Alec Bradley’s Tempus translates to “Time” in Latin- and with good reason. Time is a key factor to creating a great cigar.  Aging adds wisdom to the smoker and enriched flavor to the smoke.

So what makes this ‘gar special and earns it consistently good ratings with Cigar Aficionado? The complicated notes of coffee, cocoa, pepper, cedar and a sweet finish characterize this complex new addition to the Alec Bradley line.

Well into the second half of this smoke, the flavor will remain mostly woody with hints of an earthy undertone. The transition from there goes surprisingly light, with cocoa, espresso and no harsh flavors.

Much like the gentleman or woman hanging onto the end of the ‘gar, the smoke itself will be smooth and surprisingly cool through to the end.

Cigar smoking in general has an aspect of a celebrating. With more and more restrictions being placed on where we do things, and how we do them, a safe haven for cigar aficionados is a great thing to find and hold on to. Not to mention in doing so we enjoy a bit of a thumbing our nose to the killjoys.

While thumb to nose is fine and dandy, we are not alone in noticing the upswing in cigar dinners, cigar events, and cigar smoking in general. Cigar events are a time to live, laugh and smoke cigars; what is not to like about that?

Cigar events also offer a unique opportunity for cigar lovers to meet and celebrate the pleasures of smoking fine, handmade cigars alongside fellow aficionados. Watch for one of the biggest events Broadway Cigar Company does annually this coming month of June.  The My Father event.  You will get all the details soon.  BCC is now finding ourselves happily participating in not only cigar events, but golf tournaments, various festivals and fundraisers. All benefiting tremendously by the addition of cigars to the mix, of course.

For right now, join us in our Big Celebration of both cigars and life. We celebrate daily. We celebrate big. And we celebrate at Broadway Cigar Company.

Story

In researching this cigar, some of us just got the joke. The name ‘GAR’ is short, or slang for ‘cigar’.  Bright. Could have also been something to do with pirates.

The name Gar is both that and the initials of the owner- George A Rico. George is the son of Don Guillermo Rico, whose family has been in the cigar business dating all the way back to the 1920′s. He moved here in 1995 – where he worked as a cabinet maker making cigar boxes- still with a foot in the door of the cigar industry. George worked for his dad for 9 years and then opened up his own cigar factory.  Pops, instead of being a rival was awfully proud of him and actually helped promote his son’s new company.

Cigar

We taste a blend of spice and pepper to start. There is a full on taste- but not over the top. The smoke is awesome and creamy. It smells of sweet spice. Finish is a good long smoke and will take you a good hour. Expect a medium to full bodied cigar.

Verdict = A staple in our humidor.

Two of the greatest minds in the cigar industry, Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia, came together to create the Casa Magna. This cigar is rolled at Nestor Plasencia’s factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Manuel Quesada is from Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Their family was from Cuba and had worked with tobacco since the late 1800′s and the 1974 opening of their factory in Santiago was their first venture into cigar making.  He is to have said they started the business with $100, a chair and a phone.  Quesada started the business with his father and brother until they were both in a tragic accident. There is a great article and interview in Cigar Aficionado magazine about Manuel, and his life a few years back.

Nestor Plasencia is also from a tobacco growing family and emigrated from Cuba after the revolution in 1959. As a result of a revolution in Nicaragua in the 1980′s he lost his tobacco farm and factories there. At this time he moved across the border to neighboring Honduras.  Today he again has factories in Nicaragua but keeps his primary operation in Honduras. His company is the one responsible for the manufacture of 30 or so cigar labels, including Rocky Patel and Swisher International.

We wonder how the two met and how the conversation went. This cigar is a Nicaraguan puro, and is medium to full bodied, with both the binder and filler from Nicaragua. Perfectly wrapped in an oily Colorado wrapper, this stogie gives off hints of cocoa and sweet cedar. Super smooth smoke.

Casa Magna Belicoso – Notes of caramel, toffee, cocoa, coffee and cedar. Oily Colorado wrapper.  Rich and full bodied.

Country – All Nicaraguan leaf grown in Esteli, Nicaragua for ‘strength, balanced by the sweeter and milder Jalapa leaves.

Details – Full flavor, rich coffee notes, balanced by a cedary sweetness hint of raisins. Complex.

Verdict = Very nice cigar!

We live in Portland and one of our favorite things about it is the abundance of festivals supporting all of our favorite indulgences. This year, add to your ‘must go’ list WhiskeyFest NW. Since Whiskey and Cigars are a natural pairing, you know we will be there, so join us.

WFNW will encompass a variety of live music, over 50 distilleries sampling over 100 different whiskeys, restaurant vendors featuring whiskey-inspired dishes, a Prohibition Cigar Lounge, art and merchandise vendors, and the Bootlegger Lounge which will offer a full bar with signature craft cocktails, live performances and unique entertainment.

The festival’s ambience will transform NW Portland and proceeds will benefit CASA for Children of Multnomah & Washington Counties. This is one event that can’t be missed!

Sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for. Join us in welcoming Regius Cigars to Broadway Cigar Company with a special event May 9th at The Mark Cigar Bar from 4-8pm. Regius of London owner, Akhil Kapacee, will be joining us to introduce their Regius Black and Regius White Label Cigars.

Regius, from the latin meaning ‘King”, was originally created in England. It’s reputation quickly spread throughout the world and Broadway is happy to be now carrying these fine cigars. The Regius Black Label is rated 95 in Cigar Journal.

