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No
68 - July
3, 2003
The
Grillhouse,
Rosebank, Jhb The spicy,
unusually-shaped, Hajenius Kleine
Tuitknak was an ideal opening cigar. It had the
guests talking positively about short filler cigars - especially
some ladies who took the cigar tentatively saying they didn't
really smoke cigars. On the food
side, the Calamari from the Falklands, which several at our table
ordered, was agreed to be some of the best we had ever eaten.
Due to the
good response to the evening, 3 lucky people (instead of the promised
2) went home with beautiful crystal cigar ashtrays. The winner
of the "surprise" prize - a Spanish
leather cigar case containing 3 Cuban Churchill cigars (total
value R1300) couldn't believe his luck, but will certainly appreciate
it. If
you receive the regular e-mails from us notifying you of the fortnightly
specials - watch out for the next one - a mouth-watering discount
on selected boxes of Cuban cigars will be attached. Colin
Wesley You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library. ................................................................................. ................................................................ .... |
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No
69 - July
17, 2003 I am often asked the question: "Which is the best pipe for a new pipe smoker?" Provided it fits the budget, and there is no objection to a bent pipe (this is a very personal preference) - my answer has to be the Savinelli Dry System pipe. The design evolved over many years (it took 4 years for Savinelli to develop the mouthpiece alone), and much thought went into it, including in-depth research into the negative points of existing system pipes, in order to improve on them; considering the balance (only certain shapes would be suitable), the technical side (taking into account the engineering possibilities), the materials for mouthpiece and band, the aesthetics. The resulting
benefits are:
Colin
Wesley You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library. ................................................................................. ................................................................ .... |
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No
70 - August
14, 2003 In
November 2001, we
described Prestige
Pipes
in the following manner: Earlier this
year we visited Savinelli Pipes in Milan and together with Roberto
Pomé, the Export Manager, we selected some Punto Oro Fumée
pipes from those they had available at the time (and one "Pipe
of the Year 2003").
Are
they worth the price? Colin
Wesley You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library. ................................................................................. ................................................................ .... |
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No
71 - August
28, 2003 During
the boom years of
the
mid-1990s the demand
for Cuban cigars became
so great, and Cuba was so desperate
for dollars, that quality
control gave way to quantity mania. The situation was becoming
disastrous - one of the great luxuries of the world, and a symbol
of success, was falling to pieces. This could threaten the whole
cigar industry. If the pinnacle of the industry deteriorates,
there is nothing to which we can aspire, and everything stagnates
or goes backwards. Something had to be done.
Two major Cuban cigar players, outside of Cuba, SEITA in France and Tabacalera of Spain, formed a company called Altadis which bought 50% of Habanos - the marketing arm of Cuba Tobacco. This gave financial stability to Cuba Tobacco, and access to new equipment, packaging and even new factories. We first saw the influence and benefit of the Altadis investment with the emergence of all the new Cuban cigarillos. Now there are further signs with introduction of larger machine-made cigars. Coming out of a new factory, with all bright new machinery is the brand "Guantanamera". It is named after the song written in 1928 by the Cuban singer and songwriter, Joseito Fernandez - which became internationally popular in the 1960s. These are
by no means large cigars, ring sizes
range from 29 to 41 and length from 106mm to 150mm - but they
do offer a good introduction to the distinctive Cuban taste. At
these ring sizes the short filler, which comes from the Vuelta
Arriba region better known for supplying tobacco for European
cigars, is ideal as it gives an easy, mostly consistent draw.
On the cigars I've seen, the wrapper is finer than that on some
of the older machine-made cigars - no lumps and bruises or thick
veins. My experience: I smoked the "Compay". It burnt a little unevenly at first, but soon settled down giving me a pleasant 25 minute smoke. The taste was deliciously spicy Cuban.
Colin
Wesley You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library. ................................................................................. ................................................................ .... |
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No
72 - September
11, 2003 A friendship from Day 1 to forever. Day 1
- The time to baptise the pipe you carefully selected from your
pipe shop. Hold it in your hand, look at it, anticipate the pleasure
you are going to experience together. Look on it as you would
somebody you have just met, and intend to make a friend of. Treat
your new pipe with care and respect.
Days "from then on to plenty" - Always bear in mind the old maxim "the cleaner and drier you keep your pipe the nicer it will be to smoke". From the very first smoke, adopt the habit of going through the basic cleaning and drying up procedures at the end of each smoke. Don't be shy with your pipe cleaners, and remember to use a "Bristle" cleaner and cleaning liquid through the shank at regular intervals. But don't be over-enthusiastic. Reckless cleaning can cause burn out! "Pipe
Cleaners" are another story. Who would have thought such
a variety was necessary? During these
days all is well with you and your pipe, but be observant. It
may be building up for a proper "Ream
& Clean" service. Without the correct tools, this
can be both hard work and dangerous to your pipe. A sharp knife,
round file or drill bit can ruin the relationship. So
with care and consideration, the friendship between man and briar
can begin, grow and mature over many years. Colin
Wesley
You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library.
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No
73 - September
25, 2003
The
terms "short filler",
"machine made", are normally associated with small cigars
or cigarillos. But this is not the full picture. Although
the maximum Ringsize appears to be limited to about 42 - the blend
can still be designed to be full flavoured, with a wide variety
of carefully selected complementary tobaccos combined together
into a homogeneous whole for a complex yet subtle taste experience
and a consistently easy draw, at a relatively modest price. The
term "Premium Cigar" is also misleading, because it
is usually only associated with handmade, long filler cigars.
Not
all long filler cigars fit into the premium category.
On the other hand some short filler cigars should be described as "Premium". The names "P G C Hajenius", "De Heeren van Ruysdael", "Justus van Maurik" certainly come to mind. Cigars made from 100% pure tobacco - binder, filler and wrapper. The most
famous of these brands, P G C Hajenius, is available on the South
African market. If you were
at the June Cigar Dinner you will remember the Kleine Tuitknak
from P G C Hajenius and how well received it was. If not, and
you didn't buy the Cigar Dinner 3-pack, you will have the opportunity
from October 2 to October 15 to try 3 of these "premium"
short filler cigars in the larger sizes for only R145.00. Colin
Wesley You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library. ................................................................................. ................................................................ .... |
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