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UNDER
THE WRAPPER
Informed information about Cuban Cigars
October 2001 Issue #2
wrapper@ajaxcigars.com
Welcome
to Issue #2 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 - Blending for Strength and Flavor
=> Industry News - San Cristobal de La Habana
=> Spotlight - Our initial gift to you
=> Reader Feedback
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Guest Columnist - Jeff Aiken
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
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WELCOME
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"Hey Rod, want to come into town with me?" "I'd
love to honey
but I have to get this newsletter done. Enjoy the afternoon,
see
you later." Saved again from the dreaded Shopping. Lets
see
now, a Juan Lopez Seleccion #2 would seem just about right
for
an early afternoon smoke. Aah, I love this cigar.
Well we made it past our first issue and the reader response
has been terrific. Thanks for your encouragement. We'll do
our best to keep the momentum going.
I saw an interesting survey today.
"Are you allowed to smoke cigars in the house"
1)I can smoke anywhere in the house 29.8%
2)I have a special room where I am allowed to smoke 17.5%
3)I can smoke in the garage 17.5%
4)I have to go completely outside to smoke 35.1%
It seems to say that more than half of us married guys are
banned
from enjoying the pleasure of a cigar in our own home.
I find it interesting because of where I fit into this. You
see
I would have to place myself in category 1. But not really.
It
works this way. If I'm in the office smoking a cigar and I
leave
the door open - it gets closed. If I happen to walk out of
the
office with a cigar in my mouth or maybe want to watch a game
and
have a cigar - battle stations! Candles are light, windows
are
flung open and fans go on at hurricane force. All done without
a word said. Psychological warfare. At night, I'm sure the
neighbors think we are conducting a seance. This holds especially
true when my grown daughters are visiting. The odds are then
3-1 in their favor. But sure I'm in category 1. Mind you I
do
have a real nice workshop which is separate from the house.
Anybody need any end tables built?
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FEATURE ARTICLE - BLENDING FOR STRENGTH AND FLAVOR
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In
our last issue we provided a list of the Cuban cigar
brands and rated them by strength and flavor. Reader response
was as expected in that there was some disagreement to the
ratings provided. I threw you a bid of a slider on that one.
What was intentionally missing from the article on Brand
Classification was that the ratings were not based on tastings,
but on blending. What I may personally rate as a medium
strength you may consider to be full body or vice versa.
This debate can go on ad nauseam so the blending system
of ratings was developed to provide a starting point.
So how does it work?
Contrary to belief, there are no flavors added to Cuban Cigars.
Each brands unique character is created by the specific
blending of leaves not just from different levels of the
plant but also from combining leaves from other plantations.
These leaves are then combined in a specific formula through
a wide array of "Escogidas", or processing facilities.
The "Criollo" or "Creole" plant has between
6 and 7 levels of
2 - 3 leaves which are used as filler in the cigar. A sun
grown plant, the leaves are used in the following ways.
Ligero - upper leaves. These provide the strength of a Havana.
The more Ligero, the stronger the cigar.
Seco - mid level leaves. The richest in natural oils, they
provide the aroma and character.
Capote and Volado. These are the oldest leaves found at the
base of the plant. Poorest in oils they provide the combustion
for the cigar.
Ready to become a "Ligador" (Mixer)?
How about producing a light cigar with full flavor and aroma.
A complete leaf of Volado, one and a half leaves of Seco and
half a leaf of Ligero, should do it. Actually you'd be pretty
close to a Sancho Panza!
Because of the many factors influencing the quality of the
tobacco, great care is taken with each harvest to determine
the exact combination of leaves which will lead to final
enjoyment of the Havana.
The process of blending is often known as "La Barajita"
or
shuffling the playing cards. Ahh, but to have such skill
and expertise at the poker table.
NEST ISSUE Humidors
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INDUSTRY NEWS - SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA HABANA
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On November 16, 1519 a small settlement was established on
the shores of the Caribbean. Its founders wanted to call it
San Cristobal, in honor of Cristopher Columbus, but the Indians
who lived there insisted on calling it La Habana. Thus San
Cristobal de La Habana was borne, a settlement that would
become with the passage of time, the beautiful, sensual,
cosmopolitan city of Havana.
On November 16, 1999, the 480th anniversary, of the founding
of the city, this the latest (and probably the last for sometime)
brand of Cuban cigars was launched. As a tribute to the history
and traditions of Havana and to an entire era, this series
of
4 vitolas is dedicated and named after the military castles
or fortresses that made up the walled city's defensives.
