TLaneAficionados: A Tobacco Blog

Montecristo Espada

Montecristo and Plasencia, a match made in heaven.
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The story of Montecristo Espada is seriously interesting. Not long ago, Montecristo and famed tobacco grower and cigar maker Nestor Plasencia struck a deal. This deal would gave Montecristo’s blending team, known as the ‘Grupo de Maestros,’ unrestricted access to Plasencia’s world-renowned collection of fine tobaccos and state of the art factory. At this facility, the Master’s went to work, spending months developing a flawless merger of fine, sophisticated cigar. What they discovered was a blend unlike any other. The Montecristo Espada overflows with flavor.

A cigar that’s easily fitting of the Montecristo name, but with a level of flavor that’s both charming and inviting.
Meaning ‘sword,’ Espada makes full use of Plasencia’s unique tobacco archive and employs a gorgeous Habano wrapper from 2010 grown in Jalapa, Nicaragua. Underneath, an all-Nicaraguan blend of bold, well-aged long-fillers from Jalapa, Ometepe, and Condega were each specifically selected for their strength, flavor, or body. The result is an extremely well-balanced, layered with rich, hearty notes of wood, pepper, coffee, cream, nuts, and sweetness. Elegant, refined, and loaded with complexity, Montecristo Espada is truly a world-class cigar. Montecristo Espada received Top 25 honors for 2015 (#20 overall) and a well-deserved 92-rating noting: “offering the spice of a gingersnap with touches of cinnamon that build to a sweet, spicy finish.”

The experience opens with a flavor and strength somewhere between their Classic and Platinum lines with some good spice and a note of raisin. Part way through 1/3, that raisin taste is joined by a delicious sweet cream, almost vanilla. It’s like berries and cream, but subtler, just enough to really get a good taste but not the syrupy sweetness of an infused cigar and combined with that typically delicious Monte tobacco flavor. The draw is absolutely perfect and produces a CONSTANT stream of smoke which I love! Monte fans should go ahead and buy a box! When I have the means, I know I will! In short, the Montecristo Espada is an exceptional cigar to add to your collection.

Oliva V Melanio Maduro Torpedo

The Texas heat came early this year. That means this was a good season for the coin carwash spots aaaand – BASEBALL!

Kids all around the D/FW were chanting: “Take me out to the ballgame…”

Meanwhile, I was shouting: “I’m driving fast to Tobacco Lane!”

Although many fans believe the Rangers have a few terrible contract decisions this season, you can still make a very wise decision that you won’t regret later. How you ask? Well, by selecting from this month’s Tobacco Lane cigar brand, Oliva V!

Oliva V is hot on the shelves! Our experts are raving about it; not to mention that it pairs well with the outdoorsy allure of our greatest, oldest American pastime.

olivacigarsSpeaking of history, here’s a little factoid about this wonderful stogie. The Oliva Serie V Melanio is named for Melanio Oliva, Gilberto Oliva’s grandfather and who many would consider to be the patriarch of the Oliva family. The Oliva website has this to say about its fine tobacco roots:

Melanio Oliva first grew tobacco in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba in 1886. His growing operations were suspended while he fought in Cuba’s War of Independence. After returning from war Melanio resumed his operations. In the early 1920’s Melanio’s son Hipolito Oliva took over the growing operations. Hipolito cultivated the Oliva family fields for several decades. As Cuba became over-run by communist the tobacco landscape changed. Hipolito’s son Gilberto Oliva shifted from growing to brokering tobacco. In the early 60’s the pressure became too great and Gilberto traveled from country to country in search of the distinct Cuban taste. His travels took him to Honduras, Panama, Mexico and even the Philippines. Gilberto finally found fertile ground in Nicaragua. Today Gilberto along with his family are Nicaragua’s second largest grower of Cuban-seed tobacco.

