Cigar of the Month: Indian Motorcycle!

This is going to be a quick one, kids, because I'm going to try to get back on track after my hiatus. Had I been a wonderfully organized person, I would have come back on the 25th of a month, keeping the giveaways organized. Hahaha. But no. That could never happen.*

So this month, we're giving away this box of goodness, which includes a box signed by Phil Zhengi and five cigars, which, while at the Rhode Island launch of the cigar, organized and hosted by our pal Paul of Mr. J's Havana, Phil gave us to give to you:** We're giving you the basic info for now and we'll make it much more lively soon!***

Travel down to the bottom of the page for the contest entries!

Maybe one of us is a little obsessed with Lego people.
Maybe someone else who lives in this house should stop saying I have enough of them.

No, you do NOT get the Lego builder. We need him for cutting off our caps. And he only works for a little, so we can afford him.

The cigars come in two varieties:

Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Dominican San Vincente
Filler: HVA Ligero, Nicaraguan Seco, Piloto Cubano
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (De Los Reyes)

...and the Maduro:

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic, Central America
Strength: Medium-Full

Available sizes:

Robusto: 5 x 50
Toro: 6 x 52
Gordo: 6 x 58
Churchill: 7 1/2 x 50

Inside box reads:

Indian Motorcycles, America’s First Motorcycle Company™ and Debonaire® have joined to capture the essence of the brand’s heritage with a new ultra-premium cigar range.

Since 1901 Indian Motorcycles® has produced some of the most iconic American V-Twin motorcycles. The Indian Motorcycle® Ultra Premium Cigars developed by 6th generation cigar markers truly are ultra-premium.

These cigars a blend of the most sought after Central American, Dominican, and American tobaccos produced.  This exquisite blend an inviting, full-flavored, well-balanced smoking experience with a quality befitting of today’s most revered motorcycle brands.

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*Being organized, I mean.

**And we're passing them on to you, and not keeping any, because that's the right thing to do. Plus, I hid them from Valentino so he couldn't "accidentally" smoke them.

***Probably. added later: That was an empty promise. I haven't changed anything except adding these two sentences. And this kitten picture:

Me, wondering what you're getting me for my birthday.

Words of Wisdom #108

Words of Wisdom #107

Ripped from the headlines!

From the timeline, actually. Facebook timeline.

The La Flor Dominicana folks said "We have some very talented rollers..."

If you don't agree whole-heartedly, then we can no longer be friends--because these cigars are amazeballs!

Words of Wisdom #106

"Smoking has a sedative effect upon the nerves, 

and enables a man to bear the sorrows of his life 

(of which everyone has his share) 

not only decently, but dignifiedly." 

-- George Burrow

Words of Wisdom #105

"...I promised myself that if I ever I had some money 

that I would savor a cigar each day after lunch and dinner. 

This is the only resolution of my youth that I have kept, 

and the only realized ambition 

which has not brought disillusion." 

-- Somerset Maugham

Words of Wisdom #104

Words of Wisdom #103

“Any man who doesn't partake in cigar smoking is nothing more than a weak-willed, meandering oaf, and I would never put my lips to those of any creature, man or beast, whose lips were not fresh awash in the currents of cigar smoke.’" 

– Catherine the Great

(We think she should now be called Catherine the Awesome. But that's just us.)

Words of Wisdom #102

"To fully appreciate fine cigars, it's important to recognize the various types of cigars. 

There are two basic categories of cigar. The lit and unlit." 

-- P. Martin Shoemaker

Words of Wisdom #101

"I'm not supporting their economy, I'm burning their crops." 

- Kinky Friedman, about smoking Cuban cigars

We were on a break!

I swear I wasn't sleeping with another blog.

I was, however, being quite the whore with other websites and email addresses and special events.*

::shrugs::

Sometimes a girl gets bored with the modus operandi. Sometimes she gets busy. Sometimes she thinks she has lost the inability to mix letters up in an acceptable manner. Sometimes she's unable to write due to fury coursing through her veins as former friends badmouth her and her beloved to anyone who will listen (including industry reps**) because they started a long-needed event company. And sometimes that fury bubbles to dangerous levels as the loudest critics steal her ideas and long-scheduled performers and destroy publicity materials. And sometimes she just needs a nap. A LOT of naps. (These naps may be a direct correlation to everything listed previously.)

