Bolivar Lonsdale (1998)

Produced: 1998
Made by: Cervantes
Vitola: 507
Shape: Parejo
Ring Gauge: 42
Length: 6 1/2 inches
Purchased: Baranows, Melbourne, Australia, 2006.

Date: October 27th, 2006
Time: 9:00pm Pacific
Location: Greek Theatre, University of California, Berkeley, California
Conditions: Starry Skies, Mild 73 degrees



The Locations
It’s late Friday afternoon and L picks me up in SOMA so that we can get to the Greek Theatre for Tom Petty’s next to last concert of his Highway Companion tour. The Bay Bridge traffic is horrendous, so we stop short at The Salt House to wait it out.

Located in a century old renovated building, the restaurant is buzzing with young groovy urban types and a mass of waiters (there are 2 for every customer). Opened last week, they are still ironing out all the kinks so they take us without a reservation (a rarity in SFO). We are seated next to the owner (who also owns Town Hall), his wife and their baby daughter, who I nickname “carrot top”. Although our food took too long (apparently they overcooked my steak?), when it ultimately arrived it was fantastic…best chook L has ever had…which is saying something!

We arrive at the Greek in time to see the Dandy Warhols finish their last couple of songs. We have great seats (Section C, Row 1) and I mingle with the Berkeley crowd, a mixture of wealthy hippies, “liberal conservationists”, and some guy who sits next to me and starts meditation chanting! Being the conservative that I am, I decide to go incognito in my OBL getup…

As the air starts to reek of “Berkeley Buds”, Tom takes the stage… a no nonsense high energy performance of his greatest hits including “American Girl”, “Breakdown”, “Don’t Do Me Like That”, “Refugee”, “You Got Lucky”, “Runnin Down a Dream” and my personal favorite, “Free Fallin’”. Just as the show is hitting a fever pitch, Tom has to ruin it by introducing his special surprise guest….. Yes, it’s Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac and they break into their duet “Stop Draggin my Heart Around”. Time has not been kind to poor Stevie, who is now obese, bloated and floats around the stage like some large grotesque humpty dumpty in a black billowing silk dress. She struggles through the song and is overly appreciative of performing at this sold out concert. Thankfully she joins the back-up singer almost off-stage.

After the duet, Tom kicks into some classic tracks from The Yardbirds . I motion to L we should head for the exits as a 50 something groupie (showing way too much cleavage and cellulite around the belly button) begins to heave her kielbasa all over the seats behind me…a clear signal that the show is almost over and I sense it will take us hours to get back to the city…besides, I want to smoke the Bolivar I have in my pocket.



The Smoke!
The more I smoke them, the more I am getting a greater appreciation for Bolivars. Without exception, every aged artifact I have smoked from this venerable brand has been great. This Lonsdale would keep the tradition going. It’s medium-firm and has a light brown color with some veins.

Well constructed, this cigar is in great condition and lights up almost instantly. The draw is smooth and straightforward and a pearl white ash develops. It’s a complex smoke and has a cedar woody taste. Combined with the taste, the size creates such an elegant and aristocratic smoking experience….where’s my smoking jacket when I need it most?


As we enter the city I wish this smoke could last longer. It seems the better smoking experiences tend to be with these smaller sizes. It now develops a nutty taste that is almost like butter…very unusual and quite delicious. This is indeed a VERY GOOD smoke that should be smoked soon.

Next week I will be reporting from Cigar Aficionado’s Big Smoke in Las Vegas!

Rating: (3) VERY GOOD
(5) Classic, (4) Outstanding, (3) Very Good, (2) Average, (1) Don’t Bother

Humidor: SMOKE SOON: 2007 - 2009
Smoke Now, Smoke Soon:1–3 Years, Put Away:3–7 Years, Vault:7-12 Years, Inheritance Gift:12+ Years

La Gloria Cubana Medaille D No. 2 (2000)

Produced: 2000
Made by: Dalias
Vitola: 507
Shape: Parejo
Ring Gauge: 43
Length: 6 3/4 inches
Purchased: Baranows, Melbourne, Australia, 2006.