Oliva V Melanio is sold primary as a torpedo. Upon the first couple of blasts you’ll quickly notice its solid flavor profile. Wrapped in a very dark chocolate, it has peppery notes that intersect the tongue without taking away from the smoke. Visually, the Oliva is intricately designed. One can appreciate the silky decadence, minimal veins, and rich mocha aroma which permit the cigar to burn seamlessly with very little concern about construction.

This torpedo is sweet and earthy with a medium body. It has a very pleasurable output from start to finish. An impressive cigar! Indulge in an Oliva V with zero regrets – immediately after you spend seven smackeroos on those hot dogs at The Ballpark in Arlington.

 

**NOTICE** Next month we will host a raffle. Tickets are only $10 each. First place gets an Oliva cigars branded humidor. Second and 3rd prize winners receive $25 in Oliva cigars! To make things interesting, there are only 40 tickets for available for purchase. With only a handful left, you’d better head this way asap to buy your ticket!

Look forward to seeing you and, as always, we appreciate your business!

It’s January 2016 And I’m Still Fat…

StillFatThis is the thought in many people’s mind at the turn of each New Year. That means another year has come and gone without much progress being made. Even if our New Year’s Resolution wasn’t health-related, many of us have plateaued in our course toward personal growth and development.

But alas! The New Year is an opportunity to reignite your passions and explore new interests.

This year it will be different. Instead of making promises to ourselves that we know we don’t have the willpower or resources to keep, let’s just going to go with the flow! At the end of the day, that’s essentially what ends up happening away. I’m not saying you shouldn’t plan or set goals. Rather, I’m saying make realistic expectations to simply be the best person you can be day in and day out. Sprinkle in a few healthy decisions here and there, make it a habit to daydreaming every once in a while, and read the most random book you can find.

“Try not to become a person of success, but rather a person of value.” – Albert Einstein.

Any success I’ve ever had always started from doing something totally out of the norm. Spontaneity can reveal thigs about us that we didn’t know rested within us. Taking a leap of faith or stepping outside our comfort zone can help to develop the methods of accountability we need to form consistency.

Cup half-full you say? Not the slightest! Here’s the sum of it all: Life is too short for irresponsible resolutions. Life is just long enough to live each day as it comes. Incorporate small changes, micro goals, and spontaneous activities into your days and weeks. For many of us this will be a great strategy to obtain the small victories first before tackling the grand master plan!

Enjoy every moment of your 2016.

Leave A Trail of Happiness This Holiday Season

Snow One Should Be Without a Smile This Time of the Year

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Tis’ the season for holiday cheer and many new beginnings. Christmas gives us the opportunity to consider the needs of others while New Years’ Day allows us a moment to reflect on ourselves individually. I received a pleasant surprise from the car in front of me at the drive-thru last week. When it drove up to the window to pay for my lunch, the window attendant told me that the car ahead had paid for my food. It was a small gesture but it put lots of things into perspective.

Hopefully, you all will join me in the initiative of making small acts of random kindness this holiday season. It is easy to buy gifts for those we love and support year around. But what about the stranger or those we only know in passing. In a time when the world is occupied with greed and diminishing core values, it is essential that we make it a priority to reach out to the unknown. I believe the only way to close the gaps of fear and insecurity is to fill them with love.

I was ready to slide my Google card to pay for my lunch. The unknown person paid without leaving a note, a name, or any way for him/her to be recognized for their good deed. The only residue that was left was a trail of happiness.

Every positive thing we do for others doesn’t require a spotlight, town crier, or Facebook likes. Sometimes it’s the things we do in private that reverberate the loudest. All of us have the ability to pay it forward.

Last, but certainly not least, we would like thank you for your support this year. Without the greater Arlington community, Tobacco Lane could not be the success it has been. As Arlington’s select tobacco shop, we are dedicated to making your visit here as pleasant as possible.

It is our hope that you have a blessed, merry Christmas and a prosperous 2016!

Sounds Like A Latte. Smooth Enough To Do The Trick!

