Di Fazio Maduro Torpedo

The triple torpedo line-up from Di Fazio cigars.  From left to right is the Connecticut, Picoso, and Maduro.  I have previously reviewed the Picoso and it can be found here.  The following review is on the Di Fazio Maduro, or like to call it the Tuxedo.  I gave it this nickname because the maduro wrapper is almost black the bright white and gold label provide the black tie elegance you can only achieve with a tuxedo.  One other note before I get into the review.  I have been smoking cigars for more than decade and I have never really settled on a particular type of cigar.  After sampling the trifecta from Di Fazio I can say I enjoy smoking torpedo's.  The are easy to cut, adjust the draw, and are a nice length and gauge.  OK enough about that, lets get into the cigar.

Wrapper:
The first you will notice is the color, it is almost a double maduro.  The wrapper is dark dark brown, almost black.  The wrapper was bit tacky to the touch and smelled woody and full.  Two sensations that would carry through the whole smoke. The wrapper was also seemless I found ti difficult to determine where one leave ended and the next one started.

Construction:
Top notch construction.  If this was a tuxedo it must have been an Italian custom.  The cap was solid and cut very evenly with no fraying. There were noticeable defects in the wrapper or the cap.

Ash and Smoke:
The ash remained light grey through the whole smoke and the smoke was thick and white.  There was plenty of smoke throughout the whole cigar which could be contributed to perfect draw I experienced.  As always I rate cigars on how many times it ashes by itself.  A cigar of this length should ash no more than twice before extinguishing. This cigar lived up to that expectation.  This can be contributed to the excellent construction.

Flavors:
Through out the whole cigar the flavors stay constant except for the prominence.  In the first 1/3 you will get a strong Pepper on the pallet and that fades in the 2/3 and is only noticeable on the tip of the tongue in the last 3rd.  The cigar has hints of Cinnamon and Clove, the hints are slightly noticeable in the 1/3 but really come life in the last 2/3 of the cigar.  The mixture provided a slight sweetness that kept my mouth from getting dry.  The wood note of the cigar was cedar.  The hint of cedar complimented the Pepper, Cinnamon, and Clove.  The cedar was just enough to make this full body smoke enjoyable, without it the spice would have been a little over powering. 

Strength:
The first 1/3 of the cigar was the mildest part.  As the cigar burned the strength increased with out the heat, which was nice.  The cedar note really helped this cigar stay stable.  Full body cigar are quite tough to get right and this combination worked very well together.

Overall:
The Picoso and the Maduro have similar tastes and constructions.  The Maduro is fuller bodied and the flavors are much more in your face than the Picoso.  If a full body cigar is to your liking then you must try this cigar.  I was very pleased with Maduro.  I am looking forward to trying the Connecticut.

Comments:
As always this cigar was placed in my humidor for at least 4 weeks to rest before smoking.  The picture above was provided by Kenneth Peters Photography.

LASIK: One Month Followup

So it has been 1 month since I had the life altering procedure called LASIK.  One thing I want to note is that results very from person to person so my experiences may not be the same experiences you will have.  For the past month I have been ritualistic in my medications and eye protection.  I used the antibiotic drops for 1 week following the surgery and the steroids for two weeks following the surgery, as prescribed.  The lubricating drops continued 4 times a day both eyes for until my 1 month check up on Friday.  I also continued to wear the eye protection at night and avoided rubbing my eyes although at my follow up I guess I could have stopped that two weeks ago.  During the month I also continued to be cautious when washing my face as to avoid direct water in my eyes. I want to make sure it is very important for you to follow these directions as closely as possible as it will help you heal as well as increase your chances of limiting side effects like halos and blurred vision.  So now that 1 month is over here are my results.

