Cuenca Cigars of Hollywood Fourth Anniversary

Cuenca Cigars of Hollywood Fourth Anniversary

www.cuencacigars.com

Cuenca Cigars of Hollywood Florida is about to celebrate its Fourth Anniversary this coming October. We can’t believe that four years have passed by so quickly, can you?

It has been a long journey in the making. We have gone from a quaint little cigar shop in 2007 to the “2011 Hollywood Hot Spot Winner”. Our four years have been full of interior decorating upgrades, the addition of numerous cigar brands, and tons of new friends. Our friends, which we refer to humbly as the “Cuencarians”, have been offered over the past four years a vast variety of events, art exhibits, fine cigars, and the Florida weather which we all have come to love.

Some key elements have allowed our continued growth. First and foremost, our long lasting relationship with Altadis USA, one of - if not the biggest globally known manufacturer and distributor of fine cigars. The relationship allows for a joint venture through the member's only Montecristo Lounge- the grand opening which we enthusiastically celebrated at the beginning of 2011.

The Suspenders.Our second large step was to engage in acquiring corporate sponsors, and so we did. Today, we are proud to have Mr. Sylvain Van Embden from Timeless-Destinations, Mr. Daniel Martin and Mr. David Bennett from Connections for Business, Mr. Jorge L. Rodriguez from Allstate, Mr. Gus Cunningham and Mr. Neal Quinn from Prolexic Technologies, and Mr. Anthony Rolon from World Web Partners. This group of fine people has been an instrumental part of our success and continuous growth. They offer us their business experience and knowledge, which have helped to expand our overall business and vision.

We now had a strong relationship with a global renounced cigar manufacturer and distributor and five (5) key sponsors, so what was next? How about adding to our goal cultural events? And so came the idea of “Art and Cigars”, by artist John Gillan. Mr. Gillan with his 30 years of experience in art and photography has re-awakened our creative side and gotten us to cherish the simple things in life.

The Exhibit.This month, we are celebrating his fourth exhibit "Smallwood Store and the Seminoles"; a tribute to the first American people. The monthly exhibits have brought us diversity, new visions as well as many new friends. One of the previous exhibits was "100 - Life at 100 and Beyond", a tribute to the oldest and most often forgotten part of our society, the elderly. This exhibit was a true celebration of life of an inspiring generation.

The next exhibit will be, "Places in Time", a collection of Miami's historic architecture, which brought awareness to the importance of historic preservation.

Every month we celebrate the freedom to smoke fine cigars and we learn about new wines and trendy new beers. We have tried and paired them all with a nice cigar. When it comes to Cigars, wines and beers, the Cuencarians have been enthusiastic learners. Our journey has become a very interesting and always changing one. It has definitely been a learning experience where our friendly clientele has had a very import role. It certainly wouldn't be possible without them.

When it's time for joy, Cuenca Cigars is the perfect match for cigars and friends. This intimate shop and lounge is located in pictorial Downtown Hollywood. It has become a reason for people all around the world to visit Florida and this beautiful town. The Florida weather, the vast selection of cigars and beers, the greatest friends and patrons, the variety of ethnic culture work harmoniously with the surrounding restaurants and shops. All of these elements have made this Fourth Anniversary a reality.

Dominoes.Come down and visit Cuenca Cigars in Downtown Hollywood. Mark your calendar for every third Saturday of the month for ArtWalk. Every week we celebrate, “T.G.I Friday Cuenca's Style”- is a time to celebrate the freedom to smoke cigars. Join us on Facebook "Cuenca Cigars of Hollywood" and “Montecristo Lounge” for a full list of events, including cigar and wine tastings. For a complete gallery of pictures, visit us online at www.cuencacigars.com.

Our future is full of exciting new ideas. We truly believe in staying ahead of the competition by closely listening to our #1 priority, our customers.

Cuenca Cigars Outside PatioOur motto, "Smoke with the best, put the rest to flame!!".

Truly yours,

 Cuenca Cigars

1928 Harrison Street Hollywood, FL 33020

866-417-9454

Cuenca Cigars

Find us on Facebook: Cuenca Cigars of Hollywood, Montecristo Lounge

Don Pepin Garcia “Blue Label” Robusto by Bradley Nix

Don Pepin Garcia “Blue Label” Robusto
Wrapper: Corojo Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan Criolla
Filler: Nicaraguan Criolla/Corojo
Paired with: Fresh Squeezed Meyer Lemon Bourbon Sour (details at end of review)

Appearance/Construction: Well packed, dark brown, silky, few thin veins, and no soft spots. This cigar has one of my favorite bands, the deep blue and rather elegant presentation on the corojo oscuro wrapper shows a great improvement from the old band. Most notably, on the Cuban Classic and Blue Label, you see the American flag and statue of liberty reminding you that this is a “made in America”; however the Cuban heritage of Pepin shows on the opposite end of the label as well. A quick slice from my Xikar produces a draw with slight resistance.

Pre-Light Aromas: Roasted coffee, pepper, and a hefty nose of cedar. You can get some faint sweet tobacco aromas while the sinuses tingle a bit from the spice.

1/3: Perfectly even light which I can compliment myself for because I used a match which makes it easier for me personally. Initially I get notes of cedar and that Pepin blast of pepper. Shortly following I get the rest of what I received from the pre light aroma which was coffee and a faint sweet tobacco taste. About one inch into the stick it opens up producing a thick volume of smoke and a medium grey ash can be seen.

2/3: Pepper and spice is becoming more intense and it’s become apparent that this would entice those that are fans of fuller bodied and flavored sticks. The coffee faded away but I still get the rich tobacco taste along with cedar which keeps me happy. The burn has stayed rather straight with a slight wave that did not need any correction from my part.
3/3: From the beginning to this point I have not been let down once. The taste didn’t change on me and I didn’t get any wild notes of weird flavors that I sometimes read in other reviews. Rather than be one-dimensional, this cigar builds in intensity from start to finish with the finale having notes of cedar, pepper, the roasted coffee is back and a good kick of nicotine which is just the way it started with much more strength at the nub than the start.
Final Thoughts: One of my favorite vitolas is the Robusto but the Churchill comes in a close second followed by the torpedo. If you are looking for a well constructed stick by Don Pepin Garcia and you have not tried this yet, look no further and immediately grab a few if not a box.
Fresh Squeezed Bourbon Sour: You’re probably wondering why I chose this beverage and to tell you the truth it tastes great. I was out of beer, bored with water and too early for a hard spirit. But in the Texas heat about mid-morning, this compliments anything. Plus the wife likes them. I do a lot of home bartending with the freshest ingredients found in the produce section and I’ll give Cuenca some of the recipes for a new blog post. I never buy mixes and after trying a few, you’ll see why.