The New Issue of the ECCJ Has Arrived!Issue #4/2006 has finally arrived!

Issue #4/2006 has finally arrived!

http://www.cigarmony.com/store/produ...roducts_id=528

The Puck humidifier was reviewed in this issue! (Very exciting seeing something I have put so much effort into being reviewed).

Also, our friends at DWSC ( www.dogwatchsocialclub.com ) get a mention!

A Brief summary of this issue:

Enjoyment as a Total Work of Art
A hot and humid summer morning, steep stone steps leading to a house surrounded by extensive plants growing rampantly. Cuban sounds welcome me, Omara Portuondo’s velvety voice luring into the day. A tall young woman with curly hair opens the door. A Cuban?
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Vintage Cigars – Aged Tobaccos
n this tasting we compare the categories “Vintage Cigars” with “Cigars made from mature tobaccos”. Why? Because we would like to see more asked of the information supplied by producers. At the same time we see this as a good opportunity to untangle the jumble of confusing terminology that exists in many cases.
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Inter-tabac continues to grow
Each year, smokers are facing ever tightening restrictions imposed by politics and society.
And although there are acceptable compromises on the horizon for Germany’s restaurant industry,
the mood of the general public has remained negative.
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Cigar Trophy 2006 - The Oscars for the Best from the World of Cigars
For the sixth time since 1998, the European Cigar Cult Journal has awarded the Cigar Trophies, regarded as the highest accolade in the trade. The prizes were awarded during the Inter-tabac event in Dortmund, together with the Inter-tabac Stars of the Deutsche Tabakzeitung.

For 2006, a total of eight prize winners were selected in four categories. The award for the Best Brand from their country of origin went to El Credito (Dominican Republic), Cohiba (Cuba) and Padrón (Nicaragua)
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The Fuente Family History
Not in our Wildest Dreams

“That’s it. I give up!” The year is 1979. Carlos Fuente, Sr., has just seen his cigar factory burn down – for the second time. Looking at the pile of rubble and ashes, he’s not sure if he can get through this latest setback. Is it a cruel twist of fate? Destiny? Just plain bad luck? A test from above? How many times will he have to start all over from the beginning? His family seems haunted by destiny …

In 1924, his father’s firm in Tampa – at that time the hub of the U.S. cigar indus-try – burned to the ground. Arturo Fuente had built up the imposing enterprise, which employed over 500 workers, from nothing. The Cuban immigrant had come to the United States with empty pockets and a great dream in his heart. He never lost sight of that dream – not even when faced with the blackened ruins of his factory. “He was a hard worker”, remembers Carlos Sr., “a family man, never quick to anger and always there for his children.”

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From Lisbon to Porto: Havaneza, Charutos & More

In Portugal, tolerance is a visible part of everyday culture. Starting in early 2007, a smoking ban similar to that in neighboring Spain
will take effect. But in the metropolitan trio of Lisbon, Coimbra, and Porto, some smoky oases will remain: the grand hotels will get special privileges.

In the hour after midnight, the nightlife of the old quarter, Alfalma, shifts down to the river. We tumble into the maelstrom in which cigars and the sea are eternal companions. On the banks of the Tejo, Lisbon’s nostalgia mixes the hip partygoers, classic flaneurs, and stunning lionesses of the night into a special blend à la Lisboa.
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Tradition Following New Paths

Some readers might perhaps remember our first story about De Olifant (in the 1/2000 edition) – a manufactory with a rich history, which is very much in the tradition of the Dutch cigar. Since 1832, the finest short fillers have been produced there from first-class tobaccos. Recently, De Olifant started a cooperation with De Eenhoorn Koffie en Thee.
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Ventura:
New Design on Time

It takes particularly a lot of courage to swim so con-sistently against the current. But Pierre A. Nobs undoubtedly has done just that. As early as 1979, the trained mechanical engineer plunged into the adventure of professional self-sufficiency, which after several phases, ended up with the establishment of the “Ventura – Design On Time” company in 1990.
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Pipes – the Shape of Things
One of the questions I am frequently asked is, “What kind of pipe should I buy?” If the person is talking about brands, there is no problem, because all I have to do is find out how much they want to spend and then suggest a number of excellent pipes in that price range.
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The Goddess that melts smoothly

Like the cigar, it arrived from the West over 500 years ago. It was Casanova’s accomplice in seduction, Goethe and Schiller were hopelessly addicted to it. It played a part too in the Western “Open Range”: a few minutes before the showdown Robert Duvall treats himself and his comrade-in-arms Kevin Costner to a cigar and a bar of chocolate. There was no way they could lose!
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A Double Pack of Happiness
Two unique articles both of which have had long cultural histories, meet each other to exchange aromas. Is this really possible? Yes, it is! In the preceding article, “The Goddess with the Delicate Mellowness” (page 112), this combination which at first seems exotic was mentioned.
While you are usually expecting a crossover with drinks at this point, you may this time be pleased to find something of firmer consistency coming along with its smoky partner.
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Cigar Lounge in the Balance Resort
Wellness With Habanos

To feel well has something to do with enjoyment. The Balance Resort Hotel in Bad Stegersbach, situated in the Austrian province of Burgenland, offers an oasis of re-laxation to pleasure smokers in an extra-ordinary ambience: a designer cigar lounge, unique in itself, is also rather unusually exclusively dedicated to supporting the Cuban cigar culture.

Happy smoking my friends.

~Mark

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