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UNDER THE
WRAPPER
Informed information about Cuban Cigars
November 2002 Issue #14
wrapper@ajaxcigars.com
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Welcome to Issue #14 of
UNDER THE WRAPPER
Archived copies of the newsletters are available on the web
site but do not contain the product discunts that are available
to e-mail subscribers. You may subscribe to our newsletter
here
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> Welcome
=> Feature Article - Cigar Rating
=> Quotable Quotes
=> Industry News - Cohiba Siglo VI
=> Spotlight - Our Newsletter Special
=> Reader Feedback Invited
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
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WELCOME
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Wow! The response received from those of you who wanted to
become an
Ajax Rater was great. Our first 4 raters were chosen, the
cigars and
rating instructions sent, and the reviews received. Please
read this
months Feature Article for the full story. All of you who
were not
picked will be eligible for this months draw to be raters
- no need to send in a new entry. If you haven't sent in a
request to
be a rater the cut off date is November 24th/02 for the next
draw. Email
us: info@ajaxcigars.com With Christmas coming up fast a couple
of quick
reminders for you. Every year customers are disappointed because
we run
out of some of the more popular Cuban cigars. Shortfalls always
occur
at this time of year. Order early and we can always ship later.
Cut off date
for Christmas delivery is December 25th/02
Enjoy the issue.
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FEATURE ARTICLE - Cigar Rating
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The cigar rated this month was a Belicosos. I phoned the wholesaler
and
told them to pick the 5th box from the top of the pile in
order to get a
completely random sample box. The box date code was May/01
resulting in
a nicely aged box, perfect to run the test. I had my wife
randomly
select 4 cigars from the box. Then I removed the bands, and
sent them to
the raters.
Here are the
average scores
Appearance 4
Construction 4
Burn 4.3
Draw 4.3
Aroma 3.5
Strength 3.8 (Medium to Full Bodied)
Taste 3
Overall 3.8
Recommended Yes
Only one of our
raters guessed at the cigar. Scott Dukes of Fresno CA
thinks that the cigar is a Sancho Panza Belicosos. Nice job
buddy you
are absolutely correct. I'm impressed! Below are the individual
ratings and comments just as we received them. Thank you all
for your
participation.
Our first rater
is Phillip Foster from Fresno CA
Appearance Rating
=5 The cigar had a nice even medium brown color. I
was also impressed with how fresh the cigar looked. It made
me feel
good to see this, because so many cigar sellers don't seem
to keep their
stock stored properly. What you sent me looked and smoked
like it was
stored just right.
Construction
Rating =5 This cigar had a good wrapping job. Nice smooth
wrapping with slightly oily texture. There were no pieces
of the
wrapper that hung hanging, or that seemed out of place. Good
quality
construction.
Burn Rating =
4 Burned pretty even. The ash wanted to naturally fall
off after every inch to inch and a half.
Draw Rating =
5 I know different people like different draws, but for
me, this was perfect. There wasn't too much smoke. One thing
I really
don't like is when I don't even have the cigar in my mouth
and I'm
getting a face full of smoke. This wasn't like that, but it
also wasn't
like sucking through a straw. It had a nice even amount of
smoke that
filled my mouth when I took a draw.
Aroma Rating
= 3 I've had other cigars that I liked the aroma on more,
but it wasn't too bad.
Strength Rating
= 4 It gave me a slight buzz feeling. It wasn't the
strongest I've smoked, but definitely had some nice kick to
it.
Taste Rating
= 3 The cigar had a pretty strong peppery taste. I
generally like the flavor a little smoother, but I would recommend
this
cigar to people who prefer that peppery taste.
Overall Rating
= 4 I would recommend trying this cigar. It was a good
experience, and a good experience is really what I'm looking
for when I
smoke a cigar.
Recommended:
Yes I hated for the cigar to be over, and that's a good
sign.
I smoked the
cigar down to about 1.5 inches. The cigar started out
great, went through a point where I wasn't too impressed,
and then got
really good towards the end. One thing I was really impressed
with was
how the cigar never got too hot. I was down to less than a
couple
inches and it got a little warmer, but was still a pleasant
smoke.
For anyone thinking
about signing yourself up to rate a cigar for
Ajax......
As a person immersed
in everyday rural life....I get tired of gimmicks.
I'm tired of there always being a catch. It was nice to have
somebody
want to send me a good product at no cost to me, and all they
wanted
from me was my opinion. I highly recommend signing up to be
a rater.
It was a very good experience.
I was recommended
to Ajax cigars from another web site, and was told
that if I wanted to pinch every penny, I might find someone
a little
cheaper. But if I wanted to get fresh, genuine product every
time from
someone I could trust....Ajax Cigars was the place to go.
