We are pleased to announce that we have a few of these extremely rare & highly sought after cigars from Davidoff.

The Davidoff Oro Blanco is the first vintage cigar from the masters at Davidoff. In 2002 while Eladio Diaz from Davidoff was particularly impressed by the crop of tobacco grown in the Mao Zone (Dominican Republic) at the confluence of the Mao, Gurabo, & Yaque del Norte rivers. He set aside some of the crop and aged it for a patient 12 years.

“When our Master Blenders came upon the Mao Zone, they sensed that they could grow the finest tobacco plants and make the most exceptional cigars. When, after patiently ageing that tobacco for 12 years, they knew their senses had been perfectly right.”

-Eladio Diaz, Davidoff Master Blender

The tobacco for this Dominican puro is left in processing until Diaz signs off on it, and then once the grand toros (6.0″x54) are rolled, they are left in aging until Diaz thinks that they are ready to be released. In fact, Davidoff is not sure when the next batch of these unparalleled cigars will be ready to be released.

With the season upon us, what better way to treat your wedding party than with a fine cigar!  Tying the knot can get quite expensive, so we wanted to showcase a few great cigars that will not break your nuptial budget.

The first cigar is the Vegafina Especiales. This Dominican cigar is composed of Columbian, Dominican, & Honduran fillers encompassed with an Indonesian binder and wrapped in a Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper. These are a mild, yet very flavourful figurado that can be appreciated by both the novice and more experienced cigar smokers alike. They cost only $12.95 per cigar or $244.76 per ceramic jar of 21.

The second cigar is the Santa Damiana Special Edition Robusto. These cigars use an exclusive blend of the best tobaccos from the Valle del Cibao in the Dominican Republic wrapped in a silky and leathery to touch Cameroon leaf. This medium bodied Robusto unveils a toasty and woody aroma and provides a balanced smoking experience with rich flavour notes of cedar, nuts, coffee & pepper. Normally costing $18.95 per cigar or $180.48 per box, these very special smokes are on sale for only $13.50 a cigar or $121.00 per box of 10.

 

We are pleased to announce that we are Northern Alberta’s exclusive retailer of the relaunched Dunhill cigar line. We have the following three lines:

 

 

Beneath the exquisite, light, shade-grown Connecticut wrapper, Dunhill Aged Cigars utilize tobaccos grown in the Cibao Valley, Dominican Republic – an area renowned for the highest quality of leaf. The ideal combination of warmth and moisture produces tobacco of an outstanding quality of which only the very best is selected for the Dunhill Aged Cigar. No less than five different types of leaf are needed to provide the Master Blender with the subtle palette of flavours to achieve a perfect, consistent taste.

We have the following vitolas:

• Dunhill Aged Romanas (4.5″x50)
• Dunhill Aged Condados (6.0″x48)
• Dunhill Aged Altamiras Tubos (5.0″x48)

 

The tropical climate and fertile jet-black soil of Esteli, Nicaragua produces harvests of tobacco notable for their impressive body, flavour, & aroma. The Dunhill Master blender uses five types of these leaves, individually hand-selected with umcompromising quality. The leaves are then matured for two years and fermented for a further fourteen weeks to release their full flavour profile. The rolled cigars, exquisitely rolled to the highest standards by the finest torcedores, are then further aged for up to six months. As a result Dunhill’s lovingly crafted Signed Range cigars are renowned and acclaimed for their excellence worldwide.

We have the following vitolas:

• Dunhill Signed Range Toro (6.0″x50)
• Dunhill Signed Range Corona Tubos (5.5″x42)

 

 

Honouring the opening of Alfred Dunhill’s first tobacconist & pipe shop in 1907 on Duke Street in London, the Dunhill 1907 is a medium-bodied cigar that uses an exquisite blend of Dominican ligero & Brazilian Mata Fina filler encased in a Dominican binder, wrapped up with a flawless Honduran wrapper.

We have the following vitolas:

• Dunhill 1907 Churchill (7.0″x49)
• Dunhill 1907 Robusto (5.0″x52)

 

 

Buy 3 or more Dunhill cigars and you will be entered into a draw for a box of your favourite. We will be drawing for 1 box a month until November! Good luck and great smokes!

 

The judging is complete, and it was a very tight competition.  Thank you for everyone for your hard work and terrific entries in this year’s contest.  Check out results and photos from all our contestants below.