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I figured I’d venture out a tad and try something different…
This year instead of baking or deep frying a turkey or spending hours making sure the gumbo is juuuuust right, we have decided to not cook at all.
Yes, I will likely be the guy watching you from the Starbucks kiosk as you scramble last minute around Tom Thumb searching for celery, canned string beans, and opting for Smuckers Jelly instead of cranberry sauce.
I don’t plan on shopping on Black Friday either, mind you. I’m taking this paid time off to relax. We didn’t invite anyone over; especially since we’re hosting Christmas this year. I will be forwarding all calls to my office voicemail. However, I will be enjoying a new concept, the flavored cigar. My wife doesn’t like the standard robustos inside our humidor so I figured we’d rotate one of her newfound guilty pleasures, Vanilla and Caramel. Sounds like a latte, yet smooth enough to do the trick.
Simply put, I’m chillaxin’ this Thanksgiving holiday. Today will include football, Netflix, and embossing my rear end into my recliner. All of this will take place along with the sweet mist of a flavored Drew Estate flowing throughout the den. Dinner you ask? Oh that’s simple….whichever nearly expired leftover my wife and I decide to reheat for the 3rd time 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving From All Of Us Here At Tobacco Lane!

You’re In Good Company

tlane_emc2Now that the Texas heat is withdrawing, now is the best time of the year to sit under the moonlit sky. Take advantage of the quickening eve out in the backyard with your favorite cigar. Entertain the impossible in the same fashion as some of the nation’s prominent statesmen, entertainers, and thinkers.

When you look into the cigar culture you will see many of our nation’s figures helping to popularize the industry. For us, it’s what makes cigar culture so refined and regal – knowing that we’re always in good company. Regardless if you’re hanging with friends outdoors or meditating in your study, you’re sharing in an experience and slow burn exhilaration had by that of some of the most prominent humans to ever walk the Earth.

So the next time you light your preferred cigar, take a moment to reflect on some of the great Americans who have contributed to the cigar culture and enhanced our imaginations and way of life. Here are a few quotes from some fellow stogie enthusiasts:

“I believe that pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective judgment in all human affairs.” – Albert Einstein

“I’m at the age now where just putting my cigar in its holder is a thrill.” – George Burns

“I never smoke to excess – that is, I smoke in moderation, only one cigar at a time.” – Mark Twain

“The only way to break a bad habit was to replace it with a better habit.” (after he switched from cigarettes to cigars) – Jack Nicholson

“[Tobacco] is the passion of honest men and he who lives without tobacco is not worthy of living.” – Moliere (Jean Baptiste Poquelin)

“If your wife doesn’t like the aroma of your cigar, change your wife.” – Zino Davidoff

“If you can’t send money, send tobacco.” – (to the Continental Congress, 1776 ) George Washington

2 Good Reasons Why You Should Be At Our October Social Event

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There’s absolutely zero reason to drag this out. We could have made this PSA a lot more lengthier and fill this article with fluff. But to save you a few seconds of life we’re gonna get right to the point…the meat and potatoes. Here are the TWO (2) Reasons why you should be “all-up-in” TLane at our October Social Event on October 15th:

1. We will be featuring Roberto Duran cigars!

According to legend, before he left this world, Frank Sinatra asked to be buried with 3 things: a roll of dimes, a bottle of Jack Daniels, and a cigarettes. I’m pretty sure he was buried with a humidor of cigars. What brand of cigars you ask? Roberto Duran cigars (duh!). The comfortably priced stogie is the perfect medium bodied smoke, giving nice flavor variance that would appeal to all levels of smokers. Roberto P. Duran has a strategic selection in their product line. Each cigar offers a solid blend of cedar with just a nip of sweetness. You won’t be disappointed!

2. You will be among some of the most knowledgeable, most wisest, cigar connoisseurs ’round these parts.

Our staff will be more than happy to help you make an intelligent choice that will fit your style and taste. Come in, make yourself at home, and learn something new. Even if you are an occasional smoker this will be a great opportunity for you to take advantage of the free smells in the loose tobacco bins, take uncomfortably funny selfies next to the shelf of handcrafted pipes, or geocache our location as a hidden treasure for a friend in Spokane, WA. Whatever floats your boat, bloke! Just be here and all will be right with the world.

