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First Look: Montecristo Cigar Bar, Las Vegas

4/12/2016

Las Vegas is one of the most cigar friendly towns in the world, and it just got a boost with the recently opened Montecristo Cigar Bar. Located at Caesars Palace casino, adjacent to Old Homestead, across from Nobu Restaurant and Lounge, this clubby, luxurious cigar bar has it all.

The cigar lounge will pair notable cigar offerings with fine whiskeys, small bites and more, in a contemporary, organic 4,000 sq ft environment, designed by the award-winning architecture and design firm Rockwell Group, and executed by Bergman, Walls & Associates. State of the art ventilation will keep guests feeling fresh and comfortable, and the space extends outdoors into a beautiful courtyard.

Cigar aficionados will most appreciate the cigar retail area and humidor, offering famous brands like its namesake Montecristo, Romeo Y Julieta, H. Upmann, Padron, La Flor Dominicana, Arturo Fuente, Ashton, San Cristobal, La Aroma de Cuba, My Father and many more.

The retail shop and humidor are comprised of two intersecting circles with custom curved glass walls and shelving. In the retail shop, floating wood and glass jewel cases create an elegant display for the cigars. Top-of-the-line accessories will also be available for purchase, including S.T. Dupont. The spacious 400 sq ft humidor can store up to 1,000 cigars in a climate controlled environment, one of the largest in the city. The transparent walls visually connect the shop and humidor with the bar/lounge, highlighting the relationship between the three areas.

Montecristo Cigar Bar will also serve guests a selection of dishes to compliment the space and its offerings, including: a selection of domestic and imported cheeses, charcuterie, spicy pork rinds and house-made vegetable chips. Lavazza coffee will also be available, including tableside French pressed coffee.

“Caesars Palace is in the midst of a beverage and nightlife renaissance with the refurbishment of our iconic Lobby Bar and Sports Book bars, the addition of the cutting edge VISTA Cocktail Lounge, and of course we are home to OMNIA nightclub, arguably the most important club in the world. These new outlets pair perfectly with our incomparable lineup of stars, celebrity chef offerings and luxury amenities,” said Caesars Palace Regional President Gary Selesner. “Montecristo Cigar Bar is a continuation of this renaissance, and will offer our guests the finest in cigars, whiskey and other fine beverages, while in a contemporary and inviting space featuring a walk-in humidor and cigar store, unlike anything else in the city. Our ambition is for Montecristo to be the best place in Las Vegas to smoke a cigar with a drink, while watching a stirring sporting event or, by special arrangement, as part of a gourmet meal from Old Homestead, Nobu or Restaurant Guy Savoy. We think this unique new offering is the perfect marriage of two world-famous brands, Caesars Palace and Montecristo.”

Montecristo Cigar Bar @ Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109

For reservations, call (866) 733-5827

HOURS
Monday - Thursday 10am - 12:30am
Friday - Sunday 10am - 1:30am

View the whisky menu here.
View the cocktail and wine menu here.
View the beer and food menu here.

School down for more photos, and plan your visit soon!

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Cuba Unveils Newest Gran Reserva: RyJ Wide Churchill

3/23/2015

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Capitalism is alive and well, at least when it comes to Cuban cigars. Habanos has unveiled yet another super-expensive, limited edition cigar at this year's Habanos Festival—presumably with an equally impressive profit margin. This one comes in the form of the relatively new but popular Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill, a 5 1/8" long smoke in a relatively thick 55 ring gauge.

While no price has been set, judging from the past, we'd expect the cigar to be three to four times the cost of a regular production Wide Churchill. That would put it in the $75-$100 range in England.

And that's assuming you're quick enough to buy them as soon as they're released. Expect them to appreciate quickly, like most rare or aged Cuban cigars. For instance, the Partagas Lusitania Gran Reserva was released at about $100 each but now sells for around $150 at the few dealers left with stock.

From the official announcement:

The evening will be dedicated to the first Gran Reserva from Romeo y Julieta in its Wide Churchills vitola (ring gauge 55 x 130mm in length), which comes in a unique and exclusive edition of 5,000 numbered boxes. All the leaves that go into the Romeo y Julieta Gran Reserva Cosecha 2009 have been carefully selected in Vuelta Abajo* (Pinar del Río*) and subjected to a long and meticulous five-year ageing process. With its unique dimensions among standard Habanos vitolas, it is particularly attractive to smokers who enjoy thick gauge Habanos with a balanced and aromatic blend.

