The Cuban Cigar Field-guide presents: The Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 2

TGG CIGAR PRIMER

Type: Figurado specifically: culebra

Origin: Cuba

Brand: Juan Lopez

Background: Founded in 1876 by Mr Juan Lopez

 

Last night I decided to crack open a very special bottle of Quinta do Portal “40 Year Old Tawny” Port (one of the few Ports still crushed by foot, yum!) to enjoy with an after dinner Habano; the Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 2 (given to me as a wedding gift almost 2 years ago).

I spent a few hours braising beef short ribs for the wife in a homemade demi-glace, alongside roasted root vegetables and hearty polenta made with Vermont cheddar… What a meal!

 

The Drink

Alas, to the main event:

Juan Lopez started his eponymous brand in 1876 and his heirs eventually sold it in 1918 to la Sociedad C. Del Peso y Cia. Eventually, like all Cuban cigar brands, it was nationalized after the revolution.

At the first draw I thought this was going to be a medium-to-full-bodied cigar and it was, although about one third of the way into the cigar it began to mellow quite a bit with background notes of chocolate. As it burned, now halfway through, the bluish/grey some was almost as good looking as the 2-inch ash (a sign of great craftsmanship). At this point this cigar comes to full bloom with an array of flavors ranging from rich creamy coffee to more dark chocolate that evenly coated my mouth. Towards the end a slight-peppery note and spiciness let’s you know this was a multi-faceted smoke and burned perfect from start to finish!

The Smoke

The stick matched up perfectly with my Quinta do Portal which had a very predominant fruit flavors, notably figs (a favorite) which, with the stogie’s slight flavors of cocoa and black pepper, you have a dessert to die for!-RT

 

Ron Tulotta, a Staten Island Native and trained Chef has worked in the kitchens of some of the America’s most renowned restaurants and lends his discerning palate, sacrifices it really, for TGG’s newest column, posted every other Wednesday: The Most Benelovent Cuban Cigar Field Guide”.

 

The Most Benevolent Cuban Cigar Field-guide presents: The Partagas Culebra

TGG CIGAR PRIMER

Type: Figurado specifically: culebra

Origin: Cuba

Brand: Partagas

Background: Partagas was founded in 1827 and is often credited with being the first proper cigar factory.

 

THE lore of why Culebras are braided together range from “so the employees couldn’t steal more cigars”, to “making it difficult for employees to sell their unique daily stipend of cigars on the black market”.

Who knows what the truth is but I, for one, just care about the uniqueness of the cigar itself.

 

Appearance:

The twisted truth...

 

The Taste:

Cutting the end I take a few cold draws:  It’s a nice and easy draw and as far as the flavor is concerned I only detect the slightest hint of barnyard shine through. I quickly toast the foot and take a few soft draws. The first third of it hits me with a shot of spice and a very mild earthy flavor. Two-thirds into the cigar things get interesting with a very strong woody almost cedar-like essence and a persistent hint of earth.

The last bit of the cigar unfurls hefty notes of leather with bits of cocoa and coffee which never seem to be overwhelming.

The beautiful grayish/black ash never lasts more then an inch at a time, partly due to the fact that the cigars had been severely manipulated by twisting them together but if you are looking to make a statement at your next event I highly recomend this Partagas Culebras to be the life of the party. –RT

 

 

Ron Tulotta, a Staten Island Native and trained Chef has worked in the kitchens of some of the America’s most renowned restaurants and lends his discerning palate, sacrifices it really, for TGG’s newest column, posted every other Wednesday: The Most Benelovent Cuban Cigar Field Guide”.

TGG Welcomes it’s newest “Segment” : The Most Benelovent Cuban Cigar Field-guide

In the world of Cigars no stogie is morerevered than those which bare the much-coveted “Hecho a mano en Cuba” (made by hand in Cuba).

 

The Seal

WHILE a forbidden fruit in the United States, Cuban Cigars are the norm in the rest of the world and since The Guide has subscribers all over the world, particularly the UK, Australia and India it is only beffiting that our efforts to inform today’s gentlemen on the pleasures of Cigars include Cubans (or Habanos as they are known) alongside some of the best smokes coming out of the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Ron Tulotta, a Staten Island Native and trained Chef has worked in the kitchens of some of the America’s most renowned restaurants and lends his discerning palate, sacrifices it really, for TGG’s newest column, posted every other Wednesday: The Most Benelovent Cuban Cigar Field Guide”.

The Sacrifice...

Stay tuned! Next-up:  Partagas Culebras!

 

(Remember to Join us on TWITTER: TGG_INSIDER)