First I no longer need to use any drops or protection during the day, unless I feel it is needed.  I also can not rub my eyes and wash my face regularly.  At the appointment the doctor said the healing went fantastic and I am ready to go.  At this point these is a very minimal chance that I could damage my eyes unless I was completely careless and even then I would have more worries than damaging my LASIK.  My vision is 20/15 in both eye and almost 20/10 together.  That means I can read one bar lower at 40 feet than a person with perfect vision.  Depending on the light I can ready 2 bars lower than perfect vision at 40 feet.  My vision is clear and I have very minimal side effects.  Night driving is fine except for the occasional headlights that star.  My light sensitivity is good, but wearing sun glasses outside is preferred. Other than that I have no issues

I have many people ask me about the experience and all I can tell them is that it life altering.  For decades I was limited with glasses.  I had to constantly keep them clean, switch when in sun, and worry about breaking them.  If I counted up all of the money I spend on glasses, contacts, and sun glasses over the years it would go over if not double the amount LASIK costs.  As for Dr. Balin and her staff, simply amazing.  I owe my success to them.  I now see the world better than I ever have and it is because of their attention to detail, counseling, and follow through.  Thank You Dr. Balin.

Di Fazio Picoso Torpedo

The Di Fazio Picoso Torpedo arrived about 4 weeks ago and it has been resting nicely in my humidor.  As many of you know I like to rest my cigars at least 3 - 4 weeks before performing a review.  This allows the cigar to get properly condition and provide the best flavors possible.

Measurements:
Gauge: 52
Length: 6 1/8"
Strength:  Medium

Construction:
The cigar is constructed very well and was slightly spongy, which I feel provides a nice burn.  The cap was solid and cut very evenly.  The cigar has nice notes.  I saw no noticeable wrapper issues.  The wrapper was tight and had solid vanes running around the body.  

Lighting:
The cigar was easy to light and did not take much to get it started.  The light was even and it not create any bitterness in the first few puffs.  The smoke was thick and white directly after the burn.  Surprisingly it was not has heavy I thought it was going to be.

First 1/3:
The burn was smooth and even.  The first few puffs had a heavier pepper and spice note that soothed into a nice a Cinnamon and cedar overtone.  The cedar was more prominent when exhaling through the nose.  The Cinnamon was the perfect amount of sweet and spicy.  Much like the taste you get when you first open a Cinnamon jar.  The ash was white then grey and finally brown as the cigar reached the 2/3's mark.

 The 2/3:
The Cinnamon continued through the second third of the cigar. The sweetness of the cigar showed itself mellowing out the spice.  The cigar continued to be medium bodied.  Some cigars have a tendency to leave your mouth dry, but the Cinnamon notes helped keep my mouth moist as excitement ran from my teeth to my pallet.  The smoke was still thick and smooth.

The last 1/3:
I am one of those smokers whose weighs heavily on the number of times my cigar ashes.  I never force my cigar to ash as I believe it will do so when it needs too.  This also is a demonstration of the construction.  This cigar ashed once twice.  The first was slightly after the 2/3 mark.  The smoke at this point was very thick and luscious.   The Cinnamon still was discernible and the cedar started to come more to life.  The cigar still continued to be medium body.  The cigar ended after about an hour of smoking and left a nice smile on my face.

Conclusion:
This is must have in your humidor.  Personally I look forward to having my next Di Fazio Torpedo.  It is well constructed and not over powering even with what you may thing are strong flavors like Cinnamon and cedar.  I enjoyed this cigar with a nice IPA beer.  If you are interested in trying one you can click on "Mike's Cigars" at the end of the review for purchasing information.

Pairings:
Wine:  Red Zinfandel or Cabernet
Whiskey/Scotch:  Any woody scotch or whiskey, Woodford Reserve or Highland Park 18
Beer:  Oktoberfest Beers or IPA's

**Photographs - Kenneth Peters Photography ©

Gurkha Park Avenue

Gurkha Park Avenue - Torpedo

Purchased: Stogie Boys

Size: Torpedo 6.2"X52

Wrapper: Connecticut

Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican

Pre-Review Notes

Before all reviews I like to have the cigar sit int he humidor for at least 2 weeks.  This particular cigar sat in my humidor for roughly 3 weeks while recovered from LASIK surgery.  The humidor was set to perfect 70/70 combination.  The first thing to note about this cigar is that you will not find the normal Gurkha cigar label.  This cigar contains a cold foil wrap with "44" in the middle.  

Construction:  8 out of 10

The cap was very tight and well wrapped.  I used a scissor cutter and cutoff about 1/2 inch from the end.  The cigar stayed to together very well with only one fray.  The wrapper is well constructed and did not show any signs of wholes or cracks.  I always rate construction on how well the cigar burns.  This cigar burned steady, did require a relight, and was only ashed 3 times.  I found this impressive.

