Cigar Insider Special Report

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CigarCLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE DECEMBER 23, 2014 n VOL.Insider 19, NO. 24 n FROM THE PUBLISHER OF CIGAR AFICIONADO MAGAZINE

IN THIS ISSUE: CIGAR INSIDER’S TOP SCORES OF 2014 PREVIEWS FROM THE FEBRUARY 2015 Ashton Estate Sun Grown 22-Year Salute Dom. Rep. 94 CIGAR AFICIONADO MAGAZINE: A. Flores 1975 Serie Privada Capa Habano SP 52 Dom. Rep. 93

n Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Spellbound [page 2] Achilles Heroicos Nicaragua 93 n Partagás Lusitania [page 2] n Ashton Estate Sun Grown 24-Year Salute [page 2] Cohiba Siglo VI Cuba 93 n Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona [page 2] Illusione Fume d’Amour Clementes Nicaragua 93 n Padrón Family Reserve 44 Years Maduro [page 3] n San Cristobal Revelation Triumph [page 3] Partagás Lusitania Gran Reserva Cuba 93 n La Antiguedad Robusto [page 3] San Cristobal de la Habana El Morro Cuba 93 n La Bohéme Poeta [page 3] Alec Bradley Mundial No. 5 Honduras 92 INDUSTRY ANALYSIS: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 2 Dom. Rep. 92 n Average Score by Brand [page 4] Ashton Estate Sun Grown 24-Year Salute Dom. Rep. 92 n Average Score by Size and Country [page 5] n Humidor Selections—46 Cigars Rated 91+ Cohiba Siglo III Cuba 92 in 2014 [page 6] Cohiba Siglo IV Cuba 92 n Analysis by Country [page 7] n Cigars for a Budget—Our Best Buys [page 8] La Palina Classic Lancero Dom. Rep. 92 n Comprehensive Tasting Report for 2014: Montecristo Petit No. 2 Cuba 92 266 Cigar Ratings [page 10] Padrón Family Reserve 44 Years Maduro Nicaragua 92 CIGAR NEWS: Padrón Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro Nicaragua 92 n Major Changes to U.S.-Cuba Relations [page 8] Quai d’Orsay Belicoso Royale Exclusivo Francia Cuba 92

Rocky Patel Platinum Robusto Nicaragua 92

San Cristobal Revelation Legend Nicaragua 92

San Cristobal Revelation Triumph Nicaragua 92 ACTOR LIAM NEESON Source: Cigar Insider THE THINKING MAN’S WHERE THE TOP SCORERS ARE MADE MOVIE STAR has taken COUNTRY CIGARS RATED 90 POINTS OR HIGHER PERCENT on roles and personas that Cuba 29 18 62.1% range from the serious to the action hero. The February U.S.A. 21 11 52.4% issue of Cigar Aficionado tells Dom. Rep. 81 34 42.0% the story of Neeson’s career and his thoughts on act- Honduras 43 17 40.0% ing. Plus, see the Top 25 Cigars of 2014, including Nicaragua 92 36 39.1% the No. 1 Cigar of the Year. Source: Cigar Insider

CIGAR INSIDER SPECIAL REPORT: 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW BY GREGORY MOTTOLA igar Insider’s annual year in review is a comprehensive cross section and examination of all the brands we rated through- Cout the year. Some come from companies that are familiar industry standards, while others are from producers who might not have the same production or distribution as some of the industry’s bigger cigar companies. [continued on page 5]

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TASTING REPORT: EXCLUSIVE FEBRUARY 2015 CIGAR AFICIONADO PREVIEWS 93

RING GAUGE: 54 ASHTON VIRGIN SUN GROWN LENGTH: 7 1/2" SPELLBOUND DOM. REP. FILLER: Dom. Rep. This box-pressed double corona is covered in a dark, oily wrapper. Each toasty puff carries BINDER: Dom. Rep. notes of chocolate and earth balanced by minerals and a touch of peppermint. WRAPPER: Ecuador Price: $14.50 Body: Medium to Full

RING GAUGE: 49 PARTAGÁS LUSITANIA CUBA LENGTH: 7 5/8" A dark wrapper and flat head make this a very attractive double corona. Notes of semisweet FILLER: Cuba chocolate harmonize with bitter orange peel, leather and freshly cut pine. BINDER: Cuba Box Date: April 2013 WRAPPER: Cuba Price: £25.00 (U.K.) Body: Medium

RING GAUGE: 48 ASHTON ESTATE SUN GROWN LENGTH: 6 5/8" 24-YEAR SALUTE DOM. REP. FILLER: Dom. Rep. A long perfecto with symmetrical construction and a full draw that imparts bright and zesty BINDER: Dom. Rep. smoke full of dried orange peel, red pepper flakes and underlying woodiness. WRAPPER: Dom. Rep. Price: $21.00 Body: Medium

RING GAUGE: 49 HOYO DE MONTERREY DOUBLE CORONA CUBA LENGTH: 7 5/8" Dressed in a medium-claro wrapper, this double corona is finished with a flat head and FILLER: Cuba three-seam cap. It’s woody and grassy at first, but takes on rich chocolate notes, BINDER: Cuba hints of vanilla bean and touches of citrus. WRAPPER: Cuba Box Date: July 2013 Price: £24.94 (U.K.) Body: Medium to Full

95-100: Classic n 90-94: Outstanding n 80-89: Very good to excellent n 70-79: Average to good commercial quality Below 70: Don’t waste your money n N/A: Not Available Note: Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail, before taxes.

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TASTING REPORT: EXCLUSIVE FEBRUARY 2015 CIGAR AFICIONADO PREVIEWS 92

RING GAUGE: 52 PADRÓN FAMILY RESERVE LENGTH: 6" 44 YEARS MADURO NICARAGUA FILLER: Nicaragua A box-pressed torpedo with a dark wrapper and opulent draw. It’s rich and sweet with BINDER: Nicaragua coffee bean and toast complemented by notes of chocolate and graham cracker. WRAPPER: Nicaragua Price: $31.30 Body: Medium to Full

RING GAUGE: 50 SAN CRISTOBAL REVELATION TRIUMPH NICARAGUA LENGTH: 7" Tall and box pressed with a three-seam cap. The draw is substantial, leaving tangy FILLER: Nicaragua impressions of orange peel and horseradish balanced by sweet leather and earth. BINDER: Nicaragua Price: $8.50 Body: Medium to Full WRAPPER: Ecuador

RING GAUGE: 52 LA ANTIGUEDAD ROBUSTO NICARAGUA LENGTH: 5 1/4" This box-pressed cigar is a strong and hearty smoke full of baker’s chocolate, FILLER: Nicaragua roasted coffee beans and earth, but balanced by floral sweetness. BINDER: Nicaragua Price: $7.40 Body: Medium to Full WRAPPER: Ecuador

