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CAO Cx2 Arrives!
The much-anticipated CAO Cx2, seen and tasted at the RTDA Trade Show in Old New Orleans, has
finally arrived. I've just put them into the humidor and they seem to be right at home, ensconced in their own suede boxes in three sizes: robusto, toro and belicoso.
This is from CAO: "Cx2 ("Cameroon times two") is the first cigar ever to incorporate two Cameroon wrapper leaves in one blend. Cameroon wrapper is heralded as among the most flavorful and highest valued wrapper leaf on the planet. The external wrapper is aged Grade One Cameroon. The second 
wrapper, used as a binder, is also Cameroon leaf. The filler is a sweet and earthy blend of tobaccos from the Jalapa region of Nicaragua and Colombia. The result is a smoking experience that highlights the rich, spicy-sweet flavor of Cameroon tobacco unlike any other cigar. All cigars have been hand inspected and draw tested to ensure flawless quality."
I've looked around but can't find any outside reviews that I trust, so I'll get the Cigar Savant on it ASAP. Or, you could come in and have one and write a review yourself - E-mail it in to me and I'll post it right here.
Now, here's the gimmick: For any three Cx2s you purchase, you receive a free CAO Cx2 ball cap (one per customer, please). However, for any five CAO cigars you purchase, you get one raffle ticket to take part in a drawing to win the CAO Cx2 humidor pictured here. This is a beautiful piece - probably a 150 count - wrapped in leather and suede with the CAO logo stamped in the lid. The hinges are brass and the interior (with tray) is Spanish cedar. So, if you purchase five CAO cigars, and three of them are from the Cx2 line, then you get a cap and a chance to win a humidor. The date for the drawing will be announced later (hopefully at a CAO cigar tasting here) and the caps are while supplies last...so HURRY!
Posted by Richard Alley at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
Opus X
The elusive Arturo Fuente Opus X is back on the humidor shelves in these wonderful sizes:
Belicoso xXx
Petit Lancero
Fuente Fuente
Reserva D'Chateau
Perfexion X
Super Belicoso
Posted by Richard Alley at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)
CAO Flavours
I've expanded the choices of flavored cigars in the humidor, at least as far as sizes are concerned. I've always carried the Flavours by CAO, but only in the cigarillos. I've just received, from the orders at the RTDA Show, the Petite Corona, Corona and the (new) Robusto. The flavors available are Golden Honey, 
Vanilla, Karma Sutra Splash, Eileen's Dream and Earth Nectar. Prices are $3.75-$5.00.
This is GB enjoying an Eileen's Dream.
Posted by Richard Alley at 11:15 AM | Comments (0)
Downtown Thoughts
First, there's a meeting next Tuesday night, Oct. 4, 5 p.m., at the Center City Commission (114 N. Main St.) regarding the neighborhood known as Mid-Second to "get your input on the opportunities and challenges for this area, and to hear your thoughts about what this neighborhood should become." Mid-Second encompasses the properties on both sides of Second street for about a block each way from the North side of Jefferson to the South side of Monroe. If you're interested in attending the meeting, you should contact Nicole Hernandez at 575-0542 or hernandez@downtownmemphis.com. To learn more, visit http://www.downtownmemphis.com.
Second, has anyone noticed how bad the panhandling has become downtown lately? It's always been bad down here, not being able to walk two blocks without getting hit up for money or seeing someone else getting it. Lately, however, it seems the bums are out in full force, a fact which hurts those of us paying to live and conduct business down here. I had a customer in the other day - someone from out of town - who bought less than what they wanted because they gave their money to someone who asked for it down the street. The blog Smart City Memphis had a good piece a while back on the problems of panhandling.
There are encouraging signs at the Southwest corner of Madison and Second of the old Goodwyn 
Institute building finally (FINALLY!) being renovated. I've included some photos here taken this morning of the towering building and the property just to the west of it in a stage of disrepair AND repair. As soon as it's done we'll have more apartments, condos and offices just a mere steps away and in the heart of the Mid-Second Neighborhood. It's hard to picture the old building as anything but 
vacant but it once was a thriving office building which housed the Tobacco Bowl in the lobby for several years until Mr. Rorex was kicked out in 1975 so the building could be renovated...and here it's being renovated, 30 years later. On the subject of renovation, does anyone know why the Customs House, which houses, in a tiny little corner, the Post Office at Front and Madison, is being painted and generally spruced up? Of all the underutilized spaces in downtown, this is one of the most disheartening. Why is money being put into the aesthetics of the place when hardly anything is going on in there? There has been talk on and off for years about moving the University of Memphis Law School into the building. Is this perhaps the first step?