El Principe 4.5 x 42
"Minuto" size, this small cigar has enough girth
to pack in
some character and body and is perfect when time is short.
La Fuerza 5.5 x 50
"Gordito" A completely new size for Cuban cigars
with the
full girth of a Robusto but with added length. A rare
experience for Havana lovers.
La Punta 5.5 x 52
"Campana" size, is a classic semi-figurado often
refer to
as Belicoso with a girth and shape that reveals the full
complexity of the blend. A wonderful smoke. If one has
the resolve to set some aside it is bound to become a classic.
El Morro 7.15 x 49
"Paco" is another new size for Habanos, a shade
longer than
a Churchill, with the girth of a Double Corona. A worthy
namesake for Havana's most famous military landmark.
My personal experience with these cigars has been wonderful.
I consider them to be a medium leaning toward full bodied.
They have been well rolled and full of flavor and character.
The La Punta and La Fuerza are my favorites followed by the
El Morro. Ah hell, they are all good!
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
As a general rule, the larger the ring gauge
the cooler the smoke.
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
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SPOTLIGHT: OUR INITIAL GIFT TO YOU
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This section will be devoted to specials for subscribers to
UNDER THE WRAPPER. Our webmaster, Aurora Works, is in the
process of placing this on the site and they should be
online by the next issue of the newsletter.
I'll keep you posted on how it will work.
In the interim every reader of this issue will receive a
$25.00 rebate on any order placed between now and the next
newsletter.
Just place your order in the regular manner and I will
manually post a $25.00 refund.
A small thanks for your business.
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READER FEEDBACK
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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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GUEST COLUMNIST - JEFF AIKEN
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Jeff Aiken
Cigar Guide - About.com
Jeff Aiken is a long time cigar smoker with a varied taste
and
willingness to explore the unusual. With great connections
in
the cigar industry, Jeff brings us information on new products,
tips on what to look out for and general suggestions that
can
help us all enjoy this hobby.
Experience:
With years of experience smoking hundreds of cigars,
Jeff has delved the depths of the web to the heights researching,
questioning and educating his fellow cigar smokers. With an
eye
to the "Joe Churchills" of the world rather than
the self-proclaimed
"experts", Jeff brought us the bargains available
through the net
as a Value Hunter for well over a year. His humorous and educational
articles and reviews have kept About.com readers smokin' pretty
and laughing all the way to the bank.
I visit the cigar guide at About.com on a regular basis. The
information is useful and the content does not appear to be
tainted by sponsors or advertisers. Check it out.
www.about.com Type in Cigar Guide in the "Find It"
box.
Below
is his recent review on Vegueros which has been copied in
its
entirety with his permission. Thanks Jeff.
A Review From Up North
If
you read my "Cubanfest" article, you met my brother-in-law
Frank in Toronto. An avid cigar smoker and lover of the unusual,
Frank recently sent me the following email.
Hey
Jeff!
I
tried a Cuban I'd never heard of before and thought your
readers might like to hear about it.
They're
called Vegueros. You probably never heard of them
either, right? Most people haven't. I did some research on
them
and here's what I found out. They are made in Pinar del Rio
which
is the best tobacco growing region in Cuba. The factory is
a
relatively small shop with maybe 25 rollers. The brand itself
is
new and was started as an accommodation to visitors who wished
to
try a local cigar. I think they started to export in late
1996.
Its a mild little puppy but I enjoy them. I tried the Marevas
which is a 5 x 42.
I
got mine at Ajax Cigars. Most Cuban Petite Coronas sell for
$10-11 per stick but these go for $4.80. As far as construction
goes I haven't had a problem to date. Heavy plume in a lot
of the
boxes I've opened which indicates a good aged tobacco. That
may
account for the mellow, smooth taste. So why so cheap compared
to
the others? When they first came out the price was right up
there.
But they didn't sell - no brand recognition for one and also
the
packaging isn't very fancy. Looks like a box of menthol cigarettes.
About 6 months ago they dropped the prices and now they're
a great
cigar for the money. Plus there's the extra aging because
they
didn't sell very fast. Great deal!
Well,
gotta run. Sue has supper on the table and you know how your
sister gets.
Smoke
One For Me
Frank
After
I got Frank's email I visited the Ajax Cigars site.
Seems real nice and they say they keep the overhead down and
pass
the savings on to the customer. The prices do look real good.
And thanks Frank for keeping your poor US brother-in-law up
to date
on those Cubans.
Good
Smokin'
Jeff
Copyright 2001 Ajax Cigars
Please feel free 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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