January Cigars of the Month: La Flor Dominicana!

We have a January COTM Winner!

Congrats to Benjamin H!!

First, congrats to Bob L, who is walking away with this bounty of goodness, less the Lego construction worker, because that is all mine. (We need him to cut the cigars for us, obviously:

We'd planned a La Flor Dominicana event for January, and, like the marketing geniuses we are, chose this month's giveaway to correspond. But incidences beyond our control occurred, essentially a turf war in the Mean Girls vein but with old Italian guys at the hub. A stalemate occurred. Our event, literally stuck in the middle, fell victim.

We're regrouping and rescheduling, so the LFD even will still occur, just, sadly, not in the next couple of weeks.

Rather than reneg on the promised giveaway because the event was postponed, we're pushing through and that just means we'll have to have another when we have a new date!

In honor of the LFD-ness, we're giving away this collection, squirrelled away from our first LFD event in September:

See how I'm offering these to you graciously and his little Lego self is freaking out?
Just so you know, this is a perfect representation of his real-life freaking out.

As you would expect, Valentino is quite up-in-arms about me giving away "his" cigars. I reminded him these, technically, weren't his, never having made the trek into inventory. They've resided in the giveaway annex, which he doesn't know about. Or didn't, until I wrote that last sentence.

We'll probably add something to this six-pack of deliciousness, like maybe a hat or shirt or something, in addition to bodyguards, of course.


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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.

Where we'll be: Barnstorming...er, BarnSmokering

First of all, I can NOT get the name of this correct, so if you would all start calling this event the Barnstormer, I'd really appreciate it. K? Thanx.

 

 

So one day, while we hung at Twins Smoke Shop, an email popped up, announcing these Drew Estate tickets going on sale. Well, this isn't my first rodeo, or barn raising, or cigar event, whatever, and I knew immediate action was needed. No--required. I didn't ask Valentino if he wanted to go and sent a text to Caballero #2 but didn't wait for his response. I just bought the damn tickets, which sold out in no time.

 

So we'll be here, the three caballeros and me, hanging with the Drew Estate folk. (Apparently there will be 300+ other folks here at the barnstormer too. What? Dammit. Barn Smoker.)

 

If you didn't know, "[b]arnstormers were pilots who flew throughout the country selling airplane rides and performing stunts; Charles Lindbergh first began flying in this capacity." [source]

An actual barnstormer:
A Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" in flight over Central Ontario c. 1918
[source]

While we won't be getting plane rides, we will be getting:

• (1) Liga Privada "A"
• (1) Liga Privada Ratzilla
• (1) Liga Privada Velvet Rat
• (1) Liga Privada No. 9
• (1) Liga Privada T52
• (1) Nica Rustica “El Brujito”
• (1) Undercrown Belicoso
• (1) ACID Toast

Apparently, the sampler pack also includes "custom Barn Smoker swag, Drew Estate matches, and more goodies."

 

Plus! A BBQ dinner! Beverages!

 

And a portion of ticket sales will be donated to Cigars For Warriors, so that's an added bonus for everyone!
 

Visit the Cigars for Warriors webpage!

Where We'll Be: Falto Cigars Early Release Event at Havana Cigar Club

This Thursday, March 12 at 7:00, we're heading over to Havana Cigar Club in West Warwick for a 20th Anniversary event with the one and only Luis Falto!

The man himself.

By the way, this means we'll get to try the 20th Anniversary cigar a full month before anyone else. (Although maybe, just maybe, a certain someone happens to have one in a certain humidor, and Cabellero #2 might also have one. Because, you know, we know a guy...)

Anyway, who's in with us?

How about if we said Luis was flying  in just to have a meet and greet with us--and you, if you come, you should come--and to chat about his amazing new cigar, the Falto Eminente. Rumour (::cough internet stalking cough::) has it, this cigar has the following elements: Habano Ecuador wrapper, Double (Dominican and Cuban Seeds) Ecuador binder, and Dominican filler.*

 

 

 

How about if we tell you that Luis' story, as well as the story of La Garita Cigar Company and Cigarros Falto is an interesting one and we couldn't possibly do it justice in this little old blog, so you should read about it here.**

 

 How about if we tell you that if you purchase any Falto cigar at this event, you'll get to try the 20th Anniversary Cigar--compliments of Luis!***

 

[source]

 

Luis Juan Falto is a young entrepreneur from the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. "A cigar smoker for more than two decades and connoisseur of everything concerning the culture of tobacco, his cigars represent the ambitious initiative to create an exclusive line of premium boutique cigars powered by his experience and knowledge," according to the company website. "At the same time, he created a unique philosophy of making cigars full of passion and love for the tradition of such art form."

 So we'll see you there? We'll see you there. We'll be looking for you. Look for us--we're easy to spot: The handsome devil and his socially awkward sidekick!****

 

 

 

*If this has changed and we're totally wrong, we apologize. We're flying without a net here. And by that, I mean one of us is quitting Diet Coke and grrrr.

 

**Consider it homework. There may or may not be a quiz.

 

***And we're not talking one cigar that gets passed around between all attendees. Because that would be gross. Although one of these days remind me to tell you about the guy who picked up one of Valentino's discarded cigars and finished it. It still makes me gag to think about it.

****We should get costumes with capes. Hopefully by Thursday.