29th Aug2011

Fire Destroys Two Arturo Fuente Tobacco Warehouses

by GoodFellasCigars

Gordon
MottPosted: August 25, 2011

http://www.cigaraficionado.com

An early Tuesday morning fire burned down two large tobacco warehouses of Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., the manufacturer of Fuente Fuente Opus X and Arturo Fuente cigars. The fire in Villa Gonzalez, near the company’s main offices in Santiago, Dominican Republic, completely destroyed large inventories of aged tobacco and possibly caused smoke damage to some other nearby storage facilities.

“We don’t really know how much tobacco we have lost,” said Carlos Fuente Jr. in a telephone interview from the Dominican Republic today. “But it was a lot—a lot of tobacco.”

Fuente Jr. declined to give any specific figures about the quantity or the dollar value of the tobacco lost. But, he said that it included bales of some irreplaceable tobacco that had been purchased in 1990 from a Connecticut grower and may have been harvested as long ago as 1960. Fuente Jr. said the tobacco was still being saved for some special projects. He added, however, that the bulk of the tobacco was regular filler leaves, and that there was very little wrapper tobacco in the burned buildings.

“It’s just so sad. You save it. You wait. You save it some more. In my lifetime, we won’t be able to recreate some of this tobacco,” Fuente Jr. said.

He said that the company had been moving tobacco around to different warehouses in recent months to be sure that the leaves used in their products weren’t all in the same place. But he admitted that fire would force them to cut back production for the next year, possibly even for two years. The company also makes cigars for the Ashton and J.C. Newman brands.

“At our current production levels, we just have to cut back so that we can maintain the consistency of our cigars,” Fuente Jr. said. He added that they still had plenty of aged tobacco spread around other warehouses throughout the Dominican Republic, but the cutbacks were going to be necessary to ensure the consistency and quality of all the company’s cigars.

Fuente Jr. said that Tabacalera A. Fuente production for 2011 was going to be in the range of 22 to 23 million cigars.

The company, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012, has suffered nine fires during its history.

“Thank God, every one is okay, and no one was hurt,” Fuente Jr. said. “So, we’re doing pretty well. You just hate to see all that hard work lost.”

Category : Cigar News
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27th Aug2011

Viaje Skull And Bones Little Boy

by GoodFellasCigars

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Shape: Petite Double Capped Robusto?

Size: 4 1/4 x 54

Country: Nicaragua

Production: 150 Boxes of 25 Cigars

The Viaje Skull and Bones Little Boy as shown this year at ICPCPR in Las Vegas was once again a powerful ass kicking stick. A little smaller this year, capped both sides, and fitting in about the palm of your hand. Personally it wasn’t as intense as the previous WMD or MOAB but, that is probably due to the smaller size this time. Also along with it being smaller, the price per stick was reduced this time which is always a good thing. The band was also the same, it had a dark oily wrapper with it smelling like a sweet mild tobacco, and light veins. I used a straight cut with a very small clip in the other end. The pre-light draw was a sweet tobacco and the initial draw was sweet with a warm woody earth spice and a hint of leather. The aroma coming off this stick was comparable to a campfire type smell. This overall was a very full-bodied smoke which right off the bat you can tell. The draws were smooth and very smokey. Also this stick produced quite a bit of smoke while resting aswell.

Going through the first third the profile was complex with certain flavors being here and there. The main standout flavors were a decently strong wood spice that tingled the tongue a bit and a rich dark earth tone. There was however an underlying sweetness that was the typical sweetness you see in Viaje blends. The other flavors that were in and out at this stage were a warm mixed nut and a bit of bitter espresso. Otherwise the smoke was warm and creamy most likely due to the amount of smoke being given off. Another thing I would like to note with this stick even thought it is small this stick last as long as a bigger stick due to the slow burn. I say take your time with this Skull and Bones just like the last ones this will sneak up on you which it did to me at the midway point. The was pretty much razor sharp throughout with the ash being a dark grey with black peppered in it.

The second third has the a roasted nut and wood spice take center stage with each puff around this point bringing a different underlying tone each time. Such things like earth, a cocoa bitterness, espresso, and a dark earth all being here and there with each puff. The profile for this stick always has 2 main flavors but, has alot of different tones I’ve noticed. The ash is staying firm but also a tad flaky too. By the midway point I’m really feeling the buzz which makes ya slow down a bit. I now feel the challenge begin.