Lastly, thanks to BD who told me Saturday night that he reads this blog regularly. That's always good to hear and I hope you find it entertaining and informative.
Posted by Richard Alley at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)
CA Cigar of the Week
The Cigar Aficionado cigar of the week is the CAO Brazilia Lambada. Described by
the connoisseurs at CA as "A dark cigar with an oily wrapper. It has cedar and anise notes with a light sweetness. A mild- to medium-bodied smoke."
Only $6.00/stick in our humidor.
Posted by Richard Alley at 05:24 PM | Comments (0)
un-Lovely Rita
Hurricane Rita slammed into extreme Southwest Louisiana at 2:30 CDT this morning as a Category 3
storm. In the 19th Century, a chart for the large sailing community of the time was developed and revised again and again before finally being laid down in stone by a hydrographer to the British Admiralty named Francis Beaufort. What would become known as the Beaufort Scale is a chart of wind speed and basic descriptions in layman's terms of what each number is capable of. For instance, a Beaufort number of zero is described as "calm; smoke rises vertically," while a Beaufort number of 6 or "strong breeze" is described by "large branches in motion; telegraph wires whistle; umbrellas used with difficulty." Hurricane Rita came ashore as a 120 mph, Category 3 storm. This tops out the Beaufort Scale at 12 or "hurricane" and is described simply: "devastation occurs." Amen to that. Our thoughts today are with all victims and those displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
For more on the Beaufort Scale, I recommend reading the fascinating Defining the Wind: The Beaufort Scale, and how a 19th-Century Admiral Turned Science Into Poetry.
Posted by Richard Alley at 10:29 AM | Comments (0)
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Help
Give today!
1-800-HELP NOW
Posted by Richard Alley at 10:13 AM | Comments (0)
Meet Me In Havana
Havana, Cuba, will increase its tourist options this year, one of which is the Saratoga Hotel, in the city's historic heart, which will be inaugurated in late 2005.
The establishment, located on Prado Promenade and Dragones streets, will offer 96 rooms, including seven suites.
Only a part of the façade of the hotel, which has an eclectic architectural style with neoclassic predominance and was inaugurated in 1993, remains intact.
The rest of the building consists of a contemporary design that combines traditional elements and new technologies.
The current version of the Saratoga Hotel includes reproductions of some elements of the original building, including large French windows, the portal and the terrace-lookout.
Precisely, guests can see beautiful sites of the city from the lookout, including the Bay of Havana and the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña.
Saratoga Hotel ad from 1938
Posted by Richard Alley at 03:43 PM | Comments (0)
Voodoo Music in Memphis
RESTORE.REBUILD. REBIRTH.
VOODOO MOVES TO MEMPHIS, TN
HALLOWEEN WEEKEND
PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE NEW ORLEANS RESTORATION FUND (NORF), A DONOR-ADVISED FUND OF ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOUNDATION (EIF)
The Voodoo Music Experience will bring its quintessential New Orleans spirit to Memphis, the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock and roll. Memphis’ Tom Lee Park will serve as this year’s site for the two-day event, set to take place Halloween Weekend. This year’s Voodoo Music Experience will benefit the New Orleans Restoration Fund (NORF), a donor-advised fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF).
“Since our home-base is New Orleans, it’s been an especially difficult time for us, with staff losing
homes and offices, and some of them losing everything,” says Stephen Rehage, founder and independent producer of the Voodoo Music Experience. “Moving a festival of this magnitude has been no easy task and we are grateful to the City of Memphis for extending their hospitality, to Trent Reznor for voicing his advocacy of NORF and Voodoo, to all the artists dedicating their time and energy to support the cause and to our incredible fans for their dedication and support over these last few weeks.”
To encourage fundraising efforts, VH1, as the principal media partner, will support the Voodoo Music Experience through a multi-hour primetime showcase of performances, scheduled to air Saturday, November 5.
Proceeds from the Voodoo Music Experience will benefit the New Orleans Restoration Fund (NORF), a donor-advised fund of Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), to support organizations dedicated to the restoration of the people, community and culture of New Orleans. A portion of the funds will be earmarked for Habitat for Humanity, Mercy Corps, and other national organizations to provide basic humanitarian assistance to victims of the storm. The remainder of the funds will be distributed directly to local grass-roots organizations committed to restoring the vibrant cultural community of the greater New Orleans area, including WWOZ, 90.7 FM, New Orleans Roots Radio; and YA/YA, Inc. (Young Aspirations/Young Artists), a local organization dedicated to empowering future generations of young artists and community leaders.
