burn.

Required Reading: Pipe Walks

I just found this great post on a pipe blog which I read sporadically. Check it out.

Tobacco Review: L.J. Peretti – Black Virginia

I just had a bowl of this great blend. Black Virginia is far and away my favorite pipe tobacco. I figured it would be worthwhile to post a review of it here.

L. J. Peretti describes Black Virginia as

A treat for the smoker who likes a tobacco rich in flavor and aroma. An unusual black tobacco which has been fire-cured and flavored with vanilla.

I have never really tasted the vanilla – I’m probably just not being sensitive enough – but on the first light, this mixture puts out an abundant, creamy smoke with a taste which reminds me of almonds and honey. The aroma has hints of chocolate. As the bowl burns down, more flavors come out, including some dried fruit and, especially toward the end of the smoke, a delicious undercurrent of toasted tobacco.

This blend has never given me any tongue bite, even when I come back to the pipe after a while away, and it manages to be sweet without being sugary. I always keep an eight-ounce tin of this in my desk, and it is my go-to tobacco when the pipe calls.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Cigar Review: Por Larrañaga – Petit Cetro en Cedro

I was going to fire up (and review) an Ashton Corona this morning, but I decided to let it rest in the humi for a bit longer. I had other plans: to finally try one of those tempting Por Larrañaga Petit Cetros en Cedro. Maybe it’s just the superficial similarity between these cedar-wrapped petite coronas and my beloved Romeo y Julieta Cedros No. 3s, but whenever I dropped by my favorite tobacconist’s shop, I was always drawn to these gold beauties. For one reason or another, I’d never bought one before today.

The petit cetro comes with the signature gold Por Larrañaga band, another handsome blue and gold strip to hold the red cedar sleeve together at the top, and an elegant gold ribbon to seal the bottom. Only the head of the cigar is visible above the sleeve, but its color and texture are near perfect: a creamy gold wrapper (not at all greenish, as some lighter cigars are) with an excellent velvety feel promises a great smoke. After clipping the cap off the cigar, I found a very easy draw with pre-light flavors of wood and tea.

After lighting this stogie, I found a very faint flavor of cream with a hint of cedar. I actually wondered if maybe I’d made a mistake in buying this famously-mild cigar. A half-inch or so later, all my doubts were gone: the flavor evolved into a soft, well-blended mix of caramel, cedar, tea and smoke. This profile lasted throughout the 45-minute cigar, with the sweeter flavors most notable during the middle part of the smoke, and the final few puffs leaning more toward a dry, woody taste. There were occasional bouts of bitterness but I chalk these up to my being too eager to eek out every last bit of flavor from this beautiful cigar.

To sum things up: this smoke goes great with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. Nice burn; soft, sweet and woody flavor; perfect length. This is an excellent mild cigar.

4 out of 5 stars.