See You There!

-The TLane Crew

Cigars on Ice…[Beware While Reading]

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Let me be the one-thousandth person to tell you this – today’s music is in the can!

You can’t turn on the radio without hearing some ridiculous tune about body parts, drugs, alcohol, and partying hard. Although the golden age of sound, the 50’s through 70’s had it’s on variety of sultry and raunchy hits that were masked in love, social justice, and odd holistic experiences.

As hard as you may try to ignore much of what you see and hear, there are some things that catch your eye and ears. The media and music industry is making sure that we don’t miss a step or beat when it comes to idiotic things anyone could ever create. Television may be your source for entertainment while others may be radio or internet. As they say, pick your poison. Bring an 80’s baby, radio is my go-to. I enjoy toggling between talk radio, NPR, R&B Soul, Jazz, and Classic Rock.

On this particular day, I found myself coming across a teenie-bopper station. I heard the wide vocal range of a very familiar artist coming across the speaker. The station played a popular song by Beyonce that I’ve heard a hundred times prior. I’m not a huge fan but no matter where you go these days the powers-that-be get a kick out of pumping out Beyonce tunes for your listening pleasure. The song “Drunk In Love” briefly mentions cigars in an intimate, yet recreational sense. I’m by no means saying it’s a rarity to hear a song about cigars. There are many songs in many countries dedicated to the popular past-time. The lyrics are as follows:

Cigars on ice, cigars on ice Feeling like an animal with these cameras all in my grill Flashing lights, flashing lights You got me faded, faded, faded Baby, I want you, na na Can’t keep your eyes off my fatty Daddy, I want you, na na Drunk in love, I want you.

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I’m what most youngsters would consider old. Upon hearing words or phrases that are beyond the understanding of someone born before 1992, the millennials have taught me to refer to Google or Urban Dictionary for new-age clarity. “Cigars on ice” didn’t sound kosher to me but I’m admittedly nosey as hell therefore I decided to check it out for myself. I found an even better website called Genius.com that had more details and contextual significance behind popular songs such as this. So, from my extensive research, I have concluded that the singer could have meant one of two things.

Genius.com gives this explanation: The combination of expensive smokes and drinks serves as a status symbol for the power couple [Jay-Z and Beyonce]. The ideal condition for a cigar is 70°F (21°C) and 70% humidity. Ice, at sub-32°F, is way too cold, so she may not want to leave it there too long.

UrbanDictionary, or slang word usage central, gives this quick explanation: Cigars on ice is a phrase used to describe a man taking a cold shower to relieve his boner. Cigar=boner; on ice=cold shower

Radio has deceived me. It used to be a place for breaking news and information, perspective, and family entertainment. As a father of a computer saavy and studious 9-year old, I think today will be a better than any for us to surrender our birth certificates and join an Amish community. The music there may suck but I hear the lamb chops are great.

By the way, this is the same song where she says, “I been drinkin’ watermelon.” (I’ll leave that one for you sleuths out there to figure out on your spare time.)

Dear Society, I think we’ve lost again.

Celebrate Your Labor Day with Cigar Gifts

Labor Day cigar Every company gives their employees three things at the beginning of the year: a bonus check apology letter, more work, and a vacation calendar. If you’re like me, the first thing you do is circle all the days you get a break from wearing that awful appendage, a.k.a. your security badge. Well, in a few days, September 7, Labor Day 2015 will be in full affect.

While the observance of Labor Day has spread around the world in different forms, it has distinct American roots. Embedded deep in the history of the American labor movement, Labor Day has a storied past riddled with both violence and celebration. The modern holiday is widely traced back to an organized parade in New York City in 1882 by union leaders.

The very first Labor Day festivities included speeches, tailgating, beer kegs, and an abundance of cigars. To get your piece of the action this year, here are five ways you can celebrate and make this a memorable, and hopefully PTO-free, day off.

