Cuban cigar maker has shattered his own record for the world’s longest cigar by rolling a 45-foot………………..long……………………………………………………………stogie, the Guinness Book of World Records said.It took Jose Castelar Cairo five days to manufacture the cigar – a feat that far surpassed his 35-foot cigar that set the record in 2000.

The latest and greatest cigar was rolled in November, but only recently certified by Guinness. Castelar proudly displayed both Guinness certificates on Thursday. Castelar’s first milestone was a 9-foot cigar he and his buddies rolled in 1999 as a way to attract passing tourists.

“We never thought the cigars we were making would be for Guinness,” said Castelar, who has been weaving together Cuban tobacco leaves for 43 years.

Castelar is a cigar maker for La Triada, a shop located in a historic colonial fort that once protected Havana from enemy invasions and pirate attacks.

His recognition by Guinness was announced on the same day that officials shut down an illegal cigar factory – one of 100 dismantled since the beginning of the year for trying to pass off mediocre smokes as authentic Cuban brand-name cigars.

Cuba has a thriving black market in cigars. Some illegal factories manufacture mediocre cigars, then attach the labels of authentic, more expensive makers and distribute them in tourist areas.

A box of 25 Esplendidos that costs $25 on the street sells for $300 in the official state-run stores.

Cigar Czar CHETAN SETH says selecting a good cigar is like selecting a fine wine, and can be a long journey. But he’s a veteran of this road. Here is his expert advise to help the beginner along the way. Read Detail story in UppercrustIndia, The lifestyle Magazine.

http://www.uppercrustindia.com/6crust/six/feature.htm

1. Choose the ideal Habano

Choose a cigar depending on what you look like. If you are tall, a short cigar is definitely not recommended. If you are fat, a thin cigar is not for you. And vice versa. Other than this, the main criteria should be the flavour and aroma. Which means a cigar that goes with your palate. If you have strong tastebuds, if you eat spicy Indian food, or you have been a cigarette smoker, or smoked a pipe, then you will need a strong cigar.

2. Choose the right flavour

Graduate from light Habanos to medium-flavoured to strong cigars. Beginners should start with something nice and mild. Like a Fonseca Cosacos, 5 3/8 inches long, ring guage 42. Or a Saint Louis Rey Regios, 5 inches long, ring guage 48. There’s also H. Upmann Aromaticos, 5 1/8 inches long, ring guage 42. And El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme, 5 inches, ring guage 48.

The medium-bodied cigars I would recommend are Montecristo No. 4, 5 inches long, ring guage 42. Or an H. Upmann No. 2, a torpedo-shaped cigar, 6 1/8 inches long and ring guage 52. The Montecristo No. 4 is the largest-selling cigar of Cuba. It’s a lightly flavoured, elegant Habano. The H. Upmann No. 2 is a great smoke, mildly medium, very smooth and subtle.

From these, graduate to something nice and big. Like a Romeo y Julieta Churchill, 7 inches long, ring guage 47. Or a Cohiba Robustos, 4 7/8 inches long, ring guage 50. Cohiba is the world’s most famous brand. It represents a range of very expensive cigars. Both, the Romeo y Julieta Churchill and the Cohiba Robustos make very good smokes. They are strong cigars, but there are subtle differences in tastes between them.

3. Know your ring guage

What is ring guage in a cigar? It is a unit of measurement divided into 1/64th of an inch used to calibrate the diameter of a cigar. A cigar that has 32 ring guage is 32/64ths of an inch. Or 1/2 inch thick. Ring guage can simply be defined as the width of a cigar. It is important to know this because the thicker the cigar, the easier the draw. The smokes comes nicely. The burning takes place more evenly. A thin cigar, you will have to suck like a cigarette.

