Happy 4th of July America! Let Freedom Ring!

FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM TO ENJOY FINE CIGARS 
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness"
"Land of the Free"
"No Taxation Without Representation"

These are the principles on which America was founded. Unfortunately for cigar enthusiasts, the age-old pleasure of enjoying a cigar is under attack. On a daily basis, your freedom to enjoy a cigar is being stripped away by an overzealous, anti-smoking movement. Their tactics are varied; be it through supporting onerous cigar taxes or lobbying government for restrictive smoking bans. The anti-smoking movement will stop at nothing short of the complete prohibition of tobacco.

The Declaration of Independence of the United States ensures that all men and women have the freedom and the right to the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, cigar enthusiasts have slowly allowed these rights to be removed. Over the past twenty years, the anti-tobacco movement has broadened their reach and scope and are moving towards abolishing ALL forms of tobacco including cigars. Until recently there has essentially been very little organized opposition to their actions. And why should there have been? Most of us assumed that their attention was directed towards cigarettes.

CRA's MISSION

Cigar Rights of America (CRA) was founded on the principle of fighting for the freedom to enjoy cigars.

CRA is a consumer-based, non-profit public advocacy organization that works at the local, state, and federal level of government to protect the freedoms of cigar enthusiasts.

Together, with our constituency of nationwide members, we focus our fight for freedom in two main areas:

Oppose Restrictive Smoking Bans 
Oppose Taxation of Cigars

Cabaiguan

Enjoying a Pete Johnson and Pepin partnership of a wonderful cigar this morning.  While this is a tick below a medium smoke...flavor is abundant.  You have a rich flavor of roasted nuts, pepper and almost a warm baked bread taste.  I have enjoyed many of these cigars and have yet to be disappointed. 

I know it will be a good day starting out like this!

5 Vegas Miami

Enjoying a 5 Vegas Miami tonight on the patio.  This is a cigar you must purchase online like Cigar International because you won't find it at your local cigar store.  This is a treat of a smoke blended by no other than Don Pepin Garcia.  When a cigar has these master craftsman's name attached you always turn up aces.  This smoke came in a package deal that won't disappoint.

This is a medium to full cigar with lots of flavor to spare.  There is a roasted hazlenut and toffee with a cracked black pepper aftertone.  You also get flavors of leather and is a bit earthy.  This is a great smoke and you shoud not pass up the opportunity to enjoy one!

Tatuaje Red Label

The weather is tropical today...a little rain has fallen and KC feels a little like Miami. Enjoying a Tatuaje Red Label and it is tastey!

It has been a while since my last Tat and it is great. The flavor is bold and in your face. A little pepper and a hint of cedar shines on this chimney of smoke! Don Garcia helps Pete Johnson make some great cigars...now go get one for yourself.

CAO Mx2

Enjoying a CAO Mx2 today. This is a favorite of mine that is a sweet smoke. The binder and wrap are of the sweet, dark and oily muduro leaf.

You can taste carmel mixed with cocoa and hints of coffee in the after taste. Pretty great smoke that won't break the bank at 6 bucks or so.

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I am thankful for all those that have sacrficed all so that I may enjoy my freedom. I have been enjoying the day off and the warm weather. Part of that includes getting to enjoy a great beer and cigar.

Today I am enjoying a Cain by from the makers of Nub and Oliva. This is a powerful smoke that is very complex and a little spicier than I normally go for. The taste linger on the back of my throat....so I reach for my Boulevard Dry Stout! The sweetness of the stout almost is a ying and yang to the cigar. I am enjoying the battle for my taste buds!

Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic

Out on the patio tonight taking a much earned break with my old friend Garcia. It has been too long since I have last enjoyed the Cuban Classic...why? This is a great smoke that affords tons of puffs of great smoke. This is also no tame mild smoke...it is about as full as they come. I am enjoying this with a pint (or 3) of Boulevard's 6th Glass beer. They are a great pair. If you haven't tried either...shame on you.

This smoke was a 5x50 Robusto that will run you about 6 bucks...pretty affordable for a complex cigar from the great Garcia.

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Oliva Connecticut

The Oliva Connecticut Lancero was what I enjoyed while out on the patio this morning. I have always trended towards the fuller bodied smoke and this cigar was recommended by the Oliva rep. at the last cigar party I went to. He was right in that this cigar is mild and yet flavorful. I can taste hints of vanilla and carmel. This is a cigar you could enjoy after a light meal...or no meal at all. This cigar has a its place...just probably won't become a regular as I tend to not puff away in the am. If you are going to enjoy this one...enjoy it early in the day as it will certainly be boring after smoking anything more powerful.

Cain by Oliva

Just enjoyed a Cain that is made by Oliva. It has a dark maduro wrap and is a Straight Ligero binder. This dark beauty is a powerhouse of a smoke that you don't want to enjoy on an empty belly. This would be a good cigar to enjoy after a nice ribeye steak. The dark wrap makes it sweet in taste but the binder is earthy with hints of cocoa and coffee. I really enjoyed this one at the Outlaw with a couple buddies.

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Camacho Corojo

The Camacho Corojo is one of the strongest cigars in the world, boasting a complex blend of rich tobaccos grown in Honduras from a rare seed smuggled out of Cuba after the embargo.