So that's where we've been: Looking for a new approach to the blog, making lists, planning and hosting parties for (literally) hundreds of people (much to the chagrin of detractors), shaking our fists at all 26 letters individually and collectively, watching people speak out of both sides of their mouths (an interesting talent), and napping. A LOT of napping.

We're back, with many stories to tell, pictures to share, and fun to have.***

Fuck the detractors and former friends. We're here for you guys.

Exactly.

*Plus, school started and I had to teach classes again, so there's that too.

**I KNOW! True story!

***Plus gratuitous Archer jpegs and gifs because...Archer.

I was not watching Archer the entire time I was away from you.

Only part of it. He is, after all, my cartoon boyfriend.*

We've been hammering away at a special something for what seems like ages. What's that? You want more details?

Ready?

Set?

Cigar Shenanigans are afoot! And here's the website to prove it!

We have a number of events in the works already.  Here's one:

And then there's this:

And lots more in various stages of progress! Comedy shows! Liquor tastings!  Oh, you just wait!!



*Don't tell Valentino.

September Cigar of the Month: Rocky Patel

Last week,* Rocky Patel came to town, landing** at Broadway Cigars.

Broadway Cigars in Providence, RI.

Many men (and a few ladies--Hi Denise!) gathered for this rare Providence, RI sighting.

Just some of the usual suspects.***

And also one of the world's coolest dudes. Hi Brian!

Rocky was **** gracious, generous with his time, and funny--AND he put up with Will the Travelling Owl's willfulness, so in our book, he should be sainted.

The little bastard and Rocky

Of course, he also hung with Valentino for a bit, and they laughed it up like BFFs. (Not even kidding. I pity the guy who came up to Rocky and said, "Now who are you?")

Like Valentino's shirt? You can get one just like it here!

If you live on Planet Earth and have even taken a peek into the cigar world, you've heard the name Rocky Patel. Here's a spot of backstory so you can appreciate why his name is synonymous with cigars and you really only need to say "Rocky" and everyone knows who you mean.

Patel, er, Rocky, a former Los Angeles entertainment and liability lawyer, developed a fascination with cigars during the mid-1990s boom. After helping found the Grand Havana Club in LA, he invested in cigar manufacturing and the product--and his name--sailed to the annals of cigar history.

That beginning came in 1996, when the cigar world welcomed Rocky and business partner Phil Zhengi's Indian Tabac Company's**** "fresh ideas, bold packaging, and fuller cigars" and since then, his perfect tobacco blending and blending with smokers of his premium cigars is known throughout the community. [source]

Speaking of blending, at which Rocky excels, these were accidentally purchased during the Broadway Cigars event...

A smorgasborg of cigars!
What's the cigar equivalent of nom-nom-nom?

Also during the event, Rocky Patel (the company) rep Max Bichler provided some cigars to give away to you guys! Cigars that haven't been released to the public yet!

And we also got Rocky to sign a couple of boxes for you!

These boxes are empty, but they're still signed!

What's in the box?
Nothing. Not. A. Thing.
(Not kidding.)

In addition to what you see here, we're working on adding to the collection--more Rocky Patel cigars--we just couldn't finalize the secret switch in the back room of a speakeasy by "Dear god I have to announce next month's giveaway soon!" o'clock. But there will be more! Pinky swearsies!

So for now, we know there will be two first-prize winners. But of course we can't leave it at that! Stay tuned for The Adding of More Prizes.


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*Hahahaha. As if I did something in a timely manner.

**Not landing landing, as if his plane gently set down on Broadway's roof... Metaphorical landing.

***

In this picture,
they look like extras from a Sopranos episode.

****I'm sure he still is; after all, he's only been gone a few days.

*****Earlier this year, the company announced Indian Tabac's demise.

Hi! ::waves::

I've missed you!! Sorry to have deserted you! My computer deserted me, and the blogger app won't do things the way I like, so my words have remained tucked away in my noggin.

But they will soon be free! Soonish, anyway. 

A new top for my lap.

But don't think I've been resting on my laurels, whatever that means. Because quite the opposite! We have lots of fun things coming up--things you can be part of! Things you'll want to be part of!! 

Stay tuned! 

A hint: 

Still love this logo!

Words of Wisdom #100: Mel Brooks because...Mel-freakin'-Brooks!

If you don't adore Mel Brooks and every word he's ever written and/or spoken, we can't be friends anymore. Sorry, not sorry.

 

He directed three of American Film Institute's 100 Funniest Movies: Blazing Saddles (1974) at #6, The Producers (1967) at #11 and Young Frankenstein (1974) at #13.

