• PuroTrader

The Aficionado's Blog

Cigar Highlights

Cigars and Spirits - Pairings That Rock the Palette

By Pierre Rogers March 21, 2015

Creating a perfect spirit and cigar pairing is a mystery game. You may not know what to expect and you may end up experiencing something really exotic or something that is not-so-enthralling. There can be endless possibilities as you try to experiment with the ‘chemistry’ of coupling. Your sense of taste is the most important determinant and designer of ‘perfect matches’ and it would be quite interesting to know about the superstar couples that have enchanted many through their fascinating chemistry.

 
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Two’s Company: Mystery Creates Ecstasy

Two’s Company: Mystery Creates Ecstasy

By Pierre Rogers March 18, 2015

For cigar enthusiasts who love to celebrate the finer things in life, smoking is a hobby and not a habit. Exploring the ‘unexplored’  can inject a bit of surprise into established experienciences in terms of taste, feel, and impact. It goes without saying that creating innovative spirit and cigar pairings is a way to continue that discovery into what has kept cigar enthusiasts enchanted with endless possibilities for years.

  

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Chardonnay Tokyo Japan Harajuku District

Chardonnay Tokyo Japan Harajuku District

By Pierre Rogers March 15, 2015

Finding this relaxing oasis in the incredibly busy and bustling fashion district of Harajuku is a feat in to itself.  This cigar lounge is two stories underground with only a small sign and an even smaller doorway.  Its half a block off the main thoroughfare that makes up the Harajuku District, also known as the fashion hub of Tokyo. Let me just say the people watching here is of epic proportions!

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Tokyo Cigar Club

By Pierre Rogers December 22, 2014

In the biggest and busiest city in the world it can be very difficult to find a quite moment to oneself let alone a moment of Zen. 

 

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Pinch and crackle...

Pinch and crackle...

By Pierre Rogers December 9, 2014

How to figure out if the cigar your purchasing is the correct humidity. 

When choosing a cigar from a Tobacco Shop, finding the prefect puro's can be tough. So many to choose from, brands, styles, sizes only further your indecision.  One of the most important aspects to choosing a good cigar is how it has been stored.  Correct humidity and temperature to a lesser extent however, is very important to how the cigar with taste, light and draw.  Lets discuss these three points.

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The Allure of a Vintage Timepiece

By Anonymous November 27, 2014

Like a classic car, the look and feel of a vintage time piece is inspiring. I think how many years have past since the watch was built and how it still operates the exact same as the day it was put in the box. The craftsmanship of something vintage just takes you back to a time when things were less manufactured. You can see it in almost anything.  ~ Written By Shaun Winter

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Top Cigar Bars in NYC

By cristine irwin November 26, 2014

Despite strict smoking bans, and aggressive taxation, there are still some wonderful oases that exist where one can enjoy a premium cigar.  First, it is still legal to enjoy premium cigars within a premium tobacconist.  At the Nat Sherman Townhouse (12 East 42nd Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues), our iconic flagship store on 42nd Street, we have seating for the public as well as a member’s lounge to enjoy your purchases in comfort.  Additionally, Davidoff of Geneva on Madison Avenue (515 Madison Avenue), the Swiss cigar company’s flagship boutique, has a quaint lounge with street facing windows.  But these of course are not “cigar bars”, but rather accommodations within a retail environment.  If a cigar and a drink are what you’re after, rest assured there are some great options. ~ Michael Herklots @michaelherklots 

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Opus X Cigar Review

Opus X Cigar Review

By Pierre Rogers November 20, 2014

The OpusX cigar is luxurious, opulent and arguably the most beautiful cigar brand on the market today. The wrapper has a rich reddish to golden brown hue with a slight oily texture. Construction is excellent and the pre-light draw exposes notes of Cayenne pepper. 

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Pricing Rare Cigars for the Global Market

Pricing Rare Cigars for the Global Market

By Pierre Rogers November 10, 2014

We are often asked about pricing rare and vintage cigars..  It’s a much more complex than it would seem.  Through PuroTrader’s global network of collectors and retailers, we seek to create a more efficient global trading and exchange platform.  This is no small undertaking; one must understand some of the bigger issues.  

The first and most important factor when trying to figure out correct pricing is supply and demand.  While this seems obvious, there are many issues that abound. For instance, how many of a particular cigar was made that year? Often times the Tobacco House numbers their limited release cigars, however we have found that their number are not always accurate. Through our research we have discovered that some Tobacco Houses will create an undisclosed number of “extra” boxes without putting a serial number on it, therefore negating or hiding the fact that they produced more boxes than originally disclosed.  

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Davidoff 2011 White Edition

Davidoff 2011 White Edition

By Pierre Rogers November 9, 2014

The Davidoff 2011 White Edition is also known as the Super Belicoso and comes in white lacquered boxes of ten. Davidoff reportedly made 8000 boxes for worldwide distribution. Boxes are supposed to be individually numbered, however we have seen factory inconsistencies with serial numbers which leads us to believe there may have been additional boxes made. This Belicoso measures 5 1/2 x 52 and is made from tobacco aged 5 years.

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Counterfeit Cohiba Behike’s

Counterfeit Cohiba Behike’s

By Pierre Rogers November 7, 2014

The Cohiba Behike (aka BHK) is the hottest and most desirable cigar on the market.  From Rappers to CEO’s, everyone who is anyone wants to be seen with only the finest, and the Behike by Cohiba is the best in production and Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year.  Unfortunately being the best means counterfeit and Cohiba’s are no exception. They hold the title of THE most counterfeited cigar in the market place, and the BHK is rapidly falling victim to this fate as well.  Cohiba tries to prevent this by creating an intricate and detailed band that incorporates using holograms and we detail the points that you should keep an eye out for!

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Style | The Biker Jacket

Style | The Biker Jacket

By Pierre Rogers October 7, 2014

Owning a sharp, versatile jacket is essential to dressing well this fall because it is going to be the one item that pulls your look together effortlessly. Brave GentleMan offers one of our favorite biker jackets this season.

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Style | The Jean Jacket

Style | The Jean Jacket

By Pierre Rogers October 6, 2014

One of the things we love about fall besides the amazing weather is the selection of jackets that is available to wear. One of them is the timeless jean jacket and it’s back this fall in a variety of silhouettes. Designers have taken the jacket and added a few things to it like mixed fabrics, a play on shades of blue, or texture on the jacket. Denim jackets were originally created for workers; they were a part of an overall denim outfit that was rugged and durable, helping to keep parts of the body safe, with Levi Strauss helping to shape their popularity as early as the early 1900s. To this day, denim jackets and their short jacket cousins continue to be an important part of fashion. Everyone from Abercrombie and Fitch to Rag & Bone and Dolce and Gabbana now offers a jean jacket year-round, though the latest trend calls for multiple colors and different levels of distress to create fresh looks. Invest in one and you’ll find that it’s not only for handling cool summer nights and breezy fall days, but an ideal layering piece to sit under long coats and tailored blazers when the temperature calls for it.

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