Flavors:  6 out of 10

This is very mild cigar right out of the gate.  It contains very earthy tones that stay with the cigar through the whole smoke.  Slight hints of cedar and oak existed after the first few puffs.  After the first 1/3 of the cigar the strength increased and this when the spice and pepper hit.  The spice and pepper were not over powering but the hints added a nice compliment to the earthy cedar back-note.  As the cigar entered the final 1/3 of the burn the pepper started to over power the earthy notes and a little more full body was present.

The Burn:  8 out of 10

The draw on the cigar was tight at first and then opened after the first third was finished.  The smoke was thick and white.  The ash started gray and white and turned more brown in the middle and then back to white towards the end.  After lighting the cigar burn was very even with no canoeing present.  This cigar burn was high quality in my book.

In conclusion this is great cigar for the golf course or nice walk. I really enjoyed it but I prefer a slightly stronger smoke and for the price I would choose the Gurkha Master Select over the Park Ave.  If you like milder cigars this one you should try. It is milder in flavor and burns very well.  I purchased this cigar at StogieBoys.  Click on the link below to purchase you own.

Stogie Boys

Cigar Room II

For those of you who live in Western Ma and are cigar smokers there is no doubt you probably heard of the Cigar Room tragedy.  The Cigar Room was store and lounge that was located in West Springfield and burnt down when a fire sparked in a neighboring building.  The owner eager to get back into the cigar business worked out a deal to take possession of Azon Cigars in Agawam, Ma. The new Cigar Room II carries a huge selection of cigars from Gurhka, La Gloria Cubana, CAO, Arturo Fuente, to Rocky Patel.  The atmosphere is not much different than when the place was owned by Azon.  Leather seating, high top chairs, and flat screens provide ample seating and entertainment while you enjoy your cigar.  There are a few notable changes that you may want to know about before heading down to the store.  The first are the hours.  As many of us enjoyed an after dinner cigar at Azon around 8 and 9 PM this is only possible on Thursday's all other days except for Saturday the lounge closes at 7 PM.  The stores closes at 6 PM on Saturday.  The second notable difference is the lack of a membership.  Azon provided a yearly membership which came with a pretty much all access pass to the lounge and humidor and liquor locker.  At the current point Cigar Room II does not have any membership like this.  Bottom line Cigar Room II is a great store with a wide selection of excellent cigars but the humidor needs some tweaking [cigars we enjoyed were too moist and needed constant relighting].  I really hope to see them adjust there hours to allow for a later night cigar and cordial but other than that this will become a staple place for me during the cold months. Great job taking Azon's and ramping it up.

PS.  Cigar Room II is a sponsor of the 2011 Big Smoke at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, Ma on 9/28/2011.

Here is the link to their website.
Cigar Room II


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Golf Gear

It is not always about cigars, but sometimes life is about other things like golf.  Now cigars and golf go hand and hand so I figured it was time I share with you my secret weapon.  Many people go out and spend thousands of dollars on Nike, Callaway, TaylorMade, etc. thinking that the club is going to improve their game.  Well I can tell you if you shoot between a 90 - 100 no club is going to help your game, only you are.  But that does not mean you don't get to use nice clubs, or customized ones.  You can.  About 5 years ago I ran across this company called PineMeadow golf.  They make clubs similar in technology to the more expensive ones and they will make them custom for you. This means you can put a Nike driver for a fraction of the cost at the length you need, the shaft you want, and the grip you desire. My whole bag is from PineMeadow golf and I can tell you I could not be happier.  So if you are looking for a new club and do not want to spend hundreds or even thousands try PineMeadow.  You will not be disappointed.

Buying Cigars

I have seen many people commenting on the condition of cigar when they purchase from an online retailer.  I wanted to share my two cents and whether you should purchase from the Internet for purchase from a local store and what should be expected from each method.  I am huge advocate for purchasing local as it supports local businesses, however it has been my experience that the markup on local cigars is not worth it, but they do have their time and place.  As for Internet shopping the prices are great and depending on the supplier shipping is quite quick. So which one should you use?