I make it to the final third….by this time the tones that are all over the place begin to disappear with only the roasted nut and dark earth remaining and the spice stepping off to the side not being in the main stage anymore. The rest remains constant with this stick having a finish of the roasted nut and dark earth being last. Overall this is a very full-bodied smoke that I do suggest take your time on and really enjoy it and most of all don’t smoke this on an empty stomach or you might get yourself into a mess. This stick was released along with the Fat Man too which was a slightly larger ring gauge. Opinion is try this if you want a challenge or love a really full-bodied cigar.

 

Category : viaje
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27th Aug2011

Viaje Skull and Bones Fat Man

by GoodFellasCigars

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Shape: Petite Double Cap Robusto?

Size: 4 1/2  x 55

Country: Nicaragua

Production: 150 Boxes of 25 Cigars

The Viaje Skull and Bones Fat Man like its predecessors the Skull and Bones Mother of Bombs and Weapon of Mass Destruction takes full-bodied to another level. Even though this doubled capped oily cigar is very strong, the flavors are not muted or over powered but, whoever lights this cigar up maybe.

The pre-draw had pepper, wood, and a hint of vanilla. At first light the draw was decent and had flavors of spice and wood are present and the finish is provides a great combination of wasabi and wood flavors. The first third has a dominating wood flavor with some spice and a finish of wood. The draw became better a fourth inch with some resistance.

The second third still featured woody favors but added a sweet tobacco component to the flavor profile. By now one can tell just how full-bodied this cigar is. Have a meal before attempting to tackle this beast. It will help immensely for preventing a buzz from turning into being over powered and getting sick or worse having to quit smoking. The burn became jagged and needed corrections in order for the flavor to not be affected.

The final third was simply a very strong wood flavor and by now the nicotine buzz was at full force. The buzz could easily overwhelm the novice smoker to the aficionado.

Over all this cigar accomplished what it set out to do, put anyone on their behind in no time. The favors were very enjoyable but the draw could have been better and the cigar did need a few corrections but in total it was quite good. If you are looking to see how much cigar you can handle pick this the Viaje Skull and Bones Fat Man up or a slightly smaller version the Little Boy and brace yourself.

Category : viaje
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19th Aug2011

Room101 Connecticut 615c

by GoodFellasCigars

Wrapper: Connecticut (Ecuador)
Binder: Corojo (Honduras)
Filler: Honduras & Dominican Republic
 Shape: Churchill
Size: 615
Country: Honduras
 Total production: 200,000 cigars

Matt Booth, founder of the Room101 lifestyle brand called this addition to the Room101 core line “Connecticut with a kick!”. And it is! Anyone looking for an amazing blend featuring a ton pepper and spice must get their hands on this line.

The pre-light draw tasted sweet, sugary, and like cedar and so was the aroma of the foot and wrapper most likely due to the Connecticut wrapper.

The initial draw had flavors of sweet creamy tobacco and a strong crack pepper with an after shock finish that tingled tongue yet is remarkably smooth and had  a very light hint of caramelized sugar spice mixture. The first third was medium to full bodied and featured lots of crack pepper with a bite, along with leather, spice, cedar, and very light hint of caramelized sugar. the draw smooth and only required a little effort. The burn started to become slightly jagged but a possible correction was not needed. This was a very good start the Room101 615 Connecticut especially the great flavors bursting forth from it.

In the second third  the crack pepper component mellowed, with a nice mix of light spice and caramelized sugar was still prominent and an interesting citrus type sweetness, almondy nut flavor began to develop. The burn evened out in second third. The ash a black-gray with a loose flakiness held strong for a good two inches or more. Even though the crack pepper wasn’t there to dish out a little one-two punch the flavors really balanced quit well.

The final third mellowed even more and the cigar transitioned into a solid medium body with only a slight crack pepper kick.  This, combined with a nut, cedar, dry earth spice, mix and underlying sweetness can only be described as a tongue trip!

The Room101 Connecticut was just an overall wonderful cigar. Velvety soft to the touch , slight veins, good construction, and most important of all a balanced complex spiced Connecticut blend that won’t quit. Don’t wait to try this cigar for you will every moment spend that you could have enjoyed this fine cigar.

 

 

Category : Room101
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