 Test the Acid Taste
The “ACID” cigar, the secret cigar in the trade is no longer a secret.
At last after many years of being sold through the underworld of cigar trading, Acid cigars from the Drew Estate are out in the open, for all and sundry cigar smokers to smoke and enjoy - or despise.
The ACID cigar is the brainchild of Jonathan Drew and his University Frat Brother, Marvin Samuel.
The evolution of these revolutionary cigars has not been an easy path to tread before they finally achieved their dream.
The pathway started in 1995 in a 16 square foot Kiosk in the World Trade Centre in NYC, and after many ups and downs ended in Nicaragua in 2007 with the opening of their 96 000 square foot factory.
This factory today produces 94000 cigars a day, including the Acid range - one of the biggest five cigar factories in the world.
The pivotal year was 1998 when Jonathan moved from the comfort of New York City to the rural fields in Nicaragua to personally supervise the manufacture of the cigar of their dreams.
The dream was to produce a high quality flavoured cigar.
A handmade cigar rolled in the traditional fashion, with even more than traditional care and attention to detail.
Their initial La Vieja Habana Chateau No. 1 was awarded 87 points (very good to excellent) in a 2004 Cigar Aficionado tasting. Such premium cigars still make up 60% of their output.
“This Acid Kuba Kuba is an incredibly well made cigar, that draws and burns perfectly”
Back to their dream of a high quality flavoured cigar.
At that time there were three ways to produce flavoured cigars:
- Spray the leaves with cherry, wine, brandy or other extracts;
- Place the finished cigars in a closed environment, exposing them to flavoured extracts which, being hygroscopic, they would absorb over time;
- Inject the flavours, with a syringe, straight into the cigars.
None of these methods involved using premium quality cigar tobacco, resulting in cigars which lacked the natural “body” of a premium cigar. They were normally machine made cigars.
Jonathan rejected these methods, and pursued his dream to “infuse” cigar with flavours derived from oils, herbs, flowers and other new flavouring methods, revolutionising the current cigar world.
The first Acid cigars were named after Scott Acid Chester, artist and industrial designer from the DUMBO area of New York City. They were launched, without any fanfare, in 1999 and although today millions are sold each year, they are not recognised by Cigar Aficionado.
“They are still an underground phenomenon hated by some, beloved by others” – New Air.
The complete process of manufacture is a closely guarded secret, known only to 4 people.
What has been made public is that the cigars are handmade, using a combination of long-filler tobacco leaves, as with all premium cigars. The long-filler and binder core tobacco are from Nicaraguan (Cuban seed) plants.
The leaves have been cured in an aroma room, cuarto armatico, before being rolled. This room is lined with aromatic oils, plants and herbs, and the leaves are infused with natural flavours.
The finished cigars are wrapped in plastic and placed in a cool room for an extended period of time of up to eight months for the flavours to infuse evenly throughout the cigar.
However, these flavored cigars don’t benefit from further aging, they’re meant to be smoked soon after purchase.
Great care is given to each part of the production programme yet each Acid cigar is a unique smoke, full of body and bountiful flavours, to be enjoyed by many or demeaned by traditional cigar smokers.
It’s like smoking your favourite premium Nicaraguan cigar, sitting in a beautiful garden with all the plants in full bloom.
We have 5 different Acid cigars for you to put to the test of your taste: good, bad, or indifferent:
Kuba Kuba, Kuba Maduro, Kuba deluxe Sumatra, Blondie, Extra Ordinary Larry Maduro
Click here for descriptions and prices.
The description of each cigar is very basic. It does not prescribe fully what to expect from each cigar. That is where some of the fun comes in, deciding what flavours you taste from start to finish.
Make notes and compare them with fellow cigars smokers.
Organise a small group smoking session.
Have fun!
Because Acid cigars should be kept separate from your other cigar to avoid imparting their aromas to them we will offer our compact desktop humidor at a special price:
From 11-24 July, 2019
73-J0155 Slim Black leather-covered humidor Less 25%
Normal price R958.40 (incl.15% Vat) |
By all accounts this revolutionary cigar is a “must try at least once”, but don’t risk negatively affecting your Cuban or other premium cigars – keep the Acid cigars in their cellophane until you smoke them.
Colin Wesley
No.456 July 4-17, 2019
PS Have you seen the new Zippo Woodchuck lighters?
Zippo, in partnership with WOODCHUCK USA, and their Buy One. Plant One.® program, will plant one tree for every lighter sold. Consumers can use the special code in each box to learn where their trees are planted.
Note:
By law, no South African citizen, living in South Africa can buy a tobacco product via the internet or postal system. In fact, you may not receive a tobacco product through the post.
In addition we may not receive payment through the internet for tobacco products.
We may only supply tobacco products within the trade – not to private individuals. The fine is substantial
Contact us for help in getting tobacco to your area.
You can read previous articles from “Across the Counter” in The Archives Library.
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TRAVELLING TIME – (CAR, PLANE, TRAIN, BUS)
Many places where normal smoking is not allowed also restrict the use of e-cigs.
“Snus” is the answer
The question is - What is Snus?
Note:
By law, no South African citizen, living in South Africa can buy a tobacco product via the internet or postal system. In fact, you may not receive a tobacco product through the post.
In addition we may not receive payment through the internet for tobacco products.
We may only supply tobacco products within the trade – not to private individuals. The fine is substantial
Contact us for help in getting tobacco to your area.
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PS If you can’t visit a Wesley’s Bricks and Mortar, remember that
if you’re not completely happy with your mailsale choice, you can always return it for a full refund.
Refund Policy (Website customers - you’ll like this!)
Because we always guarantee our products – anything that isn’t completely to your satisfaction can be returned (in original condition and packaging) for a full refund. |
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