 BEST PIPE WINNER 2015

 Tyler Williscroft

 

MOST CREATIVE WINNER 2015

Annique Comeau

 

 

We are proud to announce that we now have the Alec Bradley Black Market 2015 Edition Filthy Hooligans in stock. This year marks the third release of these wonderful cigars. They use the same fillers and binder that we have come to know and love from the Black Market, but use a Candela wrapper instead of the normal Nicarauguan maduro wrapper. Candela wrappers retain the chlorophyll that is normally lost during the initial curing of the leaf. This provides a mild sweetness in addition to the normal medium-bodied richness we all expect from the Black Market.

We have a limited supply of the cigar, and they are going for $16.95 per cigar.

Havana and the Habanos Festival

by Aaron Jankola

My trip to the 17^th Annual Habanos Festival started with my landing in Veradero on the Monday. I was picked up at the airport by a gentleman named Coto. I clipped and lit my first cigar, one of the La Flor de Cano Siboneys, and we started the drive to Havana. The combination of the heat, humidity, & warm sea breeze made this cigar a wonderful start to the festival. After a few hours journey, we arrived in Havana at my hotel, the Copacabana. I was greeted at the main counter with a mojito and checked in.

 

After taking my bags up to my room, I came back down to the lobby bar to meet some of the other Canadians there for the festival and to enjoy another cigar and one of the local brews, a Bucanero. I ended up smoking one of the Cohiba 2014 Edición Limitada Robusto Supremo. This large (the biggest ring-gauge of any current production Cuban cigars),rich, and highly sought-after cigar provided several  hours of relaxing entertainment while chatting with some of the other attendees.

 

Later that evening, we all hopped in cabs to go to the Opening Gala of the festival. This year’s opening night was held at the old Almacén del Tobaco y la Madera (Old Tobacco and Wood Warehouse). This unique building, with its part in the industrial heritage of Havana, provided a wonderful setting for the evening. Upon getting to the gate, we were greeted by some exquisitely dressed men and women who checked our tickets and handed out roses, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and most importantly a bag containing cigars, a cutter, and a lighter. The opening night cigars were high-lighted by a wonderful lacquered box containing two of the upcoming Romeo y Julieta Gran Reserva Cosecha  2009 Wide Churchill. This cigar will see its release later on this year and should prove to be the big hit that the previous Gran Reservas have been.

The next day started quite early as a journey of about 3 hours was required in order to travel to the Pinar del Rio to visit a tobacco plantation. The vegueros were in the middle of harvest, so we got to watch them pick the leaves from the plants and put them on a wooden wheel barrow. Leaves are harvested starting from the bottom of the plant and working the way up, making a complete harvest of a plant take up to 30 days. These were then transported to the curing barn where they would be sewn together with string and hung up to cure for up to 50 days. The process of the stringing and hanging of the tobacco is something that is solely performed by women. We were then provided a snack of pineapple, papaya, & coconut that was also grown on the farm before we headed off to the Escogida, or fermentation house.

 

Here the tobaccos are sorted depending upon final use (wrapper, filler, or binder), moistened and fermented. Wrapper leaves are given one fermentation before sorting and baling in tercios which are marked with the year of harvest and date of packing before being aged in the warehouse for 6 months or more. Filler & binder leaves will be deveined, sorted, & given 2-3 fermentations before finally being baled in pacos and aged for up to two years or more. The fermentations sweat out impurities from the tobaccos, smoothing out the flavour and reducing the tars and nicotine. The aroma of ammonia permeates the facility, but the end result is worth it. The tour ended with a tasty lunch at the Mural de la Prehistoria, a large mural in the Pinar del Rio celebrating the first inhabitants of the Cuban Archipelago. Again, cigars were provided and a roller was present for those wanting to watch a cigar being rolled in front of them.

 

Tuesday evening was capped off by a poolside dinner sponsored by the Canadian distributor of Cuban cigars in Havana House. A sleeve of 3 cigars was presented (a pack of Clubs & a rose for the women) when entering. Each table was set with a bottle of Havana Club 7yr old Rum & Havana Club 3yr old. A bountiful buffet of Cuban cuisine including rice & beans and spit-roasted pork was enjoyed by all that attended.

