28 Nov 99
That's the date of manufacture of the wonderfully aromatic cigar I'm presently enjoying.
And, "how do you know this", you ask? A fair question. Let me tell you. Inside the beautiful, Spanish Cedar lid the box of Cupido cigars I received from Cuban Crafters Cigars, is the signature of the Trocadero...the Master Roller who made all twenty-five of 'em.
By hand.
There is also an inspector's signature. Yes, these are indeed, superior, vintage cigars.
From the vegas of Tabacalera Esteli, in Nicaragua, the tobacco from which my cigar was made had aged and cured for at least three years after harvest, before it was ever rolled into it's present form.
Cigar tobacco has little in common with those nasty, chemically treated shreds of McTobacco in the average cigarette. And even in the exclusive world of handmade cigars, select tobaccos from legendary growers receive even more special attention.
Bales of these leaves command premium prices at auction, and on the world market. Though loathe to admit it, even many Cuban cigar makers obtain premium leaf from Nicragua, Dominica, Honduras and other regions for their blends.
Even though the Cuban leaf is a unique taste unto itself, the blenders there know that by bringing in other, different flavors, they make their cigars just that much more complex, interesting and desirable.
But, back to this Cupido.
Cupido is a line of cigars made by Cuban Crafters Cigars, the manufacturing and marketing arm of Tabacalera Esteli. Unlike massively distributed, handmade cigars like Macanudo*, the cigars of Cuban Crafters are known as "Boutique Cigars", being of much smaller prodution volume. But, that volume is meticulously managed for quality at every step of the process, seeking perfection in each and every cigar.
*Macanudo's quality is superlative. But, they're so damned light, you'd think you're puffing air, for cryin' out loud!
So far, from the samples I've tried, they're succeeding wildly. You know you've got a great cigar going when you need a roach clip to finish it off.
About a month ago, I received an e-mail from Cuban Crafters regarding their offerings. Liking what I saw, I called their offices in Miami, FL, and soon found myself having a great conversation with Mr. Alberto Gutman, Operations Director of Cuban Crafters.
We hit it off famously....especially when he had a look at this humble blog, and a few of the previous cigar articles I've featured. The outcome of that conversation was his sending me a handsome suppply of samples of almost every cigar in their catalog.
So far, I've enjoyed the Cuban Crafters Campana, and the Knuckles. In fact, after smoking the one Knuckle that Alberto included in the sample package, I immediately ordered a whole box for myself. I must say, I'm quite pleased that I did.
The flavor of these Knuckles is incredible. A natural sweetness, but these aren't flavored cigars. Huge billows of floral, cedary smoke; these are as smooth to smoke as Bailey's Irish Creme Whisky is to drink. That, but with a bit more sparkle than Bailey's. Think more along the lines of Harvey's Bristol Creme Sherry, and yeah...I think that's a better comparison. Damned good, either way.
Where a Partigas gives a bit of a dry, peppery aftertaste, the Knuckles leave almost a breath-mint quality taste on the palate, from the first puff to the last. The smoke is creamy, floral, cool and full, with only the slightest hints of spice, wood and tobacco. And fragrant.
The burn is excellent, too, producing a nice, even progression down the cigar. The Knuckles produce an amazingly perfect, firm, silvery ash. I watched my sample create two inches of ash, before I nudged it off into the ashtray. And the draw? Couldn't be any better. Just the right amount of resistance to let me know I had a cigar going instead of a soda-straw, but not so light as to be wispy in any way at all. In fact, it's nice to not even have to be aware of a cigar's draw when enjoying one. That's as it should be, but is all too rare to find.
The Knuckles are made from aged Ligero for the binder and filler. The wrapper is one of the finest Sumatra leaves I've ever held, much less put match to. A beautiful, medium-dark color, with a nice, light, oily sheen; they feel like velvet to the touch.
They're short cigars, measuring only three-inches in length, but with a generous for their size, forty-seven ring gauge. Of course, every leaf in the cigar is the same piece, from beginning to end. No chopped or short filler in these masterpieces.
Did I mention that they're fragrant? In fact, they're so pleasantly fragrant, that you can use them as air fresheners. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. These smell so good, I'm looking forward to puffing on one at a crowded bar. With mostly women at the bar, even.
Shaddup. Get'cher mind outta my gutter!
No, I'm not going to the local singles bar to test the theory. There's a premium steakhouse in Houston which is very cigar-friendly. It's also packed with yuppies and yuppettes of all ages. I'll dine at the bar there, and fire one of these up as a post-prandial treat.
That said, I'm sure I'll get at least a 2:1 compliments to complaints ratio, there. Maybe better. For the most part, I don't smoke belowdecks at home, but I'll be damned if these Knuckles don't impart a nice, hint of ceder-closet-ish fragrance to the boat. Oh, and don't worry about the complaints. The barstaff at said steakhouse will most likely offer the offender a cigar of their own to smoke. *heh*
A nice bonus is the box itself. Add a couple of delicate brass hinges and a matching clasp, and it would make a fine keepsake box, indeed.
If you couldn't tell by now, I'm strongly recommending these Knuckles to any of you cigar fans out there. Even if you're not a cigar smoker, but have been curious about where to start in the vast world of cigar choices, then let me urge you to try these fine examples of the Trocadero's art.
Just get Alberto on the phone when you do, and kindly tell him that I sent you.
For me though, it's time to get some more Smoke, on the Water.
funny.......I remember SOMEONE telling me they would gimme one/some/allot of those sparticular cigars when they came in..........And here I sit, slumming on Pierre Ferrand Cognac and a sweet Nic/Dom blend long filler, double Maduro.
Posted by: Marcus | February 21, 2004 at 05:30 PM
Marcus, I'll trade you a Knuckles for one of your CAO's, tomorrow. I'll be over on your end of town, bro.
Jim
Sloop New Dawn
Galveston, TX
Posted by: Jim | February 21, 2004 at 09:33 PM
Damn damn damn damn damn..... I need to move somewhere that doesn't tax the shit out of cigars.
Posted by: Raging Dave | February 22, 2004 at 09:54 AM
The Knuckles are what you said they are. I thought my palate wouldn't pick up on the mint.Wrong.Just a hint, but throughout the smoke.
Although the smoke itself was light, it wasn't empty at all. Certainly full bodied and smooth. I don't know if you noticed, but the cigar lasted exactly the same length of time as my drink of Maker's Mark.
A great cigar with superb timing.
Posted by: Marcus | February 22, 2004 at 08:20 PM
Mmm-boy, that's a good post and made me reach for an Opus X. I'll have to mention these to my tobbaconist. Tell you what, Jim, when my buddy comes back from London, I'll trade you a Sigilo VI or a Partagas Lusitania for a Knuckles, OK?
And BTW, that steakhouse - is it Sullivan's or DelFusco's?
Posted by: Ripper | February 23, 2004 at 02:00 PM