Posts Tagged ian hummel

Big Smoke New York 2011

Jan 19

Posted by admin in Big Smoke New York 2011 | 2 Comments

In 2011, and for the first time, I had a pleasure of attending the Big Smoke event in the New York. Similarly to Great Smoke, Cigar Fest, Cigar Expo and all other cigar events held across Good Ole US of A, Big Smoke offered a unique opportunity for cigar lovers to meet and celebrate the pleasures of smoking fine, handmade cigars alongside fellow aficionados and representatives from the cigar industry. The 2011 Big Smoke event, held at the Pier 92, was full of cigar icons, political figures, sport stars, and tons of cigar aficionados. I, personally, have spent most of my time with the Studio Tobac family – Bryan Scholle, Ian Hummel and Dave Wagner. Cain F lanceros, few glasses of Zaya & Ron Zacapa, friendly atmosphere, great camaraderie, couldn’t ask for more ! Well, actually, I wouldn’t mind photographing former New York city mayor – Rudy Giuliani ! Luckily, I did :) Rudy Giuliani did stop at the Studio Tobac booth and with some assistance from both Bryan Scholle & Ian Hummel, sparked one of the NUBs. Although this wasn’t a participative photo session, I was able to pull of couple decent frames. I’m definitely looking forward to 2012 Big Smoke event in the New York.

- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)-

Tags: big smoke cigar event, big smoke new york 2011, Bryan Scholle, cigar, cigar aficionado, cigar images, cigar photographs, cigar photography, cigar photos, cigar pictures, cigar review, cigar smoking photos, cigars, Dave Wagner, Former New York city mayor Rudy Giuliani, ian hummel, jose oliva, new york, new york city mayor, oliva cigars, photography, rudy giuliani, rudy giuliani mayor, stogie, studio tobac, tobacco

Studio Tobac Exclusive Collection

Dec 13

Posted by admin in Studio Tobac Exclusive Collection | 6 Comments

This week we are photographing, not reviewing, the latest project from Studio Tobac’s stable – ‘Exclusive Collection.’ I was gifted this sampler by Ian Hummel – Oliva’s Regional Sales Manager couple weeks ago at the Big Smoke in NYC. The concept of the Exclusive Collection was born during Studio Tobac’s Executive Board meeting at the IPCPR. There were 500 boxes made. The Exclusive Collection is shipping now and will be offered to the top Studio Tobac retailers in the US – $120 per box MSPR. The box itself contains 9 cigars: 4 x Cain F lancero, 4 x Cain Daytona lancero, 1 x Culebra.

Cain Daytona lancero (* Nicarguan Cigar of the Year by the European Cigar Journal)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Jalapa ligero
Length: 7″
Ring: 38

Cain F lancero
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 7″
Ring: 38

Culebra – a special, custom blend exclusive to the Collection.

Please consider the following post:
* Oliva Cain F lancero
* Studio Tobac Tour

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Tags: Bryan Scholle, cain culebra, cain daytona, cain daytona lancero, cain f lancero, cigar, cigar construction, cigar flavor, cigar images, cigar photographs, cigar photography, cigar photos, cigar pictures, cigar review, cigar smoking photos, cigars, culebra cigar, ian hummel, jose oliva, lancero, lancero cigar, nicaragua, nicaragua cigars, oliva, oliva cain f lancero, oliva cigars, photography, spicy cigar, stogie, studio tobac, studio tobac exclusive cigar collection, studio tobac exclusive collection, studio tobac tour

Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 – prerelease

Sep 1

Posted by admin in Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 - prerelease | 11 Comments

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This week we are smoking and photographing Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 prerelease courtesy of Ian Hummel – Oliva’s Regional Sales Manager. We have seen an annual release of Oliva Serie V since 2008 with slightly different torpedo size, then in 2010 with different wrapper and for 2011, we have a brand new vitola – a Toro ! I used to enjoy belicoso / torpedo shape but nowadays I gravitate more toward parejo shape cigars. Having much appreciation for Oliva Serie V Maduro, especially 2008 release, I was looking forward to this new release after learning of the new vitola. Since this is a prerelease, I have reached out to Ian with Why / What / When questions.