4. Choose a cigar for the occasion

Select a cigar that suits the time and occasion. Like a mild cigar for the morning, a medium-bodied, medium-sized for after lunch, and a full-bodied cigar to follow a good dinner. If you smoke more than one Habano a day, the subsequent cigars should have equal or fuller flavour. Never follow a full cigar with a lighter one or you will not taste it. The occasion also affects the smoker’s choice. A splendid Vegas Rubaina Unicos or a Montecristo No. 2 (both, torpedo-shaped), or even a Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas, are ideal for special celebrations or when closing a business deal.

5. Check the cigar

Before smoking, always check a cigar’s condition (humidification) by gently squeezing and rolling it between the thumb and forefinger. It should be firm, but also have some give. It should be slightly springy to the touch. If it is hard and crackling, the cigar has dried out and will give a harsh burn and uneven draw. The wrapper leaf should feel like silk with the sheen of natural oils present. It should not be torn, nor mouldy, which means it has been over humidified.

6. Find a friend

I prefer smoking in solitude. That’s the best part of my day. I chose my cigars by what I am going to do. If I’m having coffee after lunch, I select a small to medium cigar. If I’m out in the evening and have a long night ahead, I pick a nice, big cigar that will see me through the evening. But beginners should get a smoking companion. Just to share experiences and compare notes about tastes.

7. Get yourself gadgets

Get yourself accessories that go with cigar smoking. Like a humidor, a cigar cutter, ashtray, and matchcase. The best brand for these is Elie Bleu of Paris. Cigars have to be stored at 18 degrees C and 70 degrees relative humidity. Habanos are delicate products. They develop and mature if stored in the right conditions. Their flavours become rounder and mellower with time. It a Habano is not in perfect condition at the time of smoking, it will burn badly and taste harsh. If you do not have a humidor, use the original cigar boxes. These are made of cedar or have a cedar veneer as a divider. Put the box in a zip-locked plastic bag after spraying some water on the box to maintain humidity.

8. Cutting, Lighting, Smoking, Parting

The cigar’s head is sealed with a cap of tobacco that secures the wrapper. Before lighting, you need to create a broad opening in it. Use a guillotine cutter or cigar scissors. If you wish to take the band off the cigar, do so after five minutes of smoking. Unless, of course, the cigar is of good quality and you want to show it off. And peel off the band off the cigar gently, don’t pull it off like a ring. Take your time lighting a cigar and do a thorough job. The whole foot of the cigar must be alight before you settle back to enjoy smoking it, otherwise the cigar may burn down unevenly. The fatter the cigar, the more time you will need to light it. Lighting can be done with a wooden match or a butane lighter, both have odourless flames. Avoid petrol lighters, their flames release aromas which interfere with the Habanos’ flavours. If your cigar goes out, don’t abandon it. Simply relight it.

To enjoy a Habano, don’t inhale the smoke. True pleasure is found in appreciating the composition of tobacco flavours, and these are best detected on the palate by your sense of taste. Relax with your Habano and mull over its flavour.

There is no need to stub out your Habano. Just lay it to rest in an ashtray when you feel you have had enough. It will go out quickly of its own accord. Let it die with dignity.

9. Don’t disrespect the cigar

Never dunk your Habano in a glass of wine. This not only distorts its flavour but also shows scant respect for the time and skill employed in its manufacture. Also don’t flick the ash off the Habano as you would do with a cigarette. You should allow the ash to accumulate. The appearance and formation of ash is a sign of how well-made a Habano is.

10. Indulge yourself

Mark Twain had said, “If there are no cigars in Heaven, then I’m not going!” A fine Habano is a rare treat to the eyes, nose and tastebuds. All it asks for in return is your unhurried, undivided attention.

“If there are no cigars in Heaven, then I’m not going!” -Mark Twain

Cigars in Heaven

Cigar Czar CHETAN SETH says selecting a good cigar is like selecting a fine wine, and can be a long journey. But he’s a veteran of this road. Here is his expert advise to help the beginner along the way.IF you’re going to be a cigar smoker, directly start with a Cuban. These are top of the line. All other cigars from America, Holland, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua, pale in comparison. They are 20 per cent less in quality, taste and production. Like blended whiskies are before a single malt! And if you’re beginning with a Cuban cigar, then begin with a Habano Grand Marque.