RING GAUGE: 54 LA BOHÉME POETA DOM. REP. LENGTH: 5 3/4" Wrapped in an oily cover leaf, this cigar draws perfectly, delivering earthy, FILLER: Dom. Rep. tea-like intonations that intensify to show leather, minerals and a red wine note. BINDER: Dom. Rep. Price: $12.24 Body: Medium to Full WRAPPER: Ecuador

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AVERAGE SCORE BY BRAND Brand Rating Brand Rating

Montecristo, Cuba (1 Cigar) 92.0 Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur, Honduras (2) 89.0 Quai d’Orsay, Cuba (1) 92.0 Kismet (5) 89.0 601 La Bomba Warhead II (1) 91.0 La Bohéme (4) 89.0 H. Upmann, Cuba (1) 91.0 Matilde Renacer (4) 89.0 L’Atelier Selection Spéciale (1) 91.0 My Father Connecticut (4) 89.0 Punch Rare Corojo, Honduras (1) 91.0 Rogue (5) 89.0 Ashton Estate Sun Grown (5) 90.6 The Edge Habano (2) 89.0 Cohiba, Cuba (7) 90.6 Viaje Skull And Bones (1) 89.0 Padrón Family Reserve (5) 90.6 7-20-4 Hustler (4) 88.8 Aging Room Small Batch M356 (2) 90.5 Alec Bradley Coyol (6) 88.8 Bolivar, Cuba (2) 90.5 Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (4) 88.8 La Flor de Cano, Cuba (2) 90.5 Padilla Connecticut (4) 88.8 Partagás, Cuba (4) 90.5 Señorial by José Blanco (5) 88.8 Illusione Fume d’Amour (4) 90.3 Tatuaje Cabinet (6) 88.8 A. Flores 1975 Serie Privada Capa Habano (3) 90.0 Hammer + Sickle Hermitage No. 1 (3) 88.7 Casa Fernandez Miami Aganorsa Leaf Maduro (1) 90.0 Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2014 (3) 88.7 Davidoff Nicaragua (1) 90.0 Rocky Patel Decade Cameroon (3) 88.7 E.P. Carrillo La Historia (3) 90.0 Eiroa (4) 88.5 Herrera Esteli (1) 90.0 La Flor Dominicana 1994 (4) 88.5 Joya de Nicaragua (1) 90.0 Vault by Toraño D-042 (4) 88.5 La Flor Dominicana (1) 90.0 Vegueros, Cuba (2) 88.5 La Palina Classic (3) 90.0 Jericho Hill (4) 88.3 Tatuaje Black (1) 90.0 Juan Lopez, Nicaragua (3) 88.3 Arturo Fuente Don Carlos (7) 89.8 RyJ by Romeo y Julieta, Honduras (3) 88.3 Achilles (3) 89.7 Quesada 40th Anniversary (5) 88.2 Curivari Café Noir Reserva Limitada (3) 89.7 Camacho Ecuador (5) 88.0 Juan Lopez, Cuba (3) 89.7 Cohiba Nicaragua (4) 88.0 San Cristobal Revelation, Nicaragua (6) 89.7 L’Atelier (1) 88.0 The Banker by H. Upmann, Dom. Rep. (3) 89.7 La Antiguedad (5) 88.0 Alec Bradley Mundial (5) 89.6 Joya Red (4) 87.8 Casa Magna D. Magnus II (2) 89.5 Nat Sherman 1930 (6) 87.8 Norteño (6) 89.5 Trill (5) 87.6 La Palina Collection Mr. Sam (3) 89.3 Tatuaje Tattoo (4) 87.5 Montecristo Espada, Nicaragua (3) 89.3 Davidoff (1) 87.0 Rocky Patel Platinum (3) 89.3 Vegas Robaina, Cuba (1) 87.0 San Cristobal de la Habana, Cuba (3) 89.3 Viaje Exclusivo Leaded (1) 87.0 Don Pepin Garcia Original (10) 89.1 Villiger Talanga (5) 87.0 Ezra Zion Tantrum (1) 89.0 Inch by E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2014 (3) 86.7 Fonseca, Cuba (1) 89.0 Avo (1) 86.0 Hoja de Flores Auténtico Maduro (3) 89.0 Davidoff Maduro (3) 86.0 Hoyo de Monterrey, Cuba (1) 89.0 Room 101 Master Collection (5) 85.8

Source: Cigar Insider

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AVERAGE SCORE BY SIZE Clementes (Cigar Aficionado’s No. 3 cigar of 2014), and the Achilles Heroicos, a small brand owned by Curivari and 1. Double Corona 4 Cigars 90.5 produced at the Nestor Plasencia factory. Three Cubans scored 93 points. The San Cristobal de 2. “A” 1 Cigar 90.0 la Habana El Moro and the Cohiba Siglo VI are regular- 3. Figurado 38 Cigars 89.8 production cigars and not at all new to most Cuban cigar smokers. But the Partagás Lusitania Gran Reserva is one of 4. Panetela 6 Cigars 89.3 Cuba’s limited and exclusive releases. According to Cuban 4. Lonsdale 4 Cigars 89.3 cigar distributor Habanos S.A., this Partagás contains tobacco 6. Petit Corona 7 Cigars 89.1 from a 2007 harvest, and at £65 (more than twice the price of a regular Lusitania) it does not come cheap. 6. Robusto 52 Cigars 89.1 The perspective on the year’s top scores changes when one 6. Churchill 19 Cigars 89.1 looks at the highest average by brand, rather than individual cigars. When averaged by entire brand, two lines scored 92 9. Corona Gorda 87 Cigars 88.9 points, both of which were Cuban. Montecristo and Quai 10. Corona 10 Cigars 88.7 d’Orsay were the only two brands to average 92 points. Four brands averaged 91 points. While the 601 La Bomba Warhead 11. Miscellaneous 10 Cigars 88.1 II and L’Atelier Selection Spéciale are made in Nicaragua, 12. Grande 28 Cigars 87.9 H. Upmann is produced in Cuba and the Punch Rare Corojo comes from Honduras. These numbers, however, do not tell Source: Cigar Insider the entire story. Though the averages are the highest for these brands, it’s important to note that only one cigar for each was [continued from cover] tested, making its representation for the rest of the line some- what limited. Compare that to brands like the Ashton Estate In 2014, Cigar Insider rated 266 cigars. Of that total, 116 Sun Grown, the Cuban Cohiba and the Padrón Family Reserve. smokes scored 90 points or higher (or 43.6%). Forty-six of These three brands averaged slightly lower at 90.6 points, but those smokes scored 91 points or higher. The high scores the entire line was accounted for. Ashton had seven cigars aver- were achieved by cigar manufacturers from every major cigar aged in its vertical brand tasting. Cohiba and Padrón Family producing region, and the relative abundance of cigars that Reserve both had five each. Because of the comprehensive scored at least 90 points gives smokers not only a diverse nature of an entire brand vertical tasting, these averages are range of cigar styles from which to choose but a wide variety far more telling and speak much more to the brand’s consis- of price points as well. tency and quality across the entire line. Although no cigar quite reached the classic benchmark Like the past two years, 2014 was a very good year for score of 95 points, one smoke did reach 94 points: the Cuban cigars. Cigar Insider rated 29 smokes from Cuba and Ashton Estate Sun Grown 22-Year Salute. Not only is they averaged a score of 90.07 points. The average included it Cigar Insider’s highest rated cigar of this year, it also special cigars like Edición Limitadas and a Gran Reserva achieved the No. 8 spot on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars to regular-production cigars like the Cohiba Siglo Series. of 2014. It’s made in the Dominican Republic in very limited Cigars manufactured in the United States, 21 in total, quantities by the Fuentes and features a Dominican wrapper achieved an average of 89.10. Though the country averages grown on the same plantation that produces the famed drop a bit for Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Fuente Fuente OpusX wrapper. It would be a mistake, how- Republic, the volume also [continued on page 8] ever, to simply characterize this smoke as an Ashton cigar with an OpusX wrapper. The tobacco in the blend was AVERAGE SCORE BY COUNTRY carefully formulated for balance and distinction. Six cigars this year scored 93 points, only one of which 1. Cuba 29 Cigars 90.07 came from the Dominican Republic—the A. Flores 1975 Serie Privada Capa Habano SP 52. The brand is owned by 2. U.S.A. 21 Cigars 89.10 Abe Flores and Luis Rodriguez and made in the Dominican Republic at the PDR Cigars factory. Like the Ashton Estate 3. Nicaragua 92 Cigars 88.93 Sun Grown, its high score in the Cigar Insider made the A. Flores eligible for Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 consideration. 4. Dom. Rep. 81 Cigars 88.83 The cigar was able to repeat its exceptional Insider perfor- mance and became Cigar Aficionado’s No. 10 cigar of 2014. 5. Honduras 43 Cigars 88.60 Two cigars from Nicaragua scored 93 points and both Source: Cigar Insider were newcomers to the market—the Illusione Fume d’Amour

