Commentary: What Is the Aroma of One Cigar Burning?

This started out to be about a cigar, but, like so many things involving the Internet, it evolved into something else altogether. What began as a simple search to get information on a cigar given to me about which I knew nothing led, instead, to a site I can only describe as a masterwork of cigar scholarship.

The website is called Zen & the Art of the Cigar . I had read reviews there numerous times, but failed to really explore the site. It was only after the incredible information that turned up as I was searching for the Gurkha European Selection Habano 2000 that I began to grasp what was there.

Interestingly, it has something in common with a Zen koan because, while I can describe it simply, that would utterly belie its complexity. What am I talking about? Well, you could say it‘s a list of all the Gurkha cigars, comprising, as I write this, 93 blends. But in reality there’s so much in addition to the basics. You’ll learn about wrappers, strength, vitolas and what’s an Internet exclusive. And more. Jamie Sprenkel is the man behind the site and the list, as well as others he has compiled and made available under the Manufacturer Spotlight link at the top of his site.

“The Gurkha listing took a while—probably several months off and on,” he said in an email. “And of course it requires constant updating, as Gurkha seems to release a new cigar a day.”

For cigar smokers, there’s more good news. Sprenkel tells me he plans to continue to add listings to his site as he finds time to do them. “I’ve been working on a Habanos list for quite some time,” he added.

While the name of the site might evoke an image of Buddha relaxing with a Churchill, the work done by Sprenkel—who noted that he’s not a Buddhist but sees “a lot of Zen in the cigar”—led me to another comparison. I think he’s the John James Audubon of cigars.

In any event, in case you’re wondering how I enjoyed the Gurkha that started all this, it was an enjoyable smoke. Mild to medium in strength, loose draw, flaky ash, and some interesting flavors. I’d give it three stogies.

Review: Davidoff Classic No. 1 - TheCigarFeed ... - The Cigar Feed

I’ve made it no secret that I’m a fan of Davidoff. Lanceros? I like those too. Perhaps my favorite Davidoff of all time? The Classic No. 2. Easily one of the best cigars featured on the site and in the market. Davidoff makes four cigars as part of the “Classic” series, a No. 1, the No. 2, the No.3 and Ambassadrice, a tiny 4 1/2 x 26 in the Señorita Format. Anyways, after the jump, the Classic Davidoff blend in the classic El Laguito No. 1.

While the Cohiba Lancero, created by Avelino Lara as the original format for what started as Fidel Castro’s personal cigar, was created in 1964, it was not commercially available until 1984. In 1967, the El Laguito factory opened, and two years later, Davidoff introduced the world to the first Lancero, the Davidoff No. 1. The 7 1/2 x 38 pig-tailed format would become known as El Laguito No. 1, the standard for Lanceros to this day. Davidoff originally only had three sizes in its early days in Cuba: the No. 1, the No. 2 and the Ambassarice. Davidoff would leave Cuba in 1991, making their first Dominican cigars at Tabadom in 1990, including what would become known as the Classic line.

It’s the classic cafe colored wrapper you expect from a Davidoff. Impeccably rolled with heavy veins on the Ecuadorian Connecticut. Aroma has a velvet characteristic with leather, touches of cocoa and brewed coffee making up the full profile. It’s a bit soft to the touch, and rolled to a happy medium in terms of tightness. The foot of the Classic No. 1 gives off a lot of grass over cocoa and coffee with bits of caramel sweeting the full flavor.

Lighting Pigtail gone. It’s a sweet brownie-like cocoa with lots of cocoa and a bit of red wine, once again full. Cold draw is awesome with a chocolate cake like flavor mixed with earth over bits of spice, orange peel and red wine hints. Lighting produces a musty-like very strong toasty grass. It starts with a toasty chocolate, bittering to an almost gasoline-hinted earth (it was odd.) Finish is a building sweet nuts that lasts for minutes. The draw is open, flavor is medium-full and finish is long.

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