Download Episode 53 Here

Stogie of the Week

Quesada Oktoberfest Kurz

Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium/Full
Vitola: Rothschild
Size: 4 x 50
Age: N/A
MSRP: $7.25

What We Have Been Smoking

The complete list of all cigars discussed in this segment can be found on the Episode 53 Stogies Page.

Paul’s List

See Paul’s List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Tim’s List

See Tim’s List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Mark’s List

See Mark’s List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Segment: Cuban Cigar Spotlight

Facts

Legality – For those that don’t know, there is this thing called an embargo. Yea, we’re not supposed to have any goods from Cuba. Despite the fact that they produce awesome cigars and rum.

Are Cubans Better – No, they are cigars like any other type of cigar. They do have some great tobacco and have awesome flavors.

Construction – Yea, not-so-good. A high degree are in fact plugged. It happens, a lot more with Cuban cigars. I take that into account when it comes to price.

Classic Cuban Sizes – Corona, petite corona, short robusto, double corona.

What Cuban cigars are in your humidor right now – Hoping the police don’t raid me, but list goes like this: RASS, Por Larganaga, Punch Double Corona, One special Cohiba Magico, Cohiba Siglo II, Montecristo Edmundo, Bolivar Royal Coronas. What about you guys?

What are the growing regions?

Vuelta Abajo – Vuelta Abajo is considered the finest cigar tobacco-growing land in the world. Vuelta Abajo is the main source of tobacco for Habanos, and the only region that grows all types of leaf. But even here less than a quarter of the tobacco-growing land enjoys the Vegas Finas de Primera status that is required for the growing of tobacco for Habanos.

Semi Vuelta – Second region in the western heartland of Cuban tobacco cultivation, and another location for the cultivation of Habano wrapper leaves. The area employed is very small, however, barely one per cent of Semi Vuelta’s total tobacco-producing land. Most of Semi Vuelta’s tobacco is grown for other purposes.

Partido – Historic group of tobacco-growing zones founded in the early 17th Century to the south east of Havana. Like Semi Vuelta, Partido specializes in the cultivation of wrapper leaves.

Vuelta Arriba – This region is to the east embracing two widely separated tobacco-growing areas

Remedios – Cuba’s largest and oldest tobacco producing area, and the source of all types of leaf for one particular Habano brand: Jose L Piedra. The soil and climate have their own distinctive character, but methods of cultivation used here for Habano leaf are the same as in other regions.

Oriente – It was at Bariay in the extreme eastern part of this region that Columbus landed in 1492 and discovered Cuban tobacco. Tobacco is still grown here, but not for Habanos.

Source:

http://www.cigarcabana.com/cuban-cigars.html– Outstanding web site!
http://en.cigar-wiki.com/Cuban_Tobacco_Regions
http://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/info-production.htm

Contest: Quesada Oktoberfest Sampler

Question: What does the Acronym MATASA stand for and how is it relavent to this weeks cigar?

Congratulations to Peter D. who correctly answered;

MATASA stands for Manufactura de Tabacos S.A. This factory is owned by the Quesada family, makers of Quesada cigars.