Thank you for your patience and support over this difficult time. We are looking forward to another fantastic festival.
Worship the Music,
The Voodoo Team
Current Line-up
Foo Fighter
Nine Inch Nails
The Flaming Lips
QOTSA
Billy Idol
Social Distortion
My Chemical Romance
The Secret Machines
New York Dolls
Cake
Mickey Hart
the Bravery
Louis XIV
LCD Soundsystem
Handsome Boy Modeling School
Digable Planets
Carl Cox
Brazillian Girls
The Decemberists
Death Form Above 1979
VHS or Beta
30 Seconds to Mars
HIM
The Dead 60's
King Wilkie
Dan Dyer
The Giraffes
World Leader Pretend
Mindless Self Indulgence
Something For Rockets
Ballzack
Ghost
Prince Paul
Dan the Automator
Red Rockers Reunion
Samurai Deli
Worms Union
Noomoon Tribe
Nag Hammadi
Joss Stone
Neville Brothers
Dr John
Kermit Ruffins
I took this directly from Rachel and the City, but it's also being reported by The Commercial Appeal
Posted by Richard Alley at 03:00 PM | Comments (0)
Hot!
Welcome to Autumn in Memphis.
Posted by Richard Alley at 09:09 AM | Comments (0)
Autumn in Memphis
Cooler weather, changing leaves, crisp nights on the back porch with a fine cigar, I love fall! I've never
been able to pick a favorite season, I love the circle of life, the changing of the weather, and all four seasons have their good and bad. However, fall just might be my favorite! Don't tell the others though! So as good smoking weather rolls around, keep in mind some of the new deliveries at Tobacco Bowl.
One new line, Padron, should be hitting the shelves soon! Padron is a fine Nicaraugan puro. Full of strength and body. A fine smoke that pairs well with a sweet bourbon. Woodford Reserve from the Buffalo Trace distillery pairs well with a Padron 5000 maduro.
General Cigar has introduced a new Bolivar. For long time smokers you'll remember that Bolivar has always been one of the stronger cigars on the market. Two years ago, they introduced a ramped up version, the Bolivar Fuerte. My problem with that cigar was that although the strength increased, the flavor profile was rather flat. Well, General has tweaked the line again. A new line of Bolivar will hit the shelves this month. It is touted as even stronger than the old Bolivar Fuerte (now known as the Bolivar Cofradia). This new line though has returned to Bolivars roots as being a flavorful cigar rich in a toasted tobacco flavor. The samples I've smoked of this were knock you down strong, and the best one was paired with some Pappy Van Winkle rye. An awesome combination.
Finally, if you are a back porch smoker like myself you need a good ashtray! Altadis has packaged some fine ashtrays with a five pack of cigars at a very affordable price! No matter if you prefer Trinidad, Romeo, or Montecristo you'll be able to pick up a five pack of your favorite cigar and basically get the ashtray for free! You'll be all set to smoke! Many other new arrivals are expected over the next couple months. Fall is gonna be great! Stop in this week to keep up with all the new arrivals at Memphis Tobacco Bowl!
--JB
Posted by Richard Alley at 02:50 PM | Comments (0)
Cross Apogee
We've just received a shipment of the new Cross Apogee fine writing instruments in ball point, roller ball and fountain pen styles ($69.99 - $149.99). Shown below is the Apogee Titian Red Lacquer Fountain Pen. This pen is pure poetry without writing a word. Perfectly proportioned pen features a rounded, highly polished, spring-loaded clip. It is accented by the wide, satin finish center ring. Fountain pen nib is 18 karat solid gold.
Posted by Richard Alley at 02:46 PM | Comments (0)
Tobacco Ads
Mel Ramos has put together a 
gallery of sexy and vintage tobacco ads on Flickr. You may recognize some of your favorite brands...you may not care about the brands!
Posted by Richard Alley at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)
Ashton VSG
I just received a shipment of perennial favorite Ashton VSG. This is THE cigar for those who love a full-bodied smoke.
