Latest News from Gary Korb

Those Fabulous Figurados!

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 01:00:00 EDT

You?re browsing through your favorite cigar catalog or Website and words like 'Pyramid,' 'Belicoso,?' 'Torpedo,' and 'Perfecto' keep jumping out at you. Originating in Cuba, these are traditional names for a variety of non-parejo (or non-straight-sided) cigar shapes referred to as 'figurados.'

Hot New Cigars

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EDT

2006 was another banner year for many of the leading imported premium cigar manufacturers, including some of the 'young guns.' Of the four new cigars reviewed in this article, three are from cigar companies owned and operated by men in their 30s and 40s: Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate Cigars, Rocky Patel of Rocky Patel Cigars, and Alan Rubin of Alec Bradley Cigars.

Ready for a Stronger Cigar?

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 14:00:00 EST

When I started working for Famous Smoke Shop in the summer of 2001, I came into the business on the cusp of a new wave in cigar making. It was several years after the end of the cigar boom, and good premium tobacco (which had become scarce during the boom) was just starting to come back in quantity. This gave many cigar manufacturers the opportunity to begin producing and introducing more full-bodied blends. The timing was perfect, too, because with the rise in popularity of premium imported cigars from the boom, many cigar smokers? palates were ready to move on to new things.

I've Got Mail!

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 12:45:00 EDT

For this issue I thought I'd dip in to my mailbox and publish some questions I've received in the past few months that may also be concerns of yours. As I usually say when I reply to a question, 'I hope this helps.'

The Cigar Smoker's Bible

Sun, 05 Feb 2006 11:00:00 EST

A captain can't navigate the seas without the aid of good charts. For the cigar aficionado, the best way to chart the course of his or her favorite pastime is with the aid of Perelman's Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars. Now in its 12th year of publication with the current 2006 edition, writer and publisher Richard B. Perelman and his staff have assembled the most comprehensive guide to virtually every brand of cigar marketed nationally in the United States of America.

New Cigar Reviews

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 17:45:00 EST

For this issue, I'm spotlighting two new full-bodied luxury cigars from two of the top manufacturers: Davidoff of Geneva and General Cigar Dominicana. Both made in the Dominican Republic, at the heart of these cigars are rich-tasting tobaccos from different regions of the DR, Honduras and Nicaragua. Should you be cruising the waters surrounding these countries in the coming months, you may want to have some of these fine cigars on-board.

Travel Humidors

Tue, 30 Aug 2005 18:30:00 EDT

Before you sail off to the next port of call with your cigars, you?ll need a travel humidor that will keep your precious cargo out of harm?s way. Whether it?s a simple pocket humidor or an elaborate attaché case, the humidor must do two things for your cigars: keep them fresh and protect them.

Outstanding Cigars of 2004

Sat, 07 May 2005 15:00:00 EDT

2004 saw the debut of some excellent cigars, and in this issue I want to share with you (in no particular order), some of the more outstanding cigars released last year. I say 'outstanding' because I don't believe any cigar is 'the best' any more than I believe any one movie or record album is 'the best'; each cigar is unique in and of itself, which this list embodies. Davidoff Limited Edition 2004 Robusto Real “Especiales 7” Another remarkable luxury cigar from Davidoff made in very limited edition. The Robusto Real cigars are blended with 7 entirely unique tobaccos deftly hand-rolled inside an exquisite Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper. The cigar presents a full-bodied, complex and perfectly-balanced smoke. The wrapper is dark, oily and virtually flawless, plus it gives off a wonderful aroma for which Davidoff cigars are known, and gives the blend just the right amount of depth. This is one of those cigars you actually have to smoke to fully appreciate, so be on the lookout for these cigars, because many retailers are already out of stock.

The Best of the Best

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 00:00:00 EDT

As the holiday season sails into view, gift ideas are on everyone's mind. Fortunately, when shopping for the cigar smoker, there are not only great cigars to choose from, but cigar accessories, as well. Here are some outstanding gift suggestions from the four primary cigar requisites: cigars, a humidor, a cutter, and a lighter. (Hint: leave this page open in a conspicuous place so your spouse will see it.)