Ralph's Cigars Blog | Ralph's Cigars | Chicago, IL

We love women at Ralph’s Cigars. From the women who run our shop to those who are an irreplaceable part of the cigar industry at every level- those who work in the factories and fields, and those who are pioneering companies at the top. But with Mother’s Day just around the corner, we want to honor those without whom we wouldn’t be here at all. We have a few deals here at Ralph’s for the mothers and caretakers in our lives, but I wanted to point out one in particular. That is a deal on the biggest and baddest ‘women’ in the industry- the ladies of the Deadwood line by Drew Estate.

Dominican, Italian design, Cuban influenced, Mexican grown and made. This is the Carloni Gold Special Edition, a boutique cigar that, like the phrase suggests, is truly international. You can see the Italian design in the band and plastic sleeve- it looks old-fashioned. Classic, you could say. A small, simply designed gold and red band that states the name and nothing else, I could see an old school Vegas mobster chewing on the end of it as he lost a back-room game of poker. There's a Habano Claro wrapper, the exact shade of a brown paper bag with thin veining and an invisible seam. It looks and feels well constructed. Information online is sparse about this cigar, so I’m excited to dive right in. I actually cannot find what the binder is, and all I know about the filler is that it's Dominican grown in Mexico. 

If you have just started smoking cigars, or are thinking about starting, there are a few considerations to make your first stick enjoyable. Like many hobbies you'll want to start simple and work your way up. Beginning with a mild smoke will let you build up your appreciation of aroma and flavor, without the risk of overpowering your senses that a stronger, full-bodied smoke provides. Most important is remaining curious, patient, and open-minded. Everyone’s palate is unique, and over time you will be able to identify your favorite brands and strike your ideal balance of strength and flavor. 

Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, and in case you haven’t noticed yet, here at Ralph’s Cigars we love the holiday. Any reason to light up a nice cigar with friends and family! Sundays tend to be a bit slower in the shop, which means that we’ll have the opportunity to sit back with some delicious Mexican inspired smokes- hopefully the weather stays nice.  

Cinco de Mayo is only a few days away, and while there are dozens of ways to celebrate- with mole, mariachi, dance, guacamole- one in particular comes to mind. Tequila! And what better way to enjoy the liquor than with a nice complementary cigar? Here at Ralph’s Cigars we know nothing is better than a good cigar pairing- except for a perfect cigar pairing.