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How Can I Be Sure I'm Buying Authentic Cuban Cigars?

12/29/2014

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Inside a La Casa del Habano store in Germany.

The new code system helps verify the authenticity of recent production.

It's a question we get all the time—but a lot more frequently lately since the bombshell news that the United States has taken the first steps toward normalizing relations with Cuba. It's a good question too because, in our experience, there are more fake Cuban cigars floating around the US than real ones. Yet even in countries where Cubans are legal (i.e., The Rest of the World), smokers who turn to the internet instead of trusted brick-and-mortar retailers can fall victim to the same unscrupulous scam artists as Americans do.

First things first though. To our readers in America, it is important to note that Cuban cigars haven't suddenly become legal. Offenders can still be fined or even prosecuted. (Just ask Ken Aretsky, who almost did prison time.) It will take an act of Congress to lift the embargo that has stood since the Kennedy administration. Until then, the only way to purchase Cuban cigars without breaking the law is to travel to Cuba with a valid license and make your purchase in person. (Note that about 99.99% of cigars sold by street vendors there are fake. More on that later.)

Americans are also only allowed to bring back $100 total in alcohol and tobacco products. Even in Havana, where Cuban cigars are about as inexpensively priced as you can get, that means you're hitting your head on the $100 ceiling after a bottle of rum and a handful of Cohibas. That's probably why some Americans will still risk breaking the law to buy Cuban cigars from places like England, Germany, Spain and Switzerland. And sure, sellers in those countries will be happy to take your money, since they're not breaking any laws in their own countries by taking your money. You're breaking the law by giving it to them. And since what you're doing is not legal, you have no legal recourse if you get screwed. Just sayin.'

Wait...Can't I Tell By Looking At The Bands Or Boxes?

Yes, but mostly no. Almost anything can be counterfeited nowadays, including holograms and microprinting. Unless you're extremely experienced, it's very difficult to tell by just looking at a box or single and comparing it to photos of the real thing. Recently, however, the Cubans have gotten much better and have even introduced codes you can enter online to verify a sealed box as authentic. We'll get back to that a little later.

Buying In Person

Okay, now for the rest of the world. Obviously, it's best to stick with buying your cigars in person from a reputable dealer. The official franchise of Habanos SA, the parent company for the Cuban cigar industry, is La Casa del Habano. You can feel safe buying cigars there for the same reason you know you're getting a real Starbucks coffee when you walk into a Starbucks store. They're supplied directly by Habanos SA (or the local authorized distributor for that country) in the same way that any franchisee of any chain of stores is. A word of warning, though. We have heard that in some countries where trademark laws are rarely enforced, stores calling themselves La Casa del Habano do operate selling fake cigars. How can you be sure not to fall prey? Simply check the Casa website before shopping to verify the location you're interested in.

But there are also plenty of mom-and-pop shops that are 100% legit. The vast majority, in fact. And it's easy to find them. Simply visit the Habanos website to find the distributor for your country. Then contact the distributor or visit their website for a list of stores they supply.

And now, thanks to smartphones, it's easy to verify a box of cigars before you take it to the counter. Simply enter the security code here and you will know instantly if what you're holding is authentic because it's traceable right back to the place of manufacture.

Places To Avoid

Anyone selling cigars on the street is suspicious anywhere, but especially in Cuba. The simple fact is that Cuban cigar factories are managed with the same tight security measures as any others. Whole boxes of Cuban cigars are not leaking out onto the street to be sold at a deep discount by larcenous rollers. It simply does not happen—not anymore, anyway. What does happen sometimes though is cigars are rolled from scraps of God knows what at home and placed into boxes constructed with labels stolen from factories. If you want to take your chances and risk your health, be our guests. (More on that later.)

