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The ‘Vega Talanga’ Story; What are your Top-3 cigars?
(Posted November 11, 2003)
*** IN THIS ISSUE ***
1.
Feature Story: The "Vega Talanga" Story
2. Survey Says: What are your Top-3 cigars?
3. Smoker's Ed (Cigar Terms & Tips): The "even burn" test
4. Site Improvements: "Shop-Talk" newsletter archive
5. Rating Lunatic: Partagas Spanish Rosado Ramon Y Ramon; Hamiltons Rsv. Zorro
6. Cigars in the News: Mckeon Drops In On "Late Show"
*** FEATURE STORY ***
The "Vega Talanga" Story
An interview with Jesus Fuego of Centro America Cigars, S.A.
WE RECENTLY INTRODUCED the Vega Talanga Corojo Series cigars from U.S.
Cigar. This is a unique selection of full-bodied cigars grown in the
Cuban tradition in Honduras using an exclusive, Cuban-seed, "Vega
Talanga" leaf. You may already be familiar with this tobacco if you've
smoked any of the Astral Talanga Valley, Don Tomás Dominican Selection,
Helix or Vega Talanga Tercio cigars. The Vega Talanga Corojo Selection offers a
"complete" line of cigars made in four styles with various combinations
of Talanga Valley Corojo tobacco. The leaf was developed by 5th generation Master Grower, Ramon Fuego, who brought the Corojo #1 seeds with
him from the Pinar Del Rio region of Cuba in 1997.
In this interview, which took place at RTDA 2003, Señor Fuego's nephew,
Jesus Luis Fuego, Tobacco Processing Manager for Centro America Cigars,
talked to me about how they grow their tobacco and the development of
this unique cigar series.
How did you develop the Talanga Valley tobaccos?
We have been working with Cuban tobacco on the farm since my uncle Ramon
took over in 1997. The first challenge was adapting the Cuban seeds to
the Talanga Valley soil. We have a huge farm in Honduras with very nice
weather. Due to the size of the farm you find many different types of
soil. We have sandy soil, red soil, soil with a lot of stones, which is
very important to the kind of tobacco you grow. So we test the seeds in
these different soils to see how they react. Once we have decided where
the seeds produce the best leaves, we then begin to age that tobacco in
the old Cuban style using tercios [palm bark barrels]. But first you have
to find the palm bark to make the tercios. We found it in the Caribbean
and brought it into Honduras. All the leaves from filler to wrapper go
into the tercios.
After the tobacco has aged for one year in the tercios we can begin the
tasting process. This continues until we feel the tobacco is ready for
blending. We started the Vega Talanga project two years ago, which was a
dream of ours. The first cigar was the Vega Talanga Tercio. My idea was
to extend the line and use Corojo tobacco. The Corojo tobacco is very
delicate to work with, so we had to test it step by step until it was
right and then we had to decide on the exact amount of Corojo to use in
the cigar. By the way, Corojo is not a magic solution in itself. You have
to blend it with tobaccos from other fields in order to get the right mix
of flavors.
How many cigars have you made for the series?
The Vega Talanga Series currently offers 5 different sizes [Actually, 4. The
"Tercio"
is sold as a separate selection]. In my opinion,
the best thing about this series is each cigar has its own unique blend.
Each blend is based on the shape and size of the cigar. The Robusto and
Churchill sizes (Rojo & Blanco) are blended more for the serious smoker,
whereas the Figurados (Azul & Oscuro) shapes are for smokers who are
more attracted to different things. We've also improved the
Tercio by
adding Corojo to the blend.
Is all the tobacco used grown in Honduras?
80% of the tobacco in the Vega Talanga cigars is produced, fermented and
sorted by us. The other 20% comes from farms in Nicaragua. To assure the
quality and consistency of the tobacco, we go to the farm in Nicaragua
and tell them exactly how we want the tobacco processed. This way we can
control everything in the cigars.
How long did it take you to get the blend where you wanted it?
We have also worked the hardest on this cigar over a period of two years
but it has been a labor of love. We started with 28 blends, then reduced
it to 16, then to 8. Once we had 8 blends, we took two of each size and
invited everyone in the company to try them. Reduced it again to the four
best blends and the Vega Talanga Series was born.
I found the Rojo to be very hearty. What can you tell me about it?
You're talking about a cigar in a particular style. In this case, as with
all of the cigars in the Vega Talanga series, it is what we call the 'old
Cuban flavor' cigar style.