5 TO SUBSCRIBE GO TO WWW.CIGARINSIDER.COM December 23, 2014 Cigar Insider CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE 2014 HUMIDOR SELECTIONS SCORE BRAND PRICE RING LENGTH COUNTRY GAUGE 94 Ashton Estate Sun Grown 22-Year Salute $20.00 52 6" Dominican Republic 93 A. Flores 1975 Serie Privada Capa Habano SP 52 $9.75 52 5" Dominican Republic 93 Achilles Heroicos $8.50 50 5 1/4" Nicaragua 93 Cohiba Siglo VI £33.30 52 5 7/8" Cuba 93 Illusione Fume d’Amour Clementes $9.50 48 6 1/2" Nicaragua 93 Partagás Lusitania Gran Reserva £65.00 49 7 5/8" Cuba 93 San Cristobal de la Habana El Morro £23.20 49 7 1/8" Cuba 92 Alec Bradley Mundial No. 5 $11.95 52 5 1/8" Honduras 92 Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 2 $13.75 55 6" Dominican Republic 92 Ashton Estate Sun Grown 24-Year Salute $21.00 48 6 5/8" Dominican Republic 92 Cohiba Siglo III £23.90 42 6" Cuba 92 Cohiba Siglo IV £25.00 46 5 5/8" Cuba 92 La Palina Classic Lancero $8.00 38 7" Dominican Republic 92 Montecristo Petit No. 2 £17.40 52 4 3/4" Cuba 92 Padrón Family Reserve 44 Years Maduro $31.30 52 6" Nicaragua 92 Padrón Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro $25.00 54 5" Nicaragua 92 Quai d’Orsay Belicoso Royale Exclusivo Francia ¤12.90 52 5" Cuba 92 Rocky Patel Platinum Robusto $10.30 50 5 1/2" Nicaragua 92 San Cristobal Revelation Legend $7.75 52 6 1/4" Nicaragua 92 San Cristobal Revelation Triumph $8.50 50 7" Nicaragua 91 601 La Bomba Warhead II Prominente $10.95 56 5 1/2 Nicaragua 91 7-20-4 Hustler Dog Walker $5.50 40 4 1/2" Honduras 91 Aging Room Small Batch M356 Motivo $8.01 46 6" Dominican Republic 91 Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Belicoso $11.75 52 5 3/8" Dominican Republic 91 Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Robusto $10.75 50 5 1/2" Dominican Republic 91 Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Spellbound $14.50 54 7 1/2" Dominican Republic 91 Bolivar Libertadores £27.50 54 6 1/2" Cuba 91 Camacho Ecuador Figurado $7.80 54 6 1/8" Honduras 91 Cohiba Siglo V £29.90 43 6 3/4" Cuba 91 Don Pepin Garcia Original Invictos $8.00 50 5" U.S.A. 91 E.P. Carrillo La Historia E-III $8.75 54 6 7/8" Dominican Republic 91 H. Upmann Connossieur A £22.50 52 5 1/2" Cuba 91 Hoja de Flores Auténtico Maduro Toro $12.20 54 6 1/4" Dominican Republic 91 Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Short Crystal $7.49 50 5 1/4" Honduras 91 Illusione Fume d’Amour Viejos $7.50 50 5" Nicaragua 91 La Bohéme Pittore $11.94 52 5 1/8" Dominican Republic 91 La Bohéme Poeta $12.24 54 5 3/4" Dominican Republic 91 La Flor de Cano Gran Cano Exclusivo Gran Bretaña £20.00 50 5 1/2" Cuba 91 La Palina Classic Short Robusto $6.75 58 4 1/2" Dominican Republic 91 L’Atelier Selection Spéciale LAT Torpedo $9.50 52 6 1/8" Nicaragua 91 Matilde Renacer Corona $7.50 44 5 1/2" Dominican Republic 91 Padrón Family Reserve 45 Years Maduro $26.30 52 6" Nicaragua 91 Punch Rare Corojo Rare Salomon $7.99 57 7 1/4" Honduras 91 Tatuaje Cabinet Noella $8.00 42 5 1/8" Nicaragua 91 The Banker by H. Upmann Currency $7.00 48 5 1/2" Dominican Republic 91 Vault by Toraño D-042 Torpedo $7.96 52 6 1/8" Nicaragua Source: Cigar Insider

6 TO SUBSCRIBE GO TO WWW.CIGARINSIDER.COM December 23, 2014 Cigar Insider CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE ANALYSIS BY COUNTRY BRAND CIGARS AVERAGE AVERAGE BRAND CIGARS AVERAGE AVERAGE SCORE PRICE SCORE PRICE