Local retailers are great when you are in the mood for a cigar and you don't have it in your humidor.  Head on down to your local store and purchase it.  The second time I recommend using you local dealer is if they have a lounge.  Nothing is more unacceptable in my mind than to bring your own cigars to a cigar lounge.  If you are going to simply smoke your own cigars you should at least buy one, because if it was not for the business you would not have the lounge in the first place to smoke.  When selecting a local retailer ask them about their humidor, no it is not rude to do so.  Also ask about their turnover of inventory.  You want to purchase from a retailer that has less than a 30 day turn over, this means you are getting fresh cigars.  I prefer retailers who have walk in humidors.  This allows me to sample the air, is it humid enough, is the wood dark enough to note that there is enough humidity in the air.  Walk ins, in my opinion, have better regulated temperature.  You also want to make that when the door closes you hear it seal, almost like the door on your refrigeration.  This tells you that room is tightly sealed.  If you are comfortable with the conditions of the humidor then purchase from the retailer. Lastly make sure they carry your favorites, if not ask them too but if you are going to be this bold make sure you become a repeat customer in order to keep the stock rotated.

Internet shopping.  This is tricky one.  First do not have high expectations.  Do not expect your cigars to come in smoking condition, if they do consider yourself lucky.  I recommend leaving all Internet purchased cigars in you humidor for at least 2 weeks before smoking them.  If you expect your cigars to come smoke ready, then go to your local dealer.  Think about it.  Stores like Thompson, Famous Smoke, and Cigar International provide great pricing because they buy in bulk and sell in large quantities.  Understanding supply chain makes me realize it is very difficult for these companies to properly humidify the cigars.  They do their best and it should be noted.  As for selection hands down this is the way to go if you can wait a week or two for the cigars to sit in your humidor.  I have also heard many people complain about shipping.  Again, if you want a cigar ASAP go to your local vendor, if you stocking up your humidor but from the Internet.  I have also heard many people complain about customer service.  Personally I purchase everything over the Internet so I have little need to chat with customer service.  Discussing shipping, I personally have never had an issue with the major Internet retailers.  To be honest my cigars arrive within three days and they go right into my humidor.  

The bottom line here is, shop local for immediate smokes and lounge usage.  Shop the Internet if you are stocking up your humidor.  Don't have high expectation from the Internet retailers, you will need keep those purchased cigars in the humidor for at least 2 weeks.  Support your local dealer and lounge as much as possible so you continue to have a place to go enjoy stogie. So there it is my cigar shopping logic.
If you are looking for an Internet Retailer, Thompson Cigar is one of my favorites.  Check them out.

LASIK

Well tomorrow I will go through a processing I have been interested in for many years. Since I was little kid I have to wear glasses full time. As many of you wearing glasses has it plus but for me there are many downsides. I have to have my glasses perfectly clean, even the slightest smudge makes me neurotic. I also hate when water gets on them. The worst though is the process in which is required to switch to sunglasses. It is for these reasons that I decided this year was going to be the year when I got LASIK. I decided to write this blog to provide my story and steps leading up to tomorrow. So many people have asked me about so I figured I would write this down to help others out.

Step 1: Selecting a doctor
If you live in western New England hands down Nancy Balin is the one choose, I am sure you have heard her commercials. I-Trust. I did not jump on the bandwagon because of a commercial and neither should you. Do you research? Google is a great tool, talk to your friends, and then visit the finalists. Make sure the doctor takes your insurance (more about that in the Paying for it section). You want a Dr. that makes you feel comfortable and when that does not rush the process. I-Trust is right, you need to have trust, be sure you have it. It is your eye sight! Many people ask me is I was nervous or scared, my answer is "yes" but mostly excited. The reason for this was because Dr. Balin and her staff made sure I was 100% aware of the process, the risks, and have helped with every step. Once you trust and select a Dr. you you need to schedule a appointment to see if you are eligible.

