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Griffin's Special XX Edition Review; Cuban Cigars Survey
and more!
(Posted July 6, 2004)
NEXT ISSUE: Wednesday, August 4th!
*** IN THIS ISSUE ***
1. Feature Story: The Griffin's Special XX Edition cigar
2. Survey Says: Are Cuban cigars better than non-Cuban cigars?
3. Smoker's Ed (Cigar Terms & Tips): Oscuro vs. Maduro and more tips from our readers
4. Rating Lunatic: Roly #2 Maduro; Don Mateo #7;Gispert Robusto; Carlos Toraño Signature Toro
5. Cigars in the News: Arnold's Cigars; Real Legal Cubans
6. Eyes on the Prize: Celebrity and Customer Cigar Sightings
*** FEATURE STORY ***
The Griffin's Special XX Edition (Dom. Rep)
Size: 5 1/4" x 52
Strength: Full
So, I'm lounging around on my hammock in the back yard and suddenly
this cigar falls out of the sky. I look at the band and see that it's
the much-anticipated The Griffin's Special XX Edition, 20th Anniversary
cigar. Next thing I know, I'm clipping it and a few minutes later I'm back in the hammock puffing away. Maybe I was dreaming, but in any event, here's the skinny on this very special cigar:
Appearance-wise, the wrapper was so seamless I almost couldn't find the direction of the wrap and the wrapper color was evenly bronzed from head to foot.
If you've ever read a cigar review in which they mention a "perfect cap"
and never knew what they meant by that, you will with this new Griffin's
Special XX. When I clipped it a perfect little circle popped off with
hardly any effort. Upon lighting the cigar, it emitted a wonderful aroma,
with rich cedar fragrance and just a hint of vanilla. The cigar smoked
very smoothly with a perfect burn, exposing a white and silver marble
pattern in the ash. I also noticed that the ash was very firm. At about
the 1-inch mark I started to tap it into the ashtray, but it wouldn't
budge. Now, I usually don't play this game, but I let it ride and the
first ash was at least 2" long or more. By the time I finished the cigar,
I realized I had only ashed twice!
The flavor was somewhat sharp with a very rich, woody taste and the
finish was considerably more spicy and peppery than the regular Griffin's.
If I had to compare it, I'd say it was a cross between a regular
Griffin's and a Griffin's Fuerte and its complexity also reminded me in
some ways of the Avo Signature.
Summing it all up, I gave this cigar a 95. I hear that The Griffin's has
produced only 3,000 of these XX cigars with only 1,000 slated for U.S.
distribution and will be presented in special edition boxes of 20.
Although the blend will probably remain a mystery until these cigars
are finally released, I'm pretty certain the wrapper is Ecuadorian
Connecticut. I think smokers of full-flavored cigars are going to enjoy
this cigar very much. This is not your father's Griffin's, for sure, but
it may have been one of his Cubans.¶
(_[GK]__[[~~
RTDA Preview Not
My apologies. I was hoping this edition of Shop Talk would have a lot more information on cigars that will be debuting at RTDA in a few weeks, but upon requesting pre-show information, it turns out most of the manufacturers are keeping their cards close to their vests and requested I not publish any spoilers. I agreed to honor their requests, but if yourcuriosity is peaking, you can find some of the new cigars have been announced in a few of the trade and consumer cigar publications. Other than that, it looks like you'll have to wait for my post-RTDA report in August.¶
*** SURVEY SAYS DEPT. ***
Are Cuban Cigars Better Than Non-Cuban Cigars?
I know a man who has a large collection of Cuban cigars. He claims they're fantastic and based on the brands he's mentioned, I surmise that he has a VERY good "connection." Ironically, whenever we talk
about non-Cuban cigars we've smoked, he speaks very highly of several brands - Ashton VSG, Padron Anniversary 1964 & 1926, La Aroma De Cuba, Punch Gran Puro and Hoyo De Monterrey Seleccion Royale, among others (Note: very full-flavored, Cuban-like blends). If you're an experienced cigar smoker, chances are you've smoked more than a few Habanos over the years and sure as the sun rises each day, like my friend, many of you probably smoke Cuban cigars on a regular basis. So, the question is, are the Cubans better, worse or just different? As always, your comments are welcome - and we promise to keep you anonymous. ;-)
Send an email to: and type or copy &
paste "Cuban Cigars Better" or "Cuban Cigars Not" in the SUBJECT line. As always, your comments are welcome.
Survey Results for June 8th: What is the Most Unusual or Weirdest Cigar You've Ever Smoked?
