Nora's Lake Ivanhoe Wine and Cigar Shop

At a first glance from the outside, Nora's Lake Ivanhoe Wine and Cigar could be mistaken for a cozy New England gablefront cottage with plants and wind chimes hanging from the porch.  Two chairs are poised waiting for visitors to sit back and wash away the work day with conversation and perhaps a cigar.

Even upon entering the air is scented with spice and incense and merchandise mingled with decorations hang from the walls much like an eclectic Vermont gift shop. There are non traditional wine racks on the walls as if floating above cases filled with an incredible selection of pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, merlot, table reds, port, pinot grigio, chardonnay, white blends, riesling and ice wine.  If Nora doesn't have it (and she does have a lot), then she will certainly get it for you.

Moving beyond the wine is a cozy seating area nestled in a cove with windows peering out into the world. There are a few chairs and a couch as well as ashtrays there for people to sit and enjoy their purchases. I search for cigars and see nothing so I have to ask. Only as I walk through a doorway which oddly feels like I am entering someone's apartment and see giant sliding glass doors on my left, do I see the signs pointing to the giant humidor. I slide open the door and enter a small room packed from floor to ceiling with a wide array of cigars. Brands start jumping out, Arturo Fuente, Brick House, Ashton, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, Rocky Patel, Oliva, La Flor Dominica, Acid, Baccarat. There are cigars, humidors and other merchandise laid out and I am amazed that so many treasures are locked away inside this cavern.  I feel like an explorer who has stepped into ruins and found goblets and jewels of gold and rubies intact and waiting to be reunited with fresh air and sun.

 I finally choose an Oliva V and close the glass door behind me, working my way back to the register in the front.   Nora rings me up and wishes me a great day.  I tell her I will be back and most certainly will with friends so they too can discover the treasures that await.

Stop by Nora's at 1407 North Orange Avenue, Orlando  32804.  The hours are 1pm till 6pm ish.  If there are people hanging out, she will stay longer.  Also check out her website at www.noraswinecigars.com for events and more information.  Hope to see you there in my travels around town orlando!

Gran Habano 3 SLS Cigar Review

3 SLS Cigar

Looking for a nice medium bodied smoke for a relaxing evening? Try the George Rico 3 Sieglos cigar. Lights easily, burns evenly and is packed with nutty, earthy notes with a bit of pepper. This smoke is very creamy and is packed loose enough that you get the full variety of flavor with every smooth and easy draw. I think I paid around $6.50 for this stick and will definitely pick up a couple more for the humidor.

Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 50 Years - Cigar Review

I sat down recently in downtown Orlando with a few of the Cigar Aficionados of Central Florida. The occasion was to visit with friends and enjoy a nice smoke and a beverage outside.  One of the members, Hoss was kind enough to also bring along several of the Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Torpedo's  for us to sample.

This particular cigar, the 1959 50 Years is the third in the Exodus series produced by Carlos Torano and is listed as the most full bodied of the three.

The Exodus series  was carefully handcrafted to mark and remember the turmoil of the mass exodus from Cuba of the tobacco families, after Fidel Castro and his guerillas seized power in 1959.  It was that year that Castro's militia swept through the countryside and claimed at gunpoint all tobacco farms as government property, leaving the Torano and all other tobacco families without the land and livelihood they had spent years cultivating into a prosperous cigar making business.  The Torano family was left penniless and forced into exile but brought with them the seed and knowledge of how to grow, age and roll tobacco.  It is with this Cuban seed and knowledge that Carlos Torano and other Cuban tobacco families can celebrate the past 50 years as a victory in working together to cultivate, harvest and age top notch tobacco's throughout Central and South America.

Today Carlos Torano has a thriving tobacco business with a factory in Nicaragua and another in Honduras producing 12 different cigar brands, including the Exodus 1959 50 Years.

About the cigar:

• Wrapper: Brazillian Arapiraca Sun Grown
• Binder: Honduran
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Origin: Nicaragua
• Size: 5 1/2 X 52
• Shape: Torpedo

Construction and Appearance: Wrapper was very smooth with minimal veins and slightly oily.  The cigar was tightly rolled and firm with no soft spots. Due to how tightly packed it was, I opted for a straight cut and removed just over 1/4 inch from the cap to smoke.

Smoking Characteristics: Nice even burn throughout, no relighting necessary. Ash flowered in the first third but didn't flake off or drop.  Cigar did not have a lot of creamy smoke to it but pulled air easily through on the draw.