There has been an overwhelming request for a new size in the V Maduro. This year we are giving the customers what they want. The toro size was chosen because it still keeps the full bodiedness of the V, but the blending tweak into a 6×50 toro really helped the wrapper and filler ratio shine. It maintains a full bodied flavor, with a rich, chocolate flavor from the San Andreas Maduro wrapper. Serie V Maduro 2011 should be available ~October / November timeframe. Price point hasn’t been established yet. – Ian Hummel

On the outside, although a bit toothy as expected from the Mexican wrapper, one is welcomed to pristine, oily, well constructed with no visible veins nor seams cigar. I only hope that regular production will carry the same construction quality. Smell of barnyard off the wrapper. After clipping the cap, slightly misleading tight finish only to be transformed into perfectly flowing draw with time. Pleasing blast of spice immediately out of the gate. Earthy tones in the first third supplemented with chocolate and tiny hints of sweetness. Second & third screamed dark chocolate turning at times into an espresso flavors. Spice definitely cooled off toward the end of the cigar. The initial burn was near perfection however there was some waviness toward the end. Nothing major though ! Ash – tight, falling off in ~1″ chunks. If you enjoy noticeable and pleasant aroma, this cigar is a winner.

Did I enjoy Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011 ? Absolutely. Do I recommend a box purchase ? Personally, yes. Do I think vitola change made a difference ? I believe so ! I will take 2011 over 2010 any day. Sounds and looks like Studio Tobac with Bryan Scholle is in full force. Innovation is boiling in that team and I would like for them to experiment with V Maduros a bit more. Perhaps V Maduro 2008 in Corona Gorda ? (* hint, hint).

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: San Andreas Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6″
Ring: 50

Construction > Great
Burn > Good
Enjoy > Absolutely !
Recommend > Absolutely !
Buy > Yes

Please consider the following post:
* Oliva Serie V No4

Tags: cigar, cigar construction, cigar flavor, cigar images, cigar photographs, cigar photography, cigar photos, cigar pictures, cigar review, cigar smoking photos, cigars, ian hummel, jose oliva, naturally fermented, nicaragua, oliva, oliva cigars, photography, prerelease cigar, san andreas maduro wrapper, stogie, stogie review, tobacco

Oliva Cain F lancero

Jul 29

Posted by admin in Oliva Cain F lancero | 5 Comments

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This week we are photographing and reviewing one of my favorite vitolas and always enjoyable brand – Oliva Cain F lancero. In May of 2011, I attended a local Studio Tobac event with the Ambassador himself – Bryan ‘The Show’ Scholle and Dave Wagner – Oliva’s VP of Sales in attendance. Both were extremely generous with different Studio Tobac projects and I was able to walk away with few samples of Oliva Cain F lancero and some. I smoked my first sample couple weeks after the event and second for this review. Both experiences were similar with latter being more enjoyable and ‘refined.’

The construction of the cigar was close to perfect. From visual perspective, carefully applied cap, toothy-free wrapper, no visible veins nor seams gave this lancero high marks right out of the gate. After clipping and lighting it, I was introduced to a perfect draw. Considering difficulty of lancero format, another plus ! In flavor department, wow … if you enjoy spice and pepper, this is your ultimate ‘poison.’ From the very first to the very last puff, overwhelming, in a good way, amount of spice. There were some notes of woodiness and small bits of floral taste toward the end but i can not stress enough the amount of spice. Burn was perfect and did not need any touchups – another extra plus. Ash, which was extremely light in color, was fairly tight and would fall down in 1.5″ chunks.

The last few and frequent puffs to get the last photograph made me realize that this cigar was not only shining with the spice but it was also packing major strength, at least in my case. I will definitely include Oliva Cain F lancero in my rotation and if you enjoy spicy / full strength cigars, consider a box purchase.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 7″
Ring: 38

Construction > Great
Burn > Great
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Box worthy !

Please consider the following post:
* Studio Tobac Tour
* Oliva Master Blends 1
* Oliva Serie V No4