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.

Today I am smoking the Asylum 867. It’s a line of cigars that at one point was produced by Deadwood, the same company that partnered with Drew Estate to make famous sweet tips like the Fat-Bottom Betty, Crazy Jane, and others. There are three different flavors- Midnight Oil, Zero, and Auntie, in descending size and flavor intensity. While they are all Honduran Puros, it is the added flavor that changes- flavor added by infusing the cigars in flavored liquid, much like how we do it here at Ralph’s Cigars. I am personally a big fan of the aromatic infusion method, as I believe it gives a more natural taste to flavored cigars.

We live in a time where environmental consciousness is more important than ever, and the cigar industry cannot be exempt from the call for sustainability. For Earth Day we at Ralph’s thought to shine a spotlight on cigar companies that prioritize eco-friendly practices. Among these trailblazers are Plasencia with their Reserva Original, CLE and its Science Certification from Bayer Global Crop, and Foundation Cigars, as shown through their Seed 2 Cigar Documentary.

Spring is a time for renewal, and we take that seriously here at Ralph’s Cigars. That’s why we have a whole new haul of cigars that we are really excited about. A new batch of Asylum 867’s, Sancho Panza’s, Macanudos- but I’ve always had a soft spot for CAO, and as such I was really excited for their new line of Fasa cigars. We have the Noche and the Sol in two different sizes, so today I grabbed the Sol in a Toro and lit it up with a dry cedar stick and a cup of coffee.