Cigar Weekly

jefslat · 12-29-2017, 07:36 PM

This is not intended to be a poll or even come to a definitive answer. This is intended purely for discussion and to bring to the fore some names that we as consumers might not otherwise think of.

For Example:

Steve Saka
Michael Gianini
AJ Fernandez
Nick Mellilo
Robert Holt
Willy Herrera
Jose Blanco

to name a few, and to get this discussion started. Like I said, the goal of this thread is not to crown "king Blender" rather to recognize some of the fine cigars we enjoy. Feel free to discuss among yourselves and NO CROWBARS!

KatDad · 12-30-2017, 03:14 AM

My favorite smokes invariably come from AJ Fernandez in recent years.

For a long time I was a Villazon junkie. That began to wane with the sale to General and the closing of the Cofradia factory. Something changed. Thankfully, AJ filled the void.

grtrx · 12-30-2017, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatDad

My favorite smokes invariably come from AJ Fernandez in recent years.

For a long time I was a Villazon junkie. That began to wane with the sale to General and the closing of the Cofradia factory. Something changed. Thankfully, AJ filled the void.

Well said

I would add Jose Seijas from Matilde

BigO · 12-30-2017, 05:54 AM

The late Estello Padron comes to mind. An absolute genius with blends that had maduo or oscuro wrappers.

Shadow · 12-30-2017, 06:42 AM

Jose Blanco. Listening to him describe how he goes about blending is amazing.

KatDad · 12-30-2017, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigO

The late Estello Padron comes to mind. An absolute genius with blends that had maduo or oscuro wrappers.

Yep! Estello Padron, Frank Llaneza, and the old Villazon factory, all gone.

BigO · 12-30-2017, 06:53 AM

Good times for exciting cigars at very reasonable prices.

ak2000 · 01-07-2018, 01:40 PM

Whoever blends BLTC cigars seems to know what they're doing

bsslack · 01-08-2018, 08:00 AM

...... Monsignor A. J. Fernandez

......Maestro Don Pepin Garcia

......Sir Litto Gomez

......are some of my current Favorites. Plus, there are individual cigars from half a dozen other blenders that I really like. But, these Three are multiple threat guys. They really have that hand rolled tobacco profile magic that my flavor receptors just love.

Cheers!

Briandg · 01-09-2018, 02:15 PM

Want to know the secret to choosing the best blender?

Ignore the one trick ponies. A maker has to be capable of a wide range of good products, with very different characteristics for each blend.

Did villazon and company truly have the best blender? I don't know, it seemed to me that there were huge similarities and not so much difference. Not to belittle the blenders who can make a great cigar, even if the entire line and production happens to be limited in scope, but the ability to work a half dozen grapes during a single vintage and get good results out of each varietal is a true sign of mastery.

12-29-2017, 07:36 PM	#1
jefslat CW WarCraft God CW Special Correspondent Editor at Large Predominant CW Ambassador Herf God Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Antonio de Bexar Posts: 38,921	Best Blender? This is not intended to be a poll or even come to a definitive answer. This is intended purely for discussion and to bring to the fore some names that we as consumers might not otherwise think of. For Example: Steve Saka Michael Gianini AJ Fernandez Nick Mellilo Robert Holt Willy Herrera Jose Blanco to name a few, and to get this discussion started. Like I said, the goal of this thread is not to crown "king Blender" rather to recognize some of the fine cigars we enjoy. Feel free to discuss among yourselves and NO CROWBARS! __________________ El Gringo permanence... El perro, el perro, es mi corazon. El gato, el gato, el gato no es bueno. El Jefe es cantante, El Jefe es muy famoso El Jefe es el hombre con el queso del diablo. El perro, el perro, nunca sin raison El gato, el gato, el gato es obseno El Jefe es caliente, El Jefe es carinoso El Jefe le da besos mejor que su esposo What Would TOJE Do? Þ £

12-30-2017, 03:14 AM	#2
KatDad Herf God Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 30,275	My favorite smokes invariably come from AJ Fernandez in recent years. For a long time I was a Villazon junkie. That began to wane with the sale to General and the closing of the Cofradia factory. Something changed. Thankfully, AJ filled the void. __________________ The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it George Bernard Shaw The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it H. L. Mencken The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants Albert Camus The Land of the Free Because of the Brave

12-30-2017, 05:54 AM	#4
BigO Publisher/Owner El Chefé BBQ Guru Herf God Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Atlanta. Posts: 55,779	The late Estello Padron comes to mind. An absolute genius with blends that had maduo or oscuro wrappers. __________________ Every time you think you've become too cynical, the world finds a way to teach you that the real problem is that you haven't become cynical enough Free speech is free speech is free speech. There is no qualifier. If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention. Never attribute malice to that what can be explained as stupidity. Unborn lives matter too.

12-30-2017, 06:42 AM	#5
Shadow Charter Member Herf Meister Join Date: Feb 1998 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 5,400	Jose Blanco. Listening to him describe how he goes about blending is amazing. __________________ Age, experience and deviousness will always overcome youth, exuberance and perceived mental superiority.

12-30-2017, 06:53 AM	#7
BigO Publisher/Owner El Chefé BBQ Guru Herf God Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Atlanta. Posts: 55,779	Good times for exciting cigars at very reasonable prices. __________________ Every time you think you've become too cynical, the world finds a way to teach you that the real problem is that you haven't become cynical enough Free speech is free speech is free speech. There is no qualifier. If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention. Never attribute malice to that what can be explained as stupidity. Unborn lives matter too.

01-07-2018, 01:40 PM	#8
ak2000 Charter Member Herf God Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,603	Whoever blends BLTC cigars seems to know what they're doing __________________ Cigars are brain food...... JLOH #19

01-08-2018, 08:00 AM	#9
bsslack Herf Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: A Lone Star State Posts: 7,412	...... Monsignor A. J. Fernandez ......Maestro Don Pepin Garcia ......Sir Litto Gomez ......are some of my current Favorites. Plus, there are individual cigars from half a dozen other blenders that I really like. But, these Three are multiple threat guys. They really have that hand rolled tobacco profile magic that my flavor receptors just love. Cheers! __________________ LB... Do not Hold Your Heart's True Words, until they can only fall upon the saddened ears and broken hearts, already filled with the loudness of grief. -unk ...Quick to Judgement...Quick to Anger and Slow To Understand... -Rush (it was true then and it's still applies today.) Remember EVERY American Soldier Past and Present.-You -Me -Everybody

01-09-2018, 02:15 PM	#10
Briandg CW Squirrel Wrangler Herf God Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: southwest Missouri Posts: 35,518	Want to know the secret to choosing the best blender? Ignore the one trick ponies. A maker has to be capable of a wide range of good products, with very different characteristics for each blend. Did villazon and company truly have the best blender? I don't know, it seemed to me that there were huge similarities and not so much difference. Not to belittle the blenders who can make a great cigar, even if the entire line and production happens to be limited in scope, but the ability to work a half dozen grapes during a single vintage and get good results out of each varietal is a true sign of mastery.

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