CUBA Alec Bradley Coyol 6 88.8 $8.18 Montecristo 1 92.0 £17.40 Hammer + Sickle Hermitage No. 1 3 88.7 $8.75 Quai d’Orsay 1 92.0 ¤12.90 Rocky Patel Decade Cameroon 3 88.7 $10.58 H. Upmann 1 91.0 £22.50 Eiroa 4 88.5 $10.45 Cohiba 7 90.6 £25.87 RyJ by Romeo y Julieta 3 88.3 $8.42 Bolivar 2 90.5 £23.62 Camacho Ecuador 5 88.0 $7.42 La Flor de Cano 2 90.5 £19.69 Viaje Exclusivo Leaded 1 87.0 $9.44 Partagás 4 90.5 £30.37 Room 101 Master Collection 5 85.8 $10.00 Juan Lopez 3 89.7 £14.15 TOTAL 43 88.4 $9.42 San Cristobal de la Habana 3 89.3 £17.38 Fonseca 1 89.0 £11.04 NICARAGUA Hoyo de Monterrey 1 89.0 £22.91 601 La Bomba Warhead II 1 91.0 $10.95 Vegueros 2 88.5 ¤4.80 L’Atelier Selection Spéciale 1 91.0 $9.50 Vegas Robaina 1 87.0 C$43.50 Padrón Family Reserve 5 90.6 $25.86 TOTAL 29 90.08 £20.67 Illusione Fume d’Amour 4 90.3 $8.41 Herrera Esteli 1 90.0 $12.00 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Joya de Nicaragua 1 90.0 $12.50 Ashton Estate Sun Grown 5 90.6 $19.30 Tatuaje Black 1 90.0 $10.00 Aging Room Small Batch M356 2 90.5 $8.42 Achilles 3 89.7 $9.17 A. Flores 1975 Serie Privada Curivari Café Noir Reserva Limitada 3 89.7 $8.65 Capa Habano 3 90.0 $11.25 San Cristobal Revelation 6 89.7 $8.12 Davidoff Nicaragua 1 90.0 $17.90 Casa Magna D. Magnus II 2 89.5 $10.95 E.P. Carrillo La Historia 3 90.0 $8.25 Norteño 6 89.5 $10.75 La Flor Dominicana 1 90.0 $10.70 Rocky Patel Platinum 3 89.3 $10.70 La Palina Classic 3 90.0 $7.42 Montecristo Espada 3 89.3 $11.83 Arturo Fuente Don Carlos 7 89.8 $11.31 My Father Connecticut 4 89.0 $8.13 The Banker by H. Upmann 3 89.7 $7.62 Rogue 5 89.0 $7.99 Hoja de Flores Auténtico Maduro 3 89.0 $12.40 The Edge Habano 2 89.0 $6.43 Kismet 5 89.0 $7.80 Padilla Connecticut 4 88.8 $9.23 La Bohéme 4 89.0 $11.06 Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2014 3 88.7 $9.95 Matilde Renacer 4 89.0 $8.25 Vault by Toraño D-042 4 88.5 $7.82 Ashton Virgin Sun Grown 4 88.8 $11.71 Jericho Hill 4 88.3 $9.05 Señorial by José Blanco 5 88.8 $9.00 Juan Lopez 3 88.3 $5.75 La Flor Dominicana 1994 4 88.5 $7.95 Cohiba Nicaragua 4 88.0 $12.99 Quesada 40th Anniversary 5 88.2 $10.46 L’Atelier 1 88.0 $9.50 Nat Sherman 1930 6 87.8 $11.00 La Antiguedad 5 88.0 $8.26 Trill 5 87.6 $7.18 Joya Red 4 87.8 $6.25 Davidoff 1 87.0 $39.00 Tatuaje Tattoo 4 87.5 $5.75 Inch by E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2014 3 86.7 $9.70 Villiger Talanga 5 87.0 $8.40 Avo 1 86.0 $16.00 TOTAL 92 88.95 $9.82 Davidoff Maduro 3 86.0 $17.87 TOTAL 81 88.84 $11.03 U.S.A. Casa Fernandez Miami Aganorsa HONDURAS Leaf Maduro 1 90.0 $8.90 Punch Rare Corojo 1 91.0 $7.99 La Palina Collection Mr. Sam 3 89.3 $12.33 Alec Bradley Mundial 5 89.6 $13.35 Don Pepin Garcia Original 10 89.1 $8.11 Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur 2 89.0 $7.64 Ezra Zion Tantrum 1 89.0 $9.50 Viaje Skull And Bones 1 89.0 $8.96 Tatuaje Cabinet 6 88.8 $10.00 7-20-4 Hustler 4 88.8 $8.88 TOTAL 21 89.08 $9.36

Note: All Cuban cigar prices have been converted into British pounds for sake of comparison. Source: Cigar Insider

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2014 BEST BUYS SCORE CIGAR PRICE CIGAR NEWS