Step 2: Eligibility
So you have chosen a Dr., good for you - step one done. Depending on the Dr. you may have 1 or 2 exams before your surgery. The first will be more of a consultation while the second will be the most intense eye exam you have ever had, don't get scared. My consultation exam lasted 3 hours and was very thorough. If you go to your eligibility exam and it is not very thorough, question it. During my exam they made sure I had enough cornea for the surgery and made sure my eye was health. I had a schalason above my left eye which I had to have removed before my surgery. Most people will not have that process done. Other tests involve pictures of your eye and and dilation eye drops. OK, get ready for these...wow.. they are powerful. You will need someone to drive home, trust me. These are not your normal dilation drops, they around 10 times more powerful. The best thing is to go home and lay down until they wear off. Because of this schedule your exam in the afternoon if possible. Before leaving the Dr. will come in and discuss your choices and the costs.

Step 3: Choices
First thing to note LASIK is more complicated than just going in and changing the shape of your eye. There are actually two process that happen. [WARNING - Medical Talk]. The first process opens the lens to expose the cornea so the second process change shape the cornea. The first process involves create a semicircle incision to create a flap that is folded back to expose the cornea. You have two options here. You elect to have the flap created with a knife (cheaper) or with a laser (more expensive). The knife leaves a jagged cut which requires you to be more careful when healing and will take longer to heal. Also the knife approach is not a clean as the laser. The laser creates a very homedic incision so that when the flap is laid back down it is perfect seal. It heals faster and is less prone to infection. The laser is more expense but in my mind it is worth. It is your eyes. No onto your second choice.

Your second choice involves how the laser shapes your eye. You can choose template surgery or custom view. Template surgery involves the Dr. inputting your prescription into the laser and based a predetermined template it removes the necessary portions of your cornea to correct your vision. This is the cheaper of the two options, but has a lower percentage of perfect vision. The second option is custom view. This involves a little more time during your eligibility exam because the Dr. take more images and measurements of your complete eye. These measurements are then inputted into the laser and the laser removes exactly what is needed to correct vision. This option is the more expensive. Keep in mind that both options do not provide 100% of perfect vision. There is always a chance that you will not get 20/20 vision. This is were the Dr. policy on adjustment surgery is important. Dr. Balin provides these for free until she can get you to 20/20 if she feels it is possible. I chose the best of both options. Why? Because it is your eyes! So you have made the choice and now it is time to pay.

Step 4: Paying for it
I will not be discussing prices in this section as those vary from patient to patient and Dr. to Dr. I will say that you should budget for $5500 for both eyes. This is what mine came up to before discounts and insurance was applied. The balance can be paid in many forms and it depends on your Dr. Try to find one that offers payment options, credit cards, and care credit. If you are lucky and your employer provides you with a Flex benefit or FSA benefit USE IT. This hands down made the most sense for me. Let me explain. My balance was roughly $4400 after insurance and discounts, again yours will be different. I decided as plan year for my work's health insurance came around to take out $5000 on my FSA. For those of you who are not familiar with FSA cards, please see your HR person. The short of it is the money is taken out pre-tax of you paycheck. So $5000/52 weeks (I get paid weekly) comes out to about $96/week. Now this is deducted pre-tax so the net affect difference in my pay was $46. So when you think about $46*52 weeks means what I feel I am paying is $2392 or roughly $1200/eye. If you did not follow this re-read a few times. How much you "feel" you are paying will be different depending on your tax situation so do not use my figures as a guide. I included them to show the power using FSA to pay for this. If FSA is not an option see your Dr. about financing options. Once you have chosen payment it is time for the surgery.

Step 5: Pre-Surgery
The Dr. will prescribe two different eye drops. One of them you will need to use the day before. 4 times - one drop - both eyes. This drops sting a bit, but not too bad. The other drops you will need to bring to your surgery appointment. You will be asked NOT to drink alcohol at least 24 hours prior and 24 hours after the surgery. You also will not be allowed to wear contacts for 3 weeks prior. Lastly the Dr. will provide a list of other restrictions that he or she recommends. Oh I almost forgot....buy goggles. You will not be allowed to rub to touch your eyes for 2 weeks, so buy sport goggles to wear at night and when you are in situations where you eyes may get irritated. PS.  Dr. Balin provided these for me.

Well that is it for what I have experienced so far. Tomorrow at 9:30 am I go for my appointment. I will post later next week on how the procedure when and the outcome. Feel free to comment and ask questions.