Habano is a cigar that is manufactured in Cuba and exported by that country’s sole agency, M/s. Habanos S.A., to the rest of the world. They get their name from the port of Havana, capital of Cuba, where an unique blend of sun, soil and human skill go into the manufacture of cigars. Internationally, Cuban cigars were always known as Havanas, but now they are being identified as Habanos.

A Grand Marque is a classic Habano. There are 15 Grand Marques. Cohiba, Cuaba, H. Upmann, Montecristo, Bolivar, El Rey Del Mundo, Trinidad, Punch, Rafael Gonzalez, Vegas Robaina, Hoyo de Monterry, Ramon Alones, Romeo y Julieta, Partagas and Sancho Panza. These are distinguished by their flavour and character, which are inimitable. It isn’t easy to describe something as subjective as the flavour of a Grand Marque. The best way to educate your palate is to sample different Habanos and find a taste that suits you.

Most beginners are intimidated by the vast choice. Then they learn that each Grand Marque comes in different sizes and lengths. And that altogether, there are 250 such descriptions. So how does a beginner make his choice? The answer is by individual taste. It is true, the business of selecting cigars and wines is almost the same. Everything depends on your taste. Experiment, don’t be opposed to having various cigars until you get hooked onto one. They all taste different.

The cigar school I went to in Cuba, taught me with a picture of the tongue how absorption of smoke in the mouth gives you taste. Cuban cigars are aged minimum five years. From the time the leaves of the tobacco plant are harvested, then cured, fermented, aired and packed, aged, filled, bound and wrapped, the process takes five years. And the five years is what gives a cigar its flavour. Cigars are a wonderful, manly habit.

Read more in Uppercrust, India’s food, wine and lifestyle magazine edited by Farzana Contractor

http://www.uppercrustindia.com/6crust/six/lifestyles.html

A cigar lounge of its kind
Friday August 3 2007 11:25 IST

Published in City Express (Bangalore), New Indian Express, Aug 03, 2007  

Express Features

For the rich and famous of Bangalore, who want to make a lifestyle statement in style, Cohiba Club, the restaurant with its one-of-a-kind cigar lounge and car promises to provide an experience that is luxurious in style an Cuban in taste.

The restaurant that was launched in December has been operational since February 2 and was even visited by the Cuban Ambassador.

The restaurant specialises in its cuisine, dining experience, and is popular for its cigar lounge. “We cater to 30-plus population who will enjoy a fine dining experience and we specialise in Spanish and Latin American cuisine, especially the exotic Spanish tapas,” said Jitendran, General manager of Cohiba Club.

Other than the specialised Latino cuisine, the Cohiba Club’s Cigar lounge forms a big attraction for customers. The cigar lounge is cosily furnished with warm wood interiors and interesting pictures of actors and other famous personalities smoking away cigars.

There is also a shelf with books on cigars, films, and related subjects, which should tempt many to settle down with their favourite cigar and a book.

Other than a wide range of Cuban and Domnican Republican cigars, there are also ‘Anniversary collection Cuban cigars’ available.

“The concept was initiated by Ranjit Kurvilla, the owner of Cohiba Club, who found that Bangalore lacked a cigar lounge for cigar smokers to relax,” said Jitendran.

The Cohiba Bar makes available a range of wines and single malts. The bar has a computerised Danish bar dispenser system that is used for efficient pouring of drinks.

To enhance the luxury experience further, the club organises many live events such as ‘Ladies Nite’ on Wednesdays, when three free cocktails or mocktails are served to women. Salsa performance and training on Friday nights and live saxaphone performance on Thursday nights.

There is also a Sunday brunch, where foodies can enjoy a variety of items.

Dinner (inclusive of soup salads main course and dessert) for two people, including wine and cigars, costs around Rs 3,000 and upwards.

The Cohiba Club is located at The Pavilion, Church Street, Bangalore-560001. Call 41539581 for further details.