90 Joya Red Robusto $5.75 90 Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 3 $6.00 MAJOR CHANGES TO 89 Rogue Rascal $5.99 89 Tatuaje Tattoo Caballero $5.00 U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS 88 Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 1 $5.50 BY DAVID SAVONA 88 Tatuaje Tattoo Universo $5.50 he United States government has announced sweeping 87 Joya Red Short Churchill $5.25 T changes to its longstanding embargo against Cuba. 87 Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 2 $5.75 Soon there will be a U.S. embassy in Havana; Americans will 87 Vegueros Tapados ¤4.60 be allowed to send more money to Cuba, both for relatives and for the development of business; and Americans visiting Source: Cigar Insider the island will be able to return to the U.S. with some Cuban products, including Cohibas and other Cuban cigars. [continued from page 5] These moves are not an end to the embargo, and President increases exponentially. Cuba’s 90.07 average only takes into Barack Obama needs Congress to fully normalize relations. consideration the 29 cigars rated in 2014. By comparison, In a speech given last week from the White House, he said he Nicaragua’s 88.93 average is calculated from 92 cigars; the would reach out to Congress to begin talks to end the embargo. Dominican Republic’s average, from 81 cigars; and These actions are the result of high-level, direct discussions Honduras’s average, from 43 cigars. All five cigar-producing between the U.S. and Cuban governments, including a countries scored within two points of each other—compelling conversation lasting approximately one hour between President evidence that the quality gap between countries is negligible. Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro that led to the There was no shortage of great cigars this year, but budget- release of prisoners held by both countries, including Alan conscious smokers may have been challenged to find excellent Gross, an American who had been held in Cuba for five cigars at excellent prices. Cigar Insider classifies its “Best Buy” years, and an unnamed American spy who was incarcerated designation as cigars with a score of 87 points or higher, but in Cuba for nearly 20 years. with a retail price of no more than $6. Only nine cigars that These are the biggest changes in U.S.-Cuba policy since the we tested met that criteria, the highest scores being the Joya embargo as we know it began in 1962. Red Robusto and the Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 3, both of “In the most significant changes in our policy in more than which scored 90 points. The Joya retails for $5.75, the Juan 50 years, we are going to end an outdated approach that, for Lopez only a quarter more. Juan Lopez is an American- decades, has failed to advance our interests. And, instead, we friendly version of a classic Cuban brand. The Joya Red is will begin to normalize relations between our two countries,” Joya de Nicaragua’s move to medium-bodied cigars. said President Obama. Double Coronas, though we only rated four this year, The president spoke frankly about the embargo, calling it a took the top average at 90.5 points. The single “A” size policy that has not worked. “It has had little effect,” he said, rated averaged 90 points. Cigar Insider rated 87 Corona “beyond providing the Cuban government with a rationale Gordas in 2014—the most of any category— and these for providing restrictions on its people. Today, Cuba is still smokes ended up in the No. 9 spot. At 52 cigars, the Robusto governed by the Castros and the communist party that came category tied for No. 6 with an average of 89.1. Note the new to power half a century ago.” Grande category, which covers any cigar with a 60 ring gauge The changes are dramatic, if not complete. This news does or larger. The undeniable trend towards 60, 70 and even 80 not mean that Cuban cigars and other goods will appear ring gauge cigars justified the creation of a new category, in U.S. cigar shops tomorrow morning, but it does pave an although these fat smokes posted the lowest average by size. important first step—and a big one—toward establishing The cigar brands in this analysis and their respective perfor- normalized relations between the two countries. mance numbers represent not only a cross section of the year’s Secretary of State John Kerry will immediately begin releases but also what is available in cigar stores and what official talks with Cuba, which have been essentially non- smokers are consistently buying. Numbers can show clearly existent since January 1961. The U.S. embassy in Havana how the cigars performed under Cigar Insider’s blind-tasting will be re-established, marking the first time since 1961 that parameters, but more importantly, they are a strong indication the U.S. would have a formal embassy in Cuba (The U.S. that great cigars do not have to be expensive, are not made presently has an Interests Section in Cuba, which is not an in a single size or do not come from only one country. n official embassy).

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The flow of money to Cuban nationals (excluding certain Cuba also released another American prisoner, a spy who government officials) by Americans will be vastly increased, had been imprisoned by Cuba for close to two decades. from $500 per quarter to $2,000 per quarter, with no limit In return, the U.S. freed three members of the so-called on donations for humanitarian efforts. U.S. businesses will “Cuban Five,” a group of Cubans who were arrested in 1998 have an easier time sending goods to Cuba and setting up and had been imprisoned by the U.S. after being convicted of financing on the island. President Obama spoke of Americans espionage. Posters and billboards asking to “Free the Cuban being allowed to use U.S. credit and debit cards on the island, Five” are common sights for visitors to Cuba. something that has been prohibited. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), speaking on CNN, felt The changes seem to favor the flow of U.S. goods to Cuba, that the U.S. was giving up too much in this arrangement, while still largely curtailing the flow in the opposite direction. and the Cuban government was doing too little to justify And while tourism will not be openly allowed under these new these moves. policies, and most Americans will still be prohibited from This move, said Rubio, meant the Cubans were providing traveling to Cuba, those who are able to travel (including those “No democratic opening, no freedom of the press, no freedom with family in Cuba, people on humanitarian missions, of organization or assembly, no elections, no political parties, journalists) will have an easier time getting there. no democratic opening at all. ... It is a lifeline to the Castro “It will be easier for Americans to travel to regime that will allow them to become more Cuba,” said Obama. For the first time profitable. The Cuban people are even further since the Bush Administration, travelers away from democracy.” who go on a trip between Cuba and the Others saw this as a move in the right U.S. will be permitted to return to the direction. U.S. with up to $400 in Cuban goods. “Opening the door with Cuba for trade, Only $100 of those goods can be tobacco travel and the exchange of ideas will create or alcohol. Since most boxes of 25 Cuban a force for positive change in Cuba that cigars sell for more than $100 in Havana, in many cases more than 50 years of our current policy travelers will be prohibited from legally bringing back a of exclusion could not achieve,” said Sen. full box of cigars. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois). A source at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, speaking “Obama has finally advanced the interests of U.S. policy on background, said the limits would apply only to autho- by ending the perpetual hostility in relations between rized trips between Cuba and the U.S. American travelers Washington and Havana,” said Peter Kornbluh, an author going to third-party countries such as France or the United of several books on U.S.-Cuba relations, in an email Kingdom could not legally bring Cuban cigars (or any other sent from Havana. “He has brought U.S. policy from its Cuban products) to the U.S. upon their return. “Travelers anachronistic past into the modern world.” to other parts of the world will not be permitted to bring “For cigar smokers in America, Cuban cigars have long in Cuban cigars,” the source said. The source expected the been the forbidden fruit. The cigar business was born in regulations to be revised “in the coming weeks.” Cuba, and cigars made in Havana have a worldwide repu- President Obama emphasized human rights several times tation for excellence. We yearn for the day when our readers in his speech, and noted the damage the embargo has done can have the opportunity to legally buy and enjoy cigars to ordinary Cubans, if not the government in power. “U.S. from every country,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and engagement will be critical when appropriate and will publisher of Cigar Aficionado magazine. “[This] marks the include continued strong support for improved human biggest change in U.S.-Cuba relations since 1961. It does rights conditions and democratic reforms in Cuba and other not mean the end of the embargo, but it’s the dawn of a measures aimed at fostering improved conditions for the new day that brings the United States and Cuba a big step Cuban people,” he said. “We should not allow U.S. sanctions closer to normal relations. For cigar smokers, there is the to add to the burden of Cuban citizens.” promise of something bigger to come.” Each of these changes centered around an exchange of President Obama has long showed hints that he was prisoners between Cuba and the U.S. On December 17, open to easing the longstanding animosity between the Cuba released Alan Gross, an American citizen who had U.S. and Cuba. In March, 2009 President Obama signed a been held captive in Cuba since 2009. Gross flew from Senate appropriations bill into law that made it easier for Havana to the U.S. on television, landing at Andrews Air Cuban-Americans to visit relatives in Cuba, and also paved Force Base in Maryland where he was shown being greeted the way for more business travelers to go to the island. by Secretary of State Kerry. Gross, 65, was arrested in In 2011, he greatly expanded the number of U.S. airports December 2009 and imprisoned for distributing electronics that could host flights to Cuba, and he made headlines in and computer equipment in Cuba, a country where Internet December 2013 when he shook hands with Raúl Castro at access is strictly limited for citizens. the funeral of Nelson Mandela. n