When a cigar aficionado hears the name Camacho, they are immediately reminded of a rich aroma that can only be found in tobaccos grown at Ranchos Jamastran in Danli, Honduras. This region in Central America has ideal soil conditions and a climate that rivals the coveted Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba. It is at this factory in that you will find the famous Eiroa family. The Eiroa’s have been growing tobacco for generations, and got their start in Cuba. When Communism plagued the island, Don Julio Eiroa fled taking with him some of the greatest experience and knowledge the tobacco world has ever known. Don Julio and his son Christian now operate Rachos Jamastran together in Danli.

The Eiroas took more than just their know how with them when they left Cuba; they also took the island’s most flavorful seed that was used at the El Corojo farm. This seed is now cultivated in Honduras by Julio and Christian and is the only truly authentic Crojo in the world. The tobacco that sprouts from this seed is rich and spicy with lots of muscle. Camacho Corojo is a connoisseurs cigar in that it is appreciated by enthusiasts who have over a decade in the hobby and a distinctive and experienced palate capable of differentiating all of the complexities of this cigar. Camacho Corojo is full-bodied and full-flavored. The annual production of Camacho Corojo is limited, making them difficult to come by at times. 

Pepin Party was GREAT!!!

Had a great time at The Outlaw's Pepin Event! It was good to see the Don again and he signed the box of My Father cigars I purchased that day.  

With the box purchase I ended up with 8 free cigars that were rolled just for the event.  They had a helicopter landing, car show and tons of great BBQ! 

If you haven't attended  an Outlaw event, you have to put one on your calendar! 

CAO Criollo

One of the fuller-flavored cigars by CAO, the Criollo is a classic mix of Cuban seed tobaccos from Central America.

CAO is one of the most well known names in cigars. It seems anywhere there is a celebrity smoking a cigar, there is CAO. It is the fastest growing, trendiest, and most popular brand on the market, appealing to a new generation of aficionados and seasoned veterans of the hobby alike. Top ratings and awards have brought this boutique brand to the top of its game.

The word “Criollo” literally means native seed. The Criollo ‘98 was an experimental hybrid seed grown in Cuba when they were searching for a solid tobacco strand to fight mold and other agricultural difficulties. It was later picked up by CAO and debuted as the CAO Criollo. Immediately it was dubbed a cigar that could compete with the finest Cuban cigars on the market. Grown and cultivated in Nicaragua and matched with Cuban seed Nicaraguan filler tobaccos, the Criollo has a medium to full-bodied damp and earthy aroma. The CAO Criollo is another solid addition to the CAO family and a Nicaraguan masterpiece. 

CAO Lx2

CAO LX2 is a potent, powerful cigar containing all ligero tobaccos that provide a full-bodied and spicy experience recommended for experienced enthusiasts.

Known for their incredibly trendy packaging and superb blending abilities, CAO cigars are a highly sought after commodity by most aficionados. Their blends are created from only the top quality tobaccos available, as each blend maintains a different, unique flavor and characteristic from the others. Following the success of MX2 and CX2, CAO has learned many enthusiasts have begun to prefer stronger, more robust blends. With that in mind, they set out to create a cigar that was flavorful, incredibly strong, but one that maintains a perfect balance and a smooth character throughout. As always, CAO succeeded and LX2 was born.

LX2 stands for “ligero times two.” Naturally, this blend contains twice as much ligero tobaccos as most others, thus creating an exorbitant amount of strength. However, the cigar was carefully blended to not only produce strong flavors of spice and pepper, but to maintain a smooth body throughout, allowing for a complex, full-bodied experience that never becomes overwhelming or “harsh.” The filler tobaccos all hail from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. These long leaves are wrapped by yet another oily, Nicaraguan ligero leaf, which only adds power and pepper to the blend. To create the smooth characters existing in LX2, the cigars were aged for a lengthy period, which allowed the tobaccos to mellow slightly. CAO LX2 is an excellent cigar and comes highly recommended, but not for the inexperienced enthusiast.

Jose Pepin Garcia at the Outlaw!!!

Padillia Miami

Padilla Miami is a very limited production boutique blend that has received high marks from several industry publications. In fact, in April 2009, Padilla Miami earned a ’94’ rating by Cigar Aficionado!

Ernesto Padilla is among the top ten blenders in the cigar business. He is known for producing such incredible cigars as Padilla Series 68, Padilla 1932, and Padilla Habano, in addition to many others. Due to his impeccable blending abilities and his love for the art, Ernesto Padilla has produced multiple 90+ rated blends, all of which were well met by fellow enthusiasts. Due to the exclusive tobaccos used in these cigars and their popularity, Padilla Miami is extremely limited.

Padilla Miami is among the finest blends ever created by Ernesto. Using all Cuban-seed tobaccos from Nicaragua, Padilla Miami is similar to the most popular Cuban cigars. Upon its debut in 2005, it received a 92 rating from Cigar Aficionado magazine, one of the highest ratings awarded that year. Each cigar is constructed immaculately with a triple cap, then aged to ensure a well-rounded aroma and enticing flavor. Each cigar is finished with a Corojo wrapper, giving these smokes a full-bodied and robust taste.