Taste: There were a variety of flavors in the cigar.  At first light there was a hint of pepper which mellowed out to a smooth dark chocolate and caramel flavor mixed with nutmeg and cinnamon.  The cigar finished with a nutty flavor, never becoming bitter.

Conclusion: I enjoyed this cigar tremendously both in the ease of smoking and in the smooth chocolate, caramel, cinnamon flavors.  I would rate this more of a medium bodied cigar and would highly recommend it.

Price Point: $5-$7 a stick

Gran Habano's World's Largest Cigar at Corona Cigar Company

A few weeks ago I took a drive to Corona Cigar Company on W. Sand Lake Road in Orlando.  There I met up with a few people from the Cigar Aficionados of Central Florida to see the spectre of the World's Largest Cigar!  The 18.9 foot monster labeled "Gran Habano Corojo #5 El Gigante," is the masterpiece of Gran Habano Cigars which was founded and run by the Rico family.

Don Guillermo Rico, a third generation tobacco maker grew up in Columbia, watching his grandfather and father grow and harvest tobacco and roll cigars in their homes. But it wasn't until 1995 when he came to the United States, that he saw the potential for his own brand of cigars in the cigar boom of the 1990's.  In 1998, he started his own company, purchasing a factory in Honduras and eventually four farms scattered across Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Columbia. In 2003 he introduced the Gran Habano line of cigars which has grown to include 5 types of cigars, the Connecticut #1,  Habano #3,  Corojo #5, 3 Siglos and Cabinet Selection.  Recently Don Guillermo with his son, George have worked together in the creation of the Azteca line of cigars, a complex, rich smoke that comes in a variety of sizes.  George also has developed his own line of cigars, the G.A.R. which I would characterize as a medium to full bodied smoke, not for the beginner.

It was at this event at Corona Cigar that I had the pleasure of meeting George Rico.  Having only started smoking cigars four months previously, I had picked up a copy of the cigar magazine, Cigar Press to learn more about the different brands available and their characteristics and as it turned out, that particular issue had featured an in depth article on George Rico. George talked about his philosophy of cigars and the different tobacco flavors, his line of cigars the G.A.R and also about Gran Habano. I had been fascinated and knew I wanted to try this guy's smokes.  So here I was, meeting George Rico and listening as he explained the various tastes in the different cigars to a couple of other people.  They made their selection and disappeared, leaving me with a very polite George Rico. I told him the types of cigars I had tried thus far and liked and he directed me immediately to the 3 Siglos. Afterward he also recommended the Azteca.  At this point I confided in him that I had read the story in Cigar Press and particularly enjoyed his sentiments that the strength of a cigar doesn't determine the quality. I told him that I felt cigars were very much like wine and he agreed saying that if he started his morning with a cabernet sauvignon his palate would be overwhelmed and would not be able to appreciate something lighter like a pinot noir with lunch.  We talked for a bit longer and I thanked him for his help.  He then told me that he only had a few, but he pulled from his shirt pocket a lancero which is his personal blend, one they do not sell. He offered it to me and I thanked him for his generosity and shook his hand.  I then went to the cafe area, ordered an iced tea and re-joined the group of Aficionados, lighting up the 3 Siglos.  It was a great smoke in the company of some nice people and I couldn't help but think that this experience would have a lasting impact.  Thank you to Corona Cigar Company and to George Rico and Gran Habano for a great day and some terrific cigars!

For more cigar events contact:www.coronacigar.com  

For a complete list of Gran Habano cigars and their history, contact: www.ghcigars.com

Havana Sensation: A Cigar Lover's Paradise in Metrowest Orlando

Here it is, another weekend and I can't think of a better place to spend it than Havana Sensation in Metrowest Orlando.  A friendly, well stocked and inviting smoke shop/lounge, Havana Sensation has brought to Metrowest a flavor of Cuban food, music and passion for cigars that has livened up the area.
Owner Edson Santoro, opened the cigar shop just over a year ago and has been welcoming all who enter his establishment with a smile and an uncanny knowledge of cigars ever since.