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ALEC BRADLEY COYOL ASHTON VIRGIN SUN GROWN TASTING REPORT Honduras Dominican Republic Belicoso 90 Robusto 91 5 1/2" x 58 n $8.50 5 1/2" x 50 n $10.75 = Humidor Selection Double Churchill 90 Spellbound 91 7" x 58 n $9.25 7 1/2" x 54 n $14.50 = Best Buy Toro 90 Pegasus 87 6" x 52 n $8.20 5" x 54 n $11.00 601 LA BOMBA WARHEAD II Gordo 88 Corona Gorda 86 n n Nicaragua 6" x 60 $8.75 5 3/4" x 46 $10.60 Petit Lancero 88 Prominente 91 6 1/2" x 41 n $6.95 AVO 5 1/2" x 56 n $10.95 Robusto 87 Dominican Republic 5" x 52 n $7.45 Avo 88 Limited Edition 2014 86 7-20-4 HUSTLER 6" x 52 n $16.00 Honduras ALEC BRADLEY MUNDIAL Dog Walker 91 Honduras BOLIVAR 4 1/2" x 40 n $5.50 No. 5 92 Cuba Robusto Gordo 88 5 1/8" x 52 n $11.95 Libertadores 91 5 1/2" x 52 n $9.00 No. 4 90 6 1/2" x 54 n £27.50 Toro 88 4 1/4" x 48 n $9.95 Super Corona Edición Limitada 2014 90 6" x 54 n $10.00 No. 6 90 5 1/2" x 48 n £19.73 Toro Gordo 88 6" x 54 n $13.95 No. 7 88 6 1/8" x 58 n $11.00 CAMACHO ECUADOR 7" x 52 n $15.95 Honduras A. FLORES 1975 SERIE PRIVADA No. 8 88 Figurado 91 6 1/2" x 58 n $14.95 6 1/8" x 54 n $7.80 CAPA HABANO Robusto 90 Dominican Republic ARTURO FUENTE DON CARLOS 5" x 50 n $6.80 SP 52 93 Dominican Republic Toro 90 5" x 52 n $9.75 No. 2 92 6" x 50 n $7.00 SP 54 90 6" x 55 n $13.75 Gordo 89 6" x 54 n $11.25 Belicoso 91 6" x 60 n $8.00 SP 58 87 5 3/8" x 52 n $11.75 Churchill 87 7" x 58 n $12.75 No. 3 90 7" x 48 n $7.50 5 1/2" x 44 n $9.95 ACHILLES Presidente 90 CASA FERNANDEZ MIAMI Nicaragua 6 1/2" x 50 n $12.25 AGANORSA LEAF MADURO Heroicos 93 Robusto 89 U.S.A. 5 1/4" x 50 n $10.75 Illustre 90 5 1/4" x 50 n $8.50 Double Robusto 88 5" x 48 n $8.90 Eternos 88 5 3/4" x 52 n $11.50 6 1/4" x 52 n $9.50 No. 4 88 CASA MAGNA D. MAGNUS II Gloriosos 88 5 1/8" x 43 n $9.25 Nicaragua 5 3/4" x 56 n $9.50 Tiberius 90 ASHTON ESTATE SUN GROWN 6" x 54 n $10.95 AGING ROOM SMALL BATCH M356 Dominican Republic Caligula 89 Dominican Republic 22-Year Salute 94 6" x 60 n $10.95 Motivo 91 6" x 52 n $20.00 6" x 46 n $8.01 24-Year Salute 92 COHIBA Forte 90 6 5/8" x 48 n $21.00 Cuba 5 7/8" x 56 n $8.82 23-Year Salute 90 Siglo VI 93 6 1/4" x 52 n $19.00 5 7/8" x 52 n £33.30 Have a comment about 20-Year Salute 89 Siglo III 92 Cigar Insider? We’d like to know 6 3/4" x 49 n $19.00 6" x 42 n £23.90 what you think. Email us at [email protected]. 21-Year Salute 88 Siglo IV 92 5 1/4" x 52 n $17.50 5 5/8" x 46 n £25.00

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Siglo V 91 Generosos 90 HERRERA ESTELI 6 3/4" x 43 n £29.90 6" x 50 n $8.20 Nicaragua Pirámides Extra (Tubo) 89 Lancero 90 Lancero Edicion Limitada 2014 90 6 1/4" x 54 n $38.00 7 1/2" x 38 n $8.90 7" x 38 n $12.00 Siglo II 89 Toro Grande 90 5 1/8" x 42 n $17.70 6" x 62 n $9.50 HOJA DE FLORES AUTÉNTICO Siglo I 88 Imperiales 88 MADURO 4" x 40 n $13.30 6 1/8" x 52 n $8.70 Dominican Republic Toro Gordo 88 Toro 91 COHIBA NICARAGUA 6" x 56 n $8.80 6 1/4" x 54 n $12.20 Nicaragua Demi-Tasse 84 Torpedo 89 N45 89 4 1/2" x 32 n $4.30 6 1/4" x 52 n $12.40 4" x 45 n $9.99 Goloso 87 N60 89 E.P. CARRILLO LA HISTORIA 6" x 60 n $12.60 6" x 60 n $14.99 Dominican Republic N50 En Crystale 87 E-III 91 HOYO DE MONTERREY 5" x 50 n $12.99 6 7/8" x 54 n $8.75 Cuba N54 87 El Senador 90 Le Hoyo de San Juan 89 5 1/2" x 54 n $13.99 5 3/8" x 52 n $7.75 5 7/8" x 54 n £22.91 CURIVARI CAFÉ NOIR Doña Elena 89 RESERVA LIMITADA 6 1/8" x 50 n $8.25 HOYO DE MONTERREY EXCALIBUR Nicaragua Honduras Café Noir 54 90 EIROA Short Crystal 91 n 5 1/2" x 54 n $7.80 Honduras 5 1/4" x 50 $7.49 Café Noir 62 90 44x4 90 No. 660 87 n 6 1/4" x 60 n $9.50 4" x 44 $8.95 6" x 60 n $7.79 Café Noir 56 89 60x6 89 n 6" x 56 n $8.65 6" x 60 $11.95 ILLUSIONE FUME D’AMOUR 54x6 88 Nicaragua DAVIDOFF 6" x 54 n $10.95 Clementes 93 Dominican Republic 50x5 87 6 1/2" x 48 n $9.50 Year of the Horse 87 5" x 50 n $9.95 Viejos 91 6" x 60 n $39.00 5" x 50 n $7.50 EZRA ZION TANTRUM Capistranos 89 DAVIDOFF MADURO U.S.A. 6" x 56 n $9.95 Dominican Republic Prensado Pequeño 89 Lagunas 88 “C” 87 4 3/8" x 44 n $9.50 4 1/2" x 42 n $6.70 4 1/2" x 46 n $15.30 “R” 86 FONSECA INCH BY E.P. CARRILLO 5" x 52 n $18.40 Cuba SHORT RUN 2014 “T” 85 Cosacos 89 Dominican Republic 6" x 48 n $19.90 5 3/8" x 42 n £11.04 No. 62 88 5" x 62 n $8.50 DAVIDOFF NICARAGUA H. UPMANN No. 60 86 Dominican Republic Cuba 5 7/8" x 62 n $9.60 Diadema 90 Connossieur A 91 No. 64 86 6 1/2" x 50 n $17.90 5 1/2" x 52 n £22.50 6 1/8" x 64 n $11.00 DON PEPIN GARCIA ORIGINAL HAMMER + SICKLE HERMITAGE JERICHO HILL U.S.A. NO. 1 Invictos 91 Nicaragua Honduras 5" x 50 n $8.00 Willy Lee 90 Churchill 90 Churchill 90 6" x 54 n $9.75 7" x 56 n $8.99 7" x 50 n $8.45 Exclusivos 90 Robusto 88 n = Humidor Selection 9 1/4" x 48 n $9.40 5" x 52 $8.50 Exquisitos 90 Toro 88 = Best Buy 5 5/8" x 46 n $6.80 6" x 54 n $8.75