Step 6:  The Surgery
Again this is were is is important that your trust your doctor and Dr. Balin is simply amazing.  Arrive to your appointment early as you will need to sign a consent and pay your bill.  Make sure you have your payment ready.  Thank heavens FSA took the full amount.  Shortly after the admin things are done you will be asked in to see the pre-op nurse.   Dr. Balin has a great staff that made me feel at home, joked with me, and were willing to answer the answer the silliest questions.  Like, when could I have my next cigar?  The pro-op nurse takes a few vitals and preps you for the procedures.  She asked if I would like a mild sedative and I said sure and the last thing I wanted to do was flinch or move during the procedure.  After waiting for the sedative to kick in I was escorted to laser room.  PS it was very cold, but they provided me with the nice blanket and stuffed animal to hold.  They joked they would not put it on Facebook.  I said I don't mind self humiliating myself and they all chuckled.  The surgey goes real fast so I am not going to provide a blow by blow, but what I will tell you are the major steps.  First the numb your eye with eye drops, second then put a clamp on eye lids to keep them open (the worst part I thought), then they position under the machine that creates the flap (you will lose eye sight during this time, but it comes back instantly), lastly they shift you over and they start the laser.  Before you know it it is over. The lasers makes a loud clicking sound when turned one, keep staring at the red light, it only takes seconds.  I mentioned the clamp was the worst the part.  It was not painful just uncomfortable. I would rather go through this process 100 times over getting a cavatiy fixed.  I hope that puts into perspected.  Afetr the surgery two clear plastic shields are placed over your eye and a quick exam is done to see how the flaps are doing.  Then go home and sleep (Take the meds they prescribe).  You can be hero but the best thing it to KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED.  Take the drugs and sleep until the next day. PS.  Put the drops as directed, unless you are sleeping.  It is your eye sight, don't screw with it.


Step 7:  The day after
You will wake up wanted to check out everything.  You are going to want to open you eyes and read and test what you can see and what you can't.  DON'T.  I tried reading my email on phone and was quickly told not to by nurse (girlfriend), who was looking out for my best interested.  You will be excited, like Christmas morning when you were 5, but do you best to wait until your appointment.  Your follow up appointment is quick and consists of a regular eye exam.  Now is not the time to hold back information either.  Ask all of your questions and tell your Dr. how you feel.  I felt like my left eye was gummy and told Dr. Balin.  She instantly took another look and cleaned my eye and WOW what a difference.  PS.  The gummy is caused from the Pred Fotre drops which aid in healing.  They are milky but are needed.  Once the exam is over the Dr. will give the do's and don'ts.  Follow them.

Conclusion:
Although I am still taking all of my drops 4 times a day and I am only 2 days after my surgery I could not be happier.  I drove today, I watched TV, I am writing this, and I did school work all without glasses.  These are things I have not done without glasses in decades.  This is an amazing thing and what doctors like Dr. Balin is simply shy of a miracle to me.  Her staff and her helped me through the process step by step.  I never lost trust in them and that is important.  One thing I can not overly stress is that all of the responsibility is in your hand.  Follow the instructions to the T.  As a wise women said to me... "you take 3 weeks out of golf, cigars, etc" to have perfect eye sight for the next 20+ years.  She was right.  Take it easy, take the meds, do the drops.  You will thanks yourself later. A special thanks to Melissa the love my life and my nurse, Dr. Balin and her wonderful staff, and all of my friends and family that wished me well.

Cuban Crafters

Announcement - Starting today Cuban Crafters is now an affiliate and sponsor.  Feel free to click on the link below and browse their selection of fine cigars and humidors.

CT Southwest Wine Tour (Day 1)

Every year we work harder and harder to get the 16 passport stamps for the CT Wine Passport.  Doing so would give the us the chance to win a 2 week vacation in Spain.  Determined this year we planned a weekend trip to the Southwest corner of CT and to several vineyards we had never visited before.  Before I begin if you have never visited a CT winery it is a must.  There are 31 vineyards in a state that 120 miles across and 60 mile from north to south.  You can get more information to the CT Wine Tour here CT Wine Tour.  This trip was broken up into two days with a visit to a cigar bar and great dinner in Stratford, CT.  But before the trip could begin I needed to pack.  This trip required a Padron 1964, (2) Gurkha Micro Batch, Gurkha Select, and a Gurkha Beauty.  Little did I know there would be a additional cigar on this trip.