The results of this survey showed that most of you DON'T smoke odd or unusual cigars, but for the more adventurous readers who did respond, ACID came up a lot. Here are some of the comments that came in:
"I remember when I was a kid (in the 40's) there was this cigar on the
shelf behind the counter that must have been at least one and a half-
inches in diameter or more and about 7 or 8 inches long, called the
'Covered Wagon.' Anybody remember that one? Next, of course, everyone
remembers the 'Mississippi Crooks,' about a lonsdale size cigar with a
"crook" about half-way down." - Leonard Wynn Young
"I've had a large cigar, 70 ring gauge. That's pretty weird and fun to
get reactions from people at parties. Also, those braided cigars
[Culebras] where you take the three apart and smoke them individually.
They're weird, but I like them!" - Astara W.
Natural by Drew Estate "The Egg" - Butch Somers
"The weirdest cigar, and yes the NASTIEST, was the Thompson "Iguana" cigar.
I bought two of them for my friend and I to try and we both agreed, they
tasted like we were smoking an iguana!" - John Hall, Twin Falls, ID
"My weirdest cigar was a Lars Teten knock-off. The cigar was about four
inches long and shaped like a road cone with a curly tail. The bouquet
reminded me of the perfume worn by a cheap hooker in Amsterdam. It was
a very odd cigar." - Dana Kirkelie
"I should probably tell you about the Puros Indios Chiefs four of us
smoked one day in December of 1999 in Tijuana, Mexico. I created a web
site commemorating the day. - Scott M.
Cigar Terms & Tips (Collect and trade em'!)
Viso - A glossy wrapper leaf shade-grown under a "tapado" or shade tent.
Oscuro vs. Maduro
Q: What is an Oscuro wrapper and how does it compare to a Maduro? - Ron Tito
A: An "Oscuro" wrapper, sometimes referred to as "double maduro," is a very dark wrapper, in which the leaf has been exposed to the maximum amount of sunlight. The desired result is a leaf that is thicker, richer-tasting, "sweeter" in flavor and almost black in color when compared to the regular, dark brown broadleaf Maduro wrapper.
Reader Feedback and Tips from Our Mailbag
Killing That "Bitter Aftertaste"
Have you ever experienced a strong bitter aftertaste when smoking your
cigars and drinking any of the artificial sweetened drinks? "Sweet 'n
Low" is one that ruins my taste. Sprite no-sugar is a cigar killer.
Once the bitterness occurs, I usually make a strong pot of coffee to
remove the bad taste and even this takes a while to diminish. I have
not found this to happen with my pipe tobacco but with my cigars it
happens quiet often. Love your site. - Gary Carr, Florence, AL
Cool Cutting Tip
This may be old hat to most, but I noticed on a recent response to a
question about cutting the cap you didn't mention this technique:
If using a cutter that will let you do so (like a XiKAR), simply lay
the cutter on a table and stand the cigar inside the blades. This
assures a nice straight cut that doesn't go too deep. Works for me
every time. - Jay Bitzer, Dallas, TX
Cutter In A Clinch
When I don't have a cutter, I would use a nail or a paper clip to put
a hole in the cap. Sometimes it would take more than one hole with a
real small nail such as a brad. But a medium size nail would only need
one hole. Other sharp pointed objects can work as well. More use of
office supplies than they were meant for. - Bill Snyder
Saint Luis Reybound
I just love the Saint Luis Rey Churchills and the Toros. This is a well-constructed cigar (as well as very satisfying). Recently on the golf course, after hitting a spectacular drive, I lit my Churchill, took a rewarding puff, laid it on the ground and prepared for my second shot. One of the guys in the foursome drives up behind me and drives over
the cigar. Some damage to the wrapper - it actually looked a mess, but I was able to continue smoking it and it performed very well in its damaged condition. Wish I could say the same for my golf game. - Jack Barr
Got A Good Cigar Tip? Send it in and share it with our readers by
sending an email to . Please be
sure to put "CIGAR TIP" in the subject field.
*** SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DEPT.***
Have a question about the care and feeding of your cigars or another
cigar-related topic? Send your questions and comments to me at: . I will try to respond as quickly as possible, but some replies may take a few days.
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“Shop-Talk” Archives
Want to catch up on your Famous Smoke "Shop Talk" reading or reference an article, tip, or other bit of information that appeared in a past issue? Go to our Famous Smoke “Shop Talk” archives page.