11 TO SUBSCRIBE GO TO WWW.CIGARINSIDER.COM December 23, 2014 Cigar Insider CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE OBS 89 L’ATELIER SELECTION SPÉCIALE LA PALINA COLLECTION MR. SAM 4 3/4" x 52 n $8.75 Nicaragua U.S.A. .44S 87 LAT Torpedo 91 Corona 90 5 1/8" x 44 n $7.95 6 1/8" x 52 n $9.50 5 1/4" x 42 n $11.00 LBV 87 Robusto 90 6 1/2" x 46 n $9.75 LA ANTIGUEDAD 4 3/4" x 54 n $12.50 Nicaragua Toro 88 JOYA DE NICARAGUA Robusto 89 6" x 50 n $13.50 Nicaragua 5 1/4" x 52 n $7.40 Cuatro Cinco 90 Corona Grande 88 LAS CALAVERAS EDICIÓN n 6" x 54 n $12.50 6 3/8" x 47 $7.80 LIMITADA 2014 Toro 88 Nicaragua JOYA RED 5 5/8" x 55 n $8.30 LC652 90 Nicaragua Toro Gordo 88 6" x 52 n $9.95 6" x 60 n $9.00 Robusto 90 LC754 90 Super Toro 87 5 1/4" x 50 n $5.75 7" x 54 n $10.95 7" x 56 n $8.80 Cañonazo 87 LC550 86 5" x 50 n $8.95 5 1/2" x 52 n $6.95 LA BOHÉME Short Chuchill 87 Dominican Republic 4 3/4" x 48 n $5.25 MATILDE RENACER Pittore 91 Dominican Republic Toro 87 n 5 1/8" x 52 $11.94 Corona 91 6" x 52 n $7.05 Poeta 91 5 1/2" x 44 n $7.50 5 3/4" x 54 n $12.24 Robusto 90 JUAN LOPEZ Mimi 88 5 1/4" x 54 n $8.00 Cuba 3 1/2" x 48 n $6.90 Toro Bravo 88 Petit Corona 90 Musico 86 6 1/2" x 54 n $8.50 5 1/8" x 42 n £10.63 6 1/4" x 60 n $13.14 Grande 87 Selección No. 2 90 6" x 60 n $9.00 4 7/" x 50 n £15.84 LA FLOR DE CANO Selección No. 1 89 Cuba MONTECRISTO 5 5/8 x 46 n £15.97 Gran Cano Exclusivo Gran Bretaña 91 " Cuba 5 1/2" x 50 n £20.00 Petit No. 2 92 JUAN LOPEZ Grandioso Exclusivo Asia Pacífico 90 4 3/4" x 52 n £17.40 Nicaragua 5 3/8" x 52 n HK$238.00 Seleccion No. 3 90 MONTECRISTO ESPADA 6" x 60 n $6.00 LA FLOR DOMINICANA Dominican Republic Nicaragua Seleccion No. 1 88 Quillon 90 n Capitulo II 90 5" x 54 $5.50 n 6 1/2" x 58 n $10.70 7" x 56 $12.50 Seleccion No. 2 87 Ricasso 90 6" x 54 n $5.75 LA FLOR DOMINICANA 1994 5" x 54 n $11.25 Dominican Republic Guard 88 KISMET n Conga 90 6" x 50 $11.75 Dominican Republic 5" x 52 n $7.50 Destiny 90 Mambo 89 MY FATHER CONNECTICUT 7 1/4" x 52 n $7.80 7" x 54 n $8.20 Nicaragua Luck 90 Aldaba 88 Corona Gorda 90 n 6" x 50 $7.50 6 1/2" x 58 n $8.30 6" x 48 n $7.30 Fate 89 Rumba 87 Toro 89 6" x 60 n $8.50 6 1/2" x 52 n $7.80 6 1/2" x 54 n $8.20 Chance 88 Toro Gordo 89 5 1/2" x 46 n $7.10 LA PALINA CLASSIC 6” x 60 n $9.40 Fortune 88 Dominican Republic Robusto 88 6 1/4" x 54 n $8.10 Lancero 92 5 1/4" x 52 n $7.60 7" x 38 n $8.00 L’ATELIER Short Robusto 91 NAT SHERMAN 1930 Nicaragua 4 1/2" x 58 n $6.75 Dominican Republic LAT Lancero 88 Corona 87 Corona Grande 90 7 1/2" x 38 n $9.50 6 3/4" x 48 n $7.50 6" x 46 n $10.00