Is there anything else that distinguishes Vega Talanga from other cigars?
Sure. For example, cigars like Padron Aniversario, Camacho, Toraño Exodus,
Plasencia Organica, these all have very unique flavor characteristics.
So if you're looking for something different, you would select one of
these or some other brand for a change. In the Vega Talanga line, we have
something for smokers of all experience, all within the same series. The
Rojo is the fullest of the line. The Oscuro is strong, too, but it is
shaped the way it is so that it offers a more complex smoke. The Azul and
Blanco are made with a shade wrapper to be more medium in body. The Havana
sun grown wrapper used on the Oscuro and Rojo is a 1992 vintage and closest
to the Corojo seed, which is the highest quality.
The word Corojo seems to be popping at lot. I've noticed that many of the
new cigars have Corojo among the list of tobaccos in their blends.
I think this is very important to mention because I know people talk
about Corojo a lot. In the case of our cigars, we are talking about true
Corojo. Not the new seeds that have been introduced by Corojo '99. I'm
not saying it's a bad seed, what I'm saying is we are using the 'old
Corojo,' the seed actually grown in Cuba and obtained by natural selection,
not by cross pollinating or genetic modification. It is an ongoing process
of refining the seed through adaptation. We actually had seeds that did
not adapt well in Cuba, but when planted in the Talanga Valley in Honduras
they adapted immediately. It was like heaven!
What's good to drink with one of these cigars?
The Rojo, Azul and Oscuro all good with espresso, but here's something I
like to have with the Oscuro. Take an espresso without sugar, put a line of
good cognac in there and try that. Coffee with cognac; in Cuba they call it
'carajillo.' It think it originated in Spain.
One more question. I get asked a lot by customers whether they should
take the cello off their cigars or keep it on when putting them in their
humidor. What's your opinion?
Actually, I wanted to present the Vega Talanga Series without cello, but
because of all the different weather conditions, we decided to go with it.
But as far as removing the cello goes, it's like a beautiful woman. Would
you prefer to have her clothes on or off? [laughs] Seriously, I think
it depends on how and where you are presenting the cigar. Personally, I
prefer no cello. ¶
SURVEY SAYS DEPT.
What are your "Top-3" cigars?
I thought it might be fun to put together a Top-10 list of cigars as
selected by the readers. All you have to do is send me your list of
your Top 3 NON-CUBAN cigars. Based on the responses, I'll distill them
down to the 10 cigars that ranked most prominently and we'll post them
on the web site as the “Top 10 Cigars of 2003.” In the meantime, I'll be
putting my own personal Top-10 list together and will be curious to see
how the two compare.
Send an email to: and in the SUBJECT line,
type or copy & paste "My Top 3" and put the brand and shape in the body
section of the message. For example, Avo Maduro No. 2 (Remember, no Cuban
brands.) As always, your comments are welcome.
Survey Results for October 28th: How much do you pay for an "everyday"
cigar?
Looks like the majority of you are "educated consumers." Out of 236 responses, here are the results:
Less than $2: 62 (26%)
$2+ - $4: 113 (48%)
$4+ - $7: 55 (23%)
$7+ - $10: 5
$10+ - $12: 1
More than $12: 0
CIGAR TERMS & TIPS (Collect and trade em'!)
Bunch - Up to four different types of filler tobacco (in some cases, more) that are blended
to create the body of the cigar. The bunch is held together by the binder.
Can you cigar pass the “even burn” test?
Here's a great tip from our own Cigar Aficionada, Lisa Freytes, Famous
Smoke Shop's Retail Store Manager:
One of the best ways to 'test' the burning qualities of your cigar is to
light just 1/2 or 3/4 of the foot. As expected, the cigar will begin to
burn unevenly. If it straightens out within the first inch and forms a
level ash, then it is a very well made cigar.
(I tried this myself on a Flor De Oliva 6x50 and an Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Flor
Fina natural and they passed!)
*** 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.
Subcribe To Famous Smoke Shop-Talk
If you'd like to subscribe to Famous Smoke Shop-Talk, simply click on the "Your Account" link in the left margin and check the box that says, "Email me your newsletter (issued every other week)." While you're there, you can also subscribe to our Weekly Email Sale. It's packed with money-saving specials on cigars, humidors and accessories you won't want to miss.