The same goes for cigar stores in tourist traps like Miami, where beach vendors will tell you they have family members in Cuba who smuggle authentic cigars to them in the US. If you want to know why that does not happen, see above. What you'll likely be getting are fakes rolled in Mexico. There is also no ring of smugglers running boat trips at night from cigar stores in Havana to the US. There's a much easier way to make money in that business in America, and it's called opening a legitimate cigar store selling real non-Cuba cigars.

Things get fuzzier in countries where Cuban cigars are legal. Obviously regular consumers of Cuban cigars can tell the difference by smell and taste, in the same way a guy who drinks Glenlivet 12 every night can tell if the bartender slips him a Dewar's instead. But once again, avoid tourist traps. For instance, shops right near where a cruise ship docks are more likely to be suspect than a 50-year-old store in the city's business district.

And always beware of prices that are too good to be true. Cuban cigars only get so inexpensive. In countries like Canada and England, they are in fact very expensive due to draconian government taxation. However, we have seen some sellers who go the opposite way and price their fakes at or way above the going rates. These are typically in tourist traps that see their fair share of suckers. How come? Because if you're only going to get one opportunity to fleece a sucker, might as well get him for as much as you can!

On The Interwebs

It's easy for less tech savvy folks to get scammed by fake luxury goods of all kinds, from North Face jackets to Kate Spade bags...to Cuban cigars. After all, a flashy website selling counterfeit goods can often look more legitimate than a little mom and pop site that really is selling authentic products. Once again, if the prices are too good to be true, run. If the store is also selling rare cigars that most other places have long sold out of, that's another dead giveaway. One more thing: do you think someone selling fake cigars cares about safeguarding your credit card information? Or even stealing it and possibly selling it to another criminal?

But it doesn't have to be so scary. First of all, many (if not most) brick-and-mortar shops also do a brisk mail order business. It's almost unthinkable that the online site of a legitimate brick-and-mortar store would sell fakes of any kind. If you're not sure the website is actually that of the store, simply make a phone call to confirm. Or place your order over the phone while you're at it and bypass the web completely.

Of course, there are plenty of legit dealers who sell via their website only. But once again, it's fairly easy to verify them. Simply contact the distributor in their home region before ordering. But be aware that some of the deep discounters do what they have to do to keep prices low. That means they sometimes bypass normal distribution channels to source their products wherever they can. While this does not necessarily mean the cigars are fakes, it's a suspect practice and can potentially expose the seller to counterfeit or subpar product, even if unknowingly. It's up to you to judge whether the savings are worth the risk.

You may also be subject to import duties and taxes, making it easier and perhaps even cheaper in the long run to simply buy cigars within your home market. Many Canadians take their chances trying to import cigars to avoid the absurdly high taxation there. Unfortunately, most of those folks see their cigars delivered along with a bill for what would otherwise go uncollected.

While you can only do so much before you buy, you can check the security code on the box after receipt by visiting here. That way, you'll know you got the real thing. If you didn't, chances are an unscrupulous seller won't refund your money anyway, but at least you'll know not to smoke them. Here's why...

Real or fake? One helpful resource for telling the difference in cigars without the new codes is Cigar Aficionado magazine's counterfeit gallery, available at CigarAficionado.com.

Part of a $20 million load of counterfeit cigars seized in Broward County, Florida in 2006.

The Danger Of Counterfeit Goods—Especially Cigars

If you buy a fake Rolex, it may break down, and turn your wrist green before that. But you'll probably be okay because you're not ingesting it for crying out loud. The same can't be said for bootleg cigars, which we wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.

We've heard people say, "Yeah, I know they're fake, but they're not bad. Try one!" These people are idiots. For the same reason we wouldn't take a shot of bootleg NyQuil, we pass on any cigars of questionable origin, Cuban or not. We've seen reports of them containing everything from rat hair to rope and even styrofoam.

Surprised? Why should you be? You're dealing with criminals here. That's what counterfeiters are: criminals. If they cared about integrity and protecting their customers they wouldn't be trying to make money illegally. People who knowingly purchase counterfeit products are enabling them to prosper. So please join us and tell any moron who knowingly buys fakes to by all means smoke up. They deserve what they get, even if it's just a case of the runs, though who knows what smoking styrofoam could mean for someone's long-term health.