 Shelves stocked with Gurkha, Hupmann, LFD, Oliva, Rocky Patel, Padron, Ashton, La Aurora, Don Pepin, La Gloria Cubana  and many more popular and boutique cigars, line the mustard colored walls while traditional cigar art is peppered throughout.  The seating is plenty and comfortable with leather couches and chairs and wooden tables and chairs arranged throughout to easily accamodate the single smoker looking to read in a corner or groups of people engaged in a tense game of dominos.
  In the back is an area with a bar and coolers stocked with an incredible selection of beer including, Bud Lime, Corona, Cigar City Maduro, Sam Adams IPA, Orlando Brewing Brown Ale, Blonde Ale, Shipyard, Shipyard Blue Fin Stout, Presidente, and Red Stripe Lager.
 The shop offers excellent customer service with people like Richard on hand to answer questions about cigar flavors, what is new or to make recommendations.  On a personal level, Richard has never steered me wrong and has turned me onto the likes of La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor, Rocky Patel, the Decade, Oliva O and G, Gurkha and countless other cigars with deep dark espresso and nutty flavors.
There are three flat screen televisions to watch sports or movies on and at one point they were offering a movie of the week night.  Music is piped throughout the shop, more as background so as not to deter from conversation and depending upon who is working can range from Cuban salsa to classical to jazz.  Music is also piped out to the patio area in front of the shop where several tables are available for seating.

Though not a restaurant, I have been pleasantly surprised by the frequency and caliber of the food Havana Sensation serves during special events.  I just missed an impromptu barbecue to welcome spring which featured barbecue and jerk style chicken, vegetable medley, pork and chicken sausage, steak kabobs and vine ripened tomatoes that I heard were sweet and delicious.  Anthony "Street" was the chef on hand who created the wonderful guava barbecue sauce and I hope not to miss the next one!  I did make it for a Saturday celebration back in November and stuffed myself with roast pork, rice and plantains.  Ed and his family were  there to prepare and serve the authentic Cuban cuisine and from the smiles on everyone's faces, it was a hit!

Havana Sensation has recently begun doing beer and cigar pairings on select Thursday evenings and has already featured Presidente beer with La Aurora cigars and Sam Adams paired with Montecristo Platinum. Check out their website at: www.Havanasensation.com   join them on Facebook or follow their blog at www.havanasensation.blogspot.com for the latest information.

Whether an aficionado or a beginner, Havana Sensation is a great place to stop in and enjoy a smoke in a very casual and friendly atmosphere!

Grapefruit League Comes Alive as Spring Training MLB Baseball Games Start in Florida

It is that time of year where I feel truly blessed to live in Orlando, Florida and no I don't mean because my friends and family in other parts of the country are experiencing sub zero temperatures. I'm talking about Spring Training MLB baseball games.  A time characterized by the 'thwack of the bat and thump of the glove.'  

For some of us who live in the land of the Grapefruit League and for those thousands of loyal fans who only come to visit, this is the time that we, the baseball faithful make our pilgrimages to see our teams rehearsing for the regular season and the quest for the title of World Series Champions. Being an avid baseball fan when I moved to Orlando some 5+ years ago, I decided to make it my personal quest to visit every spring training stadium and see every Grapefruit League team play. At that time there were 17 stadiums that peppered the Florida landscape from Dunedin in the western central part of the state to West Palm in the south eastern part of the state.                                       
Today the Grapefruit League is comprised of 15 teams playing in 14
different venues, (the St. Louis Cardinals and the Florida Marlins share the use of 9.Roger Dean Stadium located in Jupiter, Florida.)

Since that time, the Dodgers departed for Arizona, leaving the famed Dodgertown in Vero Beach a focal point for minor league baseball.  The Cleveland Indians headed to Arizona, leaving Winter Haven without any baseball at all and the Cincinnati Reds also moved west, leaving Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota vacant and what would become the perfect location for the Baltimore Orioles to move into for the 2011 season.  It is always sad to see a team leave for another state but it is especially sad knowing that they are gone and I never made it to the venue, as was the case with Dodgertown.  

On the upside, I was lucky enough to see the Indians play in Winter Haven, a facility that was originally built for the famed Boston Red Sox.  It was one of the last games the Indians played there and while they were warming up before the game I stood against the berm wall watching the famed Grady Sizemore field hits. Grady, ball in glove turned around and looked at me. I took my hat off and held it out and Grady tossed the ball into my hat. I thanked him and had to sit down as my knees went wobbly beneath me. It was the first time I had ever touched a major league baseball.  Today it is probably one of my most valuable possessions and it still has grass stains in the stitching.  Did I mention that I love baseball?