FAMOUS-SMOKE.COM HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS
“Shop-Talk” Archives
Can't get enough of a good thing? This week there's a new web site
feature for those of you who want to catch up on your Famous Smoke "Shop
Talk" reading, or would like to reference an article, tip, or other bit
of information that appeared in a past issue. A "Newsletter Archive" link,
can now be found under the Smoker's Education heading, which appears on
the left side of every web page. The link will direct you to a page,
listing all the past newsletters by subject and distribution date.
RATING LUNATIC DEPT.
Partagas Spanish Rosado "Ramon Y Ramon" (Dom. Rep.)
Strength/Size: (Full / 6½" x 45
Wrapper: Honduran "San Augustin" Dark Natural
Kudos to Daniel Nuñez, Nestor Plasencia and everyone else at General Cigar behind the making of this
marvelous cigar. Everything about it was right on the money. The smoke
was consistent from start to finish with a very full flavor and body,
yet never turned bitter or overpoweringly strong. The aroma was also
sensational, a big feature for me. Now, this blend is also more of an
Honduran than the Dominican Partagas we've all come to know and love,
which is probably another reason I was so seduced by this cigar. The
wrapper has a beautiful glow to it and an inviting dark reddish color.
It burned almost perfectly with a solid, silvery white ash. I say "almost"
because this Honduran-grown San Augustin wrapper is a little thicker than usual and it
did tend to angle, but it righted itself simply by rotating the cigar. The
smoke is thick and creamy and every puff was teeming with complex, earthy-spicy flavors that left a long finish on my tongue and tickled my nose. I
could find practically no flaws in this cigar and I didn't want it to end.
Moreover, I was so impressed by this cigar I had to smoke another just to
make sure and the second one was equally as enjoyable. It may even make my
personal Top-10. (95) - G.K.
Hamiltons Reserve "Zorro" (Dom. Rep.)
Strength/Size: Mild-Medium / 7½" x 38
Wrapper:U.S. Conn. Shade
Excellent smoke. Nice and mellow, nice size for us ladies (if a little
long). It has a very mild flavor and just plain feels good in one's hand.
The Lady H's are terrific too.
- Janice H., Brookhaven PA. (October 28, 2003)
Customer reviews are selected at random and may be edited for length, not content.
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. What you say can help others make a more informed decision, even you!
CIGARS IN THE NEWS
Mckeon Drops In On "Late Show"
By Mark Newman / MLB.com
11/06/2003
Jack McKeon's 'Late Show' Top Ten
One night after introducing Harry Joseph Letterman to his viewers, the
host of CBS' Late Show with David Letterman looked into the camera
Wednesday night and said, "At the age of 72, our next guest became the
oldest manager in history to lead his team to a world championship.
Please welcome Jack McKeon!"
Those were words that even McKeon could not have imagined hearing a year
ago at this time, and for the second time in two weeks he did things his
way when he got to New York. McKeon walked onto the stage with a big
victory cigar in his mouth and reached out to give another one to TV's
newest dad.
To read the entire article, click here.
*** GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR! DEPT.***
Cigar tasting events in our retail store at 1100 Conroy Place, Easton, PA
Please call 610-559-8800 for more info and the special offers associated with these events.
Thu, Dec. 4: Helix & Vega Talanga Corojo Tasting - 4:00 to 6:00 P.M.
Fri, Dec 12: CAO Criollo Tasting - 4:00 to 7:00 P.M.
COMING SOON!
* Punch Photo Shoot - Star in your own Punch cigar ad
* Appointed Davidoff Merchant Grand Opening
* Cigar rolling
*** EYES ON THE PRIZE DEPT.***
Cigar Sightings
In a movie released recently (Open Range), you can see Kevin Costner
and Robert Duvall enjoying a "real Havana" before their big shootout
with about a dozen other men. They're sitting under the protection of
a covered wagon enjoying what may be their last smoke before having it
out with the bad guys.
- Jim Jeter, San Antonio, TX
Other Famous Cigar Smokers Caught “Infumare Delecto”
Me and my 4 younger brothers enjoying some Griffins. I'm second from the
left in the camouflaged hat. It would be great to see all of us Lukas
boys in one of your emails. Thanks Gary and as always, keep up the good
work!
Sincerely,
Dave Lukas, Huntley, IL
WANTED! Cigar-smoking photos of you and/or your friends. (See next paragraph for details.)
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 next time, Happy Smokes!
Gary
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Copyright © 2003 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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