*** RATING LUNATIC DEPT.***
June cigar reviews from Famous Smoke Shop customers. Reviews are
selected at random and may be edited for length, not content. (Rating numbers shown may have changed since time of publication)
Roly #2 Maduro (8.29)
Country: Honduras
Length/Ring: 6 1/2" x 46
Shape: Double Corona
Wrapper: Broadleaf Maduro
Strength: Med-Full
Quantity: Bundle of 25 cigars
I could not pass up this deal for 25 cigars for less than $20. I wasn't
expecting much for less than $1 per smoke. When I first got them the
taste was pretty different, had a strong taste that was pretty bad. I
let them mellow out for a few weeks to a month and the change was
amazing. The cigars had a very nice flavor and smoke and I actually
prefer these over many of my more expensive cigars. The ash and
construction is pretty good, the overall appearance isn't the best,
but for the price they are definitely worth a buy if you have the
space in a humidor to let them mellow out. If you're just buying them
to smoke right away I'd stay away, but if you have time. I'd definitely
pick up a box! - Don, Niskayuna, NY
Don Mateo #7 (5.23)
Country: Honduras
Length/Ring: 4 3/4" x 50
Shape: Rothschild
Wrapper: Broadleaf Maduro
Strength: Med
Quantity: Bundle of 25 cigars
After 4 years storage, I thought it was Cuban. I put some Don Mateos
in the humidor for several years (sans wrapper) and recently picked
one up. It yielded smooth and clean leather and rich spice such that my
expectations were exceeded greatly. I'll be ordering more to supplement
the maduro Hoyos I usually prefer. - Bill in Utah
Gispert Robusto (9.5)
Country: Honduras
Length/Ring: 5" x 54
Shape: Robusto
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Strength: Med
Quantity: Box of 25 cigars
What a fine cigar! The local shop owners never heard of them until I
gave them each one to smoke. Boy, they were ordering them A.S.A.P. I
have turned 3 local shop owners onto them and they love them and
cannot keep them in stock! What a fine cigar, and for the price you
CANNOT go wrong! - KJ, Carlisle, PA
Carlos Toraño Signature Toro (10 - Note: only 1 rating at this time)
Country: Dom. Rep.
Length/Ring: 6" x 50
Shape: Toro
Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Strength: Full
Quantity: Box of 25 cigars
This cigar has a wonderful aroma. Not only is this cigar a satisfying
smoke, it draws people closer with surprise as they wonder how a cigar
can smell so good. The construction looks like a top dollar smoke,
impressing all that are curious, making you feel that you are no
ordinary cigar smoker, but an aficionado with champagne taste on a
beer budget. You end up portraying yourself as a high roller, knowing
full well that this is an affordable smoke worth every penny. My first
one was a gift during deer season, a few boxes later, and I cannot be
without this cigar in my humidor. - Jeff Hardy, Blandinsville, IL
AGREE/DISAGREE? Your opinion may be similar or completely different and is also appreciated, so don't be shy. Rate the cigars you smoke on our web site and write a review. You might even get your quote re-printed in our monthly mailorder catalog! What you say can help others make a more informed decision, even you!
*** CIGARS IN THE NEWS ***
Arnold's Private Stash Goes Public
A story from Sacramento, California reported that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's personal-label cigars have become coveted currency at the state Capitol. Fellow Pols whom Schwarzenegger either gave the cigars to, or "lifted" from his open humidor, save the cigars as keepsakes or pass them on to friends, said the article. Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian said, "It's not a status thing. It's more like you know when someone's been to the governor's office when they have a cigar in their hand." The assemblyman, who has asthma and doesn't smoke, said the cigars have helped him break the ice with several constituents.¶
Real Legal Cubans
A story in the Cedar Rapids/Waterloo Courier by Melody Parker reported
on John Eveland, a cigar store owner in Waterloo who is selling cigars
made from 48-year-old, pre-embargo Cuban tobacco. The cigars are longfiller and according to Eveland, "You can't get them legally in this
country since the Cuban embargo in the early 1960s."
Until now. Eveland, owner of The National Cigar Store in downtown
Waterloo, Iowa's oldest cigar store, and Hillstreet News and Tobacco
in Cedar Falls, is offering cigars made from genuine Cuban tobacco,
legally. The cigars, named Pinar, are rolled with Cuban tobacco imported
legally in the late 1950s, well before the embargo was in place.
"The discovery of some of this tobacco (Rosada Corojo Pinar from the
Pinar del Rio region of Cuba) in a defunct factory building in Trenton,
N.J., is the stuff of legend," says Rafael Ramos, vice president of
Puros de Armando Ramos, the cigar's creator. "The research and authenticity of its provenance, the decision to roll it ourselves rather than
sell it to a larger producer, these are business matters, but the true
magic is in the tobacco itself."
