Cigar Aficionado

Cigar Aficionado is a magazine for the man who enjoys life’s great pleasures: fine dining and entertaining, the finest wines and spirits, world travel and the arts. At the heart of every issue is the cigar: what to smoke, where to smoke, and how to enjoy a great smoke.

highlights • It’s not always big, bold flavors that get the best scores. The two top performers in this issue were nowhere near the most full-bodied smokes. Rather, the cigars were refined and nuanced. The Ashton Cabinet Selection No. 8 from the Dominican Republic tied with the Cuban Romeo y Julieta Línea de Oro Hidalgos for the highest rating.

Arnold for President

out of the humidor

Cigar Aficionado

good life guide • Living well demands that we indulge in things that are of superior quality and excellent origin. This guide aspires to find and recommend the best of everything to aficionados of the good life.

The Perfect Manhattan

Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, Japan

The Cuban Sandwich

Carl Auböck Brass Ashtrays

Ineos Grenadier

The Smoking Jacket

Navy-Inspired Dive Watches

Winter Dude Ranches

THE INTERVIEW Arnold Schwarzenegger • Marvin R. Shanken Goes One-On-One With The Former Governor

Schwarzenegger the Statesman • Arnold’s entry into the world of politics changed his life and increased his influence

Betting on the Big Apple • Major gambling interests are jockeying to slice up the take when New York City issues three casino licenses

The Side Action The other gambling empires strike back

BORN TO RIDE • Golf carts have changed the very game of golf

GREAT From The Gate • Some of the world’s most famous athletes were impressive from the start, excelling in their debuts on the big stage

For Peat’s Sake • The smoky whiskies that arise from Scotland’s island of Islay are fan favorites

HOLY SMOKE! Eight Extremely Smoky Whiskies • For our tasting we chose whiskies with an emphasis on smoke—not age. All but one are from Islay. We suggest you sip, enjoy and consider pairing these smoky drams with one of your favorite cigars, preferably in front of a fire on a cold, winter’s night.

WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD • WITH CHANGING CULTURAL ATTITUDES AND GLOBAL SHORTAGES OF CUBAN CIGARS, EUROPEAN SMOKERS ARE TURNING TO TOBACCO FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

My Favorite Cigar • Cigar aficionados describe their smoke of choice

churchills • It’s not always the big, bold flavors that lead to high accolades. Sometimes, a cigar scores well for its elegance, sophistication and subtlety. The Ashton Cabinet Selection No. 8 is a perfect example. Made by the Fuente family in the Dominican Republic, this cigar scored 94 points and is a treasure of understated refinement. Four cigars scored 93 points. The Cohiba Esplendido has been around long enough to earn its reputation as a benchmark Cuban Churchill, but two Nicaraguan smokes—Ashton’s La Aroma de Cuba Pasión Churchill and the Olmec Claro Double Corona—are far newer to the market. The Padilla Miami 8&11 brand has been produced in different countries and different factories, but is now made in Miami again, this time at El Titan de Bronze.

figurados • Long, double-tapered figurados aren’t for everyone. The shape often requires patience, as the narrow nipple feet can take longer to fully light. For those willing to put in the time, three large figurados in this tasting scored 93 points. Arturo Fuente is largely credited with bringing the perfecto shape back into the mainstream, and its Hemingway series consists of only figurados, large and small. Made in the Dominican Republic, the Untold Story is one of the larger sizes in the brand. Like the Hemingway series, Cuaba is an all-figurado line as well. It’s also one of Cuba’s newer brands, as...