                                                                                                      

The other 13 teams and their venues are as follows: 1.Toronto Blue Jays/Florida Auto Exchange Stadium/Dunedin: 2.Philadelphia Phillies/Bright House Networks Field/Clearwater: 3.New York Yankees/Steinbrenner Field/Tampa: 4.Pittsburgh Pirates/Mckechnie Field/Bradenton: 5.Baltimore Orioles/Ed Smith Stadium/Sarasota:  6.Tampa Bay Rays/Charlotte County Sports Park/Port Charlotte: 7. Boston Red Sox/City of Palms Park/ Ft. Myers: 8.Minnesota Twins/Hammond Stadium/Ft. Myers: 10. New York Mets/Digital Domain Park/Port St. Lucie: 11. Washington Nationals/Space Coast  Stadium/Melbourne: 12.Houston Astros/Osceola County Stadium/Kissimmee: 13.Atlanta Braves/Champion Stadium/Walt Disney World: 14.Detroit Tigers/Joker Marchant Stadium/Lakeland.

Spring training generally starts around February 27th and goes through March 29th. Tickets are available through many of the teams websites on http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp and also through the links above. Pricing ranges anywhere from $10 to $40 a ticket, depending upon the team and venue.  The advantages of seeing baseball at these venues are many.  Most stadiums have seating capacities of 5000 to 10,000 which is a fraction of the size of professional ball parks, meaning that there is a small intimate feel to the games.  This affords fans the opportunity to stand a few feet away from not only the iconic players, but also managers and retired legends.  There are also plenty of opportunities to take great pictures and of course, get autographs.  There is nothing like the excitement of watching  non roster invitees go out and play with everything they have in hopes that they will be signed to a contract to play in the big leagues.  

Because of the amount of games and specific parks I want to visit, a  website I frequently use is www.springtrainingonline.com.  In November I start checking the site to see if the Phillies schedule or Red Sox schedule or any other teams have listed their spring training schedules and when and where tickets will go on sale.  The site has a calendar you can print with all the available teams and games listed, which is a great tool to use.  They also have a newsletter you can sign up for and a baseball digest you can order for a nominal fee. 

With pitchers and catchers reporting this week and position players reporting next week, spring training is around the corner!  Get your tickets, leave winter behind and embrace America's pastime in the glow of the warm Florida sun.  Maybe I'll see you at one of the MLB baseball games this year!

Uncle Jones B.B.Q. Back in Business Food Truck Style

Driving south on 436  just before 17-92 there used to be one of the greatest little restaurants for barbecue and soul food, Uncle Jones B.B.Q.  The restaurant was sold some time ago and the building was torn down, but Uncle Jones is still smoking his famous ribs and beef brisket and serving them with sides of collard greens, potatoes, baked beans or mac and cheese.  The difference?  Uncle Jones B.B.Q. is now a food truck located on the site of the old Uncle Jones B.B.Q. restaurant. 

I was on that end of Altamonte Springs the other day when I saw the smoker going and knew that after my errands were complete, it would be a lunch destination.  

I was not disappointed when I pulled into the lot and walked over to order from the window.  The menu written on the side of the truck contained such greats as the chopped pork sandwich, chicken sandwich, lunch specials that included meat, bread and a side and of course the famous ribs and beef brisket.

I ordered the chopped pork sandwich, a side of potatoes and a can of soda and with my choice of the mild sauce vs. the spicy sauce, sat down on one of the large picnic tables shaded with it's own colorful umbrella.  It was a beautiful Florida spring day with hot sun and a bit of a breeze blowing through the not so distant trees on the lot.  The sandwich roll was fresh and soft and the pork had the perfect smoked flavor that was accented by the tangy sweet b.b.q. sauce.  The potatoes were cubed with a blend of pepper, spices and sauce that were phenomenal.  It felt like I was on a picnic outside enjoying mother nature in all respects when a gentleman walked over to my table and brought some beef brisket that had just finished smoking.  He told me to give it a try and I thanked him.  If I thought the pork was good, the brisket was even better.  Still hot, full of that slow smoked flavor and very juicy.  I finished the brisket and couldn't eat another bite, so I decided to just sit there and relax for ten minutes.  In that time three other cars pulled up with folks ordering both lunch to go and lunch for there.  As I rose to go, I noticed a sign that said you can order smoked ham and turkey from Uncle Jones as well.  

It was the best lunch I've had in a while and can't wait to go back and try the ribs and collard greens!

Next time you are in the Altamonte Springs area or craving some good home b.b.q., stop by Uncle Jones B.B.Q. food truck and stay a while.