Celebrate with us at The Mark for this special event, not to be missed! Scotch tastings, food and drink specials, and great cigars.

Broadway Cigar Club, Portland and Lake Oswego

Broadway Cigar Company Cigar Club meets once a month and is now offering a second cigar club at the Lake Oswego location. Membership in both clubs has been steadily growing, and as the warmer weather approaches, members will be enjoying outside herfs at both the Broadway’s private outdoor smoking areas.

Why people attend is easy- people getting together to smoke and share their personal review of a single cigar. Members enjoy what usually turns out to be spectacular barbecue from the Traeger prepared by our very own chef Tom. Genuine knowledge of the cigar itself and its manufacturer is thrown out there for the members to question, comment on, and add their own valued input.

This Month, La Palina

The featured cigar for Broadway Cigar Company’s Cigar Club this month is La Palina. What is special about this cigar? The story itself is an interesting one. But it is common knowledge that Abel (Abe) Flores is one of, if not THE best, Master Blender with the selection and construction of cigars having a Brazilian wrapper. Abe is from the Dominican Republic and is with PDR- the maker of La Palina.

We, at BCC had the distinct pleasure of meeting Abe last month. Our friend, Ed Ryan, describes the La Palina Classic as unbelievably special and embellishes Abe’s description of smoking the La Palina Classic cigar by saying it is “like enjoying the music of a great jazz ensemble in your mouth.”

Become a Member

Broadway Cigar Club Membership has its privileges. The current rate is $100 annually, and while the featured cigar is free- as is the barbecue, you are expected to purchase an additional cigar of your choice from the supporting club. This private club is based on a shared love of cigars, while some business between members occasionally occurs, it is frowned upon to promote or solicit business here! This is not a networking outfit. Cigar Club is a group that, while light at heart, remain serious about their herf.

Stop in and ask one of the guys at Broadway for information if you are interested in becoming a member.That would be Greg, Tom, and Karl at our flagship store at 36th and Broadway. Lake Oswego BCC’s go to guys are Tony, Rick and you will find Karl there on occasion as well.  

Women like cigars for the same reason men do. From the ritual of lighting, cutting and handling the cigar, as well as the taste and aroma. However, the best part for many is the social aspect and camaraderie that just seems to happen when you are sharing your cigar experience.

This is not an overwhelming trend, only around one percent of cigar smokers are women- but if you are paying attention, the numbers are growing. With cigar lovers like Demi Moore, Sharon Stone and Linda Evangelista joining the ranks of aficionados, it’s refreshing to see a confident woman who enjoys her down time relaxing with a good smoke.

The best place to do this is in our very own Broadway Cigar Company. You can also find one of the best Ladies Night in town on Thursday’s at The Mark Cigar Sports Bar, a firm supporter of Broadway Cigar. It’s a good place to meet cigar smoking ladies and let’s not forget that ladies get 50% off of their tab, not including alcohol or gratuity, from 4-6pm. Needless to say, we are a little jealous.

We have all seen the guy who gives himself away by smelling the cellophane wrapper to get a sense of the cigar. Or perhaps lights the wrong end. Even worse, when we are not paying attention and ‘that guy’ happens to be ourselves.

Outta the box the ‘Trunk Show” is that guy’s friend. No cellophane wrapper to trip us up, and it is really okay to smoke right on through the band. Each and every band is cut from tobacco and is 100% smokeable, printed with vegetable dye and patent pending.

The happy addition to our humidor being both affordable and a ‘limited availability, due to short production’ cigar. It makes this stick a must grab for that guy and the rest of us who actually like to think we know a thing or two about cigars.

The Trunk Show cigars are rare and limited-edition cigars from La Gloria Cubana. Only 500 boxes of 26 were slated for total production, making Trunk Show one of the smallest runs ever by La Gloria Cubana. La Gloria Cubana is always an excellent cigar maker and these are no exception, expertly crafted and blended with aged and carefully selected tobaccos.  So aside from the novelty of a smokeable band-Trunk Show cigars are some of the better cigars LGC makes.

Available for as long as we have them at both of the Broadway Cigar locations, Portland and Lake Oswego.

Cigars and golf go together naturally. Because it has become increasingly difficult to smoke indoors, with golf being an outdoor pastime it is the perfect pairing for cigar smokers. You’re able to light up without offending anyone, and depending on how you are playing, the cigar can enhance your game by both celebrating your skill or calming your nerves.

How many other sports can you say that about? Golf is a game that is social in nature and the whole ambience of smoking with friends on the course only adds to the experience. Or maybe, like some of us- golf is just your excuse to smoke a cigar, ride around in a cart and justify hanging out with friends.

In talking with the folks coming in for a stick to take to the course, a more medium bodied cigar is preferred, and medium price range to go along with that. Anything too complex or expensive is a waste of time until after the game. Hopefully you already know the location of the nineteenth hole is back at BCC. No rain to wash out your game here, and private outside smoking is available when the sun is shining.

Our personal golf day favorites-

1. La Aroma de Cuba- versatile & medium bodied. Try the Robusto or the Monarch.
2. Macanudo Cafe- mild, easy to find, and affordable.
3. Camacho Corojo for the more experienced smoker- full bodied but not overpowering.
4. Diamond Crown- Arturo Fuente knows their cigars and while this one is a tad pricier than the above mentioned it is a cigar that makes a statement.