From the Ashton website:
For those who desire a powerful and intoxicating flavor with a complex rich finish, look no further than the Ashton VSG. The VSG is blended exclusively for Ashton by Carlos Fuente Jr. using 4 to 5 year old aged Dominican tobacco taken from the finest and most fertile plants. The distinct flavor of VSG
comes from its wrapper grown on a private estate in Ecuador owned by the Oliva family where this proprietary wrapper leaf is grown for the Fuente Family exclusively for Ashton VSG. The leaf is taken from the higher primings and matures slowly by sunlight filtered through the region¹s natural cloud covering. The result is the rich intoxicating wrapper which has made the Ashton VSG the most in demand cigar on the market today.
Come by today as these cigars never stay on the shelf long and Ashton is pretty stingy with what they send out.
Ashton VSG Tres Mystique - $8.75
Ashton VSG Belicoso #1 - $10.00
Posted by Richard Alley at 12:50 PM | Comments (0)
Stinky Cigars...the ashtray!
Here's a good idea that I wish I'd thought of. This handsome accessory is the Stinky Cigar Ashtray and was developed by, who else? Stinky! He noticed that most conventional cigar asthrays couldn't accomodate the ash of all his friends when they'd come 
over, so he came up with a prototype of his new product. It's a great looking piece and has been highly recommended by JB, who has one at home and is STILL promising to bring it up here so I can get a look at it, though he hasn't yet. I didn't get a chance to see them at the RTDA show this year, but it looks like something I'd like to carry, so I'll keep you updated on that. The Stinky Cigar Ashtray was recently reviewed at Cigar Aficionado online.
Posted by Richard Alley at 11:15 AM | Comments (0)
CAO Gold
Today's cigar arrival from the orders placed at the RTDA show is the CAO Gold. I just received several sizes, which will expand that line by two. Sizes now available in the CAO Gold line are the robusto ($5), corona gorda ($5.25), churchill ($5.50), torpedo ($6) and double corona ($6.50).
From the CAO website:
One of the only mild Nicaraguan cigars on the market. Loaded with creamy textures of nutmeg and vanilla, top-noted with a subtle nuance of sweet spice. Highly regarded for flawless construction.
Come in and see if you can taste all of that. Even if you can't, what you'll get is a wonderfully mild cigar that is just right for any occasion.
Posted by Richard Alley at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)
Pipe Tobacco-palooza
Just did a quick count and we currently offer 46 different blends of bulk pipe tobacco for your smoking enjoyment.
Posted by Richard Alley at 03:13 PM | Comments (0)
Cross Tech3
We've just received some great new Cross Writing Instruments. The new Tech3 is a multi-use pen to handle any task you may be involved in with its three settings - black ball point, red ball point, and 0.5mm pencil. For ease of use, the Tech3 offers a continuous twist mechanism that makes cycling through its writing options easy and intuitive. Just turn until you get to the writing technology you want. $34.95-$44.95.
Posted by Richard Alley at 12:59 PM | Comments (0)
Pipe Tobaccos
We've just recevied a shipment of McClelland pipe tobacco. The McNeils of McClellands blend up wonderful tobaccos and I've carried them off and on in the past, but as quality bulks appear to wane, and with the price of tinned tobacco rising, I look to have their blends on the shelf more regularly.
In their fine tinned tobaccos we received the 25th Anniversary blend. Now this blend was introduced for their 25th anniversary in 2002 and was meant as a one-time release, however its popularity has demanded its return. This is an elegant Matured Virginia ribbon-cut blend, naturally sweet and seasoned lightly with cool-smoking Cyprian Latakia before being aged for months to mellow. 
McClelland's 2005 Christmas Cheer is an exceptionally fine vintage tobacco handblended and aged in pressed cakes. This blend is made with a special selection of deep orange, sun-dappled and flue-cured Virginia from the crop of 1997. It is beautifully ripened, rich, full-flavored and high in natural sugars.
Both of these wonderful Mclelland tinned blends are of limited quantity, so hurry in!
In addition to restocking the popular McClelland bulk blends Kildare (classic full-bodied Virginia flake) and Cajun Queen (Virginia flake with Perique), I've added a Matured Cake Mixture, a Balkan, Dark Navy Flake, an Oriental Cavendish and the new Vanilla Black Cavendish for those of you with a sweet tooth. If you're a brother of the briar and you appreciate a rich smoke and what it takes to come up with a blend, then you'll want to try these.
Don't forget, too, about the ongoing pipe closeout special!
Posted by Richard Alley at 04:23 PM | Comments (0)