Parker also reported that the company says it's the best cigar they've
sold in its 35-year history. His Pinars are made from tobacco originally
imported in 1958 by Red Dot Cigar of Trenton, and some imported throughout the late 1950s by the Grossman Cigar Co. of Tampa, Fla. In 1965,
mired in the post-Castro confusion of the cigar industry, and the explosion of bargain-priced machine-made cigars, Grossman filed for bankruptcy. Liquidation of inventories of tobacco and finished cigars began,
but the company's owner died in the midst of liquidation, resulting in
a feeding frenzy of lawsuits and countersuits that tied up assets for
more than two decades.
The quantity of tobacco was in excess of 46,000 pounds and the condition
was superb, the tobacco having been stored in strict temperature and
humidity-controlled conditions, with frequent inspections. The variety
of tobacco allowed for more complex and complete blends to be developed
because there were three different Cuban shipments (1956, 1958 and 1960
crops) in Ligero, Seco and Volado leaf and several different wrapper
types.
Eveland found out about the cigars while visiting with a friend in
North Carolina. He placed an order and crossed his fingers. And when
they're gone, they're gone.¶
*** GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR! DEPT.***
If you live in or near the verdant Lehigh Valley of PA, stop by our
retail store at 1100 Conroy Place in Easton, PA for one of our cigar tasting events. For details and more information call 610-559-8800.
*** It's Like eBay® for Cigar Lovers! ***
Now you can get the cigars YOU want at the prices you're willing to pay by logging on to CigarAuctioneer.com. It's FUN, it's FAST and the ACTION is great! You'll not only find RARE cigars, closeouts, and discontinued cigar brands, but now you can bid on humidors, cigar lighters and more!
*** EYES ON THE PRIZE DEPT.***
Cigar Sightings
Matchstick Men (2003) - In the DVD bonus features section, there is a three-part documentary on the making of the movie. During the film, Director, Ridley Scott (shown above), is seen often lighting and/or puffing on large, wide-ring cigars, usually un-banded. There are also several scenes of Nicholas Cage enjoying a cigar with Scott. In one instance Cage's band was shown, and although I would have guessed it was an Ashton VSG, from the markings I could see, it was too far away to identify. There is no cigar smoking in the Matchstick Men movie itself, but Cage and co-star, Sam Robertson, sure do consume a lot of cigarettes.
Other Famous Cigar Smokers Caught “Infumare Delecto”
You can call it "East meets West." Since Steve lives in the west coast and I Frank live in NY. (I'm the one with the Jets shirt on.) We met for the first time and shared a cigar. We both belong to a timeshare internet website club, tug2.net.
Just some friends relaxin.' ... - Anthony J. Scordia
This is me (on the right) and my friend Lenny (on the left).
Enjoying CAO cigars at a birthday party. -Luis
[Here's me] enjoying an Alternative to Excalibur No. 1 Maduro. It's a great, full bodied and spicy cigar.. One of my favorites. I figured since you guys don't have many pictures of those of us ladies who enjoy a good smoke, I'd send some in. Smokey Kisses. - "Khaos"
(This shot, which I ran some issues back, was re-submitted. But as a fellow Fender owner, I felt obligated to re-run it.)
Me, a Creme De Jamaica and my Fender guitar. - Stephen Ventura
This is Scott and Rob on the last night of Marlboro Racing School at Homestead during the graduation party at the Coral Gables Biltmore Hotel. Scott and Rob are smoking La Gloria Cubana. A good time was had by all.
Rob Staggenborg & Ken Carl prepare to tee off at the Juniper Best Ball in Redmond, Oregon. Neither of us would think of teeing off without a selection of cigars that we can trade/offer each other. Kenny got me started 15 years ago (when I was smoking cigarettes). - Rob
WANTED! Cigar-smoking photos of you and/or your friends.
Have You Made A Cigar Sighting Recently? It can be from a movie, TV show or a celebrity you've seen elsewhere or in-person puffing on a primo. If you can name the brand of the cigar, even better! Or send in a herfing photo of you and your friends to me at and please put "Cigar Sightings" in the subject line. Limit: 1 sighting or photo (preferably, a JPEG) per email.
That's all folks. Until our next issue, Happy Smokes!
Gary
(__[@]______{{{~~
Shop Talk illustration at top of page by Robert Ingram.
Copyright © 2004 Famous Smoke Shop - PA, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Portions or all of this information may be reprinted freely, provided this
link, http://www.famous-smoke.com, remains intact.
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