 

Wednesday started off with a ride on a open-air double decked bus from the hotel into Old Havana. This was the first chance to get a good look at the city in the light of day.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Havana has been around since the 16^th century. Hurricane Ike in 2008 destroyed many of the buildings in Old Havana, and future hurricanes pose a further risk to those aged buildings still standing. The Cubans are hard at work restoring what they can, and Plaza Vieja is a perfect example of this. Each of the painstakingly restored buildings has a banner out front with a picture of what the building looked like before restoration. Along the streets are many different vendors selling various treats and souvenirs as well as people inviting you to check out their restaurants & cafes. In the Plaza Vieja, the microbrewery Factoria Plaza Vieja serves a variety of suds in an ice-cooled column as well as food (Try the pizza) and is a great place to kick back with a cigar and watch the people go by. For the lovers of a nice cup of strong dark-roast coffee, across the plaza is Cafe el Escoral. With beans roasted on site, you can get a steaming cup of hot java and one of the variety of sweets they make to relax with. You can even pick up roasted beans or fresh ground coffee to be able to enjoy back in your own home.

 

Wednesday evening was capped off by an event celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of the Casa del Habanos franchise. Started in 1990 in Cancun, there are now over 140 stores in 65 different countries. In Cuba, these are the only stores one should visit when looking to purchase some cigars to bring home. In celebration of this momentous occasion, an exclusive special humidor carved from precious wood whose design recreated a house of fancy columns and broad doors. This humidor was filled with 30 very exclusive cigars that are new additions to the standard ranges: 15 each of the La Gloria Cubana Pirámides and Robustos Extra. This year’s winner was a fellow Canadian in Raffi of Montreal. Each person attending the gala was given a small box containing one of each of the cigars so that they could have the chance to sample these treats.

 

Thursday started off with a visit to two different factories, La Corona & H.Upmann. At both, we got to witness the end results of the hard work of the vegueros we saw two days previous. The tobacco is brought into the factory, where it is yet again sorted. The wrapper leaves are de-veined at this point in the aptly named Stripping Room, before the wrappers, fillers, & binders being blended are provided to the torcedors (cigar rollers). They bunch together the fillers and put on the binders before pressing the cigars for around 30 minutes. This helps to ensure that a uniform size is maintained throughout all cigars. After the wrapper is put on the cigars, they go through quality control before being  put in the Escaparate, or conditioning room. After a period of time, the cigars are pulled out for colour sorting before being put in boxes. This is to ensure that each cigar in a box is the same colour as the other. From here, as in the case of the Añejados line, the boxes may be aged for up to 5 years or more. Boxes are then taken to the finishing department where bands are put on the cigars, final stamping is done, and the boxes are sealed. Each cigar and box is decorated based upon the particular brand and vitola being made. The cigars are then packed in master cartons before being sent to shipping and onward to cigar stores around the world. The whole factory process is looked over by the El Jefe de Galara or Workshop Manager. In the case of the H.Upmann this happened to be a roller that has previously graced Burlington on Whyte in Sr. Lazaro Batista Miranda.

 

 

That evening I received the pleasant surprise and honour of an invite to a private party being put on by Pacific Cigar Company (the regional distributor for the Asia-Pacific region). Held on a roof-top patio in Old Havana, the best of Cuban food (the BBQ lobster was divine) and culture was presented with a Chinese twist. Into the wee hours of the morning, many a cigar and libations were had.

 

My final day in Cuba was spent with many a relaxing cigar and wandering the streets of Old Havana. A visit to the Museo de la Revolución (Museum of the Revolution) was in order this day. The museum is housed in what was the Presidential Palace for all Cuban Presidents from Mario Garcia Menocal to Fulgencio Batista. It is here that the Directorio Revolucionario Estudantil, or anticommunist Student Revoltionary Dictorate, stormed the building in failed attempt to assassinate Batista who managed to escape via the roof of the building. One can still see evidence of this in bullet holes present all over the building and stairwells. The museum contains many different artifacts from the revolution including Che Guevara & Camilo Cienfuegos iconic guns and caps. Behind the main building lies the Granma Memorial, a large glass enclosure which showcases the Granma, the yacht which took Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba for the revolution. There are also various vehicles and tanks that were used in the revolution displayed.