Stop #1:  Walker Road Vineyard. (17 Walker Rd. Woodbury, CT) 203.263.0768
Walker Road Vineyard is a very small vineyard that only produces two wines in a small quantity.  The tasting room is only open the first Saturday of the month and the tastings are free.  The vineyard is run by a husband and wife who moved to the region from California.  Experienced wine makers they set out to bring great wines to the CT region.  Unlike several other vineyards they believe that blends offer the best outcome given the climate and soil of the area.  The white wine reminded me of Sauvignon Blanc and the red was was similar to Pinot Nior with a hint of St. Criox and Cab Franc. The tasting room in located in the basement of a house and you get experience the wine making lab.  This was a very interesting place to visit. We will be back.

Stop #2:  North Winds Vineyard (471 Lake Winnemaug Rd. Watertown, CT) 203.233.3941
North Winds Vineyard is another small vineyard run out of the wine makers house.  They offered several wines to taste.  The assortment had whites and red ranging from dry to off-dry.  Our favorite from this vineyard was the Zephur. This was another wine that reminded us of a Sav. Blanc.  The tasting was outside around the back of the house.  The wine maker seemed to have good agriculture background as he explained the various plants he used to add carbon and nitrogen to the soil.  Although they vineyard had a great selection we both agreed that this not a vineyard we would visit every year.


Stop #3: McLaughlin Vineyards (14 Albert's Hill Rd. Sandy Hook, CT) 203.426.1533
McLaughlin is not new to us this year, unlike the previous two stops.  We first visited this vineyard in 2010 when my sister came to visit us for a day.  The vineyard always has something going on and this weekend was no different.  This weekend there was an art show sporting pottery, paintings, sculptures, and other crafters.  CAUTION: Upon enter the vineyard be on the lookout for on-coming traffic since the road is single lane.  you may find yourself pulling over to let people out.  I have always went on the theory the people leaving have the right-of-way, many because they have already had their tasting.  McLaughlin also has a bee farm on premise so pick yourself up some local honey.  As for the wines they both reds and white from dry to off dry.  Our favorite was the Vista Reposa 2008.  The vineyard has very nice picnic area so pack a lunch or some cheeses.

Stop #4:  Jones Family Vineyard and Farm (606 Walnut Tree Hill Rd.  Shelton, CT) 203.447.1000
First and foremost the Jones Vineyard is a working farm.  Most of their business comes from Christmas trees, strawberries, raspberries, and pumpkins.  The wines were added in the past five years.  In order to get the winery you go through parts of the farm which provide certain fall feeling.  The winery is across from the Jones Kitchen which is where they hold cooking classes.  The tasting room is a vast area with wood beams exposed and many tasting stations.  To the right of the tasting station is the gift area.  You tasting includes a glass and your own personal Jones employee to walk you through the wines.  Our guy was very informative and helped find features of the wine might have otherwise missed. The winery also allows you purchase wine by the glass, maximum 2/person, assorted cheeses, and sausages.  You can enjoy your snacks on the outdoor patio under the trellis of grape vines. This also a great place to enjoy a fine cigar with your glass of wine. We both agreed this vineyard was the star of day 1 of our trip.  We are planning on making another journey down for more wine and cooking lessons.







Stop #5:  The Owl Shop (268 College St.  New Haven, CT) 203.624.3250
Driving from our hotel in Shelton to New haven was interesting to say the least, but as we got closer to the Owl, Yale University came into a view and so did a whole different side of New Haven I had never experienced.  We found The Owl and was able to park in the parking garage across the street for $8.  Upon entering the Owl you will see plenting of bar seating and tables.  Heading to the back of the bar there are leather chairs with end tables.  Along the right of the store is the humidors sporting brands like Arturo Fuente, Perdomo, Padron, Davidoff, Montecristo, and others.  I decided to sample the Padron 1926 #6 for $17.50 a stick.  I enjoyed the cigar with a Boddington's.  See their website for happy hour specials.  The Owl Shop.  They have a fine selection of beers, whiskeys, cordials, and wines.  We arrived shortly around 6pm I could only imagine what it looks like as the night goes on.



















































