Cigar Weekly

xavier · 01-06-2018, 09:14 PM

Ernesto Carrillo from La Gloria Cubana,
Litto Gomez from La Flor Dominicana
and Eladio Diaz, master blender for Henke Kelner at Tabadom and now Davidoff

TommyBB · 01-07-2018, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xavier

Ernesto Carrillo from La Gloria Cubana,
Litto Gomez from La Flor Dominicana
and Eladio Diaz, master blender for Henke Kelner at Tabadom and now Davidoff

Raffi, it is damn good to see you here, my friend! I hope you're well.

Ernesto left La Gloria and General. After sitting out a year, he formed his own company EPC, and José Blanco works for him.

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.

BigJohn · 01-10-2018, 06:02 AM

I don't totally disagree, Brian, but everyone has a miss. And you have to give just about everyone time to grow. Example: I don't love everything by Don Pepin. Everyone can't love everything. So when a new one comes out, you have to do some research after you've smoked it and like it. Some guys are not blenders, they're marketers, and when you know that you go in knowing that Cigar X might be a one hit wonder....

Briandg · 01-10-2018, 08:42 AM

Don't take it too literally, john, because there is also, as you said, the element of intangibles with it. Subjective elements. A good blender and a good range of products depends on who defines it, how many thousands of people can see the skills and define them.

But the key remains that making a consistent product from one year to the next is a challenge in itself, being able to take tobaccos from various fields and vintages to create the same punch every year is masterful. it's a technical achievement. Being like pepin or aj, being able to create different paintings from the same palette is another skill set.

Then you have the greatest blender of them all, hansotia, who has managed to create hundreds of the greatest cigar labels ever made during his limited time on this earth, and he's still going, and just getting better every year. He just put out his most expensive cigar to date. He's an artist. The sort of artist who spits on the wall and frames it.

jefslat · 01-20-2018, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ak2000

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

James Brown is his name.

01-06-2018, 09:14 PM	#21
xavier Club Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Naples, Italy Posts: 3,603	Ernesto Carrillo from La Gloria Cubana, Litto Gomez from La Flor Dominicana and Eladio Diaz, master blender for Henke Kelner at Tabadom and now Davidoff __________________ "I'm afraid I do not suffer petty bureaucrats gladly. You will find that humiliation and blackmail, when used judiciously, can be marvelously effective" .. Agent Pendergast I love rumors! Facts can be so misleading, where rumors, true or false, are often revealing...Col Hans Landa

01-07-2018, 01:40 PM	#23
ak2000 Charter Member Herf God Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,601	Whoever blends BLTC cigars seems to know what they're doing __________________ Cigars are brain food...... JLOH #19

01-08-2018, 08:00 AM	#24
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

01-10-2018, 06:02 AM	#26
BigJohn Chief Geek, @cigarweekly Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta (north burbs - Woodsto Posts: 14,174	I don't totally disagree, Brian, but everyone has a miss. And you have to give just about everyone time to grow. Example: I don't love everything by Don Pepin. Everyone can't love everything. So when a new one comes out, you have to do some research after you've smoked it and like it. Some guys are not blenders, they're marketers, and when you know that you go in knowing that Cigar X might be a one hit wonder.... __________________ Government breaks our legs, then hands us a pair of crutches and says, "You see? If it wasn't for us you wouldn't be able to walk.".... Aren't we so lucky!? Need a website? Get one from a BOTL - > PM me! *"I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."* Help support the CigarWeekly webhost (me!) > Shop online? Start HERE: direct to Amazon.com Protect your computer from VIRUSES > Get Avast!

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01-09-2018, 02:15 PM	#25
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.

01-10-2018, 08:42 AM	#27
Briandg CW Squirrel Wrangler Herf God Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: southwest Missouri Posts: 35,518	Don't take it too literally, john, because there is also, as you said, the element of intangibles with it. Subjective elements. A good blender and a good range of products depends on who defines it, how many thousands of people can see the skills and define them. But the key remains that making a consistent product from one year to the next is a challenge in itself, being able to take tobaccos from various fields and vintages to create the same punch every year is masterful. it's a technical achievement. Being like pepin or aj, being able to create different paintings from the same palette is another skill set. Then you have the greatest blender of them all, hansotia, who has managed to create hundreds of the greatest cigar labels ever made during his limited time on this earth, and he's still going, and just getting better every year. He just put out his most expensive cigar to date. He's an artist. The sort of artist who spits on the wall and frames it.