Date: October 21st, 2006
Time: 3:00pm Pacific
Location: K&L’s Fete du Champagne, San Francisco, California
Conditions: Warm, Mild 79 degrees


The Locations
A warm day in the city with the endless (and mindless) tourists out in-force as we are making our way south-of-market to the annual K&L Wines, Fete du Champagne.

I convince L to stop at Fatt Dog so that I do not arrive with an empty stomach. Nothing like a kosher beef dog with sauerkraut, relish and Russian mustard before a Champagne tasting!






K & L Wines in my humble (non-compensated) opinion, is one of the best wine stores anywhere. The inventory is extensive and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Throughout the year they have a number of events and this annual pre-holiday Champagne party is very popular. In a large tent adjacent to the store we tasted both well known and boutique Champagnes.

Some that we really enjoyed included:

2000 Philippe Gonet Spécial Club Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne
Tarlant Brut Zero Champagne
Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne
Laurent Perrier "Grand Siecle" Champagne

The Laurent Perrier was a standout for me and I did succumb to purchasing some for the holidays. One of the owners of LP was very outgoing in sharing his knowledge and his female partner was, well, very pleasant!

The Champagne at Louis Roederer, Moet and Dom Pérignon were disappointing and seemed mass-produced compared to the others we sampled. Their representatives had an arrogance and air about them that one comes to expect in dealing with the Gauls. I don’t expect them to be grateful but come-on people…you are trying to sell product, right?

After sampling as much Champagne as I could and digging into the honey drizzled proscutto, peppers stuffed with tuna, shrimp cocktail and errrhhhhh, I’m starting to feel that Fatt Dog now…..we decided to take Amber for a walk so I could have my smoke.


The Smoke!
My first LGC was in fact a non-Cuban version that was rolled in Miami at the El Credito factory on Calle Ocho (SW 8th street). Ernesto Perez-Carrillo was standing outside on the corner and noticed me snooping around peering through the windows.

The factory was still a real factory and hadn’t become the shrine it would ultimately become. I was in Florida attending a conference and had decided one morning to explore Little Havana. This was back in 1996 before LGC, El Credito and Ernesto became popular from a Cigar Aficionado article. As some of us may remember, it was never the same after that exposure and their quality was severely impacted. El Credito was eventually bought out by General Cigar Company (The Wal-Mart of the cigar industry).




Suspecting that I was not a peeping tom, Ernesto invited me into the Factory and gave me a private tour. He selected a box and a free “handful” for me to take. He told me he was close to bankruptcy and that he appreciated me taking some of these back to California to share around. Little did we know how things would dramatically change for him.


After leaving Ernesto I recall having a Cuban coffee and smoking a robusto at a nearby café with the local residents, sweating like a pig and having heart palpitations from all the caffeine and nicotine working its way through my system….it was a great smoke and have always wanted to have “the real thing”.

Today is my first opportunity!

The La Gloria Cubana brand has a long pre-revolution history beginning in 1885. As with many Habanos it was bought and sold over the years and is now owned by the Partagas Factory. They are known for their quality and in-fact are very tough to find anywhere, even in the EU.

Light tan in color the cigar is in fairly good condition. It’s has a smooth wax sheen and there are a couple of pronounced veins running its length. The cap catches my eye as it has three layers neatly ringing the top.

This vitola is not a comfortable hold for me ….perhaps the gauge could be a little larger? I apply a traditional cut with my Zino and easily light up. A very mild earthy taste with some tobacco, it’s smooth and subtle and definitely creeps up on you. The ash is grey with some spots and stiff.

LGC’s are advertised as being blended for ageing and this could probably go another five years. The smoke has a long finish and begins to get a little more spice two thirds through. The aroma is very subtle and sophisticated; this is an enjoyableexperience and best suited late morning or after lunch.

I notice I am smoking this down to the stub….a VERY GOOD smoke that should be sampled soon. As I walk along the dog I figure I'll need to make that trip down to the island to get my hands on a box of these….


Rating: (3) VERY GOOD
(5) Classic, (4) Outstanding, (3) Very Good, (2) Average, (1) Don’t Bother

Humidor: SMOKE SOON: 2007 - 2009
Smoke Now, Smoke Soon:1–3 Years, Put Away:3–7 Years, Vault:7-12 Years, Inheritance Gift:12+ Years

Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas (2004)

Produced: 2004
Made by: Prominentes
Vitola: 612
Shape: Parejo
Ring Gauge: 49
Length: 7 5/8 inches
Purchased: Baranows, Melbourne, Australia, 2006.