 

Go watch all his works and then report back.

If you still don't agree with me, we're breaking up for realz.

 

 

 

 

Happy birthday, Valentino!

Today is our hero's birthday!

 

 

 

 

 

Words of Wisdom #99: Thomas Mann

"I never can understand how anyone can not smoke.

It deprives a man of the best part of life.

With a good cigar in his mouth a man is perfectly safe,

nothing can touch him, literally."

-- Thomas Mann

5 Things* about...Why you should like the Love of the Leaf Facebook page

 If you don't like Love of the Leaf on Facebook, you've made us have the sad. You're missing out on so...much...awesome! Keep reading (if you need convincing) and then join us there, at the cool kids hangout! (They let me go there too, so if you're uber-uncool like me, they'll still like you!)

5. Exclusive giveaways
You know we're not above bribery! For example, when we reach 200 likes/followers/stalkers, one lucky subscriber gets this (chosen completely randomly because, if nothing else, we're obsessively fair):

Instagram photo by @jerseyjay. Swiped from here.
(Too lazy to get up and take my own photo.)

Yep. One of you will receive two Drew Estate Undercrown Shade cigars! Like the page and you're in the running! (Chat with previous winners and they'll tell you we have difficulty with directions, always sending more than promised. Damn us!)

4.5. Sales and auctions
Sometimes we manage to lay our hands on cigars and swag that might make some of you swoon. You know. This kind of stuff:

Auction coming soon! For realz!

or this:

Just the hat, ma'am. Or sir.
[Source]

...or who knows what else.  As we've told you before, one of us is known as the Cigar Hunter, able to find and trap even the most elusive of sticks. We want to share the awesomeness with you by offering the stuff for sale or auction. (We're nice like that! But not nice enough to just give it to you!)

4. Your sales and auctions! Yes--your very own!
List cigars you want to sell or auction! Check out the pinned post on the Love of the Leaf Facebook page for guidelines. Keep in mind--this page is for kindness only, so please don't gripe or bitch about prices or anything else.  If you have a problem, please direct your comments towards the person privately or send me or Valentino a message. We'll help resolve any problem! And if we can't, we'll send out the Goon Squad.**

3. Blog posts, which as you know, are always good for a laugh or five. 
No need to track down that day's blog posts or new info on the Love of the Leaf website. The Facebook page will bring it all to you in one shot. Lucky you!

2. Instagram photos documenting cigar shenanigans, featuring all the crazy one picture can hold.
Like this one, a personal fave:

1. Additional bouts of craziness I can't put into words or even anticipate!
Who knows what we're going to get into next! (Although if you want to know where we'll be, in hopes of catching us mid-shenanigan, check out these events...more added frequently!)


*6 really, but we're pretending 5.
**Zillion trillion bonus points plus my undying friendship for getting the reference.

Words of Wisdom #98: Charles Dickens

"Ah, if only I had brought a cigar with me!

This would have established my identity."

-- Charles Dickens

Cigar Lounge Manners: No Trash Talking

"Dude. Really? A _____ [cigar brand]*?"

The smoker at the bar looks at his premium cigar as if for the first time, and finally says, "I really like these. It has good flavor. Have you had it?"

The instigator, rather than looking sheepish, gives the cigar another blast of Stinkeye. "No, but it's a _____. How good can it possibly be?"

The smoker takes a thoughtful puff, blows smoke out his nose like a cartoon bull, smiles like the Cheshire Cat...

...and says, "Pretty fucking good."

Unvocalized questions rattled around my noggin all night: Why? Why do people (a very small contingent, but still, enough to make a difference) do that, dissing each others' cigars?

Do you do that?

Don't do that. Please don't ever ever do that. Please.

Just because you don't like something--or it's less expensive than what you usually smoke--doesn't mean it's bad. It means it doesn't fit your flavor profile. Don't be a douchebag snob.

If you were to blind smoke a few cigars, could you even name the group's brands? Probably not. Don't make that face at us. A well-established rep we know did a blind taste test and didn't know he was smoking his own newly-released cigar (which he's smoked several times before ).

*Mad Libs? Nope--although that's a really really fun game. Because we're super duper nice here, we're never going to say anything negative about any cigar brand. Fill in the blank at your own whim.

**Not even kidding. We don't say anything negative on the blog, but if you're an asshat and steal from us and our sponsor [to be announced soon], your douchebaggery will be publically proclaimed.