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Rothschild 90 Selección Privada Edición ROOM 101 MASTER COLLECTION 4 1/2" x 52 n $9.25 Limitada 2014 89 Honduras Gran Robusto 88 6 1/4" x 50 n £26.25 Papi Chulo 90 5 1/4" x 54 n $11.00 4" x 42 n $8.00 Super Lancero 88 PUNCH RARE COROJO Mutante 87 8" x 38 n $15.00 Honduras 7" x 38 n $11.00 Inmenso 87 Rare Salomon 91 Monstro 85 7" x 56 n $12.00 7 1/4" x 57 n $7.99 5" x 60 n $10.00 Corona 84 Roxxo 84 5 1/2" x 42 n $8.75 QUAI D’ORSAY 4" x 48 n $9.00 Cuba Sucio 83 NORTEÑO Belicoso Royale Exclusivo Francia 92 7" x 48 n $12.00 Nicaragua 5" x 52 n 12.90 Euro Belicoso Fino 90 RYJ BY ROMEO Y JULIETA 5" x 50 n $11.00 QUESADA 40TH ANNIVERSARY Honduras Coronita 90 Dominican Republic Bully Grande 90 n 4" x 46 n $9.00 Robusto 90 5" x 54 $8.00 Toro 90 5 1/2" x 50 n $8.95 Piramide 88 6 1/8" x 52 n $8.75 6" x 50 n $11.50 Salomon Press 90 Toro 87 Corona Extra 89 6 3/4" x 50 n $12.95 6" x 52 n $8.50 4 3/4" x 48 n $10.00 Toro Real 89 Lonsdale 89 6" x 65 n $9.95 SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA HABANA 6 1/2" x 44 n $11.00 Toro 86 Cuba Robusto Grande 89 6" x 54 n $9.50 El Morro 93 5 1/2" x 54 n $12.00 Toro Press 86 7 1/8" x 49 n £23.20 6" x 49 n $10.95 La Fuerza 89 PADILLA CONNECTICUT 5 1/2" x 50 n £19.23 Nicaragua ROCKY PATEL DECADE El Principe 86 Churchill 90 CAMEROON 4 3/8" x 42 n £9.72 7" x 50 n $9.50 Honduras Torpedo 90 Torpedo 90 SAN CRISTOBAL REVELATION 6 1/8" x 52 n $9.50 6 1/2" x 52 n $11.25 Nicaragua Robusto 88 Robusto 89 Legend 92 5" x 50 n $8.00 5" x 50 n $9.75 6 1/4" x 52 n $7.75 Double Toro 87 Toro 87 Triumph 92 6" x 60 n $9.90 6 1/2" x 52 n $10.75 7" x 50 n $8.50 Prophet 90 PADRÓN FAMILY RESERVE ROCKY PATEL PLATINUM 5" x 54 n $7.50 Nicaragua Nicaragua Leviathan 89 44 Years Maduro 92 Robusto 92 6 1/2" x 64 n $9.50 6" x 52 n $31.30 5 1/2" x 50 n $10.30 Mystic 88 50 Years Maduro 92 Torpedo 90 5 5/8" x 48 n $6.95 5" x 54 n $25.00 6 1/8" x 52 n $11.00 Odyssey 87 45 Years Maduro 91 Toro 86 5 3/4" x 60 n $8.50 6" x 52 n $26.30 6 1/2" x 52 n $10.80 85 Years Maduro 90 SEÑORIAL BY JOSÉ BLANCO 5 1/4" x 50 n $20.40 ROGUE Dominican Republic 46 Years Maduro 88 Nicaragua Corona Gorda No. 5 90 5 1/2" x 56 n $26.30 Bamboozle 90 5 1/2" x 46 n $7.00 6" x 60 n $8.99 Paco Robusto 90 PARTAGÁS Ruthless 90 5 1/4" x 52 n $8.00 Cuba 6" x 54 n $7.99 Belicoso No. 2 88 Lusitania Gran Reserva 93 Rascal 89 6 1/4" x 52 n $11.00 7 5/8" x 49 n £65.00 5 1/2" x 46 n $5.99 De Luxe (Tubo) 90 Tyrant 89 = Humidor Selection 5 1/2" x 40 n 6.60 Euro 5" x 52 n $6.99 Lusitania 90 Armageddon 87 = Best Buy 7 5/8" x 49 n £25.00 6" x 66 n $9.99

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Le Grand 88 Gordo 86 6" x 60 n $10.00 6 1/4" x 60 n $7.66 CIGAR AFICIONADO Toro Bravo 88 “BIG SMOKE” 6" x 54 n $9.00 VAULT BY TORAÑO D-042 Nicaragua For coverage of the 2014 Big Smokes, TATUAJE BLACK Torpedo 91 Nicaragua 6 1/8" x 52 n $7.96 including an extensive photo gallery Corona Gorda 90 BFC 89 and coverage of our Las Vegas & 5 5/8" x 46 n $10.00 6" x 60 n $8.50 New York Weekends, visit: Robusto 88 TATUAJE CABINET 5" x 50 n $7.20 CigarAficionado.com U.S.A. Toro 86 Noella 91 6" x 50 n $7.60 5 1/8" x 42 n $8.00 Especiale 89 VEGAS ROBAINA 2015 SCHEDULE 7 1/2" x 38 n $10.00 Cuba COMING SOON Havana Cazadore 89 XV Aniversario Exclusivo Canadá 87 6 3/8" x 43 n $9.00 6 1/2" x 54 n C$43.50 Regio 88 5 1/2" x 50 n $10.00 Taino 88 VEGUEROS IN THE NEXT Cuba 7 5/8" x 49 n $12.00 CIGAR INSIDER Unico 88 Entretiempos 90 4 3/8" x 52 n 5.00 Euro 6 1/8" x 52 n $11.00 Tapados 87 Breaking news from around the TATUAJE TATTOO 4 3/4" x 46 n 4.60 Euro cigar world, including updates on Nicaragua the developing relations between Caballero 89 VIAJE EXCLUSIVO LEADED Cuba and the United States, and 5" x 50 n $5.00 Honduras ratings on hot new cigars. Read Universo 88 Robusto 87 about it first inCigar Insider. 6" x 50 n $5.50 5" x 52 n $9.44 Adivino 87 5 1/2" x 58 n $6.50 VIAJE SKULL AND BONES Bonito 86 Honduras 6 1/8" x 52 n $6.00 WMD 89 3 3/4" x 54 n $8.96 Your Next CIGAR INSIDER Arrives THE BANKER BY H. UPMANN on Tuesday, January 6. Dominican Republic VILLIGER TALANGA Currency 91 Nicaragua 5 1/2" x 48 n $7.00 Toro 89 Annuity 89 6" x 50 n $8.50 6" x 52 n $7.45 Churchill 88 Editor and Publisher Marvin R. Shanken Arbitrage 89 7" x 50 n $9.50 7" x 56 n $8.40 Robusto 88 Executive Editor David Savona 5" x 50 n $8.00 Senior Contributing THE EDGE HABANO Corona 85 Editor Gordon Mott Nicaragua 5 1/2" x 44 n $7.00 Senior Editor Gregory Mottola Toro 89 Double Robusto 85 Associate Editor/ n 6" x 52 $6.30 5 1/2" x 54 n $9.00 Manager, Cigar Torpedo 89 Aficionado Online Andrew Nagy 6" x 52 n $6.55 Tasting Coordinator/ Editorial Assistant David Clough OUR POINT SCALE TRILL 100 Director of Research Frank C. Walters Dominican Republic Designer Todd Miller Robusto 89 95-100 n Classic 90-94 n Outstanding 5" x 50 n $6.90 © 2014 M. Shanken Communications, Inc. 80-89 n Very good to excellent Corona 88 All rights reserved. Materials may not be 70-79 n Average to good commercial quality reproduced without permission. 5" x 46 n $6.62 BELOW 70 n Don’t waste your money Torpedo Gordo 88 N/A n Not Available 4 1/2" x 62 n $7.52 Note: Prices are manufacturers’ suggested Questions about your subscription? Toro 87 retail, before taxes. Email: [email protected]. 6" x 54 n $7.19

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