Date: October 7th, 2006
Time: 8:00pm Pacific
Location: Private Home and The Biltmore Hotel, Santa Barbara, California
Conditions: Clear and bright sunshine, Mild 73 degrees


The Locations
Looming on the calendar for months, I take the Friday morning “puddle-jumper” out of fog-enshrouded SFO and 50 minutes later I am in a cab speeding along PCH on my way to The Santa Barbara Biltmore to attend L’s cousins’ wedding.

I arrive at the old Biltmore which has been totally renovated and is an amazing indulgence of old world luxury and serenity. The accommodations, service and food are typical Four Seasons excess with someone always asking if they can offer assistance or give you a bottle of water (bloody Southern California!). A hangout for adulterous weekends by Hollywood, one can literally disappear into the lush foliage never to be seen or heard from again.

In-front of me at the check-in, Steven Cojokaru’s lap dog starts urinating on the beautiful Mexican tile floor. Cojo squeals with glee as three uniformed attendants instantly appear with mops and I realize how delightful it is to be back just north of La La Land.









The cousin’s nuptials have all the signs of being a the night of living hell. Making polite conversation with strangers, eating tepid warm fish or beef, drinking cheap wine, listening to ill-prepared speeches and having to dance to some Sinatra or Rod Stewart wedding ditty.

We arrive at a “friends” home in the low rent part of Montecito. We arrive on-time but the ceremony has actually started early. The invitation says 3:00pm and the bride and groom were already down the aisle at 2:55pm…what the hell is that all about? Was someone having second thoughts and was pressured to rush things along?

The ceremony is over in 5 minutes and the poolside cocktail reception drags on for 2 hours in the blazing sun before food is served. By the time the buffet line opens up, the mushroom risotto looks like Chinese sticky rice, and the salmon filet takes on the appearance of charcoaled carrot sticks.



There was no MC so the Groom and his buddies are in the pool house watching the ball game. The brides’ friend, who loaned the house for the wedding, has just delivered a somewhat insulting and defamatory speech about the bride, and publicly anointed a few chosen neophytes to join her in the main house (off-limits to everyone else so the sign on the window states) to enjoy their private French Champagne. I felt like I was back at Grimwade House being hunted down by the anti-Semites.



My only saving grace is that out of the corner of my eye I notice the kids table has fried chicken tenders, fries and a huge bowl of ketchup! As I lean over the 5 year olds to help myself, one of them starts screaming for Mommy because someone is “STEALING” their food.

All hell breaks loose as Mommy runs to the rescue accusing me of child abuse, so I quickly skipped over to the lawn and pulled out this extraordinary cigar.






The Smoke!

To me the HDM Double Corona exudes class. I first saw one of these over 12 years ago when I was invited to a charity event and had the fortune of seeing Milton Berle smoking one. It was at the Beverly Hilton back in the glory days when one could still smoke in-doors in California. Known for smoking El Producto's, I’ll never forget that Uncle Milty had two extra DC’s stashed into his tuxedo jacket pocket….geez, how many did he smoke in a day?!

I picked this one up 6 months ago and it is in excellent condition. No flaws it’s a dark tan and feels firm and smooth. I apply a cat’s eye and notice a crisp cut indicating some freshness that might benefit from just a little more ageing. The pre-light smell is subtle and aromatic.







It fires up easily and the taste and aroma are exquisite. As I take a deep draw, I immediately forget about the “chicken tender” incident. The ash is very firm and almost snow white.





L is signaling me to return to the table and they still haven’t cut the cake and it’s 7:30pm…..don’t these people know there is an agenda and schedule to keep at these things?? As the Barry Manilow tunes start to play, I wave the parking valet ticket at L and trot off to get the car to enjoy this beautiful smoke.


Rating: (5) CLASSIC
(5) Classic, (4) Outstanding, (3) Very Good, (2) Average, (1) Don’t Bother

Humidor: SMOKE SOON: 2007 - 2009
Smoke Now, Smoke Soon:1–3 Years, Put Away:3–7 Years, Vault:7-12 Years, Inheritance Gift:12+ Years