#5. Buy A Cigar Cutter (Stор clipping cigars with your teeth):

A fine fellow, Kurt Van Keppel, in 1994 noticed that there were no alternatives to removing сigаr tips except with your tееth. Chеар cigar сuttеrѕ were wobbly, dull and boring to lооk at, and expensive сigаr сuttеrѕ wеrе — wеll, wоbblу, dull аnd bоring tо lооk at. Sо Kurt got tоgеthеr with hiѕ friеnd Sсоtt tо mаkе a cigar сuttеr that was sturdy, lоng-lаѕting, аnd ѕhаrр enough tо imрrеѕѕ a guillotine. Thе result wаѕ thе Xikаr cigar сuttеr, nоw a mаrkеt lеаdеr in thе induѕtrу.

#4. Buу A Dеѕktор Humidor (Stop stоring your cigаrѕ in the freezer):

Most of us don’t need a cellar-sized humidоr thе ѕizе оf a wаrdrоbе thаt inсludеѕ a gаtеwау tо Nаrniа. We juѕt wаnt the сigаrѕ wе hаvе to lаѕt аnd maybe ѕоmеthing sleek fоr our desk that will impress people we don’t care about. High quаlitу dеѕktор humidors аrе now easier tо find. Yоu саn рurсhаѕе bеаutifullу роliѕhеd wооd humidors that include a box оf cigars for an additional treat. Thеrе is a grеаt dеѕktор humidоr mаdе by Caribe that inсludеѕ fifty рrеmium lоng fillеr San Mаrсо cigars.

#3. Buу A Cool Ashtray (Stор using that onе you stоlе frоm thе bаr back in college):

Cigar ashtrays аrеn’t blасk and whitе. They hаvе style, реrѕоnаlities, and сlаѕѕ thanks to the innоvаtivе thinking оf noted Sоuth Bеасh аrtiѕt аnd ceramist, Bram Warren. Cigar ashtrays аrе ѕо сооl they can bе uѕеd fоr interior dеѕign. Wоrking with ѕtуlеѕ like “Rivеr Rock”, “Cеlаdоn Crуѕtаl” аnd “Vоlсаniс Aѕh”, Warren combines colors inсluding ѕtееl blue, ѕаgе, birch, mеrlоt and bronze to make the most distinctive cigar ashtrays аvаilаblе for cigar enthusiasts. Thе only hаrd раrt iѕ dесiding which one tо get.

#2. Stор Obѕеѕѕing Ovеr Whiсh Cigars to Buу, Juѕt Ask A Us:

Everyone has an old reliable when it comes to cigar selection. It takes time to find one that is distinctly you. There are sеvеral cigars that you can’t go wrong with including Dоn Diеgо Anivеrѕаriо, H. Uрmаnn Vintаgе Cameroon, Mоntесriѕtо Whitе, an Onyx Reserve, a Rоmео Juliеtа Rеѕеrvа Real, a Rоmео Juliеtа Reserva Mаdurо, and a Trinidаd. We carry all of these cigar brands. Come see us!

#1. Forget Bic, Get а Duроnt Lighter Like The Big Boys:

Yоu knоw those саr соmmеrсiаls that еxрlаinѕ the feeling оf driving a trасtiоn controlled vehicle through the mountains with the windоwѕ dоwn? It’s like that. The perfect соmbinаtiоn оf function and luxury. With a сhаrасtеriѕtiс sound, ѕimрlе and еlеgаnt designs and masterful аttеntiоn tо dеtаil, S.T. Duроnt lightеrѕ will be сhеriѕhеd as muсh in five уеаrѕ аѕ they wеrе the dау they wеrе patented. Go big or go home.

The first Monday of September means that white clothes are out, sales are in, summer holidays are over and classes begin for students. Pat yourself on the back for your dedication and contribution to the American economy this year. Most of all, guilt-trip a family member into rewarding you with one of the items listed above. Celebrate your Labor Day in style.