Thank you.
Our second rater
is Don Maloney from Port Chester NY
Appearance: 4
Construction:
4
Burn: 5
Draw: 5
Aroma - Very
nice aroma of tobacco, not harsh but good, quality tobacco
fragrances. Smelling this would make you want one yourself.
Strength: 3
Overall: 4
Recommended:
Yes
Comments: Nicely
made torpedo with a medium brown wrapper with good
oiliness. The veining was very light, no heavy veins. Perfect
draw and
burn, a well rolled cigar! Flavors started out mild-medium
and increased
to a medium strength. Nice creamy tobacco flavors all the
way with some
hints of leather after the first 10 minutes added to the enjoyment.
I
smoked it 75% of the way until, as usual for me, I let it
go out when a
small hint of harshness crept in.
Our third rater
is Scott Dukes from Chico CA
Appearance- 3
The appearance of the cigar had a light brownish /green
color. The cap was a little rough but looked good to me. The
wrapper was
slightly veiny.
Construction-
3 The construction was good med. to soft to the touch.
Burn- 4 The burn
started out uneven but held the ash great, it was a
dark gray to black color.
Draw- 3 The draw
started out a little tight but had a nice draw about
halfway until finished.
Aroma- 3 The
aroma was nice with strong tobacco smell.
Strength- 4-5
The strength i would rate between a 4-5.
Taste- 3 1/2
I got a sweet taste at first, and as I was smoking, it got
a bit spicy with some added strength. It's well constructed
and held the
ash almost to the halfway point. About halfway, has good strength
and is
fairly spicy with a little peppery taste. The sweetness has
gone now and
is a med-full bodied cigar spicy, with peppery tones. The
burn is still
slow and a bit uneven but the draw is better. The cigar has
gotten
strong now, is a little coarse but is smoking well. At the
3/4 mark the
wrapper split on me- but I was done. I'd had the satisfaction
of
smoking a cigar w/ strength, spice, peppery tones which I
recommend to
anyone who likes strong cigars.
Overall- 3 1/2
Recommended YES,
to a person that enjoys a cigar with strength.
My guess is that
it's a Sancho Panza/Belicosos.
Our fourth rater, despite repeated phone calls and emails,
never sent in
his rating! I mention this because we have hundreds of people
lined up
to be a rater. If you don't feel you have the time to do the
rating ( I
just bet he had time to enjoy the cigar) please wait before
submitting
your name until you do - in fairness to others.
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QUOTABLE QUOTES & CIGAR STORIES
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"A good
cigar is as great a comfort to a man as a good cry to a woman."
-- E.G. Bulwer-Lytton Darnley, 1845
"Would you
want to drink a good wine with a straw?"
-- Zino Davidoff, in reference to using cigar holders
"Here, have
a cigar. Light it up and be somebody."
-- from the film Pete Kelly's Blues
"A good
Cuban cigar closes the door to the vulgarities of the world."
-- Franz Liszt, Composer
"There are
two things a man never forgets - his first love and his first
cigar."
-- John Bain, Cigar Lover
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INDUSTRY NEWS- New Brand - Cohiba Siglo VI
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The Línea 1492 was expressly created in 1992 in order
to celebrate the
fifth centenary of the discovery of tobacco in Cuba by Christopher
Colombus. Now, ten years on, and on the occasion of the tenth
anniversary of this line, Cohiba, which is always in the frontline
of
new developments and special series, presents a new cigar.
The new Siglo
VI cigar, whose Vitola de Galera -format- is known as
Cañonazo, with base measurements of 52 x 6" in
length.
The new Siglo
VI, presented now in order to commemorate such a
significant date, will subsequently pass into the usual range
of Cohiba
and will be available in different countries at the start
of 2003. As
such, it will have limited availability and the usual brand
band.
The new Cohiba
Siglo VI comes in an exclusive format that will only
exist in this Habanos brand. Its big format makes it possible
to fully
appreciate the aroma and taste of the Línea 1492 with
complete
intensity.
With its Cohiba
Siglo VI, Habanos S.A. continues to offer the most
exclusive cigars in the world, made in order to satisfy the
most
demanding and select smokers: the Cohiba smokers.
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READER FEEDBACK INVITED:
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Please Email
your comments, gripes, suggestions etc.
to: wrapper@ajaxcigars.com
Your interaction will help make the newsletter work.
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HOW TO BE A GUEST COLUMNIST INSTRUCTIONS
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Are you a frustrated
author? Do you have something
interesting to share with your fellow Cuban Cigar lovers?
Drop us an Email and get your name in lights.
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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
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Copyright 2001
Ajax Cigars
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to pass the newsletter on to your friends. However, we
ask that you keep it intact and forward it in its entirety.
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