The Cardinal Rule

When in doubt, don't buy. Simple as that. Cuban cigars should never come with a "story." If someone tells you they have a cousin in Cuba or they know a guy who knows a guy with an airplane or some such nonsense, RUN. Fast. Unless you're buying vintage cigars from an auction house like Sotheby's where they may have been previously owned by a deceased king or despot, there's only one acceptable answer for where the seller's cigars came from, and that is the local authorized distributor. If you're in England, for example, the only right answer is "I obtain the cigars for my store from Hunters & Frankau."

If you have to be convinced, or feel a need to convince yourself that the cigars you want to buy are real, they're not. The reason is simple. Cuban cigars are only forbidden fruit in one country. Look at it this way: if someone tries to sell you a $4,000 Rolex for $100, you know it's fake. Likewise, if someone told you they got it because their cousin smuggled it out of the Rolex factory, alarm bells would immediately go off. It continues to shock us that so many people refuse to apply the same logic for buying watches or neckties to Cuban cigars. We don't want you to be one of them.

Be safe, use common sense, and enjoy. Purchasing Cuban cigars is no different than buying any other luxury product. Stick to official franchises and authorized dealers and you will be safe, secure and more importantly, not enabling criminals.

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Pre-Aged "Añejados" Cuban Cigars Set To Debut

12/22/2014

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UPDATE 2/17: We smoked the Monte. Review here.

Habanos s.a. is set to launch a new line called "Habanos Añejados" that will arrive in stores as "pre-aged" for five years or more before leaving Cuba. According to their press release:

The launching of Habanos Añejados takes place with two vitolas: Romeo y Julieta Pirámides Añejados (52 ring gauge x 156 mm long) and Montecristo Churchills Añejados (47 ring gauge x 178 mm long). Both are new products presented as a special edition in limited quantities which make them unique. In both cases, the Habanos have undergone an ageing process of between 5 and 8 years.

Here are the details of the cigars, which are set to arrive sometime early in 2015. No word on pricing, but you know these will command a healthy premium.

Romeo y Julieta Pirámides Añejados
Brand: Romeo y Julieta
Commercial name: Pirámides
Factory name: Pirámides
Dimensions: 52 ring gauge (20.64 mm) x 156 mm long
Presentation: 25-unit regular labelled box

Montecristo Churchills Añejados
Brand: Montecristo
Commercial name: Churchills
Factory name: Julieta Nº2
Dimensions: 47 ring gauge (18.65 mm) x 178 mm long
Presentation: 25-unit regular labelled box

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New Security Feature On Cohiba Behike Fights Fakes

5/31/2014

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Cohiba is probably the most counterfeited cigar in the world, and no wonder. The high price means big profits for peddlers of fakes. The even more expensive Cohiba Behike is the latest target of counterfeiters, but Habanos SA is helping cigar lovers fight back with a revised hologram on the band that's more difficult to reproduce than the original design.

"Since it was launched in 2010, the Behike bands bear the Cohiba Indian head in an embossed holographic paper, including an exclusive security hologram in each one of them," said Habanos SA in a news announcement. "This new band design established a new technological trend in the way the bands of Cohiba would look in the future."

New hologram offers increased protection

"Now in 2014 the Behike band incorporates a new hologram design with increased security measures which permit a better traceability of each band and cigar." The hologram, pictured above, will appear on all three sizes–BKK 52, BKK 54 AND BHK 56.

Habanos SA noted that the old and new designs will coexist in the marketplace for a short time until the the old stock sells out and is fully replaced with cigars bearing the new band.

Tips: Protect yourself from fakes

As always, we recommend purchasing cigars, regardless of country of origin, from established and reputable retailers only.

If something feels "off"—for instance, the price is too good to be true—our advice is to walk away.
Just as you wouldn't buy a Rolex for $100 on the street and expect it to be real, you shouldn't buy cigars under similar circumstances.

By taking advantage of the latest anti-counterfeiting resources like this new hologram band, and purchasing only from authorized retailers, you can ensure that you're always getting an authentic, quality product.

Our thanks go out to Habanos and all cigar manufacturers who help protect consumers from fakes.

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Ashton Discontinues San Cristobal Seleccion Del Sol

3/4/2014

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The sun has set on yet another of our favorite cigars. Ashton has quietly discontinued its excellent Seleccion Del Sol line.