 

Overall, the trip to the Festival del Habanos was an excellent way to experience the best that Cuba has to offer. The food, while simple, was quite delicious. The Cuban people are some of the most kind and generous that I have met in the world. Everybody there was willing to help out, and of course I would reciprocate the kindness. While wandering the streets in Havana, I actually felt safer than I do wandering the streets here in Edmonton. For anybody that is travelling to Cuba, I would suggest the following:

1. The main currency used in Cuba by tourists is the CUC. While you can exchange your money at the airport, I would suggest doing so at your hotel or one of the many money exchangers available in the hotels as the rates given will be better than at the airports.
2. I would suggest taking a few tablets of Pepto every day. While the food is generally safe, the pre-dosing should help alleviate any G.I. issues that may arise.
3. There are many different restaurants at which one can eat, although quality can vary from month to month. I would suggest checking with someone that has recently travelled to the area to which you are going for suggestions on the best places to eat.
4. Make sure to bring anything you think you may need during your trip like batteries, toiletries, and the such. While some basic items like water, soda, and alcohol can be purchased in the stores, not much else is available that would be useful to tourists. You can always leave any extras for the locals as they will appreciate it.
5. Bring down extra items to give to the locals. Many items whose availability we take for granted are extremely difficult for your average Cuban to obtain.
6. If you are looking for cigars, and I highly suggest doing so, I would only purchase your cigars at a Casa del Habanos or a store attached to one of the many factories there. Do NOT purchase them on the beach or from one of the many locals offering cigars for sale as these are all counterfeits and may not even contain tobacco.
7. If you are staying at a resort, take a day or two to venture out and visit a city like Havana. While the beaches and ocean can be very relaxing, one will not really get a chance to experience any of the several hundred years of history that Cuba has to offer.
8. Smoke cigars while down there. The combination of the heat, humidity, and general atmosphere really do make them taste much better while you’re in Cuba. You will be surprised at the number you can smoke while there.

-Aaron

The 5th Annual Burlington Pipe Carving Competition has begun.  Running from February 20th until April 4, 2015 this is your opportunity to let your carving skills shine with some of the best carvers in Edmonton and throughout Canada.  Come in and pick up a carving block ($49.95), take it home and create your masterpiece, then bring it back and an expert panel of judges will evaluate it to determine the champion.  There are two prize categories: BEST PIPE & MOST CREATIVE, and tobacco related prizes will be awarded in each category.  The winners will have their names emblazoned on the swanky trophies (pictured above) for posterity, then our top two pipes overall will be sent to Toronto to compete against pipe carvers from across the country.  The Brigham National competition will award significant prizes for Best Pipe & Most Creative pipe, plus winners in those categories will hold the title of National Champion for 2015.  This really is your chance to go for glory, or to just try something new by making art you can smoke.  Make your mark. Carve your destiny. Do it today.

Past Carving Contest Winners

               BEST PIPE                     MOST CREATIVE

2011         Kris Pye                                 Ryan Emmett

2012         Chris Hittinger                   Nathaniel O’Coin

2013         Nathaniel O’Coin               Daniel Krispin

2014         Nathaniel O’Coin               John Ewing (Brigham National Champion – Most Creative)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we celebrated I.P.S.D. with our Annual Long Smoke with 7 competitors. Each person was provided with a straight corn-cob pipe (the use of the filter was optional), a pipe nail, 3 grams of Director’s Cut, a sheet of paper, and 2 matches. Each person was given 5 minutes to pack their pipes, while they were only given 1 minute to get the pipes lit using only the 2 matches. After the 1 minute, no additional lighting was allowed.

The bowls have been packed, lit, and smoked. The results are now in! In order of finishing:

1. Nathaniel       1:07:00.77
2. Charles             49:47.07
3. Kevin                  36:00.21
4. John                   35:35.21
5. Stewart              33:05.32
6. Allyn                   22:12.07
7. Robert               10:59.80

Nathaniel’s time of 1:07:00.07 is especially amazing considering we have never had any previous contestant go this long. He is now the holder of the store record.

 

We have decided that we are going to be adding a few more pipes to our sale selection for I.P.S.D. and are going to be putting our Black Lacquer Big Ben Pipo & Ranger pipes on sale. These little gems are not much bigger than a standard 3-piece pipe tool and would perfect for those wanting a compact pipe. While they normally cost $95.00, starting on I.P.S.D. (Feb. 20) and going until April 4 (or while supplies last), these pipes will be selling for only $69.95, a savings of 26%!