Stop #6: Biago's Osteria (88 Ryders Landing Stratford, CT) 203.375.9071.
After searching for a close great Italian restaurant I stumbled across this gem.  What an awesome restaurant!  Unfortunately they were out of the wine we ordered but the server offered a replacement at the same price and he was not wrong.  It was a very good substitute.  For appetizer we shared the The Cheese Tasting, which a trio (barrata, bufala, and fresh made) of mozzarella atop heirloom tomatoes garnished with balsamic picked mushrooms and olive oil.  I also enjoyed a ceasar salad which came out like a floral bouquet of Romaine lettuce wrapped by a grilled pita.  The bouquet was rested upon a bed of prosciutto and parmigiano slices.  The ceasar dressing was perfect made with real egg and anchovies.  I must try for a ceasar lover. For dinner we enjoyed fresh ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and fresh mozzarella.  The portion was huge and we brought half of it home.  I also enjoyed the diver scallops which were served on top of a mountain of sweet corn and heirloom risotto, which was just fantastic.  We took desert home which was two completely homemade cannolis.  If you are the area of Startford, Shelton, or even New Haven this is a must.  Hands down great food, service, and atmosphere.

***  We retired to the hotel room to enjoy the cannolis with a glass of wine and prepare for day 2 ****

To Be Continued........


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The Big Smoke.

The Rock 102's Big Smoke has been announced. The date is September 28, 2011. I have been to the bast three of these and they all have been great times. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. The Log Cabin is located at the top of Mt. Tom so the views are fantastic. Beer sponsors include Peroni and Pilsner Urquel.

Here is a video from last years.

Halloween for the Cigar Smoker

The 2011 Halloween season is right around the corner and it is never too late to start thinking of your costume.  For the cigar smoker what is better than a Playboy Hefner Smoking Jacket.  Sure you could spend tons of money on a designer smoking jacket but lets face it you are just going to sit around and smoke in it and most likely get burn marks on it.  So here is a perfect chance to convince the significant other that you need a smoking jacket, its a costume.  There are many places to find them but I included a link below to good one at a good price to help you along.  Believe me when you show sporting a smoking jacket and cigars for your buddies you will be the talk of the party, in fact you may even win a contest or two. 

Playboy Hef's Smoking Jacket Adult Costume Direct from the Playboy mansion, all you need are the smooth moves to accompany this authentic Hugh Hefner signature Playboy Smoking Jacket. Look out,

First Nica Libre 1990

I have been waiting to try the Nica Libre 1990 cigar since I heard they where comparable to the Padron Anniversary Series cigars. I decided I would treat myself and my team for golf tournament to them.
I purchased the 15 sample flight from CI for about $40 plus shipping. The cigars arrived 5 per bunch and where sealed quite well.
I put the presidente in the humidor for 5 days before smoking it. The cap was uniform and led to a sharp even cut, sorry not a punch fan. The wrapper is very earthy put smooth. The cigar lit well burned very evenly after lighting.





The first few puffs created a very nice thick smoke and a mild taste. Notes of pepper and spice hit the back of your throat. The ash is very solid as the cigar continues to burn.






The cigar really came into it's own at 1/2 point. This is the first time I can see the comparison to the Padron. Flavors are very prominent and the spice is solid. The burn is still very even.

The last 1/4 is putting a smile on my face. The smoke is very thick and the spice is still smooth. After only three ashes the cigar is still burning quite while and given the length it is not hot. Enjoyable smoke.









While after a good 1 1/2 hours the cigar is finished.  How did it stand up to the Padron, surprisingly well.  Because of the length of the cigar 8", it took a while for the flavors to develop but once they did it was a great smoke.  The cigar burned very well and very evenly.  For a cigar that 10's of dollars less than the Padron it is worth it.  They are great everyday smoke and one your humidor needs.  Padron's are like a 18 or 25 year old scotch, they are great but a treat.  The Nica is like an 12 or 15 year old scotch.  Very enjoyable and has many of the flavors of the older ones but just slightly under sophisticated. 

You can find the Nica Libre Diplomatica at Stogie Boys for $3.69/stick. Click Below.


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