No formal announcement was made. Existing stocks simply sold out and were not replenished.

Though the cigar is still listed on Ashton's website, it is no longer available at Holt's online store (Ashton's parent company) or any of the popular online vendors we checked.

Like the other cigars in the brand, these were made by the Garcias at My Father Cigars in Esteli. They featured one of the first wrapper leaves grown at the Garcia family's own farm. According to Ashton, Jamie Garcia hand selected the leaf used for production.

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Coronado, We Hardly Knew Ye

12/5/2013

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Back in November, La Flor Dominicana quietly axed the Coronado line. It was probably the right decision since no one but me seemed to care. But it's a sad end for what I believe is the finest cigar they've ever produced -- a cigar most people, even diehard cigar buffs, have even tried.

Hard to believe really, since it was named the #2 in Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 ranking in 2006, shortly after its introduction. The cigar itself has always been superb. Rich and chewy with hearty tobacco and rock candy notes and a hint of the characteristic LFD leatheriness, it is a powerhouse of flavor yet restrained in comparison with the company's other lines.

Perhaps that was the problem. LFD has cult following among those who like their cigars dark, thick and strong. There's nothing subtle about the Ligero series, that's for sure. I recently smoked the latest Small Batch, the No. 5, and found it positively tiring by the midpoint, like eating a steak sandwich on a steak bun. The Coronado was a different, far more refined animal. Perhaps too refined.

If viewed from a marketing perspective however, the demise makes sense. The cigar wears a relatively light-colored wrapper, yet it's quite rich and full bodied. Even while smoking it, the experience is a lot like a Cohiba Behike: all finesse on the palate, but a powerful punch in the gut. Guys who like strong cigars were likely to pass on them thinking they were mild, and the people who picked them up expecting an easygoing smoke probably regretted it.

Then there's the band. Its basically unidentifiable, even as a La Flor. It gets lost in every cigar store humidor I've seen. It may have stood a chance if only La Flor fans knew it was a La Flor. The best solution would probably have been to replace the single large band with two, the classic "LFD" band on top a and a second band with "Coronado" on the bottom, much like Davidoff does so elegantly with the Millennium Series.

I have high hopes La Flor will repackage it, rebrand it and bring it back. Until then, all I have is my remaining stock of Double Coronas and Lanceros. Since they must now be special occasion cigars, I rang in the New Year with a DC from 2010 production and found it to be typically wonderful.

The key with these is to dry box them for a few days prior to smoking. Otherwise, the wrappers burn about as well as a Nomex racing driver's suit. You want them to crackle just so slightly when gently pinched. And the whole cigar is better when kept at a lower humidity level, like 65 or 67% max. Aging certainly benefits these, tempering a degree of boldness.

Under ideal conditions, a Coronado Double Corona is a thing of beauty. Rich but not overpowering, flavorful but complex, a cigar that evolves nicely as it burns. I guess at this point we may as well tag this post as a vintage cigar review since Coronado is now officially in the history books.

*Note that the recommendation below to smoke these now refers to the 2010 production sample tasted here. Recent production cigars benefit from one to three years of aging.

THE DETAILS

7 x 50
Dominican Republic
W: Nicaragua
B: Dominican Republic
F: Dominican Republic
$9.00
Production Date: 2010

THE HIGHLIGHTS

Arguably the finest cigar line ever produced by La Flor Dominicana. Similar to a Cohiba Behike in character and strength. A hearty yet balanced and complex smoke for the true enthusiast.

THE VERDICT

CLASSIC
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD

SMOKE*/HOLD

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Forward>>

First Look: Montecristo Cigar Bar, Las Vegas

Cuba Unveils Newest Gran Reserva: RyJ Wide Churchill

How Can I Be Sure I'm Buying Authentic Cuban Cigars?

Pre-Aged "Añejados" Cuban Cigars Set To Debut

New Security Feature On Cohiba Behike Fights Fakes

Ashton Discontinues San Cristobal Seleccion Del Sol

Coronado, We Hardly Knew Ye

THE DETAILS

THE HIGHLIGHTS

THE VERDICT

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